Flood relief or payment to vote?

Why should everyone get flood relief amount when really haven’t affected?  Life get affected during the season of rain is normal, though the past season had been terrific and almost everyone undergone an experience on first, but there are certain areas and people where the affect has been least and at some places there was only power cut and was back to normal in 2-3 days. Are they (the govt.) conducting survey on really who are affected? I think two third of the relief amount goes to unaffected and those experienced trouble are still in need. There are places on the bank of rivers, canals and lakes lost away nearly everything and how come this minimum amount of Rs.5000-10,000 is enough to bring back their lives to normal? Govt. should cut off giving relief even to people staying above two stories with no record of flood in their area or home and the amount should be added to those severely affected.

Though we are one of the affected houses, experienced flood or water entered the home, we haven’t received the relief amount yet when many went through plain power outages used the opportunity and acquired the money. Not that I am envy or against their attitude of getting money when really haven’t affected, and what affected us is nothing much compared to those living in low lying areas and on the bank of rivers. When people make amount like this, the true cause of relief becomes incomplete and those affected continue to wade through post disaster and distress. The govt. and officers in charge should understand who really needs relief and how prior it should be. I just wonder what’s in the mind of government and although it’s obvious that the relief was given in mind of upcoming assemble election; this is how people are measured even at the critical situation like this?

December and Troublesome

The year has almost come to an end with Christmas and New Year ahead; I convey the greetings to you all for the same, first. The mood seems to be refreshing every time a year set to dawn or beginning something anew and this time too I feel the same, though I decided to skip making Christmas tree that followed by lighting for New Year this time, the feeling of celebration happening around could not prevent giving a sense of happiness to me. Though the mind doesn’t agree to celebrate, when still many of our people are affected by flood and rain haven’t returned to normalcy, my anticipation with the year ahead were lot. There’s a promising feel in the air, which I don’t want to disappear, and the mind also makes conclusion with an urge to renew the activities to do much better. I don’t know what things going to happen next year and I wasn’t sure about my anticipation to share anything right now. But hope for the best, as it is yet to come.

So far this month, I have done only two posts and that too on the experience related to flood and rain. December has been a devastating month for some time lately, with great disasters taking place at this time mostly, the torrential rains and flood had made this year an unforgettable one revealing a face of Chennai that the modern Chennaities unseen before. December has been my favorite month always, despite being a primary season for mosquitoes, and the beginning of Margazhi – the Tamil month and the coldest season of the year, and the only time Chennai becomes cooler as it is well known for the hotter weather almost the year. December brings me memories of travel in past, as some of the places where explored during this time and trying to connect the moment and time of each passing day make feel cherished. I also decided to make use of this month to explore places around the Chennai that I wanted to do for some time and also waked up on the day 1 of December with an active mind-set but what happened keeps me away from almost everything and also couldn’t blog on things I intend to cover this month.

But later my laptop becomes a problem, which perhaps I guess is because of the disaster. When I opened my laptop after more than a week, I was slightly taken aback seeing at its condition of dirt and dust spread around the screen and keypad. I thought something could have happened and when I switch on the device I was asked to select windows to go inside rather right into the desktop. The screen read windows memory diagnostic and later it took long time to boot and unresponsive from certain keys make me feel useless to hold back the device rather way to service center to mend on things early. I didn’t expect it to make such expenditure on hard disk and keyboard, but glad I got back the data’s that stored in the hard disk, which was converted into an external hard drive. With the new and replacement from 320 to 500GB hard disk, the laptop works pretty good and quicker than earlier and I also decided to hold minimum files on the computer to keep alive the swiftness.

Alright, have an energetic and cheerful year ahead and more charming Christmas. Time to catch up with all your blogs and some have been untouched for less than a month. Hope u all bear me…  I am also on a mission to finish APJ Abdul Kalam’s autobiography (Wings of fire) before the year end, and being a slow reader, I am trying to be fast. Lol

Hand pump – comes handy

(Hand pump shot at our previous house)

Though we use hand pump occasionally, during the flooded moment it helped us getting water when our sump and bore wells were fill by rain and sewage water. Not only us, many people in the locality used the hand pumps during this time since there was no electricity for more than 3 days to power motors to fill the over tanks with sump (metro water) and bore well waters. Chennai once infamous for water problem, haven't been through at least for last five years due to enough rainfall during the seasons of monsoon in past has make forget pumping. This rain people had restored the activity. Though torrential rains caused suffering, it remained us the significance of certain things and trigger memories. I remember, once people use to wait  in line to fetch water from the street pumps (as not many hold pumps at their home then) and the water will also be released between certain time and sometimes people has to wait throughout night when the time of release becomes uncertain.

I remember the time we got water connection at home and a hand pump being installed by the corporation workers. They dig the road across and brought a pipe from the main pipe line on the other side and seeing water pouring through our hand pump was a happy feel. Even before we got water connection many houses in neighbourhood  was connected with hand pumps and seeing those, I truly wished we had one and I was interested in pumping and many a time it would be very hard and I would make pour very little. At the house here, there's a pump at ground floor and also on the first floor and as we moved there during the flood the hand pump helped us (there was not only no electricity, but also the sump water was polluted by the mix of sewage in rainwater) so we are dependent on the hand pump.

Though we filled our over tank before rain started to flood and power goes off, the water wasn't enough for us and gladly the hand pump was there and we used it for domestic purpose and can waters for drinking.

P.S.  Some keys on my laptop’s keyboard stopped working, so was force to post through mobile... sorry if   I couldn’t reach you blogs, but I trying to read all.

Torrential rain and effect of volunteers

As you all know the torrential rain that stroke Chennai, last week, has washed off the city leaving very little places apart. December 1 recorded the highest rainfall in Chennai breaking down a 100 years history. Though we are affected in the usual way of rainwater flooding our home, this time it was threefold in height of coverage and electric was unplugged for more than 3 day and no mobile signal for 48 hours. The northeast monsoon was at peak for last one month and from the time of Deepavali there were more than couple of constant downpours making Chennai float in water and Dec 1 seems to be the climax. Glad the upper portion of this house was unoccupied from the first flooding time on Nov 15 and we used the upstairs as a temporary shelter to keep ourselves from calamity. Though it struck us in different ways this time with no power, and signal lose of mobiles and the scarcity of milk and can waters make brief trouble but what we have gone though was nothing when it comes to the worst hit areas like the southwest suburbs and places around the banks of river Coovum and Adyar.

Even though it was a great disaster Chennai faced ever or post tsunami, the volunteer’s involvement in rescue and relief operation was heart-warming than the painful disaster itself. Except the time of absence of mobile signal, I was keep checking Facebook (as it was the only source of information for me since there was no electricity at home to watch news/Wi-Fi for internet) for the update on rain and relay on things happening around and related to flood relief. I was quite amaze at the selfless act of youngsters, even before the local body and army arrive, the young people leap to rescue without waiting for anybody make feel the humanity doesn’t’ fail anywhere. SMSs, messages, calls were flying wherever possible on things on available and needed and people kept sharing messages on relief and rescue and teams up to promote the activities around. Beyond the manual helps, fishermen’s in boats were the first to land on water and gave wonderful aid to people to come out of their flooded homes and provided relief to those denied to exit.

It’s been 10 days the disaster stroke us and the surroundings continue to stay wet as it rained mild to heaver throughout last week and due to waterlogged the courtyard remains sludge and need to be washed away. Climbed down to home today, the entire day was spent on setting things around and this time we decided to stay above for some time, since the weather continued to be unstable with heavy spills now and then we doesn’t want to experience trouble again.  Glad the rain decided to stop and the sun was showing up nicely today, sending down hope rays that rain don’t come again and would be lighter even if it showers. Last 10 days was spent without watching television and no update on blog, but I continued to Facebook using the mobile network and later on Wi-Fi. Most of the time was spent on browsing newspapers which carries reports on torrential rain and floods in detail. The relief and rescue effects took by volunteers and uniformed personnel’s was the most impressive things about this time and without them it’s impossible for Chennaities to wake up from the disaster. Hats off all... because of you all we are safe here (though we aren’t affected the most, in some ways I believe their attitude make things possible) and wish you all the very best for the operation on relief and rescue. Let’s continue to stand for each other. 

Once again with downpour!

Once again water entered home last night due to another heavy rain stroke the Chennai city. We didn’t anticipate such heavy rainfall after the second week of November’s downpour – that almost flooded the Chennai city, and met. Dept was also certain that heavy rain is not possible unless there’s a low pressure in Bay of Bengal. But still we received heavy rainfall because of the air circulation or pulling up of air by the low pressure in Arabian Sea (according to the met. Dept), although it had disappeared now, there’s a trace of low pressure in the southern bay which perhaps trigger rain in one or two days if it further moves northeast. It was pretty quick this time that the water level around our home touched the doorstep within an hour of rain and as usual, the sewage was the first to rose inside followed by the footsteps of flood water. Lol

Once again having an holiday at the upper portion of the house, with water receding slowly and food coming from my aunt’s home in next street, it was a feel better situation right now as we used to this already. Just only four days back we climbed down to home and now with another replay waits ahead.  We are in perplex whether to climb down again or not with the weather condition been unstable here, and with the trace of new low pressure and warning of raining throughout the state, we’re yet to decided to do what only tomorrow. Glad there was electric and I was able to connect to internet Wi-Fi to make a post on the condition we go through. Though I really don’t want to write post on this and also not want to make a friend feel bad about declining the invite to home during this time. I just write to let know others what’s happening at this side. Will catch up with blogs once got down... 

Experience with Flood and Rain

We sat watching updates on northeast monsoon’s rain and floods reported from various parts of the city from more than two news channels. Usually rainwater used to stagnant around my home, whenever there’s heavy rainfall and water will recede slowly once it stopped raining. But on Sunday, from the morning the rainwater started to stay around my home in the usual way and from the evening and once in started to downpour there’s no way of receding and the level of water continued to rose as it rained constantly. Our attention from the TV slanted towards our own and what we have seen through all the years during the monsoon has at last reached our destination or we transferred towards it. Though this is not a usual monsoon and the rain didn’t’ last throughout the season, but showered the entire sum within a week time, blocking every waterways and drainage system, and over flowing rivers and lakes and heavy dose of rainfall brought things to standstill. 

Some flood scenes on neighbors and ours, shot from first floor

We don’t’ know what to do when water level touched our floor surface and when our attention was how to block the doorway to prevent water entering our home, the water started to outflow though the bathroom gullies blending rain and sewage water. With constant rain and increasing water level around the home, the flood started to enter our home in all possible ways and with the warning of met. Dept for intense rainfall for next two days, there was no other option than moving out of home. It was a moment perplex to do what next and mom didn’t have a mind leaving the home like that and obviously we are in charge of taking refuge at our uncle’s house in next street, which is of course our native house  and just being an upstairs homes we couldn’t reside there. At that phase mom remind us about the empty portion above our home, which is waiting for a tenant and the key, was also with us. Just informing the landlord, we moved couple of cots to the first floor with the help of my cousin and his friends, who also uplifted me using a chair.

My uncle’s family was very supportive throughout this phase and only that we were unable to stay with them... thinking about that now, mom had took the right decision and moving to my uncle’s home at that time should have been more difficult with water flooded all over the streets and moving upstairs within the building is most easiest. The late evening was spent quite putting things at safest and believing that water won’t raise more than a feet (although it rose only one third of it) we made sure no electric device was exposed and moreover switched off the main for two days until water recede quite. The only thing was we were unable to cook and was also not in mindset to bring stove and utensils above (as we feel it won’t be nice to make cooking at the house that was yet to be rented) so it was my uncle’s family take care of this too. My aunt prepared dishes consecutively throughout our stay above and passed it though my cousin and uncle and what we were doing was just eating and taking rest.

It wasn’t like we were affected by flood, but come to a place on vacation surrounded by water and the weather make feel of staying at a hill station. No televising and internet to connect, though we are glad there was electric throughout, unlike many other places, we can’t play television or interest. But that wasn’t a matter as we have Smartphone’s to connect via mobile data, there was little update about rain and flood in neighbourhood. Though water recedes in two days, we decided to stay upstairs for couple of days to wait and see what the weather condition was, because going back and front is not easy task. But glad there wasn’t heavy rain after the constant downpour and we have moved down this evening after going through couple of water washing the home and used cleaning agents to keep away germs and smells. The recent downpour made Chennai float in flood but when checking other places and esp. the suburbs that was almost covered by flood, what we have gone through isn’t much. And it was an experience and brought things close to explore lives at lowest. Glad things are back to normal now. 

A thing that bothers me

How life becomes tragedy in short span? Even though we aren’t affected by things directly certain feeling are impossible to avoid when come to learn about things and thoughts on post effects. We are just four months old to this compound (row house) and wasn’t familiar with the neighbors unlike the pretty old neighborhood, but we come to face them each day and sometime exchange few words as goodwill and on things related to common.  There was this particular house at the rear end of our compound (which house 3 duplex houses) and they are the only owner come resident who don’t communicate with others except the single man of the family. So we don’t know anything much about them and wasn’t in force of learning their relationships but on the assumption we know who the mother and sons are.

There are four little kids in the house but there seems to be no evidence for that unless they all come out and only less than a week before I come to see or know there are four kids rather being two – whom I see every day while going to or from school or cycling in the evening! The two girls, one in 4^th STD and the other in UKG are very quiet and handsome and while passing our house, the little one, make certain not to make any noise that invite our pet dog from barking. The other two kids are twins (a boy and a girl) in age about 2 seem very smarter and adorable when they come around in their tiny cycle and baby walker to incorporate their sisters on their cycle. So far (forever) I had seen only one elder mother and two men in age of 40+, who suppose to be her sons, and the kids belong to them.

Belong to Muslim community it’s obvious for them to prevent practicing with others but still the elderly mother smile and inquire when come to face and the only person who communicate well with others (in their family)  was her elder son. He’s someone sounded very responsible and protective and cooperative. For example he’s the only one in the compound who used to close the gate every time passing in and out of home; apart us whose house being first make sure the gate was closed always to prevent unwanted entering. The other one who is a father of 4 kids seems so affectionate and whenever he turn back home in his bike, the kids surround him and he take them for a round in his bike with easiness however stressful he perhaps come home. But it was sorrowful and heart-wrenching to know the scene will never reappear from the late Monday night! Not that the family had relocated (like they planned to sell their lost house in near future) but lost the vitality that what I could say about.

The family has lost three invaluable lives – the elderly mother and her two sons (which include the father of 4 little kids) to a car accident. It was such terrific and shocking news for all our neighbors. Like I said above we aren’t familiar with them and wasn’t acquaint about their family but being humanitarian it is not easy to console such fatal ending happen to people we see daily. I was watching the kids cycling inside the premises happily just 2 hours before the news arrive, and though we felt very sorry for the demise of the elderly mother and two siblings – who are the only adults of the family apart the kids mother, whom I have seen never before as she don’t head out of their home, our heart goes for the little kids whom perhaps could not understand what happened to their father, uncle and grandma. We truly regret for the future of these kids who destined to grow without their beloved father and the wife without husband.

The mother and her sons were returning after attending a family function in Ramnad and the car drove by one of her sons was crashed with the road block and all died at the spot. The kids and the mother were at the home, accompanied by their uncle (maternal) at that time of incident didn’t conveyed the message to them rather doing it with us, he took them all to their home town without saying anything as he doesn’t know what to do all alone. We was helpless when such a tragedy struck our neighbor, as we don’t know anything about them and how they perhaps react if approached drop us into mourning silent. We haven’t get any message from them so far, since they are the only family with all relative afar we have no idea what’s happening at their end and will they turn back to take charge of the house is a question unanswered. Without the kids the compound seems so empty, although they aren’t noisy kids their presence felt good. I don’t know how to relate this incident but couldn’t stop writing about it which bothered me much. 

Memories of Tsunami

Ten years has passed since tsunami struck the coastlines of Indian Ocean, following the powerful earthquake with an epicenter off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia; the memories of tsunami are obvious like picking up shells from the seashore. Though I haven’t affected by the deadly waves directly, I was deeply disturbed and mentally suffered followed by the development of the devastation and scattered reports on mourns to death. There were even rumors (on the advancement of sea) to leave us into panic and living not far from the seashore, it’s impossible to avoid the uncertainty prevailed.

Memorial Icon of Tsunami in Kanyakumari

Being Sunday, we were asleep than usual and on hearing words something referred to tremor I couldn't continue lying on bed and come out to know what as my uncle asked me that I felt anything. There was an earthquake! But the tremor being so mild only those who were awake and living at certain elevation have felt the tremble and by the time I look at the street everyone where back to their places who came out in panic.  During the disaster we were staying in the first floor of our native house in Adyar, Chennai, hearing the news of tremor triggered panic even before the tsunami strike the coast or sorrow choke the throat.

My first encounter with a tremor/earthquake was in October 2001. Until then I have just heard of earthquake and know how it used to be only after seeing the Gujarat incident that happened on the same year. My expression and experience to tremor was funnier, perhaps not knowing how to react to such feeling/fear I scared so much and throw away the board on which I was painting something while sitting on the sofa. Since I was in caliper I could get out like others who rushed down as soon they felt the tremble, my mom and uncle hurried up unbuckle my shoes to lift me down. In few minutes all of us where on the street shoulder with neighbours.

My deals with tsunami were happen almost in front of the television, only my uncle was dare to go check with the Elliot Beach following the stroke with tsunami. I was staring at the television with awe, while the second longest beach in the world (Marina) enveloped in war of waves. The cars that have always seen running on roads where floated like boats in sea, with boats representing the parking lot. It was heartbreaking to see bodies being dragged to shore and people running towards the road to save their lives to avoid hitting the wall of sea.  The news channels where updated from time to time with the breakup of nature’s terror videos from across the southern countries.

Living close to coastline, I am sure each one of them would have a story to convey on their own related to tsunami whether they affected or not. During this course of tsunami, rumours were also spread to frighten us with the advance of sea levels into the landscape. I couldn’t sleep well for more than a week in panic, spending number of nights in uncertain thinking about the disaster and the visually seen in televisions/internet occupied the mind involuntarily. To relieve ourselves from the nightmare of tsunami and earthquake, we all spent the night of same in the single hall along with my uncle’s family to make not panic.

In the last 10 years I have covered 2/3 of the coastline of Tamil Nadu from Pulicat to Kanyakumari, we heard many stories related to tsunami during our journeys. While I visited Kanyakumari it was impossible to keep away the thought of tsunami and the videos and images were recollected when I sit watch the waves crashing the rocks. I felt unrest at each big wave arrive in force and the tourist boats making leap across them. Even it was fun checking some youngsters enjoy the strong waves and water splashes, something uncertain keep occupied. I also come across Manakudy, one of the worst affected villages in Kanyakumari where a bridge was washed away into the sea enclosed with number of death in the district.

The mindset was very similar even when I visited Velankanni, Cuddalore, Karaikal and Kodiyakarai along many other places aside east coast road (ECR), there are many villages in Tamil Nadu where one can find the traces of tsunami still exists reminding the one of the deadly disaster of our history. Many memories trigger while writing this post and experience with places that well relevant to the tsunami, but I couldn’t bring all of them here. I truly wish these incidents never repeat. 

Heavy Rain

While feeling so happy and excited about heavy showering, along with thunderstorm last evening the collapses of 11 storey building on the western suburb has brought down the enthusiasm of Chennaities. It rained heavily for about an hour pulling down the temperature as much it could, but inside the house it was a blend of hot and cool, since it was hot until 4pm when the sky turned gray and later become dark with clouds. I wake up my mom, warning about the dark sky and thus she happen to collect the cloths put to dry at the backyard cord before got wet in rain.

(shot during rain at our front gate with 3-4"of  water )

The wind brought chillness through the open windows and the heavy rain created pools across our streets, sending water into our compound which reached up to our doorstep. It was fun watching the ripples created by passing vehicle making small waves rushing into our house but the water reduced as soon it stopped raining.  The rain emerged in huge drops making knocks with the plastic car shelter and poured like empting the clouds with no drops left for rest of the days. But I couldn’t go out and enjoy the water coming into our house fearing about the thunder lightening, which was the result of the collapses of the 11 storey building.

Eyewitness says that as soon the thunder hit on the under construction building, it came down like collapsed play cards. It seems there were about 100 workers on the building site while it collapses and being Saturday, the weekly wages disbursement day, the workers were gather on the first and second floors.  With current report 11 workers have confirmed death and more than 50 still trapped inside the collapsed building with 20 recovered as injured. It seems thunderstorm could be just one of the reasons for collapses guess the officials, who are yet to see others. The rescue operations are expected to last for 2 more days with number of fire service men at work. Wish there wasn’t rise in toll!  

Threatening moments

I wake up to mom calling ‘maya maya’ in unusual hurry tone, from which I aware that our pet dog is creating some trouble outside and she also calling my brother to come out immediately. I only thought then that our pet might run out of the gate and some stray dogs chasing her or she may run chasing them, which is the situation many a time with her in case of unchained when outside the home. But things were different this time and she was running within our house compound walls chasing a cobra that came into ours. We have no idea where the cobra came from, but the garbage collectors were said to see the snake entering our house from the roadside.

Encountering snakes aren’t new for us, as we have seen snakes in our early apartment area and the people resides here have also seen snakes many a time around. The open ground behind our house with number of trees and a broken workshop, could be nothing that a better hideout for snakes and only a 7 feet wall protects anything enter our compound. The heavy rain and wind lasted few days back, broke our water pipe from the over tank and only a day latter it was fixed by plumber, mom when to check if it was ok this morning, was followed by our pet who found the snake got chased. She was trying to bite the snake tail while pursing around, for which it protests by hissing and few strike attempts before tough climbing the wall  and crawled though a Neem tree to a safe high.

It was exciting and adventure for us this morning and the story still spreads from one another, Maya becomes heroin by her daring act against the snake. Lol!  There’s another terrific story to share with u here, was as never like before, a lightening stroke very close to our house on Wednesday evening results in killing our LED TV. There was heavy thunderstorm in our area that evening, but a lightening came very first without warning had a loud blast and threaten to cease heart beats… which was the situation lasted for half an hour. Our pet also exposed to frustration for the loud cracks and it was like thousand fluorescent lamp blink at a time, and along with it the transformer also celebrated a pre-Diwali producing sparkles.

We once again tuned to our free television set, provided by government, until the Led TV is back after its major transformation of motherboard. It was a situation similar to 2009, when our CRT TV shutdown, we went on watching programs on govt.’s free color television for a year before bought the LED… it was too exactly on the season of Navarathiri. Even we used set top box for cable television, the lightening took the life of our led TV and there were number of TV sets in our area lose to the lightening. We are always cautious and switch off television and unplug wires when there was thunderstorms, but it fall quite unexpectedly and it is our fault indeed.

         Not to forget, the cyclone Phailin is on its way ready to sweep the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in hours… let all hope and wishes there wasn’t much damage to our neighboring states. The cyclone is expected to be very strong storm, where experts guessing the wind could touch 240 km per hour when it landfall between Odisha and AP… the tides could rise up to 3.5 meters and rush 600 ms in land. 

Preserve nature

Instead of blaming each other we need to learn lessons from disaster. However powerful we are can’t beat certain things and nature is foremost and if we try to overtake it will end at accident. I don’t believe in god exist but consider nature is the preparation of everything; and idols are nothing but a man made natural formation in shape of men, women and symbols he sees sacred. It was terrible reading different stories each day on the Uttarakhand flash-flood and landslide that buried number of lives, livelihoods and dwellings. I spent some time on the Google maps tracing the routes to Badrinath and Kedarnath, and find it quite awful that the roads were winding thoroughly beside the river Ganges for nearly 300 km.

I don’t believe people who went there were quite contributed to devotion, but tourist in name of pilgrimage to enjoy holiday in Himalayas. It’s simply the bliss nature holds there drags tourist to these remote places despite tough condition in weather and landscape, putting risk at each pace across the mountains and valleys. No wonder, I do wish meeting nature at its farther and I think it’s the facilities that want us to go there and moreover its man’s mistake laying roads deep inside the nature resources inviting devastation himself.

I have traveled across almost mountains and ranges in Tamil Nadu and some of the routes were challenging without proper roads, hire me to unspoiled nature and forest environment. There is nothing fascinates me in this world like nature and at the same time I care for its stable… and thinking on this lane, some time latter in days I decided not to write or post picture on places that are enrich and raw in  environment. Thus, I avoided posting on some wonderful places that I loved visiting however pristine, pleasure and exciting it was, I want to keep it away from public view thinking it may preserve damaging the nature wonders.

I too feel that I am doing injustice to others by not unfolding the folder of pictures and lack of description about the places that I relish a lot with nature at best. But I think not many would be hidden for long, as I get to know that one of a place that I think nature’s summit has turned into Eco-tourism. The government is promoting anything available with nature exist but I hope they preserve it as well quite. 

கடல் அம்மா / Marine Mom

Pic by Jeevan (cick to enlarge)

ஏ கடல் அம்மா

உன்  சிறுபிள்ளை  நங்கள்
மடியில் தவழும் பிள்ளைக்கு
நீ  கள்ளிப்பால்  ஊட்டலாமா?    

தாலாட்டு பாடிய அலைகள்
ஓசையின்றி  ஒப்பாரிவைகலாமா?
கதைகள் கற்பிக்காத பிம்பம்
கண்ணிமைக்குள் மூழ்கியதே 

தான் விரித்த வலைக்கு
தானே இரையான கோரம் 

வாழ்வளிக்கும்  வள்ளல் நீயே 

உயிர்  பசி ஏனோ?

சுனாமி என்னும் அரக்கனை அனுப்பி
வதம் செய்வதேனோ ?
கண்ணீர் சிந்த யாருமின்றி 

கொன்றுகுவித்து விட்டானே .

A marine mom
we are your child,
how could u feed venom
to a kid crawling on the lap?

The lullaby sung waves
how become quiet threnody?
The stories untaught simulacrum
submerged into the eyelids.

To the expanded web
to become a victim of horror
being a brought up philanthropist
why hunger for life?

Sent a monster tsunami
why you slew?
To no one to shed tears
he killed everyone to hump.

P.S. A tribute to tsunami victims, wrote from a fishermen’s perspective. 

A cargo goes aground

The Neelam Cyclone that stroke the Mamallapuram, a day before day, also produced an effect on the coast towards Chennai and beyond developing a number of tree falls and sand erosions on seashores. As I mentioned in my early post, the Marina Beach of Chennai – the second longest beach worldwide – is the gateway for any effort by sea or rain on Chennai and it stands at the first place for anyone to check the status of the city.

Pool ride by a biker in marina

I visited the Marina Beach yesterday evening to reveal the effects of Neelam cyclone and found the rain and seawater stagnant on the marina beach abundantly like ever and the inner road was flooded with water for more than 3 feet high. Even the SUV like cars find it difficult to cross the inner roads and we didn't take the venture into the water which was inviting for a swim but had fun watching boys playing in water and some bikes and autos splashing and creating great ripples. I really enjoy visiting marina beach after rain to check the stagnant water and joy of splashing without disturbing others!

Later we moved to check the cargo ship that went aground near Foreshore estate, the adjacent area of marina, where the Neelam cyclone dragged the ship that was standing somewhere off shore into go aground. The road leads from marina through Nochikuppam was blocked and we had to go around the Santhome to reach the foreshore estate and ship was standing very close to shore and waves were so ferocious, crashing on the ship to reach unusual high.

The ‘Prathibha Cauvery’ is a Mumbai based oil-tanker anchored near the Chennai Port with 37 crew members on board, among which 32 are rescued through helicopters but the five who clambered into a lifeboat as soon the ship goes aground were missing, after the boat capsized due to rough waves. (According to news in evening, 4 of them were found dead ashore today). I guess it was the ship that I saw couple of months back visiting the marina beach and I also captured in photo.

The ship which goes aground near Elliot Beach, was moved into the foreshore estate yesterday and the place had tuned into a new tourist spot now for people who keep on visiting the shore to see the ship. When the news of ship gone aground spread like the force of storm, there were many gathered at the seafront to see the ship even dismissing the meteorologic warning to stay inside the house till cyclone landfall completely.

My Canon SX220 does a great job capturing the ship, enduring the strong wind even at maximum zoom!

There wasn't much crowd at marina, but the foreshore estate is flooded with human heads and people were keep on arriving and leaving as families checking the ship. The time we visited, a helicopter of the coast guards were lifting the crews or officials who come to check the ship and dropping at the shore. People were so excited to see the operation that they don’t get to see easily except if a Navy show seldom take place at Marina beach and the last time I check a ship very close was during one of the shows. 

If u look carefully, a coast guard helicopter is lifting a crew on the  photo.

Cyclone Neelam stoke near Chennai

First time experienced a cyclone in my lifetime and I have seen and heard about its intense and rage through media many a time but this is the first time in last 2 decades that a cyclone stroke near Chennai. The wind was blowing at 40 km speed across the Chennai whereas in Mamallapuram where the Neelam Cyclone crossed ashore reaching 70-80 km speed and waves rose of 20 feet height and rushing 200 meters into the land.

The cyclone which formed near Andaman Island last week began to move north-west towards Tamil Nadu and its track had been predicted well by the IMD Chennai and warned heavy showering from Monday. We gained good rain on Tuesday night and the wind was blowing very strongly yesterday till midnight and during the time cyclone landfall the blowing was heaver and the tress were all dancing ferocious to the wild wind beats.

We had no power from the noon but there was enough power in the inverter which we installed for lights and fans and we also restricted the use of inverter power since it’s a 6 hours package and we had no idea when power will resume. The television blinks no signal when we try to check the status of the cyclone and after few hours the laptop also lost power, through which I was watching the live news on cyclone and later I turned the galaxy player for the updates.

Just 10 month later the Thane cyclone left a deep sad impact on the Cuddalore and Ponndicherry, the Neelam leaves a lighter memory without causing much damage to lives and property – which I believe. The cyclone also swish-swash the Marina beach which had become the gateway for any water calamities and it also pushed aground a cargo ship (Prathibha Cauvery) near Elliot Beach and 100 trees were uprooted in Chennai.

I captured a small video with my galaxy player below on the cyclone wind taken at my courtyard.

The yearend, Thane

Hope it was a wonderful beginning for every one of you this year and it’s been two weeks since I posted something and I was almost away from online and because of cold and cousins visiting home and laptop problem I couldn’t get interest to post anything even got chances to do. The New Year eve went off peacefully and pleasantly at home through cutting cake at mid-night and tuning songs to share the joy and calling some dear ones on their asleep… parents did a visit to our street end Pillaiyar temple for the mid-night special worship, and it dawned for us between the crackers sound and kids screaming a lot at neighbor, wishing happy new year.

The news channels helped in understanding the joy across the country by reporting from every city’s hub about the ongoing celebration and this time we get to realize the new year eve was partially joy since it was the second day of the Thane cyclone that unturned the Puducherry and Cuddalore district to immense destruction. First time we get to see the terrific face of the cyclone and thanks to the media that reporting every aspect of the cyclone and its devastation from time to time and understanding its progress that sent almost trees to fall in this district which had been the major hub for cashew and jack fruit cultivation which is internationally renowned for these.

We can’t take it easily when people says that almost trees of cashew and jack fruit lost their places and it will take minimum 15 year to begin its next cultivation if the trees are replaced by plants now. I had been to both these places and know the wealth of the greenery and one can smell the fragrance of cashew nuts frying once across the Panruti in Cuddalore district and in decades this is the first time a strong storm windblown and make people feels that tsunami is better than cyclone that it only affects life that close to shore but cyclone strikes across the land and goes interior until it gets weak.

(mom's kolam)

The Thane also left it foot prints on Chennai’s shores creating transparent changes at the beach fronts; where waves pulled in and throwing away the sands makes it feel minimize in distance between sea and the shore. The night before cyclone crosses ashore, the wind was blowing very strong here like unlike before and we were kept checking news often the day and night on its progress. The cyclone also reminded the tsunami to too many as both the disasters happened at same period of the year-end; we all wish the New Year brings new hope to those affected by cyclone and restore back to normality soon. But the immense lose of trees is inconsolable… in the era of planting more trees to restore the environment this tragedy has increased the burden.

My first quake experience

The late (yesterday) evening earthquake in northeast India, taken away few lives and putting properties at damage has trigger the first ever quake experience of mine in Chennai with less than a month to go a decade ago. While reading the newspaper I recollect the experience of earthquake which turned to be a funny and fearful incident which seriousness is unknown until experienced that day and followed by the grandest devastation of 2004 tsunami which turned hearts heavily.
The time quake struck, I was painting something sitting on the couch and others were watching a movie in the next room. Once I felt the tremor I scared and thrown away the pad I was keeping on me to paint and the colours where dropped to the floor and one of the wooden couch still holds the green colour which remind me the incident every time I look at it. It’s very funny and silly thinking at it today… but the real fun only followed then.

The parents who felt the movement rushed out of the room like to do what to do… then than decide to get down to street. The others from uncle’s family who stayed then in upstairs are all rushed to the street and calling us to come down soon... but since I wore to calliper shoes it wasn’t easy to get me out. The uncle who arrived at that moment and along with mom hurriedly unbuckled the shoes bore me to the street, where we joined with few other neighbours who had arrived early.

For some time we all hold to the street, standing opposite to our house and staring at it. It was an anxious moment for every one of us and what’s funny was those who are insensitive or brave enough to bear the tremor looked at us from there balcony was really indifferent and I couldn’t face those whose faces were like nothing happened. I was thinking now and then how a small tremor has brought us to street even we own a 3 story build! Nothing could save us in this inevitable world that anything could happen at any time and what we hoped as strong and inbuilt couldn’t help at time and we go in search of ground which is only certain.

After sometime and certain that quake won’t come again, we all moved to the home in unrest mind and later some of our neighbours come home and discussed about the quake experience while watched the news about its effect in other areas, and since it happened at early night by 8 we went to bed with a tremble.

Ok guys; share your experience of earthquake if u really has something to share about your first quake experience.

Regards Land of rising sun

No need to say how intense and rage was the waves washout Japan after a strong earthquake which we all see on constant videos, want us to share mourn and set condolence waves to reach our fellow beings who suffer from the greater devastation and indefinite loss of lives that we all wish to come into cease. The thoughts have been around them these days and keeping in touch with news about the rescue operations and wishing the nuclear reactors are prevented from radiation which cause a greater alarm to people who suffered a lot and we no more to see them affect with the explosion and fail to cool reactors.
The tsunami has one again make realize at large how wealth we are couldn’t rescue from this disaster and seems precaution has helped them to save lot of lives except those lose to waves. Earthquakes and tsunamis are not new to Japanese who set their lives on motion and often trembles are an example to be courageous and rise from where lives have been shattered to ashes and debris and come foremost in line of technologies and ideas are sure to prove again they are no fainter.

Couldn’t avoid thoughts seeing the tides crush through sand while at beach on Sunday, we talked and remembered about our devastation from Indian Ocean tsunami which we are somehow glad to be unlike Japan which washout about 10km offshore is something partial to close Chennai. I am somehow fear to waves from childhood and hardly have memories standup at sea waves and after tsunami I am little more scared if tides are unusual or rage.

It’s really hard to image life without electric which we all entirely depend on need and even an hour current cut cause annoy and disturbance but there millions without electric is seriously a problem and lack of water to drink and lose of homes and livelihoods has brought life to the edge with minus temperature to survive. More over the scare over the leak of nuclear reactors has began to threaten people immensely sending away wakeup call for every nation to make sure their reactors are secure to withstand certain disasters. Things happen and we couldn’t change or stop the reaction and we are to learn lessons how to survive when such disaster strike us somehow. Let hope all our heartfelt wishes and condolence rays console their unconditional lose to waves and prevent radiation.

Silent tears

Never like before, I felt so distress because of an incident that happened on Monday. My heart struggles to beat for minutes listen to the desolate end of a cousin who hanged herself. Since childhood I like her a lot and wish to spent time with her and she’s very kind, lovable and softhearted person and never turned her inherent even then we aren’t familiar like before.

Nothing bothers me like her departure lately and even then I missed my grandma couple of years ago, who lived along with us, I couldn’t sense such intense alike her. I know my grandma’s departure was peaceful and intend to age and potential, but her expire is a tragedy and will hurt forever thinking about her. She know nor not I like her a lot and even then she wasn’t interested to talk or share with me I often think about her and care for her good sustain.

It was about 24 hours she left my home, where I met het at last and when she says the least words ‘bye jeevan’, I never thought it could be the last. My emotion might be decreased at least if I haven’t met her this closer hours and she was very casual as usual and watched my pictures slideshow on computer and being get-together as families thus were we gathered for a event at home on Sunday, it was fun and laughter Sunday where she shows no sign to attend suicide.

When I think those last hours I couldn’t believe her true expire and I truly tear for her now silently. I used to wonder sometimes how she forget those days and happiness shared together and either visiting our homes on vacations and when I think now it sense dumb. Who can’t understand or recollect the memories of her parents and dear ones love, desire, sacrifice and the worthless sum they brought for her and celebrating her childhood days, how can she commit suicide whatever reason perhaps she has to take this decision.

Still the reason remains mystery and I don’t want to think or say something, and keeping away the thing whatever it might be, I just wonder in anxious how she could take this decision and what force her more than her parents, who are very friendly I have ever seen. I sometimes wish to be alike them, and her parents – my uncle and aunt, are so energetic and cheerful the moment whenever we get together. They gave her much freedom to chose her carrier and she worked in varies cities under an IT company and lately her parents were looking for a bride-groom and while she took this decision.

I don’t know how my uncle and aunt are going to bear this and convey throughout their life. Especially I’m worrying a lot about our aunt, who I have never seen her much in tears and distress and she’s a easy go person and much cheerful. I’m always against suicide and think who we to perish our life and did we brought it to defeat. I can’t even imagine how painful she might gone through her departure and thinking about it feels scary and freaking.

Life flew away in minute we take wrong decision and then we are no were to feel and who suffers a lot is our parents and dear ones. I always keep this in mind and have come across such parents and I could understand there pain and generally I think always that my decisions should never disturb my parents. They are always and already suffering for me and even if they could, I can’t bear them seeing in distress and physically stressed.

In my view, what the only guilt she did the worst is committed suicide and what are we feel guilt ones is just nothing these days and we have grown in knowledge and realization that doing mistake is nature and related to sense and in need. Who haven’t commit mistake in this world and when it comes to realization and truth, it immerses into the ocean and flies away into the sky.

Whatever the problem in this world, we have a solution in some ways or just accepting the truth or fate and try to face the life it has for us. I too have so many wishes and problems alike others and I sense I have more than enough, but with my conscious, I seek to live in between these, accepting what is for me. I wonder how well I have observed the life and obvious about me, and do things with less knowledge and experience, and thus how come others with rich knowledge, education and transparent in mind and health act senseless and fail to get inspire from others.

When people like us with immobile willing to live, what cause these idiots to die in short temptation or whatever to say. I always wonder and in selfish, why these people can’t take inspire and get solace by having a best life than us. Sometimes I like to say those commit suicide are very selfish, thinking about themselves alone and keeping away those crave for them. Though we can’t totally blame her and even we come to know what cause her to do so and what disturbs her intend and fear, but still I argue that self immortal is stupid and I’m not sure how well I sustain this mind forever. Let’s leave it to future decision.

Life isn’t dedicated to a particular purpose alone and it has many things to do certain. Think I see life from a certain distance and never gone beyond my parents and thus perhaps I don’t know whether there’s something intend beyond that and think I’m at basement of life and many raised as a building to see life at distance. I have been growing around my parents intensely and know how important I’m to them and how well they’re to me. But every life is not same and the way they enjoy the freedom in mass differentiates there life and world they see.

Love is something that cause affection and parents are those give us without an intention and whereas no other relationship gives that intensive. I have seen few mothers in the past lost there children due to accident and what the life they live is simply deceive, but I will never put path for a debate, as I have no more to say and nothing could describe a mothers love and care towards her children. Think I’m going somewhere leave the matter and why I’m saying these because, who is going to suffer a lot after a child’s depart is the mother - apart wife, husband and children, and I don’t know what cause will console my aunt.

Whatever I say is nothing going to change anything and goes pause in silence. My cousin has chosen her solace from whatever disturbed her through departure and we’re seeking to get solace from whatever left behind her in memories. I feel deep regard from my heart to my aunt and uncle, and I wish to be there always to cause solace to keep them away from distress. Thank you!

Thekkady disaster

(taken from the boat we traveled)

The boat ride in thekkady faced a disaster today where the boat caring tourist drowned into the Mullaperiyar dam. It seems the mistake that has been followed among people is the reason for the disaster. People have forgotten where they’re traveling on and act wild in the wildness.

Couple of years back I have seen the people’s wild act while we travel alike a boat when it was near the shore in thekkady. People never think about others and rush to exit even before boat get stable. What would happen if all people run over to an edge, the boat would get pressed one side to raise other to topple. This what happen to the drown today, when people rush to either side of the boat seeing wild animals on the shore and boat lost balance and drowned.

We can’t blame people alone, because it’s the boat drivers and organizers respond to guide people on the boat before it takes off. Seeing wild animals in wildness isn’t common though and enthusiastic is usual, but we need a control or it will take over wrong. I mourn to those lost there lives and hard to think something like this in mid deep water and forest.

RIP YSR

The 24 hours of uncertain came to an end by ending YSR’s life to chopper crash into dense forest. There something strikes everyone to feel sorry about his sudden expire and it’s a great lose to nation and being an admirable Chief Minister of our neighbor state Andhra Pradesh, he deserves the honor of being consecutive for 2nd term as CM!

I was concern about news coming out from yesterday noon and put’s in anxious what would have happen to chopper that carries YRS. There were two thoughts in mind and one it might be crashed down or caught up by Naxals, but wished that nothing happens to him.

The first thing I wake to ask mom in momring was, what happens to Reddy? and she said chopper has found. But I wasn’t confine he is safe and later came to news that chopper crashed and convinced none to survive. I convey my deep condolence to his family and volunteers who follow him as a leader and to those alike me admire for his administrative.