Opinion 2011
Charity event in Abu Dhabi – some queries – My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 05.05.2011
Charity event in Abu Dhabi – some queries – My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt. 05.05.2011
In reference to “Charity event in Abu Dhabi for tsunami victims”. While I congratulate the team effort and humanitarian gesture involved, I feel, it is extremely alarming to see Yoga being commercialised, even if it is for the purpose of fund raising for a natural calamity. Yoga, as it says itself is never done for beating records or numbers. Doing 108 times of Surya Namaskars at one stretch will be a dangerous physical act. As experts say generally, 12 Surya Namaskaras are performed at one practice. If starting that practice for the first time, it is generally started with fewer (3 to 6) Namaskaras per day, and then gradually increased to 12 Namaskaras in a week’s time. So, is it a whole day event starting from 6:00 am with breaks after the Shavasana and then another set is repeated till they reach 108 times. An importanct concern thus about the participants yoga expertise and years of practise attained to display a 108 time of Surya Namaskar. Kindly address this concern before the events kick off for the safety of the participant.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read the original community report and my comment online, please visit GULF NEWS online.
Taste It – Sweet and Soft Coconut Vada
Taste It – Sweet and Soft Coconut Vada
My first content publish in Yahoo as a content contributor.
Enjoy reading it at Yahoo online and pleaes post your comments.
A dangerous game of cricket – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 03.05.2011
A dangerous game of cricket – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 03.05.2011
Personal Touch – Short Take – GULF TODAY Dt. 30.04.2011
Personal Touch – Short Take – GULF TODAY Dt. 30.04.2011
Personal touch
I have a Parrot named Mittu, which whistles back whatever we prompt. I also have a good collection of plants in my balcony. These two have become an integral part in my life since some time. It all started as an attempt by us to return home every night whenever we venture outside. Having the thought of these members who cannot speak remaining un-attended have definitely worked in favour and achieved our goal towards it.
There are times when we cannot remain pledged to this commitment and recently it happened that we all had to go on emergency for an unplanned period.
As usual, I had to rely on my caretaker, who came diligently and fed the bird and watered my plant every day.
On my return, I found that our pet was looking thin with most of its feathers gone and the plants also looking lifeless. I knew immediately what the reason was. Within two or three days, they were both looking fine and healthy as before.
The secret was the personal attention, care and a few minutes of special time spent for each one of them. With the parrot, in addition to his regular food of sun flower seed, we used to give it bits and pieces of whatever vegetarian food, biscuits, bread etc we were having.
Constantly, we were keeping it active by talking or rather whistling to it and it was this personal touch that was missing for it. For the plants, each time when I watered, I made sure, if ever there is any weed or dried leaf on them and made it look neat and clean. This personal touch was missing for both of them.
No wonder the old saying in our epics “a personal touch in our deeds is the best rejuvenating medicine for all living beings” remains true forever.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Recklessness is the root problem – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 26.04.2011
My Letters – Recklessness is the root problem – THE NATIONAL Dt. 26.04.2011
Congratulations to Abu Dhabi Department of Transport for reducing speed limits. Every afternoon, I witness minivans carrying school children without seatbelts, speeding at the signals.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Dangers to shoppers and residents – Commuity Report – Gulf News Dt. 23.04.2011
Dangers to shoppers and residents – Commuity Report – Gulf News Dt. 23.04.2011
Dangers to shoppers and residents
Iron rods on the pavement, uncovered openings and an overflowing dustbin near a mall
Text and Picture by Ramesh Menon, Gulf News Reader Published: 00:00 April 23, 2011
The Tourist Club Area (TCA) is a prime tourist, office and residential spot in Abu Dhabi.
Apart from the numerous office establishments, the shopping mall in the area has a good collection of eateries and entertainment and thus attracts many visitors each day.
It is therefore important to keep the surrounding areas neat, clean and safe for all those who visit it.
The most dangerous thing I have found in the area is a set of iron rods projecting out of the pavement near the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal in front of the mall.
Several elderly residents walk along this route and an accident could happen at any time.
The section nearer to the mall has uncovered openings, which is another cause for worry.
Adding to all these problems is a dustbin, which is usually full and causes surrounding areas to get dirty because the cleaning staff from nearby buildings dump waste materials on the floor near it before depositing the content one by one into the bin’s small mouth.
They do it every morning and this makes the area dirty the entire day.
Through this community report, I humbly request the authorities to tidy up this area as soon as possible.
— The reader is a technical officer based in Abu Dhabi
Be a citizen reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Write to us and send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com
To read this in original, please visit GULF NEWS online
Solution for airport woes – My Letters -The National Dt. 19.04.2011
My Letters – Solution for airport woes – The National Dt. 19.04.2011
Travellers from Abu Dhabi airport are blessed with a choice of checking in 24-hours prior to their flight. But the current charge of Dh30 per person is on the high side, especially for those travelling in groups.
Passengers also don’t gain any extra on baggage allowance checking in that way. This service charge could be lowered so that more passengers are attracted to it, thus reducing crowding at the airport.
Secondly, boarding passes issued from the City Terminal don’t carry the gate numbers for departures. Passengers should be guided appropriately to avoid confusion and a last minute rush. A text messaging system could also inform passengers about their flights and gate numbers.
Thirdly, at the entry gate, staff on duty could allocate a priority line for baggage screening to those already carrying a boarding pass, or elderly passengers or those with special needs. This will avoid long queues.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Good and bad signs at the mall – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 18.04.2011
Good and bad signs at the mall – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 18.04.2011
Unpredictable life – Short Take – Gulf Today Dt. 16.04.2011
Unpredictable life – Short Take – Gulf Today Dt. 16.04.2011
At the beginning of each week, I set aside a point to express through Short Take and accordingly I had completed a write-up by this morning.
Reaching office, I came to know of the unfortunate demise of a little girl, Nandana, the only daughter of the famous Indian singer, KS Chitra. As a music lover, I like her songs since the time she started singing in movies and have a good collection of them. As a keen observer of things, I have been watching her closely too.
They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Chitra with her music was a true example of this. After a wait of 15 years in her marriage, she was given this blessed child, who happened to be with special needs. She had no regrets and during a transit through Dubai airport and speaking to a friend of mine on duty at the transit desk of Emirates, she clearly mentioned about it.
During an early morning with a long queue of transit passengers, my friend noticed a vibrant little girl wearing a green frock playing around with her mother.
Having a closer look at the person, she understood who it was and looking at the girl, my friend thought she would go and help her to reach the front of the queue. They were on their way to South Africa via Dubai.
Denying the help offer, Chitra told my friend, “I do not have any problem waiting or please do not think that my child is giving trouble to me. I was praying all these years for a child, irrespective of a boy or girl and I couldn’t believe even now that God has given me such a loving child.” Indeed, Nandana was an affectionate child as my friend narrated many things about Chitra and her daughter, in disbelief, after hearing the sad news. It is a shock to all of us.
As a person who interacts with schools and organisations like Manzil and the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services taking care of children with special needs, I know how important and affectionate they are. Let me join millions of Chitra fans in offering prayers as no words can fill the vacuum in her life.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Lessons from the last pile-up – My Letters – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 13.04.2011
Lessons from the last pile-up – My Letters – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 13.04.2011
In reference to Fog blamed for Abu Dhabi pile-up (April 3), the horrific accident that happened on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway reminded me of the pile-up that happened in October 2008.
At various times between these two periods, the press and authorities have warned road users of the dangers that prevail in this sector during bad weather days. It is a very dangerous situation on this particular stretch from Abu Dhabi to Dubai when visibility is less due to fog or sand storms.
Drivers forget the basics and continue speeding even as they are well aware of the dangers.
On March 26, on my way to Mafraq hospital at 6.00 am, I witnessed three near misses from speeding cars exiting the eastern ring road from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. This scene convinced me that police and transport authorities are helpless even if they introduce progressive measures like LED signage and modern speed cameras.
Congratulations to the Abu Dhabi authorities for constantly monitoring the situation and making changes as necessary to avert road accidents. Those traffic violators who speed ignoring the safety of fellow road users should be given compulsory community service at emergency and trauma units of major hospitals.
Safety is not a one-time activity. It is a 24×7 activity for all to make sure no pileups happen again on our roads.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
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