1 July 2021 Doctors' Day - call for all of us to pray for their good health and happiness!

Today, I remember the time I spent during this lockdown, under the able care of my ortho surgeon, and support of my nephew, both of whom were classmates at the medical school.

Their commitment and sacrifice is not easy to understand, but can feel it, by their dedication and ability to cope, especially during the COVID Pandemic time. 

The younger medical colleagues are facing more mental health issues, having never been exposed so close to so many casualities and mishaps in their young medical careers. Here is wishing the younger doctors more mental strength... as the devil has not disappeared and threatens to come back with greater vengence each time.

Let us hope the vaccinations help to cut down the severity of the symptoms and people are able to cope with less hospitalisation struggles and are better equipped to deal with the complications.

I wish all doctors and their family members a Happy Doctors' Day on 1st July.

Rumi Mallick is now married!

February 2009 was a fantastic month. It began with Rumi's wedding and I with my friend Bharti, Ranu, Jaggu, Himanshu and Subro were all there to grace the occasion, celebrate and be with the bride and groom. Udit, whom Rumi married is working in Mumbai, and so for Rumi it was first Delhi, then Kolkata for the wedding then, quite soon Mumbai where she will be living.

Bharti and I spent a few more days spending time with her friend in Chandan Nagore, a quaint French town just one hour's local train ride from Howrah. Snigdha and her family with her daughter were hosts to us there, and the first day at her place was marked with a Krishna Bhajan which we enjoyed on the terrace with all the family and friends who gathered and sang songs in praise of Lord Krishna.

The house is done up so beautifully, as most houses in Chandan Nagore are... each house has a couple of rooms facing the nearby pond, which is clean and a source of fresh water fish rearing. The ponds are often private, but are then contracted out to farmers who grow and sell fish. The idyllic surroundings not only inspired us, but also the great minds like Shri Aurobindo, Shri Rabindranath Tagore, etc.

The next day was spent in a picnic with Anamika, another friend of Snigdha and Bharti with whom we went to see the Holy temple of Dakshineshwar. The place that has the holy presence of Shiva, Devi and Krishna temples, and is set on the banks of the Ganges. After enjoying a lovely visit, we took a ferry ride across the river over to the Belur Math. We returned back that evening, and took a walk along the river in Chandan Nagore.

The next day, we spent some time with the family, and heading back in the afternoon, returning from a most enriching trip to West Bengal.

Thanks Bharti, Snigdha, Anamika, Rumi (and all her family members) for this wonderful 9 days trip by train.

Elaya Bhagawathi Temple in Palakkad

This late December, I visited the Elaya Bhagawathi temple on the Palakkad Town to Chittoor Road. It is at the 5th Mile point from the Manapulikkavu temple. Since it is one of the lesser known temples, I thought this blog will help people discover this temple.

The story of why this temple is important for us as an Ishta devata goes back to my grandfather's time. They were inhabitants of the Thekkegramam in Chittur. And, grandfather had gone to the Palakkad town to get his land sale proceedings registered, and was walking back to Chittur. On his way back, he just rested on a stone paved near the temple. He snoozed off. But when he woke up and walked back home, he forgot his bag of money at the stone space itself.

Next morning, when he woke up, he realised the mistake he made and prayed for safekeeping, and when he went back he found his money at the same place. But before that he saw the Elaya Bhagawati temple, a small discrete dilapidated building, and he got a darshan to thank her. That same night, he got a darshan of devi in his dream to say that he will be protected by "me"!

Henceforth, my grandfather, CP Ranga Iyer made Elaya Bhagawathi his ishta devata.

Nowadays, the temple external structures have been renovated and there is a pujari there, who opens the temple on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and all of the Navarathri days. It is a mesmerising experience to get Bhagawathi's blessings, as I did recently on 26th December 2008.

May her blessings be showered on all of us!

Today I complete Four Years back in India

Exactly four years ago I left Ottawa to come back to India. It has been four years of intense engagement in the field of ICT4D. There are have been many highs and many lows.

I have travelled, met new people, worked very very hard, even at the cost of my health, and actually lost out on the personal front of keeping myself in the fittest of health.

As a new expat back home, four years ago, it was with a lot of hope and expectation that I returned. One thing was certain. I needed to focus more on myself, and to do my bit for the country.

As I reflect on the four years spent, there has been not a moment that has been boring. Tiring, yes, but boring, no.I am also sure that the next phase of my life is going to be the final innings of my working life, before I plan and retire to enjoy the fruits of my hard work, and do the things I want to do..

What are those things that I want to do?

- Attend live concerts - western jazz, instrumentalists, classical maestros (hindustani or carnatic).
- Complete the cookbook that I am working on, and enjoy hosting friends and family over at my place.
- Socialise and network (which I still love doing).
- Travel to the beautiful Kashmir Himalayas (the one bit of Himalayas that I have not travelled much to, except to Srinagar, that too in the middle of strife).
- Relax and read books.
- Write a novella/ short story book
- Become Debt Free!

I will be looking out for new opportunities to further the skills that I have acquired, and also to move ahead with the zeal and enthusiasm that has always kept me going. Certainly a change of pace is on the cards. More to take on a role that will give an edge to the quality of the work, and one that gives adequate value for money that we deserve.

Surely to keep with the inflation, unless there is an average increase of 25% in the wages earned, one cannot cope with the rising prices. That will be high on my cards.

Geeta Kohli is waiting to become a grandmom

There comes a cool bonus for being a sis of Geeta Kohli, my wonderful eldest sister. Both her kids Juni and Mini are waiting to become proud parents anytime in February/March 2008. What a wonderful bonus for Geeta, and an opportunity to shuttle between USA where Mini lives with Sarvesh, and India (between Delhi/Motihari in Bihar) where Pratibha and Juni (Mohan PS Kohli) lives.

Mohan, my fabulous nephew is currently on a national mission mode programme with the WHO's National Polio Surveillance Project. He is a medical doctor who has specialised in public health administration from National Institute for Health and Family Welfare, and for the past two years dedicated his life in the most vulnerable pocket where Polio virus still continues to attack the kids, despite massive immunization efforts of the government.

Poverty, traditional mindset, interiors of Bihar with little or no development, superstition all cause problems for the polio programme to take full effort. But the dedicated doctors and mission members have not given up. They are all at it. Kudos to Juni and the team members for serving the nation, and putting the family next to service.

Geeta is my dear sister, and my guardian angel. She has been there for me during my thick and thin. She is a wonderful soul, who does not hesitate to call a spade a spade. She is also the greatest mom, who has nurtured two wonderful children, and dedicated her life to her family, her extended family, and all her younger siblings (we are eight kids in the house, and she is the senior second!).

Geeta's ability to communicate, her encyclopedic knowledge of many things, her sensitivity to people, emotions and her own frail emotional self are all to be admired. The trio sisters, Geeta, Raji and Jaya (self) all have pledged to be by each other's side, and to be an emotional support. In the picture taken on the beaches of Calicut are from left to right - Geeta (with the bag), Jaya (with the mobile phone hanging), and Raji (in a cheerful bright dress).

I am going to be the happy beneficiary of Geeta's new awaited status - Grandmom. Wow! I will also become a younger grandmom of her kids' children. She always blesses me and pours love, and I am sure she will be as loving a grandmom, as she has been a wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, mom, dear sister... the list of relations that surround her goes on and one.

The best thing, she always has time for people. Love you Geeta, and best wishes for the new role that awaits you!

Baking Pizzas in the Electric Tandoor

As you all know, I love to cook. In the past two weeks, I have been struggling to discover oil-free and salt-less cooking. Having to spend less time and create wonderful vegetarian cooking made me to explore the desi Pizzas on an electric cooker. All you need is the pizza base which is nowadays available in most Indian metros for Rs. 7.5, the sauce, and vegetables to embellish it. I love using onion, tomatos, bell-peppers, american corn (frozen variety), and topping it with oregano and parsley, and final layer of vegetarian Pizza Cheese. Bake for 10 minutes flat, and a crispy medium sized pizza is ready. The cost comes to about 30 rupees for a pizza, all inclusive. I brought two of them to work yesterday, and it turned out to be a great hit! I hope to share other recipes with you folks in future.

Crazy things are happening in NOIDA

The last week of December is often ending up bizarre. A couple of years ago, the Tsunami hit like anything, snuffing away millions of lives in Asia. The recent serial killing in NOIDA - where I have been living since May 2004 seems to be horrendous. Poor migrant workers, trying to eke out a living were losing kids, often any from the age of 3 to 20. The story has unfolded and two persons have been arrested. Police apathy, and system failure to give any hearing to the woes of the poor and disempowered parents is something that shocks most of us, but this story has really jolted me out.

I am deeply saddened by the happenings.

When will we be humanitarian?

The Travel Bug

The Travel Bug



Works on Coral Reefs protection in Spain. Looks great. I fully support this. Its a dream to be part of this magnificant rainforest of the seas. Last year, in May 2005, I had a chance to spend time learning diving to study the flora and fauna diversity in Langkawi islands in Malaysia. We also spent time in Penang, which is another beautiful but slightly larger island that Langkawi. The best holiday I had so far.