Save Chennai Protest

PROTEST

Now that I have got your attention, here's what I got to say!

Chennai has been a city that I absolutely adore and worship more than just for this selfishness that its my hometown. It has cradled people from all walks of life.

And what do we give back?

1. Posters saying, “I love you Chennai.”
2. Protest against the government for anything that you feel is an injustice.
3. Industries, markets, business hubs
Have you ever stopped to look at the city and what it really needs? Now, calling all you noble NGOs and first flag holders for A-Z protest services! Here's what the favours you have returned to the city has yielded:
1. Additional paper waste and waste of time with your posters
2. Herd mentality where one person protests and falls into the ditch and one lakh people fall into the same ditch
4. 100% pollution through population and industries

CHENNAI IS DYING

I'm a hardcore Chennai loyalist. I'm not a US return. But I stay in Bangalore. I live in Bangalore for the past two years and here is what I have realised the contrast between the two cities

1. Bangalore acts as a father. It helps us earn, does not have a street dustbin but people hesitate to throw waste. Even if someone does, from somewhere you get voices condemning the act and forbiding it.
On the other hand, Chennai has been a pampering mother. It gives you so much love but takes in all the abuse you do. Nobody questions and one is always at home, be it polluting or endangering. Trees on a street is cut, and no one cares, People see garbage on road and are dutiful in throwing more garbage, coz something is already there! “Its not you who is going to newly pollute, oh welcome to the club”. And even better, “When you are in Rome, be a Roman, polluting is Indian!”

2. Bangalore has encroachments on river lands but it has encroachment free pavements.
On the other hand in Chennai, pavements are earmarked for parking/hawkers or even better, urinal.

3. Bangalore nurtures vegetation. Undeniably it is also undergoing deforestation in many places. Yet, every house in Bangalore, even though is constructed in congested spaces, has at least one pot plant which they water. The roads are under the aegis of huge age old trees that thrive.
On the other hand, Chennai is like a dry land. Even though there are few trees here and there, every day, there is a tree cut for want of building spaces or other man-made inconveniences for which he destroys green cover.

4. Last but not the least, Bangalore, although is having decreased rainfall every year in comparison to the previous year, is still fresh with oxygen despite the vehicles igniting their engines with carbon print. There is no stench in all the nooks and corners and is blissfully airy and chill all round the year. Even summers here are bright but cool.
Chennai, needless to say, is hot even in winters! It is an oven of freshly baked people ready to switch it on again and again and again until it bursts! If anyone gets a stink somewhere, they know what to do – Close their noses and eyes!
How long can you keep turning a blind eye towards the abuse that you and your siblings are doing to your mother? Isn't it unfair on your part? Doesn't Chennai deserve better at all?

Here's what you can do!

Come join the movement in making Chennai a better place to live in. Mullaivanam, a man with a big heart has dedicated his life towards planting trees. Stall your protests for a while. Just because its easy to point your index finger to get a ticket to the hero platform and stop following the herd. If you really want to do some good before you die, save the earth!
Put your hands together to plant trees. The materials, seeds, place and everything is provided by Mullaivanam. You just need to spend some precious time to rebuild the city from its scratch.
Tree Bank, the foundation run by Mullaivanam has collected one crore neem seeds to be planted all over Tamilnadu. Reach out to this real hero and become one by lending a helping hand!

Contact Details

Tree Bank, no. 9, 1st floor, Kamarajar Salai, Virugambakkam, Chennai – 600092. (Near Arcot road)
Phone: 9444004310/ 9382184310/044-2376431/044-23774310

Why does India have caste violences?

There are three types of people in the country

Type 1

They claim not to believe in caste and ridicule all sacred practices, especially those of the FC. Whenever they are faced with challenges, they flash their SC/ST caste cards to portray they are the poor souls under the iron hand of FC. (Is the vada size small in Nair tea shop? Oh! Thats coz, he's a Nair and the customer was a dalit!) From nowhere they will feel happy to be identified by caste when it comes to reservation and secretly enjoy pulling down deserving candidates.

Type 2

Moderate in religious beliefs. They follow their customs and respect everyone else's too. They celebrate Diwali and yet send Christmas and Ramzan wishes too. But when intimidated about their beliefs, put on their armour and point the sword.

Type 3

These people have a staunch belief in their culture and suspect every other religions of treachery against them. Even if someone tries to be friendly, they are sceptical or fakeness.

Who among these three people are good? With this endless battle, India is facing trouble progressing. And now, there is the enlightened fourth type that claims that there is neither caste nor religion and belittle those with beliefs. You are not intelligent but outright stupid because, even no caste is a belief for which you are fighting for!

People, in the motive to sound intelligent, don't forget that your journey is as important as your destiny. Have your beliefs, but don't interfere in another person's. We are a mosaic of cultures and religious intolerance will get us nowhere. Yes, India was a Hindu country. Yes, now we have Christians and Muslims and so many other religions. Yes, we have survived and lets dare to take a yes to excel too!

People choose different paths to achieve fulfillment and success. Just coz they are not on your road does not mean that they are lost! Spend your time worthy than fighting over such paltry things like trying to change someone else while you are not perfect yourself. Live and let live. Jai hind!

#12 Red Handed

There was something surreal about what was happening. Was Catherine a ghost or did Samantha just run over a wild imagination by calling her Lissy? Why did Sarvesh freak at the sight of her and what was this extraordinary skill of hers to be drawing real people out of sheer imagination? Prakash’s mind raced through rapid thoughts that kept oscillating back and forth. 

His focus suddenly shifted on Catherine’s painting that had Samantha watching over the two babies. ‘Who are the babies?’ he shooted at Samantha, desperate for clues. They are my daughters, she said, frozen at the thought that Lissy has caught her red handed. ‘But Annie was your only daughter, you claimed?’ Prakash snapped, as he could envisage some hidden parts of the puzzle dropping in.

‘Th..that..that was a neighbour’s daughter,’ she fumbled as Prakash’s skeptical look pierced her already terrified heart. She immediately blurted, ‘I didn't murder Lissy!’ But Prakash would not budge. His agonised eyes showed furious fire that seemed to burn her down.

‘Lissy was my daughter! I didn't do it!’ she pleaded, now trying to sound sympathetic. Steven seemed fearful too and gestured to pacify Samantha. ‘What the hell is going on here?’ Prakash broke as he moved closer to Samantha who was willing to reveal everything that she knew.

‘Lissy was my first child through my boyfriend Nick. I had abandoned her because Nick was unwilling to marry me. A year later Annie was born after marriage. But she loved you more than Lissy did. You chose Lissy over her and it pained all of us, ’ she said panting in fear. Before she could complete, an arrow darted to her head from the window and she broke down speechless and spot dead.

The arrow had a note that read,

Roses are blue

Violets are red

When the ghosts conspire

Mind and body transpire

He immediately looked at Catherine and to his shock, she was bleeding in her arms but desperately trying to draw.

                                                     ................

The other chapters include

 #1 A haunted Memory

#2 Three strokes of red

#3 The Red Saree

#4 Black Heart

#5 WHo's NEXT?

#6 Numb3rs

#7 Will O the Wisp

#8 Resurrection

#9 I watched you

#10 Fates Entwined

#11 The Other Side

#12 Red Handed

I now invite Pallavi to take over the final chapter

Note : This post is a part of the “Tagged” Contest by writer Kaarthika and The Chennai Bloggers Club. Kaarthika’s book is being released on May 29. Do pre-order it on Amazon.

Zip

#Z

Here zips my A-Z Challenge. It is a pleasure to save the best for the last. Some of the reflections of having taken part in this for the third time:

1.This is the first time that I'm succeeding in this challenge that I participated in three consecutive years. The reason I'm succeeding this time is my husband Sundar who kept nagging me to post every day.

2. Motivation dwindles with each passing day. To stay in the challenge it takes some excitement in the form of other bloggers. Comment on various blogs and you will never know, your source of inspiration can come from places you never expected from.

3. You don't just write, you read, you learn and you accomplish something each day. You have enough freedom to think and write and it gives great satisfaction.

4. Life is a challenge. With each challenge completion you get life lessons too. So never miss it.

5.Congratulations to me and everyone who survived. You made it!

You

#Y

You are special. Yes, you. As my challenge almost comes to an end with just a day more to go, I take this opportunity to thank all those who have dropped by and kept me pushing along. As yet another daunting day comes to an end, my determination to complete this comes from the strength from all of you. This post is not intended to be witty or helpful or classic. I'm here because I am still keeping my head up the water to stay in the challenge. Thank you for being with me. Cheers and good wishes to all those who survived and those who even attempted it. Trying something matters much more than winning. Congratulations on your endeavor. You have done something not everyone ventured. You are special. 

Xylophone

#X

My first musical instrument was xylophone. It was my birthday gift when I was three years old. It was colorful and sounded marvellous. The sizes of the pipes were different but all put together was out of the world combination.

Life is like a xylophone. Challenges come in different sizes and opportunities in different colors. If you put everything together and play, it produces an unique music.

Wonder

#W

Here goes my favorite line from a song

Take me to your heart, take me to your soul
Give me your hands before I'm old.
Show me what love is, haven't got a clue
Show me that wonders can be true.

I sang this song two years ago with heart full of dreams and yearning. Little did I realize that these desires would bear the sweetest fruit in my life. Wonders did come true and I met my prince charm.

Adorned with an engulfing smile he came walking towards me at the entrance of Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanam temple an April 18. Dressed in bright yellow T-shirt, he answered like he would like any of his best client interviews in office. And.. He impressed my mom. I was left wondering what kind of wonder this was while my mom and groom chatted away merrily.

But my choice was never wrong. Our connection has crossed one year mark but he has not ceased making me wonder how even little things matter. He remembers every need of mine and makes sure it is satisfied even if I fail to remember it. Today, he has shown me that wonders can be true. And made me believe in magic, the power of love. Life is wonderful.