சாருக்கு நெய் முறுவலா ஒரு தோசை !!!

சாருக்கு நெய் முறுவலா ஒரு தோசை !!!

 

People earn and live to eat !  - everyone of us loves to eat delicious foods ! – nowadays, the mantra is ‘eat healthy’ – stay healthy.  The woman in picture  standing along Rajasthan Royal’s Riyan Parag is Krushmi Chheda, whose insta page, among others describes her as an International Tennis player.

 

In recent times, in every health related place, there is ‘Dietician” -   an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy,   designing an enteral tube feeding regimen.  They help in balancing what we eat and suggesting what we should take more, and less. In the United Kingdom, dietitian is a 'protected title', meaning identifying yourself as a dietitian without appropriate education and registration is prohibited by law. 

19 days of January have passed by -  as the New Year 2025 approached, many people made resolutions.  That perhaps included :  being in time, waking up early, eating healthier, spending more time with loved ones, exercising regularly, early morning walks, reading books, reducing time on social media, keeping away from Insta, FB, WA or at least reducing time spent on these, smiling, being courteous to people, helping out people, visiting relatives, .. .. ..  and more !!  

But sadly, the truth could well be in these 20 days, between 60 – 75% of these resolutions made have been forgotten – New Year resolutions fall flat much before trees shed their leaves.   

To a friend, a Dietician suggested – stop ordering two or three dosas especially when lured with varieties, this friend struck to the advice – found out a new hotel and is ordering only one ‘special dosa’ seen here !!

 

Krushmi Chheda’s web puts her to be  MSc, Sports & health sciences from UK; MSc Clinical Nutrition & certified Pilates   Instructor, Australia – she has worked with IPL teams including KKR & RR 

So what have you ordered for lunch now ! as you read this

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
20.1.2025 @ 1.30 noon.

  

the big black ant !! ~ Camponotus japonicus ?

Ants, may need no introduction !  small black ones considered harmless, red ones that bite and then .. .. the big black ones -  ‘Big Black Ant’ – ever seen them this close ?

 

எறும்புகள் !  -  நாம் அதிகமாக காணும், கருப்பு நிற சிறிய, வரிசை வரிசையாக செல்வனவற்றை பிள்ளையார் எறும்புகள் என்று அழைப்பர்.  இந்த வகை எறும்புகள் மிகச் சிறியவை. தீங்கற்றவை.  ஒரே வரிசையில் தங்கள் மோப்ப திறமையால் ஊர்ந்து செல்லும்.    சிறிய உடலின் ஒட்டுமொத்த சக்தியையும் திரட்டித் தன்னைவிட உருவத்தில் மூன்று மடங்கு பெரிய உணவையும் இழுத்து செல்ல வல்லன.  

எறும்புகள் கிடைக்கும் உணவை தங்கள் சிறு கூட்டில் சேமித்து வைக்கும்.  ”கழுதை தேய்ந்து கட்டெறும்பு ஆனது” என்று ஒரு  பழமொழி. சோம்பேறியாக எந்த வேலையும் செய்யாமல், உள்ளதை செலவழித்து வந்தால், கழுதை சுமக்கும் கொதியின் அளவிலிருந்த செல்வமானது, தேய்ந்து, மெல்ல மெல்லக் குறைந்து கட்டெறும்பு ஆவதை போல  சிறுத்து குறைந்து விடும், என பொருள் கொள்ளலாம்.

 

Camponotus japonicus, commonly known as the Japanese carpenter ant, is a species of ant native to eastern Asia. It is black, and one of the largest ants. A nest has about ten to thousands of individuals, and it can be a pest when it enters households or protects aphids. There are several subspecies of this ant in different areas of Asia.

 

The queen is black, but has microscopic brown hair protruding from the thorax and abdomen. They are 17 millimeters long. Before mating, the queen has four transparent brown wings supported by brown veins. The 12-millimeter-long male has a longer and straighter antennae and a slimmer body. Unlike the workers, both the queen and the male has three ocelli. 

Here is one photographed in my terrace on my plants.  Interesting !!

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
20.1.2025 

with divine singer Veeramani dhasan

 

*பக்தி பாடல்களை வெகு சிறப்பாக பாடி பக்தர்களை கவரும்  பரவச குரலோன்*  40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலாக, திருவேங்கடவன், பெருமாள், ஐயப்பன், அம்மன் பாடல்களை அற்புதமாக பன்னாட்டு மேடைகளில் பாடிவரும் எங்கள் அன்பு அண்ணன்  திரு வீரமணிதாசன் அவர்களுடன் -  பால்ய நண்பன் பேரளை ரவிசுந்தர் சஷ்டியப்த பூர்த்தி விழாவில் இன்று(19.1.2025) காலை .

Happiness is no(w)here

Happy  !!  gripping Pongal Test match ! Chepauk stadium C stadium was packed – a boy emerged carrying some juice sachets – shrill loud voice from top – ‘Appy – anAppy’ [Happy – unhappy] (man having juice happy, others staring at him not so happy) – the Crowd burst into laughter !!

 

What was your New Year wish list and how much do you pamper your kids ! – sure, many of us have ‘list of to do’ and that includes ‘many things you want to buy !’ – may be Merc Benz !!  or a valuable diamond ring !!  - heard of ‘Missing tile syndrome !!’ 

Happiness is a state of mind -  primarily  a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy; though some Philosophers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion.  There are simple persons in life, who live life as it is ~ taking things as they come… reads simple, but too difficult to follow !!  For many life is full of expectations, it is unending long ‘wishlist’…there are so many things that we desire to have ~ and many a times wish that we have, what others do not have…  

Some important parts of life are tied mainly to age, such as schooling, employment and health. Others depend more on what is going on in society and the world.  There are bound to be inequalities, more so on the financial front but that has nothing to do with happiness.  

Read in a  thought provoking book   ‘The Geometry of Wealth’ , author Brian Portnoy observes: “Does money buy happiness? The answer to that question can be summarised as Yes, Not really, It depends." 

Intuitively none of us like ambiguous answers like this, but here, it successfully illustrates the complexity inherent in the question. After all, what is happiness? Money can definitely alleviate poverty. It can put a roof over your head, food on the table, warmth, clothing and medical support. Once our basic needs are meet, money’s impact on our happiness has progressively less impact. If you’re a CEO on 3000 crore company, a 5 per cent pay rise isn’t going to move the happiness dial for you enormously.   The recurring theme of movies seem to be that : ‘rich men are not happy ! ~ poor man are !!;  rich men cannot sleep well in luxury beds; poor man, after a hard day’s work can sleep on floor mat !!  ~  tinseldom clichés ~ and we hear from them people who make crores, the listeners are those daily wage earners and commoners who struggle to make their ends meet and yet, we believe in ‘rich ain’t happy’.

Saw happiness in close quarters, this beautiful kid playing merrily with things around  - even as his parents were busy spreading their wares in a temple festival, few miles away from the metropolis.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
17.1.2025.

  

the photo twins of Triplicane

 

I cannot figure out who is who ! – the double-barrel camera wielding identical twins – Shyam Balakrishnan & Ramakrishnan.

 

Soft, suave, educated, very pleasing, great smiles, extremely well-mannered – they both are gems.

 

Here is one wielding a Nikon camera with 600mm lens and other Fuji with 600 mm. 

15.1.2025

Affection for Cows ~ today is Mattu Pongal

 

Showing  affection for Cows !  ~   Today 15.1.2025  is ‘maattu pongal’

A pic of beautiful Cow and a calf (just born – taken within an hour of its birth)

 

மாட்டுப் பொங்கல்     பசுக்கள் மற்றும் காளைகளை கௌரவிக்கும் நாள்.   

Silambam master and Electric auto

An innocuous Auto-rickshaw and its owner  seen at Triplicane during Bhogi purappadu is the subject matter of this post !!

 

Silambam is an old Indian martial art originating in Tamil Nadu that finds mention in Tamil Sangam literature.  In old movies, especially MG Ramachandran movies, hero would exhibit his talent in silambam fight.  Read that MGR learnt this this martial art from Master Madurai Maadakulam Ravi and some of his movies featuring silambam include Thaikkupin Tharam, Periya Idathu Penn, Mugaraasi and Thanipiravi.  

For modern day cine watchers – ‘Vettupuli’ and his school of martial arts is hilariously famous.  Vettupuli characterized by a big moustache has an army of people under him including – Pei, Thimingalam, Mandaikashayam – his instruction to the three on moving ‘paruthi  moottai’ is eternal content for meme creators ‘adhukku antha paruthi moottai – godownleye irunthirukkalame !’  

Solar power works by converting energy from the Sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use – electricity and heat. Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to 'solar farms' stretching over acres of rural land.  Solar PV is based on the photovoltaic effect, by which a photon (the basic unit of light) impacts a semi-conductor surface like silicon and generates the release of an electron.   

In our School days (9^th Std Science) remember reading about ‘Combustion” used in vehicles.  An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. There are two types - a 4-stroke engine and a 2-stroke engine.  By name,  a 4-stroke engine goes through four stages, or two complete revolutions, to complete one power stroke, while a 2-stroke engine goes through 2 stages, or one complete revolution, to complete one power stroke.   Four-stroke engines are fuel-efficient and operate in four steps:  Intake, Compression, Power & exhaust.  

In recent times, there has been so much said about Electric vehicles – there are many varied manufacturers and we do see many Electric cars and two-wheelers on road – there have been many attempts to push up the sales, threatening that sooner vehicles would not roll out with petrol / diesel engines.  !!   

An electric vehicle (EV) primarily is a vehicle whose propulsion is powered fully or mostly by electricity. Early electric vehicles first came into existence in the late 19th century, when the Second Industrial Revolution brought forth electrification and mass utilization of DC and AC electric motors. Internal combustion engines (both gasoline and diesel engines) were the dominant propulsion mechanisms for cars and trucks for about 100 years, but electricity-powered locomotion remained commonplace in other vehicle types, such as overhead line-powered mass transit vehicles like electric trains, trams, monorails and trolley buses, as well as various small, low-speed, short-range battery-powered personal vehicles such as mobility scooters.  

Hybrid electric vehicles, where electric motors are used as a supplementary propulsion to internal combustion engines, became more widespread in the late 1990s. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, where electric motors can be used as the predominant propulsion rather than a supplement, did not see any mass production until the late 2000s, and battery electric cars did not become practical options for the consumer market until the 2010s. In Jan 1990, General Motors President introduced its EV concept two-seater, the "Impact", at the Los Angeles Auto Show 

Now many Companies are into mass production of EVs.  All-electric vehicles, also referred to as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor and must be plugged in to a wall outlet or charging equipment, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Because it runs on electricity, the vehicle emits no exhaust from a tailpipe and does not contain the typical liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank. Learn more about electric vehicles.

 

‘Vettupuli’ mentioned at the start was Santhanam in movie Kalakalappu, directed by Sundar C, starring Vimal, Shiva, Santhanam, Anjali, Oviya.   It was a good comedy film.

 

That  auto-rickshaw seen at Triplicane was dual powered – had a battery that had to be charged for running and a solar panel on top of the vehicle, which too would produce current / charge the battery !!  The man seen standing at the start, its owner & driver is a silambam master.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
14.1.2024 

எந்த மார்க்கெட்டிலும் 'ஜாமீன்' !?!? ~ Nelumbo nucifera

Happy Pongal to you All -  The name Nelumbo nucifera may not exactly ring a bell ! – know what ? 

It is real ‘dream industry’ – the cinema field – some succeed while large numbers fail.  Those of us who were in Higher Secondary or in College would remember this song and the movie so well .. .. ‘the interlude was electrifying with so many violins and mridungam giving a great start – the maestro Illayarja’ – Raja took the songs the newer heights in mid 1970s. 

`வஞ்சிரம் மீன் இருக்குன்றான்... வாளை மீன் இருக்குன்றான்...’  ஆனா எந்த மார்க்கெட்டிலும் 'ஜா - மீன்' ,மட்டும் கிடைக்கலை  என  வக்கீல் வண்டு  முருகன்  (வடிவேலுக்கு)  ஜாமீன் வாங்கப்போனவரை   கலகலப்பு’  மற்றும் பல படங்களில் பார்த்து இருப்பீர்கள்.  

ஆரம்பத்தில்  மிருதங்கம் ஒலிக்க  திடீரென ஏகப்பட்ட வயலின்கள் ஒழிக்க,  உச்ச ஸ்ருதியில் சேர்ந்திசை குரல்கள் தொடர்ந்து,   ஜானகி  சிறப்பாக  துவங்கும் ஆயிரம் தாமரை மொட்டுக்களே.. அன்று அனைவரையும் கட்டிப்போட்ட ஓர் பாடல். 

1981ல் வெளிவந்த படம் 'அலைகள் ஓய்வதில்லை' - பாரதிராஜா இயக்கம், இசைஞானி இளையராஜா இன்னிசை - ஆயிரம் தாமரை மொட்டுக்களே - என பாடியவர்கள் SP பாலசுப்ரமணியம், S ஜானகி.. .. காட்சியில் கடல் அலைகள் ஆர்ப்பரிக்க, வெள்ளை கொக்குகள் பல ஒரே சமயத்தில் பறக்க, காதலர்கள் நீருக்குள் நெருங்கி நிற்கும்போது,  தாமரை பூக்கள் குளத்தில் அலைமோத !! நிற்க !!  இந்த தாமரைகளை காட்சிப்படுத்த  பாரதிராஜாவின் உதவியாளர்கள், கையில் தாமரைப்பூவுடன் நீரில் மூழ்கி நடந்தார்களாம்.  !!!

 

ஆயிரம் தாமரை மொட்டுக்களே

வந்து ஆனந்த கும்மிகள்   கொட்டுங்களேன்

 

 

Nelumbo nucifera, is famously known as LOTUS – the  sacred lotus, Indian lotus,  is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a water lily, though this more often refers to members of the family Nymphaeaceae. 

The lotus roots are planted in pond or river bottom soil, while the leaves float on the water's surface or are held well above it. The leaf stalks (petioles) can be up to 200 cm (6 ft 7 in) long, allowing the plant to grow in water to that depth.  The peltate leaf blade or lamina can have a horizontal spread of 1 m (3 ft 3 in). The leaves may be as large as 80 cm (31 in) in diameter. 

If you remember that Jameen comedy, the  stout man – Bava Lakshmanan, has acted in hundreds of films as a comedian, accompanying Vadivelu, Santhanam and others,  It is stated that Bava Lakshmanan in 1980 had just finished ninth was screen tested by Bharathi Raja for the movie ‘Alaigal Oivathillai’ before Karthik, son of Muthuraman was selected and made his acting debut alongwith Radha.  

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
14.1.2025 

Samaram kainkaryam

திருவல்லிக்கேணியின் சிறப்புகளில் ஒன்று - சிறு குழந்தை பருவத்தில் இருந்தே கைங்கர்யங்கள். 

இங்கே சிரஞ்சீவி :  கேசவன் (அப்ரமேய கேசவ நவீன் ராமானுஜ சந்தானகிருஷ்ணன்)  மற்றும் அஷ்வத் நாராயணன் - சாமரம் வீசும் கைங்கர்யம் - ஆண்டாள் திருத்தேரில்  மற்றும் கீழே !!

*போற்றி பாடுங்கள் !! சொந்த ஊர் Dusi Mamandur புகழ் பாடுங்கள் !*

*போற்றி பாடுங்கள் !!    சொந்த ஊர் புகழ் பாடுங்கள் !*

 

நாளை சிறப்பான நாள் - பொங்கல் திருநாள் - தை பிறக்கிறது ! - உத்தராயண புண்ணியகாலம். மகர ஸங்க்ராந்தி 

 

It is a time, when Madras metropolis (perhaps most big cities) become lean, as people leave to their native villages to be with their relatives and celebrate Pongal  ~ it is the festival of harvest…  ~ a long four day festival in villages.... Bhogi, Pongal, Kanum Pongal….and more.. Thai Pongal coincides with Makara Sankranthi.  It is also the Uzhavar Thirunal.  The word Pongal means "overflowing" which signifies abundance and prosperity. On the day of Pongal, at the time of sun rise there is a symbolic ritual of boiling fresh milk in a new clay pots and when the milk boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, people shout "Pongalo Pongal!"  The popular belief has stemmed out into the saying - "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" meaning "the commencement of Thai paves the way for new opportunities".  It is a festival of happiness and prosperity and perfect time for wishing each other that our lives also prosper well. 

 

ஒரு நூறாண்டுகள் அல்லது சற்று மேலும் கால சக்கரத்தில் பயணிக்க முடியுமாயின், நம் எந்தை, தந்தை, மூதாதையர்கள், தூசி மாமண்டூர் மண் வீதிகளில் காலாற நடந்து, ஏரிக்கரையில்  பசுமையான வயல்களில், கதிர் அறுத்து, நம் குலமூர்த்தியான ஸ்ரீ லட்சுமி நாராயணருக்கு படைத்தது, சக்கரை பொங்கல் அமுது செய்வித்து, அனைவருடன் கூடி இருந்து மகிழ்ந்து இருப்பர்!! 

கால போக்கில், பல குடும்பங்கள் இடம் பெயர்ந்து, வெவ்வேறு இடங்களில், ஏதோ ஏதோ தொழில்கள் செய்து, பணம் சம்பாரித்து - வாழ்ந்து வருகிறோம்.  சபையோரின் சிறப்பான முயற்சிகளால், சில நாட்கள் கூடி, நம்மூருக்கு வந்து, பெருமாள் சேவித்து, ஆனந்தம் அடைகிறோம்.  

திருவல்லிக்கேணி திவ்யதேசத்திலே இன்று ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி எம்பெருமான் திருக்கல்யாணத்துக்கு தயாரான சுந்தர புருஷனாக புறப்பாடு கண்டருள்கிறார். .   ஸ்ரீ ஆண்டாள் ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி எம்பெருமானின் திருக்கல்யாண வைபவம் இன்று - நாளை சங்கராந்தி ஊர்கோல உத்சவம்.

 

நம் மாமண்டூரிலும் இது போன்று திருக்கல்யாணம் நடந்து வந்ததா !  யான் அறியேன் !  வரும் வருடங்களில், நம் ஊரிலும் திருக்கல்யாணம், பொங்கல் சிறப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகள் நடத்தி, நாம் அனைவரும் ஒன்றாக கலந்து கொண்டு கொண்டாடினால் மிக சிறப்பாக இருக்கும் அல்லவா !!

 

The month of Margazhi was all about Thiruppavai and nonbu.  In Andal’s other work ‘Nachiyar Thirumozhi’ -  Andal sweeps the place, beautifies it, bedecks the place, worships for her union with the radiant Lord of Thirumala hills. 

 

தையொரு திங்களும் தரைவிளக்கித் தண்மண்டலமிட்டு மாசிமுன்னாள்

ஐயநுண் மணற்கொண்டு தெருவணிந்து அழகினுக் கலங்கரித்து

 

having celebrated Thiruppavai grandly everyday at our place, wishing all ‘ Happy Pongal’ and look forward to the day, when we all will come down to our native place  Dusi Mamandur  and celebrate Pongal together.

 

Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal and Aravanaikkum Aanjaneyar will guide us and will ensure good health and all riches, more importantly keep us wedded to the roots of our village.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.1.2025 

అష్టదిగ్గజులు!! ~ Triplicane Photographers

అష్టదిగ్గజులు!!     Can’t ask what is in a name !!

 

Allasani Peddana; Nandi Thimmana; Madayyagari Mallana; Dhurjati; Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu; Pingali Surana; Ramarajabhushanudu; Tenali Ramakrishna

 

Me, Ramakrishnan Pasalai  Balakrishnan, Shyam Balakrishnan, Varun Sampathkumar, Thirumalai Vinjamur Venkatesh, Kanakaraj Kumar, Jhutur Rshikesh, & MA Parthasarathy.  

 

[The first list is : Ashtadiggajas -  eight great Telugu scholars and poets in the court of Emperor Krishnadevaraya]

Irapathu 4. 13.1.2025 

கும்பிடறேனுங்க சாமி !!

 

கும்பிடறேனுங்க சாமி !!

Wish you a Good afternoon !!

Sivanadiyar at Triplicane

 

நோக்கரிய நோக்கே நுணுக்கரிய நுண் உணர்வே

போக்கும் வரவும் புணர்வும் இலாப் புண்ணியனே

காக்கும் என் காவலனே காண்பரிய பேர் ஒளியே

ஆற்றின்ப வெள்ளமே அத்தா மிக்காய் நின்ற

தோற்றச் சுடர் ஒளியாய்ச் சொல்லாத நுண் உணர்வாய் ⁠

 

மாணிக்கவாசகர் - சிவ புராணம் - திருவாசகம் பதிகம்.

 

Sivanadiyargal  at Triplicane on Vaikunda Ekadasi day

12.1.2025

Flower Pigeon

 

மணிப்புறா, மாடப்புறா, மரகதப்புறா, சாம்பல் புறா  - என்பது போல

- இது 'மலர்ப்புறா'

கண்ணான கண்ணே; கண்ணான கண்ணே ~ Paternal love

This photo may not need a caption nor lengthy explanation ! Father’s love!!

தந்தைகளின் உலகமே அலாதி !  குழந்தைகளை தூக்கி சீராட்டி, அவர்களுக்கு எல்லாவற்றையும் அளித்து, தாங்கள் எட்டாத உயரத்துக்கு அவர்களை செல்ல வைக்க, பாடுபடும் ஓர் பாசப்பிறப்பு.

 

In this beautiful World, in the journey of life -  Fathers’ stand tall as unwavering pillars of support and boundless love, shaping their children’s lives and leaving a lasting imprint on their hearts.  A father’s influence extends beyond the confines of time. The values he imparts and the love he bestows become an eternal legacy, passed down from generation to generation.

 

கண்ணான கண்ணே; கண்ணான கண்ணே;  என் மீது சாய வா

புண்னான நெஞ்சை,  பொன்னான கையால் - பூ போல நீவ வா

 

Ajit starrrer -  Viswasam was not simply about a   city girl falling in love with a man in a village. It was more about the ruff Thookku Durai, the darling of the village, fighting, foregoing and doing everything in ensuring happiness of his daughter.   

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
11.1.2025 

pacer Varun Aaron retires !!

It is a different feeling – especially for those of us who had watched Gavaskar & Solkar opening the bowling attack or Madanlal / Karsan Ghavri bowling 3 or 4 overs before Bedi took over – the ball would be rolled out from thirdman to make it lose shine !! (the spin quartet could consistently wrap the opponents below 200 is another aspect !) 

Remember a player by name Stuart Meaker and his ODI debut in India !!    he was considered among the most exciting quick-bowling prospects in the land, a skiddy bowler blessed with authentic pace comfortably above 90mph.  At Wankhede in Oct 2011, he made his debut in a match which India won by 6 wickets.    

There have been exciting pace bowling prospects - Kapil Dev was the crowning glory ~ there were talks that Yograj Singh and Thirumalai Ananthanpillai Sekhar were much faster ! ~ when Umesh Yadav took 10 wickets in a home test, thoughts meandered to the way, India handled new ball – in 1970s – when the spin quartet dominated. There were times when we read about camps before Overseas tours, when Barun Burman, Jyoti Prasad .. .. came close to selection and a young lad Kapil Dev was denied extra rotis, stating that there are no pace bowlers in India.  Life has changed .. .. remember that in Chennai 1st division league there were young lads bowling fast – not only locals like Rajamannar, Bharathkumar, Arunkumar, Kalyanasundaram, TA Sekhar, Arun – but from MRF - Vivek Razdan, Subroto Banerjee and Ashish Winston Zaidi.  

1980s was the tale of pace battery of West Indies – they kept coming – fearsome Holder, Roberts,  Holding, Daniel, Crofts, Garner, Marshall, Bishop, Ambrose, Patterson, Walsh .. ..  all could hurtle at great pace and make the ball climb awkwardly not only from a short length but at times coil it up from close to good length, making the life miserable for batsmen.   

At the start of 2010, there was talk of a young genuine tearaway clocking over 150 kmph in Vijay Hazare trophy – the name Varun Aaron. But bowling fast came with its pitfalls, and in a career blighted by injuries - stress fractures of the back, in the main - Aaron played nine Tests and nine ODIs, but the last of those was way back in November 2015, a Test against South Africa in Bengaluru, where he picked up one wicket in a match that lost four days to the weather. Hailing from Jharkhand, Aaron has been part of the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai since he was spotted by a talent scout at the age of 15.  

Varun Aaron, the former India quick bowler, has announced his retirement from "representative cricket". Aaron, 35, had retired from red-ball cricket at the end of the 2023-24 Indian domestic season, and has now finished up altogether after his team, Jharkhand, were knocked out of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, in which he played four games and picked up three wickets at an average of 53.33.  

"For the past 20 years, I have lived, breathed, and thrived on the rush of bowling fast. Today, with immense gratitude, I officially announce my retirement from representative cricket," Aaron wrote on Instagram. "As I bid farewell to a pursuit that has consumed me completely, I now look forward to savoring the smaller joys in life while staying deeply connected to the game that has given me everything. Fast Bowling has been my first love, and though I step off the field, it will always be a part of who I am."  

He finishes up with 88 List A matches, in which he got 141 wickets at an average of 26.47 and economy rate of 5.44, and 95 T20s, where he has 93 wickets at an economy rate of 8.53. Aaron played nine seasons of the IPL between 2011 and 2022 - with Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans - and won the title with Titans in what was his final season in the competition. His own contribution in it was, however, modest, as he picked up two wickets in two games, and had an economy rate of 10.40.

 

In that  ODI match at Wankhede on 23.10.2011, India won – alongside Stuart Meaker, Varun Aaron made his debut.  It was an unusual bowling combination of Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron, Ashwin, Kohli & Raina.  While Meaker fizzled out playing in just 4 (2+2) International appearances, Aaron played 9 Tests and 9 ODIs.  

It is tough being a pace bowler in India, sad that Varun Aaron never got that place on top where he promised to be  !!

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.1.2025 

Outreach ~ when to stop !!

In life, every morning – we are out running after material things – how much we need, and how much we reach for ! is known to us ! – yet the race is on !  Is it possible to stop at somepoint of imaginary line, where we would feel ‘it is sufficient’ !! 

Joe Mahoney, a vaudeville performer who has fallen on hard times, has to leave his best friend and stage companion Rupert, a dancing squirrel, in the town. Rupert will have to fend for himself with the other squirrels and live in a tree. Mahoney had been renting a flat (attached to the Dingle house) from the Dingle family consisting of miserly father Frank, his wife and their son Pete, an aspiring composer. Frank recently learned a gold mine he'd invested in years earlier will start paying a return of $1500 a week. Frank begins cashing the checks and hiding the bills in a hollow baseboard.  .. .. ..

 

Even squirrels tend to 'out reach !!;    Outreach- the act of reaching out as a   transitive verb would mean :  to surpass in reach; exceed;  to get the better of by trickery 

The Great Rupert is a 1950 comedy family film starring Jimmy Durante, Tom Drake and Terry Moore, produced by George Pal and directed by Irving Pichel. It is based on a story written by Ted Allan that has also been published as a children's book under the title Willie the Squowse. The story revolves around a little animated squirrel who, with much charm, accidentally helps two economically distressed families overcome their obstacles. 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.1.2025