Diary of Sabarinath Nairhttp://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/Diary of Sabarinath Nairen-usWedding Sari blues"There are only four types of saris. The cream ones, the blue ones, the green ones, and the maroon ones." said my friend Sethu, circa 2002. I'm in total agreement with him. I am still clueless when my mom gets confused over buying one from two saris, both of which look the same to me!


With the wedding preparations getting into the groove, I am being bombarded with questions about the sari for the bride. One conversation with my cousin (sister) went on like this: -


Chechi [elder sister]: Have you bought the sari?
Me: Yes, mom said she bought it in Trivandrum
Chechi: What's the colour?
Me: athu onnum ennikku arinjooda chechi, ammede aduthu chodikkanam [I dont know all that, must ask mom]
Chechi: So you didn't get to see the sari?
Me: No, it was bought after I left Trivandrum last. Anyway, as far as men are concerned, all saris are the same
Chechi: That's not true. If you see a beautiful lady in sari, wouldn't you turn your head?
Me: That has got nothing to do with the colour of the sari.
Chechi: It has.
Me: No, it is just what's inside the saris that make us turn our heads!
Chechi: njan ariyathe paranjatha, ini avarthikkilla [I asked unknowingly, please forgive me, I wouldn't repeat this!]


Poor Chechi. Her impression about me as the studious quiet guy would have been shattered. There was more fun due for me. The same evening I chatted with one of my female friends. It also went on similar lines: -


Friend: Amma said ur mom said saree edukan povukayanennu, edutho? [my mom said your mom is going to buy wedding saris, did you guys buy?]
Me: eduthu. [Yes, bought]
Friend: what colour
Me: what color? how dare u ask me such a question?
me: u definitely are bringing shame to our years old friedship
Friend: poda, tell me...
me: i dont know!!
Friend: don't tell me u didnt ask
me: amma bought sari yesterday. Her family bought a violet one, so this one is probably not violet
Friend: :)), poda, u didn't ask alle[right]? koranaga [monkey]
Me: how come it took u so long to realize?


I'm waiting for more bakaras to come and ask me this question. And by the way, I still really don't know the colour of the sari my mom bought for my bride!

]]>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:23:09 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/04/10/Wedding-Sari-blues.htmlGurudakshinaSince I have met one of my school teachers and spoken over phone to another two in the last three days, it is time now for another nostalgic post.


The teacher I met taught me maths at Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV). I and my friends were 'outstanding' students in more than one way - in the same period, we would get praised for quickly solving a tough maths problem (outstanding), and soon be sent out of the class as punishment for talking in the class (standing out).


One of the other teachers I spoke to today was our class teacher in tenth standard. She is one of the most sportive teachers I have ever met. Once one of my artistically gifted classmates had drawn a picture of devil on the blackboard. He couldn't erase the picture before this teacher came to class. When she sat down on her chair, the picture was directly behind her and the whole class started laughing. She turned at look at the picture and asked, "Is that me?" "Yes ma'am", the whole class replied, though the artist never meant it that way. "Good drawing skills" was her remark, without any anger. In contrast, out physics sir would have given a sound thrashing to the poor chap, and the whole class would have to listen to a lecture on 'showing respect to teachers'. How ironical that by her reaction she more than won our respect.


Looking back, I realise that this same teacher was also one who practised management principles in school (we didn't realise it then - performance based incentives, mentoring, 360 degree performance appraisal, etc were unknown terms to us then). Our seating arrangement in the class was decided by her as the class teacher - anyone who scored full marks in maths uni test (the subject she taught) could have a seat of his/her own choice till the next unit test - performance incentive. She arranged students in such a way that a bright student was seated next to a no-so-bright student, so that the brighter students could mentor the others. At any point in time during her class, if anyone felt that she was not teaching properly, or was deviating from the topic, one could raise his/her hand and tell it openly (360 degree performance appraisal).


Today I spoke to her after many years as I had got her number only 2 days back. I could feel the excitement in her voice. I asked her how it was at the KV she taught now. "It's the same... every year old faces pass out and new faces come in. Once in a while I get calls from old students, which makes me happy. Hearing from old students - that is the best gift you can give to your teachers".


I dedicate this post to all the teachers who helped me make who I am. My parents give full credit to my teachers for all the marks I scored in school, as I seldom studied at home.

]]>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:14:43 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/04/10/Gurudakshina.htmlChennai MRTSThe first time I traveled in the overhead Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Chennai around
three years ago was out of curiosity. My home state of Kerala doesn't
have metro rail in any of its major cities, let alone one that runs on
elevated tracks.


[pic: Mylapore (Thirumayilai) MRTS Station]

I
became a more frequent user of the MRTS after I shifted my residence to
Adyar area, which made Kasturba Nagar station just 5 minutes walk from
my house. By then railways had extended the service to Velachery and
increased the frequency to once every fifteen minutes. This mode of
transport made an excellent alternative to the slow, crowded MTC buses,
and the extremely expensive autorikshaws (one has to shell out anywhere
between 100 and 150 to travel from Chennai Central to Adyar). At Rs 6
per ticket, and a travelling time of just 20 minutes, MRTS trains are a
relief, the only grouses being that the services stops before 9 pm, and
that most stations are in bad shape. The station at Kasturba Nagar (at
Madhya Kailash signal) sports modern looks (at least most part of it),
though the one at Indira Nagar is pathetic. Now that the usage rate has
gone up, I hope that railways begin to keep the stations properly
maintained and well lit.

[pic: MRTS track near Mylapore]


]]>Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:57:17 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/04/04/Chennai-MRTS.htmlOne ways and a new definition of Bangalored
Do one-ways really solve traffic problems? If my personal experiences in Chennai and Bangalore are anything to go by, they do not. They simply divert un-necessary congestion to more places.

Take the case of Little Mount- Raj Bhavan - Halda triangle one way system in Chennai - I personally feel that this arrangement has only made life difficult for pedestrians. The waiting time avoided at the signals have been replaced by waiting time in front of Little Mount court for pedestrian crossing. And if there is no policeman around, then it is impossible for a pedestrian to cross the road, as the road is very wide and all vehicles speed up on this road. In the evenings, the road from Raj Bhavan to Halda Junction (towards mount road) is congested as was the case before the introduction of the one way system.

Similar is the case with TTK road/CP Ramaswamy Road, though I think it is too early to take a call on this.

Traffic has somehow tremendously increased in the last two years and I find more and more roads in Chennai becoming one ways, like it happens in Bangalore. I would like to add a new definition to the term Bangalored (the real one being this whereas my definition is based on personal experiences) - "the feeling you get when you carefully plan your trip from one end of the city to another, only to find at a crucial junction that it had been made a one way overnight! And that you would need to drive at least 2 km extra to overcome this hurldle".



]]>Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:14:08 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/04/03/One-ways-and-a-new-definition-of-Ba.htmlWatching a cricket match - directlyThere are a few updates due from me, including about my wedding next month â€" but then this post can’t wait. I watched Sehwag hit the triple ton, at Chepauk! The experience can’t be properly described in words â€" one has to be there to fully understand the feelings.
It’s been more than three years since I relocated to Chennai, and I missed quite a few matches â€" the first one I bought ticket for was washed out in the floods of 2005. Though I had to wait another three years for it, it was worth the wait. And the chance came all of a sudden too â€" since I was in Thiruvananthapuram for the past ten days (as my Grandpa had a surgery â€" that’s another post pending), I was not following cricket. I realized about the match only yesterday when I was back in Chennai. So I made quick plans this morning to go and watch the 3rd day’s play of the first test match between India & South Africa.

I was lucky to get ticket â€" the stadium was packed (surprising for a test match). Then came the wonderful feat by Sehwag â€" scoring 300 a second time in his career. The mood inside the stadium was exhilarating, cheering on the team in whatever means possible. It was interesting to note how people who were total strangers could execute Mexican waves in seconds. Some others improvised on horns and other ‘instrumentals’.

It was disappointing not to see Sachin Tendulkar play as India lost only one wicket throughout the whole day. The crowd was disappointed with Rahul ‘Wall’ Dravid. Though he played his role well, his slow innings was frustrating. Moreover, this meant we couldn’t get to see Sachin, Dravid & Laxman play. The crowd cheered whenever Sachin was shown on the screens, and sometimes boo-ed when Dravid played dot ball after dot ball.

India had a great day, piling 460+ runs for the loss of just one wicket. We had our consolation when we most Indian players, including Sachin came out for net practice. It was a day well spent, and I fully enjoyed the day forgetting everything else.

[update: for those of you who are really interested in cricket, and in knowing how it felt inside the stadium in a more verbose manner, you can check out this- part of a chat I had with my friend, about the day's play]


]]>Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:10:39 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/03/28/Watching-a-cricket-match-directly.htmlA Good Deedlocal street dogs chasing a car like mad. We were wondering what all
this commotion was, and then realized that a puppy was run over by that
car.



The puppy was crying in pain. The many people around the tea shop
looked at the dog sympathetically but didn't do anything. We too didn't
know of any vet docs. While all of us returned for our classes, my
friend Suraj who didn't have class at that time looked up on the
internet and located a vet in the neighbourhood. With the help of a
chap at the tea shop, he took the puppy to the vet. The puppy got
medical care and is now alright.



This act of my friend made me very glad - though most of us sympathized
with the puppy's condition, only he took pains to get care to the stray
puppy. I'm proud of you my friend!

]]>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:17:01 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/03/11/A-Good-Deed.htmlRamayana by Ashok BankerI had the fortune to read the six volume modern retelling of the Ramayana, by Ashok Kumar Banker. The story is something all of us would have heard and read many times, but what makes this series stand out is that it is not told from a spiritual point of view. The language is also modern, and the narration is similar to that of any modern English Novel.
The characters have been drawn out excellently, and the attention has been paid to the details. At times, it is a bit wordy - certain descriptions could have been more brief. But overall it makes a gripping read. The volumes are titled - 1. Prince of Ayodhya, 2. Siege of Mithila, 3. Demons of Chitrakut, 4. Armies of Hanuman, 5. Bridge of Rama, and 6. King of Ayodhya, totalling over 3000 pages.

The first book has a slow opening (initially a little patience is required, but it is worth the effort), but soon gets pacy as the plot is introduced. The series is in a way Banker's own version of Ramayana, though he tries to stick to the original storyline. Interestingly, he has successfully conveyed deeper meanings, though in a very unconventional way.

The author is now working on the other great epic from India, the Mahabharata, which is supposed to hit the stands by next year. I am eagerly awaiting its release.



]]>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:04:51 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/02/29/Ramayana-by-Ashok-Banker-1.htmlGrandma - now only in memories
While waiting for the plane, I called up home and was told that cremation is to happen only the next day, and the body would be kept in the morgue till then. It was a tough night, with very less scope for private grief as there were a lot of relatives staying overnight.

In the morning, as the body was brought home, I found it tougher to hold back emotions, at the same time, being nice to the people who were pouring in. Grace had returned to Ammumma's face, and her face looked very peaceful, as though she was sleeping. One good thing I felt was that she didn't have to struggle in the ICU wards of any hospital - she was in her room, in the very house she loved so much till her last hour. And, on her last journey to the hospital, she was lying on her son (my uncle)'s lap.

Her absence in the house is something very difficult to come to terms with, after having lived with her for many years. I was her pet grandchild, one of the very few people she listened to, and was the one who ran most of her errands till I left for Chennai.

Ammumma, your house is very empty without you.


]]>Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:07:08 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/02/07/Grandma-now-only-in-memories.htmlWhen the hunters become the huntedSometime last week, we had a course in Consumer Behaviour, where we looked at various ways of connecting to the buyers' emotions, and about providing an 'experience' as opposed to a 'product'.

[That week, at Sathyam Cinemas, during advertisements before the movie began:]

Me: That ad was wonderful right? The emotion of happiness felt was conveyed excellently. Brilliant piece of creativity!
My Friend: Was it? To me it was just an ordinary ad. Maybe because I don't have an MBA

[Two days later, dinner is planned with friends (who also are part of the same consumer behaviour course) at a restaurant in Adyar]

My friend, suddenly calls me up on phone: Sabari, change of plans... we're not going to that restaurant... We'll have dinner at Cafe Coffee Day...
Me: Coffee Day? Dinner???
Friend: Yes... come fast...we're almost there.... click

At coffee day, I ask him: Why suddenly dinner at coffee day? Don't tell me you were inspired by the case study on 'Starbucks Experience'...
My friend grins.

Are MBAs more gullible consumers?


]]>Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:16:58 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/01/19/When-the-hunters-become-the-hunted.htmlPics of HogenakkalRediff somehow doesnt allow more than one pic - or I havent found out yet. So posting a link to my other blog

http://cacafonix.blogspot.com/2007/11/kavery-hogenakkal.html

]]>Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:54:31 +0530http://sabarinath.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/11/28/Pics-of.html