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These 16 companies control almost everything you buy….

October 18, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Powerful companies create brands and products that we might not know are theirs.

Companies’ signature brands add to their annual revenues and provide an edge to competition.

To determine how powerful each company is, we factored together fiscal 2014 revenue, the number of employees, and press mentions on Google News over the past year.

Here is a list of retail companies that own brands and products that we use every day.

Procter and Gamble

2014 revenue: $83 billion

Number of employees: 118,000

P&G is the global leader in consumer goods with an unparalleled production scale and international reach. Some of the top P&G brands are everyday household items such as Tide, Swiffer, Crest, Olay, Pampers, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Vicks, Gillette, and Head and Shoulders.

CVS

2014 revenue: $139.38 billion

Number of employees: 200,000

More people than ever pick CVS as their go-to spot for filling prescriptions, making it the biggest retailer of prescription drugs in the US. CVS, headquartered in Rhode Island, will purchase Target’s pharmacy and clinics businesses for about $1.9 billion, adding almost 2,000 pharmacies to its business.

eBay

2014 revenue: $17.9 billion

Number of employees: 34,600

In its 20th year of operation, eBay has a huge command over online shoppers spanning 203 markets worldwide. While it previously ran PayPal, it continues to run the online-ticketing-company StubHub.

Costco

2014 revenue: $110.2 billion

Number of employees: 195,000

Costco, which sells in bulk for lower prices, consistently outperforms competitors Walmart and Target. Costco’s Kirkland signature collection includes food, clothes, and household supplies. It’s more than just home goods and food — it’s also a growing force in car sales.

Starbucks

2014 revenue: $16.4 billion

Number of employees: 191,000

While some of its stores are also rolling out beer, wine, and gourmet-food options, Starbucks is the fifth-most-admired brand in the world, according to Fortune. With 22,000 retail stores in 66 countries, the Seattle-based coffee retailer spent most of 2014 dedicated to going green and launching plans to send its employees to college and hire more of America’s military families and veterans.

Nike

2014 revenue: $27.7 billion

Number of employees: 56,500

Selling sneakers, fitness tech, athletic clothing, and outdoor wear, Nike is predicted to outperform the industry for the next five years. Athletic gear is becoming a mainstream clothing staple — whether you actually work out or not — and no one does it better than Nike.

Kroger

2014 revenue: $108.56 billion

Number of employees: 400,000

Kroger is the largest supermarket chain by revenue in America. It operates more than 2,500 stores under some two dozen different banners. In addition to Kroger Stores, its groceries include Cala Foods, City Markets, Dillons, Foods Co, Fred Meyer Stores, Fry’s, King Soopers, Quality Food Centers (aka QFC), Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Smith’s Food and Drug. It also owns Barclay, Fox’s, Fred Meyer, and Littman jewelers and the Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, and Quik Stop convenience stores.

Coca-Cola

2014 revenue: $45.99 billion

Number of employees: 129,200

Chances are, you’ve consumed at least one of the 657 billion Coca-Cola products purchased annually. Powerade, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, Vitamin Water, Odwalla, Smart Water, Simply Orange, Fresca, Dasani, Fuzi, Ciel, and Burn are all brands from Coca-Cola.

Disney

2014 revenue: $48.8 billion

Number of employees: 180,000

The Disney name is everywhere: toys, movies, television, apparel, and theme parks. Its last major movie release, “Inside Out,” brought in $7.4 billion worldwide at the box office, and the much-anticipated “Star Wars” sequel debuts in December.

McDonald’s

2014 revenue: $27.4 billion

Number of employees: 420,000

With 36,258 chains worldwide, McDonald’s food options are adapting to consumer trends in favor of fast casual by rolling out all-day breakfast and revamping some of its stores to launch the “create your own” gourmet-burger option.

McDonald’s lists eight countries, including China and Russia, as high-growth markets — aka locations with high expansion and franchising potential, which is important since a large majority of McDonald’s restaurants (about 80% by the end of 2014) operate as franchises.

PepsiCo

2014 revenue: $66.7 billion

Number of employees: 271,000

As America’s leading beverage producer, PepsiCo owns 22 of the most well-known food and drink brands in the world, including Gatorade, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, 7-Up, Doritos, Cheetos, Quaker, Lipton, Ruffles, Tostitos, Aquafina, Brisk, Fritos, and Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages.

Johnson and Johnson

2014 revenue: $74.33 billion

Number of employees: 126,500

Johnson and Johnson, a healthcare company, manufactures everyday-use, in-home products such as Neutrogena, Rogaine, Aveeno, Band-Aid, Neosporin, Bengay, Listerine, Splenda, Lactaid, and Visine.

Apple

2014 revenue: $182.9 billion

Number of employees: 92,600

Apple is the world’s most valuable brand, according to Forbes. Its products and services include the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Music, and iCloud. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, and direct-sales force and third-party cellular-network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer.

Amazon

2014 revenue: $88.99 billion

Number of employees: 154,100

As the largest ecommerce site in the country, Amazon recently surpassed Walmart as the most valuable retailer in America in terms of market capitalization. Amazon currently owns over 40 subsidiaries, including Zappos, IMDb, GoodReads, AbeBooks, Book Depository, Create Space, and Audible. It also has a huge consumer-electronics market by including an e-reader and tablet and launched Amazon Instant Video, which has produced an award-winning original television series, “Transparent.”

Target

2014 revenue: $72.61 billion

Number of employees: 347,000

Target owns a number of exclusive food, clothing, and supply brands, including, Archer Farms, Market Pantry, Champion, Cherokee, Circo, Up&Up, Xhilaration, Merona, Mossimo, Room Essentials, Gillian & O’Malley, and Threshold.

Walmart

2014 revenue: $485.62 billion

Number of employees: 2.2 million

With 11,500 stores in 28 countries, Walmart’s scope is undeniable. Walmart is also the single-largest employer in America and announced earlier this year that it’s raising wages for 500,000 of its 1.4 million US workers. The company sits at No. 1 on the Fortune 500. Walmart brands include Equate, Ol’Roy, Dr. Thunder, Special Kitty, Price First, Play Day, Mainstays, and Sam’s Choice.

Source…..Marina Nazario in http://www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

படித்து ரசித்தது ….துணுக்கு துளிகள் …

October 18, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

‘சிரிக்கத் தெரிந்த மனமே’ நூலிலிருந்து:

தமிழ்க்கடல் ராய.சொக்கலிங்கம் நடத்தி வந்த, ‘ஊழியன்’ பத்திரிகை, சுதந்திர போராட்ட காலத்தில், மக்களிடம் செல்வாக்கு பெற்று விளங்கியது.
‘ஊழியன்’ பத்திரிகையில் உதவி ஆசிரியர் வேலைக்கு, புதுமைப்பித்தனை அனுப்பி வைத்தார் எழுத்தாளர் வ.ரா., புதுமைப்பித்தன் அப்பத்திரிகையில் பணியாற்றி வரும் போது, ஆசிரியர் குழுவில் முக்கியமானவராக இருந்த
ஈ. சிவம் என்பவர், புதுமைப்பித்தனுடன் அடிக்கடி சச்சரவு செய்து வந்தார். அதனால், ‘ஊழியன்’ பத்திரிகையை விட்டு விலகினார் புதுமைப்பித்தன்.
சில நாட்கள் சென்றபின், வ.ரா.,வும், புதுமைப்பித்தனும் சந்தித்துக் கொண்டனர். புதுமைப்பித்தனின் ராஜினாமா விஷயத்தை முன்பே அறிந்திருந்த வ.ரா., ‘என்ன புதுமைப்பித்தன்… ஈ.சிவம் எப்படியிருக்கிறார்?’ என்று கேட்டார்.
‘அவர் ஈ.சிவம் இல்லை; எறும்பு சிவம். என்னைக் அறுத்துத் தள்ளி விட்டார்…’ என்றார் புதுமைப்பித்தன்.

‘உலக மேதைகள்’ என்ற நூலிலிருந்து: பிரபல எழுத்தாளர் மார்க் டுவைன் தன் பக்கத்து வீட்டுக் காரரிடம் பேசிக் கொண்டிருந்த போது, அவரது மேஜை மீது இருந்த புத்தகத்தை பார்த்து, ‘இந்தப் புத்தகத்தை இரவல் தருகிறீர்களா… படித்து விட்டு தருகிறேன்…’ என்று கேட்டார்.
அதற்கு அந்த நண்பர், ‘புத்தகங்களை நான் இரவல் கொடுக்கிறதில்ல; இந்தப் புத்தகத்தை நீங்க அவசியம் படிக்கணும்ன்னு தோன்றினால், என் வீட்டிலேயே உட்கார்ந்து படித்து விட்டுப் போங்கள்…’ என்றார்.
மனவருத்தப்பட்டார் டுவைன். ஆனால், வெளிப் படுத்திக் கொள்ளவில்லை. சில நாட்களுக்கு பின், டுவைன் வீட்டிற்கு வந்த அந்த நண்பர், ‘நண்பரே… உம்முடைய மண்வெட்டியை இரவல் கொடுங்கள்; என் வீட்டுத் தோட்டத்தில் மண்ணை வெட்டிப் பண்படுத்தி விட்டு திருப்பித் தருகிறேன்…’ என்று கேட்டார்.
‘மண் வெட்டியை நான் பிறருக்கு கடன் கொடுப்பதில்லை; உங்களுக்கு அவசியம் என்று தோன்றினால், என் மண்வெட்டியைக் கொண்டு, என் வீட்டுத் தோட்டத்து மண்ணை வெட்டிப் பண்படுத்துங்கள்…’ என்றார் மார்க் டுவைன்.

தமிழறிஞர்கள்’ நூலிலிருந்து: பண்டிதமணி கதிரேசன் செட்டியாருக்கு ஒரு பிரமுகர், விருந்தளித்தார். விருந்து முடிவில், ஒரு தம்ளரில் பால் தரப்பட்டது. பாலை வாங்கிய பண்டிதமணி அதை உற்று கவனித்து, ‘திருப்பாற் கடலில், எவ்வளவு அழகாக சீனிவாசன் துயில் கொள்கிறான்!’ என்றார்.
விருத்தளித்தவர், பால் தம்ளரை வாங்கிப் பார்த்தார். அப்போது தான், பண்டிதமணி சொன்னதன் உண்மை விளங்கிற்று. ‘சீனி’ (சர்க்கரை)யில் வாசம் செய்யக் கூடியது எறும்பு என்பதால், சீனிவாசன் என்று குறிப்பிட்டு, அது, பாலில் மிதக்கிறது என்பதை, பண்டிதமணி நயமாகக் கூறியதை ரசித்தார் அவர்.

‘தெரிந்து கொள் தம்பி’ நூலிலிருந்து: ஆகாய விமானத்தைக் கண்டு பிடித்த, ‘ரைட்’ சகோதரர்கள், ஒரு விருந்துக்கு அழைக்கப் பட்டிருந்தனர். பல அறிவியல் அறிஞர்கள், பொறியியல் நிபுணர்கள் அங்கு வந்திருந்தனர். விருந்துக்கு தலைமை வகித்தவர், ‘அடுத்து, நம் ரைட் சகோதரர்களில் மூத்தவரான, வில்பர் ரைட் தங்கள் சாதனைகள் குறித்துப் பேசுவார்…’ என்று அறிவித்தார்.
வில்பர் எழுந்து, ‘ஒரு தவறு நேர்ந்து விட்டது; என் தம்பி ஆர்வில் ரைட் தான் நன்றாக சொற்பொழிவாற்றத் தெரிந்தவன். எனக்குப் பேசக் தெரியாது…’ என்று கூறி அமர்ந்து விட்டார்.
தலைமை வகித்தவர், ஆர்வில் ரைட்டை அழைத்து, பேசும்படி கூறினார். அவர் ஒலிபெருக்கி முன் வந்து, ‘என் அண்ணன் வில்பர் ரைட் அற்புதமாகப் பேசிவிட்ட பின், நான் பேசுவதற்கு என்ன இருக்கிறது…’ என்று கூறி அமர்ந்து விட்டார்.

Source….தி்ண்ணை!….www.dinamalar.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” When Ego Fades away, Knowledge Shines as Wisdom…”

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Sathya Sai Baba

Jnana Yajna is specially recommended by scriptures for all. Jnana does not simply mean knowledge gained from scholars and books, but actually conducting in accordance with that knowledge. Knowledge can never ripen into wisdom so long as the ego persists in craving for results to satisfy its desires. When ego fades away, knowledge shines as Wisdom. When yajnas are performed solely for the peace and prosperity of the world (Loka-Kalyan), they reach God. Jnana reveals that in every sacrifice, God is the Prompter, the Promoter, the Sacrificer, the Sacrifice, the Product achieved and the Recipient of the product. God is the consumer of every sacred offering (Yajnabhuk); He is guardian of the yajna (Yajna-bhrith) and its performer (Yajna krith). He is all; it is only when He is all that the act becomes a genuine yajna. If this attitude can soak into every activity, it will sanctify every moment of your life and make it a yajna.

Great Life Advice From Mark Twain….

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Mark Twain is considered by many to be one of the greatest American authors in history. He wasn’t only a writer though, he was also a source of constant inspiration, a fountain of memorable quotes and a man with an incredible intellect. So when we say we have some words of advice for you from the mouth of Mark Twain, there is a very good reason to listen!

1. Age is in your mind more than anywhere else.

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

With this clever play on words, Twain is telling us age doesn’t matter as long as you don’t give it significance. It means that a young soul can dwell in an old body and all the limitations we put on age, other than those physical ones, are actually in our head.

This advice isn’t just about age, it’s also about self-confidence. When we believe we have a problem, we transmit that to the people around us and so bring it to pass. People can feel the lack of self-confidence in others and they will treat you as you treat yourself. So, once you make that mental ‘switch’, the enviornment will too.

2. Humor is one of the most important things.

“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”

“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”

The simple act of laughing and responding to humor is one of the greatest experiences of the human condition. Life is nothing without laughter, just a sad shell, and although there are pleasures in life that have nothing to do with humor, they are always improved upon and made more palatable with a good side dish of laughter. Humor helps almost all situations and using it will draw people to you faster than anything else you may do.

3.Anger will hurt you more than help you.

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

Anger is an inescapable human emotion; we all get mad once in a while. But there are ways to control out anger, and not let it control us. Just like laughter is transient in nature, so should anger be. A joke will make you laugh again and again if you think about it over and over, and anger is no exception, the more you think about it, the angrier you’ll become. So, when you are angry at something or someone, it’s important you let it die out naturally; don’t continue to feed it. Think of other things and apply your cognitive resources at things that make you happy.

4. The world doesn’t owe you, you owe yourselves.

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

The feeling of being owed something by the world is common in this generation. We all feel entitled to something, whether it’s a steady job, money, happiness etc. But these feelings usually lead only to frustration, bitterness, anger and resentment. Let go of these expectations from yourselves and from the world, and you’ll see that everything becomes a bit easier. You do deserve the best, but you’ll need to go and get it for yourselves.

5. Having a new idea is not a crime.

“A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”

When you see things differently than other people, expect mixed reactions. Some will support you, others ignore you, while still others will try to bring you down. Most people tend to hold on to their preconceived notions for dear life, and will even act aggressively or negatively when these are threatened by an opposing opinion. But remember, all great discoveries were once such novel ideas, and many of them carried negative reactions. You should say what you believe and act upon it, don’t let anyone tell you your ideas are ‘too weird’. After all, human flight used to be such a novel and strange idea.

6. Don’t let your thoughts dwell on the negative.

“Drag your thoughts away from your troubles… by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.”

You must watch your thoughts, because it is so easy to get into a habit of thinking negatively, turning our worries and troubles over and over in our head, until they seem as big as mountains and as dark as the night. Thinking positively is one of the best gifts you can give yourselves, and will ultimately lead to you doing everything a little better, with people reacting much better to your attitude. In the end, life is made up of ‘tasks’ we must accomplish, some small, some big and difficult. Try to look at any ‘difficult’ task as a challenge and as an opportunity to learn something about yourselves.

7. Instead of worrying about yourself, worry about others and help yourself.

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

There is something magical about making someone else smile or getting them out of a tough situation. Helping others not only makes us better people and buys us goodwill from those around us, it also makes our own problems seem smaller because we’re not preoccupied with them 24/7. If you help others without thinking, just jumping in and helping out, you’ll be the one who ends up with a smile on your face.

8. Try everything, regret nothing.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

A beautiful quote by Mark Twain and one that is full of truth. It’s always easier to delay things we want to do. After all, life usually gets in the way and we tell ourselves ‘well, we’ll try it later’. But as we get older, those opportunities become more and more rare, and the things we end up regretting the most are the things we simply never tried to do.

Failure shouldn’t scare us, it’s a part of life. What is scarier is having opportunities and never acting on them. So when you think you want to do something – do it. Failure may happen, but at least you’ll know the answer to the question: “What if?”.

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

This Flight Costs Just Rs. 60 and Goes Nowhere….!!!

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Never been on an airplane? Here’s your chance to board one for as little as Rs 60, or even for nothing if you don’t have the money. Retired aircraft engineer Bahadur Chand Gupta will be happy to show you around.

“I am in an aeroplane for the first time. I saw many things inside,” exclaimed an excited Jatin when he boarded the flight to nowhere.

He is one of many underprivileged kids who may never get a chance to fly on an actual plane. But he climbed the long stairway that took him to an orange and white aircraft set up on a patch of land on the outskirts of Delhi.

The plane, of course, is going nowhere. But it is giving an opportunity to people from some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city to experience what it is like to sit on the jets they see fly above them in the sky.

When a retired aircraft engineer Bahadur Chand Gupta, who comes from the small village of Kasana in Haryana, started his career many years ago, the villagers curiously asked him what it was like to be in an aircraft. None of them had ever seen a real airplane and they wanted to get a glimpse of life in the aviation industry through Gupta’s eyes. –

For security reasons, Gupta was never able to take his fellow villagers inside an actual aircraft. But he always wanted to do something that would give them a taste of flying.

Finally, in 2003, Gupta sold some land and bought an old Airbus A300. He parked it on a vacant lot close the city’s domestic airport and started offering virtual ‘flights’ to the general public.

To make the experience close to real, the ‘passengers’ in his ‘flight’ are given boarding passes, shown safety instructions, and even offered in-flight snacks. Some even get to see the cockpit.

The passengers pay as little as Rs. 60 to board this flight and some can even get to be part of it for free (depending upon their financial condition). What adds to the amazing in-flight experience is the unique evacuation practice where the kids slide out of the the aircraft instead of taking the regular stairs.

Source….Shreya Pareek….www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Everyone Should Have a Last Day at Work Like This 60-Year-Old Liftman ….

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

When was the last time you smiled at a liftman or returned the morning wish of a watchman? Appreciated the kind people who are at your service even when you don’t notice them? These college students from Delhi did something remarkable for a liftman who had been with their institution for 34 years. And, in the process, sent an important message to the rest of us as well.

The watchman, the peon, the liftman, the gardener – aren’t these some of the very first people one sees on entering a college building? And also the first few people whose smiles mark the beginning of a new day for most students who walk the same paths and corridors every day?

While students enter and leave colleges every four to five years, these people keep doing their jobs silently and perfectly, day in and day out. They play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of a college and also form a special bond of friendship with many students.

Dhaniram, the ex-liftman at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi, is one such person.

This 60-year-old man, respectfully known as Dhaniram ji, spent 34 years of his life working as the liftman at the college. Be it students, parents, visitors, faculty members, or old students who have now become teachers, Dhaniramji knows one and all.

“He is a really nice guy, a very friendly human being and a very important part of the college family,” says Ayush Kamalia, a fourth year student at SPA.

And so, when it was announced a month ago that the liftman is going to retire on Sept. 30, 2015, students knew they had to do something for the man, something that would help him remember the college and its students forever.

So they got together, pitched in money, and organized a full-fledged, colourful, creative, and memorable farewell party for Dhaniram ji, leaving the old man both overjoyed and teary-eyed at the same time.

Dhaniram welcomed to his farewell party On Sept. 23, Dhaniram ji received a very warm and loud welcome by a gathering that had students, faculty members, administrative staff, and just about everyone from the college. –

“Everyone wanted to come together to thank him for his service, for his time and for his gleaming smile that brings out more happy wrinkles than the years he has given to the college,” says Ayush.

Being architecture students, everybody tried to contribute with their creative efforts.

Dhaniram ji was pleasantly surprised with a miniature model of a lift, inside which he found a scroll with a personal message thanking him for being his awesome self, and a memento marking his time in the college. Other gifts included a wallet, belt, wrist watch, and some cash. Faculty members gave gifts as well. One of the most incredible gifts was some graffiti – the students had painted Dhaniram ji’s face inside the lift, capturing his memory for years to come.

Students and teachers also took to the podium to speak about him and thank him – each sharing their own anecdotes and memorable experiences about Dhaniram ji.

The director and heads of departments, who have known Dhaniram ji since they were students, thanked him for understanding the college and contributing to its growth. –

This was followed by an event organised by a college society named Gupshup, which usually invites some eminent personalities from outside to come and give inspirational talks to the students.

This month, the chief guest and speaker at the event was none other than Dhaniram ji.

He was overwhelmed and really excited about the respect he was receiving at the place to which he had dedicated a large part of his life.

There was a ‘Wall of Thanks’ as well, and people wrote their messages on it throughout the day. –

Wall of Thanks

“On days when we did not have our assignments ready, we would ask Dhaniram ji to speak with the concerned faculty and tell them not to take submissions that day. And he would joke around with us. That was the kind of relationship we had with him. First year students who used to enter the college afraid and anxious, always felt calmer after speaking with him. If you were in any sort of trouble, all you had to do was to speak to him to feel better”, says Ayush, remembering his first days at the college. –

Every college, school, office, and administrative building has a Dhaniram – the man or woman who knows every nook and corner of the place, every face, every emotion, and yet, always remains in the background. The SPA students, who took such a wonderful step for Dhaniram ji, have an important message for all – that people like Dhaniram should be given the respect and love they deserve for their extraordinary service. And once in a while, they should be made to feel as special as they make others feel! –

Source….Tanaya Singh …..www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

Scott Kelly Becomes U.S. Astronaut to Spend the Most Time in Space…

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Just before the 15th anniversary of continuous human presence on the International Space Station on Nov. 2, 2015, U.S. astronaut and commander of the current Expedition 45 crew, Scott Kelly, is breaking spaceflight records. On Friday, Oct. 16, Kelly begins his 383rd day living in space, surpassing U.S. astronaut Mike Fincke’s record of 382 cumulative days. Kelly will break another record Oct. 29 on his 216th consecutive day in space, when he will surpass astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria’s record for the single-longest spaceflight by an American. Lopez-Alegria spent 215 days in space as commander of the Expedition 14 crew in 2006.

In this July 12 photograph, Kelly is seen inside the Cupola, a special module which provides a 360-degree viewing of the Earth and the space station. On each additional day he spends in orbit as part of his one-year mission, Kelly will add to his record and to our understanding of the effects of long-duration spaceflight.

Kelly is scheduled to return to Earth on March 3, 2016, by which time he will have compiled 522 total days living in space during four missions.

Image Credit: NASA

Source….www.nasa.gov

Natarajan

Meet the Hindu who lets Muslims use his shop as a mosque, for free….

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

‘Kalesaab could have easily earned Rs 1 lakh per month as rent from this place but he gave it to Muslims for free. Secularism in India is alive only because of people like him.’

Image: Deepak Kale. Photograph: Afsar Dayatar.

Bajrang Bali housing society is a rather unusual name for a building that houses a mosque but in a part of Dharavi, known the world over as Asia’s largest slum, that’s where for the last six months the Muslim community has found a temporary prayer area.

All thanks to Deepak Kale, a leather shop owner who owns the property.

When Muslims of Mukund nagar in Dharavi, Sion, in Central Mumbai, were wondering where to hold prayers after their mosque underwent repairs, they turned to Kale.

Kale not only agreed to give them his 2,500 square feet shop on the ground floor of Bajrang Bali housing society for prayers, but also decided to not take any rent from them till the time their mosque is rebuilt.

“Some masjid trustees came to me to ask for my place. I have known these people since my childhood so I gave it them for offering namaaz. Khurshidbhai, who is a masjid trustee, is my childhood friend, I have spent my life with him.

“I didn’t want to take any rent from them because I bought this commercial space in order to sell it, and I had told them that the day I get a customer I will sell it after giving them two months’ notice,” said Kale.

A hundred metres from Bajrang Bali is the Noor Masjid Madarsa Faizaul Quran, the original mosque, where repair work is going on in full swing, with Muslim artisans trying their best to complete the work in two months time.

“In our country we need to respect each other’s faith. Muslims must respect the Hindu faith and vice versa,” adds Kale.

What has surprised Kale and Muslims of the locality is the publicity his simple gesture has received.

“We have been praying at Kalesaab’s place for the last six months. For us it was no news but after one Urdu paper published a report on this, all media people are writing about it,” says Tanvir Azmi, a businessman and resident of Mukund Nagar. “More than 90 percent of Hindus in India are like Kalesaab. He could have easily earned Rs 1 lakh per month as rent from this place but he gave it to Muslims for free. Secularism in India is only alive because of people like him.”

The locality has an equal number of Muslim and Hindu residents. On the left of Bajrang Bali building live the Hindus, while Muslims live on its right. So one side of the road sports green flags, while the other side sports saffron flags.

But not everything is as peaceful as it appears. Three lanes away, a small mob of 200 Hindus and Muslims was ready to take on each other last week over the issue of flying flags but a timely intervention by community elders defused the crisis.

“In a place where small riots break out over minor issues, it is a very big thing that Kalesaab has done. He is a prime example of what Indian secularism is all about,” says Atiullah Choudhary, a businessman who prays regularly at Bajrang Bali society.

Another friend of Kale, Naeem Shaikh, pitches in, “After seeing Kalesaab, I realised one has to work on secularism daily to build bridges between Hindus and Muslims. It is a daily effort. You cannot just say that you are secular and relax in a chair. You have to work for it in society. One mistake we Indians do is that we take secularism for granted, and that must not be done.”

Dharavi witnessed one of the most horrifying riots in Mumbai in 1992-93 and Kale had then taken an active part in saving a lot of Muslim lives.

“I housed around 200 Muslims safely in my leather shop during the 1993 riots. They left only after the situation normalised,” says Kale.

Asked what in his opinion was the one reason that caused riots, Kale says without blinking, “Rumours. There are some people in all communities — be it Hindus, Muslims or Christians — who do not want everyone to live peacefully. They are always up to some mischief and so I feel the government must bring in a law to stop people from spreading false rumours. Till that does not happen, riots will never stop.”

He has a recipe to save secularism, too. “I tell people to keep quiet and work for peace all the time. I feel if my lane is not harmed by communalism, then the country will take care of itself. If my lane is facing communal problems, what can I say about my country? So first keep communal peace in your own lane, and the country will follow suit.”

Syed Firdaus Ashraf / Rediff.com in Mumbai

http://www.rediff.com

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Why these Aranmula mirrors sell for Rs 1 lakh…..!!!

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

With fake products making its way into the market, Aranmula’s metal mirror makers are finding new ways to keep the glory of the traditional craft intact, finds Manu A B/Rediff.com

Image: Aranmula mirror reflects a glorious past. Photographs: Manu A B/Rediff.com

The traditional craftsmen of ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ – the handmade metallic mirrors made in a small town in south Kerala – are fighting a lone battle against counterfeit mirrors in the market.

The mirror’s metal alchemy, which is still a closely guarded secret among 19 craftsmen, got a major recognition with the GI (Geographical Indication) patent tag in 2003, which means that it can only be made in Aranmula by registered members, but counterfeiters who were arrested recently, took advantage of the fact that the metallurgical marvel has generated huge demand in India and abroad.

Image: Metallic mirrors, made from an alloy of ‘tin and copper’.

These metallic mirrors, made from an alloy of ‘tin and copper’, are part of a 500-year-old cultural lineage and its secret metallic composition is known only to a few remaining families hailing from the Vishwa Brahmana community in Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.

The mirror is made-to-order and the price ranges from Rs 800 to Rs 100,000 depending on its size. One can choose the size of the mirror and the frame designs, which are made in brass.

Image: Aranmula Mirror got a major boost when it received the coveted GI status.

Recognising its iconic status, the Kerala government declared that the Aranmula mirror would be the official memento to be presented to important personalities who visit the state.

Metal mirrors, which came into existence from the early 16th century and were made by just few families are now threatened by fake products and machine made ones, which do not last long.

Traditional mirror makers are fighting to keep the glory of the metal mirror alive by adopting technologies like Hologram.

Image: Selvaraj with his magical mirrors.

“Our age-old craft is getting threatened by counterfeiters and unscrupulous agents who make these mirrors with machines or use a different mix of the alloy to make a quick buck. We have received several complaints about defective products as well, Customers should always check for the hologram behind the mirror before buying it,” says A K Selvaraj, president of the Vishwa Brahmana Aranmula Metal Mirror Nirman Society.

Selvaraj’s efforts to protect the ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ led him to form a society of traditional craftsmen. He also took the initiative to get the coveted GI status for the mirror.

Aranmula Kannadi – A metallic wonder

In the corner of his noisy workshop, Selvaraj’s brother Gopalakrishnan is giving final touches to a shiny well decorated mirror. He has been polishing the mirror since a week on a rugged jute cloth laced with oil so that it reflects any image to perfection.

Unlike ordinary mirrors, these metal mirrors reflect the real picture with clarity.

From a young age of 14, Selvaraj has been actively involved with the making of mirrors. He believes that he has ‘inborn’ qualities to make these beautiful mirrors. His family has been carrying forward the tradition of making mirrors since 3 generations – around 100 years.

Image: Sales improved considerably after the Aranmula mirror received the coveted GI tag.

Since I looked weak, my father was always skeptical of whether I can carry forward this tradition of making metal mirrors. It needs a lot of involvement, patience and hours of hard work to make a mirror,” says Selvaraj.

Completely hand-made from a unique alloy of copper and tin, the world-famous metal mirror is now made by 19 registered craftsmen in Aranmula. “We first received a GI certification in 2003. It was a turning point in our business. Sales improved considerably after we received the GI tag. It gives us the sole right to make the mirrors,” says Selvaraj, who also owns the Parathasarthy Handicrafts Centre.

Image: The alloy that turns into shiny mirrors.

A big move to counter fake metal mirrors

Four decades ago, Selvaraj’s father was the only one making metal mirrors. Today there are 19 units, including two run by women making and selling these mirrors.

The Vishwa Brahmana Aranmula Metal Mirror Nirman Society has now taken a tough stand against counterfeiters and plans to work with more rigour to save this traditional craft of Kerala. “Last week, we filed a complaint and closed down a shop which was selling fake mirrors,” says Selvaraj.

Image: Customers must check for this hologram sticker behind the mirror.

The society has submitted a proposal to the government to grant funds to build a common unit to make the alloy so that the mixture remains uniform in all the units. “We are hopeful that the government will take a positive step in helping us preserve this age-old tradition,” explains Selvaraj.

On an average the 19 registered units of the society sell 300 mirrors every month. Two decades ago, they used to wait for months together to sell one mirror but now things have changed for the better. Selvaraj’s store alone sells around 35 pieces every month.

Legend behind the metal mirror

It is believed that eight families who had expertise in temple art were brought to Aranmula from Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.

The artisans who built the famous Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula found the reflective properties of metal while they were making a crown for Lord Parthasarathy.

The idea of making a mirror from metal seemed like a dream. They, however, could not replicate it for making a mirror. It is believed that a widow from the community Parvathy, had a divine power telling her the secret ratio to make the metal mirror. Hence, the mirror is considered to be divine gift from God.

The art of making the mirror was then passed on to future generations.

Image: Selvaraj with his mother. His father, Arjunan Achari’s photograph in the background.

A gifted family

It is a painstaking and labourious process which needs great perseverance, creativity and dedication.

Selvaraj’s father, V K Arjunan Achari was a master craftsman who passed on the tradition of making mirrors to Selvaraj and his brother.

“My father was a perfectionist. He used to just show me how to do a certain thing without talking. He wanted us to learn everything by keenly observing the process of making the mirrors.”

Selvaraj and others in the trade face problems of getting skilled labour. More than work, it is a fine art so it needs days of dedicated service.

We face shortage of labour. With modernisation, jewellery making and making artifacts from brass has come to a standstill. Now, mirror work is the only traditional craft that is left to sustain ourselves. We hope the popularity of the mirrors grows so that this art form will live forever,” Selvaraj says.

In 1962, Arjunan Achari started training other people to make mirrors in order to keep the tradition of Aranmula mirrors alive.

Most of the mirror makers today are either his students or have mastered the art working with him at some point, explains Selvaraj.

Recently, a person who studies palmistry of artists took images of our palms and said there is something distinct and artistic about our family, says Selvaraj.

Making of the mirror

The special kind of mud needed to make the mirror is procured from the paddy field in Aranmula. Ironically, this vast expanse of paddy fields are part of the land acquired for the proposed Aranmula International Airport project, which has been halted after a Supreme Court verdict.

Mud is powered to make a fine paste which is then used to make a mould in circular or square shapes.

Two flat moulds are attached leaving a small gap in between with wax.

After the mould is fully sealed in the form of a bottle, the alloy is placed on the small opening on the mouth of the bottle-shaped mould and sealed with mud and heated in the fire for about 400 degree centigrade for 2-3 hours, the alloy melts and moved into the mould.

Once cooled, the mud covering is broken and a flat piece of metal is taken out. This metal is then cut into circular or oval shapes. After polishing for days together, the blank metal turns into a shiny mirror. All the processes are done manually.

Image: Melted alloy of ‘tin and copper’ is headed in these moulds.

A gift treasured by the world

On the dim-lit walls of Parthasarathy Handicraft Centre, there are photographs of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar receiving the mirrors as a memento during the different events they attended in Kerala.

Selvaraj takes pride in the fact that these finely crafted mirrors were made in his small workshop.

Aranmula, which is also famous for boat races, attracts tourists from India and abroad. Foreigners are more interested in watching the entire process of how the mirror is made, says Selvaraj.

Image: Aranmula is known for boat races.

What makes the Aranmula Kannadi so special

The mirrors are considered to be among the eight auspicious items or that make up a bride’s prized possession. The mirror is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the people who possess it.

“One customer told me that his daughter got a good marriage proposal after he kept the mirror in his house. Another businessman said he saw an improvement in business after he kept a mirror in his office. Foreigners are amazed by the beauty and like to visit our workshop to see every process of how the mirror is made. The British Museum in London too has Aranmula mirror in its collection.

mage: Aranmula Kannadi is a treasured gift.

“Apart from work on the frames, the fascinating aspect is that the mirror is hand-made. Right from casting to finishing, it requires intensive labour. It’s hard to find trained workers these days and material costs have increased a lot, but we are hanging on because this is what we’ve been picked to do,” says Selvaraj.

He supplies the mirrors in bulk to government and private organisations as the ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ is a favourite gifting option during conferences and big events.

Taking a piece of paper, Selvaraj explains the difference between ordinary mirror and the metallic mirror, “In an ordinary mirror, when you touch a piece of paper on the surface of an ordinary mirror, there appears a gap between the object and the image, whereas in the Aranmula metal mirror the paper and its reflection actually touch and there is no gap between the images.”

Image: Customers must check the product for the hologram.

Will it survive the test of time?

With fake products and machine-made mirrors making its way into the market, an age-old art form is under threat.

“If people get cheated with inferior products, then our products will lose its brand value. It’s our duty to preserve and protect this amazing craft for generations to come. We now check every piece of mirror made by society and give hologram stickers. Customers must check the product for the hologram and also carefully look at the mirror to see if there are any distortions, points out Selvaraj.

As president of the society, Selvaraj makes sure the mirrors certified are perfect before giving it a hologram mark.

Moving towards a more integrated and foolproof method to check corruptive practices, Selvaraj and 18 members of the society have decided to make the alloy at a common workshop so that all the artists in the society get the right proportion of the alloy to make mirrors.

“If we use the accurate proportion of tin and copper, the real hand-made metal mirror will crack if it falls down, whereas a spurious one will not break if it falls but will turn dark after a few years,” explains Selvaraj.

The government has assured them support to build the industry on a strong footing. “With government’s help, we can jointly work towards saving the Aranmula mirror from the hands of unscrupulous agents, improve its brand value and build a bright future for this traditional art.”

Source….Manu A.B. …www.rediff.com

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1886 Benz replica makes arduous trip from Coimbatore to Chennai….!!!

October 17, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Except for a rear-mounted engine that put out a feeble .9 hp, there was little to tell between a horse carriage and the Benz Motorwagen. When it arrived in 1886 on three wheels, it was hailed as the first horseless carriage.

It has gone down in automobile history as the first car. It has another first to its credit. It is the first automobile to be taken out on a long journey. In 1888, Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Benz, who invented this odd-looking car by today’s standards, drove it from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany, covering over 190 km.

A replica of the 1886 Benz Motorwagen, made by Gedee Technical Training Institute and a key attraction at the Gedee Car Museum in Coimbatore, arrived at the city. This trip would, however, not detract from the greatness of Bertha’s.

C.S. Ananth, honorary consultant to the Gedee project to create Benz Motorwagen, says, “Bertha undertook that daunting trip when nobody trusted a vehicle that had an engine.”

According to G.D. Gopal, trustee of Gedee Car Museum, the features of the original car have been conscientiously retained. For example, the engine, just as feeble as ever, runs on benzene.

This car is one of the many Benz Motorwagen replicas that have been made at the Gedee institute.

“Last year, 21 students of the institute studied the parts of a replica that had been bought and dismantled; and then they set about making replicas of this iconic car themselves,” says Mr. Gopal.

Source….www.thehindu.com

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