Nomenclatures of Generations: Sociological Generations

 The intriguing study of human generations started in the late 1800s (the latter half of the 19th century), when sociologists started creating the terminology and timelines we still use. 

American novelist Gertrude Stein coined the first-ever reference to a generation. She told Ernest Hemingway, "You are all a lost generation." Hemingway later quoted it as an epigraph in his 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." 

As a result, each generation has been given a name so that people can refer to people from previous generations when discussing their older times.

Here is the Complete List of Generations and Their Timelines:

The Lost Generation (1883–1900): Fought in World War I (coined by Gertrude Stein).

The Greatest Generation (1901–1927): Lived through the Great Depression and fought in World War II.

The Silent Generation (1928–1945): Born during the war and the Depression period, known for conformity and civic stability.

Baby Boomers (1946–1964): Post-WWII generation with a birth spike (driven by economic growth and counterculture movements).

Generation X (1965–1980): Considered independent and often called "latchkey kids" because they had to enter their house with a key(this generation witnessed the rise of personal computers).

Millennials / Gen Y (1981–1996): First generation to come of age in the new millennium; shaped by early internet access.

Generation Z (1997–2012): Digital natives; grew up with smartphones and social media.

Generation Alpha (2013–2024): Born entirely in the 21st century; deeply integrated with streaming videos and reels, tablets, and AI.

Generation Beta (2025–2039): The current newborn and next upcoming cohort; expected to be defined by advanced automation and supercomputers.

Micro-Generations (Cuspers and Cohorts)

Sociologists also recognize transitional generations, known as Cuspers or Cohorts, who were born at the boundaries of major generations.

The term "Cohort" was coined in ancient Rome to refer to a military unit within a major military division.

The term "Cusper" was introduced by Canadian Historical Researcher Mark Wegierski in 2004 through his academic essays to refer to people born in between two major generations.

People born during those transition periods developed the traits and talents of both generations. They were able to move on and communicate freely with their previous generation as well as the younger generation.

Here is a list of those Micro-Generations:

1) Interbellum Generation (1901–1913): Too young for WWI, too old for WWII.

2) Sandwich Generation (1930–1940): The distinct bridge between the Silents and Boomers.

3) Generation Jones (1954–1965): Later Baby Boomers who missed the 1960s idealism.

4) Xennials (1977–1983): An analog childhood followed by a digital adulthood.

5) Zillennials (1993–1998): Smooth transition cohort unaffected by early smartphone childhoods but hyper-connected today.

6) Zalpha (2010–2014): Blend of the digital curation of Gen Z with the gaming-first world of Gen Alpha.

No micro-generation name has been given to people born on the borders of Alpha and Beta generations, as yet.

India's Civil Investiture Ceremony: Meaning and Significance

 A civil investiture ceremony is a formal, state-level event where a nation's head of state officially confers civilian honors, titles, or awards upon individuals for exceptional achievements and public service.

These ceremonies are most famously held in India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where the President of India presents the country's highest civilian awards—the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri to honor exceptional contributions by civilians. It is held yearly, in the spring, in two phases due to the large number of awards and awardees.

Significant Features of the Ceremony

Formal Presentation: Awardees are called up individually to receive their medals and citations, typically dressed in formal attire or traditional regalia appropriate to the occasion.

Dignitaries Present: The event is attended by the country's top leadership, including the Vice President, Prime Minister, and senior government officials.

Symbolism: The term investiture comes from the Latin word "investitura," which means clothing, dressing, or "vesting power/rank" and historically signifies the formal conferral of power, rank, or honor upon an individual.

In the context of Indian governance, these are formally divided into two phases (e.g., Civil Investiture Ceremony-I and Civil Investiture Ceremony-II), held in the spring to publicly recognize and celebrate distinguished citizens.

Why India Has Two Investiture Ceremonies?

Two separate Civil Investiture Ceremonies are held primarily to manage the high volume of awardees while maintaining the strict, formal protocol of the state event.

The government splits the event into two distinct phases (Civil Investiture Ceremony-I and Ceremony-II) due to the following reasons:

High Number of Recipients:

Every year, the President of India approves over 100 Padma Awards (for example, 131 awards were approved for 2026 and 142 for 2025). Presenting this many awards in a single sitting would make the ceremony exhausting for the elderly recipients, dignitaries, and organizers.

Protocol and Time Constraints

The ceremony requires reading out an extensive citation detailing the lifetime achievements of each individual awardee. The President then physically confers the medal and presents a scroll. Splitting the list ensures each recipient receives their rightful individual recognition without rushing the official state protocol.

Logistical and Seating Limits

The Darbar Hall or Ashoka Hall at Rashtrapati Bhavan has a limited seating capacity. Because each awardee is permitted to bring family members besides the other attending dignitaries like Union Ministers, foreign diplomats, and top government officials, hosting fewer awardees per session (roughly 60 to 65 at a time) keeps the gathering logistically manageable.

UI vs UX

 UI is the short form for User Interface.

UX stands for User Experience.

UI stands for User Interface, whereas UX refers to the User Experience.

UI is the visual or auditory space where a human interacts with a machine or digital device. It includes all the visual and interactive elements on a screen—such as text, colors, buttons, icons, menus, and layout. For example, the computer screen is your User Interface, through which you access data (like files, websites, media, etc.) by clicking some buttons and/or by typing words.

Key Elements of UI 

A standard user interface contains four main types of components. They are: 

1. Input Controls: Elements that let you enter information (e.g., buttons, text fields, checkboxes).
2. Navigational Controls: Tools that help you move around (e.g., sliders, search fields, back/next arrows).
3. Informational Components: Elements that communicate status or information, for example, progress bars and pop-up boxes that show your progress or what to do.
4. Containers: Elements that group related content for easy handling, using vertical (accordion) menus or drop-down lists to keep the main interface clean and neat. More information is provided when you click those containers or menu buttons.

UI vs. UX 

People often confuse UI with UX, but they serve entirely different purposes: 

UI (User Interface): Focuses on the look, feel, and aesthetics of the product screen. It is about making the interface beautiful and visually intuitive. 

UX (User Experience): Focuses on the overall journey, usability, and how the product works. It ensures that users achieve maximum satisfaction without frustration.

For a clear understanding, suppose that a website or app were a house, 

UI is the interior design, paint, and furniture. 

UX is the functional floor plan and the plumbing (that lets you live there comfortably). 

Common Examples of User Interface 

Graphical User Interface (GUI): The icons and menus that you click with a mouse or tap on a smartphone screen. 

Voice-Controlled UI: Interacting with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Gemini. 

Hardware UI: Physically controlled interfaces like an ATM screen, the computer keyboard, a remote control, or the dashboard (menu screen and buttons) in a car.

Thirteen British Colonies in USA Prior to Declaration of Independence (Year 1776)

Until 1776, there were 13 colonial governments under the British Monarchy in the erstwhile USA.

The 13 original American colonies were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

All these13 colonies had their own local governments and elected legislative assemblies. While ultimately under British rule, the Crown and Parliament allowed significant self-governance, with colonists heavily involved in passing local laws, managing economies, and levying taxes.

These colonies were divided into three distinct political systems based on how their governments were structured.

 

Charter Colonies

These colonies were established by a charter granted by the King to a company or group of settlers. They enjoyed the highest degree of self-governance, as they were free to elect their own governors and officials without British interference.

Connecticut

Rhode Island 

Royal Colonies

These colonies were under the direct control of the British Monarch. The King appointed the governor and a council, though the colonists still maintained their own elected lower legislative houses that controlled local spending and resisted strict British mandates. They handled local laws and taxes.

Georgia

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

South Carolina

Virginia 

Proprietary Colonies

The King granted lands (colonies) to individuals and families (proprietors) as personal property. The proprietors appointed the governor, but they still established representative assemblies. The governors were required to work alongside a representative assembly of colonists.

Delaware

Maryland

Pennsylvania

References:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/colonial-government-forms-charter-proprietary-royal-colonies.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_America

Independence Day _ United States of America

Independence Day in the United States, colloquially known as the Fourth of July, is a holiday and celebration commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It marks the historic separation of the 13 American colonies from British rule, though the actual treaty acknowledging Independence was signed in 1783, in the Treaty of Paris. 

History and Significance:

Tensions and disputes began after the Seven Years' War between the British Empire and France, in which the British Forces gained victory in the year 1763. Patriots from the colonies organised themselves as the Continental Army under the command of George Washington and fought for 8 years (1775 to 1783). The war ended after the British ceded Independence to America through the Paris Treaty signed in 1783.

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by a committee that included Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, the document established the United States of America as a new, sovereign nation. 

While Congress had voted for independence two days prior on July 2, Americans have celebrated the birth of the nation on July 4th since the very first anniversary.

How Do They Celebrate 4th July?

Independence Day is widely observed as a midsummer holiday characterized by large-scale patriotic events and family gatherings. 

Common traditional involvements include: 

Fireworks and Parades:

 Communities host vibrant pyrotechnic displays, daytime parades, and concerts featuring military bands. 

Cookouts and Picnics:

Americans celebrate with traditional cookout foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob (the cooked ear of corn), and apple pie. 

Public Readings: 

The Declaration of Independence is often read aloud at civic gatherings. 

The 250th Anniversary 

On July 4, 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence. It is a year-long celebration.

This anniversary year features major commemorative events, civic campaigns, and historical exhibitions across the nation.

  

For more information: 

https://www.vedantu.com/general-knowledge/independence-day-united-states-holiday

https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Independence-Day/600437

Humidity vs Precipitation

While looking at weather forecasts, I used to wonder why the weatherman predicts the percentage of precipitation sometimes and that of humidity at other times. So, I thought of knowing the differences between these two terms. I googled on my Chrome browser and got this detailed reply from the AI.

 Humidity is the amount of water vapor (gas) in the air.

Precipitation is water (liquid or solid) that falls from the sky (rain, snow, hail) when humidity condenses and becomes too heavy. 

Humidity is the moisture content, indicating the potential for rain, and precipitation is the actual release of that moisture as it falls to Earth, a key stage in the water cycle.

Humidity 

• Definition: The measure of water vapor (a gas) in the air, indicating its dampness or wetness. 

• Measurement: Expressed as relative humidity (percentage of maximum capacity) or absolute humidity (actual mass). 

• Role: High humidity means more moisture is available, increasing the chance of precipitation, but it doesn't guarantee it.

Precipitation 

• Definition: Water falling from clouds to the Earth's surface. 

• Forms: Rain, snow, sleet, hail, drizzle, mist, frost. 

• Process: Occurs when water vapor condenses into droplets/ice, forms clouds, and these particles grow large enough to fall due to gravity. 

Key Relationship Between Humidity and Precipitation

• Humidity is the "fuel" (water vapor) for precipitation. 

• Precipitation is the "event" (water falling) that happens when the humid air cools, becomes saturated (100% relative humidity), and releases that moisture. 

What are Gnomes

I was browsing the internet in search of the relevance of Gnomes in the context of Christmas and Christianity.

Generally, a gnome is a mythological creature that lives underground, protecting some hidden treasures. We hear or read about these creatures in stories. They are dwarves, bearing white beards and wearing conical hats.

But, in spirituality, a Gnome refers to the muse and wisdom in making complicated decisions involving matters of faith and universal harmony.

Here is a detailed explanation provided by AI on the Chrome browser.

"In Christianity, "gnome" doesn't refer to the fairy-tale creature but to the Greek word gnōmē (γνώμη), meaning judgment, opinion, or mind, used in the New Testament for sound advice, discernment, or shared understanding, especially in ethical matters where Scripture is silent, highlighting reasoned decisions based on wisdom and conscience, not mere opinion. It's about making God-honoring choices in complex situations (prudence) and achieving unity in the church, distinct from earthly, fantasy creatures.

Theological Meaning of Gnōmē (Gnome) 

• Reason & Judgment: Refers to the faculty of the mind, intellect, or reason, and the judgment or opinion that results. 

• Practical Wisdom: In the Bible (e.g., 1 Corinthians 7), it's the wisdom to know what to do when direct commands are absent, guiding believers toward sanctified living through conscience and apostolic teaching. 

• Unity & Consent: Signifies agreement or consensus, like the "mind of the church," fostering harmony in decision-making. 

• Christ's Will: In theology (St. Maximus), Jesus's divine and human wills were perfectly united, meaning He never had a "gnomic will"—a human will that needs to deliberate or choose between conflicting options, unlike us.

Gnomes (Creatures) vs. Gnōmē (Christianity) 

• Gnomes (Creatures): Folklore creatures, often associated with earth, mining, and good luck (gardening), a separate cultural tradition. 

• Gnōmē (Christianity): A spiritual concept of human intellect and moral decision-making, used to understand how believers apply faith in daily life, distinct from mythical beings. 

In essence, when Christians use the term "gnome," they're usually referring to the profound concept of divinely-informed judgment and counsel, not garden figures."

The Tale of the Cracked Pot and A Lesson

Once upon a time, there lived an elderly man in a small village. Every morning, he would carry a long pole across his shoulders, hang a water pot from each end, and walk several miles to the river to fetch water for his household.

However, the two pots weren't identical. One of them was cracked, causing it to leak.

The man would fill both pots at the river. Yet, by the time he arrived home, the cracked pot would be half empty because it had leaked water during the walk.

The cracked pot used to be ashamed of its inability to perform its job properly. One day, as they were nearing their home, it spoke to the old man.

“I am very sorry. I feel ashamed because I can't do my responsibilities as well as the other."

The old man smiled and said, "Tomorrow, as we walk home, instead of feeling ashamed, please look up at the side of the path.”

The pot hesitated but agreed. As they left the river and started walking on the next day, the pot looked around the path and was amazed. On its side of the path, there was a lovely row of green plants filled with fragrant flowers.

Looking at the cracked pot, the old man explained, “I knew about your cracks, so I planted flower seeds along your side of the path. The leakage from your cracks helps water them each day. And, now, I will pick these flowers to share their beauty with the entire village.”

The lesson from this story is:

"Never be ashamed of your weaknesses and disadvantages. Instead of worrying about them, try to take advantage of them by putting them to some other different uses".

Childhood Memories - Madras City in 1960s - T Nagar and Paanagal Park

During my childhood (late 1950s and full 1960s), there was a cinema hall named "Rajakumari Theater" on the main road of Pondy Bazar in T Nagar, that screened many English films for children at concession rates. It was owned by the Original Dream Girl of the cinema industry, T.R. Rajakumari (the popular Tamil actress from 1935 to 1963). She was also a renowned singer and producer. As a child, I would watch movies with my siblings once or twice a month. My father used to send us mostly to the Noon shows on these occasions, as they were suitable for children ( and often screened at reduced rates).

Often, it was the screen of this Rajkumari Theater that drew my attention more than the movie itself. It was a golden and regal screen. I used to feel blissful watching it ripple up and down in a mesmerizing way. 

Our home was in West Mambalam, and this cinema hall was within a mile from there, accessible via Pangal Park. We could walk leisurely and reach the hall in 20 minutes. I remember watching the famous movie "Mera Naam Joker" and another beautiful film called "The Sound of Music" at that theatre. I watched Mera Naam Joker many times after that as an adult. Now, I watched "The Sound of Music" again on Hotstar at the age of 70 to relive those childhood memories.

Panagal Park used to be full of greenery with small plants and big trees surrounding grassy plots. We used to walk from the house to the park on Sunday evenings and spend some time there enjoying the beautiful scenery while eating fried groundnuts (now they call it peanuts). There was a small library inside the park for children to read comic books. We sat there till late evenings, enjoying the stories.

While going to the park or returning, we used to peek into the cloth markets and other shops in Pondy Bazar. There used to be all kinds of items, even occupying the footpaths, from clothes to footwear to jewellery, fancy, plastic, porcelain, etc.

.

Short Stories - A Rabbit and The Tortoise

 

As you are well aware, rabbits are fast runners. They can run at a speed of 30 to 40 km per hour. On the other hand, a tortoise is a slow-moving animal. Tortoises can cover anywhere between 2 to 4 km in an hour, depending on their age and build. So, tortoises are presumed to be lazy creatures.

Now, I am coming to the story of a rabbit and a tortoise.

Once upon a time, there lived a Rabbit who was very proud of her fast-moving ability. So, when she found a Tortoise that was crawling lazily near a pond, it got disgusted and resorted to shaming her pace.

The Tortoise did not despise her but proposed for a race between them. She told her that it would be of some help in improving her pace if she competed with the Rabbit. She was well aware of the mentality of proud and arrogant over-confident beings.

The Rabbit was quick enough to accept the challenge as she was overwhelmed with the Tortoise's complement.

A woody place adjacent to the pond was selected for the purpose of the race at the proposal of the Rabbit. A lengthy course was decided upon by defining a starting point and the endpoint.

The race began. The Rabbit was in a hurry to complete the task as quickly as possible. So she shot off like an arrow. The Tortoise kept on crawling at her own speed. 

After covering half of the distance, the Rabbit got tired and thought of resting for a while. So, she stopped and looked back. The Tortoise was nowhere to be seen. It settled herself under a tree till the Tortoise could be seen. She kept looking for the Tortoise repeatedly and, in the meantime, began feeling drowsy. What happened next, she had no idea. She must have fallen asleep. But couldn't estimate for how much time she had fallen asleep.

So, She suddenly began galloping to the end point of the race, only to find that the Tortoise was already there. She had to admit her defeat. 

The Tortoise was consistent in her effort to reach her destination point with full determination, and she achieved success.

The Rabbit was proud, arrogant, and overconfident. She did not follow stability in her approach due to which she failed. 

Short Stories - The Fox and The Stork

Once upon a time, there lived a very cunning and jealous Fox. He enjoyed tricking other animals and creatures, thereby harassing them. So, all animals used to maintain distance from him. 

One day, he came across a Stork fishing her food near a pond and got jealous of her long beak. She was able to catch fish easily using her long beak. Moreover, she was clever enough. He noticed her sitting still at the banks like a statue and suddenly protruded her beak into the water and grabbed the fish within its beak. He felt jealous and wanted to harass her in some way or other.

He thought of a plan and invited the stork to dine with him in the evening. The stork was happy to find a friend and accepted the offer. She dressed herself beautifully and reached the place of the fox punctually.

The fox invited her and made her sit comfortably on a bench. He then took two plates and placed them on a table, one for the stork and the other for himself. He brought a pot full of a sweet dish known as kheer and served it with a ladle on the two plates. He asked her to start eating and he began himself eating.

Now, the stark had a problem with eating. She was accustomed to eating from a long jar, and squeezing food from a jar using her beak was easier. So, she could not squeeze from a plate, as it was flat. She could grab only one grain from the plate at a time.

The fox, on the other hand, used its tongue to squeeze the food and was able to eat quickly. He emptied his plate within seconds and added more food to it. He continued eating until the pot was empty and felt very satisfied as he had managed to outsmart the stork. Outwardly, he pretended to be very sorry that the stork could not eat even a quarter plate of the kheer served to her. He made excuses for not having any jar with him. 

The stork was unpleasant and angry. But, she does not show it outwardly. She thanked the fox and went away. Inwardly, she was planning to punish the fox for his malicious behavior. 

One Sunday, the Stork visited the Fox's home and invited him to dinner. The Fox was delighted and accepted the invitation. He put on a handsome suit, tied a stylish tie, sprinkled perfume over himself, and arrived at the Stork's home on time.

The Stork greeted him and made him sit on a chair at the dining table. She told him that she had prepared a juicy pudding with fish. The Fox was eager to enjoy the taste of fish, and she knew it very well. So, she brought two long jars and the pudding without delay. She filled the jars with the pudding, placed one in front of the Fox, and requested him to start enjoying the food. She settled into the other chair, dipping her long beak into her jar and began squeezing the pudding merrily.

The fox was wondering how to eat his food. The jar was long, and its mouth was narrow. To reach it, he had to stand up on his front legs placed on the table. He could reach the mouth of the jar but could not insert his tongue into it. Unless his tongue reached the food, he could not swallow. So, he was making various futile efforts to get to the food, all in vain. He climbed onto the table itself, but even then, he could not succeed in reaching the food.

The Stork, on the other hand, was enjoying her food as her legs and beak were very long and could easily reach to the bottommost part of the jar. She also poured the remaining pudding into her jar and swallowed it within minutes. She found the Fox unable to eat even a small bit of his food. So, she took his jar also and emptied it immediately while the Fox was shivering with shame and anger.

The Stork told him that it was a Tit for Tat. She had to teach him a lesson for all his cunning deeds he played on others.

Madras City in 1960s - Sharada Devi Primary School, Mambalam Railway Station

The area around Mambalam Railway Station in Chennai (formerly known as Madras) was bustling with activity, featuring residential colonies, markets, hotels, temples, and schools. There was even a cinema hall close to my home, making it a convenient place to live. Residents had easy access to all their daily needs. The railway station was situated at the center of a 20-kilometer suburban railway line that connected Chennai Beach to Tambaram, allowing people to travel from one corner of the city to another in about an hour. We often purchased seasonal tickets, which were discounted passes issued for three or six months, perfect for regular commuters and students.

The well-known T. Nagar Bus Stand was conveniently located near both the station and my school, making it easy to access various parts of the city. Buses operated every half hour during that period, and seasonal ticket options were available for students and others. 

My Class Group Photo

I received my primary education at Sharada Devi School from grades 1 to 7, between the years 1956 and 1962. It was only a five-minute walk from my home to the school. The school featured one solid building at the front and thatched huts in the interior. Lower primary classes, from grades 1 to 4, were held in those thatched huts, which were constructed with low mud walls and roofs made of thatched leaves supported by bamboo poles. Classes for grades 5, 6, and 7 took place inside the solid building. The urinals were located at the backside enclosed by bamboo screen walls.

The above photo was taken in front of those thatched walls. I was in Class 3, sitting there to the extreme right in the middle row. 

I enjoyed the thatched structures, which provided a beautiful natural setting. The back of the school featured a large garden filled with various trees, running alongside a railway boundary wall. This made it easy to access the fruits hanging from the trees by climbing the boundary wall at points where the glass fencing was missing. (The garden was protected by placing glass pieces on top of the boundary walls.)

Our classrooms were spacious enough to accommodate 50 to 60 students. We sat on low benches with attached desks that featured drawers for storing our bags and lunchboxes. Each bench was 3 inches high and could seat four children. The arrangement consisted of two columns of benches and a total of eight rows. During teaching hours, we kept our textbooks and notebooks open on our desks. In our primary classes, we wrote with nib pens dipped in ink, while starting in fourth grade, we switched to using fountain pens.

I was promoted to 2nd Grade within six months. There was a competitive spirit among the four of us—two boys and two girls—who were all of equal ability. Typically, any two of us would share the 1st rank at any given time. We participated in debates and science exhibitions with equal enthusiasm. This continued until our 7th Grade. After that, we went our separate ways to different high schools and lost the opportunity to meet again.

I used to play games with my classmates, although not very often. We also had physical education classes and scouts training at school. During those years, I would play cricket and other games like gully danda and hide and seek with my neighbors in the evenings or on holidays.

Later, I attended Ramakrishna Mission High School at Panagal Park in Thyagaraja Nagar, where I completed my SSLC (11th Grade). The school was about a mile from my home, which I would either walk or cycle to.

My college education was completed at Vivekananda College, Mylapore (Tiruvallikeni). I studied PUC with Commerce, Economics, and Maths, and then pursued a BA in Philosophy, Psychology, and Logic.

Madras City Memories - West Mambalam in 1960s

I was born in Madras City, the Capital of Tamil Nadu.

I am a Telugu Brahmin (Vaishnava) who lived there until 1971, from childhood to College Graduation.

We used to live in a rented house in Kodandaramaswamy Koil Street. Our owner was also a Telugu Brahmin. There were two separate buildings within the walled compound. My residence was to the left side of the first building with one more portion to the right. It was an elevated floor as the area was a low-lying place prone to occasional floods. The entrance to our portions was a high platform with steps on the street. The backside has two more portions at ground level with access through a narrow lane by the side of our elevated portions. There was a small entrance gate to reach their portions from the street from our left side.

The owner's residence was in the other building to our left, which had elevated floors like ours. It was exactly two buildings with some path in between. They had rooms on the terrace also. Two families in one stretch and another two families in the other stretch. The main gate used to be that side with allowance for some parking on their Porch. It has some common ground for children to play both in the front and the backside of their residences.

The backsides of the buildings on our road had railway tracks separated by their compound walls in between them. It was the railways' boundary wall (not of the building owners). And, our toilets used to be adjacent to the wall. They were only partly covered by roofs to prevent direct sunlight or downpours from the skies. So, we had to bear the torture of flies while getting released. It was only during the late '60s that covered flushout-toilets emerged in our building.

Our building was located nearer to the end of the street. Three lanes towards the right side of the street provided access to another horizontal road passing behind the Kodandaramaswamy temple. The three lanes connected these streets from one end to the other end. And, both these streets had access to the railway track from both ends through other connecting roads that crossed railway gates leading to the East Mambalam side at one end and the Saidapet side at the other end. 

My elementary school was located at the railway gate that connected East Mambalam with West Mambalam. The Mambalam Railway Station was located at the edge of a small road in front of my school. So, we could approach the station either through the railway track or through the road in front of the school. It was a two-minute walk. My house from the school was a 6—to 7-minute walk via Kodandaramaswamy Temple.

There was a Ganesha Temple (PIllaiyar Koil) towards the left of our house and the Kodandaramaswamy Temple towards the right. We could approach the Kodandaramaswamy temple within 5 minutes from my house and Vinayaka Temple within 2, to 3 minutes. I used to visit the temples along with my siblings frequently to get the prasadam as well as spend some time roaming or playing in the temples.

The railway line always used to be busy with local (electric) trains passing through our backyard every 10 minutes. Other mainline trains also passed through the same tracks. There used to be a spare track that was interlinked with the main tracks for pausing trains to allow for the passage of the express trains without interruptions.

Just opposite the gate of our house owner's was a lane connecting another horizontal road. Both sides of the lane housed many labor-class people living in their thatched huts. The huts used to submerge in waters during heavy rains due to their low-level grounds. Their colony used to be noisy with fights, both verbal and physical.

Short Stories - A Travel Horror and One More Scary Story

A Travel Horror

I was traveling in a vehicle. Probably a flying bus.

 

A few seconds before, I was still deciding about stepping into it. And so, wandering around it. Suddenly everything seems active with lots of noise. Somebody thrust me onto the bus shouting "Get in, get in'. I barely stepped into it when it started flying. 

All the vehicles around are moving with great speed. It seems everybody is banging.

"Hey you, Mister, keep to your left. Else, you will be crashed off".

I bent to my left within a scratch of a second. Otherwise, my left shoulder could have been ripped off.

"Hey, you, are you not seeing. Your right side is going to be crushed now".

A bus passed smashing my bus from the right and I escaped within a fraction of a second as I bent toward my left.

"Hey, you! Bend, bend, bend. Your head is going to be ripped off now."

I realized that some strange machine was flying over my vehicle's top banging it heavily. I bent down and saved myself by opening my eyes!!!




Another Scary Story

I was wandering with some people through some unhygienic locality in a strange place.

Suddenly, I found myself amid hills, valleys, and dark burnt furnaces. And, I realized that my co-travelers were all strangers.

Making my way through the narrow paths in their midst, I found myself alone and scared of my surroundings.

 

At one point, I find myself needing a path to proceed further. Someone told me to slide down a steep valley to reach my further path. It is deep below and very frightful. I can lose my grip and fall into it anytime. I get much trembling at the sight. Some person offers to help me.

And, then, I find myself sleeping on my bed.

Independence Day and My Family's Connection With the Movement.

India's Independence was achieved after hundreds of years of great struggle by our forefathers from all corners of the country. It has cost many lives, much violence, crimes by the then rulers and their army forces. Millions of people have took part in non-cooperation movements and other protests lodged by our leaders headed by Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Maulana Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, and many other great personalities. They received much support from great musicians and poets and writers also in spreading the awareness among people. Many people got inspired by these leaders and left all their work to join the movement and contributed their efforts selflessly.

My grandfather was one among those great patriots who sacrificed his family and life for this cause during the early twentieth century. He was a teacher in a village named Taallarevu near Kakinada city in Andhra Pradesh. He left his work and joined the Non-Cooperation movement started by Mahatma Gandhi during the year 1920. He actively participated and spread the movement among nearby villages. He was jailed for participating in it and one of his sons was born during that period. That child was named as Satyaagrahacharya (one who was born during the period of Satyagraha or non-cooperation). Another child born later was named as Bharat Pataakaacharya meaning one who is born during the time of Indian Flag celebration time. The Indian Flag was first designed in 1906 and hoisted in Kolkata to declare the independence of India. The designs got changed many times later on with subsequent hoisting made time and again before the tricolor flag with Dharma Chakra was adopted as the Indian National Flag in 1947.

My grandfather used to be referred to as Kakinada Gandhi by people all around those villages. But, he received no government recognition for his sacrifices rendered. He expired even before India got freedom during his 80's.

I didn't ever met my grandfather nor heard about him through my parents as I was not born then. My father never mentioned anything about his life to me or my younger siblings. My mother expired in my early childhood and my father expired when I was in College. It is only after my marriage that I learnt about my grandfather through my father's older relatives who used to come into contact with me through my mother-in-law's house. They used to tell me that he has been a great personality and donated or sacrificed everything for our country's independence thereby leaving nothing for his next generations.

There are many other unsung heroes of our country's freedom struggle like him. We are enjoying the freedom at the cost of millions of such unselfish heroes of our country. We must salute them with awe and respect.

Horrific Memories of Childhood Incidents

It was the period when I was studying in higher secondary school at Chennai. It was Summer holidays after yearly examinations were over. Those were the days when you have no responsibilities and only enjoyment You find plenty of time and no work to do.

Most of the day time was spent playing and wandering with friends. It was the season of mangoes and sapota or chiku. These fruits used to be largely grown in almost every house or garden. They were very sweet, tasteful and alluring to your eyes. Our school also had a large garden behind it along the railway line. Fruits used to hang over from trees nearer to the boundary wall from the railway line side. Children used to prick the fruits by climbing over the walls and holding the branches of trees during hot summer day times with out the knowledge of the gardener. Some times, when he noticed them he used to shout and frighten them with sticks and they used to run away.

Some days were spent wandering along the railway track from one station to another station which used to be 1.5 km apart from one another. The locality where we lived was Mambalam station. And we used to go towards Saidapet and Guindy stations which were not densely populated in those times. Mambalam was a center of the city of Madras ( now known as Chennai ). T.Nagar was located nearer to Mambalam. Guindy was nearer to Adyar where world famous Banyan Tree of enlightenment was an attractive tourist spot.


One day it happened so.
We, 4-5 children, were walking on the railway tracks engaged in gossiping. On the way there was a bridge on a stream flowing across below it. Local people used to bathe in it and washer men used to wash clothes there.We were walking over it and most of us reached the other end. But one was lagging behind and suddenly a train came from behind before he could cross the bridge. As it approached very silently, all of us were very much shocked and frightened to see it. We immediately shouted with terror at our friend who was lagging behind. He also got nervous and immediately he got hold of the side edge of the bridge and hanged down ward the bridge till the train crossed over the track to the other end. Then any how he was managed to get over the bridge by dragging him up with the help of some passers by who scolded all of us very terrifically.

 It was a very horrific moment of our lives and we never let the event known to our parents. All of us firmly  decided never again to wander along the railway tracks from that day onward. It was a great lesson for us.

The memory of it makes tremble for a moment even now.

Competition Spirit Among Children

Those were the days when I was studying in class 5 and 6. It was Mambalam locality of Madras City (now Chennai). Our School's name was Sharada Devi Higher Elementary School situated by the level crossing at Mambalam Railway Station on the road linking with T.Nagar Bus Stand. It consisted classes from 1st to 7th Standard.

Four students including me used to be toppers of our class in studies. All of us four used to get Distinction in our class. All of us were better known by our nick names than actual names among our class mates. So actual names were not remembered. The nick for me was Bhatta and the other topper boy was Mantravadi. The other two toppers were girls known as Vimla and Jyothi. The teachers liked us four and used to be proud of us.

All four of us have been class mates since beginning upto class VII. From which class we were together I am unable to recollect. But due to the group photo of our class mates as evident from this combined photo of class II and III, I am able to recollect that they were with me since class II or III or may be earlier also. But regarding the competition spirit among us, I remember that it was much during the years of our studying in class V, VI and VII.



The competition spirit was very much keen between us and each one tried his best to supersede the other three in obtaining the highest marks in each subject. And each one of us used to be very unhappy even if he got one mark lesser than the others. Mantravadi used to be more sensitive than us. The markings were some times done in fractions like 98 ⁱ/_{2 ,} 99¹/_2, 100 like this. Particularly in Maths and Science. So when he got half mark less than me or Vimla, he used to be weeping. We had to console him and tell him that he was as equally brilliant as us and we all belonged to the same rank and not to worry of a half mark or one mark But there was no jealously between us at all. All of us four used to be very friendly and go to each others' house and talk freely even with their parents also who loved us very much.

Such was the competition spirit and friendship between school children those days.

Short Stories- The Story of A Dog and The Meat

All of us know that Dogs are fond of meat of dead animals. They do not leave even the bones of them. They want to taste to the last bit of it.

A very hungry Dog was once wandering in search of food all through the day and found a piece of dry

meat at some corner of a lane. It picked it up and began to lick it very satisfactorily. Other dogs were watching everything from another corner of the lane and they began running towards our Dog barking loudly. 

Sensing danger, this Dog began running quickly to escape from them. But they did not leave. They wanted to grab the piece from his mouth and so chased for a long time. Our Dog was very fast and reached a far away canal and started running on its bridge to reach the other side. He stopped for a while and looked back. He found no chasers behind and their barks were fading away. He got much relieved.

Now, he was walking slowly looking hither thither. He looked down to the river. The water was very pure and standstill. Suddenly he got a glimpse of a dog in it. He looked again into the water to confirm. There he found a dog with a piece of meat in its mouth just like him. Seeing it, he got greedy and jealous. He wanted to grab that piece of meat also from that dog. He once again looked at it and found that dog also looking at him. He lost his senses and became very angry and shouted at the dog. Immediately, the piece of meat in his mouth lost the hold and fell into the waters of the canal and disappeared into the deep waters.

Our Dog was shocked at this happening. He lost even the one that he was having till now due to his greed.

So, one should not be greedy and behave senseless. This is the moral that we learn from this story.  

Short Stories- The story of an Arrogant Lion and The Clever Rabbit

Once upon a time, there lived a very proud and arrogant Lion in a forest (even now there are lions in forests). He used to hunt and kill animals irrespective of his hunger to spread fear among them and establish his supremacy and authority over them. All the animals were so much afraid of his tyranny and cruelty. They used to shiver on seeing him and escape from his sight. But often, they were unable to escape and fell prey to his clutches. They tried to request him many times not to kill them like that astray but in vain. They kept worrying how to get rid of him.

There was one clever Rabbit among them who used to give them good tips in all their bad times to solve their problems. All of the animals approached her and asked her help in getting rid of the Lion. The Rabbit told them not to worry as she would do something very soon to get rid of the Lion.

The next day, the Rabbit approached the Lion along with some other animals and put before him the reality that if he continued to kill all animals like this, one day he will be left with no animals to satisfy his hunger. The Lion realised this fact and began to think over it. Slowly, the Rabbit advised him that daily one animal will reach to him to be consumed as his food and requested him to keep satisfied with that one animal for the entire day and not to go to others' lives. She also made it clear that there will be no need for him to hunt and kill his prey. This appeared to be a very good suggestion and the Lion immediately agreed to it.

So, from that day onwards, one animal used to go to the Lion daily to satisfy his hunger and thereby save other animals from being killed unnecessarily. The Lion was very happy as he was not required to hunt for his prey and enjoyed the life joyfully for some days.

After a couple of days, the Rabbit's turn came to become his prey. The Rabbit was very happy to have his turn. She planned everything in advance and was in a very restful mood. She passed the time intentionally for sometime, so that the Lion may become restless and angry. Then slowly, she reached the Lion's den and pretended to be very weary and tense. The Lion was much impatient and angry.

"Where have you been all this time? Don't you know that I am getting hungry?" roared the Lion fiercely.

Rabbit replied pretending to be shivering " I started from house very early than others. But, midway, I was stopped by another Lion near an old well. He wanted to catch me and eat up. I requested him to leave me as I am going to satisfy the hunger of my king Lion who will be waiting for me with empty stomach. But he did not want to listen to me and tried to catch me. I managed to escape from him anyhow and all this late coming is the result of that incident. So, forgive me as it is not my fault."

The Lion got too much angry and shouted with terrible roaring "What? Do you say there is another Lion in this forest and he stopped you from coming to me? How could it be possible without my knowledge and how dare he stop you knowing that you are my food?"

Rabbit answered "Yes, my king. It is true. A Lion stopped me and he even tried to belittle you. But I told him that you are very powerful and will definitely kill him. But he only laughed and ridiculed."

"Show me that traitor immediately. I can't control my anger any more. I want to teach him a lesson just now. Lead me to him immediately" the Lion ordered the Rabbit.

So the Rabbit took the Lion with her to an old well which was very deep and had enough water in it and told him that the other Lion is presently inside that well.

The Lion immediately peeped into the well and found a lion just like him in that well. He was unable to know that it was only his image in the water.

Immediately he got fired up at the existence of a rival to him and jumped into the well without thinking any more to pounce upon his rival and kill him.

But LOL!!! It was only an image of himself in waters and as he jumped, it appeared as if that lion also was pouncing toward him. But, alas, finally he got no lion there and found himself drowned in the waters and unable to climb up. He roared for some time and then lost his life and died.

Hearing the news of their Lion's death, all the animals rejoiced and thanked the Rabbit for saving their lives. And the Rabbit was also happy to have saved their lives. Since then, they lived happily ever after.

Now, can you tell the moral of this story?

"It is not the size or strength of the body which matters. The strength of the mind matters".

Cleverness is greater than physical body strength.

Short Stories- The Story of A Lion and The Rat

Hi, guys!
Do you know that rats are very tiny but clever and mischievous?

Here's a story to support this fact. You might have come across it in Panchatantra or Aesop's Fables.

One day, a lion was sleeping being much tired after tedious hunting. A rat thought of doing some mischief by running over the lion in a playful mood. It was enjoyed very much, but it was careless. The lion's sleep broke out and he got much disturbed and angry with the rat. So he caught hold of the tiny rat and looked at it very angrily.

"How dare you run over my body and disturb my sleep?"- the Lion roared.

"Sorry, sorry. I was simply playing and enjoying and not thought of disturbing or awakening you" Rat replied.

"I am not going to leave you. I will kill you and eat up" the Lion roared again.

Rat was much frightened at this.
"Sorry, sorry, forgive me this one time" it prayed.

"No, why should I forgive you?" the Lion roared.

"Please, leave me this time. I promise I shall be much grateful to you and help you when time comes" the Rat requested with much fear and respect.

The Lion laughed  "You tell me you will help me when the time comes!!! Very fantastic".

"No, I am serious" the Rat replied.

"Okay, Let me see. I am leaving you for now. But next time I will not spare you" told the Lion and released the Rat to go.

The Rat thanked him again and again and went away.

After some days, the Lion was looking for his prey and wandering around. Suddenly he felt trapped in a net on the ground. He tried much to get himself out of it. But it was so strong a net weaved by some hunters to catch the Lion that he could not escape from it. He felt helpless and started roaring with pain and disgust.

The Rat happened to hear the sounds and sensed something wrong. It immediately ran in the direction of the sounds and found the Lion entangled in a trap.

The Lion saw the Rat and asked it to help him somehow. The Rat said, "Don't worry. I will set you free within minutes".

Then, it went nearer to the net and began cutting the net into pieces quickly with its sharp teeth. Within minutes, the whole net was cut into tiny pieces and the Lion was released from the trap before the hunters could return to catch the Lion.

The Lion thanked the Rat and they became good friends since that day. He allowed the Rat to play on him daily and both of them used to enjoy the days hunting and sharing their food. together.

So what we learn from this story is that we should not underestimate others by their size or physique. All are powered with some skills in their own way and can be of much use when the time comes.