Ethiopia's Hydel Dam

Ethiopia is wrongly perceived as a poor and very underdeveloped country. People who have worked or lived there know that this perception is exaggerated. This country has many lakes and rivers including the famous Nile. I have seen my Ethiopian colleagues being proud of their natural reserves, heritage, traditions and their 'Injera' when I was teaching at a Government Senior Secondary School in the country. 

The news that the country has inagurated the largest hydroelectric dam is a matter of pride to all Ethiopians. 

I nostalgically remember my stay in Addis Ababa with it's nunerous restaurants serving injera and six different types of coffee. 

Changing times

We all experience the inevitable changes that are brought in with changing technology. This evening cna TV Channel telecast an interesting documentary on this interesting aspect. I was particularly drawn to the 'camera' segment of the documentary. 

Like many youngsters from middle class background, I had developed a liking for photography, a hobby that I inherited from my beloved father. I nostalgically remember the different cameras that I had used in different times as camera technology kept changing. Let me share images of the cameras that I had used.

There was an excellent Tamizh language children's magazine known as 'Kannan' (image of an edition of which is shown below) which was very popular among children during my boyhood years. 

This magazine was a treasure house of good information to kids. It used to bring articles on how to take pictures using a camera and how to develop films. The magazine also published articles on how to build cardboard houses, how to make a slide projector, how to assemble a portable 3 Band Radio etc.

Besides 'Kannan', there were a few other very popular childrens/youth magazines in Southern India where my parents resided.  Chandamama was one such children's magazine. (After retirement from active career, I joined Chandamama as creative writer for a few months). 

Among the English language youth magazines, Junior Statesman was very popular all over the country. I nostalgically remember it's debut edition of February 1967 with The Beatles as it's front cover page.

There were also newspapers and magazines that carried sections for children. One such  was Illustrated Weekly of India. Aunty Wendy's 'Young Folks League' was a popular column in the magazine.

Christian Organisations used to publish their own youth magazines. Don Bosco School, Mumbai used to publish 'Youngsters'; Chennai based Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts used to publish 'Friends'. Younsters carried 'Nuts to crack Competition' (in which I had bagged some gifts). I remember having written an article entitled Hippies, hypocricy and happiness' in November 1969 edition of Friends.

Those were golden years.

My beloved father's birth anniversary

Today is my beloved father's birth anniversary according to the Western Calender. He was born on 13 September 1923.

Jai Shree Krishnaa🙏.

Ancestral worship

Days from past Monday until coming 21st or so are considered to be very auspicious in the Hindu Calender. During this period known as Pithru Paksha, Hindu men perform rituals of ancestral worship to their parents and other ancestors who are no more and who lived in the previous three generations. They also offer worship to their relatives, guru/s and friends who are no more.

I also performed the ritual this morning. As I had to keep the cooked rice and a sweet dish known as 'paayasam' ready before the priest arrived at my residence, I got up at 3.10 am, performed the daily ritual of Sandhyavandhanam and Sreeman Naaraayanaa Ashtaakshara Mahaa Manthram, and then performed the ritual as directed by the priest.

I reside in a rented one BHK house. As I would have mentioned in my previous posts, the house owner is a highly qualified Engineer and so is his wife. He retired from his career and spends his time in more spirutual deeds; his wife is a home maker. They have a son in London and a married daughter in Canada. Both my landlord and his wife are adorably kind and simple. Their children are, too.

I  wish that Shree Mahaa Vishnu blesses my landlord, his wife and children with long life, good health, happiness and prosperity. 

Hari Sarvoththamaa🙏.

Vaayu Jeevoththamaa🙏.

Lunar eclipse

Last night was significant due to Lunar eclipse from astronomical perspective. It was highly significant from Hindu Scriptural perspective. Lasting for nearly three and a half hours, it was a time when Hindu men perform ancestral worship. Although I couldn't perform it as perfectly as instructed by our Uttaradi Mutt, I performed it as far as possible.

Let me share a news report on the eclipse and some information on it's spiritual significance.

Sarvam Krishna mayam🙏.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. Devotees perform Anantha Vratham on this day.

Shree Mahaa Lakshmi sametha Shree Anantha Padmanaabhaa🙏.

Trend setting TV documentaries

Today I had the pleasure of viewing two trend setting TV documentaries. The first one featured a village in Albania where the villagers live in a very eco friendly manner with traditional methods of transport, grinding food items in the kitchen etc. It is amazing to see how they help each other. Let me share the documentary here.

The other one is a documentary featuring a young Japanese gentleman who decided to work with rural communities in Benin (West Africa) soon after graduating with a degree from a prestigious University. Let me share the documentary here. 

Negligent rascals

It is 8.06 pm now. Half an hour ago, as I was viewing a spiritual program on Sanskar TV Channel, the power went of. As I have mentioned in my previous posts, this is a frequent happening in our area.

Rascal politicians, Government employees and workers who exhibit gross negligence shamelessly deserve severe punishment. 

Unfortunately our Police and Judiciary Systems are not 100% perfect as shown by the freedom of speech and movement given to proven criminals such as DMK's Dayanidhi Maaran etc., Sashi Tharoor, Congree MP from Tiruvananthapuram, Sasikala Natarajan (involved in Ms Jayalalitha's murder) etc. 

Hence I wish that such people die and that  their souls stay in hell ('Naraka Loka' in Hinduism) permanently. 

It is 8 32 pm now. Still there is no indication of power supply.

Teacher's Day and my beloved father's death anniversary

Today is a very important day in our country (India). This day is celeberated as Teacher's Day.

Today marks the death anniversary of my beloved father according to the English calender. 

I wish that the souls of my beloved parents are at the Lotus Feet of Lord Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa in Vaikuntaa and that my beloved brother's soul is on it's way to Vaikuntaa.

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

Onam Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in Kerala. Malayalee people all over the world celeberate today as Onam. Best wishes to my Malayaalee friends. 

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.