An old boathouse

The boathouse located at one of the corners of the Kodaikanal Lake (which resembles the shape of a start) is a pretty one and capture my attention every time I come around the lake during my visits to Kodaikanal. I think it is an old boathouse and perhaps abandoned now, as I ever seen it operated like the other boathouses that gather crowd.  But what I like more about this boathouse was its hut like structure that in a way look alike the traditional houses of China.

The Kodaikanal Lake has been fenced throughout (to keep away the public polluting the lake) and these are photos shot from the car, so I couldn’t avoid fence hindering the boathouse. Hope I could get a detail photo on the boathouse in my next turn. 

Linking this post for Run a Round Ranch's Good Fences

Prohibition of liquor is possible, quite?

A plea for prohibition of liquor in our State (Tamil Nadu) has been there for long and one of the leading political parties has prohibition as their main policy and demanding for it quite long time. But in last few years other political parties too took flag against the sales of liquor, which was done through Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) – a company owned by state government.

Very lately the main opposition party (former) leader promised to bring prohibition in the state if they are back in power, perhaps if they win the 2016 assembly election. But it was like a manifesto that supposed to release with the intention of election, the issue become too serious with the demise of Gandhian Sasi Perumal, during his protest to shut a TASMAC shop. He has been protesting in favor of prohibition for long period on the principles of Gandhi – particularly on the idea of nonviolent resistance.

Now almost political parties and various institutions in Tamil Nadu has leap into the issue and urges the state government to implement the prohibition immediately. Some going to the extreme took the issue in their hands to break through and putting fire to the TASMAC shops in the suburbs. Its obvious liquor/alcohol is ill to health and many families suffers because of the head of the family becomes a drunkard and destroy all the economy and hope, his family got on him towards their future.

No doubt, prohibition is must! But implementing immediately is quite impossible I think. I also wonder how people, even with great wisdom believe that closing the liquor shops will stop people from drinking. I know if there’s availability people used to it constantly but what if a road blocked? Isn’t there any other route to reach the destination and in this case to get the feel of intoxicated? People don’t think from the mind of drunkards or those addicted to alcohol. It’s not easy for them to stop consuming alcohol suddenly which is somehow possible only in the case of occasional/social drinkers.

I know people who live on the purpose of only drinking and seem to be intoxicated always. Even a day or two without drinking put them into troublesome and feel anguish and perhaps there are chances of attempting suicide if they are quite out of control. But it does not mean that we have to let them drink forever (and die soon), but it’s a social responsibility to bring them out of the habit and as a initial step in reducing the number of consumption of liquor, the government and social organisations should encourage those who want to come out of addiction and give treatment through rehabilitation centers for free of cost.

On other hand the government should also take step in reducing the sale of liquor rather targeting how to increase the marketing. There has been constant growth (of about 20 percent) at the sales of liquor, from the financial year 2002-03, which proves that those consume liquor has been increased, even though the price could have rose apparently we could not deny the fact and crowd we see in front of the liquor stores. The govt. should come up with creative ideas how to prevent people going blindfold behind liquor bars and also develop an alternate source (parallel) to balance their fiscal lose if they implement prohibition, in a slow and steady progress.

Although it’s good to see people (esp. students) come together with great force and protest against the liquor sale and urging the government to shutdown the shops. Instead shouting and taking violence in hand people should think in silence and try to understand where the problem lies and what the ways to prevent drunkard from drinking. I personally feel the film industries and films especially are encouraging indirectly the drinking habit through the scenes of drinking. I find almost films made in recent years have a scene or two that remind liquor even those who want to give up.

There’s a singer come lyricist called gana Bala, who write songs that praise liquor and habit of drinking. Wish he stops writing such songs that encourage alcoholics and inspire non-drinkers to the habit. Let whoever comes to the power, promise whatever they want to but make certain the prohibition has been implemented at right method and manner that does not let in illegal booze and other drug items that affect the lives of drinkers to worse. 

RGB Monday

Remote in hand, I was thinking what to post for my new found series. But I got the idea at the moment looking at the remote. And here I got the colors in a single click.

The buttons in the remote and in array of red, green and blue... although yellow interrupt the row I find it apt to the series. The TV remote is one of the objects we handle daily at home. 

30 + Things

July 31^st I turned 30. But I feel nothing turned out to be like people emphasis about the number . For some time now, I consider age as a matter not (instead being a fact) when everyday becomes a record. I think age is only for the body but sometime even despite the fact, and to be stunned someone’s active used to be. For example APJ Abdul Kalam! When I see people complain tedious at very young age, Kalam’s energy level and active lifestyle until his last breath (at age of 84) amaze me and reinforce by belief that age isn’t a matter or barrier until we are sufficient with energy/power.

My favorite chocolate cake... but i felt more choco in it 

Birthdays aren’t special anymore these years and the day passes like just another except getting attention from family and friends to be greeted. For last few years I had no celebration on my birthday and I also stopped anticipating as I feel nothing turns out if I celebrate or not the day. Last time I celebrated my birthday (with a cake) was in 2011 and after that I don’t have a reason or thought to celebrate. This time too I wasn’t in intention of celebration, but my brother arranged for a cake and since our grandparents are at home this time we decided not to miss the chance.

As u perhaps knew my grandpa wasn’t well and after discharged from hospital, he was at our home and supposed to stay until their new home (which is under construction) is ready. Two months have completed now since grandparents moved into our home and grandpa shows great improvement in health and activities after going through (and continue to do) physiotherapy and taking insulin injection for sugar. He put steady and fast pace in walking these days and being affected by Parkinson’s he struggles speaking a word or two and experience loss of memory sometime but wasn’t anything serious to complain. 

A dream hero and a true leader...

My painting on Kalam when he turned 75 in 2006

APJ Abdul Kalam doesn’t need an intro and children/students celebrate him as hero, who inspires everyone to dream. Being a rocket scientist, I see him as a true leader who guided the country on the right path with an anticipation that is quite selfless. It is rare for a country with billion populations who entirely love and admire an individual beyond their variation and unity in diversity.

I am uncertain in which way I admire him the most (as a rocket scientist or missile man, a transformer of dreams or president of India, or perhaps his various aspects and schemes) but the concept of India 2020 impressed me lot and want to follow his path. India 2020 is the first book I read (with interest) apart the school text books which I read in a compulsion or without passion. He showed me a way to explore things through books, even though I started reading books actually to improve my English it was his book initiated the habit.

Just like everyone, his simplicity and down to earth attitude (even at the post of higher position and first citizen of nation) make me feel incredible and proud to live in his era. Among his many pursuits of dreams, the 2020 project is a wake-up call for the entire nation to work hard to fulfill his dreams where lies our bright future. What really bother me was, whether India becomes a developed nation or not in 2020, he should have lived to encourage us until we reach quite a position.

He had touched almost all the areas and wanted to develop everything equally (with a vision for tomorrow) because a development gets a full form only if it was balanced. Although he’s a scientist dealt with deadly weapons and missiles, he’s gentle enough towards every human being as he himself being so, he’s more concern about environment and want to bring a transformation in agriculture using latest technologies. His Go Green campaign that began in Tamil Nadu with an intention to plant 10 million saplings is a great initiation, which I see as a balance to various destruction we do in name of development.

Agriculture being my favorite subject and villages being center of its state, I like the way he look into the concept of agriculture and the need to develop the villages, he quotes:

My true labor will give life to my village

our villages elevates, our families will get good prosperity

our families lived well, our state will rise

our state elevates, our country will evolutes as a fertile nation

we work hard and develop our village, state and nation.

As a teacher he has reached students that any other leader or educationist would have done. Teaching being his main intention as he believes giving education is the best way to make someone realize his dreams and he sowed the seeds in students for the future nourishment and he understands the fact that taking anything at earlier gives good result. Not everyone gets the chance to die while doing what they love and respect to do so... at the age of 84, our youngest hero passed away while on his course of teaching (delivering a lecture) to students at IIM Shillong on a livable plant.

Good bye Kalam, we will follow your track and bring alive your dream.