My sister gave birth to baby girl last Friday. That in combination with it being my birthday on the sunday (25th) was a cause for big celebration. My mom and I decided to go and distribute home made sweets to an old age home near our house. While there, we also decided to sponsor the lunch there yesterday.
While the papers were being readied, the manager there showed me around the old age home (it was my first visit, a fact that I now regret since I think I should have gone there much earlier) and introduced me to a some of those who stay in the old age home.
One of the ladies who we spoke to (with the manager as a translator) was very happy to have company. Every smile of the lady was tinged with sadness. Why? Because while we were talking, she revealed that she had a son and two grandsons, all three of who were working in the IT industry.
I was shocked. Rather, disgusted. Here was this lady who has earning sons and grandsons but who is likely considered a burden by them. How can someone take the decision to send their mother to a place where she does not know anyone, where there isn’t anyone to love and take care of her. Why is she even considered a burden?
I felt sad when we came out of the room and left for home again. The only thought in my mind was, what had that lady done to deserve this? Was her fault to have cared for and brought up her children?
During my visit, as we walked, I met a few of the people staying there. And all of them had a smile on their face which showed happiness on seeing me. And this was simply because they had some company, that some one had come to meet them. And seeing those smiles made my day. And it was there that I decided that I must and will do something more to see those smiles again. And I think everyone else should try it too.
Update: Many people have asked me for the address of the old age home. Here it is:
Anandashram,
No. 53/7, Bannerghatta Road,
Bangalore – 560 029
Phone: 26784621
(Landmark: Just past Boyancee, opposite BP petrol Bunk)
Yes, I had stated that it will be just another day (wont be visible because the post is private), the birthday turned out NOT to be just another day. Infact it was a great day. My oldest friend surprised when she turned out to be in town (which she pretended she was not) and came home to surprise me.
Later had a lengthy and fun lunch with her, bro and friends at a nice restaurant. And finally in the evening dinner with my elder bro. The day finally topped off with getting to see and play with his daughter who had just returned from Delhi with my sis in law.
My elder sister gave birth to a cute li’l angel today. She is the prettiest little thing. If I could, I would be in the air flying to my brother in law’s place as of this moment. But unfortunately for now, I will have to keep myself content with looking at these photos:
Click on the images to view a larger image.
Update: More pics:
So I recently joined the highly prolific team of Desicritics and my first article was published there last night. I am really excited because by joining there, I not only get a wider audience but also a larger platform to write about topics and subjects I do not write about here since this is mostly for stuff about my life and daily happenings. (Although I might start cross posting here with a slight delay)
I am honored to be in such good company :)
In more music news, Iron Maiden will be performing live for the first time in Bangalore. That is one of the best pieces of news I have heard in a long time! Sure as hell I am going to be there so that even I can tell my kids and grandkids that I watched Iron Maiden live! :D The concert is on the 17th of March 2007 at the Bangalore palace grounds. Be there or you’ll be sorry!
I feel sad. Chris Cornell, the fomer lead vocalist of Soundgarden is now the former lead vocalist of broken up Audioslave! I am disappointed and sad. I think they made some brilliant music and were a great band.
I love the song “Like a Stone” which is one of my favorites!
There are also rumors that the rest of Audioslave who were all part of the now broken Rage Against the Machine(RATM) might team up with RATM frontman Zack de la Rocha for a one off concert later this year. And that might be the precursor to the reformation of the highly successful band.
But I think that does not compensate for Audioslave breaking up :(
OS on desktop crashed. Deleted wrong partition by mistake! Lost 95% of my comics! Approximately 100+ GB
Pissed like hell. Wish there was someone I could blame this on!
Fuck! I want to break something! Got to get away from the laptop.
Edit: Apparently the OS install somehow managed to wipe out the entire 160 GB Hdd which also had my Dad’s important data. I realised it just before I was about to fall asleep. That managed to drive all sleep away. Thankfully in the morning he told me that he has a backup of his most important stuff. I’m happy to be alive! ::Rueful smile::
The cauvery tribunal has released it’s verdict over the sharing of the water from the Cauvery River between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This has been one of the most contentious issues between these two states, to the extent of causing extensive riots in Bangalore in 1991 and 1992. The previous order given by the tribunal was under appeal by Karnataka and it’s the tribunal issued it’s verdict today.
In it’s verdict, the tribunal has ordered Karnataka to release 419 TMCft to Tamil Nadu while Karnataka being allowed to keep up 270 TMCft. This is much lower than what Karnataka demanded and it is being said that Karnataka has received a raw deal.
As a result, riots are again expected to break out in Bangalore. Most schools and colleges have closed early and most shops are closed as well. Even we were given an early leave at work with most other IT companies asking their employees to leave early.
More information about the Tribunal’s decision at Cnn IBN.
Thus speaketh