Solar Impact at our ALUMNI CLUB

No.1 Boat Club Road, R.A.Puram,Chennai 600 028 Phone No: 044-24322195, 044-24321233 Guest Room: 044-24351449 E-Mail: acau@ymail.com Website: www.alumniclubau.com

ALUMNI CLUB

OFFICE BEARERS President Mr. C.S.Vijayaraghavan Vice President Dr. S. Sivanesan Secretary Mr.T. Swaminathan Treasurer Mr. C.A. Raj Mathivanan COMMITTEE MEMBERS Catering Mr. S.P. Chandrasekhar House-Keeping Mr. J. Ganesh Babu Entertainment Mr. D. Girish Library & Newsletter Dr.S. Natarajan Sports Mr. M.P. Premkumar

The previous managing committee had initiated the 10 KVP solar power systems in our club premises. We have erected, installed and commissioned the solar system. During the month September 2012, the solar system had generated 1200 units, approximately a saving Rs.11, 000 and during the month of October 2012 the solar system had generated 1000 units. Management Committee

2 | DEC | 2012

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything George Bernard Shaw

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. -Winston Churchill

DEC | 2012 | 3

ENTERTAINMENT
deCeMBer 2012
1 DEC 12 SATURDAY TAMBOLA 8 DEC 12 SATURDAY Maatran TAMiL MOviE

for the month of

15 DEC 12 SATURDAY

Light Music prograM - wATCh OUT fOR MORE DETAiLS

21 DEC 12 fRiDAY

TAMBOLA

22 DEC 12 SATURDAY

poda podi TAMiL MOviE christMas EvE cELEbrations LighT MUSiC AnD vARiETY EnTERTAinMEnT AT ThE CLUB LAwnS. thE LifE of pi EngLiSh MOviE

24 DEC 12 MOnDAY

25 DEC 12 TUESDAY

thErE is a chancE to gEt thuppaKKi on 25th dEc. if that happEns wE wiLL changE it LatEr.
4 | DEC | 2012
Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep. Carl Sandburg

You may delay, but time will not

DEC | 2012 | 5

SPO R T S
CORNER

Chandru Memorial OpeN BrIdge TOUrNAMeNT

The annual Chandru Memorial Open Bridge Tournament under the aegis of TNBA/CBA was conducted on 24th& 25th November which saw over 100 bridge enthusiasts participating for the top honors.

Alumni Clubs NR Krishnaswamy and DV Ravi came fourth in the pairs event while Baskar, Shankar, Mohanakrishnan and Subbarao came fifth in the Swiss league.

6 | DEC | 2012

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. Chinese Proverb

GyM RefuRBiShMeNT The gym has been attracting a lot of members but the equipment was ageing. We repaired some of the equipment and disposed what we couldnt. We then bought a new Treadmill machine and an elliptical machine. We also installed a new 2 ton air conditioner in the gym. So, no excuses folks!Sculpt your body at our gym. AluMPiCS 2012-13 The 3rd edition of Alumpics was flagged off by the house captains and sports sub-committee members on November 17th in the presence of the sponsors. Members active in sports activities have been divided into groups under able captains who are keen to lead their teams to glory. Matches will be conducted for Bridge, Carrom, Chess, Cricket, Shuttle, Snooker, Table Tennis and Tennis over the next two months culminating in the annual sports day. in the first edition it was Blue house who came out winners and in the second it was Grey house. So, who will win this years Alumpics? Stay tuned to all the match results and points tally from the Alumpics.

We are thankful to Bharat Matrimony for sponsoring this years Alumpics. Watch this space for monthly updates on Sports at the Alumni Club!
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.-Albert Schweitzer

DEC | 2012 | 7

BHARATH MATRIMONY PROUDLY SPONSERS

Who will reign supreme?

Kapil Dev, Prakash Padukone, Michael Ferriera or Vijay Amirtharaj? Contact the captains to be a part of the Winning Team! Michael Ferreiras Red House, Tyagi (98400-61613) Vijay Amrithrajs Grey House, R. Vivek (99406-34199) Kapil Devs Blue House, R. N. Subramanian (98408-38077) Prakash Padukones Yellow House, K. Ganesh (98405-97538)
8 | DEC | 2012
Money cant buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy. - Spike Milligan
Club news contunies on pg no 33

gifting

The

Wedding
Gifting Rulebook

Gifting is an integral part of our weddings and it pays to take a little more effort in buying an appropriate gift to match the occasion. No, this doesnt mean that you have to blow a hole in your wallet trying to do so. Here are 7 important rules to keep in mind before you head out to buy a gift for the next wedding thats just around the corner.

Art AttAck Art is a very, very personal thing! So, refrain from buying pieces of art or paintings for the couple. True, you may find the ceramic polar bear or the painting of an angel incredibly cute but then, the recipient of the gift might not take too kindly to it. Worse, it wouldnt take two minutes for your gift to land mercilessly in the garbage. cheAp doesnt thrill While gifting, it is indeed the thought that counts, but money matters too. Opting for cheap tacky objects is not the done deal when it comes to buying the ideal present. For a co-worker or an acquaintance, the amount forked out for the gift can be mediocre but for family and friends, maintaining a certain standard is obligatory. iMprActicAl presents Many people end up gifting impractical items as wedding presents. The gifts which come under this category mostly venture into realms of weirdness. The snowman lamp or the funny pot holder or even stuffed animals these are hardly the objects that the couple would expect as gifts. inAppropriAtely unethicAl Some gifts are inappropriate for weddings. For instance, gifting a self help book on How to keep your marriage alive after 7 years or some other vague topic isnt a nice way of congratulating the couple. Money wise Gifting money has been a traditional custom and, its a pretty safe gift as well! But, ensure that you do it in a presentable manner and not haphazardly.

sending it lAter If you are not able to make it to the wedding, then it is only polite that you send the gift to the couple. Send a small note of apology along with the gift and the couple is sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness. check with the wish-list When in doubt, check with the wedding wish list which the couple would have put up. Of late, every couple prefers to put up a registry or wish list of the gifts which they like to receive rather than have the unpleasant task of dealing with useless or strange gifts.

DEC 2012 | 9

style book

Detox
with fruit therapy
Does your skin feel like it has been under an iron box every single day? Constant exposure to the sun can leave your skin feeling dry and lifeless and worst of all burnt. Frolicking under the sun sure is fun! This month, we whip up some exciting fruit facials which can be easily prepared at home and guarantees fresh and glowing skin.
12 | DEC 2012

Sensual Strawberries
The only fruit with seeds on the outside, the queen of berries is just the perfect little treat. An aphrodisiac, a symbol of peace and prosperity in medieval times, a rich source of nitrate and Vitamin C this delectable fruit certainly does have its uses. Ever eaten a double strawberry? Legend has it that if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other! Facial recipe: Chop a handful of strawberries in the blender. Add the juice of 1 lemon and 1/2 cup yogurt. Store in refrigerator for 30 minutes and then apply on the face and neck. Leave it for 1/2 hour and then rinse with cold water.

Tempting Tomato
An antioxidant which is known to purify blood, fight cancer, help prevent liver cirrhosis and heart diseases, there is nothing that this wonder fruit cannot do. Give your skin a touch of tomato, we say! Facial recipe: Blend 1 ripe tomato and add a few drops of lemon juice. Refrigerate for 20 minutes and then add one tbsp. of honey. Apply it thick over neck and face. Wait for it to dry and then rinse off.

14 | DEC 2012

Going Bananas
Bananas, rich in sugar and fibre, are an ideal and immediate source of energy. They are high in Vitamin B content which is known to improve nerve function. Suffering from bouts of morning sickness? Munch on a banana or two early on in the morning. Facial recipe: Mash a ripe banana along with a pinch of cinnamon powder. Add a few drops of honey and lemon juice to make a paste. Apply liberally over the face and wash after 20 minutes.

Outlandish Oranges
Juicy, tangy and pulpy, orange is undoubtedly the king of all citrus fruits. Be it in the avatar of a fruit, juice or even in a bar of chocolate, orange ranks third among the list of comfort foods (right after chocolates and strawberries). There is nothing like a good glass of orange juice to kick start your day, in fact, research suggests that orange juice is more effective than coffee to wake you up! Facial recipe: Peel about 6 oranges and dry the peel in the sun for 3 days. Powder them in a blender and store the powder in an airtight container. Take a spoonful of this powder and add raw milk to it. Apply it on your face and neck and leave it to dry. Rinse off after half an hour.
16 | DEC 2012

Director: Ang Lee Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan, Tabu, Adil Hussain Bringing alive a Booker winning novel on celluloid comes with its set of expectations. And if the man at the helm is Ang Lee, then the burden of delivering perfect cinema becomes threefold. With Life of Pi, Lee delivers perfectly and proves exactly why he a master of versatility. The splendid martial arts of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the poignant moments of Brokeback Mountain and the man-animal adventure saga of Life of Pi have nothing in common except amazing storytelling and path breaking visuals. Though Life of Pi is not an exact adaptation of Yann Martels paperback hit, it thankfully does not get lost in translation as Lee adds his expert touches to make the movie come alive on the big screen. Right from his childhood, Pi is a spirited boy. From trying to feed a tiger cub with his bare hands in his family owned zoo to changing his name to Pi when he begins secondary school, because he is tired of being taunted with the nickname Pissing Patel (he was named Piscine Molitor by his parents after a swimming pool in France), Pi asserts his individuality. Following his familys decision to migrate to Canada, zoo animals et al, Pi rounds up his life in India and prepares to embark on a new journey. Midway, the ship sinks drowning Pis family and most of the animals. Pi is left surviving on a lifeboat with a few animals and soon the population zeroes down to him and a majestic tiger named Richard Parker. The crux of the movie revolves around the boy-beast bond in the middle of the ocean as Pi struggles to keep himself afloat while ensuring that the tiger does not go hungry or thirsty. He tries to form a soulful connection with the magnificent cat but he is left devastated when on reaching land, Richard Parker runs away into the jungle without a backward glance at Pi. In the end, however, it is established that Richard Parker too was thinking of his master before disappearing into the jungle thereby hinting that Pi was successful in creating the bond he so desired. Besides being a visual treat (kids will love it), Life of Pi also makes for a great emotional watch thanks to its competent set of actors including Tabu and Hussain as Pis parents, Irrfan as the adult Pi and the very talented Suraj Sharma as the teenage Pi.
18 | DEC 2012

20 | DEC 2012

11 destinations to be at this New Years eve

Ah! Yes, the stroke of midnight. We are all waiting for this special night and carefully preparing for it. Many people even believe that a fulfillment of an upcoming year depends on how you spend your New Years Eve. If it is full of joy and happiness, then the new year will be full of joy and happiness too and vice versa. Many people like to stay at home with their families and friends. Others like to travel - some to ski resorts, some to exotic islands, and some to a new city. If you finally want to visit a city you always wanted to see, New Years Eve is the perfect time to do so as all the cities around the world are more gloriously alive than they usually are. Here are some of the best cities to be at for New Years Eve in order to have an unforgettable New Years celebration.

travel

22 | DEC 2012

LONDON

London always welcomes travellers to celebrate New Years with astonishing fireworks launched into the sky off the 135 meter London Eye, projecting a light show throughout the city. The fireworks can be seen from rooftops and balconies all across London, but best views of the fireworks are from Westminster Bridge and the north embankment of the River Thames, opposite the London Eye. The show starts after Big Ben chimes midnight and lasts for 15 minutes. You also can take a river cruise for better views of the fireworks and a more romantic way bring in the New Year. Endless number of London pubs, clubs and restaurants are open well into New Years night across the capital with special parties and entertainment. If you are a theatre lover, then for you, London offers great stage shows , where you have a chance to celebrate New Years with the theatre cast and crew.

Ring in the New Year in a Spanish style by participating in Noche Vieja in Barcelona. From ballroom dance to salsa to flamenco to rock band performances - music, dance and parties are all over the city and festivities last for as long as a week. At midnight, when a great clock strikes twelve, experience old Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes, one grape following each bell sound. This custom goes back to the Roman Empire and symbolizes passing the sweet flavour of grapes towards the New Year so it began sweetly. If you stay in Barcelona till January 5, then you have a chance to participate in Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Parade). The Three Kings arrive by boat at the waterfront of Barcelona and proceed slowly through the city throwing barley sugar sweets to the children lining the route.

BARCELONA

SYDNEY

To be one of the first in the world to bring in the New Year, go to Sydney. Here, you can witness absolutely stunning fireworks accompanied by music exploding over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the magnificent center piece of beautiful Sydney Harbour. More than a million people gather around Sydney Harbour for Midnight Fireworks, countdown and party. There are plenty of vantage points around the harbour, but probably best views of fireworks and all the New Years action are from one of the boats in the harbour. What can be better than to party on a boat at New Years Eve wearing shorts and flip flops? Dont forget to book your place on board in advance!
24 | DEC 2012

Celebrate La Festa di San Silvestro (the holiday that is celebrated in Italy on December 31st) and Il Capodanno (on January 1st) Venetian style: enjoying several course of fantastic Italian meal in a local restaurant, drinking and joining the masked throng in St Marks Square for midnight, where the bell of St. Marks campanile announces the beginning of a new year. The celebration goes on with professional fireworks display along the waterfront. Parties around the town last until sunrise, so you can witness the first sunrise of the newborn year. Dont forget to wear your red lingerie for New Years Eve! Italians say itll bring you luck in the coming year.

VENICE

Join hundreds of thousands of people at Times Square to witness the famous ball drop. For more than hundred years, New York Citys Times Square has been the center of the universe on New Years Eve. Millions of people all over the world hold their breath watching Times Square on New Years Eve and waiting to see Waterford Crystal New Years Eve Ball descending from the flagpole atop One Times Square building. If you want to be at Times Square for the lowering of the Ball ceremony, wear warm clothes and arrive earlier - people start gathering on the Square at 3 pm on New Years Eve. If you want to witness the ceremony in a more comfortable atmosphere, there are several hotels at Times Square with a great view of the Square. The festivities continue after midnight with remarkable fireworks around the city. For a more romantic New Years Eve celebration, New York City offers superb dining, special parties and New Years Eve cruises.

NEW YORK

The traditional Toronto New Years Eve Bash at Nathan Phillips Square attracts many visitors to watch and listen to some of the hottest pop artists performing live. There are hundreds of performers and a lot of shows that take place around the city during New Year celebrations. Toronto has a lot of family activities to offer at this time of the year: from ice skating to hay rides to shows and games at the Scarborough Civic Center and Holiday Dreams at Ontario place, the theme park in downtown Toronto. To ring in the New Year in romantic style, go on a fabulous Toronto Harbor cruise. With an exquisite dinner, you will dance the night away aboard a fully heated yacht enjoying beautiful views of Toronto from the harbour.
26 | DEC 2012

TORONTO

ORLANDO

Orlando is a perfect place to spend New Years Eve for everyone, but of course, if you have kids, it is the best place to make New Years Eve unforgettable for them and for the entire family. Sea World, Universal Studios, Disney World all of Orlando theme parks has a lot to offer for the magical night. Arrive earlier in the park if you are planning on celebrating the New Year, as soon as the park will reach capacity, it wouldnt allow anyone in. All Disney parks have live entertainment throughout the day and the evening in addition to special midnight fireworks.

Paris offers many ways to say Bonne Annee for Parisians and tourists. From top-notch dining to clubbing to fantastic fireworks to a glass of champagne on the ChampsElysees - New Years Eve in Paris is unforgettable. The place to start celebration is the Champs-Elysees. Around 9 p.m. people start to gather at the famous street and around midnight here you can watch the Eiffel Tower exploding into a sparkling dance of light and toast Happy New Year with a flute of champagne. The Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, being one of the best viewpoints in Paris, is another fantastic place to ring in the New Year. With spectacular views of the entire Paris skyline, at midnight here you can see all fireworks launched around Paris.

PARIS

GOA

Goa is still a great place to party and New Years Eve is no exception. If you like to party really hard, try Anjuna beach resort where rave beach parties last for 3-4 days! At New Years Eve, the parties on this idyllic Indian island get even bigger and all the resorts along the coast join together for one massive celebration. Book a plane to Goa this new year and dance like a madman surrounded by palm trees, sacred cows and locals selling space cakes, then chill out at one of the many beachside cafes to watch the new year sunrise.
28 | DEC 2012

New Years Eve is thrice as nice in Thailand, where youll have three annual chances to rid yourself of the old and ring in the new. First, theres the New Years celebration with the Western world on December 31; between mid-January and February, Thailand then tips its hat to its Chinese neighbor, with massive celebrations in Bangkoks Chinatown. Finally, the centuriesold tradition of Songkran kicks off on April 13, a joyous occasion that celebrates the first day of the traditional Thai calendar with three days of parades, feasting, costumes, and, most outrageously, a waterthrowing festival in which passersby are drenched.

BANGKOK

TOKYO
If you want to start celebrating the New Year earlier, go to Tokyo, where the celebration starts on the 29th of December. Here, you also have a chance to prolong your New Years celebration up to January 4th. Even though most of the major tourist sites close down for that week, the streets of Tokyo, as well as, all restaurants and clubs are packed with people. The city is jumping with loads of fireworks, dancing and singing. Join locals and enter the New Year in traditional Japanese way - eating Toshikoshi Soba (New Years Eve Noodle) and listening to Juya No Kane (The Watch-Night Bell). The noodle, being long, symbolizes a long and healthy life. The Watch-Night Bell, an analog to a countdown, rings 108 times at the temples all over Japan symbolizing getting rid of unhappiness and poverty. On January 1st, visit the Imperial Palace, since it is one of the two days only when the Palace opens to the public.

DEC 2012 | 29

Cleopatras
Cook nook

Caramel Walnuts with Fig & Guava Soup

FiGS Ever since Adam and Eve first clothed themselves with fig leaves, the historic fruit has been inextricably associated with fertility and reproduction. Although famous as an aphrodisiac for its suggestive shape, it is a little known fact that figs have a heady sweetness and creamy consistency which is perfect for romantic dining.

Ingredients: Fig 10 Nos Guava Nectar 30 ml Cinnamon 2 sticks Cayenne Pepper 5 grams Oregano 2 grams Honey 2 tsp Walnuts 10 nos French Loaf 2 slices Caramel 5 ml Thyme few sprigs Pernod 10 ml Basil Pesto 5 grams

Method: FIG & GUAVA SOUP Peel fresh figs and stew them along with few sticks of cinnamon in half the amount of guava nectar. Cool and keep aside. In a skillet, saut shredded fennel bulb along with oregano and cayenne pepper. Add a dash of Pernod and honey. Mix the stewed figs and add the rest of guava juice and continue cooking. Cool the mixture and blend to a smooth and soupy consistency.

CLEOPATRAS CARAMEL WALNUTS Choose the best walnuts, roast them until crisp and toss them with caramel and honey. Arrange them over slices of toasted French bread, smeared with basil pesto. Serve hot along with the soup.

30 | DEC 2012

Chocolate & Fruity Nut Sin

cHOcOlaTe Chocolate doesnt work just for Casanova, it works for everyone! Known to increase the levels of serotonin and phenylethyalaine in the brain, chocolates can do wonders to your mood and even induce the emotion of falling in love.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate 40 grams Pistachio 2 tsp Pineapple, chopped 5 grams Meyers Rum 20 ml White Chocolate 10 grams Gelatin 5 grams Raisins 5 grams Strawberries 8 nos Aniseed Liquor 5 ml Whipping cream 20 ml Espresso 5 ml Butter 20 gms Almonds 10 nos Method: Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate. Combine the chocolate, butter and espresso

in a double boiler over hot, but not simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, add gelatin, melted in hot water. When the chocolate reaches to the proper temperature, gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream along with pistachio, chopped pineapple, raisins, blanched slivers of almonds (soaked in aniseed liquor) and Meyers rum. Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes. Layer fresh strawberries and garnish with flutes of white chocolate. Serve immediately.
DEC 2012 | 31

DURBAR BY Tavleen Singh In the summer of 1975 Tavleen Singh, not yet twenty-five, started working as a junior reporter in the Statesman in New Delhi. Within five weeks, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency, suspending fundamental rights and imposing press censorship, and soon reckless policies said to be authored by the prime ministers younger son were unleashed on Indias citizens. As the country suffered under the iron fist of an elected icon and her chosen heir, Tavleen observed that a small, influential section of Delhis society people she knew well remained strangely unaffected by the perilous state of the nation. Before long, members of this circle were entrenched in key positions in the Indian government. In 1984, following Indira Gandhis assassination, Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister, fortified by a huge mandate from a nation desperate for change. But, belying its hopes, the young leader chose for himself a group of advisors, friends and acolytes from the drawing rooms of Delhi, as inexperienced as him and just as unaware of the ground realities of a complex nation. It was the beginning of a political culture of favouritism and ineptitude that would take hold at the highest levels of government, stunting Indias ambitions and frustrating its people well into the next century. Seasoned reporter and distinguished newspaper columnist Tavleen Singhs Durbar is a sharp account of these turbulent years. A remarkable memoir, vivid with the colour of election campaigns and society dinners, low conspiracies and high corruption, Durbar rewards us with this truth: that if India is to achieve a better future the past can no longer be ignored or forgotten. red SOrGHum by Mo Yan Spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty as the Chinese battle both the Japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s. As the novel opens, a group of villagers, led by Commander Yu, the narrators grandfather, prepare to attack the advancing Japanese. Yu sends his 14-year-old son back home to get food for his men; but as Yus wife returns through the sorghum fields with the food, the Japanese start firing and she is killed.Her death becomes the thread that links the past to the present and the narrator moves back and forth recording the wars progress, the fighting between the Chinese warlords and his familys history. WHO leT THe dOrk OuT? by Sidin Vadukut The third book in the Dork series is out! With just 12 months to go before the 2010 Allied Victory Games in New Delhi, there is pandemonium at the Ministry for Urban Regeneration and Public Sculpture. Specially appointed by the prime minister to oversee preparations for the Games, the ministry now finds itself in the centre of a media storm. Preparations are months behind schedule and the minister Badrikedar Laxmanrao Dahake not only has to deal with an irate PM but also with high intrigue in the Lok Sabha, fiendish investigative journalists, and a relentless BBC reporter who insists on interviewing him live in English. Dahake is about to resign when he runs into an unlikely saviour: master strategist, media expert, and international financial wizard Robin Einstein Varghese, currently running the Delhi Lederman office. SOnS OF SiTa by Ashok K Banker The epic conclusion to his Ramayana series, Sons of Sita deals with Sita after she is sent away by Rama. Ten years have passed since Rama did the unthinkable and banished Sita. Now, she spends her days in the remote forest ashram of Maharishi Valmiki training her sons in the arts of war, turning them into peerless warriors of exceptional acumen and prowess. Yet destiny works in unexpected ways: Rama decides to launch the Ashwamedha yajna. The mightiest Ayodhyan army ever assembled follows the sacred stallion in a campaign of conquest. Defying the military might of Ayodhya and the emperorship of Rama himself, two young striplings capture the Ashwamedha horse and challenge the great army. To Ramas chagrin the challengers turn out to be none other than his own estranged offspring: the Sons of Sita!

Book Descriptions
32 | DEC 2012

We are all used to waking up in the morning, to the call of some bird or the other- where ever we are in this country. how often have we wondered about the origin of the call ! Apart from the common crow or Myna, it could well be a Golden backed wood pecker, a Kingfisher, a Tree pie, a Sunbird, White eye, a tailor bird or a Ros ringed parakeet all of them quite common to our Chennai. Man has always been fascinated by birds- as their capability to fly where they want and when they want - symbolizes freedom from natural laws (though, in a limited form).Birds have been aptly and precisely described as feathered Bipeds- as it can apply no other animal. They have adopted to live in driest of deserts, most humid jungles and highest mountains, as well as man made concrete jungle our cities. Birds have traversed across vast area of sea from Antarctic ice shelf to the North Pole- and over the highest mountains of himalayas. Birds are more than what meets our eye and ears! They are indicators of environment and its changes a sort of ecological litmus papers. Because of their high rate of metabolism, and fast pace of living they reflect changes in environment rather quickly. They warn us when the nature around us is out of balance. There are over 8650 species of birds found all over the world. Of these over 1200 are found in the indian region. The abundance is due to the varied habitats and climate of this region. from vast coast lines to the highest mountain ranges and from least rain fall regions in Rajasthan to the perennially wet Cherapunji in Meghalaya in the east, india has the most diverse of habitats for birds to thrive all through the seasons. Bird watching can be most exhilarating and rewarding pastime for all age groups. Once we are into it, we realize it is just not the birds, but a chance to study the natural world as well. As we closely watch the birds and their behavior, we also tend to observe how the changing seasons affect plant and insect life.

Bird watching is a very simple , leisurely and absorbing pastime. All we need is a pair of binoculars, a field guide-book and yearning to be in the outdoors. Chennai city and its suburbs have nice well wooded parks, water bodies and scrub jungleswhich one can access easily and spend a few rewarding hours. We will soon learn more about different species of birds occurring in and around Chennai, their habitat, their behavior. R.Prabhu Kumar (Mem.No.0162) Photograph by K.Ravi (Member PSM)

The Common Kestrel (falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family falconidae

This distinctive stork is found mainly in the indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, opening of the snail and the body is extracted with the bill still under water.
DEC | 2012 | 33

The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it. -Thomas S. Monson

The Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wading bird in the stork family. it is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south

Roseringed Parakeet

Spot billed Duck

Tree pie

Caspian Tern
34 | DEC | 2012

Mixed colony of Pelican, painted storks, egrets at Kelampakkam lake

One of the deepest desires of human beings is the desire to be appreciated. The feeling of being unwanted is hurtful. - Willism James.

Himalayan Trek

i decided that this year i will go on a trek to the Rupin-Supin Valley in uttarakhand. The trekking group met at the Alumni Club to discuss the preparation for the trek. The group went in their own ways (flight/train) to Dehradun (3306 feet) which was nice and cool. We spent a night there and then set off in a van to Sankari (6154 feet), a small village nestled in the Garhwal himalayas. Another night of acclimatization followed as we could already feel the chill down the spine albeit gently. The next day we were joined by a crew of seven locals whod help us through the trek and we set off to our start point of himri Top (5662 feet). from about 10 am we started climbing the slopes. The scenery opened out nicely as we climbed up. We passed some small stepped fields and slowly made our way up. The next stretch was pretty tough as it was steep. We pulled ourselves to reach the village of Bhitri (7768 feet). i couldnt help but think of the settings in the movie AayirathilOruvan (Stg: Karthi, Rheema, Andrea). The village was alive with men, women and kids who seem to be fascinated by us as much as we were fascinated by them. We then made our way past the village to our first camp point Saryutal (7881 feet). The setting was magical overlooking a magnificent valley. Our helping crew had reached ahead and set-up the tents there. We had three tents for the ten of us and a big tent for the crew. Then there was the toilet tent which we had to get used to for the next 7 days. As the sun went down so did the temperature.

The moon came up to lit the sky along with millions of stars. i was reminded of the days in the terrace of my home in the 70s gazing up the sky littered with stars. We could also make out satellites bobbing their way and shooting stars/ meteors blazing their paths. We set-off for the next phase of our trek. We were now getting used to the 8 10 km treks daily with the guides leading us and the rest of the crew packing up and then catching up with us pretty quickly and then overtaking us to go and set-up the next camp site. The second camp site was BadangBugyal at 10,037 feet. it was again a fabulous location with excellent views of the mountains. The night was pretty interesting where we heard some leopard roars at a distance. for me the highlight was the unforeseen spectacle of the ufOs past midnight during a loo break.i saw a sudden flash of blinding light and zoom it was off leaving me dumb founded. A couple of others also witnessed this spectacle towards early morning.

Happiness or sorrow- whatever befalls you, walk on untouched, unattached.- The Dhammapada

DEC | 2012 | 35

We walked on a series of ridges with snow as we reached our highest trek point (12,275 feet). We then crossed over from one valley to the other (Rupin Valley to Supin Valley). Called RikkatakiOdi (12,084 feet), this point again was just out of the world with a series of snow peaks offering magnificent views. We had a good view of the Swargarohini peaks, Ranglana peaks, Bandarpunch peaks and glacier and the Jaundhar glacier. legends say Swargarohinipeaks form the path to heaven that was followed by the Pandavas. it is believed that is only way one can go to heaven with human body itself. Our next camp site was Pachitarth(11,413 feet) which was a in a small valley tad steep. it tested our calf muscles. it had a small pond which had water during the day and ice during the night. We were still freezing thanks to the wind chill factor which reduces the temperature a good 50. The next day we climbed further down along the mountain ridges to BadaTatch(9,511 feet). it was again a beautiful setting overlooking the Supinvalley. During the night we encountered a couple of wild foxes near our tents. Spotted by our trek organizer Daya we flashed our lights to see their fiery eyes glow in the night. After playing hide and seek for a while they disappeared into the dark. We then made even more rapid descent to reach Baincha(6,973 feet) which was very close to the Supinriver. en route we passed mountain villages which had solar panels and some breathtaking scenery.

Well, the next day was even more eventful for me. We had a steep climb throughout the day that left me with mountain sickness. My head was pounding and eventually i threw up as the combination of altitude, snow and sun light got to me. But the climb was worth it as the Vijay Top Camp Site (11,648 feet) offered a 3600 view of mountains all around. Some climbed all the way up to the peak (12,059 feet) to get an even more spectacular view. The sun-set was magical as the sky changed colors rapidly. The moon rise was even more magical as it was a full moon that emerged out of the mountains. The bone chilling cold winds had us all bundled up near the campfire. Our isolation by now from the rest of the civilization was complete. We were not getting mobile signals for over two days. We stopped encountering people along the way. The magnificent isolation was excellent as we soaked in nature without any disturbances. We changed our plans at the point to reduce our trekking as people like me were finding it difficult to negotiate the altitude and climb quickly. The hydration pack came in very handy as i constantly sipped water to keep myself hydrated.
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There is love in every one of you. Develop that love. Share it with people. This love is not a one-way traffic. It is two way, give and take. - Sathya Sai Baba

 from clouds to landslides to langur monkeys to local politicians. Our trek leader Ganesh proposed a dip in the river which some of us eagerly agreed to as we had not taken bath for the last 7 days. however, our eagerness to take bath was dampened as we found that landslides caused by a recent earthquake had sealed off access points. The rumbling river however was irresistible as it made a roar navigating around rocks. There were numerous water falls along the hillsides which supplied the river. The human traffic increased in our route as we were getting close to civilization. We made our way to the village of Jakhol(7,202 feet) our trek terminating point from where we got picked up in vehicles back to Sankari. The next morning we made our way back to Dehradun passing the villages of Netwar, Mori, Purola and crossing the beautiful Mussourie in the evening. The route was so beautiful that i couldnt resist doing some high speed shooting it was an awesome trek where we covered about 50 kms by foot over some rough mountain terrain. i lost about 2-3 kilos and about an inch as i shed fat walking all those miles. My cardio fitness increased as the trek progressed. We drank water from the cool streams without catching a cold. We were one in nature for a complete week. i resolved i should do this more often at least once in two years. if you want to plan your trek you can contact these people: In Chennai: fAWeS - Daya (93831-14321) & Ganesh (93823-62933), for local and himalayan treks. In Sankari: Chain Singh Rawat (94129-18140), Secretary hPMA, for planning treks in the uttarkashi region. M.P.Premkumar (M.No.1434)
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Ego is the biggest enemy of humans. - Rig Veda

God:hello. Did you call me? Me:Called you? No who is this? God:This is GOD. i heard your prayers. So i thought i will chat. Me:i do pray. Just makes me feel good. i am actually busy now. i am in the midst of something. God:What are you busy at? Me:Dont know. But i cant find free time. life has become hectic. its rush hour all the time. God:Well i wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. in this net era, i wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with. Me:Tell me, why has life become complicated now? God:Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated. Me:Why are we then constantly unhappy? God:your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. you are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. Thats why you are not happy. Me:But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty? God:uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional. Me:But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty. God:Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Me:if suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer? God:Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but dont suffer. With that experience, their life becomes better, not bitter. Me:you mean to say such experience is useful? God:yes, in every term. experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first, and the lessons afterwards.
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Me:But still , why should we go through such tests? Why cant we be free from problem? God:Problem are purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial lessons (to) enhance Mental Strength. inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from Problems Me:frankly in the midst of so many problems, we dont know where we are heading. God:if you look outside, you will not know where you are heading. look inside. looking outside, you dream. looking inside, you awaken. eyes provide sight. heart provides insight. Me:Sometimes not succeeding fast, seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should i do? God:Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead, is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead, you work with the compass. let others work with the clock. Me:in tough times , how do you stay motivated? God:Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing. Me:What surprises you about people? God:When they suffer they ask. why me? when they prosper, they never ask why me. everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth. Me:Sometimes i ask, who am i, why am i here, but i cant get the answer. God:Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. life is not a process of discovery but a a process of creation. Me:how can i get the best out of life? God:face your past without regret. handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Me:One last question. Sometimes i feel my prayers are not answered. God:There are no unanswered prayers. Me:Thank you for this wonderful chat. i am so happy to start the New year with a new sense of inspiration (yesterday was a start of New year as per hindu mythology new samvat). God:Well, keep the faith and drop the fear. Dont believe your doubts, and dont doubt your beliefs. life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. life is wonderful, if you know how to live. Dr. S.Natarajan (M.No.876)

Beauty is not in the face beauty is a light in the heart. - Kahil Gibran

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that evolution had created. What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!, he said to himself. As he was walking along the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. When he turned to see what the cause was, he saw a 7-foot grizzly charging right towards him. he ran as fast as he could. he looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing, he ran even faster, crying in fear. he looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. his heart was pounding and he tried to run even faster. he tripped and fell on the ground. he rolled over to pick himself up, but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. At that moment, the Atheist cried out Oh my God! Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. even the river stopped moving. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky, you deny my existence for all of these years; teach others i dont exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am i to count you as a believer? The atheist looked directly into the light it would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a believer in god now, but perhaps could you make the bear a believer in god? Very well, said the voice. The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear dropped his right paw ..... brought both paws together...bowed his head and spoke: God, for this food which i am about to receive, i am truly thankful.

Atheist and a bear

comedy central

p u z z l e
for the month of December 2012

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