Attitude – Page 44 – Take off with Natarajan

Woman I admire: ‘My daughter is a super hero’….

March 10, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Here, Jaya Alex writes about her daughter, who, despite the odds, chose to teach in a backward and underprivileged district in India.

Justey P Alex

My elder daughter Justey P Alex is presently working among the tribes in Kalahandi district of Odisha, the second most backward and underprivileged district in India.

There she is teaching in a mission school which provides education to poor children. It is the only English medium school in that area.

After her graduation from the Delhi University (BA English Hon), she told us of her desire to serve the needy and downtrodden children through education. She had taken the decision during a visit to this place when a tour programme was conducted by the Youths of Church Mission.

Being parents of a grown-up girl child we were very worried about her decision.

Jaya Alex with her daughter Justey

All other family members, friends and our well-wishers were also against it because of her well-being.

The place where she was planning to work is prone with diseases like malaria, jaundice, typhoid, etc.

Death due to these diseases is very common there. The nearest hospital is at least 20 km away from this remote village. If you want to buy a pen, book or even recharge your mobile phone you have to travel at least 20 km.

Everybody asked her to rethink the decision, but she stood firm on her ground as she felt that it was right.

At last we agreed and allowed her to go and work there. We thought that she will be back within a month because it is not so easy for a child, born and brought up in metropolitan city. to work in such a remote area.

But she got the willpower to overcome all hurdles and hardships by seeing the happiness of the poor kids studying there and has now completed 10 months. She is one among the three graduate teachers in her school. She is also pursuing her post graduation from IGNOU.

I think an ordinary girl cannot think in this way and I feel that my daughter is a ‘super hero’. I am proud of her.

Source…..Jaya Alex in http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Celebrating International Women’s Day….

March 9, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

NASA astronauts and JAXA astronaut at work inside International Space Station's Robotics Workstation

In this April 8, 2010 photograph, STS-131 mission specialists Stephanie Wilson of NASA, Naoko Yamazaki of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger of NASA, and Expedition 23 flight engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson (top left) work at the robotics workstation on the International Space Station, in support of transfer operations using the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to move cargo from the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.

The STS-131 mission’s seven-member crew launched aboard space shuttle Discovery on April 5 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, joining the six residents of the space station when the shuttle docked on April 7. The merging of the two crews marked the first time four women were in space at the same time.

Image Credit: NASA

Source….www.nasa .gov

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Photos of today’s Solar Eclipse….

March 9, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Justin Ng at Amazing City Beach Resort in Palu, Indonesia captured this photo of the March 9, 2016 total eclipse of the sun. He captured what is one of the most famous of all eclipse phenomena: the legendary diamond ring effect. It happens twice in a total eclipse … in the final moments before totality, and just as totality ends. You can also see a flare from the sun, on its lefthand limb.

A Kannan in Singapore caught the partial phases, too. He wrote: “The partial solar eclipse was observed in Singapore skies this morning covering about 85% of the sun from Earth.”

Source…..www.earthsky.org

Natarajan

Nine super-achieving women Bengaluru should be proud of …..

March 8, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, here is a list of 9 women achievers from Bengaluru who are recipients of the Namma Bengaluru Foundation Awards for the year 2015.

The Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) is an independent organistation and inclusive social platform founded in 2009, which is committed to the betterment of the city through collective social engagement.

Twenty-year-old Aishwarya Hebbar has made over 21,000 kids happier through her project Let’s Write Together. She collects pens discarded by school and college students around the city, and restores them so that kids who can’t afford stationery can write. –

Ashwini Angadi manages a trust that runs the Belaku Academy, a school for the visually impaired, working with differently abled children with an aim of integrating them with the mainstream. She has been chosen as the UN Special Envoy to receive the Youth Courage Award for Education and the Queen of England’s Young Leader Award in 2015. –

Suparna Ganguly ended the cruel practice of electrocution of stray dogs and co-founded Compassion Unlimited Plus Action – CUPA, an organization that took over the Koramangala dog-pound and over the years helped create a more humane world for strays. –

Gloria Benny put together a network of volunteers called Make a Difference (MAD) who would mentor children with skills and confidence and equip them for life after they left the shelter homes at the age of 18. –

Dr Rohini Katoch Sepat is the Director of the State Forensic Sciences Lab and has been instrumental in enabling the police force with technological advances such as the iBeat app and CCTV cameras on police vehicles to help the cops serve communities better. –

Geetha Ramanujam set up Kathalaya, The House of Stories, with a vision of making positive social change in education through storytelling. The International Academy of Storytelling set up by Kathalaya has trained over 70,000 people to become storytellers and touched the lives of over 5 lakh children over the years. –

Prarthana Kaul started Giftabled, an e-commerce venture that sells both gifts made by the disabled and merchandise for the disabled, thereby transforming many lives. –

Ashwani is a news reporter with RajTV, who brought Mavallipura landfill garbage crisis into focus. As a result of her efforts, health camps were conducted and drinking water facilities were improved. –

Lokayukta SP Sonia Narang’s strict action concerning extortion calls allegedly made to Government employees for bribes in return for immunity in corruption cases resulted in the filing of 5 FIRs and 11 arrests. –

Source…..www.thenewsminute.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”No one should become desperate and give up Prayers…”

March 8, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Sathya Sai Baba

Truly, the prayers of the great act as an invitation even for the advent of the Lord. In the external world, when the subjects need any convenience or help, they approach the rulers and inform them of their request. So also, in the internal state, when there is no possibility of achieving and acquiring devotion, charity, peace, and truth, the great and good people who desire to achieve them pray to the Lord within themselves. Then, listening to their prayers, He Himself comes into the world and showers His grace on them. Ramayana and Bhagavata reveal that Lord Rama and Krishna incarnated as an answer to the prayers of the sages. Thus prayers should be offered again and again for the realisation of the task. No one should become desperate and give up prayers if they don’t result immediately in the advent of the Lord.

இந்த வாரக் கவிதை ….” துணையாய் தொடரும் நிழல்கள் “!!!

March 7, 2016March 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

துணையாய் தொடரும் நிழல்கள் ….

………………………..

பிறந்த மண்ணை முத்தமிடும் குழந்தை தன் அன்னையின் நிழலில்

மழலை அது நடை பயிலும் தந்தையின் நிழலில் !

ஒரு நல்ல ஆசானின் நிழலில் கல்வி ….தக்க பருவத்தில்

இல்லறம் செழிக்க நல்லற நிழலாய் தொடரும் ஒரு வாழ்க்கை துணை !

துணையாய் தொடரும் நிழல்கள் இப்படி எத்தனை எத்தனை… ஒருவர்

வாழ்வில் !

காலம் மாறும் …காட்சியும் மாறும் ! தொடரும் நிழல் துணையும்

உருமாறும் !…

காலத்தின் கோலத்தில் மாற்றம் பல நிகழ்ந்தாலும் தொடர்ந்து

உறு துணையாகும் ஒரே ஒரு நிழல்… நம் வாழ்வில் !

காட்சியும் சாட்சியும் தேவை இல்லை இந்த நிழலுக்கு !

அதுதான் நம் மனசாட்சி ! வாழ்க்கையின் நல்லாட்சிக்கு

என்றும் துணையாக தொடரும் அதன் அரசாட்சி !

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” Get rid of Desire and Hatred and experience the Divinity inherent within …”

March 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Who is Lord Shiva, and where is He to be found? Many answers are given, including Kailash as His place of residence. The true answer is, ‘Isavasyam Idam Sarvam’ (All this is pervaded by Isa). He is omnipresent. There is no place, object or being where God is not present. Correct your outlook and recognise this unity in the apparent diversity around you. When God is omnipresent, what need is there to go in search of Him? The search is meaningless. If one gets rid of attachment and hatred, one will experience the Divinity inherent within. This is the sadhana (spiritual exercise) one has to do today – to get rid of desire and hatred which conceal the God within. Many people ask: “Swami! Show us the way.” All you have to do is to go back to the source from which you came. Where is the need for seeking the way? The Bhagavatha has declared that it is the natural destiny of every living being to go back to where each one came from.

Sathya Sai Baba

” Bond Between Parent and Child is Universal ….”!!!

March 7, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The minute you become a parent, your whole world is dedicated to making sure you’re child (or children) is safe, feels loved and grows to become wise to the world. In the adorable photos below, you can see creatures of all shapes and sizes rearing their young in the wild. Not only will these photos make you feel warm and fuzzy – they’ll also show you that the bond between a parent and a child is universal, regardless of the physical form it takes:

parent love

Source…..www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…..” Never forget that Nothing is as Powerful as God’s name to Protect us “

March 6, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Arms and bombs cannot save the world. God’s Grace alone can save the world. Hence your foremost duty is to pray for His grace. Prayer is supremely important and this awareness is needed in your daily living, at every step. Never forget that nothing is as powerful as the Lord’s Name to protect you. When you sing alone, your heart is merged in the song. When many sing together, the prayer acquires a divine power. Hence Guru Nanak commended community singing. With melody and rhythm, you must impart feeling to your song to make the bhajan a sacred offering. A tune (raga) without feeling (bhava) is a disease (roga). Giving up conceit and exhibitionism, sing bhajans in a spirit of humility and devotion, with the full awareness of the power of the Lord’s Name. This is the right way to dobhajans. When all participants sing in unison, sacred vibrations are produced, and the divine energies released fill the whole universe.

Sathya Sai Baba

Breaking stereotypes: ‘We are stronger than we think’ !!!

March 6, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

We had asked you, dear readers, share your experience if you’re a woman who has broken stereotypes.

Here, Vandana Chaudhary shares her story.

Vandana Chaudhary

I am Vandana Chaudhary, 33 years, and presently live in Vizag.

I have always enjoyed sports like badminton and cricket.

I also run marathons occasionally. But cycling, and that too 80 kilometres, is something I never fathomed in the wildest of my dreams.

It all started in August 2013, when I first bought my Firefox (MTB) and enjoyed riding it casually on Dolphin hill (my residence).

In the first few months, I could barely do 4 to 5 km at a stretch, without running out of breath.

Gradually, I improved my timing and was able to do 12 km (with a steep elevation) within six months.

However, I never thought I was good enough to participate in a cycling tour, which had professional cyclists as participants.

In December 2014, the ‘Tour of Eastern Ghats (TEG)’ was organised.

It was time to send in our names and I was still in two minds if I would be able to ride half the distance, let alone complete it.

Nevertheless, with immense encouragement from my husband (Anand V), I decided to give it a shot, with my humble six geared cycle.

Vandana Chaudhary at the start line

On the D-day, while standing at the starting line, I felt terribly intimidated by shiny, sleek Cannondales, Treks and Meridas around.

My heart sunk further, when I saw all of them zooming past me on their 24-geared bikes.

With low spirits already, I decided to continue, slow and steady, with my hubby following me in our black Santro.

Every time I would slow down, he would shout out aloud a word of encouragement like , “C’mon Vandana, you can do it, you are almost there”.

When the group stopped for a quick lunch, I was the last one to reach.

Post lunch, many participants decided to drop out due to exhaustion. That’s when I decided, it is not important to win the race, but it’s important to complete it.

I started with rejuvenated vigour and cycled my way through the fields, mountains and lakes. All this while, Anand trailing me and cheering me.

At one point of time, the organisers asked me to stop and use the towing truck, like others had as it was getting too late.

Sensing my disappointment, Anand stepped up and said, “She will not give up even if it meant riding in pitch dark”.

In the end, I proudly wish to reveal that there were just three of us who completed the entire route, the other two being Naval officers.

That day, for the first time I realised, what a little bit of will power and self belief can achieve

I still feel a sense of pride when I think of how I decided not to give up despite the darkness, pain and exhaustion.

“We are stronger than we think” — I will never stop believing this!

Photographs: Kind courtesy Vandana Chaudhary

Source…….www.rediff.com

Natarajan