Letters to the editor
Time to click – Gulf Today, Short Take Dated 18 October 2014
Time to click
Modern technology gives plenty of options for children to develop several hobbies. At times, I really wonder how children learn things on their own within no time.
The other day, I was attending a function and noticed a young girl sitting next to her mother. She was restless as the programme was meant for adults and she had tagged along her mother.
However, I knew from her actions that she was listening to the speech carefully. As it progressed, I watched her taking her mother’s Android phone. She opened in it an application to take photos. The next thing I saw was her taking a photo of the stage and the speaker. In no time, she edited the photo in different ways, added graphics and text and made a collage out of it. Sitting and watching her closely from behind, I was wonderstruck. How children expresses their mind in many different ways!
Photography is an ideal opportunity for children and adults to express their creativity. It is a way of looking things with a positive frame of mind. I also believe that photography is a way of putting your stamp on history. Every photo you click is an item added to the history of our life or even the world. We can never recreate the same again. The light, the expression and even the air pattern may change in the next second and you can never reproduce the same effect again.
In order to promote photography interest and also to create interest in the architectural history of Abu Dhabi, a photography competition is organised by the ADIPEC.
The theme “Abu Dhabi Architecture” encourages young photographers to uncover the splendor of modern Abu Dhabi as seen through their lenses by capturing rural or urban city scenes, landscapes, landmarks – both modern and classical, e.g. Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace, Yas Marina, Capital Gate and also view of Corniche, Yas Island.
The theme focuses on uncovering the beauty that modern Abu Dhabi has to offer – be it a secret hideaway, a colorful graffiti wall, a bustling city scene, a unique attraction or spectacular views. Children in the age group 11-18 can participate. More details can be obtained at http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.ae/search/label/Young%20ADIPEC.
The deadline to submit the photos is Oct.31, 2014.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online.
For all my readers:
(If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon
Clean work – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 11 October 2014
Clean work
We did It! That was the feeling that joyously kept overflowing in our mind at around 2pm last Saturday.
While boarding on the plane to Bangalore from Abu Dhabi for Eid holidays, I had set some clear plans to act upon my arrival there.
Prior to my departure, I had messaged friends and well-wishers through email and social media about the cleaning of a highly-used pedestrian over bridge built an year ago over the Whitefield Railway crossing.
It was built after a Herculean media and public effort to highlight the difficulties and dangers of people getting killed often while crossing dangerously. Once built, the scenario changed. As any other public utility items, no one cared for it.
A handful of us, including my family and close friends, started the campaign at around 9am.
Not used to such acts, we had no idea how it would progress. However, we were prepared with brooms, garbage bags, gloves, cleaning clothes, bleaching powder, and other necessary items. We kept few brooms here and there on the stretch that anyone interested could join us.
As we progressed, Anand Sivaram, Manager of the Whitefield Railway Station and his staff joined us as also a few members of Kadugodi Police Station.
It was indeed an experience of a special kind.
We received “Thank you”, “Good Job” and also Thumbs up signs from many people who used the bridge during the time we were cleaning.
It was nice to see unknown people readily volunteering and taking the broom from our side and do cleaning work for some time. As a coin has two sides, there were those who passing negative comments too!
At the end of our effort, we landed up with 8 huge garbage bags full of leaves and other carelessly thrown away items on the sky walk. A sad thing was that that people who saw us cleaning and progressing ahead, walked further and threw paper and other waste without any civic concern.
Everyone should contribute to the welfare of the community, wherever we are.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit:
Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 11 October 2014
(If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon
For all my readers:
(If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon
Click trick – Gulf Today – Short Take -Dt 04 October 2014
Click trick
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| New look arrival lounge Bangalore Airport |
A few days ago, I met some friends at the airport. Meeting me after a long time, one of them teased me. “Where is your camera? We get to see you posting on social media immediately wherever you go!”
I was in a hurry at that time and also this is a question I hear often.
During my childhood days, it was a routine for us children to go for sight seeing trips to distant towns in the southern states of India. Most of these trips were directed at pilgrimage centres and historic places of importance.
A family of my father’s friend and my family were part of the tour party most of the time. Nine passengers in a good old Ambassador car, which my father still maintains in a good condition!
It used to give us exposure to different places, culture, food and tradition. It went on till we children grew up and parted ways due to our own business or work.
Now my parents are old and cannot travel easily. Adding to their problems is poor eyesight. I realised the solution was to install a computer at home, provide them a Facebook ID and teach them the basics. Since then, it has become a routine for my parents to see the world through me.
Thus, there are some silent well-wishers out there who regularly read my posts.
It is the same way, I get to see and travel around many parts of the world through some good friends who share the world and news through their clicks and posts.
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online.
Marching ahead – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 27 September 2014
Marching ahead
India has successfully launched an orbiter to Mars. But even during such good times, one can see grumblers raising their head. Someone opined that India should have put a national flag on the spacecraft!
These are not achievements that should be credited as individual or country-specific. These are for the welfare and progress of mankind.
There are other achievements happening too. A group of five Emirati students went on a scholarship programme organised by the French Embassy, Image Nation and Total to study film making at the prestigious La Femis Institute in Paris.
During their five-week stay, they literally learned the state-of-the-art technology and also what life is in a metropolitan European city suburb.
The funniest thing for them was the interaction one of them had with a group of local people. He was enthusiastic and made friendship with some people in his neighbourhood. As he left them and moved to his apartment, he realised something missing. It was his mobile phone. He knew by then what happened with the new friends and their methods.
He used another phone and called on his number. Promptly, someone speaking Arabic answered. He said, “I know it is you calling for the phone. It is with me now and I took it from you.”
Our gleeful friend thanked him wholeheartedly.
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Setting an example – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt. 20 September 2014
Setting an example
During a recent visit to Bangalore, I had the opportunity to meet the head of the department at the college where my son is studying.
I was expecting a senior man with a firm face and no smile. As the attendant took me to his office, I was pleasantly surprised. There sits in that responsible seat a man in the early forties, who greeted me with a welcome smile.
Talking to me about the student behaviour, he narrated an example. He quoted to me the sadhya, i.e. the traditional feast we have.
He said, “Education is like the rice in the sadhya served along with numerous other items like pickle and curries.”
One cannot fill his stomach by consuming the pickle or curries. He has to have rice to satisfy his hunger and be happy. Education is just like that. A student in a professional college should take it seriously and consider it the most important phase in his life till he passes out in the first attempt.
Other activities like partying etc. should be given a secondary spot in his daily life. Only then will he be able to enjoy life. Once he passes out with a good score and secures employment with a decent pay package, all the fun activities will follow suit.
If he ignored education, he will face enormous difficulties.
I was impressed by his attentiveness to minute details of each of his students, from first year to final year, in his department.
Having studied in the same college, worked outside and returning to the same college to head the Mechanical Engineering department, Prof. Ravishankarshowed a complete belongingness of the institution.
Educationists like him are an asset to the community.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit, Short Take, Gulf Today Dt 20 September 2014
New road will ease traffic – Letters to the editor – The National 15 September 2014
New road will ease traffic
I am sure commuters will be relieved when the road works are complete in the Al Wahda Mall area (Road works expected to ease access to Al Wahda Mall, September 14).
Apart from congestion, the bus stop dedicated to the shopping complex posed a visual obstruction for drivers exiting the mall. Another shortcoming was the lack of sunshades for bus passengers. These two issues, I hope, will be resolved.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Pedestrian bridge fails to lure capital jaywalkers
ABU DHABI // Residents and visitors darting through high-speed traffic to get to Abu Dhabi Mall is an all-too-common sight.
The “no pedestrian” signs, a footbridge across to the mall and another near Le Meridien Hotel are being routinely ignored by many and even a Dh200 fine for jaywalking has failed to deter hasty pedestrians.
At 4pm on Monday, in a 30-minute period The National counted 42 pedestrians crossing three lanes of traffic to and from Abu Dhabi Mall. Less than half that number took the stairs.
Many find it easier to take the risk and dash across the street. Among the jaywalkers were two couriers, a woman and her young daughter, a pregnant woman, two women wearing abayas, an Abu Dhabi Co-op staffer with a trolley filled with groceries, men in business suits, and groups of mall shop workers.
A 27-year-old banker, who did not wish to be named, said a jaywalking ticket would not deter him from crossing illegally.
“I got a fine about three years ago,” he said. “I’m so tired and I just want to get into my car now. I just don’t care if I get a fine right now.”
In March 2008, police raised the fines for jaywalking to Dh200 from Dh50, saying the lower penalty had failed to deter pedestrians.
The elevator installed near the pedestrian bridge had also done little to encourage pedestrians to use it, he said.
“It takes five minutes each to get up and down,” he said. “They need to do something about it.”
On Monday, the entrance to the elevator was cordoned off by police tape.
“This elevator is for the physically handicapped, visually impaired persons and senior citizens only,” a sign read.
A security guard said jaywalking tended to be a group activity.
“At 6pm, they all come in groups,” he said. “It’s illegal and dangerous, but they prefer to cross the road.”
Two Filipina service crew were apologetic when asked why they had crossed the road instead of using the footbridge.
“We’re really sorry,” one said. “We know it’s wrong but we’re late for work.”
Police are stationed near the mall to conduct random inspections and issue jaywalking fines.
“They’re usually here at 7pm,” the mall guard said.
Sajith Raj, 27, a fireman in Abu Dhabi for five years, said it did not make sense for people to dash across lanes of traffic and put themselves in harm’s way.
“I always use the bridge when I visit the mall,” said Mr Raj, who crossed over with four friends. “Apart from being dangerous and illegal, a lot of time is wasted waiting until the vehicles pass.”
Mani Alumuthu, 42, a marketing officer who has lived in Abu Dhabi for four years, agreed.
“The Government built this bridge with the pedestrians’ safety in mind, but unfortunately only a few are using it.”
In February, Abu Dhabi Municipality announced measures to improve the safety of pedestrians and road users. Pavements have since been widened and standardised, new fencing to prevent jaywalking has been erected and electronic directional signs have been installed.
The Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrol Directorate reported in July that its campaign “Towards Reducing Serious Injuries and Death Rates Caused by Run-Over Accidents” resulted in a 59 per cent fall in deaths caused by run-over incidents in the past five years.
“But the majority of the residents lack a safe traffic culture,” said Ramesh Menon, a technical officer at an oil firm in Abu Dhabi and a resident for 25 years.
“It’s very sad to see women with their children who repeatedly cross the road in undesignated areas. They are supposed to educate them and spread road safety awareness and help save lives.”
All pedestrians and cyclists should remember they have a key responsibility for their own safety, said Dino Kalivas, chairman of the driver education and training committee at the International Road Federation.
“They should stop one step back from the kerb or shoulder of the road if there is no walkway and listen in all directions for approaching traffic,” he said.
“They should also think about whether it is safe to cross the road, when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped, and observe the traffic lights and signals.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
Avoidable turmoil – Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt 14-09-2014
Avoidable turmoil
These days, when one opens the newspapers, it is filled with stories of atrocities happening around the world. The sufferings of people are beyond explanation. In particular, women and children. There is absolutely no safety for them and they end up as the first, fast and easy prey for the tormentors.
Reading about the killings, I wonder why humanity has gone back to the bygone era, when the world is highly advanced in terms of technology and expertise.
Where there are no man-made calamities happening, we hear of natural disasters. The recent floods in India, Pakistan, Philippines and other countries are of high magnitude. It will take several years to rebuild what has been destroyed. Let us at least try and strive to reduce the emotional difficulties of those affected.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today, Short Take Dt. 13 September 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Woman of substance – Short Take – Gulf Today – 06 Sepetmber 2014
Woman of substance
A few days ago, I had an opportunity to interview a young UAE local girl student. She was just back after winning a scholarship to attend a prestigious international seminar in Paris. Initially, she was reluctant to speak.
After I convinced her of the importance, she gave me 10 minutes for the discussion.
Slowly opening out, she started talking about her school and college education and then her first work placement as an intern with a reputed government organisation. After gaining adequate skill on the job training, she moved on to her first real job at a national oil company.
True to her nature, she has become one of the key Corporate Social Responsibility representatives of it.
Intelligent and willing to learn more, she is simultaneously learning International Law and Diplomacy at a prestigious university. The intensive programme makes her attend the classes five days a week in the evening. For any ordinary person, this is already more than what one can take.
It was the above two qualities that helped her get selected to attend this prestigious scholarship in France. She was one among the 120 students who made it from different countries. It was a great experience for her as she learned technically and culturally a lot from it.
In turn, she represented herself as ambassador of the country clarifying the queries of her fellow students about life in the UAE.
Here is the difference I made out within that future achiever. Keen to contribute more to the society, she is already working on her family business to establish a series of business enterprises in the emirates.
Once opened, it will be a set of state-of-the-art medical facilities of quality and class within the satellite towns of Abu Dhabi. She has identified the need for the requirement of quality healthcare in that area and almost through with the establishment procedures.
If I am correct, when this facility is inaugurated, she will be the youngest UAE local woman entrepreneur in the medical and health industry.
Girls like her are an asset to this country and inspiration for the future generation. Leaving her office after about an hour, I sincerely wished her the best in her future endeavours.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today Dt. 06 September 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today Online
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