Warrier's Collage August 11, 2021

Welcome to Warrier's COLLAGE On Wednesday August 11, 2021 1) Vakratunda... https://youtu.be/Rn1vSywY7Rg 2) Snake Worship : Mannarassala https://youtu.be/2IKzw0DWz7c (A Temple dedicated to snake worship) Good Morning Feel energised after talking to "German Subbu" yesterday. He is one of ten or twelve friends I have, who passes on positive energy to the other side while interacting. His "Pep Up" talk had the freshness of a steaming filter coffee from Coimbatore 🙏 Nice Day M G Warrier AA Thought for the Day : "Missing the Bronze and winning the Gold!" https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/warriersviews/missing-the-bronze-and-winning-the-gold-36222/ (See H4 to read the article) A 1) C V Subbaraman Mysuru Attempting to join a course after getting "old(er)" may be a good idea. But I am afraid that most of us do not attempt it because after having taken a degree or post graduate degree and having "successfully" held positions of responsibility for long years, and thinking rightly or wrongly that we have earned a good measure of maturity and wisdom (though we may have lost our wisdom teeth), if we sat for a matriculation examination now, we may not be sure of clearing the test! But it is not "may" in my case, I am sure I shall fail. Subbaraman 2) S K Gupta Panchkula 'The Rose' made a wonderful and mesmerizing description of our lives. In fact, there could be a very thin yet highly significant dividing line between growing old and growing up and most of us simply grow old. Life is how we make it. Life becomes the way we take it. However, it is felt that: Its opening sentence 'The first day of school our professor ...should read as 'The first day at College....' 3) Good News Social Media is about "sharing and caring". Happy to find that Collage readèrs like V R Chittanandam are further sharing contributions from writers like V Babusenan in their own elite Groups by email and WhatsApp. Many Thanks to them-Warrier B Reader's Contribution Nissim Ezekiel* : V Babusenan Thiruvananthapuram On a day in the 1960s,a middle -aged man was sitting in a contemplative mood,but with pen in hand ,in one of the guest houses of the Leeds University,England, expecting poetry to come out at any moment.He belonged to the genre of poets who believed that a poet should have as much patience as a birdwatcher .The poem he was waiting for was to be read in the congregation of poets taking place that evening.About the time the organizers were expected to take him to the venue,the first line poured out from his pen: " I remember the night my mother was stung by a scorpion" It was an uninterrupted flow of fortyeight lines of poetry destined to become a bright star on the firmament of Indian-English poetry. (Continued at H1) *Know more : https://m.timesofindia.com/life-style/books/features/memorable-poems-by-nissim-ezekiel/amp_etphotostory/78018515.cms Excerpts : Nissim Ezekiel’s collected poems were first anthologized in 1992 by Oxford India. Since then, it has published three impressions and two editions of the anthology. When read from cover to cover, the poems show Ezekiel's evolution as a poet from the age of 28 to 62. These poems are spread over a wide spectrum and reflect the changes that Ezekiel made in his writing over time. Here is a look at some memorable poems by Nissim Ezekiel C Downloads 1) Books on Wildlife https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/amp/60929/5-books-wildlife-must-read Excerpts : "The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence Lawrence Anthony, wildlife conservationist, took in a herd of wild African elephants at his Thula Thula game reserve. The matriarch and her baby had been shot leaving the herd traumatised and highly dangerous. Anthony realised he might be their last chance of survival.  This book is the incredible story of his struggle to form a bond with these elephants who ultimately accepted Anthony as their matriarch. When he died in 2012, the same herd of elephants made a twelve-hour journey to his home to mourn his death. " 2) Collage Profile : Margaret Mead https://www.britannica.com/biography/Margaret-Mead Excerpts : "As an anthropologist, Mead was best known for her studies of the nonliterate peoples of Oceania, especially with regard to various aspects of psychology and culture—the cultural conditioning of sexual behaviour, natural character, and culture change. As a celebrity, she was most notable for her forays into such far-ranging topics as women’s rights, child rearing, sexual morality, nuclear proliferation, race relations, drug abuse, population control, environmental pollution, and world hunger." D Readers'Contributions 1) Tourism : M G Warrier https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/Let%E2%80%99s-attract-the-tourists-better/article14545982.ece Excerpts : "I believe India has not exploited even 10 per cent of its potential in the tourism industry. I am not against the private sector or public-private sector partnership in any area. But in the Indian context, the nation has to have a vision about the kind of infrastructure that it needs, priorities about geographical areas that could be made attractive tourism spots, and the extent of support the government can give through guidance and policy support. Conscious government involvement is necessary to protect the interests of the local population and the environment. Unfortunately, like posh multi-specialty hospitals in India which care more for the comforts of patient-attendants, tourism is being marketed in India as posh stay arrangements and guided visits to certain spots developed with the inflow of tourists in mind, some ‘heritage tourism’, and lately several good and bad practices in the name of ‘health tourism’. There is no holistic approach." (Continued at H1) 2) Wild Life Sanctuaries in Kerala https://traveltriangle.com/blog/wildlife-sanctuaries-in-kerala/amp/ (See H2) E Blogs & Links 1) Writing Tips https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/mabast-king/5-tips-on-how-to-write-a-research-aim-36047/ Posted online comments : "liked this presentation as it also serves as a model for writing a blog post or article meant to convey one\'s own thoughts. scripting the aim beforehand will also help the writer \"discipline\" and regulate the flow of the article. as regards research mid-term corrections of aims and objectives may also become necessary for various reasons. expect more from this writer.' 2) Forest Worship https://m.timesofindia.com/why-forests-were-worshipped/articleshow/6054260.cms Excerpts : "Vedic wisdom expounded on the need for conservation of natural gifts. Perhaps rituals related to conservation were instituted to ensure that these treasures were not desecrated. We need to understand the significance of such conservation rituals and respect them in context. Green living was a way of acknowledging the divine nature of forests. Ancients considered it important to respect the interconnected nature of life. In tribal cultures, before axing a tree, people would ask permission of the tree, promising to plant five trees as compensation. Today, these rituals are being abandoned as irrelevant. Trees symbolise spirit of service, as they serve dead or alive. They sustain ecological balance when standing tall and protect and serve as wood after death. We need to give something back in the same altruistic spirit. We must look at the lifestyle choices we make every day. The choices we make ought to be mindful of environmental conservation to restore and cherish natural gifts. Let’s green our thoughts and remember M K Gandhi’s words: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.’’ To take more than we need is to sow seeds of self-destruction. If we continue in this vein, we would be subjecting ourselves and other life forms to needless suffering and perhaps accelerate a process of extinction for all" F Leisure Bronze, Silver or Gold ?* Have you noticed that a Bronze medalist is generally happier than a Silver medalist at the end of the game? It’s not incidental finding but proven fact in many research studies after studying reactions of silver medalists vs bronze medalists! Ideally, a silver medalist should be happier than the bronze. But human mind doesn't work like mathematics. This happens because of phenomenon of counterfactual thinking. Silver medalist thinks, "Oh I couldn't win the gold medal." Bronze medalist thinks, "At least I got a medal." Silver medal is won after losing, but Bronze medal is won after winning. This happens in our life also, we don't appreciate what we have but feel sad with what we don't have. Let's be grateful for our blessings, they far outweigh our problems if we start counting. Life is after all full of choices, do always count your blessings to stay positive & motivated... *Received from A P Ramadurai Cheñnai G Quotes about Wildlife https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/wildlife.html Like : "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead (Margaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist who featured frequently as an author and speaker in the mass media during the 1960s and 1970s. She earned her bachelor's degree at Barnard College in New York City and her MA and PhD degrees from Columbia University.) H 1) Continued from C The Poet was Nissim Ezekiel* (1924-2004) who set a new trend in the Indian-English poetic arena, dominated until then by the poetry of Tagore, Sri Aurobindo and Sarojini Naidu, romantic mainly and rich in imagery. It all started in1952 when Ezekiel was the sub-editor of the legendary Illustrated Weekly of India. He captured quickly a large segment of readership. Ezekiel, as a poet, was not particular that poetry should adhere to metric rules. He believed that genuine poetry had its own tala system and that over abundance of imagery had to be avoided at all cost. He also believed that true poetry emerged from the intermingling of three great qualities : involvement, sincerity and candour. After taking a post-graduate degree in English literature from Bombay University, Ezekiel went to London to study philosophy under the well-known C E M Joad. But, getting convinced that poetry occupied a much higher realm than philosophy, he returned to India midway to become a poet and settled in the city of Bombay which he describes in one of his poems: "Always in the sun's eye, Here among the beggars, Hawkers, pavement sleepers, Hutment dwellers, slums, Dead souls of men and gods, Burnt-out mothers, frightened Virgins, wasted child And tortured animal, All in noisy silence Suffering the place and time. ( kindly note the appropriateness of the oxymoron 'noisy silence') Ezekiel retired as Professor of English from Bombay University. He always stood as fountainhead of inspiration for many a talented poet who wrote in English. His own poems are spread over the collections : A Time to Change(1952), Sixty Poems(1953), The Third(1959), The Unfinished Man(1960), The Exact Name(1965), Hymns in Darkness(1976), Latter-day Psalms(1982) and Collected Poems(1989). The poem he wrote for the Leeds Conference , mentioned at the beginning, captioned 'Night of the Scorpion' where he mixed rustic superstitions beautifully with mundane facts, one finds in the 1965 collection. The many awards he got included a Padmasree. The very purpose of this write-up is limited : To regale, if possible, the esteemed readers of Collage with a couple of poems wherein Ezekiel ridicules the way many educated Indians handle the Queen's English. Iranian hotels used to be very popular(hope they continue to be so) in cosmopolitan Bombay. Here was a board meant for the customers in one of the more popular Iranian hotels : "Do not write letter Without ordering refreshment. Do not comb Hair is spoiling floor. Do not make mischief in cabin Our waiter is reporting. Come again All are welcome whatever caste If not satisfied tell us. Otherwise tell others. God is great." We know that, these days, only very few write diaries and fewer still in verse. One belonging to the latter category wrote in his diary as to what happened to him when he went to buy a soap: "Some people are not having manners, this I am always observing. For example other day I find I am needing a soap for ordinary washing myself purposes. So I am going to one small shop nearby in my lane and I'm asking for well-known brand soap. That shopman he's giving me soap but I'm finding it deceptive version, So I'm saying very politely- though in Hindi I am saying it, and my Hindi is not so good as my English. Please to excuse me but this is defective version of well-known brand soap. That shopman is saying and very rudely he is saying it, What is wrong with soap? Now small crowd is collecting and shopman is much bigger than me, and I am not caring so much for small defect in well-known brand soap So I am saying Alright O K, Alright O K this time I will take but not next time." (*Nissim Ezekiel was an Indian Jewish poet, actor, playwright, editor and art critic. He was a foundational figure in postcolonial India's literary history, specifically for Indian Poetry in English. ) 2) Continued from D1 Kerala Model I am an old-timer. Naveen Tandon, who did a project on ‘Developing a branding approach to overcome the negative image perception of Chhattisgarh’ last year, as part of his Post Graduate Programme at IIM Ahmedabad (2016 batch), is all praise for the Kerala Model of tourism development: “When it comes to branding for tourism in India, the runaway success is Kerala and we could learn a few things from the Kerala story to have an idea about how States have rebranded themselves to occupy enviable spots on the tourists’ map. Kerala went from being a budget travel destination to being the biggest tourism brand in the country. Branding has played an important role in this transformation with the tagline ‘Gods Own Country’ and a strong campaign focussed on targeting the affluent. The building of the brand preceded the building of necessary infrastructure. The building of the brand created the necessary demand for good hotels and other facilities for the tourists and other players.” Within Kerala, there is a need to formally promote ‘Festival Tourism’. The Onam celebrations at the district and State levels, the Thrissur Pooram, the Aattukaal Pongala, Sabarimala pilgrimage, Theyyams in the Malabar area and several other Hindu/Muslim/Christian festivals are examples. If transport and stay arrangements improve, tourists will make it a point to link festivals in their travel plan. Kerala has some artificial water parks. But we do not have a theme park of international standards. A couple of parks/entertainment areas will be useful additions. Aranmula has all the linkages and resources necessary to grow into a large modern ‘Herbal Tourism Village’. The concept could include participation of major Ayurveda entities. There should be facilities for stay and treatment for different economic classes including the Indian middle class and ‘rich’ outsiders. Development of medicinal plantations in adjacent villages is a possibility. Aranmula has the additional advantage of having two international airports within a distance of 150 km. Kerala could indeed go places — provided a carefully charted out plan is put into place. 3) Continued from D2 Lions at one of the national parks in Kerala Begur Wildlife Sanctuary Located in the plateau region of Western Ghats, Begur Wildlife Sanctuary has an exotic variety of fauna. The tourist-friendly climate and picturesque surroundings make it one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The variety of trees and wildlife thriving indicate a fine balance of nature. Best time to visit: December to May How to reach Nearest railway station: Thalassery Railway Station Nearest airport: Kozhikode Airport Nearest town: Mananthavady Entry charges: A nominal entry fee of INR 10 is applicable. For detailed information, please visit the official website. Timings: 06:00 am to 08:00 am and 03:00 pm to 05:30 pm (all days) Things to do in Begur Wildlife Sanctuary: Jeep safari, trekking and jungle walks Birds and animals to watch out for:Black bulbul, Peafowl, bears, Laughing Thrush, Panthers, Wild boars Places to visit near Begur Wildlife Sanctuary: Kabini River, Kanthanpara Waterfall, WayanadJain Temple, Thusharagiri Waterfalls, Lakkidi, Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary and Banasura Dam are some of the best places to visit near Begur Wildlife Sanctuary. Suggested places to stay: There are no government guest houses or lodges available. However, you can find hotels and accommodation facilities in Kalpetta and other nearby towns and cities. Treehouse resort near Vythiri is popular amongst tourists for its comfortable lodging facility. Tips: Carry a cap/hat, a sunscreen lotion, mosquito/insect repellents and an extra pair of comfortable shoes. Also, do not forget to carry an adequate quantity of food and water for there are no restaurants within the sanctuary. 4) Continued from AA Missing the Bronze and winning the Gold M G Warrier My friend Karunakaran sent this message to me on August 8, 2021 : "America won 113 medals this time including 39 gold. Ours was 48 position. What may the reason, in your opinion for our inability to excel in competitive sports?" My response was : "Inefficient Resources Management" My friend was not happy. He said : "...Brevity should not be at the cost of clarity" Inspired by the interest shown by my friend in knowing more, l tried to put together this piece on what's the great difference between those who miss the Bronze and those who win the Gold in Olympics. First let me share a story which my father told me during 1950's. It's about the rituals following the death of a pious Brahmin (Let's call him Nambi) in interior Malabar region during the first half of 20th Century. The story goes like this : Nambi who was staying with his wife in his ancestral home which was in disrepair as the family had no regular source of income died following a prolonged ailment. Arrangements for traditional funeral rituals and rites were in progress. The body was kept in the Verandah and neighbours and friends were paying last respects. The chief priest arrived and started giving directions. He asked one of the guests to keep a "measureful" of rice near the head of Nambi's body. The guest conveyed the requirement faithfully to Nambi's wife inside the house. She called him near and whispered in his ear, sobbing : "If that was there, Nambi would have been still alive. He died of starvation than succumbing to the ailment!" Wondering what relevance has this story in the Olympics 2020 context? It has. Making to Olympics for an average Indian athlet or sportsperson is a dream coming true after years of perseverance. Let's make a case study of Mirabai Chanu who clinched a Silver in 49 kg weight lifting after a gap of 5 Olympics. Born to a poor family in a remote village, 20 kilometres from Imphal Chanu's childhood was spent cutting and collecting woods from the nearby hills, hauling them up by herself, and fetching water from nearby ponds in milk powder cans. She had to depend on local truck drivers' mercy for going to the city for practice as the family couldn't afford the bus fare. Mirabai is not alone. Story of many from India who represented India in International events so far has not been different. Once someone makes a mark some rewards and recognition follow. If there is an organized effort at various levels to identify talent and groom athletes and sportspersons according to their respective aptitude India has the potential now to perform much better. Incidentally, we need to change our attitude to games and sports altogether. Winning and losing are part of the game. When an athlete or a team brings a medal home, we overdo by celebrating and rewarding them. We forget the efforts put in by those who marginally lose for various reasons. Actually such an approach dampen the enthusiasm and morale of future winners. ***. ***. ***