SRI'S Blog

  The title will make you ask what is it ? ‘Kadaimugam in Laagadam’ The Kadaimugam is a yearly trip that is undertaken to have a holy dip in River Cauvery . Thula Snaanam, also referred as T h ula Punya Snanam, is an important bathing ritual observed in Tamil Nadu. It is observed in the Tamil Month Aipassi (October – November), which is also referred as Thula  (Kaveri). Puranas narrates about the importance of the holy bath.. Our visit this year was on Nov 16, 2022 To us who travelled this year as well , it begins and ends with our Tour Hero Aravind. ( Colleague at Ford ) Aravind has been organizing these trips for close a decade—It is not the holy bath that is key ingredient but the entire way the whole trip and other temple visits that are planned is  amazing. Travel for this trip in November begins as early as in July – the optimum size of the group is 14 ( this fits in to a Tempo Traveler ).. Others can come but have to find a transport to follow the group. Tickets are bo

  On Nov 21st, Rotary District Governor Dr Nandakumar inaugurated the use of the Fluorescent microscope at the VHS hospital—The donation was an outcome of excellent collaboration between two Rotary Clubs—Rotary Club of Madras South and Rotary Club of Campbell Town Australia as well as leveraging Rotary International's Global Grant Program to enable Advance Technology for identifying Fungi and reducing Turnaround time in the process of identification. During the testing times of the Pandemic, most Rotary Clubs had swung into action, trying their best to help – the Rotary Club of Campbell Town was no different. The club was worried about the rising cases, especially in India. Rtn Babu Kanagasabai of RC Campbell Town who has roots in India wanted to help. He urged his President for a fundraising program and he lead the effort with a Fundraising dinner—Rtn Babu was also clear that the money had to get to India and the need to raise at least 25000 $ to help qualify for a Global Grant

  All that the English media and team players can talk about is that run out dismissal – They found an excuse for the loss, not in that match alone but the series…. Fact of the matter was that Indian Women beat England in their den hollow –   Not an easy task considering conditions and playing away from home.   England did miss their regular players due to injury and other reasons but one cannot take away the fact that India played extremely well to achieve this result.   In the first two ODI s, India just outplayed England. First Smiriti Mandhana ran away with the chase in the first ODI with support from skipper Harmanpreet who was in dazzling form. In the second ODI, Harmanpreet just nailed the match with an outstanding 143 not out and England   lost the chase. And the series was won by India. The third and final ODI was just an another match .But with the veteran   Jhulan Goswami retiring in this match , the girls wanted to ensure it was won …   And they did win it for Jhulan Jhul

  The Announcement was coming, probably it was   overdue.. With injuries and surgeries and with age , Roger Federer ( RF ) called it a day on his playing career. It had been an outstanding 20 years or so at the helm of Men s Tennis . At 41 ,he was competitive still but the demand of the tour are such , this decision was the right one. My first match with which I started following him   was from   Wimbledon 2001 – it was a Fourth round match and I at that time was rooting for Pete Sampras who was the defending Champion and RF was unknown !   Pete was invincible on grass and coming in to this match   at Wimbledon he had won 56 out of the 57 matches that he had played   on grass. But then, the   hair in neat   Pony tail RF   for whom it was the first match on Center Court, upset all expectations and sent the defending Champion out of the tournament in a classic five setter .. He made everyone sit up and   take notice and watch and that   included me .. twenty years on   he was a 20 time

  The Ford Digital Literacy Program has been in existence for more than a decade. Partnership with primarily Rotary and with several deserving NGO has led to the deployment and setting  up of computer labs  across the country – As they Say “Kashmir to Kanyakumari” –covering the length and breadth of the country. There is nothing like visiting the schools or other institutions to see how the computers are deployed and used.. the proof the pudding lies in being on the ground and understanding realities.   It was with that intent that I visited Thiruvallur district – Area where one of our partners ASHA works in and with 85  schools – spread across Elementary( Classes 1-5 ) to Middle ( 6-8) to High Schools( 11and 12 th grades ) Mr Rajaraman and Mr Ramakrishnan Volunteers of ASHA were kind enough to take me to some of the schools that they work with and show how effectively the computers are deployed. We visited a middle school , a elementary school and a High school covering all c

  So far the Little Heart Surgeries Project ( Aimed to perform surgeries to correct Congenital Heart Defects ) has completed over 400 surgeries in five years or so since it was launched.   This would not have been possible without the Grace of God and with support of so many  kind hearted people ( Doctors , Rotarians of the Globe  ( Calling out Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Pasendena Club who are Partners)), Nurses , support staff, Government of TN CM   Insurance scheme , Corporates like Ford , CAMS and many more Romba Naala Ullangal   😊 )   We used to visit the hospital regularly and check on the little kids and their families   who went through the surgery 9 2017- till early2020). During the Pandemic where we restricted our visits to the hospital , it was through phones calls alone. One thought that always used to linger with us ( Core team ) was to check these kids post say two or three years after surgery and see how they were doing by a visit to their place of residence.