PM's visit to Bhutan

TV programs about Our Prime Minister's visit to Bhutan and his address to students of Royal University brought pleasant memories of my stay in the Druk Kingdom, 40 years back. I remember my two days' stay in the University campus (which was a Higher Secondary School  known as Sherubtse College, at that time. I was there as Visiting Examiner for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, equivalent to GCE O Level). I fondly remember Prabhakaran Nair who was also an Examiner and a good friend. As Mary Hopkin sings, "Those were the days my friend ..."

Woodstock

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival that took place in a New York suburb. I think that people of my age would remember the festival in which several rock musicians participated. Though the Woodstock Fest did accompany negative factors such as drugs and hippies, promotion of good softrock was welcome by numerous pop music fans then. (I remember how I used to complete my Physics Lab at college and rush home to listen to Woodstock proceedings on Voice of America).

Vishnu Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa calendar.  It was on this day several million years back that Shree Mahaa Vishnu incarnated as Hayagriva, restored the Divine Vedaas and gave it to Lord Brahma. In this avataar He took the face and neck of a beautiful horse (In Sanskrit, 'haya'  and 'griva' mean 'horse' and 'neck' respectively). He is worshipped mainly as Lord of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Shree Mahaa Lakshmi Fest

Today is a very auspicious day in the Sanaathana Dharmaa  (Hindu) calender.  This day is celebrated as Shree Mahaa Lakshmi Vratham.  On this day, devotees, especially women, offer special worship to Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, divine Mother of all of us and Consort of Shree Mahaa Vishnu. This worship used to be performed by good women who took care of themselves, their families including husband, children and parents in law. (Unfortunately we can see that this trend has changed. I knew a woman who obtained her BEd degree by paying bribe to Annamalai University and worked as a teacher. This woman was 'proud' to remove her mangala sutraa and throw it out just a few days after her wedding. I just don't understand why such evil women deceive and mislead the community. I sincerely hope that such women are taught a lesson in some way).

Like parents of most people of my age, my parents were also dignified in the way they dressed themselves.  My mother had always appreciated women who were dressed in a dignified manner. One woman whom my mother liked in this aspect was one of our relatives by name K L Sujatha.

Sushma Swaraj

This morning's news that Mrs Sushma Swaraj has passed away brought tears in my eyes.

Our country has lost one of its great leaders in the passing away of the  former external affairs minister in the BJP Government.

She used to be admired by my beloved mother especially for her dignified way of dressing.

I join numerous patriotic Indians in expressing my heartfelt condolences to her bereaved family.