Sacred Sundara Khaand

As I am typing this post, I derive the Joy of viewing 'Shree Sundara Khaand Kathaa' by Poojyashree Pundareekaaksha Goswaamiji on Sanskaar channel.

Divine Discourse

As I am typing this post, I am deriving the joy of viewing a divine discourse on "Bhaagavath Kathaa" by Poojya Shree Raamaanuja Sampradaayaachaaryaajeee Maharaj.

Mohan, mathematics and Mary Hopkin

As I was viewing a documentary on Assam Rifles (Indian Army) on Republic TV channel during my dinner some time back, I couldn't help remembering Mohan. He was one of my best friends during my college student days. 

While I was studying for my degree course in Physics, he was doing his degree course in Electronics and Communication. Like all youngsters, we used to gossip about movie actors, our teachers and so on. The difference in my friendship with Mohan was that it was he who motivated me more into mathematics than my teachers, with the result that I began loving the subject to such an extent that I would complete all the excercises at the end of each lesson in mathematics textbooks before our lecturers taught them in our class. I was fanatically attracted to the subject irrespective of whether it was algebra, calculus, analytical geometry, trigonometry or any other area. By God's Grace, my practice in mathematics instilled 100% confidence in me, leading to fourth rank in the University Exams. 

After our college days, we drifted away from each other in search of employment. I and Mohan communicated with each other until he was serving as Captain in Assam Rifles. At that time I was teaching in Bhutan. As with a few other friends, including two female pepals,  I got the communication line broken because of my laziness in replying to their letters (I used to find it difficult to write. I wish there were facilities such as Skype and WhatsApp in those days).

In this context, Mary Hopkin's song "Those were the days" comes to my mind. I cannot forget the annual Eurovision Contest that was held in 1970 in which she took softrock fans by storm, thanks to BBC World Service Radio that used to be very well received in India even in analogue old fashioned radio receivers that most middle class households like ours, had. Paul McCartney of The Beatles, the legendary soft rock band of that era, had got a few of her songs recorded in their Apple studios. I remember how I used to long for the BBC's 'Top Twenty' programme during weekends. Those were the days.

Mohan was a great friend.

Seethaa Jayanthi

Today is a very auspicious day in the Hindu Calender. It was on this day during Trethaa Yugaa, millions of years back, that Shree Seethaa Devi was found in her infant form by King Janakaa when he was ploughing his field. Seethaa Devi, an Avataar of Shree Mahaa Lakshmi, married Lord Shree Raam, an Avataar of Shree Mahaa Vishnu. Devotees celebrate this day as the birthday of the Divine Mother.

Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley, Baffalo Soldier, Raggae and Ras Tafarian

Legendry reggae singer Bunny Wailer's death marks a void in Afro-American, Carribean and Reggae music. 

I remember  how he, his boyhood friend Bob Morley and fellow Jamaican Peter Tosche took youngsters by storm all over the world with their probably the first ever raggae band in the world. (I nostalgically remember the lyrics of songs such as "Buffalo Soldier" by Bob Morley and The Wailers. Their songs were meaningful and covered political and cultural aspects of the west Indian regional diaspora with East African origin. Their songs synchronised with many of Mark Twain's novels). 

Interestingly, when I had lived in Ethiopia in 1982 and 1983, I could infer the strong influence that Ras Tafarian culture in Ethiopia had on Jamaican people (although Ethiopia and Jamaica are far away from each other, separated by a few countries in Africa and the vast Atlantic ocean). 

It is amazing that Jamaicans cherish their Ras Tafarian identity to this day.

Bunny will be remembered by his numerous fans all over the world for his simple and nice music. 

Larry King Live

A few minutes back I came to know that Larry King, one of my favourite TV presenters, died. I had viewed his 'Larry King Live' on CNN since the late '80s, and continued it even after he moved to Russia Today Channel. I remember how I used to drive back home in time, when travelling out during the late '80s, so that I wouldn't miss his shows. He will be remembered by his numerous fans for his down to earth interviews with celebrities, for years to come. May his soul rest in peace.

An example of digital inefficiency

It is common logic that educated senior citizens prefer online transaction for shopping and paying bills. Thanks to our Governments' initiatives. But unfortunately the aims are not achieved if the staff at online payment agencies including banks are inefficient and insensitive to customer needs. One perfect and recurrent example is my savings account in the bank, which I use, for my shopping and bill payment needs.

As I find it difficult to make my daily morning coffee, I buy the ready made Amul Kool Cafe for the past two years. I place order once every month. Usually fund transfer to the vendor and delivery to my apartment is not much of a problem. But some times, it is, and frustratingly so, like this evening. 

I had to struggle for nearly two hours to make the payment just because of very substandard online fund  transfer system at the bank. I think that inefficient staff in banks should be dismissed. 

Shreemad Bhagavad Gita

Shree Gita Maniji Maharaaj is one of my favourite spiritual speakers. His discourses on Bhagavad Gita are a solace to a troubled mind.

Maathaa Amrutanadamayi's Amrutha TV channel telecasts 'Sandhyaa Deepam', a daily Spiritual Show from 6.30 to 7 p.m. This evening just before the episode began, as I tuned in to the channel, I happened to view a nice programme about a happily married Malayalee couple. Both good looking with the husband having his hands and legs handicapped. I couldn't help adoring the broadmindedness of the wife and  couldn't help comparing her with the wrong woman to whom I got married in 1982, a woman who threw her sacred necklace (tied by the husband during marriage in accordance with Hindu traditions) within  just a few days after marriage and a woman who carried unreasonable hatred, malice and and misconceptions against her husband and mother in law, by being constantly brain washed by her mother. 

2021

Best wishes for a belated Xmas (to christians), and for a happy 2021 to all.