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Showing posts from April, 2014

Satchu - an outcast disowned by family

Satchidanand Pillai born to parents who apparently looked affectionate to him. Both were dark, short and had smiling faces. The mother was not the biological one for Satchu. She was a step-mother and he called her "Chithi" means maternal aunt. His father told him that his real mother was dead and Satchu believed it. He had two step siblings, a brother and sister. All three were affectionate to each other and like all happy children, played and ate together. The reality was, she was not a mother for Satchu and his siblings???? Studious Satchu turned prankster. He was a hero among us children and as we were neighbours. Satchu was always there during a crisis. Be it an accident, a lost sibling or a broken toy  our dear Satchu was there. He was a hardworking student who was disallowed to play during exams. Once we had the good fortune to visit a nearby park which was unfortunately close to a canal. Satchu was keen on visiting the canal by crossing it and viewing it from the ot

Quest for life ..... originates from a passion to live

This does sound odd when youngsters sound philosophical about life. A more recent utterance by a student (Marina Keegan),  Yale student,who did not turn 23 but died in an accident in the US, she spoke about living a more meaningful life than aspire for a hefty paycheck. A similar case can be cited about an IIT student of Delhi who died prematurely while on vacation.No,hese girls did not have a queer family background but they did not live long to share their healthy views on life.  Are we raising children the right way? Parents who have been leading insecure lives do tend to pass on their emotional baggage to their children. And more such instances come from estranged parents on single parents. The mental make-up of the children of such individuals are introvert and reticent. Do not blame it on the genes. Neither can we opine that extrovert children hail from a happy parental background. Oh why should I sound like a psychologist when I am not.  An isolated example A close rela

Uncle Sam's emissary came, sauntered and flew back!

Oh, does it sound political when the word 'emissary' is used. Here the country needs no direct reference, the emissary is brother-in-law, almost a familial accessory. He lives so far away that with every passing year it gets more and more difficult to relate with him about Indian culture and Indian life. I thought, with age, a person mellows down, gets more earthly and connects more warmly. But no, I am disappointed. Besides the goodies that he parted /disbursed, there is only a 'gel' like halo attached which disintegrates with the tropical climate . I mean the 'gel' of warmth. Many years ago, a family friend who could aspire to be as highly placed as in the CAG office in India, she left Indian shores to Uncle Sam's country which extricated the intellect of her. Today she is left fully zapped of energy and drive. Hit by an incurable disease, she is longing to be back in India. Must admire her husband who has borne her indisposition with tremendous courage