Short Take
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 18.12.2010 – Mobile Affinity
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 18.12.2010 – Mobile Affinity
I was recently on a visit to Kerala. It was raining heavily. As I had to go to a forest area, I decided not to carry my regular mobile phone, which had all my telephone contacts. On my way back, I witnessed an accident and suddenly felt the need to contact someone to alert about the incident.
It was at that moment I realised that in my temporary phone I did not have any contacts synchronised. I hardly remembered any required number. Luckily, I was able to remember the number of a friend in Abu Dhabi and conveyed the message and he, in turn, sent an SMS with the required contact numbers. His xtimely assistance helped me take the necessary action I wanted to.
Back in Abu Dhabi, on the first day itself, I happened to assist a colleague who lost his office key while he went out. He had two mobiles and both the phones were on his table, when he went outside for a quick task. His plight was worse as he did not remember even his own office emergency contact number. Luckily, things were sorted out quickly and he was able to recover the phones.
After these two incidents, it made me think and realise strongly, the more mobile we become, the more immobile we end up with. Whatever programming or systematic organising we do, the old book and paper system of recording is at times necessary for important matters.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 04.12.2010 – On ‘write’ path
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 04.12.2010 – On ‘write’ path
On ‘write’ path
I was with a friend the other day. As we walked discussing several topics, we passed a post box. Suddenly, our topic changed to the tradition and forgotten art of letter writing.
It is Christmas and New Year time and we remembered and talked to each other about the olden days when we used to anxiously wait for the greetings from relatives and friends. Those days have gone and the tradition is already extinct.
What made me interested was the fact he told me about his parents. For the past 20 years, he regularly writes to them every week. Once in a month, he takes a demand draft for their monthly expenses and posts it along with a small note discussing the small things happening with him and at the same time curiously asking what’s happening in their world.
This happens without fail, even though he calls them frequently. He was telling me how happy his parents were when they received his letter and when he gets their thank-you note acknowledging and detailing the smaller things, which gets past their usual phone calls.
I wish I could emulate him. I am sure many others who read this will also envy him.
Ramesh Menon
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 27.11.2010 – Creative Kids
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 27.11.2010 – Creative Kids
Creative kids
This was a busy week in which the UAE witnessed the visit of Indian President Prathibha Devising Patil.
A few days prior to her visit, Nov.14 to celebrate Children’s Day, a painting competition was organised by the Cultural Wing of the India Embassy. The event was held at Abu Dhabi Indian School. About 1,400 children from various schools in the UAE participated in this well organised event.
The senior participants were to choose any of the four themes – children of the world, save the girl child, the independence movement and the joys of childhood. Grades 1 to 4 pupils were given the themes of “Chacha Nehru” and “my school.” What made interesting insight into this event was the way the organisers made sure to make the children feel the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru. Those children who participated in the event thoroughly enjoyed it as they were well taken care of during the event.
Interests in non-performing arts like painting, drawing and writing give opportunity for children to express their mind and thoughts in simpler ways. Any given opportunity to conduct and showcase such talents should never be missed.
According to the organisers, the painting competition would be conducted every year.
One interesting factor came out of this competition was the fact that out of the 12 winners, 11 were girls and there was only one boy amongst the winners. Sunrise English Private School Abu Dhabi (4 prizes) came out with maximum winners followed by Abu Dhabi Indian School (3 prizes) and Delhi Private School Dubai (2 prizes). Delhi Private School Sharjah, St Joseph School Abu Dhabi and Gulf Asian School Sharjah bagged one price each.
An icing on the cake for the winners was that the Indian president distributed the prizes during her visit to Abu Dhabi Indian School.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 20.11.2010 – Helping Hand
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 20.11.2010 – Helping Hand
Helping hand
Last week was significant for sports lovers, especially in the UAE. The first-ever test cricket match played in UAE ended in a draw. More significantly, the 2nd edition of the F1 championship produced the youngest winner in a thrilling final.
These sports events were keenly watched by many and what made me as an interesting spectator of the thrilling finish at Yas Marina was the gesture by Sebastian Vettel, after halting his car.
Accepting the applause from the spectators he came out and kissed his car, laying his head on the tyres and the machine. It showed in one way or another man’s acceptance to the kindness of blessings from a super natural being to succeed in life, and keep all options and equipment accurate and running perfectly till any race we run is completed.
This also brings out another interesting event happened in my life last week. An organisation was changing their computer system and were left with 27 CPUs in good condition.
As the units were new and in good condition, they wanted to sell it for a nominal cost and suddenly one of their staff knew about me and my social connections and called me. I was happy to accept their request and spread the word around whether any takers for the same for socially benefiting cause.
Manzil – an organisation based in Sharjah, which gives care and learning environment to those with special needs and encourages them to explore their potential to the fullest, came forward to accept them.
With whole-hearted support from the organisation GHD, Abu Dhabi and their senior management and those two staff members, we were able to send the PCs to Manzil before the Eid holidays.
I could not control my tears of joy when I received a thank you note and special Eid greetings from those children and staff from Manzil as they accepted this unexpected gift on Thursday.
Job only half done as I look around for more volunteers to help them with the basics of computing.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
To know more about Manzil, please visit http://www.manzil.ae/
If interested to become a volunteer, please write to them directly at volunteer@manzil.ae
Short Take – Dt. 13.11.2010 – Point to ponder
Short Take – Dt. 13.11.2010 – Point to ponder
Point to ponder
Although, it is becoming cool outside, for somewhere, someone, the heat is on. Is it turning out to be real that there is an effect of financial crunch happening around?
The banking sector is also in greater caution and this is another major area for many of us who has an attitude to be there when in need. It is therefore important to be in touch with your regular friends/loved ones/contacts.
Make sure you get to create a communication and feel their pulse. I am sure you will definitely be able to get the feelings across, even if it is a silence or pause in the communication. But to be there at the time in need is the most important gift you can give to a friend or a well wisher of yours.
The reason for writing this here is an interview of Malayalam movie actor Dileep shown on TV sometime ago about one of his movie where he did a stunt scene by jumping into the sea.
In it he explained what was his feeling before jumping and once in motion down. No control, and life and death was seconds away. Luckily for him there were people to rescue, who were on standby. But a repeat shot had to be taken and he continued, there were no one around and it was really touch and go. Two years ago I had to go through the motions of the death of two friends who committed suicide. If someone was there to hold them/restrain them back from that crucial decision, life would have been an altogether different thing for their children.
We all boast of so many friends and well wishers on several media and social forums. How many of them will be there to care for you when in real need? A point to ponder?
So, let the party continue, enjoy life as it happens, but keep an eye and ear open for that precious silence somewhere around. You never know, when a chance hello or a short email from you will make you realise the reason for that precious silence and may give you an opportunity to be the most important person for someone whom you care.
Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt. 06.11.2010 – Changed Attitude
Changed attitudes
Every morning when I walk to my car, I get to see a school bus coming to pick up a group of students to an Arabic school. A teacher is also among them to get in from this stop. As I observe each of them inside and outside the bus, there is little interaction. The bus arrives, the children gets in followed by the master. Absolutely no reaction from them and from him, no greetings or whatsoever to each other. They all fully engrossed in listening to their ipods to some music or playing on their mobiles.
The scene revives memories of my own school days and relationship and respect existed those days between students and teachers. Has it withered away as the time passed? May be it is a one-off case, and let me console thinking that way.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 30.10.2010 – At the hospital
At the hospital
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 23.10.2010 – Strange Situations
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 23.10.2010 – Strange Situations
Strange situations
Life is strange and special when we look at our momentary wants. I was with a visiting musician the other day who had come to the UAE for a concert. He was sharing his thoughts with me about life and money and timely assistance by unknown sources at turbulent times.
Once on a journey through a desert, he got stranded for days and all the water and food he had carried got over. He had money in his hand, but it was of no use as there were no shops or inhabitation around. Luckily for him, from somewhere, a bedouin family came and they offered him water and transportation to a distant village from where he could move on. It was a case where money could do nothing.
Back home, I had a chance to watch the pre-match discussion of the first one day cricket match between Australia and India supposed to be held in at Cochin. The commentators and phone in audience talked in length of pros and cons and probable team and strategies that could be adopted for a win. Unfortunately, next day morning I heard, the match was abandoned due to rain.
Many times, we come across strange situations in life, where all our predictions and planning go wrong in entirety. Our life is much similar to what we saw in both the above instances.
However advanced we are in terms of technology or facility, there are certain things that we have no control.
To a certain extent birth and then death. Let each one of us live our life peacefully and for the well being of our family and society without hurting anyone. The rest, leave it to destiny.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, GULF TODAY Online
Short Take – GULF TODAY – 16.10.2010 – Lost in E-World
Short Take – GULF TODAY – 16.10.2010 – Lost in E-World
Lost in e-world
When I looked around, I saw her mother immersed in a telephone conversation on her mobile. A few distances away, I saw her nanny, with a pet dog with its lace in one hand and she was too fully lost in her mobile world talking with someone.
From the looks of both of them, I realised, they were waiting for another child’s return from her school. I suddenly thought about the plight of the dog as well as of the little child. Both caretakers were totally away from the existence of these two wonderful living beings.
Are we all now lost in a mobile and e-world? Pure affection, once used to be there, seemed to be drifting away from our real life.
The signal turned green and I had to take time out from my thoughts and get back to the life ahead on road.
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 02.10.2010 – Don’t play with lives
Short Take – GULF TODAY – Dt. 02.10.2010 – Don’t play with lives
Don’t play with lives
Life is strange when we look at each day passing by like a flash. At times, when I am sitting at the right side of my car, I look at the passing vehicles and buildings as they pass behind quickly.
It reminds me of my school days, when I sit on the side of the bus and look at the trees and riverside scenes that we pass by on our way to home. At times, some incidents remain in our life forever. We then get to take those actions which lead to it in a serious manner and try and see it never gets repeated to us and to others we know.
Traffic accidents are one such thing, which I take seriously.
It is due to the loss of an entire family of my mathematics teacher from school on way back from Abu Dhabi. They were driving back to Dubai a few years ago and her daughter-in-law was at the wheels of their brand new jeep. The car was full of passengers – she, her son, her daughter, and daughter in law and a close relative.
It had its two petrol tanks full too. The road work for the modern Abu Dhabi was beginning and the roads at Umm Al Nar were zig zag. Someone tried to rush through the traffic in between their cars and hit them from behind very fast. Their jeep hit the road dividers and caught fire.
The doors got jammed. All of them were stuck inside, and within minutes it was a huge ball of fire around. The tragedy was huge and everlasting.
It was followed by another incident in which my close relative was killed when his vehicle was hit by a speeding truck.
These impacts created an unknown urge in me to start campaigning for road safety. I have done my best effort to create awareness at every possible opportunity. But I feel it is not enough. A drive down through Sheikh Zayed Road of Dubai and Abu Dhabi Street in the recent days, I found many drivers using mobiles and texting on their phones.
This is a serious danger for the driver and for those on the road at the same with him. Companies and organisations should alert their staff not to use mobile while driving.
Police and traffic authorities are helpless if we do not abide the rules of the road. Let us not create accidents due to our negligence.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
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