Feast for Thought

"A dog has a master but a cat has slaves". If anyone still doubts the meaning of this maxim, it's likely that they have never been close to a cat. They were born on September 1. The mother was a frequent visitor, having smelt a cat-adorer in the house. This cat-adorer (CA for short) was thus delighted to find three kittens in the cupboard among the household linen. A box with comfortable bedding was prepared and the babies instated. Father and son proudly showed off the litter to visiting friends, of course, if the feline and human moms were not around. It’s said that cats shift the litter seven times during the nurturing phase. In this case, though, the shifting was done by packers and movers. Father and son moved the litter-box from cupboard to kitchen, kitchen to Room 1, Room 1 to Room 3, back to kitchen, a few days more in Room 3. The babies opened their eyes when they were a couple of weeks old. They now had a play-box and a bed-box, each with suitable cut-outs for e...

We hear about sustainable development and green technologies that try to positively impact on global warming and climate change. From vulgar market-mad-media-driven consumerism and mindless material acquisition, some enlightened elite few are moving towards green ideas, both elsewhere and at home...because they can ' afford ' it. The emphasis is on changing the consuming habit from mere material acquisition to material that is a product of green thoughts, actions, and technologies...be it green homes, green AC's, green fridges, green clothing...green luxury! Why do people hesitate to talk about anti-consumerism or non-consumerism? I feel I sound quite 'green' (meaning both naive as well as eco-conscious!). Am I more eco-friendly if I reduce my consumption, or just because I switch to green stuff? In India, we need to go ahead with radical efforts on sustainable development in every sector...even if it means slowing down the so-called economic growth rate. What is...

Touch(ing) the Sky with Glory - a phrase from the Bhagvad Gita (Ch 11, Verse 24) is the motto of the IAF, which celebrates 75 glorious years today - October 8, 2007. As the men and women in blue mark this day with parades and parties, their families continue to support them with happy homes, and contribute to 'blue skies' through community welfare activities. I am proud of my batchmates who continue to serve in the Air Force, since their commissioning among the first batch of 25 women engineers in the IAF on 06 April 1993 . They have served a good career span of 15 jubilee years - diamond to platinum - true value addition! These professionals continue to be pioneers and set examples of the right kind for other aspirants to emulate. A good number of women have been commissioned later in other branches of the IAF [Education, Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Meteorological, Flying]. What will the morrow bring? Here's wishing you - Wing Commanders AG, BS, PKA and VG -the be...

Ganesh Chaturti is celebrated with much fanfare and devotion every year. In most places (Maharashtra) idols of the beloved diety are immersed in available water bodies (sea,lakes) on the Anant Chaturdasi after the Chaturti. Not any different this year; except that the number and size of idols is sure to have gone up. There is a mail circulationg with gory pictures of the revered idols washed ashore. We need campaigns in Mumbai (besides other places) against this kind of practice. Possible solutions: 1. Limit size of idol 2. Ban painted idols 3. Ban immersion in public water bodies. One possible solution. In houses in Chennai, the idol - usually a small one, and never painted is always immersed in the well that is located in the premises (this is done on the assumption that the clay used for the idol was just that). Another possible solution, which quite a few families I know have been practising: immerse the idol in a big bucket / tub, and pour the water after a couple of days to plant...