"Hic-Hic-Hooray! - - by KJS Chatrath

 Hic-Hic-Hooray!

Statutory Warning: Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health 

"Seized beer cans found empty in Bihar, officials blame rats" https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/seized-beer-cans-found-empty-in-bihar-officials-blame-rats-118100200754_1.html

“Holy cow: MP govt to set up Gau Mantralaya” ….reports The Times of India.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/with-polls-in-mind-shivraj-singh-chouhan-announces-cow-ministry/articleshow/66022332.cms

'Ashes of Le Corbusier's cousin Pierre Jeannert' - by KJS Chatrath

One understands that the ashes of the over rated architect Le Corbusier's  cousin Pierre Jeannert were immersed in the Sukhna Lake. Yes, it was done because he wanted it to be done!

 I wonder if the Chandigarh Administration would allow the ashes of the lesser mortals like you and me to be immersed in Sukhna Lake when we die!

'Gonyle- the disincectant made from cow urine etc.".....by KJS Chatrath

Thumbing through an old newspaper (Times of India, 15.01.2017) I have come across the above ad which I had missed earlier.

Has any friend used Gonyle, "made from holy Cow urine, Eucalyptus oil, Pine oil, Lemon grass and anti-bacterial herbs"?

If yes, then please advise if it is  efficacious as a disinfectant, and does it have a pleasant smell? 

'Respectful salute to martyr Happy Singh' ...by KJS Chatrath

 Respectful salute to martyr Happy Singh (24) of village Ramnagar, Maur subdivision, Bathinda, Punjab, who sacrificed his life safeguarding the security and integrity of India.

JAI HIND

 JAI HIND

'Visit Madagascar'....by KJS Chatrath

My friend Selvam Ramanan, an engineer from Chennai recently visited Madagascar- a country not many Indians go to. We had visited Antarctica together last year.

 He visited Madagascar 6 days and 7 nights and covered Rain forest reserve Andasibe, Baobab avenue at Morondava, Kirindy dry forest reserve. Seen different types of lemurs (Madagascar only species), Baobab tree Madagascar specific. Also one day trip at Anatananarivo capital of Madagascar. He has very kindly shared his photographs. Take a look:

'Respectful slute to martyr Lance Naik Sandeep Singh of Gurdaspur' ....by KJS Chatrath

Resdpectful salute to Lance Naik Sandeep Singh, a native of Gurdaspur's Kotla Khurd village, who sacrificed his life in saving the security and integrity of India. 

JAI HIND!

'Lodged by caste in Tamil Nadu Jail says ex-prisoners'.....KJS Chatrath -

Times of India, September 25, 2019; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/within-palayamkottai-jail-caste-walls-divide-convicts/articleshow/65941644.cms

Shame on us if true!

 

'Respectful salute to martyr Narender Kumar, Head Constable BSF' - by KJS Chatrath

JAI HIND

Respectful salute to martyr Narender Kumar, Head Constable BSF who laid down his life while protecting the security and integrity of India.

JAI HIND!

'More on manual cleaning of sewers' - by KJS Chatrath

After writing my last post on this subject (Manual cleaning of sewers by KJS Chatrath;  http://anaap-shnaap.blogspot.com/2018/09/deaths-while-manual-cleaning-of.html) I came across the above news item in the Times of India of February 19, 2017.

'Massenger of God' ....by KJS Chatrath

I was thumbing through an old newspaper- Times of India (Chandigarh Edn) dated 23rd January 2017 and this is what I found!

'Compliments to Mr. Rahul Gandhi- the trekker'....by KJS Chatrath

That is me in Antarctica a few months back

I am 75+. I have been an avid trekker in my days, infact till last year. Unfortunately I could not make a trip to Mansarover. Just bad luck.

Without bringing politics or religion into it, let me compliment Mr. Rahul Gandhi for trekking 34 kms in 14 hours in Mansarover area. I recall that a few year back he had trekked up to Kidarnath Shrine. I remember because I too had trekked up to Kidarnath shrine that  very year- but on different dates.

I do hope Mr. Gandhi's trek gives a fillip to adventure sports in India.

'Counselling- what a misnomer & a cruel joke!' - by KJS Chatrath

The Tribune, September 13, 2018.

'Notebandi and all that....' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Continuing my reading of old unread newspapers, I chanced upon this cartoon in The Hindu dated 10th November 2016.

'Manual cleaning of sewers'....by KJS Chatrath

Indicative photo from the internet.

I opened today's newspaper and thumbed through it. There were three main news- one about a certain political party in India having a big conference, the second abount another political party in India having given a 'bandh' call to protest against petrol/diesel price hike. The third news, and this one was from USA, was about a sad show of arrogance by an American Tennis player and the crowd at New York tennis tournament.

I sipped my tea and started looking for other news. And I found something really shocking on page 8 of the newspaper, and that too in a small  mention.

 Times of India, September 10. 2018. 

Disturbed, I left the newspaper and picked up another older issue of the newspaper that I had not read. And look what I found:

Times of India, September 1, 2018.

A friend tells me that after one trip in the sewer hole the stink does not leave the body of the worker for weeks....

I quicky tried to get some information from the internet and found that machines to clean the manhole sewers are available. besides a Kerala start up has come out with a robot for doing this cleaning.

May be some friends know more about this pernicious practise of manual cleaning of sewers and what is being done in the country to put a stop to it.

"Students skip mid-day meal cooked by Dalit". .. by KJS Chatrath

"Students skip mid-day meal cooked by Dalit". ..

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Students-skip-mid-day-meal-cooked-by-Dalit/article17119725.ece

 Is this what the parents and the schools teach?

Shame on us all!

'Oops...the helmet' - by K .J.S.Chatrath.

Oops...the helmet

'Demonetization and all that..'- by K.J.S.Chatrath

 

Being a happily retired person with nothing constructive to do, I read the newspapers rather exhaustively in between chuskis (sips) of tea. When I travel abroad, my daily newspapers are preserved and I read then on return. 

When demonetization happened in November 2016, I was struggling with sea sickness some where en route to Antarctica.  On return to India, I kept the newspapers preserved during my absence in a corner to read at my convenience. 

But I have been so busy doing nothing that I did not get time to read those newspapers. Today I took out a newspaper  at random from that old pile to read. It turned out to be The Tribune dated 16th November 2016. Take a look at the front page photo.

Somehow reading this old newspaper has been rather timely as the country is now furiously discussing Report of the Reserve Bank of India on Demonetization which has just been released. Since I have not read the Report I will make no comments.

However the views on it range from calling demonetization as a 'Ram Baan' which cured the Indian polity of half a dozen chronic diseases to 'Much Ado about Nothing' (with apologies to William Shakespeare).

'Respectful salute to the brave martyrs of J&K Police' - K.J.S.Chatrath

 Respectful salute to the brave personnel of J&K Police who sacrificed their lives in safeguarding the security & integrity of India. 

JAI HIND!

JAI HIND!

"1- yr jail for corporator who opposed tribute to Vajpayee" - The Tribune August 24, 2018

"1- yr jail for corporator who opposed tribute to Vajpayee' - The Tribune August 24, 2018 ; 

 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/1-yr-jail-for-corporator-who-opposed-tribute-to-vajpayee/641926.html

'Jhooth boley kawa kaatey... ..."

I am just reminded of the song ''Jhooth boley kawa kaatey...  ..."  from film Bobby. Yes, one should always tell the truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD3uEfByFZ4

'Nika and Niki - Panjabi style' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Today's newspaper informs that Nick Jonas and his parents are in Mumbai for 'Roko' ceremony. For the uninitiated in the Panjabi marriage mumbo-jumbo, roko literally means stop or to stop. Very roughly it is a ceremony precursor to the ceremony of engagement. Legal friends would perhaps explain it by saying that it is something like 'estoppel'. Having been roko-ed, one is stopped for looking around....Got it?

I must confess that till about a few days back I had no idea of who Nick Jonas was.  Even though the 25 year old chap is said to be singing acting and song writing since he was 7. He is reportedly known as 1/3rd of Jonas Brothers Band. Anyway I am not a fan of "Yeah Baby, Yeah..." kind of music so my ignorance was a bliss.

But now with every one talking about saddi (Panjabi endearment of 'our') Priyanka and Nick I do feel feel left out of the conversation. So let us talk about Nick.


Actually from the photographs, Nick seems to be a nice, not very tall, boyish sort of chap, some one whom the Panjabis would call Nika or the little one in endearing way.

Nick and Niki (little one for girls) for Priyanka.

Or Nika & Niki to complete the Panjabi touch!

One is looking forward to Nick Jonas doing bhangra to the tunes of Priyanka - soon!

Oye, Balle - Balle Ji!

'Rehearsing my last words' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

I am 75+ and in this age of social-media, one starts rehearsing the 'famous last words' before those are due to be delivered....... (Cartoon Source: The New Yorker, July 23, 2018)

"Elderly Sikh Man Attacked In U.S, Second Incident In A Week - USA no country for old Indian men!"- by K.J.S.Chatrath

USA no country for old Indian men!



https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/elderly-sikh-man-kicked-spat-on-in-us-second-incident-within-a-week/31

One must add that Police Chief's Son has reportedly been arrested For Assault On Septuagenarian Sikh Man In California.....Let us see what punishment, if any, does he get.

Remember not long ago an old Indian from Gujarat was assulted by a policeman in USA.....Ultimately the policeman got scott free and perhaps the old Indian is still nursing the pain of his broken bones.

Mujh sey panga mut lena! (Dont you dare take me on!)- by K.J.S.Chatrath

'Stop deification of Le Corbusier' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

 'Fatima's Hand' which seem to have been copied by Le Corbusier for his 'Open Hand' and which was touted as his idea!

Now some admirers of Le Corbusier want his plan of constructing a 'Governor's Palace' to be revived in Chandigah.....

And who will benefit from this crazy idea? 

Don't ask me as the answer is obvious.

Ref: ‘Capitol’s unfinished symphony’ - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/63992646.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

'Kudos to Honourable Judge & the Police Administration for quick justice- - by K.J.S.Chatrath

'Cow is OK'-

बर्फ, जाम और शराब !

A dear friend has shared this nice one:

                                       

                                                      "बर्फ का वो शरीफ टुकड़ा                                                                     

जाम में क्या गिरा... 

बदनाम हो गया..."

                           "देता जब तक अपनी सफाई...                                          

वो खुद शराब हो गया....."

Statutory Warning: Drinking alcohol is injurious to health!

'The Joy of Monsoon- Let us all get wet!' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

The Joy of Monsoon - Such rains don't come often. Come on, throw away the umbrellas. Let us all get wet!

'A visit to Purmamarca, Salta Province, Argentina' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

 

I visited the interiors of Salta province of Argentina in 2017.  The travel was by bus. One of the  visits was to Purmamarca, a tiny town situated in the background of multi-coloured mountains. But these multi-coloured mountains cal for a separate detailed article.

 Source of map: Rand McNally

Purmamarca is a village  in the Jujuy province of northwest Argentina, situated at an elevation 7625 ft or 2324 metres.  It's set at the base of a striking, multi-hued mountain called the Seven Colors Hill. From the village, the Paseo de los Colorados trail leads into the surrounding desert landscapes for views of the mountain. Adobe houses line the streets, and 9 de Julio Square hosts a popular crafts market. Nearby is the centuries-old Santa Rosa de Lima church.

Photo of a poster put up by a 'Hostal' there.

While passing through this village I saw this old lady sitting the stairs of her house, attired in  the traditional 'Indian' dress and knitting. I found it to be a very soothing view.

I asked her, through gestures, if I could take her photographs. She nodded yes and then got busy in the world of knitting.

 

 Coloured mountains at Purmamarca. 

  Coloured mountains at Purmamarca. 

  Coloured mountains at Purmamarca. 

 Colourful and modestly priced handicrafts on display and sale in this village.

 

 Wall art in Purmamarca. 

Another view of wall art. 

Cemetery of Purmamarca. This photo sourced from internet

Marriage Registrar's Office

Laundry.

I would strongly recommend all my readers to visit Argentina. It is a fabulous country- full of diverse places, inexpensive with very friendly people and popular cuisine. The cuisine, which is generally beef based, may create some problems, but then pizzas are available all through. 

As a friendly gesture towards India & Indians by the Argentinian authorities, no Visa Fee is charged from Indian tourists applying for Argentinian tourist visas.