tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94777692024-03-19T03:09:14.520+02:00Jacob's BlogAnnikki and Jacob Matthan live in Oulu, Finland. Annikki is a Finn, Jacob an Indian. They are the founders of the Findians Movement way back in 1967. Both are now retired. They have been married for 56 years. This blog is an account of their lives and thoughts as reminiscenced through Annikki's and Jacob's eyes.Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.comBlogger987125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-66187603889749910682024-03-18T17:11:00.000+02:002024-03-18T17:11:29.717+02:00Finest Recipes of “Kerala’s leading cookbook author”<p><span style="font-size: large;"> I was fortunate to be the recipient, today, of a new cookbook from Kerala.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipDKyxTrukskQ3szV9LuZqFyjjljhqrPsn1eL4jYygo7Jng3RtHb2uZJtj1xemfN3hDJEchdVNZUAPr4daWsPs6UYRaUzS5aI2CRDCCQD2OC5sYX2FkRRKLitpH7D_8-0nc6EywCUG1mWXssszTWLZg5ygGaz8Hko54-p1tshGMWv-zQJDRSeuw/s2373/IMG_7386.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2373" data-original-width="2022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipDKyxTrukskQ3szV9LuZqFyjjljhqrPsn1eL4jYygo7Jng3RtHb2uZJtj1xemfN3hDJEchdVNZUAPr4daWsPs6UYRaUzS5aI2CRDCCQD2OC5sYX2FkRRKLitpH7D_8-0nc6EywCUG1mWXssszTWLZg5ygGaz8Hko54-p1tshGMWv-zQJDRSeuw/w546-h640/IMG_7386.jpeg" width="546" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cover of late Mrs. K. M. Mathew’s </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<i><b>Finest Recipes</b></i>” </span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The late Mrs. K. M Mathew’s eldest daughter-in-law, Prema, has curated a book of the finest recipes produced by my aunt in her lifetime. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been fortunate in my life to have tasted many of them produced by Mrs. Mathew and then, by what I think is the the only cook in India that I know, her protege Vasu, who received an EU 9000 certificate for his cooking skills!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In a recent blog entry about a <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-delicious-gujarathi-evening.html" target="_blank">Gujarthi evening </a>I had enumerated the publications of late Mrs. K. M Mathew.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have been brought up on enjoying the variety of good food from all over the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love most types of food, various Indian cusines, Chinese, Thai, Fusion, Continental, cordon blue, and "even British” as Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and Welsh rarebit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am, however, not a fan of fastfoods as the Macburger!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was introduced to Finnish cuisine by Annikki starting with meatballs and meat loaf and many other exotic dishes, especially various preparations of fish. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But Annikki became a master cook with her own versions of Indian cooking as Massla Dosai made in a Finnish style with Finnish ingredients.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki ran the first cooking class of Indian recipes in Ylivieska polytechnic, and introduced the first Chinese cooking class in Oulu when she was the Chairperson of the English Club of Oulu!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was introduced to cooking by Mrs. K. M. Mathew when I left India to study in London when she scribbled some great recipes for me and taught me the basics of cooking.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, when Annikki married me in 1967, she quickly threw me out of the kitchen, despite my very good skills as producing Roast Lamb, as she found I was not to good at keeping the kitchen clean.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been through the new book and I give here the detailed Contents and the items contained in each of the Sub-Sections.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wblo42_4poQ697373FFbfv03I8mup2QVK_8rMILLno5DPGXlwYqYo-vaOI3hLrpe5j6zocp7KDh_tX4OcaIw2cdaV6frSTbP-13ZhcemYnGZQSGOlS1q5AHIxxJ_GCt1YvO8seyDRAzrnRtqQro0nmoKTeMzcQLBPHErRFJHkBmqnN9VFGxoQ/s2458/IMG_7388.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="2121" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wblo42_4poQ697373FFbfv03I8mup2QVK_8rMILLno5DPGXlwYqYo-vaOI3hLrpe5j6zocp7KDh_tX4OcaIw2cdaV6frSTbP-13ZhcemYnGZQSGOlS1q5AHIxxJ_GCt1YvO8seyDRAzrnRtqQro0nmoKTeMzcQLBPHErRFJHkBmqnN9VFGxoQ/w552-h640/IMG_7388.jpeg" width="552" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzWMKeV9fjRO7nnQqlwTIKFs8ZwOejdLjEMqUqgsc_9PRVGnHv6gdcz3s50VwbFbaqIFjjahLHTgsHMGQaJ9TW0V6BKAAsWvaahu2WUipRGcAvuxrlPYqTJ9XZvRNz6RXEvrss7S4GvWETT7TAg_deJ5zZvNOKAz1j1rU26VvXvA0sqzzlgUEng/s3144/IMG_7398.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3144" data-original-width="2643" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzWMKeV9fjRO7nnQqlwTIKFs8ZwOejdLjEMqUqgsc_9PRVGnHv6gdcz3s50VwbFbaqIFjjahLHTgsHMGQaJ9TW0V6BKAAsWvaahu2WUipRGcAvuxrlPYqTJ9XZvRNz6RXEvrss7S4GvWETT7TAg_deJ5zZvNOKAz1j1rU26VvXvA0sqzzlgUEng/w538-h640/IMG_7398.jpeg" width="538" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All the best recipes from my experience of Kerala cooking are in the book, especially my very favourite, Karimeen, the masala fried White Fish!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One anecdote tells the story of the hospitality of Mrs. K. M. Mathew.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were on a trip through Kerala and Mrs. Mathew asked us to stopover at her home in Kottayam. When we arrived she had been called out for some work but she had organised lunch for us with her husband as our host.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tablespread was fantastic as anything one could hope for was on the table. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our eldest son was having a problem and called one of the staff and whispered something in his ear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This caused a great concern as the staff member went to speak with our host.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My uncle appeared greatly disturbed as he apologised to Jaakko that they had prepared chicken, beef, lamb, and an array of vegetarian dishes but was sorry that he had not included "pork".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all split our sides laughing as, we as a family do not eat pork as it is forbidden by Annikki's religious belief. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So we asked Jaakko what he meant to which he replied that all he wanted was a "FORK"!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We used to tease Mrs. Mathew's husband that the enormous circulation of the Malayala Manorama newspaper was because every Keralite housewife bought the newspaper so as to produce the food which her husband would appreciate! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Keralite woman (and Annikki) knows that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I am yet to meet a lady from Kerala who does not know the contribution of Mrs. Mathew to her day to day</span><span> life, not only with the daily recipes she produced for the newspaper but also for the best selling ladies magazine in India, VANITHA, which is now also published in Hindi.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1444" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-lKZgaJZAdbGCKrhJqYxNl8jy0RTaWOuEIc9iDFFpUk8DO4UALCB7noFtrVAUtxMCj8J7UoV1vmB26pM4_cAHqzPuQI8Y1LwibmbYhuPLw9kbsD_yLE63bXKfh3SM8Zv45u6HMAxm_IfO_4uA2es9V5rDoL8cxJbtJDbJOUSfuJPEJXGDxUUaQ/w640-h638/IMG_E1400_Original.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annikki and Thangam (Cochin 2014)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-lKZgaJZAdbGCKrhJqYxNl8jy0RTaWOuEIc9iDFFpUk8DO4UALCB7noFtrVAUtxMCj8J7UoV1vmB26pM4_cAHqzPuQI8Y1LwibmbYhuPLw9kbsD_yLE63bXKfh3SM8Zv45u6HMAxm_IfO_4uA2es9V5rDoL8cxJbtJDbJOUSfuJPEJXGDxUUaQ/s1444/IMG_E1400_Original.jpeg"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is a picture of my dear cousin, Thangam, at her boutique “The Weavers” in Cochin and Annikki when we visited her in 2014, our very last visit to India.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The front cover of the new book describes Mrs. K. M. Mathew's standing in the eyes of the New York Times. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The back cover has a short note expressed from the very heart by the daughter of Mrs. K. M. Mathew, Thangam.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="1827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2rq8gB3xxkvdrWj6AzU4Uw_84lNHSZps8zvsWUAlXVumWq3lkmHbALETDAGtAwIYJ7RsZ7QYuTCe553OGsCiHzQUV-dmxW159BIwfM8PfCBpixKjoVVDmwMkGZAONsiYux8uOSmISycD6YOU3occ4NFKyprnTh5a6aDRVsJSXZ9aCCRhElKwzQ/w546-h640/IMG_7387.jpeg" width="546" /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Thank you Prema and Thangam for sending us </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">this wonderful gift.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-48901279651189698652024-03-14T01:08:00.002+02:002024-03-14T17:59:31.731+02:00I learn a new sport theoretically -,Cage Cricket<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Last Friday I got an invitation to watch on YouTube a demonstration Cage Cricket match between two sports teams from Jyväskylä.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was followed on Saturday and Sunday by a men’s snd women’s tournament called Cage Cricket.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsYB9gwNIHMv1Sk0OzKxjQzg0CbFsupvdtvVn6-qfp03fSJw2a4IYpIomtHqK26iqmbV8uHsAMlVCxGa5VY-IAmG8y07IVPrVvVyy1cnmXB3Q0jvqDg3bnUelFALNGGKGyHEoeypu62vbgMcV9uOIMk4S1i1WCg6ejjtlt8CnEVQL3SawPttI0w/s1080/IMG_7344.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsYB9gwNIHMv1Sk0OzKxjQzg0CbFsupvdtvVn6-qfp03fSJw2a4IYpIomtHqK26iqmbV8uHsAMlVCxGa5VY-IAmG8y07IVPrVvVyy1cnmXB3Q0jvqDg3bnUelFALNGGKGyHEoeypu62vbgMcV9uOIMk4S1i1WCg6ejjtlt8CnEVQL3SawPttI0w/s320/IMG_7344.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span>Most Valuable Player of the Tournament - Ritu Ghanghas</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzwFK_pEZPSbwcuCLDv1J4TIvY-8PKyJHuvNTaDIviM-amJUgTCTfbaTyrMLiG1CajbOKFi7hrQQtZ73vZ_oUj9Ly4Y6-q1_d_QkjxIcNDs9yZ3FFRzNXFlInUcOzN6YBmdweuyQsColKuj8mfTYQbFdA5tLKT_CF1_Q9a_cc7xKcvBmvKYNDeQ/s6760/IMG_7226.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="6760" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzwFK_pEZPSbwcuCLDv1J4TIvY-8PKyJHuvNTaDIviM-amJUgTCTfbaTyrMLiG1CajbOKFi7hrQQtZ73vZ_oUj9Ly4Y6-q1_d_QkjxIcNDs9yZ3FFRzNXFlInUcOzN6YBmdweuyQsColKuj8mfTYQbFdA5tLKT_CF1_Q9a_cc7xKcvBmvKYNDeQ/w640-h382/IMG_7226.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had not encountered this form of cricket earlier and even an AI Search did not yield much data. However, it did say that the Finnish Cricket Association was organising a tournament on Cage Cricket as part of its schedule! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With great interest I watched the first demo match. Not knowing the rules of the game,it seemed a very messy game to me me. Having been a Cricket buff all my life, I soon worked out the issues with the sport.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As two Oulu teams were taking part in the tournament, I did send a message to a friend who was attending the event that if Oulu weanted to do well, they had to develop a new startegy in keeping with the rules of this game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For instance, I noted that if a bowler bowled a perfectly good ball, it could yield between 3 and 7 runs for the batting side, whereas, if the bowler bowled a wide ball, it would yield just 2 runs. So the incentive on the first four overs of every batting pair would be for the bowler to bowl wides and give away just 30 runs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I watched the games unfold, there was just one lady captain who had understood this and I could hear her telling her bowlers to bowl wides to good batters!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There were several other inconsistencies in the rules showing that this sport was in its infancy and would have to be developed condiderably to be considered to be an interesting sport! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of the teams, only one player, a young lady from Oulu, Ritu Ghanghas, was head and shoulders above everybody else.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had seen the cricketing genius of Ritu Ghanghas when I had attended the launch of the Oulu Women's Cricket inauguration last year. Her skill was not because of cricket but because she had a super eye based on her skill at frisbee.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Others may play Cricket but this is a new sport and it is not traditional cricketkng skills that are important,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope that organisers of cricket understand this and make their decisions of choice of teams and leaders based on the skills necessary. Even in normal cricket there are totally different skills that are required by players of T20, one day Cricket (T50) and 5 day test matches. Even the selectors have to have different skills. The Cricket Boards should understand that no size fits all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="2016" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW531fPzJ2KjvEJdJ2xeJ6Fh2JqQ2qrruMuDEgvdndQaWLWxyOumQbYMjBOzqKb8Z_HRK5B5i71RI7T0BuW4yLvfCP4J7E5pgTslm47USrprpq3hvtPOg17c7qeVutBMJ-XmNvpI-xvsKbWBWZ2Wksko1-6hi6ngFKa3ZvhrpBlm9lsCmjFHbZqg/w640-h328/IMG_7279.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me sitting on the floor!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW531fPzJ2KjvEJdJ2xeJ6Fh2JqQ2qrruMuDEgvdndQaWLWxyOumQbYMjBOzqKb8Z_HRK5B5i71RI7T0BuW4yLvfCP4J7E5pgTslm47USrprpq3hvtPOg17c7qeVutBMJ-XmNvpI-xvsKbWBWZ2Wksko1-6hi6ngFKa3ZvhrpBlm9lsCmjFHbZqg/s2016/IMG_7279.png"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADj9Gw_x7NX6bnqI1R_moow5zCs1v3juq4Am_5im6teV5Vwaacgp-IBJBB75hiUa1VZfT896xSXlL-L7_4ft1wEgpLgUps15Z_VDa0CBGsqSSrKrj_G4GvbWR5UnEn_MAInXahrdC44Br0xICkOY8dTlRButciGE1vRzPmIfO0RXxOSj1N9Lm2Q/s225/IMG_7345.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADj9Gw_x7NX6bnqI1R_moow5zCs1v3juq4Am_5im6teV5Vwaacgp-IBJBB75hiUa1VZfT896xSXlL-L7_4ft1wEgpLgUps15Z_VDa0CBGsqSSrKrj_G4GvbWR5UnEn_MAInXahrdC44Br0xICkOY8dTlRButciGE1vRzPmIfO0RXxOSj1N9Lm2Q/w640-h640/IMG_7345.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cage Cricket in Finland</td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Jyväskylä tournament was well organised and my congratulations to the Jyväskylä Cricket Club which won the Men's Cage Cricket Trophy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The last time they visited Oulu, the whole team turned up, after the game, at my house with flowers!<b> Thank you guys.</b></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-31889475263223407652024-03-10T20:09:00.003+02:002024-03-10T23:45:44.737+02:00PROJECT MOREFROFT - Restoration<p><span style="font-size: medium;">With the advent of artificioal intelligence (AI) and my superficial association with it, I have decided to launch a new Project - which I have named as <b>PROJECT MORECROFT</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> ( I apologise for the misspelling in the title! It should be Morecroft and not Morecroft!! Unfortunately it cannot be changed after publishing!)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdI9eBX-1m8f9ePC0tKQiSY9inEjdOOtxxSHgQWZzyPGOPrDJYp4ZIsOK8WwbhB-SNOeHGeJsPic_pB_au4QVG_qSRZ5L1HY15DrBrk-_bDkNrtjFZc1c0siE1_Z-h7Ad8fGHhscMPXJCME47GJnaoGAGMSQFlzomu93ICKy8r7VTbWHKyImnYQ/s848/IMG_7261.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdI9eBX-1m8f9ePC0tKQiSY9inEjdOOtxxSHgQWZzyPGOPrDJYp4ZIsOK8WwbhB-SNOeHGeJsPic_pB_au4QVG_qSRZ5L1HY15DrBrk-_bDkNrtjFZc1c0siE1_Z-h7Ad8fGHhscMPXJCME47GJnaoGAGMSQFlzomu93ICKy8r7VTbWHKyImnYQ/w490-h640/IMG_7261.png" width="490" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Late Arthur D. Morecroft</b><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Those of you who were my clsssmates in 1955 when we were in Standard VII in the Cathedral and John Connon Boy’s High School, Mumbai, will probably recognise the significance of why I named this project such!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I have already <a href="https://cathedraliteheaven.blogspot.com/1996/05/sh-issue-2-960505.html" target="_blank">covered this incident</a> in more than one blog entrty, I am linking you to one of them if you are interested in the more intricate details. of why I have chosen this as the name for this project.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>At the top pf this blog entry is </span><span>a picture of Arthur Morecroft for which I used AI to enhance and colourise from this picture below.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: medium;">'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG_jvKK33jlMAosD6pXmdiWynGICzi_wM-lLFQOAisXPY6bwJDVdXkMGRKUwlzkNdLBAbZHHIe5W2vTKxSj8d-NcizkWgHq-KM1c90QAT6BtNpvI-lXztRnMG7H0_3X4RCn15ZIqMNJnoYnV0W2TLpYHRJOoHb3xQ1z-mrSOAXwMvixsxufwSgw/s497/KMYDE7166.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG_jvKK33jlMAosD6pXmdiWynGICzi_wM-lLFQOAisXPY6bwJDVdXkMGRKUwlzkNdLBAbZHHIe5W2vTKxSj8d-NcizkWgHq-KM1c90QAT6BtNpvI-lXztRnMG7H0_3X4RCn15ZIqMNJnoYnV0W2TLpYHRJOoHb3xQ1z-mrSOAXwMvixsxufwSgw/w588-h640/KMYDE7166.jpeg" width="588" /></a></span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: medium;">The transformation is quite unique as this is the individual who gave me a second life, revived and restored to wholeness 69 years ago!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45GH_qd7RGt1wVgLpQ3HEDpMa6WYGiC7jOAMkH5kj80FlpzJKOqae8vRzcEhhhuwjJw93rMjBp6amAuShJsSE3GUF8FPaEjuj8o0oHMipK0AFmjExd2gEaqI2nppqcSc2bFn2m4wblKdlXZt5OpYzo2qeIVF_cc3RZUJF0SLnhi003cIzCexA7g/s480/16406363191_95bedde7c9_o.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="321" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45GH_qd7RGt1wVgLpQ3HEDpMa6WYGiC7jOAMkH5kj80FlpzJKOqae8vRzcEhhhuwjJw93rMjBp6amAuShJsSE3GUF8FPaEjuj8o0oHMipK0AFmjExd2gEaqI2nppqcSc2bFn2m4wblKdlXZt5OpYzo2qeIVF_cc3RZUJF0SLnhi003cIzCexA7g/w428-h640/16406363191_95bedde7c9_o.jpeg" width="428" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the list of the staff members of our School in 1958. You will see the name of Arthur there with his qualification. He had the Army Certificate for Physical Training and it was his quick action that revived and restored my life at Vasind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I restore old and scratched photos from the past, I dedicate my work to the man who gave me back my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I do hope this project will rejuvenate the lives of many.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have a photograph which you think needs to be restored and colourised, send them to me and I will try my level best to get it into the best shape I can. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>To give you a few examples of what I have done, </span><span>I am s</span><span>howing below a few of the results that I have obtained from my past archives.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Viney Sethi, my dear school friend produced a black and white photograph of us on a class picnic in 1959 at Anil and late Ashok Ruia’s seaside resort Silver Sands at the very end of Juhu beach. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">During Viney’s visit to Oulu a year ago, I cleaned up his black and white version with some degree of success. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, with the use of AI I now have this result.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQNVSv8OX5334h_jylbVh2L0sqhqb6v_oW0_jgXIJEY5wxSrGd2ul0sLPGF5N25eyq0R70xedNd_0Wq3tssXdnyInMZKyEeD1xyT-zmmnTcKGuxOp53oaXb_EipnPJIcGSTSY7fC4jbxIqMQ5s-2lbICnmuI9qEnmmJHt72MHF9U0yKju8ZFs4g/s1305/IMG_6953.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1305" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQNVSv8OX5334h_jylbVh2L0sqhqb6v_oW0_jgXIJEY5wxSrGd2ul0sLPGF5N25eyq0R70xedNd_0Wq3tssXdnyInMZKyEeD1xyT-zmmnTcKGuxOp53oaXb_EipnPJIcGSTSY7fC4jbxIqMQ5s-2lbICnmuI9qEnmmJHt72MHF9U0yKju8ZFs4g/w640-h530/IMG_6953.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That is me in the white vest, second from the left in the foreground. The earlier version had so much shadow that most of us were indiscernible.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a photo from 1944 of me in my mother’s arms with my elder sister sitting on the floor.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazing result and one which makes me happy with the power of AI.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L0HO_X4pHh7-GnyfHBq5_f6szf0UNiIhVNPMViKWrxgBtAV9p5zJLTsS5S2_hCIu0ASPmxjH50AqQwj3O2TqjGttAg1tQzF_SCuKqpTdon0kLG2wRzLdI_M1WTJ-B2lIOrTI9bB4L6u2fOTf356bnRsQV6xVD4aCxT0Dwc0q-SlI609m7YtKFA/w420-h640/IMG_7181.png" width="420" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1971, late Basu John, who was an expert on photographic lenses, developed a camera with me, where I contributed to the plastics outer design and moving parts. The first camera was prototyped with these plastic pieces joined together. The total cost in 1971 was just Rs. 20 (€0.10). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first photograph was taken at our son’s birthday party on 1st November 1972 at our home in Defence Officer’s Colony in Nandambakkam in Madras.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Basu John enlarged the picture and found no breakdown of the image even at the edges. A tribute to his lens design and the power of glass and plastics technology.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, as we were working on the final designs at my home, he received a phone call that his photographic shop on Mount Road, called Klein and Peryl, was on fire. We dropped everything and rushed there to save as much as possible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was considered by Basu John as a bad omen and we dropped this project.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR9X7GuNipvrmUCK3FRw_LeNBIWF0pA97aU66jx4QgYe6NL3FFf4_NyNGHm1gGpRwpiei5Lb7BgXTxZ_SeWx562wI7tnK0ewvncVgpKkzJvMDSWOSvJSrrNYUWCwhZEUtI9uZcs2Dul3jT32O4CiQkAjQF6Gi7PTQBqLUXVeJa6KhBd-WJbt8pQ/w426-h640/IMG_7265.png" width="426" /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="747" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrytyMXX2gtrbP8UlK8GFjDsD17_jEIDhkQE4iryb6gZ-l8nh5ebDikH-BI5ufjDKv1wRusRGq399h5f13d1dHT7ssjfFIFa1XgCEPSwdSJAwV88O7yEurNwlR4s6cz32jn5ViERm_3lbmJFnWuurb2VPVaDL8TgNUX7xTC189WBS5KmkPJx23Q/w442-h640/IMG_7263.png" width="442" /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Given above are the colourised version of the enlarged version which hung in his shop for many years and the close up </span><span>of the AI revamped image of our two children, Susanna and Jaakko.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I would like your views on this project and would welcome all those who feel </span><span>they can contribute to it in my areas of interest, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>These include my relatives around the world, alumni from my alma maters, Bishop Cotton School, Bangalore, Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and my colleagues from my professional and other life around the world, as I recover and restore photographs, just as the dedication </span><span>of late Arthur Morecroft!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Vive la memory of </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Arthur Morecroft.</b></span></div><p><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-1796062821460656842024-03-02T10:11:00.001+02:002024-03-02T10:11:56.064+02:00History repeating itself?<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Annikki and I were enjoying our regular Friday buffet lunch (with a speacial spicey chicken vindaloo) at The Roy</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">al Garden restaurant in Oulu when a young couple walked in. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Michelle showed them around and they settled at a table. (Obviously they were new!)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7sGxFduPMGqAQiXCGHFou8Kz9uEfn5vb0wVLW31uJ-CZ-J47EqOlmzOGocA2gWxXth9QnDRYkEwBWsPAjlyXh11YbGVZR0Rt7how5A4tGcmzFg3LUFITSHuYPTOawZZUnhnOOEJFVi2DQNwd1NWsSrBK3JeSpJy7eKhqyP0-56EChsf-4cvHsg/s739/IMG_6901.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="739" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7sGxFduPMGqAQiXCGHFou8Kz9uEfn5vb0wVLW31uJ-CZ-J47EqOlmzOGocA2gWxXth9QnDRYkEwBWsPAjlyXh11YbGVZR0Rt7how5A4tGcmzFg3LUFITSHuYPTOawZZUnhnOOEJFVi2DQNwd1NWsSrBK3JeSpJy7eKhqyP0-56EChsf-4cvHsg/w640-h272/IMG_6901.png" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MG University, Kottayam (School of Chemical Sciences)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;">(Photo from Mahatma Gandhi University website.)</span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As they came to the buffet table I asked the young gentleman where he was from. He was from India, then Bangalore. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Having established our primary connection I dug a little deeper and found out he was a Polymer Chemist, and then came the shocker, when he said that he did his degree from Kottayam.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had to travel 7000 km to do my studies in Polymers. At that time only London and Akron, Ohio, US</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">A had reputed courses in polymer science and technology in the English speaking world. Although there were excellent courses in Germany, France and Italy, those were not an option for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As my brother was already in London, the choice was automatic, as Ohio seemed to be a little too distant for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I did a little digging I found that the director of the Dept of Chemical Sciences at the Mahatma Gandhi University is a Prof. Dr. Anitha C. Kumar. She had done her Polymer Science degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, with which I was actively cooperating with in the early seventies when Prof. Guenter Menig from Germany was there to start the department. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prof. Menig and I had worked on similar research areas, especially the use of the Brabender Pladtograph to characterise the processing behaviour of polymers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;">When Prof. Menig left back to Germany, we took his maid, Susheela, to look after the children as she spoke English. Annikki was at that time just starting to learn Tamil.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope to share a few evenings with Anupam, just to catch up on what is happening in the polymer field. I have more or less stopped reading stuff in my primary area of work for almost 15 years!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The only subject I do keep abreast of these days is the controversial topic about Polymers and Recycling technology.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome Anupan and Juyel to a great city, Oulu, Annikki and my home for the last 40 years</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">This is indeed a very small world!</span></b></span></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-56412079528707710632024-02-25T00:39:00.002+02:002024-02-25T17:15:33.876+02:00Obituary: My oldest professiinsl Friend / Tragic news<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">A few hours ago I received the tragic news of the passing away <b>my oldest professional friend</b> who was dear to both Annikki and me - Mohammad Noorani of Mumbai.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1086" height="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhISmwI9sDbAfGk7HZY1LjsApaA6krW7cPzqFATSC3XwgLJpGunfLl_I2uf2RntAslJdXF1eOQCtCkJpnRxD5mKJ5e3AJsDMQJfZsiOhgodvWyNWctPMzUe7SrVOhbOgmr2Jhmq2QbJIHUOFhPwsUH0_mtku2NnINS3H_MP5UgLgzq19BNsL89Q/w640-h533/IMG_6854.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad (far right) and me (second from left) at a party <br />in Mohammad’s house in Leverkusen, Germany, in 1964</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhISmwI9sDbAfGk7HZY1LjsApaA6krW7cPzqFATSC3XwgLJpGunfLl_I2uf2RntAslJdXF1eOQCtCkJpnRxD5mKJ5e3AJsDMQJfZsiOhgodvWyNWctPMzUe7SrVOhbOgmr2Jhmq2QbJIHUOFhPwsUH0_mtku2NnINS3H_MP5UgLgzq19BNsL89Q/s1086/IMG_6854.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">In 1964, when I went to Leverkusen in Germany to do my internship at the Farbenfabriken Bayer Rubber Research centre, I was greeted by an Indian, Mohammad Noorani, who was assigned to take care of my programme. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad was a leather technologist who had shifted to the field of Rubber Chemicals. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>MRF Ltd. was one of the largest buyers</span><span> of Rubber Chemicals in India. My uncle, K. M. Mammen Mappillai, Chairman and Managing Director of MRF Ltd. thought it appropriate for me to be trained in Bayer for my professional life in India. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had just completed a year at the National College of Rubber Technology in London and needed to be exposed to the ins and outs of industrial rubber processing and research.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>It was a training that changed my life in many ways, being supervised</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> by Mohammad, as he took care of both my education and my social life and also</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> ensured I could play hockey with the Bayer Leverkusen hockey team. He also took time to teach me German.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad was not a complete stranger because, as a student, I had been an addict to the writings of his brilliant journalist elder brother<a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2024/01/ram-mandir-ayodhya-great-controversy.html" target="_blank">, A. G. Noorani</a>, who wrote a powerful political column in The Indian Express. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was greatly moved to meet and become a friend of the younger brother of my favourite Indian journalist.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">On my return to India in 1969, our friendship continued as Mohammad was given the responsibility of looking after MRF Ltd. as a customer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">As soon as he landed in Madras, he would make a beeline to our house with small gifts for Annikki and the children. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Later, during his visits, we would always have a private dinner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When Nirlon launched its nylon fabric for tyre reinforcement, it was Mohammad who made sure that MRF Ltd. was given the topmost priority amongst the tyre producers in India. He set up private meetings with the Directors of Nirlon so I had all the information at my fingertips which I was able to communicate with the purchase and technical team in MRF. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>In 1973, my father was stricken by</span><span> pancreatitis which took him to the doorstep of death. I had flown in from Madras for the final farewell. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I told Mohammad the situation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad told me that Bayer had developed a new drug for pancreatitis and he would bring it immediately from Germany for my father. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">My father recovered from this very dire situation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Later, I introduced my old school friend, Viney Sethi to Mohammad and they became fast friends. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Mohammad's wife, Sartaj, is the daughter of a Hyderabaadi Nawab, who worked for the Indian Railwdys. He was also a professional dog breeder who trained Doberman Pinschers as guard dogs for the railway yards. One dog could do the work of 10 people</span><span>! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Sartaj was a classmate of my sister. Elizabeth</span><span> in Cathedral and John Connon School in Bombay.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sartaj'a elder brother, Zafar Hai, was one year my senior in St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He is a film and art director. Zafar went on to be the best short film director in India, producing films for Air India and other leading companies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Through Mohammad I also got to know another of his brothers, Mushtaq, who was managing a leading hotel in Bangalore. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">After a distinguished career in Bayer India as the Head of the Rubber Chemicals Division, he became the Editor and Publisher of the <b>Indian Rubber Journal</b>. Mohammad made the publishing of rubber news something which is his legacy to India. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTJ4zJIFthTZjz5OfFHurozrY0aS-dNnb_YZVyjPWOH3LkV5Mn6TbG4SptGdJDTBRGHflFqoLjXbJVxBRt6L401Raw1fiPYlbxLUAJ_3u3ZD18wqhO0fSzJq7FO8RN_887N9zhzyeBFHO3K31ieMxiu9ee3d1wWtvRHW9aWq3RJveYUVHsdqylA/s314/Mohammad%20Sartaj%20Noorani.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="314" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTJ4zJIFthTZjz5OfFHurozrY0aS-dNnb_YZVyjPWOH3LkV5Mn6TbG4SptGdJDTBRGHflFqoLjXbJVxBRt6L401Raw1fiPYlbxLUAJ_3u3ZD18wqhO0fSzJq7FO8RN_887N9zhzyeBFHO3K31ieMxiu9ee3d1wWtvRHW9aWq3RJveYUVHsdqylA/w640-h512/Mohammad%20Sartaj%20Noorani.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Photograph by Farzana Contractor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><br /><span>I was fortunate to speak with Mohammad a few weeks ago when he was discharged from hospital after a severe illness. He sounded terri</span><span>ble on the phone. His ever prevalent love still </span></span><span>came through the phone lines. </span></span><div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ever since I have been saying a prayer for this dear friend.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad and Sartaj have been very private people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>I did come across one artcle, <a href="https://uppercrustindia.com/2019/posts/1118/a-royal-repast" target="_blank">A Royal Repast</a>, </span><span>by</span><b> Farzana Contractor </b><span>in a magazine called <b>The Upper Crust</b><b>,</b> which defines what a wonderful, accomplished and distinguished couple Sartaj and Mohammad have been. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had my treasured photograph with Mohammad in Germany from 1964 (which graces the top of this obituary), but had no subsequent photos of him in my extensive photo archives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mohammad has been the finest example of a gentleman that has ever crossed my path. He was a fun person with an enormous sense of humour. He was always smiling and was an extremely loving caring personality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-MMASiT7DLfi8MzIW8nWj9un0PJoX_3UpmA09qflhz-9NGrOBxx3g59xaagSNAmUtI1qC07XI2TNg9ormaDt48KemkmjhUXJ7QQYc5TpUDIN17cmgRk6lpBT9iWzjjpduCzOmAqHpuXVf60qE47AwPAkehKQVXFT-jNwvHTAF6W2kJNtZp9ww/s1600/dbf68f81-24b8-4e40-92b6-820cd1922b01.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-MMASiT7DLfi8MzIW8nWj9un0PJoX_3UpmA09qflhz-9NGrOBxx3g59xaagSNAmUtI1qC07XI2TNg9ormaDt48KemkmjhUXJ7QQYc5TpUDIN17cmgRk6lpBT9iWzjjpduCzOmAqHpuXVf60qE47AwPAkehKQVXFT-jNwvHTAF6W2kJNtZp9ww/s320/dbf68f81-24b8-4e40-92b6-820cd1922b01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mohammad: 25th June 2023 <br />Photo courtesy Viney Sethi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I will miss Mohammad deep </span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">in my heart. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Our deepest condolences to his entire family.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope our Lord will bring comfort to his family members, his wife, Sartaj and their two children, Aida and Tabrez.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">May our dear Mohammad rest in peace.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-36069208223232017252024-01-23T21:55:00.003+02:002024-01-24T02:22:28.490+02:00Ram Mandir , Ayodhya - The Great Controversy<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><b>I am an Indian Orthodox follower of Christ from Kerala.</b> </span></span></div><p></p><p><span><span>My <a href="https://jmmemoirs.blogspot.com/2018/11/raja-mantra-pravina-dewan-bahadur.html" target="_blank">paternal</a> and <a href="https://jmmemoirs.blogspot.com/2018/12/kandathil-cherian-mammen-mappillai-kcmm.html" target="_blank">maternal</a> </span><span>grandparents and both their families have contributed at the highest levels in the growth and stability of pre and independent India.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span><span>These families boast among many accomplishments, </span></span><span>two Padma Bhushans,</span><span> </span><span>four Padma Shris, a Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation, CEO of the Integral Coach Factory, Madras and Bharat Heavy Electricals, Ramachandrapuram, <a href="https://jmmemoirs.blogspot.com/2018/12/kuriyan-and-mariam-matthan.html" target="_blank">CEO of Tata Engineering Consultancy Service (TECS)</a>, 10 <a href="https://www.mrftyres.com/" target="_blank">MRF Ltd. factories </a>located all over India, the largest circulating regional newspaper, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayala_Manorama" target="_blank">Malayala Manorama</a>, in India, with over 40 different publications.</span></span></p><p><span>I was born in pre-independence India. I was brought up through schools and college in independent India. </span></p><p><span>I have lived and worked in Bangalore, Mysore, Kottayam, Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Baroda, and was educated in higher studies the UK , worked in England, returned to India and contributed to the development of the country till corruption and judicial harrassment brought my stay in the country to a standstill.</span></p><p><span><span>In India, prior to my leaving, I had worked across all </span><span>political parties during my life in India.</span></span></p><p><span>After working in India and having contributed substantially in the industrial development of India, I could not take the degree of corruption any longer and moved to Finland, one of the best countries to live and work peacefully. </span></p><p><span>Here I have been able to contribute to the Finnish economy but continued to promote honest Indian tradition and culture to the Finns. </span></p><p><span>From a population of one Indian with two Indian children, the Indian diaspora in my small home town, Oulu, of 80000 people, it has grown to over 500 in a population of now 180000.</span></p><p><span><a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/08/findians-association-with-finland-1984.html" target="_blank">After 40 years, it is time to reevaluate the situation after witnessing what is going on in present day India. </a></span></p><p><span>As I may sound critical, a Modi Bhakth may say to me - <b>"Go to Pakistan!"</b>.</span></p><p><span>I have no need to go to Pakistan as I am accepted as an equal in Finnish Society. Despite my colour and continued Indian nationality, I am equal in all respects with the Finns. </span></p><p><span>I have worked to ensure that all Indians coming to live and work in Finland were treated well and with respect.</span></p><p><span>Compare the situation on the major indicies of Finland and India! </span></p><p><span><span>Would anyone make a retrograde step of going to a “mismanaged” </span><span>country <span style="color: red;"><b>which only gets worse, year-by-year</b>?</span></span></span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruSjkUd6dn3n8Pjri1neazBjgKSINX_EwvTNgEaGgzKDXJys4i9UFDleBTo-xUzaRdAFCzhuOMLa8-dEuEqjXES8qYd00XkUYYy8qvpNU8pRxAHHBeRqvP96HYJSdw0VIXBApMsUJw4gDy8dD4sDJfD-JrJsvHmqouzT6sWuQGNcrOXj_O3j2MQ/s571/Indicies%20Finland%20India.2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="571" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruSjkUd6dn3n8Pjri1neazBjgKSINX_EwvTNgEaGgzKDXJys4i9UFDleBTo-xUzaRdAFCzhuOMLa8-dEuEqjXES8qYd00XkUYYy8qvpNU8pRxAHHBeRqvP96HYJSdw0VIXBApMsUJw4gDy8dD4sDJfD-JrJsvHmqouzT6sWuQGNcrOXj_O3j2MQ/w640-h438/Indicies%20Finland%20India.2.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><p><span>I have worked closely with over half a dozen Indian Ambassadors to Finland, many Indian cultural artistes and Indian scientists, and ensured they were accorded the greatest respect.</span></p><p><span>As I look back, I think whether it was worth it.</span></p><p><span>What has promoted this change of heart in the late stage of my life.</span></p><p><span>To me, earlier, whatever the political spectrum, India was a secular country where persons of all religions were treated equally. </span></p><p><span>The rot started when the Industries Minister of Karnataka, S. M. Krishna, in 1970 put forward his theory of the <b>"Sons of the Soil"</b> policy, which was then the starting point of the breaking of India into factionalism on every ground possible!</span></p><p><span><b>Indians expect to be treated equally when they go to foreign lands</b>.</span></p><p><span>India, is a country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, the minority communities live on a knife edge, not knowing what bad fortune will befall them tomorrow. </span></p><p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/28/muslim-man-lynched-in-india-for-taking-a-banana-at-hindu-temple-event" target="_blank">Lynching a muslim man accused of taking a banana at a Hindu temple</a>, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/16/ex-mp-atiq-ahmed-brother-shot-dead-on-live-tv-in-india" target="_blank">ex-MP public murder on live TV when in the custody law enforcement </a>, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/7/vengeance-muslim-homes-shops-bulldozed-150-arrested-in-indias-haryana" target="_blank">muslim homes and shops bull-dozed</a>, killing of 258 farmers protesting against Indian farm laws, ignoring molestation complaints by women wrestlers in India by political personnel, raping and assaulting women and children, etc. </p><p><span><b>Or are these only in my dreams?</b></span></p><p><span><span>India begs foreign enterprsises to </span><span>invest in India. Yet they molöest women who "look" foreign!</span></span></p><p><span><span>Today, I would be careful of asking anyone with a sane mind to invest in India!</span></span></p><p><span>What is happening in India has been prophesied many thousands of years ago. </span></p><p><span>That is why I used <b>"The Great Controversy"</b> , a book by <b>Ellen G. White</b>, as the title of this blog entry</span></p><p><span><i><b><span>Those who have eyes, let them see</span><span>, those who ears, let them hear. </span></b></i></span></p><p><span>Open the Biblical books of Daniel and the Revelations and you will see the unveiling of prophesy on a day-to-day basis.</span></p><p><span>The opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is an example of the prophetic words of several prophets, taking us closer to the <b>"end times"</b>. </span></p><p><span>This is part of the prophesy of unification of "church" and "state"</span></p><p><span>This it is not a coincidence, but an act of God. </span></p><p><span><b>I do not believe in coincidences.</b> </span></p><p><span>I have in my life several coincidences, too many of </span><span>them to be coincidental! </span></p><p><span>But that subject is for another day. </span></p><p><span>Today I will concentrate on the topic of the <b>Ayodhya Ram Mandir.</b></span></p><p><span>Before progressing further, as an Indian, it is necessary to put in front of you, the first page of the Constitution of India.</span></p><p><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWiiN1vRTb8nVym_AIwfMCrecnDy75bqzL3dFLkeff7ckWMYtWzU4s9DhtTn6SA7MiwVS41ZPgqSYMH6cvBSEeUJytXGGB_-dXQtXP05fvGA4DsLeum4drUXqqg90c9Vcr89I8XnW7Q8g8OJ1bMZykrOzwypmyROJ6rOqC48gzSZ_EoDmvvXRpw/s1006/IMG_6687.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWiiN1vRTb8nVym_AIwfMCrecnDy75bqzL3dFLkeff7ckWMYtWzU4s9DhtTn6SA7MiwVS41ZPgqSYMH6cvBSEeUJytXGGB_-dXQtXP05fvGA4DsLeum4drUXqqg90c9Vcr89I8XnW7Q8g8OJ1bMZykrOzwypmyROJ6rOqC48gzSZ_EoDmvvXRpw/w506-h640/IMG_6687.jpeg" width="506" /></a></span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span>If the Prime Minister of India deems it necessary for him, <b>in his capacity of Prime Minister</b>, to take part in the inauguration of a "Hindu" temple, then he must also take part in the inauguration of Buddhist, Jain or Parsi Fire temples, mosque, synagogues, churches or</span><span> gurduwaras!</span></p><p><span>If he has taken parrt in the openings of Ram Mandir in his own capacity as a practicising Hindu, that is a different issue. </span></p><p><span>It is with great interest that a few days before I started to write this piece, there was a Facebook post by a friend, Professor A. N. Balakrishna (Bala), formerly of the Agricultural University of Bangalore, who had visited Oulu a couple of decades ago to help in the localisation of Nokia Mobile Phone software into Kannada. We have been friends since. Bala is also a superb cartoonist, I have a wonderful collection of his cartoons in English.</span></p><p><span>Bala was rummaging an used book sale in Bengaluru when he came across a treasure find. It was a book given as a gift to Karnataka Justice H. G. Balakrishna by the editor of The HINDU newspaper with an inscription by N. Ram.</span></p><p><span>The book was <b>“Anatomy of Confrontation - The Babri Masjid Jhanmabhumi Issue”</b> edited by Sarvepalli Gopal, one of the sons of former Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a brilliant philosopher.</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNuu4A5hKGsMYRqx-aAUJxQCQogkrMuDFZI8Hljq7PKTh0BYxdg2r__QkdrsX5Ax_UF89H-OxaT7IocVUVUdscpUBW_2si64Kb5qbUJ5S9E8kh7CggQNEchLlqBxXSNbDuuHE1s-WWY9rfAO56VhQxF9i6JIW486gevxdJkrOYKyFG3sHOyOncQ/s1286/IMG_6621.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNuu4A5hKGsMYRqx-aAUJxQCQogkrMuDFZI8Hljq7PKTh0BYxdg2r__QkdrsX5Ax_UF89H-OxaT7IocVUVUdscpUBW_2si64Kb5qbUJ5S9E8kh7CggQNEchLlqBxXSNbDuuHE1s-WWY9rfAO56VhQxF9i6JIW486gevxdJkrOYKyFG3sHOyOncQ/w418-h640/IMG_6621.jpeg" width="418" /></span></a></p><p><span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsntiTJ3pXUR_vULseTPasbF0Tri1XWHCGfrMDwxLGknGRyL1cvp0RJzaVVo83MbL25s0TeycCkL7uBBy47FEzyZxn5ki_d1AOf2TNEvJZH-A3zHaNqrFMPno3WqHaKJknsEHIWzr0esnBEjaPve_L4JbVqZ7wFnPr9tEb4BqkFzYd2Ivaz3u3w/s1286/IMG_6622.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsntiTJ3pXUR_vULseTPasbF0Tri1XWHCGfrMDwxLGknGRyL1cvp0RJzaVVo83MbL25s0TeycCkL7uBBy47FEzyZxn5ki_d1AOf2TNEvJZH-A3zHaNqrFMPno3WqHaKJknsEHIWzr0esnBEjaPve_L4JbVqZ7wFnPr9tEb4BqkFzYd2Ivaz3u3w/w404-h640/IMG_6622.jpeg" width="404" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><span>All the chapters in the book are interesting.</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d5a1q0M5HNytfLlFX0outWIm9RwBXRFa_PLnhky7SgPSdnGsiMpXXpUcEM7EQgtYkmz1mZ4jYNQzzD_DRp03JF69fVyycCYL3WFN6Gqnw_G8vfbvpYh26ytRlB_njMxbIru7oGiceBHTo94012SarS2qUSEOGUcLsSd9i91upnnIxURUmfSk1A/s1286/IMG_6623.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d5a1q0M5HNytfLlFX0outWIm9RwBXRFa_PLnhky7SgPSdnGsiMpXXpUcEM7EQgtYkmz1mZ4jYNQzzD_DRp03JF69fVyycCYL3WFN6Gqnw_G8vfbvpYh26ytRlB_njMxbIru7oGiceBHTo94012SarS2qUSEOGUcLsSd9i91upnnIxURUmfSk1A/w424-h640/IMG_6623.jpeg" width="424" /></span></a></div><p><span>I was particularly interested in the chapter by my ever favourite journalist, <b>A. G. Noorani</b>, now 93 years old, who, in the early sixties had taken Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to the cleaners with his brilliant analytical approach in the “White Papers” post the 1962 invasion of India. (A. G. Noorani is the elder brother of my dear friend, Mohamed Noorani.)</span></p><p><span>I asked Bala to send me this particular chapter as it was of significance how a leading muslim journalist</span><span>, well versed in law, politics and journalism, viewed this subject.</span></p><p><span>I reproduce his chapter here.</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Published : Oct 22, 2010 </i></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>A.G. NOORANI</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><i>“<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"> Muslims wronged</span></i></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>MUSLIMS OFFER PRAYERS at a mosque in Allahabad <span dir="ltr">on October 1</span>, a day after the verdict.-PTI</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>MUSLIMS OFFER PRAYERS at a mosque in Allahabad <span dir="ltr">on October 1</span>, a day after the verdict.-PTI</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The judgment is a crowning act on consistent judicial injustices to Muslims since December 23, 1949.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>THE judgments delivered by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court <span dir="ltr">on September 30</span> on the Babri Masjid cases not only flagrantly violate the law and the evidence but a binding unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court on the Babri Masjid case itself (M. Ismail Faruqui and Others vs Union of India and Others (1994) 6 Sec 360). It sanctified the conversion of a historic mosque, which had stood for 500 years, into a temple.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The country showed maturity by receiving the judgments with calm and dignity despite an obscene attempt by some members of the Bharatiya Janata Party to demand instant Muslim submission to the wrong, a fact which was noted pointedly by a distinguished political scientist on television where, for the most part, loud ignorant anchors had a field day with guests no better-equipped. Stability is important in nation building. As important is justice to all. On the Babri Masjid, for 60 years from 1950 to 2010, Muslims have been woefully wronged by every single court ruling, including that of the Supreme Court after the demolition of the mosque on December 6, 1992. One of the leaders of the Bar remarked more than once that the Bench of the Supreme Court that heard the case split along communal lines.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>On one point all the three judges of the Lucknow Bench <b>Justices D.V. Sharma, Sudhir Agarwal and S.U. Khan were in remarkable and laudatory agreement idols of Ram were placed inside the mosque on the night of December 22-23, 1949.</b> The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh's Organiser of March 29, 1987, said they miraculously appeared there. The BJP's White Paper on Ayodhya said they had appeared there. L.K. Advani used the same expression. The court has confirmed a truth which was known to all and confirmed the Parivar's contempt for the truth.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>But the three judges do not realise the legal implications of the truth they themselves acknowledged. Here are some incontrovertible and uncontroverted official documents:</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>1. Two reports dated 10 and 23, December 1948, by the Inspector of Waqfs, Mohammed Ibrahim, after visits to the Babri mosque. He recorded the harassment and stoning of the namazis going to the mosque. Yet prayers continued to be offered just before dawn and on Fridays (Chapter IV, Doc. 5).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>2. Official support to an application by Hindus in 1949 to build a Ram temple on the Chabutra near the mosque. The City Magistrate's Report of October 10, 1949, recorded: Mosque and temple are situated side by side and both Hindus and Muslims perform their rights and religious ceremonies. The Hindu population is very keen to have a nice temple at the place where Bhagwan Rama Chandra Ji was born. The land where the temple is to be erected is of Nazul' (Chapter IV, Doc. 6).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>3. The First Information Report on December 23, 1949, lodged by Sub-Inspector Ram Dube, Police Station, Ayodhya, reads thus:</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>According to Mata Prasad (paper no. 7), when I reached to [ sic] Janam Bhumi <span dir="ltr">around 8 o'clock</span> in the morning, I came to know that a group of 50-60 persons had entered the Babri mosque after breaking the compound gate lock of the mosque or through jumping across the walls (of the compound) with a stair and established therein, an idol of Shri Bhagwan and painted Sita, Ram, etc. on the outer and inner walls. Ram Das, Ram Shakti Das and 50-60 unidentified others entered the mosque surreptitiously and spoiled its sanctity. Government servants on duty and several others are witness to it. Therefore, it is written and filed (Chapter V, Doc. 2).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>4. Radio message on December 23, 1949, by District Magistrate K.K. Nayar to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Home Secretary: A few Hindus entered Babri Masjid at night when the Masjid was deserted and installed a deity there. Police picket of fifteen persons was on duty at night but did not, apparently, act (Chapter V, Doc. 3).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><span dir="ltr">5. December 26</span>, 1949, Nayar to Chief Secretary: Installation of the idol was carried out in the night between 22 and 23 instant (Chapter V, Doc. 5).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>6. Ramchandra Das Paramhansa's admission to The New York Times on December 22, 1991, that he had installed the idol (Chapter V, Doc. 16).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>7. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's wire and letters to Chief Minister G.B. Pant (Chapter V, Doc. 18).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>8. Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel's letter to Pant on January 9, 1950 (Chapter V, Doc. 19).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>9. Akshaya Brahmachari's letters and memorandum to Home Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri (Chapter V, Doc. 21).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>10. The Imam of the Babri Masjid, Abdul Ghafar's interview in 1987 (Chapter V, Doc. 11).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>11. Written statement in court by the State of Uttar Pradesh, signed by Deputy Commissioner, Faizabad, J.N. Ugra, on April 25, 1950 (Chapter V, Doc.13).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Paragraphs 12 and 13 read thus:</i></span></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>(12) That the property in suit is known as Babri Mosque and it has for a long period been in use as a mosque for the purpose of worship by the Muslims. It had not been in use as a temple of Shri Rama Chandraji.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>(13) That on the night of December 22, 1949, the idols of Shri Rama Chandraji were surreptitiously and wrongly put inside it.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>In The Statesman of October 26, 1986, Chandan Mitra, now eminence grise of the BJP, quoted an official as saying, Obviously the guard had been bribed heavily.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>From July to September 1949, there were efforts to build a Ram temple on the chabutra (platform) outside the mosque but within its complex. The City Magistrate, Faizabad, went to the spot on October 10, 1949, and submitted a favourable report. Abdul Ghafar, the imam of the mosque, testified that until the end we used to offer namaz inside the mosque and the Hindus prayed on the chabutra ( Sunday Mail, July 2, 1989). Litigation in the 19th century for permission to build a temple was confined to the chabutra not the mosque (1883-1886).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The Gandhian Akshaya Brahmachari's detailed memorandum to Lal Bahadur Shastri recorded the campaign on the capture of the mosque that was mounted in November 1949: There is terror in the hearts of the Muslims of Faizabad.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The law is not impotent in such cases. Sections 295 and 297 of the Penal Code make the acts offences in law. Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1898 empowers the magistrate to require the parties to file their claims, not on title to the property, but as respects the fact of actual possession of the subject of dispute. He decides which of the parties was in possession. If a party has been forcibly and wrongfully dispossessed, the magistrate may treat it as if it had been in possession. It is then restored in possession, leaving it to the aggressor to file a civil suit to establish his title to the property.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>In Ayodhya this very Section was used to sanctify the Muslims' dispossession. Markandey Singh, Magistrate First Class, ordered the attachment of the said buildings and appointed Priya Dutt Ram, Chairman of the Municipal Board, as receiver of the mosque. This was on December 29, 1949. He took charge on January 5, 1950, and submitted a scheme. On January 19, 1950, a Civil Judge, Bir Singh, issued an injunction restraining removal of the idols from the mosque and from interfering with the puja carried on in the mosque since December 23, 1949. On April 26, 1955, the Allahabad High Court confirmed the injunctions.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>Losing battle</b></i></span></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The conversion of a mosque into a temple was now complete. The Muslims lost, and were fated to lose, every round in the battles in the courts of justice for correction of the wrong perpetrated on December 22-23, 1949.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Contrast this with the order of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Parliament Street, New Delhi, A.G. Cutting, of February 7, 1972, in The State vs Sadiq Ali and Others and S.D. Sharma and Others under Section 145. He ordered restoration of possession of <span dir="ltr">7 Jantar Mantar Road </span>(Congress House) in New Delhi to Congress (O). Not because it was the real' Congress but because it had been forcibly dispossessed by Congress (R) on November 13, 1971. That order was also made under Section 145 of the CrPC. A similar order should have been made in the Babri Masjid case in 1949. The contrast is glaring. As Magistrate Cutting said, the Congress (O)'s men were dispossessed. They are therefore entitled to be put back into possession until they are evicted from the said premises by an order of a competent court (in a regular civil suit on title).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>In the Ayodhya case, the Receiver's scheme, predictably, said the most important item of management is the maintenance of Bhog and Puja in the condition in which it was carried on when I took over charge. There were to be at least three pujaris who should be allowed free access to the installed idols. Under the scheme, Muslims were altogether forbidden to pray in the mosque; Hindus were permitted to offer puja and have darshan of the idols from a side gate and make offering through four pujaris employed by the Receiver who was appointed by the Magistrate.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Civil suits on title were filed by the parties which were decided on September 30, 2010. The next round was on January 25, 1986, when a lawyer filed an application for removal of restrictions on the puja. On February 1, 1986, District Judge K.M. Pandey ordered the opening of the locks after 45 minutes' hearing. The Muslims were not impleaded in the application and were not heard by the judge. On January 3, 1986, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court ordered maintenance of the status quo.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The next step was the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. On January 7, 1993, the President promulgated the Acquisition of Central Area at Ayodhya Ordinance acquiring the site of the mosque later enacted as an Act of Parliament and asked the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion on this question: Whether a Hindu Temple or any Hindu religious structure existed prior to the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid (including the premises of the inner and outer courtyards of such structure) in the area on which the structure stood?</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Fruit of crime</i></span></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The demolition squad of the so-called kar sevaks had built a temporary structure after the demolition and kept the idols there. On December 9, West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu asked the Centre to demolish this fruit of crime. The Union Home Secretary Madhav Godbole refused to pray there. God could not reside in that temple, the construction of which was associated with so much deceit and wanton violence ( Unfurnished Innings, pages 406-407).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Alarmed at the sheer absurdity of the President's query to the Supreme Court, the country's foremost lawyer N.A. Palkhivala wrote a devastating critique in The Times of India. It has acquired added relevance after the judgment of <span dir="ltr">September 30.</span> He wrote:</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>It is to my mind absurd to suggest that the highest Court in the country should be asked to decide questions of history or archaeology. But the government has now asked the Supreme Court to give its opinion under Article 143 of the Constitution, whether a temple existed centuries ago on the site where the Babri Masjid stood before its demolition.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Historians have expressed widely divergent views on the issue whether there was a pre-existing temple on the site on which the mosque was built by Babur. Much less are they agreed that Rama was born at that place. There is even a greater difference of opinion on the question whether Rama actually lived as a human being or whether he was the supramental ideal created by mythology to represent the perfect man. <b>To ask the Supreme Court or the Allahabad High Court to decide such questions of mythology or history, or mixed questions of mythology and history, is to bear witness to the bankruptcy of our political institutions.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>It is a measure of the degradation to which we have reduced our third-rate democracy that we have lost all sense of propriety, and are not only willing but eager to call upon the Courts to decide questions of opinion or belief, history, mythology or political expediency. Never in the history of any country have Courts been approached to deal with the type of questions which are now suggested as fit to be referred to the Courts in connection with the incidents at Ayodhya.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The consequences of asking the Supreme Court or the Allahabad High Court to deal with the type of questions which are suggested for reference would be disastrous in the long run.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>It would thrust upon the Court a task for which it is not qualified by training or experience. Courts can deal with questions of law or of fact. They are not qualified to deal with questions in other fields like archaeology or history. A judge can decide only upon documentary evidence or evidence given by a witness as to what he himself saw or heard. It is well established that hearsay evidence is inadmissible in a Court of law under the Indian Evidence Act.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>If the Court is pushed into the political arena, it would impair the image and undermine the status of the Court.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>Archaeology is the study of the art, customs and beliefs of ancient times. It can afford a ground for belief or an opinion but never for universal certainty. Cannot two minds come to different conclusions on the same archaeological evidence? How can a conclusion reached by a judge be binding on people whose opinions or beliefs go counter to those of the judge?</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Palkhivala was vindicated by the Supreme Court, while his warnings have been proved all too sound now by the Lucknow Bench.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Presidential reference</i></span></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>A five-member Bench of the Supreme Court Justices M.N. Venkatachaliah, J.S. Verma and G.N. Ray in the majority upheld the Act, bar one provision which abated the civil suits in the High Court. Justices A.M. Ahmadi and S.P. Bharucha held the entire Act to be void. All agreed that the Act and the reference for an advisory opinion were an integral whole. But while Justice Verma, who spoke for the majority, belittled the moral and legal significance of the mosque's demolition, an offence in law, and did so as judges tend to do in high-flown rhetoric, Justice Bharucha, who spoke for the minority, reckoned with the crime fully and, unlike the majority, refused to perpetuate the situation it had created. Section 7 (2) of the Act asked the government to ensure that the position existing before the commencement of this Act is maintained.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Justice Verma ruled shockingly that this affected both communities equally since the Muslims had not been offering worship at any place there after December 1949 a right they had only lost by deceit and force. <b>Justice Bharucha subjected logic to deserved and withering scorn.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>However and this is very relevant to the Lucknow Bench's ruling the judges unanimously ruled that Section 4(3), which abated the civil suits, was void. Why? <b>Because it was one-sided and deprived the Muslims of the defence valid in law that a 500-year-old mosque by sheer adverse possession extinguished any claims to title based on history, real or imagined.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>This is what Justice Verma said: This also results in extinction of the several defences raised by the Muslim community including that of adverse possession of the disputed area for over 400 years since construction of the mosque there in 1528 A.D. by Mir Baqi. Ostensibly the alternate dispute resolution mechanism adopted is that of a simultaneous Reference made the same day under Article 143(1) of the Constitution to this Court for decision of the question referred. It is clear from the issues framed in those suits that the core question for determination in the suits is not covered by the Reference made, and it also does not include therein the defences raised by the Muslim community. It is also clear that the answer to the question referred, whatever it may be, will not lead to the answer of the core question for determination in the pending suits and it will not, by itself, resolve the long-standing dispute relating to the disputed area. Reference made under Article 143(1) cannot, therefore, be treated as an effective alternate dispute-resolution mechanism in substitution of the pending suits which are abated by Section 4(3) of the Act. There can be no doubt, in these circumstances, that the Special Reference made under Article 143(1) of the Constitution cannot be construed as an effective alternative dispute-resolution mechanism to permit substitution of the pending suits and legal proceedings by the mode adopted of making this Reference. In our opinion, this fact alone is sufficient to invalidate sub-section (3) of Section 4 of the Act.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>While Justice Bharucha said: The provisions of Section 4 of the Act, inasmuch as they deprive the Sunni Waqf Board and the Muslim community of the right to plead and establish adverse possession as aforesaid and restrict the redress of their grievance in respect of the disputed site to the answer to the limited question posed by the Reference and to negotiations subsequent thereto, and the provisions of Section 3 of the Act, which vest the whole bundle of property and rights in the Central government to achieve this purpose, offend the principle of secularism, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution, being slanted in favour of one religious community as against another.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>He added: The Act and the Reference, as stated hereinabove, favour one community and disfavour another; the purpose of the Reference is, therefore, opposed to secularism and is unconstitutional.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>He pointed out another flaw. <b>The Court being ill-equipped to examine and evaluate such material (on archaeology and history) it would have to appoint experts in the fields to do so, and their evaluation would go unchallenged. Apart from the inherent inadvisability of rendering a judicial opinion on such evaluation, the opinion would be liable to the criticism of one or both sides.</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The Supreme Court gave this unanimous ruling on October 24, 1994. On March 5, 2003, the Allahabad High Court ordered excavation of the land and ruled that it did not violate the Supreme Court judgment. Why? Because one of the important issues in the suit is whether there was any temple/structure which was demolished and mosque was constructed on the disputed site.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>But this was the very issue which had been referred by the President to the Supreme Court for its advisory opinion and the Court declined to answer it because of its irrelevance. The issue was whether adverse possession by the mosque extinguished other titles. The excavation order revived this irrelevant issue in breach of the Supreme Court judgment. The rest followed inexorably until September 30, 2010.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><b>The Court's order was criticised by archaeologists of the highest distinction in a statement on March 10, 2003. The task of excavation was assigned to a controversial agency. The Archaeological Survey of India's report has been widely criticised (vide Ayodhya: Archaeology After Excavation by D. Mandal and Shereen Ratnagar, Tulika Books, 2007).</b></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>In his judgment on the land acquisition case, delivered on December 11, 1992, <b>Justice S.H.A. Raza of the Allahabad High Court rightly said that an article of faith cannot be stretched to such an extent which threatens the Rule of Law. </b>The contention that faith is beyond the jurisdiction of the Court is centred around the application of theocratic ideas. Still less can the faith of one community become the law of the land by a judicial ruling because it happens to be the majority community.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>But what if judges themselves rely on their own religious faith in their judicial orders? Justice D.V. Sharma's remarks on Ram and the spirit of divine in this context are eloquent enough. <b>Courts can try only suits of a civil nature (Section 9 of the Civil Procedure Code) in matters of faith.</b> Remember the Evidence Act permits expert evidence only on a few limited matters (Sections 45 to 50). History and archaeology are not among them. The Act itself is misread by Justice S.U. Khan, who held that both the parties have failed to prove commencement of their title. Hence by virtue of Section 110 of the Evidence Act, both are held to be joint title holders on the basis of joint possession.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Section 110 says no such thing. It says, on the contrary, that when the question is whether any person is owner of anything of which he is shown to be in possession of, the burden of proving that he is not the owner is on the person who affirms that he is not the owner in this case, the Sangh Parivar vis-a-vis the Babri Masjid. The Supreme Court has held that a presumption of an origin in lawful title could be drawn... in order to support possessory rights, long and quietly enjoyed, where no actual proof of title is forthcoming. The longer the possession, the stronger the presumption. (1991 Supp (2), SCC 228 at pages 243-244).</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Records of the 19th century litigation disprove Justice Khan's inference of joint possession. From such errors flow the bizarre order of a tripartite partition, which the media and others have so readily lapped up as an act of judicial statesmanship.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>The record since December 23, 1949, shows the judgment of September 30, 2010, to be a crowning act on consistent judicial injustices to Muslims in 1950, 1955, 1986 and 1994.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>In the Shahidganj masjid case, there was incontrovertible proof of a 1722 waqf (trust) to build a mosque. But it came under the possession of Sikhs after 1762. In the 20th century from the District Court, the High Court of Lahore and the Privy Council ruled against the Muslims on the ground of adverse possession. The Premier of Punjab Sikander Hyat Khan rejected pleas for legislation to overturn the verdict. Jinnah supported him fully. The mosque, now a Sikh gurdwara, still stands in Lahore undemolished.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>Calm has been preserved, creditably, but the pain inflicted on Muslims is not concealed. <b>This is not how a secular edifice is built.</b> It was left to Mohammed Hashim Ansari, the oldest living petitioner, to express the anguish, Masjid bahut banegi, lekin desh nahi banenge (<b>Many more mosques will be built, but the nation will not be built this way)</b>. The Supreme Court can prove him wrong. Those who rushed to acclaim the order of <span dir="ltr">September 30 </span>revealed worse than ignorance. Their enthusiasm reflected indifference to right and wrong.</i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><i>We are not an island unto ourselves. What impression of our judiciary will courts elsewhere form?”</i></span></div></blockquote><p></p><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>The entire article is of great interest but of significance is that the Suprrme Court of India erred in its function by ruling on a historical event, considered by many as mythology.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><b>Next, will the Supreme Court of India rule on the virgin birth of a Christ?</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>It showed the agenda of the Supreme Court of India and the pressure of the Hindutava faction on its conduct.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxLK3nxamjMT5QWM0ocY_s9EBWLAYGDOpXAXrjsKT-DNSf95Cvx4LkGj3Hz5-cNo3SqJ6IkgIC2sSGTMNsq6WYy5F4z2NygBpr726ZQkj5UEmoPLEmDXocPsXaswcXWkPjW0_cUxu3o2ZuXuScYfGeuWne0mYl8SJYv2w8LhizeWZ8ZJk5j-ANg/s1624/IMG_6674.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxLK3nxamjMT5QWM0ocY_s9EBWLAYGDOpXAXrjsKT-DNSf95Cvx4LkGj3Hz5-cNo3SqJ6IkgIC2sSGTMNsq6WYy5F4z2NygBpr726ZQkj5UEmoPLEmDXocPsXaswcXWkPjW0_cUxu3o2ZuXuScYfGeuWne0mYl8SJYv2w8LhizeWZ8ZJk5j-ANg/w296-h640/IMG_6674.png" width="296" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>Above this, I go one step further on how the <b>four leading seers of the Hindu faith</b> spoke on the subject (See picture above, Ref: The WEEK), by refusing to attend the function which had been organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP political party and the RSS, a racist fascist organisation propping up the present Prime Minister.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>None of the major political opposition parties in India chose to attend this event calling it primarily a political event to influence the 2024 Indian elections by appealing to base sentiment of “Hindus”!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><b>While Manipur is burning, was it appropriate for the Prime Minister of India to ignore the plight of Indians and focus on his personal election strategy.</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>What influenced the Ptime Minister is obviously his fascination with the “science” of numerology which is evident from <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/astrology/horoscope/inauguration-of-ayodhya-ram-mandir-astro-numerological-significance-of-january-22-101705137258958.html" target="_blank">the contents of this article which appeared in Hindustan Times</a>?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><b>Is the future of India going to be run on numerology or on true scientific and humanitarian principles and the Indian Constitution?</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>From the above it is obvious that from the viewpoint of the Indian Constitution, from the point of view of a legal opinion, from </span><span>the point of view of religious practice, the construction and inauguration of the Ram Mandir was totally a politically motivated process which was why all the aggrieved parties considered this unconditional, anti-secular and totally anti-Indian ideology!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>The basis of </span><span>numerology used in the article quoted above does not hold water in determining the date of the "inauguration" as this is based on the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory III in 1582 to replace the Julian calendar? </span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>It is not based on the Vikram (57 BC) or Shaka (78 BC) samavat (calender). </span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>Numerology is not an Indian invention, so it is completely an untenable premise.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>In a country filled by Modi Bhakths, it is like Trumpians who would like to elect a President who has 91 indictments against him, <b>an egoistic maniac</b>.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>In India, we have an uneducated Prime Minister (<b>with a degree in Entire Political Science which course does not exist in any University in the world</b>) with a narcissistic personality where his blind followers line up in parallel with Trump.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="750" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0qH35jZuLKYmY-WqmO0JXk1JNSpB0EY8nJ7y2oxeW7XPSBHeJrhTQis5wAae1tSiZ-3EBMi8ijFZ11H1x7P8pniaTbSdNuvM1qfxLKo5GgI4PvfSR0M8zlZ0Qco5OPK4qwoUix6NLbC3FXE6z02I1oa3nO0zSl1u8HX0qpTPlvgp9hyphenhyphenhP8fYBA/w640-h405/IMG_6689.jpeg" width="640" /></span><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0qH35jZuLKYmY-WqmO0JXk1JNSpB0EY8nJ7y2oxeW7XPSBHeJrhTQis5wAae1tSiZ-3EBMi8ijFZ11H1x7P8pniaTbSdNuvM1qfxLKo5GgI4PvfSR0M8zlZ0Qco5OPK4qwoUix6NLbC3FXE6z02I1oa3nO0zSl1u8HX0qpTPlvgp9hyphenhyphenhP8fYBA/s750/IMG_6689.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>As a follower of Christ, what is likely to happen to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Sindhis, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Dalits, OBCs, in the Modi Bhakth country is summed up in the poem of Pastor Martin Niemöller:</span></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WAkbt42O6dHQ-FlfTCnJLltUAAlSkJd4x1F8Dus1Tl8EYxeVsutVrz6BwbUkvJT9wn1p9tt6EWKXL5Pd2WKH69FDuCQFvZL1Px4YQrIhbKQ80LYQvFORhlOFkOhkE5qe8NDIoJhc_XGhkI1ql9Ut7-uY08o2d_vSFxi4-cp-hzkAAQfvubLv-g/s686/IMG_6690.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="686" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WAkbt42O6dHQ-FlfTCnJLltUAAlSkJd4x1F8Dus1Tl8EYxeVsutVrz6BwbUkvJT9wn1p9tt6EWKXL5Pd2WKH69FDuCQFvZL1Px4YQrIhbKQ80LYQvFORhlOFkOhkE5qe8NDIoJhc_XGhkI1ql9Ut7-uY08o2d_vSFxi4-cp-hzkAAQfvubLv-g/w640-h424/IMG_6690.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: red;"><b>I certainly do not want to be in India when the process of eradication starts!</b></span></div><p><span><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-23013435115770309852024-01-22T00:14:00.000+02:002024-01-22T00:14:07.399+02:00 Hindu Astrology - Author: Late Dr. Anthony Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga236VKf0NixDP9oQGTS7Rd9f37wbkeYNKO4K3mkEctyCHZbTL7s2lBm01bynzMpLzhn3wItRZZN3PC_hnqyIYp2Bk5XUw7lzIOax77E0eh4di5ru5NN1olRxPTCv814wIQ5CzrDB0PFylgZIhfk8QKULOZnZQfrK2HWSzlCbN6LFaNT3ZZiUpz-JnbceP/s1091/IMG_6680.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga236VKf0NixDP9oQGTS7Rd9f37wbkeYNKO4K3mkEctyCHZbTL7s2lBm01bynzMpLzhn3wItRZZN3PC_hnqyIYp2Bk5XUw7lzIOax77E0eh4di5ru5NN1olRxPTCv814wIQ5CzrDB0PFylgZIhfk8QKULOZnZQfrK2HWSzlCbN6LFaNT3ZZiUpz-JnbceP/w275-h400/IMG_6680.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>This blog entry is in two parts, the first on the book "Hindu Astrology" by my late friend Dr. Anthony Stone (Tony) and the second part of the blog is the inauguration of the Ram Mandir Temple in Ayodhya by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22nd January 2024.</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The first part is being cross-posted on all my major blogs while the second part is only being posted on my main blog - Jacob’s Blog.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7EZ2YV7T-m7zlxaJocWleX6snbGRDVTYwwEiSt1I5_aTs-AkhH_nxB8Aca5ch4x9dY7V5-B2bz9tjDprG-6EDk4obe4tpshbcbR32nXxlqO_d3VfMj0-JHiitVHuLffmNIHBNdLDWIIGYqnokXO8NjPLozDLVbAJeJr6A3eRDR0QKyHoo1L-StkTlAva/s197/mime-attachment.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="138" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7EZ2YV7T-m7zlxaJocWleX6snbGRDVTYwwEiSt1I5_aTs-AkhH_nxB8Aca5ch4x9dY7V5-B2bz9tjDprG-6EDk4obe4tpshbcbR32nXxlqO_d3VfMj0-JHiitVHuLffmNIHBNdLDWIIGYqnokXO8NjPLozDLVbAJeJr6A3eRDR0QKyHoo1L-StkTlAva/w280-h400/mime-attachment.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Late Dr. Anthony Stone</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">Tony was my teacher of Mathematics in St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and my good friend. His book on Hindu astrology is to be shortly released as a paperback and I wanted to give you a look into the facts behind Indophile, Tony, and our relationship pre the release oif the paperback edition.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I was sent the details of this book by the publisher, another dear friend and alumni of St. Stephen’s College, Professor Prabhu Guptara. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Tony was the teacher of Mathematics in St. Stephen’s College in 1962-63, my final year. He took over the duties of Principal S. C. Sircar in the Mathematics Department and joined Professors S.R. Nagpaul, S. B. Mathur,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and Ranjit Bhatia (Rhodes Scholar and of Indian Olympic fame) in the college Mathematics Department.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I lost touch with Tony till he turned up on my <a href="https://koolertalk.blogspot.com"><span class="s1">Kooler Talk Blog</span></a> in the late 1990s. We established a close relationship. When his wife Bertha was hospitalised and he had a short holiday in 2000, as he was then caring for Bertha, he decided to visit Annikki and me in Oulu, Finland. He stayed with us for a week and we had wonderful reunion, and discussed many of his projects.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He was well versed in Indian culture and he was working on a few projects, one of which was Hindu Astrology.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He was also working on a special area of mathematical research which coincided with the interest of a <a href="https://cathedraliteheaven.blogspot.com"><span class="s1">Cathedral and John Connon School</span></a>, Mumbai, friend of mine, Bhupinder Singh Anand (Bhupi).</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bhupi was a couple of years senior to me but stayed on in School to do the 12th standard HSC qualification. He was also from Savage House and in our final year, he was the Head Boy of the school while I was the Savage House Captain. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nBoFb3aBNHwEHiRnh_iq0CLE7bZsF9i8Zbe0OaqgrUHvcLQvVWPBx4BtbUTBoV8R0cxAQcCdRyi27GnlzH8Q-Tnpv_-OwCEe8706_VhMyVGmedX2pdZ45hNTBsTTPadzcRWe-y4nCpiYut6BKhUUH3_WWvelDvdkkwDPLd60-8FseU9o8TUhcXf4NpW3/s530/IMG_0808.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="530" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nBoFb3aBNHwEHiRnh_iq0CLE7bZsF9i8Zbe0OaqgrUHvcLQvVWPBx4BtbUTBoV8R0cxAQcCdRyi27GnlzH8Q-Tnpv_-OwCEe8706_VhMyVGmedX2pdZ45hNTBsTTPadzcRWe-y4nCpiYut6BKhUUH3_WWvelDvdkkwDPLd60-8FseU9o8TUhcXf4NpW3/w400-h243/IMG_0808.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">Bhupi, the School Captain is sitting third from the left, while I am sitting second from the right.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I did keep in touch with Bhupi as he joined my “Seventh Heaven” Cathedralite Heaven Google Group although he was not technically a 59er. I had great respect for dear Bhupi as he was a sincere individual and a true Cathedralite.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The publisher of this book on Hindu astrology is Professor. Prabhu Guptara, from St. Stephen’s College, junior to me but also a good friend now living in Cambridge in the UK.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnIrf5yufKldu2bhdON6X9-mR5HOILR13KJDS5yLSHENLEsaFmtd9haIKikXmO5knprQhjF_llHu7VupyaQaIB3Qr6DfADvZ0DmXkETcqumJ5LQW_wquhXxmRv1gn5UrCvHRCeQrZmAxeDljhaTqXH5cDKFndo8g33Fkh82wZZodaP8KyqRftfym8Dw49/s2734/IMG_6676.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2734" data-original-width="1759" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnIrf5yufKldu2bhdON6X9-mR5HOILR13KJDS5yLSHENLEsaFmtd9haIKikXmO5knprQhjF_llHu7VupyaQaIB3Qr6DfADvZ0DmXkETcqumJ5LQW_wquhXxmRv1gn5UrCvHRCeQrZmAxeDljhaTqXH5cDKFndo8g33Fkh82wZZodaP8KyqRftfym8Dw49/w258-h400/IMG_6676.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7egC_7LI7aTdwvzxqJx7iH6NKJwViMD0tIkXtanXyH3Wvz6eLEk98XZ7GUyI0NSdJWDieM1pKDbM8SCKqfpo4bUqSWj6EdC708tnTlcBjn_2JFjWeZDaKxx7zutqLrcCWccf7VRIC4H8YcuzpxVbAWoUF5_rMXaqjmISriWLuJ37XTyJe6rDjZU9uLoy/s3052/IMG_6677.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3052" data-original-width="2421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7egC_7LI7aTdwvzxqJx7iH6NKJwViMD0tIkXtanXyH3Wvz6eLEk98XZ7GUyI0NSdJWDieM1pKDbM8SCKqfpo4bUqSWj6EdC708tnTlcBjn_2JFjWeZDaKxx7zutqLrcCWccf7VRIC4H8YcuzpxVbAWoUF5_rMXaqjmISriWLuJ37XTyJe6rDjZU9uLoy/w318-h400/IMG_6677.jpeg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">Prabhu had done an chapter in the book "Malayali Diaspora" several years ago about the oldest Malayali in Continental Europe (not the UK), which was about me. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Frank Raj was the editor of "The International Indian till 2017".</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw6a0RBbdcNHsMVvi5ND8dQosteRIJ06IXbMBUXlUajPa9tbhg7Mv2jKs5kIEVQpAznOjNoU7emtUOxSekHAtNUvRcg8ruGtuPG444TzrmpYnqJ2tkjuINZuLHkc-vYvSArWR-C_fwMwwhcohYuT6raZ-7y4Owy57TkQMtAPbB7pSv8sAWaKlu6ElPR0m/s1030/FrankRajLinkedIn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1030" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw6a0RBbdcNHsMVvi5ND8dQosteRIJ06IXbMBUXlUajPa9tbhg7Mv2jKs5kIEVQpAznOjNoU7emtUOxSekHAtNUvRcg8ruGtuPG444TzrmpYnqJ2tkjuINZuLHkc-vYvSArWR-C_fwMwwhcohYuT6raZ-7y4Owy57TkQMtAPbB7pSv8sAWaKlu6ElPR0m/w400-h240/FrankRajLinkedIn.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Frank Raj (Picture from LinkedIn)</p></blockquote><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;">This was later published in his magazine with pictures of us and our family in the Dubai publication <b>“The Indian International”</b> edited by Frank Raj.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In 2014, when for several reason, I was stranded in New Delhi, which is explained in Annikki and my book “The Titanic Called India”, Prabhu put me in touch with Ivan and Silvia Kostka.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa02rsZH5eAM0yDDMh9GjM0aUetwZODAXcXk1UutCfn5rf6UzyH3WpddOZN5-XxZwXORjR8yHGec4VxFnK1r7L562eHZ7T9klWrq_EAl3E_Efqzf4bJLDm7PnfbXDPjBUXiSSvRkYL5SFcVje6m2YCEgK0fTk6caEqIHgnprn4yRuwxkJo1SQkOKrpupz/s800/IMG_6671.jpeg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa02rsZH5eAM0yDDMh9GjM0aUetwZODAXcXk1UutCfn5rf6UzyH3WpddOZN5-XxZwXORjR8yHGec4VxFnK1r7L562eHZ7T9klWrq_EAl3E_Efqzf4bJLDm7PnfbXDPjBUXiSSvRkYL5SFcVje6m2YCEgK0fTk6caEqIHgnprn4yRuwxkJo1SQkOKrpupz/w640-h456/IMG_6671.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: center;">Ivan and Dr.Silvia Kostka (Picture from LinkedIN)</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I had the pleasure of dining with them and a couple of friends. Just a couple of months after they were harassed by the Hindutava faction because they were practicing Christians devoting their their life to uplifting the OBC Community. They were raided by the Delhi Police in October 2014 for supposedly saying derogatory statements about Goddess Durga. Their publication <i>FORWARD Press</i> was being targeted by the Hindutava faction of Narendra Modi’s BJP/RSS wing claiming that Ivan and Silvia were converting Indians to Christianity.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here I must make a point that I went to Christian schools in Mysore, Bangalore and Mumbai. In my class in Mumbai we were just 4 Christian’s while the rest of the students were Hindus, Jews, Muslims Parsi, Sindhis and Sikhs, from all parts of the world, not just India. I did not even know or even care, what religion the students in my class were.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">60 years later, I am still the fulcrum of keeping the surviving classmates together and there is not one single student who has changed his/her religion. They all subscribe too a secular education which has broadened their attitude to life and there is no discrimination on any grounds whatsoever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christians lead by example of the two principles laid down by Christ. .<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is only one God (different names: Jehovah, Allah, Brahma). Secondly, we must love our neighbour as ourselves.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All the other laws are man-made derivatives of these two fundamental principles.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thefollowing year, I had the good fortune to get an email from Silvia (a noted plastic surgeon) that she and Ivan were likely to transit through Helsinki and they were likely to be delayed in their return trip to India. She was interested in meeting up with me.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I did offer to put them up in one of the apartments that Annikki and I had in Helsinki during their stay but we lost contact after that.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ivan was the Founding Editor of <i>FORWARD Press</i> and it was likely to be shut down by the intolerant society which had spread its wings under Narendra Modi. Silvia had told me then that the last edition of FORWARD Press was likely to be in March of that year (2015).</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">However, FORWARD Press has survived and is thriving even today under Anil Varghese who is the current <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editor-in-chief"><span class="s2" style="color: #274ec0;">editor-in-chief</span></a>.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So that is my personal background to the book on Hindu Astrology penned by Tony.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Until a few years ago, interest in astrology was widespread - but thin. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Now the astrology market is growing by leaps and bounds.<br /><br />In the US, over the four years to 2019, revenue from the top 10 astrology apps market saw an astonishing compound growth rate of 72.8 percent per year! In India, ten astrology firms in 2021 raised INR 1300 million -300% the combined amount raised by ALL such start-ups over the previous five years!!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="color: #103cc0; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: black;">No figures for the UK are available, but here is a BBC report:</span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #103cc0; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #103cc0; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210205-why-astrology-is-so-popular-now"><span class="s4" style="color: #103cc0;">https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210205-why-astrology-is-so-popular-now</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Into this burgeoning international demand, Prabhu Guptara’s “Pippa Rann Books” imprint is publishing the <a href="https://pipparannbooks.com/book/hindu-astrology/"><span class="s5" style="color: blue;">paperback version of Tony’s book, Hindu Astrology</span></a>.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The hardback came out some decades ago, but only in India.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The author, late Tony, was an Oxford PhD in Mathematics who went as a university teacher to India, where he was so intrigued at finding most highly-educated people allowing their lives to be ruled by astrology that he learned Sanskrit for the specific purpose of reading the texts in the original language, and writing an adequate history of Indian astrology as well as evaluation of it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Brief information on the book is attached below, in form of the full cover the book.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But of course the field is highly contested! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The honourable Supreme Court of India proclaimed in 2004 that astrology is a SCIENCE.</b></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="background-color: white;">On the other hand, </span>Madhavankutty Pillai argued in OPEN magazine (2011) that astrology is a HOAX - </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: underline;">openthemagazine.com/features/living/the-scientific-case-against-astrology/</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In a 2018 article in The Guardian, “I was an astrologer”, Felicity Carter concludes that astrology is a form of<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/06/i-was-an-astrologer-how-it-works-psychics"><span class="s5" style="color: blue;"> ENTERTAINMENT</span></a><span class="s7" style="color: #0e0e0e;">.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p6" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="color: black;">And here is a recent article arguing that astrology is a SCAM: <a href="https://madrascourier.com/opinion/digital-vedic-astrology-the-40-billion-scam/"><span class="s5" style="color: blue;">Digital ‘Vedic Astrology’: The $40 Billion Scam | Madras Courier</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Naturally not with reference to the articles mentioned immediately above but, in general, Tony concludes: “…it is a pity that many critics of astrology argue at a very superficial level. My purpose in this book is to shed some genuine light on the subject.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I hope the book will stimulate serious discussion about astrology.”</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do we need to start more knowledgeable debates and discussions on astrology?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Read the book and come to your own conclusions.</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-44078225987815188882023-12-12T00:27:00.000+02:002023-12-12T00:27:57.494+02:00Indian Arabica Coffee comes to Finland<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG5COASSZtNmRuYmIELIqGdKtL73df5fqUArH6ICsmj08VU3yaOpeC3jQZzNF8_RpMUHX8Nrh3UcNSpFmA_yHNJ7IElNGjEUoKWcOVR8uLwQpdrFhBxqQ4qn0hu4458icGf4EYbKHSrhQlf7A3fZsMZLx-eGy5stTbtLNTpuC-pSvnVOKRH1lig/s1440/IMG_6281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG5COASSZtNmRuYmIELIqGdKtL73df5fqUArH6ICsmj08VU3yaOpeC3jQZzNF8_RpMUHX8Nrh3UcNSpFmA_yHNJ7IElNGjEUoKWcOVR8uLwQpdrFhBxqQ4qn0hu4458icGf4EYbKHSrhQlf7A3fZsMZLx-eGy5stTbtLNTpuC-pSvnVOKRH1lig/w640-h640/IMG_6281.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">Balehonnur (Balanoor), Karnataka (Photo by KZ Kuriyan)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazS5pHUe-rkBa4Ot2HTSuZCzA5jkZZ4-CqvfuJmcwcl4CM9hWdjf7kcb_UIEHYE6iFMfYY5BSe-Y-VbOH4MOOHMIDjVaJY9kevTm4bj87_F4YCMT-6n1zjTZgZlBGpb1QX-U14rHkKDN1e8QDsBWPfVffWUn1X7IIQRkhDR6DA4NnWft0B1Mneg/s750/IMG_6276.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="750" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazS5pHUe-rkBa4Ot2HTSuZCzA5jkZZ4-CqvfuJmcwcl4CM9hWdjf7kcb_UIEHYE6iFMfYY5BSe-Y-VbOH4MOOHMIDjVaJY9kevTm4bj87_F4YCMT-6n1zjTZgZlBGpb1QX-U14rHkKDN1e8QDsBWPfVffWUn1X7IIQRkhDR6DA4NnWft0B1Mneg/w640-h616/IMG_6276.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This news report appeared on Newsmeter.in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc9nJ8Zsnaw7nwEBccKzGqMAbe76RWruOwR9QeroOcJrx18ZpmOZU3lYWmu3finTE-PMFKkB-RU_IcuRKzaa_2Yjcr2JYxDwX3kxLwiJaR-2vlTQ_UQZyCuFZIZFDTfpSuktnQuiQ7AzTgGRAhSFZBKqx6dt13o5JGPP3iEYzHNq_rP4IUdFT8w/s678/IMG_6277.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="678" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc9nJ8Zsnaw7nwEBccKzGqMAbe76RWruOwR9QeroOcJrx18ZpmOZU3lYWmu3finTE-PMFKkB-RU_IcuRKzaa_2Yjcr2JYxDwX3kxLwiJaR-2vlTQ_UQZyCuFZIZFDTfpSuktnQuiQ7AzTgGRAhSFZBKqx6dt13o5JGPP3iEYzHNq_rP4IUdFT8w/w640-h426/IMG_6277.png" width="640" /></span></a>Photo from the Newsmeter.in article<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vMzpri4iz9fqLUs3yiRbzuMXHZnAqkeUrXz4Dm3IGozfjPVjKy48XpUN84gN5_bq-PN_hQr74idQkgqlg9spcga9aGls44MCnEXvaH3yNlSC2m7xOfEsHXIXKYRTo9MXCkaPz1gD57U9HXyaUYjH7dBfFhI3yAHtSNRda7d-ci4731TIukFHAA/s894/IMG_6278.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vMzpri4iz9fqLUs3yiRbzuMXHZnAqkeUrXz4Dm3IGozfjPVjKy48XpUN84gN5_bq-PN_hQr74idQkgqlg9spcga9aGls44MCnEXvaH3yNlSC2m7xOfEsHXIXKYRTo9MXCkaPz1gD57U9HXyaUYjH7dBfFhI3yAHtSNRda7d-ci4731TIukFHAA/w536-h640/IMG_6278.jpeg" width="536" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeySYvcJhPOL-U8Tdy698oAvxhVcQucnnuNfGUjdwJ2CZ7kXK8QL2MVqNnT6Mtnz0ZOXiba_-fdktotQbqqKTfaO5HwJnvVpxt7oV27jpUBSzZjAULb82j8NtVZlzCnMx15xfMroQDRwEVoMdBI-3A0F5je3CtvR0mUrVJu16WpfQiEwd3FaYGg/s888/IMG_6279.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeySYvcJhPOL-U8Tdy698oAvxhVcQucnnuNfGUjdwJ2CZ7kXK8QL2MVqNnT6Mtnz0ZOXiba_-fdktotQbqqKTfaO5HwJnvVpxt7oV27jpUBSzZjAULb82j8NtVZlzCnMx15xfMroQDRwEVoMdBI-3A0F5je3CtvR0mUrVJu16WpfQiEwd3FaYGg/w540-h640/IMG_6279.jpeg" width="540" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been for years been telling our family in India that the Finns would love the coffee we produce in our estates as in Badra Coffee Estates, in which I am a tiny shareholder.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Finns are the real coffee </span><span face=""Google Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 28px;">connoisseurs</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> in the world. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>They appreciate a good reaonably priced coffee. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I recount an incident from 1992 when Annikki and I were visiting our daughteer, Susanna, who was studying in Exeter University in England.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As we walked down the High Street, Annikki smelt some coffee and was in the mood for a cup. There was s small kiosk on the walking street. We went in and asked the lady for the coffee which aroma Annikki had smelt.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After consuming it very slowly, she said that it was the most delicious cup of coffee that she had ever had. I told her that we could buy a kilo to take it to Finland.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I approached the lady and asked what was the price of the coffee. She told me that it was called <b>Blue Mountain Coffee</b> and it came from Jamaica. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The cost was Blue Mountain Coffee was €100 per kilo. </b>(Coffee in Finland at that time cost about €5 per kg.)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e9pdrEWkmLsKoOZe9wP3OEPcndY0Zxc6LXtjRHIepXa3I2fIALticVQLS_RpCnLuSIdUqfIA3mkzjDv9dbqYvJcnPdmOtwGJagszWb2fq0pXhN6XKG3uSAhtwPIIH-3iJCf8uoOFjf-o1d3kJNGfsyo-rdEd6KPo7BQOrpVJx7O_nQ0Xx90R3g/s756/IMG_6280.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4e9pdrEWkmLsKoOZe9wP3OEPcndY0Zxc6LXtjRHIepXa3I2fIALticVQLS_RpCnLuSIdUqfIA3mkzjDv9dbqYvJcnPdmOtwGJagszWb2fq0pXhN6XKG3uSAhtwPIIH-3iJCf8uoOFjf-o1d3kJNGfsyo-rdEd6KPo7BQOrpVJx7O_nQ0Xx90R3g/w334-h640/IMG_6280.jpeg" width="334" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I was literally <b>coffee-shocked </b>and opted to buy 100 gm for Annikki. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She drank it on special occasions for a year</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On her 60th birthday in 2004 I found it in the Oulu Coffee shop in the Market Place and bought her 200 gms. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki drank it for the next 5 years on special occasions till her 75th birthday. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">(She now only drinks coffee very occasionally!)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I also recall sending a cousin of mine the tender papers for the Finnish Army as the soldiers would revolt if they did not get their four times a day quota of good coffee.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span style="color: red;">I can imagine the Finnish soldiers stopping a war so that </span></b></span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">they could enjoy their brew! :-)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-989414478164017242023-11-29T16:02:00.007+02:002023-11-30T17:50:44.382+02:00Has O-India Ry been involved with Tax Fraud?<p></p><span>Annikki and I are not members of O-India Ry as we <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/08/why-we-terminated-our-o-india-ry.html" target="_blank">terminated our membership with immediate effect </a>when we witnessed criminal behaviour towards us by Board Members of the Association. </span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Just a few days ago, after the visit of our friend Shashank Subramanyam to Oulu, which we did not attend, we were sent a copy of the accounts of the performance by some friend as he wanted our comments. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The accounts appear to have been circulated to the Association members.</span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div>These accounts make hilarious reading!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>How can an Association give a grant to itself? 😂</b></div><div><br /></div><div>If that was the extent of the problem, that could be passed off as just ignorance.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">There is a more serious problem with these accounts.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Tickets were sold for this performance, directly and through the ticket sales service. </div><div><br /></div><div>When any tickets are sold in Finland for a public performance, there is an important aspect that value added tax (ALV) has to be collected and remitted to the tax authorities. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Withholding of such tax is tax fraud.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">Where is this liability shown in these accounts?</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Additionally, when an entertainer performs in Finland and is paid a remuneration, income tax has to be deducted and remitted to the tax authorities. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Why is this liability not shown in the accounts?</b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red;">This can also be a case of tax fraud!</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Recently, one prominent O-India Ry member posted a Facebook post which is very interesting!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPW9raJRQyBGLUp-sOtn4jz3elOIFFxhZP4-cA2uWzETMHUJKcENapsic2pqTtYAifZTebBn1m6mSkiWP72lSrstnnvXwAwxPEeQuQytcH5JFfE0u02BGQckIf-sA5FDQHpwykYLrtDweMgfseOjAiSNnXX6t5H9_aUkv5p-4UMI637gxzZF_mJw/s750/IMG_6131.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="750" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPW9raJRQyBGLUp-sOtn4jz3elOIFFxhZP4-cA2uWzETMHUJKcENapsic2pqTtYAifZTebBn1m6mSkiWP72lSrstnnvXwAwxPEeQuQytcH5JFfE0u02BGQckIf-sA5FDQHpwykYLrtDweMgfseOjAiSNnXX6t5H9_aUkv5p-4UMI637gxzZF_mJw/s320/IMG_6131.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span>Certainly, we too would wish this, but luckily being pensioners, we have paid our taxes while working and </span>are thus enjoying the benefits of having paid our taxes in full, and quite in excess of what we paid!</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div>In <b>May 1988</b>, the Indian Ambassador HE<b> </b> K. P. Fabian called me and said that a well known Kathak dancer would be visiting Finland. He asked whether would I be interested in organising a performance in Oulu. </div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB9gsd32zvwX_Lj-cwun0NP8d4edU9kBZeJfmIinLB-vt_8tFdv9sRICIl9f9xsVSsrOu0MP4qJvk1vBs_jxkzKAScgPiSTSFrHFkho-FY7MryqNHTgeKg6c4M1XkAe2jH4prvcAWHYbHpNDZhIJ1bTmW0Bq6qeK_TNQv5sn0AvyVilwwGaNlpw/s320/1986OuluKathakDakshaSeth1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="256" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB9gsd32zvwX_Lj-cwun0NP8d4edU9kBZeJfmIinLB-vt_8tFdv9sRICIl9f9xsVSsrOu0MP4qJvk1vBs_jxkzKAScgPiSTSFrHFkho-FY7MryqNHTgeKg6c4M1XkAe2jH4prvcAWHYbHpNDZhIJ1bTmW0Bq6qeK_TNQv5sn0AvyVilwwGaNlpw/w512-h640/1986OuluKathakDakshaSeth1.jpeg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span><span><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div>As we already had a performance by <b>Daksha Seth</b> organised by <b>Martti Antila, </b></span><span> a well known photographer in Oulu, the previous year and the <b>Oulu C</b></span><span><b>ity Hall</b> was packed to the brim with an appreciative audience, I said I would take on the challenge.</span></span><p></p><p><span>The first problem was to get a suitable auditorium. As the City programme for the year had already been finalised, no regular auditorium was available. </span></p><p><span>I looked around and found that if we did some adjustments, <b>the main lecture hall L1 in Oulu University</b> could be used. It had a capacity of around 500 - 600 seats.</span></p><p><span><span>Annikki and I set about the task of meeting all the right people and organising the budget. </span></span></p><p><span><span>With the cooperation of all the appropriate people we decided that we would not charge any entrance fee, because of the tax implications, and as we felt we could underwrite the expenses as the </span><span>lecture room was free for me and I could get the appropriate sound system from my local friends in the business. Also I got three furnished guest room apartments in the University for t</span><span>hem to stay.</span></span></p><p><span><b>Shovana Narayan</b> and her troupe of 5, including her singer sister, <b>Ranjana Narayan,</b> a Supreme Court Advocate, arrived in Oulu. I made sure they met all the important people of Oulu when they arrived.</span></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="background: repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><i>Shovana Narayan</i></span></p><div class="other-info" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="background: repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Shovana Narayan is one of the outstanding classical dancers of India. For her incomparable contribution to the Kathak style of classical dance, she has been decorated with several awards, including Government of India's coveted Padmashri and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. She has bestowed Kathak with dignity and enriched it with a deeper and wider canvas of expression and dimensions. She is at once, an explorer, a performer, a choreographer and an artiste par excellence, with values and a cause. The explorer and researcher within her have seen her author six books on Indian dance, which bespeak of intensity, depth and gravity. She has also worked closely with nationally and internationally acclaimed Indian and western dancers and musicians from various streams of art. Shovana's palette contains other media, including films and operas as well as being a dedicated guru whose disciples are creating their niche in the world of Kathak that once again bears testimony to the intensive training being imparted by her. She is also a senior serving civil servant belonging to the Indian Audits and Accounts Service (1976 batch). Married to Dr. Herbert Traxl, Austrian Ambassador, the two have a son, Erwin Ishan Traxl. Her younger sister, Ranjana Narayan, is a lawyer and a classical singer. Other books by the author: ˜Kathak: Rhythmics Echoes and Reflectioin- (Roly Publication); ˜Dance Legacy of Patliputra' (Publications Division, govt. of India); ˜Indian Theatre and Dance Traditions" (Harman Publications); ˜Performing Arts: A Policy Perspective" (Kanishka Publications); "Kathak" "A Handbook (Wisdom Tree Publication); "Indian Classical Dance" "A Handbook (Sterling Publication).</i></p></div></blockquote><p><span></span></p><div class="other-info" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="desc author-desc" style="background: repeat; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; max-height: 100px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p></div><p><span>That paid dividends as the auditorium was full, as Finns</span> turned up for the performance. </p><p><span><span>W</span><span>e were even able to have the University restaurant open during the intermission. We had a <b>children’s play area</b> for those who came with small children. We had a <b>Red Cross facility</b> on hand for any emergency.</span></span></p><span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0vT09A7GQC8a-NhANyPQxt-hhdnjpqhiX9hkyySBvTMQa8bJYjkqqI4biNcbFIAOcU_owUb83dixLg54jf9lPUGndJFr9_kCtKlpm5mRaU0qwU2ZX0-4-EM1gNs9ezobmw1zG5IRcfIbPRiRkPHnqMtRD8ETjGi22sN5AAYjW8Y-oyy7TxRQ-Q/s825/1990Shovana2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0vT09A7GQC8a-NhANyPQxt-hhdnjpqhiX9hkyySBvTMQa8bJYjkqqI4biNcbFIAOcU_owUb83dixLg54jf9lPUGndJFr9_kCtKlpm5mRaU0qwU2ZX0-4-EM1gNs9ezobmw1zG5IRcfIbPRiRkPHnqMtRD8ETjGi22sN5AAYjW8Y-oyy7TxRQ-Q/w564-h640/1990Shovana2.jpeg" width="564" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Shovana performing with Rev. Patrick Dickson </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>during the performance.</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWONjnTWiGgKsuO0_QmJFpgiGWKQhSlip_C-LsxaQKWo2ZgMf_EA78nQ8RDoexxgwhAb5mKSIU22FFl5Ras_LCHR7Gnc50LqfvKjf9muzTk4rlAH85rQiUX_QQADnMzAv7gAKnWzBULTumsCCRgxGSRn6G_dpmKOCNsgQFEoErqJJ9IkbNzNIhyphenhyphenQ/s921/1990Shovana8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="921" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWONjnTWiGgKsuO0_QmJFpgiGWKQhSlip_C-LsxaQKWo2ZgMf_EA78nQ8RDoexxgwhAb5mKSIU22FFl5Ras_LCHR7Gnc50LqfvKjf9muzTk4rlAH85rQiUX_QQADnMzAv7gAKnWzBULTumsCCRgxGSRn6G_dpmKOCNsgQFEoErqJJ9IkbNzNIhyphenhyphenQ/w640-h544/1990Shovana8.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Shovana’s troupe.</span></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NXqlz_UCWgqdvW-M63fumb8lvvmqSIAMUwcS-Zgh7DlbI7puKFvUyGAO3q7eEt6aQyrcXfi5f6my2tLWvfbb27lTOvuOYs7koxRrYYREI5rq7CXs2kvDvGQuthSm_FxB6tWyv8KhD2LlcQ1HmWBZa45tNswKb0QD9wUge5vDb7EmUp8N8dLxsQ/s917/1990Shovana9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="917" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NXqlz_UCWgqdvW-M63fumb8lvvmqSIAMUwcS-Zgh7DlbI7puKFvUyGAO3q7eEt6aQyrcXfi5f6my2tLWvfbb27lTOvuOYs7koxRrYYREI5rq7CXs2kvDvGQuthSm_FxB6tWyv8KhD2LlcQ1HmWBZa45tNswKb0QD9wUge5vDb7EmUp8N8dLxsQ/w640-h436/1990Shovana9.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shovana’s accompanists</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(All above photographs by Jacob Matthan.)</div></span><div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p8jJoDOTFUc3oQCsPJ6GX5eUZDC_DI_-PPp-bHD5uUArr9ANnRCCb6NloCmZ9j5idQJTaE0UJ1xclRRlO7lyY-N767EZS0qrVQUphBYl5LEBuQO_IDjyo8h_9QrtzILOGXU5zeQk5GSUdwQgpKclMwWGRBMbCO1XvyCAoORUU7awctAMJndYqg/s2506/28061998%20Shovana%20Narain%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="1562" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p8jJoDOTFUc3oQCsPJ6GX5eUZDC_DI_-PPp-bHD5uUArr9ANnRCCb6NloCmZ9j5idQJTaE0UJ1xclRRlO7lyY-N767EZS0qrVQUphBYl5LEBuQO_IDjyo8h_9QrtzILOGXU5zeQk5GSUdwQgpKclMwWGRBMbCO1XvyCAoORUU7awctAMJndYqg/w398-h640/28061998%20Shovana%20Narain%201.jpeg" width="398" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Picture from Kaleva newspaper reporting on </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Shovana Narayan’s performance.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTPhV4SJhD6AnjxhlmQlSjrgMuijCZ63lzfhLuHAUvqZ-6uoq7adyu5pnyikkKISzJeWYkKv7OPeerD-CrkQOwpsAqzY4thAKR6x92lVhg0hGadni2Q72WrNRH9yJcTp2WFeagE58Y6P6q1mkZCqmtZNxpZctjuVZoLqn-zen9BnRHVceml1bpA/s3456/28061998%20Shovana%20Narain%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="1730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTPhV4SJhD6AnjxhlmQlSjrgMuijCZ63lzfhLuHAUvqZ-6uoq7adyu5pnyikkKISzJeWYkKv7OPeerD-CrkQOwpsAqzY4thAKR6x92lVhg0hGadni2Q72WrNRH9yJcTp2WFeagE58Y6P6q1mkZCqmtZNxpZctjuVZoLqn-zen9BnRHVceml1bpA/w320-h640/28061998%20Shovana%20Narain%202.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Report from Kaleva which covered </div><div style="text-align: center;">Shovana Narayan’s performance.</div></span><p></p><p><span>The whole event was a success. It was duly reported by Kaleva. </span></p><p><span>Although the costs were minimal, we had important sponsorships in kind for the group, as we were not an official organisation, but whomsoever we asked put their hands out, generously, to help us. </span></p><p><b><span>Our Finnish friends took care of all the </span>formalities so we stayed within Finnish law!</b></p><p><span>Four years of groundwork by Annikki and me amongst the community had paid off. </span></p><p><span>From there onwards, whatever we arranged were successful events, always involving the whole of Oulu, which at that time covered just under 100000 people. </span></p><p><span>Every ethnic community joined us in making this and all other events successful, fostering the multicultural attitude we were promoting. </span></p><p><span>And remember, at that time <b>the only Indians in Oulu were my two children, aged 17 and 15, and myself</b>!</span></p><p><span>That comfortable situation prevailed for many years as no one was seeking glory. We were all working for our communities to be integrated into Oulu society.</span></p><p><span>The performance of our friend and international superstar, <b>Shashank Subramanyam, </b>in August 2011 was to a packed audience in <b>Valve</b> in the Oulu City Centre, where the hall of 175 was filled with even people standing at the doorway to hear him play.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 40px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><b>Shashank Subramanyam</b> </i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 40px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Shashank Subramanyam (born October 14, 1978) is an accomplished flutist from India, specializing in Indian classical music. Having displayed exceptional musical talent from a young age, Shashank began performing at the age of 6 in 1984 and has continued to showcase his artistry for over three decades.</i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 40px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>In recognition of his contributions to the arts, the Government of France honored him with the prestigious title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for the year 2022.</i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.5em 40px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Shashank is also noteworthy for being the youngest recipient of the Government of India's Sangeet Natak Akademi's senior award for the year 2017, and bestowed by the President of India at an investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.</i></p><p><span>We had active participation from not only <b>O-India Google Group</b> (not O-India Ry, which did not exist then) participants and wonderful suggestions from the local </span>Indians to make the event appeal to the Finnish audience.</p><p><span><b>Yrjö Mikkonen</b> (from the Finnish music academy) and his wife, <b>Shahnaz</b> (Head of the organisation looking after migrants to Oulu), made sure that all the technical and organisational arrangements were perfect.</span></p><p><span>Oulu City officials cooperated with us fully as they realised an international superstar had agreed to come to Oulu. </span></p><p><span>We even had the cooperation of the airline to ensure everything was perfect with no cost to our small community. </span></p><p><span>And the cooperation of our Indian Embassy was of paramount importance, although we did not request any financial assistance as we were not a registered society at that time.</span></p><p><span>We were all working for one goal to ensure that we had a perfect performance in Oulu. </span></p><p><span>No one was working to further himself or herself. </span></p><p><span>We had an Organising Committee headed by a Finn and composed primarily of Finns, those mainly in the Oulu music business. We had the cooperation of all the media, print and radio,.</span></p><p><span>The success of the event was evident.<br /></span></p><p><span>After that, the series of problems with my health from 2014 onwards caused Annikki and me to quietly withdraw from the organisational scene, but we continued to take part and help the organisers to conduct successful events.</span></p><p>But things changed!</p><p><span>In our post <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/08/why-we-terminated-our-o-india-ry.html" target="_blank">“Why we terminated our membership to O-India Ry"</a> speaks for itself.</span></p><p><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb1jaEDTtoGIWq-x6G-1sTHRJ5-QCLGqwUFHli918YQKXNt917rGmR4JVb3x9vhaUIeGoFNkfk4FQ4LOQBRoeZxo9u4Q4SlsPyqFinhMDljVCVnA_5Chbjao_Xgm3bF8YR-o-uPE6CDUhqg4B5XaVoKAS7f0ubepcx3Qf8t1dKdWGNgZTDed8bg/s960/IMG_4727.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb1jaEDTtoGIWq-x6G-1sTHRJ5-QCLGqwUFHli918YQKXNt917rGmR4JVb3x9vhaUIeGoFNkfk4FQ4LOQBRoeZxo9u4Q4SlsPyqFinhMDljVCVnA_5Chbjao_Xgm3bF8YR-o-uPE6CDUhqg4B5XaVoKAS7f0ubepcx3Qf8t1dKdWGNgZTDed8bg/w400-h400/IMG_4727.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span> <br /></span></p><p><span>The doom we predicted has hit the Indian Community of Oulu faster than we thought, and it has been brought on by itself. </span></p><p>It was decided to bring Shashank Subramanyam again to perform in Oulu. </p><p>As we did not want to associate with O-India Ry, we opted out of taking part in the event and informed Shashank the reasons, so our absence would not be misunderstood by our friend!</p><p><span><b>After pressurising every Indian in Oulu, night and day, less than 100 Indians (out of 500) turned up for the Shashank performance. The auditorium was less than a quarter full.</b><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">And out of 180000 Finns in the Oulu region, not even 30 turned out for this show!</span></b></p><p><span>There was utter confusion in ticket pricing (Euro 21, 23 and 28?), and also who could or could not attend. </span></p><p><span>Finns are cost conscious and not fools. They know when one is being cheated! </span></p><p><span>And advertising in Flea Markets and in Oulu University <b>showed total absence of sanity in the organisers. </b></span></p><p><i><span>People who go to Flea Markets go to save mo</span><span>ney! </span></i></p><p>Two Indian Oulu University students who visited us told us that they could eat pizzas for three days for that amount of money!</p><p><span>The poster they produced for the event was fine but how many Finns know the meaning of Raaga Murali? </span></p><p><span>Is it a common term as Classical, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, Rap or Rock?<br /></span></p><p><span><b>This was a true case of the blind leading the blind!</b></span></p><p><span>Such an event flop may have destroyed all the good work that has been put in for 40 years to get our Indian Community appreciated in Oulu. </span></p><p><span><b>Did Kaleva or any media even cover this event, (pre- or post) of an international artist.</b></span></p><p><span>Shashank, an international superstar, </span>performed to an empty hall. </p><p>I was told that the sound equipment was sub-standard or the people handling it were not able to understand the demands of this type of music.</p><p><span><b>Who takes the blame for such shambles?</b></span></p><p><span><b>Anyone of O-India Ry willing to stand up?</b></span></p><p><span>We noted that some were patting their own backs on social media trying to avoid telling the world the truth and what a mess they had made of this event!</span></p><p><span>These people have been ready to take glory for someone else's work but when it came to failure, everyone is running the 100 metres backwards at twice Usain Bolt's record.</span></p><p><span>In our case the behaviour of O-India Ry was criminal by the Board Members of O-India Ry. T</span>hat made Annikki and me to take the drastic step of terminating our membership with immediate effect.</p><p><span>In the case of the Shashank performance, </span></p><p><span><b>O-India Ry appears to have gone a step further in possibly committing tax fraud in Oulu. </b><br /></span></p><p><span>Is worse still to come?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red;">Was it prudent on Annikki and my part </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red;">to distance </span></b></span><b><span style="color: red;">ourself from O-India Ry?</span></b></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-40135636548540184092023-11-28T15:35:00.002+02:002023-11-29T18:40:58.588+02:00Remembering our loved ones<p> <span>Dateline 28th November 2023</span></p><p><span>(Posted on <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jacob's Blog</a>, <a href="https://cathedraliteheaven.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seventh Heaven Blog for Cathedralites</a> and <a href="https://koolertalk.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Kooler Talk (Web Version) Blog for St. Stephen's College alumni.</a></span></p><p><span>Cathedral & John Connon School 59ers have lost many of our ones in the last few years. </span></p><p><span>Here is a partial list of those from our 2969class who have passed on. </span></p><p><span>(I do not have any information about our lady classmates except dear Farhana. </span><span>I hope someone will update me on this.)</span></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><span><b>Ashok Ruia</b></span></p><p><span><b>Bala Parasursman</b></span></p><p><span><b>Dossu Pagdiwalla</b></span></p><p><span><b>Fali Dhondy</b></span></p><p><span><b>Farhana (Kably) Poonawala</b></span></p><p><span><b>Farukh Kanga</b></span></p><p><span><b>Flicky Shroff</b></span></p><p><span><b>Hasnain Chinwala</b></span></p><p><span><b>Indrajit Shah</b></span></p><p><span><b>Jacob Eapen </b></span></p><p><span><b>Jack Haskell</b></span></p><p><span><b> Jaswant Ghatge</b></span></p><p><span><b>Kurshed Balsata</b></span></p><p><span><b>Michael Colaco</b></span></p><p><span><b>Murali Balani</b></span></p><p><span><b>Naubir Mohindar</b></span></p><p><span><b>Pradeep Bhakar</b></span></p><p><span><b>Prem Goel</b></span></p><p><span><b>Ramesh Mirchandani</b></span></p><p><span><b>Virat Gidwani</b></span></p><p><span><b>Trevor Newnes</b></span></p></blockquote><p><span>I have deliberately left out from this list, one of our dearest, who was tragically lost 15 years ago, <b>Ashok Kapur</b>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu85SnpRC-L1jVR1wGwZmeUzGhShihlSXpyW55zFx7KBsJwybwmeg1BGsP951PaWP4Z3dP_2m8KEL2GPbRoym9DuaNz5jZYlyY5u7HcVDwkkw9dHbDzoOPdKI4faayPZhzUGducwavxuOHEbuKytDfeshkjkvGsVgsSGIXd0QT70AGFLtNMfCj/s1182/IMG_1030.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1182" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu85SnpRC-L1jVR1wGwZmeUzGhShihlSXpyW55zFx7KBsJwybwmeg1BGsP951PaWP4Z3dP_2m8KEL2GPbRoym9DuaNz5jZYlyY5u7HcVDwkkw9dHbDzoOPdKI4faayPZhzUGducwavxuOHEbuKytDfeshkjkvGsVgsSGIXd0QT70AGFLtNMfCj/w640-h582/IMG_1030.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>59erGolden Reunion Directory</b></div><div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bmKBNFua4uueNIIMerYgLMXvorQE4u5MUG0shOwExSTQE4l8Q4oCuQJ22GGJMQCxLmoe_Bwxgc9LMZ3WdaNIGhSJuD7ID5WkA7fenma4JY2e_Zpf362HekJvq6c6C-F6QkRKp1aMyNYqlZlaRwXD6147u1LVlBCV20OhgV_-ayHFefN1nysa/s1600/IMG_0785.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bmKBNFua4uueNIIMerYgLMXvorQE4u5MUG0shOwExSTQE4l8Q4oCuQJ22GGJMQCxLmoe_Bwxgc9LMZ3WdaNIGhSJuD7ID5WkA7fenma4JY2e_Zpf362HekJvq6c6C-F6QkRKp1aMyNYqlZlaRwXD6147u1LVlBCV20OhgV_-ayHFefN1nysa/w640-h346/IMG_0785.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Mumbai 59ers met as a memoriam to Ashok</b></p><p>At our 2009 Golden Reunion of 59ers, Annikki and I dedicated our Reunion Directory to Ashok with these pages:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZv4vBopsc8DQw3nTZcLJeWpDW173RCBEasQ0o-QdE2TZ7dDcNQlVQWAtfFTHPJYj3J9YpDdeRSJgPmC9c2K_hz5SINyxDl0euUBIQRAk6WX1Xw_v_2QU9FIXr8XUQyYFimMCwtekmhupSwDK1mECWJDuCr6VhyOXr9lJkSuTI6ii0wTIPgSn/s2180/IMG_6134.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="2180" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZv4vBopsc8DQw3nTZcLJeWpDW173RCBEasQ0o-QdE2TZ7dDcNQlVQWAtfFTHPJYj3J9YpDdeRSJgPmC9c2K_hz5SINyxDl0euUBIQRAk6WX1Xw_v_2QU9FIXr8XUQyYFimMCwtekmhupSwDK1mECWJDuCr6VhyOXr9lJkSuTI6ii0wTIPgSn/w640-h474/IMG_6134.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmksL271M9UGbSXDYDZBvlj4A1A240acMvobgZ03L0Or__j_XFx-T12A2V7X3d8BbLe35D4b5bTeIOwMt0ByXonHMOj9yQ6fjgkKC7GNok5srLMcoB2NeijCHU0n0skAeX324iEL0CpLAay1kOQ50_UDuonA6eZ72uWtX3frZQ8aBwFBBrbSL/s2820/IMG_6137.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="2820" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmksL271M9UGbSXDYDZBvlj4A1A240acMvobgZ03L0Or__j_XFx-T12A2V7X3d8BbLe35D4b5bTeIOwMt0ByXonHMOj9yQ6fjgkKC7GNok5srLMcoB2NeijCHU0n0skAeX324iEL0CpLAay1kOQ50_UDuonA6eZ72uWtX3frZQ8aBwFBBrbSL/w640-h458/IMG_6137.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIMuwZIP_xOuZhI72xLYQFwCvoVlAwKdsq38rdXVTTQNN1BmvXhJgBqGI9l_6lGvqfQaL6iGicafFkPZlxHbMKee2nDFISMKqj_1GeLDd1aKtQvNZkme-feU5pvTjoFb_9BELJ1lxnHnof6x-sR3A4q894Fp4JRn9t73JX12pTmGC87la0Gy5/s2619/IMG_6133.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2619" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIMuwZIP_xOuZhI72xLYQFwCvoVlAwKdsq38rdXVTTQNN1BmvXhJgBqGI9l_6lGvqfQaL6iGicafFkPZlxHbMKee2nDFISMKqj_1GeLDd1aKtQvNZkme-feU5pvTjoFb_9BELJ1lxnHnof6x-sR3A4q894Fp4JRn9t73JX12pTmGC87la0Gy5/w640-h470/IMG_6133.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>But besides Ashok, we lost many others during those fateful days, which has been brought to mind by <b>Rajiv Bhatia</b> on his Facebook page.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><span>26/11</span></div><div><div><div><span>Remembering the late - <b>Ajit & Monica Chhabria, Sunil & Reshma Parikh, Sanjay & Rita Agarwal, Rohinton Maloo, Mohit Harjani, Lavina Harjani, Anand Bhatt, Pankaj Shah, Vishnidas-Nilam-Gunjan Narang, Neeti-Uday-Samar-Kang, Rupinder Randhawa, Ashok Kamte, Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Tukaram Omble</b></span></div></div></div></blockquote><p><span><b></b></span></p><div><div><p><span>I also remember one of my other alumni from St. Stephen’s College with this post from our alumni Facebook page. </span></p><p><span>None other than the heroic <b>Ashok Kamte</b>:</span></p><p><span><b>Ashish Joshi</b> , the Moderator of our alumni Facebook page posted this.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>LEST WE FORGET</b></span></p><p><span>This is what my friend & college senior, Gary (Justice Anupinder Grewal), wrote in the memory of late Ashok Kamte (Gary's batchmate) a brilliant police officer who attained martyrdom on 26/11. Late Kamte was a friend & one year senior to me in the College .</span></p></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><p><span><i><b>ASHOK KAMTE</b></i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i><br /></i></span></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P1UqGILgYE1fd6tJ71WaLvi9YhVIFfLLCpJZij5Q1n920YXFXUiPHmVRioQExStSLxWOZAQYlrt6x3yVCIXGLvJOhWeQ5_rauMGsg28Uo0_5qRMYcVV7LQTVjQT0hbwZh5w7TGhmXu3gNuNLmvdvnlovgEcB-4N1Q-rgriT_fDflewDXsFna/s300/IMG_6140.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><i><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P1UqGILgYE1fd6tJ71WaLvi9YhVIFfLLCpJZij5Q1n920YXFXUiPHmVRioQExStSLxWOZAQYlrt6x3yVCIXGLvJOhWeQ5_rauMGsg28Uo0_5qRMYcVV7LQTVjQT0hbwZh5w7TGhmXu3gNuNLmvdvnlovgEcB-4N1Q-rgriT_fDflewDXsFna/w400-h280/IMG_6140.jpeg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div></div><div><p><span><i>I have been attending the annual St. Stephen's College, Reunion very frequently ever since I passed out of college in 1987. However, this year on 14th December, it was drastically different as it turned into memorial service for Ashok Kamte and I was entrusted the painful task of paying tribute to Ashok. </i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>It was a tragic personal loss as besides being my classmate in college and a friend, I had the privilege of living with Ashok and his family at his mother’s Flat in Hira Mahal on the Amrita Shergill Marg for about year while studying law. </i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>Ashok had joined us at St. Stephen's College for his Post Graduation after he had Graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Bombay. What stood him apart from the rest of the Stephanians was the enormity of his physical stature, which alongwith his quest for academic excellence was a rather unique combination. What surprised many was why is the National Power Lifting Champion pursuing Post Graduation at St. Stephen's. There is no preference for sports persons for admission in M.A. Little did they realize then that Ashok always strove for excellence, whether in the classroom or the playing field. He had single minded commitment to succeed. He was very happy when he was selected to the I.P.S. He used to say that he was meant for action and disliked other civil services for their bureaucratic file work.</i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>While training for the Power Lifting Championship, he would not compromise on his diet. As his mother would not allow him to have more than two eggs, due to its high cholesterol content he would buy a dozen eggs from the market, cook and eat them at his neighbour's house. He had broken three national records in Power Lifting and won half a dozen Gold and Silver Medals. He had also won the Bronze Medal in Junior World Power Lifting Championship. Power Lifting is one of the toughest sport and Ashok would train for hours in complete solitude. Despite his powerful build, he was extremely agile and could sprint quite fast. Besides his love for swimming and squash he would generate amazing pace and bounce while bowling on the rather placid College Cricket pitch at Morigate. He had played an important role in the victory of our team. </i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>Ashok was proud of the fact that he had the blood of two Martial Races the Maratha’s and the Sikhs. While his father is a retired Colonel settled in Pune, his grand-father was in the Imperial Police. His mother Mrs. Paramjit Kamte,, who now lives in Gulmohar Park is from the well known Bawa Family of Goindwal Sahib and is grand-daughter of Late Bawa Budh Singh of the Indian Service of Engineers. Bawa Budh Singh was the 14th descendent of the Third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Dass. When I called on Mrs. Kamte, she said that though she is proud of the fact that Ashok has become a National Hero yet at times she cannot comprehend that he is no more. He was the only male member in the family whom she could look forward in times of need. He had perhaps inherited his very fair features from his maternal grandmother Mrs.Surinder Bawa (maiden name Violet) an English Lady. His sister, Sharmila, a well known model and a ballet dancer, now runs her famous Dance Academy in Dubai. His wife, Vinita, stays at Pune alongwith his sons, Rahul and Arjun. Besides serving the U.N. Force in Bosnia, Ashok had also trained in Punjab for some time. </i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>Ashok was known for his high integrity and efficiency which was evident in his earlier stints in Maharashtra especially in Solapur, where he had brought an inflammable communal situation under control within a few hours. I had spoken to Ashok sometime back when as Commissioner of Police, Solapur, was in the news for bringing to book the local M.L.A who was flouting the law for noise pollution. Ashok had personally gone and arrested the M.L.A. from his residence at mid-night after the M.L.A. had earlier roughed up police officials. I had asked him whether he had really beaten up the M.L.A. He replied that if he had done so, the man would not have survived as though he no longer competed in power lifting but maintained regular exercise regime. It was his conscientiousness, patriotism and devotion to duty which made him the target of the terrorist attack at Mumbai. He was the Additional Commissioner, (East) and even though the area around the Cama Hospital(South) did not fall within his jurisdiction, he had reached there as he had undergone specialized training to handle terrorism and hostage situation. He would lead from the front and was not the kind to send subordinates to do risky jobs. He lived for others and had a proactive approach. He made the supreme sacrifice and attained martyrdom in the battle field and made his family, friends and the nation proud. "</i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>Anupinder Grewal</i></span></p></div><div><p><span><i>Additional Advocate General, Punjab (Now Judge, Punjab High Court)</i></span></p></div></blockquote><div><p><span>Let us each keep a moment’s silence, wherever we are, to honour of all our alumni. Founder’s Day for the school was November 14th. That for our college is 7th December. </span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">May all these dear ones friends </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Rest In Peace.</span></b></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-38068912619144542952023-11-26T22:58:00.002+02:002023-11-27T23:17:33.982+02:00Nokia Phone to the rescue!<p><span> I have been using the iPhone for over 15 years. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJ-JV3C6Bv7GG_5V7eXccFekwqBmtCgG7CctlHHkobPTKrEM4AaAAPgyeCU5gRs3xx4lXhCLDFEGOoK9zP0mYYKMKkRtxP4claPoNWJbZ9NBZYOQohtNklVeNIKuBQDi5gryX-4fztBeBGZFmPmPXYU4aRw9eesohGmjbqQY9KHqh58dSJ2aKA/s1689/IMG_6119.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="867" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOJ-JV3C6Bv7GG_5V7eXccFekwqBmtCgG7CctlHHkobPTKrEM4AaAAPgyeCU5gRs3xx4lXhCLDFEGOoK9zP0mYYKMKkRtxP4claPoNWJbZ9NBZYOQohtNklVeNIKuBQDi5gryX-4fztBeBGZFmPmPXYU4aRw9eesohGmjbqQY9KHqh58dSJ2aKA/w328-h640/IMG_6119.jpeg" width="328" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Old trusted Nokia, where the </span><span>keyboard has faded!</span></div></div><span><div><span><br /></span></div>Before that, like every Finn,had I was a Nokia phone user. </span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>There were intervals where I used Jolla and then went back to a Nokia, but came back to the iPhone. </span><div><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQofGx7iRO8N5AOfbRQSWHNXyBckn9gwQGlAVpluDrgaVzydmec3b1XXruvPeFTtoS2zhAsY0exJjGVXEmxtTYzCG-BhLJiBmUlF5hg9D32_fGCG3OYgf31NWzeugp7rqE0Auf3coOC4l7xlgPs2z6Km9RZH0ND9pCJB_RdA0jBIlVOLdk8vIaA/s2828/IMG_6120.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="2828" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQofGx7iRO8N5AOfbRQSWHNXyBckn9gwQGlAVpluDrgaVzydmec3b1XXruvPeFTtoS2zhAsY0exJjGVXEmxtTYzCG-BhLJiBmUlF5hg9D32_fGCG3OYgf31NWzeugp7rqE0Auf3coOC4l7xlgPs2z6Km9RZH0ND9pCJB_RdA0jBIlVOLdk8vIaA/w400-h380/IMG_6120.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Part of my collection of mobile phones from 1987: 2 Mobiras, Jolla, iPhone 4, Nokia clam shell, other 2 Nokia antiques, an Häger internet phone. (My only Samsung was lost in Helsinki and my Nokia 920 was lost at Delhi Airport.)</span></p><p><span>When my iPhone 4 gave up the ghost, my friends, <a href="https://cathedraliteheaven.blogspot.com/2023/11/looking-back-37-years-of-blogging.html" target="_blank">The Gang of 18</a> from around the world (<b>Canada, India, Israel, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA</b>) made sure I got an iPhone as a present so I would keep in touch with all my classmates. </span></p><p><span>It has been very reliable, till yesterday, when it refused to charge.</span></p><p><span>I was in a desperate situation, as I have several phones, right from the original Nokia, when it was called Mobira, but the problem was all of them are in a safe place but I did not know where the charging cables were.</span></p><p><span>It was a desperate search as without a phone I am dead to the world. With our two daughters, it is OK as they used FaceTime and we can call each other from my MacBook Air.</span></p><p><span>The problem was that to even call a taxi to go to the repair shop is a problem without a phone, as we are both house-bound. </span></p><p><span>I found some charging cables and played around till I found the one which matched one of my ancient Nokia phones. I got the phone charged. Then the problem was of getting my micro SIM from the iPhone to fit the Nokia. </span></p><p><span>I knew I had a lot of adapters, but when you want one, it is impossible to find it. Annikki’s grandfather had a saying that when one stops looking for something, it will just come to hand!</span></p><p><span>I found an old wireless adapter with an old SIM and in its old large holder frame. I fixed my mini SIM to that, and voilà, worked.</span></p><p><span>I called my taxi service. Annikki and I went right across town to the K-Citymarket in Rusko, where I knew <b>FONUM</b> has a service centre working on Sinday.</span></p><p><span>The two youngsters were most helpful. </span></p><p><span>While Annikki and I did our shopping they fixed my iPhone. They found some dirt had got into the charging port and they cleaned it out.</span></p><p><span>When we got back, it was working fine.</span></p><p><span>The charge was to be €25.</span></p><p><span>I asked them to change my Elisa home network connection to 5G from the present 4G, which was just €2 per month more than my present charge. I also bought a wireless <b>INSMAT wireless charging station</b>. No more dirt likely in the charging port! The boys did not charge me for cleaning the iPhone. <b>I got the charging station for just €4. </b></span></p><p><span>I bought a SIM card for my old trusted Nokia and now that is hanging next to my TV for hopefully another unlikely emergency..</span></p><p><span>The lesson learnt with this experience is that although I have everything to handle any situation, I have left everything disorganised after my health issues got to the foreground. </span></p><p><span>Now is the time to reorganise as I have all these beautiful gadgets, all sitting there a</span><span>nd I waste so much time when an emergency arises.</span></p><p><span>I am on 5G from tomorrow. I hope that will help get my blogs out faster. </span></p><p><span><b>I have some great news for our blog readers as we shall concentrate on a new schedule to help you get to the blog you want to read in a more organised fashion.</b></span></p><p><span>I have two new blogs lined up for December and a couple of older focused ones will come back on line, completely refurbished. </span></p><p><span>I will give you the calendar schedule shortly.</span></p><p><span>Here are the list of our blogs:</span></p><p><span>1. <a href="https://collectiblesbyannikki.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Collectibles By Annikki (Daily)</a></span></p><p><span>2. <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jacob’s Blog (Weekly)</a></span></p><p><span>3. <a href="Https://findiansbnews.blogspot.com" target="_blank">News (Weekly)</a> Findians Breaking News</span></p><p><span>4. <a href="https://malyakal.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Maliyakal Family Blog (New) (Weekly)</a></span></p><p><span></span></p><p><span>5. <a href="https://jmkandathil.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Kandathil Family Blog (New) (Weekly)</a></span></p><p><span>6. <a href="https://cathedralite.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Seventh Heaven for Cathedralites (Fortnightly)</a></span></p><p><span>7. <a href="https://oulubestbuy.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Oulu Best (Worst) Buy (Fortnightly)</a></span></p><p><span>8. <a href="https://jmpolitics.blogspot.com" target="_blank">JM Politics (Fortnightly)</a></span></p><p><span>9. <a href="https://findians.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Findians (Fortnighly)</a></span></p><p><span>10. <a href="https://findianseditorial.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Findians Editorial (Fortnighly)</a></span></p><p><span>11. <a href="https://findiansbriefings.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Findians Briefings (Fortnightly)</a></span></p><p><span></span></p><p><span>12. <a href="https://koolertalk.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Kooler Talk (Web Version) (Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>13. <a href="https://kamutembo.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Art of Kamutaza's Tembo (Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>14. <a href="https://chaff.blogspot.com" target="_blank">CHAFF (Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners) (Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>15. <a href="https://findiansbphotographs.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Photographs from Finland and India(Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>16. <a href="https://jmmemoirs.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Last Will and Testament (Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>17. <a href="https://movetheun.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Move The UN (Monthly)</a></span></p><p><span>18. <a href="https://mobilesnowman.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Mobile Snowman (Winter)</a></span></p><p><span>19. <a href="https://talkshowratings.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Talk Show Ratings (When news is available!)</a></span></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">Do stay turned for this BREAKING NEWS which we have scheduled for the next Finnish Independence Day on 6th December 2023.</span></b></p></div></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-91279702791082722842023-11-22T22:31:00.000+02:002023-11-22T22:31:44.729+02:00To enjoy a child, be a child!<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4-PMl1n6HdKHKdQ-JV3VJCFB1AvFBrREejISVmUqKZoD_LiejiBOTjrIzzzFp5TMKfhHVQARx1cERP0DZz2AucaMEl4Qefp0dsSyOpqV_kcvG4R4hcaaHqXpYXYUtovRZ0OD-Me7IB-xyZeuwRgF7G1n4GG7czK0JAY9eEyYL5oj8_KEBMTIhQ/s1687/IMG_6069.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="1116" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4-PMl1n6HdKHKdQ-JV3VJCFB1AvFBrREejISVmUqKZoD_LiejiBOTjrIzzzFp5TMKfhHVQARx1cERP0DZz2AucaMEl4Qefp0dsSyOpqV_kcvG4R4hcaaHqXpYXYUtovRZ0OD-Me7IB-xyZeuwRgF7G1n4GG7czK0JAY9eEyYL5oj8_KEBMTIhQ/w424-h640/IMG_6069.jpeg" width="424" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today, <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/09/living-and-coping-with-dementia.html" target="_blank">as I care for a person suffering from dementia</a>, I see there is a childlike behaviour that takes place progressively.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The first reaction would have been to become impatient with this behaviour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">But when Annikki was studying for the Montessori course, she could not type, whereas I had a good typing speed. She would wait till I got home. During the day she would research and prepare her notes. After dinner, she would sit by my side and dictate her notes to me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">That way I was fortunate to have a great teacher without any effort on my part as she got 98%, continuously for 3 years, for her work.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>But what is more important that God saw what lay ahead of me and taught me all that Montessori was all about, preparing me for what lay ahead. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">The main thing I learnt from her thesis is that the Montessori philosophy is that the <b>Child is the Fsther of Man,</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now as I care for my loved one, I believe She is the Father and I learn from her day by day, to laugh and be happy, happy just as the children she raised so lovingly over the last 56 years. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>She never <u>even once</u> got angry with them!<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWLC6egSF1wOvB93rDFVT2uJOCLCdEnQKNILWgUJOHHyQeRv9vgL0uKGnRILVLI9lUTM0eW89EFwbTFS6dCzONGiNkeeOUUn_Hm53APXRmybgwvemsPc-Rx-jDCvBnNB81VifsgoBXxWDaKviUMNd7ELc9i9HwVnurfGTnDFfSHKehyTMVbpmtA/s450/010517020AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="450" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWLC6egSF1wOvB93rDFVT2uJOCLCdEnQKNILWgUJOHHyQeRv9vgL0uKGnRILVLI9lUTM0eW89EFwbTFS6dCzONGiNkeeOUUn_Hm53APXRmybgwvemsPc-Rx-jDCvBnNB81VifsgoBXxWDaKviUMNd7ELc9i9HwVnurfGTnDFfSHKehyTMVbpmtA/w640-h558/010517020AM.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When today she repeats a story from her past, 20 or 100 times, I listen patiently. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When she laughs, I ask her what makes her laugh and laugh with her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was an impatient person, always wanting to get ahead in life. Annikki has always been a meticulous person and every thing she did, she knew the purpose.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have tried to become like her. I admire how she tackled my impetuousness and my desire to run before I could walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today I am calm and collected and enjoying her beautiful childlike behaviour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> When I am away from the room, she will call to ask where I am, just like a child calls for her father. I reply and she understands and is reassured that I am nearby. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">That is all I can do today, reassure her that love is nearby and at her service. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is a pleasure for me to know that I am not forgotten but always still in her thoughts!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just today a friend sent me a note which I reproduce below. R<b>emember, this is a two way street!<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <b>Nagma Khan</b></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 41); color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em 80px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">To enjoy life like a child you need to have certain other traits of a child. Some of them are listed below: (Please feel free to add more)<br style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; user-select: text;" /></span></i></p><ul class="q-box" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 41); color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; list-style: outside; margin: 0px 2em 1em 80px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;"><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Do NOT hold grudges </span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">- let go off anger and bitterness, they benefit no one and they will harm YOU the most.</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Find happiness in little things - </span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">you don't have to be a millionare or you don't have to be the successful person to be the most happiest. A happy person finds happiness even in the most simplest of things. Try and be happy with whatever you have.</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Do not be TOO content - </span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">well seemingly I am contradicting the previous point but actually I'm not. Just like a kid finds happiness in certain things but they are never too content, they are always on the move, venturing out to try new things. Similarly in one's life one should always strive to do better each day, learn new things,outperform themselves. As someone put it,</span></i></li></ul><blockquote class="q-relative qu-color--gray" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-user-select: text !important; border-color: transparent; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #636466; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em 80px; padding-left: 1em; position: relative; text-align: left; user-select: text;"><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; user-select: text; word-break: break-word;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">"Learn to be happy with what you have while you work hard towards what you want"</span></i></p></blockquote><ul class="q-box" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 41); color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; list-style: outside; margin: 0px 2em 1em 80px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;"><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Never give up</span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"> - just like a kid, no matter how many times you fall down, no matter how much you get hurt, always have the courage to get up and the faith to go on.</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Learn to trust -</span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"> one of the most remarkable things about kids I think is the way they can trust their parents, family, etc. That way they will have complete faith that no matter what happens, their loved ones will be there for them. If only all of us can trust our loved ones like that so many problems can be avoided.</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIXznH_IYZGDsUoug-d3VsuwLd8Jha08tKrpMhSRjmiaMmJHyrQgu1pQ2sUJGFKH0W-s99hJAR1dZHyFB4xBplVKFFz5-H2aZGmWsDpkgmwdKCVAAPMyxXSU5Pvfe1Br-OchvsoJ5kzesK2cZn9PZo1x91K6ezxelfiad2HKEivaOw49xDMwScw/s4032/IMG_0784.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIXznH_IYZGDsUoug-d3VsuwLd8Jha08tKrpMhSRjmiaMmJHyrQgu1pQ2sUJGFKH0W-s99hJAR1dZHyFB4xBplVKFFz5-H2aZGmWsDpkgmwdKCVAAPMyxXSU5Pvfe1Br-OchvsoJ5kzesK2cZn9PZo1x91K6ezxelfiad2HKEivaOw49xDMwScw/w480-h640/IMG_0784.jpeg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Annikki and her childlike laughter <br /></div><br /></span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Laugh a lot - </span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">yes, even at the most stupidest of jokes, even at your own miseries, with your friends or alone, just laugh away.<b> Laughter is an awesome medicine!</b></span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Think positive</span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"> - look forward to each day just like a child looks forward to an ice-cream treat, accept life as it comes and have a positive outlook, this change of perception works wonders!</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; user-select: text;">Pray -</span><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"> do it everyday just like kids do, it will give you the scope to reflect on your life and sort out many issues. If you are an athiest then you may try meditation. Cleanse your soul, your mind automatically clears out.</span></i></li><li class="q-relative" style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><i><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"> </span></i></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you Nagma Khan for this lesson.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">All these points above are the lessons that Annikki t<b>aught me 3 decades ago</b> when she was studying her Montessori course. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">Every evening, before we go to bed, Annikki, even in her childlike behaviour, will ask me to tune in on YouTube to a sermon from her church. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">She will listen for an hour to the pastor who talks the language of her heart. <b>Every word is pure gold to her!</b> </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;">Then I tune to an YouTube channel (a Canadian singer and violinist<b> Rosemary Siemens</b>) which plays soft hymns. There are hundreds of tunes, but even with dementia taking over her life, she can remember every tune, and she can silently aing thetunes she knows. (<i>Music is one of the last traits that vanish in dementia. As a child, Annikki sang all the time, and even today she tells me that when she went to school, in the class breaks, she sang continuously. And she had a beautiful voice.</i>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background: none; font-size: x-large; user-select: text;"><span style="color: red;">As she drifts into sleep every, I slowly dial down the volume. When she enters her deep sleep, I close the singing, knowing that she is at peace with the world</span>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-73087262449105789542023-11-20T14:18:00.002+02:002023-11-20T14:24:44.483+02:00Unravelling the Mechanics: Indians’ Perspective on International Indicies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Z1Sy2tfwupenoUYlOw95g8oW0dsXxA0oj6J9e3CBjfNx-U66yznj5_RS5cmPZ4xMQQHkxfHkp_Trnz7c7CK0PWl4pNFCJoUTwGRP_Or8zM-tuDLp-Sba19pEXAkK9SlkMnDFuwNafHix9rsaz_tNPPp6PrYgSR5Mhak2oRdVYY0U7b8DGrBLw/s3264/IMG_0518.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4Z1Sy2tfwupenoUYlOw95g8oW0dsXxA0oj6J9e3CBjfNx-U66yznj5_RS5cmPZ4xMQQHkxfHkp_Trnz7c7CK0PWl4pNFCJoUTwGRP_Or8zM-tuDLp-Sba19pEXAkK9SlkMnDFuwNafHix9rsaz_tNPPp6PrYgSR5Mhak2oRdVYY0U7b8DGrBLw/w480-h640/IMG_0518.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> In 2014, when Annikki and I last visited India, Delhi was reported as the most polluted city in the world. In one chapter of our book <b>“The Titanic Called India”</b>, we covered the report published in the international media.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the relevant text two pages from our 2015 book:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlWNpup3S-NKnh8Yae58dOgphWzXTtmG9UpunsjJmpfkepn4c1A__KZEbZalTN3bhSrAbth5ykoNhh2GOT96rWsbfrLPyYtOR_fJ-LdMGKiNMsTQEy1JUVjd_xMytXD2haAjGddFTQISjJaoL8dSktLEooJtR3gpsPfDCLCV1W2l3bV65eb0Bbg/s1045/IMG_6040.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlWNpup3S-NKnh8Yae58dOgphWzXTtmG9UpunsjJmpfkepn4c1A__KZEbZalTN3bhSrAbth5ykoNhh2GOT96rWsbfrLPyYtOR_fJ-LdMGKiNMsTQEy1JUVjd_xMytXD2haAjGddFTQISjJaoL8dSktLEooJtR3gpsPfDCLCV1W2l3bV65eb0Bbg/w461-h640/IMG_6040.jpeg" width="461" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70kNh77ohKobXdnqYN6HPURRWG7XRddKukTFyRYHqCxDndL3K-1SqTx-zJYa5A9BupfU8HzB0TlgD704NUechJr1TlmLKDdBKRamiQFWhOrkoShxMwPSp7SUwTshDhXgitMQU4NfWtLW2xq7skn15q2sKJ_Icycsz1XlBMgz2LZLhMoKKkPYDxw/s1046/IMG_6041.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70kNh77ohKobXdnqYN6HPURRWG7XRddKukTFyRYHqCxDndL3K-1SqTx-zJYa5A9BupfU8HzB0TlgD704NUechJr1TlmLKDdBKRamiQFWhOrkoShxMwPSp7SUwTshDhXgitMQU4NfWtLW2xq7skn15q2sKJ_Icycsz1XlBMgz2LZLhMoKKkPYDxw/w458-h640/IMG_6041.jpeg" width="458" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Vapi, in Gujarat , was reported in 2013 as being the most polluted location in India!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ZWojW85T7UGxVJT-QXn-5HgTF9K_EW0f20xE8OyMGhZ6i8m3vHA9-gJB2kaR_5BGvWV08kfb_9s679DxqrR8_VOHm9zREKhZZjIbp6M5ynU_nHs-L90aDrmNOcRRGl_Hvm0SspoZ0QhXAIT-vyVg0ENjGKceXsetZB8cG4CPD0XjslSgIG0bw/s500/IMG_1431.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="500" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68ZWojW85T7UGxVJT-QXn-5HgTF9K_EW0f20xE8OyMGhZ6i8m3vHA9-gJB2kaR_5BGvWV08kfb_9s679DxqrR8_VOHm9zREKhZZjIbp6M5ynU_nHs-L90aDrmNOcRRGl_Hvm0SspoZ0QhXAIT-vyVg0ENjGKceXsetZB8cG4CPD0XjslSgIG0bw/w640-h460/IMG_1431.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><p><span style="font-size: large;">These are the indicies of various human issues comparing India with Finland in 2022/2014 prepared by reputed institutes and organisations. (<a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2020/04/superlatives-of-country-finland-in-2019.html" target="_blank">See our blog entry about Finland and indicies.</a>)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GTUiRGB4JyZ9R-xJdFHEf-lXJxWY2TkFcaIIigXuB_AHWjQXGAS2lhCu2F2HLvZ9Z3gviSeH2iCqr7wHYGbmyvUF8uYf_TscK5t9TJBcQo7Vt8w9tOX1haZFVImESIUhA5CAQ-EM0bNosgzKZpgfHGHDU7oSa7CFI1LoqrOLLa1y9nkjVQbPig/s828/IMG_3101_Original.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="828" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GTUiRGB4JyZ9R-xJdFHEf-lXJxWY2TkFcaIIigXuB_AHWjQXGAS2lhCu2F2HLvZ9Z3gviSeH2iCqr7wHYGbmyvUF8uYf_TscK5t9TJBcQo7Vt8w9tOX1haZFVImESIUhA5CAQ-EM0bNosgzKZpgfHGHDU7oSa7CFI1LoqrOLLa1y9nkjVQbPig/w640-h482/IMG_3101_Original.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The cover of our<b> Titanic</b> book was also a reflection of the grave situation facing India. We tried, in an apolitical way, to highlight the enormous problems facing Indians and also how these were all being ignored.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The table below shows the change in some indicies between the period 2014 and 2022. (<b>The Modi period of Indian history.</b>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl6eCg4HRNjUJCw4fmtPBlx4iyVLMFzfYqib9honaESVqSJplPNEKiAM4jxGadIdPUwpkeqcDPzTUafqoUEKtiOU0ay0WwWCyYYR5VAZMoDuXveSPpTU312IbX0RNmzxPB5cMlG_I6ZgD4kGNoh1mlSZyjOnRP_bi-gMvVpAeWBh35HccA0G07w/s491/IMG_6005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="344" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl6eCg4HRNjUJCw4fmtPBlx4iyVLMFzfYqib9honaESVqSJplPNEKiAM4jxGadIdPUwpkeqcDPzTUafqoUEKtiOU0ay0WwWCyYYR5VAZMoDuXveSPpTU312IbX0RNmzxPB5cMlG_I6ZgD4kGNoh1mlSZyjOnRP_bi-gMvVpAeWBh35HccA0G07w/w448-h640/IMG_6005.jpeg" width="448" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Does anyone care?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki and I have no intention to visit India again as it would result<b> in sure death</b> by either one cause or another. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Even crossing a road in Bngalore is testing fate,</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our children and grandchildren are all over the world and none are likely to stay in India to risk their lives. They may visit the country to visit relatives and friends, but each visit will be short.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We pray daily for all those trapped in this cycle of self destruction!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>No one has any intention of doing anything about this. Their personal politics are more important t</span><span>han the country.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UOMwdERB0EJfHBKikLwdSA3F5g2FiMl_i7_RMNDmyx6dKb4BgEsk0MLHSnt8SPJmcLdEfWmefIcb3vB7tKDVokS2rV7o8N_lRuvb-3mLlqmYkfv3muqZYooJGI6dUoH6IeUQ0Wo1dseGTVSFmpBGPHpQKSlUAOc2TGCvUGACSN55HZTDTvcp2Q/s1800/IMG_6006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UOMwdERB0EJfHBKikLwdSA3F5g2FiMl_i7_RMNDmyx6dKb4BgEsk0MLHSnt8SPJmcLdEfWmefIcb3vB7tKDVokS2rV7o8N_lRuvb-3mLlqmYkfv3muqZYooJGI6dUoH6IeUQ0Wo1dseGTVSFmpBGPHpQKSlUAOc2TGCvUGACSN55HZTDTvcp2Q/w426-h640/IMG_6006.jpeg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sardar Patel Statue (The Statue of Unity - Rs. 3000 crores)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-pz0dztaz7UExEia6RWzATls7CIOg7XRIMZbIL9s-7yZMvo3IgxVAoJYSUJQyT7E_GzFicZtxHDdTMR50YKmjjuPHJTcKbz3oD6CFQTNZUFOkcE7eclwyY537DMTVvXlMqt5cFwr2CiXfUsM1Chd87xh5yGuaW_vy1AtZNOFIIYHKyUqFy57ug/s650/IMG_6007.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="650" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-pz0dztaz7UExEia6RWzATls7CIOg7XRIMZbIL9s-7yZMvo3IgxVAoJYSUJQyT7E_GzFicZtxHDdTMR50YKmjjuPHJTcKbz3oD6CFQTNZUFOkcE7eclwyY537DMTVvXlMqt5cFwr2CiXfUsM1Chd87xh5yGuaW_vy1AtZNOFIIYHKyUqFy57ug/w640-h394/IMG_6007.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Ayodah Temple (Rs. 18000 crores)</div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MCECXck56TCDMX0w_Mrz3chF1-dkVIVYi2epnhswLNYhIM4RpIHe6S6jUOZWhKKvmK5-UnN-5GDOm7wMU5hLSzr4DQUXZzlsboYvRTu4g3h-68T25IvvHyU37MxTr9xKNIBjw5IERHbON7ysEPIstsiD_fKN-xgolMzp6cbcULW4PoYwCFnkzQ/s298/IMG_6009.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="298" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MCECXck56TCDMX0w_Mrz3chF1-dkVIVYi2epnhswLNYhIM4RpIHe6S6jUOZWhKKvmK5-UnN-5GDOm7wMU5hLSzr4DQUXZzlsboYvRTu4g3h-68T25IvvHyU37MxTr9xKNIBjw5IERHbON7ysEPIstsiD_fKN-xgolMzp6cbcULW4PoYwCFnkzQ/w640-h363/IMG_6009.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Narendra Modi Stadium (Cost Rs. 800 crores)</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ1Ka0newJrZr3b_aSaIKDB3bynv7mtOOr4m26nl6geEkvtrw7LMRe3O5v9JHO_5JkqST0OmyYHYlO9ncoYLgxTt2j2pUs_pmKWsDb4lrC-_NYoFuXUaK_AltG39z18GlNXafT0nBq_5MIZJdNjdgLjID_OK1ZFe4S3SvCjEOXaCPfZM0OFVzIA/s231/IMG_6008.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ1Ka0newJrZr3b_aSaIKDB3bynv7mtOOr4m26nl6geEkvtrw7LMRe3O5v9JHO_5JkqST0OmyYHYlO9ncoYLgxTt2j2pUs_pmKWsDb4lrC-_NYoFuXUaK_AltG39z18GlNXafT0nBq_5MIZJdNjdgLjID_OK1ZFe4S3SvCjEOXaCPfZM0OFVzIA/w604-h640/IMG_6008.jpeg" width="604" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">New Indian Parliament (Rs. 839 Crores)</div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And take the cost of Modi's international trips over his first 5 years which was Rs. 254 crores. (<b>Former Prime Minister spent Rs. 642 crores between 2004 and 2013, 9 years.)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And when India was the chair of the G20, Rs. 4100 crores was spent by the country for self-aggradisation.</b><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">What appears is important is spending huge amounts of taxpayers money on building statues, temples, stadiums, changing names of parks and cities, foreign trips and hosting conferences. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/10/india-andor-bharat-name-controversy.html" target="_blank">The next priority is changing the name of the country which will cost well over Rs. 12000 crores.</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These are all more important than the well being of the Indian people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And what is said about the tragedies that are plaguing India, taking with it the lives of innocent Indians.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvjHT9pjBSystcAINVTDAN3_CESpiQQzH9NyK8owJV3DvZbNaT-DYbFlzvmzArTfSxwXuApnY-rt4WDE4Sf428ILEXpFwy3G1WrO2_el3mtU98oXMDgH8RWUKbXT2z4S6LJGThW47WAdavF7U3_1cT9G08HPYoxK0_BOXAA4_k2nf6ZwfyOsRsQ/s976/IMG_6010.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvjHT9pjBSystcAINVTDAN3_CESpiQQzH9NyK8owJV3DvZbNaT-DYbFlzvmzArTfSxwXuApnY-rt4WDE4Sf428ILEXpFwy3G1WrO2_el3mtU98oXMDgH8RWUKbXT2z4S6LJGThW47WAdavF7U3_1cT9G08HPYoxK0_BOXAA4_k2nf6ZwfyOsRsQ/w640-h360/IMG_6010.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Odisha train tragedy</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzTNRpM6xJi-va_Etzv-xwPLcbBPL3tTvTOSg-USQGD6sHb6Cil7vYhyphenhyphenQYX2BhZuFgQ_zwDC644XgMlUUTCTZHH2SGgWn5rqz8LJt-QdK0QJp-ED0oal3TjtXW7CfewPoeQcbBhepTbOVUfhQxu3zzX_clLR_2rTSMB0MuzSufiPdk44qtDhQnQ/s300/IMG_6011.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzTNRpM6xJi-va_Etzv-xwPLcbBPL3tTvTOSg-USQGD6sHb6Cil7vYhyphenhyphenQYX2BhZuFgQ_zwDC644XgMlUUTCTZHH2SGgWn5rqz8LJt-QdK0QJp-ED0oal3TjtXW7CfewPoeQcbBhepTbOVUfhQxu3zzX_clLR_2rTSMB0MuzSufiPdk44qtDhQnQ/w640-h358/IMG_6011.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Manipur burns</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOEsh_O46IpVXTyuXy_JGssfawKUPaKYn4hJzPpdljCEc_SHR1Kqjws-yV67gWld6RcqWPwjSTFB72mcRZh-DcO_cE7qe1ABoi51lvH8Src6YWOo6rgl56SMRISACvkSKyP1cGSAYn9DZkEPNNzUBNh9-go24nP18rvnmr_64gvpYMxVwU0-Ofg/s259/IMG_6012.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOEsh_O46IpVXTyuXy_JGssfawKUPaKYn4hJzPpdljCEc_SHR1Kqjws-yV67gWld6RcqWPwjSTFB72mcRZh-DcO_cE7qe1ABoi51lvH8Src6YWOo6rgl56SMRISACvkSKyP1cGSAYn9DZkEPNNzUBNh9-go24nP18rvnmr_64gvpYMxVwU0-Ofg/w479-h640/IMG_6012.jpeg" width="479" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Utrakhand tunnel tragedy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz89a6V4cdlPeBhyphenhyphenaCkHTrAyEZ3_oVgu6eDi2Q_0Xzqe0TkreFjj5nb1n5QJ77kBrAqgIEwX64CUezgHEEeMbkV7fdh8RzYUZehN2GQpxWfikLz_4O93xc9nM2Hhr2lBpio5DgqwI-VzU4CNkBhRQ0IeBsb_8K7p4WHQvfW687-ZnnHmEZihKQ/s696/IMG_6042.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="696" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMz89a6V4cdlPeBhyphenhyphenaCkHTrAyEZ3_oVgu6eDi2Q_0Xzqe0TkreFjj5nb1n5QJ77kBrAqgIEwX64CUezgHEEeMbkV7fdh8RzYUZehN2GQpxWfikLz_4O93xc9nM2Hhr2lBpio5DgqwI-VzU4CNkBhRQ0IeBsb_8K7p4WHQvfW687-ZnnHmEZihKQ/w640-h366/IMG_6042.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div>Death in Gujarat hooch tragedy</span><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="976" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa18nS8x5zMW6e33ovk4V6AXV1zZhBzkReXS6USB4Zi5X-e2o-54IM43UREVic1_OeLLy_pyNm0U1g_9i7XT3-RzsI060HW8YtXvVMs3uzZsm0mFRhuVA0Nd8IFVqOpNyHFevBhVrS-_jD18ulQ3DqxwWIJ8YDYUUQT2FVem_TXu8Pxvzbtqlog/w640-h426/IMG_6043.jpeg" width="640" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gujarat Morbi Bridge tragedy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All these tragedies are conveniently quickly forgotten as well as the major issues faced by India, <b>so beautifully captured by my friend cartoonist, agricultural scientist from Bangalore, Bala, (Professor J. Balakrishnan).</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TIfXeClqbUTtFPYaPILUdX46HA21jsbgqUWtbVaS98nvVl47_sH5L7aiIAssHKhSDz6uiJfaDpkbRZgc1MhqUcimp5Kz1Y_lwBbeKaUalqlLRU8ShAyzm6EUXkMa168BlD3BCMetYyJbPyAp9RFDk9usC7rCwFXzaeG2bgLGRf_VDXtGdUppKg/s517/IMG_4912.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="374" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TIfXeClqbUTtFPYaPILUdX46HA21jsbgqUWtbVaS98nvVl47_sH5L7aiIAssHKhSDz6uiJfaDpkbRZgc1MhqUcimp5Kz1Y_lwBbeKaUalqlLRU8ShAyzm6EUXkMa168BlD3BCMetYyJbPyAp9RFDk9usC7rCwFXzaeG2bgLGRf_VDXtGdUppKg/w462-h640/IMG_4912.jpeg" width="462" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us remember that 26th November is Constitution Day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBttQsoucEuKfAF8rWU9xCuEPbYZSzSM76C5vtEU490VTvbt5sTGNNq8ocjUi2qb9nPqxcFWgdu4c0_HdIqTElctlNRs39jPRKcpQXNuLqwv72NC6Vsmk2SKukcGHwRU87qNQEN-Ca0dSiHYs9_yt36RGIP_5jDxrkOX8eGQF5XZRxqRVWgoFGA/s508/IMG_3456.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="508" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBttQsoucEuKfAF8rWU9xCuEPbYZSzSM76C5vtEU490VTvbt5sTGNNq8ocjUi2qb9nPqxcFWgdu4c0_HdIqTElctlNRs39jPRKcpQXNuLqwv72NC6Vsmk2SKukcGHwRU87qNQEN-Ca0dSiHYs9_yt36RGIP_5jDxrkOX8eGQF5XZRxqRVWgoFGA/w640-h452/IMG_3456.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But who cares about the Indian <b>Constitution</b> and the “western” conspiracy against India with all these <b>"false indicies"</b>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Let us, as Indians, truly believe that India is the </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>most secular, educated, free, democratic, healthiest, </b></span><span style="color: red; font-size: xx-large;"><b>non-misogynistic, </b></span><span style="color: red; font-size: xx-large;"><b>happiest country </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: red; font-size: xx-large;">in the world! </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;"><i><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Isn't it?</span></u></i></b></div><br /></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-14620269181394576922023-11-20T00:29:00.001+02:002023-11-20T09:44:26.806+02:00Ravi Shastri wrong, Harsha Bhogle right!<p><span style="font-size: large;"> Australia walked away today with the ICC World Cup today.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2x2zq4tTt1-Tu2-RXbPEXPPaveBRk8lvafEYqdj5V27YRibeu1ejrLOb77t8cL1tuOSuKCfZef6rLp-Slr3aFdEdshd8LPUqp4lh2Ffyngw0Y-Mc6hZdAEAKWVGqeiGnnaYC0oRb8ter3bz4a5_ZLbwGXMcnfEcXBxNtuPqMG-Ph9r0PlcHLXA/s2084/IMG_6031.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="2084" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2x2zq4tTt1-Tu2-RXbPEXPPaveBRk8lvafEYqdj5V27YRibeu1ejrLOb77t8cL1tuOSuKCfZef6rLp-Slr3aFdEdshd8LPUqp4lh2Ffyngw0Y-Mc6hZdAEAKWVGqeiGnnaYC0oRb8ter3bz4a5_ZLbwGXMcnfEcXBxNtuPqMG-Ph9r0PlcHLXA/w640-h408/IMG_6031.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwpo_kM19z9Yx1w8YHRQNCe9hzRMQB6PUa6FNncPLj3yLUO1UEeIpgG94EYVIdkfgaKQs-ERDjNjVbpIJTLBYsoTUXTRT-XR1ZcPtUjUZuh0UTwlTewuXTLs_vhbZHuT-JJI8enrIl4eb-nxlck46SQVDfIevpHez9owXfgXZq2mfCPD1uynKoQ/s1462/IMG_6023.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1462" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwpo_kM19z9Yx1w8YHRQNCe9hzRMQB6PUa6FNncPLj3yLUO1UEeIpgG94EYVIdkfgaKQs-ERDjNjVbpIJTLBYsoTUXTRT-XR1ZcPtUjUZuh0UTwlTewuXTLs_vhbZHuT-JJI8enrIl4eb-nxlck46SQVDfIevpHez9owXfgXZq2mfCPD1uynKoQ/w640-h418/IMG_6023.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Before the semifinals of the tournament, <b>Harsha Bhogle</b>, India’s No. 1 cricket commentator, made a statement that he thought India had peaked too early. He was shot down quickly by <b>Ravi Shastri</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/11/cricket-world-cup-may-thebest-team-win.html" target="_blank">Today’s final was exactly as Harsha</a>, )and I), had predicted. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Rohit, Virat and Rahul, played their roles. but Gil, Iyer, Jadeja and Suryakumar were exactly the disappointment that I knew would occur.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ELjT9MEBjKUs0qa7b53LkUpAI8t1TcQXQXYbmyhJR1UyCDSPcfRLoP8INEapW1_O7Rac5BvfQipBf_Yq19JjqmaURE7_IY3nek08RVwzg66U6wBtX-PUez3LIDf8XeIkZ1C_yRQkrhKB8erJDXce-ijOPRY3XV9NwSOlpha7XiyxxeKrxUdhgA/s749/IMG_6015.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="749" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ELjT9MEBjKUs0qa7b53LkUpAI8t1TcQXQXYbmyhJR1UyCDSPcfRLoP8INEapW1_O7Rac5BvfQipBf_Yq19JjqmaURE7_IY3nek08RVwzg66U6wBtX-PUez3LIDf8XeIkZ1C_yRQkrhKB8erJDXce-ijOPRY3XV9NwSOlpha7XiyxxeKrxUdhgA/w400-h224/IMG_6015.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was happy to see that even in a non-traditional cricketing state in India, Kerala, people had turned out to sit under the trees to watch the final, and this was beautifully covered by Manorama TV.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S7dqUjS2Pa1fAuVngm17JJwoqQKxDWKyJ2aiOowyFqGD2NB1MNCiveNjOCprFAXnC600Ts2VcBgt6g5Lu2jmmxMgWFIi2ugIa49gxjKu9-C_PGa92QoasDn5Pr1ziT2qJ3XCxihnr9LCKmayGeNdjFOdYy0yj7r7e_bJiPJItDdw0xaSdPEiXQ/s960/IMG_4290.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S7dqUjS2Pa1fAuVngm17JJwoqQKxDWKyJ2aiOowyFqGD2NB1MNCiveNjOCprFAXnC600Ts2VcBgt6g5Lu2jmmxMgWFIi2ugIa49gxjKu9-C_PGa92QoasDn5Pr1ziT2qJ3XCxihnr9LCKmayGeNdjFOdYy0yj7r7e_bJiPJItDdw0xaSdPEiXQ/s320/IMG_4290.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnG0JY9JSGtBdbNaShQKfS_cDWkTVPLLxX2LwqZvSzFbS7axtJ-QS2Eb6uZcg3q7oEtTA38BgR7syHD-nxEe_UZiqveIsghQL8-TBmTWhYaaw5rFWLBixDE8nowtSvzmhC9_xzYdBDMKqcI26LIwAVjXModv9ygZWbqiR-cTpaJI1fKo0jwCU_w/s720/IMG_4682.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnG0JY9JSGtBdbNaShQKfS_cDWkTVPLLxX2LwqZvSzFbS7axtJ-QS2Eb6uZcg3q7oEtTA38BgR7syHD-nxEe_UZiqveIsghQL8-TBmTWhYaaw5rFWLBixDE8nowtSvzmhC9_xzYdBDMKqcI26LIwAVjXModv9ygZWbqiR-cTpaJI1fKo0jwCU_w/s320/IMG_4682.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My grandfather, late K. C. Mammen Mappillai, would have been proud that when he translated the very first article I ever wrote, when I was just 9 years old (71 years ago), which he translated to Malayalam and had it published in the newspaper, has now resulted in <b>Sanju Samson</b> hitting the high spot in Indian Men’s Cricket, closely followed by <b>Minnu Mani</b>, in the Ladies game. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsAg3yKTg0j_2FBM184cRM2XJV-YfCbxdQJA2d7piOlFQbOf_vQB-FdsAjBQBjwV9JBwF9vESxJ5HrLS-OPKchTtphx9kcgXL3kuW1bq-eQoTryB5GE3i_A3-rruYK__4ROruQf6jwB5YemGAAuniKa_yKktS_biHKxJV_EVYfsQs421gPqcxWQ/s300/IMG_6036.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsAg3yKTg0j_2FBM184cRM2XJV-YfCbxdQJA2d7piOlFQbOf_vQB-FdsAjBQBjwV9JBwF9vESxJ5HrLS-OPKchTtphx9kcgXL3kuW1bq-eQoTryB5GE3i_A3-rruYK__4ROruQf6jwB5YemGAAuniKa_yKktS_biHKxJV_EVYfsQs421gPqcxWQ/s1600/IMG_6036.jpeg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Minnu Mani</div></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Minnu is the first Kerala lady player to play for India and was the leading wicket taker in the series against Bangladesh.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Coming back to World Cup final, the brave decision to choose to field after winning the toss was credit to Pa</span><span>t Cummins. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Gil never got going. This was a clear sign of what lay ahead. Rohit and Virat played their roles well, but Rohit as captain, should have shown some more maturity. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The absolutely fantastic catch by Travis Head showed t</span><span>hat the Australians were not going to roll over. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Australians were throwing themselves everywhere, reducing 4s to 2s and ones. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fielding was exceptional and as I have said earlier, it is the fielding that wins games.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With Rohit going, closely followed by Iyer, it was becoming clear that India was not going to reach the par score of 300. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29bAn4srz5CnqyMkVwb45_J9FURboWeI8eiueMpbXaYjTf8oDoctInzAhbUeiafAPA8rxfWPnEvlc7CxWeA2Qyq1bVIP4ad4cjjr0-oSLjfDD4MaMLygQ83R1uCA4rMtK2t3gO90D38p7n5hbK7144Ij1F0RhWgGgVkrKV79w6CRxROrx0rnzRQ/s1702/IMG_6022.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1702" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29bAn4srz5CnqyMkVwb45_J9FURboWeI8eiueMpbXaYjTf8oDoctInzAhbUeiafAPA8rxfWPnEvlc7CxWeA2Qyq1bVIP4ad4cjjr0-oSLjfDD4MaMLygQ83R1uCA4rMtK2t3gO90D38p7n5hbK7144Ij1F0RhWgGgVkrKV79w6CRxROrx0rnzRQ/w640-h356/IMG_6022.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Thi brilliant catch by Travis Hesd to send off Rohit showed the mood of the Australians. <b>They were playing TO WIN.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The procession that followed with the absolutely outstanding team work of the Australians. meant that the Indians could not put a foot in the door.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Restricting the Indians to just 240 meant the Australians did not have a dagger over their heads and they could go about their work with a precision that they are renowned for. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qn3H1i0B4kJCempysqs7j1RQeXZN33Ih6tUhBDTIR1u3stnzKMd_yytWwJCMGqBMCqqOS9IuasQ3-GEicDca_LUcVhIQn293ffozrkC27DrzUOqDa1N332El6czgqRuTXLtvJxFewND1GprJWd8qASinPhUVrPvIT7chDz7UNwEP6XzvbHrU6g/s1247/IMG_6021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1247" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qn3H1i0B4kJCempysqs7j1RQeXZN33Ih6tUhBDTIR1u3stnzKMd_yytWwJCMGqBMCqqOS9IuasQ3-GEicDca_LUcVhIQn293ffozrkC27DrzUOqDa1N332El6czgqRuTXLtvJxFewND1GprJWd8qASinPhUVrPvIT7chDz7UNwEP6XzvbHrU6g/w400-h300/IMG_6021.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No heroics were necessary and the confidence shown by Travis Head in his batting, which earned him the Player of the Match Award, was an example of cool composure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sad that India lost, but I concur fully with Harsha Bhogle who said that the Indian side had not been exposed fully and, therefore, they were unprepared for a reversal of fortunes in any game.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do not blame the Indian bowlers, as the pitch turned in character at the innings break. Even if they could bowl at their best, they were in the sights of clever Australian batting which had sufficient depth not to be rattled by a couple of reversals, exactly the opposite to the under-exposed Indian side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my humble opinion, Ravichandran Ashwin, who is one of the most well-read players in Indian history, should have been in this side. Not only would he have been an asset in the batting, he would have read the pitch and adjusted his bowling better than any of his colleagues</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>You may have on paper the best side in the world! However, knowledge was what was lacking in today's performance by India.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-2690184944281158932023-11-18T16:56:00.001+02:002023-11-18T17:44:08.535+02:00Reflecting on your dietary preferences!<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> <b>I found this certificate from 1977.</b></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Irso9qhoRzwhEXrqcPIO1Ig2TvLaiqf3JAYSADNJTvuUUcItawLX8vh7PYcqsO-we6oCHGIZFMysng5yWefTr_RyiaThUjF2in5gCudQ3uib08rVaQNdKSBzl_8aDUQ0LzTf6XNeC1wBgo6PTdpfCZJmszSrbWlGlp3rNw7nHWisq0AbYnZXg/s2616/IMG_5620.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="2616" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Irso9qhoRzwhEXrqcPIO1Ig2TvLaiqf3JAYSADNJTvuUUcItawLX8vh7PYcqsO-we6oCHGIZFMysng5yWefTr_RyiaThUjF2in5gCudQ3uib08rVaQNdKSBzl_8aDUQ0LzTf6XNeC1wBgo6PTdpfCZJmszSrbWlGlp3rNw7nHWisq0AbYnZXg/w640-h438/IMG_5620.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki won the First Prize in a Bangalore Exhibition cum Cookery Contest on <b>"Wheat, Milk and Milk Products”</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Her entry was a vegetarian cake based on using yoghurt instead of egg. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was truly and delicious.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Although we are ”non-vegetarians” this is a very broad term. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki, on Christian religious grounds, does not eat, pork, prawns, as they are considered, by her religioius sect, as taboo. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pigs, crabs, lobsters and prawns are considered as scavengers and, therefore, unhealthy for human consumption. (Other Christians claim that God stated that there is a contrary view in the Bible.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">More clearly the biblical prohibition can be stated as follows;</span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“</span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 130%; background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); color: #040c28; font-size: large;"> </span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 130%; background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); color: #040c28; font-size: large;">Prohibited foods that may not be consumed in any form</span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 130%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(71, 71, 71); color: #474747; font-size: large;"> include all animals—and the products of animals—that do not chew the cud and do not have cloven hoofs (e.g., pigs and horses); fish without fins and scales; the blood of any animal; shellfish (e.g., clams, oysters, shrimp, crabs) and all other living creatures that ...”</span></i></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Annikki’s Christian religious order,<b> The Seventh Day Adventists</b>, are considered among the healthiest people of the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here are extracts from her book published in 1994 </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>“…for the hour of his judgement is come…” (The Holy Bible Revelations, 14:7).<br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ryhBE6__u3ZAquaMCfQtSD_L4E6pTvDZwAkJ9xmls6ViQsuB86215ZVNT9xwjcBZD9SVzEU9d8umlvDcROWflJdoCkskNqJfHrWdhiTJhQfGfUFHB4nnUqhJ5vG__2j7sHK5VFNuC_0nn8U_xOJcAPr55jth8cXn85PcyJc_lkMxkWjx0rNUqQ/s1084/Scan%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1084" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ryhBE6__u3ZAquaMCfQtSD_L4E6pTvDZwAkJ9xmls6ViQsuB86215ZVNT9xwjcBZD9SVzEU9d8umlvDcROWflJdoCkskNqJfHrWdhiTJhQfGfUFHB4nnUqhJ5vG__2j7sHK5VFNuC_0nn8U_xOJcAPr55jth8cXn85PcyJc_lkMxkWjx0rNUqQ/w640-h347/Scan%201.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrSdiRCb1qrPP3YIh_IhFBOpdA1EbGtosYRLReHWlLEoUXbpM38V6q8VaP9jrXbwm5XfpFJyj4u-UbMN0PQE8wC-xK41lE2_7-DY1uJ4XpokYXSCciiWTysFoQaIvhj74mfdlfwytiEJB336LfZAHhEuNgNZKv9NEsIKnIoeqJBpeO1QD4UTnA/s2686/Scan%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1787" data-original-width="2686" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGrSdiRCb1qrPP3YIh_IhFBOpdA1EbGtosYRLReHWlLEoUXbpM38V6q8VaP9jrXbwm5XfpFJyj4u-UbMN0PQE8wC-xK41lE2_7-DY1uJ4XpokYXSCciiWTysFoQaIvhj74mfdlfwytiEJB336LfZAHhEuNgNZKv9NEsIKnIoeqJBpeO1QD4UTnA/w640-h426/Scan%203.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: large;">I eat everything which I personally do not think disgusting! For instance, rats, snakes, and eels are not very appetising. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I prefer South Indian Vegetarian cuisine, some of which is common to Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra and Telengana.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4t5U9d0b6srrBEjCo8SYKUHAZCD5a-NoZz0JE9HXJdtNeMU2jaM8pHzf1sAQ64oTWwz3MNYVaLNeWbm2Gy-WWe9f8Fh4QrJtdrYVaN4-HvBKH9t-5SN6SlrDw4ihQlhPVOFlA0DDoycqmcm81p7yb-cCKrEe8Iw0fXRenAxhqTs6mrRVt-Bn6Q/s116/IMG_0864.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="116" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4t5U9d0b6srrBEjCo8SYKUHAZCD5a-NoZz0JE9HXJdtNeMU2jaM8pHzf1sAQ64oTWwz3MNYVaLNeWbm2Gy-WWe9f8Fh4QrJtdrYVaN4-HvBKH9t-5SN6SlrDw4ihQlhPVOFlA0DDoycqmcm81p7yb-cCKrEe8Iw0fXRenAxhqTs6mrRVt-Bn6Q/w640-h491/IMG_0864.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Masala dosai served with sambar and coconut chutney<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80VrKEBwf0Nly8xpA_vRbEl2O08sXtxS-Jjw110doKZwh0TIzyjnT-HIMMN8Al_WqlKzITVJGqLQ2qm0-aIXgVLeNIhviacyoXPvwr7SCS3tR9nuYqbVVDozZIiew_QC5mt-NfUHSa7tB-zG2CqnRHCMuy2DdpePywFaXSSFUcULmAj02POF8Bg/s132/IMG_0865.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="99" data-original-width="132" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80VrKEBwf0Nly8xpA_vRbEl2O08sXtxS-Jjw110doKZwh0TIzyjnT-HIMMN8Al_WqlKzITVJGqLQ2qm0-aIXgVLeNIhviacyoXPvwr7SCS3tR9nuYqbVVDozZIiew_QC5mt-NfUHSa7tB-zG2CqnRHCMuy2DdpePywFaXSSFUcULmAj02POF8Bg/w640-h480/IMG_0865.jpeg" width="640" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vada surved with coconut chutney <br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPHV7w9XB_ZBinLAfcVpsLKjQFGtCKjr2sohIKzxtLDJOgXE4c832kVdPlPOQ4l831d8dbvrhAaTpzfqR_on75lU4xqwTGBe-IeyYgT7XGj6a2casbisGhXPkoChdwc9k93tUR3f-vIMI4ix6gR7rnEq9y8p-pMkvPeNrxd8BK8VDUz8_3rRskg/s130/IMG_0866.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="130" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPHV7w9XB_ZBinLAfcVpsLKjQFGtCKjr2sohIKzxtLDJOgXE4c832kVdPlPOQ4l831d8dbvrhAaTpzfqR_on75lU4xqwTGBe-IeyYgT7XGj6a2casbisGhXPkoChdwc9k93tUR3f-vIMI4ix6gR7rnEq9y8p-pMkvPeNrxd8BK8VDUz8_3rRskg/w640-h482/IMG_0866.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Idlis (rice cakes) served with sambar<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Non-vegetarian, eggitarian, vegetarian, and vegan. These are four distinct dietary choices that people make based on their personal, religious, cultural, ethical, and health considerations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">While each category has its own unique characteristics, they all play a significant role in shaping individual lifestyles and the broader food industry.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Non-vegetarian, as the term suggests, refers to individuals who consume meat and animal products as part of their regular diet. This category includes people who enjoy a variety of meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and seafood. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Non-vegetarian diets are commonly seen in many cultures around the world, where meat-based dishes form an essential part of their traditional cuisine. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Advocates of non-vegetarian diets often argue that meat provides essential nutrients, such as proteins and essential amino acids, that contribute to muscle growth and overall health. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">However, it is important to ensure that the meat consumed is sourced from sustainable and ethical farming practices to minimize environmental impact.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">But the word non-vegetarian is stretched by some. Especially in West Bengal in </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">India where they eat fish and call it the “vegetable of the sea”.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN1gzq4GpYjO59x8444jwRyX2QHEtSdd9FU-vVxGV2cPHb3WgLvuYN9jsza30MQwNEf_Gwh5oZdkg6iWP7U8t6OR1sVIsVpSo-exXWwKOODw8yM2Wimf5XZFKBuKFqq47E6C6hDOH4QnJ7cY9WD9YYPHW_lduOwM0gZYJZ5OynMaGcfefSCZSHQ/s1214/IMG_6003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1214" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN1gzq4GpYjO59x8444jwRyX2QHEtSdd9FU-vVxGV2cPHb3WgLvuYN9jsza30MQwNEf_Gwh5oZdkg6iWP7U8t6OR1sVIsVpSo-exXWwKOODw8yM2Wimf5XZFKBuKFqq47E6C6hDOH4QnJ7cY9WD9YYPHW_lduOwM0gZYJZ5OynMaGcfefSCZSHQ/w400-h341/IMG_6003.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></span><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">My favourite fish dish is the special fried Pearl Spot fish (Malayalam:<b> Karimeen</b>). </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Every time I land in Cochin/Ernakulam, I will go to the Grand Hotel restaurant and order this fish and have my full of it.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">When we were little children and came to Cochin by train, we would go to a </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">sea front hotel cum restaurant and order this fish and only then carry on our journey to Kottayam by car.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Here is the recipe for Masala Pomfret (which is used mored commonly that Pearl Spot fish) from the famous culinary expert of Kerala, <b>the late Mrs. K. M. Mathew.</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOcMX-7hb4CbGAk80HtQrbwduog1PLO-_JY2EFnCTqjk9NtfllbdrRK3394vOjryBcNDpw1-Qdb39RHZwNhCCbCWLRBGN-6uQwGvjLvFt95edeykeQouTBPR93znrNiGT0oLPNfOVujVRMeZ0qTdxFQGG5D_ewmZ7qYW2kWQpCpbYOWS9Ocextg/s480/Scan%205%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="480" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOcMX-7hb4CbGAk80HtQrbwduog1PLO-_JY2EFnCTqjk9NtfllbdrRK3394vOjryBcNDpw1-Qdb39RHZwNhCCbCWLRBGN-6uQwGvjLvFt95edeykeQouTBPR93znrNiGT0oLPNfOVujVRMeZ0qTdxFQGG5D_ewmZ7qYW2kWQpCpbYOWS9Ocextg/w640-h246/Scan%205%202.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3T6v8Vk-QDPBBtKY9gkCuPsucEhXCSg8QCapCfSi2QtNHo7C-FiLyvwPDPpj43mWUxWOIoFlEnTwg6PPUNV8-47k0YJ2ik9B1j-yhHMoppDHOn_xvreqp9hM2zsaYUq7shin7P5-vCBZZ2eoeGuR2R2MVDSLGWU2p7x9QMnoorBkH6gDsAJxQA/s481/Scan%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="481" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3T6v8Vk-QDPBBtKY9gkCuPsucEhXCSg8QCapCfSi2QtNHo7C-FiLyvwPDPpj43mWUxWOIoFlEnTwg6PPUNV8-47k0YJ2ik9B1j-yhHMoppDHOn_xvreqp9hM2zsaYUq7shin7P5-vCBZZ2eoeGuR2R2MVDSLGWU2p7x9QMnoorBkH6gDsAJxQA/w640-h332/Scan%204.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a revised recipe as in the old days her recipe used 9 red chillis, and was one of the two spiciest Kerala dishes, the other being the red chilli curry, usually eaten with steamed tapioca.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQFpN2Owy2C0Jl77px_kiTv7p3-c0hf74j8wlCDdx5OHHrNhLHu1sZ538OUZScN4TlbW1EQ4iNuK2TiujP0EhNZfrcSQwjmqblaQ5Cvwjd26zjWJ-Z6TRHUIs79QcdRRJIh38xLnRFZwWXDK88a6fZHkEK_xd82hab02ZKImEljcNI_WsvtuE9Q/s1080/IMG_6004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQFpN2Owy2C0Jl77px_kiTv7p3-c0hf74j8wlCDdx5OHHrNhLHu1sZ538OUZScN4TlbW1EQ4iNuK2TiujP0EhNZfrcSQwjmqblaQ5Cvwjd26zjWJ-Z6TRHUIs79QcdRRJIh38xLnRFZwWXDK88a6fZHkEK_xd82hab02ZKImEljcNI_WsvtuE9Q/w640-h640/IMG_6004.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is often thought that India is a vegetarian country. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This map recently published shows this to be false and only 29% of the country are vegetarians. (Only 3% of the people of Kerala are vegetarians unlike 75% of Gujarathis.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most eat lamb (mutton), chicken and fish. The majority of Indians do not eat beef as the cow is a religious symbol to some as it provides milk. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is difficult to understand as the best milk in India comes from the buffalo and not the cow, <b>so why is the buffalo not considered a religious symbol. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But faith is what it is and it should be a personal choice to be respected.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is also ironical that one of the largest exports from India is beef, and some of the largest exporters are the very people who hold the cow as their religious symbol. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But such ambiguities exist everywhere in India, which is a patriarchal society <b>which only gives respect to women on paper.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The men in India are the best examples of cowards. </b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A recent study showed that when it comes to giving human transplants to even close relatives, men will run the 100 metres backwads superfast, under some pretext, and push their womenfolk forward as the donors. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">The
eggitarian diet is a relatively recent term that emerged to describe a
category of individuals who consume eggs but avoid other forms of animal
meat. Eggitarians obtain their primary protein and nutrient source from
eggs, all while abstaining from meat, poultry, and seafood. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">This
dietary choice allows individuals to enjoy a range of dishes that
incorporate eggs while maintaining a balance between animal protein
intake and ethical considerations. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Some eggitarians may choose this diet
due to personal taste preferences, religious beliefs, or environmental
concerns associated with large-scale livestock farming.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Vegetarianism
involves the exclusion of meat, poultry, and seafood from one's diet.
However, vegetarians still consume products derived from animals, such
as dairy and eggs. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">This dietary choice encompasses various
subcategories, including lacto-vegetarian (consuming dairy but avoiding
eggs), ovo-vegetarian (consuming eggs but avoiding dairy), and lacto-ovo
vegetarian (consuming both dairy and eggs). </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Many vegetarians adopt this
lifestyle for a combination of reasons, including animal rights,
environmental concerns, and health benefits. Numerous studies have
suggested that well-planned vegetarian diets can provide all the
necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals required for a healthy
lifestyle, while also reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Many vegetarians will avoid eggs during their religious festivals, such as Pongal and Diwali. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Recently we were invited to <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-delicious-gujarathi-evening.html" target="_blank">a truly wonderful Gujarathi feast</a> by a couple in Oulu, making one wonder with such and array of great vegetarian dishes all over India, why it is necessary at all to be non-vegetarian.<br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63iSS3nFOw1VmWPZyVao0gOneTbyLzuMf7cW8Cu-ie9-2RQKXYnmh3sJZe67Wm-Hz154HM5wJDTVJMioni7gOHGjAgKVdk2nUEQITr3iHaCo4heEonlDLfxowJGVH05hSvdAGX1eEBzWowdOGjri9GgtBRa6_aQK4q_kV8NEWIuiVuECJZ0z_iQ/s2016/1af5f23e-9b5b-46f0-9f1b-a94d56910308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63iSS3nFOw1VmWPZyVao0gOneTbyLzuMf7cW8Cu-ie9-2RQKXYnmh3sJZe67Wm-Hz154HM5wJDTVJMioni7gOHGjAgKVdk2nUEQITr3iHaCo4heEonlDLfxowJGVH05hSvdAGX1eEBzWowdOGjri9GgtBRa6_aQK4q_kV8NEWIuiVuECJZ0z_iQ/w300-h400/1af5f23e-9b5b-46f0-9f1b-a94d56910308.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BMDxyYUvY_uz7ORwxZellxUHM_Hh_F1N_6Dbr3Msh_eQMz3lbkG-jUjpJR5kvzfYRzBz1HH3H3ya1Ilc95Iv0GxUVI8KlBKP6utGMBaNgwjk7oX3O-V27vViWeQbbCqYPWSXCBimii9GFh9kl5c0iQ-TPt6xmL_VJsIeTFVI7fSl_DJUjaDtiQ/s2016/4e016ec3-318a-4a47-bc94-501f936db3c9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BMDxyYUvY_uz7ORwxZellxUHM_Hh_F1N_6Dbr3Msh_eQMz3lbkG-jUjpJR5kvzfYRzBz1HH3H3ya1Ilc95Iv0GxUVI8KlBKP6utGMBaNgwjk7oX3O-V27vViWeQbbCqYPWSXCBimii9GFh9kl5c0iQ-TPt6xmL_VJsIeTFVI7fSl_DJUjaDtiQ/w480-h640/4e016ec3-318a-4a47-bc94-501f936db3c9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1nd52I1kx-9Nd4RTkDQtj3CaZN7aTio2_5olK9N5H8ZbQPMDvc1NNslZ2LbRKulyIEgHoI2P3ES9PIQ-f7vFYpWyHFCGpBLYIiGGdS5tgekX3ujx21zK-eON2vGgqTCwcdAZdVVK3faht1tl6SdYYxI6yHitBgjAZFa4pQZ6JUPjYD3c3EDTLQ/s2016/5a91ea22-0a14-49ce-8bc6-f87933a09fc6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1nd52I1kx-9Nd4RTkDQtj3CaZN7aTio2_5olK9N5H8ZbQPMDvc1NNslZ2LbRKulyIEgHoI2P3ES9PIQ-f7vFYpWyHFCGpBLYIiGGdS5tgekX3ujx21zK-eON2vGgqTCwcdAZdVVK3faht1tl6SdYYxI6yHitBgjAZFa4pQZ6JUPjYD3c3EDTLQ/w300-h400/5a91ea22-0a14-49ce-8bc6-f87933a09fc6.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">A super Gujarathi vegetarian meal served to us in Oulu.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">Veganism is perhaps the strictest form of plant-based diet and lifestyle, excluding all animal-derived products. Vegans not only avoid meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs but also eliminate dairy, honey, and any other products that have an animal origin or involvement. </span></p><br /><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">The primary reasons people choose veganism are ethical concerns for animal rights, environmental conservation, and personal health. By abstaining from animal-derived products, vegans aim to improve animal welfare, reduce carbon footprints, and promote a cruelty-free lifestyle. While ensuring proper nutrition on a vegan diet may require more careful planning and supplementation, many vegans assert that their decision brings various health benefits, including lower cholesterol levels, reduced risk of heart disease, and better weight management.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Non-vegetarian, eggitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets represent an array of dietary choices with unique characteristics and motivations. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Each category reflects personal preferences, cultural backgrounds, ethical beliefs, and health considerations. Understanding and respecting these different dietary choices is crucial as it promotes inclusivity and allows for a more diverse and sustainable food culture. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">One persoanl note is that many faiths also have different forms of fasting. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Christians fast during theperiod of Lent, between Ash Wednesday and easter, as a memory to te fact that CHrist fasted in the wildrenerss for 40 days when he was repeatedly tempted by Satan. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Christians do not actually fast during that period but give up some of their favourite food and the money saved is given to charity.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Muslims fast during the period of Ramzan, forom morning to evening, somer not even swalloewing therir own saliva.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Other religions do fasting in relation to the religious festivals associated with them, ands most are also associated with some health issues.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">Coming back to Annikki's religious sect, they are not only vegetarian, but also do not consume coffee, tea, alcohol or any harmful drugs. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;">There is a more radical form of Christianity which believes that God will take care oif everything and do not even go to doctors!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span style="color: red;">Ultimately, the decision to adopt any particular diet and life style is a deeply personal choice that influences not only individual health but also broader environmental and ethical concerns.</span></b></span></span></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-41471687510013229762023-11-14T15:31:00.001+02:002023-11-14T16:05:06.536+02:00Cricket World Cup - May thebest team win<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb7qfR5JkhlSPu_iM5JkL8fyPtl-KZmhp2L6Ouw2EEBXQQ4KGLw2Vbw5fj94PYVImJCn1IuG__cBWT-Ns3uiRQhwHH5XV6Bhj4EYiv-3y1XkaZH-vf_JYo_9bexEnDnWH8kj7VnBJZeqnFr_kykFceQDMprWull7a_Uf3KMen5KNi6kSkPFbd9g/s550/IMG_3396.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb7qfR5JkhlSPu_iM5JkL8fyPtl-KZmhp2L6Ouw2EEBXQQ4KGLw2Vbw5fj94PYVImJCn1IuG__cBWT-Ns3uiRQhwHH5XV6Bhj4EYiv-3y1XkaZH-vf_JYo_9bexEnDnWH8kj7VnBJZeqnFr_kykFceQDMprWull7a_Uf3KMen5KNi6kSkPFbd9g/s320/IMG_3396.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MGsVqTBNgU1INYchsbRkwhrUmiUULv8WynU8zTOQNzwprnb2oqVIVaCzIousSpmpZZ_MAye0xyXQ-XdcbNItm6E_bIDWc-SRW7lCWsgwzo00P2nxmHKW2RpURnWoa9fToHxdKrh3aZfq1SB6fi5sUy0f3IQyfneuB-tMZmOjy7c7Vbo3-6bBKA/s960/IMG_4292.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MGsVqTBNgU1INYchsbRkwhrUmiUULv8WynU8zTOQNzwprnb2oqVIVaCzIousSpmpZZ_MAye0xyXQ-XdcbNItm6E_bIDWc-SRW7lCWsgwzo00P2nxmHKW2RpURnWoa9fToHxdKrh3aZfq1SB6fi5sUy0f3IQyfneuB-tMZmOjy7c7Vbo3-6bBKA/s320/IMG_4292.jpeg" width="159" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b>Two fabulous catches by Sanju Samson</b></span></div><span><br />Being a Sanju Samson fan, I was greatly disappointed that he was not chosen in the Indian World Cup squad. He sadly has no godfather in Indian Sport!</span><p></p><p><span>I was also saddened that my school alumni from Bishop Cotton School, Bengaluru, Mayank Agarwal w</span><span>as not in the squad.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr_oqSH4kviRbC3DmTjoA1No-QHGjzfoKmLgluU-AGmm1AbqtsEhVjtHjX-1JeiacJ3FEG_sTlJswn06O2yzraNptOLDAHsNhpWFqqvmJlvzzKQg5i8bCjTOoUIkAc6guI7613p6LycXB6cp7HulJv4zdPooiQIJz7kjLNx6Slr8hejWNCpXThw/s2435/IMG_4916.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2435" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr_oqSH4kviRbC3DmTjoA1No-QHGjzfoKmLgluU-AGmm1AbqtsEhVjtHjX-1JeiacJ3FEG_sTlJswn06O2yzraNptOLDAHsNhpWFqqvmJlvzzKQg5i8bCjTOoUIkAc6guI7613p6LycXB6cp7HulJv4zdPooiQIJz7kjLNx6Slr8hejWNCpXThw/w400-h236/IMG_4916.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Iuf03Xjo8rwNaqw0bJqXoY7ht_s_MBVp15mcXHItBK4gnjbItyGRGFzOuIRipnPGJdspLVMnCSZiTzfWEXjl-UQpOSFwA250ZD_gvJZUo7_0rJ8UZgg1PibUqjyXgVpqRCtB0EL880exmCPOLEGjygZQ6M5P0imN6-hgHpOyB2S2A9Vad_pJAg/s2838/IMG_4918.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1670" data-original-width="2838" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Iuf03Xjo8rwNaqw0bJqXoY7ht_s_MBVp15mcXHItBK4gnjbItyGRGFzOuIRipnPGJdspLVMnCSZiTzfWEXjl-UQpOSFwA250ZD_gvJZUo7_0rJ8UZgg1PibUqjyXgVpqRCtB0EL880exmCPOLEGjygZQ6M5P0imN6-hgHpOyB2S2A9Vad_pJAg/w400-h235/IMG_4918.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMWH4jjM3L8aWvUWDpw7IWsvtrGha1zWZ-85EuhUzZtzLY5mG6QbfpPepUoJY8lbwyTdqp_787M4oevrYD2OdAqmzjg_egLsrVceQe6CGmASsFDfjRONLtUNMgROE7CJ2_52u0F7Lmrr_VNqStkG7xSFvFmPmnqWl9dCa1-s1qP7ZWQwRIDVO_g/s1624/IMG_4923.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1624" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMWH4jjM3L8aWvUWDpw7IWsvtrGha1zWZ-85EuhUzZtzLY5mG6QbfpPepUoJY8lbwyTdqp_787M4oevrYD2OdAqmzjg_egLsrVceQe6CGmASsFDfjRONLtUNMgROE7CJ2_52u0F7Lmrr_VNqStkG7xSFvFmPmnqWl9dCa1-s1qP7ZWQwRIDVO_g/w400-h185/IMG_4923.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTienWMNendFRRhcHcV45PmS0LNmxFb9pNrAPge0t0qpQzMClc4Ymxwk1OyNbEDc13nMRS8yU2WJHAGGwBpv6lH9yNqDoyBKYK_TdTUR6CFOaDydXo1e4VrMezcirlRs7jB7invxXOswJtD6gw8B_Ny12dyud-lp8q7MI-1QnxBvbetcFEeO5e2A/s1624/IMG_4924.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1624" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTienWMNendFRRhcHcV45PmS0LNmxFb9pNrAPge0t0qpQzMClc4Ymxwk1OyNbEDc13nMRS8yU2WJHAGGwBpv6lH9yNqDoyBKYK_TdTUR6CFOaDydXo1e4VrMezcirlRs7jB7invxXOswJtD6gw8B_Ny12dyud-lp8q7MI-1QnxBvbetcFEeO5e2A/w400-h185/IMG_4924.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pathetic turn out for World Cup games.</b></div></span><p><span>As I have already blogged, I was also very disappointed with the organisation of the first match and lack of a decent opening ceremony. As I asked <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2023/10/cricket-world-cup-is-india-cricket.html">is India a truly cricket loving nation</a>?</span></p><p><span>However, as the tournament progressed, I was happy to see some excellent performances from new entrants, especially the young Afghani team. They really made a good step forward. I was taken aback by their loss against Australia when they were in the driving seat. </span></p><p><span>There have been several repor</span><span>ts of match fixing. I hope that it is not true as they are a great young squad and I have always been a fan of Rashid.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zUvcZViOz-nG8ywqH9JcZK5oS5IAn5esL0a5oAeOgqLJugPRpsUDbhqXCtyvko7r1jf0GSaOdPbpNXRgZxq3LWcPuCJwVfOGjtWIksW3U8sUpkGUGhMgucm1B9VzNLfshtQ3oc7_5H_ujaFERi67qHt2UFxNGzT8lIrjrRFTiDFFysvm9EoKIg/s2128/IMG_4972.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2128" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zUvcZViOz-nG8ywqH9JcZK5oS5IAn5esL0a5oAeOgqLJugPRpsUDbhqXCtyvko7r1jf0GSaOdPbpNXRgZxq3LWcPuCJwVfOGjtWIksW3U8sUpkGUGhMgucm1B9VzNLfshtQ3oc7_5H_ujaFERi67qHt2UFxNGzT8lIrjrRFTiDFFysvm9EoKIg/w400-h264/IMG_4972.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span>K. M. Mammen (cousin Vinoo) giving </span><span>the Man of the Match Award to K. L. Rahul.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">My cousin, the Chairman of MRF Ltd., gave the Man of the Match to another favourite player of mine, K. L. Rahul. He did give another such award in another game but I was slow to get m</span><span style="text-align: left;">y camera out.</span></p><p><span>I was disappointed with the performance of the English team especially as I am a fan of Moen Ali. Jos Butler has had a bad run right from the IPL onwards. </span></p><p>The Indian team have been cruising. Harsha Bhogle, who is usually a good reader of the game, had raised the point that it may be that the Indians have peaked too soon. This opinion was knocked down by Ravi Shastri, but I have never been a fan of Ravi Shastri, so his opinions do not matter to me. He is usually wrong!!</p><p><span>The players that have impressed me most are Rachin Ravindran of New Zealand, and Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada of South Africa, whose bowling run up i</span><span>s like a cheetah. I hope another favourite of mine, Ken Williamson, is coming back to form.</span></p><p><span>No Australian players are in my list of favourites. So I hope that South Africa gets through to the final. I hope the better team wins in the India and New Zealand clash.</span></p><p><span>The persisting with Hardik Pandya shows that the BCCI is corrupt to persist with a player who is unfit on several grounds to p</span><span>lay in the Indian squad. Always excuses to keep him alive in the squad.</span></p><p><span>I am sure the same situation will arise when it comes to Rishabh Pant!</span></p><p><span>The four semi-finalists have booked their places as I had expected. We hope all the teams show their fighting spirit and the best teams get through to the finals.</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>I will blog my opinion prior to the finals.</b></span></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-74048136787432536532023-11-13T17:13:00.004+02:002023-11-13T17:23:42.130+02:00Martti Ahtisaari - My interaction or not?<p><span> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham9zVpzP51Cdnrd-JIG9x-XZ0q_pTJCUW6Ys9xDtU_X0vvXwym6wVEmjfMi4xBt_feAZhKOfbj9xHCp1mrdJLUlGpgn6rGCj0PE829sguBEcTbegX-5Dd7EMSw6xadMwFHkODjgcy1tLB7FVyi0tBNjnUbW4vf6rCP6EXkj3m3WQ6L4wdu-1q9A/s1500/IMG_5952.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1500" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham9zVpzP51Cdnrd-JIG9x-XZ0q_pTJCUW6Ys9xDtU_X0vvXwym6wVEmjfMi4xBt_feAZhKOfbj9xHCp1mrdJLUlGpgn6rGCj0PE829sguBEcTbegX-5Dd7EMSw6xadMwFHkODjgcy1tLB7FVyi0tBNjnUbW4vf6rCP6EXkj3m3WQ6L4wdu-1q9A/w400-h269/IMG_5952.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span>Stamp of Martti Ahtisaari to be released </span></div><div><span>in December 2023</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Martti Ahtisaari</b> was from Oulun Lyceo, where my daughter studied. He was the third Finnish President who went to the <b>Oulu Lyceo.</b></span></div></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiHMMxgaUUT71-vL4KPyiO1j5cANdE7AEneZPRlLamj4ZL4HX_q_5hcn13iBoEyrOd0JebJdNNvctzMZseXq-J6xP7S0EnpHOdW8dC2B8euwVOd14sqWPbK4JL5pANydwqRZtv5YLfSfLLRkNdHduN89aLklgQgU3O_lkHhpUTNhAvRK8DAcZng/s280/IMG_5953.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="280" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiHMMxgaUUT71-vL4KPyiO1j5cANdE7AEneZPRlLamj4ZL4HX_q_5hcn13iBoEyrOd0JebJdNNvctzMZseXq-J6xP7S0EnpHOdW8dC2B8euwVOd14sqWPbK4JL5pANydwqRZtv5YLfSfLLRkNdHduN89aLklgQgU3O_lkHhpUTNhAvRK8DAcZng/w400-h286/IMG_5953.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22VFrPX_5rqb7b7KLr96Vrk3k17O1z7z4YsBaF84BbZr6_dXQxT92e1_0B0RsewGxkjs34XJhaayQeZPyef6ayFQonc2BkKCvXWfTcJDbC32Ugz7qj42fdrWEf6ZNpx4nrBt5stjtlMSnjNCJ8Xs7iTuaz-_hHd8JXxG0mSPEvycgcBU7V770Hg/s272/IMG_5954.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="272" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22VFrPX_5rqb7b7KLr96Vrk3k17O1z7z4YsBaF84BbZr6_dXQxT92e1_0B0RsewGxkjs34XJhaayQeZPyef6ayFQonc2BkKCvXWfTcJDbC32Ugz7qj42fdrWEf6ZNpx4nrBt5stjtlMSnjNCJ8Xs7iTuaz-_hHd8JXxG0mSPEvycgcBU7V770Hg/s1600/IMG_5954.jpeg" width="272" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">Kyösti Kallio</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span>The others were Presidents <b>Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg</b> and <b>Kyösti Kallio</b></span></p><p><span>I landed in Finland in 1984. My brother-in-law, a senior Finnish bureaucrat in the Ministry of Labour, looked at my bio-data and wrote a letter to Martti Ahtisaari, who was also a senior bureaucrat, introducing me to Martti Ahtisaari. He asked me to a</span><span>ddress a lettter to Martti Ahtisaari, giving details of my background and explaining how I could play a role in the Finnish hierarchy. </span></p><p><span><b>That was in 1984! </b></span></p><p><span>I am s</span><span>till waiting for an acknowledgement of the communications to both these letters.</span></p><p><span>That was my first experience of how the Finnish system works.</span></p><p><span>Three reasons are given for this. </span></p><p><span>The first is that the person is least interested in extending a hand to the request. It is just ignored as being irrelevant. 99% of the action is this behaviour.</span></p><p><span>A second reason is that Finns like to do a serious evaluation of the situation before replying aletter. This is the typical answer given when one submits a job application.</span></p><p><span>When I was explaining this to a group of German journalists who were visiting Oulu Univeristy, about why they did not get reply to their letters to Finns, I gave the benefit of the doubt to this second reason. I was severely admonished by the Dean of our Electrical Engineering Department and Vice Rector of the University for denigrating Finland when holding a senior position in the University. (<b>Not that I cared, as I believe in telling the truth as it is.</b>)</span></p><p><span>The third is that Finns have very poor social skills. This is best explained by an incident of one of my students who went as an exchange student to Loughborough University. He was being hosted by a Professor. </span></p><p><span>After his first night at the Ptofessor's house, when he came down to breakfast, the Professor asked him a rhetorical question as to how he had fared through the night. The student was silent for several minutes as he was thinking how he should answer that question.</span></p><p><span>This was explained to me later when the Professor of English in Oulu University gave a talk about Social English, as Finns have little knowledge about that aspect of life.</span></p><p><span>When Ahtisaari was President, he behaved like Prime Minister Narendra Modi does today, flying at the drop of the hat to all corners of the world. </span></p><p><span>I used to keep track of the movement of Ahtisaari on a very popular special web page calling him the "<b>Satellite President</b>". </span></p><p><span>My personal assessment at that time was that he was building a base to either become nominated as the President of Europe or to get the Nobel Prize. </span></p><p><span><b>He got the latter!</b></span></p><p><span>Credit must be given, as he was a great negotiator. He negotiated quite extraordinary peace deals between warring factions. </span></p><p><span>His contribution today in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict would have been priceless. </span></p><p><span><b>There is no-one who has stepped into this role since.</b></span></p><p><span>Although I did not ever meet President Ahtisaari, I did interact with his son when I was a serving member of the Ethnic Minorities Advisory Board (ETNO) representing English speaking members of Finland..</span></p><p><span>Compulsory army service in Finland for young men was considered absolutely necessary. Those who either chose to go for a stint in social service or those who opted out of it were thought to be traitors or pariahs.</span></p><p><span>This was until in 2000, when President Ahtisaari's son opted for social service rather than to do the army service! (He served as an assistant in the Labour Ministry in serving in handling ETNO issues.)</span></p><p><span>It then became acceptable to not join the army service, although many Finns, even today, hold that it is a non-Finnish character.</span></p><p><span>My father-in-law had to join the army and served on the frontline as a sharpshooter during the entire 1938-1944 wars between Finland and Russia and then in driving out the Germans from Finland. He had no optioin then as if you did not join you would be considered a traitor.</span></p><p><span>After the war he became a committed Christian and opted out of further service in the army. His back was riddled with grenade shrapnel which meant he could never sleep on his back.</span></p><p><span>When our daughter interviewed him as University project, he talked about his service to her, but refused to talk about his actions on the front line. He wanted desperately forget those terrinble moments.</span></p><p><span>Our elder grandson has completed a year of his compulsory army service. The second grandson is taking a year off from and is planning to finish his army service as soon as possible.</span></p><p><span>I advised him to complete it quickly as when one gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult to respond to "stupid" commands being shouted at you by younger people in the process.</span></p><p><span>I had one of my senior researchers in Ouklu University who went for his army service when he was over 25. He had been completing his Master's degree.</span></p><p><span>Within a month, he had to quit on psychological grounds as he could not handle the brain-washing process.</span></p><p><span>Martti Ahtisaari was probably not the best Finnish President that I have served under, although he had the background of being a bureaucrat before becoming President. In my opinion, this a dangerous combination, as the use of the bureaucratic process can result in a power hungry person misusing the Presidency.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBahDMX3JdBQcPT05b9SN2zH3lxgUP_eh7pbH42aC33uURi-v5kSp7cdZ4lXY-1KGk1Cy6NGAmX6eVnbAaJ7WgkqgVAIPigS72_tfgqBTSaQ3uUnC5_pCvmfE22eFPWgyNqLcArqeTB2c5XmpFTIWXk_ZaBD9mfMR-srwo0WuyJlDUmX65Vio7qg/s356/IMG_5955.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="356" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBahDMX3JdBQcPT05b9SN2zH3lxgUP_eh7pbH42aC33uURi-v5kSp7cdZ4lXY-1KGk1Cy6NGAmX6eVnbAaJ7WgkqgVAIPigS72_tfgqBTSaQ3uUnC5_pCvmfE22eFPWgyNqLcArqeTB2c5XmpFTIWXk_ZaBD9mfMR-srwo0WuyJlDUmX65Vio7qg/w400-h225/IMG_5955.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Sauli Niinistö</p>I think the<b> best Finnish President</b> so far has been our present one, <b>Sauli Niinistö</b>, because he understood humanity after he and his two children escaped the tsumani in Thailand by climbing up a tree! <p></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>Having been the Finnish President, may we say sincerely to late Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari - Rest In Peace.</b></span></p><p><span> </span></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-46515827098652654272023-11-12T20:52:00.000+02:002023-11-12T20:52:03.199+02:00Nelson Mandela on the Palestine/israel issue<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqMJxDHjQ0mCu1RP6_IxyVyGcwzLZTqDuqCaaeX4Hni2x2gHw67K7-nYHLIqCajzu1T1Eg9oBNvsz5nR9_m34A000wo1uGIYdS9W1IJs9h1-O_RMMxstSpEml2xQS5tEw1l9eVGQG80z8qan_IUdv9vlNiR46Y8HPE0dLN0Rs_98azCqQleig0Q/s358/IMG_5946.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="358" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqMJxDHjQ0mCu1RP6_IxyVyGcwzLZTqDuqCaaeX4Hni2x2gHw67K7-nYHLIqCajzu1T1Eg9oBNvsz5nR9_m34A000wo1uGIYdS9W1IJs9h1-O_RMMxstSpEml2xQS5tEw1l9eVGQG80z8qan_IUdv9vlNiR46Y8HPE0dLN0Rs_98azCqQleig0Q/w640-h382/IMG_5946.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1554176501987563?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V">https://www.facebook.com/reel/1554176501987563?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V</a></p><p>We fully endorse late President Nelson Mandela’s views expressed in this link. </p><p>If one changes-principles at will, such people have no right to lead ANYTHING!</p><p>The hypocrisy, lack of spine, of those leaders and people standing behind ANYONE in this conflict ONLY shows their own personal agenda. </p><p>No one has said THIS more clearly than Nelson Mandela!</p><p><b style="color: red;">We request you to read this blog entry of ours</b></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b> <a href="https://jmatthan.blogspot.com/2007/10/through-eyes-of-arab-israeli-human.html" target="_blank">“Through the eyes of an Arab Israeli..”</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>which was posted on <u>3rd October 2007!</u></b></span></p><p>(<b>Meeting with Israeli Palestinian Human Right Activist Najib Abu Rokaya)</b></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-42265818728592803412023-11-10T21:19:00.001+02:002023-11-12T19:14:37.331+02:00Finnish Immigration Policy - Where is it going?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i-UW2Jzy-QWJy2sv8A7zAhqBk52R-UCsecDcqpyqJ-3piK9ySf6XypfcHmgRJN7U9CibpG5kp_b7UC1gh4b2vOckUin07cpS3hfgoUBTOdg0oeoaJuaw793lUVHXpfBa_mt43Bkv83I_IZWmNwn8nMUvV5d83mkfbIYNdteyPFYpSO8FBhMKmA/s3317/2001ANM%3FCover.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3317" data-original-width="2270" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i-UW2Jzy-QWJy2sv8A7zAhqBk52R-UCsecDcqpyqJ-3piK9ySf6XypfcHmgRJN7U9CibpG5kp_b7UC1gh4b2vOckUin07cpS3hfgoUBTOdg0oeoaJuaw793lUVHXpfBa_mt43Bkv83I_IZWmNwn8nMUvV5d83mkfbIYNdteyPFYpSO8FBhMKmA/w438-h640/2001ANM%3FCover.jpeg" width="438" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">My 2001 report to the Finnish Sports Federation on tools for integration.</p><p>ThisYouTube video “The Full Story” by Johanna Kauppinen is worth watching. It handles a look at the new immigration policy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q69aSPn0i5A" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q69aSPn0i5A"></iframe></div><br /><p>Annikki and I will try, in a later blog, to put it into perspective of my 54 years as a foreigner of interaction with Finland.</p><p>There is much you can do in your personal life which will have a long term impact on your acclimatisation, especially if you have children!</p><p>For instance, is putting children in an International School the correct answer?</p><p>Racism is rife in Finland. It is hidden and can be a shock if it hits you between the eyes. </p><p>I faced it in England in 1963 and again when I moved to Finland in 1984. How did I cope with it? How have our chldrn faced it and coped wih it?</p><p>If you have any questons, do write to us to help you through the problems.</p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-47731892189107740582023-11-09T19:40:00.002+02:002023-11-12T19:12:06.165+02:0010 Richest Mineral Producing Countries of Africa<p>My good Somalian friend, Liiban Ismaciil (aka Lee) sent me this video link. </p><p><a href="https://fb.watch/ocR06AsV7b/">https://fb.watch/ocR06AsV7b/</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBUrk1vxxsrbADnubVNFB4bkY83o_6TlDEuEIYL4xBS8hOGjcAPvmWpuoJ50hwEJOd6oDFpxsnznYEgYpdrqxmea2jjKYrGSjRLnYx3Lif6PcCalU7X83VVSDUhU-mJLNSBUNlXFY_-oKQXV7-hyvVH2aJYjzloXI3GQ2IF-QvW0aVWsLYS7bPQ/s727/IMG_5879.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="727" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBUrk1vxxsrbADnubVNFB4bkY83o_6TlDEuEIYL4xBS8hOGjcAPvmWpuoJ50hwEJOd6oDFpxsnznYEgYpdrqxmea2jjKYrGSjRLnYx3Lif6PcCalU7X83VVSDUhU-mJLNSBUNlXFY_-oKQXV7-hyvVH2aJYjzloXI3GQ2IF-QvW0aVWsLYS7bPQ/w400-h270/IMG_5879.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Is this comedy or is it based on fact? </p><p>These guys are funny to be taken seriously!</p><p>Can anyone put this in today’s context?</p><p>If factual:</p><p>1. Where is all this wealth vasnishing? </p><p>2. Why are the ordinary Africans suffering?</p><p>3. Why are African countries having to live off “loans” from World Bank and IMF?</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://fb.watch/ocO-BnLWeu/">https://fb.watch/ocO-BnLWeu/</a></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-22285214749818664182023-11-07T23:06:00.003+02:002023-11-12T19:07:13.233+02:00A Blast from My Past -<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> While going through my ancient files, I came across this little blue notebook with my pet name on the cover.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaOpPHEPam6mjOU9GV4w2ZV3emif0mHs850avTzSfv2-5uPTtaDCN7witdw2f1bVlnEs-ifAAKyhRlkrKkoAE7CcGcEDzdsqMQflyf5yzGUqFzXgQl60m3uHvQWtH5Z61jogiuc933447e9pdhuX_EurJ7Ggg0tTNHCo77XNnZnbwpUDoPFruw/s627/75Plastics1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaOpPHEPam6mjOU9GV4w2ZV3emif0mHs850avTzSfv2-5uPTtaDCN7witdw2f1bVlnEs-ifAAKyhRlkrKkoAE7CcGcEDzdsqMQflyf5yzGUqFzXgQl60m3uHvQWtH5Z61jogiuc933447e9pdhuX_EurJ7Ggg0tTNHCo77XNnZnbwpUDoPFruw/w640-h436/75Plastics1.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">SUSHIL is my Indian name, a tradition started by my paternal grandfather. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the past, we were given our official name, in which the first was the House name that you belonged to from your father’s side. Then you added your father’s name and finally your own name.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The own name would then be made Malayali and would be used by your family and family friends. Occasionally, you also got called by a “pet” name which could be associated with your standing in society, your contribuion to society or just endearment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My eldest maternal uncle was the late Padma Bhushan K. M. Cherian (Chetpet Appachen), . He got the name Cherian as being my grandfather's eldest son, he was given his great grandfather's name - Cherian.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Padma Bhushan</b> is the award he was given by the Indian Government for his contribution to Indian journalism and work for Indian Independence. K stood for his family House name, Kandathil. M stood for his father's name. which was <b>Mammen Mappillai</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a look at the names of all my mother's brothers in order of birth.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1NQoe9FvamgZ47Ms3pIXzm17j0VrnoY7gm1ewlZF43kuEUP2fo4WZaIuP6XFwLTjsnMa5LmG-PC7qrX1xFViAJIvXSMoz-PfkTDaz_IBwQWDzitbH38FlpnU4hJJrkHtMsxb8m0FogwmpRZuDTYM1nWmXa3Qi6v0txgvAb9hOsnib6WkBA61_g/s272/IMG_5597.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="185" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1NQoe9FvamgZ47Ms3pIXzm17j0VrnoY7gm1ewlZF43kuEUP2fo4WZaIuP6XFwLTjsnMa5LmG-PC7qrX1xFViAJIvXSMoz-PfkTDaz_IBwQWDzitbH38FlpnU4hJJrkHtMsxb8m0FogwmpRZuDTYM1nWmXa3Qi6v0txgvAb9hOsnib6WkBA61_g/w272-h400/IMG_5597.jpeg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Padma Bhushan K. M. Cherian</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2. K.M. Oommen</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3. K.M. Eapen</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">4. K. M. Varghese Mappillai</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">5. K. M. Jacob</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">6. Padma Shri K. M. Philip</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">7. Padma Bhushan K. M. Mathew</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">8. Padma Shri K. M. Mammen Mappillai</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The ninth member of the family was my mother, whose name should have been </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNRB8GEsmkajmo_mJEtbUjo33m1xqykefWEWwK3dXqqUL7mAyUumWc_5xfPONbRMD9Ek-86CRz0r3omZKTa1UCFO82IRabKdIGzTKOoJpgwAO5hK3PWdAbYKWASWG2y_9-KD9nzU_wYcsIbeG_9lPz3SYPx-5AJPObrws9jXMKX7osPS8XEE3oA/s450/IMG_0633.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNRB8GEsmkajmo_mJEtbUjo33m1xqykefWEWwK3dXqqUL7mAyUumWc_5xfPONbRMD9Ek-86CRz0r3omZKTa1UCFO82IRabKdIGzTKOoJpgwAO5hK3PWdAbYKWASWG2y_9-KD9nzU_wYcsIbeG_9lPz3SYPx-5AJPObrws9jXMKX7osPS8XEE3oA/w266-h400/IMG_0633.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Padma Acca K. M. Mariam</b> (Padma Acca being my personal title for her) as she held 7 fiery brothers together to help them build MRF Ltd. , Malayala Manorama, MM Rubber Co. Ltd. amongst a host of other companies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(Her brother, K. M. Jacob, died early and my name is Jacob as I was born shortly after he died. )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Without her strong hand and mutual love and affection with her brothers, this family would have broken up into fragmernts a long time ago. (This story will appear in my memoirs in due course.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So you will note that each of them has the K. M. prefix before their own name.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My paternal grandfather took another route. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHmYWckDWwOIefJu7gWVGpvy3ftjAW0-D2AYM3_OVY7zsijnH055rJ4YR0z_o6qFqqGB36wKpSwIlVRcsk_xROviuDFSZmMbZIwpk11vUcqKRJj-hKnUo2dJJenx4TG2E5ioag9xzXx0M1beKtLFwub4mFbmwxq0jm0PCYPh_xfkRa10q89drCw/s740/IMG_0678.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="473" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHmYWckDWwOIefJu7gWVGpvy3ftjAW0-D2AYM3_OVY7zsijnH055rJ4YR0z_o6qFqqGB36wKpSwIlVRcsk_xROviuDFSZmMbZIwpk11vUcqKRJj-hKnUo2dJJenx4TG2E5ioag9xzXx0M1beKtLFwub4mFbmwxq0jm0PCYPh_xfkRa10q89drCw/w256-h400/IMG_0678.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">His name was <a href="https://jmmemoirs.blogspot.com/2018/11/raja-mantra-pravina-dewan-bahadur.html" target="_blank">Raja Mantra Pravina Dewan Bahadur Maliyakal Kuriyan (Mysore) Matthan.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Raja Mantra Pravina Dewan Bahadur was the title conferred on him by the Maharaja of Mysore for his services to the State of Mysore. The House name is Maliyakal, which is also my house name. His name from his father was Kuriyan (which be also spelt as Kurian). The pet name "Mysore" was given to him by the people of Mysore for his contribution to the state. His personal name was Matthan, but he turned it to his surname name. This was because he saw it as part of the western society he had become involved with and he changed from being a Syrian Christian to a member of the Protestant Church.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So his male children were</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1. M. George Matthan (Commissioner Mysore Government)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2. M. Kuriyan Matthan (CEO Tata Engineering Consultancy Services, after being the Chief Engineer of the B. E. S. T. in Bombay)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3. M. Matthan Matthan (DCM) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">4. M. John Matthan (CEO BHEL & CEO Integral Coach Factory)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">5. M. Jacob Matthan (LIC Chairman)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My mother's family were all professionals and business oriented, while my father and his brothers were all professionals, all of whom reached the pinnacles in their professional life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming to my name, it should have been Maliyakal Matthan Jacob, but as my paternal grandfather turned around the system, I got the name Maliyakal Jacob Matthan, but an Indian name was also added, which is SUSHIL. (My elder sister was Nalini, my elder brother is Ranjit, and my younger sister was Thangamma.). Sushil is used by my other family members and family friends who have known me since childhood.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But this is a digression, as the reason for this blog is that I found a small notebook a couple of days ago which had an article written by me in 1975 about the potential for trade between Finland and India.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Written by me 48 years ago, </span><span>when I was just 32 years old, </span><span>there may not be much technology significance today.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What interested me is not the content of the article but that I was able to write an article before my access to a computer in beautiful long hand, something which vanished when I returned to Finland in 1984, 9 years later, as my handwriting skills vanished. With the advent of the computer, and arthritis hitting me quite hard simultaneously, I resorted to using the compuiter for my writing to avoid the pain.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I joined the University of Oulu, I was given access to IBM XT and AT computers, along with the IBM Mainframe. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>My earlier computer access was when I wa</span><span>s working in MRF. IBM opened their computer centre in Madras. All we had was preparing punched cards relating to the stocks in store. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I did not stay with the IBM Computers for long as I spent most of my time trying to rememb</span><span>er key strokes and functions and less time creating my documents.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>One day, a young lady arrived at the door of my University room from a company called Systema Oy. She convinced me to look at what she was selling</span><span>. It was an Apple IIC computer which had a "mouse" and the commands were </span><span>simple to remember.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I took to it immediately and my productivity went up 2000% compared to that of my colleagues. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon I had others working on my Apple IIC all day creating all sorts of scientific experimental stuff. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I had to wait till they went home to get my w</span><span>ork done, which became quite simple as it was productivity oriented. What took them 4 hours on their computers, my productivity with my Apple Macs took hardly 2 hours! (This was at the time of the cumbersome DOS system.)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Within a year, all my colleagues were clamm</span><span style="font-size: large;">ering for their own Apple computers, but I had moved on to a Mac, the Mac Plus, the Mac SE and then the Mac Portable and then the Mac PowerBook, my first own computer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is an interesting side story when I bought my PowerBook. I claimed it as an expenses and claimed depreciation for the whole year, although I had bought it only in December. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Oulu Tax Office declined to give me the depreciation for the whole year. I went to Oulu Court. There I showed that I could do a whole year's work in less than three weeks. The judge ruled in my favour. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>After that the Oulu Tax Oflice never questio</span><span>ned me on my claims!</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was continually ahead of my colleagues who were always playing catch up with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I would go in on a Saturday morning and upgrade all the software on the Macs of my colleagues.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As a result, despite being a third world country intruder in Finland, I got upgraded from an ordinary researcher to the Laboratory Manager and then to the Chief Engineer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The secret of my success was that they needed me more than I needed them! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I do hope you will enjoy this handwritten 20 page article of mine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It shows my vision of 35+ years ago, even before I moved to Finland. It also shows my commitment to promoting India and its culture, products and technology to Finland.</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Remember one of our Guiding Principles:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">"Go where you are appreciated!"</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Appendix:</b></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe2lBD8TdDQ42Fvj1qBZuE7Dl8nNw2I0cUmAukZnfpqUUK4s4muUa7P6yTDytb_lBR55yBqCAP7usLTKnyhfNUcqcLAwdDDW-lgbhOT2BjFc8mfn9tXMfeLIEaTMSSU5cFCPcDNbxwmuqCenuopAOyXqg9rH3lkcjUmPr2LWCxgFGqD-CdL8low/s627/75Plastics1%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe2lBD8TdDQ42Fvj1qBZuE7Dl8nNw2I0cUmAukZnfpqUUK4s4muUa7P6yTDytb_lBR55yBqCAP7usLTKnyhfNUcqcLAwdDDW-lgbhOT2BjFc8mfn9tXMfeLIEaTMSSU5cFCPcDNbxwmuqCenuopAOyXqg9rH3lkcjUmPr2LWCxgFGqD-CdL8low/w640-h436/75Plastics1%201.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBiTHPM9QN-ZWkkGpydezBsvIqMqJOM2jqWinF5l5-sxdGgnHJg7Efc9czrCbPSG_KjUS78DNe_iGdvEIyRHmGKzoJOyyU3feOCmjXEB4BhaqtFlp9ImKRnaXJ49UibcUu_RxncniDpABrIR15grXHGPjSg3pLhjVrxYdWFAPfoYMzlZTv9MV8w/s627/75Plastics2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBiTHPM9QN-ZWkkGpydezBsvIqMqJOM2jqWinF5l5-sxdGgnHJg7Efc9czrCbPSG_KjUS78DNe_iGdvEIyRHmGKzoJOyyU3feOCmjXEB4BhaqtFlp9ImKRnaXJ49UibcUu_RxncniDpABrIR15grXHGPjSg3pLhjVrxYdWFAPfoYMzlZTv9MV8w/w640-h436/75Plastics2.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rcW4mMRC00luRPJda6Cd5Z8xaCaDWnWB7YtQYtfzhTXce6KLlrlWmrMPaufs26qvz8mdeQ901KezMjPTyRHhsS6PfNuiavSPIje5lC0YqIUo9Jct6909ct2I1wCZZjXFu8VUlj1LVtBXM5fd8AeUNWDamR7OG6be4UEv87dTvsOPKi-ZAnU3tA/s627/75Plastics3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rcW4mMRC00luRPJda6Cd5Z8xaCaDWnWB7YtQYtfzhTXce6KLlrlWmrMPaufs26qvz8mdeQ901KezMjPTyRHhsS6PfNuiavSPIje5lC0YqIUo9Jct6909ct2I1wCZZjXFu8VUlj1LVtBXM5fd8AeUNWDamR7OG6be4UEv87dTvsOPKi-ZAnU3tA/w640-h436/75Plastics3.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAEmjdvAx48vNNWOvCtClQTF1JW-7CCPx2Z6PwhjuztJy8Vu7M2IiMG8ddZcupFrA8bt8UoPQ52oV8JtmgnU6wgUg5g_Oz-35wuXEzKyGadzbW4-cd3H_nLD7PL23EG9vsA1YTVBVnXoO7QuuS4eAoP3HJ1ttIwGoElijlmKuDdYd4_wISQ_bww/s627/75Plastics4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAEmjdvAx48vNNWOvCtClQTF1JW-7CCPx2Z6PwhjuztJy8Vu7M2IiMG8ddZcupFrA8bt8UoPQ52oV8JtmgnU6wgUg5g_Oz-35wuXEzKyGadzbW4-cd3H_nLD7PL23EG9vsA1YTVBVnXoO7QuuS4eAoP3HJ1ttIwGoElijlmKuDdYd4_wISQ_bww/w640-h436/75Plastics4.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaI7BZvETrlBWPcnI_mJit95WhT5FqX3mQQMowjX0BpW33cLQ-7ohNoxG51bHB1bLbqfikiW44ocxjT-r1L4f4YaYPQd47YYVZha4Oyc55k1c_PGs4AYpyzV6fHlZSKiNx1fXOImdV9JgpXwJbXYsbYWtt9GFxYdd5OAfBauF1RMnei_GD2Q5ZA/s627/75Plastics5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaI7BZvETrlBWPcnI_mJit95WhT5FqX3mQQMowjX0BpW33cLQ-7ohNoxG51bHB1bLbqfikiW44ocxjT-r1L4f4YaYPQd47YYVZha4Oyc55k1c_PGs4AYpyzV6fHlZSKiNx1fXOImdV9JgpXwJbXYsbYWtt9GFxYdd5OAfBauF1RMnei_GD2Q5ZA/w640-h436/75Plastics5.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbLzzPbJeQZ5Zjv5LdmWO-X2IqO1yZQBr49nViLKsW3AjKLx2EELjC41FS2busXbZlDv0f22KSFks4nQAUGLYtKjlPiZLAFH1NtA4lepH-Kwt9s1YRwEe2cpueDL7Yko5UlbVavDk-TETTgcjBlynpa6l_dwpcGskSI-PJq6D8vATUB04HVwLTQ/s627/75Plastics6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbLzzPbJeQZ5Zjv5LdmWO-X2IqO1yZQBr49nViLKsW3AjKLx2EELjC41FS2busXbZlDv0f22KSFks4nQAUGLYtKjlPiZLAFH1NtA4lepH-Kwt9s1YRwEe2cpueDL7Yko5UlbVavDk-TETTgcjBlynpa6l_dwpcGskSI-PJq6D8vATUB04HVwLTQ/w640-h436/75Plastics6.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEgpC1UupSMWl0M51uoIQr5BHSxL895Nktn4JJS18h7dUQgxMjUFsa1J6UXuqJs2x0mUz9dHidrzPN_A5gxn11nMG9w59JMa3Qo5kHNUBXrVROZ_0qMMvUb1JgWvz0I2_jL50uvqmgb41YoSWfGSP949u4PR0p9jgybfaAq_CigOHDDPdcDxkPQ/s627/75Plastics7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEgpC1UupSMWl0M51uoIQr5BHSxL895Nktn4JJS18h7dUQgxMjUFsa1J6UXuqJs2x0mUz9dHidrzPN_A5gxn11nMG9w59JMa3Qo5kHNUBXrVROZ_0qMMvUb1JgWvz0I2_jL50uvqmgb41YoSWfGSP949u4PR0p9jgybfaAq_CigOHDDPdcDxkPQ/w640-h436/75Plastics7.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDg39B-PxS0HRK46XgSpAxeKUbxJq2g6DH3sYHgRRDMNIu8wAQ7SjLleiV1HngQUTV-6Wcb65PZuZsGf9oBuUobvKnIHQIFWlLjf7_E1isnGHRmNmFB5l0jXkF6kBDTr6_VWLG7pfHMAFZ4eWj25Rd_LCSozbozZ_wJO5ZmMfmmS6SFfC7deZTg/s627/75Plastics8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDg39B-PxS0HRK46XgSpAxeKUbxJq2g6DH3sYHgRRDMNIu8wAQ7SjLleiV1HngQUTV-6Wcb65PZuZsGf9oBuUobvKnIHQIFWlLjf7_E1isnGHRmNmFB5l0jXkF6kBDTr6_VWLG7pfHMAFZ4eWj25Rd_LCSozbozZ_wJO5ZmMfmmS6SFfC7deZTg/w640-h436/75Plastics8.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6Kx2F5Q8timvURS2I0nZOEolv5wprnDX7WQ2PB9FCEkP-zf49mOzzTqyUscMlDU470wD6jCVD5qzg2ai-W34yQgfSsXMuJi8TPmeRHmCZtygj_5cwGNJ3mF8s_i0hfuSmkvZZCOyPkZXFmirCcnm2tQIWo2NHtjWb5NwBuHG4NM9uRR-XpXr4A/s627/75Plastics9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6Kx2F5Q8timvURS2I0nZOEolv5wprnDX7WQ2PB9FCEkP-zf49mOzzTqyUscMlDU470wD6jCVD5qzg2ai-W34yQgfSsXMuJi8TPmeRHmCZtygj_5cwGNJ3mF8s_i0hfuSmkvZZCOyPkZXFmirCcnm2tQIWo2NHtjWb5NwBuHG4NM9uRR-XpXr4A/w640-h436/75Plastics9.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3m4Zt4epSswQfi5R5cHazhjem1T3SGblDWpFtZrF-QRiZLfHNipxhfAnv9R_Uo_2cHBE07difdXHqkqPtoSHLizl5lsmf8dn9jLz0vizGvWdnbYz1sv9HPmEgRIjpY8PVxWpQ_muM5Tug2vzTMc1dy79CB_DTw7SHXme7GTukP-U6NLVZrZVpw/s627/75Plastics10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3m4Zt4epSswQfi5R5cHazhjem1T3SGblDWpFtZrF-QRiZLfHNipxhfAnv9R_Uo_2cHBE07difdXHqkqPtoSHLizl5lsmf8dn9jLz0vizGvWdnbYz1sv9HPmEgRIjpY8PVxWpQ_muM5Tug2vzTMc1dy79CB_DTw7SHXme7GTukP-U6NLVZrZVpw/w640-h436/75Plastics10.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE00-DZR53QhbZdQQs_u_QooqGgRm9MAhiiDOKNfOfo1Uu3LDrEsbwDB5xN7skmBBOt64cTSaQooiLgF-bLBU1f-vUIxgOch57MGYlKgqp40l2fCrtPNAApf2qnIjF1bNWwE0gvgcJqvbI0VJPt62yuic_meXtYuau2ZZRdRdMiYmXjznwxcm4fA/s627/75Plastics11.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE00-DZR53QhbZdQQs_u_QooqGgRm9MAhiiDOKNfOfo1Uu3LDrEsbwDB5xN7skmBBOt64cTSaQooiLgF-bLBU1f-vUIxgOch57MGYlKgqp40l2fCrtPNAApf2qnIjF1bNWwE0gvgcJqvbI0VJPt62yuic_meXtYuau2ZZRdRdMiYmXjznwxcm4fA/w640-h436/75Plastics11.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgZUPbSN00fkogzk6u0bS0YZcNLeqFk5rpsdswteObAdoo3IqW9-TEAsRhK83Ar2rmLZbEiVOV4t9q6o2_sqHr9f_ayvvqZ95MG0BRK-oMPcO3RkyaNXFJrmMQghMBcfsnFqdouNDt4p1D2IuiZ-Aze4-dDH6UbHHZLPjvai8EPVkVw0uFwJPqw/s627/75Plastics12.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgZUPbSN00fkogzk6u0bS0YZcNLeqFk5rpsdswteObAdoo3IqW9-TEAsRhK83Ar2rmLZbEiVOV4t9q6o2_sqHr9f_ayvvqZ95MG0BRK-oMPcO3RkyaNXFJrmMQghMBcfsnFqdouNDt4p1D2IuiZ-Aze4-dDH6UbHHZLPjvai8EPVkVw0uFwJPqw/w640-h436/75Plastics12.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a><span><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSipwW8RWXFC22CMRV6-RJBlDZKx1GL_rEA1OaQUMZO71DkJ3azD3yb6Aq9qQORZLuJEjDDA6jVBD7pq7Z8HJ_6eijcUAp8ERgQohNC8VtjG60Ibp56ZiYKC271-fzfN2b70p1oISs-v5i-_q_moW9bMTTOWnYspHaPvtpN9lQAEo4-X_SvJBx4w/s627/75Plastics13.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSipwW8RWXFC22CMRV6-RJBlDZKx1GL_rEA1OaQUMZO71DkJ3azD3yb6Aq9qQORZLuJEjDDA6jVBD7pq7Z8HJ_6eijcUAp8ERgQohNC8VtjG60Ibp56ZiYKC271-fzfN2b70p1oISs-v5i-_q_moW9bMTTOWnYspHaPvtpN9lQAEo4-X_SvJBx4w/w640-h436/75Plastics13.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPgVVGIOeqDEyzIIL-j0TBZ5BtBc7XkkMrJijpcXvu3IokQCLHO2bXauPbjusk7yT8S3Xq9N2ZRKKcQwNKW0QiU6UifQDAjis1PMbmGRv8qLbYVeyMj8yBHckE3b40jY95d8PKtidUcfITWrEk68fGK-vTEFhHDTRk7140U_iR5HVOZrHCF4Gpg/s627/75Plastics14.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPgVVGIOeqDEyzIIL-j0TBZ5BtBc7XkkMrJijpcXvu3IokQCLHO2bXauPbjusk7yT8S3Xq9N2ZRKKcQwNKW0QiU6UifQDAjis1PMbmGRv8qLbYVeyMj8yBHckE3b40jY95d8PKtidUcfITWrEk68fGK-vTEFhHDTRk7140U_iR5HVOZrHCF4Gpg/w640-h436/75Plastics14.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1REERI4BL84mTjLhN1KdxqCXd7QD8C_O54XKaAJp6BJCu2wa9S7IS9Qb6mSZWLoBMT6CuAWQiBJtecNZr3-WlCTNs1rGsFB7YBsU0qTWoDgUDbTmij1E4TF9VW6GYuWlDQKCdQG1sr3KOw-2BEA0sFpLfF6vlMKRZIuwNqndUef1PuxgE8eu5UQ/s627/75Plastics15%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1REERI4BL84mTjLhN1KdxqCXd7QD8C_O54XKaAJp6BJCu2wa9S7IS9Qb6mSZWLoBMT6CuAWQiBJtecNZr3-WlCTNs1rGsFB7YBsU0qTWoDgUDbTmij1E4TF9VW6GYuWlDQKCdQG1sr3KOw-2BEA0sFpLfF6vlMKRZIuwNqndUef1PuxgE8eu5UQ/w640-h436/75Plastics15%201.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AEzJ3ybx03CpCCPkpT-XyrHpmcOsuuZqVQmOxbCK6hmh3Yt-zQeGVzVM_u7qKqwDkgJ9pL8WFCJhRCjxBgCNXc_HF0oniPuiFIjlxMCJOWAj-JD9K4yri7zaWyJ4CgOx_rd8qVVOqvXyTwL9UdZWk1qzx4ynzTAl41YoaIYJ3hRuaZeTc_fjqg/s627/75Plastics16.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AEzJ3ybx03CpCCPkpT-XyrHpmcOsuuZqVQmOxbCK6hmh3Yt-zQeGVzVM_u7qKqwDkgJ9pL8WFCJhRCjxBgCNXc_HF0oniPuiFIjlxMCJOWAj-JD9K4yri7zaWyJ4CgOx_rd8qVVOqvXyTwL9UdZWk1qzx4ynzTAl41YoaIYJ3hRuaZeTc_fjqg/w640-h436/75Plastics16.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ArFcE0YU7hEyZx4uJLIjTM6vz1Jha_zD85WaVmUKJSFS_n7Er6ITby9ggMd-JSmQVlBLR4MlMVZ8z8J4nJcYXElvNu9pMXD7pu5b-62sMld8crfFH9afZzGfW9g8P3Tv7uu1y0Pd-T5b-heDgktQVmDBfOUeND8jhshN2HAXl9Mcu7XfuetyuQ/s627/75Plastics18.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ArFcE0YU7hEyZx4uJLIjTM6vz1Jha_zD85WaVmUKJSFS_n7Er6ITby9ggMd-JSmQVlBLR4MlMVZ8z8J4nJcYXElvNu9pMXD7pu5b-62sMld8crfFH9afZzGfW9g8P3Tv7uu1y0Pd-T5b-heDgktQVmDBfOUeND8jhshN2HAXl9Mcu7XfuetyuQ/w640-h436/75Plastics18.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTBSFVqMQAx58vZmXLXnY8RMRHl2c_iVo87rYLGlZNft9qyczkx1w-7cBm6FYv7dwO_IcjRe9NaiubruPLB-RANOk9xgZmiUkY4cWEErJySEeqgcn18nTEoemGifCWStfXMu0rnM5bSvwfGNmw-CzpNUk6ohERulR5ZsJsqAsdubqevBaelbi3g/s627/75Plastics19.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTBSFVqMQAx58vZmXLXnY8RMRHl2c_iVo87rYLGlZNft9qyczkx1w-7cBm6FYv7dwO_IcjRe9NaiubruPLB-RANOk9xgZmiUkY4cWEErJySEeqgcn18nTEoemGifCWStfXMu0rnM5bSvwfGNmw-CzpNUk6ohERulR5ZsJsqAsdubqevBaelbi3g/w640-h436/75Plastics19.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbYMu7iIzsCBnOT-5T1Ozs5xzPLD4B5fZ6bKXfob2FLW7Bfa48wFgBat0Ye3b_myNceqDlskSW8lHIdMH6471TpJMs6Okr9RaOeUL28b4V-A6yWsevLauO9ZHnTJ4ddLN434IJyae0sjCEzkzlu8grF7eWWu_q9eIyeV33TbjXEu5l5vh7EoaWg/s627/75Plastics20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="627" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbYMu7iIzsCBnOT-5T1Ozs5xzPLD4B5fZ6bKXfob2FLW7Bfa48wFgBat0Ye3b_myNceqDlskSW8lHIdMH6471TpJMs6Okr9RaOeUL28b4V-A6yWsevLauO9ZHnTJ4ddLN434IJyae0sjCEzkzlu8grF7eWWu_q9eIyeV33TbjXEu5l5vh7EoaWg/w640-h435/75Plastics20.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span><br /></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-3068980452371586092023-11-06T21:11:00.001+02:002023-11-12T19:10:55.979+02:00Paddy Feeny gets challenged<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-K7odA9rcMSJpQatXb4Kt7ahirqNk1-WzIIgGNTKYspFy2okozgS3dCOID8mNhCkPcp9YefCfSto56Q-4tDGL6SkYRBEAmzOjtZrkEH7zIAqrNCy4oQGlGHcMXrcAtfxdz5O0q4TlsJCx8yUfrvfy6Qhl_y2b5GA-wouF0ASj6aoZ0CM8ytM2DA/s1043/IMG_5827.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-K7odA9rcMSJpQatXb4Kt7ahirqNk1-WzIIgGNTKYspFy2okozgS3dCOID8mNhCkPcp9YefCfSto56Q-4tDGL6SkYRBEAmzOjtZrkEH7zIAqrNCy4oQGlGHcMXrcAtfxdz5O0q4TlsJCx8yUfrvfy6Qhl_y2b5GA-wouF0ASj6aoZ0CM8ytM2DA/w322-h640/IMG_5827.jpeg" width="322" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>His intro to himself - late Paddy Feeny</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nowadays, when I visit an Indian household in Oulu, what I notice is an enormous TV in the living room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we arrived in Finland. A family of 6 living in about 25 sq. m. area, I looked around and found a black and white 4” (10 cm) tv with a short wave radio. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My in-laws had a colour tv in their living room, but we preferred to stay in our small living space. Only when Elton John or the Eurovision song contest were on, which was well after my in-laws had gone to bed, would we go down and watch the larger tv.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the day Mika and I would be glued to a short wave Sony radio listening in the main to BBC World Service while Annikki tuned in to her small kitchen Grumdig Radio listening to the Finnish radio service. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Only in the evening would we all crowd around the tiny tv to watch Finnish news and programs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Being a sports addict, Saturday afternoons, Mika and I would tune into Saturday Special, BBC’s sports round up hosted by their top sports commentator Paddy Feeny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Paddy Feeny was going upwards, and was also given the job to host the Write On programme which was to air readers views.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was no internet those days so I wrote my letter to Paddy Feeny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGdeawnno3yUiamJwO6x5KgDvpj77P4IpbpBjBWOfTJL15oTeDJOAo42frVb-SK8Xb9DpgYNly7XDDnUU_nW98YA_COG-5V-EJAX_zalqJbZ8spXw4tip-oMykbbuQyIATv8Gf4f7U7wMOtGoNRGhiZLTDG7vRwA-TOkl9BzhAFp_OWosDi4B7A/s3102/87PaddyFeeny1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3102" data-original-width="2187" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGdeawnno3yUiamJwO6x5KgDvpj77P4IpbpBjBWOfTJL15oTeDJOAo42frVb-SK8Xb9DpgYNly7XDDnUU_nW98YA_COG-5V-EJAX_zalqJbZ8spXw4tip-oMykbbuQyIATv8Gf4f7U7wMOtGoNRGhiZLTDG7vRwA-TOkl9BzhAFp_OWosDi4B7A/w452-h640/87PaddyFeeny1.jpeg" width="452" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwxOC2TFZhH25zGBpnwSeQYpfgtkrI52IpeWSqU7lFU_SSdTUVa1GuRDFe8xUkWdCEhqMcvgbwA0ZURLo0SFIlosAjafK4dC6SqG6bAxmr_5vKsDhxH9_MR3S8kGXanyZGJ7Uj1SNYu5Hy8VHrsAifjbS_kSVFqwTlRWxrXCZJtmYk97QwMpg4w/s3102/87PaddyFeeny2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3102" data-original-width="2187" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwxOC2TFZhH25zGBpnwSeQYpfgtkrI52IpeWSqU7lFU_SSdTUVa1GuRDFe8xUkWdCEhqMcvgbwA0ZURLo0SFIlosAjafK4dC6SqG6bAxmr_5vKsDhxH9_MR3S8kGXanyZGJ7Uj1SNYu5Hy8VHrsAifjbS_kSVFqwTlRWxrXCZJtmYk97QwMpg4w/w452-h640/87PaddyFeeny2.jpeg" width="452" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two page letter to Paddy Feeny</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was not happy with the way the programmes were hosted, so I addressed my complaints to Write On (again Paddy Feeny).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3484" data-original-width="2473" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60sBbNMMvVO3tp8oj7GaKEFvZTQ1CtNGmMfbmz0qhHO-Ak2EpmU5U2EqJ1b0ay44WNYLdTkivR9f8PG6PndBZWquKoWAA-Vi5u2xGBy1VrGVayMrhj_9yualzgrqo7W9Mlqe4VcU3-bJKY8d1vmUc7-8LSL718Hjwp8boUVeNiQFXOj_UwmU_xA/w454-h640/87PaddyFeeny3.jpeg" width="454" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Personal reply to me from Paddy Feeny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Within 2 weeks, I received this short reply from Paddy Feeny.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAVdRlGpEdRVfjE9ew2c_sgtzIe6l6TSRZfOZO5iykbVpXsZJoBBrCfGtuCenEH6aoSyN46TyJNsJFJkYEkyBXGqWVxze6M7iaf7_4VViRvspB_8UH9ku80DmGmf70OqEy77jm3BNZkeJxJxEfORzo6pi-ME-XW-IB975Pu0KBPB-yIIqpzjlWA/s3484/87PaddyFeeny4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3484" data-original-width="2473" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAVdRlGpEdRVfjE9ew2c_sgtzIe6l6TSRZfOZO5iykbVpXsZJoBBrCfGtuCenEH6aoSyN46TyJNsJFJkYEkyBXGqWVxze6M7iaf7_4VViRvspB_8UH9ku80DmGmf70OqEy77jm3BNZkeJxJxEfORzo6pi-ME-XW-IB975Pu0KBPB-yIIqpzjlWA/w454-h640/87PaddyFeeny4.jpeg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My letter thanking Paddy Feeny for the corrections made!</div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSvRF0cDG63zFi7z89bUE5pDb5g4mY6IGgR9gEsLhL8vI_mVTw17926b4IL7zaPgtUK3Vc3_v1sQL_ZJJVr9R1wjkEZYZ_m799Z1sGxjxsqZWTxVu3ITKLeEUT0XclARYCmjHuAHzz0e_fIUwoI4-SKWITfeAE8R6pTTzXO_xF6RrydjqXT2oTA/s3484/87PaddyFeeny5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3484" data-original-width="2473" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSvRF0cDG63zFi7z89bUE5pDb5g4mY6IGgR9gEsLhL8vI_mVTw17926b4IL7zaPgtUK3Vc3_v1sQL_ZJJVr9R1wjkEZYZ_m799Z1sGxjxsqZWTxVu3ITKLeEUT0XclARYCmjHuAHzz0e_fIUwoI4-SKWITfeAE8R6pTTzXO_xF6RrydjqXT2oTA/w454-h640/87PaddyFeeny5.jpeg" width="454" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">My minute by minute analysis showing </div><div style="text-align: center;">the benefits of the changes!</div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">I wrote to Paddy after watching the progress for three weeks. I was glad to report that my views had been taken into account and Paddy and the producers had made modifications to the programme to take into the criticisms submitted by me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The moral of this post is that if you have a problem, express your views and make the constructive suggestions. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If the person receiving this information is intelligent, he will assess it and make the amendments and corrections and acknowledge them publicly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If the person is insecure and insincere, and surrounded by sycophants and those drunk on personal power, what will happen is that the situation will never be addressed and all sorts of subterfuges will be adopted to cover their insecurity and incompetence.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">35 years later in life, we find that human behaviour has not changed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Maybe some people in Oulu should think about the morality of this story!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-79185112596279715472023-11-06T00:29:00.003+02:002023-11-12T19:22:38.788+02:00A Delicious Gujarathi Evening<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rDUIg1QfK2vFhx3fwOCEmk-ilO-6xejRQ3JRcSceDKTOCO3px60RQLk6enQE6WuVwmbYZS_ByFVioOLxN7WCA0dd9tjAlVkQBFnRpIJH_g9mxdCOLGO7kDZ1Ffx-XLyJmuctjgHKNqtXWFKlC5CwqF-ZYza-8ywNT91RAC_aD_KOAIMa-VW17A/s2577/IMG_5806.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2577" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rDUIg1QfK2vFhx3fwOCEmk-ilO-6xejRQ3JRcSceDKTOCO3px60RQLk6enQE6WuVwmbYZS_ByFVioOLxN7WCA0dd9tjAlVkQBFnRpIJH_g9mxdCOLGO7kDZ1Ffx-XLyJmuctjgHKNqtXWFKlC5CwqF-ZYza-8ywNT91RAC_aD_KOAIMa-VW17A/w640-h502/IMG_5806.jpeg" width="640" /></span></span></a></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">A tribute to <b>Mrs. K M. Mathew</b> (Annammakochamma) written by her husband, the late</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> Padma Bhushan Mr. K. M. Mathew (former Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama and </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">one of my mother’s younger brothers). </span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Annikki and I had the good fortune to be hosted to a Gujarathi dinner evening</span><span> in Oulu on Saturday.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusSNPc-cQfwQHq3OleNoCoQXK0L3YiiYL6MQoYMatCJoaWcD6yP4anrnCa4SE324Txkc78IWON8Gxmuj-iiQ-C6w5pB63ajUOQtJt2hwrPFZg0MStmCXLztiE25rcmdLABRIva2PuM95rX1goKgx-QYZXQPVxfGMtrH_2DQATsQY8AkMUKULMww/s2016/4e016ec3-318a-4a47-bc94-501f936db3c9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusSNPc-cQfwQHq3OleNoCoQXK0L3YiiYL6MQoYMatCJoaWcD6yP4anrnCa4SE324Txkc78IWON8Gxmuj-iiQ-C6w5pB63ajUOQtJt2hwrPFZg0MStmCXLztiE25rcmdLABRIva2PuM95rX1goKgx-QYZXQPVxfGMtrH_2DQATsQY8AkMUKULMww/w300-h400/4e016ec3-318a-4a47-bc94-501f936db3c9.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfFnYRdWdlkYNIwdmsrIB3x1TVblah1lnuqvNMUZARo-UJemr2UlTXYG21Bqlm4UlvNEAOpWtxKuKKof1-XuR9l085U4MVJHIsIcJZHmigjP4Z7M5Pk_X80Wp6ntqdMIMsSD6FiffZNBOKrzrh1aMEOD1AGyCivnY2Yis-agHaQf0XBLHcJw2sA/s2016/1af5f23e-9b5b-46f0-9f1b-a94d56910308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfFnYRdWdlkYNIwdmsrIB3x1TVblah1lnuqvNMUZARo-UJemr2UlTXYG21Bqlm4UlvNEAOpWtxKuKKof1-XuR9l085U4MVJHIsIcJZHmigjP4Z7M5Pk_X80Wp6ntqdMIMsSD6FiffZNBOKrzrh1aMEOD1AGyCivnY2Yis-agHaQf0XBLHcJw2sA/w300-h400/1af5f23e-9b5b-46f0-9f1b-a94d56910308.jpeg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI9XAdJj3vyVGl7ZS42d-PW-eUXA6GrGGpFaOmMloVoJ-3UnlxO2AxLr8qBukkvp9vo9kfoa-6M5zOsunveP74WsnDNzxMnus_kYqcYWvEOlyosvkG6YePohzkUjmcScXXYQhY-rAOWcKVaIEWMcdM97ZrNISv7pbrvm8Leyu2MFZ5ljmKvUK7Q/s2016/5a91ea22-0a14-49ce-8bc6-f87933a09fc6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI9XAdJj3vyVGl7ZS42d-PW-eUXA6GrGGpFaOmMloVoJ-3UnlxO2AxLr8qBukkvp9vo9kfoa-6M5zOsunveP74WsnDNzxMnus_kYqcYWvEOlyosvkG6YePohzkUjmcScXXYQhY-rAOWcKVaIEWMcdM97ZrNISv7pbrvm8Leyu2MFZ5ljmKvUK7Q/w300-h400/5a91ea22-0a14-49ce-8bc6-f87933a09fc6.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Besides enjoying the camaraderie, we were amazed by the assortment of dishes served up by the hosts. There were over 15 different preparations including 5 different types of roti, including my absolute favourite, the Gujarathi sweet roti. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Such amazing talent was on display. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It took me back to the days when I would visit Anand and Baroda and stay with my Gujarathi friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I enjoyed every dish, all vegetarian and spiced to perfection by our hosts. A truly amazing experience in Oulu. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How we wish there would be someone with the courage to start a vegetarian restaurant featuring not only Gujarathi dishes, but also the vast variety of true Indian vegetarian cuisine, such as from Andhra, Chetinad, Kerala, Maratha, Rajasthani, Telengana and Udipi, vegetarian food that I am very familiar with and which is a distance apart from the North Indian food served up by the majority of Indian and Nepalese restaurants in Finland today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am the nephew of the late Mrs. K. M. Mathew, who every Malayali lady knows because of her many decades of culinary expertise she used to share in the Malayala Manorama and the Vanitha ladies magazine, which is also now published in Hindi from Delhi. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was fortunate to be taught, in 1963, the elements of cooking by Mrs. K. M. Mathew before I set off to England for my studies. She taught me a few crucial dishes to survive and even hand-wrote some of the recipes (which I have preserved all these years).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA5PBfTQYUT_Mf26crlmJUU0DrvT_dBj43phX8_udTCh4c67RGQxCHw_d6BlU9C4lIViiDLTchyphenhyphenfLULgPD301kyjZaE3CPbGjPbG9cV2Dntq919TaE8ZJcP8EFAKW0HL6_MY2xsZ02NqnRedrz7qhT9cOI466de38Tu8CdNVPRZbsLcXm_XYsAg/s2480/IMG_5804.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="2461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTA5PBfTQYUT_Mf26crlmJUU0DrvT_dBj43phX8_udTCh4c67RGQxCHw_d6BlU9C4lIViiDLTchyphenhyphenfLULgPD301kyjZaE3CPbGjPbG9cV2Dntq919TaE8ZJcP8EFAKW0HL6_MY2xsZ02NqnRedrz7qhT9cOI466de38Tu8CdNVPRZbsLcXm_XYsAg/w398-h400/IMG_5804.jpeg" width="398" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>"Life fragrant" by </span><span>Mrs. K. M. Mathew.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICLLYrg2BS0cdhVIppzpK857xBBI8upzQqCNPXPtP8K-cBs176t8QOv2ZHjgCb3re0INeS0rWwIrhHBxb6_fe2e5KdJvpCp5PnwMXaZbuRy6soXmM5xsvdaaziuMJtkKMNFSCXckiQntvsN7gHrdZTmDM5depv4dlZYk6nhq7b9GvNWRfGPkL_g/s2609/IMG_5807.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2609" data-original-width="2463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICLLYrg2BS0cdhVIppzpK857xBBI8upzQqCNPXPtP8K-cBs176t8QOv2ZHjgCb3re0INeS0rWwIrhHBxb6_fe2e5KdJvpCp5PnwMXaZbuRy6soXmM5xsvdaaziuMJtkKMNFSCXckiQntvsN7gHrdZTmDM5depv4dlZYk6nhq7b9GvNWRfGPkL_g/w378-h400/IMG_5807.jpeg" width="378" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An endorsement to Annikki and me written by her son, Chacko, in the book "Annamma" on his mother written by his father.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nIzB3fW8ZhcF9Anun-OK4GdpJhtWEZP3si6VLsROJ6vnowMS5oxmx7ktpOgQyTdgmhhSrasI_6Ex1zWmedJWyObLND4hAD2ge0Pn_PzYky3Gf2I8KxBSXDGo9CBISTvB2ofcPl5oModp4WimZiv1XYzOUsD9OJKJkbRHcuSCqDuvRUSb70P4Nw/s2431/IMG_5808.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2431" data-original-width="1675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nIzB3fW8ZhcF9Anun-OK4GdpJhtWEZP3si6VLsROJ6vnowMS5oxmx7ktpOgQyTdgmhhSrasI_6Ex1zWmedJWyObLND4hAD2ge0Pn_PzYky3Gf2I8KxBSXDGo9CBISTvB2ofcPl5oModp4WimZiv1XYzOUsD9OJKJkbRHcuSCqDuvRUSb70P4Nw/w440-h640/IMG_5808.jpeg" width="440" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">List of books on cooking written by Mrs. K. M. Mathew.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgew3_24bVnPVnAQ8eeAurp3JWiK7ZwOvtuLhwUBJWd0i8dXRra1SQ2f1mlJbOv0M4ExqKk6GH9wHmPepiumH0thEOojpiBhxJwX2A-4mQXTLTZqRsDy1sgIwE45tCgqSV2gGTVB1A9B4GxgmuUp26s8MOlyXw-yX19b4I4HP3Qpv6mEH_2uHrM_w/s2626/IMG_5809.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2626" data-original-width="1958" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgew3_24bVnPVnAQ8eeAurp3JWiK7ZwOvtuLhwUBJWd0i8dXRra1SQ2f1mlJbOv0M4ExqKk6GH9wHmPepiumH0thEOojpiBhxJwX2A-4mQXTLTZqRsDy1sgIwE45tCgqSV2gGTVB1A9B4GxgmuUp26s8MOlyXw-yX19b4I4HP3Qpv6mEH_2uHrM_w/w299-h400/IMG_5809.jpeg" width="299" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Modern Kerala Dishes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKIodQ4SzCILoS5RMhYWrQ6OJhUFn06xHYsO2psSyGBTn87Ny3ZbjLNC1MXatfzz9feBWA49VVki6pMB3S8GHpIcjbj7QbB2V8rQMwFPqpuUS0Z1gfhWW2dHiJqf_3TcCLBWpluZMqmbNiQmMrStguuN388Qm26PVE57NDa162rTqhpppFRIzcw/s2909/IMG_5805.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="2528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKIodQ4SzCILoS5RMhYWrQ6OJhUFn06xHYsO2psSyGBTn87Ny3ZbjLNC1MXatfzz9feBWA49VVki6pMB3S8GHpIcjbj7QbB2V8rQMwFPqpuUS0Z1gfhWW2dHiJqf_3TcCLBWpluZMqmbNiQmMrStguuN388Qm26PVE57NDa162rTqhpppFRIzcw/w348-h400/IMG_5805.jpeg" width="348" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Flavours of the Spice Coast</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedrtyLQqgT3wSVPSL6gPXp8AtNmoUJiKeS_WJrJSPpsVvyJvlGEn28gJT9c4j2cVhUBGmcpwE7FSQdAObFPA3vsOioBUHQkMnsszvj3CZemfeXjbvut-o2OC2kek-2O5bihsRuJlHAp_iuttpZDlmfR1ZT23cXmYQdsP8O4P87x_gg01E3hCz9A/s2386/IMG_5803.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2386" data-original-width="2061" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedrtyLQqgT3wSVPSL6gPXp8AtNmoUJiKeS_WJrJSPpsVvyJvlGEn28gJT9c4j2cVhUBGmcpwE7FSQdAObFPA3vsOioBUHQkMnsszvj3CZemfeXjbvut-o2OC2kek-2O5bihsRuJlHAp_iuttpZDlmfR1ZT23cXmYQdsP8O4P87x_gg01E3hCz9A/w345-h400/IMG_5803.jpeg" width="345" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Family Cook Book,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78LYY8P374G7eSiO4XCXmcSLU7EWoYlo5vjEGaDx2kxIOLBR4CXWemco_1QZwTJiYMQSzA4XCYii6MEVHISAA3Er2LWXrkdt8jtaF1Cgc5_ZnRqvIS7qVCAzQZhC0Ln6pP2Rh-dNc-U39ukuQiER0LXtz5nfrCaEBIAfSN5U9tAVGfnI051iiPQ/s2788/IMG_5796.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2788" data-original-width="2329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78LYY8P374G7eSiO4XCXmcSLU7EWoYlo5vjEGaDx2kxIOLBR4CXWemco_1QZwTJiYMQSzA4XCYii6MEVHISAA3Er2LWXrkdt8jtaF1Cgc5_ZnRqvIS7qVCAzQZhC0Ln6pP2Rh-dNc-U39ukuQiER0LXtz5nfrCaEBIAfSN5U9tAVGfnI051iiPQ/w292-h320/IMG_5796.jpeg" width="292" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Modern Kerala Dishes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWAC7SPFDktvnGADoWyq8soRZBp5wvw7BnNYPt4WMASGzwjJYZKe9tacIEedQkc_QvfjOyZba_ErOPtVgk71EEffbuD5MEehd4yCDhm3qbwuYc_SaIPUDWIvmB2JKDQkGSFQ_hc6LA-A7K7Ur8wqKbC7LKB5hSx-EySWFdrYy3-69pZcmyTT3GA/s2625/IMG_5800.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="2082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWAC7SPFDktvnGADoWyq8soRZBp5wvw7BnNYPt4WMASGzwjJYZKe9tacIEedQkc_QvfjOyZba_ErOPtVgk71EEffbuD5MEehd4yCDhm3qbwuYc_SaIPUDWIvmB2JKDQkGSFQ_hc6LA-A7K7Ur8wqKbC7LKB5hSx-EySWFdrYy3-69pZcmyTT3GA/s320/IMG_5800.jpeg" width="254" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An endorsement by Mrs. K. M. Mathew to Annikki in her book on Kerala Cookery.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3THB3CQiiNajuzWfJgVXhL7faGmFwAAiW9Ck9P7nqs7tnbXR0ATLf213o_FQUwkI2Fviq90bQ-2FM9tCAKeTtCve904GMnBkouEk3y4WTSzmL0K65_OsAj5FEhlpKO1JHJADauqPNW7Isve12BgNHtia2Jdrij9mMjWWLQ8q1RBdzUwBj-lH6g/s2197/IMG_5799.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="1798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3THB3CQiiNajuzWfJgVXhL7faGmFwAAiW9Ck9P7nqs7tnbXR0ATLf213o_FQUwkI2Fviq90bQ-2FM9tCAKeTtCve904GMnBkouEk3y4WTSzmL0K65_OsAj5FEhlpKO1JHJADauqPNW7Isve12BgNHtia2Jdrij9mMjWWLQ8q1RBdzUwBj-lH6g/w328-h400/IMG_5799.jpeg" width="328" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kerala Cookery </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIIwXzS_iIUpOXkj4gLwCbUG9yW2Nt_4j-YTUQLal1w0_Z25ino1NpwhpvXt49Fuu_lw-Dxu7PVMJZPgO9f_27DA30Ux1hYwSrPmSUW9e43oj27Y5u-jFcsZ3Uad4CwwrIar4KKzP0wF8zgWdn0KwxruQsdEBSKb_gyy2mTf3j-eAed2x1WAxHw/s3103/IMG_5798.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3103" data-original-width="2658" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIIwXzS_iIUpOXkj4gLwCbUG9yW2Nt_4j-YTUQLal1w0_Z25ino1NpwhpvXt49Fuu_lw-Dxu7PVMJZPgO9f_27DA30Ux1hYwSrPmSUW9e43oj27Y5u-jFcsZ3Uad4CwwrIar4KKzP0wF8zgWdn0KwxruQsdEBSKb_gyy2mTf3j-eAed2x1WAxHw/w343-h400/IMG_5798.jpeg" width="343" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A revised version of the Family Cook Book.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBTHkTgptzLHh30SGjigpx3z6Ufz68W-6GWcDA-HaUpRRjzpjiRPhubRxRMUUVtI6HI-AuA3PQ9jFIfNl5Yoc6aZU4lA0gOCcTZq-EXyIJBey-Q2CzoAnGG8XOdvZOCmVWbOGtoGHn04uFCAMYRY7D6MmhfKFlPLtx_b_SYwZoglz7AYwkij-kw/s2678/IMG_5802.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="2253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBTHkTgptzLHh30SGjigpx3z6Ufz68W-6GWcDA-HaUpRRjzpjiRPhubRxRMUUVtI6HI-AuA3PQ9jFIfNl5Yoc6aZU4lA0gOCcTZq-EXyIJBey-Q2CzoAnGG8XOdvZOCmVWbOGtoGHn04uFCAMYRY7D6MmhfKFlPLtx_b_SYwZoglz7AYwkij-kw/w336-h400/IMG_5802.jpeg" width="336" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A revised versiion of Modern Kerala Dishes.</span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When we lived in Shawbury, England, Mrs. Mathew came to our remote village home to meet Annikki and our first born daughter, Susanna.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKeOgiDXQS5c0KGJfEjXqYgXXQ94xRKcbnOcpza3vlQnqydEa-V330JFYGp2JGNnZzE_H3mEodN6f1sKIizEiycJ3bJr5rjvarwTMcUS_Wz_BC3Qnfssw0PvFsvZylk9YZToqgLu_PP61Cxf0-_Sh9Q1TL20thd3xUdoKiPAFwAuM4psofdVRvg/s605/IMG_5821.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="605" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKeOgiDXQS5c0KGJfEjXqYgXXQ94xRKcbnOcpza3vlQnqydEa-V330JFYGp2JGNnZzE_H3mEodN6f1sKIizEiycJ3bJr5rjvarwTMcUS_Wz_BC3Qnfssw0PvFsvZylk9YZToqgLu_PP61Cxf0-_Sh9Q1TL20thd3xUdoKiPAFwAuM4psofdVRvg/w400-h291/IMG_5821.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Annikki with Mr. & Mrs. K. M. Mathew who hosted us at their residence in Kottayam (1991).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After we returned to India in 1969, we visited Mrs. Mathew regularly when we went to Kottayam. When she came to Chennai, she would make it a point to visit Annikki. Although a generation apart, it was a mutual admiration society as they shared many common interests, art, cooking, education, music, fashion, upliftment of people, to name just a few.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDElxXhyphenhyphenqf8EHgxpZ3JGmC96b5lLuvbTZQqQk_UtPnCX8L1h0mFwYRfhh2qlqJ1hc6HpeXsrSk95TJupt11bJ4o45zrDPECDDM3hDVeIFISFNzSzwkifUzTARmTj3aZ4oZVZKjnP4r-mT6rTeZiWySK1iL9Kf7hckPntjMMBpPTaF5g6PZIYW6AA/s799/IMG_5822.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="799" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDElxXhyphenhyphenqf8EHgxpZ3JGmC96b5lLuvbTZQqQk_UtPnCX8L1h0mFwYRfhh2qlqJ1hc6HpeXsrSk95TJupt11bJ4o45zrDPECDDM3hDVeIFISFNzSzwkifUzTARmTj3aZ4oZVZKjnP4r-mT6rTeZiWySK1iL9Kf7hckPntjMMBpPTaF5g6PZIYW6AA/w640-h386/IMG_5822.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs. K.M .Mathew examines the White Chocolate wedding cake Annikki made for her niece's wedding (Chennai, 1999).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs. Mathew had a regular column in the Malayala Manorama, the largest circulating regional newspaper in India. Every Kerala lady waited eagerly every morning her next tested recipe. (<b><i>The way to a husband's heart is through his stomach!</i></b>)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She would wake up at 4 am and work with her assistant to create the next recipe which would then be published in the newspaper. Her first assistant, Vasu, now retired, was awarded the EU Certification for his cooking!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We would tease her husband and children that their newspaper circulation was not based on their expertise in publishing but rather on what new recipe Mrs. Mathew turned up for the day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">We eat at <b>Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant</b> in Oulu run by <b>Michelle Hu</b> from Kolkotta, two days a week, every week. The buffet table is unique and a feast. The salad spread is delicious, the sushi selection is truly scrumptious, the hors d'oeuvres spread of vegetarian dumplings and spring rolls, onion rings, papadams, Chinese crackers, Chinese cooked vegetables, fried fish or </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Chinese fish, the mushroom or fish soup, fried rice and noodles, and the main food selection, which on Thursday's is a beef curry and Friday's a chicken vindaloo, make the experience for us to go through the week satisfied, waiting for the next Thursday and Friday to arrive. And the price is very reasonable as is evidenced by the crowd of regulars every week. Michelle is an excellent cook and hostess and the entire kitchen staff and serving staff are very professional.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have no doubt that <b>Garam Masala</b>, the only real Indian Restaurant in Oulu, serves excellent food, but it is too spiced for our elderly palettes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Both Annikki and I feel that to eat there is difficult for us as I have to take along my bulky walker. The restaurant is small and it would be inconvenient for other guests as the restaurant is popular and always full.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I digress, as yesterday's Gujarathi dinner experience was truly marvellous. <b>A gourmet's delight.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How we wish some these experienced talented ladies would take the plunge to put up a different type of Indian restaurant than what we see all around in Finland. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I have heard that there is one such restaurant in Helsinki set up by a former Oulu based Indian</span><span>, but our travelling days are over, so that is only a dream. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We know the talent exists across the board, as the Malayali gentlemen dish out a true Kerala traditional meal every Onam, which we are always happy to join and enjoy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We have such untapped talent in the ladies and gents who have come from all parts of India to Oulu. Annikki and I would have, in our younger days, been at the centre of promoting this type of cultural exchange. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Many years ago, Annikki did teach Indian cooking to the polytechnic in Ylivieska, and it was greatly appreciated by the students. She specialised in using easily available Finnish ingredients to create Indian dishes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When she produced "her" Masala Dosas, we had a queue of people lined up in our house waiting to enjoy the preparation. She even had a large powerful coffee grinder to make the rice and urad dal powder! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Michelle told me that recently a restaurant was opened by a Michelin Star Chef in the centre of Oulu which had queues of people waiting to get in. Her critical review was that it was not of any superior quality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Running a restaurant is, however, not just serving good food but also good management and marketing. The ambience must be perfect.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">With an immediate market spectrum of over 200000 inhabitants, we are confident that a good Indian vegetarian restaurant in Oulu would draw in the crowds. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Surely a much better draw than the 50 plus pizzerias scattered around Oulu, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I have had to take charge of our home kitchen, I worked out a ergonomic cooking schedule as we are just two people. Working from a wheelchair is difficult. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, when we got married in 1967, my dear wife tolerated me in the kitchen for exactly one week, not because I was not a good cook, but because I was extremely messy!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If good food is available, like in Royal Garden, we would be dining out all weekdays. We have the benefit of 18 free taxi trips every month without any cost. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, I am fortunate to have many Oulu taxi drivers from various communities, Ethiopians, Somalians, Sudanese, Zambian, and also many of my former Finnish engineering students who have retired and who drive taxis. These would help us get to the restaurant economically.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Come on, dear Indians, please take on the challenge and get to produce an exclusive new "Indian" vegetarian restaurant for the people of Oulu. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Annikki and I will be the first to help you break into this area.</b></span></p><p><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-32787048381302170512023-11-04T02:23:00.001+02:002023-11-12T19:27:21.021+02:00In memory of Nobel Laureate Sir Charles K. Kao<p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkopCZFX4P2f87ovL5StCDenxiJvEYXWz2yK064yp3Zrsb8w-ug5AyU367K_IeHIhq2DSfljQY8wuZKbZPtj2zCvr5gH1QKVRt971S5GqsMJOlCKHxLBmdZm-xehhO9Ek-bwGVRSig6rDsHCBiCmELzSOcB9fx7l29BzYYSdePGBT-Wea_84niA/s1410/IMG_5771.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkopCZFX4P2f87ovL5StCDenxiJvEYXWz2yK064yp3Zrsb8w-ug5AyU367K_IeHIhq2DSfljQY8wuZKbZPtj2zCvr5gH1QKVRt971S5GqsMJOlCKHxLBmdZm-xehhO9Ek-bwGVRSig6rDsHCBiCmELzSOcB9fx7l29BzYYSdePGBT-Wea_84niA/w340-h400/IMG_5771.jpeg" width="340" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">2009 Nobel </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">Laureate for Physics late </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">Sir Charles K. Kao</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">(Picture from Wikipedia)</span></div><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">An optoelectronic keyboard is a type of keyboard that uses light sensors to detect key presses. Instead of using traditional mechanical switches, the keys of an optoelectronic keyboard contain light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodetectors. When a key is pressed, the photodetector detects the interruption of light caused by the key, and the corresponding keypress is registered. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 40px;">Optoelectronic keyboards are often used in environments where durability and resistance to liquid spills are important, as they have no moving parts and can be sealed to protect it from damage.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The first “optoelectronic keyboard” was developed by Hewlett-Packard in the 1960s.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Fibre optics was discovered in the 19th century, but its full potential as a means of transmitting data was only realised in the 1960s. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In 1966, Charles K. Kao discovered the potential of glass fibres for transmitting light signals, which later led to the development of practical optical fibre cables.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao was a renowned physicist and engineer. He was born on November 4, 1933, in Shanghai, China, and passed away on September 23, 2018. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao is most famously known for his groundbreaking work on the practicality of using optical fibres for long-distance telecommunications. In the 1960s, he foresaw the potential of optical fibre cables as a viable solution for transmitting large amounts of information over long distances. At the time, copper wires were the standard for communication, but they suffered from limited bandwidth and significant signal loss.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao's research and experiments in the late 1960s led him to demonstrate that the attenuation (loss of signal) within an optical fibre could be significantly reduced if the fibre’s impurities were minimized. This discovery paved the way for the development and commercialization of fibre-optic communication systems, which revolutionized global telecommunications.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In recognition of his pioneering work, Sir Charles Kao, along with Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2009. This prestigious honor solidified his status as a key figure in the advancement of modern telecommunication technology.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Aside from his contributions to the field of fibre optics, Sir Charles Kao held various academic and industry positions throughout his career. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He obtained his Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of London and later pursued a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the Imperial College London. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our paths crossed here in London as he was simultaneously working at the research centre of Standard Telephones and Cables (STC) in Harlow. This research centre of STC was affiliated with the research centre where I was working, the Rubber and Plastics Research Association of Great Britain (RAPRA) in Shawbury. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">My work was on durability of polymeric materials, including the alternate material for fibre optics, acrylics.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao's work continues to be highly regarded and has profoundly impacted the telecommunications industry, facilitating the fast and efficient transmission of data around the world. His contributions to the development of optical fibre cables have revolutionized long-distance communication and laid the foundation for the digital age we live in today.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The potential of acrylic fibres as a fibre optic medium was discovered by a team of researchers at Bell Laboratories in the United States.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 56.7px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Engineers at Bell Laboratories discovered the potential of acrylic fibres as an optical fibre cable in 1970.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The first company to produce acrylic fiber for fibre optic cables was DuPont.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am releasing this entry about Sir. Charles Kao and fibre optics, as in 1996 I wrote a confidential paper on my thoughts on “optoelectronic keyboards” which was not about the use of optoelectronic switches but on keyboards which would actually consist of mini screens as keys!</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This concept arose out of the problems associated with original mobile phone numeric keyboards. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Although IBM had already developed a touch keyboard for its mobile phone, </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Signal, in 1994, it was nowhere near the possible potential.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When I exchanged my ideas and views with Steve Jobs in 1997 when he had returned to Apple from NEXT, it was well received, but it was only taken more seriously when Apple iPhone was released in 2007, but only taking a very small part of my keyboard concept into consideration.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzWwa4LU2Y73kKStunEGe1NuejrEvDvgSmKQEscPGmtW2htLIYAB01D1TAo9L1UgLM4X9xWpYTEL372euNvB75WRf6Fxy3_w6sfzkv70lqvWWuSSO_StxMcif_RK4LnQOYhuc38FMZU5JF5ymaoGtQ_9dpxYewIpRwc0DLQtRYCOg1BBirAqzBw/s800/IMG_5766.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="800" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzWwa4LU2Y73kKStunEGe1NuejrEvDvgSmKQEscPGmtW2htLIYAB01D1TAo9L1UgLM4X9xWpYTEL372euNvB75WRf6Fxy3_w6sfzkv70lqvWWuSSO_StxMcif_RK4LnQOYhuc38FMZU5JF5ymaoGtQ_9dpxYewIpRwc0DLQtRYCOg1BBirAqzBw/w400-h133/IMG_5766.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">QWERTY keyboard</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NIK_Kux5LBaEU6vHw4p_eOvtiSzPFFOQENdoBNuI8vGUdRncMWMvLNw5tz9P1r6y1NJsIuZHE9wdKceSULvTSzUOd4iT6WumewAp_jBEXmpN-ye-0G7U-ziuPTfbW7V4pMlxbH1DI1Mo1jJAEdMR9q8EGTHa16w2rAo_r3OpzBLkbEfwDDSTyw/s500/IMG_5767.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="500" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NIK_Kux5LBaEU6vHw4p_eOvtiSzPFFOQENdoBNuI8vGUdRncMWMvLNw5tz9P1r6y1NJsIuZHE9wdKceSULvTSzUOd4iT6WumewAp_jBEXmpN-ye-0G7U-ziuPTfbW7V4pMlxbH1DI1Mo1jJAEdMR9q8EGTHa16w2rAo_r3OpzBLkbEfwDDSTyw/w400-h126/IMG_5767.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">AZERTY Keyboard</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y5rEL6ogwFqUksaQwfBsdKCUfFWLXLxb4_3g5dm7Im-i0xG7Uaf7R5s2s1V_I0vAVNVjvwjGGY7-f073944h-LNE_6tcxqH6wNQWXP7rG1HET-FKFwhhApbs92h3OopD32RFOQ5r4kGAvbs8qMFoyXzBQcO-f6t13bwYCnO6naWm797hu1yVkg/s1200/IMG_5768.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1200" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y5rEL6ogwFqUksaQwfBsdKCUfFWLXLxb4_3g5dm7Im-i0xG7Uaf7R5s2s1V_I0vAVNVjvwjGGY7-f073944h-LNE_6tcxqH6wNQWXP7rG1HET-FKFwhhApbs92h3OopD32RFOQ5r4kGAvbs8qMFoyXzBQcO-f6t13bwYCnO6naWm797hu1yVkg/w400-h134/IMG_5768.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">DVORAK Keyboard</div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here are the four pages of the text of my original paper “Optoelectronic Keyboards - Basic Concept, User Friendliness and Technology Shift” </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">written in 1996. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It was first shared confidentially with my then son-in-law, Tony Manninen.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">After doing a patent search, which showed that my concept was unique, I shared it with Steve Jobs. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Unfortunately, the email exchange with Steve Jobs was through my now defunct internet account findians@findians.com as my service provider in Canada went bust and I lost my domain name. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">However, if someone is able to search Steve Jobs’s archives, it may be possible to retrieve our correspondence.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EpFEvZTSeh8px6-dMKWImxdkIlU4SSJZb1sZqbRaVSWfCdU4ww8z15UMZJZPmiEL4RZNg80VmDJepaEgLxg7qNmJ-s5QsKS1PghELduEu5XDJ9RKIfXEuiavWz6xp90BnvE2Pnk678uRyRplqOcZpL-_Jtnky9Mt_37tCBiYsD_oTm3uHqXj7Q/s3242/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="2325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EpFEvZTSeh8px6-dMKWImxdkIlU4SSJZb1sZqbRaVSWfCdU4ww8z15UMZJZPmiEL4RZNg80VmDJepaEgLxg7qNmJ-s5QsKS1PghELduEu5XDJ9RKIfXEuiavWz6xp90BnvE2Pnk678uRyRplqOcZpL-_Jtnky9Mt_37tCBiYsD_oTm3uHqXj7Q/w458-h640/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%201.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_p4IvmYYdhBXObTVyqywf-s3d4zkf5spnmsdcVwtXvtUG9y0YFiqISsf2sLMVEd6dIq6bDKqNKA8TwlJr5YIRECbUYAa81pqNojeHQvKhKo55vy_IB4PoKeJ2Z8JvRCpQ_QoiAqEZ_V6O_sxftN-PG1NaMJkrqfJcPP2lRNmIhRWW31beJekkQ/s3242/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="2325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_p4IvmYYdhBXObTVyqywf-s3d4zkf5spnmsdcVwtXvtUG9y0YFiqISsf2sLMVEd6dIq6bDKqNKA8TwlJr5YIRECbUYAa81pqNojeHQvKhKo55vy_IB4PoKeJ2Z8JvRCpQ_QoiAqEZ_V6O_sxftN-PG1NaMJkrqfJcPP2lRNmIhRWW31beJekkQ/w458-h640/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%202.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7A728AoQhWrK6Lr3qIQVgeIV5oYTtvDrSwxCT0NAGlYEoeVxhZebGlu9QIGc5fSWS23GjBBGLEDOhbjbEskUUo5unwBwFu6m2U_ZiZtlBGmX687XCoD2RiqTlox7XLeiWXy7BirqUvZ9eZ-JImZQwk3m_aE8J1qgLP9RfUCxPHZiks8Z8-7gQ/s3242/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="2325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7A728AoQhWrK6Lr3qIQVgeIV5oYTtvDrSwxCT0NAGlYEoeVxhZebGlu9QIGc5fSWS23GjBBGLEDOhbjbEskUUo5unwBwFu6m2U_ZiZtlBGmX687XCoD2RiqTlox7XLeiWXy7BirqUvZ9eZ-JImZQwk3m_aE8J1qgLP9RfUCxPHZiks8Z8-7gQ/w458-h640/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%203.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg46hLDNToU8OJV_BH-XZuGS_Io43-2IRPXtsHG-bDo0GxPq1QDyyKkZ78u6-w57_uc9A1y8Ju7CC7Ow0o5_9gqh8AhyUnBUu1E5ZH9lH1rMAp1gls8Wpx5IevX2o0Jd1B9YqMFdKD8x5fLxyQTpfM22aWEjdFOyMiVz6CDGjZC0YMoIygADiG0w/s3242/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="2325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg46hLDNToU8OJV_BH-XZuGS_Io43-2IRPXtsHG-bDo0GxPq1QDyyKkZ78u6-w57_uc9A1y8Ju7CC7Ow0o5_9gqh8AhyUnBUu1E5ZH9lH1rMAp1gls8Wpx5IevX2o0Jd1B9YqMFdKD8x5fLxyQTpfM22aWEjdFOyMiVz6CDGjZC0YMoIygADiG0w/w458-h640/1996%20Opto%20Keryboard%204.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao developed Alzheimer’s in 2003. But he could still recall people and names and still carried on his research work. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As I care for Annikki, stricken with Alzheimers, I still have hope that, like Sir Charles Kao, Annikki will continue to contribute to society, as she has done for the last 50 years, just by the sheer joy she conveys daily to all of us around her. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sir Charles Kao used most of his Nobel Prize money to set up a foundation to help those suffering from Alzeihmers.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 40px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I thought to release this blog today, 4th November 2023 as it is the 90th birthday of the late Sir Charles Kao, who influenced some of my work on acrylic polymer optoelectronics fibres in the late 1960s.</span></p></div>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9477769.post-30858700919713721202023-11-01T20:49:00.002+02:002023-11-01T20:52:01.075+02:00Brinda Somaya, Outstanding Architect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrP7IORuZuHCcKzR3fDmcncpS32aCBm5SpRnHKkGhWZiikciVQsoEAO3Ggy9Wr9f_xpVLuSNUGAIF60PybZ9O6FqSSrc4eJmTsH0SLG8F-WTzda-LpHGRYJjxzB3caQfAycn13sjfQUvlOMnZWa4XsY3s-xji_56lt81pPisj3O5F24e8-Wq5QQ/s280/IMG_5721.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="279" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrP7IORuZuHCcKzR3fDmcncpS32aCBm5SpRnHKkGhWZiikciVQsoEAO3Ggy9Wr9f_xpVLuSNUGAIF60PybZ9O6FqSSrc4eJmTsH0SLG8F-WTzda-LpHGRYJjxzB3caQfAycn13sjfQUvlOMnZWa4XsY3s-xji_56lt81pPisj3O5F24e8-Wq5QQ/s1600/IMG_5721.jpeg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brinda Somaya</div><p> I have posted <a href="https://cathedraliteheaven.blogspot.com/2023/11/cat-64er-brinda-nee-chinappa-somaya.html" target="_blank">a tribute to a good friend Brinda (nee Chinappa) Somaya</a>, one of India’s leading architects. </p><p>She is a school friend of 50 years with both of our families having deep roots in Karnataka.</p><p><br /></p>Jacob Matthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10571251800458009507noreply@blogger.com0