Class in the Open

The electricity plays havoc, 

My students' presentations cut short, 

Too dark in the classroom with only AC,

We proceed to the open Amphi,

An hour and more of holding forth,

With no PPT, or chalk or board,

With just games and discussions, 

And role enactments, 

A fun 2 hour session, 

Going back to class seemed torture even, 

But another 3 hours of lectures done, 

I even learnt a lesson, 

What seemed initially a mess, 

Is now what makes my day seem a success.

- Written on 24 January 2015.

- 

Sometimes words

Sometimes the words come out

Wrong and what is intended 

Is not what is spout. 

Sometimes the words you spoke

Hurt those whom you

Love the most.

Sometimes you know the tears might stay

For some inner fears, doubts, 

They then betray. 

Sometimes these words cannot be back taken

Howmuchever you 

Wish them unheard, unspoken. 

Sometimes then all you can wish for

Is what you have always relied on

Through Life's furore.

Sometimes then the mercy of friends

Makes you feel relieved, 

Small yet big, and shaken.

Sometimes words hurt in the aftermath

The 'sayer' as much as the one

They consigned to a bloodbath. 

Sometimes words spoken 

Test bonds of love, hopefully strengthen, 

And teach a valuable lesson. 

Sometimes words make you dig deeply

For courage to apologise abjectly

For love to accept the 'I am sorry'.

Sometimes words show you

How unthinking you are in taking for granted

The love of those closest to you.

- Written on 23 January 2015. 

- I spoke without thinking what was to be a joke, the words though hurt my closest friend. 

- Made me anew realise, 

How often I speak before I analyse. 

Not an excuse that I meant not the joke,

Never a good reason to another's hurt poke. 

But I have good friends who forgive easily,

With such friends I am blessed indeed. 

Conflicting Missions, 1 Victim

[18:28, 10/01/2015] Anusha Ramanathan:

 Mommy Tip no. 192837465: 

-Call daughter rushing out with slight urgency. 

-Dishevel said daughter's hair (even more) 

-Say nothing as she looks aghast.

-Daughter remembers umpteen other times of being told to check hair before leaving.

-Daughter whips out comb on her way down stairs. 

-Mission Mommy 192837465 accomplished. 😂

[18:37, 10/01/2015] Anusha Ramanathan:

 Mission Auto 459:

-Have a really low side fringe for roof top cover so Daughter with newly combed hair has to duck really low to protect said hair. 

-Then have really low roof, double rexined with foam cushion on the top cover??, to further mash said combed hair. 

-Then whip through lanes as breeze blows to further restyle combed hair, with jerks and halts galore to give not just hair, but the spine a new fashion style. 

- Charge more than a parlour for new hairstyle that sort of represents the mommy mission 192837465 stage 2.

- Written on 10 January 2015.

- Whatsapp conversation pasted herein. 

2014 for me

The year is past, 

As usual, a mixed lot. 

Some achievements (like I got published) 

But so much more on my 'To Do' list.

I learnt anew to fear mortality. 

But also renewed ties with family. 

Every smile of mine had my determination's measure,

Each moment of laughter - a cherished treasure. 

My dreams I, again, deferred, 

But my compromises I have preferred. 

I feel so much more tired this year,

But I am still in my fighting gear. 

I feel I have lost all my spark,

But even then life's not all that hard. 

My blessings: Family, friends, and colleagues

Hey! Not bad, this reality. 

- Written on 31 December 2014

- Self-explanatory

Happy New Year! 2015!

2014, Good or Bad, scripted a new History.

The Saffron Regime was hailed from Kashmir to Kanyakumari!

The emphatic victory of the strategist Modi, 

The utter ruin of a political dynasty. 

Greetings across nations from an unusual coterie, 

A Hebrew leader learns Hindi!! 

Proposers become opposers, opposers proposers,

Look no further than the GST and like blunder-wonders. 

Education is myth, 

Just look to Sanskrit. 

Aviation is history, 

Just look to our Ancient Technology.

"The more things change, the more they remain the same",

Is this going to be India's shame? 

New regimes: the order of the day, 

Another daring captain gives way

With a similar abruptness that has marked his course

To new aggression, a new force.

Resilient, defiant, nothing extra-ordinary, 

PK: an argument against "Ghar Vaapsi".

More Internet spoofs than ever

Celebrities, politicians - all torn asunder. 

Respect will be earned, not commanded, 

The young and old have together banded.

Just as Malala and Kailash won the Nobel Peace Prize

The famous and the nameless have all tried to end strife.

Behold, our country got new equipment for our Army and Navy.

While terrorists and calamities struck, we proved our humanity.

Though Health weighed less than Wealth this year, 

Sports, Science and MOM did make us cheer.

We were many times behind, we were at times ahead,

Yet there is HOPE overriding the dread. 

In 2015, may this hope materialise,

May 'a better tomorrow' this year arise.

Strength in body, strength of mind, 

A kind spirit that will all people bind.

Prosperity shared, Wealth multiplied,

Health enjoyed, Ignorance destroyed. 

Dreams achieved, Success rejoiced,

Environment conserved, Peace realised.

2015, this is what I visualise,
I wish, I pray, may this actualise.

- Written on 31 December 2014

- Self-explanatory
- For future reference:
Modi tweeted in Hebrew Hanukkah greetings and got a reply from the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Hindi!
Smriti Irani of the HRD Ministry makes Sanskrit compulsory in CBSE schools as the 3rd language. And the 102nd Indian Science Congress had topics on Ancient Indian aviation (from  Mythology) as one of its key papers along with new technology. 660+ scientists on a signature campaign against such regressions in the name of cultural preservation.
We also got INS Vikramaditya, the biggest and heaviest ship of the Indian Navy. $13 Billion sanctioned for new equipment for the Defence that includes Israeli Spike MR missiles for the army and 6 new submarines.
MS Dhoni abruptly announced his retirement from Tests. And Pankaj Advani (Billiards), Mary Kom (Wrestling) and Sania Mirza (Tennis) did India proud as did ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - the least expensive Mars mission and the made India the FIRST nation, among 4 so far, to land on Mars on the first attempt.