EA

Monday, March 11, 2019

mhss_highschool

I am an Alumni of Pollachi Municipal High School - MHSS, Great green environment with excellent cricket ground and a basketball court. Daily we used to go in bicycle to our high school in a group.  This is the entrance with both tall trees on both sides of the pathway. Our principal at that time was 
Mr. Nagaraj and for standin - Mr. Seetharaman, a great principal). He always come in tidy clothes 
( Tucked in shirt into pleated pant with a tie and shining shoes ) and have seen him tradional dhothi and white shirt. We also had unforgetable teachers. Physics (Mr. Krishnasamy), Chemistry (Mr. Muthuveeran), Zoology Madam (Ms. Saroja) and Botany (Mr. Jeyachandran). The clerks of the school were funny too. Coming from a convent school (10 years), this school made us street smart in just two years. We had bunch of diversified students and immediately became close friends.



This is the entrance to our class room - easy access from cycle stand. 
Our daily ride to highschool - Hercules 

Class room was well lit and had both doors always opened. From one door we can easily reach the back ground where we could access the basketball court and cricket ground easily. Again the opened door helped to bunk, escape the classes and walk through the broken compound walls to near by movie theatre ATSC ( Previously called Gopal). Have seen numerous movies in that theatre during high school.



MHSS Cricket Gound.



We had a very strict Physical education teacher Mr. Sankaran. Most of times he is very cool and sometimes he becomes a terror, He is very strict on Uniforms. If there is any glitch in the uniform he will punish us. He will push us to do physical activities. He also has a book of sports newpaper cutting and explain us about each cutting. Mostly it was about Pele - the brazil soccer player. He also taught us about baseball and its fielding positions and ask us questions about that. Some of us used to mostly cricket fielding positions we might answer incorrectly which irrated him and he would become mad and punish us.
 
Our Team MLCC (Maha Lingapuram Cricket Club) won many tournaments and matches at this ground. We always played matches using cricketing mats and the pitch was excellent for that. We have won several macthes in this MHSS GROUND.


Physics was enjoyable class and whenever he comes to class he will say - "Atmospheric condition is not at all good". When he asks do you hae any doubts and a friend would ask something that is not relevant to our syllabus such as - How can people live in moon - and he would be mad. His way of punishment is putting the attendance register on the head. Always had fun in Physics lab - circuit experiments, Tuning fork and several othe Physics experiments.

Chemistry was tough. As soon he comes to the class he starts write complex equation without much explanations. In between he ask us questions on the equation (esp. balancing it ) and if we could not answer he will say write the equation 10000 times  which gives us great shock. Finally after the class is over he would say "Divide the imposition by 100" and we would be happy. Even though the Lab experiments were interesting we were always late in writing reports and submiiting the record note. He would be very mad at that time.


Zoology and Botany were always interesting for me because I had drawing scientific images skill. Zoology madam was good to me and my friend, She even invited us for housewarming. She always caught the right bright students thinking they were the ones that are cheating in the exams. It was very funny to us. Botany teacher was experienced teacher and always gave tough scientific names for each and every plant on Earth and expected us to tell them immediately, which we failed and he would scold us sometimes uses filthy language too for his demeanour.

For zoology we had to submit insect boxes - we would hunt for butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, bees and some unknow insects then fozzilize them, we fill a garment box and fill it with cotton and pin the insects in a tabular fashion with correct labels with their scientific names. Earned few bucks (Rs 10 per box) for making these boxes for others. Similarly for Botany we did herbarium sheets.

Maths was tough for me since I could not attend classes on Calculus sessions (Later had to learn for higher studies) during summer and it was completely Alien to me. Never ever tried to learn it then and passed the exam with the help of set theories ( which later helped me in Information Technology esp. in DATA Field). Maths was taught by two teachers - one was very experienced (Mr. Ramamoorthy) and the other one was new (Mr. Gnanasekaran). My friend helped me in the last minute to ace the high school maths exam.

Languages (Tamil - Thiru Krishnan Ayya and English - Mr. Nataraj - who rides an Enfield to school) were also taught by experienced teachers. We were always ready for Tamil class. It was a class that took away our stress. The class always was taught with lots of jokes and it was full of laughter. Contradicting to Tamil, English was a lullaby class. As he lectured we will all go to the sleeping mode because of the peanut jaggary balls we ate at the petty shop in front of the school during the interval. 

Most of us were going to Mr. Sheriff's tution for addtional learning. Mr. Ashok taught us biology there. It was fun for us there too and many stories to tell.

Trip to Topslip wildlife sanctuary and parambikulam with Physics master was great trip and brought every highschool mates together to one closeknit family. 

Some of us played during MHSS days played in our cricket team (MLCC). This particular photo is from MHSS days and we were the cup winners from the tournament played at MHSS ground.
We still team up to provide whatever we can to our roots.
We have become doctors, engineers, and researchers and scattered all over the World with great memories from Pollachi MHSS Highschool, still lingering in our minds.

Monday, December 31, 2018

Quotes that motivates

I was born in India and always fascinated by Mahatma Gandhi. Sacrificing his richness, practicing simpleness and Ahimsa teaching attracted me towards him. He has guided so many people to the right path. One quote I get motivated is:



Mahatma Gandhi:  


"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

I became an Environmental Scientist. I did undergrad degree in Biology, Masters in Environmental Sciences and MPhil in Environmental Sciences (Bharathiar University, India) and PhD in Environmental Sciences in Univ. of MD and MS in Computer Science (USA). I love NATURE and was always trying to protect it by research and creating awareness. One quote I get motivated by the great Naturalist



John Muir:


“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”



As a young scientist I wanted to become a man of success. I wanted to earn more and more using my knowledge. Wanted to buy and live in Mansions and also wanted to drive luxury cars. All those objectives were changing as I got older and my perspectives completely changed when I read the following Quote by the great Scientist.


Albert Einstein:


"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value."

When I moved to USA I was fascinated by the research opportunities in the Universities. I was awed by space programs by NASA. When I visited Kennedy space center I heard a speech by the President JF Kennedy. That Quote by great President



JF Kennedy:



 

"Not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills."


Later in life I too was involved in social media always creating awareness on Environmental topics. Positive Thinking and Action,Well being and Voice for Underprivileged. 

All these were my dreams:

EnviroApps Blog,  

EA Farms

EAPHARMICS

EnviroApps

 and ZoomVin

I always get energized and motivated from the quote by the great


ML King:


"I have a dream...."

Follow your dreams not because it is easy, but because it is hard, become a human of value, learn from the Nature and you will WIN.

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2019.


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Music gives a soul

Just wanted to deviate from my regular topics. As we approach the holidays week remembered our passions that we loved so much when we grew up. Coming from a small town we were close knit friends who I would consider more of a family than friends. From high school to Masters - during that time our main passions were Cricket, Music and Story books. Most of the discussions were about Cricket, story books we read (mostly written by great Sujatha and historic epics by great Kalki were our favorites) and music. Tamil movies music was our major topic during every gathering and would discuss about the songs for hours. Great Maestro Illayaraja started his peak ascend during these years.

       Maestro Illayaraja   (Music Legend)    

We loved his music and that continues until today. The thing with his music is that there is something soul touching in it. Just by listening to his song we can go back and re live those days again. We can relate each and every song of his to our life’s happenings. 


Great legends SP Balasubrahmanyam and KJ Yesudas songs in his music gave us best of music to listen to. 

with Legend SP Balasubrahmanyam


with Legend KJ Yesudas


Malaysia Vasudevan (Had the privilege to see these three legends concerts in person), Female legends S.Janaki and Chitra gave us the best songs. There are so many such discussions in the internet and also comparisons with other musicians that are available in plenty. But every time when we discuss among us, we get, what to say the crux of it and feel as if we had a glass of freshly squeezed sugarcane juice with a slight tinge of lemon and ginger. Especially three of us who were close friends riding in the same bike (we used to call triples) to high school and undergrad college; Discussion about music (as a fan) was the main topic. After those years we were all scattered all over the World and started our own careers, me - An Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist,  my friend Venu became IT guy (US) and third friend Sowmy became a nano technology chemistry professor in a different part of the World (Bahrain), but we are still close (thanks to technology) and discussion on the music still goes on. I wanted to share those discussions that I enjoyed so much. 


One day during a discussion it went along these lines - new music by new generation is different and it is becoming hard for us to accept that. Our dads were fans of their generation musicians and even they did not come to terms with Illayaraja music. So I was saying that we have become similar to our dads and current music is for the younger generations and they too have become World famous - example AR Rahman won two Oscars and Anirudh’s Kolaveri song has reached so many people all over the World. To that discussion, my friends shared their wonderful views:


Good perspective! – By Venu:

à®®ாà®±்றம் ஒன்à®±ு தான் à®®ாà®±ாத ஒன்à®±ு

(meaning Change is the only one that never changes)


 When it comes to music we all belong to our own cult! MSV cult, Raja cult,  ARR cult etc We associate closely with our growing up years. Though we move on, we have some special soft place for things that we associate when we were young!  Parents, Certain food, place, game, friends, house, animals, first love  etc. Music is certainly one of them!  So all three generations went through that and next gen goes through that as well which is natural progression.  Next comes the objective side of the music. 


1. MKT/Kittappa-complete classical(மன்மத லீலையை, ஜெய் கிà®°ுà®·்ண à®®ுகுந்தா à®®ுà®°ாà®°ே) very good start for the Tamil film music


2. G. Ramanathan, SV Naidu and many more -diluted a bit still adhered to classical as the mainstream, introduced new western instruments and new western idioms 


3. KVM-classical, folk and still more dilution of the classical  

Legend Singer TM Soundarajan 

Legend Music Director MS Viswanathan 



These great duo along with another Legend P. Susheela gave us the best songs.

4. MSV, TKR-big positive deviation started here. introduced the real light music, lots of new genres were introduced, western instruments and idioms were used to ornament the melodies, introduced lots of innovations in the form, texture, orchestration and arrangements. still maintained the soul and the sensitivity in the music,(பழமை à®®ாà®±ாத புதுà®®ை). They stood on the shoulders of the MKT, GR et al and delivered real stunning music for decades!There are other MDs like TR papa, V Kumar, Vijay Bhaskar et al. They supported  MSV /TKR’s path/trend. 


5. Raja stood on the shoulders of these stalwarts and took the music to the next level whether is it is orchestration, arrangements, style, innovation, fusion, folk, western classical, Jazz, Carnatic classical, singing style, BGM and you name it (How to name it? Right? It is just “Nothing But Wind?) he excelled in all of  them. He propelled the changes in lightening speed!  Even he touched the electronic side of it -first time stereophonic recording, computer based composing.  


6. ARR-took this digital side of it to global and brought some great innovation to marketing and global appeal!  

 OSCAR winner AR Rahman

7. Today’s Anirudh, Yuvan et al, When I listen today's music, my mind automatically asks “what is new in this?” May be popular, beyond that?  Our mind automatically checks the library and if it is already done. Ok and move on. Nothing to say big about it. To me, probably, that is what happening. Perhaps to you as well! Are we becoming old? They really need to do something beyond what we have already listened to rave about them.  

                                      

                                    With New Generation Singers


I remember reading when somebody asked about Einstein’s achievements, he mentioned that, “I stood on the shoulders of Newton and et al  and I told what I saw”. He made it so simple (it was always his strength) but not easy to claim the shoulders of Newton. Right? Lengthy post...I could not resist..when my favorite topic was tossed in front of me! I have less mind control on this.


By Sowmy: 


As usual, Venu's article depicts the Crux of yester years achievements. It highlighted all the stalwarts except few. For me if MSV paved the ROAD of modern music,  Raja – already laid 8 way track superfast express highway. RAJA's forte was he never forget to respect his elders, mentors. Besides being a genius among all, his heart melts for             SM Subbaraman (who was our fathers favorite), ....Madanmohan, Roshan, SDBurman,...Not to mention about MSV. He can go to any extreme  level of politeness/ humbleness to express his regard and reverence for them.  

In Tamil – Illayaraja goes to say MSV கடிச்சுத்துப்பிய விஷயங்களைத்தான் நாà®™்கள் இப்போது செய்கிà®±ோà®®். எனக்கு அவர் எந்தெந்தப்பாட்டில் என்னென்ன டெக்நிக் யூஸ் பண்ணியிà®°ுக்காà®°்னு தெà®°ியுà®®், எல்லாவற்à®±ையுà®®் சொல்ல à®®ாட்டேன் (என்னுள்ளில் MSV  ப்à®°ொகராà®®ில்.) இதைவிட வேà®±ு, அதுவுà®®் à®°ாஜாவைப்போல் இசை ஞானத்தால் உயர்ந்தவர்   à®šொல்லுà®®்போது, அவரின் மரபு சாà®°்ந்த பண்பு பிà®°à®®ிக்க வைக்கிறது.பின்பு வந்தவர்கள் யாà®°ுà®®் தன் à®®ுன்னோà®°்களைப்பற்à®±ிப்பேசிய à®®ாதிà®°ி எனக்குத் தெà®°ியவில்லை.


When talking about Tamil music, I should mention the song writing legends Kaviarasu Kannadasan and Valli.



 Wonderful Quote by Plato:   

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”


 Enjoy your Music.



Monday, December 3, 2018

Birds - Protect Them

Wonderful creatures that brings aesthetics to any environment. Just watching them fly and hear them sing takes away the stress. Colorful, different sizes, voices, cuteness, intelligent, building nests, raising young ones, migration and many more reasons that make bird watching a pleasant event. One can wake up stress free when woke up naturally by chirping and singing birds. Creator has created birds for a reason.

More about birds - http://www.birds.cornell.edu

https://www.audubon.org/

2018 - Year of The Bird


A little bird such as Cassin's vireo can migrate long way


                                       Some Colorful Birds


    

                         

                                                       

                                                                   

    






Quote - “ I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven. ” - American Poet Emily Dickinson
- which is a true statement.


At EA Farms we practice Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture practices along with agro forestry to bring back birds.


A poem written by my daughter when she was in elementary school -                  

The Birds' Spot.


You can see how we create a niche for birds in our backyard, photographed and published it as a free eBook for everyone to enjoy.



Backyard Birds


As I was writing this blog, this Majestic Red Shouldered Hawk came and sat on our backyard compound wall.

                                         

To the young people out there:

There is more than your phones and gadgets out there, Take a stroll into the nature, watch these birds and enjoy the environment. It will for sure - help towards your health and well being.

To see such wonderful creatures erased due to advancement of human technologies, it really hurts.


Against human force they fall into helpless category. Our technology improvements never consider environment, earth co-inhabitants and environmental health. We are just focused on technological achievement as eye closed horse and do not even think about any thing else. Environment is as important as the technology and it should be considered whenever we move forward technology wise, Proper and humane tests should be completed before we move to a new technology blind folded. Even if we move that way at least we should find a way to shield and protect our co-inhabitants such as the beautiful birds and other flora, fauna and under-privileged who don't have any say against the injustice. Also nowadays I see lots of deforestation. Most of the bird habitats are changing to concrete jungles. Where will the birds live?. Eco-justice needs to be considered so that our future generations can also experience the wonderful songs and colorful birds as we do. Praying for that and request you to do your part (by growing trees that supports birds and simple things such as putting up a bird bath). 



Makesh Karuppiah, PhD
Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist



Thursday, May 31, 2018

Pollution Protests Tragedy

Environmental pollution protests have turned into war zone. Several lives were taken by the government guns in Tamil Nadu, India. Copper smelting without proper pollution control can affect both humans and environments. Have been warning about this for long time, 

Sterlite Orissa article 2008

Industries flocking Tamil Nadu 2008

Environmental Justice 2010

Tamil Nadu 2017

We never learned from history 

Economy is important. But along with that growth, we should consider Environment, Human health, environmental laws, compliance and sustainability. It was the worst thing that this happened - several human lives have been sacrificed for protesting the polluting industry. 

What kind of greedy world we are living in. Greedy people should consider fellow human being, their health and other inhabitants, just for the profit one should not pollute and kill others. If proper environmental law, compliance, practice, pollution control, planting trees does not happen, these type of environmental revolution will occur for sure.


Already food crops are being contaminated by Pollutants. Now crops losing its nutritional values - read this article in National Geography

When basic living conditions are threatened such as breathing air, drinking water and food are contaminated and causes cancer, What will people do? 

They will protest and then environmental wars will occur such as this one in Thoothukudi, a wonderful city in Tamil Nadu. 

Solution for the problem

Renewable Energy

What we do 

Praying for victims. Hoping and Praying this should never happen again.

Similarly Praying for the US Mass School shooting Victims and that should never happen again (Praying for that also)

Saturday, April 28, 2018

One Earth Day

One Earth Day

On this Day praying for peace on the Globe,

Praying for no wars, no poverty and better environment.

Lot of us still ignore pollution around us, we ignore destruction of war, we ignore deforestation happening in front of us. We ignore plastics affecting us and environment, please don't ignore these do your part. Sometimes we cant't do anything about some issues - at that time please pray,

for example - I prayed on November 29 2010 


One more prayer: We dont need one more senseless war. Praying to bring peace for North and South Korea brothers and sisters.


Last week felt happy both Korea are having talks in  moving forward with peace. This brings satisfaction.  


 we have other areas where immediate attention and thinking is needed. Now we have so many different countries in the Earth and so many levels of ups and downs are between them. What I mean is that we have most developed countries, developing countries and non developing countries. Again when homo sapiens started their journey in Earth it was just one Earth, but now these differences were created by human intelligence. We have stepped into wrong path. Still we did not learn.  We should think as a vast minded person to make the wonderful Earth as one Earth. What I am conveying here is that every human being should have basic necessities and should not suffer from poverty. If you are a developed country improve the other non developed  countries  instead of pushing them backward. 


In this 21st century we talk about women empowerment. But still in some countries they are not treated well. I thought developed countries supported such women empowerment, but the news doesn't indicate that. One thing I want to talk about is curbing spouses ( mostly women ) to work. That is not women empowering. That is pushing  women backwards. If a developed country can do this in the 21st century think about other places where women are treated miserably.  By letting women work lots of positives happen. The family gets out of poverty and enrich other people also. Instead of taking such steps to curb women from.working one should consider to empower them and be an example to other countries. Anyway for them  when one door is shut, God opens other multiple doors with different opportunities. Also humans especially who are in Power thinks that everything is permanent until Earth reminds that Nothing is permanent in this World. Everyone should go from Earth  one day and will be recycled. So we should concentrate on eliminating poverty, providing basic necessities to every inhabitant, eliminate negatives and make one Good Earth.  Even if you are not helpful do not be a hindrance to Others growth.  Jealousy can ruin you and the surroundings, so dump that and help others. In long run it will be best choice for one Earth. We should work towards it so that future generations can live peacefully and concentrate on positive things. 


Once Swami Vivekananda asked a question to his Guru 


"Swami Vivekanand:*-  Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

and the Guru's  answer

*Ramkrishna Paramahansa:*- There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

I will be praying towards the good causes.