VishuKkani

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishu

Tomorrow is Vishu. For the first time in my life, the day doesn't fall on April 14th, delayed by a day. Vishu is arguably the second most celebrated and colourful festival after Onam( considering Christmas, Easter, Bakrid, etc global festivals). A new year, new hopes... for kids... it is about new dress and Vishu Kaineettam, i.e. money.... and lotsa crackers. :)

Most of my childhood memories revolve around this day, mainly because Vishu comes during summer holidays. For me, Vishu means getting some money. I would wait for Vishu to come. A 10 form Grandpa, a 10 from Appa, a 10 from Chithappa, etc etc. Collect all the money and coins, just like an ant collecting grains. I extend my hand to every other person. One way or the other I have to collect a target sum. Whenever I get fascinated by something, be it any time of the year, I wait till vishu to get the sum to buy it. I used to demand a certain amount at times. Inflation counts. Once I had asked my late great Grandma to increase the amount from 10 to 20. She did agree to it. But even now the tale is on. Whenever I am at her home in Alapuzha, this tale is the first thing to pop up.

Being the elder one at home, I am supposed to get more money. I used to compare the amount collected during the day with my sister. Festival means visiting relatives. And for this day I am ready to visit any home, meet any one. Needless to say more people means more money. Hitting hundred rupees used to be a big milestone. Never give your VishuKaineettam to anyone, esp your parents. You shall not get it back. I used to get old wallet to keep the money. But I preferred to keep them in a box, because he notes remained unfolded straight and the smell is kept intact. I still got few things I bought through Vishu money. I remember the businees game I bought in Std 5 (or 6, not sure ). It cost me Rs95 then. I remember going to Usmania, Aluva with my parents & sister. It was my target for few months. I knew exactly where the game was kept in the shop, right next to the cards rack. It was a great feeling then to pay yourself. I still got that scene in front of my eyes. And I still have it with me. I have bought Chess boards, Quiz cards, Playing Cards, WWF Cards, Cricket Cards,Colours, Books etc.

I learnt quite few things from those experiences. Even today I keep a product as a target, and start collecting money for the same. The satisfaction of buying that is immeasurable. The money used to come from Vishukkaineettam, payments from projects done, saving up on tour or as in during school days, travel and food; or the many given you get by winning a competition, being school topper, best student of school, clearing IIT-JEE; from anyone, school or my late grandpa. I prize those things more than anything else. The things bought range from my phone and watch to the expensive gifts for my friends and sister ( can't call the gifts expensive, as the recipients are invaluable; plannig for my friends' or sister's bday starts few months earlier).

Fireworks are inseparable part of Vishu. At home, crackers were forbidden by Appa. Chithappa used to crack a malapadakkam ( " cracker garland " ). I was not to be anywhere near. Amma remembers the pet dog at her home, at Desom. The big dog had golden hair, and hence was called Goldie ( not sure about that ). But her bravery wasn't true to her proportions. At the burst of a cracker she used to run and hide beneath the bed or a sofa.

Till upper primary, I was kept away from crackers. As one "grows", one have the courage to stay away from home, without your parents. During my high school, I spent my holidays with my 3 cousins viz, Kuttu(Sujith), and brothers Pappu(Nakul) and Nikhil Annan ( big bro' ). Summers and Cristmas-New year were spent at the latter's house in Elamakkara, Ernakulam. My uncle worked at Indian Bank. He used to bring lots of crackers for the festival. Olapadakkam ( Cracker made by wrapping up the powder in coconut leaf ) was our favourite. We used to get them in hundreds. The Kaboom used to start couple of days before Vishu and lasted days after. Our house used to be covered in smoke ( Sorry environmentalists ). We were kids and we were the naughtiest. Bursting crackers behind the dogs, next to roads, in our "enemy's" house, in holes in the football ground ( literally it was fire in the hole ). But one of our favourite sport was to burst them in the mango trees. We used the larger cracker for the purpose : "Gundu". We used to keep Gundu in a bunch of mangoes and then boom...!!! The mangoes flew in pieces. We did this most to the tree hanging over to our terrace, and it was from our house owner's house. The scolding didn't bother us. We loved doing it, we still do.

Life as an IITian stripped me of these joys. Vishu & Onam usually coincided with Mid-Term Exams. No Vishu Kaineettam. No VishuKkani. No Olapadakkam. Mallu meets on Onam and Vishu. That was all that could be afforded. Fortunately I had a better flavour for the Vishu last year (2009). My dear friend, Anjali, had e-mailed me a photo of the VishuKkani at her home, early morning. Moreover she ensured that I woke up early and the first thing I do was to open my gmail inbox and see the photo. That was a VishuKkani of sorts after 3 long years. Somebody cared for the poor lots away from home. This is e-generation !!


These festivals bring so many beautiful memories and cause unforgettable moments. They make you feel " Life is Beautiful".

Happy Vishu to one and all. :)

Scribbles 19.02.2010

Removing the rust.. practice time.. :)

Phone Etiquettes

• 1. Lower your voice when taking calls in public.
• 2. Avoid personal topics when others can hear you.
• 3. Avoid taking calls when you’re already engaged in a face-to-face conversation.
• 4. If you do take a call, ask permission of the people with you.
• 5. Avoid texting during a face-to-face conversations.
• 6. Put your phone’s ringer on “silent” in theaters and restaurants.
• 7. Don’t light up your phone’s screen in a dark theater.
• 8. Hang up and drive.

Courtesy : http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9147558/Here_comes_the_new_cell_phone_etiquette?source=CTWNLE_nlt_wktop10_2010-01-29

Doctors in Distress

Was planning to start my blog on a different topic. But this one is fresh in my mind.

It was virtually my last journey home from IIT Roorkee. Wrapped up things in some hurry and confusion, I was traveling in DehraDun Kochuveli Super Express. Day 1 made me feel that I shouldn’t have chosen this train. It was 1.5 hours late at Nizamuddin & 2.5 hours late at Kota. There was no stoppage in between. Worse, the train had no pantry. I had my lunch at 3:30pm & starved till the train snailed to Kota at 10:30 pm. But the next day the train stood to its name of Super Express. It reached most of the stations ahead of time.

Day 1 went with Narayanmurthy’s Better India Better World. Day 2, 3 guys boarded at Panvel, by noon. However we got into a conversation only in the evening, when I was freed by Narayanmurthy. One of the guys overheard my conversation with another companion, and came to know that I was an IITian, and started of the conversation just like any other used to on discovering my IIT tag : ” Which IIT are you from ? ” Well that was enough for me to spark of a long talk, a companionship that lasted for about 15 hours, which ended at Thrissur.

The three, Sachin, Vinayak, and I didn’t get the name of the third, whose baldness added more age. I was talking to Sachin. After a brief introduction from my side, Sachin introduced themselves. I was to guess their professions. The clue was, two of them, Sachin & bald guy were struggling, even after 5 years of graduation, and Vinayak is still studying. Well I guessed it right, They were MBBS graduates, medical officers. I don’t know why I guessed doctors, but glad that I was right. In fact, I was of the belief that doctors are one of the most wanted professionals in the nation, and they are pretty well paid. Having watched students toil to clear the entrance exam and break their asses to get a degree had made me assume that they are in for an illustrious career. Sorry for my ignorance. I was enlightened by Sachin.

I explained B. Arch system of 4.5 years of classes & about 6 months of Training making it 5 years. I was aware of the 5.5 years ( 4.5 years + 1 year of training ) curriculum of MBBS. These guys graduated from some BJ college in Pune ( again sorry for my ignorance; hearing the name for the first time ). The MBBS graduates of Maharashtra had to do 1 year of job in any rural govt hospital. This would provide them more opportunities in higher studies. Some do, some don’t and others drop off within a year. Our friend belongs to the last category. He declined a job offer, and went ahead to serve the rural. Unfortunately, in despair he left the hospital after 3-4 months. He tried various options of higher studies. But failed to get any. Pediatrics is his interest. He then went on to explain the higher studies options. One is admitted to each specialization of MD, based on the rank. Radiology is the most sought after. I had heard that Neuro is always a hot property, and inquired about the same. It was only then that I came to know that after 3 years of MD, one needs to study 2 more years of MCh of neurology to become a neuro-surgeon. In my stream of architecture, one easily gets a PG, of interiors or planning, and can be called a specialized. Hardly have I seen any practising architect doing a PhD. You achieve that in easy 7 years. But here the case is different. 5.5 + 3 + 2 = 10.5 years, to what one really have in mind, may be a neuro-surgeon. That too if everything goes well; one needs to crack every test in first attempt, and opts not to do any job in between. Even then one ends up at an age of 28 to become a neuro-surgeon. Hailing from a middle-class family, I could never imagine studying for more than 10 years without supporting my family. Phew ! I described how many keralites opted for nursing, and got a job in 3 years. Then came the point of frustration. Sachin as a govt medical officer is being paid abt 32k per month. A nurse, fresh from graduation gets a salary of 22k per month ! WTF ?! A difference of 10k for the difference of such effort ? He then commented on the 25 year old system that India medical education system is following. Tell me that ! We are still studying as per the 1972 Architects Act, still living among brick, cement and wood work; haven’t yet graduated to steel structures.

They were going to attend their friends marriage at thrissur. Their friend, Shyam had been recruited to US, and seems like the family have little faith in him, making sure that he has a malayali wife. I asked how he ended up in US. One got to give 2 tests, and then need to attend one of the hospitals in US as a junior doctor. The hospital authorities recruits immediately via something named PreMax, or you get listed ( few terms flew past my ears ). Shyam had poor marks in tests, but performed well at US. Fortunately he came in contact with the director of the hospital and was recruited immediately. Why didn’t Sachin opt for such an option ? the whole procedure is very expensive. The application for each test cost your around 50k each. Then about a lakh or so for the coaching and study materials. You need to stay at US for 2-3 months. One has to bear the expenses on their own. That would cost couple of lakhs. In total 4-5 lakhs have to be spent. Man, life isn’t so easy I thought it is.

The govt offered a post graduation programme for the ones who had a minimum of three years of experience in govt service. Sachin is attempting to do so. I then described my experience at SMS hospital. The hospital was dirty, though the hospital authorities took all efforts to keep then clean, but the public had other ideas. The general ward was in such state that any healthy person to tread upon would soon be admitted there. It was symbolic of state of affairs of govt hospitals across the length of the country. The hospital employed residential doctors who served 24X7. They were provided with a room, to stay in the hospital. I encountered Dr. Amarnath, one such residential doctor at SMS. Sachin shared the experiences of his friends. One of is friends was diagnosed with TB. He was treated well. But the govt provided no medical insurance, and the guy had to bear all the expenses on his own. Another lady doctor friend wasn’t so lucky. She was serving in one such govt hospital, with the govt providing no medical insurance. She was also diagnosed with TB. She took medication. Unfortunately, there were adverse affects, and her liver was badly affected. She had to undergo kidney transplantation. Life expectancy of kidney transplantation is 5 years ! After all these years of effort and service, this was what life awarded her !

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