What Am I Today?

With all the failures behind me, Should I still consider myself as a person living a fulfilling life?

Not able to succeed in my education. Still struggling to learn things which I want to learn.

Not able to earn what myself and my family wanted me to earn. Lost what was there as my ancestral property in what can be called as a freak business attempt.

Not able to hold on to all the love and respect gained by me all these years because of my financial turbulence.

Will all this can I still hold my heads high. Or should I let my shoulders drop.

Internally Iam still the same. Should I go back to my old style of living. Forget about earning, but start to work with a selfless attitude. Will this help me in the long run. Who will take care of my family's needs? Who will take care of me when I want to lay back in my older age? Lot of questions giving me sleepless nights.

I have read about legends. Many have met failures, done mistakes but have succeeded atlast. Lot is written on about their difficulties, but not much on how they overcame the fear and obstacles in them. How they overcame their failures? Those details would have helped the failures like me to find ways to come out of our failures.

Another Smoking Story...

Saturday evenings are always pleasant. The thought that next day is Sunday brings an air of freshness to the mind. Sitting before my computer after my Saturday dinner I was thinking of some strange happenings this week. I would like to share an incident that troubled me this week.

It was Thursday morning. My mind was at peace and at an elated state after sending the report on time, after a long struggle to get my schedule on time. With this thought I went to the nearby snacks bar to have sweet lime juice which I used to have normally to keep the ulcer problem at bay. When I was thinking about the day’s work after placing the order, there came five boys, their age ranging from 10 to 17. From their look I can make sure that they are not the boys who work somewhere or so. They came and ordered tea, the first astonishment for me. At the age of 10 a boy comes to a snacks bar and orders tea in this early morning. What are their parents doing at home even without making a tea for them? The worst is to follow, a guy from the group asked for a cigarette. Totally relieved of my thought process, shocked I looked at the boy who asked for it and then at the shop owner. The shop owner replied that he can’t sell cigarettes to boys and this guy had a reply for that also. “I am not a small kid and I am in the first year of Polytechnic” was the reply. Don’t know what prompted the shop owner to say that, but he denied cigarette saying that he didn’t have the brand which the guy was asking. At this, he asked another boy who was with him to go to a petty shop near by and purchase it. My thought process was into many things. When the petty shop owner sells the cigarette to the boy who had went to purchase it, is it not illegal. Selling cigarette to minors is illegal.

Got curious and asked the guy who wanted the cigarette about his age. He said he is 17. Even at the age of 17 one is not entitled to smoke is what our law says and I mentioned this to him. He blushed and I asked him what pleasure he derives by smoking. Again a blushing smile. I asked him whether he had been to the Adayar Cancer Hospital and saw the Cancer patients. To my shock he said, he had been there for 5 years continuously when his mother was taking treatment for cancer. I asked him to visit the mouth cancer division and meet people who got cancer because of smoking in the same Adayar Cancer Institute when he gets time. I explained him something about cancer and the dangers of smoking. I didn’t ask him to stop smoking. This young generation is supposed to go strong when we restrict them on something and also have developed the habit of reverting back with questions. So I stopped myself here and started back to my office. This kept on itching in my mind the whole day.

Spywares and anti-spyware Software

One fine day I was shocked when I saw an adult site opening up automatically when I opened my browser. I was totally perplexed when they reappeared after me setting the browser properties to blank and don’t know the reason and started my research on it. This made me to learn about spywares. And now I am relaxed on knowing that it was the spywares, the reason for the automatic opening of the adult website. I dug myself more into the study of spywares and got to know more about it. As nature goes I found the solution to spywares also and got to research about some branded anti-spyware software.

To my astonishment I learned that spyware may get installed by itself on my computer even without my knowledge and can cause lot of malfunctioning of my computer apart from loading advertisement websites automatically. It seems spywares can collect details like keyword usage pattern, website browsing pattern, personal information and even sensitive information at items like credit card details and all. Though these data are collected for the purpose of advertisements through adwares, I have the apprehensions that these data can be misused for any serious offences also. Once I even noticed some new items on my browser toolbar which I have never installed and some research revealed that they are because of spywares. To add to my woes I was not able to remove those extra tools in the browser toolbar.

All these woes and experience made me to look out for anti-spyware software a perfect one to protect my computer and my data from the spywares. I was searching for one and came across products from Symantec, AVG and even one from Microsoft itself. I started to use these anti-spyware software in an attempt to find the best for my computer. Microsoft’ and AVG provides free anti-spyware software, but with Symantec it not so and so I tried the trial version. I tried with lot of probabilities. After installing the anti-spyware software from various brands I tried to open certain websites which used to install spyware and checked whether it blocked the installation or not. At the end of the day after many such tests on various brand products I came to a decision that AVG is the best and installed the anti-spyware software which comes along with AVG anti-virus software. As advised I also followed the habit of updating the anti-spyware software for any addition to the database with any new spywares and this helps me to keep the spyware at bay from my computer.

Yes, now one can sense the presence of a spyware and sure to get irritated by its presence in the computer and so want to remove it. Very much like anti-virus software there is anti-spyware software available in the market to keep the spywares away from one’s computers. The best of the anti-spyware software is “Windows Defender”. Windows Defender is free software which comes packed along with Windows Vista and can be downloaded freely for Windows XP. This is a very effective anti-spyware software and is sure to keep a computer out of the troubles of a spyware. Though other companies like Symantec, MacAfee and other industry leaders have their own anti-spyware products in this list Windows Defender is rated as the best.

No More Spoon Feeding

Transition to college life from school means a lot in the way we study the subjects. We can expect no more spoon feeding.

You would have seen your Maths teacher working out each and every problem when you were studying 12th standard. You would have taken tuitions. You would have had guides, notes with all answers to make things easier for you. Nothing apart from the given questions will appear in the question paper.

And now you are into an entirely different world. Don't get scared or don't curse your lecturers. It is an accepted trend that the lecturers will not solve even 25% of the given problems, but instead leave them to you to solve and come to their cabins if you have unsolved issues. The truth will be they will not have enough time to complete the syllabus if they start to work out all the problems. Moreover leaving it to you to work out the other problems helps you to understand the subject and concepts more clearly. Tuitions are available but very few and more costly and even there it will be just explaining concepts and not making you to study the subject. Guides and notes are available in the market but will not be sufficient enough to substitute self-study.

The best thing is to study the subjects sincerely with proper understanding, not just for the sake of exams but also for the sake of knowledge.

You will have lot of freedom, much enough to spoil yourself. But it is you who should monitor yourself since you will have no one to be behind you and for spoon feeding.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health.

Everyone knows it is injurious to health. It causes various fatal illness in human. But still we smoke and smoke more than before. Around 90% to 80% of lung cancer in both men and women is due to cigarette smoking. Tar, Nicotine and Carbon monoxide are by products of cigarette which gets into the smokers body and the reason for all the illness.

I wish to share one of my close relative's fatal story here.

This is my uncle, my dad's own brother. He used to love me a lot and was very close to me. He is the only uneducated in my family and is involved in agriculture. A real hard worker and as every farmer is very innocent. My grandfather use to smoke and he too got into this habit of smoking.

As per my knowledge his marriage was not much happy and so it made him into a chain smoker. He had two kids. It all happened in a span of two years when I was in college. First I was told that he is not feeling well and is being treated for TB. When I met him during my trip to home I sensed something serious and I suggested my aunty, his wife to take him for better hospital and conduct all the test. So then came the shocking news that he is affected by throat cancer. He was treated at Jipmer, Pondicherry and very soon they informed that its at advanced stage and they recommended to Adayar Cancer Institute Hospital, Chennai. Being at Adayar cancer Institute, all the tests were repeated, a painful one.

But the truth prevailed, the threat cancer has reached advanced stage and cant be cured. It is said all is over. By now he has reached a stage where he cant take his food. So a hole in the throat and a pipe to feed him. One should look at this scene and he will never think of smoking if he puts him in that place. Soon they asked him to be taken back as its just days before he lives his final day. We took him back to our village and he was living a pathetic life, unable to move, all in bed.

Once when I visited him, he was literally crying and asking to take care of the kids who were just just 8 and 5 by then and me just 19 yrs old. The words not coming out clearly since the throat has been wholed. I can see the pain in his eyes he is feeling physically to speak those few words. Can sense the stinking smell? So bad that he lived with that stinking smell? Everyone from his family became casual except him for he only knows the pain of leaving. Since I was attached to him, I as able to understand his feelings more than his kids who are again kids to understand his emotions.

The worst was waiting. Went for my exams and know I can be back only after 2 months. One fine day I received a call from my father, saying he is dead and they have cremated him. I shouted at him that he should have informed me. But the reply he gave was terrific and I didnt even dare to imagine what he explained.

Since I left for my exams, his illness for worst and it seems worms started to spam on his wounds. Since he was lying down continuously he had got blisters on his back and they had aggravated the trouble. My dad told literally he was lying among worms and his body was decaying. Once he breathed his last breath, the body started to decay immediately and it got worse. No one was even ready to lift his body. Worst being his wife had left him to die days back. No last rituals were performed. Simply they carried him to the cremation ground and cremated him within hours of his last breath. It seems they were not able to even carry him. the just lifted him along with the carpet on which he was lying.

Every smoker, I wish you to think yourself in this position whenever you light a cigarette. Smoking - just think why you do that. Is that a necessity. Think about your sufferings which are waiting. The status of your family. Tell your friends who smoke, about this.

Its not advice but a concern that you should live a healthy and peaceful life.

Come out of the Shell

Transition to college life from school requires lot of commitment.

Being into College life you should not have inhibitions and should be out of narrow minded attitude. Should be ready to accept others point of view.

Start interacting with others. Stop thinking about the mistakes you make while talking to others. Dont think others will mock at you if you make mistakes. They are also new to the environments and others will have enough worries about themselves initially and so will not mind much about other's mistakes. Its only by trying you can know your mistakes and thus can correct those.

You may have lot of apprehensions about college life till now. Find the truth yourself and correct them if those apprehensions are wrong. You have to talk to others, know more people and their ideas and only then you can learn lot of things.

If you were from a rural background entering into a city college, don't get bogged down by the environment. Try to push yourself into the groups and you will be at ease moving around along with them in a week or two. But if you stay away from others, then you will be left isolated and both you and others will find it difficult to mingle with each other later.

Don't worry about being teased by others in the initial stages for your silly mistakes. Stay positive and true as much as possible. Don't hesitate to accept your mistakes and limitations and let even others know that. This will help you to learn new things easily.

Come out of your shell. The world is waiting to receive you with so many beautiful opportunities.

Transition to College Life.

Yes, the school life is over.

Teachers, marks, competition for ranks, tuitions, what to study next confusion, Engineering or Medicine, money or interest, advice from parents, seniors all these are no more now. The decision is made. Whether its yours or your parents it is made and soon you will be sitting in a college classroom.

A new environment, new friends and for some new place and even new medium (language of teaching) and all these may make you perplexed. You may feel at dark.

How to handle this?

What should you do to overcome this fear?

How to make new friends easily even though they may be an entirely different environment?

How to build relationship with the teachers, sorry the lecturers and professors?

How to plan your career?

What to expect?

What to do?

What not to do?

In short, how easily and quick you can transform into a college student from a school student?

Below are some of the tips you would wish to try to become a college student.
1. Come out of the shell.
2. No more spoon feeding
3. Make friends and let they be good friends. Have broad vision.
4. Lecturers/Professors – treat them as your mentor/guide/friends
5. Seniors are also students. Make friends among seniors
6. Enjoy the subjects. This can be achieved only by understanding the subjects
7. Start now. Stop last minute preparations
8. Communication and English Skills
9. Develop special skills. Find your specialization area
10. Socialize for all the right reasons
11. Don’t deviate – You are here to study and to build your career.

What next - After 12th

12th exams are over and the results are out.

What to do next? What to study? How to plan your career? So many questions in most of our minds. To add to that confusion there comes loads of suggestions from our parents, relatives, friends.

What are the factors to consider before selecting a course and how to decide on our career path and the course to study?

The courses/degrees can be categorised into
Engineering
Medical
Arts
Science
Skills oriented
Technical

In Engineering we have Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Architecture, Information technology, Instrumentation. Production, Automobile, Aivation, Chemical, Bio-informatics, Bio-medical engineering and many more and list is keeping on growing with advancement in technology.

Medical apart from M.B.B.S there is B.D.S, B.V.Sc and then nopw B.H.M.S and other traditional medicine degrees are being selected by the students. Paramedical courses like Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharma are having its own market and career in the industry.

With the recession hitting the Engineering sector Arts and science degrees are being sought after again. People aiming for M.B.A or M.C.A or Govt. jobs or Civil services are now smart enough to get into basic arts and science degrees. With teaching becoming a much sought after career and is a more secured career arts and science degrees are starting to find some space among the students.

More courses like Catering technology, Fashion designing, Fine arts, Pilot Training, Air Hostess courses are being sought after more nowadays inspite of the cost involved in these courses.

Said about the courses, how to select the courses which suits you.

Follow the below given steps to decide on your career
1. Decide the course based on your basic skills.
2. Decide the course based on your liking. The liking should be yours and shouldnt be driven because of popularity or easy jobs or more salary or friends like and so me too.
3. Take the advice of your parents/elders/seniors, but the decision should be yours.
4. Dont go by emotions, analyse your skills, current trends, family situation and then decide on the course.
5. Your degree should pave the way for your career and so decide in such a way.
6. Think whether you family will be able to support you through the course even if a master degree is required in that career.

If possible and on availability its worth spending some money to take up a psychometric test to know you skills and capabilities.

You are starting it now. Have a vision and mindset to learn new things not just for your exams but for your knowledge and thus for your career.

Reforms in Indian Politics

Politics has become so much commercialised and is being considered one of the profitable careers in India. Is politics not a social service career? And commercials to that were later added to encourage people to come in and serve the people and just to give a recognition to their work.

But today it has become like for the kind of whooping power the positions in politics give people have started to think and treat this as a professional career.

Corrupted to the core. No sight of reprieve. What can be done and how to revive the glory of politics and get leaders who can work for us for the people of India and for the pride of serving others and not for the power and the money attached to it.

Why not the Indian politicians and the system think and come out with some effective plans to reform the political system and thus provide us with some real leaders to transform India into a super power.

Some ideas that came to my mind

1. A minimum qualification for Local Body Representatives, MLA, MP
2. Retirement age for the elders thus preventing them from contesting the elections after certain age. They can be very well in the advisory boards.
3. No first timers in State or Central politics. They should have atleast contested in any of the local body elections before contesting for MLA/MP.
4. No first time Ministers. They should have atleasted contested the previous election for MLA/MP.
5. Keep track of their property and their family's property.
6. Property and wealth details should be declared openly and should be tracked henceforth every year. Like any corporates yearly audit statement every MLAs/MPs audit statements should be publicised in media every year.
7. This audit report should have a clear mention of the performance report based on the commitments they gave during elections.
8. Citizens should have facility to call back their MLA/MP if the given promises are not met.
9. MP/MLA should conduct a public meeting(not propaganda meeting) but an interaction session to answer the queries of citizens of his/her constituency every month. He/She should have visited atleast 10 times to every panchayat in his constituency during his tenure as MLA/MP
10. Following these audit reports there should be a minimum points and based on it it should be decided that whether he/she can contest in the next elections. If not eligible to contest the following election then should not be able to contest the following 10 years or so.
11. Every MLA/MP should be provided with a toll free number and it should be answered either by him personal or his official personal secretary.
12. Every MLA/MP should have a website where anyone should be able to post their queries or grievance and he.she personally should be answering those within specific time say one week or so to those and report back on actions taken on that query.
13. Election commission should take care of Election expense of all the candidates for which the candidates pay the Election commission. If bribing for votes is proved immediate disqualification of the candidate should be the only and final punishment and should be terminated from politics at any stage.

More such ideas comes to a layman like me. But what are the intellectuals sitting up there doing. Are they scared of implementing these kind of reforms for their selfishness. Do we need to fight once again for another independance.

Get back to the basics - Agricultural development

We have to get back to our basics.

We are an Agriculture country. But we are not promoting it and not supporting much of research and development in agriculture. We must make co-operative system an effective one in agriculture. Like a village should form its own co-operative system to grow crops and sell it directly to the customers through its own system, so that the whole of the profit grows to the producers. Govt should come out with such a model, encourage this and support this system. Agriculture scientists and professionals should be directly involved in this. If this can be done and if we an have surplus agriculture products for export automatically we will grow. Other industries around this will grow.

When agriculture flourishes, price of essential commodities like food come down drastically. Other industries like transport, automobile, mechanical industries, road construction, (as usual) Computers, banks flourish around this. And thus an overall development will be achieved.

Instead we are trying to go in the reverse and trying to supplement the agriculture industry with others and are destroying that industry by taking away cultivable lands in the name of industrialisation.

Congress Back to Power with clear majority

I didnt expect it to be this way.

Yes, Congress was the only party in sight of victory but not with such a clear majority.

Now they can move ahead with all their crazy plans without anyone to have any kind of checking on them. No Communist to press for a Common Minimum programme. I would have favoured a situation they be in a situation to convince many for some decision and that would have stopped them from making certain crazy decision.

Sonia and Manmohan Singh should really think about the people atleast now. Without doing polarisation of people as minorities and majorities based on religion they should be reallu secular in their approach. Liberal economic policy or Globalisation doesnt mean that they have to forgo the interest of local people and business.

Let us wait and watch what they are going to do.

Religion and God

God

God is someone to whom we go when all our ways or solutions to a problem gets dried up and literally we dont know what to do and how to do. God used to be the strong persons in in specific area thats is what we call "Kula Theivam" "Ooru Theivam" Heroics of them spreads and they became established in a larger geographical area. Thats how we initially had mariatha, muneeswaran as our god. Then came Shiva, muruga. pillayar, perumal. ramar, krishnan, Aiyyappan and all. Originated in a specific location and then over centuries spread to wider geographic area. Same was Buddha, Jain and GuruNanak spread as the latest in India. We started to believe in all Gods like mariatha, murugan, shiva, perumal, budha, guru nanak equally. Then came Allah from out of the sub continent. Initially it was forced into Indians and then started to spread. Then came Jesus and his heroics then became to spread. Instead of making us to accept him people who follow jesus are trying to force him us.

Religion

Its nothing but collection of habits and customs being followed by people in a specific area. These culture best suits only to that area based on climate and geographical proximity. Due to spread of people and resettlement of people in different areas these cultures called religion was carried along with them and was being spread to other places.

Then as usual ego clash on who is bigger and who is right brought the clashes among the religions and in the name of God. This is my prediction about God and Religion. Still Iam a believer of God some super natural power controlling the worlds activities.