Crowning glory

Tirupati's Balaji now owns a Rs 42-crore crown! This super rich "offering" to the super rich god has come from a super rich Karnataka minister. However, there seems to be no uneasiness of the head that wears this crown.
But how much more coal will we carry to new castle? Gods might be crazy (no blasphemy intended!). But the devotees are crazier.
This minister, also a miner, apparently wanted to “repay back” to the Lord for raining riches on him. His "cut" to the Lord is a cut above the rest.
Oh, to be fair to the minister, he has also decided “repay” the society by setting up an industry that will employ 25,000 people. What benevolence! Employing a handful of the unemployed millions on one hand and giving back to one of the most prosperous temple committees a crown worth Rs 42 crore--what a balance!
An obscene amount this, when the wealthy can afford to rise above the ordinary and allow their “gratitude” to percolate to the needy. Why can’t villages be adopted, why can’t we have a more sustainable literacy drive in those village units? Why this largesse to divinity?
An upcoming Hanuman temple in Chennai, that had already caught the imagination of temple hopping maamis, had put up a huge notice board asking for “generous donations” for a golden gopuram and other golden accessories. The Ram bhakt, the lore says, led a spartan life, chanting raam naam in the rough terrain. And now a golden gopuram for the austere brahmachari!
The idea is not to ruffle feathers. But why material gifts, when we can shower goodwill and spread lateral benefits to fellow humans in our small ways. We need not be industrialists and rich politicians to afford such charity/social service. Probably, I am sounding preachy. But I feel pouring milk over images when millions of kids are dying of malnutrition and hunger in our country is gross insensitivity. Is there a small way we can rethink on our devotional mechanisms?

first gear in cyberspace

This is my first interaction with blogosphere. Slightly late in catching up with technology..
This is my first day in my new home without my daughter . She is seven and is off to her new school following our relocation from Chennai.
Relocation is a mixed feeling. I left behind my friends (not friendship) anf folks, my college, which redefined my career after a sabbatical, my neighbourhood Murugan stores, who would deliver a loaf of bread after a phone call at 9 in the night, Satish, who would smile and give back change even if I handed him a 10-rupee note for a one-rupee coriander bunch. And, Varadarajan, the ever similing man behind the aavin milk booth counter. But most of all, Rita and Parthiban, who have always been by my side, both going beyond their roles of helper and driver. They were not support systems.. They were a blessing in disguise.
But am I missing Chennai? Am I feeling bad that I had to leave this vibrant city, which tolerated me for over 11 years? I do cherish fond memories of the city. But am I missing it? Probably not.
This is not my first relocation. Over 11 years back, I left the city I had been in for 30 years... Kolkata. What a city. Its warmth, its humour, its attitude, continue to nudge me...nudge my emotions....I grew up there..Did schooling and quenched my academic thirst. What's more..This city even tolerated my mediocrity and showed me a career path!!! I lapped it all up.....I do value these priceless memories.
But life moves on. There is always something ahead of us. Something to look forward to. A new place, new language....Getting locked into the past might trip me in my present. So rather than looking behind at the past, I feel the present and make way for the future. Of course, I will never forget my past as it has moulded my present.
I treasure my yesterday, live my today and look forward to tomorrow.
cheers.....