Warrier's Collage October 22, 2021

Welcome to Warrier's COLLAGE On Friday October 22, 2021 Sreeramachandra kripalu* https://youtu.be/MyNSOu-Fl-k *See "Sooryagayathri - Classical Bhajan Singer" http://www.sooryagayathri.in/main-site/profile (Link Selection : M G Warrier) Good Morning Nice Day M G Warrier A Snippets : V T Panchapagesan Chennai Kerala Floods : Athirappilly Falls Many people must have noticed a hut standing tall in Athirappilly in the midst of heavy flow. There is a history behind this that no one discusses much. William Corby, a British military officer assigned to India in 1859, was sent to India shortly after his marriage. He came to India with his wife. He was very fond of natural beauty and was quickly fascinated by the beauty of Athirappilly. Combining adventure and natural beauty in the middle of that water, one night he asked the soldiers to build a hut to stay with his wife Celisha. But despite repeated attempts, none of them survived the onslaught. That is how Kunjon Thachan, a traditional carpenter, was brought from the Malabar region. Kunjon the carpenter arrived there with his disciple Chemban. The first thing he did was pick a large rock and sharply break the part facing the stream. So the flow was adjusted so that it hit the rock and diverted to the sides. Later large rods brought from Britain were fastened to it with small rocks on the sides in a similar manner. This amazing hut was built on these wires. The marvelous surki mixture used in the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam was used to fasten the rods to the rock. This architectural skill that amazed him was not forgotten when William returned. He worked in India for 14 years, but in the meantime his wife, Selisha, died. It made him depressed but the black & white photo of him standing with Selisha in that hut was his favorite. William, who was later elected Member of Parliament, presented the photo to the British Parliament and the photo is still preserved in Parliament in recognition of his Indian architectural prowess. The hut is a marvel in the modern construction of crumbling bridges and buildings. What happened to Kunjon Thachan and Sahai Chemban later on is still unknown. (*Based on a Face Book post by Padmini Natarajan. However, current media reports suggest that the present structure is of recent origin. Both views can be correct. The present super-structure might have been built on the strong basement of the original structure 🙏-Warrier) B Current Affairs 1) My India "My India My Pride - Know India: National Portal of India" https://knowindia.india.gov.in/my-india-my-pride/ India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, spanning a period of more than 4000 years, and witnessing the fusion of several customs and traditions, which are reflective of the rich culture and heritage of the Country. The history of the nation gives a glimpse into the magnanimity of its evolution - from a Country reeling under colonialism, to one of the leading economies in the global scenario. More than anything, the nationalistic fervour of the people is the contributing force behind the culmination of such a development. This transformation of the nation instills a sense of national pride in the heart of every Indian within the Country and abroad, and this section is a modest attempt at keeping its flame alive. 2) Vaccination Milestone : 100 crore "100 Crore Vaccination Milestone LIVE Updates: PM Modi says we are witnessing 'triumph of Indian science'" https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/100-crore-covid-vaccination-live-updates-7606691.html/amp 3) Nobel Journalism : Open The Magazine "Nobel Journalism - Open The Magazine" https://openthemagazine.com/feature/nobel-journalism/ Excerpts : "The Nobel committee summed this up very well when it said, “Ms Ressa and Mr Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.” While both laureates have toiled under adverse conditions, the award to Muratov is especially noteworthy as Russia presents an exceptionally hostile environment for journalism to the point that the quest for facts often turns into taking political sides. In any democracy, polarisation of opinion, fake news, partisan reporting and other distortions in the press are disagreeable features that are present in some form or the other. But it is in Russia that the soil is uniquely ranged against even normal journalistic practices, such as unearthing facts and asking difficult questions. In that sense, Muratov’s newspaper Novaya Gazeta stands out as an independent but non-partisan organ. In his comments after receiving the news of the award, Muratov said the prize was not just for him and his paper but also for journalists like Anna Politkovskaya (1958-2006) who was murdered in the line of work. 4) Restaurant on wheels* https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/train-lovers-delight-cr-sets-up-restaurant-on-wheels/covid-19-protocols-in-place/slideshow/87135665.cms The Central Railway (CR) has set up a 'Restaurant on Wheels' at the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai, which it said will offer a unique experience to diners inside the coach mounted on rails. According to a release issued by the CR, this restaurant has been made using a discarded rail coach which will become a landmark eating house in this area. *Link Courtesy : S Thyagarajan C Collage Profile Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) "'Mind over matter': Stephen Hawking – obituary by Roger Penrose | Stephen Hawking | The Guardian" https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-obituary Excerpts : Hawking had been diagnosed shortly after his 21st birthday as suffering from an unspecified incurable disease, which was then identified as the fatal degenerative motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Soon afterwards, rather than succumbing to depression, as others might have done, he began to set his sights on some of the most fundamental questions concerning the physical nature of the universe. In due course, he would achieve extraordinary successes against the severest physical disabilities. Defying established medical opinion, he managed to live another 55 years. *** Despite his terrible physical circumstance, he almost always remained positive about life. He enjoyed his work, the company of other scientists, the arts, the fruits of his fame, his travels. He took great pleasure in children, sometimes entertaining them by swivelling around in his motorised wheelchair. Social issues concerned him. He promoted scientific understanding. He could be generous and was very often witty. On occasion he could display something of the arrogance that is not uncommon among physicists working at the cutting edge, and he had an autocratic streak. Yet he could also show a true humility that is the mark of greatness. D Readers' Contributions Time*...Kaala... : Vathsala Jayaraman Chennai In Bhagavata Purana, 3rd Skandham,10th Chapter, the issue has been discussed in greater detail. "Time (Kaala), is undifferentiated and has no beginning or end and it is actually a metamorphosis of World Phenomenon." Actually the words Anu and Paramaanu (which denote atom these days) signify a measure of time. It is interesting to know a table or vaaippaadu as per Bhagavatham. The minutest particle is Paramaanu. 2 Paramaanus=1 Anu 3 Anus = 1 Trasarenu ( Trasarenu is the minutest particle seen floating in space) The measure of time taken by the Sun-ray to travel across a group of 3 Trasarenu is called Truti 100 Trutis = A Vedha 3 Vedhas = 1 Lava 3 Lavas =1 Nimesha (twinkling of eye) 3 Nimesha = 1 Kshana 5 Kshanas = 1 Kaashta 15 Kaashtas =1 Laghu 15 Laghu =1 Naadika 2 Nadikaas = 1 Muhurta 6 or 7 Naadikaas = 1 Prahara( depending on long days or nights) 1 Prahara=one quarter of a day/night. This is how the matter ( Anu) is connected with time. Bhagavatam speaks of sandhya or sandhyamasa being the sleeping hours of Brahma after each yuga. Everything else is withdrawn into him. (perhaps corresponding to Crunch, which you have stated). According to Bhagavatam, the Satya Yuga consists of 4000 years and 800 years of Crunch (Sandhyamsa) For every Yuga, 20% of the period is stated to be Sleeping Over. Kaliyuga consists of 1000 celestial years followed by 200 years of rest. In terms of human years Kaliyuga will last for 432000 years. But historical research done by carbon dating and other astronomical data place Rama's date some 7000 years back & Mahabharata War sometime in 3700 B. C. This has absolutely no relevance with 864000 years of Dwapara Yuga and 12,96, 000 years of Tretayuga. We are at a loss as to what to believe. Though this confusion will never stand in the way of our daily life, it makes us think. Vathsala Jayaraman. *Related link : "Brahma's one day means - Vaniquotes" https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Brahma%27s_one_day_means E Faith charan singh (@CharanSingh60) Tweeted: Unity in Diversity - 46 मंगला हरि मंगला नित मंगलु राजा राम राय को भगत सैन, 695, गुरु ग्रंथ साहिब People sing songs of joy before the deity My joy is to find God within as I owe all my joy to the Sovereign, all pervasive Master Bhagat Sain, 695, SGGS https://twitter.com/CharanSingh60/status/1450903948764663809?s=20 F Leisure : 1) The Patient Grandpa... I was walking through the local supermarket the other day when I saw a grandfather walking around with his 2 year old grandson. It was obvious that the grandpa wasn't having an easy time of it, with the siren-like voice of his cherished youngling scaling upwards every time candy or toys came into view. The grandfather, however, kept his cool, and intoned softly to the child: "Ron, relax, it won't take long." When the screaming didn't stop, the grandpa continued: "Ron, there's no reason to get angry, try to enjoy this walk and in a minute we'll be on the way home, promise." When I came out of the store I saw them in the parking lot, the child screaming and the older man still talking softly and quiety to him. I couldn't help myself. I walked over to him. "Sir," I said, "I have to say you are an amazing grandfather. The way you talk to the boy and keep your calm despite all of this screaming - Ron's a lucky kid to have a grandpa like you." "Thanks," said the grandfather, "but I'm Ron. This little bugger's name is Michael." (Received from Vathsala Jayaraman Chennai via Group mail 2) Optional "Old People Jokes & Puns - Funny Jokes for Seniors" https://bestlifeonline.com/old-people-jokes/ G Inspiration 1) Thought* for the day : "The sign of a beautiful person is that they always see beauty in others.” Omar Suleiman FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT OF EGYPT *Contributed by Dr Chitra Nashik 2) Quotes about beautiful life "17 Quotes About Living a Beautiful Life | SUCCESS" https://www.success.com/17-quotes-about-living-a-beautiful-life/ Like : "However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” —Stephen Hawking (Stephen William Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death) H What is RBI reading? Book - Terms of Disservice : How Silicon Valley is Destructive by Design; Author - Shri Dipayan Ghosh; Publisher - Harper Business; Pages - 295 ; Price - ₹559/-. Dipayan Ghosh with his experience at the White House, in academia and in the industry (as a former Facebook Policy adviser) has superbly crafted the book making it a lively and fast paced read. It highlights some shocking examples of the dangers of unbridled rise of digital platforms including how Myanmar's military and local Buddhists used Facebook to spread hate against Rohingyas and promote beatings, killings of the minority community, how YouTube promoted the radical right-wing ideas of Jair Bolsanaro in Brazil, how Whatsapp forwards have led to the spread of fake news, mob lynching in India and how a white supremacist used Facebook Live while he shot down people praying in a mosque in New Zealand. The book offers insights into how big tech firms are actually exploiting user data to make billions of dollar – for example the Cambridge Analytica Incident. The currency that the digital platforms receive from their advertisers (their direct monetary revenue) is a mere fraction of the actual payment which is delivered in an entirely different form of currency : the complex combination of our attention and our personal data. This is a must-read for those engaged in the world of tech policy, but beyond that, for anyone who wants to understand how new structures of corporate power are shaping the world of politics, economy and everyday life –often with terrifying consequences. Contributed by Smt M Rama Kumari, DGM, DoS Source : RBI Newsletter, October 15, 2021