My friend Suresh

I have always had very few friends. One of them is Suresh, a very good gentleman. He comes from Iyer Brahmin parentage. He did his B Com Degree from Delhi University. His wife passed away a few years ago. He has a married son who is a chartered acountant. 

Suresh served as an Agent in Life Insurance Corporation of India. Yesterday he sent a nice message that he received an Award from LIC for his service. His parents and my parents were very good friends. I come from Maadhwaa Brahmin parentage.

Suresh

LIC Award that Suresh won

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏

Lumumba's Africa

After many weeks, Russia Today TV Channel telecast an epidode of Lumumba's Africa this morning. Prof. Lumumba explained how the Organization of African Unity was founded. I remember my visit to OAU and it's library in Addis Ababa in 1982 when I was working in Ethiopia. It was a memorable experience.

Lord Shree Jagannaath

I worked in a Chennai based NGO for a few years 1990s. I had to travel to Odisha every once in a month or so on work. I fondly remember Shree Shiv Prasad, my colleague at our Rayagada branch. My accommodation used to be provided in a hotel in the town. 

Many times Shiv Prasad has dropped me from my residence to my workplace located in a village known as Penta. I remember my visit to a Vaishnavite temple located in between Penta and Rayagada.

Although I inherit spiritual aspects from my late beloved mother  I regret that I didn't inherit these fully like most men of my age.

I regret that it didn't strike to me to visit Jagannaath Puri and have Dharshan of Lord Shree Jagannaath at His Temple in Odisha.

Jai Shree Shubadhraa evam Shree Balabadhraa sametha Shree Jagannaatha🙏

The Beatles

According to the official website of The Beatles, one of the most popular softrock bands of the 1960s and 70s, 25th of this month will be celebrated as Global Beatles Day, in fitting tribute to the band. Let me share the website's media report here. 

George Harrison was devotee of Lord Shree Krishna. Let me share a Utube video of a new version of George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' here.

According to a media report, George had a close relationship with ISKCON.

My beloved brother was life member of ISKCON. He donated just a few months old TATA Nano car to ISKCON. He used to tell me that he knew about ISKCON because of me: During one of my visits to Chennai in the late 1980s, I had taken him to ISKCON Temple. In those days, it was a small shrine in a busy street in  TNagar (or West Mambalam). Now it is situated in a spacious area in suburban Chennai.

My beloved brother 

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

Good governance

By God's Grace, there is no power cut in our area in Chennai since last night. Probably the Electricity Board has been functioning well. Thanks to politicians and EB employees for this. Best wishes to them.

Krishnam Sarva Mayam🙏

My niece's newborn baby son

Reshma, my beloved sister's younger daughter, gave birth to a baby boy this morning. Best wishes to the baby and his parents🙏🙏.

My beloved parents, sister and brother would have been immensely happy if they were alive today. My sister who passed away recently considered helping Reshma for good delivery as priority.

Following photo shows Reshma, her husband Satheesh, and Reshma's parents:

 L to R: Saatvika (my niece Sushma's younger daughter, Saasvathi (Sushma's elder daughter), Reshma, my beloved sister, Satheesh (Reshma's husband), D Murali (my beloved sister's husband) and Sushma (my beloved sister's elder daughter)

Krishnam Vande Jagad Gurum🙏.

Divine Discourse

In today's discourse on Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa, respected Devkinandan Thakurji mentioned that  we are all decendents of Lord Brahmaa not descendents of monkeys. According to our Scriptures, Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu created Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma created Manu and Satroopa, a male and female respectively. We are all decendents of this human husband and wife. Ashamedly, our school and college textbooks still mention the absurd Darwin's Theory as if it is authentic. 

There are numerous misconceptions such as discovery of gravity by Isaac Newton, discovery that our planet Earth is spherical by Robert Cooke, and so on in our textbooks. I have mentioned these in a few of my earlier posts. I have also mentioned how irresponsible our textbook publishers and advisors have been.

Softrock music fest

Softrock music fans of my age know that ABBA, a Sweedish Music Band was very popular in 1980s.

I remember having seen Mama Mia, a 2008 Musical in which Ms Meryl Streep plays the lead role and sings ABBA's songs. It was shown in a restaurant in a cool evening in Phnom Penh. I and Hans Langendam, a Dutch colleague had gone to see the movie. 

This evening, ABC AUSTRALIA TV CHANNEL telecast an interesting documentary on ABBA Fest in Trundle, Australia thereby bringing back memories of the Band.

Members of ABBA

Divine Discourse

It was soothing to my loneliness-laden mind to view Shree Devkinandan Thakurjee's discourse on Shreemad Bhagavath Kathaa on Aashthaa TV Channel today. 

He mentioned the importance of repaying gratitude to His Almighty Shree Mahaa Vishnu, Sages, ancestors, living things and fellow human beings.

I heard from a discourse by a learned Maadhwaa scholar, that if sages, ancestors including parents, and other fellow human beings lead us in a wrong direction, it is our utmost duty to let them know that they are doing some thing wrong, and correct them if possible or simply ignore their 'guidance'.

Shree Devkinandan Thakurjee also explained what freedom means and how it's meaning is misused today.

He is considered as a charismatic and effective spiritual speaker at a young age.

The above mentioned concept was explained by Shree Raajivlochan Dasa also in his daily Discourse on Aashthaa TV Channel on 2 June 2026. He explained that if a person with utmost Devotion offers every thing that he/she does, humbly to Lord Shree Mahaa Vishnu, his gratitude is automatically repaid by God's Grace.

If I were married to the right woman, I would have probably had a son or daughter who would be to some extent like Devkinandan Thakurjee or Shree Rajivlochan Dasa. It didn't happen.

Jai Shree Lakshmi Naaraayanaa🙏.

Divine Discourse

Whenever possible, I view divine discourses by sages and scholars. Many of them use Shree Thulasi Das' Raam Charitha Maanas as reference. Shree Thulasi Das uses the term Rames" to mean Lord Shree Raam.

With heavy heart I remember Ramesh, my beloved brother, who passed away last year.

Jai Shree Raam🙏.