Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Origami of Olden days



Origami of olden days

 












The other day it was raining. Water was flowing in front of my house – almost like a rivulet. My daughter and I wanted to leave paper boats / ships into that water flow. We made half a dozen of them quickly. Wrote in each of them: Give a Missed Call to: 8000980009. RallyForRivers Campaign was at its peak at that time. At least one boy down the street got the message. It was great fun.

This led me to think about other things I can do with paper. In my childhood I had learnt many simple things to make out of paper. Few items were learnt in formal classroom but mostly from my friends. I can recollect I could make: Ship, Ship with blade, twin boat, single boat, Ink bottle, bird, peacock, cubicle box, purse, drumstick, paper cracker, whistle, garland, fan and a few other items.

Origami is simple to learn and inexpensive to try out. All you need by way of material is just some pieces of paper. Learning involves very mild physical skills, keen observation, and reliance on repetitive procedures and a bit of patience. The outcome is creative piece of object that you would love to keep and display with pride. The result is a piece of art.  Apart from training your memory, the thrill of becoming an artist or a crafts person is immense. Is Origami taught in our schools as a matter of routine? I don’t know.

But now I am 75. Most of things I learnt as a child, I have forgotten how to do. Alzheimer’s creeping in? I doubt. There are online manuals teaching you how to do and videos to demonstrate. There are simple books for starters too. But following those instructions to fruition seems formidable for me. If you have been lucky to have grandchildren around you perhaps these skills may have been retained, as you try to teach them or keep them engaged. I don’t have that luck as both my daughters are single!  Any help?

Saturday, October 21, 2017

MTR Instant Food Items – A quick Review



MTR Instant Food Items – A quick Review

MTR, popularly known as Mavalli Tiffin Room earlier, has grown big. They offer a series of instant food products both in puch and bag packages. Vegetable Upma, Masala Upma, Kesari Halwa, Poha, Khatta Meetha Poha, Masala Oats are recent items introduced into the market.

All these belong to Three Minute variety. All you need is the add specified quantity of boiling water, stir well and keep it closed with a lid for three minutes. Presto ready to eat breakfast is right there to  be transferred to your plate for eating. In my experience keeping it closed for five minutes gives better results.

I have tried Veg Upma, Kesari Halwa, Poha, Masala Oats and Masala Upma. Among all the items I tried POHA is the best in terms of taste, consistency in prepared item, quantity etc. I will recommend this to all without hesitation. Upma  and Masala Upma  leave some smell of preservative, especially if eaten hot. If you cool and eat problem is less. Kesari Halwa is just plain Rava and insufficient sugar. To call it Rava Kesari is atrocious. Masala oats is OK – nothing superb about it.

All items are priced around Rs 15 to 25, easy on your purse. For small families of 3-4 people larger packs (bags) are available. The products being relatively cheap super markets find it difficult to stock and sell. They are best locatable in medium size kirana shops. In another post I intend sharing my views on MTR powders for preparing pulihora, chitranna and the like.


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Navarathri Kolu in Sarojini Narasimhan's house

Last year I wrote about Kolu in Justice Rangarajan's house being exhibited for several decades without a break. Another Tamilian household that upholds this tradition, is Mr VK Narasimhan's daughter in Wahab Nagar, Secunderabad. They have split kolu display in three sections making best use of space available in their hall. It is a mixture of traditional toys and modern ones. Artfully decorated with series lighting, it is a joy to observe not for just children  but for adults too. 

I got a link to a video imitating que sera sera song with changes in wording (lyric) to depict a typical Tamilian Kolu. You may watch it too:





Here are some snaps of  this year's Kolu in their house.

Let me congratulate them for their enthusiasm in uplholding our traditions.



Monday, October 2, 2017

International Older Persons Day - IDOP - Hyderabad HelpAge 2017

IDOP in Hyderabad – HelpAge India Meeting – 1st Oct 2017

As usual HelpAge India AP/TS regional office celebrated International Day of Older Persons on  1st October 2017 in Hyderabad.


Sri Raza Mohamad, Chief of HelpAge AP/TS, welcomed all. There were several senior citizens SHG members from Chottu Uppal, Patancheru, Shamshabad etc representing rural poor. He  explained the activities of HelpAge in protecting respect of elders through SAVE program – intergenerational sensitization of school children.

Sri Uppula Gopala Rao said that State Govt must implement NPOP & MWPSCA properly. Food, respect, money should be provided to all indigent senior citizens. He also spoke about donations he made to Voice of Senior Citizens – Monthly, HelpAge etc.

Sri SN Reddy Secretary of Telangana Recognized School Mgmt Association assured full support to HelpAge in sensitizing school children in caring for the elderly in 12000 schools, under his purview.

Sri BR Madhusudhan Rao, Member Secretary Telangana State Legal Services Authority was the chief Guest.  TSLSA offers free legal help to senior citizens through hundreds of para-legal volunteers and service minded advocates. Their Helpline number is 151500, toll free.  Several cases of Elder Abuse, Neglect and victimization, learnt through newspapers, have been taken up for mediation, counseling and settling issues.

Sri G Muralidhar, Chief Mentor Akshara, Guest of Honour for the day, said that basic needs of the elderly  must be met by the govt. He advised senior citizens to go ahead and enjoy life without postponing their desires or wishes; they should not transfer property to children when alive; be actively engaged with grand children friend etc.

It is a pity that none of the speakers touched the theme for IDOP viz Fighting Ageism, though every participant was given a badge reminding us of the theme for the year!

In the next part of the meeting several senior citizens were honored -  all members of State Senior Citizens Council, those who won sports competitions held by HelpAge.  Some, whose names I remember are:   Smt Nagachandrika Devi, Sri P Kishan Rao, Sri Sridhar, Dr G Nageshwar Rao, Sri Uppula Gopala Rao, Sri Peddi Sudhakar, Sri Prabhakar etc. I missed being felicitated,   as I had to leave early due to another urgent engagement, I learnt later on.

Lunch packets, water, cool drinks, biscuits etc were distributed to all.  Efforts put in to celebrate International Older Persons day yielded satisfaction to all – elderly participants, speakers, NGOs, SCAs, media etc.