October 31, 2010
October 28, 2010
Target Accomplished!
Does anyone remember the following characters: Detective Moochwala, Gardhab Das? They were part of that fantastic teen magazine TARGET that used to be published when I was in my 7th or 8th standards. A top-notch product, it used to mix fun, creativity and knowledge so well, it was practically "unputdownable". Alas, like all good things, this too came to a premature end.
After a painstaking search, a fellow bibliophile hunted down a few editions of the magazine and bought them for the princely sum of Rs 250 each, and graciously gifted one to me. We had practically given up hope, after having tried every secondhand book store and having even written to the India Today group (who used to publish this) and to Ajith Ninan (who was the creator of Detective Moochwala and chief cartoonist for the India Today in those days).
Here are a few scanned images for your viewing pleasure. So tell me: is it just me or is that the pleasant whiff of nostalgia? :-)
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| The cover page |
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| The indomitable Detective Moochwala! |
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| Those Campa Cola days... |
And a few more pages are scanned and available at the link below:
So if anyone spots another Target anywhere (Lavanya: check out the second hand markets in Vizag), grab it and send it to me.
October 24, 2010
Birds of Bannerghatta Zoo
Poonam and I went to the Bannerghatta Zoo area today AM for birding. As it was a foggy AM, the bird count was less than usual. But we spotted 2 new birds, so the trip was well worth it. The list:
Flycatcher, Asian Paradise (Female)
Sunbird, Purple
Sunbird, Purple Rumped
Sunbird, Loten's
Tailorbird, Common
Warbler, Greenish
Honey Buzzard, Oriental
Munia, Scaly-breasted
Silverbill, Indian
Bee-Eater, Blue-Bearded
Bulbul, Red Vented
Bulbul, Red Whiskered
Dove, Little Brown
Wagtail, Gray
Drongo, Ashy
Drongo, White-Bellied
Kingfisher, White Breasted
Kingfisher, Common
Heron, Pond
Coucal, Greater
Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue (heard)
Drongo, Black
Minivet, Small
Wagtail, Large Pied
Water Hen, White Breasted
Robin, Indian
Koel, Asian
Water Hen, White Breasted
Robin, Indian
Koel, Asian
Snaps of some of the birds (not mine)
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| Blue Bearded Bee Eater |
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| Loten's Sun Bird |
Note the extremely long beak used to sucking honey from the flowers.
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| Greenish Warbler |
This last bird is a migrant, that comes from the Himalayas to the South every winter- it apparently completes the journey in 2 days flat! They are now back in Bangalore.
October 21, 2010
AGRICULTRE-PROFIT
1. An agriculturist never looks for profit. What he gets is only income. (Positive or negative)
2.If the ryot does the agriculture like any other and take into consideration inputs like cost of the land, his salary, in addition to other expenditures, the rice/wheat should sell at Rs 100/kg
3. If a business man incurs loss and company is broken, the banks (who lick the feet of big businessmen) or the people who lent him money are the losers. There is a saying in Telugu, if a fellow declared I.P., he should be invited and be married to ones daughter. The idea was that he would have stashed away money, making only public lose money.
What does ryot do if he loses crop due to bad whether or pests and cant repay the debts?
HE COMMITS SUICIDE
4. Mr. Duggal, member of Srikrishna committee. made an important observation about study made by them. In any village of A.P.(for that matter any village in India)Agriculture provides work for about 4 months, newly introduced work guaranty program for 2 or 3 months and people are forced to go to near by cities to earn livelihood for the remaining days and that is why Hyderabad has become bone of contention. The point here is that, agriculture provides employment to unskilled, un organized, uneducated population for 4 months.70% of India lives in villages. The ryot who provides employment is not recognized. Every body will have a good year if there is good monsoon and good crops. Stocks will go up, inflation is controlled, and even I.T. Companies will have good run. Indian economy is basically agriculture based.
5.Its only for a ryot decisions like what he should do about BT, height of dam, conservation of ecology are taken by total outsiders, with out any stakes in agriculture or knowledge about it.
6. Power is an important input in agriculture, and with free power provided by YSR in A.P., the production has increased by leaps and now there is problem of plenty exploited by millers .Neither the ryot nor the consumer are benifited.Its only middle men who get all the profits.
7.Devoloped countries give huge subsidies to agricultre and protect ryots ,but in india new economics(dictated by M.N.C s) discourages subsidies.There was famous quote by ChandraBabu Naidu , who was a great advocate of new policies ,vyavasayam danduga.
2.If the ryot does the agriculture like any other and take into consideration inputs like cost of the land, his salary, in addition to other expenditures, the rice/wheat should sell at Rs 100/kg
3. If a business man incurs loss and company is broken, the banks (who lick the feet of big businessmen) or the people who lent him money are the losers. There is a saying in Telugu, if a fellow declared I.P., he should be invited and be married to ones daughter. The idea was that he would have stashed away money, making only public lose money.
What does ryot do if he loses crop due to bad whether or pests and cant repay the debts?
HE COMMITS SUICIDE
4. Mr. Duggal, member of Srikrishna committee. made an important observation about study made by them. In any village of A.P.(for that matter any village in India)Agriculture provides work for about 4 months, newly introduced work guaranty program for 2 or 3 months and people are forced to go to near by cities to earn livelihood for the remaining days and that is why Hyderabad has become bone of contention. The point here is that, agriculture provides employment to unskilled, un organized, uneducated population for 4 months.70% of India lives in villages. The ryot who provides employment is not recognized. Every body will have a good year if there is good monsoon and good crops. Stocks will go up, inflation is controlled, and even I.T. Companies will have good run. Indian economy is basically agriculture based.
5.Its only for a ryot decisions like what he should do about BT, height of dam, conservation of ecology are taken by total outsiders, with out any stakes in agriculture or knowledge about it.
6. Power is an important input in agriculture, and with free power provided by YSR in A.P., the production has increased by leaps and now there is problem of plenty exploited by millers .Neither the ryot nor the consumer are benifited.Its only middle men who get all the profits.
7.Devoloped countries give huge subsidies to agricultre and protect ryots ,but in india new economics(dictated by M.N.C s) discourages subsidies.There was famous quote by ChandraBabu Naidu , who was a great advocate of new policies ,vyavasayam danduga.
October 18, 2010
October 17, 2010
Bommala Koluvu
A dying tradition. Many of the kids are unaware of what it means. What a pity! WE enjoyed it hugely and we think all the Perantallu and kids also did.We had several uninvited boy kids and men visiting to see it.
See here--Koluvu.
ps: Madhav! don't you do it at Chennai? I am sure you do. Share a few memories
See here--Koluvu.
ps: Madhav! don't you do it at Chennai? I am sure you do. Share a few memories
October 10, 2010
Walt Disney Animal Kingdom
The first ride we went on was DINOSAUR!!!! It scared my grandma a lot!
The next ride we went on was a safari! Poachers came in and broke into the safari range. They captured a baby elephant! We also heard gun shots! But we scared the poachers off.
We went to a movie called "It's Tough to be a Bug". In that movie we saw all kinds of bugs and insects. We even saw a tarantula that shot acrons from a slingshot web. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!
More later.........
The next ride we went on was a safari! Poachers came in and broke into the safari range. They captured a baby elephant! We also heard gun shots! But we scared the poachers off.
We went to a movie called "It's Tough to be a Bug". In that movie we saw all kinds of bugs and insects. We even saw a tarantula that shot acrons from a slingshot web. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!
More later.........
A good day to be in the stadium
I was at the Chinnaswamy stadium today for the test match between India and Australia. My record at that stadium has not been good:
1. Day 1 of test match in the previous edition of the Border-Gavaskar trophy: Australia batted first, a whole day without a wicket and Ponting made his century
2. Two very boring IPL matches, with the Royal Chokers doing what they are best at
It seemed to be going the same way today also, with no wicket in the morning session. But what action after that!
In all, we got to see:
1. Marcus North make his century (and Paine his half century)
2. Five Australian wickets in a single post-lunch session
3. This included 2 stumpings and an excellent run-out by Pujara, all 3 of which we were in a perfect position to see, square of the wicket
4. A short but typical Sehwag innings
5. A good partnership between Vijay and Tendulkar, both looking solid
6. Tendulkar making his 14000 runs in test cricket!
What more can one ask from one day of a test match!
1. Day 1 of test match in the previous edition of the Border-Gavaskar trophy: Australia batted first, a whole day without a wicket and Ponting made his century
2. Two very boring IPL matches, with the Royal Chokers doing what they are best at
It seemed to be going the same way today also, with no wicket in the morning session. But what action after that!
In all, we got to see:
1. Marcus North make his century (and Paine his half century)
2. Five Australian wickets in a single post-lunch session
3. This included 2 stumpings and an excellent run-out by Pujara, all 3 of which we were in a perfect position to see, square of the wicket
4. A short but typical Sehwag innings
5. A good partnership between Vijay and Tendulkar, both looking solid
6. Tendulkar making his 14000 runs in test cricket!
What more can one ask from one day of a test match!
October 9, 2010
The MU-Puzzle
I am currently attempting to read a 740 page book called ‘Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid’, which seems a mix of mathematics, AI, philosophy and music. Right now, it reads more like Infosys technical certification material, wherein I have taken about an hour and half to complete 35 pages. But I came across an interesting puzzle, which I have put down here.
Objective of the puzzle: To produce the string ‘MU’
Rules:
- You are given a starting string MI
- Only 3 letters are allowed in any string: M, U, I
- Strings can be of any length (eg: MU, MII, MUI, MUIUIUII, UUIMUIMUIMUIMUIMII)
- The following rules can be used to transform one string to another:
- Rule 1: If you have a string whose last letter is I, you can add on a U at the end
- Rule 2: Suppose you have Mx, where x is a sub-string. Then you may transform Mx to Mxx. For example: MIU->MIUIU, MUM->MUMUM, MU->MUU
- Rule 3: If III occurs in any part of the string, you can replace that with U. For example: UMIIIMU->UMUMU, MIIII->MUI or MIU, MIII->MU. The III have to be consecutive
- Rule 4: If UU occurs inside the string, you can drop it. For example, UUU->U, MUUUIII->MUIII
- The transformation rules are not compulsory, you can choose to apply or not apply them
- Using all these, you have to convert MI to MU
I have just started trying it, so I am not sure how easy or difficult it is (or even if it is solvable!). It can probably be solved programmatically, which should be an interesting exercise too.
If you figured the solution, please post it as a comment.
October 7, 2010
Response!
Responding to SLN's comment here, as response is too long for a comment:
No offence taken, babai:-) I guess I have become a bit of a bore about some of these things. But my responses:
Why I quote/talk about Gandhi: Just like knowledge of nature is low, knowledge of history is also low in my generation. Other countries lionize the smallest achievements of their heroes, we tend to be critical of our rather more accomplished founders. Our incredible and unique tradition of humanists (Buddha, Ashoka, Gandhi, Rajaji etc) is only matched by our ignorance of them. Since reading habits have gone down too, there is not much scope that the younger generation would discover these histories, and instead contemporary heroes, often with clay feet. Guess I hope for some revival through such quotes. I have even benefited from his techniques, by using them in solving (touchwood) the plot dispute I faced here in Bangalore. Shades of 'Well Done, Abba'!
Why Gandhi now?: Because, with liberalization, we have 'cried havoc, and let slip the dogs of' destruction, greed and disparity in the last 15 years. You may not see it much in the town, but it is evident here. Since he spoke eloquently on these topics, guess he is more relevant now than before.
Why IIT-IIMs talk of these?: I am not sure many do! I certainly do not find too many peers with whom I can discuss these topics. I have met many semi-Gandhians in recent times, but most were not mainstream folks like IIT-IIM crowd. But I guess he would appeal to anyone with an intellectual bent, and the IIT crowd does flatter itself on that count. My own fascination was through a purely personal route, a unique combination of the Hindu, history books and too much time on my hands.
Organic farming, a western concept: Perhaps this should be called traditional Indian farming, because that is what it is. The speakers in the seminar were elderly South Indian profs with white handlebar mustaches, making statements like 'professor Sundaram has a tongue like a whip and heart of gold'. The methods were totally Indian, with cow dung+cow urine being primary ingredients. Other teachers were elderly ladies who showed us thier resplendent terrace gardens, something they have been at for the last 10-15 years. In fact, the so-called organic movement has its roots firmly in Indian and CHinese farming techniques of the past century.
Why I like organic farming: The same reason you cited: not because I have to, but because I want to, for the pleasure of it. Of course, this is completely theoritical, since I am yet to do anything concrete. Since I don't have the skills, I go to such seminars to learn. But I also want to do it as a carbon offset, which is another post.
Why I should shut up: Because I have taken to preachy and whiny posts, like this. Ok, time to zip lips.
No offence taken, babai:-) I guess I have become a bit of a bore about some of these things. But my responses:
Why I quote/talk about Gandhi: Just like knowledge of nature is low, knowledge of history is also low in my generation. Other countries lionize the smallest achievements of their heroes, we tend to be critical of our rather more accomplished founders. Our incredible and unique tradition of humanists (Buddha, Ashoka, Gandhi, Rajaji etc) is only matched by our ignorance of them. Since reading habits have gone down too, there is not much scope that the younger generation would discover these histories, and instead contemporary heroes, often with clay feet. Guess I hope for some revival through such quotes. I have even benefited from his techniques, by using them in solving (touchwood) the plot dispute I faced here in Bangalore. Shades of 'Well Done, Abba'!
Why Gandhi now?: Because, with liberalization, we have 'cried havoc, and let slip the dogs of' destruction, greed and disparity in the last 15 years. You may not see it much in the town, but it is evident here. Since he spoke eloquently on these topics, guess he is more relevant now than before.
Why IIT-IIMs talk of these?: I am not sure many do! I certainly do not find too many peers with whom I can discuss these topics. I have met many semi-Gandhians in recent times, but most were not mainstream folks like IIT-IIM crowd. But I guess he would appeal to anyone with an intellectual bent, and the IIT crowd does flatter itself on that count. My own fascination was through a purely personal route, a unique combination of the Hindu, history books and too much time on my hands.
Organic farming, a western concept: Perhaps this should be called traditional Indian farming, because that is what it is. The speakers in the seminar were elderly South Indian profs with white handlebar mustaches, making statements like 'professor Sundaram has a tongue like a whip and heart of gold'. The methods were totally Indian, with cow dung+cow urine being primary ingredients. Other teachers were elderly ladies who showed us thier resplendent terrace gardens, something they have been at for the last 10-15 years. In fact, the so-called organic movement has its roots firmly in Indian and CHinese farming techniques of the past century.
Why I like organic farming: The same reason you cited: not because I have to, but because I want to, for the pleasure of it. Of course, this is completely theoritical, since I am yet to do anything concrete. Since I don't have the skills, I go to such seminars to learn. But I also want to do it as a carbon offset, which is another post.
Why I should shut up: Because I have taken to preachy and whiny posts, like this. Ok, time to zip lips.
October 5, 2010
SINGAMPALLIS-SEDYAM
I brought current-Sarada (Kavali was electrified in 1955)
I brought sedyam-Viswam (own agriculture was started by SRM in 1960)
Such was the impact of agriculture even in the children in the family.
How SRM started own agriculture is another story, to be followed.
Agriculture is in the blood of singampallis.All the generations made living by agriculture only—SRM
When last piece of land in kavali was being sold for a huge price (ekaram koti like a film title) the reaction from all singampallis was not of elation but only resigned sad ness (think no family reacts like this)
SBD—Why sell now
KRUPS- why babai?
SASI-please continue. I will take over after 2 or 3 years
KUPPI, SEENU-buy fruit gardens
Vidya, Srikanth- don’t sell if not buy another land
We sensed that we will sell this land sooner or later.
SLN brought mamidi thota.
I bought wet land in kavali.
Viswam also tried but was discouraged by us.
Every body knows where the heart of SGK lies.
Sedyam was part of our family. It was a way of life for us.
Our community is not suited for agriculture (bapana sedyam),
SRM lost much of his earnings in agriculture. It was always running in loss. We would have been in much better financial position if not for sedyam.We hated that part, but loved the agriculture. Every body (including princeSVSR) in the family knows every thing about sedyam. I can plough; remove weeds, feed and milk cows, thrash paddy etc, like any other ryot.Even the urbanite like Durga learnt to milk buffalos and was managing affairs.( Mention of cows brings to my mind, the fond memory of SVSR drinking fresh milk (pachi palu)sitting by the side of cow)
One of my vivid memories was going to fields with my mother on the day of harvesting; eat muntha karjooram, verusenaga kayalu, brought to field by selling women.
Every family member has his//her memories.
I can never finish this.
The story is not complete without the mentioning of my mother.
She comes from a rich land lords family, who own more than 100 acres in Karakambadi, apart from many buildings in tirupati and tirumala. She used to go school in nearby renigunta by a jatka.She was well educated. She took to agriculture like a fish to water when it was started. She has to look after 6 children, demanding husband and scores of servants. She used to go to fields by walk crossing irrigation canals, supervise work, come back and do house hold work. She was kind and considerate to every body. Kalluri Veerabhadra Sastry, who did great work in collecting all Tyagarajas works, was living in our street and sanskritized her name as Kripavathi which aptly describes her. It is a great tribute to her that she is remembered even after 40 years of her death by ryots, coolies and old neighbors.
I brought sedyam-Viswam (own agriculture was started by SRM in 1960)
Such was the impact of agriculture even in the children in the family.
How SRM started own agriculture is another story, to be followed.
Agriculture is in the blood of singampallis.All the generations made living by agriculture only—SRM
When last piece of land in kavali was being sold for a huge price (ekaram koti like a film title) the reaction from all singampallis was not of elation but only resigned sad ness (think no family reacts like this)
SBD—Why sell now
KRUPS- why babai?
SASI-please continue. I will take over after 2 or 3 years
KUPPI, SEENU-buy fruit gardens
Vidya, Srikanth- don’t sell if not buy another land
We sensed that we will sell this land sooner or later.
SLN brought mamidi thota.
I bought wet land in kavali.
Viswam also tried but was discouraged by us.
Every body knows where the heart of SGK lies.
Sedyam was part of our family. It was a way of life for us.
Our community is not suited for agriculture (bapana sedyam),
SRM lost much of his earnings in agriculture. It was always running in loss. We would have been in much better financial position if not for sedyam.We hated that part, but loved the agriculture. Every body (including princeSVSR) in the family knows every thing about sedyam. I can plough; remove weeds, feed and milk cows, thrash paddy etc, like any other ryot.Even the urbanite like Durga learnt to milk buffalos and was managing affairs.( Mention of cows brings to my mind, the fond memory of SVSR drinking fresh milk (pachi palu)sitting by the side of cow)
One of my vivid memories was going to fields with my mother on the day of harvesting; eat muntha karjooram, verusenaga kayalu, brought to field by selling women.
Every family member has his//her memories.
I can never finish this.
The story is not complete without the mentioning of my mother.
She comes from a rich land lords family, who own more than 100 acres in Karakambadi, apart from many buildings in tirupati and tirumala. She used to go school in nearby renigunta by a jatka.She was well educated. She took to agriculture like a fish to water when it was started. She has to look after 6 children, demanding husband and scores of servants. She used to go to fields by walk crossing irrigation canals, supervise work, come back and do house hold work. She was kind and considerate to every body. Kalluri Veerabhadra Sastry, who did great work in collecting all Tyagarajas works, was living in our street and sanskritized her name as Kripavathi which aptly describes her. It is a great tribute to her that she is remembered even after 40 years of her death by ryots, coolies and old neighbors.
October 1, 2010
Birds of Bannerghatta Zoo
A quick trip to the Bannerghatta Zoo area (about 15 KM from home) on the mid-week holiday yielded a good list of birds. I got see 4 new birds, which was great. A very serene area with the only bird calls punctuated by the distant roar of lions as the ambient noise makes for a therapeutic morning.
The bird list:
Babbler, Jungle
Babbler, Tawny-bellied
Babbler, Yellow-eyed
Barbet, Coppersmith
Barbet, White-cheeked
Bulbul, Red-vented
Bulbul, Red-whiskered
Bulbul, White-browed
Bushchat, Pied
Cormorant, Small
Crow, House
Crow, Jungle
Dove, Laughing
Dove, Spotted
Drongo, Ashy
Drongo, Black
Drongo, White-bellied
Eagle, Short-toed Snake
Egret, Small
Flowerpecker, Pale-billed
Flycatcher, Asian Brown
Flycatcher, Asian Paradise
Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue
Flycatcher, White-browed Fantail
Francolin, Grey
Heron, Pond
Kingfisher, White-breasted
Kingfisher, Small Blue
Kite, Black
Kite, Brahminy
Lark, Rufous-tailed
Leafbird, Golden-fronted
Munia, Scaly-breasted
Mynah, Brahminy
Mynah, Common
Mynah, Jungle
Parakeet, Rose-ringed
Prinia, Ashy
Prinia, Plain
Robin, Indian
Robin, Oriental Magpie
Shikra
Shrike, Brown
Sparrow, House
Sunbird, Purple
Sunbird, Purple-rumped
Swallow, Red-rumped
Swallow, Barn
Swift, House
Tailor Bird
Tit, Great
Treepie,Rufous
Wagtail, Grey
Wagtail, Pied
White-eye, Oriental
Some bird snaps from the web (not mine):
The bird list:
Babbler, Jungle
Babbler, Tawny-bellied
Babbler, Yellow-eyed
Barbet, Coppersmith
Barbet, White-cheeked
Bulbul, Red-vented
Bulbul, Red-whiskered
Bulbul, White-browed
Bushchat, Pied
Cormorant, Small
Crow, House
Crow, Jungle
Dove, Laughing
Dove, Spotted
Drongo, Ashy
Drongo, Black
Drongo, White-bellied
Eagle, Short-toed Snake
Egret, Small
Flowerpecker, Pale-billed
Flycatcher, Asian Brown
Flycatcher, Asian Paradise
Flycatcher, Tickell's Blue
Flycatcher, White-browed Fantail
Francolin, Grey
Heron, Pond
Kingfisher, White-breasted
Kingfisher, Small Blue
Kite, Black
Kite, Brahminy
Lark, Rufous-tailed
Leafbird, Golden-fronted
Munia, Scaly-breasted
Mynah, Brahminy
Mynah, Common
Mynah, Jungle
Parakeet, Rose-ringed
Prinia, Ashy
Prinia, Plain
Robin, Indian
Robin, Oriental Magpie
Shikra
Shrike, Brown
Sparrow, House
Sunbird, Purple
Sunbird, Purple-rumped
Swallow, Red-rumped
Swallow, Barn
Swift, House
Tailor Bird
Tit, Great
Treepie,Rufous
Wagtail, Grey
Wagtail, Pied
White-eye, Oriental
Some bird snaps from the web (not mine):
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| Golden Fronted Leaf Bird |
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
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| Brown Shrike |
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