sunday stories

  A temple visit to Tiruvaur this weekend was a revelation to me in many ways. The mamooth entrance gopuram dwarfed me as I stood there humbled . Though wikipedia says it was built during the chola period , the writings in the temple claim that it is one of the oldest temples in the world. In the 6 th century BC, Appar ( one of the nayanmars) has sung in the glory of this temple deity, exclaiming that no one knows when the temple was built. This temple is older than chidambaram temple. This temple was the inspiration for Rajaraja cholan to build the Tanjore temple. The temple complex is close to 30 acres and it is  built in stones. For almost 200 kms in the surrounding area, granite stones are not found. Where did they transport it from? And how? It remains a wonder. Normally,  when we travel, we  would visit a couple of temples at a stretch. This time, we decided to experience all the poojas in this one temple. The evening " ucchakala" pooja went on for 45 minutes, a purel

It's grand parents day today and I fondly remember the moments spent with my maternal grandfather Mr. Krishnaswamy ( fondly called kittu gounder by his friends).He was an extremely hardworking ( and successful at whatever he did) person who prioritized work over health. During his last days ( at the age of 76 I think ) in the hospital, he would often talk about three aspects of life that left an indelible mark in my mind . Here I quote- 1. It's important not to abuse our health. In the process of creating wealth, don't ignore your well being. 2. Farming is a fulfilling activity . ( he would quote poet bharathiar's words). Make sure u learn it, even if it is not financially very rewarding, it will give you peace of mind.  3. Spend time with your children ( he regretted that he never had quality time with his sons due to long work hours). These were GOLDEN WORDS that keep ringing in my ears eveytime I think of him.  My grandfather's younger brother, Dr. Nach

  Today, we complete 75 years as an independent nation. Our prime minister has declared this year as Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav- the time to celebrate the achievements of our nation. From being a developing country, we can say , we are a developed country now. We are one of the fastest growing economies in the world.  We are the youngest nation in the world with over 65 % of its people below the age of 35. This very fact implies that there is a great responsibility in the shoulders of today's younger generation.  A couple of days back,  I was talking to a twelve year old child.  I asked a question, " What is special on Aug 15 th ?" . He said, " It's a holiday. " Yes. A holiday. That is what it is for most people.  To wakeup late, watch a movie or go out on an extended holiday. My dear students, one thought has been bothering me for many years. WHY IS AUGUST 15 A GOVERNMENT HOLIDAY ?? Our great freedom fighters have fought - physically,  mentally  and emotion

This article could help someone ,especially in their fifties ( like me) with basic fitness  to give hope that " If I can do it , you too can ". My pre-op fitness regime was yoga and pranayama which helped with my flexibility and mental agility. But my muscle strength is very average, which is the case with most non-sporty people over the age of forty. I chose to get my surgery done at  chennai  Sri Ramachandra sports centre for two reasons. One is, the chief surgeon, Dr Arumugam is my husband's friend and  very experienced in arthroscopic surgery. Other reason is, psychologically, I felt I was going to a wellness centre and not an illness center ( hospital ). To see sports people getting back to their form is  a great motivation for me. What is ACL reconstruction surgery ?? ( in brief ): Anterior cruciate ligament holds the thigh bone ( femur ) and the shin bone ( tibia) and helps in rotational motion of the knee. Surgery is the only longterm solution for complete  ACL

  For me, writing is healing. I now embark on this journey of penning down a recent incident in my life that is a life lesson for me in many ways. My intention to publish it in my blog is that it could help someone in need. My fiftieth birthday brought me many pleasant unforgettable surprises from my family,friends and colleagues. Can't be more grateful. On March 11, 2022, an unpleasant surprise came with a slip and fall. With a "pop" in my knee I fell down. An MRI revealed that ACL ( anterior cruciate ligament) of my  left knee was completely torn ( along with meniscus tear etc). Instinctively I reached for my mobile to ask Google guru. Understood anatomy of the knee, surgical process etc. One concern I had was, most patients are young  sports persons. At my age how successful would my rehabilitation be? I could not sleep that night. I called my husband the next morning . He was in Chennai then. He immediately contacted his friend Dr. Arumugam,  senior consultant in art

  As a student of science the concept of memory always intrigued me and I have enjoyed reading about short term memory , long term memory, episodic memory , muscle memory etc.. But when I EXPERIENCED  my muscles playing out a tune that I had learn 35 years back, it was truly an AHAA moment in my life ! From the age of eight to sixteen due to my mother's compulsion I had learnt veena ( my heart would be out in the garden ! ). Somewhere somehow my muscles had held on.... On my 50 th birthday few months back, I had taken a resolve to CHALLENGE  myself to pursue a new skill. And I was exploring options. Our scriptures say, " When the student is ready, the teacher appears. " A young mother came seeking admission for her child( he is a veena prodigy)and I was drawn by her enthusiasm. I had a lot of self doubt but she had faith in my abilities. I was spell bound when my hands started to move in sync with the lyrics. And every day, with child like enthusiasm I look forward to