white bird soaring ! - fake profiles !!

 

Every day one attempts to soar newer heights – of course, as we age, remaining as we are itself could be a great challenge !!

 

In social media, there are crooks!!!  -  today, for the umpteenth time a fake profile of mine was created and some of my friends were contacted. 

Be it Me, or anyone asking – do not ever send money !! – ensure that you visit or the least talk to the person before you try to help. 

This time too, I and few of my friends who received the request – reported and had the account deleted.

 
Thank you – hope for another good day ! – Good night 
3.2.2025

Mithila's connection to the Indian Budget presented today !!

There was so much buzz as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled her eighth consecutive Union Budget today.  The income tax rebates she announced have been the biggest talking point. Schemes for the MSME sector, women, farmers, the education sector, for boosting exports, etc. have also been announced.  The FM also announced a slate of regulatory reforms, including a High level committee to evaluate regulatory  reforms and an Investment Friendliness Index.

 

Elsewhere, Devi lives in the village of Ranti, in the State of Bihar, in India,  married at the age of thirteen, but returned to live with her family at the age of eighteen, after the death of her child. She did not receive any formal education,  -  what would have been a tragic life, turned out to be one of honour due to her grit, skills and the rightful recognition. She is also in news today !!

 

Dulari Devi (born 1968) is an Indian artist and illustrator, working in the Mithila art tradition. In 2021, she was a recipient of the Padma Shri, a civilian honour of  the Government of India, for her contributions to art. 

The Kingdom of the Videhas (also Mithila / Tirabhukti) was an ancient Indian kingdom in Late Vedic India which rose to prominence under King Janaka. Yes it was the place of Seethadevi consort of Lord Rama.  The ancient kingdom was located on the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, in what is today north-eastern Bihar of India and the eastern Terai of Nepal.  Mithila, the cultural region is  bounded by the Mahananda River, the holy Ganges, the Gandaki and the foothills of Himalayas.  The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.  The later day Mithila would comprise of  Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Munger, Bhagalpur and SanthalPargana divisions[a] of India and some adjoining districts of Nepal.  The region is known for its special type of painting ‘mithila or madhubani painting’.

 

Madhubani art (also known as Mithila art) is a style of painting practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is named after the Madhubani district of Bihar, India, which is where it originated.  Jitwarpur, Ranti and Rasidpur are the three most notable cities associated with the tradition and evolution of Madhubani art.   Madhubani artists, mostly  female,  create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments such as ochre and lampblack are used for reddish brown and black respectively.  The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage,  and festivals, such as Holi, Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja. 

The paintings were traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Mithila paintings mostly depict people and their association with nature and scenes and deities from the ancient epics. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and religious plants like tulsi are also widely painted. 

On the occasion of her historic eighth consecutive Union Budget presentation, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived at Parliament donning a stunning saree that paid homage to India's rich cultural heritage. The off-white handloom silk saree, adorned with intricate Madhubani artwork, was a special gift from renowned artist and Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi. The saree not only symbolized the timeless beauty of Madhubani art but also spotlighted the artistry and craftsmanship of Bihar’s Mithila region.

 

Dulari Devi met Nirmala Sitharaman during a credit outreach program at the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani, where they discussed the importance of preserving Madhubani art and supporting its artisans. As a token of appreciation, Devi gifted the hand-painted saree to Sitharaman, urging her to wear it for the Budget Day. Sitharaman, known for using her attire to reflect India's diverse cultural fabric, embraced the gift, choosing it to make a strong statement on the national stage. 

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
1.2.2025 

savage banter ! ~ Iceland Cricket

 

Brutal banter ! - Cricket rules are framed by England who fail to understand how they could be interpreted. Harshit Rana was no Lillee or Marshall !! - Iceland Cricket is all brain and humour

Prakasam Barrage - Vijayawada

 

                Krishna River in the Deccan plateau is the third-longest river in India, after the Ganga and Godavari.  The river, also called Krishnaveni, is 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) long and its length in Maharashtra is 282 kilometres.  It is a major source of irrigation in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 

Those travelling by train via Vijayawada will enjoy the river closer to the Station as also the barrage.  The Prakasam Barrage stretches 1223.5 m across the Krishna River connecting Vijayawada and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh. The barrage serves also as a road bridge and spans over a lake. The three canals associated with the barrage run through the city of Vijayawada, crossing it and giving it a Venetian appearance. 

The idea of constructing a dam across the river Krishna dates back to 1798. It began in the hands of captain Buckle and was revised in 1839 and 1841 by Captain Best and Captain Lake. After the endorsement of Major Cotton, the board of Directors of the East India Company approved it on 5 January 1850. The dam was started in 1852 and completed in 1855. It cost Rs 1.75 crore in those days and seems to have paid the then government a return of 18%. It used to irrigate 7 lakh acres.

 

Later, the State Government constructed a bridge that was named after Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra.  Completed in 1957, it irrigates  over 1.2 million acres of land. This barrage also supplies water to Buckingham canal which was initially constructed as an inland navigation canal but was later used as an irrigation water supply canal.   

General Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton KCSI (1803 – 1899) was a British army officer and irrigation engineer who worked in the Madras Presidency. Cotton devoted his life to the construction of irrigation and navigation canals throughout British India. He helped many people by building the Dowleswaram Barrage (Rajahmundry), the Prakasam Barrage, and the Kurnool Cuddappah Canal (K. C. Canal).  Sir Arthur Cotton Museum has been built in his honour in Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh. The museum holds approximately one hundred images and 15 machine tools that Cotton used when constructing the barrage in Andhra Pradesh from 1847 to 1852.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S. Sampathkumar
1.2.2o25

Kids dance !

 

SYMA Childfest 2023 – Group dance  (this year on 9^th Feb 2024)

 

.. .. that water bottle bombed the pic !!

கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால்

மஹாகவி சுப்ரமண்ய  பாரதியார் பாடல் "சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா" கேட்டு இருப்பீர்கள்.  சினிமா பாடலாகவும் வந்தது இது.

 

சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே

என்னைக் கலி தீர்த்தே உலகில் ஏற்றம் புரிய வந்தாய்

 

கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால்-உள்ளந்தான்   கள்வெறி கொள்ளுதடீ

உன்னை தழுவிடிலோ- கண்ணம்மா  உன்மத்தமாகுதடீ.

உன் கண்ணில் நீர்வழிந்தால்- என்நெஞ்சில்  உதிரங்  கொட்டுதடி;

என் கண்ணில்  பாவையன்றோ? கண்ணம்மா

என்னுயிர்  நின்னதன்றோ!  என் உயிர் நின்னதன்றோ!  

 

Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek), based on a short story, "Amuthavum Avanum" by Sujatha, written, directed by Mani Rathnam was released in 2002.  The film starred  R. Madhavan, Simran and P. S. Keerthana with Nandita Das, and others. It was the  story of a child of Sri Lankan Tamil parentage adopted by Indian parents, whose desire is to meet her biological mother in the midst of the Sri Lankan Civil War.  கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால் 2002ல் வெளியான தமிழ்த் திரைப்படம்.

 

The one pictured is totally unconnected !  - an Egret pecking the cheek of a Bison.
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.1.2025 

Real or Unreal debate !! - Scarlet Macaw photo

Here is a picture of a ‘Scarlet’ Macaw ! taken by me   -   please tell me, is this real, truth .. .. unreal or untruth !!

 

In this fast Internet World, we hear so many things – media and social media delivers so many news, every minute.  Never get carried away – the news could be repetitive, could come from many a sources, but its authenticity needs to be checked, before believed. 

Authenticity is – what can be believed or accepted, trustworthy, reliable !  One must see with one’s eyes to understand and believe – ‘Seeing is believing’ 

ஆனால் மூதறிஞர்கள் - கண்ணால் காண்பதும் பொய்; காதால் கேட்பதும் பொய்; தீர விசாரிப்பதுதான் மெய்” என்பர்; மெய்ப்பொருள் என்பது ஒருவகை மயக்கம். அதனால் தளைகள் ஏற்பட்டுவிடுகின்றன. இத்தயை மயக்கத்தினின்று விடுபட்டுத் தெளிவான அறிவு படைத்தவருக்கு அறியாமை நீங்கும்; இன்பம் நிலைக்கும்;  ஐயம், திரிபு, மயக்கம் இம் மூன்றினின்றும் விடுபடுவதே மெய்யறிவு எனப்படும். 

Truth or verity is the property of being in accord with fact or reality. In everyday language, it is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, propositions, and declarative sentences. Truth is usually held to be the opposite of false statement.  

The distinction between what is considered real and unreal has been a fundamental philosophical inquiry throughout history, often explored in various spiritual and metaphysical contexts. Real is often described as always present and not subject to change.  Unreal refers to things that are not always present and are subject to change.    

Truth is not in the words one speak – it is more about the way one holds the life within oneself – whether it a motley small living thing or a big animal or human – Sun comes up in the morning lighting the lives of everybody yet one can chose to close eyes or stay in the dark without coming out and say Sun is not seen.   

A photo could spark some debate too !!  - Truth  is about alignment with the inclusive nature of existence, while untruth stems from exclusivity and disconnection from this essence.  

Confusing !  - one may not agree with the theory yet like the photo.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
30.1.2025 

India loss at Rajkot lingers ! - poor batting by Hardik, Axar, Washington !!

 

For those of us watching Indian Cricket in mid 1970s & 1980s – losses are not new ! – those days, India lost more than Winning yet the defeat at Rajkot was hard to digest.  Partly because watching IPL many a seasons, we believe that 50 in last 3 is achievable but Hardik & Washington played as if there was no chance and only a draw could be achieved !!  

There is no place for Yashaswi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad but team is playing Dhrun Jurel as a pure batsman and making him come at no. 8 – incomprehensible ! 

Do you know or remember a Cricketer by name Ijaz Faqih who played just 5 test matches but is part of a World record !! 

England kept the T20I series alive with a 26-run win in Rajkot, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton sharing seven wickets alongside a masterful spell from Adil Rashid to help break India's ten-match run without defeat in home conditions. 

With too many mixed combinations, India rested Arshdeep Singh, making way for Mohammad Shami comeback.  Shami's last outing for India was in November 2023: the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad. He was nursing his ankle throughout the tournament and underwent surgery in Feb 2024.  His previous T20I was way back in 2022: the World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide. Since then, India's approach to T20 cricket has shifted tectonically – at Rajkot, he did bowl reasonably well but did not take any wicket. 

It was spin orientation yet Washington Sundar was given a solitary over – went for 15 and Abhishek Sharma too bowled one over – it was all about Varun Chakravarthi, who took 5 for 25 -  England making  171/9.  Varun removed Buttler with the final ball of the ninth over,  returned to bowl the 14th and 16th and pick up four more wickets – those of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer at a cost of 12 runs, putting the seal on England's disastrous slide of 7 for 44 in 7.1 overs of undignified thrashing.

Yet the chase was badly managed.  Indians were never on top.  India only managed to score two boundaries off the bat between the seventh and 15th overs, with Rashid's immaculate analysis of 4-0-15-1 key to suffocating the innings. After battling his way to 23 off 27, Hardik Pandya finally broke the shackles by hitting sixes off Wood and Archer - but when he was dismissed by Overton for 40 off 35, caught at long-off, it was more of a relief as only the die-hard fan was dreaming a win not the playing X1, which folded without a fight. 

Sanju Samson got out early, Abhishek Sharma after a flurry of strokes got out making 24, Suryakumar Yadav walking in with a swagger of Viv Richards failed, Tilak Varma got out after a long time then – it was a pathetic performance especially by the rest. 

Watching Hardik & Washington bat reminded us that innings of Nayan Mongia and Manoj Prabhakar – very clear that they never thought of a win but were playing for a draw.  Pandya made 40 off 35, Washington Sundar’s pain ended at 6 off 15; Axar Patel wasted 16 balls while Dhrun Jurel got out making 2. 

Have seen MS Dhoni denying singles in slog in final and ending up with big sixers to finish off – Hardik Pandya ungainly denied a single off the last over of 18^th over – ensuring Dhruv Jurel the strike   - then got out !! Pathetic it was. 

Elsewhere at neighbouring Galle, Steven Smith joined the elite club of batters to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket today.   Smith came to Sri Lanka on 9999 runs after just missing the landmark at his home venue, the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, against India. Sydney had seen two Australians complete their 10,000th run in Test cricket - Allan Border in 1993 and Steve Waugh in 2003. It is the only ground to have seen more than one such milestone. Both Border and Waugh, like Smith, were born in Sydney. Before Smith, only Mahela Jayawardene was dismissed on 9999 Test runs, and Brian Lara was the only one to be dismissed twice in the 9990s.

Getting back to that Q on Ijaz Faqih, he was the bowler, when Sunil Gavaskar created the record, becoming the first man to reach 10000 runs in Test cricket.   It was  on 7th March 1987, Sunil Gavaskar nudged through the slips off Ijaz Faqih moving on to 58 runs at  Motera – Sardar Patel Stadium which sent the crowd erupting.  It was the first time ever a batsman had scored 10,000 runs in Test Cricket.   Indian Wicket Keeper Kiran More was the non-striker and he was reported as saying that Gavaskar celebrated it as he never did earlier – Sprinting, waving the bat and enjoying the moment.  Gavaskar raised his bat in triumph even as he was mid way completing the run. To the millions watching the TV, that was a feat which nobody else can ever acquire…. Records are meant to be broken, first by Alan Border and happily we have Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar perched on top.  

Ijaz Faqih was born in a Konkan family that had migrated to Pakistan; his  career did not flourish much and  was related to Mohd Zainuddin Ghazali.   Mohammad Ebrahim Ghazali was born in Konkan, played for Pakistan and was   a Pakistan Air Force officer – he played 2 tests.  Ghazali was the son-in-law of Feroze Khan who won a gold in the 1928 Olympics for Indian field hockey team and whose son Farooq Feroze Khan served as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in Pakistan Air Force . His sister was the mother-in-law of Ijaz Faqih.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.1.2025

மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மம் என்ன....

 

மறைந்திருந்து  பார்க்கும் மர்மம் என்ன....

அரசமர பச்சை இலைகளின் இடையே கிளி

 

'இலைமறை காய் போல' - என்பது ஓர் உவமைத் தொடர்.   இலைகளினூடே ஒளிந்து மறைந்து சிறிய இடைவெளியில் புலப்படும் காய்கள் போல, கருத்துகளை நேரடியாகக் குறிப்பிடாமல்/ வெளிப்படுத்தாமல் உவமையாகவோ, சிலேடையாகவோ திறம்பட மறைத்துக் கூறுதல். 

'மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மம் என்ன'   என்ற பெயரில் 2018 ம் ஆண்டில் ஓர் திரைப்படம் வெளிவந்ததாக அறிகிறேன்.  ஓடியதாக தெரியவில்லை.  இந்த வரிகள் - தமிழ் கூறும் சினிமா ரசிக்கும் நல்லுலகத்தில் ரொம்ப பிரபலம். 

நாட்டிய மயூரி  மோகனாம்பாள்  நடனத்தை கோவில்  தூண் மறைவில் இருந்து நாதஸ்வர வித்வான் சண்முகம் பார்த்து இரசிக்க,  மோகனா அவரை 'சண்முகா' என பாடலுக்குள்ளேயே மறைமுகமாக அழைத்து  மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மமென்ன!?' என ஜாடைமாடையாகவும் கேலியாகவும்  வினவுவதாக அமைந்த பாடல் - கே வி மகாதேவன் இசையில், கவியரசு கண்ணதாசன் வரிகளில், பி. சுசீலா குரலில் என்றென்றும் கவர்வதாக அமைந்துள்ளது.  

1968 ஆம் ஆண்டு   ஏ. பி. நாகராஜன் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த  தில்லானா மோகனாம்பாள் - திரைப்படத்தில் சிவாஜி கணேசன், பத்மினி, எம். என். நம்பியார், கே. பாலாஜி, டி. எஸ். பாலையா, கே. ஏ. தங்கவேலு, நாகேஷ், சி. கே. சரஸ்வதி, மனோரமா மற்றும் பலர் நடித்திருந்தனர். தில்லானா மோகனாம்பாள் "கலைமணி" என்ற புனைப்பெயரில் கொத்தமங்கலம் சுப்பு எழுதிய நாவல்.  தமிழ் வார இதழான ஆனந்த விகடனில் 1957-58 ஆம் ஆண்டில் தொடராக வெளிவந்தது. நாவலுக்கான விளக்கப்படங்களை ஓவியக் கலைஞர் மற்றும் கேலிச்சித்திர ஓவியர் கோபுலு வரைந்து இருந்தார்..  

மறைந்திருந்து  பார்க்கும் மர்மம் என்ன....

ஸ்வாமி மறைந்திருந்து,  பார்க்கும் மர்மம்என்ன

அழகர் மலை அழகா !  இந்த சிலை அழகா என்று  .. ..

 

அன்புடன் ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் சம்பத்குமார்

29.1.2025

Parrots and Pigeon !!

 

Life lessons !! 

Never chase others away – what is needed for you is available aplenty, let others too have their chance ! 

Never run away – set-backs would be temporary.  Perseverance gives you what is required. : https://youtu.be/CGK1QuwrVjA

Dusi Mamandur lake sluice

 

 

Dusi Mamandur lake sluice

contrail of Plane(s) ~~~ hovering over Triplicane

To most of us (even to those who have flown multiple times) – Aeroplanes are marvels and we tend to look at them in awe. 

Flight altitude is the vertical distance between an aircraft and the Earth’s surface. This distance is commonly measured in feet, meters, and flight levels. Most commercial airplanes fly at altitudes between 30,000 feet and 42,000 feet above sea level. For international flights and long-haul flights, cruising altitude is essential for fuel efficiency and avoiding weather disruptions. Jet planes fly even higher ! 

As a passenger, one does not  have to worry about  the height – it is for the Captain and his Crew to read the atmosphere  that consists of several layers, with most aircraft operating in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Each layer presents unique challenges as well as opportunities for flight.  Flying at higher altitudes allows planes to take advantage of favorable wind patterns, especially jet streams. This can shorten travel time and reduce fuel consumption. Cruising at these heights also helps avoid smaller general aviation aircraft, minimizing collision risk. 

Sometimes we notice, trail of aircrafts at high altitudes - Contrails are streaks of condensed water vapor left behind by airplanes at high altitudes. They form when the hot exhaust gases from an airplane's engines mix with the cold air in the atmosphere, causing the water vapor to condense into tiny droplets.   Contrails can provide valuable information for meteorologists, as they can indicate: atmospheric conditions, air traffic, flight path, patterns and climate change.   

Though some airports are very congested, not often we find more than a plane on air – very rarely, one may get to see another plane while flying in one.

 

On 25.1.2025 around 5.45 pm observed this spectacle -  ‘contrails of three planes’ -  while 2 tiny dots sort of descending over Sri Parthasarathi thirukkovil gopuram, one could be spotted horizontal, starting to vanish !

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
27.1.2025 

Republic Day Parade 2025

எம் தேசம் எந்தன் மூச்சாகும்;  என் ஆருயிர் தர்மம் உயராகும்

 

Celebrating 76^th Republic day of Mahan Bharat

காக்கை சிறகினிலே ! as the Crow lands !!

Is Black the real beauty and do we like common things !!  

காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா - நின்றன்

கரிய நிறம் தோன்றுதையே நந்தலாலா  ! 

கேட்கும் ஒலியில் எல்லாம் நந்தலாலா - நின்றன்

கீதம் இசைக்குதடா நந்தலாலா  !!

பாரதி ஒரு பன்முகக் கவிஞர். நாட்டுப் பற்று, மொழி்ப் பற்று, சமயப் பற்று  அனைத்தும் அவர்தம் பாடல்களில் சிறப்புற வெளிப்பட்டன.   பாரதியின் கவிதைகளை வாசிப்பது அற்புதமான அனுபவம்     ”இருளிலிருந்து ஒளிக்கு” இட்டுச்செல்லும் உண்மை உணர்வுகள் அவை.  காக்கையையும் நேசிப்பார் உண்டோ !!  காக்கை சிறகின் நிறம் இருள், குழப்பம், அஞ்ஞானம் போன்றவற்றை குறிப்பிடுகிறது. அங்கிருந்து ஒரு பயணம் துவங்குகிறது. 

Crows are commonly seen ! – how much do you like them –A close up photo of a Crow about to touch down !!  -    - “As the Crow flies !!”    

The expression ‘as the crow flies’  is an idiom for the most direct path between two points. In geometry, a geodesic   is a curve representing in some sense the shortest  path (arc) between two points in a surface, or more generally in a Riemannian manifold.  The meaning of the expression is attested from the early 19th century, and appeared in the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist (1838) 

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
24.1.2o25 

Cat Stare !! - பூனை கண்ணை மூடிக் கொண்டால் ???

பூனை கண்ணை மூடிக் கொண்டால், பூலோகம் இருண்டு விடுமா என்ன??

 

கண்ணாமூச்சி  ஏனடா;  என் கண்ணா, நான் கண்ணாடிப் பொருள் போலடா

அந்த நதியின் கரையை நான் கேட்டேன்; அந்தக் காற்றை நிறுத்தியும் கேட்டேன்

வான் வெளியைக் கேட்டேன், விடையே இல்லை

 

என் மனம் உனக்கொரு விளையாட்டு பொம்மையா…

எனக்கென உணர்ச்சிகள் தனியாக இல்லையா…

 

A captivating song from ‘Kandu Konden, kandukonden’  starring Mamooty, Ajit, Iswarya Rai, Tabu . .. directed by Rajiv Menon.  

 

கண்ணாம்மூச்சி அல்லது ஒளிந்து பிடித்தல்  -  ஒரு எளிமையான விளையாட்டு.  சிறிவர் சிறுமியர் விளையாட்டு. பருவத்தில் குழந்தைகளைத் தாய்மார் கண்ணாம்பூச்சி விளையாடச் செய்து நடை பழக்குவர். இது தவிர, கண்களை மூடிக்கொண்டு, 'காணுமே' என்று விளையாட, குழந்தை தானே கண்டுபிடித்து விட்டதாக சந்தோஷமடைந்து சிரிக்கும்.  கண்ணன் காட்டி விளையாடிய அப்பூச்சி விளையாட்டைப் பெரியாழ்வார் பத்து பாசுரங்களில் பாடி அருள்கிறார். 

Cats are among the most adorable pets !  ~ there are times when they stare at you and rarely they close their eyes in front of you too !!  

Staring  is one of many forms of communications cats use towards others. Typically a cat might stare at new or unfamiliar faces as an intimidation tactic, in hopes that the other cats/ humans  will blink or shy away. Cats are visual hunters, so naturally, they tend to stare in order to keep a close eye on potential prey. Cats will also use a direct stare when they are feeling territorial, showing dominance, or posing a threat or challenge to other cats. 

Those wide-eyed fixed gaze can be a bit unnerving.  Rather than challenging you to a staring contest, this curious behaviour is actually something you may have trained your moggy to do without even realising it. As a solitary species, cats don’t naturally feel the need to hold eye contact with others to communicate but if they think they can get something out of it, then they might be willing to give it a go. Depending on your cat and their temperament, their stare might be a little creepy, especially if they are staring with dilated pupils right into your eyes! Cats' pupil sizes can shift dramatically depending on how focused they’re looking at something. Instead of staring, they might keep their eyes partially open or give you slow blinks.  

Playing ‘hide & seek’ is  an adorable game parents have played with their young children for generations. Researchers are looking for a scientific answer to explain why children think they actually disappear when they cover their eyes while playing peekaboo. A few years ago, researchers  at the University of Cambridge  carried out study into this bizarre trait with groups of three and four-year-old children. The children's eyes were covered with masks and they were then asked whether they could be seen by the researchers - with most saying no. 

Many also believed that the researchers could not see adults who were wearing eye masks - leading to the conclusion most young children believe that anyone who covers their eyes is obscured from other people's view. The researchers then attempted to distinguish what exactly creates the feeling of invisibility - whether it was not being able to see at all or just because the other person couldn't see their eyes. The children were given a pair of mirrored goggles so that while they could see through the glasses, no one could see their eyes. Unfortunately, only 7 of the 37 participating children were able to get to grips with the idea that while they could still see, no one could see their eyes.

 

Of those who did understand the concept, six believed they were invisible if the researchers couldn't see their eyes, even if they could still see them. Although when the children were asked to explain how they were made invisible by simply hiding their eyes, many knew that their bodies remained visible, suggesting a childhood distinction between their physical bodies and the 'self' they connect to their eyes. To test this theory that children believe they can be seen only through their eyes, the researchers looked directly at each of the children while asking them to avert their gaze.

 

They then did the same process in reverse, with the children looking at the researchers while they diverted their eyes.  In each instance, the majority of children felt they were not being seen so long as their eyes didn't meet the other person's, giving some support to the ideology of eyes being the the window to the soul. 

Interesting !!  ~  back in Nov 2012, in SYMA Bliss issue 7/volume I - கண்கள் காண்டற்கு அரியது என இந்த குழந்தைகள் கண் மூடிக்கொள்ளுதல் பற்றிய ஆராய்ச்சி பற்றி எழுதி இருந்தேன். அந்த ஆராய்ச்சியில் குழந்தைகள் கண்களை மூடிக்கொண்டால், தாங்கள் மற்றவர்கள் கண்களில் இருந்து மாயமாகி விடுவதாக நினைப்பதை அறிய முடிந்தது.   ஸ்வாமி நம்மாழ்வார் தம் திருவாய்மொழியில்,  எம்பெருமான் பூவுலகில் உள்ள உயிர்களுக்கு, கண்களால் காண அரியவன் எனினும், தியானிக்க மிகவும் சுலபமானவன், எளியவன் என அருளிச்செய்துள்ளார்.  

குழந்தைகள் கண் மூடி விளையாடலாம், அத்தகைய பருவம் மிக அரியது; இனிமையானது !  - வேலை பளு, மனப்பளு, எத்தகைய இடர் இருந்தாலும், உங்கள் குழந்தைகளுடன் நல்ல நேரத்தை தவறாமல் செலவிடுங்கள்.  அந்நாளில் நண்பர் ஒருவர் - அந்த கட்டுரை  தம்மை கேலி பண்ணும் விதமாக அமைந்துள்ளதாக நினைத்து, என்னை மிகவும் கடிந்து கொண்டார். 

The tamil movie - ‘Kandu Konden, kandukonden’   was based on ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (working title; Elinor and Marianne), the first novel by the English author Jane Austen, published in 1811.  

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
23.1.2025 

a Street View !!

 

A small lane of Triplicane with parked cycle ! 

It was around 3:38 pm .. .. the cycle parked on almost middle (possibly  just taken out of the house) attracted me.

 

Taken with Nikon d7500 camera with 300mm lens from quite a distance !

have a drink of your choice !!

What to drink ? – which is the best drink ??

there always exists choices !!

cute tiny creatures !! ~ Udutha Bakthi ! ఉడుత భక్తి

The little cute ones are commonly seen ! they come jumping everyday in my terrace – know what is ‘Udutha Bakthi’ !?  

 

Squirrels (Anil)  -  According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System of North America (ITIS), over 200 species exist in the world. Some of the oldest squirrels categorized on the list include the nocturnal arrow flying squirrel (validated in 1766) and the Black Giant (validated in 1778). Of all these species, they fall into three types.  

Ground squirrels, such as the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, the rock squirrel, California ground squirrel, and many others blanket the prairies and deserts of North America. In some places, they have earned notoriety as rodents, causing damage.  Predators enjoy them as a tasty morsel, too. Their only protection is to flee!  

Tree squirrels make their homes in the trees. However, they also find their nesting materials and food on the ground and above. Making their homes in cities and the countryside in nations all around the globe, these familiar backyard and park residents help themselves to your birdfeeders or snag your snack right from your hands if they have become practiced enough!

The third type of squirrel leaps farther than the others with flaps of skin between the legs. Flying squirrels glide greater distances giving the impression they can fly. When they jump from tree to tree or building to building, they spread their legs wide and float on the breeze escaping predators or perhaps other snarky tree squirrels with a nut to pick with them. 

The anecdote of  Squirrels helping Lord Rama in building Ram Setu is not found in Valmiki Ramayana but Thondaradipodi Azhwar in his Thirumalai categorically mentions their tiny role :  

குரங்குகள் மலையை நூக்கக்*  குளித்துத்தாம் புரண்டிட் டோடி,*

தரங்க  நீரடைக்கலுற்ற*  சலமிலா அணிலம் போலேன்,* 

ஸ்ரீராமாவதாரத்திலே எம்பெருமான் ஸ்ரீராமச்சந்திர மூர்த்தி  இலங்கைநகர் எழுந்தருள்வதற்காகக் கடலில்  பாலம்  கட்ட நேர்ந்தபோது ஆயிரக்கணக்கான  வானர  வீரர்கள் மலைகளைக் கொணர்ந்து கடலைத் தூர்ப்பதைக் கண்ட அணில் பிள்ளைகள் ‘இவ்வாநரங்கள் தமது சக்திக்கு இயன்ற காரியத்தைச் செய்து பெருமாள் விஷயத்திலே கிஞ்சித்கரித்தால் நாமும் நமது சக்திக்கு ஏற்றவாறு இப்பெரிய காரியத்திலே சிறிதாவது செய்வோம்  என்றெண்ணி, எல்லா அணிற்பிள்ளைகளும் கடலிலே முழுகுவது, உடனே அந்த ஈரவுடம்போடே கரைமேல் மணலில் புரண்டு உடலில் ஒட்டிக்கொண்ட மணல்களைக் கடலிலேகொண்டு உதறுவதாய் இப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு காரியத்திலே ஸேதுபந்தன கைங்கரியத்திற்கு உதவிபுரிந்ததாக ஒரு இதிஹாஸம் உண்டு; இதனையே  தொண்டரடிப்பொடிகள் தம் திருமலையில்  அருளிச்செய்கிறார்

 

கம்ப நாட்டாழ்வார் கூறுகிறார்.   சேது அமைந்த பின், சுக்கிரீவன், வீடணன், முதலியோர் சென்று, இராமனுக்குத் தெரிவித்தல்

 

எய்தி, 'யோசனை ஈண்டு ஒரு நூறுடன்

ஐ-இரண்டின் அகலம் அமைந்திடச்

செய்ததால் அணை' என்பது செப்பினார் -

வைய நாதன் சரணம் வணங்கியே.  

பாலம் கட்டி முடித்த வானரர்கள் உலகுக்கே அரசனாகிய ராமன் முன்னால் சென்று, ‘நூறு யோசனை நீளம், ஐ இரண்டு, அதாவது, பத்து யோசனை அகலத்தில் ஒரு பாலத்தைக் கட்டிவிட்டோம்’ என்று சொல்கிறார்கள். அது பாலமே அல்ல, கடலுக்கு நடுவில் கட்டப்பட்ட ஓர் அணை.  அத்தனை பெரிய பாலத்தில், ஓர் அணில் உதிர்த்த மணல் துகள்கள் எத்தனை இருக்கும்?    

எனினும் அவ்வளவு பெரிய காரியத்தில் நாம் என்ன செய்ய முடியும் என்று நினையாமல், அணில்கள், ஓடி ஓடி பாலம் கட்ட உதவின.  ஸ்ரீராமரின் கையால் பாராட்டும் பெற்றன ! இதையே  'உடுத பக்தி' (அணில் பக்தி) என தெலுங்கு மக்கள் குறிப்பிடுவர். அவர்கள் பக்திக்கு அணிலை போல் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பர்.  

Baktha Ramadasu in his very famous keerthana, sings, Oh Kothandapani Rama (wielding the great Bow Kothandam) Rama, your voice has become very rare like gold and you are not uttering a single word to me ! 

paluke bangaramaye pilachina palukavemi

kalalo nee nama smarana marava chakkani tandri

 

The classical composition Paluke Bangarameyana further reads :

ఇరవూగ ఇసుకలోన పొరలీన ఉడుత భక్తికి

కరుణించి బ్రోచితివని నెరనమ్మితిని తండ్రి

పలుకే బంగారమాయెనా ||

Transliteration

Iravuga isukalona poralina udutha bhaktiki

Karuninchi brochithivani nera nammithini thandri |

Paluke bangaramayena...|

Translation

For the devotion shown by a squirrel rolling in the sand (to help you build the bit Rama Setu) You mercifully showered grace on it.. .. .. 

Squirrels may be all around us, but they are not simply ordinary.  Scientists have found some surprising details, like how they balance on thin branches or use their sensitive noses to find hidden treasures.  Ever wonder how squirrels don’t face-plant when they leap around like circus performers? It’s all in the tail. That bushy tail is more than looks—it’s also their balancing organ. Add in highly grippy claws and spring-like legs, and they’ve got the perfect traits for not falling flat. 

The come in colours too !!  - Indian Malabar giant squirrel rocks in  deep reds and oranges.  Black squirrels also give another twist to the common gray. These colors help them hide from the enemy when it counts. Those little ears are survival tools. Squirrels can pick up the faintest rustle or even city noise to figure out what’s going on.  They may be small, but squirrels have the brains to match their speed. If a hawk or fox comes sniffing around, they dart in zig-zag patterns to throw them off.  In their life running race, it is  the squirrel almost always wins. 

In  USA -  today, January 21 is  National Squirrel Day,  created by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove! This day is celebrated to recognize and appreciate our furry neighbors. Squirrel Appreciation Day, is  a day to acknowledge the role that squirrels play in nature and the environment.  

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.01.2025