Sarc-E-Azam

* I have always been fascinated by the quirky names of places. Some are remnants of the Colonial Era, while others have been devised by sheer imagination. This part of a series of informational blogs on some of the popular places in and around Chennai and the history behind it. If you have suggestions on any places that you feel should get added to this, please write to me* Broadway, Chennai Broadway, is the place known as the Original Bus-stand of Chennai, before the Main Bus depot moved to Koyambedu at the sprawling Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus. Even today, majority of the buses connecting North Madras to other parts originate from Broadway. So where is this Broadway, and where did it get its name from? Well, I would like to say I went about researching in Connemara Library, and poured over old volumes and found out. But thanks to Google and Wikipedia, I am spared from all that effort and slander. But I did do the "search". It is actually an interesting story. Ba...

The last few weeks have been extremely exhausting. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally - in every ally as possible. How does one call it "ally", when they all seem to be against us? I feel drained out. And as one gets to such a point in life, one does wonder. Well, more than just wonder. People like me, they 'overthink' it. Try to analyze the f*** out of it and make sense of the Why-In-The-Hell , Who-The-F*** , What-In-God's-Name questions that spew out like popcorn from a machine at the cinemas. It's not the first time when I have been told by those who love me to Just Do It . Actually, it appears I am living amidst the biggest Nike ambassadors of all time! But on a serious note, when does one "stop thinking and just do it", as opposed to a, "sleep over it, think about it, hold-on-lets-take-a-step-back" approach? When does one need to be "spontaneous", and when does one need to be calculative? Let's take any random decision...

There's a certain new type of bigotry. And this one is far worse than a certain Orange Mop Gentleman (henceforth called OMG), wanting to build a Yuge wall around his land or denying access to people of a certain faith.  It is worse than discrimination by Race, Gender, Colour, Religion, Creed, Class, Socio-economic background,  Even the simple divide of people by "those who can speak English (fondly called "peters") and those who cannot, not very fondly called "Country Brutes".  In fact, it is even worse than the "North South" divide - of the Madrasis (that bunch of people from the south - I mean, South of Chembur, who are constantly only gulping Idli Dosa Samburr) and the #Amits, the "Yindi" speaking population of India.. Even worse than the "working women" and "housewives" divide.  And that's the bigotry (Yes, it is a strong word, eh?) of those "in the know" and the "ones who aren't...

"Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blunder'd: Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die:                              -Lord Alfred Tennyson If you're old enough to read this, you would have wondered at least once in your life, what your reason for existence in this world is. Even in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krsna says लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ। ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्।।3.3।। Meaning: In this world, as I have said, there is a twofold path, O Sinless One! There is the Path of Wisdom (Gnana Yoga) for those who meditate, and the Path of Action for those who work (Karma Yoga). It often takes one a lifetime to reach a point of introspection and begin to realize what one's Karma is and what How then to be a Gnana Yogi.  Is our purpose the mere day-to-day exis...

I made a trip to the neighborhood pharmacy, part of a chain run by a certain group of hospitals which has been in the TN news recently. (Yes, the one whose name is that of a Greek God, however misspelt). If you still need more hints you are either non-Indian or not Human. They are usually known to stock most medicines, especially ones prescribed by Doctors practicing in their hospitals. Hence, the visit. There were about 4-5 medicines to be bought from a prescription. But I needed only 2 tablets each, considering there was a follow-up visit to the Doctor tomorrow. Each of these meds cost upwards of 30/- to 50/- per tab. However, the pharmacy wouldn't sell me just two tabs and would want me to buy the whole strip of 10 and sometimes 15 or even 30 tabs. What would I do with the remaining 28 tabs if the Doctor decided to change the prescription and remove these? I wasn't sure why I had to buy the whole strip when I barely needed a portion of the same? One might argue, and qui...

There's this guy at work. A few months ago, he came to my cabin and asked for a hundred bucks. Said he was hungry and had run out of cash. This was the post demonetization era, and everyone seemed to be in a cash crunch. I asked if that would suffice, knowing he comes from a slightly economically challenged house-hold. He showed a face that suggested more would be better. And I offered him Rs 500/-, which he could return next month on receiving his salary. A colleague of mine, sitting there watched this whole interaction. This person, the borrower was in my colleague's hierarchy. After the guy left, he (my colleague), tells me that he had borrowed money from him too a couple of occasions in the past. And from a few other colleagues as well. And I went 'Ahaaan', the universal expression for 'discovery' and the one-word substitute for 'And then it dawned on me'. Since this wasn't my first experience with a 'serial borrower', I knew what woul...

0500 Hrs Chennai I wake up to see 'Vishu Kani', a traditional display of prosperity to be witnessed first thing on New Year's Day, in the hope that the remaining days of the year will be equally auspicious and prosperous. 0545 Hrs Chennai I go back to sleep.  0630 Hrs Chennai I wake up, close my eyes and navigate myself to the Kani. Do Kani Kaanum again. Then realize I already did it once this morning.  0645 Hrs Chennai Sun's up! And the Son is also up! I close his eyes with my hand against his wishes. Take him to Kani Kaanal. He sees the elaborate display and goes "Haayeee" and claps his hands with a big beaming smile and enthusiasm only kids can show. He then does a 'Namaste' to Ummachi. And his patented-copyrighted-YouCannotDoItEvenIfYouTried Namaskaram with legs folded.  This. Makes. It. All. Worthwhile.  Until his hand goes for the Vilakku (lamp)! I quickly rescue each from the other and deposit him back in bed...