Saluting unparalleled bravery in the face of heavy odds, the government announced the nation's highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Ashok Chakra, would be awarded to captian R Harshan, who laid down his life when fighting with militants in the Kashmir Valley.
The Ashok Chakra is the peace-time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and is awarded for conspicuous valor, courageous action or supreme self sacrifice away from the battlefield.
And I am proud to have known him as my classmate and friend for seven years at School.
Harshan's supreme sacrifice has been recognized by the govt.
Any award would never replace him for his family and friends.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Sunset
We have all heard the chirping of birds early in the Morning or late in the Evening. That makes an ideal time to praise the nature which truly is beautiful.
And I am fortunate to have captured these breathtaking snaps. Of course there weren't any birds to capture while I was myself flying at a speed of 900 km/hour and at about 12,000 meters above sea-level.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Singapore
The photo on the left is the Geoje -Busan ferry. This time the ferry Engine didn't fail and neither did the pretty lady across the Korean Air counter at Busan Airport had a sorry face. Was at Incheon well in time and the Singapore flight was in time too.
On the right is Mr. John, my Agent in Singapore holding the placard with my Name. This is how I got to identify him at the Airport. And although I spotted my name soon after crossing the Immigration, I deliberately took time to take out my camera and have this scene snapped from quite some distance using my 6X optical zoom Canon.
My room in the 26th floor of the Holiday Inn Atrium facing the Singapore river, city skyline and sea did have that spectacular look that made me write a wonderful poem on a piece of paper. But alas that piece of paper is still in the hotel table drawer.
Following are few snaps of Singapore skyline.
On the right snap we can see the narrow Singapore river passing across the city centre.
Singapore is definitely a diverse city. But what makes me love that place is the good climate round the year, availability of Indian food and stuff, usage of Indian Language and so many Indians around.
When I was at the "Little India" area with Mr. Pushkar Gopal and his Colleague, it was hard for me to believe that I am at Singapore. Having Dosa, Idli and Vada listening to the tunes of latest Indian song was sufficient enough for me to get the warm culture of Singapore.
Chinese form over 80% of Singaporeans, then Indians around 8 - 10% officially and the remaining from all other countries put together.
Spoke and met few friends who are settled at Singapore. Apr 21- 28 I had been at Singapore on a business trip. Work required me to be fully engaged even on the only Sunday I had in between. It was all work and no play.
Top photo is that of the Little India subway station. Singapore projects this place as "India" to the visitors to that place. And it truly is India. A visit there is equivalent to a visit to an Indian town.
On the right is the view inside a Hindu Temple in Singapore. Here is a small country having tolerance to all religions and in the meantime projecting a global image. A truly cosmopolitan Singapore.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
opportunity
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Vishu
Today is vishu.
New year is celebrated across the world in one form or the other.
Some follow the Lunar Calender while some other Solar calender and the remaining follow the Gregorian Calender.
World doesn't know much about Vishu. What is Vishu?
It is Malayalam New Year celebrated in kerala, a southern state of India. Malayalam being official language of the state of Kerala, marks this festival as secular in nature. In Assam today they celebrate this day as Bihu, and in Punjab as Baisakhi. There is no fan fare or big celebrations associated with this day.
Vishu is celebrated on first day of Malayalam month Medam. It is celebrated as the Astronomical new year day because as per ancient Indian calculations today is the equinox day when the sun crosses the plane of earth's equator. On this day the Malayalis try to see the "vishukani" to begin the new year with good fortune. Children and adults alike wear new pair of dress or the best they have.
Vishukani: " In circular bell-metal vessel known as 'Urule' some raw rice is put and over it a folded newly washed cloth is spread. A golden coloured cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowers of Konna tree (cassia fistula), a Grandha (book of palm leaves) and a few gold coins are then placed over the cloth in the vessel arranged in a decorative fashion. Two coconut halves containing oil and lighted wicks are also placed in the vessel which illuminate the articles inside it. A bell-metal lamp filled with coconut oil is kept burning by the side of the vessel."
On this day the elders give some kaineetom to younger members in the family to have a prosperous new year. After this the children start the fire crackers. Then the whole family have a sumptuous lunch on banana leaves.
New year is celebrated across the world in one form or the other.
Some follow the Lunar Calender while some other Solar calender and the remaining follow the Gregorian Calender.
World doesn't know much about Vishu. What is Vishu?
It is Malayalam New Year celebrated in kerala, a southern state of India. Malayalam being official language of the state of Kerala, marks this festival as secular in nature. In Assam today they celebrate this day as Bihu, and in Punjab as Baisakhi. There is no fan fare or big celebrations associated with this day.
Vishu is celebrated on first day of Malayalam month Medam. It is celebrated as the Astronomical new year day because as per ancient Indian calculations today is the equinox day when the sun crosses the plane of earth's equator. On this day the Malayalis try to see the "vishukani" to begin the new year with good fortune. Children and adults alike wear new pair of dress or the best they have.
Vishukani: " In circular bell-metal vessel known as 'Urule' some raw rice is put and over it a folded newly washed cloth is spread. A golden coloured cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowers of Konna tree (cassia fistula), a Grandha (book of palm leaves) and a few gold coins are then placed over the cloth in the vessel arranged in a decorative fashion. Two coconut halves containing oil and lighted wicks are also placed in the vessel which illuminate the articles inside it. A bell-metal lamp filled with coconut oil is kept burning by the side of the vessel."
On this day the elders give some kaineetom to younger members in the family to have a prosperous new year. After this the children start the fire crackers. Then the whole family have a sumptuous lunch on banana leaves.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Trip to Hongkong
The ferry terminal card my colleague Yoon gave me at 9pm yesterday had shown the timing of the ferry from Geoje Island to Busan as 8:30AM in the morning. Then only I can reach at the Gimhae airport for the domestic flight to Seoul. Had some urgent work on some last minute work given by Sr. Manager on something quite important to the company for which I had to be at office all alone till past 11pm at office. Then packed off the documents along with the
laptop, reaching room. Ironed the clothes, loaded my Canon with new batteries and four sets of spare batteries for catching the shots at Hongkong.
I was glad to have reached boat ferry by 8am today, and it felt good to see the majestic ferry ready to roar. Upon enquiry at booking counter, they told that due to some Engine related fault, the ferry is cancelled. Fortunately Ramkumar Sr, had come to drop me till the ferry so he took me straight to the Geoje bus station to catch the bus to Pusan. I had four hours and I knew I will make it till pusan before the flight departure. Took the bus to Tongyong, from there took the bus to Pusan. Road block, added with heavy rains and fog, we could see cars lined up like ants on a sweet floor. Reached Pusan bus terminal by about 11am, and with the company of a fast car driver, he took me to the Gimhae airport by 11:30am in spite of the heavy traffic. Great time, I thought. Upon seeing the Airport passengers, I felt something's wrong. And when I enquired with the Korean Air counter, the pretty lady across the counter gave me shock by telling all flights cancelled till further notice. I asked how come, Busan airport is an international Airport and you would be having the facility to fly in spite of hostile weather conditions. Otherwise why would I have cancelled the initial booking from Sacheon Airport to Seoul, I questioned silently. That I will miss my connecting flight from Incheon was definite. Then I got my Cathy pacific flight from Incheon to Hongkong postponed to 8pm at Night.
And now I write this while travelling in Korea's fastest Train - the KTX. It's my first time on train in Korea, and given the fact that I had my childhood dream to become a train driver, it is a wonderful feast to explore Korea through rail and that too at a speed that it must be named the shatabdi express, had the Koreans knew Hindi. The KTX is not on a broad gauge. I observed the lines and it is same as the Indian Metre gauge. Signalling system, construction methods,etc are almost same, however the coaches are much better and ofcourse they have to be coz of the extreme climate conditions here in Korea. There was an onboard TV displaying the speed taken by Train and it felt great to see the speed as 290km/hr. Upon enquiry with the cabin attendant, heard the train takes upto 320km/hour speed at times. The onboard TV Screen says, Seoul station is arriving soon, and I think I will take a break.
The above mentioned entry was written on Mar 31st, and today is April 6.
Reached Hongkong at 11pm on Mar 31st and the Client Agent was there with a sign board with my name. It has never happened before, so I felt good. Booking was done at Kowloon Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hongkong. Was busy with technical discussions with the client and managing / coordinating the work done by subcontractors / equipment suppliers.Didn't realize that the first two days of April got exhausted so fast, and I hardly got any time to roam the city.
Travelled in the excellent MRT Subway system and took a ride in the cable car to Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong and visited the biggest bronze Buddha in the World.
Saw the world's longest rail and road suspension bridge connecting Lantau Island with main land China. Went to the "Avenue of Stars" to look at the majestic Hongkong city and capture it in camera. Cancelled the plan to go to the "victoria peak" due to bad weather condition.
Left Hongkong on April 3rd and reached Geoje Island,Korea same day at night.
laptop, reaching room. Ironed the clothes, loaded my Canon with new batteries and four sets of spare batteries for catching the shots at Hongkong.
I was glad to have reached boat ferry by 8am today, and it felt good to see the majestic ferry ready to roar. Upon enquiry at booking counter, they told that due to some Engine related fault, the ferry is cancelled. Fortunately Ramkumar Sr, had come to drop me till the ferry so he took me straight to the Geoje bus station to catch the bus to Pusan. I had four hours and I knew I will make it till pusan before the flight departure. Took the bus to Tongyong, from there took the bus to Pusan. Road block, added with heavy rains and fog, we could see cars lined up like ants on a sweet floor. Reached Pusan bus terminal by about 11am, and with the company of a fast car driver, he took me to the Gimhae airport by 11:30am in spite of the heavy traffic. Great time, I thought. Upon seeing the Airport passengers, I felt something's wrong. And when I enquired with the Korean Air counter, the pretty lady across the counter gave me shock by telling all flights cancelled till further notice. I asked how come, Busan airport is an international Airport and you would be having the facility to fly in spite of hostile weather conditions. Otherwise why would I have cancelled the initial booking from Sacheon Airport to Seoul, I questioned silently. That I will miss my connecting flight from Incheon was definite. Then I got my Cathy pacific flight from Incheon to Hongkong postponed to 8pm at Night.
And now I write this while travelling in Korea's fastest Train - the KTX. It's my first time on train in Korea, and given the fact that I had my childhood dream to become a train driver, it is a wonderful feast to explore Korea through rail and that too at a speed that it must be named the shatabdi express, had the Koreans knew Hindi. The KTX is not on a broad gauge. I observed the lines and it is same as the Indian Metre gauge. Signalling system, construction methods,etc are almost same, however the coaches are much better and ofcourse they have to be coz of the extreme climate conditions here in Korea. There was an onboard TV displaying the speed taken by Train and it felt great to see the speed as 290km/hr. Upon enquiry with the cabin attendant, heard the train takes upto 320km/hour speed at times. The onboard TV Screen says, Seoul station is arriving soon, and I think I will take a break.
The above mentioned entry was written on Mar 31st, and today is April 6.
Reached Hongkong at 11pm on Mar 31st and the Client Agent was there with a sign board with my name. It has never happened before, so I felt good. Booking was done at Kowloon Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hongkong. Was busy with technical discussions with the client and managing / coordinating the work done by subcontractors / equipment suppliers.Didn't realize that the first two days of April got exhausted so fast, and I hardly got any time to roam the city.
Travelled in the excellent MRT Subway system and took a ride in the cable car to Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong and visited the biggest bronze Buddha in the World.
Saw the world's longest rail and road suspension bridge connecting Lantau Island with main land China. Went to the "Avenue of Stars" to look at the majestic Hongkong city and capture it in camera. Cancelled the plan to go to the "victoria peak" due to bad weather condition.
Left Hongkong on April 3rd and reached Geoje Island,Korea same day at night.
East and west blend, Hongkong
Hong Kong, perhaps I heard it for the first time while watching some Bruce-Lee or Jackie Chan movies. South East Asian region boasts of few top cities in the world. The east have always been in harmony with India unlike the western regions. Whether the US at present; and British in the past, the western forces have always tried to gain mileage and interfere with India's interests.
Unlike the west, the East Asian people are more hard working and peace loving human beings. For centuries the South East Asian region was hidden to the western world due to the presence of the majestic India and today Hongkong sits pretty as a contrast to the western and Eastern world. A blend of both.
Now it is time for the Asian region to gain momentum and progress ahead at much faster pace.
Asia is already replacing the west as technology leaders in all conceivable industries. But what the East is looking for is the right leader to lead and here the role of India comes. India has to fasten the belts and keep pace with big neighbour China and small developed countries like Japan,Korea, Singapore and support and augment developing areas like Malaysia and Indonesia. India has the potential and it is we Indians who have to lead the region.
Unlike the west, the East Asian people are more hard working and peace loving human beings. For centuries the South East Asian region was hidden to the western world due to the presence of the majestic India and today Hongkong sits pretty as a contrast to the western and Eastern world. A blend of both.
Now it is time for the Asian region to gain momentum and progress ahead at much faster pace.
Asia is already replacing the west as technology leaders in all conceivable industries. But what the East is looking for is the right leader to lead and here the role of India comes. India has to fasten the belts and keep pace with big neighbour China and small developed countries like Japan,Korea, Singapore and support and augment developing areas like Malaysia and Indonesia. India has the potential and it is we Indians who have to lead the region.
