tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914499030589161202024-03-12T21:42:46.497-07:00Lens and SensibilityA meander up and down the lanes and bylanes that map my world...Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-45486080417953865192024-01-03T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-11T04:34:29.714-08:00Did you know about the Great Indian Hedge?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KLGuGe-xDd-rTE0T5E33XFxYr2tJGBaiOm1u37KNbVYQj7jpT-c-hIzchUPZ1G7g_zoA4PWy6K29JqHTVXtrAXrMBMpncgoww4JtoQTQJmVLl4nbzKOjPo6dBZFc8PNBtLcmQIHNPlBkTSujJ1orb9YEVgKgfG3Qayem5Ty_c0g1mmIwdZEZY6ccWm8/s1200/869806-82852-erylclmfko-1519389048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KLGuGe-xDd-rTE0T5E33XFxYr2tJGBaiOm1u37KNbVYQj7jpT-c-hIzchUPZ1G7g_zoA4PWy6K29JqHTVXtrAXrMBMpncgoww4JtoQTQJmVLl4nbzKOjPo6dBZFc8PNBtLcmQIHNPlBkTSujJ1orb9YEVgKgfG3Qayem5Ty_c0g1mmIwdZEZY6ccWm8/w640-h336/869806-82852-erylclmfko-1519389048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>It was very recently that I learnt, with disbelief and amazement, about the Great Indian Hedge - the least remembered 'wonders' of Queen Victoria's India. </p><p>The Hedge was live customs barrier set up by the British during the mid-1800s, to collect salt tax. It was 1100 miles (1770 km) long, stretching from Punjab, passing close to the Nizam's dominions, right above Hyderabad, and going on to Odisha. It took 12,000 men to maintain it. </p><p>No one could go from the West to East of India without confronting this hedge, and without being being stopped by customs officials! <span style="color: #382c14; font-family: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">It was, in the words of Sir John Strachey, a lifelong civil servant in British India</span><span style="color: #382c14; font-family: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">, “a monstrous system,” that had few parallels “in any tolerably civilised country.”* And o</span>ur history books had told us nothing about this. </p><div dir="auto">The mighty hedge consisted of closely clipped thorny trees and shrubs, among which were the babool (<i>Vachellia nilotica</i>), the Indian plum, the prickly pear (Opuntia - three species), and the thuer (Euphorbia, several species). A thorny creeper - <i>Guilandia bonduc </i>- was intermingled with these trees. It was a barrier that was around 14 ft high and 6-12 ft thick. It was set up to allow the collection of salt tax by British customs officials. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGXvUzZjjUNEy4mJw3W7azf9iZCmHepsyqh4ApZGtvUeMzoFKFHqzHHES34opiK4w0z-w3kwlCUoDEa4OO5ao6hXtlcBWbt0XVBR2PG7CMjOOsemkUN2KGMOBNGSjj31GU8O2oOfGnJdhIZuLR8LjiMlzc_F40O0nnRGpGttiXQBLHxdcg7SNTB52SWA/s646/Trees_planted_at_the_hedge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="646" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGXvUzZjjUNEy4mJw3W7azf9iZCmHepsyqh4ApZGtvUeMzoFKFHqzHHES34opiK4w0z-w3kwlCUoDEa4OO5ao6hXtlcBWbt0XVBR2PG7CMjOOsemkUN2KGMOBNGSjj31GU8O2oOfGnJdhIZuLR8LjiMlzc_F40O0nnRGpGttiXQBLHxdcg7SNTB52SWA/w640-h450/Trees_planted_at_the_hedge.png" width="640" /></a></div><div dir="auto"><b><br />Comparable to the Great Wall of China!</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrm3-Y0aXB7pZknCOJ6FwzMuPmhOGBmFL_bONi0tYNf1sSYGTOPLOWwCAl2_Ie3EsU1BDpXaOHJGabUhcf3ET27BM0t0V5sWhVN1OxOL8Hsmd3vQZeanYUrRz2vd2cwpOMPP8jIsWkqU8Qlz0SfK526z1RfEZiu8VvtAXVodsfDg777jbKDjrGDNgVjU/s1192/Inland_Customs_Line_India.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrm3-Y0aXB7pZknCOJ6FwzMuPmhOGBmFL_bONi0tYNf1sSYGTOPLOWwCAl2_Ie3EsU1BDpXaOHJGabUhcf3ET27BM0t0V5sWhVN1OxOL8Hsmd3vQZeanYUrRz2vd2cwpOMPP8jIsWkqU8Qlz0SfK526z1RfEZiu8VvtAXVodsfDg777jbKDjrGDNgVjU/s320/Inland_Customs_Line_India.png" width="236" /></a></div>The British Empire had been working on this hedge for 30 years, and 'it was an impressive monument to British power and doggedness. One British official wrote that it "could be compared to nothing else in the world except the Great Wall of China".'*</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">It was Allan Octavian Hume, familiar to us as the person who founded the Indian National Congress, who played an integral part in creating a barrier out of the Inland Customs Line. The British had grappled with the problem of scarcity of suitable stone to build walls along significant stretches of the line. Hume came up with the ingenious solution.** </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">However, this hedge was not really the solution and had a lot of problems. People bribed the police at the outposts and got through, or they pushed their camels through it or threw parcels over it! Finally, after experimenting for 30 years, the Indian Customs Line and the hedge were abolished in 1879.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">The Great Indian Hedge was considered a quintessential English folly, one that they were embarrassed about, and preferred to forget, which is perhaps why few historians mention it.</div><div dir="auto"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="auto"><b>A book on the Great Hedge</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb1biap8BmEEhRF57DPWbgvelOtQ4P858Yj8-vPxc8epqyE-qDRpnleXdcBvpPWVLCTrBM-JpKdszsUM8J395kmFzidNTIpMALBpCLOjEm_TU2-CUbn7aNqAU1KDzYpApWIlKR_gYqODU89ELmjOAR4NrqV4iYh9yU7wSS2WRlefGKN0HaMeuf5RvgHo/s1000/51p-CUeMdeL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="626" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb1biap8BmEEhRF57DPWbgvelOtQ4P858Yj8-vPxc8epqyE-qDRpnleXdcBvpPWVLCTrBM-JpKdszsUM8J395kmFzidNTIpMALBpCLOjEm_TU2-CUbn7aNqAU1KDzYpApWIlKR_gYqODU89ELmjOAR4NrqV4iYh9yU7wSS2WRlefGKN0HaMeuf5RvgHo/w125-h200/51p-CUeMdeL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I came across the book "The Great Hedge of India" by Roy Moxham in a friend's collection, and borrowed it, wanting to know more. <span style="background-color: white;">Roy Moxham is a British writer, the author of historical books highlighting little-known historical facts. </span>He reads about the Great Indian Hedge in a Charing Cross bookshop in London, gets very excited when he finds old maps, and being familar with India, comes here on a quest for the hedge, more than a 100 years after the British gave it up. </span></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Moxham first comes to India in 1996 (his fifth visit), but finds nothing because of his own lack of preparation, and goes back dejected. However, he decides to do better research and come back to look for it.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">On his second trip in November 1997, Moxham goes to Agra to search for the hedge, but decides against going ahead since there was some error in his calculations. He then goes to Jakhoda, a small place near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh but, even though the GPS reading was right, there was no hedge.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">He then goes to a place called Orcha near Jhansi in UP. The map showed the customs line running from Jhansi to Lalitpur. He looks for it there, and then near a place called Khailar, but finds nothing. The villagers too hadn't heard of the English hedge. Once again, he has to return to London, disappointed.</div><div dir="auto"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="auto"><b>The final attempt - did he find it?</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">To make one final attempt at finding the hedge, Roy Moxham returns to India in November 1998. After a few futile attempts, he goes to Erich, a small town near Jhansi in UP. There, with the help of a dacoit-turned a pujari in a temple, he finds the 'old line' and some traces of Indian plum and other trees that were part of the hedge. He looks at the coordinates on his map and finds that this place was very close to the customs line. He collects samples from the trees, which he would later press and frame to adorn his London flat.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">He and his guide then go to explore the land between the Rivers Yamuna and Chambal in north-central India. They go to Etawah district...the maps showed the Customs line passing right through the middle of Chakanagar. They find people who had heard of the 'Parmait line' but the hedge itself was now a road, built during Indira Gandhi's time. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">They meet PS Chauhan, a retired college principal who takes them to the Parmait line on the way from Chakanagar to Pali ghar. At the edge of the village, between the fields, they find a narrow strip of grassy land, slightly raised and about 20 ft wide. Moxham is delighted! It was the end of a long and arduous search for the Great Indian Hedge. The coordinates match exactly! They walk along the line and find that at one point it becomes a hedge with clusters of thorny acacias and Indian plum, some 20ft high. Success, at last!</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Moxham and his guide are advised not to look further because they could be killed by dacoits.</div><div dir="auto">At the end of his 3-year quest, Moxham says, "I knew I should have felt supremely happy. Yet, I was rather sad. A melancholy settled on me". He knows that he could look further and maybe find more but decides to end his search with this trip.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">I do admire Roy Moxham for this quest. He really tried quite hard, trekking across all kinds of terrain. </div><div dir="auto"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="auto"><b>Mention of Hyderabad, and my boss!</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">When you are reading a book and there is mention of your city and someone you know, you get very excited! In one of the chapters, Moxham writes about coming to Hyderabad to get maps from the National Remote Sensing Agency to aid in his search. He is received in Secunderabad station by Sue and Ranjan, friends he had made on an earlier visit. So, Sue Hainsworth was my boss at ICRISAT, from whom we had learnt our editorial skills! Ranjan was also a friend - an architect and an actor in a local theatre company - Torn Curtains :)! (Moxham didn't get the maps from NRSA - they were too expensive). </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">I digress, but I must quote what he wrote about Hyderabad. "Hyderabad is one of my favourite Indian cities. The old bazaar has a fascination for me, with all the bustle and interest of Old Delhi, but none of the traffic or pollution..." </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Sigh! I miss that no-traffic, no pollution Hyderabad.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">I still find the concept of the Great Indian Hedge unbelievable, and completely quixotic. A thought did strike me - why not go looking for it in Hyderabad's surroundings with my nature-loving friends? But my heart said, "Dimaag kharab hogaya kya?" :). </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="adL" dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>*</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #382c14; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.38px;"><i><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/colonial-india-british-hedge-salt-tax#:~:text=This%20quixotic%20colonial%20barrier%20was%20meant%20to%20enforce%20taxes.&text=In%201878%2C%20W.S.%20Halsey%2C%20Commissioner,stretch%20from%20Berlin%20to%20Moscow">The British Once Built a 1,100-Mile Hedge Through the Middle of India</a> </i>by Sarah Laskow (Atlas Obscura).</span></span></div><div class="adL" dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #382c14; font-size: x-small; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.38px;">**<i><a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-why-british-built-the-great-hedge-of-india-2648602">Why British built the great hedge of India </a></i>(DNA)</span></span></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-7916802147783056302023-12-04T00:29:00.000-08:002023-12-04T08:22:20.026-08:00A Wishlist for the New Government in Telangana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqq10r6IJZjmsgJDyz07dyyc1IUrgMhI7ZiS734GZrJhCn-2ASV5nXX8U39WOVM_dEGE2r6F-YB5Goxr3nZiNSpks-PUkud0VR12u5x10vIIEBPOs9ck7O6Xix92A4G6t6dHp46vjGOlplhdbL6H8u83SJORCpg7QdYvj0cSLxnEVDNNrNVcQboD7AP4/s1536/Secretariat.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1536" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqq10r6IJZjmsgJDyz07dyyc1IUrgMhI7ZiS734GZrJhCn-2ASV5nXX8U39WOVM_dEGE2r6F-YB5Goxr3nZiNSpks-PUkud0VR12u5x10vIIEBPOs9ck7O6Xix92A4G6t6dHp46vjGOlplhdbL6H8u83SJORCpg7QdYvj0cSLxnEVDNNrNVcQboD7AP4/w640-h510/Secretariat.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>As the Congress Party sails towards the palatial Hyderabad Secretariat, it seems like just the other day that Telangana was formed and TRS came to power. I was upset at the state being split, and had written this post titled "<a href="https://sadhanablog.blogspot.com/2014/05/telangana-is-born.html">Telangana chakkilalu and Kakinada kaajalu</a>". </p><p>After almost 10 years, it seemed like TRS were here to stay. During their regime, many things changed for the better - I speak from the point of view of a city dweller. From suffering 4-hour power cuts every summer, we went to having no power cuts at all! Water situation improved to a point that we don't worry about water during summer any more. Solving these two problems made a huge difference to the quality of our lives. And then, Telangana people went from having rock-bottom self respect to being proud of being who they are, their language, culture, food and festivals. This too is a major achievement, and gladdens the Telangana in me. A heartfelt thanks to TRS for this change in attitudes. </p><p>As happened during Chandrababu Naidu's time, too much attention to Hyderabad perhaps resulted in districts and villages becoming discontented and this time too, the ruling party was voted out, proving the power of people's verdict.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgw2L_NvaaQBf2uP0W5RF31EHlz8bGAb_xJHSZ5gEeYXcuonrijuI4EeOd0byod7M3d3sF05IiOrCc1Vfpl4F8j5tLk2YaGPyZ2ikPdion4hop6pNsRFns16BdPdkuLtkhyphenhyphenqjZlPkEffXGnmuNkj7pKtc1WIytLd7AgzQpRoMeqg-y30dL434mB-1c7g/s849/Screenshot_20231204_132658_Instagram.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgw2L_NvaaQBf2uP0W5RF31EHlz8bGAb_xJHSZ5gEeYXcuonrijuI4EeOd0byod7M3d3sF05IiOrCc1Vfpl4F8j5tLk2YaGPyZ2ikPdion4hop6pNsRFns16BdPdkuLtkhyphenhyphenqjZlPkEffXGnmuNkj7pKtc1WIytLd7AgzQpRoMeqg-y30dL434mB-1c7g/w305-h320/Screenshot_20231204_132658_Instagram.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><p>TRS Annalu - we will miss you guys, and I feel sad you didn't enjoy the new palace you built. Vaastu bagaledo emo? We will miss KTR and his savviness. His confidence was contagious and made us feel upbeat and hopeful. His oratory in Telugu, Urdu and English was admirable. He is young - we hope to see more of him in future. We wish BRS the very best as they take on their new role as opposition to the Congress government in Telangana.</p><p>However, while change is good, there is an apprehension about Congress being at the helm in our state, with the strings being held by the party in Delhi. As always, we can only hope and pray that things will get better for most of us. </p><p><br /></p><div><b>My wish list for the new government </b></div><div>(It may be idealistic...why not?)</div><div><br /></div><div>- Please give due importance to villages and districts, give them good facilities as in cities, address unemployment issues, pay salaries on time. </div><p>- Look after the interests of farmers; encourage artisans, craftspeople, traditional theatre groups and folk artistes. </p><p>- Create high-class sports facilities for youth in urban and rural Telangana.</p><p>- Do not undo the good things done by the previous government just for the sake of it. </p><p>- DO NOT try to change the character of Hyderabad - we are delicious biryani, and wish to remain so!</p><p>- Restore and maintain heritage buildings. Do not build any more unnecessary structures/statues. Do not try to make Hyderabad Bangkok or New York. Do not change old names. </p><p>- Improve public transport and roads inside lanes. Figure out a way to have fewer vehicles on the roads. </p><p>- Maintain the peace and tranquility that we have enjoyed in the past years. </p><p>- <b>Work at reducing sound pollution in the city. </b>Most of us will become deaf soon if there is no limit to the decibel levels during all major festivals.</p><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Environment-related issues</b></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hcszetRL6IDfR0Np55oqzy3JDmfuRNtWhOqeH_FUjmWHPuSZ61C1q5okHSms9U5wEF8LbNlMr_jjOlIkwIdyywE1j_yJQC9efDtddxOppU3XVWZda9mnJCbarfguZk1ql7_axd3aSt_9rKy8yJtf4o3LxU3cYmSCA8pFct_TrojUqLNgRadxso-khnQ/s4032/20231014_080638.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hcszetRL6IDfR0Np55oqzy3JDmfuRNtWhOqeH_FUjmWHPuSZ61C1q5okHSms9U5wEF8LbNlMr_jjOlIkwIdyywE1j_yJQC9efDtddxOppU3XVWZda9mnJCbarfguZk1ql7_axd3aSt_9rKy8yJtf4o3LxU3cYmSCA8pFct_TrojUqLNgRadxso-khnQ/w320-h240/20231014_080638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>- The state's greening program - Harithaharam - should stop being a numbers game. It should now concentrate on taking care of already planted saplings. We don't need to plant any more trees - Hyderabad has a dry climate and too many trees result in increased humidity. Most importantly, Harithaharam should include <b>protection of</b> <b>old and valuable trees</b>. </p><p>- Reinstate <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/reinstate-go-111-scientists-solution-save-hyderabad-ecological-disasters-8955124/">GO 111</a>, which prevented polluting activity and constructions in Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar reservoirs. </p><p>- Leave rocks, grasslands, scrub forests and parks alone. Do not replace wilderness with artificial parks. Lose Miyawaki - the Japanese afforestation method. It is not for us.</p><p>- Please scrap the plan to build an <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/city-to-get-walk-through-aviary-soon-touted-to-be-worlds-largest/articleshow/105136595.cms">aviary and aquarium </a>at Kothwalpet. It is a bad idea to bring flora and fauna from other countries.</p><p>- <b>Declare the road from Hyderabad to Vikarabad as Telangana Biodiversity Heritage road.</b></p><p>- Climate change is real. Recognize this, and do not abuse the Earth or experiment with nature. Have a committee of scientists and environmentalists who can advice the government when they take up various projects. </p><p>- Plant trees around the new Secretariat building and Martyr's Memorial Deepam. A building cannot be beautiful without large trees around. Open up these spaces to the public...it is our money that has been spent to build them.</p><p>***</p><p>Not that it matters, but there it is, my wish list! Or maybe it matters, as the 2023 election verdict has shown. </p><p>Here's wishing the Congress government the very best, and hoping that they will fulfill their promises. As a friend said, "as good citizens, we will be watching you"! </p><p style="text-align: center;">*** </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-66624425687537622982023-11-12T22:33:00.000-08:002023-11-13T04:46:36.136-08:00Hoardings and urban birding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD4USmjnXgKBlq6YMCDd_1UwBcqqMDUQsXZV01QD52Nq9YFdFLxBdKPG57M7lklU5xQiH47vgrulhed40qLW3-UiUDvxyuoBpe7V9YpmRWNxZwb4nP0m8SL0YD3HKoLhJK_ynxKp653FberudeWjss7H9pkAaqZtH3C85Trbb9vED5NbZFcokZsElv_8/s4032/14_20220403_083058.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD4USmjnXgKBlq6YMCDd_1UwBcqqMDUQsXZV01QD52Nq9YFdFLxBdKPG57M7lklU5xQiH47vgrulhed40qLW3-UiUDvxyuoBpe7V9YpmRWNxZwb4nP0m8SL0YD3HKoLhJK_ynxKp653FberudeWjss7H9pkAaqZtH3C85Trbb9vED5NbZFcokZsElv_8/w300-h400/14_20220403_083058.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hoardings around us sell dreams - glamorous clothes, great-looking homes, exotic restaurants, sleek cars...everything that represents the good life people aspire for! They are brightly lit at night, adding to the glamour and glitz of a city's streets. </p><p>There were two hoardings next to my building, whose lights illuminated our terraces. Sometimes I wished that the lights were not so bright, sometimes I longed for the time before such huge hoardings became part of the urban landscape. But there they were, and one had to live with change.</p><p>Then 2020 happened. The pandemic - Covid-19. Life came to a standstill. We stayed home and didn't step out. We understood what lockdowns meant, and what it felt like for freedom to be taken away from us. Shops and restaurants were closed, and with maids staying home, we had to sweep, swab, cook and clean. The washing and wiping of groceries and veggies added to the chores. Going to the supermarket was the most exciting outing, fraught with danger - of catching the virus somewhere. Oxymeters became commonplace, public and private establishments checked people's temperature before they entered their premises...what a bizarre time it was!</p><p>Among the casualties of the pandemic were advertisements on hoardings. Our terraces became dark as the flexes were removed and the lights switched off. After life limped back to normalcy, the hoarding 'skeletons', however, remained in some places - a stark, depressing reminder of the pandemic. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHtgPVC3lnDV4SPyBiImdoD6qOu8n9LkfbcKn4niSqyf5CLCqsWyWyUMeyAVl2G4eT_rMIsekzAoOVpT6lKxEK2QdRrRofGvlp8Qf-7y7iiDwVHre8G5sDXg2G-4sfgGAQx_vvV_p4JqNQF87NOPmZAt2SJtDTpPXpdOuLFgqUriJROSbZEidmelxORo/s4032/01_20220221_085035.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHtgPVC3lnDV4SPyBiImdoD6qOu8n9LkfbcKn4niSqyf5CLCqsWyWyUMeyAVl2G4eT_rMIsekzAoOVpT6lKxEK2QdRrRofGvlp8Qf-7y7iiDwVHre8G5sDXg2G-4sfgGAQx_vvV_p4JqNQF87NOPmZAt2SJtDTpPXpdOuLFgqUriJROSbZEidmelxORo/w300-h400/01_20220221_085035.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>As often happens, when human beings leave, nature takes over. A family of kites built a nest on one of the hoardings near my place, and we thus began to have a ringside view of their lives! One family built a nest and raised their chicks on one of the hoardings. We witnessed a lot of drama, especially during the kite-flying season. <a href="https://sadhanablog.blogspot.com/2022/04/patang-vs-kite-vs-homo-sapiens.html">Read </a>the interesting story of how the kites chased patangs and how we rescued one kite that got caught in maanja. Soon after, some humans removed the nest because the kites were killing the pigeons they were feeding. </p><p>The hoarding skeleton was bare again, but became a perch for birds. Along with the kites, parakeets, bulbuls, mynas, and an occasional grey hornbill pair visited the hoarding and I ran to the balcony every time I heard their loud calls. This was the perfect example of enjoying nature in the city. </p><p>While I had earlier seen the kites and their chicks nesting (during January), last month (in October) I saw the kites mating on the hoarding, several times for about a week, especially in the mornings. Their loud shrieks made me me curious and drew me to the window. As a principle, I never take photos or videos of animals and birds mating, so I stayed away from my phone camera. I figured that they would build a nest, hopefully on the same hoarding, and by Sankranti, they would be taking care of chicks. </p><p>But then, Prakash Arts - the owners of the hoardings business - decided to dismantle the skeletons! I never liked them anyway and should have been happy, but it took away my chance at urban birding from the comfort of my home. </p><p>Well, win some, lose some. I must confess I am happy that I don't have to see the ugly metal structures from my window.</p><p>I will now wait to see where our 'Himayatnagar kites' will go now...for those who live in this locality don't usually move too far away! Hope they roost on the tall tree jasmine outside my window :)</p><p style="text-align: center;">*** </p><p> </p><p> </p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-77105844828195661442023-04-17T05:26:00.000-07:002023-04-17T05:26:08.918-07:00Yashodhara<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is something Mohan mama wrote in the late nineties or early 2000s. He passed away in August 2004. An untimely death that brought grief upon the whole family - grief that somehow never went away. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">___ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">Down town Buffalo where majority of
Afro-Americans live is a shabby and unkempt part of the town. Yashu reaches the
place and as she parks the car a group of</span><span style="text-align: left;">
</span><span style="text-align: left;">young kids, all black stop playing football. They then recognise the
doctor and one of them yells “Hey, doc don’t worry, we are here to take care of
your car.” She waves at them and we proceed. I understand that most the cars
when parked in this area are liable to lose all the four wheels by the time one
is back. We enter a house, rather dark and the stale smell that only a poor ill
ventilated house in a cold place in USA can emit overwhelms us. But Yashu does
not seem to notice all this. The door opens and an eighty year old woman who is
really big and tall opens. She is delighted and she takes us in to meet her
ninety years or so husband. He is on the bed, and obviously in great pain. He
looks at Yashu and is all thrilled. He wants to get up, makes an effort and
falls back. Yashu watches him for a while and then starts talking to him. It is
the usual doctor talk, but the patient seems to be in a hurry he wants his dose
of pain killer. He wants it immediately. Once the shot is given. You cannot
imagine the change in his face, and the relief in the face of his wife.
Meanwhile some neighbour has bought some coffee in a huge mug. We can’t drink
that kind of coffee, but no way can we refuse. Some other kids peep in to see
the old man. Some younger women come and join us, they all greet the doctor.
She is known all over the neighbourhood. For she removes the pain for those
terminal patients. She is a godsend. The family which can only watch helplessly
at the suffering of these people the relief cannot be imagined. At the same
time somehow they cannot digest the clinical way in which she explains death
that is soon to follow. For me it is a strange relationship. The doctor who
volunteers to come to the home of a poor Afro-American, the system that throws
out a patient when he requires a hospital most and an Indian doctor who looks
at patients as patients, and not the colour of their skin or their nationality,
I have seen Yashu get up in the middle of the night in a Buffalo winter and get
ready to go and see a patient. I have seen her make hectic arrangements to take
a young terminally ill patient to a foot ball match because that was what he
wanted. The kid died three weeks later. I have seen her tell patients family in
very clear terms that very soon, may be just a matter of days or weeks the
patient will die in such a clinical and straight fashion that some of them
would choke. She talks of death in a manner that is at once harsh and straight.
Her logic is that these patients have no hope and she is making no attempt to
cure them- she is just there to take away their pain. I would think that one
day when I am sick and about to go, I will have someone who will just take my
pain way, not treat me with more bullshit.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to have some one tell me
that “Yeh, buddy your time is <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">up.
Have a great time meanwhile.” I hope Yashu will be there at that time.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Postscript: Yashu was there when Mohan mama passed away.</span></span></p>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-7193724324998119372023-02-20T22:06:00.122-08:002023-02-21T22:30:35.494-08:00Our Hyderabad is Changing - Yet Again<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRNbElTUaXLSjX5qI_sOMGTtgohCRMPmNEMRk0fTqd-f6eEivDAuH7C_Is138Uo6TQKMUXfKXuKWlLHpi5jvApuCyW0H8eAhM35fqPkK0Rbblj_FIo7Y4rnRcadzB92eJbyi3G1iufWm2X2r7x3CmJTyEqz8zCPrylLnLTYqZ1v8kE0FXXWMiY8q9/s2913/IKEA_edited.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2913" data-original-width="2831" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRNbElTUaXLSjX5qI_sOMGTtgohCRMPmNEMRk0fTqd-f6eEivDAuH7C_Is138Uo6TQKMUXfKXuKWlLHpi5jvApuCyW0H8eAhM35fqPkK0Rbblj_FIo7Y4rnRcadzB92eJbyi3G1iufWm2X2r7x3CmJTyEqz8zCPrylLnLTYqZ1v8kE0FXXWMiY8q9/w622-h640/IKEA_edited.png" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In new Hyderabad - the massive IKEA Store that attracts hundreds of people every day.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: Sadhana Ramchander)</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every time I travel, the best moment seems to be when
I return to Hyderabad and go down Liberty road towards home! The place we live
in grows on us and becomes a comfort zone. It is one where we become fond of
places and easily find our way around. Our eyes are used to certain sights that
involuntarily give pleasure to our senses.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">When Necklace Road was being laid in the 1980s, we
wondered what it would be used for. As time went by, we became very fond of the
entire stretch of the luxurious road with sights of lovely trees on one side
and the lake on the other. Without highrise buildings in sight, the sky above
was vast and the air fresh. The rows of peepal trees were spectacular in
February-March when they adorned themselves with delicately hued new leaves. People
walked, jogged, cycled on this road, and there were melas and entertainment. NTR
Marg with its rows and rows of trees of gold was a delight in March year after
year when they turned yellow with blooms. The drive down this road and Necklace
Road were relaxing and gave us undiluted pleasure. Eat Street provided a place
to hang out with friends and family. Towards dusk, we loved to stop and watch
the bats come out in hundreds from the copper pods outside the Secretariat
gates. During early 2000s, when our children were very young, we picnicked and visited
parks on this road.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">Change happens.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;"> Children grow
up and go away to college. Ours went too and kept coming back, sometimes by
train and when time was short, by flight. They took the Pushpak bus from the
airport and we would pick them up from the airport bus stop near the Boat’s
Club lane. As we waited for the bus, we would sometimes park our car inside the
compound of the tourism office under thickset huge old trees that were a world
unto themselves. Here birds spoke to one another during twilight and retired
into their nests at night. It was quiet and peaceful until one day we were told
not to park there anymore. Soon the bus stop too was removed from there. Passing
by, we could still see the green of the trees inside the tourism building
compound. Until one day we didn’t, and then the blue tarpaulin came up and the
building was gone too. This is now the place where stands – still under
construction – the diya-shaped shining Martyr’s Memorial. Much as I try, my
eyes haven’t yet become comfortable with the sight of this contemporary structure.
Perhaps some green around it would be soothing – a young designer I know
believes that every design becomes better if a little green is added to it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH_XdaZOsD6yswHT6CRMk4qjF1jfnis6uhGdT2wWooIBOZ0VzxyzyCIJ2ZtVMepXKnw57OcemXVw67hzuuwkCpPhZAwupWMhv8ZgHtOMLlse7UngLl4mxj5HNX4Dp3bOS83hvhdVBI4-O_Otmyax0tH7g3hTUR2NX-j9KpWrITZkc91DNpv7EFgjL/s800/dc-Cover-dme7n8h9d4rl7kecclh3mapom0-20230126213507.Medi.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="800" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH_XdaZOsD6yswHT6CRMk4qjF1jfnis6uhGdT2wWooIBOZ0VzxyzyCIJ2ZtVMepXKnw57OcemXVw67hzuuwkCpPhZAwupWMhv8ZgHtOMLlse7UngLl4mxj5HNX4Dp3bOS83hvhdVBI4-O_Otmyax0tH7g3hTUR2NX-j9KpWrITZkc91DNpv7EFgjL/w400-h224/dc-Cover-dme7n8h9d4rl7kecclh3mapom0-20230126213507.Medi.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martyr's Memorial <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />(from The Deccan Chronicle, Photo by R Pavan)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Telangana Secretariat was inside a huge compound, and not visible to the
outside world. The few times I went in, to meet officials with the hope of
being given some book orders, I enjoyed the wide-open spaces and observed the
large trees it contained. There were many buildings inside, spread out over a
large area. People waited outside officious rooms. When the state split into
two, the entrance to Telangana Secretariat was from one gate and the entrance
to the Andhra Secretariat (before it moved) was from another. The buildings
were simple and old style, but I found them to be quite efficient. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Cities change.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">There is an Ozymandius in all
rulers which makes them want to leave something behind that they will always be
remembered by, however harsh the process. After some initial glitches, the
Secretariat buildings, including a few heritage structures in the compound were
razed, many trees removed, and even as the world began to deal with Covid-19,
construction of a new Secretariat for the Telangana government began in fits
and starts. In due course work moved at a fast pace, and now it is almost
complete and soon to be inaugurated, as of February 2023. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mIYZdLGIFyip0HtB-doS1_ZizMpWqW9YlmWvHA40_O0tKhMvL2f4HHTtYQuHP3b5wnKRyOdb0ERzcDYx19oB_eBx0HR-xRnA0suvLwKj5S9blaQdVjPbRhVeGWDKtjRBqg-KCA1EQgdRSBpoMh8NmyDLsjCvJ17dWhoKwDeIqQxs4YWjI50nqY9u/s1200/Secretariat%20building_NagaraGopal_TheHindu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mIYZdLGIFyip0HtB-doS1_ZizMpWqW9YlmWvHA40_O0tKhMvL2f4HHTtYQuHP3b5wnKRyOdb0ERzcDYx19oB_eBx0HR-xRnA0suvLwKj5S9blaQdVjPbRhVeGWDKtjRBqg-KCA1EQgdRSBpoMh8NmyDLsjCvJ17dWhoKwDeIqQxs4YWjI50nqY9u/w400-h266/Secretariat%20building_NagaraGopal_TheHindu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The palatial Telangana Secretariat<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from The Hindu, by Nagara Gopal)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">It seems as though in three years, out
of nowhere a palace has grown in the heart of the city, imposing and seemingly visible
from everywhere, its grand reflection in Hussainsagar making it spectacular and
photo worthy. Inspired by the temples and palaces of Telangana, it is more
majestic and much bigger than the Chowmohalla Palace or Osmania University Arts
College building. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Look on my Works, ye Mighty,
and despair!</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">As citizens of this city and
as users of public spaces, we are not in despair about the new building but
what is happening all around it is a matter of concern. Suddenly the area is unfriendly,
and we don’t know how tight the security will be once the Secretariat is
inaugurated. Will we be able to use NTR Marg as easily as we did earlier or will
there be barricades as near Pragathi Bhavan – the CM’s residence? Will tourists
be able to wander around and take photos and selfies as they did earlier? Will
common people be allowed to visit the Secretariat? Will vendors be able to sell
corn and coconuts in front of Lumbini Park?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The purpose of roads in cities
change.</b> Even as we watched the new
structures coming up, in a flash, NTR Marg was turned into a race track for
Formula E races – Hyderabad being one of the few places in the world to host
such races. While the electric cars are supposedly eco-friendly, our hearts
were broken when 200 trees of gold were removed from the road like they were
electric poles. <i>This is not okay.</i> Once
the track became ready, four to five days before the race took place, roads
around were blocked and schools on that road closed. Children lost precious
work days and ordinary people struggled with traffic jams -- <i>this is not
okay</i>. To rub salt on our fresh wounds, police became stricter than ever and
began to impose fines left, right and centre, without informing us about new
rules that resulted from these brand new ideas. We can only hope that when the Formula-E
races become a regular feature, the government finds a way to be kinder to its citizens.
But we are helpless.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQRcv4aoHitYA5qndRURBp_zm6CEWdcjOWvyy6QWrn8xw5OkmxgOuiEka_msmkjFLsiVYKb8HgbLipSAvVikI4m4lKt4IeBCD373AlE6miI-N0CuA_WvQs14OBr-vUpB-6T5fgeiYLQ6KIlA7x1-DTOPCxDmqYiXANMVpc1IG3cRwPJqDs3F3mcXo/s1280/formula-e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQRcv4aoHitYA5qndRURBp_zm6CEWdcjOWvyy6QWrn8xw5OkmxgOuiEka_msmkjFLsiVYKb8HgbLipSAvVikI4m4lKt4IeBCD373AlE6miI-N0CuA_WvQs14OBr-vUpB-6T5fgeiYLQ6KIlA7x1-DTOPCxDmqYiXANMVpc1IG3cRwPJqDs3F3mcXo/w400-h225/formula-e.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Formula-E race in Hyderabad<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from Motorsport News)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another strategic hugeness is
taking shape, emerging from NTR gardens. The new 125-foot Ambedkar statue will
loom above the Indira Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao statues nearby, over the
samadhi of NT Rama Rao, over all of us commoners, on a road where earlier, yellow
flowers smiled gently as we drove past.
We all have deep respect for the Father of the Indian Constitution but
to have him look down over us from the sky will take some getting used to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">In 1991, art critic and film
maker - and quintessential Hyderabadi - Mohan Koda, wrote an article titled, <i>Ne pogottukunna naa Hyderabad</i> (The
Hyderabad I have Lost) published in Udayam, where he said, <i>Whenever I leave
Hyderabad, it always asks me to turn and come back. I return helplessly. A
Hyderabadi continuously observes the changing scene helplessly. Rich people are
happy, NGOs are happy, owners of hotels are happy. The sycophants who dot the
city are also happy. But for the Hyderabadi, all this is a confusion, a mess. Events
happen even as he is watching. In the celebrations that happened in the last
400 years, whether in the Nizam’s Durbar, or police action, whether it had to
do with Visalandhra or NTR’s swearing in, whatever the event, there have been
no Hyderabadis there. Today’s Hyderabad does not need Hyderabadis.</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><i> </i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Thirty plus years later, the
changes to our cityscape continue and the Hyderabadi watches helplessly. Change
is inevitable, but it is also sad. There have been monumental ‘developments’
over the years. Naubat Pahad became Birla Science Center, Gibralter rock became
the Buddha statue, a quiet Nanakramguda with nothing but rocks and toddy palms
has turned into a glitzy Financial District. The metro changed the face of the
city. Durgam Cheruvu’s secret is out. Rock formations have been flattened to
make roads and buildings. Green became grey. Simple became complex.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6A-lwm6Qfrs6UdFKkoxMvksh7DbVRug2IVCQ1a4c1EnRZcWiIlaARM9RY9x6CEcT-M_YoXFX7kTD17vtFmO2fwgMsHVYJo4dYuurJgPCrDfk2JTefMP5LpYCeYXfZSS1H_YXKMbtcBUFgorb4lhmrBf9pHHIf1V3B59zumYtxP2UzKfEQWyR78kY/s1931/My_Hyderabad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1931" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6A-lwm6Qfrs6UdFKkoxMvksh7DbVRug2IVCQ1a4c1EnRZcWiIlaARM9RY9x6CEcT-M_YoXFX7kTD17vtFmO2fwgMsHVYJo4dYuurJgPCrDfk2JTefMP5LpYCeYXfZSS1H_YXKMbtcBUFgorb4lhmrBf9pHHIf1V3B59zumYtxP2UzKfEQWyR78kY/w400-h256/My_Hyderabad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanakramguda temple in 2018 (left) and in 2023 (right)<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photos by Sadhana Ramchander)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When citizens love and engage
with their city, they feel justified in wanting it to retain its character. And
when home becomes unrecognisable and unfriendly, they feel let down. The
faithful and nostalgic Hyderabadis will, however, return time and again to the
city they love, to a space they always called home, looking for the comfort of
the familiar amidst the unrecognisable new.</span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sadhana Ramchander</span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">21 February 2023</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;">***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-9872931919699030912023-02-16T22:59:00.005-08:002023-02-16T22:59:47.762-08:00To Valent or Not, That is the Question!<p> Some inspiration on Valetine's Day. Also, learnt a new word! :)</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5tOaoaGSd-CMFJeiBSfxwHH418Hv5bjQdfme8cYvwUpFfH7t6K8koIisaJdLZqKwQkKfb0W9Mp1xOzxckiD2g1GKk0lu2Isf39bMsK_UpcmHQ2XSJMsjCMxySnpfnSGN6l5QdIO0fzIoJGgECeOA5E4HnwSoVCRdto0i0PlX7cMnQognBGlKHa96/s1754/ValentinesDay_in_a_park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5tOaoaGSd-CMFJeiBSfxwHH418Hv5bjQdfme8cYvwUpFfH7t6K8koIisaJdLZqKwQkKfb0W9Mp1xOzxckiD2g1GKk0lu2Isf39bMsK_UpcmHQ2XSJMsjCMxySnpfnSGN6l5QdIO0fzIoJGgECeOA5E4HnwSoVCRdto0i0PlX7cMnQognBGlKHa96/w452-h640/ValentinesDay_in_a_park.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-50251340245227342142022-10-17T23:31:00.003-07:002023-02-16T22:54:57.474-08:00What ails Haritha Haram and how it can be better <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Haritha Haram is a well-known government program in the State of Telangana. It
was introduced in 2015, the year Telangana Rashtriya Samithi came to power under
the leadership of Chief Minister Sri K Chadrasekhar Rao. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As per the vision stated on their <a href="http://harithaharam.telangana.gov.in">website</a>, Telangana Ku Haritha
Haaram is “a flagship programme of the Telangana Government and envisages to
increase the present 24% tree cover in the State to 33% of the total
geographical area of the State. <span style="color: #141823;">The thrust areas to achieve the</span> <span style="color: #141823;">above are two-fold; one, initiatives in notified</span> <span style="color: #141823;">forest areas, and the other,
initiatives in areas</span> <span style="color: #141823;">outside
the notified forest areas”.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;">As such, every year when the rains begin, there is feverish
planting all over Telangana. Saplings are distributed at various places, and planted on medians, schools, colleges, government institutions and in every lane and bylane, wherever there is a little space. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;">While the idea of increasing green cover in a State sounds wonderful, there have been many problems
with the implementation of the Haritha Haram project, observed by journalists, naturalists and citizens. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;">This writeup lists some of these problems, with the intention of bringing them to the notice of the authorities in the hope that they be addressed, leading to a more sensible approach to this Project.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>PROBLEMS
OBSERVED IN THE CITY</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Saplings are planted
under electric wires</b>, and then after a few years, the same trees are cut down by the Electricity Department, leaving behind trunks without canopies or trees that are completely disfigured. This can be seen in many parts of the city and the outskirts.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIcQD6JczS7-Y6hEuhV16dFL09p3ogMZROFMMeAvHaAMh3XcOvColDyLoaxI5q5wYPgPVtF6TTBhby9Zw6s83SAyvbvg4odvIkhGJq2WvjQKU9AliLw-WpZvY4qwiKioRYjY1p2NmAPLI0vfMWCQtT2vOzodHehJ1vPSl7nSOFso9VWlXIeqhkw5v/s4032/20211024_080400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIcQD6JczS7-Y6hEuhV16dFL09p3ogMZROFMMeAvHaAMh3XcOvColDyLoaxI5q5wYPgPVtF6TTBhby9Zw6s83SAyvbvg4odvIkhGJq2WvjQKU9AliLw-WpZvY4qwiKioRYjY1p2NmAPLI0vfMWCQtT2vOzodHehJ1vPSl7nSOFso9VWlXIeqhkw5v/w640-h480/20211024_080400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">-</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, in many
instances, saplings grow well and become trees, but then a decision is made to
make a new road, and the trees are cut down. This thoughtlessness and
indifference is completely counterproductive and a waste of taxpayers’ money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;">Many a time, saplings
planted in a rush to meet the numbers game simply die for lack of water. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Saplings are planted in
wrong places </b>such as on narrow footpaths or road medians where there is hardly
any space for them to grow and thrive.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisedokpMdLgtPvHXcBBYAy9tGxku_M1CYnnrwLq4-UwwjY_UMfH-E74RDUX6YPLPzRwI78NlfSJLnFaWRpJSCmW_c7nnXLH1ewabfA7xK8A8B8FgdxruEQhac_agUpra1JhNRR6TMF0jJsQ2-MKy7GoKH-kC_ycLtboZ15u6PK6onvtLY_Nd3cdV6s/s4032/20220216_121013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisedokpMdLgtPvHXcBBYAy9tGxku_M1CYnnrwLq4-UwwjY_UMfH-E74RDUX6YPLPzRwI78NlfSJLnFaWRpJSCmW_c7nnXLH1ewabfA7xK8A8B8FgdxruEQhac_agUpra1JhNRR6TMF0jJsQ2-MKy7GoKH-kC_ycLtboZ15u6PK6onvtLY_Nd3cdV6s/w240-h320/20220216_121013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The choice of species is
often not suitable </b>to the place where it is planted. For example, in the photo below, the gulmohur, which is a very large tree with an expanse of root system
has been planted on a narrow footpath outside an apartment complex. Branches
that touch the wires above are chopped, thus rendering the tree imbalanced. The next gale is sure to bring this tree down, posing a danger to passers-by. </span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpviPy2ZE70g6D4sZ01YmcV4wVZQkJ-vyjaGjqOzTYRSYjntgPC-vmywwuip7nlrReld2v06ew61T6uVhszhsERbgeo0r6jEmHP7Dig59F2k7mTdEReqqmi19SdCDLzEHlBWmWgL9hgqmfHLi_XTOJQMLtqu9DB2Qk1CkCNzoPdd9CNUgHzEPGz43b/s4032/20220216_121005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpviPy2ZE70g6D4sZ01YmcV4wVZQkJ-vyjaGjqOzTYRSYjntgPC-vmywwuip7nlrReld2v06ew61T6uVhszhsERbgeo0r6jEmHP7Dig59F2k7mTdEReqqmi19SdCDLzEHlBWmWgL9hgqmfHLi_XTOJQMLtqu9DB2Qk1CkCNzoPdd9CNUgHzEPGz43b/s320/20220216_121005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Everywhere in the city of Hyderabad, one finds quick-growing plants such as Conocarpus sp and the Geometry tree. Conocarpus is supposedly a very harmful plant and can damage electric lines and water pipes, and cause asthma and skin allergies. </span></span></span></p><div><br /></div><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/mass-planting-of-conocarpus-may-be-harmful-say-pune-botanists/articleshow/77238369.cms">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/mass-planting-of-conocarpus-may-be-harmful-say-pune-botanists/articleshow/77238369.cms</a><br /><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span> </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Saplings are often planted under already growing trees</b>. How are they expected to grow and thrive?</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #141823;">It seems like once the
sapling numbers are met each year, no audit is done to see how they are doing –
is it then, a numbers game?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC3-Xy3Nie_CXXtvfnb383HXZIzXK8OJFsVaT2GstQN9Bf3akBeoPSQ0N3FhKf5OWqfJoJ2K2gVz2vpPaTjWmVZMSRcW4Utob81T65Zg01mb3Z_6F74phq6ouh4MTRUapxoQkewVx-dTr6Nru7g1383AORZptPKGMJG_BNU4wguX6lSZur4f_nUFU/s4032/20210905_165520.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC3-Xy3Nie_CXXtvfnb383HXZIzXK8OJFsVaT2GstQN9Bf3akBeoPSQ0N3FhKf5OWqfJoJ2K2gVz2vpPaTjWmVZMSRcW4Utob81T65Zg01mb3Z_6F74phq6ouh4MTRUapxoQkewVx-dTr6Nru7g1383AORZptPKGMJG_BNU4wguX6lSZur4f_nUFU/s320/20210905_165520.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Miyawaki plantations </b>seem
to have become a favourite with Haritha Haram. This is a Japanese method where different species are planted close to one another, grow in 2-3 years and become self sustaining. Does this method work? At a time when climate change poses a danger to humanity, can we afford to experiment with new methods instead of sticking to the tried and tested method of replicating already existing habitat and encouraging slow-growing native species? </span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;">In "Fast forward forests" published in The Hindu (3 April 2022), Nikhil Eapen writes, "Miyawaki forests are seen as a panacea for everything from polluted urban air to dwindling biodiversity. But do they meet the fundamental principles of ecological restoration?" Eapen says India's largest Miyawaki forest is in Hyderabad, planted across 10 acres. "Besides selecting the wrong trees, Miyawaki forests have been planted in ecosystems that have never supported many trees: in Kutch in Gujarat, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Hyderabad in Telangana". The article goes on to say that this kind of planting destroys native ecosystems, pushing plants and animals that depend on them to the brink. </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Nurseries for Harithaharam: </b>Once the monsoon plantation drive ends, the rest of the year, nurseries are maintained in order to
meet the demand for crores of saplings to meet the Haritha Haram targets.
Typically, nurseries have been spreading into open spaces in public parks and
other areas, taking up spaces meant for people to walk on. Where there were once beautiful grasses and wild plants, insects and butterflies, are now hundreds of black plastic bags with saplings in them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_qHUQ6YBO33B_pGe3id828HqnpXM41r165Zw3V6DMCvcWqLhFgb5AdczKjLW2TnfnPIizDzFLMKDahMT8G-vWh8p9zawNxZwi5jxBq_mFdnOQqKcdUJGQZlqsCVr7NhHg2veCXzRg5WWXevRUGX1jNM6sT68sPFkU8YXyoe_rVZNoB5v9616AdNz/s4032/20211227_085431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_qHUQ6YBO33B_pGe3id828HqnpXM41r165Zw3V6DMCvcWqLhFgb5AdczKjLW2TnfnPIizDzFLMKDahMT8G-vWh8p9zawNxZwi5jxBq_mFdnOQqKcdUJGQZlqsCVr7NhHg2veCXzRg5WWXevRUGX1jNM6sT68sPFkU8YXyoe_rVZNoB5v9616AdNz/w640-h480/20211227_085431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;"> </span><b style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;">PROBLEMS OBSERVED IN FORESTS</b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tW2bNuQeJIxu14IwurKEtoCAB7Z0ZhW9LkPiX_o_VXw1iYUv8Hk0_xOa4wozipzkRqWeX3WN-f41kQ5spMXG6GiBPvj0XxcBfVls6A6K6v-XLvUSkybLfJ3_b8umuYXNWiDhZv6GD_JtRF5onHAwih5uKAk13sQaOU5OYx56O0kj1PfEkGj1Tg7a/s4032/20211119_083240.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tW2bNuQeJIxu14IwurKEtoCAB7Z0ZhW9LkPiX_o_VXw1iYUv8Hk0_xOa4wozipzkRqWeX3WN-f41kQ5spMXG6GiBPvj0XxcBfVls6A6K6v-XLvUSkybLfJ3_b8umuYXNWiDhZv6GD_JtRF5onHAwih5uKAk13sQaOU5OYx56O0kj1PfEkGj1Tg7a/s320/20211119_083240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The scrub jungles of
Telangana have a typical landscape with stunted native trees, various kinds of grasses
and rocky areas here and there. It has been noticed that non-native species of
trees have been planted in these jungles. For example, in Mudimiyal scrub
forest on the Vikarabad road, <i>Sterculia foetida</i> has been planted, which
is usually not a tree found in a scrub jungle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ideally, habitats should be studied and suitable native species planted
in our forests – if at all. Forests often recuperate if left alone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823;"> </span><span style="color: #141823;">The government website goes on to say that “</span>The first objective is sought to be
achieved by a multi-pronged approach of rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring
more effective protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment, fire,
grazing and intensive soil and moisture conservation measures following the
watershed approach.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. It is horrifying to note that dry grasses set on fire in Mudimiyal forest in January-February 2022 have been seen rising high and burning banyan and other native trees in the jungle. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUHSWkg2Km-6eOrAk-HlZsZNQ-gm4RaiB8wmST_s6w8XHVeXGGPEXvGg1l84luUyOjsnPhfb7Bk3SS03jlK28BpcsOd-GmhTR4Sajuq8C6NyCih6-qIX7_w1ddKxMuw2hQPxKNykcQHjRhCXCcclFQQbL0XWh5oSup6zBIfWCWmTQhwn3i51eo301/s1080/FB_IMG_1645667688722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUHSWkg2Km-6eOrAk-HlZsZNQ-gm4RaiB8wmST_s6w8XHVeXGGPEXvGg1l84luUyOjsnPhfb7Bk3SS03jlK28BpcsOd-GmhTR4Sajuq8C6NyCih6-qIX7_w1ddKxMuw2hQPxKNykcQHjRhCXCcclFQQbL0XWh5oSup6zBIfWCWmTQhwn3i51eo301/s320/FB_IMG_1645667688722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Media reports: </b>Several newspapers have been pointing out the mistakes in the
implementation of Haritha Haram over the years, from different parts of Telangana. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Links to a few more articles are given below.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/haritha-haram-trees-shorn-of-life-before-they-could-serve/article38050872.ece">https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/haritha-haram-trees-shorn-of-life-before-they-could-serve/article38050872.ece</a><span style="color: #141823;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2016-05-13/Haritha-Haram-fails-to-take-off-in-Mahbubnagar/227806"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2016-05-13/Haritha-Haram-fails-to-take-off-in-Mahbubnagar/227806</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Tvvd4F5lfbBIyEeaB2GYiN/TTelangana-green-plan-facing-implementation-challenges.html"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Tvvd4F5lfbBIyEeaB2GYiN/TTelangana-green-plan-facing-implementation-challenges.html</span></span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;"><b>Contradictions: </b>Hyderabad has been recognised as a "Tree city" for the second consecutive year by the Arbor Day foundation and the FAO, for planting 3,50,56,635 trees in 2021. On the one hand, Telangana has been hailed as a state that is showing an increase in green cover because of
Haritha Haram. On the other, thousands of large, well-grown trees are chopped
overnight to make roads and flyovers. Well-grown peepal trees on a median on
the Uppal-Warangal road, planted about 5 years ago, have all been chopped down
to make way for a flyover that is being constructed. These trees perhaps added
to Haritha Haram statistics when they were planted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit;">"Even small plants are being counted as trees. While initiatives such as Haritha Haram are great, there should be a census to see how many trees have truly survives over the years", says Asiya Khan, a nature enthusiast, in an interview by Amrutha Kosuru of News Meter (<a href="https://newsmeter.in/hyderabad/green-or-not-hyderabad-recognised-as-tree-city-but-nature-lovers-not-happy-with-tag-694184">https://newsmeter.in/hyderabad/green-or-not-hyderabad-recognised-as-tree-city-but-nature-lovers-not-happy-with-tag-694184</a>). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More than 1100 heritage banyans and 8,000 other trees on the Vikarabad road are slated to be felled to make way for a highway - NH 163. Growing thousands of saplings is no compensation or justification to cut old trees because soil and climatic conditions are no longer conducive to the growth of large trees that will one day become eligible to be called heritage trees. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727;">Vijay Dhasmana, who </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; text-align: center;">played a key role in transforming a 380-acre mining site in Gurgaon into a lush wilderness known as the Aravalli Biodiversity Park says,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272727; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">“It is now (almost) universally accepted that ‘planting trees is good’. We are driven by the human-centric consumeristic approach that trees give us oxygen and water, therefore one must plant them. However, I feel it is an incomplete approach, and can be dangerous, especially when you plant the wrong species in inappropriate terrain,” he points out. (</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #272727;"><a href="https://sustain.round.glass/people/vijay-dhasmana/">https://sustain.round.glass/people/vijay-dhasmana/</a>)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It is of utmost importance and urgency that Haritha Haram include protection of existing trees in its
mandate, and do everything it can to see that trees are neither cut down nor
translocated. </b>Old trees must be recognised as the elders that they are, and given the respect and reverence they deserve. Just as multi-storied buildings are not brought down if they come
in the way of roads, trees too should be kept where they are, and roads planned
around them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Changing the entire landscape of our charming land and converting it into a maze of concrete roads and flyovers only exacerbates climate change and all the dangers it brings. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Telangana government should urgently acknowledge the
problems hampering the successful implementation of the Haritha Haram program, seriously review it and take steps to make it work
efficiently. The Program should learn from experiences from other parts of India , and change to include rewilding and restoration as part of their mandate. Once all this is done and problems ironed out, it will still remain a unique
program that we can all be proud of.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></p></div><br /><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -18pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-34391186348992136972022-09-09T03:16:00.296-07:002022-09-17T23:43:54.017-07:00Mesmerising Bali - a place that is interesting as any part of India!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCrpuzrNIE2QLo2hBPi7l7nklFWQu9kq9OCKtLvpqWIRslBy8BoSr9xgP1jgu_sHOb6KjzGK4MSRIVrRaycMXImkbF-ewOP0kLOqD0pM7vXBxf7WyVizbIHPYVuuO9EcDT-v2rEaog52b23B1v7t4O0nrJ8MTvY-w9tLL9-n8iOKgveY-q65kZVoU/s4032/20220725_131420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCrpuzrNIE2QLo2hBPi7l7nklFWQu9kq9OCKtLvpqWIRslBy8BoSr9xgP1jgu_sHOb6KjzGK4MSRIVrRaycMXImkbF-ewOP0kLOqD0pM7vXBxf7WyVizbIHPYVuuO9EcDT-v2rEaog52b23B1v7t4O0nrJ8MTvY-w9tLL9-n8iOKgveY-q65kZVoU/w640-h480/20220725_131420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets, a quaint museum with an array of masks, <br />barongs and puppets - it was one of our favourite places. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We reached Bali around 6.30 pm. The driver Nyoman, who we had been in conversation with from India, came in his car to Denpasar airport to pick us up. Nyoman was very friendly and made us feel welcome. We first went to get local sim cards, and then began our drive to Ubud. It seemed like a never-ending drive and we were hungry. At about 9 pm, we stopped at a supermarket and our friend Mohan went to to buy chips and water. He couldn't pay because his card wouldn't work and he hadn't exchanged any money. The Balinese lady in the queue behind him very simply offered to pay, and when he said, "But you don't know me...how will I pay you back?" she just said, "That's okay". Mohan was stunned by this gesture, and helplessly looked towards the car...Nyoman then went and paid for the purchase (reimbursed later by Mohan, of course)!</p><p>Our hunger was satiated at the one restaurant that was open - Indian Delites! What chances? :) The food was very tasty too. This was the first and last Indian restaurant we went to. </p><p>This then was our entry into Bali. We discovered a wonderful island and people. Culture, architecture, nature, art and craft, adventure sports...there is something for everyone. More than anything else, it was the Balinese people who made it a pleasure to be there and travel around. For that, a big thank you - Terimakasi banyak, dear Bali friends!</p><p>We went to two places - Ubud and Seminyak. Ubud is a small, quaint town with a forest in the middle of the town and also surrounding it. So you go in and out of the rainforest, looking at many shades of green and many levels of trees and plants. The weather was great and it was very comfortable driving around. Ubud is about temples, waterfalls, terraced rice fields, art, craft, shopping, coffee, adventure sports, colourful masks and barongs. A large, beautiful palace - Puri Saren Agung - is located in Ubud. The royal family still lives at the back of the palace. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8Tlfb1EH4uv2xP6VKyJH6YpyN2tkB3oPeiTQr04u9v7bKolUe8k1oRCh8M4pyVXT7moRv0AhqYc_5pO1POm8O6CewwB-tlbDFSslpaTlF4ddJUK1fPI0lWO-spzZfDPmXgYbKw8-pgVb17cR2_hTgtL8js9tRHKJUnyGAXZ3U3ACXWK-CfFeicxC/s4032/20220731_162005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8Tlfb1EH4uv2xP6VKyJH6YpyN2tkB3oPeiTQr04u9v7bKolUe8k1oRCh8M4pyVXT7moRv0AhqYc_5pO1POm8O6CewwB-tlbDFSslpaTlF4ddJUK1fPI0lWO-spzZfDPmXgYbKw8-pgVb17cR2_hTgtL8js9tRHKJUnyGAXZ3U3ACXWK-CfFeicxC/w480-h640/20220731_162005.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The palace complex in Ubud; this is the typical Balinese temple architecture.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Some interesting things about Bali:</b><p></p><p><b>The Indonesian rupiah:</b> Money is in hundred thousands - million and billion rupiahs. If you are mathematically challenged like me, your brain will go into a tizzy! I was converting Ind rupiahs to US dollar and then converting that to rupees! Until I figured out towards the end of our trip that Rp 100,000 is about Rs 540!</p><p><b>Names:</b> Now, this is really interesting.In Bali, first names are given according to the rank of birth - and the names are common to boys and girls. The first child is either Wayan or Putu, the second child is Made or Kadek, the third child is Nyoman or Komang (our drivers were therefore third in line!), and the fourth is Ketut! Last names are given as per the children's characteristics - for eg, the plump child is named Apple. Or they give names based on qualities they would like the child to have, eg, Dharma (good), Samarta (smart), Santi (calm).</p><p><b>The houses: </b>As we drove around Ubud, I couldn't see the usual kinds of houses and began to wonder where people lived. There seemed to be only temples everywhere. Then I noticed that there were many small houses within the compounds of these temples. Apparently there are several pavilions inside, and the houses consist of three distinct parts - the sacred temple, the bedrooms and the impure part where they breed animals and burn their garbage. </p><div><b>Kopi Luwak:</b> In Balinese, kopi means coffee and Luwak means the Asian palm civet. The Luwak coffee is special and expensive. It is made from coffee beans that have been eaten by the civets and pooped out. The poo is picked up, coffee beans collected from it, cleaned, roasted and ground. Yuck...yes! But we tried it :) It was good :)) They call it 'catpoochino'! :)))</div><p><b>Kite flying: </b>We found kites (patangs) flying both in Ubud and in Seminyak. They have many shapes, but most seemed bird shaped. They were steadily in the air everywhere, at all times of the day. One night in Seminyak, we were surprised to find them glowing in the night sky, adding colour to the galaxy! We then realised that the Balians fly kites, tether the string to a post and leave them to fly on their own. What would the Hyderabadis do to these kites, I couldn't help wondering!</p><p>Then I read about it and discovered that the Balians have a culture of kite flying, more intense than ours! <a href="https://www.thestoryinstitute.com/bali-kite">Here's </a>a writeup on this, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGyqU0p_UfI">here's a YouTube video </a>showing the sacred (and huge) Janggan - the dragon kite. </p><p><b>Scooters:</b> Scooter is one of the preferred transport in Bali. Plenty of them zipping around, especially in Ubud. You can hire a scooter but you need an international license. They have some really cool models, and I was really jealous! Why don't we have those models in India?</p><p><b>Petrol kiosks: </b>Lakshmi and I were walking down the road in Ubud one evening when we noticed that next to a small supermarket was another small shop with a petrol kiosk outside! I guess this was to cater to the many scooters around. </p><div><b>Food: </b>Traditionally the Balinese eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also eat a lot of vegetables and very little meat or fish on ordinary days. On festival days they add a whole chicken or two and roasted pig to the rice. They also eat fish and tortoise. </div><p>Since we are vegetarians, we had to pick restaurants that served some veggie food. There were some vegetarian options like Nasi Goreng - the Indonesian fried rice. It comes with a fried egg on top. Mie goreng is similar but is made of noodles. Other 'universal' foods like pasta and pizza are available. <i>Bubur injin </i>- black rice pudding - is a delicacy. It is baked for a long time and has coconut and banana. In Singapore airport, I loved Mee siam. It is such a wholesome dish.</p><p><b>Fruits:</b> We tried passion fruit, snakeskin fruit (the skin looks like that of a snake) , mangosteen, durian and bananas - all very tasty. Of all of them, mangosteen is the tastiest...very juicy and yummy. Durian is difficult to cut and takes getting used to - we couldn't finish the one we bought! </p><p><b>Cats:</b> Also, cats have short tails! They are born like that. </p><p><b>Chess patterned cloth:</b> You see this cloth everywhere in Bali. It is used in decoration, adorning sculptures, as umbrellas and sarongs, etc. This pattern signifies the Balinese philosophy of balance called Rwa Bhineda. This textile is called 'saput poleng'. 'Saput' means 'blanket' and 'poleng' means 'in two tones'. The alternating black and white squares symbolise the coexistence of opposites and the ultimate goal of harmony. </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4a4a4a; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 25px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">***</b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4a4a4a; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 25px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">OUR ITINERARY</b></p><p><b>UBUD </b></p><p>Ubud is a quaint town in Ubud District, amidst terraced paddy fields and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. It is promoted very successfully as an arts and culture centre.</p><p>We stayed in an Air BNB called Villa Wayan, and travelled around by car. Our drivers were Nyoman and Komang. Both had well-maintained Innovas, and were extremely nice people. They were also punctual and efficient, and also played the role of tourist guides, understanding our interests and guiding us accordingly. Komang mostly dressed in traditional clothes - a shirt and kamben and a head dress called Udeng. </p><p>The other way to get around is to hire bikes, but we were four of us and this was perfect. Besides, a car and driver cost us INR 3000 per day, which was very reasonable. Stay in an AirBNB - Villa Wayan in Ubud - and Ramada Encore in Seminyak also cost about Rs 3500 per day, which was very affordable. <b> </b></p><p><b>Day 0: </b>Travel from Hyderabad to Bali: Flight at 1.35 am by Scoot Airways TS 575. Reach Singapore 8.55 am Singapore time, after a four and a half hour flight. About a 6-hour layover. We enjoy the very posh Changi airport. Lakshmi and I visit the butterfly and cactus gardens. Catch the flight to Bali at 3.35 pm. Scoort TR 288. Reach Bali at 6.25 pm. Flying time 2 hours 45 minutes. </p><p><b>Day 1: </b>Monday, 25 July 2022</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Breakfast at Atman Cafe, Ubud </li><li>Samar Kuning I - Artists' Cooperative. Beautiful paintings. </li><li>Satriya Agrowista coffee plantation, where we met a few civets and tasted luwak coffee </li><li>Setia Darma House of Masks, Barongs and Puppets </li><li>Goa Gajah temple </li><li>Lunch at Resto Green Puri Suling </li><li>Kantolampo waterfall </li><li>Ikkat weavers </li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPXwUavUeX9EUfo_WlP9EkQYn_rhWvtDetC6M8SLx2BBnU6MQdMkZdwJR2cFXHcHnpkFT5trt0rJVLZWCKTR3Y0Hymjl6VcyceAwfs0Nxx5YlnVoXxtL5R_YKHSQxiJpLnkReW03uEnvRNg-qVBi46g6X9Jg3f80fx1vwE1xftFnUG4MPTQkswIyc/s1754/Day1_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPXwUavUeX9EUfo_WlP9EkQYn_rhWvtDetC6M8SLx2BBnU6MQdMkZdwJR2cFXHcHnpkFT5trt0rJVLZWCKTR3Y0Hymjl6VcyceAwfs0Nxx5YlnVoXxtL5R_YKHSQxiJpLnkReW03uEnvRNg-qVBi46g6X9Jg3f80fx1vwE1xftFnUG4MPTQkswIyc/w640-h452/Day1_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 1</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Day 2:</b> Tuesday, 26 July 2022</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bali swing: This is an exhilerating experience - you swing facing the rain forest! There are swings here and there in many places.</li><li>Tegalalang paddy terraces: A bit disappointing. There were better terraces elsewhere. </li><li>Lunch at Kubu Bali - great view of terraced fields </li><li>Tirta Empul temple - foreigners were bathing in the ponds. Everything is a photo op. But the temple is fabulous. </li><li>Mount Batur and Mount Agum - volcanoes. Batur erupted in 2002 and Agum as recently as 2019. Saw youngsters selling puppies in cages on the roadside. Strange! </li><li>Back to Villa Wayan. </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8lduZPyhdY1TNyJ-Ym8PWpCNpgj3aBcOA9AgmJt5zEJDaoZrJ8VuLFufJRqwOz-aA-e8vZ1H3sNlkMUZtGUMUSZXlEGPPozTs1v5epbo3AbazgHmJBgC6XKUNpooNdFOrpkgekvFaN-SJfR76_tCpxNbCwDBPhpisxS_rY0Nqe-uecFF8N8pA0fX/s1754/Day2_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8lduZPyhdY1TNyJ-Ym8PWpCNpgj3aBcOA9AgmJt5zEJDaoZrJ8VuLFufJRqwOz-aA-e8vZ1H3sNlkMUZtGUMUSZXlEGPPozTs1v5epbo3AbazgHmJBgC6XKUNpooNdFOrpkgekvFaN-SJfR76_tCpxNbCwDBPhpisxS_rY0Nqe-uecFF8N8pA0fX/w640-h452/Day2_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Day 3: </b>Wednesday, 27 July 2022: We drove to just one place today. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mother temple Pura Besakih. The drive was lovely. Small towns interspersed with the rainforest. It is very much like the western ghats. The towns are also pretty, roads are narrow but very good. Besakih is an 8th century complex of temples and feels very sacred. </span>It is the largest, holiest and the most important temple in Bali, located on the volcanic slopes of Mount Agung, the highest mountain in Bali. There is no deity in these temples - only a presence. We bought an offering and our guide made us do a small puja sitting outdoors - a sombre and calming experience. Took lots of photos in this temple! I so loved the moss- and lichen-covered sculptures. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before we left, our Air BNB owner - Mr Gusti c</span>ame to meet us with his wife - Wayan. Very nice people, very simple and philosophical. They have two more villas and a small handicrafts store in Ubud. They themselves stay in a very small house, they said. Gusti told us they belong to the priest class, and once his three children settled down, he would become a priest. He seemed deeply philosophical - he said if someone was not happy with him, he would first look within himself to see what he could've done wrong. We were very impressed.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi-1sEs6PDM0RdTQRg453Z3maOTmTbBWZtXtHQIx20n84wyHS2qfPnOeTNaLoj-AwqKQjx-cew6WvXh99-aoCHvDn-jGPspdMyY_1t3ek7_XnY589tity9jfYJGjlPGYxLKgxf1nZFIrC7WAPcLGMhG7uFmqqgRuoONmBStayur99sL0fNqjok8GH/s1754/Day3_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi-1sEs6PDM0RdTQRg453Z3maOTmTbBWZtXtHQIx20n84wyHS2qfPnOeTNaLoj-AwqKQjx-cew6WvXh99-aoCHvDn-jGPspdMyY_1t3ek7_XnY589tity9jfYJGjlPGYxLKgxf1nZFIrC7WAPcLGMhG7uFmqqgRuoONmBStayur99sL0fNqjok8GH/w640-h452/Day3_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 3</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Day 4: </b>Thursday, 28 July 2022: We checked out of Villa Wayan and travelled with our luggage</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Stopped at a medicinal honey-making place. The bees are quite different. The family had an albino pet python! </li><li>We visited Kayu Putih, a humongous 700-year old white silk cotton (Kapok) tree (<i>Ceiba pentandra</i>). It was bigger than any tree I had seen before. My trip was already complete! </li><li>Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Tabanan. A vast and beautiful Shaivaite temple on the shores of the Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul. Very picturesque.</li><li>Lunch at Pakung Inda</li><li>Checked out silver/gold place, and ikkat and batik shop - both very large</li><li>Reached Seminyak and checked into Hotel Ramada Encore</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIQoqiVT1jKVkKj1crHSJusJhXbOE-FxNYWqk18IMUIW8Ch6yaaSH-oK753Y8uQcXATlTHJSioAz1G-JjrV56cwIayi_mHseW8Vj553haa8CHgJhD0hFjHFuCVsc4YACsGiKBY20tEtWP39LYNOu-6zD47tm5mXZACrNMR6frNlVPIbw7Ta4x5ow/s3508/Day4_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxIQoqiVT1jKVkKj1crHSJusJhXbOE-FxNYWqk18IMUIW8Ch6yaaSH-oK753Y8uQcXATlTHJSioAz1G-JjrV56cwIayi_mHseW8Vj553haa8CHgJhD0hFjHFuCVsc4YACsGiKBY20tEtWP39LYNOu-6zD47tm5mXZACrNMR6frNlVPIbw7Ta4x5ow/w640-h452/Day4_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 4</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>SEMINYAK</b></div><p><b>Day 5: </b>Friday, 29 July 2022: <i>We miss Ubud. We miss Ubud. We miss Ubud! </i></p><p>Seminyak is more like a city with big, modern houses, whereas Ubud was cute and quaint. Also, the weather in Ubud is very pleasant. Seminyak is hot and humid.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Prati Tingah beach, where the local people were praying to the ocean.</li><li>Shopping at Seminyak Village Mall. It is always a good idea to visit a local maket/mall.</li><li>Batu Bolong beach: Full of foreign surfers. </li><li>Pura Tanah Lot temple and beach. Fabulous place. Not to be missed. Parts of the beach are rocky and with black volcanic sand.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZwDRKamjrsp4w9JHVDWBDjIGXtj21sSNbvKfbz3Wpj1YNUZZH6x6rep8mbR0i9iyBfGC_FpE5AOLC7EYfn4fBOEsGwmjo00lFdnMwku_P15JWHPN2cRh-xk-ZKXjfrUEq_nwiuoJExYT_ti2sQqcare3Y8bXqS1kbCFm9NYl35RU7KR7x7_zgEaz/s3508/Day5_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZwDRKamjrsp4w9JHVDWBDjIGXtj21sSNbvKfbz3Wpj1YNUZZH6x6rep8mbR0i9iyBfGC_FpE5AOLC7EYfn4fBOEsGwmjo00lFdnMwku_P15JWHPN2cRh-xk-ZKXjfrUEq_nwiuoJExYT_ti2sQqcare3Y8bXqS1kbCFm9NYl35RU7KR7x7_zgEaz/w640-h452/Day5_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 5</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Day 6: </b>Saturday, 30 July 2022</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Pantai Suluban, Uluwatu: We had to go down many steps to get to the sea, through a cave! Very exciting place. At the top is a restaurant from where you can see many surfers. Felt a little jealous that we can't surf!</li><li>Lunch at Ulu Resto. I have a bowl of noodles and orange juice.</li><li>Viewpoint to see the almost 180 degree view of the sea. Very hot and oppressive.</li><li>Pura Uluwatu (temple). Here we saw the Kecak dance. The dancers performed scenes from the Ramayana. Surabhi level. NOT TO BE MISSED.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbJVHFguCPr8xY_IUe_LTaqZrM8pW7WRMzcmQqYGchZ0hJzBY7MuM4Mo7ZuZkENt4VfUbfuw_tnLLyCnvYlOwiJOFKnQUYOIuT-eiwL7-BqDULwGoLSWzPsvzHtN9JV4Dn50Dhb_ryeRDsP40g-L_yzfVxUglFpGeDCi3zhkUqwKAsxP6gYGSvh7x/s3508/Day6_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbJVHFguCPr8xY_IUe_LTaqZrM8pW7WRMzcmQqYGchZ0hJzBY7MuM4Mo7ZuZkENt4VfUbfuw_tnLLyCnvYlOwiJOFKnQUYOIuT-eiwL7-BqDULwGoLSWzPsvzHtN9JV4Dn50Dhb_ryeRDsP40g-L_yzfVxUglFpGeDCi3zhkUqwKAsxP6gYGSvh7x/w640-h452/Day6_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 6</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Day 7: </b>Sunday, 31 July 2022: Boys stay in. Girls day out!</p><p>Lakshmi and I went back to Ubud! On the way, breakfast at Koodopan - a vegan restaurant. Great place. I had dalgona coffee which was very good.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Monkey forest, Ubud. Yes, there are plenty of monkeys. The Europeans and Australians are fascinated. We are cautious. There are people who help tourists pose with the monkeys. The forest is gorgeous! Can actually spend all day here. But the monkeys are off putting - we did see a tourist who had been scratched by one.</li><li>Lunch at Casa Luna</li><li>Shopping: Ubud is a good place for shopping. There are two roads - the palace road and the monkey forest road. Both full of shops. If you like shopping, do not miss these two streets.</li><li>Ubud Palace: The king and his family live there and only the outer precincts are open to tourists.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRmzVVsNsT1QavWCXag_NzUpX-H-v4iVEMF0gTI4PYfKRNO-T-1Htuqj24iAiaJKFwqsypZtzQeYcvpVWrvsJVlYvou3iZ5bcLnZ9MPHibRhCS8A7-IQ_3l5wav-ME1tl9dH1FjmvegutJAdSKJA-3M-JDbeJDJlVuxUOfgSmdxi-t6X8BKsvk9Cg/s3508/Day7_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRmzVVsNsT1QavWCXag_NzUpX-H-v4iVEMF0gTI4PYfKRNO-T-1Htuqj24iAiaJKFwqsypZtzQeYcvpVWrvsJVlYvou3iZ5bcLnZ9MPHibRhCS8A7-IQ_3l5wav-ME1tl9dH1FjmvegutJAdSKJA-3M-JDbeJDJlVuxUOfgSmdxi-t6X8BKsvk9Cg/w640-h452/Day7_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 7</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b>Day 8: </b>Monday, 01 August 2022: Girls stay in half a day, boys day out!</p><p>Last day. We went to Kuta beach where not much activity was happening, and did some shopping at a souvenir shop there. A gift shop called Danu is interesting, and has a range of souvenirs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I-C8zqse_2TwM909MDmyGRTRh9obRQGgVkghm8MNSkxi5lCOBp9PY2ng6wVTZLBZXE52AUKgylyOIU-X6vcTXqaQub7UTI4dpgjR2b9n_En_TfMl9Y9WKMqgkwL14KN76C_qngtGHiTxECAHt4hAWRORzkN9h6-L4Ot2Ockn7t1Sng62SFrlqPz_/s3508/Day8_Images_for_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I-C8zqse_2TwM909MDmyGRTRh9obRQGgVkghm8MNSkxi5lCOBp9PY2ng6wVTZLBZXE52AUKgylyOIU-X6vcTXqaQub7UTI4dpgjR2b9n_En_TfMl9Y9WKMqgkwL14KN76C_qngtGHiTxECAHt4hAWRORzkN9h6-L4Ot2Ockn7t1Sng62SFrlqPz_/w640-h452/Day8_Images_for_blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Day 8</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Day 9: </b>Tuesday, 02 August 2022: We left for Singapore at 7 am. Flight time 2 hours 45 minutes . Eight hours layover at Singapore, but it is one of the best airports in the world, and there's a lot to do there. Flying time from Singapore to Hyderabad 4 hours 35 minutes. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgl3NJ0r01yPBa9D6X8TMpDbEZqaqqwX90FdUnmREipvR95Z2h8vqDb2UJTY1QV-2K4bsngkl5TXcwUs7O6R5HOaQ9KelQuEYA4dHtxR9QYmXw4ZREDWAFT1s53O8Wke8gbPqkKFaG-wA25AWjaOFwXmGPGqutxSOTfgTY1EJbgsg6oxdN25_Y2d9/s1280/IMG-20220809-WA0047_LP.tif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgl3NJ0r01yPBa9D6X8TMpDbEZqaqqwX90FdUnmREipvR95Z2h8vqDb2UJTY1QV-2K4bsngkl5TXcwUs7O6R5HOaQ9KelQuEYA4dHtxR9QYmXw4ZREDWAFT1s53O8Wke8gbPqkKFaG-wA25AWjaOFwXmGPGqutxSOTfgTY1EJbgsg6oxdN25_Y2d9/w480-h640/IMG-20220809-WA0047_LP.tif" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the Mother Temple - Pura Besakih.<br />Left to right: Komang - our driver, Vijay, me, Lakshmi and Mohan. <br />We are wearing sarongs, which are compulsory in temples there. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This post is only the tip of the iceberg. Bali has so much to offer a tourist. I say this about very few countries but I found Bali to be as interesting as any part of India. It is my kind of a place and I really would like to go back because there is so much more left to explore. </p><p>Terimakasih banyak, Bali and Selamat tingall to the beautiful Balinese people!</p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos Copyright: Sadhana Ramchander. Please use with credit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some info from <i>My life in Bali: An adorable guide book</i> by Sandrine Saimaud)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">#Bali #lifeinbali #traveltobali</span></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-24417648913277737492022-09-08T00:10:00.008-07:002022-09-08T00:10:59.987-07:00Monsoon watch 2022<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTidmLfpnCC3pNmCCUGzYgVwxcZejdSntolX5Ht2t_t8oJnzeH5_ZdgJyO3_chgH6Qf7tqja82Cx6kQq9W-GU6OlKWr7FNDY7cY_wQD1fsyOX7cgNI4b97upZLK3asY2HGz8p2YKkaI_l5vT-yKwlGft-KdLOdzAOYFFmoqr6nAecwtUiInuPE6Gxf/s425/Rain-file-1652713955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="425" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTidmLfpnCC3pNmCCUGzYgVwxcZejdSntolX5Ht2t_t8oJnzeH5_ZdgJyO3_chgH6Qf7tqja82Cx6kQq9W-GU6OlKWr7FNDY7cY_wQD1fsyOX7cgNI4b97upZLK3asY2HGz8p2YKkaI_l5vT-yKwlGft-KdLOdzAOYFFmoqr6nAecwtUiInuPE6Gxf/w640-h422/Rain-file-1652713955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from Saakshi</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Monsoon has been good in Hyderabad. Started a little late in June - around 16 June - but it has been raining very well. More rain rather than less of the earlier years when we used to be anxious about rains. This summer we didn't have any thunder showers. None of the drama - trees falling, etc.</p><p>Although there have been heavy rains in Hyderabad, people and localities were not affected as they used to be earlier. </p><p>The northeast has been badly affected, as every year, and at present, Bengaluru has had very heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts of the city, especially areas where homes have been built where lakes once were.</p><p>Climate change is very apparent this year throughout the world. </p><p>Some of Faye d'Souza's headines:</p><p>- Worst drought in China </p><p>- Two-thirds of Europe facing worst drought in 500 years</p><p>- Water level ion Rhine river - Europe's largest river - have continued to fall due to soaring temperatures</p><p>- Severe and persistent drought in parts of US, particularly in the West.</p><p>- Floods in Pakistan. The government declared 'national emergency'.</p><p>- Floods in South Korea: Heaviest rainfall in 100 years</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am writing on 8 September 2022, and it is raining heavily outside. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-76804447795279513182022-08-19T09:50:00.008-07:002022-08-19T09:52:06.815-07:00My India <p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGpRI7S9Dr3MgwAguhdztlFKole2JXguNCFAjQMJbF8d6tcK4DoaUYX7NXPfv_EbzliyQbX6WijaD_T60Ry4h4y6e4RgkCylEKE5aaHLqq9TPaSKC5V5Apt6KcqwSMmlWF0lpDuSVgyXEgTsjBmWVgiqFXgk1UvtpoMrNO3MzzyVga67JhKS1b03N/s2048/298941458_10225343111338260_6729864678206876056_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGpRI7S9Dr3MgwAguhdztlFKole2JXguNCFAjQMJbF8d6tcK4DoaUYX7NXPfv_EbzliyQbX6WijaD_T60Ry4h4y6e4RgkCylEKE5aaHLqq9TPaSKC5V5Apt6KcqwSMmlWF0lpDuSVgyXEgTsjBmWVgiqFXgk1UvtpoMrNO3MzzyVga67JhKS1b03N/w640-h426/298941458_10225343111338260_6729864678206876056_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti in Bandra, Mumbai</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">My India is as beautiful as the Ikkat and Kalamkari fabric I wear, my India is as alive as the youth who play dandia in Gujarat, the multitudes who throng the ghats at Varanasi and the crowds on Necklace Road on Ganesh Chaturdhi. My India is soothing as the earthen lamps on Deepavali, colourful as the flowers at Kaas and Attangudi tiles at Karaikudi, playful as the chital and baby elephants in Kabini. My India is peaceful as the swaying pine trees in Uttarakhand and the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">dancing grasses of Mudimiyal scrub jungle. The snow at Shaukityal is mine and also the terraced fields of Nagaland. The mighty Brahmaputra and the gurgling Jhelum are as much mine as are the vast Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.</span><p></p><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My India is Gandhi and Abdul Kalam, P V Narasimha Rao and Indira Gandhi, M S Subbulakshmi and Lalgudi Jayaraman, Bismillah Khan and Kishori Amonkar. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fiesty Sania Mirza and P V Sindhu, the talented Naseeruddin Shah and Nandita Das, the wise Mahasweta Devi and Ruskin Bond... Dulqer Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, Papon and Parvathy Baul - they’re all mine. SP Balasubramanyam and Rajan Mishra - who Covid took away - they’re my precious India too. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My India is my grandmother’s 9-yard sarees and the bindi on my mother’s forehead. It is the Urdu book in my father’s hands and the Kalkatta pan he was so fond of. It is my teacher making me write, “Where the mind is without fear...” in my rough note book and the shoes we polished for flag hoisting in school. It is curd rice and alu methi, rasagolla and Tirupati laddu. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Children running out of their schools, cars speeding on highways, autorickshaws stuck in traffic, movies in multiplexes, a blind man singing melodiously on a train, women working in a rice field, cattle at dusk, buffaloes wading in water, camels in a desert, artists painting at a beach, a woman waiting at her doorstep, people walking, exercising, laughing, loving...</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart beats in sync with my country. I love you, India - Bharat - with my entire heart and being.</span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sasya shyamalam maataram, Vande maataram. Happy 75th year of Independence! Jai Hind!</span></div></div></div><div dir="auto"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NJV_yxexDJZGAo057mklOxAwN4FiuSG6b4xc1NsaGy1Ebo9CelJEcMf38pZCcXhLU84zWwp-iY0J_f72htu8UxrTqEXt9DFbNRt_JDB6UzoSYEIB6L4pMnaOsRdnor43Gk41iGv9-7dMUodXNXOTTIBMpsctvRmAWI-BVEBjRbEQdzLZ6ecd4Rs3/s2048/298410085_10225343111138255_9101289543825633538_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NJV_yxexDJZGAo057mklOxAwN4FiuSG6b4xc1NsaGy1Ebo9CelJEcMf38pZCcXhLU84zWwp-iY0J_f72htu8UxrTqEXt9DFbNRt_JDB6UzoSYEIB6L4pMnaOsRdnor43Gk41iGv9-7dMUodXNXOTTIBMpsctvRmAWI-BVEBjRbEQdzLZ6ecd4Rs3/w480-h640/298410085_10225343111138255_9101289543825633538_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Angami woman in Nagaland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33bSrdiXYFKJKDURSsUFGniVZVt2SK0Pd70QhqnQF5dZIWHMZxrUtjGeNATRl15GpWdQ5xhiqSiIipl4bQciizaxot7yezKMw8b_walXuMINFawx4Giq_WOC2nqRxQciRqGTUvhbISlypTYrYG1HVd0zUqLXckQ7hYZ-BUoQmmQ6AcHxQJpctSP-z/s2048/299497976_10225343111098254_6575618250096666683_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33bSrdiXYFKJKDURSsUFGniVZVt2SK0Pd70QhqnQF5dZIWHMZxrUtjGeNATRl15GpWdQ5xhiqSiIipl4bQciizaxot7yezKMw8b_walXuMINFawx4Giq_WOC2nqRxQciRqGTUvhbISlypTYrYG1HVd0zUqLXckQ7hYZ-BUoQmmQ6AcHxQJpctSP-z/w640-h426/299497976_10225343111098254_6575618250096666683_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kutch, Gujarat</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEeG6sU8W_bhw7bdhJUsDjSXYQcq2Ngcio4xl8bNyNu1WwoB_IzsRfnecCHEg5HqRJ60zfsPWYE7mCKfMdf7wOj3fO8b054s_fu9f6hcbvu-O22PAe9elFJbo9Dghg6xco4FuiK8sBy4m8LC1Tkdj4o5mr_jvuf-5Gmjlaz-Y-a-VYtJn-3lk0xSI/s2048/298754249_10225343110898249_335185430370732153_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEeG6sU8W_bhw7bdhJUsDjSXYQcq2Ngcio4xl8bNyNu1WwoB_IzsRfnecCHEg5HqRJ60zfsPWYE7mCKfMdf7wOj3fO8b054s_fu9f6hcbvu-O22PAe9elFJbo9Dghg6xco4FuiK8sBy4m8LC1Tkdj4o5mr_jvuf-5Gmjlaz-Y-a-VYtJn-3lk0xSI/w480-h640/298754249_10225343110898249_335185430370732153_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Lodi Gardens, New Delhi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/india?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXkA-Rks4eRstma2OEZ1EiFptFabGHoWRytVGAOsWtjAOdS1rDRtbkXkEaUp6jpTYr0EZ-ZuPJdX7uk58zZUoDQLiILi0ICHpW1pc6vXLzipxKT7ubjvNG_4vl782yyruJldreesA9mYKXlpl2MzJwGmOKMXR25P6w7uPNvy2rXEg&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#India</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/75yearsofindependence?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXkA-Rks4eRstma2OEZ1EiFptFabGHoWRytVGAOsWtjAOdS1rDRtbkXkEaUp6jpTYr0EZ-ZuPJdX7uk58zZUoDQLiILi0ICHpW1pc6vXLzipxKT7ubjvNG_4vl782yyruJldreesA9mYKXlpl2MzJwGmOKMXR25P6w7uPNvy2rXEg&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#loveindia</a></div><br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-29788778738977329252022-07-06T22:28:00.012-07:002023-02-22T02:46:56.665-08:00 Doctors' Day, Engineers’ Day...Why not Editors’ Day?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm1eLvwt6NQBFaRPgH5skBWr9gd_fVu8m9XxIUNxrI1_y36OVEMUlCLkgj1lN9MzUwYzDUH-bWJb--mqHeeKXB5uDUpACTiZVwiVcgTgv5aFy0We4v4bl3SELdeR-sVtfzNIkOYkCq9hEy4R7VJJWzjLStGIS9CvigqSoIdXVPBGnZUZSbtcrHGQQ/s840/editing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm1eLvwt6NQBFaRPgH5skBWr9gd_fVu8m9XxIUNxrI1_y36OVEMUlCLkgj1lN9MzUwYzDUH-bWJb--mqHeeKXB5uDUpACTiZVwiVcgTgv5aFy0We4v4bl3SELdeR-sVtfzNIkOYkCq9hEy4R7VJJWzjLStGIS9CvigqSoIdXVPBGnZUZSbtcrHGQQ/w640-h426/editing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">A few days back it was Doctors’ Day. All
WhatsApp groups I belong to were greeting doctors on the group, thanking them
for the work they do, for their service to society, etc. This went on the whole
day. Congratulations. Thank you. Well done, doctors. Thank you. God bless you.
Thank you. Noble profession. Thank you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="background: white;">I became a little jealous by the end of the day.
I began to wonder - is there an Editors’ Day? Not that I know of. So why not?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">We editors work very hard, burning midnight oil.
We pour over the toughest of manuscripts, diagnose problem areas, fix errors in
language, cut out unnecessary sentences, and make the text read well enough for
anyone to understand easily. This is very hard work.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Apart from this, we have some characteristics
that set us apart from other people. Ask an editor for directions to a place.
S/he will first write it out with a good pen on a neat piece of paper, giving all
details including the pin code. The s/he will take the person’s mobile number
and send the location. Then s/he will go on to explain EXACTLY how to get
there. "When you drive down MG Road, you will see Pantaloons Showroom.
It used to be Punjab National Bank earlier. Come down straight. Fruit shop on
your left. Then you will see Bakewell Bakery. There is a juice bandi there - a recent
addition. Take a left there. After 4 houses, almost at the end of the lane are
our apartments. Blue gate, green board, mango tree in front". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">When you go somewhere with an editor, you might
suddenly hear a shriek of horror, followed by under-the-breath muttering.
Nothing to be afraid of - the editor must have spotted a mistake on a billboard
or a hoarding. They suffer a lot, editors and others who are in the business of
language. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Watch
an editor in a supermarket. S/he will diligently organise things in the
trolley, separating them by colour if possible. Once home, they will proofread
the bill against the groceries they bought!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="background: white;">Did you ever go to a restaurant with an editor,
and did you see them read the menu in detail? They go red in the face, snorting
and scoffing, holding their head in agony. The light hearted ones of course
have a big laugh and look at the menu with contempt, even as their hands itch
to grab a pen and correct the mistakes in it. Same with other printed matter –
bills, pamphlets that slip out of newspapers, graffiti…anything with letters on
it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Editors say thank you and sorry. A lot. Most of
them read. A lot. Literary references in everyday conversations give them a
superior air, and people look at them and say, <i>kya toh bhi</i>. But believe
me, they're not showing off. They are like that only.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Have you ever chatted with an editor on
WhatsApp? Their texts are long and always grammatically perfect. If they are
not, they will be followed by the *correct word. They never use sms language –
that is blasphemy. Commas and semi-colons find a place as also en and em
dashes, which cause them anguish because there's no way to distinguish between the
two on WhatsApp! They put in extra effort to use italics and bold in their
messages. Editors work hard all the time, necessary or not, because that's how they
are. Like Sheldon Cooper’s three knocks on the door, if a comma is missing or a
word they wrote auto-corrected incorrectly, they can't relax until they clarify
by deleting the message and re-typing it, however long. And this, regardless of the
impermanence of phone messaging.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The toughest of all - editors live in a world that
never understands what they do. The work of doctors, lawyers, engineers,
bankers and chartered accountants around them is easily recognisable. Not so
the work of an editor.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">"What do you do?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">"I am an editor".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">"Oh...” (blank)</span> <br />
<span style="background: white;">Of which newspaper?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">“Not
a newspaper. I work on books.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">“What
kind of books?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The
questions go on. The same ones every time.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Some
even ask if people actually pay for our work! Some look at us wondering how we
can be of any use to them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">They
never get it…until the rare occasion when one of them works with us. In which
case they might look at us with some amount of admiration.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="background: white;">What makes an editor happy? Money? Byline? Fame?
No, Editors are happy doing their work. Fixing sentences, finding misplaced
modifiers. Organizing chapters. Making a book worthy of printing and presenting
to the world. They take great joy in the <i>process</i>
of their work. Once done, the author/publisher get the stage and proudly hold
up the book. The editor is happy being in the audience and clapping. </span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Perhaps we don’t need an
Editors’ Day after all…we might just end up spending the day contemplating
whether the apostrophe should come after the r or the </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">s!</span></span><div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">_______</span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo from: https://heidieliason.com/2018/10/27/off-to-the-red-pen/ </span></span></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-37115814904044707892022-04-05T00:04:00.156-07:002022-04-05T01:45:41.921-07:00Patang vs Kite vs Homo Sapiens<p>Among our neighbours in an urban jungle in the heart of Hyderabad is a family of black kites that nest on a hoarding. I can see the hoarding from one of the windows in my house, and I have a ringside view into the life of these birds. They are quite loud and I wake up to their shrill whistle-whinnying call in the morning when they are most vocal. </p><p>In January, I was delighted to see that our neighbours had chicks! The breeding season of black kites is in winter, and by January they have chicks. They then become very busy feeding and taking care of the young ones, and guarding their nest (watch the video below). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qOTpSI5VHDxNI9LXM-hOco9jPu29dhpRp1qV-jKNkIGS-JVsg8ElHghwf_KUruvD8eX8PAbeXtiOTX1jMfFVO2KW78Ho-BV5j7KtmeHFhxV0n2xtTs7ovEc59flN1rdxa-cxJv7e2Bcucm9xMkLR9FgrQKM_wODN7yzrEQELiosloc9A8lbBJByZ/s4032/01_20220221_085035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qOTpSI5VHDxNI9LXM-hOco9jPu29dhpRp1qV-jKNkIGS-JVsg8ElHghwf_KUruvD8eX8PAbeXtiOTX1jMfFVO2KW78Ho-BV5j7KtmeHFhxV0n2xtTs7ovEc59flN1rdxa-cxJv7e2Bcucm9xMkLR9FgrQKM_wODN7yzrEQELiosloc9A8lbBJByZ/w300-h400/01_20220221_085035.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjRbbVztyj3Zbi79aVMeGEKGETEeHmxZa_yEeSXgnNgQ5Uj8HhTNSos8wqf7PGBgRCJdeazpyJf1gmzsCH8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, their family time coincides with Sankranti, the festival when people fly patangs on their terraces. We are usually on the terrace flying patangs, and I have been seeing the kites with their chicks on this particular nest on the hoarding since a few years. The nest is therefore, kind of permanent. I always wonder why they prefer the hoarding to a tree but it looks like they prefer the open-ness and don't mind the heat at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having read about black kites, I know that they are monogamous, and pair for life. So I now know that it is the same pair that has been living and breeding on this nest, and that they have 'settled down' there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Patang flying is fun for human beings, as we fly them and passionately indulge in patang fights with those from other terraces. Sometimes funky kites also dance with the moon, as in the video below :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgXr4zoNJ-c7EbkREToYfafReykfsy-Hm0VuwwFJXcqxfoJdZ5cuZP7NnfL_DPD9TuivlbBZgMR6vr8O3qtZgS6CYu90alsn2nieITbtpOh4TGnuKCd309UtBqQ__txe8S1t8S7bI25qe-l1djIPag_XPc-OXBe_CQUj3YNrsznxrfHRU5SASAD69/s3441/20220114_151820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3441" data-original-width="2668" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgXr4zoNJ-c7EbkREToYfafReykfsy-Hm0VuwwFJXcqxfoJdZ5cuZP7NnfL_DPD9TuivlbBZgMR6vr8O3qtZgS6CYu90alsn2nieITbtpOh4TGnuKCd309UtBqQ__txe8S1t8S7bI25qe-l1djIPag_XPc-OXBe_CQUj3YNrsznxrfHRU5SASAD69/w310-h400/20220114_151820.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxBLaZNmHpkrvTUzrwkYvGVWf-FkjTcBz8_MG9V2SPPLAyL4SiGzAU7giLZQo3DgqqOrSnUvNsh25b2UWgGeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But is a scary time for the black kites because the patangs very often go close to the nest with the chicks in it. The mother and father kites sit close by, very alert, and attack the patangs if they go close to the nest (see video below). Sometimes they also dive and pecking at people's heads, if they perceive any danger from them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4T2jFj5mWwLRhUrSA1HNxriJiaK_bjDlOv6M54bnxjiAUwY-veSQkJZl3fyOVgnBMoqt1ZysFNqZ_nP3dOQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kite attacked one of our patangs, and poked it with its beak, rendering it useless (see below)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HIm76Xd6JmROZ80Lw32peRd_mM3t9yH5kOCuGCGYsDazJYO02WzyqQWlXs1L7aV43ENfnD8iO-dTkNn5Y8y-gLl3zbKDvpwEj-rsr2bAMi5pfNhStndMWtqTpcr8gQVoLEiIK9cpmD1pQcjDnXgTH1QR0v9QDq7Nxm4Z1cCRFTZTYLYYcZWp_0Pc/s4032/06_20220115_160941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HIm76Xd6JmROZ80Lw32peRd_mM3t9yH5kOCuGCGYsDazJYO02WzyqQWlXs1L7aV43ENfnD8iO-dTkNn5Y8y-gLl3zbKDvpwEj-rsr2bAMi5pfNhStndMWtqTpcr8gQVoLEiIK9cpmD1pQcjDnXgTH1QR0v9QDq7Nxm4Z1cCRFTZTYLYYcZWp_0Pc/w300-h400/06_20220115_160941.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />As a mark of respect for the kite family, we decided not to fly patangs from the terrace closest to the kite nest, and moved away from there. We also told others in the building about it, and they too began to be careful. But patangs from other terraces still hovered around the nest, and the kites were super alert and busy through the three days of patang flying, after which humans went back to their busy lives, leaving the birds alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also watched the kites every night as we walked on our terrace. The chicks used to be in the nest and the parents sat on another hoarding nearby. As the chicks grew into juveniles, they too started sitting on the hoarding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One morning, I went up to water our plants and was saddened to see that one of the two juveniles was dangling on maanja (tough string used for patang flying) from the hoarding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFKci-Z6hhjLq3lNeaHIR800wTYI5K68MpJkebplCfVSywOz-KjaQAVO0UeHEJdUI0MMsNZuJ4sLDS4nvXh0gnGDRnfHav3Hiv78OKKxq8Wyy_fo-GwYuS120bzx5YIYlv5KKUJPGr6EGm7be6EZf92piMwz0wc9fCc3CAS9gJQDuMa0d8W1whYeq/s4032/07_20220208_120955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFKci-Z6hhjLq3lNeaHIR800wTYI5K68MpJkebplCfVSywOz-KjaQAVO0UeHEJdUI0MMsNZuJ4sLDS4nvXh0gnGDRnfHav3Hiv78OKKxq8Wyy_fo-GwYuS120bzx5YIYlv5KKUJPGr6EGm7be6EZf92piMwz0wc9fCc3CAS9gJQDuMa0d8W1whYeq/w300-h400/07_20220208_120955.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />I had to do something about it. I enquired on our nature WhatsApp group, and one of our friends - Shiva Kumar - asked me to call Animal Warriors India. They immediately responded, and Raghav and Anirudh came over in less than an hour. We went to the terrace on which the hoarding had been set up, over a shopping complex on the main road next to my building. A few guys from the shop below also came up because they were curious about what was happening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boys quickly and efficiently got down to work. One of them took a long pole they brought with them and climbed the hoarding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWdntuI8q2b6zD98ZJ9mF-K5wB5-QLT6zoTJdQCHaqWYqtMki0mgZ_frzdONSjpxzCrTYbLdTE91rgxP8VBVZ51ke46IxcpLmiHaB5PijtZXOQNMbR1kW6CyPX0D3Eh_vjg84imXguHJ1kBFP6no6FxS6svbBk4U9PfyiJRSsp1TIEHAeKDIuex8Y/s4032/09_20220208_122518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWdntuI8q2b6zD98ZJ9mF-K5wB5-QLT6zoTJdQCHaqWYqtMki0mgZ_frzdONSjpxzCrTYbLdTE91rgxP8VBVZ51ke46IxcpLmiHaB5PijtZXOQNMbR1kW6CyPX0D3Eh_vjg84imXguHJ1kBFP6no6FxS6svbBk4U9PfyiJRSsp1TIEHAeKDIuex8Y/w300-h400/09_20220208_122518.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaffjkm7MQXvLPrYsejm3Sae6LLoGVTZI6vVBbZmRT3U3-PE_5aKRB0yM9a2ku0zB_cwqQVNeitfAf1zV8tuPDmG8kVLlssHDloVEXnzkzRVMzEDfNNUkxYYoFAS0FggXrur_u0MSK5DxRRlDnEvKZadqQ8zt9n8CsIZUdK7zjVVR1NMswEnSf0PNW/s4032/08_20220208_120940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaffjkm7MQXvLPrYsejm3Sae6LLoGVTZI6vVBbZmRT3U3-PE_5aKRB0yM9a2ku0zB_cwqQVNeitfAf1zV8tuPDmG8kVLlssHDloVEXnzkzRVMzEDfNNUkxYYoFAS0FggXrur_u0MSK5DxRRlDnEvKZadqQ8zt9n8CsIZUdK7zjVVR1NMswEnSf0PNW/w300-h400/08_20220208_120940.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The other juvenile sat on the hoarding above. It did not take much effort for Raghav and Anirudh to bring down the juvenile that was stuck. Luckily the parents did not attack them. The juvenile was quite exhausted by its ordeal, and they gave it some water. They then carefully cut the maanja from beneath its wings. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbZyEzAd9FJAmiqNZiBQ4ceYLCAIITHTbKdJisq738tNXHWDcIAbdX7CYBYJOkvb8isBEk5lGRYJHIOcmJUFqyLg8U7d0Ubqj-8VyF0IpWkD6W_4E5FJkw2ve6iQJvgPw0PKdrd4rljYksGvmwFjkDS0WEAikaRhVuxV7sZZNWkfXKie1nO9rfZLT/s4032/12_20220208_122712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbZyEzAd9FJAmiqNZiBQ4ceYLCAIITHTbKdJisq738tNXHWDcIAbdX7CYBYJOkvb8isBEk5lGRYJHIOcmJUFqyLg8U7d0Ubqj-8VyF0IpWkD6W_4E5FJkw2ve6iQJvgPw0PKdrd4rljYksGvmwFjkDS0WEAikaRhVuxV7sZZNWkfXKie1nO9rfZLT/w300-h400/12_20220208_122712.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEsifU6lC9tfdwZdsEZmlWAQjcNhNz0VQma7DQV-r8S5FrSGsL8j8RCSjX4Q8fl7bBcsW2aFjW_ACm0dQhkRbfBvSI0It8x9CrhPYJAoJ3dU5pEmMa2XTKMTF-9XOWt066uNrIpoMTuDVpj0m1FSOoi28wiU4obbMXdcsi4bnimP5A8BhmHfGVdxu/s4032/11_20220208_122602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEsifU6lC9tfdwZdsEZmlWAQjcNhNz0VQma7DQV-r8S5FrSGsL8j8RCSjX4Q8fl7bBcsW2aFjW_ACm0dQhkRbfBvSI0It8x9CrhPYJAoJ3dU5pEmMa2XTKMTF-9XOWt066uNrIpoMTuDVpj0m1FSOoi28wiU4obbMXdcsi4bnimP5A8BhmHfGVdxu/w300-h400/11_20220208_122602.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When I saw the kite from up close, I realised what a beautiful creature it was. It looked like a rich oil painting! The boys then placed the kite on the roof of a shed on the terrace, in the hope that it would fly away. But it was quite tired and sat still. It was risky to leave it there so they decided to take it with them to the shelter in their work place, to be released when it was better. They put it inside a bag they had brought with them, and took it with them. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FS9n8NqTut33NS9vE0PNcBi3nEAiv85MEhp0whyXrrRIAToJSsZtsSFWIkybjNfOeWzi6a7GCIRZnKE36KygkScYmn79km3elGWXeA1jDhjV6xw8CZWS-6bpzdQOQ9E6rYwtY3XB6hlTQF0fBVP_v24gr8omLRZzqsnoq_NNt-AnOH6Nsz8W-CZ6/s4032/13_20220208_123523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FS9n8NqTut33NS9vE0PNcBi3nEAiv85MEhp0whyXrrRIAToJSsZtsSFWIkybjNfOeWzi6a7GCIRZnKE36KygkScYmn79km3elGWXeA1jDhjV6xw8CZWS-6bpzdQOQ9E6rYwtY3XB6hlTQF0fBVP_v24gr8omLRZzqsnoq_NNt-AnOH6Nsz8W-CZ6/w300-h400/13_20220208_123523.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I was really impressed by their diligence and felt really happy to have such a facility. We in the cities are really lucky that we have organizations such as Animal Warriors to help us when we spot animals and birds in danger. </p><p>Now, the guys from the shop wanted to know if the Animal Warriors could remove the kite nest because they did not like the kites killing pigeons, which they fed every day because they believed that feeding pigeons was a pious thing to do. I told them that it was a circle of life - big birds fed on small birds and animals. It was the way of nature, and who are we to come in the way? Thankfully they left it at that.</p><p>I came away with a sense of satisfaction. Somehow after this rescue, the kite family became dearer to me and I started observing them more carefully. I don't know if they missed the juvenile that had been taken away, but they were busy in their world, going on their flights, hunting, feeding. The remaining juvenile sat in the nest sometimes, and on the hoarding on and off. In the morning I observed it flapping its wings while in the nest. Guess it was preparing for its eventual flight up into the blue sky. I was myself excited and wanted to watch it fly for the first time. I wanted end this writeup with that! But that didn't happen. </p><p>One day I found all three kites gone! I was happy the juvenile could finally fly. I wondered if they had moved away, but they returned in the night, with the juvenile once again sitting in the nest and the adults on the hoarding. Subsequently there were long periods of absence, and I wondered if they had abandoned the nest. But they returned, sometimes at night, sometimes in the morning. Himayatnagar was definitely their ilaka as much as it is mine! </p><p>I got interested in the life cycle of black kites and read up about it. I learnt that:</p><p></p><div class="container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1200px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="s-mating-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="row" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col-lg-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 50%; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 50%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><div class="s-mating-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><i>Black kites nest singly or in loose groups. The nests are built on tree branches, cliff ledges, or buildings and may be reused in subsequent years. They are made from sticks and twigs and may sometimes be decorated with bright materials such as white plastic. Both the male and female take part in nest building, incubation, and care of chicks. The typical clutch size is 2 or sometimes 3 eggs. The incubation period varies from 30-34 days. Newly hatched chicks have a sepia down on the back and black around the eye and buff on the head, neck, and underparts. Body feathers begin to appear after 18 to 22 days. The nestlings are able to stand on their legs after 17-19 days and begin flapping their wings after 27-31 days. After 50 days, they begin to move to branches next to the nest. Black kites are able to breed after their second year. </i></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also learnt these fun facts: </span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">- The Black kite is thought to be the world's most abundant species of raptor.</i></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">- Black kites are attracted to smoke and fires, where they seek escaping prey. It has been claimed in native Australian beliefs, that kites spread fires by picking and dropping burning twigs so as to flush prey.</i></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">- Black kites guard their nest aggressively from intruders; the birds recognize humans who intrude the nest and single out for dive attacks.</i></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">- In Australia, when there’s a grasshopper plague, Black kites usually gather in flocks in order to eat grasshoppers. </i></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><i>(</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>https://animalia.bio/black-kite)</i></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Incredible birds, are they not? I am happy that black kites are a species of least concern and that there are plenty of them all over the world. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My observation of this kite family had started in January 2022. It is now April. End March, I went out of town for about a week. After I returned, as a matter of habit, I went to the window to see if my kite friends were around. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To my shock, I found that their nest was gone! </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO7mLjQthpKQbraHg_npx8PbVoV8z6DZJnwbgW-5llI5aeRwDv_8xJbFBMPWrq38NQfFfggjNWuTSiTuQn2dCxXbnx6-wYmx2UItiTqe0d09M6yy7XZCuMDa8uFI366J6voPXle1BIiSILmZYuBAF2AdIN_XGiBe7KjSp4GVNfZ48GCeU5c9_MmJt/s4032/14_20220403_083058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO7mLjQthpKQbraHg_npx8PbVoV8z6DZJnwbgW-5llI5aeRwDv_8xJbFBMPWrq38NQfFfggjNWuTSiTuQn2dCxXbnx6-wYmx2UItiTqe0d09M6yy7XZCuMDa8uFI366J6voPXle1BIiSILmZYuBAF2AdIN_XGiBe7KjSp4GVNfZ48GCeU5c9_MmJt/w300-h400/14_20220403_083058.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">My deduction is that it is the sneaky pigeon-loving homo sapiens that were behind this cruelty. I wondered if the kites would stop coming, if they would change their nesting place because of this interference. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">But they seem undaunted. They are back - like old Hyderabadis who frequent the same Irani cafes, they keep coming back to sit on the hoarding at their usual times! I thought to myself - nest or no nest, they will still attack and kill small birds, garden lizards, etc. Just as we do whatever we need to do to get our dal chaval, they too will hunt and get their food. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpXJOQ2HWVKiazTNP-TFUAYiyA-6rN2XEPugKbYTb34vVat0j3oqxkqxhixRTSbMWwpTET1npiByoNF9nB6n62mnnM0KARxlHJDqTP0guYv4PPi4bSf3IQQqAPQVYLSd9MWKwtMlfBUb5NzL0gqprrwNFJtg5ScxhQErYDxYBXB5vnZyyPaKq8yky/s4032/03_20220221_085042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpXJOQ2HWVKiazTNP-TFUAYiyA-6rN2XEPugKbYTb34vVat0j3oqxkqxhixRTSbMWwpTET1npiByoNF9nB6n62mnnM0KARxlHJDqTP0guYv4PPi4bSf3IQQqAPQVYLSd9MWKwtMlfBUb5NzL0gqprrwNFJtg5ScxhQErYDxYBXB5vnZyyPaKq8yky/w300-h400/03_20220221_085042.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>So what have the intrusive humans achieved by making these kites homeless? </span></span><p></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">I am quite sure that as time goes by, the kites will make another nest right there on the hoarding - and have more chicks. I am waiting for that day! </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Watch this space for updates. :)</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">***</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*All photos and videos copyright Sadhana Ramchander. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Please give due credit if you use them.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="s-mating-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p></p><div class="container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1200px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="s-mating-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="row" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col-lg-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 50%; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 50%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><div class="s-mating-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div></div><p style="font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"></p></div></div></div></div></div><section class="s-mating" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 35px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></section><section class="s-population" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 35px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="anchor" id="population" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #007aff; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Rubik, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -130px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: hidden;"></a><div class="container" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "open sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1200px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="s-population-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="row" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; margin: 0px -15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col-lg-6" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 50%; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 50%; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"></div></div></div></div></section><p></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-84409178918042000292021-09-29T23:02:00.022-07:002021-10-01T09:50:07.559-07:00The joy that is Abids!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBs7GCsW-kU/YVWmGrEVi4I/AAAAAAAAFbc/FeLiv7HK2F0gLPku1zUEdBRIAVwXR86HQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2015/131384493_10221878043513730_1888669604760814437_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1612" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBs7GCsW-kU/YVWmGrEVi4I/AAAAAAAAFbc/FeLiv7HK2F0gLPku1zUEdBRIAVwXR86HQCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/131384493_10221878043513730_1888669604760814437_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p>The other day suddenly felt like an 'Abids kind of day', and I had a strong urge to go there just to wander around. So I put my work aside and went - one of the advantages of being my own boss! As I drove, I was thinking about why Abids made me happy. For one, the ambience of the streets has not changed much - the shops are all more or less the same, except that the iconic book shop A A Hussain is no longer there. There is something leisurely and old worldly about shopping in this street, which is really an outdoor mall with character, and minus the cold artificiality of modern malls. </p><p>I also began thinking of my association with Abids since my childhood. My earliest happy memory - on our visits to Hyderabad - is of going to Kamal Toy Emporium and buying 'Trade' or 'Spell-o-Fun' for the summer holidays. My mother also used to take us to Dayal's to buy cloth to make frocks out of - polka dots and checks in pastel colours were always favourites. The upstairs of A A Hussian was a magical world and we loved going there to buy books - Tintins, Amar Chitra Kathas and Enid Blytons. And after the shopping we invariably headed to Anand Bhel to eat chat, served by a Jeeves look-alike who was also very proper and efficient - or so I remember! </p>Staring longingly at chappals and shoes displayed on the Hollywood window and not buying anything, looking at colourful suitcases in Orient Estate and wishing we were going on a long journey, going to Deccan Pen Stores to buy stationery, buying popcorn and seasonal fruit in the Hollywood-Ramesh Watch Company niche were other pastimes.<p>Meena Bazar came with a bang, and we marvelled at the range of fabric available there. Ready-made garments not yet being available in plenty, it was a time for experimentation - and frustration - when the friendly neighbourhood tailor spoilt the exquisite cloth bought here. Handlooms were not seen commonly those days, but we were fond of the Lucknowi kurtas from UP Emporium. Then came Pallavi with their breezy cotton kurtas and sarees that my generation fell in love with. </p><p>Cut to a few years later when I started working and bought a second hand TVS 50 from a friend who was moving to London. One 'Abids kind of evening', I drove there proudly on my TVS with another friend on the pillion. We parked somewhere near Kathiawar Stores next to a few bikes already parked there. We then went wandering to our favourite stores, and finally emerged from Anand Bhel some two hours later. It was nearing 7.30 pm. We headed towards where I parked my TVS and found that it was gone! We were crestfallen, worried and scared. My heart sank as I felt the pinch of losing a bike I had bought with my 'new' savings. As my friend and I looked here and there, a watchman standing outside a store said, "Police leke gaye aapke moped ko". </p><p>Whaaaaat??!! </p><p>We ran to the Abids police station only to be told that we had to go to the Police Control Room. We took an auto there and found my bike in a truck along with a few other bikes. The relief was immense! We met the police officer in charge, paid a fine, and got the bike back, and giggled all the way back home! </p><p>We grew up a little on that trip. </p><p>There was a re-run of visits to Toy Emporium and Dayal's when my children were growing up. Last day of exams, I used to drive them to Abids, and buy them Uno or Monopoly. Deepavali time we made a beeline to buy some shiny clothes that they wore once and never touched again. Some Sundays we went to shop for second hand books on the pavement, and this somehow became more a journey than just an outing. We always came back happy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a778p-D9xKQ/YVWmUCCLJRI/AAAAAAAAFbg/wgIb_wl2VWM5R_q_gN6FpFbMtKXMl0uwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2680/AA_Hussain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2680" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a778p-D9xKQ/YVWmUCCLJRI/AAAAAAAAFbg/wgIb_wl2VWM5R_q_gN6FpFbMtKXMl0uwACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h280/AA_Hussain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Some things have changed in Abids, though. There are now well demarcated parking spaces and I always manage to find a spot for my car, so it has never been towed away by the police! In the early days of my driving, I did run a red light on the way to Abids once, and the cop who stopped me let me go quickly enough because I looked extremely nervous ("bhayapadakandi madam, vellandi", he had said)! Anand Bhel has unfortunately closed down, and Palace Heights became an adda for some time, but it was not the same. A A Hussain shut shop causing a heart break among many generations of Hyderabadis. Somewhere along the way I discovered the wonderful people at Abbas & Co - the picture framing shop, and have long conversations with them every time I go there. Bata beckons, as it always has, with Hollywood still being the window shopping option. </p><p>Exposure brought about new realisations of the old place. I suddenly noticed one evening that the building that housed Dayal's (photo at the top of this writeup) actually has beautiful art deco architecture! Then, on a group walk I discovered the classic St George's Church and the Parsi Fire Temple. Most recently I was thrilled to discover Hameedi Confectioners. Their Jouzi halwa, which apparently takes 16 hours to make and has an interesting history, became a hit with my family, and gives me one more pretext to go to Abid Road... </p><div><p>And so, coming back to the recent stroll, I realised that I had nothing to buy! I just wandered around, and window shopped at the usual favourites. I could see that business was just picking up and things didn't look as active as earlier. I finally made my way to Deccan Pen Stores and bought myself a pen. For old times sake, I told myself! I didn't need one, but it made me happy - it is good to do a little shopping in the post-Covid world and help traders, I thought. </p><p>And somehow - <i>somehow</i> - every time I write with my new pen that I bought on an impulse during that stroll, it gives me a warm and fuzzy Abids kind of feeling. :) </p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photos copyright: Sadhana Ramchander</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p>____</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span><b>The story behind the name 'Abids': </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">King Koti developed a</span></span></i></span><i><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">fter the 1908 floods in Hyderabad, </span></span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">and the Nizamshahis went shopping in horse carriages to Abids.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">The area had a shop belonging to Albert Abid, a Jewish valet of Nizam VI of Hyderabad state, hence the area came to be known as Abid shop and the main road abutting the shop was known as Abid road. Later on, this area became popular as Abids. </span></span></i></p><p><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;">(</span></span><span style="color: #222222;">https://www.civilprojectsonline.com/urban-design-2/studying-the-history-of-abids-urban-regeneration/)</span></i></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-13878838075673831302021-09-12T00:43:00.007-07:002021-09-28T23:23:56.207-07:00Monsoon watch - 2021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u53aqNYcn4/YT2xo6RqXMI/AAAAAAAAFaU/xEE-l8QMG_wLwsXkh0qTwXXtCvtkqvN4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210707_082523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u53aqNYcn4/YT2xo6RqXMI/AAAAAAAAFaU/xEE-l8QMG_wLwsXkh0qTwXXtCvtkqvN4wCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/20210707_082523.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain lilies in Sanjeevaiah Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Before I record observations of the monsoon in 2021, I must talk about a summer that was not really summer. It was hot on and off, and the temperature never really went up to the 45o Celsius that we are used to. Also, our minds were completely on the horrors being unfolded by Covid-19, which was at its worst in April and May 2021. These are typically the months when the heat of summer occupies our minds and we rush to swimming pools and hill stations to escape the heat. Covid was in stiff competition with summer and beat it hollow, affecting lakhs of people and killing thousands. At the peak of it, we had 4 lakh plus cases per day and about 4000 deaths per day. </p><p>So yes, summer was tame compared to Covid-19 in 2021. </p><p>Coming to monsoon 2021, although the prediction was that rains would be delayed this year, they did start in the first week of June, aided by Cyclone Yaas. It rained quite well through June. I think there were fewer rains in July, but they picked up again in August and September. As I write today - 12 Sep 21 - it has been raining very heavily Delhi - apparently the highest recorded in 40 years. Mumbai was pounded in August, Bihar and Kerala had excess rainfall, and some parts of India had deficit rainfall. So this rainy season was quite erratic that way. </p><p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/as-monsoon-2021-reaches-its-end-dte-traces-its-erratic-trajectory-78723">An article in Down to Earth </a>summed up the 2021 monsoon, and said it was, "<span face="PT-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">a tough one to describe for forecasters and scientists and an even more difficult one for farmers to plan their agricultural activities."</span></p><p>As of today, Telangana had good rainfall, excess even, and the gates at Gandipet were opened, as did the ones at Nagarjunsagar and Srisailam. But there were minimal unfortunate events of inundation in Hyderabad as happened last year. But then I just saw that the huge deluge happened in October last year, so let me not talk too soon. Fingers crossed. </p><p>27 September 2021: It rained all day, increasing towards evening. This was because of Cyclone Gulab that was crossing Orissa. Some areas in Hyderabad were inundated but not as bad as last year. There was a prediction for the next few days also, and a holiday declared but it was quite dry on 28 Sep, and bright sunshine on 29 Sep. </p><p> </p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-55904139915219416562021-02-09T04:00:00.120-08:002021-02-09T07:37:53.680-08:00The unwilding of Indira Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">What would the world be, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">once bereft of wet and wilderness? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Let them be left, wilderness and wet; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">- Gerard Manley Hopkins</span></span></div><p>Indira Park has been a wonderful green space in the middle of the bustling Hyderabad city. I have seen it since before the Ashoknagar bridge existed when the entire area used to be marshy and wild. Indira Park therefore has many old trees because of which it has a very good bird and insect population. It provides a natural habitat for hornbills, coppersmith barbets, parakeets, black kites, bulbuls, mynas and many other birds. I have seen rat snakes wrestling once, a sand boa another time, and even a baby turtle scurrying into bushes as I walked.</p><p>This park has been a school of nature for me, and I learnt a lot about plants, trees, birds and animal life over the years. I am very grateful to have this well-maintained space close to where I live. But for this park and Sanjeevaiah Park, it would have been very difficult for me to live in the heart of Hyderabad. The lockdown reiterated this feeling, and like many others, I felt extremely claustrophobic because I had no access to these breathing spaces. </p><p>However, of late I notice that a lot is being done to make Indira Park cater to human beings rather than to the other beings that inhabit this space. Here is a photo-feature of the unwilding of Indira Park. I am not a horticulturist nor do I hold any position to officially make this assessment. But since this park is a public space, and since I am a nature lover and a well wisher of Planet Earth, I feel that I must present my observations for what they are worth.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c50XXrmwXDU/YCEotNSF-GI/AAAAAAAAFTo/bkPXG0shd5kwe4-BWUwuhBe5CuvVj5FoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Before_after.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Before: This could be a jungle! These grasses were host to ever so many wild plants, grasses, insects and butterflies, all of which contribute to the biodiversity of this park. Now: This is a different angle of the same spot. The wild patch has been cleared, and this area has now been coverted to a nursery, perhaps to meet the large number of plants required to meet Hartha Haram targets." border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c50XXrmwXDU/YCEotNSF-GI/AAAAAAAAFTo/bkPXG0shd5kwe4-BWUwuhBe5CuvVj5FoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Before_after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above left: Before: <i>This could be a jungle! There used to be ever so many wild plants, grasses, insects, butterflies and other life, all of which contribute to the biodiversity of this park. </i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above right: Now: <i>This is a different angle of the same spot. The wild patch has been cleared, and this area has now been converted to a nursery, perhaps to meet the large number of plants required to meet Haritha Haram targets.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several wild areas in the park have been converted into such nurseries. Ask any naturalist and they will say that This is Not a Good Thing. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvU71SFXcxQ/YCI5FLRgPQI/AAAAAAAAFVs/i-sHJhpAjpcMULEtdgIirGqSCWNo7Bn5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvU71SFXcxQ/YCI5FLRgPQI/AAAAAAAAFVs/i-sHJhpAjpcMULEtdgIirGqSCWNo7Bn5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above left: <i>The outdoor gym - a recent idea that is being installed in every other park. What we really need in parks like this one is for human beings to connect with nature, and not exercise machines that can be found in any gym.</i></span><p></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above right: <i>This is how open the ground right next to the outdoor gym is. And this is how the gym space used to be earlier. Now it is netted and cordoned off since lockdown.</i> </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7rsZFaY-aY/YCKgvZlw40I/AAAAAAAAFWo/bgn3GOD76zwhUlm5NyLXG5cXrlY0p7k_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7rsZFaY-aY/YCKgvZlw40I/AAAAAAAAFWo/bgn3GOD76zwhUlm5NyLXG5cXrlY0p7k_QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo2b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above<span style="font-weight: 400;"> left: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>The sculpture pathway - Beautiful sculptures created from scrap by talented artists. Great idea, but the art works could have been placed here and there throughout the park instead of all in one place on crude pedestals. Also, it would have been nice to have small plaques with the names of the artists.</i></span></span></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above right: <i>Saplings of big trees planted with insufficient space between one another in several places...again, to cater to Haritha Haram (?), which seems to have become a numbers game. </i> </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVNP0al28g/YCFxbmaEeRI/AAAAAAAAFU4/35pfcA_no4cYafOdwCK25-xEW6I6g09MwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMVNP0al28g/YCFxbmaEeRI/AAAAAAAAFU4/35pfcA_no4cYafOdwCK25-xEW6I6g09MwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Above</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> left: </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">The Panchatatva Park is a good idea, but did it have to be gated and cordoned off?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Above</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> right: </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">The new yoga shed occupies a corner of the open lawn area. There are other such covered spaces in the park, so why one more? </i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDQGj8LKOXo/YCFymiGLh8I/AAAAAAAAFVE/s5FdMlDU7fYyO36tI2kWsoLGUb5WWFdpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UDQGj8LKOXo/YCFymiGLh8I/AAAAAAAAFVE/s5FdMlDU7fYyO36tI2kWsoLGUb5WWFdpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo4.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above left: </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">More equipment being brought in to cater to the bipeds.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above right: <i>One more cordoned-off area - the rose garden, always </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>over-rated and pampered. W</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hat a waste of money and resources! This entire area can be used for a nursery instead of replacing wild plants.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mH9vkL-r0u4/YCI9BlRsoeI/AAAAAAAAFWE/t61gdxRbJxoIxTb4mp2TE2livyCI7Cx0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mH9vkL-r0u4/YCI9BlRsoeI/AAAAAAAAFWE/t61gdxRbJxoIxTb4mp2TE2livyCI7Cx0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo8.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Above left: </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Benches for students to study on. Quite discreet. </i></div><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above right: <i>Happy there is a new toilet, but the colours could have been more aesthetic to go with the natural surroundings, as did the old toilets which are now dysfunctional.</i></span></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What I love about Indira Park</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The spaces in the photos below are what, in my opinion, Indira Park should ideally be like. Left alone to grow wild, for birds and other creatures, without bringing in any more machines and facilities for humans; in fact, a lot of <i>re-wilding </i>should be done. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">How calming this wilderness, how soothing it is, to the eyes and ears! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDM1UY1RxBY/YCKiBfgIytI/AAAAAAAAFW0/zIGqbdihCHMazU49lf2x0Frq3DG4HmnTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDM1UY1RxBY/YCKiBfgIytI/AAAAAAAAFW0/zIGqbdihCHMazU49lf2x0Frq3DG4HmnTwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7Uopqle6YA/YCF01zRe6bI/AAAAAAAAFVc/ivfaMlaYACs3bk06Oj2L-VjMj5-Ir4pfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7Uopqle6YA/YCF01zRe6bI/AAAAAAAAFVc/ivfaMlaYACs3bk06Oj2L-VjMj5-Ir4pfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TXt_T689X0/YCJBFNkceMI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/6W6xw-05x58cLJpS_DC6PaouBpemXywpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TXt_T689X0/YCJBFNkceMI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/6W6xw-05x58cLJpS_DC6PaouBpemXywpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71mZ_nsRD-Y/YCJ5FxpxVAI/AAAAAAAAFWc/RifnvuFKBwglTk4DCYBvDiJt_YVqbTl_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Photo10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71mZ_nsRD-Y/YCJ5FxpxVAI/AAAAAAAAFWc/RifnvuFKBwglTk4DCYBvDiJt_YVqbTl_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h418/Photo10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I do appreciate all the work that goes into maintaining our parks. I would, nevertheless, request those people in charge, to not 'manicure' them too much; to leave the wild plants and trees alone, and allow the shield bugs and grass hoppers, caterpillars and butterflies, lady birds and jewel beetles to thrive and multiply. Let the life cycles of these and many other creatures continue undisturbed. For in the well being of these tiny lives lies the betterment of humankind.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All photos Copyright Sadhana Ramchander</span></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-47235502720240553582021-01-08T03:37:00.104-08:002021-01-20T06:15:25.846-08:00Thoughts on turning 60...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQY2KGQ2pNc/X_hDxeHR-hI/AAAAAAAAFSY/sbZv2WReL1UHddSHc5ivQTqvATwaTojTACLcBGAsYHQ/s794/1749898-289026-2-3-800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQY2KGQ2pNc/X_hDxeHR-hI/AAAAAAAAFSY/sbZv2WReL1UHddSHc5ivQTqvATwaTojTACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/1749898-289026-2-3-800.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I felt over the hill when I turned 40. I felt overwhelmed when I
turned 50, but I had just then done a diet and fitness regime successfully, and had a smooth landing on 10 Jan 2011. Eternally grateful for this.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">As I turn 60, I feel neither over the hill nor overwhelmed - I
feel calm and happy. I am even excited that I will get train concessions and
better interest rates! It is a good feeling. </span></p><p><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Life has given me a
loving family, a huge, affectionate extended family, some great friends and a satisfying career. I have learnt to understand and accept the imperfections in my life. My gift for this milestone definitely has to be that we have a
new member in our family - my daughter's companion who she just married :) :) :). </span></p><p><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I had a fun-filled childhood, followed by agonising teenage years. I trudged through the bitter-sweet twenties when I made a career, fell in love,
married. I juggled home, family and career in my thirties and forties. Allowed
children to leave home, picked up my own interests, and learnt to be happy in
my fifties. This decade was also the time we published a few books and started tree
walks to spread the love of nature among children and adults. End 2019, I had to bid goodbye
to my father – his absence changed my life forever, and I feel somewhat grown
up now. In 2020, Covid-19 struck, challenging everything we knew, and taught us valuable lessons.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%;">It feels good to have emerged more or less intact from all these
gruelling stages of life. However, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">60 is not the new 40. Sixty
is 60, especially in Covid times! It is okay to get older. But I do believe one
can keep one’s spirit youthful and energy levels high.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Like those award winners at Bollywood and Hollywood events, I
want to take the mic in my hand and say, "Thank you God, thank you
mummy-daddy, thank you teachers, thank you husband and children, thank you
relatives and friends for making me who I am. And
thank you, social media friends for keeping my ego well fed on and off!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #252525;">Here's a return gift – a list of some things I learnt in my life.
Take them or leave them. Mostly, take them because they are original, and borne out of experience, thinking, and at times, suffering. Some are funny, some are serious, and there is no particular order. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Women need pockets for every
outfit.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">If you are depressed or restless,
go for a walk or a swim.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">There's nothing that a walk in
nature cannot cure.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Don't feel guilty to have fun. I
don't. I go away with friends once in a while and I come back happier, and make
others happy! </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Laugh often and as much as you
can.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Don't overeat. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Exercise. Definitely, exercise.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do everything in moderation. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Don't sacrifice your life or your time for someone.
Get help if you can afford it. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">You are important. Very important.
</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">You have just one life. Love it,
and live it well.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It's okay not to cook sometimes.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Marriage/companionship and family are important
but career is important too.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Marriage is hard work. You need to work on it every day.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Eat good food. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Get good food for your soul too -
read, listen to music, watch movies, enjoy visual and performing arts.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Watch silly movies when you are
upset.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do things out of your comfort zone.
I learnt swimming and sailing in my fifties.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Believe in love, miracles and
magic. They exist. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But ghosts don’t…I never saw one; my parents never saw
one; my grandparents didn’t either. And I don’t know anyone who saw one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do something crazy once in a while
- I know someone who wore a bunny costume to receive someone from the airport!
It was fun </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">:)</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Always dress
well. And w</span></span><span style="color: #252525;">ear handloom.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do something for free once in a
while. </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Raising children and taking care
of the old are hard work but make you understand life better.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Your parents and siblings are very
very precious. Be nice to them. Keep in touch with them always.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">26. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Have lots of friends.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">27. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Have lots of dreams.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">28. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Travel as much as you can.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">29. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Listen to people when they talk to
you.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">30. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Try to be happy every day, one day
at a time. Don't live in the past and don't look too much into the future.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">31. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Find joy in small things - a wild
flower, raindrops, sunsets.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">The above are actually big things.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">32. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Find joy in shopping - now that's
a small thing.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">33. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Once in a while, give part of your
money to someone who needs it.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">34. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Give gifts that you would love to
receive.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">35. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Listen to your heart. Don't intellectualise everything.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">36. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Love and pamper yourself. Buy chappals,
body lotion, books, stationery, chocolates, sweets or whatever it is you like.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">37. Love your country deeply, and understand that India is a unique country like no other in the world. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">38. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Write even if you are not a
writer. I believe every one of us has a story to tell.</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">39. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Speak in your
mother tongue. Read and write in it too</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">40. Never stop learning.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">41. If you are crossing the road wearing black and it is twilight, be especially careful because drivers can't see you properly. If you are driving, watch out for people wearing black!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">42. It is okay to stop dyeing your hair. It is also okay to dye your hair if you like to.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 5.3pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 5.3pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Here are some from my list when I
turned 50, because they are worth repeating:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 5.3pt;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">43. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t ever fight with your parents or siblings or anyone…it is
not worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">44. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t be over-ambitious in life…either about wealth or career,
love or sex.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">45. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life, most certainly, is a journey - enjoy it and don’t think of
the destination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">46. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the child goes away to a foreign country, parents in India look
okay, but they are very lonely, and they suffer a lot. I know because I have
now seen the entire life cycle of the lonely parent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">47. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is important to talk about 46 above. No one does. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">48. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Go out and play as
much as possible; don’t stop playing because you think you are grown up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">49. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A puri needs as much
dough as a chapati does.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">50. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nature is the only
god.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.3pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 23.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">51. </span></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is great to have a
dog.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Now, if I wrote 60, I would be too
predictable. So I will stop here.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">Pre-2020, I had my goals all
figured out. One of the things I wanted to do was to travel as much as I could. But Covid-19 has made everything hazy. I need to sit down in my quiet
corner and think about what I want to do now, apart from all the mundane things
one has to do to live. Some trips are still possible, and I do intend to begin
travelling once again.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.3pt; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 5.3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">This birthday, I am
surrounded by my family and I value this a lot. My mother too is here – she is
now my neighbour, and I am enjoying exchanging food with her and chatting with
her over evening tea! I am also looking forward to getting the gift she
(thought she) secretly went to buy for me :)</span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">!
And the surprise gifts from my family and close friends. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I’ll end with one more:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #252525; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">52. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">It is nice to get gifts. Accept gracefully when someone gives you a present.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 45.5pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0cm 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">My gift to myself is a book
– “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Photographic field guide – Wildlife of
South India</i>” by Surya Ramachandran and David Raju. It is an amazing and
comprehensive work. Happy birthday to me...I pray for good health for all, and a boring normal that I can tweak and make interesting!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">***</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">(Drawing by Quentin Blake)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">___</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 45.5pt 0.0001pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b>Post script:</b><i> The surprise birthday parties and gifts were imaginative and charming, and made me very happeeeee! Many thanks to all those who made me feel so special! You know who you are. :) </i></span></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-33949707822628145452020-09-18T06:23:00.116-07:002020-09-19T09:44:02.640-07:00If you were a tree, what tree would you like to be, and why? <p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LciA4K_3GyU/X2RnWUvvy3I/AAAAAAAAFPA/wFGXzOYqTTE1Irw18vWqerRss2j6WeqjACLcBGAsYHQ/s512/Quiver.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="377" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LciA4K_3GyU/X2RnWUvvy3I/AAAAAAAAFPA/wFGXzOYqTTE1Irw18vWqerRss2j6WeqjACLcBGAsYHQ/w295-h400/Quiver.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I would like to be the quiver tree from Namibia, <br />because people smile at it <br />and touch it for good luck. <br /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Jonathan Drori</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><div>This discussion started on the <i>Trees and tree dwellers </i>WhatsApp group after I attended <a href="https://youtu.be/pS_gn5Zz5rU" target="_blank">an online discussion</a> between Jonathan Drori, author of "Around the world in 80 trees" and Divya Muddappa and T R Shankar Raman, authors of "Pillars of life: Magnificent trees of the Western Ghats". During this conversation, a viewer asked Jonathan the question:<i> If you were a tree, what tree would you like to be, and why? </i>The question, and his answer, were so delightful that I decided to ask the same question to our group, and this is what I got over about 15 interesting hours! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to be the banyan because it has so much character, and is so full of life! - <i>Sadhana Ramchander </i>and <i>Aneetha</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>I would like to be the Indian elm because it is local (to the sub-continent). It has very little human use except for the pleasure of watching it transform into a whole new look for three months :) - <i>Tejah Balantrapu</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6x6NZmQWva4/X2RoQ30rIhI/AAAAAAAAFPI/yp6sUqOo3KoScugCytebIwtezmf-879LwCLcBGAsYHQ/s969/20200912_174422.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6x6NZmQWva4/X2RoQ30rIhI/AAAAAAAAFPI/yp6sUqOo3KoScugCytebIwtezmf-879LwCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/20200912_174422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I would like to be a peepal for its glossy, dancing leaves that give it a festive and cheerful aspect. The rustling leaves give it a presence as well. Akin to the banyan it is a tree of abundance, a giving tree, the nutritious leaves and fruit supporting many creatures. The new foliage never fails to please in shades of salmon, a favourite of mine. Even in death the leaves are admired for the filigree venation. Simply elegant. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">But I would also love to be an Anjan! Or even a Barna, or a Kosam or a Rohan. :) </span><i style="text-align: left;">- Kobita Dass Kolli</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">***</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I would go with </span>F. religiosa<span style="font-style: normal;">. In my childhood, the old house next to ours in Calcutta had this peepal growing and as I grew, I watched it embrace the building brick by brick. The beautiful shape of the leaves with its tapering tip and prominent veins like tributaries of the Ganga, the music when they quiver with the slightest hint of breeze, the birds and insects for whom peepal is home, a hub of activity during fruiting season, and of course the various shades of pink the fresh young glossy leaves treat us with...what a source of delight!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal;">And now in Hyderabad, I enjoy sitting under the shade of the sacred peepal in the quiet temple nearby...it is so peaceful. I would like to be a mighty peepal if that's what it takes to bring smiles and happiness! - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Tara Jayarao</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">***</span></div><div>I would like to be mahua. Tribal traditions, heady flowers for the human and animal worlds :). I would also like to be the Ghost of the Forest tree for its shapely outlines and lovely color changing bark and also the Himalayan Silk Cotton Tree because I simply can’t have enough of those glorious golden flowers. -<i> Ira Vangipurapu</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6FzQvAc9cE/X2Rpoff8UMI/AAAAAAAAFPU/S0JCyXQzHL8xx0ZlY01Fchd8nhQ0S-8AgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200625_162038.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G6FzQvAc9cE/X2Rpoff8UMI/AAAAAAAAFPU/S0JCyXQzHL8xx0ZlY01Fchd8nhQ0S-8AgCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/20200625_162038.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>I would like to be the gulmohar tree. Brilliant red flowers against a hot summer sky. Growing not just in India, but countries like Tanzania and Kenya too. So a bit of a wanderer... :) - <i>Suchitra Shenoy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>The first tree that comes to mind is of course the banyan and then the tamarind but I would like to be palash – as kids we used to fashion its leaves into katoris and today too, its bright blooms amongst bleak dry landscapes heralding spring continue to fasicinate me. Among shrubs and creepers – jasmines spreading fragrance, something to be remembered by, bringing smiles... - <i>Asiya Khan</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9Hfq9wuVw/X2RqSUVzXOI/AAAAAAAAFPg/VxsJtcr-naYRAhkYN3dYp0dHgR4Y2M_pQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Bakula.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9Hfq9wuVw/X2RqSUVzXOI/AAAAAAAAFPg/VxsJtcr-naYRAhkYN3dYp0dHgR4Y2M_pQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/Bakula.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div>Bakula, humble looking, sober tree that masks a strong character. “Don’t go by my looks”, says the fragrant Bakula known for its medicinal properties. It has been the muse to authors from Kalidasa to the more recent Sudha Murthy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to be the bakula at Vidyaranya, giving a fragrant welcome to all who enter the Green Gates, watching young toddlers growing up to have cheerful rounds of basketball and resting under the shade after an exam. :) </div><div>- <i>Shambhavi Hariprasath</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div>I like to be pogada chettu (Bakula, <i>Mimosops elengi</i>). It has a beautiful, perfect umbrella shape, similar shaped flowers, with red fruits devoured by birds. Flowers have unique fragrance and in rain water they float like small boats. Krishna’s favourite tree, mythology says. Everything about the tree is perfect I would also like to be a silk cotton with beautiful big red flowers with birds flying all over. Laburnum, jacaranda , saptaparni so many more! - <i>Vijayalakshmi</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div></div><div>I posed this question to my mom and she gently smiled and said she would like to be some flowering tree/plant like parijaata, jasmine or even sampangi so the flowers are offered in puja and placed at god’s feet. - <i>Sudhir Kodati</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>Since banyan is taken, I’d like to be a neem with a sprawling canopy that provides shade. People will pluck my leaves and fold them into precious sarees. They will break my twigs and chew them when they don’t have toothpaste. And the crows will make their nests in my branches and I’d get to hear their wise chatter. - <i>Natasha Ramarathnam</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>I’d like to be the magnolia of my children’s early years; the one whose generous branches built for them a scented cave that hid their stolen picnics from prying adult eyes, whose dark leaves stayed waxen and warm through winter and whose unshy blossoms eloquently heralded spring. - <i>Usha Raman</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>Difficult choice. I want to be a neem tree :) - <i>Srinivas Kanaparthy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>I would like to be a Jacaranda - a tree that stands tall and mesmerises one with it’s lavender, purple hue when in bloom. There’s something magical to see it bloom against the sky...jacaranda evokes memories of spring, of the subtle feeling that makes one smile for no reason. Just a glance and it touches you. The tree even without flowers is a beauty – tall, steadfast and calm. - <i>Sudha Nair</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDfrG6zWMaw/X2RrCnKPx8I/AAAAAAAAFPw/AZuk6QxoU2QmXegQhgmaxaRo-Gv0bNeaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200712_154735.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDfrG6zWMaw/X2RrCnKPx8I/AAAAAAAAFPw/AZuk6QxoU2QmXegQhgmaxaRo-Gv0bNeaACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/20200712_154735.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>If I were to BE a tree (grow up in its bark, wear its habit) I think I’d be a chinta chettu, tamarind tree. And not just any tamarind but one in my old school Rishi Valley. My leafy branches would watch over generations of kids who sat under my shade in outdoor classrooms, learned to climb trees and knock down perfect ripe chintapandu every fruiting season. But if I had to BECOME a tree as an adult, I’d be a palash. - <i>Sita Reddy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">For me...a leafy, giant, wide canopied tamarind tree, giving the gift of fruit, sour and sweet to the young and old, delicious tender buds and leaves to cook my favourite “chugar gosh”, and of course all time hit fave – “kacchi imli khatti dal”. For me, there has to be a foodie connection! :) - <i>Juhee Ahmed</i></div><div>***</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I would like to be a palm tree (coconut) on the beach. I will get to see the beautiful sunrise and the sunset each day. I would get to sway in the sea breeze and enjoy the starry nights. I will get to see the sea every day in its many forms. I’d see people at their happiest at the beach, and provide them with sweet water. - <i>Trupti</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jamun for the yummy berries. - <i>Rachita Agarwal</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hmmm.. I will be a jamun. Kids enjoying their summer break will shake my branches and I will drop my ripest fruits and watch them stick out their purple tongues with pride. Back home, their chappals will tell the tale of the time they spent with me. And wordsmiths like Aasheesh can twist their tongues around my name: Syzigium. - <i>Rebecca Mathai</i></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’d be a banana plant, the very reason being that I will have a short life of just one fruit bearing, and have a lot more “me” in the form of shoots becoming trees again, and also the fact that I dont have a bark and am made up of fibers instead of wood. - <i>Praveen Teegala</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGqgpy4e-Ic/X2RseN3Vx1I/AAAAAAAAFP8/yUQcXQvWBlQmXFGxoucbxbK_X_YPtcNOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4886_edited.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGqgpy4e-Ic/X2RseN3Vx1I/AAAAAAAAFP8/yUQcXQvWBlQmXFGxoucbxbK_X_YPtcNOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/IMG_4886_edited.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">For me it has to be a forest tree. And not a humble, quiet one standing in a corner. So it has to be the dramatic, center of stage Palash (Butea monosperma). That is one tree I feel connected with. It stands so flamboyantly lighting up forest canopies and spreading joy in harsh weather. And if I become one I will be hosting so many bird species. Hmmm...now i am ruminating on that idea :) - <i>Anjali Pande</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>I would like to be a Sampanga tree - the orange, heavenly, perfumed sampangi or champaka tree (of the Magnolia family) and hope that I am perpetually able to produce the flowers! If I must be a shrub, I would like to be a jasmine and if I were to be a border plant, I would like to be marvam - a very delicate plant. It has always been a favorite! Sigh! I would love to be a forest tree too - a really majestic towering tree like the Redwoods of CA - or the mighty Oaks - that I had the privilege of staying with for 15 years (I moved, not them!) that provided shelter for so many birds and squirrels and (gasp) snakes too. I like to be tall, mighty, aged and wise towering tree like those in Lord of the Rings - the mighty Ents! - <i>Arundhati Jayarao</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7NJbyfWfk/X2Rs4NIucoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/AWw3OFnZZy0LiNJ83vV1k7IR7ygrh9U9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3654.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7NJbyfWfk/X2Rs4NIucoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/AWw3OFnZZy0LiNJ83vV1k7IR7ygrh9U9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/IMG_3654.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>If I were a tree, I would like to be a Deodhar. Have always been fascinated by its reticent allure. Firmly rooted in the soil, soaring tall, almost detached from worldly affairs. Almost like Goldsmith’s Village Preacher. Then there’s it’s heady aromatic oil. There are trees that speak to me. But in its presence there’s a quietude I cherish. - <i>Aasheesh Pittie</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Make me into a shady tree, any one, by the roadside, where a weary traveller would stop and have his/her lunch, rest for a while, and move on. I would be blessed. -<i> Vinod Reddy </i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Vivek</i>: Vinod’s words reminded me of this poem by Rahim.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ5nCM62Axc/X2S1gshm05I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/gZaWi2smD6IMjPxczRr9Ue0Sstg0Xlu_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s764/Rahim_poem.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="764" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ5nCM62Axc/X2S1gshm05I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/gZaWi2smD6IMjPxczRr9Ue0Sstg0Xlu_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Rahim_poem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where are those trees, Rahiman,</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With dark shades?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the garden are seen scattered</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Sehud*</i>, creepers and bushes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><i>*trees with long leaves </i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVVcMoK6sTM/X2S2ErpeFPI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/PnYlfq8rl6w8XTyeL1q7TxAKiVWi85gVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Kadamb.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVVcMoK6sTM/X2S2ErpeFPI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/PnYlfq8rl6w8XTyeL1q7TxAKiVWi85gVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kadamb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>I would gladly be a Kadamba. It is a stately tree, it has lovely and large leaves, its flowers are imbued with a perfection that no poem can ever attain, and it fruits so profusely, and feeds so many bats. But I think the reason I want to be a Kadamba is above all of these. How can I want to be someone else, our Kadamba would get hurt...and unfortunately it has already borne so much of hurt! </div><div><br /></div><div>I would want to be an Arjuna next (assuming our Kadamba is OK with it) because it is such a beautiful tree and it towers into the skies, literally standing heads and shoulders above all the trees around -- especially when it grows near streams and rivers. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Palash also chooses me...because I was mad enough to start Chitrak, and mad enough to walk through the rocky hills and get Darshan of this “draped in fire” tree with the temperatures in the high forties. (They call the Palash the “mad one” because it blaze alive in summer when every other tree around has lost all its vitality under the merciless sun.)</div><div><br /></div><div>And, the Kikar because its a tree with which I have a bond of blood (having suffered its thorns while birding and not respecting fences of thorn) and from which I have learnt many life lessons at Chitrak. I don’t think there is any tree as indomitable and hardy as the Kikar – cut it, saw it, blow it up, burn it...it will be back. - <i>Anand Vishwanadha</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>***</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I would like to be the amaltas, a tree that brings cheers and smiles to all who see the golden yellow flowers hanging down like showers of joy and hope during the summer. Every part of it is useful be it the fruit, the flower or the </span>roots. It is<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> indigenous and grows almost all over the country. - <i>Jayati Mitra</i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I would be a mango tree for its juicy fruits or even raw mangoes. Looks so majestic with the mangoes hanging down during the season. - <i>P V Nagamani</i> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6rktL8b4sw/X2S8POl3RxI/AAAAAAAAFRg/tS2JRSjW_akFNOzYJ5eYMLx2LodLCukZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200705_161109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6rktL8b4sw/X2S8POl3RxI/AAAAAAAAFRg/tS2JRSjW_akFNOzYJ5eYMLx2LodLCukZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/20200705_161109.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div>I would also like to be the mighty upside down tree - the baobab - water container, museum piece and historical relic, looking on as time passed by, with its mesmerising flowers and nutritious fruit - so what if they look like dead mice hanging by their tails! I would have said khuda hafiz to the traders who brought me to Hyderabad a thousand years ago, and I say hello, how-do-you-do to the chatty, lovely people who visit me during tree walks with Kobita and Sadhana! 😊 </div><div>- <i>Sadhana Ramchander</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-26163795543497863042020-09-18T02:04:00.004-07:002020-09-18T02:06:13.218-07:00If you were a tree, what tree would you like to be, and why? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D---0YY1HDM/X2R3qPcWfAI/AAAAAAAAFQY/H6RQmOlysqYhZ8Bl4lWH3trFkwaddTKfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2910/If_you_were_a_tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D---0YY1HDM/X2R3qPcWfAI/AAAAAAAAFQY/H6RQmOlysqYhZ8Bl4lWH3trFkwaddTKfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h640/If_you_were_a_tree.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUO22cQ25rU/X2R31z62k1I/AAAAAAAAFQc/rtUbur8ZwFQKO2rneW2DjfwXgG_1sEXfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2910/If_you_were_a_tree2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SUO22cQ25rU/X2R31z62k1I/AAAAAAAAFQc/rtUbur8ZwFQKO2rneW2DjfwXgG_1sEXfQCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h640/If_you_were_a_tree2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGwk-uMNi8M/X2R4ArXY23I/AAAAAAAAFQk/EqXSEGyJJrEkbOPw7sDQQhh8Na_Dm95rQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2910/If_you_were_a_tree3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGwk-uMNi8M/X2R4ArXY23I/AAAAAAAAFQk/EqXSEGyJJrEkbOPw7sDQQhh8Na_Dm95rQCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h640/If_you_were_a_tree3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-80832461589167142322020-09-03T00:42:00.005-07:002020-09-03T00:42:51.737-07:00Monsoon watch 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5kteSj-iXs/X1CeXPuPpII/AAAAAAAAFOc/YfdloYerrrsQmJqrvJU_dcqXs-xamJ00ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/145945-txklickypf-1597311693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5kteSj-iXs/X1CeXPuPpII/AAAAAAAAFOc/YfdloYerrrsQmJqrvJU_dcqXs-xamJ00ACLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h263/145945-txklickypf-1597311693.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><p>Everything else took a backseat in 2020 because of Covid-19, and we were not thinking or worrying about the monsoon at all! Predictions indicated that there would be good rains this year. It started raining on 31 May itself. June and July saw some bouts of heavy rain - unusual for Hyderabad because we have been getting the maximum rains in August and September. In fact, last year it went on till November. </p><p>August 2020 saw lots of rain. This news item says it all:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #e21727; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; text-transform: uppercase;">_______</span></p><h5 class="article-tag-link" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #e21727; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e21727; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://zeenews.india.com/tags/india-monsoon.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e21727; text-decoration-line: none;">INDIA MONSOON</a>: </span></h5><h1 class="article-heading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191c20; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 20px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">India received 296 mm of rain in August 2020, highest in 44 years: IMD</span></h1><p class="margin-bt10px" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">India has received the highest rainfall in August this year since 1976 -- 25 per cent more than the average, after recording 10 per cent less downpour than the average in July, thus setting a new record after 44 years, the IMD said.</p><p class="margin-bt10px" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">______</p><p class="margin-bt10px" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"></p><p class="margin-bt10px" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hyderabad saw about 10 days of continuous rain this August. They
said it was because of depression.Temperatures too were down to 23 degrees
maximum. It was nice and cold, and the big comforter came out for a couple of
days! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="margin-bt10px" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We just entered
September. No rain since the last one week. Very sunny and hot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-73431423362479044492020-08-13T06:04:00.019-07:002020-08-13T06:41:26.915-07:00A happy weaver...<p>It was in May 2020 - about a month and a half after the first lockdown that I saw on a Whatsapp group I belong to, that a dhurrie weaver from Warangal needed to sell his stock of plain yoga mats that he had made for hostels. He had got the order and had woven the dhurries, but because of closure of hostels, he did not get the order and was saddled with a huge stock. The dhurries, in four plain colours, looked simple and attractive. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--elY1lmLkzA/XzTu9KCZyZI/AAAAAAAAFNU/8DFc4GoEDZIusLIsvb_ApPUPPCwHqeioACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/af772069-5084-40a3-87c1-c3ceb798e344%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="784" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--elY1lmLkzA/XzTu9KCZyZI/AAAAAAAAFNU/8DFc4GoEDZIusLIsvb_ApPUPPCwHqeioACLcBGAsYHQ/w201-h328/af772069-5084-40a3-87c1-c3ceb798e344%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="201" /></a></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="764" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0Ey2wRfehM/XzTu8MNxq3I/AAAAAAAAFNI/XSHk3TaU6ucsu1PaF4QAqNhwHogB9G4bwCLcBGAsYHQ/w196-h328/ab982b57-6353-4dca-ab51-d0d3c39ee39f%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="196" /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR1Ag-ti7FI/XzTu8EVhADI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/HCikRbPjUAs9vzRlXnH4jnlfkpJJ0t2owCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/18ccd457-fa89-4a23-aa26-a1b532e3e765%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="788" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xR1Ag-ti7FI/XzTu8EVhADI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/HCikRbPjUAs9vzRlXnH4jnlfkpJJ0t2owCLcBGAsYHQ/w203-h328/18ccd457-fa89-4a23-aa26-a1b532e3e765%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="203" /></a></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="750" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cDiIxILQBoM/XzTu8INI2MI/AAAAAAAAFNM/FiQmapzaiJ8HTXBG08-Klyr5ZXK2KfHMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w192-h328/5a106d2c-32a9-40f7-bffb-68859bd05624.jpg" width="192" /><p></p><p>I quickly translated the long Telugu post into a crisp English one, and re-posted this message on our nature-lovers group with more than 150 members. It was one of those things I did on an impulse, without really thinking about it, hoping someone would buy directly from the weaver. </p><p>Before I knew what was happening, there were orders for 30 dhurries...then 40, then 60...and by end of day, there were orders for a 100 dhurries! And most people specified the colours they wanted. I was very touched by the sensitivity of these wonderful people in our group. They were buying simply because they wanted to help this weaver. Now, someone had to coordinate all this - the numbers, the colours, the payment - and before I knew what was happening, I realised that since I initiated this, it had to be me. I have always had a knack of getting into stuff like this!</p><p>I called the weaver - his name is Chippa Venkateshwarlu. At first he seemed doubtful about how he would get the dhurries from Warangal to Hyderabad during lockdown. His post was apparently meant for Warangal buyers. He said he would try sending them by courier, and that it would cost Rs 300 for the dhurrie and Rs 30 for courier. I checked on the group and agreed to this. </p><p>After some deliberation, a few friends and I decided that it was best each of us transferred the money directly to the weaver via PayTM or Google Pay. The weaver reluctantly agreed - he was hoping I would collect the money and give him a lump sum. I assured him that he would be paid. </p><p>As soon as I gave the payment details on the group, most of my friends who had promised to buy the mats paid him over the next two days. The total count was 107 dhurries, and very quickly, the weaver had Rs 28,000 or so in his account! This motivated him to hire a car from Warangal, and Venkateshwarlu arrived at my house with a car load of dhurries, which he transferred into the boot and back seat of my car. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7OjD2T91Sk/XzU3kpfgGfI/AAAAAAAAFNs/uEMvWpsUxmUwIM3KoGUdvH1jlKTB6-orACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4366.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7OjD2T91Sk/XzU3kpfgGfI/AAAAAAAAFNs/uEMvWpsUxmUwIM3KoGUdvH1jlKTB6-orACLcBGAsYHQ/w308-h410/IMG_4366.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venkateshwarlu and his friend with the dhurries.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qez-aAWOR3Q/XzU4Huf-IlI/AAAAAAAAFN8/E2uUvOzllCwMmEornP2zdOa4xoQICcY2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4369.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qez-aAWOR3Q/XzU4Huf-IlI/AAAAAAAAFN8/E2uUvOzllCwMmEornP2zdOa4xoQICcY2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w307-h410/IMG_4369.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dhurries transferred to my car, awaiting their owners!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>He had other woven ones with beautiful designs, which, he said, he had brought to show some other people who were interested. A bit reserved at first, he suddenly opened up and told me that he was very touched that our group had transferred money without even knowing him. He said that after our order, the Whatsapp message seemed to have gone viral and he began getting orders from places like Vizag, Vijayawada and enquiries also started coming from the US. He then said that Sri K T Rama Rao had also enquired about his dhurries! He said he was doubtful whether that would lead to anything, but he was happy he got the enquiry, and would follow up on it. From us he had got a total of Rs 34,000 - not a fortune, but it was timely and made him very happy, especially because it was pandemic and lockdown time. We were all a satisfied lot too. <p>The next few days were great. Since 20 March, I hadn't met any friends or any outsiders, and was dying to see them. They trickled in one by one, masks in place, and I went down to the parking every time someone came and gave them their dhurries. They loved the elegant yoga mats...also, it was a bit of shopping after a long, jhadoo-pocha filled break! What's more, I too got some presents - one friend brought mangoes, another brought pickle, and two other friends gifted me beautiful hand-made crafts and handwritten notes! </p><p>Small happinesses - finally, that's what life is all about, even during a pandemic. </p><p> </p></div>Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-38804587197708499572020-05-20T22:47:00.001-07:002020-05-30T01:33:52.075-07:00Grey hornbills, Indira Park and me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tweeeeeeeeeeee....tweeeeeeeee goes the grey hornbill in a shrill tone!</td></tr>
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I am not a serious birder, and really have no authority to write about hornbills or any bird for that matter. But I have been observing Indian grey hornbills for several years now, and they fascinate me! I record here the process of my discovery of and learning about the Indian Grey Hornbill.<br />
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During the recent Covid-19 lockdown, I attended a webinar by Dr Raju Kosambi, who did his PhD on the Indian Grey Hornbill, and his excellent talk connected many dots for me. I understood that Indira Park, which is my nature training ground, is a hornbill haven because it has the perfect habitat for them to thrive! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The ecosystem these birds need includes certain species of trees for food, certain species for the bark, certain insects and chicks, and a water body from which they can source wet mud. </span><br />
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I first heard about the likelihood of there being grey hornbills in urban spaces from my cousin Rahul who said he saw grey hornbills in my home in Warangal. I did not believe him! Then our friend Giridhar said he had seen grey hornbills in Vidyaranya school. At that time my children were very young and being very busy juggling work and home, I had not started my wanderings in nature.<br />
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When I did start going to parks with some regularity, I began seeing these large birds, and not being trained, I thought they were some species of water birds like cormorants. Slowly my attention was drawn to their interesting bills, bobbing tails and cacophonic arrival and departure - mostly in pairs! I have been very fortunate to have seen them with some regularity, in different combinations - single, in pairs, and families of three and four, sometimes the parents teaching their chicks to fly! I never really spent too much time following them around, but have seen them do various things to intrigue me, and I began reading about them. The first thing I read that astounded me was about the loving relationship between male and female hornbills.<br />
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<b>Committed for life: A story of dedication</b><br />
Please magnify and see the photos below, of the male feeding the female. This is a very touching story of dedication of the male hornbill towards his family. When the female is ready to lay eggs, it goes into the nest cavity and slowly seals itself from inside using lumps of wet mud that the male brings, leaving just a vertical slit. The female then stays inside for a total of about 2 months, during which time the male feeds and takes care of it, through the process of egg laying, chicks hatching and fledgelings growing up.<br />
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When the chicks come out of the eggs, they are naked, without any feathers, and they are blind and helpless. The mother bird has to take very good care of them, including maintaining adequate temperature inside the nest. When the chicks are a little older, the female finally comes out of the nest breaking the wall it had built with its beak. It squeezes itself out of the nest, and has lost its tail feathers, become weak and unsteady. It also cannot fly. The male continues to feed and take care of it, as well as the chicks, and it is only after a week that the female is slightly stronger and begins helping the male.<br />
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The nest cavity opening remains after the female comes out, and sometimes, the hyper active chicks fall down from the nest and die. However, if all goes well, within 2-3 days, the male and female start supplying the chicks with wet mud pellets, and they once again seal the cavity, although not as well as their mom - but it is remarkable that they do that! Once the chicks are ready to fly, the opening is widened and they fly out into a large tree-filled world to be groomed by their parents to live their life as adults. The empty nest is immediately claimed by mynas, parakeets or other birds who have been eyeing it.<br />
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The female hornbill and its chicks are therefore completely dependent on the male. What if something happens to him? Well, the sad fact is that they just die of starvation. I read about an incident where, in Athirpally-Vazachal reserve in Kerala, a male hornbill died in a car accident - perhaps it was flying very low. It had in its beak, banyan figs that it was taking to its family. Bird watcher/photographer Baiju K Vasudevan discovered the dead bird, and knowing that its family would starve, he and his team looked for the nest, found it and fed the female and the chicks till they became independent. A happy ending this time, but it need not always be so, considering the extreme dependence on hornbill families on the male.<br />
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<b>Toilet hygiene!</b><br />
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How does the female poop while inside the nest?<b> </b>Well, she simply turns around to get her exterior to the cavity slit, and squirts out the poop with force! The ground beneath a hornbill nest is, as a result, scattered with poop.<br />
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What about the chicks' poop? Here is a complex process that will totally astound you. What happens is that the male keeps giving the female small pieces of bark. The female carefully chooses bark that is brittle and can <b>absorb </b>moisture because the poop is semi-solid and could cause infections to the female and the chicks if it is allowed to remain inside. Some bark pieces also need to <b>adsorb </b>the excreta, that is, they should be be able to hold the excreta in the form of a thin film on their surfaces! Then when the pieces of bark get dirty, the female picks them up and throws them out, and replaces them with fresh bark, pretty much like human beings' using diapers. Think of the complex science involved in keeping the nest clean. How clever these birds are, and what's more, their 'diapers' are completely biodegradable!<br />
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<b>What do hornbills eat and drink?</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hornbills are frugivorous birds during ordinary times and eat a lot of non-vegetarian food during the breeding season. Their diet largely includes figs of peepal and banyan in that order. Other fruits they eat are those of neem, guaicwood</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><span style="font-style: italic;">,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>khirni, bakula, Indian <span style="font-family: inherit;">plum (ber or regu pandlu)</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, lokhandi, cluster fig, palm fruit and of jungli jilebi. Hornbills also eat the pulp of yellow oleander, discarding the poisonous seed! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">As regards the non-vegetarian diet, they feed on garden lizards, grasshoppers and chicks of other birds when they find them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have seen <i>a</i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><i>ll </i>these trees in Indira Park, as also the trees whose bark the female prefers! </span>It turns out that the female has a preference for the bark of certain trees - <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">neem, mahogany, mango, Siris, gul mohur and Arjuna (scientific names in footnote)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Also, t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">he breeding time of hornbills coincides with the time when peepal and banyan have figs - yet another of the many fascinating connections in nature.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">What about water?</span><b style="color: black;"> </b><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The water content in the diet of hornbills comes from the figs they eat. So they don't need to drink water, especially while inside the nest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><b>Aerial jousting</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit;">One of the days when I was walking in Indira Park, I suddenly came upon a pair of hornbills noisily fighting on a jamun tree. They seemed to be wrestling on the tree and as I watched, they came down, wings flapping, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">holding each others' bills,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: inherit;">and fell on the ground with a thud. I was worried that they would get hurt, but they flew to another tree. I quickly took out my phone hoping that it would happen again.It did, and I successfully caught it on my phone camera! Here is the video: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">I assumed it was a territorial fight between two males. Now I know that this is called aerial jousting. Sometimes apparently, two hornbills fly from different directions, clash in mid air, hold each other's bills and come down free falling. <span style="font-family: inherit;">That is so very cool!</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">All this practical learning from my observation of grey hornbills has been precious and delightful, and I will value it always. The life cycle of grey hornbills is a very good example of how an ecosystem is so very important for any species to thrive. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">I understand now why there are so many grey hornbills in Indira Park and in no other park in Hyderabad. I am waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so I can go back and see them, with the hope that there will be many more birds of all kinds because they have had a break from human beings for nearly three months! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>*</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Scientific names: </b>Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Banyan (<i>Ficus benghalensis</i>), N</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>), Guaicwood (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Guaiacum officinale),</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>Khirni (<i>Manilkara hexandra</i>), Bakula (<i>Mimosops elengi</i>), Indian <span style="font-family: inherit;">plum (<i>Ziziphus jujube</i>)</span></span>, Lokhandi (<i>Ixora parvifolia</i>), Cluster fig (<i>Ficus racemosa</i>), Palm fruit (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phoenix dactylifera)<b>, J</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ungli jilebi (</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pithecellobium dulce</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">), Yellow oleander (</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thevetia nerifolia</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">), mahogany (<i>Swieteniw mahogani</i>), Siris (<i>Albizzia lebbeck</i>), Arjuna (<i>Terminalia arjuna</i>). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Reference:</b> Kasambe, Raju (2020). <i>Indian Grey Hornbill - Unravelling the secrets</i>. eBook. First edition. Published by the author. pp 112.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">I am very grateful to Dr Raju Kasambi for his webinar, and also for writing an e-book titled, Indian grey hornbill - Unravelling the secrets". It is a labour of love and has been put together by the author with utmost care, and is well illustrated with relevant photos. The writing too is very personalised, and makes reading about grey hornbills pleasurable and interesting. Kudos to Dr Kasambe for his dedicated research, and for the book. He clearly loves these birds!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><b>Photos/video copyright: Sadhana Ramchander. Please give credit in case you use them. </b></span></span></span></span><br />
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Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-34627877106398294712020-04-07T01:10:00.002-07:002020-04-23T06:47:21.167-07:00To my children, in times of Covid-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear children, </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">When I was raising you, the world was different. But it was as complex as it is now, with many undesirable things. So I tried my best to show you the pleasant side of life - the beauty of sunsets (not sunrises because you always woke up late, actually me too!); I read out lovely books for you, and got you a whole library so you kept reading; we listened to good music, you made our home reverberate with your own singing; we played with colours and painted; we travelled a bit - whenever we could - to take a peek into other exciting worlds; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">we watched 'Jab we met' a hundred times; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">we laughed at silly things and there were carefree moments in our lives that bind us always. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Learning to cycle, falling down and getting up, learning to drive, doing jigsaws and Lego sets, playing board games, doing craft...our home was a happy place and I was afraid you would never want to leave! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But then, growing up is never easy. The good things I exposed you to didn’t help with teenage angst and heartbreaks of the early twenties. But you handled these phases beautifully, you did, my children. I was all admiration for you when you went to college in a different city, and dealt with complex people from various parts of the country. You were upset, you were confused and angry, you were afraid. I looked on, trying to give you comfort, knowing that you have to handle things on your own and that I won’t be able to help you after a certain point in the big bad world. But you dealt with everything, and I was so proud. You dealt with upset stomachs and fevers, falls and tooth aches; you dealt with going to new doctors all by yourselves. You also dealt with issues your friends were going through - </span>relationships, <span style="font-family: inherit;">drinking problems, mental health, gender biases. I watched you with pride as you grew up from the cartoon-watching, giggling children to adults with strong opinions of your own. I followed you on social media as you boldly put your political opinions out there, and as you joined protests along with your friends. Before I knew what was happening, you grew into sensitive, compassionate adults. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did not know, my children, that I had to prepare you for a crisis that would hit the whole world. When the Corona virus began, affecting people everywhere in the world, my first thought was about you. That your generation<i> should not</i> have to deal with something like this. I almost felt guilty as mothers often do, that I never prepared you for this because I never imagined something like this would ever happen. Did I, like Gautama Buddha's parents, shield you from suffering and unhappiness? How prepared are you for this? How are you dealing with it? I want to tell you that this too shall pass. I want to read you a funny poem and make you laugh. I want us to sit and sing “Hum honge kaamyaab”, and believe that we shall overcome. But you are grown up now and are independent thinkers. You know I can’t fix things for you. We discuss Covid-19 over the dinner table and over phone calls, exchange notes on what we read and the inferences we gathered during the day; share anxieties and tips to deal with them. That is the best we can do under the circumstances. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear children, we have been fortunate that life has treated us quite well so far. In the last 20 odd years that you have been here, we have been leading a life of luxury with unimaginable conveniences and gadgets. While my generation lamented about losing a natural way of life, we too enjoyed the improved quality of life brought about by continuous power supply, the internet and smart phone. These magical things changed our lives, making everything accessible easily. We didn’t have to step out of our homes to enjoy the many temptations of a globalised world. Yet we travelled at times if only to realise our dreams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And now, when we got used to such comforts and wonders, when it seemed that life can only get better, how can a virus that you cannot even see, spoil things to such an extent in our magnificent world built by the genius of human innovation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">? It is hard to believe that human beings all over the world have been in lockdown for many weeks now. It is quiet as it has not been in decades; vehicles are off the roads; schools, colleges, stores, businesses, malls, theatres, restaurants, everything is closed except for essential services, and </span>people go about with masks - ironically when the air is at its purest<span style="font-family: inherit;">. We have kept our sense of humour intact and create jokes and comics about the present situation. We clap and light candles, we cook, clean, eat, sleep, pray; we watch movies and news. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And even as we sweep and swab our homes, </span>we introspect<span style="font-family: inherit;">. I think of the several instances in history when people have had to face tough times. My great grandparents would’ve experienced World War I and the plague of 1918; my grandparents and parents - to a certain extent - would have known the hardships caused by World War II, and participated in the Indian independence movement. They often shared exciting stories with us. As young people, my parents saw the war with China in 1964, and with Pakistan in 1971 - I myself have memories of my father going for rifle shooting practice and my mother donating her gold ornaments during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971. I do remember feeling scared and insecure when I saw them do this. I was terrified at the prospect of my father having to go for war. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1979, ‘Skylab’, the first US space station launched by NASA came crashing to the earth. In the run-up to this event, there was much conjecture as to where it would fall, and the extent of damage that it could cause if it fell on places inhabited by human beings. I remember being frightened and anxious about this. I used to get nightmares about the world ending or at least, my world ending. Lying on the bed, unable to sleep, I imagined the exact scenario how this would unfold, perhaps based on horror movies I had seen. We followed news regularly, and I remember making a scrap book of newspaper reports about the Skylab. Then thankfully - <i>thankfully</i> - on 12 July 1979, the Skylab fell to the earth <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px;">in small shards in a remote part of Australia. No one was hurt, and the Skylab nightmare was over!</span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The world bounced back to a more or less happy place, and our lives were on track </span></span>once again<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: inherit;">. What we then saw crop up were ‘Skylab stationery shop'; ‘Skylab sweet shop', and one newborn was even named ‘Skylab Reddy’ (who is still in the news for making the highest bid for the Belapur laddu during Ganesh celebrations...try Googling his name)!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before the Skylab saga, 1975-1977 saw another major event in our lives - the Emergency - in India, during the leadership of Mrs Indira Gandhi. I was still very young, but I do remember the atrocities that happened at that time - civil liberties curbed, elections suspended,</span></span></span></span>press censored, and a forced mass sterilization campaign spearheaded by the PM's son Sanjay Gandhi<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: inherit;">. But this was a political situation and restricted only to India. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today as I see you, my children, deal with the present crisis in your calm and mature way, I think to myself that yes, we will together face this situation with equanimity. We are suffering today from a threat of a serious viral infection because of which we cannot step out of our homes. We need to be cautious, stay home and stay safe. This situation is making us realise what our lives have been like, how many comforts we have been taking for granted, how much human beings have exploited nature, how petty yet dangerous politicking in the world had become. I find myself realising the value of the various people on whom we depend every day, and of family and friends. I think of all the good times we need to be grateful for. I understand that whatever was bothering me before this crisis, was really very minor compared to what is standing before us, obstructing our view of the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My children - let us look at this moment in history as a great opportunity for the entire humanity to re-boot and re-invent themselves. To undo the wrongs, and to do things right towards nature and other human beings. It is an opportunity for us to learn about ourselves and to redefine comfort, happiness, fear, anxiety, ambition, life itself! It is also a time when - more than any other time - we need to have faith in the human genius. We have great minds thinking about how to beat Covid-19, we have researchers from all over the world working on solutions. We have journalists reporting from various corners of the earth, scientists finding and studying data, and presenting their analyses. We have doctors and nurses out there treating patients, saving lives, putting their own lives at risk. It is a terrible time we are in. We may take some time, but we will beat the virus, we surely will. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We will once again be out there in multitudes, doing teen maar on Ganesh Chaturdhi, eating haleem on Ramzan, and cheering for India as they play World Cup. Hopefully we would have learnt a few lessons and mellowed a bit...or maybe not. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And when it’s over, for sure, there will be a Corona Supermarket and Covid Mobile Stores, and new babies named <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Corona Devi and Covid Rao. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: inherit;">Into that lovable and crazy reality, my children, let us pray our country soon awakens. </span></div>
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Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-89797546189466583712020-02-23T07:19:00.001-08:002020-02-23T20:43:20.174-08:00Tree walks and the happiness of spreading joy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After nearly three years of taking people on 'tree walks', I missed a trip - perhaps for the first time, that too an over nighter. Being a bit under the weather I stayed home and witnessed through photos on Whatsapp, the excitement of the trip to see our beloved banyans on the Vikarabad road, to walk in the reserve forest on the way, to visit a lake that we would never otherwise go to. Star gazing at night and an early morning walk through wilderness - as much as available in a country bursting with people - were the icing on top. I was missing all this and felt miserable for a while.<br />
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But looking at my excitable group of nature lovers from a distance, and looking at their brilliant photos and posts on our Whatsapp group, I realised what had happened in the last three years. We had successfully passed on the joy we derived from nature to so many others! The joy at finding a honey teak with its pretty mustard flowers; the happiness of spotting a tiny yellow ladybug next to the winged pod of an Indian elm; the pleasure of marvelling at an old banyan with a huge girth and spreading prop roots; the excitement of seeing a black-rumped flameback woodpecker suddenly perch itself on a tree trunk and go peck-peck-peck; the exhileration of visiting a mighty baobab with its lovely flowers and the furry fruit; the jubilation of seeing a new tree with exotic looking flowers or pods - and knowing that it was sheer luck of being at the right place at the right time. Those who have not been sensitised to such jouissance would never understand the feeling of triumph at such spottings - they are no less than tiger moments!<br />
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As old friends and new friends began to get a sense of these thrills, human-tree friendships began to be formed and tree-blind eyes began to notice various shades of green. A few friends became so well versed with names of trees that they qualified to be resource people. Posts about trees and nature on facebook, instagram and twitter increased, with hashtags such as #bombaxceiba #sterculiafoetida #joysofnature. We made friends with a reclusive researcher and were overjoyed when he joined the walks and added to the gyan. A photographer friend began to post aesthetic photos of flora and fauna on a regular basis; another started writing nature poetry; a writer friend described the Flame of the Forest thus:<br />
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<i style="font-family: inherit;">Botanical joys. We went springward in search of the flaming palash. And this was our first darshan, a feisty lone treelet in fields of cotton.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>When dark leafless boughs burst overnight into orange flower, I see jayadeva’s point about the palash. Harbingers of spring. Kama’s red nails. A kinsukjhali, a net of blooms, that can - in one fiery moment - make hearts soar upwards and lead them back home.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Butea monosperma. Aka Palash Dhak moduga kino bastard teak flame of the forest. - </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sita Reddy)</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The beauty of words to match the style of our favourite tree - palash! And a <i>dost</i> made for life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One friend discovered Google lens and its uses in identification of flora; another often went long distances to take photos of trees from various angles; a professor friend took time off from her busy schedule to be part of the walks and soon became the dare devil fruit-taster of the group - 'at your own risk' - we joked about this habit! All of us discovered new plants, trees and flowers, and our language changed. We began to talk of - 'a glowing Scarlet flame bean' or 'a shy <i>Tabebuia pallida</i>', of 'the butterflies on <i>Premna latifolia</i>' or 'the 'bajji' flowers of <i>Sesbinia grandiflora</i>'. As trees became friends, tree lovers rattled off scientific names easily, without twisting their tongues! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Whatsapp group, unlike many others, became an adda of sorts, much like how bees, squirrels and birds conference around a Ficus with figs! Discussions were on varied topics - a celebration of trees, birds, moths, butterflies, reptiles; laments about trees being chopped, water scarcity, climate change, sustainability; links to documentaries, poems, book talk - everything related to nature, everything meaningful. And in the process, human-human friendships too blossomed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The news of the Chevella banyans being chopped for road widening led to protests and activism, with some group members going all out to protect the trees in the hot summer of 2019. This resulted - after months of running around offices making representations, newspaper interviews and articles - in the success of the campaign, and immense but quiet happiness at achieving the goal. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The activism also led to a lot of creativity, and then to the drafting of a tree translocation protocol - something the group felt was much needed. The protocol has started its travels, and hopefully someone will take note of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ah, and to think all this began a long time ago, as a childhood love, which then developed into a passion that began a friendship and partnership that led to working with children, which inspired a book, which in turn led to what we now know as tree walks that have resulted in lifelong human-tree friendships...much like a seed grows into a plant that grows into a tree and then an ecosystem, don't you think?! </span></div>
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Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-43860363623243889672019-10-08T01:36:00.002-07:002019-10-08T23:07:47.693-07:00Kaas Plateau: Where the world still looks innocent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="text-align: left;">Yeh kya jagah hai doston?</i></div>
<i>yeh kaun-sa dayaar hai?</i><br />
<i>Had-e-nigaah tak jahan, </i><br />
<i>phool hi phool hai...</i><br />
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What place is this, friends?<br />
What kind of a world is this?<br />
Where, as far as the eye can see,<br />
there are flowers and only flowers...<br />
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Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra is a place of great beauty, and comes alive during the monsoon-post monsoon seasons. I had been wanting to go there since some years, but somehow could not make it. I finally made it in September 2019, with three friends who are highly motivated and enthusiastic naturalists. Kaas is an absolute delight! You have to see it to believe that such beauty exists. No camera can capture the magnificence of the landscapes on the plateau.<br />
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See these videos in full magnification to get an idea of the charm and grandeur of the Kaas landscape.<br />
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Situated 25 km west of the little town of Satara, which is surrounded by the western ghats, Kaas is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, with a total area of 1,792 hectares. There are herbs, shrubs, climbers, ephemerals, insectivorous plants, epiphytic orchids and others. <b>The wondrous thing is that the flowers bloom on just about an inch of soil on basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock! </b>The floristic analysis of Kaas Plateau reveals that it comprises 411 species belonging to 267 genera under 86 families (from <i>Flowers of Kaas Plateau </i>by Shekhar Mohite). We saw only about a tenth of these varieties! We stood breathless before large swathes of pink - of a balsam variety called <i>Impatiens lawii </i>(photo at the top). Apparently every 15-20 days or so, the colour changes - yellow of Senesios and Smithias, purple of Pogostemon species, blue of Utricularias, and white of Eriocaulons and Habenarias. While the Impatiens were spectacular, my own favourites were the acquatic plant Pogostemon, with the lovely common name manjiri (video at right above).<br />
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Please view the photos in full magnification.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzLtDk1KcYw/XZywKqKEQBI/AAAAAAAAFFg/oUwwfU3fNqovoKdyponNVkzzx_bploe1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzLtDk1KcYw/XZywKqKEQBI/AAAAAAAAFFg/oUwwfU3fNqovoKdyponNVkzzx_bploe1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9934.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Utricularia purpurascens</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> smiling at the world! The white flowers are <i>Eriocaulon</i>, and the pink <i>Impatiens lawii</i>. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pretty pretty Pogostemon deccanensis (manjiri)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yellows of <i>Smithia hirsuta </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were quite of few of <i>Paracaryopsis coelestina </i>(Nisurdi)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Linum mysurense</i> (Undri): Found plenty of these at Ajinkyatara fort. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It was like wedding decor, with the walls of the fort decorated with these lovely yellow flowers. :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the 16th century Ajinkyatara fort. 'Ajinkyatara' means 'the impregnable star. The 'fort' is on one of the seven mountains surrounding the city of Satara. Inside there are steps that don't really lead to a fort but to a large open area with a television tower surrounded by lots of wild plants and flowers, and amidst them, a Hanuman temple. We were there at twilight and saw some brilliant pink-orange-yellow-purple skies there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms_97QiCYEc/XZxBxX8QOPI/AAAAAAAAFCo/3ijw4D-e3TIOzEP511eXs2UME4Xr5NZoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ms_97QiCYEc/XZxBxX8QOPI/AAAAAAAAFCo/3ijw4D-e3TIOzEP511eXs2UME4Xr5NZoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9599.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This was an 'ahhhh' moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Celosia argentea</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VgJurUKAXg/XZxDoKOnxPI/AAAAAAAAFC8/TjqIV0YLAWIorYaU7x-hMo0zG13Lln8ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VgJurUKAXg/XZxDoKOnxPI/AAAAAAAAFC8/TjqIV0YLAWIorYaU7x-hMo0zG13Lln8ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Satara city from Ajinkyatara.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho4A21bLsGg/XZxJ3eLttMI/AAAAAAAAFEA/WS7IRRiLhiwTzl84ubJ-z3MrgQ0zHvYCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho4A21bLsGg/XZxJ3eLttMI/AAAAAAAAFEA/WS7IRRiLhiwTzl84ubJ-z3MrgQ0zHvYCACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sahyadris topped by misty clouds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIQiCU7IbU/XZxCKmnocvI/AAAAAAAAFCw/s1kFiv9hXUMQkwyOwhLK2rAtW0FjvktawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIQiCU7IbU/XZxCKmnocvI/AAAAAAAAFCw/s1kFiv9hXUMQkwyOwhLK2rAtW0FjvktawCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bhambhavli Vajrai waterfall on the Urmodi river is about an hour's drive from Kaas. You park your vehicle at one point and then go on a 45-minute trek through breathtaking greenery. At the end of the trek are about 300 steps that lead you close to the waterfall, but not to the foot of it. At 1,840 ft, Vajrai is the second highest plunge waterfall in India, after the Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sf7UE-_WGAE/XZxGngsDVGI/AAAAAAAAFDU/5rCd8WMwMW4Sk3oFG5eN9tvtdBfODRdyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sf7UE-_WGAE/XZxGngsDVGI/AAAAAAAAFDU/5rCd8WMwMW4Sk3oFG5eN9tvtdBfODRdyACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9703.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Somewhere near Thoseghar Waterfalls, we found lovely meadows, a waterfall, plenty of rocks with all kinds of micro flora on them - wonderful, thrilling worlds unto themselves. There were no other human beings around for hours, and no network, and it was simply blissful. We were truly at peace and happy, despite the leeches that kept clinging to our shoes and ankles. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQckacQe0j8/XZxFR_FPl7I/AAAAAAAAFDI/cqpm7VkmFPgthVm3-5VKi93uzfW9bQTKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQckacQe0j8/XZxFR_FPl7I/AAAAAAAAFDI/cqpm7VkmFPgthVm3-5VKi93uzfW9bQTKACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9681.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small waterfall. The sound was soothing, there were plenty of black dragonflies around, and we sat there for hours, just happy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4w1faSKyyu0/XZxHMVc-MuI/AAAAAAAAFDc/tCUwGYhcKc0JGCykUCMIeuXowoInLw0fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4w1faSKyyu0/XZxHMVc-MuI/AAAAAAAAFDc/tCUwGYhcKc0JGCykUCMIeuXowoInLw0fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9642.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micro-ecosystem on one of the rocks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLbCxS6I8Q8/XZxHr35Q1mI/AAAAAAAAFDk/5lthtxBbL0cBaaHw5BzfIpH0O9gix3cJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLbCxS6I8Q8/XZxHr35Q1mI/AAAAAAAAFDk/5lthtxBbL0cBaaHw5BzfIpH0O9gix3cJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9654.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So much miniature life to marvel at!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drLk9WdKQY4/XZxILA8_KLI/AAAAAAAAFDs/IaQUBTXVLSkpoa1TzNjXx1n8U9QwyeKbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drLk9WdKQY4/XZxILA8_KLI/AAAAAAAAFDs/IaQUBTXVLSkpoa1TzNjXx1n8U9QwyeKbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9718.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rainy season surprises round the corner - tree fungi!...</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">phool khilte hain, toh diye bhi jalte hain</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">!</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reZ231r6rSw/XZxIpuuYioI/AAAAAAAAFD0/l4cPr4CgSXULGAl8YxcrmooOs8zTpdHagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reZ231r6rSw/XZxIpuuYioI/AAAAAAAAFD0/l4cPr4CgSXULGAl8YxcrmooOs8zTpdHagCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It is not just human beings who build forts...ants build them too!</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYFLUE-XX2o/XZypnIMUlqI/AAAAAAAAFFU/f2WZhacTCeQPO0OJMryY8CsuL_n_oLXPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYFLUE-XX2o/XZypnIMUlqI/AAAAAAAAFFU/f2WZhacTCeQPO0OJMryY8CsuL_n_oLXPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9860.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Four more wild flowers...me, Rashmitha, Kobita and Pranay :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Satara and its surrounding Sahyadris are a great place for nature lovers to simply stroll, walk in the clouds, meander in wilderness, and marvel at the thousands of wild flowers. Somehow the world seems young, innocent and untouched. We are definitely going back again. </span></div>
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Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-591449903058916120.post-80783452128813332382019-10-06T08:04:00.000-07:002019-10-06T08:04:17.193-07:00Monsoon watch 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
July 2019: It has been a month and a half since the monsoons are normally scheduled to begin. It has been raining on and off, but nothing like it should be. There was rain on 1 and 7 June, and then there were dry spells with intermittent rain. July was slightly better, but the gaps between rain were long. On 16 July, we got back from Ananthagiri Hills, and there was a huge downpour towards evening. Again a long gap, and it rained on 26 July.<br />
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In general, the prediction is that monsoons will not be good this year. Having said that, IMD has predicted that there will be rains starting end July.<br />
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Never has there been such pessimism about rains and groundwater, as this year. Chennai has run dry and people are talking about the fact that even though there has been a water problem for the last several years, this year has been a tipping point. Whatsapp too has been full of forwards about the water problem. When India recently undertook the Chandrayan mission, which among other things, intended to find water in the moon. A cartoon in The Hindu was poignant: A poor man is asking another, "Instead of finding water on the moon, why can't they find it here?"<br />
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The Telangana, the Kaleshwaram Project, built at a huge cost, promises to solve farmers' problems by providing them with water and electricity during the kharif season. However, critics ask, "whatabout the rabi, and thereafter?<br />
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5 August:</div>
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- Flood situation in Godavari delta still grim</div>
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- Heavy rain hits life in Mumbai again</div>
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- Bone-dry tanks filling up fast - Karimnagar</div>
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- Pune: 170 rescued from flooded hospital.</div>
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- Hyderabad: Yesterday was dry most of the day but post 8 pm still rain for an hour and a half.</div>
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6 Aug:</div>
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- Heavy rain lashes north Karnataka.</div>
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- Krishna in spate in AP</div>
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Hyderabad: Half the day yesterday was sunny. Second half it poured.</div>
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7 Aug:</div>
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- Water level set to rise sharply in Srisailam</div>
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- Rivers flow above danger mark in north Karnataka.</div>
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- Floods bring western Maharashtra to a standstill. Kolhapur and Sangli - worst deluge since 2005.</div>
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Hyderabad: Big spells of rain second half of the day.</div>
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8 Aug:</div>
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- Heavy rain brings life to a standstill in southern states - Karnataka, Kerala, Kochi. Also Maharashtra. </div>
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Hyderabad: mostly dry. Cloudy but not much rain.</div>
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9 Aug:</div>
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- Monsoon fury leaves 70 dead in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and TN.</div>
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- Sagar to get flood water from Srisailam.</div>
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- Bhadrachalam: Flood warning continues along Godavari.</div>
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Hyderabad: first dry day in 2 weeks. Sunny even. We could have gardening class outside after 2 weeks.</div>
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11Aug:</div>
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Perhaps Hyderabad is done with rains for now. It was a dry day, sunny even.</div>
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- Jurala reservoir receives second highest flood for a day</div>
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- Krishna overflows riverbanks at Beechupally</div>
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- Tungabhadra floods Hampi. 200 tourists stranded.</div>
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24 August: After 10 dry days, huge rain today. We worked for 2 hours with the children and sowed spinach seeds and then it began to pour. Torrential rain for about 46 min. A reminder of the unpredictable nature of a farmers life.</div>
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26 August: The Hindu reports, “Copious flood helps record hydro generation in August” - ‘present month proved the best in years’.</div>
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September: It continues to rain on and off during Ganesh pandaga.</div>
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5 Sep: Mumbai once again inundated.</div>
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14 Sep: it has been raining on and off in Hyderabad. Today’s Hindu says water level in Sri Ram Sagar Project slowly but steadily increasing with heavy rains in the catchment areas. Nagarjunsagar also brimming and reached full reservoir levels.</div>
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All in all, looks like good rainfall this year. What a relief!</div>
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September: Rains continue with a revenge. We have been seeing huge rains everywhere. Today is 28 September and it is still cloudy. Earlier this week, rain battered Hyderabad and other parts of India. We saw massive rains in Satara and Pune.</div>
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28 September: The Hindu headline: “When it rained misery on Hyderabad”</div>
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And “Srisailam, Nagarjunsagar continue to get heavy inflows”</div>
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- 6 Oct2019: News in The Hindu: “When it rains it pours”</div>
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India recorded the highest rainfall this monsoon in 25 years, said IMD. Rainfall was 10% above the long period average for this southwest monsoon, which officially ended last Monday. The monsoon still remains active in several parts of the country. This also brings into question IMD’s new forecast model, which had first said that rainfall this monsoon would be 94% of the normal.</div>
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Sadhana Ramchanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991153093567162107noreply@blogger.com0