Bucket List One

People dream of many dreams. Some are normal. Some are wild. Some are outright ridiculous. Yet they are dreams !

Even I dream. I dream a lot. In fact I can be placed in the category  " Day Dreamer "  !

Latest dream, I am now dreaming of a future of some accomplishments I should achieve before I kick the bucket.

I dream that may be if I get a large sum of white money, after taxes, so that whatever I spend is not questioned as to its Source.

Suppose God gives me a purse of Ten Crores Indian National Rupees. INR 10 Crores after tax. 

What will I do ?

I will first and foremost clear the Bank loan of 3 Crores my sons have taken to rebuild our Cuckoos Nest into 4 floors. Give them an additional 1 Crore to finish the project.

That leaves 6 Crores with me.

I will then deposit 50 lakhs each in my 4 children's names in such Deposits that give them a safe income month after month. Safe Government Deposits like Post Office or State Bank Of India. Which should give each of them a steady Pocket Money every month.

And one deposit of 50 lakhs in my wife's name So that she earns a decent Pocket Money every month to spend as she desires. Then I will deposit One Crore in my name so as to supplement my monthly income of a meagre pension I get from Indian Oil. This will enable me to spend on my little luxuries and travels to see my friends, kith and kin in Chennai and Delhi.

Now how much will be the balance left ?  2 and a half Crores will be the balance left.

I will deposit 50 lakhs each for my two brothers and sister, so that they are taken care of for their survival'

Then I will be left with one crore. 

What next ?     Million dollar question  ?   

  No,  no,  I have adequate dreams to spend that sum !

I will invest this one crore in developing the ancestral land of 41 acres,  I have in Polampalli hamlet of Usirikayalapalli  village in Karepalli Mandal of Khammam District.

I have already invested 3 to 4 lakhs in levelling the land and digging a bore well in 2017. I was waiting for a Revenue Department Passbook. This never came  will not come in the normal course.

 I have to make settlements with the encroachers who crept in after I developed the land. Either pay cash or surrender some land and make a settlement. Bribe the Revenue Officials and get absolute possession and the blessed Govt. Passbook. Build a compound wall and be done. That alone will ensure that no more  encroachments will take place again. Maybe a chunk of 4 to 5 acres may slip away and I will be poorer by 15 or 20 lakhs. Yet I would have salvaged at least 30 to 35 acres of land.

Then call a Horticultural Contractor from West Godavari District, to lay an orchard of fruits,  Mango, Guava ( Jama ), Sapota and Custard Apple in 20 acres.   It was surveyed by a Horticulturist and these are the fruits that will grow in this land as per the soil testing results. This spade work was done in 2017.

Another 5 acres for flowers. Another 5 acres for Medicinal Herbs like Tulasi Etc.

And build a dwelling house, a tiled house,  of 3 bedrooms, 4 inner verandas, 4 outer verandas in a rectangular shape,with an open to sky courtyard inside the rectangle. An ancient design known as Chatur Saala Bhavanthi.

Develop a Badminton court and a Vollyball court for the Youth of the area to come and play in the evenings. A library with newspaers and magazines for the youth to entertain themselves. I will name it as Parsa Youth Centre !

To ensure this dwelling is financially self sufficient, I will start a Cottage Industry of making Pickles and Snacks for Exports. 4 pickles and 4 snacks only. Hand made and on order only. No inventory holding. Shelf Life will be only 15 days !

To make these pickles I will offer a 50 : 50 partnership to a good cook's family. They put in their labour and skill. I put in the Finances. They need not put in any Fianace. Can be recruited from any of the 4 coastal districts of Andhra. East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur.

One over riding condition of the contract,  is to provide cooks for my residence on a regular basis, no absenteeism at all. An alternate cook should be available at all times..

Its a dream, right ?     So lets dream for the Heaven only !

Last wish, to live a life with Nature in this dwelling which I will call  VAANAPRASTHA

 and leave this world, by God's Grace in a smiling mode.             Haste hue nikle dum. 

A bucket list.

 Reinventing the Wheel !

I always heard this line, Reinventing the wheel but never realized its actual application. Today I suddenly remembered my Blog which I have not been writing for quite a few years. Then I searched the net and got my blog ! Lo, my blog is still there, methinks, as if I discovered something unique !

 Reinvented the wheel ?

I wanted my grand daughter Ananya to read a blog I wrote about her on July 31,2010 ! When she was 10 months old. She asked me " I will check your blog and read it, Thaata, are you still writing ? "

That made me curious. Yes, why not I revive my old habit of writing my blog ? Not a bad idea.

Today the world is aghast with the war on in the middle east between Palistine and Israel on the Gaza strip, mad man shooting in the U S on innocent people,killing them mercilessly and so on. More and more voilence everywhere.

Will peace ever return to this planet ? Or will humans annihilate themselves to destruction ?

God save this planet and these senseless humans who have grown mad with their achievements of destructive weapons ?

Parsa Elder

The Finishing School Concept

My Journey to the West

 The last time I went to the West was in 2018. I was to go in 2020 to be present at the Grihapravesham Ceremony of the New House my daughter Divya and son in law Manoj built in Atlanta Georgia. It was to be in August 2020.

And the Covid 19 had spread rapidly in March 2020. Hoping against Hope that it would subside by July 2020, we were keeping our options open till in early July all travel was stopped and Covid 19 was ruling the Roost all over the World.

We kept waiting and waiting. Finally in early 2022, the Pandemic was retreating and travel lines were opening up slowly but steadily.

Does an Economist have a role to play?

Recently, I read a post on FB, that Economists only record economic activity in a region or nation, like a chronicler and that Economists do not run the Economy.

From 2004 to 2014 India had a renowned Economist as the Prime Minister who was running the Indian Economy, with his men as head of Reserve Bank and as Economic advisers to the Government Of India. He is said to have run the economy effectively for a “ fruitful “ ten year period.

Later the Congress lost the 2014 general elections and B J P came to power. The B J P Prime Minister has his own economists in the Reserve Bank and in his set of economic advisers.

So, economists are playing an important role in the administration irrespective of which party is in power. These economists are thrown up from prestigious institutions like the London School Of Economics, Harvard university and such highly rated institutions. What they have learnt and what they practice are two drastically divergent issues. They are bogged down by their inherent or imbibed political ideologies.

Never do they feel the pulse of the grass root happenings nor do they care to carry out any course corrections as they go along making fundamental mistakes. The reason for this is they never see Economics as a dynamic science. For them it is of a plain academic matter for writing books, theories and expecting peer recognition in seminars and other academic activity. And expect the Nobel Prize for their Theories. It is immaterial for them whether the theories are practical, whether they are yielding the desired results or not.



There have been successful economies in Asia too, where the economic policies were tailored for their specific needs and their citizens. Not by any London School Of Economics stalwart, or a Nobel laureate, but by a practical thinking Prime Minister. Like for example Singapore.

 They realized capitalism is needed to build infrastructure, start industries, to generate wealth and to utilize the wealth created in such a way that the people are the main beneficiaries with their own participation in creating, conserving and distributing the wealth created.

Every person needs a job to sustain himself. A house to live in. A medical care facility to take care of bad times due to ill health, a viable public transport to move around comfortably and easily, a pension fund arrangement to take care of retired life. The citizen is given a house for which he has to pay, a job to perform with highest possible productivity standards and contribute to all welfare measures in whatever way possible. This is called participatory Economics. As opposed to the Left ideology of just redistribute the wealth available to all “ poor citizens “, without they ever contributing to the economy of the country. Creating a class by itself who grow accustomed to indolence indiscipline and demand that every good thing must come to them free of any cost or effort.

Welfare state does not mean the State will provide everything freely and  allow its citizens the freedom to behave the way he/she likes. State for them is the Father who keeps on supplying your needs unto eternity.

In ancient India, in the 4 th Century BCE, there lived an Economist  Prime Minister minister called Kautilya or Chanakya, serving a King called Chandragupta Maurya. Chanakya wrote a treatise
called the  “ Arthasashtra”, which very few people are aware of. Chanakya is only remembered as a Politician of extraordinary abilities to manipulate and conceive tactics to attain and retain power, either by hook or crook.
This is far from the truth. One should learn more about this great Economistwhose Arthasashtra is as relevant today as it was in his times.

PenguineBooks have published a latest translation by one L N Rangarajan. This will throw ample light on this great treatise of  our ancestors.

You will then understand what Chanakya was, what he wrote and how he ran the Gupta Empire Economy.

JNU happenings, Nationalism, Patriotism Redifned !

JNU seems to have taught us all a few lessons in Freedom Of Expression, Students' Right to indulge in Politics, and the art of raising anti national slogans and Hero Worshipping The Devil and calling it " My Fundamental Right of Freedom of Speech " !

First and foremost let us decide to what extant a Student in an University can deviate from his Basic Duty to study and do Research in his preferred Discipline with a Grant from the Government. While Freedom of Expression and the Right to his own Idealogy, has to be Protected by The State, it cannot be an unlimited license to say what ever comes to one's mind.

We need Restraint, analytical approach and a balanced and sane manner of thinking which should help the Society to Prosper, Grow intellectually and lead the younger generation in the proper way of life.

Vivekam, is what one should inculcate. Vivekam, analytical ability to sift facts and reach The Truth and say or do That, which helps Society to grow in a Healthy manner. That is Education. And unfortunately our Universities our Opposition parties and regretfully even the Party in Power fail miserably in this task.

Let Vivekam,  Wisdom and Balanced Thinking come back to our Polity, Student Community and the so called Seculat Intellectuals of this Great Democracy.

Canada Experience.

After spending almost Eight weeks in Toronto, it is time to jot down my experiences in this lovely North American Land called Canada. We came in beginning of May and as we left in the beginning of July, it was very pleasant days and enjoyable nights with comfortable temperatures. Ideal for moving around the country side.

We visited, Blue Mountain Resort near Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa and I alone visited Peterborough to meet my old school friend a classmate, whom I met after 58 years ! It was a memorable reunion after almost six decades !

Ottawa was a great experience. Beautiful city, friendly people and all the Old World majesty and culture of the British. Changing of Guard at the old Parliament House resembled the Change of Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. The same red coat uniforms with the characteristic long black woolen caps or hats on the heads of highly disciplined young guards.

The University , the Libraries and Museums were just out of this world. Majestic , monumental old buildings and a really relaxed way of Life. A paradise to live and work. The Lake, the boating facilities, the well kept walking paths amidst unending greenery. The whole city sits on one grand green carpet.

Mississauga was another suburb I visited to meet an old friend of mine, that reflected the pleasant profile of Toronto.

And a city sight seeing drive with one Mr. Geoff Cape, CEO of a NGO called Evergreen was the most memorable event after my son's Graduation Ceremony at the Toronto University. Mr. Cape was an exceedingly pleasant gentleman full of zest for friendship and courtesy personified towards his fellow beings.

The North York City Library was my favorite haunt on many an afternoon. Great Library, with such quiet ambience most suited for a relaxed reading experience. Every Friday they would screen a good movie, followed by hot Tea / Coffee and snacks. A pleasant and rewarding two hours in the afternoon to see some memorable movies and interact with the film buffs after the show.

And can I forget the event " Shakespeare in High Park " ! A great open air performance by Students of Theatre enacting in immaculate style the Shakespeare Greats, Comedy of Errors and Julius Ceaser.
What a performance the young students delivered ! Out of this world.


Canada and Toronto will always be on my list for a once more visit, God Willing.

Toronto is the place I would love to spend the rest of my life if only it is possible. Lovely climate in Summer, may be a tough time in Winter but it would be worth enduring to wait for the pleasant summer months that will follow the bitterest of winters.

Deepak's Graduation at University of Toronto.

The other day we attended the Convocation in Toronto University where Deepak took his MBA degree. What an impressive function it was !

The age old British traditions are still observed here. The grand Convocation Hall, the orderly manner in which the whole ceremony is conducted and the patience with which the Chancellor meets almost 400 graduates , may be only for a couple of seconds , the smiling handshake he extends to all Graduates is so very marvelous.  So inspiring to the Graduate who is going out in to the big wide world. And the beautiful , crisp and encouraging message he gives them before winding up the proceedings. Some thing out of this world. Great thoughts shared in simple words !

The Chancellor formally convenes the Convocation by saying " In concilium Universitatis Torontonensis vocati sumus " .  In Latin.

And brings the proceedings to a close by saying. " Concilium dimissum est " ! In Latin again.

The old world charm is all there.  It appears that King 's College, the precursor to the University of Toronto was granted its Royal Charter by King George IV, on March 15 , 1827 !

A hoary past, indeed. And traditions being maintained and followed till this day ! Great.

It was my dream to study in a great university. My son Deepak realized it for me. Iam really satisfied and happy for Deepak.

North York, Canada

Deepak / Rajeswari shifted their residence from High Park to another suburb called North York.

The area known as Canterbury Place is a lovely residential and commercial district, beautifully laid out. High rise apartments on the Main Road called Yonge Street and upto two blocks inside off the main road and behind these high rise apartments / offices, lovely Avenues with individual houses of Ground plus One floor are laid out in a most picturesque way, with plenty of greenery in the front and back of the houses.

It just looks like a Fairy Tale Township with Doll Houses and straight streets, Avenues and intersections so well planned that one can never get lost.

This place looks like a piece of Tranquility brought down from some other world and just planted in Canada ! So quiet, so cool, so pleasing to the senses that one has to come and see to believe this.

Toronto is really a place to live and enjoy life. People are not only cordial but have a very high civic sense built into theit Psyche. They follow all traffic rules consciously and respect the other person's space. Live and let live is actually practiced here.

And what can I say about my morning walks ! Oh truly it is a dream come true to walk on those well laid out walk paths amidst greenery and trees that even a pathway looks like an Avenue in miniature.you can walk for ever and will never get tired in these pleasant conditions.

Blessed are these wonderful people who have such an exquisite city to live in. How I wish I could settle down here ! If They can give me citizenship or at least permanent residency facility !