I had the opportunity to visit Dallas and Houston in Texas, recently. I flew into Dallas from Omaha NE and spent a couple of days here with my friend and old colleague in Indian Oil, CLN Rao.
My friend picked me up from the airport and drove me to his house some 30 miles from the airport. He had built his house a few years before and I was made absolutely comfortable, by his family, who were all perfect Hosts. And his house, oh my God, it is not just a house, it is a tastefully built HOME, sweet home, designed with taste, and executed with finesse.
My friend took me to the Kennedy Memorial, and showed me round the place, and the spot where Kennedy was hit by the killer bullet. On the road where the Kennedy convoy was attacked by a bullet from the rear, the exact spot where the bullet killed Kennedy is marked with a huge X in red. The building, the book depository, from where the assassin Lee Oswald took aim from a 6th Floor window, is at such an odd angle to the convoy passing below, it is really difficult to buy the story, that Kennedy was hit by Lee Oswald only from the rear. Perhaps there is a good amount of validity in the various conspiracy theories in circulation, about the Kennedy assassination. The Green Mound, right in front of the assassination spot, appeared to be a more likely place for the actual killing bullet to have come from, and hit Kennedy. Of course there is no proof on this, unfortunately.
Then I traveled by Bus to Houston. Here again I had a perfect Host in my nephew Shashank and his family, who not only made me comfortable but pampered me with genuine affection. Shashank drove me to the NASA Center on a Sunday morning, to show me round the famous Houston Space Control Center. It is named as Johnson Space Center. The U S Flag flies on this Bldg., whenever a U S Citizen is in Space. And they explain that for the past 13 years the U S Flag was never brought down as there has always been a U S Astronaut in Space ! Then the Saturn V rocket displayed in a horizontal position is something to marvel at. Such a monumental steel structure with intricate cables running into several miles ( if laid straight on a plain ground ), and millions of nut bolts and screws, a testimony to human engineering skills. Just incredible. And come to think of it, this Saturn V Rocket becomes vertical and from the launching pad lifts off into outer space. And the Control Centre where constantly they hear voices from outer space " Houston, we have a problem "!
After NASA, I went to see my old Indian Oil colleague and good friend Syed Abu Sarwar, who has been in Houston for over 30 years now. We went out for Lunch to a place called The India Gourmet, where we were treated royally as my friend Sarwar knows the restaurant guys very closely.
Over lunch my friend Sarwar told me about an Organisation called The Houston Shifa Services Foundation, which was started by a few freinds and himself, in 1993, with the sole aim of giving back something to the Community and Society, for what all blessings we received from God the Almighty. It was a noble and Unique Thought : To give back to the Community, something.
This Shifa Foundation is a charitable Organisation that has been working in the Greater Houston area for the welfare and assistance of the less privileged and needy. They operate 4 community Clinics, a Women's Centre, two Social Rehab Centers, and two educational Centers.
They help ever so many youngsters and old people of low income, belonging to African- American, Hispanic and Asian-American Groups, who get on the job training platforms. Shifa also gives training for professionals in Information Technology, Marketing and starting new businesses. Commendable Community Service.
On my return to Dallas, again by Bus, I got into a train, the Metro of Dallas, that took me through Downtown Dallas, University of Dallas, Texas, and some well organised suburbs. At the Terminal of the train I took, The Belle View Station, I took a Bus and reached the Airport to catch my flight back to Omaha.
The US and its multi - racial, multi - ethnic, multi - racial, population is truly an El Dorado for any person who has the will to excel and is prepared to work hard. The sky is the limit. No one stops you from growing. That one great character of this great Nation impressed me. May God Bless this Country.
Ramachandra Parsa
Omaha Nebraska, Dec.28, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Time is nearing to say, Adieu !
It has been well over 7 weeks since landing on the East Coast of USA. We saw a good number of places, Events, Temples, Waterfalls, Cities, Monuments, Sky scrapers, Memorials and Historic Buildings,
in these 7 weeks, and in another 4 weeks, we will be moving to the Central part of the US, Omaha in Nebraska State.
Time is nearing to say Adieu to these parts, people, friends and my son Avinash, daughter-in-law Neetha and grand daughter Ananya, who have been splendid hosts.
People have been mostly, very friendly, genuinely friendly, cheerful and very helping wherever we went. That's perhaps the Nature of these Americans. In my morning walks, in railway stations, in trains, in restaurants, in Theatres, in any Public Place, the Average American is very courteous, law abiding, friendly and never waits for the other person to wish first. Ever smiling, they invariably wish you first and show utmost courtesy, in the typical " Pahle Aap " manner.
Only two things I did not like here. One, the very hostile cold climate ( mind you they call this time of the year their Summer ).
And two, the number of cars on roads.
Hundreds of thousands of cars are always on the roads, ( of course none of them puff or smoke, as pollution control is in the top most gear everywhere) ,that one thought that came to my mind spontaneously
was "This Nation lives and works for the survival of the Automoble Industry !" Cars and cars and cars, every where, for every one, as this Nation has a very poor Public Transport System. They expect every one to own or hire a car.
The woods in New Jersey are really dark and deep as Robert Frost wrote in one of his poems. Thick forest cover everywhere and a green carpet on all plain cleared land spaces. So very cool on the eye. Lots of Deer can be spotted when you drive along the lovely roads, and plenty of beautiful birds chirping away musically on the trees and bushes at all times. ( during day time, of course )
The US Open 2013 at Flushing Meadows, was a dream come true. The Arthur Ashe Stadium was a great experience to sit in and view one of the Grand Slam Tournaments.
The Broadway Experience is another milestone Memory. Went to the Majestic Theatre and saw The Phantom of the Opera, a Musical which was worth seeing. A real theatre experience !
Among the Monuments that really stand out in your Memory are : The Statue Of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial Ground Zero, and the renowned New York Public Library.
The 9/11 Memorial is very Solemn, and is steeped in an Emtional Tribute to those 2977 persons who were brutally killed by the Terrorists, in those unbelievable horror strikes on that fateful day in 2001. One cannot but shed a tear or two as you go round the South Pool and the North Pool, huge square shaped pools created at the spots where the fallen Twin Towers stood. Inscriptions of names, of all those who perished on that day in this catastrophe, in bronze parapets around the pools, with a request to touch the inscriptions and pray for the departed Souls really moves you. A very touching tribute to the victims by the shocked Nation.
The Statue of Liberty, is just awesome in its size and Majesty of its sculputure, and the Ideals for which it stands. A Gift by the French people to the people of the Land which still upholds Liberty, and Equality in a large measure. And is definitely more than in any other Democracy on Earth.
The New York Public Library leaves you just speechless, for its size, its contents, its methodology of preservation of books and the facilities it provides to the Readers / Users of this gigantic Library. Its an experience, to be experienced. It cannot be described !
And for a devout person from India, the Temples at Bridgewater and Straudsburg, are a soothing balm for any tense mind. Very serene and thoughtfully planned temples, where you go and the Soul in you simply rejoices !
Like all good things in Life, even this Odessey through New York / New Jersey is nearin its End. And its time to say, Adieu !
in these 7 weeks, and in another 4 weeks, we will be moving to the Central part of the US, Omaha in Nebraska State.
Time is nearing to say Adieu to these parts, people, friends and my son Avinash, daughter-in-law Neetha and grand daughter Ananya, who have been splendid hosts.
People have been mostly, very friendly, genuinely friendly, cheerful and very helping wherever we went. That's perhaps the Nature of these Americans. In my morning walks, in railway stations, in trains, in restaurants, in Theatres, in any Public Place, the Average American is very courteous, law abiding, friendly and never waits for the other person to wish first. Ever smiling, they invariably wish you first and show utmost courtesy, in the typical " Pahle Aap " manner.
Only two things I did not like here. One, the very hostile cold climate ( mind you they call this time of the year their Summer ).
And two, the number of cars on roads.
Hundreds of thousands of cars are always on the roads, ( of course none of them puff or smoke, as pollution control is in the top most gear everywhere) ,that one thought that came to my mind spontaneously
was "This Nation lives and works for the survival of the Automoble Industry !" Cars and cars and cars, every where, for every one, as this Nation has a very poor Public Transport System. They expect every one to own or hire a car.
The woods in New Jersey are really dark and deep as Robert Frost wrote in one of his poems. Thick forest cover everywhere and a green carpet on all plain cleared land spaces. So very cool on the eye. Lots of Deer can be spotted when you drive along the lovely roads, and plenty of beautiful birds chirping away musically on the trees and bushes at all times. ( during day time, of course )
The US Open 2013 at Flushing Meadows, was a dream come true. The Arthur Ashe Stadium was a great experience to sit in and view one of the Grand Slam Tournaments.
The Broadway Experience is another milestone Memory. Went to the Majestic Theatre and saw The Phantom of the Opera, a Musical which was worth seeing. A real theatre experience !
Among the Monuments that really stand out in your Memory are : The Statue Of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial Ground Zero, and the renowned New York Public Library.
The 9/11 Memorial is very Solemn, and is steeped in an Emtional Tribute to those 2977 persons who were brutally killed by the Terrorists, in those unbelievable horror strikes on that fateful day in 2001. One cannot but shed a tear or two as you go round the South Pool and the North Pool, huge square shaped pools created at the spots where the fallen Twin Towers stood. Inscriptions of names, of all those who perished on that day in this catastrophe, in bronze parapets around the pools, with a request to touch the inscriptions and pray for the departed Souls really moves you. A very touching tribute to the victims by the shocked Nation.
The Statue of Liberty, is just awesome in its size and Majesty of its sculputure, and the Ideals for which it stands. A Gift by the French people to the people of the Land which still upholds Liberty, and Equality in a large measure. And is definitely more than in any other Democracy on Earth.
The New York Public Library leaves you just speechless, for its size, its contents, its methodology of preservation of books and the facilities it provides to the Readers / Users of this gigantic Library. Its an experience, to be experienced. It cannot be described !
And for a devout person from India, the Temples at Bridgewater and Straudsburg, are a soothing balm for any tense mind. Very serene and thoughtfully planned temples, where you go and the Soul in you simply rejoices !
Like all good things in Life, even this Odessey through New York / New Jersey is nearin its End. And its time to say, Adieu !
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Actresses with Elegance
These days, actresses are a dime a dozen. Actresses are wanted for various Films in Hindi and Regional languages. They are needed for TV Serials. They are needed for Short films, and Art Films. And of course good looking girls first enter the Modelling industry and slowly graduate to Miss India, Miss World, beauty contests. There after they jump into films.
Not all actresses have the Elegance that is the Hallmark of Feminine beauty. Attractive, fatally attractive figures are different from truly graceful and elegant figures, who make a deep impression on the minds of those who behold their beauty.
Let me start from the latest faces and go back to the to yester year actresses.
Shruti Hassan and Sonam Kapoor, of late, have been very successful in films and they carry themselves with that grace and poise which finally can be termed as Elegant. Both these actresses reflect a subtle innocence and sparkle in their eyes. They have the poise and refreshingly simple looks, that puts them in the category of Elegant Actresses.
One generation before these two actresses, were Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Deekshit and Rani Mukherjee, who had that extra something in their looks and personality to qualify for the category of Elegance personified.
And if you go back into yester years you can examine, Hema Malini, Raakhee, Vidya Sinha ( the Rajnigandha girl ), for the class of Elegance.
And in the 50s we had, Nargis, Nutan and Meena Kumari in Hindi and Savitri and Devika in Telugu films, who were truly Elegant in their times.
And in Hollywood, in those golden 50s were, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardener, Grace Kelly who simply exuded Elegance in their demeanour.
But today you talk to any youngster, and they will innocently ask "what is Elegance, please ? " ! Because today beauty means only glamorous and fatally attractive like Vidya Balan in Dirty Picture !
To appreciate Beauty, one has to cultivate a taste as such and look upon the extra ordinary feminine form that God Created. Only aesthetic painters, sculptors and later day photographers could appreciate and show their creative talent in depicting the Feminine Beauty, which God Created with so much care and patience.
Not all actresses have the Elegance that is the Hallmark of Feminine beauty. Attractive, fatally attractive figures are different from truly graceful and elegant figures, who make a deep impression on the minds of those who behold their beauty.
Let me start from the latest faces and go back to the to yester year actresses.
Shruti Hassan and Sonam Kapoor, of late, have been very successful in films and they carry themselves with that grace and poise which finally can be termed as Elegant. Both these actresses reflect a subtle innocence and sparkle in their eyes. They have the poise and refreshingly simple looks, that puts them in the category of Elegant Actresses.
One generation before these two actresses, were Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Deekshit and Rani Mukherjee, who had that extra something in their looks and personality to qualify for the category of Elegance personified.
And if you go back into yester years you can examine, Hema Malini, Raakhee, Vidya Sinha ( the Rajnigandha girl ), for the class of Elegance.
And in the 50s we had, Nargis, Nutan and Meena Kumari in Hindi and Savitri and Devika in Telugu films, who were truly Elegant in their times.
And in Hollywood, in those golden 50s were, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardener, Grace Kelly who simply exuded Elegance in their demeanour.
But today you talk to any youngster, and they will innocently ask "what is Elegance, please ? " ! Because today beauty means only glamorous and fatally attractive like Vidya Balan in Dirty Picture !
To appreciate Beauty, one has to cultivate a taste as such and look upon the extra ordinary feminine form that God Created. Only aesthetic painters, sculptors and later day photographers could appreciate and show their creative talent in depicting the Feminine Beauty, which God Created with so much care and patience.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Self Help Group. A non-govt.organisation
Swasakthi Seva Samstha.
A young man bubbling with enthusiasm asked me my opinion about his starting a NGO called Sulaksha Seva Samithi or some thing like that. I don't remember exactly what was the name he wanted to give to his self help NGO.
I asked him to go ahead and do what ever he can but take care to be sincere and absolutely loyal to his objective and to sustain the initial enthusiasm through out without allowing the idea to peter out and disappear into thin air after some time. I also promised him to give some ideas to work on.
Hence this endeavour to jot down certain thoughts that could perhaps be translated into action.
The self help group must have as its core a well defined objective. What the Society needs today most. A few examples are Housing for the middle class family, Health Care at the Govt. Primary Health Centres and in Govt. Hospitals, and clean surroundings where sanitation, garbage removal, and road cleanliness and maintenance, are given the due importance they deserve, and primary education at Govt. Schools.
A square can be visualised, with the 4 corners of the Square allotted to Housing, Health Care, Municipal Civic amenities and Education. The Core idea is the Self Help relying on its Own Power, Swasakthi, to attack the problems constructively, find workable solutions and confront the Administration and the Politicians to act and solve the problems.
This NGO must visit Govt. Health Centres and Hospitals and expose the live problems like shortage of staff, shortage of funds, and the prime disease of not bothering to rectify the defects even if it is within one's power. Similarly they should help Housing Societies to be formed of genuine seekers and help them to get Govt. land allotted wherever possible and get various Statutory Clearances quickly and without bribes.
Next, visit Primary Schools and expose their problems and make the administration and local Politician ACT, to set right the ailing system. And make the Municipalities do their job sincerely to maintain all civic amenities and Cleanliness of their Municipality.
An active, youthful NGO getting down to these tasks will win public acclaim and the administration and the local Politician will wake up and do their job effectively. They will have no other escape if the NGO means business and does a sincere job.
Of course several other aspects can be fine tuned to make the NGO, have really a Cutting Edge, to make the life of the common man more pleasant.
Hydrabad, March 30, 2013. Ramachandra Parsa.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Sojourn in Singapore.
Sojourn In Singapore.
My holiday in Singapore is coming to an end. I am going back to India,on 26th February 2013. I had come here in December 2012, on 1st December to be precise.
I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Singapore this time. I will be carrying back vivid memories of my stay here for the past 10 weeks. The morning walks around the Condo, " The Eden " ,
the serene sounds of water flowing and dripping down from the Swimming Pool and the inflow of water into the pool by way of fountain springs and a waterfall in one side, gives me immense peace of mind and a pleasant feeling of undisturbed calmness in the mornings after my walk. I sit by the pool side for about 10 minutes, after a 30 minute brisk walk around the condo. It is so invigorating to the mind and body.
The outings I had to the Changi Village Indian Temple, a Ramalayam, book shopping at the Kinokunia, in the Takashi Maya Mall on Orchard Road, the site seeing at the Esplanade by the night, the films I saw in the Tampines Golden Village Multiplexes, the Lectures I attended on Srimad Bhagavatam at Clementi, at the residence of an affluent Family of Indian ( Vijayawada ) origin, for 5 days, were all, most satisfying to both the body and the Spirit.
The films I saw at home in the downloads of old English Movies was another pleasant experience. When it rained incessantly and going out of doors was impossible, Movies on the Video circuit were the natural option to spend time. Movies of 1960s like " Operation Crossbow ", " 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ", brought back memories of those classic movies and those Actors and Actresses, who enacted their characters so flawlessly and efficiently with dignity and poise, that you could hardly believe that they were acting their roles.
And the last movie I saw was the famous 1953, classic, " The Roman Holiday ", starring Gregory Peck, and Audrey Hepburn, who was introduced in this movie. The story of a Royal Princess who goes out of the Royal Protocol and roams around Rome as an incognito commoner, for 24 hours, but goes back to her normal life in her Royal Family, to uphold the tradition of Royalty in her country, is depicted, superbly, by the Director and the Stars. The last scene where the Princess holds a Press Conference is so moving and touching that you just cant believe your eyes as you see the Princess express her emotions in her eyes and face when she has to face the journalist who shows her around Rome when she goes out on her adventure to roam around as a commoner. The dignity and poise she displays in conducting the Press Meet and the way the " Gentlemen of the Press ", conduct themselves in asking questions, is some thing this generation Press Corps, must see and learn.
Talking of Audrey Hepburn, reminds me of the interesting story of how she was to do the role of the Flower Girl in Bernard Shaw's famous play " Pygmalion ", which was being made as a Film called " My Fair Lady " in mid 60s, in place of Julie Andrews, who was doing this Play on the Broadway Stage for more than a year by then. Every one expected the producers Warner Brothers who made this film to cast Ms. Andrews for the principal role of the poor Flower Girl, Eliza Dolittle. But Warner Brothers took Audrey Hepburn for the role which was a big surprise for every one. And for Ms. Andrews it was a great shock and disappointment. They say she almost went into a depression. To cheer her up, 20th Century Fox, promised her to produce a big Musical, casting her in the pivotal heroine role, to offset her disappointment of losing the My Fair Lady role.
And, Yes, they made the film " Sound of Music ", an all time super hit of a Musical, which had Romance, both teen age and middle aged ones, suspense, a gripping story and all time, hit songs. Most importantly seven young children played a great part in the success of this movie, with the all time favourites " Doe Ray Me ---- doe a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun,----" , and "one little bird popping upto say Cuckoo ! " and the last line sung by the youngest child in the cast, " the Sun has gone to bed and so must I ". These songs were a real match to the My Fair Lady songs, like " All I want is a room somewhere ---", " The rains fall mainly on the Plains of Spain,------- and where are the soggy plains ? --- In Spain in Spain " ! And both Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music turned in Oscar Winning Performances. I am not sure whether they got the Oscars for these films. But they were both stunning performers.
Such were the Movies, the competitive Spirit between Producers and Stars and the quality of Cinema we saw in the Fifties and Sixties. Those days will not come back. Those films will not be made again. Those Stars will not come again.
My holiday in Singapore is coming to an end. I am going back to India,on 26th February 2013. I had come here in December 2012, on 1st December to be precise.
I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Singapore this time. I will be carrying back vivid memories of my stay here for the past 10 weeks. The morning walks around the Condo, " The Eden " ,
the serene sounds of water flowing and dripping down from the Swimming Pool and the inflow of water into the pool by way of fountain springs and a waterfall in one side, gives me immense peace of mind and a pleasant feeling of undisturbed calmness in the mornings after my walk. I sit by the pool side for about 10 minutes, after a 30 minute brisk walk around the condo. It is so invigorating to the mind and body.
The outings I had to the Changi Village Indian Temple, a Ramalayam, book shopping at the Kinokunia, in the Takashi Maya Mall on Orchard Road, the site seeing at the Esplanade by the night, the films I saw in the Tampines Golden Village Multiplexes, the Lectures I attended on Srimad Bhagavatam at Clementi, at the residence of an affluent Family of Indian ( Vijayawada ) origin, for 5 days, were all, most satisfying to both the body and the Spirit.
The films I saw at home in the downloads of old English Movies was another pleasant experience. When it rained incessantly and going out of doors was impossible, Movies on the Video circuit were the natural option to spend time. Movies of 1960s like " Operation Crossbow ", " 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ", brought back memories of those classic movies and those Actors and Actresses, who enacted their characters so flawlessly and efficiently with dignity and poise, that you could hardly believe that they were acting their roles.
And the last movie I saw was the famous 1953, classic, " The Roman Holiday ", starring Gregory Peck, and Audrey Hepburn, who was introduced in this movie. The story of a Royal Princess who goes out of the Royal Protocol and roams around Rome as an incognito commoner, for 24 hours, but goes back to her normal life in her Royal Family, to uphold the tradition of Royalty in her country, is depicted, superbly, by the Director and the Stars. The last scene where the Princess holds a Press Conference is so moving and touching that you just cant believe your eyes as you see the Princess express her emotions in her eyes and face when she has to face the journalist who shows her around Rome when she goes out on her adventure to roam around as a commoner. The dignity and poise she displays in conducting the Press Meet and the way the " Gentlemen of the Press ", conduct themselves in asking questions, is some thing this generation Press Corps, must see and learn.
Talking of Audrey Hepburn, reminds me of the interesting story of how she was to do the role of the Flower Girl in Bernard Shaw's famous play " Pygmalion ", which was being made as a Film called " My Fair Lady " in mid 60s, in place of Julie Andrews, who was doing this Play on the Broadway Stage for more than a year by then. Every one expected the producers Warner Brothers who made this film to cast Ms. Andrews for the principal role of the poor Flower Girl, Eliza Dolittle. But Warner Brothers took Audrey Hepburn for the role which was a big surprise for every one. And for Ms. Andrews it was a great shock and disappointment. They say she almost went into a depression. To cheer her up, 20th Century Fox, promised her to produce a big Musical, casting her in the pivotal heroine role, to offset her disappointment of losing the My Fair Lady role.
And, Yes, they made the film " Sound of Music ", an all time super hit of a Musical, which had Romance, both teen age and middle aged ones, suspense, a gripping story and all time, hit songs. Most importantly seven young children played a great part in the success of this movie, with the all time favourites " Doe Ray Me ---- doe a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun,----" , and "one little bird popping upto say Cuckoo ! " and the last line sung by the youngest child in the cast, " the Sun has gone to bed and so must I ". These songs were a real match to the My Fair Lady songs, like " All I want is a room somewhere ---", " The rains fall mainly on the Plains of Spain,------- and where are the soggy plains ? --- In Spain in Spain " ! And both Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music turned in Oscar Winning Performances. I am not sure whether they got the Oscars for these films. But they were both stunning performers.
Such were the Movies, the competitive Spirit between Producers and Stars and the quality of Cinema we saw in the Fifties and Sixties. Those days will not come back. Those films will not be made again. Those Stars will not come again.
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