Mind Speaks
Youth power – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt. 22 February 2014
Youth power
I had an opportunity to attend a forum “Big Achievements. Early Starts” conducted by the Salama Bint Al Nahyan Foundation. The five youth achievers, Abdul Muqeet Abdul Mannan, Adeeb Al Blooshi, Cameron Oliver, Dubai Abulhoul and Hamda Al Bana were honoured.
They made individual presentations to the audience and followed it up with a one-to-one conversation. They talked about the rationale behind their ideas, how they accomplished them and the difficulties they faced.
All of them were crystal clear about their chosen path and had definite vision for their life ahead.
It also highlighted that these children are definitely an asset to the society and inspire many others as they progressed ahead.
No wonder, the forum opened up the hidden wealth of the nation – that is the “youth.” All those who attended left with confidence that the leaders of the country are rightly investing in local talents with a vision far ahead to make the UAE stand tall and proud among the nations of the world.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today, Short Take Dt. 22nd February 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online.
Disciplined life – Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt. 15 February 2014
Disciplined life
During my recent visit to Bangalore, I was lucky to be with a close family friend and her mother. She had just lost her father.
After the rituals got over, she had brought her mother to stay with her at Bangalore rather than be at their village house in a faraway place. Just to bring her back to normal life, we decided to take her for a short drive one evening.
On our way, the talk revolved around her late father.
I realised from her and her mother a lot of things that one should emulate in life. Although in good health till he met with an accident, he was farsighted and had maintained a systematic life.
He was keeping a diary and had written even minute details of all things, including his financial dealings in it. He had also listed down in detail all the investments he had made for the family. Surprisingly, a few weeks before he had also made a will and had correctly nominated his wife and children to their respective rights and reserves.
Unfortunately, fate had its own way and it proved handy for his family when he passed away in short time.
Although they lost him, they never felt struck for any important matters related to the day-to-day running of the family because of his systematic way of life. It was visible from the full gratitude and expression of that elderly lady during her reminiscences of her ex-husband and life with him.
To live and leave this world peacefully without causing any trouble to anyone is really a blessing.
Ramesh Menon
Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 15 February 2014
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Everlasting innocent expressions of life
Normally, I do not post photos of children. But, these two are exceptional. Vimala and Suraj from Rajasthan. Taking care of traditional family business when their parents stationed away in a different part of the Bangalore city. You might have met them if you are driving through a prominent road of the city. Brilliant business skills. Talking to them whether they would want to do school, they kept silence and said with silent voice, we have to take care of this spot. As we left, we wished them good luck and hope to see them again during our next visit. Everlasting innocent impressions of life.
Learn a lesson – Gulf News Dt. 13 February 2014 – Letters to the editor
Learn a lesson
During my recent visit to Bangalore, I happened to watch a group of monkeys drinking water from taps set up in a small village temple near Bangalore. They were very clever and cautious as they operated the taps and drank water. They very sensibly closed the taps as they left. I was amazed by the way they solved their thirst without wasting even single drop of water. I think we all have a lesson here to learn.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online
Lorry drivers must heed safety rules – Letter to the editor – The National Dt. 07 February 2014
Safety is of paramount importance when it comes to the presence and behaviour of lorries on our highways (Set maximum driving hours for truck drivers, UAE transport companies told,February 3).
It is important for drivers of heavy vehicles to have periodic training about maintaining safety and discipline on the road.
It is essential for logistics controllers to allow sufficient time for vehicles to complete a journey, taking into account all anticipated traffic delays on the route.
It is also very important for other road users to report any rash driving involving heavy vehicles.
All large vehicles should be required to display a reachable contact number for other motorists to contact if they see poor driving, speeding or a faulty vehicle.
This should also be the case for lorries coming into the UAE from other countries. Often their number plates are hidden behind a road permit board.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit, THE NATIONAL online
Best wishes to a dear little one for a beautiful married life ahead
My writing has brought me several friends from various parts of the world. Many of them, I have never seen and know that I will never get to see. Still, we keep communicating with each other over several mutually interesting topics.
Strangely, some of them are in UAE and even known for a long time, but never met!.
Two weeks ago, I received a call from one such friend.
Hello, I am going on leave tomorrow. He continued; this time it is something special.
I was curious to listen further. My daughter is getting married!
What? I asked him.
One of the topics during our discussions were about our children and their education and progress. Suddenly, It was a surprise for me that, the little one we were talking all these time is now ready to take up an entirely interesting phase of her life.
Marriage and motherhood completes the transformation of a girl to women.
I wished him, his family and especially his daughter our prayers and blessings and conveyed our apologies to be not able to attend.
It also brought a bigger thought. My children are also growing up, although a few years younger, but they are getting ready to be there. Only difference is that they are boys. So, may be a few years more to wait. Who knows?
Is there any real difference these days to have a boy or a girl as child?
An interesting topic for you to think about.
There has to be a way to report rash driving – Community Report – Gulf News – Dt 27th January 2014
No way to report bad driving
Reader says that all buses should have contact details to report bad driving practices.
By Ramesh Menon Gulf News reader
Published: 18:07 January 26, 2014
The effort by the UAE transport authorities to streamline road safety is getting side tracked by some inadvertent measures taken by transport carriers. Or are they intentional?
I am referring to the regulation to display a contact number on the mini and heavy buses carrying passengers. These days, many of them do not have a signboard and some of them display email addresses or switchboard numbers. Both are not effective, in case of an emergency situation, or in order to report road rage noticed on the road.
What was surprising to me was the fact that even school buses did not carry these signboards. In addition, these signs are to be written in lumniscent letters in a sufficiently large size so that they can be read easily during the day or night.
These boards should also be placed on all the government-owned transport vehicles, as they are also seen driving on the hard shoulder at times.
A few days ago, I struggled to find out the details of a speeding bus driver who was continuously flashing the headlights at me and driving at a speed higher than the regulatory speed. On another occasion, I was too shocked to see a big trailer speeding within the city of Abu Dhabi, but there was really no way to find out the company details or contacts for those responsible for it.
We need more awareness on the dangers of heavy vehicles speeding. I humbly request the concerned authorities to ensure these traffic regulations are strictly followed.
The reader is based in Abu Dhabi.
To read it in original, visit GULF NEWS online
Get tough with errant motorists – Letters to the editor – The National Dt. 26 January 2014
Get tough with errant motorists
It is extremely sad to read that within a week’s gap another major multiple-car collision happened on the UAE roads (Heavy fog on Abu Dhabi to Dubai motorway causes mass vehicle pile-ups, January 24).
Obviously the weather is not the culprit, as similar conditions are experienced by people in many other countries across the world. The main culprit are the drivers themselves.
A lot has to be done in terms of driving practices and attitude of drivers, especially during such unfavourable weather conditions. I would suggest the authorities implement new rules incorporating mandatory reduction of speed limit by 40 per cent during inclement weather conditions.
At the same time, fines should be doubled or tripled with compulsory community services for errant motorists.
A strong sense of road safety should be cultivated through sustained efforts. More police presence and warning signs could also be part of the solution. Meanwhile, one could follow the simple principle: start early, drive carefully, reach safely.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online
It’s drivers, not the fog, that caused 57-vehicle crash – Letters to the editor – The National – 19 January 2014
It’s drivers, not the fog, that caused 57-vehicle crash
Letters to the editor – The National online dated 18 January 2014
in print 19 January 2014
Your news article, 57-vehicle pile-up brings traffic to a standstill on Al Ain-Abu Dhabi highway (January 16), reflects a black day in the history of road safety in the UAE, even though on this occasion it seems there were no fatalities.
The issue is, once again, drivers’ behaviour during adverse weather conditions. Some of our roads, and especially the Dubai-Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi-Al Ain roads, have strange weather pockets where one experiences dense fog with visibility below 50 meters.
Some drivers ignore the danger and continue to drive fast without any caution for themselves or others. When they encounter drivers ahead who have reduced their speed, the result is a multiple collision of the kind in your article.
The UAE is lucky to have both modern weather forecasting equipment and a comprehensive road-control system. The police should join forces with meteorological experts and issue alerts about dangerous weather conditions such as fog or sandstorms more promptly than they do now. This should be backed by deploying patrol cars on these roads during these foggy mornings so that they create a sense of caution among those who speed.
The speed limit ought to be temporarily lowered by 40 per cent during times of poor visibility, with speed cameras adjusted to suit. In times of fog and sandstorms, the fines for speeding ought to be doubled and those repeat offenders ought to have their licences suspended or cars impounded.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online
‘Safety First’ mantra – Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt 18 January 2014
‘Safety First’ mantra
The year 2014 for the UAE literally began with a big bang when Dubai created history with one of the most exhilarating fireworks display ever witnessed in recent times. It took great effort and lots of dedicated man-hours to achieve the fantastic feat.
Meanwhile, the Chinese year of the Horse has already gained momentum and we are already into its third week within no time.
Promoting safety is one aspect I have been concentrating on for sometime now — especially road safety.
Whichever way one tries to educate people, it is careless minds and actions that spoil all the good work, which is very sad. However, our focus should not be derailed and efforts to maintain safety should continue with sustained interest and dedication.
The recent accident on Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Highway is a case in point. If only sufficient caution had been exercised by those on the road at the time, the accident – which was one of the most serious on the emirate’s roads — could have been averted.
The other day, I was overtaken by a minibus, whose speed limit is supposed to be 80kmph, while I was cruising along at just below that speed. Seeing that I was not inclined to accelerate, he began gesticulating and shouting at me. I gave him way and he sped past at a much higher speed than permitted.
I allowed him to overtake me in order to note down the details of his transport company so as to alert them about his driving style.
After a signal, when I finally caught up with him, by way of mocking at me to slow down, he began indicating to me the presence of a speed camera that was installed ahead.
The incident reinforces my belief that there will be no escape from tragedies till road users stop making mockery of traffic safety regulations.
Let “Safety First” remain our mantra for the benefit of all.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online (Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 18 January 2014)
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