Wonderful addition to Oulu

(Cross-posted on the CHAFF Blog.)

On Friday, Annikki and I got a chance to take part in an event to welcome the new pastor and his family to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Oulu.



Mika Forsman studied in the Philippines and then worked as a pastor in Finland, Pakistan and Thailand.



He married a beautiful lady from the Philippines, Gina, and they have a lovely 12 year old daughter, Fia.



Eila Maunu was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening.



Several of the Church Elders and Members took turns to welcome the Forsmans and give them some advice of life in the north.

Yrjö Väyrynen, the church elder from Oulu:



Jouko Minkkinen, another senior member of the Oulu Church:



Markku and Elina Mäkkinen (and their son Johannes, not seen in the picture) came from Utajärvi to welcome the Forsman family:



Pastor Kalevi Rullo also gave his advice:



The elders of the church prayed for the work of the Forsmans in this area:



A trio of young ladies sang a beautiful song to welcome the Forsmans (our photographer, Anja Husa, is on the extreme left):



Eila then gave them a Floral welcome:



After the welcoming proceedings, Annikki and I went to meet Gina as I thought that she would be the right person to take part in helping foreigners in Oulu. I was surprised to hear that although she had only been three weeks in Oulu, Gina had already tried to contact many foreigners and she had successfully established contact with a few.

I then explained the role I had played in helping the foreign community in Finland and especially Oulu and I introduced her to the wonderful work being done by Ildikó Hámos and Mervi Heikkinen in SINNI on women’s empowerment and the Oulu branch of Monika on handling the problems of immigrant women.

It seemed almost as if I was directed by an unseen hand to be there and meet this wonderful personality who was already striving to establish contacts to do exactly this form of work.

We talked at length. Gina gave me her email address. I have emailed Ildikó Hámos so that they can start working together, a prayer of Ildi being almost answered to the fullest by the arrival of this dynamic young lady from the Phillipines.

As Pastor Forsman’s work extends all around north Finland, Gina will have an opportunity to meet with several foreigners in this region and extend the helping hand to all of them, not just to those in Oulu.

I invited Pastor Forsman, Gina and Fia to attend our weekly CHAFF meetings. I am sure that one of these Sunday’s they will join us to see how we work quietly in our small disorganised, but highly effective way of helping both Finns and Foreigners.

What is happening to Oulu - Indian Invasion?

I picked up my local Oulu newspaper the other day, and on the front page was the story of an Indian Company BUYING the majority stake in a top-flight Oulu based company.

The Indian Media was not far behind with the news.

Sterling Infotech Group forays into renewable energy space 2006-09-01 18:15

ME


Isaac Sundarajan

After another Chennai product, Isaac Sundarajan followed my footsteps as the CEO of a Finnish Company (15 years after my foray into the world of Finnish companies) Codenomicon Oy, here was a bold step of a Chennai based company, Sterling Infotech Ltd., a company which was just starting when I was making my name as Findians, buying a 40% stake in a prestigious Oulu based company, WinWind Oy, in the business of Wind Energy and the manufacturer of 1 and 3 MW wind turbines.

While 15 years ago I was telling Finnish companies to take a stake in Indian companies, here was someone doing just the reverse!!! The wind between developed and developing countries certainly seems to blowing in the opposite direction today.

Strange that all this happens in a small unknown town, my home town for the last 23 years, way up in the north - Oulu, a word most people do not know how to even pronounce!

Although Finland is not known as well as the other Scandinavian countries (Denmark and Sweden in particular) in the field of Wind Energy, an Oulu based company WinWind Oy has been slowly and steadily making its presence felt in several markets around the world.

Sterling Infotech Ltd. is a relative newcomer in the field of international business (history of just 15 years), but it has made very steady growth by following a lateral development strategy. Apart from Softwatre development and telecommunications, it recently went ahead with a massive investment in the coffee distribution business, especially when the world and Indian coffee market is in a slump.


C. Sivasankaran - Chairman of Sterling Infotech Group

Sivasankaran was rated as a top Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur. He was conferred with the President of India award twice as testimony for his achievements in the technology arena. His strength appears to lie in his ability to identify business opportunities well ahead of other competitors, so seizing the first mover advantage. He is the group chairman of 33 companies.

His vision is "to discover the unfulfilled but vital needs of the society and to turn them into viable business opportunities. The goal of the Sterling Group is consumerism of advanced technologies for the benefit of many, and to create a future model for businesses committee to community welfare."

The Sterling Infotech Group (SIG) promoted by Mr. Sivasankaran, has over the past decade and a half grown rapidly in size and stature into a professionally managed group with interests in telecom services and in high growth / mass consumption food & beverages business. The Group has been in operations for over 2 decades and has built leadership positions across its GSM Cellular and Internet Services businesses. The Group commenced operations in 1988 through Sterling Computers Limited. It assembled and marketed Personal Computers, when computer penetration was very low given high street prices of computers. The company developed into one of the largest players in this sector primarily based on unmatched value proposition. In later discontinued this business to enter the next wave of technology – mobile telephony.

A diversified business conglomerate, the Sterling Group business interests include Telecommunications (Aircel – Cellular network operator in Chennai & Tamil Nadu; Dishnet Wireless in North/East India), Internet services (Dishnet Wireless - Category A Internet Service Provider), Agri Exports (Sterling Agro), Broadcasting (Education to Home by DTH), Coffee vending (Fresh & Honest Café), Coffee chain (Barista – the premium coffee chain) and certified wellness (Aiwo Spa and Restaurant).

And now into what has been a blowing hot topic in Tamil Nadu for over 15 years - Wind Energy!

So it was no surprise when this cash-rich company made a foray into yet another new area - Wind Energy. By pumping in fresh capital into the Finnish company to the tune of around Euro 20 million, and acquiring about 3+% of the present shareholder stock, it took a majority share of 40% in the Finnish company.

This is a rather surprising development, as Sterling Infotech Ltd. has always tried to acquire complete ownership of any company it acquires.

However, it probably sees the present management structure of WinWinD Oy as sound and in the right mode for a major thrust into the European market for small sized Wind Turbine systems. As WinWind has a good networking operation in Europe as well as Cjhina, it is likely that the Sterling Infotech mmanagement is going to capitalise on this established structure.

But not much can be said of the present large stakeholders of the company, and it would be well for Sterling to unload that baggage as soon as possible.

What of the present staff in the Finnish company?

It is obvious that they will have to understand the Indian management style, which is completely different from the style followed in Finland. New Indian companies are hard taskmasters and will quickly cut away any dwead-wood they find in any organisation.

Oulu is going to get a taste of the more feroicious style of Indian management, much like Isaac is bringing to Codenomicon in a more gentler gentlemanly fashion.

Watch out as we will see some radical moves as this Indian company will not stand by and accept a slow growth policy - it will demand a more dynamic strategy than at present and it is likely that the production will be moved to more economic centres while the R&D will be left untouched in Finland!

This bold move by Sivaramakrishnan is in an attempt to jump over the present Indian leader in Wind Energy.

Part of my culture - Onam

Thank you Satish and Vimla in Kottayam for sharing this with me. Copyright acknowledged for who created this.

Hi !

After sending an earlier Onam greeting, I found that a more informative Onam message would be more useful to keep up the good old traditions (lest some of us forget what its all about) and I am forwarding herewith the greeting that I recieved from a friend! Share it with your friends and keep the good times in sight!

WE WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY ONAM, OUR NATIONAL FESTIVAL

Satish & Vimla Abraham.

Thiru Onam is celebrated in the second half of August (the Chingam month of Kollam Era) when the August monsoon rains come to an end and the summer heat gives way to the pleasant warmth of the Kerala autumn. Anthropologists see in Onam a great fertility rite, the ceremony of Thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest. For Keralites Onam is the celebration of the return of Mahabali, their once beloved king.

The Origin of Onam



Onam or Thiruonam originated as a joyous annual reminiscence of the golden rule of King Mahabali, a mythical king, who ruled Kerala a very long time ago. It recalls the sacrifice of the great king, his true devotion to God, his human pride and his ultimate redemption. This king once ruled over the Keralites during the Golden Age before caste existed, "when all men were equal, when no one was poor, when there was neither theft nor dread of thieves" (Maveli natu vanitum kalam... Manusharellam onnu pole ... ).

The complete folk-song is given in its English version.

When Maveli, our King, rules the land,
All the people form one casteless race.
And people live jo yful and merry;
They are free from all harm.
There is neither theft nor deceit,
And no one is false in speech either.
Measures and weights are right;
No one cheats or wrongs the neighbor.
When Maveli, our King, rules the land,
All the people form one casteless race.

The Legend

Facts and fables blend as Kerala celebrates this royal return, year after year with the festivities of Onam. Legend has it that the gods plotted against Mahabali to end his reign. For this they sent Lord Vishnu to earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin. But before being trampled down to the netherworld, Vishnu granted the king's sole wish: To visit his land and people once every year.

The complete story is given below in this message

The Custom

Pookalam



A flower carpet called 'Pookalam' is laid in front of every house to welcome the advent of the vanquished king, and earthen mounds representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. Traditional rituals are performed followed by a lavish feast called 'Sadhya'. Onam also means new clothes for the whole family, sumptuous home-cooked delicacies on plantain leaf and the lingering aroma of the sweet Payasam.

The recipes of the onam special delicacies are available in this message

Kaikottikali

Onam is in the air. Its time to revive our rich folk arts when women come out with their dances, especially kaikottikalli. This is the period from "atham" to Onam when the Malayali celebrates a bumper harvest and is in a festive mood.



The women-folk neatly decked up in mundu-veshti and ornamental flowers in their hair decorate their frontyard and "nadumittam" with flowers and light a lamp near an idol of Ganapathy in a gesture to overcome all hurdles in their path to prosperity.



The simple rythmic group dance which involves clapping each other's palms while encircling the pookalam is what's known as kaikottikali, the essence of Onam.

Women, young and old, take part in the folk dance which signifies joy, happines and festivity. Though kaikottikali is neither a ritual form of dance or stage art, it derives its "ragachaya" from kathakali and the songs are based on episodes and legends like Krishnaleela, Shakunthalam, Kuchelavritham and Dhruvacharithram. Emphasis is given on rythmic movements than on mudra. The uniqueness of kaikottikali lies in the fact that the songs are sung by the participants themselves and the dance involves just simple steps in unison.

The most common ragams found in the kaikottikali songs include the Hussaini, Bhairavi and Kamboji and on several occasions the song deviate from puranic tales to folk stories.

Songs are also sung in praise of Saraswati, Ganapathy and Krishna which is considered to be very auspicious. Sadya over, on Onam day, women dance away to glory till the euphoria wanes.

The Spectacle

Spectacular parades of caparisoned elephants, fireworks and the famous Kathakali dance are traditionally associated with Onam. It's also the season of many cultural and sport events and carnivals. All this makes Onam-time a perfect period to visit this coastal state, touted as "Gods Own Country". No wonder the Government of Kerala has declared this time every year as Tourism Week.

The Grand Boat Race



One of the main attractions of Onam, is the 'Vallamkali' or boat races of Karuvatta, Payippad, Aranmula and Kottayam. Hundreds of oarsmen row traditional boats to the rhythm of drums and cymbals. These long graceful Snake Boats called 'Chundans' are named after their exceedingly long hulls and high sterns that resemble the raised hood of a cobra.



Then there are 'Odis', the small and swift raiding crafts adorned with gold tasseled silk umbrellas, the 'Churulans' with their elaborately curled prows and sterns, and the 'Veppus', a kind of cook-boat. This traditional village rivalry on watercrafts reminds one of ancient naval warfare.

Thousands throng the banks to cheer and watch the breathtaking show of muscle power, rowing skills and rapid rhythm. These boats - all pitted against their own kind - rip through the backwaters of Kerala in a tussle of speed.

Onam is for All

Although this festival has its origin in Hindu mythology, Onam is for all people of all class and creed. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the wealthy and the downtrodden, all celebrate Onam with equal fervor. The secular character of Onam is peculiar to this land where unity had always coexisted with diversity, especially during festivals, when people come together to celebrate life's unlimited joys.

A long long time ago, an Asura (demon) king called Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler and beloved of his subjects. Soon his fame as an able king began to spread far and wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers. Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's powers.



Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Emperor's preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But the Emperor's kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him for a favor. So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than going back on one's promise. He kept his word.



The Vamana asked for a simple gift "three paces of land" and the king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step.



Vishnu's fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects.

Another Legend

Another legend has it that King Mahabali was a devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu. He was sincere, honest, just and a good ruler. But he had one weakness ego. And to eradicate his pride and redeem his beloved devotee of this one sin, Vishnu came to earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana.

The king in his pride asked the Brahmin what he wanted for he could give anything. Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king agreed. To humble him Vishnu, as Vamana showed Mahabali that he is just a puny creature in front of God's universal stature.



Mahabali, who was a man of principles, realized God's purpose and offered his head for Vamana's footstep, as he was sent to another world. This fatal step proved a blessing in disguise for the good king the foot salvaged and released him from the recurrent cycle of birth and death. That is why Onam is celebrated by wearing new clothes and resolving to lead a new life of truth, piety, love, and humility.

The Feast

'Onasadhya' is the grand feast served during the celebration of Onam in Kerala.



It is served on Banana leaves. There is a way of placing the leaf and an order of serving the dishes. The picture given below shows the serving order beginning from the left with 'Upperies'.

PARIPPU CURRY
SAMBAR
AVIAL
KALAN
OLAN
THORAN
PULIINJI
INJITHAIR
PINEAPPLE PACHHADY
ERISSERY
KOOTUCURRY
NARANGA PICKLE
MANGA CURRY
BANANA CHIPS
SARKARAPURATTY
PAYASAM
PRATHAMAN
LADY'S FINGER KICHADI

Rice is the main course. With rice, various kinds of dishes are served... curries, 'upperies' (things fried in oil), 'pappadams' (round crisp flour paste cakes of peculiar make), 'achchars' (pickles of various kinds), 'payasams' and 'prathamans' (Desserts). Fruits are also served, mainly plantain.

PARIPPU CURRY

Ingredients :

1.
Lentils (green gram dal) - 1 cup
Water - 3 cups
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

2.
Salt - to taste
Ghee (Clarified butter) - 2tsp

Method of Preparation :

Lightly fry the lentils in a pan. Boil 3 cups water and add the washed lentils and turmeric powder. When it boils, lower the flame. When the lentils are cooked well, add salt to taste and ghee. Mix well and remove from fire.


SAMBAR



The chief ingredients are dhal and vegetables such as, brinjal, drum-stick, bitter gourd (pavakkai), ladies finger etc. It is a favorite dish in South India.

Ingredients - Serves 10

1.
Bitter gourd - 1/2
Brinjal (egg plant) - 1 no
Drum Stick - 1no
Ladies fingers - 4 nos
Red chillies - 4 nos (split into 2)

2.
Sambar dal (Red gram dal) - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Water - 3 cups

3.
Tamarind - size of a golf ball
Water - 1 cup
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Asafoetida powder - 1/4 tsp
Grated molasses - 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil - 2 tbs
White gram dal - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek - 1/4 tsp
Dried chilli - 4 nos
Coconut oil - 1/2 tsp

4.
Dried coriander seeds - 2 tbs

5.
Coconut oil - 2 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Dried chillies split into 2 - 2 nos

6.
Coriander leaves - few

Method of Preparation :

Clean the vegetables and slice into long pieces.

Wash the dal. Boil 3 cups of water and cook dal in it. Add turmeric powder and curry leaves into the dal. Keep it aside.

Fry the 4th ingredients in 1/2 tsp of coconut oil. Grind it to a smooth paste and keep aside.

Mash the tamarind in 1 cup water and strain. Boil the tamarind water with red chilli powder, salt, curry leaves, asafoetida and molasses. When it boils, add 2 tbs of coconut oil. Add the vegetables except the ladies finger into it. Cook till done and add the prepared dal into it. Bring to a boil and add the ladies finger and the ground masalas. Remove from fire after boiling.

Season with mustard seeds and dried chillies. Sprinkle the Sambar with chopped coriander leaves.

Note : Various vegetables like potato, carrot, radish, tomato etc can also be added to the sambar.


AVIAL

This is a semi-dry preparation which is a mixture of all sorts of vegetables.

Ingredients (Serves 10 )

1.
Yam sliced thinly into 1 1/2" length pieces - 1 cup
Cucumber sliced lengthy into 1 1/2" thick pieces - 1 cup
Snake gourd sliced into 1 1/2" length pieces - 1 cup
Carrot sliced into into 1 1/2" length pieces - 1/4 cup
Long runner-beans sliced into 11/2" length pieces - 1/2 cup
Drumstick cut into 2" length pieces - 2 nos

2.
Raw bananas sliced into 1 1/2" length pieces - 1 no
Mango pieces - for sour taste

3.
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste

4.
Grated coconut - 1/2 quantity
Green chillies - 5 nos
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

5.
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Coconut oil - 3 tbs

Method of Preparation :

Coarsely grind the coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds. Keep it aside.

Clean the vegetables. Heat 2 tbs of coconut oil in a thick bottom vessel. Add the vegetables and cook on a low flame. Do not add water. When it is done, add turmeric powder, salt and mix it well. Remove the vegetables from the middle and put sliced bananas and mango pieces and cover it with the other vegetables. When steam emerges, add the coconut paste and stir well. Remove from fire. Mix the remaining coconut oil and curry leaves in the avial.

KALAN

It is a preparation of buttermilk with thick gravy. Sliced plantains known as nenthra-kaya and yams (chena) are boiled in water with salt and chillies. Buttermilk mixed with ground coconut pulp is poured in proper time and the preparation is flavored by the addition of mustard, fried in coconut oil.

Ingredients (Serves 10 )

1.
Yam sliced into small pieces - 100 gm
Small raw banana 1 no
Green chillies (slit the edge) - 3 nos

2.
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Water - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste

3.
Ghee (clarified butter) - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

4.
Mashed yogurt (without water) - 1/2 litre

5.
Grated coconut - 1/2 quantity
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

6.
Fried and powdered fenugreek - 1/2 tsp

7.
Ghee (clarified butter) - 3 tsp
Dried chilli (split into 2) - 2 nos
Mustard - 1 tsp

Method of Preparation:

Remove the skin of the plantain and slice it into small pieces.

Grind the coconut and cumin to a smooth paste without adding water. Keep it aside.

Dissolve the pepper powder in 1/2cup of water and strain it through a clean cloth. Cook the vegetables in this water. Add the turmeric powder and salt. Stir well. When the water dries, add 1tsp ghee. Pour the yogurt and mix well. Lower the flame. When the curd boils and becomes dry and thick, add the grinded coconut mixture and fenugreek powder into it. Stir well. Brings to a boil and remove from fire. Season with mustard, dried chillies and curry leaves.

OLAN

Ingredients - Serves 10

1.
Ash gourd - 100 gm
Pumpkin - 100 gm
Green chillies - 4 nos (split the edge)
Red gram dal - 1 tbs (soaked in the water for about 6 hours)

2.
Grated coconut - 1/2 quantity
(Squeeze out 1/4 cup of the milk from the coconut without adding water. Take one more cup of milk from the coconut)

3.
Salt - to taste

4.
Coconut oil - 1 tbs
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Method of Preparation :

Remove the covering of the ash gourd and pumpkin and cut them into small pieces. Cook the vegetables and red gram dal in water. Add enough salt and the green chillies. When it is done, add 1 cup of coconut milk and boil. When it thickens well, add 1/4 cup coconut milk. Bring to a boil and remove from the fire. Add 1 tbs coconut oil and the curry leaves and mix well.

THORAN

Ingredients :

1.
Cabbage, long runner-beans or any other vegetable, cut in to small pieces - 500 gm

2.
Coconut oil - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Black gram - 1 tsp
Dried red Chilly (cut into 2-3 pieces) - 4 nos

3.
Salt - to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chilly powder - 1/4 tsp

4.
Coconut - 1 cup
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves -2 sprigs
Garlic cloves - 2 nos

Method of Preparation :

Crush the coconut, cumin seeds, curry leaves and garlic. Put the vegetables in a pan and boil with salt and chillies. Heat the oil in a pan and saut�

2nd ingredients. Add the tumeric and chilly powder, boiled vegetables and crushed ingredients. Mix well and serve hot.


PULIINJI

This is a preparation where ginger is the main ingredient.

Ingredients

1.
Ginger - 25 gm
Green Chillies - 4 nos.

2.
Coconut oil - 1 tsp
Dried red chilly - 1 no. cut in to 4 pieces
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

3.
Tamarind - size of a lemon
Water - 2 cups

4.
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly Powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida powder - 1/4 tsp
Jaggery (grated) - 25 gm
Curry leaves - 1 sprigs
Fenugreek seeds -1 pinch

Method of preparation:

Peel the ginger and cut into very small pieces. Cut the green chillies also into small pieces. Heat oil and sauté the 2nd ingredients for a minute. Add ginger and green chilly pieces and fry well and keep it aside. Put tamarind in two cups of water, squeeze well and take the liquid. Keep this liquid on fire adding the 4th ingredients. Boil till the solution becomes thick. Add the fried ginger and chilly pieces, boil once more and remove from fire.

INJITHAIR

Ingredients

Nicely chopped ginger - 4 spoons
Curd - 6 spoons
Salt - as required

Method of preparation

Mix all the ingredients and stir well. The injithair is ready.


PINEAPPLE PACHHADY

Ingredients :

1.
Ripe pineapple cut into 1/2" square pieces - 2 cups
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste

2.
Grated coconut - 1 cup
Dried red chilli - 1

3.
Coconut oil - 2 dsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Dried red chillies - 3 (cut into 6 pieces)
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

4.
Crushed mustard - 1 tsp

Method of Preparation :

Boil pineapple, with turmeric and salt in 1/2cup water. Grind coconut with dried chilli to a fine paste.

Heat the oil and season with mustard seeds. Saute the coconut paste and add the curry leaves and dried red chillies. When it is done, add the boiled pineapple pieces. The gravy should be thick and the cover the pineapple pieces. Add the crushed mustard just before removing the pachhady from fire.

have a GREAT ONAM!

I am being bombarded!

(Cross-posted on the Seventh Heaven Blog and the Kooler Talk (Web Version) Blog.)

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I am not missing. I am quite well. I am not very busy. I have just been lazing away my summer which is unusally hot. You can read more about this on my main blog.

Ashok (Tony) Jaitly.

I got an interesting email from my Stephanian/Cathedralite friend - Cathedralite 57er / Stephanian 61er Ashok Jaitly, more commonly known to all of us as Tony.

From: ashok jaitly
Date: Aug 23, 2006 4:07 PM
Subject: Touching Base
To: Jacob Matthan
Cc: HS Uberoi

Dear Jacob,

Hope all is well with you and the family.

Apologies for not being in touch for a long time.

However,some news that you would be glad to hear - my book 'St.Stephen's College - A History' was launched on 2nd August at the Maurya Sheraton here in Delhi. There was a gathering of about 300, mostly Stephanians, and a good time was had by all ! The atmosphere was very special with the kind of warmth and fraternity that you would expect from such a crowd of old College types particularly with the wine flowing-you can trust Stephs!

Rahul Bajaj released the book with Amin Saheb, Mani Shanker Aiyar and Bunker Roy reminiscing about their memories.Roshan Seth and my wife, Sabina, read a few extracts from the book which, I was relieved to hear,were well received.Incidentally,the book seems to be doing quite well at the bookstands although, for the life of me, I cannot imagine who would want to read about SSC other than our lot.

It would also please you to know that the book talks about Kooler Talk including your blogsite. !

I would love to get a copy across to you but how I know not !

One question from your recent blog -who was the Savage House captain of 1956 who came to St.Stephen's. As far as I recall I was the only one from the '56 batch in School to come to College that year - AND I would have you know I was Wilson House Captain - Savage? Can you even imagine ?!

Do get back. Warmest best wishes,

Tony

Details of the book written by Tony:

Author : Ashok Jaitly
Now : Rs.395 [For Delivery in India]
Publisher: Roli Books
ISBN: 8174364439

ABOUT THE BOOK:

St. Stephens College, which celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2006, has a special niche amongst educational institutions of excellence, not only in Delhi but also all over India. Apart from its revered internal traditions, the College has also been an integral part of the social and structural changes that have taken place in the nation. And it has been the school for a long and impressive alumni list which includes sportspersons, writers, poets, actors, journalists, entrepreneurs, politicians, bureaucrats, ambassadors, techno-crats and corporate executives.

This volume, written by Ashok Jaitly, a former student, traces the history of the College from its original conception by the Cambridge Mission as an institution for higher education in 1881, through the travails of the freedom struggle, Partition, Independence and into the present world of relentless academic pressures, sporting compulsions and ever expanding opportunities.

During all these turbulent and exciting years, St. Stephens College has stood firm for certain fundamental values which celebrate cosmopolitanism, pluralism, a degree of iconoclasm along with an immense enjoyment of learning in the widest sense."Mahatma Gandhi or plain Mr Gandhi as he was then, first came to St. Stephens early in 1915... On the persuasion of... C.F. Andrews who was then the Vice Principal, he stayed in the house of Principal Rudra which continued to be his Delhi abode for several years. The Burra Sahibs house thus became the rendezvous for important national leaders like Rabindranath Tagore, Madan Mohan Malviya, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Surendra Nath Banerjee... It was here that Gandhiji, perhaps for the first time, enunciated his doctrine of non-violent non-cooperation or Satyagraha... It was here that Tagore completed his English translation of Gitanjali. And it was here that the pact between the Congress and the Khilafat Movement was sealed.

Most would agree that it could only have been idle minds busy in some devilish workshop which gave birth to Kooler Talk, the first purely student run rag aimed at providing an avenue for budding and froost - College slang for frustrated - Stephanian writers who could not find solace in the sedate pages of The Stephanian magazine. Sarwar Lateef, Roshan Seth and Peter Tubby Philip were the intrepid perpetrators of this plot way back in 1960... To add respectability luminaries such as Kamalesh Sharma, Shankar Menon, Swaminathan Aiyar, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Inderjit Badhwar were co-opted onto the editorial board while poor, unknowing Rev R.I. Shankland was persuaded to act as the figurehead editor.

About the Author:

Ashok Tony Jaitly was at St. Stephens College from 1958-61 where he studied Economics (classmates say, in exception), played football and badminton (teammates say, on occasion), was active in the Shakespeare Society (theatre-mates say, with trepi-dation), indulged in sundry other activities (conspirators assert, without hesitation) and made many lifelong friends. After completing his Economics tripos from Cambridge University in 1964, he was selected for the Indian Administrative Service and served in Jammu and Kashmir and with the Government of India on several interesting and important assignments, including a few which evoked some controversy. He retired as Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir after a record tenure of more than five years, from 1996-2002. Currently working as a Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi on rural development issues, his primary concerns are water, rural energy and decentralized governance.

Some important points to note:

Tony has done me a great honour by including the reference to this blogsite and my Kooler Talk (Web Version) in his book. Thanks Tony.

Rahul, now a Rajya Sabha member, like Tony and me, is also a Cathedralite / Stephanian - 54er from Cathedral and 57er from Stephania!

Tony was not a 56er but a 57er. The 56er Savage House Captain who was also a Stephanian was my elder brother. The 58er Savage House Captain to join Stephen's was Peter Philip (also known as Tubby). I was the 59er Savage House Captain that joined Stephen's.

In the personal addendum Tony added that he is almost clear healthwise - for which I am greatly relieved.

I hope a Stephanian / Cathedralite passing through Delhi en route to Oulu will pick up a few copies (at my cost, please) and bring them to me. Do not want to deprive the author of his royalties!! :-)

Now the next thing Tony has to do is write a similar book about us Cathedralites - then the Seventh Heaven Blog may get some publicity. :-)

This week in perspective

A great week for weather here in Oulu, but many emotional ups and downs.

As Joanna, Samuel and Daniel were leaving for Newcastle on Wednesday morning, on Tuesday evening Annikki and I asked Joanna and family over for dinner where we got in stuff we thought each one liked best.

I brought the great food that Tingting has introduced me to, Chilli Beef and Chilli Tofu from Ravintola Hai Long (I have a card written in Chinese of what to order) which is prepared especially by the restaurant for the Chinese audience! I brought the fabulous Pailin glass noodle salad (vegetarian) which is made from noodles made from beans (carbohydrate free). This spicy salad is especially loved by Annikki and me. As Joanna is on a sort of low carbohydrate diet, I brought Pailin's great tossed salad that Annikki thinks is really great. The kids wanted egg fried rice from the Royal Garden as Samu says they use a different soya sauce when making this dish. Tony enjoyed everything on offer as he patted his stomach lovingly after the meal!

All enjoyed the food and ate their fill.



When we had finished at around 10:30 pm, Pailin and Unnop closed their restaurant early to come to say goodbye to Joanna and they brought her a lovely gift, the carved soap made by the outstanding Thai artist, Ann.



The real down feeling was the departure of Joanna and her two boys as they will not be back for almost a year. They left last Wednesday and it was difficult for me to hold back the tears to see them go. Maybe one gets more physically emotional as one grows older!



It is always difficult to catch Joanna's face in a photograph with her long hair.

Oulu is a small airport serving just around 120000 people. But what I saw at the airport really appalled me and convinced me that Bush and Blair are the biggest terrorist idiots in this world and have destabilised this world.



These long queues which must be being replicated in every airport around the world is just plain stupid!! Remember the number of planes that were being turned around in the air ever since the latest security alert!! They have made life more difficult, more expensive and totally inefficient - and, of course, these two terrorists are not subjected to the controls they have imposed on innocent people around the globe!

On Thursday it was time to take Annikki's mother in for her time at the Old People's Home. From there it was straight to the flea markets.



After a quick visit home, Annikki was off to the beach to collect more stones.



It was surprising to see so few people enjoying a great evening on the beach.



I took some snaps of the sunset - 21:05 now.

Friday was also flea market day followed by an early evening visit to the beach to collect more stones. No sunset to observe today as we went quite early.





I was shocked to see that even the evergreens are burning up this summer.



Plenty of seagulls were around the shoreline. The water line has receeded this summer by over a couple of metres!

On Saturday I went to see Soda play for the Tervarit Reds (instead of the Blacks). Although they lost 3-1, Soda played one of the best games that I have seen him play. He missed a couple of goals by a hair's breadth. He was outstanding in passing the ball to his team-mates and also getting in a lot of tackles - something he had been scared to do till yesterday. His fitness has improved leaps and bounds but he still needs to go for his morning jog and also control his eating habits as they are plain dangerous for a young sportsperson.

I did not have my camera, but I took some great shots using Pailin's camera. I will upload them when Unnop sends them to me.

I will have a good puzzle next week. Still no-one has sent in the Matricies formats used to solve Einstein's puzzle.

Solution to the Einstein Puzzle

It is only our Brazilian friend who turned up with the answer to the puzzle of two weeks ago.

You have to be a lover of matrix formats to have solved this one.

Our Malayaisn respondent used a different methodolgy, unusual, but it yielded the right answer. Great work Roshin.

If you like playing Sudko, you would have loved trying to solve this puzzle.

yellow	blue	red	green	white
Norwegian	Dane	Brit	German	Swede
water	tea	milk	coffee	beer
Dunhill	Blend	Pall Mall	Prince	Bluemasters
cats	horse	birds	FISH	dog

So the German had the Fish.

Kertstin, our German wizard, was on holiday - I am sure she would have turned up the right answer. :-)

But we now have another German wizzy in our midst - Nicole, and she is unbelieveably fast at solving these types puzzles - but she too has been on holiday last week.

Must be something in what the German kids drink!!

I will give you another brain teaser next week - digest this one till then.

Saturday is also Day for Sports

Ever since childhood days Saturday was always a day to take part in sports. Now that I have reached an age where active involvement with sports on field is not for me, my involvement continues in many other ways. This last Saturday was no exception.

Tervarit Reds in a Group Huddle before the game.

Soda, who plays regularly for the Tervarit Blacks, was invited to play for the Reds, a slightly senior team to the one he plays for. I decided to take some time to see how he would fare.

A piercing scream and Soda is DOWN.

He played quite well except that three minutes before half time he fell down with a piercing scream - he had pulled a muscle on his calf.


Thai friends Yut and Khim share Soda's pain off the field.

This, from my long history of playing sports, is the common downfall of a player who refuses to take care of his personal fitness training as jogging and normal muscle strengthening exercises, a bad diet combined with bad resting habits. It is trifecta. It is obvious that in this fast western life-style that the young boy from Thailand with enormous talent has got used to, is also the beginning of his downfall as a possibly great sportsperson.

It is possible to cover up these "injuries" a couple of times. But soon it will become evident to the coaches and talent scouts that the boy is not really serious about his sports as he prefers the fast life associated with running around as a youngster in the town of Oulu.

The choice however is his and only his to make!

That is sad as I have watched this enormously talented youngster being overtaken in calibre on the field by many young Finns who make up for their lack of natural talent by a dedication to their personal health and their personal fitness.

It is really decision time for this youngster - as no one is going to sponsor an injured horse, however much the talent points in his direction.


Samu at his training session.


Samu with his Newcastle United shirt bearing No. 9,
Alan Shearer's number, in a passing session with his team-mate.

The ideal opposite is my other grandson young Samu, who makes up his game by an enormous dedication to the sport of football and his involvement with training, come hell or high water. He follows the careers of all the football greats and tries to emulate many of their feats.

That is dedication!

The excitement on-field was increased as Soda's keys to his cycle, the house and his locker, were lost on the playing field. I took his cycle home in my car after trying to find the keys on the miles of green turf - unsuccessfully.

Luckily, someone found the key bunch and turned it in to the groundsman, and Soda's dad and I collected it from him on Sunday morning!

Saturday afternoon was also Rugby Day, as the Oulu team was playing against the lead Finnish side from Helsinki.

Rugby is a great sport. It is far more exciting top watch than football. The player and referee involvement at each stage is intense.

Although the Oulu side played well, for most part they were defending their goal, and the Helsinki side marched through victorious 27 points to 5.


For the uninitiated, a Rugby Ball!


Helsinki player rises gigh to take possession of the throw-in.


This time it is Oulu's turn to jump high.


Half-time pep talk from the Oulu coach.
Captain Jarmo Stoor listens carefully!


Not a Group Huddle - a fierce Scrum Down!

I do hope Oulu finds some new players as some of their players are recovering from injuries or are playing injured!



However, well done Oulu - I will be there at your home games to support you. I see more and more poeple turning out to support this sport and our Oulu team.

Yes, I am a proud grandfather!

I have three grandchildren, and many grandchildren who have adopted Annikki and me as their grandparents - so we are proud of the achievements of all of our grandchildren. We are also very sad when something goes awry with any of them.

Kannan dressed as a "superstar".

Last weekend, our very good friend, Kannan Balaram, who lives in South Finland in a town called Rauma, visited Oulu to meet our daughter Joanna and her family. She too, loved him just as we love this amazing young man. When we visited her home, Kannan was very busy with his camera. I downloaded the pictures to my computer.


One of the shots of Daniel from Kannan's collection.

I have set up a separate web page called Daniel meets Kannan which is a fascinating study of an evening with one of our grandchildren.

Hope you enjoy it.

On to another topic....

The world is very very small.

Joanna is leaving next Wednesday back to Newcastle for continuing her medical studies. Unfortunately, Tony, her husband cannot travel and be there continuously as he did last year. So Joanna was on the hunt for an au pair, a young Finnish girl wanting to study English who could help her look after the two children - Samuel and Daniel.

Through a friend she met a young girl, Anni. Joanna and her family were to meet with her family on Monday to finalise the details.


Kannan's friend, Anna-Maaria Lukka.

On Sunday morning, before Kannan met Joanna, he went to visit a classmate of his, Anna-Maaria Lukka, from the Business course that he had attended in Oulu last year.


Anni with a younger brother and sister.

Guess what? Yes, Kannan's friend was the young girl's cousin and they live together in a small commune in south Oulu

Kannan met this lovely girl who loves children and finds looking after them totally natural.

Both Annikki and I are so happy that Joanna has such a lovely girl to be with her and especially one who loves children and is experienced in looking after them. We hope she will spend her time improving her English, as that is the primary reason for her taking a year off from her high school to go to Newcastle with Joanna.

Thanks to Kannan for the nice photograph of Anni who will go to England next week, one day after Joanna (they could not get tickets for the same flight).

Bon Voyage to all of you.

Both Annikki and I are already awaiting their speedy return in a year's time.