Death and Rebirth

We die momentarily 

When dear ones depart us
But we are reborn 
with their energies 
transferred to us
and may be 
they live in us, 
through us
Provided 
we are worthy 
of being the carrier of 
"their" lives..
for what
they stood 
in their lives,
the values they fought for
the virtues which they cultivated ...

Butterflies...(Lemon pancy)

To catch butterflies in camera is a bit challenging especially because of their random movements which in one way could be one of their strategies to evade from their predators.. This Lemon pancy was spotted in the Regional Institute of Education, Mysore near the Godavari Guest House on the 8th of August 2015 when I had been there for a workshop for teachers..

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junonia_lemonias

Junonia lemonias, the lemon pansy, is a common nymphalid butterfly found in South. It is found in gardens, fallow land, and open wooded areas. The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies with about 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies; because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up;

It is brown with numerous eye-spots as well as black and lemon-yellow spots and lines on the upperside of the wings. The underside is a dull brown, with a number of wavy lines and spots in varying shades of brown and black. There is also an eyespot on the lower side of the forewing. The wet and dry season forms differ considerably in coloration and even shape. In the wet season form the markings are distinct and vivid and the wing shape is a little more rounded. In the dry season form the markings are obscure and pale especially on the underside and the wing margin is more angular and jagged. This helps it camouflage in the dried leaf-litter. The lemon pansy is a very active butterfly and can be seen basking with its wings open facing the sun. It sits very low to the ground and can be approached easily. It feeds with its wings half open. It is a fairly strong flier and flies close to the ground with rapid wing beats and often returns to settle back in the same spots.

Kukkarahalli Lake, Mysore, Karnataka

During my recent trip to Mysore in association with a Training Programme for teachers held at the Regional Institute of Education, Mysore, one of the morning, myself along with two of my friends visited the nearby Kukkarahalli Lake located adjacent to the University of Mysore. A wonderful place well kept and not disturbed much, I could see scores of people walking along the beautiful tracks on the side of the lake. This is also an excellent bird watching site. I had a few snaps taken just before the sun rise and also some views of the lake.

More information regarding this beautiful lake can be had from the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukkarahalli_lake. From wikipedia: It provides lung-space to the city. Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, (1794–1868) of the Mysore Dynasty (Kingdom of Mysore) was responsible for getting the lake created, in the year 1864, to provide water for irrigation to about 4000 ha (10,000 acres) of land outside the city.[2] The Lake also used to be a source of water supply to the city of Mysore but over the years, sewage and excessive land encroachments (mostly illegal) and blockage of water flow sources almost led to the eutrophication of the lake. The University of Mysore and the citizen forums of Mysore continue to make efforts to preserve the lake by implementing several remedial measures. 

But my friend from Mysore says that there are new efforts to destroy this lake by having huge large scale constructions around this lake (by the University of Mysore) and which is being opposed by the citizens of Mysore. 

If people of higher learning institutions like the University of Mysore do not understand the importance of such beautiful natural systems, and those who should protect and improve the health of these systems, they themselves start destroying the systems, then what values these institutions will transfer to the young generation? 

The B&W beauty..

A bit colourful background for the black and white friend!
At Kalanjiyam, Bahour, Pondicherry.

A beautiful visitor

It flutters and flops

Lingering over the flowers

Visiting all the flowers

Silently chatting

Or humming 

A friendly tune?

This beautiful visitor!

Kerala , the land of coconuts!

I had been to Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram as it is now called and which is also the original name of the city in connection with a meeting. The journey from Pondicherry to Trivandrum took about 15 hours by bus and after the meeting which was about 5 to 6 hours, returned the same day which was another 12-13 hours by bus again... all by road... The meeting was held in Mitraniketan a well known organization in Thiruvananthapuram whose campus is so green and refreshing..

In between the meeting this bunch of golden coloured coconuts drew my attention.. And Kerala is known by this tree's name : Kera meaning coconuts...

Faces of the River

Faces of the River..

Oh Dear River

How many faces do you have?

The pleasant calm face

With the undulating waves

The happy face

with the life thriving inside you?

The playful face with the Kids

Swimming in the river?

The vibrant face

During the downpour?

The kind face 

Blessing the dark thin fishermen?

Or 

The sad face 

With the dark effluents let in to you

By the greedy industries?

Or the pale face

With your inflows being reduced 

due to the catchments 

being encroached 

by the real estate mafia?

Or the angry face

With the dirty politicians and thieves

Who plunder your sand 

And destroy not only you

But the livelihoods

of the poor farmers and 

the water resources of the people?

Oh Dear River

How many faces do you have? 

Don't be angry with us humans

because we don't care for anybody

We live only today

and we don't care for tomorrow

nor do we care about

our children of tomorrow.

We are the only inhuman species 

On this earth and we wrongly

Call ourselves 

As Humane beings..

Green Killing Fields..

Green

Refreshing

Maturing to become

Grains that will feed us

WIth the sweat of the farmer

WIth the tears of the widows and daughters

WIth the sorrow of the indebted ..

WIth the curse of the deprived & deprived..

We don't see the stories behind the scene

We relish the fancy recipes of the Master Chefs

Of fragrant rice, golden rice and the slim and slender grains

We forget the dark, thin, slender bodies who make it for us...

The morning after the Night's Rain

                                                                  A Cool Morning
                                                                After a Night's Rain
                                                        Sun Still Hesitating to Wake up
                                                          From the Blankets of Clouds

even when the sun is lazy

how can others

get up?

Ipomoea Carnea

Ipomoea carnea, the pink morning glory, is a flowering plant having beautiful flowers and heart-shaped leaves that are a rich green and 6–9 inches long. It can be easily grown from seeds which are toxic and it can be hazardous to cattle; the toxicity is related to the bioaccumulation of selenium species in leaves but mostly in seeds.

Since not eaten by cattle, they grow wild in Tamilnadu (called locally Neyveli Kattaamanakku) and has acquired the status of a weed especially in water bodies and lot of wasteful expenditure has been done in the past in controlling this plant from water bodies and channels.  There are some farmers who use the leaf decoction as a bio pesticide or pest repellant. One can also make good quality liquid manure or compost using these leaves and thus the problem of this plant as weed can be effectively converted into an opportunity as the leaves are also rich in Nitrogen..

Anyhow, this plant has lot of medicinal values though readers are advised against self-medication of any sorts. It contains a component identical to marsilin, a sedative and anticonvulsant, .A glycosidic saponin has also been purified from I. carnea with ant carcinogenic and oxytoxic properties.

Interestingly, the garland makers use the leaves of these plants and they collect the leaves from road sides and water bodies to fill the gaps between the flowers as it gives a good contrasting green colour to the flower garlands. 

(Information from From : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_carnea)

The Mirror

The Mirror

What we see in the mirror
Is a virtual Image
Out there for us to explore.

But do we always get to 
See the real world ?

Or are we always
After the reflections ..
And not the real?

The Village Home..

Sweet is the village home

With the overhanging trees 

With the open well on the east

With the kitchen adjacent to the well..

The coconut trees giving shade 

The Jack fruit and the mango trees

Decorating the land beside

The peacocks roosting on the trees

The red Mangalore tiles

Giving protection from the sun and the rain

The green chillies and the bananas 

The drumstick tree and the climbers

Ginger and Curry leaf tree

The Coccinia and the Turkey berry

Plants and climbers

Giving all the vegetables in-house

The long verandahs 

The corridors

The wooden stairs

The large dining hall

It is not just a home 

But a life itself

With nostalgic memories

Which will never die at all...

The house that has seen 

Various happy moments

Various sad events

Which has seen birth and death

It is not just a home

But a life itself

With nostalgic memories

Which will never die at all.....

(Photo: Pallippadam, Kerala)

The fisherman and his boat

Patiently he untangles the net
Standing calmly
Brazing the breeze
On the dancing boat
With an oar on its side
Which is cooled by the
Waters of the river..

The sun will set in an hour or so
And he has to finish his catch
Before the dusk
And back to his hut
Where his wife will be
Waiting eagerly
To make the dinner
With the fresh catch

Another day
Another catch
The river but
Remains the same
Greeting the fishermen
Who roam the river
With their boats
....
....

Victor Simonel St, White Town Puducherry

Victor Simonel Street, White Town, Puducherry: This is a beautiful as well as important street which has major structures and institutions. The Pondicherry Assembly building, General Hospital, the St.John's Church, the Lycee Francais, the old MLA Hostel, the Office of the Chief Engineer, PWD all are located on this street. It starts from the Bussy Street on the South and extends and joins the Rangapillai Street with the Bharathi Park on the eastern side.

Google Map of Vicor Simonel Street

St John's Church, Puducherry

I was at the CSI Hall of the St.John's Church located near the General Hospital, Puducherry today evening as part of a science communication programme debunking the so called Mid Brain Activation Training Programmes. The programme had the illustrious science communicator, Prof.Narendra Nayak attending.  As I was attending the programme I noticed the beautiful architecture of this church which resulted in a few photographs. Of course, it was getting dark, but still could manage a few clips. 

Cassia Fistula.. .. Golden shower tree

In Nazarethpet, Poonamalee, Chennai..(on 7th June 2015).
Leaves, flowers, seeds - all are a feast to the eyes..
These flowers are also identified with the Kerala New Year Vishu..