Mahaatma Gandhiji's death anniversary

Today is an important day to all Indians across barriers; it is the death anniversary of Mahaatma Gandhiji, popularly known as the father of our nation.

Sunken part of Dwaarakaa city

Let me share an interesting video of the sunken part of Dwaarakaa city, from where Lord Shree Krishnaa, an Avataar of Shree Mahaa Vishnu, ruled, a little more than 5000 years back, during Dwaapara Yuga.

Divine Discourse

This morning I had the joy of viewing Shree Morari Bapu's 'Raam Kathaa' (Shree Raam Avataar's Life History) on Aashtha (or Sanskaar TV Channel). He was explaining the 'Karuna' dimension displayed by Lord Shree Raam. For a moment my mind flashed back to 2008 when I had a very softspoken colleague named Karuna; she was the chief inspector for History at the Cambodian Ministry of Education. As in all Education Ministries, they also had a chief inspector for each curricular subject taught in schools. As with many educated Cambodians she was well aware of what her name meant and the fact that it came from our Hinduism.

International Day of Education

Yesterday was an important day to all people in general and education professionals and stakeholders in particular. This day was celebrated as International Day of Education.

Travelxp

Contrary to weather telecasts on BBC, CNN and many other channels, today's weather in Chennai (where I reside) has been very cloudy with no trace of Sun's rays morning; there were some rains. Hence, like many folks do, I have been munching my favourite ready made snacks and simply watching good programmes on TV. 

As I have mentioned in my earlier  posts, Travelxp is one of my favourite channels. This evening's program featured Kolkata, regional capital of West Bengal in India. It was nice viewing the city known fir its Rabibdranath Tagore and Ras gulla. It's really nice that the city still has a lot of Ambassador cars (one of the earliest brands manufactured in our country); these are run as taxis (cabs). Similarly Mumbai still has a lot of Premier Padmini taxis. Premier Padmini is the Indian version of the Italian Fiat. It's a pity that other cities and towns have completely done away with Ambassadors and Premier Padminis. 

As some one who is very fond of Premier Padmini (with nostalgic experience of driving one and travelling long distances alone or with relatives and friends), I feel a little disappointed that no manufacturer has helped revive the production of such cars although they can very well meet current demands technologically.

In countries such as the UK, old cars are still respected and run as taxis. 

Netaji's birth anniversary

Today is the 125th birth anniversary of Netaaji Subash Chandra Bose. I think that he or Sardar Vallabhai Patel would have been better than Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister of newly independent India in 1947.

BBC Travel Show

As a travel enthusiast, I had always been fascinated by visiting different places and observing people until a few years back. If I couldn't travel physically, I used to quench my thirst on my computer screen relying on virtual reality.

Like numerous BBC fans, I retain my interest in viewing their Travel Show. This evening's programme featured a housing complex in Tokyo with an apartment building consisting of cubic shaped residences, resembling those of LEGO cubes. People have been living here since the 1970s, and as one person said, it is sad that the these residences are on their way to demolition. With very significant nostalgia, I remember using LEGO and other toys when teaching English language, Mathematics and Physics to my students in different countries. 

In one of these, there is a DJ presenting music using the old Gramophone. This took me back to my boyhood days when I had seen my maternal grandfather listening to southern Indian classical music with his Gramophone records collection. 

I think that though we have come a long way in terms of technology, I think that olden days were golden. It applies to Computer operating systems as well. I don't know whether every one will feel like the way I do: Windows 3.1 was much more  presentable and user friendly and than the present Windows OS.

Coffee

Many of us (including me) need a hot (not too hot) cup of coffee to help smooth bowel movement in the morning. People like me develope headache if they cannot drink it. This, despite medical warnings as to bad side effects of the beverage and it's culprit content caffeine. However I used to drink not more than 2 medium sized cups of strong coffee with less milk, per day. For the past few years, as I find it difficult to make my instant coffee in the mornings, I resort to Amul KoolCafe.

As I was browsing to delve a little deep into my favourite beverage, I came across an interesting news and views item on my mobile net.

Divine Discourse

As I am typing this post, I derive the joy of listening to Shree Bhupendrabhai Pandya Ji's divine discourse on Shree Vishnu Sahasranaam, thanks to Sanskar TV Channel. He explains how a Vishnu devotee can move up the spiritual ladder from Idol worship to Meditation to mental Pooja.

Shree Mahaa Vishnu and Shree Mahaa Lakshmi Fests

Being the day after Putrada Ekaadashi/Vaikunta Ekaadashi, today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu almanac and this day is known as Mukkoti Dwaadashii.

Today and tomorrow are also religiously important to Hindus all over the world. Some celebrate it as Makara Sankraanthi, and some others, as Pongal. Devotees worship His Almighty Lord Shree Lakshminaaraayanaa seated in a chariot inside the Sun and driven by seven horses.

All these fesrivals are dedicated to the Divine Couple Shree Mahaa Vishnu and Shree Mahaa Lakshmi.

Countries in South East Asia celebrate these festivals (though somewhat differently) due to the fact that countries from Afganisthan to Indonesia were all part of ancient India many years back.

Following image is that of a toy item from 'Kondapalli' artisans; it depicts a house in a village on Sankraanthi.

Vaikunta Ekaadashi

Today being one of the Ekaadashi days is very auspicious to devotees of our Divine Parents Shree Mahaa Vishnu and Shree Mahaa Lakshmi.  Today's Ekaadashi is known as Vaikunta Ekaadashi. 

Following image that shows our Divine Parents, is a toy item from 'Kondapalli' artisans:

Sachidananda Swamiji

Today being Tuesday, I thought of browsing my mobile net for any divine material on Hanumaan, the greatest devotee of Lord Shree Raam (An Avataar of Shree Mahaa Vishnu) and found respected Sachidananda Swamiji's rendering of a Kannada song on Shree Krishnaa (Another Avataar of Shree Hari). A great treat.

Nedumudi Venu and Malayalam movies

As I was browsing through my mobile net after dinner this evening, I came across an old news item that the popular Malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu passed away. I don't know as to how I missed the sad news. As a very talented actor, he will be remembered for years to come.

 

I fondly rembember my two years residence in Kochi in 1984 and 1985 when I was teaching in Cochin Refineries School. That was the time when I could learn conversational Malayalam, thanks to the Malayalam cinema and my colleagues including the very simple Smt Sreedevi Rajan (HOD Malayalm), daughter of the Kathakali celebrity Late Shree Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.

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Divine Discourse

Aashtha TV Channel is a well respected channel known for its Sanaathana Dhramaa programs and divine discourses by learned Gurus. Their program this morning consisted of Shree Sanjeev Krishna Takur Ji's discourse on Shreemad Bhaagavatham (Divine History of Lord Shree Krishna).

BBC Travel Show

Being a BBC World Service Radio and then BBC World TV fan since my teenage years, I have had the pleasure of hearing/viewing numerous programmes of interest to me. 'The Travel Show' is one such.

As regular BBC World TV viewers would have observed, for the past few years, the program has shifted to telecasting programs with emphasis any one area in each episode. This evening, It was on dancing in different countries including India, my home country. It was as usual, interesting.

By the way, recently I had the pleasure of visiting (online) an art gallery in Ethiopia, for blind people; thanks to BBC World TV and 'The Travel Show' team in bringing about such shows.