Little Yuvaraj ready to face the Aussies! :P

Little Messi

Thats my 1.3 year old son Sidharth shoots at goal! :)

India men and women won Kabaddi 2011

Host India won the men's and women's World Cup Kabaddi tournament 2011.
India won the first world cup, last year as well.

To know more about the game Kabaddi Click here
Congratulations! to both Men and Women who made it.

Sports Authorities and Corporates watch out!

Note: There are rumors spreading in many social network sites, that the team members where ill-treated and were waiting for Auto-rickshaws, with the world cup, on the pavement to reach back home. If this news is to be believed, it is the worst thing happened from the sports authorities. Its high time, we need to promote indigenous games like Kabaddi, Archery and the likes. On top of this, none of the top Indian media (stupid sponsored agents) captured this news piece in prime time.

Dr.K.J.Yesudas

Dr.K.J.Yesudas

Matchless golden voice - Dr.K.J.Yesudas!

K.J.Yesudas or Dasettan started his career as a playback singer this very same day 50 Years ago!!

He started his career by reciting the sloka of Sri Narayana Guru..

"Jati bhedam mata dwesham
Etum illaathe sarvarum
Sodaratwena vazhunna
Matrka sthanam aanithu"

Which means

Free of the prejudice of caste
And religion, everyone here
Lives like brothers
In this exemplary abode.

Wishing him all the very best and more in the years to come!!

To know more about him you can click here

Anant Pai

Today is Anant Pai’s 82nd Birthday…

Anant Pai was the pioneer of Amar Chitra Katha series. A great educationalist and creator of various Indian comics. Amar Chitra Katha series are stories from Indian folk tales, biographies of historical characters and mythological stories. Indian kids for generations grown up listening to grandma stories till the inception of Amar Chitra Katha stories in the late 1960’s.

You will be in the hearts of Indians forever Sir as the contributions you made to us is Priceless and Eternal!

Beach Installation Sculpture

Let me introduce Sculptor A.Guruprasad and his unique Installation Sculpture at kollam beach (Kerala) to convey a green message and awareness on global drinking water problem.

A.Guruprasad who is a recipient of the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy award in 2005 and a honorable mention in 2008 is the first to introduce this art form (Beach Installation Sculpture)in Kollam. A policeman (a job that never suits him) by profession, Guruprasad is a Graduate from Fine Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram.

The sculpture is titled "Two-two four Save Water Save Life".

The 224 plastic pot filled with sea water represents the number of countries.

The water which is unfit for drinking in the plastic pots reminds us of the plastic waste which is the biggest threat for water resources.

And a human form sitting in meditating posture near a tap competing with a crow (which represents other living beings) for a drop of drinking water is a warning statement to remind us on pure water conservation.

He says he selected a public place instead of an art gallery to make the message reach more people!!

Wonderful Job Guruji!!! And the world outside is waiting for more from you...Great Going and all the very best for all your future Endeavour!

Sculptor A.Guruprasad

ashtamudilake.com

mobile: +91-9446558665

email: guruprasad3451@gmail.com

A few more from A.Guruprasad.

The Guard_Medium_JackFruitTree

Women real and imagination

Under Lock and Key

The Youth

The Judge and Judgement

The Great Smoker

Anyone can Imagine their own face_(Commercial)

Earth Day 2011

April 22nd: Earth day

The date has not been randomly chosen: every April 22nd, it is the International Earth day.

Invented by the American Senator Gaylord Nelson and originally intended to mobilize people on environmental actions, this event occurred for the first time on April 22nd, 1970. Primarily, students mobilized local communities on environmental projects.

Today, the Earth day is the most popular and biggest amongst other similar events in the world. It is celebrated in 184 participating countries by more than 500 million people.

Charles Spencer Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin with M.K.Gandhi

Tomorrow is Charles Spencer Chaplin's 122nd Birthday.

Needless to explain, he is well-known for his silent movies in the first half of 1900's. His satire, mime and slapstick comedies has inspired, provoked and triggered many generations and still continues to do so.

A great artist of all time!!!

To know more about Charles Chaplin Click here

(pic and info taken from net)*

Anna Hazare and India's second war of Independence

Looks like the veteran freedom fighter Anna (Anna Hazare) has kick started the ‘second war of independence’ at the right time. Let’s join hands for a good cause to build a better, corrupt-free India.

Jan Lokpal Bill is a draft anti-corruption bill which seeks Jan Lokpal an dependent body to investigate corruption cases in India.

This bill is drafted by Santosh Hegde (Lokayukta of Karnataka), Arvind Kejriwal (social activist) and Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Advocate).

This bill, if put to practice, ensures that any corrupt politician/bearcat will be prosecuted directly by the Lokpal even without Government intervention. The culprits will be sentenced within a year and makes sure the disproportionate evil wealth one accumulated will be confiscated.

The best part here is the Lokpal head is chosen by Judges and representatives of civil society and hence a corrupt officer heading this body is ruled out.

Anna needs support from like minded youth of this nation. Anna is already getting enough attention and support from the likes of retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mallika Sarabhai, Amir Khan and counting.......What are you doing????

Jai Hind!

(pic and info taken from net)*

World Cup Cricket 2011

Congrats India for bringing back home the world cup after 28 years!!!

(pic taken from net)*

Bhagat Singh

This very day in 1931, Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and his companions Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the then British Administrators. Bhagat Singh was an inspiration for a generation and was considered to be the first and formost of revolutionaries who propogated socialism and communism in India. The nation Salutes you for your selfless life and sacrifice!!!

10 interesting and unknown facts about Bhagat Singh:-

1. Singh was a great actor in college and took part in several plays. His acting in 'Rana Pratap', 'Samrat Chandra...gupta' and 'Bharata-durdasha' earned him praise from his teachers and classmates.

2. The day after the Jalianwala Bagh incident, Singh slipped away from school, went straight to the place of the tragedy and collected a bottle of mud wet with blood of Indians. He was 12 at the time. He used to worship the bottle every day.

3. As a child, Singh often spoke of “growing guns in the fields” so that he could fight the British.

4. He ran away from home to escape an early marriage. Even at the age of eight he told his classmates "is marriage a big achievement? Anybody can marry. But I will drive the British out of India."

5. The October revolution led by Lenin attracted Bhagat Singh and he started to read literature about socialism and socialist revolution at an early age.

6. Singh said: “They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.” This was to be quoted many times over by revolutionaries after Singh’s death.

7. The bombs Bhagat Singh and his associates threw in the Central Assembly in Delhi were made from low grade explosives. They were lobbed away from people in the corridors of the building and were meant only to startle and not harm. The British investigation into the incident and forensics report also confirmed this.

8. During his stay in prison in 1930, Bhagat Singh coined the word “political prisoner” and demanded he and his comrades be given basic amenities that even British looters and goons in the jail were entitled to.

9. He coined the phrase 'Inquilab Zindabad' that became the slogan of the India’s armed freedom struggle.

10. Singh was hanged an hour ahead of the official time when the death sentence was to be commuted and was secretly cremated on the banks of the river Sutlej by jail authorities. However, thousands of people on hearing the news gathered at the spot and took out a procession with his ashes.

To know more about Bhagat Singh...Click here..

(pic and info taken from net)*

Vithiri resort

Vithiri resort is one of the most exquisite Eco-friendly resorts in India. Draped in the lush green tropical rainforest of Wayanad, north-western Kerala, Vithiri is a butterfly placed on the palm of nature. Have a look @ this beautiful VDO shot by Tito Sunny and team.

Household work and servants

I personally do not encourage having servants for household works.

This is one thing which we Indians can lookup the western world (except UK) and imitate. Irrespective of the financial status, they all do their own jobs. These are few practices which we can admire and learn from the western world.

Here the unsupportive role of men in underprivileged families is one cause for these women engage and end up in these unproductive and menial works for a living. It is sad but true. It would be better to teach a poor woman how to sew rather than asking her to clean the house. This helps her become a skilled personal in a profession and enables her to stand on her own legs. This in turn helps her kids to become an automobile mechanic instead of a glorified male/female cleaner.

This system creped into Indian society during the British Raj and is a leftover of the colonial rule which continues till today. Earlier it was the British who ruled the underclass and later the lazy Indian Landlords took over and now anyone who can afford a servant. Unfortunately the status of this class remained unchanged for centuries.

The condition of these women will continue unless they are saved from this filthy pit of 'menial jobs'. The only way out is, not to show mercy for those poor women out there but to train them hard in various other professions and that’s the only way to eradicate this underprivileged class.

Let’s believe in teaching a man/woman how to fish instead of giving a fish... :)

Peaceful 2011

Wishing you all a Peaceful and Prosperous 2011

Bishnois and their love for nature!

A Bishnoi lady feeding her kids!
Bishnois, a tribal sub-sect of Hinduism are mostly seen in the northern Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The religions guru of this sect, Guru Jambheshwar made it religiously compulsory to “Not cut green trees” and “To be compassionate to all living beings”. Bishnois follow these nature friendly rules despite their hardships in these villages.

Bishnois are great lover of animals and are very particular about protecting the wild life resources. In spite of the shortage of water one can see lots of antelope such as blue bulls, black bucks and chinkaras fearlessly graze around these villages.

Unlike other Hindu communities, Bishnois bury their dead instead of cremating. This again is to avoid cutting of trees for cremation.

Now let me introduce a relatively unknown person, yet a very true environmentalist and locally celebrated Amrita Devi.

In 1730 A.D. a Bishnoi woman by name Amrita Devi lived with her three daughters in a village called Kejarli. Kejarli is the name of a tree and it was abandant in this place and thus the village got its name. Once Amrita Devi learned that a lot of people from the nearby places gathered to this otherwise sleepy town. Later she came to know it was the party of men sent by the King to fell trees for using in the construction of his new palace.

Amrita Devi protested against the Kings men. Kings men were no way ready to give up and are all set to obey the Kings order. Amrita Devi sticked to her conviction and protested even stronger and said “I would rather give my life to save the green trees”. “If a tree is saved even at the cost of one's head, it's worth it”

Having said these she offered her head. The axes severed her Head instead of trees. Her three young daughters dint think twice and offered their heads too to save the Trees.

The news spread like wildfire. The Bishnois of Khejarli united and informed their people in 83 Bishnoi villages in the surrounding to come join hands to take a serious decision. In spite of Amrita Devi and her daughters sacrifice the kings party continued felling down the trees. The community decided to go stronger and pronounced that, for every single green tree cut, one life will be sacrificed until the felling is stopped.

The old people first came forward and hugged trees and in no time the trees as well as the heads rolled. Despite these courageous old persons sacrificing themselves, the Kings party leader ridiculed the Bishnois saying they were offering unwanted old persons. Immediately the young bunch, the recently married and even children started sacrificing their lives in similar fashion and totally 363 Bishnois were martyred.

The situation has become worse and the kings men were badly shaken. They left the place in a hurry without completing their mission to report the incident to the King.

Honouring the courage of the Bishnoi community, The King apologized for the mistake committed by his officials and issued a royal decree, engraved on a copper plate ordering the following:

• All cutting of green trees and hunting of animals within the revenue boundaries of Bishnoi villages was strictly prohibited.
• It was also ordered that if by mistake any individual violated this order, he would be prosecuted by the state and a severe penalty imposed.
• Even members of the ruling family would not shoot animals in or near Bishnoi villages.

A typical Bishnoi village


(pic and info taken from net)*

Happy Diwali

Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe Diwali :-)

pic taken from net*

Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010

Welcome to the Common Wealth Games Delhi, India
India warmly welcomes you to the 19th Common Wealth Games 2010

India back to limelight after the successful and staggering inauguration of the 19th Commonwealth Games which kick started on 3rd of October 2010. Followed by the spectacular ceremony, Indian athletes are already in a high on the third day today, listed second to Australia in the Medals Tally. Hope the coming days will see more cheer to Indian athletes and nation as well.

(pic from net)*

Gandhi Jayanthi (International Day of Non-Violence)

Today as you all know is the 141st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as the ‘Father of the Nation”. Mahatma Gandhi was a peace loving soul and his successful non-violent agitation against the British in the first half of 1900’s is testimony to his courage and conviction. The nation Salutes and remember you today and forever for your selfless service to this nation.

Jai Hind

Note: The UN already observes every 2nd Oct as International Day of Non-Violence
Wanna know more about the Mahatma?? click here

(pic taken from net)*

Ayodhya

WE are not complete without U and I. A very creative poster.
The verdict from Allahabad court was timely, apt yet diplomatic.

Coming straight to the point, Ram resides in the hearts of the people and not in Ayodhya. A temple in that very same place is not necessary as we worship him for centuries not because he is born in Ayodhya, but for his virtues and practices. Moreover it’s quite obvious; we don’t have any solid proof, to say that he is born in this particular 2X2 space. So no point in fighting each other and after all Muslim brethren here in India is again our own race and blood. Moreover the almost all ancestors of present day Muslims of India were Hindus and hence they are again our brothers and sisters in one way or other.

On the other hand our Indian Muslim brethren, can extend their support and do a bit for a peaceful co-existence. Unlike any other places, Ayodhya being sentimentally attached to Hindus for centuries, and the present mosque like structure was constructed on the remains of an old temple; a new temple for Ram coming up in place of this present structure is nothing wrong. The support from Muslim brethren would strengthen the bond and relationship of each other for centuries to come.

My Verdict

Demolish the temple and mosque to ground level. Let the Government of India take over the land. A huge public park with lots of trees is the best thing to do. Perhaps a public Hospital or a public Library is also a good idea. Even the above said leads one to God. Here in this country we have enough Temples, Mosques and Churches. We have a lot more to do to set straight the basic amenities of many under privileged millions in this country and yes of course God exist among them. It’s high time we need to work even harder for the progress of this nation and not just religion alone. Here we have to learn a lesson or two from China.

Jai Hind!

(pic taken from net)*

World Photography Day

Today is World Photography Day and I was just thinking of which snap should i upload in this post.
Then I decided this is the perfect Photograph (She is the one I am going to marry next month ;))