tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81783885175817489192024-02-02T05:57:23.655-08:00My experiments on the HighwayMy thoughts about life in general which occur to me on my long runs.Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-37589977317896219242017-10-27T02:57:00.002-07:002017-10-27T22:35:56.112-07:00Journey of a Thousand miles…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">When the Hubli Passenger took off the top tied around waist at the finish point outside Railway Officers Quarters at Nungambakkam, a milestone, to be precise, 1000<sup>th</sup> mile since 8<sup>th</sup> September had been clocked uninterrupted. There is another reason to recognize this as this unbroken trend is to end after tomorrow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">My worthy seniors in the service want to prove the adage, ‘An old dog cannot be taught new tricks’, on its head. I am being sent for a week to Trump_land. To say that I have a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach and am pensive would not be far from truth as the rendezvous is at CMU, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The biggest concern is losing the freedom to run topless in the middle of the road in Namma Chennai, I am sure the weather and sensibilities of my hosts would not permit this liberty. To get bound by shoes and embrace dri-fit gear for the joy of running would be sacrilege to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I have decided to prove my wife wrong in her thinking that I am a hardcore addict to running by abstaining from running till get back to India on 5<sup>th</sup> night. Please pass the word around the Hubli passenger would be off Chennai roads from this coming Sunday to the next. I shall make do with longer sessions of spinning on my charkha (hope it passes through the security check in US!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Next major worry in the order of preference after running is food, would I be able to remain Vegan? Having put a stop to calorie guzzling running, guess I could experiment on a frugivorous diet for the duration in US of A!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In the last fifty days of running two articles, one in English and one in the vernacular press, about my running has increased the acceptance of people around to my, till now considered a little unorthodox to say the least, morning ritual of running 32K. Media’s great power was brought home to me recently. When I reached the US consulate for the Visa interview and was told that mobiles were not allowed I did not know where to keep it. An auto driver agreed to hold it for me for Rs. 500/- and when I said it was not worth Rs. 500/-, he asked me to go to the nearby Tea stall where the going rate was Rs. 200/-, even this was not acceptable to me. I approached a policeman who took me to his boss, he not only offered to hold my phone for me, but, also said to my pleasant surprise that he had seen me running regularly and he had read the article about me in the vernacular the previous Sunday and knows that I still keep a push button conventional phone. It pays to be in the News!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I am planning to relish my run every step of the way tomorrow knowing that I have to be off running for the next 8 days, it would be like starting at square one of the Snake and Ladder game when my pedometer will start with KM0 on 6<sup>th</sup> November morning again! So wish me Bon Voyage!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-47140677411617095832017-10-08T22:05:00.000-07:002017-10-08T22:05:09.510-07:00Attempting a Mini-Sameerathon- a milestone today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">Today when I passed by the Lord
Venkateswara temple on the Beach road in my first loop at around 4:30 AM, I said a silent prayer.
For one having decided to not keep a count of mileage, it was a milestone
requiring acknowledgement. It was 8KM into my run today, the 32<sup>nd</sup> day
running totaling to a 1000KM uninterrupted. I know after what Sameer Singh, the
faith runner, has done, all runners gloating about 10*21KM etc., has stopped.
He did the unthinkable of 100*100KM. After, reading about it, I made a pact
with myself. I would replace his 100K per day with a more manageable 32K and
instead of aiming for 100 days, I planned to go on as long as possible unbroken.
I compare it to Snooker where each visit/break is counted by the number of
points scored. My last attempt ended tantalizingly close to 1000K on the 29<sup>th</sup>
day. The idea is to continue uninterrupted the daily diet of 32K and silently
prepare for the 100K attempt after retirement, Insha-Allah, Knees willing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-27634066100651495642017-04-03T04:04:00.002-07:002017-04-03T04:04:53.958-07:00Hope for the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">Amma had the uncanny ability to
take anything her opposition did till her rise in politics to a whole new level
and she beat them hollow at it. The poster and cutout warfare was one such
activity. With her demise her opponents have slowly found voice and wall space
to express themselves. I was thinking of this and some more while trying to
read her eulogies (by trying to read tamil poster by putting together letters!)
at my usual biological break point opposite the US embassy. It was such a colossal
waste that she decided to take this path when she had the power to define
politics. Just a few hundreds of meters from that point I saw unfinished wall paintings
about man’s relation with nature and the need for saving trees with a theme ‘Hope
for the World’. It was ironical that this was being heralded from the boundary
walls of Stella Maris college, the alma mater of Late Ms. Jayalalitha! It was
as if they were atoning for their illustrious senior’s follies!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Since my last post and my splinter in
the foot episode, I have moved on. I thought about why I suffered the injury
after so many years of injury free barefoot running. The fault was in my trying
to hit out my way out of trouble, a.k.a. Virender Sehwag style when faced with
a splinter in the foot. The trick is to land softly and if anything pokes and
does not fall off by the next landing of the same foot, stop and examine. What
had compounded the problem was repeated pounding on the injured sole hoping to
beat it into submission. I have gone back to basics and now grind the
opposition Rahul Dravid style, ‘vinamrata se’! If you land mindfully and
softly, one could run over a bed of arrows too, I now believe Bhishma could
have lain on a bed of arrows by a similar technique!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As for my continuing battle with my
hobbled left knee, I see light at the end of the tunnel. By running daily, even
if with a very painful start, by keeping at it the swelling at the shin and the
place where knee meets the shin, it has got better. The trick I think is to be
patient and not be too hard on the injured part, coaxed gently it turns up for
the party and once warmed up, it really party’s hardest!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">While celebrating regularity and
punctuality Hubli passenger style, I have been seriously offended by an article
sounding very medical that running long distances is bad for the kidney. I know
that this has affected runners of all shades going by the number of posts
sharing this news. Serious addicts like your’s truly will never get dissuaded
by such dirty tricks, but, there is a nagging fear that this could be picked up
by our better halves to discredit running in general. While the country is
investigating foreign NGO’s, we must also investigate the source and motivation
of this study, I fear it must be the handiwork of distressed spouses affected
by the long runs! We runners do pull down obese people and couch potatoes by
calling their liver and hearts names, but, going for the kidney in retaliation
is literally hitting below the belt! Coming as it does when the weather Gods
have been conspiring to deliver the knockout punch to the Chennai runners, the
timing could not have been worse! Going by the ever increasing runners on the
Chennai roads in the mornings defying such studies and the adverse weather, we
are sure made of sterner stuff!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Romeos are not having an easy time,
Our neighbor in Delhi had a pet by that name and the ailing Labrador (about the
same age as Biscuit!) lost the battle to the dreaded disease Cancer and moved
on. I am sure he can live up to his name in the other world. Meanwhile a crow
couple (normally one sees a group of them aptly called Murder!) has taken
residence at the tree next to Couum river near Napier bridge. Going by the
unfamiliar and incessant chatter the couple keeps up, they sure seem to have
moved from the persecutions of Yogiland! South has long been a safe haven to persecuted
people.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Last but not the least, your’s
truly crossed one more year of running and being of the age when every passing
year reminds one of slog overs with asking rate going up all the time, the
greetings (does anyone know how to turn off the birthday in the facebook
profile!) only exasperated the feeling. I did what I know best, another 32K of
the sweatiest. Thank god for small mercies when runners can indulge in this
age-defying exercise and forget the inexorable march of time!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-85905756835480918172017-03-06T04:17:00.002-08:002017-03-06T04:17:36.468-08:00Ek Chota Sa Machchar…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="1pqpe-0-0">Barefoot running has its downsides; Just when I was thinking I had perfected the art of watching my steps and skimming the surface, a sharp prick on the sole of my right foot nearing the end of my run a few days back jolted me. I hobbled a few steps over the glass shard strewn area, responded by grazing the sole lightly over the road surface after reaching cleaner part of the road. All was not well was clear when the pricking sensation only got worse and I could somehow reach home by favouring the unaffected part of the foot. My hobbling around the house could not get past the eagle eyes of my wife and I confessed to a lesser crime of having hit my toe against a stone. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9nd0-0-0">One thing barefooters would tell you is running barefoot on Indian roads is considered an adventure sport and hence not covered by insurance and against Doctor’s advice. As luck would have it, I had a busy day and could find no privacy to lick and probe my wounded foot during the day. To rub salt into the pregnant foot a few acquaintances who met in office asked if it does not hurt to run barefoot! By end of the day the foot had got painful and I was finding it difficult to put weight on my right foot (observant readers would have noted that the right leg was in serious trouble with a wounded sole joining a weak knee!). Biscuit also was at his playful best during the evening walk sending shooting pains up my leg when I landed on the affected part. My previous experience with thorns or shards in the foot has been that the culprit when tracked down and exposed looks very small and helpless. I could fully relate to Nana Patekar’s famous dialogue which I made the topic of this episode, only the humble intruder in my sole is the villain in place of the mosquito in my case!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="795j-0-0">I was able to probe the vicinity of the intrusion with a pin over the next two days, the last being a Saturday to boot, needless to say I could not run for two days. I finally succeeded in neutralizing the intruder by Saturday afternoon. The effect of constant probing had left the vicinity of the crime badly mauled. The joy of being able to land the weight, even if gingerly initially, on the Sunday morning run was plain ecstasy. The escape from the accusing eyes of the wife and probable sermon from the Doctor was by no means any less cause for celebration.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="35qh7-0-0">My brother who has recently been trapped by the running bug has been seriously infected with my Sister-in-Law complaining to my Doctor brother that he has started getting up at ungodly hours and running for hours. I was telling my brother that we must add another category of widows to the existing Bridge and Golf variety, the running widows, Only this sport is more gender-neutral and the affected party could be of either gender. My Sister-in-Law must be ruing the day she complained about his sedentary lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ct3uf-0-0">Talking of running being patronized by both genders, a recent article by a woman runner pouring out her angst on the atrocities people commit on the fairer sex who come out to run. I was telling my daughter of the article and I was shocked to hear her experiences both in Gym and on the roads. It was really courageous of the lady in telling all and I started to look upon runners of the opposite sex with a new respect from then on. The girls talking out about the violence on the DU campus swelled my heart with pride. Here I was pussyfooting about making political comments on poster war on in the State fearing reprisal. Time to redefine the weaker sex!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-16366432069976348962017-03-01T04:28:00.002-08:002017-03-01T04:28:27.708-08:00Are Zeros significant?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">The story in the weekend edition of Metroplus of a
corporate executive throwing his job for a career in making and dispensing curries
and his salary going from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 8,000 made me think during my run
today. He goes on to say that he finds more time to read books and the joy of
feeding people for a job is satisfying. That the descendants of the people who
invented the Zero and its significance one day realizing the probable
insignificance of the same to the quality of life is surely ironical to say the
least.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I am usually fascinated by a mad man who is normally
found performing a dervish like dance i.e., whirling ( made famous by Hrithik’s
Khwaja Mere Khwaja number!) to the accompaniment of loud peals of laughter on
the iconic Kamrajar Salai not far from the power center of the TN government.
Today he was challenging me to match his state of undress. He matched my
toplessness of attire by going bottomless, but, the long shirt kept him from testing
the bounds of decency. I was surprised to find him on Egmore suburban station
where I get down for work. He was performing his trademark whirl perilously
close to the suburban train. Now fully dressed, I could not relate to his
madness. He seemed to be mocking me and asking me if I could match the passion
in my morning run with my daily grind in the office!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Time to close shop, but, could not keep these thoughts
continuing to crowd me in my tomorrow’s
run!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-6965162824958205372017-02-27T04:17:00.004-08:002017-02-27T04:17:57.563-08:00Biscuit has a new leash of life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">Having chewed up the life out of his old leash (to be
fair to Biscuit, my going on nine Labrador pet, has stopped feasting on his
leash for some years now!), but, trusting him to behave his age he was gifted a
pretty red coloured leash. He did not
mind the age of his instrument of bondage, but, we hated to be seen with a
decrepit leash. Biscuit sure looks smart in with the new leash! He needs all
the smartness what with the new Pomeranian (I call it the Snowhite till they
get formally introduced!) having moved into the next block. Biscuit insists on
a round of our block after his customary stroll in the other colony complete
with MukkaLaat with Tiggy. The female (I hope!) of the species has been showing
interest in him by peeping out from the third floor balcony at the appointed
time every day, it looks like a scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet’.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Biscuit continues to limp on his right foreleg as if
in sympathy with the pain in my right knee. We have both actively been practicing
the ignore therapy for our issues with our legs. I made the concession of
mentioning my problem to my Doctor Brother during my recent visit to Pune. He
being a runner more than a Doctor was the only one I trusted who would not ask
me to stop running. The fact that the pain goes away after a few kilometers
into the run and the pain becoming bearable in time for the next day’s start
means things are under control. Don’t we runners believe that what does not
kill makes one stronger!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Talking of running in our family, my youngest brother
(the Doctor above referred) and yours truly are well into running and the two
siblings (a brother and sister in between) feel left out when we lapse into
runners lingo. They have started to feel left out and that ‘Sweat is thicker
than Blood’. Not being able to beat us at it, they have decided to join us and
as a result we have the two enthusiastically posting their running exploits
every day. We are looking forward to an extended run when the family meets! Not
only families even the corporate leaders, be it the Facebook boss or our very
own anointed to the Tata Sons, have shown that business is best sealed over bonds
of sweat and no longer with popping of Champagne bottles. This gives a whole new
meaning to the word ‘Sweat equity’!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Talking of sweat, I seem to have found the reason for
my canine friend couple jumping all over me enthusiastically near Marina
swimming pool could be for licking off sweat off me. Will test this theory
further by drying myself before reaching that spot and report. The weather gods
continue to be benevolent on residents and particularly runners of this city,
let us add miles before the Sun gets back with full vengeance!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-27910153384359393442017-01-24T02:57:00.002-08:002017-01-24T02:57:25.056-08:00The Republic of Marina<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US">The kids had demonstrated to
perfection the Gandhian method of peaceful protest. An ordinance legalizing the
sport of Jallikattu had been promulgated the previous night. When I started for
my run that day, my thoughts were similar to that of a Bull let out to face a
crowd of testosterone raged youngsters. I was not sure if endorphins were
enough motivation or I should have temporarily kept aside my Gandhian qualms
and had a few quick stiff ones!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The ‘Occupy Marina’ movement had
virtually relegated the police, politicians and reel heroes from their midst.
The youngsters had given a stellar example of how to implement Swatch Bharat,
the young man riding a Corporation garbage lorry proudly adorning the
protective gear made a lasting impact compared to all the celebrities ceremoniously
wielding the broom for the media cameras! The volunteers regulating traffic
without use of power or challans, but, just a cheery smile set the bar high for
their counterparts in white who have tarnished their profession by demanding
bribes not far from the War memorial! That the conventional politicians of all
hues were rattled was best seen in the way the leaders of a popular political denomination
trying to stop suburban trains were made to appear foolish by kids travelling
in the train with me. They asked the protesters how they would reach Marina if
the trains are stopped. The protesters beat a hasty retreat shamefacedly.
Clearly, the rules have been changed by the younger generation!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Most telling image was that the who’s
who of the state bureaucracy, who used to strut around pompously in the dress
rehearsal of Republic day, were relegated to a side road in the Army area this
year. The policemen who used to be brash with commoners were appearing suitably
humbled. In my last loop near RBI when one traffic policeman with sporting a
trademark paunch imitated my running, I took him on and said had he been more
genuine and regular in his copying of my running, he would be more healthy and
could get rid of his paunch. He had the final laugh when he said that I do not
seem to have conquered my temper despite Gandhian wear and regular exercise.
Guess, I was feeling emasculated by the crowd of youngsters shaming the entire
state machinery (not that anything could hurt more than the top civil servant
of the state having been caught with a stash of money recently!)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In my last loop near Napier bridge I
was stopped by a posse of determined policemen who absolutely refused entry to
me on to the Marina beach road. I tried Gandhi, then anger, but, to no avail. I
cursed them that may they be relegated further away from the public discourse
for their insensitive behavior to an old man for extending his run by four more
kilometers by asking him to take an unfamiliar and alternate route. Little did I
know that the young man in uniform was doing his duty and preventing me from
getting embroiled in the police protestor tussle on the Marina.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In my opinion the victory coming so
easily made the youngsters feel that that had bid low and could have asked for
more. Having won the ‘Right to Fight’ the bull, were they doubting their
ability and the bulls will to fight? My take is that we as elders have failed
to define virility and manhood to this generation of Pokemon chasers that they
had to go as far as Sangam literature to resurrect Bull taming. My prescription
would be taking to running to woo a girl as well as staying as a united family!</span></div>
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in all let us celebrate the youngsters at Marina for validating Gandhian
methods, even if for a doubtful cause, hoping that they would come back with
worthier causes. If nothing else, I am sure it would give pride in work to the
many sanitary workers, humility to the police and the powers that be! Long live
the Republic!</span></div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-25028978391664456012017-01-19T03:22:00.001-08:002017-01-19T03:22:03.184-08:00Taking the Bull by its horns!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">With the battle for the ‘Right to
Fight’ raging and the crowds of youngsters taking to my running arena these
last two days (and nights before I am told!), I have been riding the horns of dilemma.
Though the subject is hugely topical and emotional, the fact that the Bull for
whose well being and virility everyone seems to be speaking for, I wanted to
speak up for him. My interest in bovine matters is of recent origin, after I turned
Vegan and realized the withdrawal symptoms after voluntarily abstaining from the species
better halves nurturing offering. The crowds on the Marina beach are largely
peaceful and the interest of youngsters in matter agricultural is heartening.
Gandhiji with his head bowed would have appreciated their means of protest,
but, the ends seem suspect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The stated reason for the popular
uprising is defending our culture and virility (the Bull’s I meant!). With all
the emotion and heat surrounding the topic, I have not been able to understand
about how letting they play ‘Taming the bull’ for once a year would make the
vanishing breeds survive. The problem of dwindling native species of the male
kind is ominous in the days of the sperm banks and IVF even for the males of
the human kind! What chance does lesser mortals in the foreseeable future of
designer babies!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">On a serious note, the imported
breeds being preferred by dairy farmers, because of their much superior (even
if unhealthy(?)) yield, over native bulls is all too familiar like the hybrid
and GM seeds threatening the native seeds. The solution would be to work on the
growing awareness of superiority of things Órganic’! Governments and NGO’s
should support preservation of native breeds and sell the produce (even if
costlier on face value!) to discerning buyers. Animal husbandry department of
the government and enterprising and educated dairy farmers would be a key to
this. To promote local and native produce can be marketed as promoting
nationalism and patriotism (which is the flavor of the season!). The anger and
emotional energy aroused by the issue of ‘Jallikattu’ should be channelized to
sustain and nurture their interest in farmers and farming.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Only recently in the Hindu
Literature festival held over the previous weekend, the fact of largely docile
Indian public in the face of queuing for days for cash after demonetization was
suggested for a wider sociological study for what makes us Indians so docile,
sure enough, the empire struck back so bullishly vindicating their virility!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">As a result of the all night vigil
on my run route, I have had to reduce the number of loops on the Marina with
the longer part of the run being relegated to the Fort and military area. My
unusual dress or the lack of it, I feared, could be the proverbial read rag to
the bullied youth! I need not have worried, they gave me a rousing cheer when I
crossed them and I felt like in the home stretch of Mumbai marathon which I had
recently ducked in keeping with my abstention for commercial events!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Enough on the bulls, as I feel that
even if it is the steed of my namesake lord, which with their better halves
have hogged lot of footage even to the exclusion of matters concerning the human
beings. Biscuit (my aggrieved pet due to this partiality!) has not had his limp
on the right foreleg not being reported in the press. Then, there is the minor
issue of the pain in my right knee which threatens to break my routine runs. We
both have decided to soldier on even if limpingly and at the time of going to
press, we both are better!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Though I wanted to restrict this
post to matters Bullish, but, the chance encounter the day before cannot wait
for my next blog. I usually take my final (and a longish!) break near Gandhi
statue before my return trip. A man accosted me opposite the DGP’s office. He
asked me about my father and, without even waiting for a full reply, said that
he is the grandson of freedom fighter VOC! I know any amount of pride in my
grandfather’s accomplishment could have been no match for his lineage. I have
seen the movie on VOC and Sivaji’s proud visage in that role came alive to me. He
said he spoke seven languages and broke into a rousing song (I confessed that
my Tamil was only passable!). He had his right hand amputated from below the
elbow and he claimed to work as a security guard. The pride in his voice and
his sincere face told me that he could be telling the truth. I was reminded of
V Sriram, the Hindu columnist who writes about Madras Miscellany every week
about lesser known facts of the city, who spoke in the recently concluded
Litfest about the stellar ladies of Chennai of yore. I think if this reaches
him, he could test the authenticity of the man’s claim and we should help the
descendant of the freedom fighter, who staked his all for the country’s sake,
so that even if his genuineness is proved we could help him as he seems to be in
bad ways! There never is a dull day when I take to my run in the morning (a
creaky knee notwithstanding!) and with
such VIP acquaintances any furlough could be costly!</span></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-90698109210945062362017-01-08T23:30:00.000-08:002017-01-08T23:30:07.107-08:00The morning after<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I knew that the runner crowd at Marina
would resemble the scene of the Library at my college after the day of the
exam, yes I am referring to the Chennai Marathon which attracted a record number
of runners yesterday. The decision regarding whether to run on the day of the
marathon when major part of my route coincides with the marathon route was a
dicey one and if my station duty the previous night and the much maligned
punctuality of Indian Railways saved me from the dilemma.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">True to expectation the route today
was bereft of the trademark yellow Tees’, but, the usual walking crowd and an
awesome weather did not disappoint me. My puppy friends near the Marina swimming
pool who have been playing hide and seek in this New year kept faith with my
regularity and punctuality and gave me a rousing welcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The crowds continue to throng outside
the final resting place of the demised CM Amma even after more than a month
having passed since her death. I am tempted to take a break and visit her Samadhi,
but, I am hoping to get a private audience after the crowds subside. The entrepreneurial
spirit of the tea vendors has set up a few vends on cycle near the place. They
tried tempting me with their fare in the first few days, but, now they have now
switched to ribbing each other about running with me. Even though there have
been question marks over her means, but, the unabated crowds thronging her
resting place makes me rethink the Gandhian adage of means being as important
as the ends!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The other epochal event since I last
went to press was the ‘Note ban’. I have swung widely about whether it was good
or bad during the 50 day period it has played out. The crowds outside the ATM’s,
I cross during my run, have dwindled, but, whether it is lack of cash in the
ATM’s or the appetite of the public is not clear. The cyclone Varda did steal
the thunder from mundane matters like cash and flattened many trees in its path
as the trial by elements in month of December of this chosen city continued. The
devastation caused to the communication networks compounded the miseries of the
cashless people. The gnarled remains of trees still lying, with the civic
authorities running out of places of disposal, present a sad scene. The view
from my 5<sup>th</sup> floor balcony gives a clear view of the famed cake and apparel
joints across the road, the foliage thinned like the receding hairline of a
middle aged man.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Coming back to my morning run
today, the kids near the Monroe statue stopped me and asked if I participated
in the marathon run the previous day. I told them my usual answer that I do not
pay for what comes free! The usual crowd
of army runners and the kids on skates around the Island ground gave me the
feeling that it was Business as Usual!</span></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-15880566606714109642016-10-27T04:27:00.002-07:002016-10-27T04:27:11.870-07:00Of puppy love and other mundane matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">As a rule i am very faithful to
Biscuit and do not flirt, but, there is this cute puppy I cross every day near
the Marina swimming pool (where the kids train under coach Sharad!). This puppy
first started wooing me by running along for a little distance. Few days back
it progressed to cutely asking for a pat on his head. Yesterday he demanded
back rub and introduced his entire family to me. Since I started finding it
difficult to get away from them I ran on the road near the median from Anna
square police station itself to circumvent them. To my surprise and horror I found
this guy lying in wait for me near the median when I came for my second loop. I
had to escort him through the thick vehicular traffic to his family. Biscuit
even with his acute sense of smell has not been able to catch on to my
temporary infidelity. I must find a way of getting out of this affair before
the puppy gets hurt in traffic or Biscuit senses something!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Yesterday was my three weeks of continuous
running without a break and just when my mind had nearly succeeded in
convincing me that it was time to take a break, I saw this article about a guy
in USA who had run continuously for a period of 42 days and a distance of 70
miles every day. Though comparisons are odious, it is sobering to stay grounded
by seeing such posts!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Knee pain continues its low
intensity war, but, the good news is that it gets beaten into submission within
the first few kilometers into the run. I was propounding this theory to my young
runner friend Shreyas that the pains which start during the run and gets worse
progressively into the run are dangerous while the ones of my knee pain kind
must be strengthening the part each day. Interestingly, one of the regular
walkers stooped me a few days back and asked what he should do about his knee
pain which he gets when he tries running. I told him to run softly, mindfully and
without competing. I myself am still to conquer the last mentioned sin
completely and usually pay for getting tempted to compete particularly when the
challenger is of the fairer sex!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">People I meet in my morning runs
have different ways of showing that they are watching me regularly. Take this
trio on a scooter today who addressed me endearingly as Thata (Tamil for
Grandpa!, I am getting used to this appellation) and asked me for a selfie on
the TTK flyover. They were on the way to Beach after their night shift. Then
there is this group of old ladies who sit chatting under the MRTS flyover (I
call them the three witches of Macbeth!), one of them said you can hear the
4.30AM chime when this old man crosses this bridge (gladdening to hear Hubli
passenger’s punctuality!). A guy with a pony and a pillion pulled over as I had
just descended from the TTK flyover on my way back a few days back and asked me
why I was running late (I was on time give or take a quarter of an hour, but,
this is their way of claiming familiarity!). The icing on the cake was a loud
voice from one of a group of youngsters from under the portico of the building ‘Thata,
see you at 7 near RBI’, it was heartening even if at 7 AM Hubli passenger would
most likely be near Gandhi statue than RBI, still the claimed familiarity
gladdens the heart!</span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">IMD
has predicted that the monsoons would arrive in Chennai tomorrow and going by
the humidity today, a run in the rain is a distinct possibility tomorrow.
Fingers and toes crossed!</span></div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-31036218261823748702016-10-14T05:32:00.002-07:002016-10-14T05:32:16.863-07:00Random thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="a099n" data-offset-key="8uerd-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8uerd-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="8uerd-0-0">I have some sensitive matters to be discussed about Biscuit’s friends which could distress him so I am suspending the customary invocation to him. You guessed it, I am referring to the savage treatment meted out to them in the ‘God’s own country’. Every time I see a family sleeping under the bus shelters or on road side sharing their tattered rugs/sheets with their canine friend, I am aghast at the ungodly act of our neighbours. I was reminded of this when I saw a pup on the R K Salai doing a good imitation of the famous towel dance of Ranbir Kapoor in the movie ‘Saawariya’ on the jute bag left out to dry in the middle of the road. Good they do not have newspapers and 24x7 TV channels in their world reporting the atrocities.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="a099n" data-offset-key="8hs2h-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8hs2h-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="8hs2h-0-0">The foot soldiers of ‘Swatch Bharat’, I mean the sanitary workers, who are usually a chirpy lot before commencing their Sisyphean labours of the day were a quieter lot today. I was reminded of the study quoted in The HINDU where taking a cue from the practice in the Japanese schools, schools in India tried inculcating habits requiring sweeping and mopping in schools amongst students. Interestingly, this was opposed both in posh private schools (which was not a surprise!) and the Government schools (because the parents were trying to get the kids out of the very thing!). It is my humble opinion that the way forward is encouraging kids (especially boys) to wash their cups/plates and clothes from a young age not by preaching but by actually practicing the same by us elders. Similarly, in offices I am contemplating asking colleagues to wash the cups after taking tea/coffee (Still in a dilemma, if it would be seen as too radical!).</span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="a099n" data-offset-key="5e8aj-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5e8aj-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="5e8aj-0-0">Cows grazing on the lawns of Beach road took me back to the stray cattle menace, particularly cattle which are beyond their productive age. I was reminded of an interesting video clipping on Youtube from the program on Vijay TV ‘Satyamev Jayate’episode on this subject posted by </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="5e8aj-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="5e8aj-1-0"><span data-text="true">Vinoth Kumar</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="5e8aj-2-0"> where the cattle being used as bio-digesters to convert vegetable waste to manure (it said Black Gold!). We could have people returning vegetable waste to vendors who can send it back through the suppliers. This chain could work in the empty flow direction of Vegetable supply vehicles. Any Startup enthusiast game? I remember having said this when I had gone on a visit to Amdavad Municipal Corporation and seen vegetable waste from the market yard being transported huge distances by MSW contractors to the landfills. Seen in this light, the Gau Raksha could turn out to be sound economics! </span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="curem-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="curem-0-0">A runner (I would not name him!) whom I regularly cross on the Beach road, accosted me a few days back and asked me if I could foot his registration for the Delhi Half marathon. My regular beggar friends would tell you that for much less the Hubli passenger has snorted and sped off. Not knowing how to get rid of him politely, I took his mobile number and messaged few known runners thinking that would be the end of it. Yesterday again he cornered me and followed up. I was firmer in my refusal as his assertion earlier of that being the last date for registration was obviously false. I have been always saying that Running is the mother of all addictions, but, such craving for events even I could not support! </span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4oprv-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="4oprv-0-0">Interestingly, the permanent resident outside church near Gemini circle was today decked in crisp white shirt and combing his lush hair. This was probably his way of getting back at the bare-chested bald runner in me. I could only smile and carry on!</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aod98-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="aod98-0-0">Sorry, if this episode comes out as disconnected and disjointed, I had to get it out of my system to have a clean slate for recording my weekend runs!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-86167550910662440342016-10-13T05:26:00.002-07:002016-10-13T05:26:46.634-07:00The Nation wants to know!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Time to introduce another of
Biscuit’s friend(?). He is of the same breed as Snowy of Tintin fame and as
white and cute as him, but, the trouble is he swears (read barks!) as badly as
a drunk Captain Haddock. He gets aggravated by Biscuit’s total nonchalance at
his hard hitting performance. It is as if the silence on the neighbour’s at our
surgical effort! There is a new addition to the canine club with a Rottweiler
pup (same colour as Biscuit’s bête-noire Tiggy!) who is tied to his master’s
car while the master goes for his clubbing in the Railway club. He is very
adorable and Biscuit is warming up to him and their symphony of tail wagging a
treat to watch. As they say everybody is adorable when young, the difference
between a donkey and horse is known when they grow up. No offence to Rottweilers
(I am partial
to Labradors!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Some improvement on the charkha
spinning front. I have been able to source cotton locally from Srivilliputtur
within the jurisdiction of Southern Railway reducing the carbon footprints of
my spinning activity. All was not as smooth as it sounds, there was a real
scare that I could have been out of cotton on the Gandhi jayanti day. Thanks to
my friend who chipped in with her grandfather’s stock to avoid a major embarrassment!
Time now to locate a local weaver!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The humid and muggy weather has
been testing the runners’ patience and die-hardiness. While there is a
temptation to bunk the run, but, the thought of guilt for the rest of the day
for a few sweat soaked hours in the bed gets me to the door at the appointed
hour. I have had two bunks during the period since I went to press last. While
one was a party which could not be avoided the other was my mobile alarm malfunction!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have been trying to analyse what
gets people on the road to engage with me. If our favourite anchor was to get
over the overkill on the surgical strikes and really ask what the ‘Nation wants
to know’, it should be, Why does Hubli passenger run daily? The permanent
resident of the bus shelter outside the church opposite Isaphani center has
taken to showing his anger as I pass him. Since he is vocally challenged, it is
difficult to guess his cause for anger. I am getting a feeling that he thinks I
am mocking his attire by running past him bare-chested! There is definitely a
fine line between empathy and mockery!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">My left knee has been giving a
little trouble, but, it gets better by the time I reach the Gemini flyover
(about 2 Km into the run). I am reminded of the joke Rajesh Khanna made in the
movie Anand about Asit Sen’s complaint of shifting pain. My Piriformis syndrome
(pain in the bu$# to put it bluntly!) seems to be moving downward. The old man
who crosses me on his cycle near Mylapore with knee caps on both his knees seems
to be warning me too! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The crowd waiting for the bus near
the shelter opposite City-center was having an audience poll on my itinerary with
each person speaking from the point where they have seen me. I was tempted to
stop and give a self declaration and clinch the issue. Their shyness in talking
to me does not stop them from pulling each other’s leg asking them to catch me
if they can!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have had occasion to mention
earlier about the boy (his name is Michael!) who skates with a smile on his
face. I finally gave in to the temptation and stopped and shook his hand and
told him to continue enjoying his game and congratulated his mother for letting
him enjoy it. I also stopped another mother who pushes her daughter (could not
have been more than 10 years old!) too much with the result that the poor girl
skates with a sad face. Now the result is the girl skates with a smile on her
face and the mother has a glum face when she crosses me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I got a pleasant surprise when the
shop owner of the apparel shop (one of the rare occasions when I accompanied my
wife for her shopping) commented that he has seen me somewhere. I told him ‘I
run’. He immediately flashed a smile of recognition and said he could not recognize
me with my shirt on! Coming from him it was not so much an embarrassment as
similar comments by the fairer sex have caused me when I am with my
wife/daughter! No, I did not ask for a discount!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Today a gentleman standing near his
parked car stopped me and after effusive praise for my regularity and
dedication told that he comes to drop his kid to the school and sees me every
day. He is a citizen warden and for one understood why I run opposite to the
flow of traffic. He is an optician and wanted to present me a cooling glass at
least! So do not be surprised if you find the Hubli passenger running with
coolers on! </span></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-17358088802523932662016-09-19T03:46:00.002-07:002016-09-19T03:46:35.275-07:00What’s in a name?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">However weighty the issues on hand,
the customary invocation to Biscuit in the beginning cannot be suspended! The
previous Saturday edition of Metro Plus accompanying the Hindu newspaper made
our day when a long article on Biscuit’s brethren being employed in offices
with fancy designation as CFO (It is Chief Fun Officer and not Chief Finance
Officer!). Biscuit appeared sad thinking about the missed opportunities, but,
the commercial world’s loss is our gain. He is like the humble housewife whose
contribution is often underestimated as compared to the working women. Biscuit
has a full day helping all the inmates live a full life while challenging squirrels
and engaging in shouting matches with his quadruped neighbours in the block. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">It takes something special nay
foolhardy to join issues with the Bard of Avon, but, if you substitute Rose
with ‘Pain in the B#$$’and the alternative name is as exotic as Piriformis
syndrome, I think it is fair game. I felt like Kakaji in movie Anand, gloating
over his ‘Lymphosercoma of the intestine’! I am speaking of unspeakable and
unbearable pain in my glutes about two weeks back which had immobilized me and
more importantly kept me from my running for a full three days. Thanks to a
chance conversation with my Doctor brother, I got a name (a fancy one at that!)
to bandy around which can be fashionably discussed even in mixed company. I
have found this that sooner you can give a name to your medical condition and
immediately you start feeling better, I guess it is because you move from the
uncertainty to an area where others have gone before!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Dr. Google tells me that this
condition afflicts people who sit on their backs and/or who run long distances.
I think my job is the cause and my wife believes it is my daily dose of
running. I have made a concession to walk around a bit during my office hours
between files and meetings and a few stretches before the run. Thankfully, I am
back to my normal quota of runs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Weather gods have been kind to the
running community these past few weeks and my recuperation has been greatly
aided by it. I am normally quite chirpy during my runs and I only get chirpier
if the rain gods oblige. It was on one such day that while running with Sameer,
the swimming coach to youngsters near Anna square, I </span>engaged in small talk with a person speaking
animatedly near a water puddle and with hilarious consequences. When I answered
his repeated query as to ‘How one could survive without the Sun’ with an
assurance that the Sun would come out assuming he was worried about the puddle
splashing people. He got agitated and asked if I voted for the rising Sun? He
castigated me by saying that if one does not vote for the rising Sun then how
could it come. Only then it sunk into my thick skull that I have been had by a hard
core political analyst and supporter of the opposition party of TN. I got away
by promising him that I would consider voting for the rising sun next time
around!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
The loop
around the Island ground forms Km 19-23 of my run and should technically have
me tired, but, with enthusiastic greetings from the Army men all through it is
the most enjoyable. Now, this part of the run has got even better with the
young kids practicing skating and their parents starting to acknowledge me with
greetings as they whiz past me multiple times. One young boy really stands out
as he seems to enjoy his sport and even greets me as he crosses me on my way
back on the Radhakrishnan Salai when he is relaxing on the pillion of the
scooter! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
Many incidents
worthy of adorning this blog happened in the last few weeks of the run, but,
newer encounters get overwritten on the older ones. Two days back when I was
refuelling myself at the water point near Saravana café, an athletic looking
man rushed to me and said that he is from Rajapalayam (a town known for its
breed of dogs!). He said he has come for an event (It was Arignar Anna’s
birthday!) and I thought would it be my introduction to the political class. He
said that he has read about me in a Tamil magazine in a saloon while waiting
for his turn and that led to his reading the book ‘Born to Run’. He stated that
he has graduated to barefoot running and has inspired a set of youngsters in
his town to take up long distance running. Talk of the power of the media! While
I was about to ask him about his name and job, a scooter bumped into a parked
car and fell down with the young rider thrown on the ground. We rushed to help
him. The boy had a bout of fits and we helped him endure the episode politely
turning down the people coming forward to give him a metal object. I quietly slipped
away to complete my run feeling good about a chance to help a kid ( inwardly feeling
sad that my repeated requests to them to wear helmets and not drive rashly goes
unheeded!) and having met an admirer!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
While on the topic
of rash driving, the scene on the Cathedral road was gory today morning with
lots of smashed auto rickshaws. This is the place where many of these are
parked and drivers sleep in their parked vehicles. I had thought that it was
another rash two wheeler riders doing, but, it transpires it was a drunk racing
car driver who killed one of the drivers and smashed a few autos.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-21958743602800350702016-08-16T04:16:00.003-07:002016-08-16T04:16:46.402-07:00Independence Day run<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">When I started a little earlier
this I-Day, it was with uncertainty of route and the time for which I would be
allowed to run. That the nation is obsessed with India’s performance or the
perceived lack of it at the Olympics is well known from the traffic on the
social media on the topic. I knew Sunday night was crucial for India’s darling
Dipa Karmakar and I had not seen it as it was well beyond my bedtime. A bunch
of youngsters whom I crossed in my run commented that this old man should have
been sent to Olympics and that I would have been able to get a medal! I did not
know whether to take it as a compliment or their frustration at India’s
unproductive foray in terms of silverware at the Rio! Knowing how much of
effort it takes both mental and physical even in small running events back
home, I can only say that we Indians are impatient and make and discard hero(ine)es
at the drop of a hat. It is like studying before the final exams, but, success
in sports as in other disciplines of life is a slow and steady Ultra and not a
Usain Bolt dash!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I could not remove the small Khadi
flag (table top variety) from its heave brass base and settled for a laminated lapel
flag for tucked in my shorts as my passport of nationalism/patriotism if
challenged by guardians of law. I reached Gandhi statue unchallenged! I found
on the way that the Muncipal sweepers were the only other conscientious workers
out on the road and celebrating the National holiday by working harder!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I was greeted by Mr. Srinivasan (the
loud clap greeter!) and so far so good. I saw a few tea vendors (these are like
the druid Getafixes who get the city on their feet with their magic potion)
near Lighthouse. I asked them how their business was going. They shared their
sad tale that the business with the policemen is without payment and the
regular clientele of beggars have been sanitized by these so called security
men. Is it not sad that well paid safari clad security men are free riders and
the beggars are good paying customers!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Just as I was saying my greetings
to the Gandhi statue (he was bowed down with a huge garland of flowers, which
he eschewed in his lifetime and only allowed khadi garlands!), I was stopped by
a grey safari clad officiando. I got angry when he said I cannot run on the
pavement. Mr. Srinivasan and another unnamed walker came to my rescue, but, we
had no answer to the smiling security man who quoted the ‘orders from the top’.
I told him disgust to cover the Gandhi statue as he definitely would not like
people’s freedom to be snatched to celebrate our freedom for which he fought so
hard! I settled for running on the inner road even if it was not so barefoot
friendly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">The usual topic of discussion when I
crossed walkers was the place upto which we are allowed by the police. The
consensus was that the coast was clear till the start of the Napier bridge. The
usual pavement dwellers had receded to the sands on the beach and they must
have bid farewell to their day’s earnings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I reached the police post at the
start of the Napier bridge and found an important looking safari suit clad
individual (there were more than ’50 shades of grey’ on that day in that
stretch between Gandhi statue and Labour statue!) sitting on a plastic chair
with a few hangers on. I found most of the people deployed unsure of what to
do. They were randomly picking on people to appear busy. People who were not
smartly dressed (including your’s truly!) were easy game. He addressed me as
Swamiji and asked me the usual questions about my age, distance and why
barefoot etc. I did not like his condescending tone of inquiry and was tempted
to throw my rank at him, but, I think my self control is improving and I resisted
revealing my Joint Secretary to GoI bit! Despite sustained interrogation, I was
only allowed to take the Sivananda road and refused entrance to the Napier
bridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">I did the three cornered loop from
Sivananda road, Mount road and Flag staff road upto War memorial and back twice
(making it 12K!) with the one K stretch on flag staff road repeated to make it
14K to avoid going back to Beach road except for the return lap. The graying traffic
policeman at the intersection of Mount road and Flag staff road was losing his
temper at a young couple on a bike and I intervened to ask the policeman to
take it easy if he wanted to finish his shift upto 10.30 AM without bursting a
blood vessel. I was happy to leave behind a smiling policeman!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">In my return loop I found that
better sense had prevailed and walkers were being allowed on the pavement and I
reached Gandhi statue at 6:40 AM. My beggar friend with both his arms amputated
from the elbow downward (who had trusted me to count his notes and keep them in
his pocket earlier!) sitting all a-smile in crisp whites, clearly in a
celebratory mood!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">On my return trip, a traffic
policeman took the cake by asking for a flag and I being of the
Daan-Veera-Karna lineage could not say No and gave him the clip on flag,
cautioning him not to throw plastic waste and that I would ask for it the next
year when I meet him on the morning run! Is it not irony that the policemen who
have been threatening my freedom to run gets away with my national flag!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Looking at such large scale deployment
of police force it appears to me that instead of instilling national pride it
could end up scaring people to remain indoors on such occasions. It could be a
good idea to oversee celebration of national festivals with public monies by
people of repute and standing (say Gopalkrishna Gandhi and the like as far as
Chennai etc.!) and standing so that it does not become an exercise in self
serving for the people’s representatives and the armed forces/police.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">That the article about weaving on
charkha gone on to the national edition on the Independence day after its appearance
in the Chennai edition the previous day, I have been basking in a torrent of congratulatory
messages from across the country. I am truly feeling like a celebrity. It
surely pays to be a copy (even if a poor one!) of a person of Gandhiji’s
standing!</span></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-13067005461961188752016-08-14T06:23:00.002-07:002016-08-14T06:23:30.420-07:00Azadi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="2vsd-0-0">Had I gone on Air yesterday, the heading would have been “Amma, Amman and Mother India”! That time of the year when the serial light cutouts of celestial boon giver overlooks the ubiquitous smiling visages of our very own Amma posters, The roads are taken over by the security to welcome Mother India.</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="23uq5-0-0">Time was when few sensitive locations like the Lal chowk in Srinagar or the Idgah Maidan in Hubli were turned into a fortress to assert our Independence, today even the so called peaceful part of the country’s seat of power, Fort St. George was turned into a fortress with security personnel swarming all over. I was a little early for my run. I decided to get over the war-zone like War memorial (I doubt if the shining flag atop it is of mandated Khadi!) by doing the 4K stretch from Napier to RBI and back and the loop around Island ground in the first loop itself.</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fsqu9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="fsqu9-0-0">One overzealous security personnel tried stopping me. I told him that I am a regular runner and they have nothing to fear me and neither am I scared or impressed with their show of strength. I politely asked him for how many days are they planning to suspend our freedom to celebrate OUR Independence? He sheepishly retracted that he was just doing his duty and I backed off and gave him my 32W smile (well give or take a few accounted for by my dentist!). The lady guarding the regular security post outside Fort St. George smilingly asked me if would never take a break. I told her I may opt to suspend my run and walk on Marina doing a Kanhaiya encore with a tri-colour for claiming my Azadi to run every day (I may still manage a run on altered route!). I asked her give me a security clearance with her superiors by vouching for my regularity. Almost every regular walker whom I met beyond War memorial stopped to discuss the route we could take tomorrow!</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bssp9-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="bssp9-0-0">A person struck a familiar note and asked me if i am not going home when i was re-starting towards Gandhi statue for the last time today. I told him i am! He said Did i not live near Parrys? After getting the Hubli Passenger's route, he grabbed my right hand and lifted it above my head much like a referee does while awarding the wrestling bout to the winner, proclaiming to the plainclothes security guard (their grey safari and walkie give them up!) that i was a star running so far at my age and that too barefoot. </span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ap7ku-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="ap7ku-0-0">Now for an interesting encounter on the run today. A bike with three riders stopped near me with the guy sitting third behind a girl on the pillion greeted me with a vanakkam. I did not recognize him, but, he seemed to be an earlier recipient of my Gyan. I asked why he was riding without a helmet much like a Maths teacher asking for an assignment to be turned in. He cheekily replied that he had no money and asked if I would pay for one. Now that was getting personal, ask even any beggar on the Marina, this Gandhian is okay for verbal gyan, but you slip in the commercial tone and he withdraws. I asked him cheekily if he is wearing his undergarments. He did not get the connection. I told him the following story about cricket, “ It took more than hundred years after men started wearing crotch guard in cricket for the helmets to make their appearance”, we men are slow learners and it takes us time to realize head was as important if not more than the family jewels! The girl sniggered much to the chagrin of the boy and I knew I had drawn blood! I gave him a smiling salute and went on with my run.</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="4titp-0-0">Wish me for getting my usual quota of run tomorrow, Jai Hind!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-21105129599959190372016-08-12T04:55:00.002-07:002016-08-12T04:55:48.314-07:00Kitna Deti Hai?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="cevvr-0-0"> We irreverent Indians are not impressed by atmospherics and believe in quickly getting to the heart of the matter. I am reminded of one of the advertisements where when explained the displacement and size of a Dreamliner, a person is shown asking ‘Kitna Deti Hai’. Every time I have demonstrated by spinning wheel to an interested person the initial question invariably has been, how much yarn I can spin in one day and how long it takes to get enough material for my shirt?</span></div>
</div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4d7va-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="4d7va-0-0"> This time before the Times of India reporter came knocking, I was prepared. The raw pressed cotton comes in bundles of one hundred grams each. Each bundle approximately translates to over one thousand meters of yarn, at my present level of proficiency of spinning. The yarn is removed from spindle in bundles of five hundred meters each and one hundred such bundles in turn becomes about ten to twelve meters of cloth. I am able to spin about two hundred and fifty to three hundred meters along with my morning green tea hydration session of between an hour or two. About six months of laboring at the spinning wheel gets me enough cloth for about ten shirts! See it requires no Ramanujam maths!</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="9s3kg-0-0"> While externally, spinning can be evaluated in terms of meters of cloth generated, at a deeper level it is relaxing and meditative. Taking the analogy to running, while a run can be physically seen in terms of distance, speed or time spent, but, the internal transformation it brings to one is to be experienced and cannot be described. I will belabor this point further; when I was working in the Ministry, in my frustration at the Sisyphusian task of moving files up and down, I had ranted on one of the chat sites. One of my seniors had sent me the following story on my personal email id;</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7f982-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="7f982-0-0"> “God once asked a person to push a wall, the person after dutifully doing it for a few months cursed God that it was useless as the wall had not moved an inch. The punchline is God seemed to have appeared and asked the person to his arms and back muscles and the strength he had gained”. The fault sometimes is we are too narrow in defining our goals, be it speed or distance!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9ni78-0-0"> Now, a small episode from Biscuit’s friends’ lesson in stretching to lighten the atmosphere. Before the Last Sunday of Month (LSoM) run of Marina Runners when a trainer was leading his wards through stretching session, a stray doggie couple came to the center and did a synchronized and graceful perfect doggie stretch as if to ask what is so great about it, much to the amusement of the wards and embarrassment of the trainer. Biscuit on his part restricts himself to walking in measured steps unexcited by the provocations of his brethren in the colony (even the belligerent Tiggy!).</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4vom9-0-0"> Having missed the 36 hour stadium run last week, the decision now was to whether or not to attend the 12 hour Independence Day run at Mumbai. The office situation decided the issue. I will have to miss the trip. While it hurts to be deprived of the cheers of the friendly Mumbai runner community and the famed @</span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="4vom9-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="4vom9-1-0"><span data-text="true">Pranav</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="4vom9-2-0"> hospitality, I thought about the saving grace in the missing of the run during my morning constitutional 32K today! Twelve hour run on Monday would have involved missing my daily run from Saturday to Tuesday (four days at 32K would be a healthy 128Kms). I could have at best put in at best a 100Km in the 12 hour run on Monday. So even by ‘Kitna Deti Hai’logic, Lalithaji, Hometown mein Daudne mein hi samajhdari hai!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-1276589078128978252016-08-04T05:19:00.003-07:002016-08-04T05:19:33.340-07:00Old dog cannot be taught new tricks?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="fgmn0-0-0">Few days into the ninth year of Biscuit, my wife excitedly told me after I came back from my run in the morning that Biscuit fetched the newspaper. This is earthshaking news considering that Biscuit has had no interest in fetching games and has always fiercely guarded with his life, and sharp canines, whatever he has grabbed in his mouth during earlier fetch trainings! Is he trying to disprove the old adage or the very premise that he is getting old! My daughter set the record straight by concluding that he must have grabbed the paper in his mouth and when confronted by my angry wife he must have just dropped it sheepishly! For his part he has not shown any other signs of growing up and thank God for that.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="91vq1-0-0">Though I have stopped counting the number of days I have run at a stretch, but, I must be fluffing up with pride every day when I line up for my run in the morning. Today, sadly, the little voice in my head won and I went back to sleep after my charkha spinning session in the morning. Must be the accumulated sleep deficit catching up! </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3oig0-0-0">This is that time of the year when national flags come out and policemen are out in numbers to guard our ‘Aazadi’! While the usual guardians of law and traffic policemen on my running route have got used to my ways, the reinforcements out during the I-day for, of, and by the police are not in tune with my naked display! A young policeman addressed me with his crooked finger (and some choice epithets in local lingo, which were offensive in tone and thankfully I did not get the purport!), and asked me not to run in the middle of the road. The naked power of the uniform exuding from him got my goat and all my pretense of Gandhian ways went out of the window and I confronted him. The senior official initially supported his subordinate and then saw my point and advised his junior to shut up. I was shaking from inside and jittery for some part of the run thereafter. I could empathise with the stone pelting youth who must be revolting against accumulated ire of facing the lording over by the uniformed in the valley and elsewhere. Is it not ironical that the very force which is sent for protecting the people of a place becomes hated by the same very people? </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3ks02-0-0">While on the theme of freedom, I must discuss the misuse of the freedom exercised by youngsters drunk on their brand of intoxicant and sleep deprived, who meet me on the roads during my morning run. Recently, I took the liberty of advising a few to not drink and drive and to wear helmets, if not for the safety of the old man like me who could be hit by them then at least with due regard to the anguish they would cause to their near and dear in case of any accident. From the sheepish smiles I get from them and the slowing down when they cross me I think the message is going in slowly and surely. The hefty increase in fines for such violations like, underage driving, driving without licence/helmet recently promulgated if applied strictly would surely make roads safer for all the users!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="csht7-0-0">Two long runs, the first, the 36 hour stadium run this weekend in Bangalore and next week the 12 hour I-day run have me drooling. The first looks doomed as I am required to be in Chennai during this Sunday. As for the freedom run on the 15th August, I am still debating if repeat of the event done two years back is worth the travel? The Kirti college Vada-pavs, the speciality which </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="csht7-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="csht7-1-0"><span data-text="true">Pranav Mehta</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="csht7-2-0"> feeds the participants and all the love and affection of Mumbai runners and crowds is making it tough for me to back out. Fingers and toes crossed!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-31285619993975842252016-07-22T23:32:00.000-07:002016-07-22T23:32:00.878-07:00Unsolicited advice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="cm6pj-0-0">This heading stayed on a blank page for almost three weeks now. Is this the notorious writer’s block? I am forcing myself to unclog my mind so do not tell me you were not forewarned!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="cj5v8-0-0"> This being the first dispatch after 7th July, (do not tell me you do not know!), it is Biscuit’s birthday, that must take the headlines. For him it was business as usual, his bitter foe Tiggy showed him no concession and welcomed him with his usual ferocity during his morning walk. Being a holiday for Ramadan, he got a long bath and his favourite fruit Papaya and plenty of hugs from family members. It is not manners to talk of pet’s age when they cross a certain age, but, he has crossed a milestone and his age must come on record! One Dog year is considered equivalent of seven human years, and by that reckoning at his age he is now 56 years old and has crossed my age, how soon the time flies! He is bubbly as ever, but, finds climbing on to the steel trunk (which doubles as his perch!) for wearing his leash a bit cumbersome. Someone (another Labrador parent) had said that they are kids till they cross seven years, but, Biscuit must be the Peter Pan of his breed, refusing to grow up and we are not complaining!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1lc6i-0-0"> Since my last blog many mukalats (verbal encounters!) have happened on the roads, but, this one should take prime place. I normally do not advise youngsters (barring kids on bikes, after they come to talking terms for not wearing helmets!), but, something in the group of three youngsters, standing behind their car blaring loud music on the Savera flyover, (must of be college going age!) glazed eyes made me stop and talk to them. I addressed them that I want to talk to them, but, one of them brushed me aside and started to get into the car. The other two stopped him (must be my unusual gear!) and asked me to go on. I started off telling them of my smoking addiction and how it is the most difficult one to quit. They asked me to translate a few words in Tamil and listened to me patiently. I told them to give a decent attempt at quitting smoking (told them it took me six failed attempt to quit!). I hope i succeeded in making quitting appear more heroic than smoking! I felt a different kind of high after talking to them, hope they succeed in kicking the habit!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="596o5-0-0"> There is some affinity between my passion for running and madness. I remember the lady on the Napier bridge who was enjoying the rain the other day and wildly clapping as I ran past her in the rain. A few days later when I ran past her near Anna square police station, she just took off and tried to outrun me. Not to aggravate her, I let her win and she gave me a slow clap as I crossed her. Another time on the pavement on the Flag staff road a guy with matted hair asked me in sign language as to why I run. I put my finger to my temple to indicate madness and that made him angry (he seemed to indicate that his madness was of a higher degree than the level my passion had reached). Guess I have a lot more to practice!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9mrgi-0-0"> There is this guy who sleeps under the bus shelter near the church after the petrol bunk on the Uttamar Gandhi salai. He is bare bodied waist up like me and he seems to be comparing abs every day as I cross him. That day he showed in sign language that I should be careful of the oncoming traffic, I felt humbled. Here I was envying abs while discounting the loud mouth I have where he remains a silent wonder, comparisons surely are odious!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f4oif-0-0"> Then there is this old man (must be as old as our independence!) who sleeps near Saravana Bhawan café. That day his pet and he were snuggling on the sack. His ribcage prompting me to remember Anupam Kher’s dialogue in movie Saaransh, who famously commented about the wrinkles on his wife Rohini Hattingadi’s face that ‘Tere chehre ki jhurrion me mere jeevan ka Saaransh hai!, meaning the lines on your face are my life’s summary! The old man’s ribcage seemed to say the same of the country’s failed tryst with destiny!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="du5um-0-0"> Finally, the army guys (a little older lot today!) when crossing me commented that I should be recruited into the Army. I stopped and told them that I had cleared the NDA exam and could have joined the Army about 30 years back, but, if I would have taken to running like I do now would have been anybody’s guess! I think the Army with all the flak for AFSPA and rubber pellets of Kashmir could do with a Gandhi in their ranks!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4689o-0-0"> </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="4689o-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="4689o-1-0"><span data-text="true">Mani</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="4689o-2-0"> has been regular in accompanying me on the morning run as he is preparing for the Javadhu run on 7th August, or meeting point on the base of the Savera flyover towards the Saravana Café side. Apart from the morning runs, I got to run the six hour stadium run hosted by the Nungambakkam Nitros, and I got to run a little more than 50Kms between 2.30 PM and 8.30 PM on Saturday, the 9th of July. It felt like old times, running in the stadium round and round! That the run in the afternoon was in addition to the normal 32K in the morning that day was a double treat. I did have to go on diet the next day due to the binge on Saturday!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-85808146899908041822016-06-22T04:42:00.003-07:002016-06-22T04:42:14.922-07:00Keep the child alive in you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="40k56-0-0">Biscuit no longer gets up with me and prefers to get his eight hours of recommended beauty sleep. Does that make me lonely when I am sipping green tea and spinning the charkha? A persistent cuckoo in the neighbourhood gets up around the same time and polishes her singing. The signal for me to stop spinning is when a raucous bunch of birds start their chorus drowning the pleasant cuckoo’s crooning. Interesting how these little creatures have a perfect sense of time.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7b7vp-0-0">A dog has littered in the colony and the pups have grown right in front of our eyes. Biscuit watches over them with a longing look as the pups follow their parents having their ‘Masti ki Pathshaala’. They have now been granted independent charge with their parents abandoning them to their vices. The pups (at least the most intrepid and vocal of them) bark at Biscuit as he passes them by in his walks. He does not mind them a bit and has a proprietary air about them. Do I see a wistfulness in Biscuit in having traded for security over freelancing!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4nbve-0-0">Today was my 16th day in a row of running after the long walk during Pinkathon on June 5th. Usually the dogs do not trouble me and mind their own business. Today a dog (veteran of many fights going by his mutilated ear) decided to take me on. Two people in the shadows came out in my support, but, an old man told them to stay put and watch. He told them that I would purr to the dog and it would go back wagging his tail. I was thrilled at this compliment. The dog did not disappoint his trust in my Pied Piper like skills on mesmerizing dogs.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="bgdp8-0-0">Long distance running as I am sure must be the case with all endurance sports makes one view one’s body with a sense of detachment. This we do experience when we talk to our parts of the body coaxing them to bear the pain with the tacit understanding that given time and persistence the niggle eventually goes away. This came in handy when I was down with dehydration and fever recently. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1ks1r-0-0">Unable to get the flow the narration was abandoned here yesterday, today a mild drizzle welcomed me as I started for the run. A police vehicle came very close to me from the opposite side when I was on the Savera flyover. I was surprised that a police beat vehicle was playing truant. I crossed over to the other side of the road across the small divider bracing for some tough questions. Two young policemen in their muftis asked me why I was running in rain. I asked them to remember how we used to welcome showers when we were young. I asked them if they do not feel like walking/running in the rain, they smilingly confessed that but for the expectations of the position they were in, they would love to join me in running in the rain.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="bq6gs-0-0">After lean attendance of Boyz and Girlz on bikes (they have this emblazoned on the back of their T-shirts!) in the last few weeks, they were out in full strength today. I heard the people waiting in the bus-shelters commenting on the madness of the youngsters in riding in the rain, but, the real comments/guffaws were reserved for the half naked ‘your’s truly’ when I passed by them. The mentally challenged lady singing to herself as she blissfully walked in the rain on the Napier bridge was the only one matching my thanksgiving spirit to weather gods for having blessed the city with showers.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6uu1n-0-0">The going on the smooth flooring on the pavement between Lighthouse and Labour statue was ginger and the usually slow pace of the Hubli passenger was further compromised today. I had </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="6uu1n-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="6uu1n-1-0"><span data-text="true">Ramani Ramiah</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="6uu1n-2-0"> and his brother for company as I started on my second loop from Lighthouse. It was not for long as the two put in a decent gap very quickly and I preferred caution over bravery in not trying to match their pace mindful of the slippery floor!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3oj1r-0-0">Last Sunday </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="3oj1r-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="3oj1r-1-0"><span data-text="true">Mani Iyer</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="3oj1r-2-0">, I will call him the Mumbai Express, joined me for run from Saravana Café after Savera flyover. Close to two weeks of continuous running had me running slowly and I must have dragged his performance down. I gave him choice vintage location during the biological break near Napier bridge and treated him to ice-cold water at Zuka point on the way back.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="61rtu-0-0">Yesterday was IYD (this needs no expansion), a group of singers were asserting the diversity amidst the sea of Yoga camps on Marina to mark the World Music Day (Did they come to Gandhi statue to seek his support!). We Babus bent it like Beckham at office too to mark the occasion of the IYD (I took the message that finance officers must become flexible!), Jokes apart it was a nice way to bond with colleagues watching each other contorted in various shapes and poses!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-47855998496179703062016-06-02T05:27:00.003-07:002016-06-02T05:27:38.030-07:00Oh to sweat!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biscuit is incensed, and rightly so, that the sore backside of his master has been getting more footage than him in the recent blogs. He has had an inflamed eye and has been going around like a peeved Lalita Pawar for the last few weeks. Despite highlighting this to the vet, he refused to give it any importance or medicine saying that it is nothing and will go away. He is back to his normal two eyed exchanges with his constituents!</span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="f67ld-0-0">The much discussed LSoM run of Marina Minnals came and went this last Sunday with much drama and tragedy! I started at 3:45 AM to ensure that I reach Gandhi statue at 4:30AM. Except a few canine friends, who also did not seem concerned by the early start of the Hubli Passenger, the run was usual and relaxed till Gemini circle. I was welcomed with a ‘Va Ya Kabaali’(Welcome Kabaali, the latest avatar of Superstar RajniKanth!) by a person who was diligently applying adhesive to Amma posters sitting on the road. This is how the locals tease (I take it as a praise!). I went near him and thanked him for the superlative praise. He was slightly drunk and explained to his autodriver in waiting that he meets me at many places and that too so early in the morning!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="62d3g-0-0">Being compared to superstar was all I needed to counter my niggle! The praise-purana does not end here, when I was crossing the city-center, a youngster jocularly challenged an old man sitting next to him at the bus-shelter to chase and catch me! He said what of him, even the youngster could not catch him and that if he wanted to catch me, he can see me at around 7 AM when I will return the same way! Now, this recharged my battery to full five bars! I felt like I was being compared to DON, (of ‘peecha karna mushkil hi nahin namumkin hai’ fame!).</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="c8ome-0-0">Hubli passenger had reached the start point before time (4:25AM by clock opposite Gandhi statue!) and even though some people had assembled, I did not want to waste the beach breeze and spare time and did a small loop of about one Km. To complete the ‘Hubli Passenger Jaisa Koi Nahin’praise chant, a young lady walked up and asked why I run every day from Nungambakkam and that too barefoot? It seems she works the graveyard shift in a building near Sterling road signal and has seen me pass by every day. She, it seems, comes for a spin with her colleague for a break from work to Marina. I gave the usual answers to the oft repeated questions and also disclosed the vintage of the Hubli Passenger!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8v2v6-0-0">The onerous task of flagging off was taken over by </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="8v2v6-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="8v2v6-1-0"><span data-text="true">Ramani Ramiah Venkat</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="8v2v6-2-0"> Sir and we all set off on the run. It was a slow and chatty run and running behind the back of the statues on the service road for new to me. We came to the main road near the Labour statue. The runners had thinned out and I took my middle of the road option and ran alone. The route was a bit new with a diversion of Walajah road till Kalaivanar arangam (I had confused this with “Kalaignar”and trolled the race director, </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="8v2v6-3-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="8v2v6-3-0"><span data-text="true">Deepa Bharatkumar</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="8v2v6-4-0">, about mispronouncing DMK patriarch before the run!) being added in addition to the Island ground to complete the 21K.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2ke5s-0-0">When I was finishing 21K near Gandhi statue it was 7AM and therefore the normal return time for the Hubli Passenger. I crossed a rally of youngsters against Rape and demanding freedom of choice in dressing (I could not agree more, running topless through a bunch of well dressed youngsters!). I did not wait for the post run ceremonies and started on my way back. The run was extremely well organized and the volunteers were very dedicated and enthusiastic!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="c2q17-0-0">There was no water at the Zuka (Chocolate Rajni point!) and I could manage a few glasses from a dripping AVM RO tap! Normally, watering the system during run leads to water oozing out in the form of sweat from the body leading to cooling happens, that day the water stayed put. I reached home tired and drank my usual quota of two litres (not exactly, half a bottle left!). This was a mistake, still no sweat outpouring! I took a bath and looked forward to curl into bed with my favourite bowl of richly jiggery sweetened multigrain porridge and the newspaper. The difference was I was not feeling like eating the porridge. What followed was a violent throw up (in the bathroom, not in bed!), much to the distress of Biscuit (he hasn’t seen me performing this before!). The act was repeated after consuming the porridge in another one hour. All this while no excretion of water by way of sweat. I found my temperature rising and thermometer showed a healthy 102.9 deg. F.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9tnhn-0-0">How the battle of fever was won with the aid and assistance of my Doctor brother in remote attendance (it helps that he is an avid and as passionate runner!) will be the subject of a separate blog. The sum and substance is that there is no life without ‘Sweat’. I sweated on Monday evening breaking two days of strike like Monsoon breaking through drought hit Vidarbha and with as much relief.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="b8uen-0-0">The Hubli passenger is still grounded and hopes to resume service at 4 AM tomorrow!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-90159114773053409342016-05-27T04:30:00.003-07:002016-05-27T04:43:10.083-07:00Life happens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="e9coh-0-0">The heading of today’s blog is inspired by the iconic statement made by the protagonist in the movie Forrest Gump, ‘S#</span><span class="_5u8n" data-offset-key="e9coh-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.14902); border-bottom-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.298039); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px;"><span data-offset-key="e9coh-1-0"><span data-text="true">#t</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="e9coh-2-0"> happens’, incidentally it is also boldly emblazoned on a regular beach side walker on Marina whom I cross every day. Yesterday, I was politely stopped by an elderly gentleman (he revealed his age proudly during the course of his advisory to be 75!), he sincerely tried to dissuade me from running every day. I heard him patiently and wished him good health and that he should wish me that I continue to run like this for the next 20 years and seriously rival Fauza Singh’s exploits.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9fv4v-0-0">Just as I was celebrating 40 days of continuous running, the ginger ballet over the wet Marina sidewalks seems to have strained my glutes. This brought the Hubli Passenger to a grinding halt putting paid to ambitious plans for overhauling Michelle’s exploits of 194 days uninterrupted effort. I remember the last time when I was counting days was when I had just quit cigarettes, some improvement this! I think the real liberation happens when we stop counting! </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2uqed-0-0">I find interesting denizens of night when I start my run. In the last one week, twice a triad of the significant ‘other’ gender pass me on their scooty. They seem to proclaim why should only ‘Boyz and ‘Girlz’ have all the fun. The lead member progressed from shy smiles to waves and finally yesterday she made the statement ‘Does your feet not hurt running barefoot?’, I was reminded of the famous Raj Kumar dialogue in the movie Pakeezah where seeing the exposed bare feet of Meena Kumari he famously said something similar!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="chcsk-0-0">Now I do not brace myself when I hear two wheelers approaching from the rear with kids making loud noises, the majority of them now do a slow fly-past with mock salutes as they pass by. I have also become less jumpy on hearing rubber against road screeching in case it is one of the new gangs yet to be domesticated by the charms of the Hubli passenger.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="175nm-0-0">Apart from the runners and walkers who regularly cross me at fixed locations on the Marina, there has been a new addition, this lady laboriously, but, regularly runs by when I am on my way back after the run. We generally meet on the Savera flyover. My friend </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="175nm-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="175nm-1-0"><span data-text="true">Ramkumar Sundaresan</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="175nm-2-0"> was with her one day when they crossed me, must find out her story from him! Her determination is admirable! </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6c3cp-0-0">Pain in the glutes is a real pain, last three days the Hubli passenger had to be grounded! I found the courage to restart the narrative after a slow and painful, but, a regular quota nevertheless today. None of the regulars commented on my absence and here I was brooding the last three days that I must have been missed! Is it their good naturedness that keeps them from proclaiming my slip!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="aa4uf-0-0">When I crossed a group of youngsters today, I started to react as is my wont when I heard some in the group doing a catcall! Lucky I did not, others in the group put them wise and I earned a salute as a bonus.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1fbj7-0-0">The first part of the run was very tough as I was sweating profusely, but, no respite due to the muggy and still weather. The air got cooler and there was even some slight drizzle in the second half of the run. The Sun came out in the end to have the last laugh when I was at my weakest. Hope I am able to recover for the run tomorrow. I met the old man (yes the 75 year old! Who thought I am overstraining for my age!) and glared at him, he did not get the message and smiled back politely!</span></div>
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<span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="ftevu-0-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="ftevu-0-0"><span data-text="true">Ram Rajagopalan</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="ftevu-1-0"> is after me in his usual persistent and persuasive way to get to flag off the Marina Minnals Long run this Sunday. I hate these as this appears to be the youngster’s polite way of promoting me to the Margdarshak Mandal. I may huff and puff, but, I plan to run for many more years and would not take the hint to graduate to flagging off status any time in near future! On a serious note, hope this niggle does not altogether keep me off my run on the Sunday!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-39472629063907016352016-05-06T05:24:00.003-07:002016-05-06T05:24:32.988-07:00A graded response<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> When
the weather looked like having taken its foot of the pedal a few days back, I
thought Wall like persistence had paid off! The feel good was short-lived, the
empire has struck back with a vengeance, but, the Chennai runners continue to
brave the inclement weather and log miles! As if the current level of Bheja-Fry
was not enough, Sun has officially taken power-play (Kathri-veyyil in local
lingo) from 4<sup>th</sup> May. Today was the 25<sup>th</sup> day of running after
the one day break on 11<sup>th</sup> April, which means 53 days of running in
the last 54 days. I am trying to get close to Michelle Kakade’s feat of 194
days (of the Golden Quadrilateral run fame!) in my own sedentary way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> What
has been disturbing me in the last few days is the way we respond to issues. It
takes a Rs. 7000cr default of Vijay Mallya or enormous use of water for IPL
match or for helicopter landing at drought site to shake our collective
conscience, while we are inured to washing cars, watering concrete space
outdoors for rangoli (the original purpose must have been to suppress dust in
mud courtyards!). I am really pained to see the water spilled using a big hose
on tar road in the Army area. The jawan doing the honours was polite to my
pleadings about the crisis in Latur and need for being economical with this
precious resource, he only said orders. Am thinking of petitioning the Defence
minister once he gets free from the helicopter scam. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> One
run in with my beggar friend (who sits near Labour statue) shook me to the
core. He generally gives me a cheerful wave and keeps count of my loop. On that
day, he looked very disturbed, stopped me and asked me a fundamental question ‘of
what use am I to people around me’! The provocation was a drunkard friend of
his getting to shake my hand by walking up to me near the war-memorial when he
was sitting on the pavement nearby and I did not stop to talk to him. I also only
noticed that day that he had an artificial leg for one of his legs (Maybe, my
flaunting of running everyday in front of him got his goat!). He told me that
his two sons were CA’s and challenged me to show my card (my ward’s educational
qualification!), he passed the judgment that a CA was higher than a Lawyer, I did
not contest his claim. I pacified him and got away. Relations are now normal
and wattage of his smiles and his resuming honorary duties of being my lap
counter are back to their pristine position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> I
have various times commented about how I stretch myself in my run when
challenged by a youngster (more so if it is a girl!), what happened last week
was different. As I crossed this girl who was stretching, I could hear her
starting to run after me. I increased my pace so as to not to let her overtake.
She finally caught up after some time, came alongside and told me that she
wanted to run with me and that she is a fan. I told her, had I known I would
not have stretched myself and as a consequence made my last few kilometers in the Sun that
much more difficult. When I was gloating over this high praise and returning on
a high for my second loop, I crossed two young boys who were running slowly. After
I crossed them, the younger of the two (must be not more than 10 years!)
crossed me effortlessly and after going ahead of ran with his two hands locked
behind his back. He led me till the labour statue. I felt it was God’s response
to my swollen head from the young lady’s praise. After that whenever they see
me, the youngster races me for a bit. Today both of them were running in the
opposite direction leading a stray pup. The boy showed no interest in me. He
seemed to have achieved the purpose of teaching me the lesson!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> Biscuit
(my going on 8 Labrador!) has not been having it easy in the hot weather. He
has taken note of the positions of counselors opening up for his breed at
Mumbai airport. Considering his age, he would like to be a counselor than a
fetcher at KLM airlines (earlier advertised on facebook!). He has no charm of
foreign postings and would surely not dream of leaving me behind!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> My
plan for the bowling power play (till May 29<sup>th </sup>) is to run easy
without looking at the strike/asking rate and just protecting my unbroken run,
so wish me luck! </span></div>
</div>
Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-11057498044129248152016-04-19T05:05:00.000-07:002016-04-19T05:05:00.792-07:00Punctuality Hubli Passenger style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ddid3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="ddid3-0-0"> Biscuit really hates the weather in Chennai now. His daily walks in the morning are an exercise in disinterest which would put a middle aged Government employee to shame! Evening walks, thanks to the sea-breeze, notwithstanding the Couum fragrance, is better. More so as he has made friends with a few kids, but, nothing to beat his fan club at Delhi!</span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="23qpo-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="23qpo-0-0">My morning starts have now been timed to perfection. I have been a Passenger train only in name as I do not normally take passengers on my run. My stops are what are technically called the operational halts in railway parlance, as I stop for water and biological breaks at my convenience. Punctuality enroute is therefore not a prime concern as long as I finish the run in time for my office. Having started to provide what is called a ‘request stop’ near the U.S. consulate office near Gemini circle for </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="23qpo-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="23qpo-1-0"><span data-text="true">Manoj Bhat</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="23qpo-2-0">, I have started to observe the time by the Isaphani centre clock. Last few days I cross the place bang on 4:10 AM. Maintaining a fixed route and time has won me lot of friends from the all night petrol bunk employees, to coffee vend staff, morning walkers and tea sellers. The place and time of crossing is almost like how a train crosses trains in the opposite direction on a single line section at nominated stations when running on time! It is like people living alongside railway tracks ordering their timing as per passage of trains. I found the Sangeeta hotel supervisor waking up his boys when I crossed (guess he must be telling them Hubli Passenger has passed!).</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="1ek2-0-0"> Today a policeman (one with three stripes on his sleeve!) came from behind on his bike and slowed down next to me. I thought I was going well below the speed limit to get a speeding ticket. It turns out that he wanted to talk to me. He is from the Teynampet Police station and he said that he used to be 110Kgs about 10 months back and ridiculed by his station colleagues by the name ‘Robot’. He said that he took to regular walking after seeing me run and he looks visibly trim now. One autorickshaw driver and another walker rushed to our side thinking I was in trouble with the police to give me support and we all had a good discussion on the importance of exercise. He took a selfie with me and promised to send me the photo. I repeated the joke of not having a smartphone, the missed call is still awaited. He ostensibly wanted the photo to inspire his teenage son into exercising!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="c3da5-0-0"> Mr. Vijayakumar (the policeman referred above!) would have missed me as work having kept us till 10 PM in office the previous day, I was almost resigned to miss my run today. To my surprise, my wife did not argue when I curtailed my sleep, spinning and tea session to leave on time for my run. Cotton level has reached perilously low point and if the supplies do not come in time from Hubli, spinning sessions would stop in about a week’s time. Must find out some local source quickly!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="54rs5-0-0"> My experiments in Gandhigiri with kids on bikes continues. We have reached a stage of live and let live. They not knowing how running early in the morning can give one a kick and I resigned to the fact that they would graduate to endorphins after exhausting the kick of the adrenalin. I only tell them to wear protective gear for their heads.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ar0nt-0-0"> The road cuttings on the Beach road have now been freshly laid and the run has become a pleasure. Another water outlet has come up on the other side of the road which is convenient on the way back. This is a fancy chocolate outlet named ‘Zuka’, it is famed to have a life size chocolate version of Rajnikanth. It suits me as I do not have to cross the road for the water break! It is good that serving water has become popular and high time it was considering the sweltering heat, Sun has turned on this summer! Found </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="ar0nt-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="ar0nt-1-0"><span data-text="true">Sundar Purush</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="ar0nt-2-0"> coming out of his third break near Pycroft’s road colony when I reached that point. My guilt in resorting to daily water breaks was assuaged and ego pampered.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e1l9a-0-0"> Even if I regularly run 32K each day, the monthly kilometerage would fall tantalizingly close to the four figure mark. The challenge would be not overstretch on some holiday to hit the four figure mark!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-35104795646468163122016-04-15T03:34:00.000-07:002016-04-15T03:35:13.585-07:00It is no laughing matter this!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="2vqb9-0-0">Even though Gandhiji had made it a fashion statement for half naked men to go out in Khadi, sixty five years into independence the new generation sometimes cannot hide its mirth at seeing the country aspiring for Digital India with men still latching on to old fashion. In my new found maturity and control, I have been trying to laugh off such laughing episodes even if at my expense! When a young girl in resplendent clothes standing under the Labour statue (ironically, with half naked men straining at physical labour!) burst out into laughter at my attire, I smiled back at her and told her to ask her parents to take her to see Gandhi statue further down Marina Beach and tell her the story of Gandhi’s vow at Madurai. I am still looking for her since that encounter to see if she has been sensitized to Gandhi’s gear.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="d9pod-0-0">I sometimes cross celebrities during my morning run and for fear of rejection do not initiate conversation with them. Today when I was into my second loop from Lighthouse, just after crossing Netaji statue, I thought I saw comedian actor Vivek! Now, I am a huge fan of his, but, having crossed him after a brief hesitation, I thought he also showed some interest (could it be my gear!). I steeled myself and retraced my steps to talk to him. I found him also coming towards me. He initiated the conversation that he would like to speak to me. I was gushing like a star struck teenager who is tongue tied in the presence of its heartthrob. I recovered quickly and said that he can, but, only after I have asked him my questions. Next few moments it was a flurry of talk from me on how big fan I am of his vivek-ful comedy and how he has single handedly raised the standard of comedy in Tamil movies. In the process his questions about my running (particularly barefoot!) went largely unanswered. He obliged me with a snap with him which I am inserting to buttress my claim.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="eg792-0-0">He asked his colleague to take my mobile number so that he could Whatsapp the photos to me. I had the presence of mind to tell him that I am smart, but, do not have a smart phone (now how is that for a joke on Vivek, we laughingly call such instances as ‘Hanuman ke High jump_aaa’!). I think I will be able to have normal conversation with him if and when I get to meet him again!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dnfmg-0-0">I was flying in my run after this encounter and took timeout when I crossed Sundar Purush to tell him the story. It took me a greater part of the rest of the run to get back to ground. I was an instant hit with my daughter and wife when I told them of this encounter. To think that I was in half a mind to bunk my run today! I am excluding other regular features in this post (including Biscuit’s antics!) to my subsequent posts.</span><br />
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178388517581748919.post-74003336159717767122016-04-11T04:46:00.000-07:002016-04-11T04:46:01.534-07:00To be in others shoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span data-offset-key="52hfq-0-0"> The moving video of a Labrador (with a striking resemblance to boot!) insisting on and carrying his mistress’s favourite flower to her grave, praying for her and lying down with its mournful eyes looking at you was heart wrenching. Much as I my heart would wish to have Biscuit around till my last day, having watched both movies ‘Marley and Me’ and ‘Haachiko’, my cool head prays that Biscuit leaves earlier to meet our maker and reserves a place for me alongside.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2cib8-0-0"> Keeping these somber thoughts aside for the moment and returning to my daily runs, today was the 25th day of unbroken running stint since entering my 55th year. Yesterday night there was a disturbing news where the father of a youth killed by a schoolboy driving a high end car was being interviewed. Just into my run in the morning a big car stopped next to me. The driver, a young kid, could be just out of school asked me why I was running. Before I could answer, the kid at the back intervened in a slurred voice asking me the way to Parrys. Surely, they were not seeking guidance from an elder about the way to go, but, trying to pull my leg. He invited me for a duel, to which I politely declined. I told them to drive carefully and carried on. I knew that they were in no position to listen to any homilies from me. I stopped at the first police patrol vehicle and asked the officer to inform the beat vehicles on the route to Parrys to look out for the colour and number of vehicle to see that they do not come to harm or cause harm.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9l06n-0-0"> Just another day a bunch of youngsters with one young lady, the high decibels pointing to their being high, broke into a loud guffaw as I passed them on Beach road. Normally, I would have challenged them for a run, but, this time I tried to imagine my response at their age on seeing a middle (?) aged man half naked and barefoot running so early in the morning and smiled to myself. This is probably trying to be in others shoes! Takes lot of self control I tell you, particularly when you are being giggled at by a young mixed company.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="aie04-0-0"> Now, the readers may not think that I have become a Saint! I did bark at an Auto driver who advised me to not run near the middle of the road. I think I am touchy about people wanting me to abandon the middle path a join either ‘Kanhaiya’ (of JNU fame!) or ‘Mohan’ (, how do I tell them that both are names of Lord Krishna! </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8nt0l-0-0"> Could not complete the report started on Thursday last and what comes next is gist of experiences of runs on day 26th to 28th , the first two days with </span><span class="_5u8u" data-offset-key="8nt0l-1-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #dce6f8;"><span data-offset-key="8nt0l-1-0"><span data-text="true">Manoj Bhat</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="8nt0l-2-0">.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="92ith-0-0"> Apart from the general discussions on the perils of running alone and being confronted by road rage exhibited by fellow road users, where we found lot of commonality of experiences, the consensus was to work on improving our response so as not to excite the animal in our fellow travelers!</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="euo2a-0-0"> We had an interesting discussion on how to make running more futuristic. The issue of carrying/sourcing drinking water during long runs came up. I could only come up with water dispensers put up by charity minded individuals. Thinking further, we came up with some kind of device which can extract humidity from surrounding air to provide water on the run. We could also think of recycling sweat using desalination technology at a micro scale.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5mj48-0-0"> As for using the calories spent by runners more usefully (I used to get these looks from ordinary folks who go about their daily tasks laughing at me running without a useful end by their standards!). I thought of an idea of putting up stationary bikes in public places (Marina Beach for starters!) where anybody could come and cycle for a duration and coin machine could dispense cash/coupons (exchangeable at various outlets) in proportion to the energy generated. The energy so generated could be used to charge mobile phones for a charge or even ploughed back to the grid. Youngsters racing without helmets on speed bikes could instead prove their virility on one of these exercise bikes to impress the other sex. Kids could make pocket money on the side and improve their health too! If anything stops me from acting on my own idea, blame it on lack of entrepreneurial skills in my genes (TAMBRAM!) and my old bones!.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6bjks-0-0"> Finally, I was able to run a full marathon on Sunday. The forced rest today and aggravation of Monday blues as a result was not entirely due to the wasting effect of the Sun, but, family duty of receiving wife at the station. Jo Bibi se karte hain pyaar, who station se pick up karne se kaise karein inkaar! Hubli passenger would get back on rail from tomorrow!</span></div>
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Vishyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09926939866720630481noreply@blogger.com0