Opinion 2015
Crisis handling by Emirates was commendable
Congratulations to the captain and crew of Emirates Flight EK521 for handling the crisis efficiently (Plane catches fire at Dubai airport; Emirates confirms ‘incident’, August 4).
The Dubai International Airport emergency response team also deserves applause for their efficiency in handling the situation. Emirates’ crisis management and communications team also set an example for others to follow.
Everyone will agree that crisis management is not an easy task these days, especially considering that rumour spreads like wildfire through social media.
The airline came up with timely statements and updates to avoid any rumour. Lastly, I salute the fireman, Jassim Al Baloushi, for his act of bravery. May his soul rest in peace.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Letters to the Editor/The National:
Firefighter dies responding to Emirates plane fire at Dubai airport
Financial planning – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 05 September 2015
It was Onam, the harvest festival of Keralites on Friday. I attended a traditional Onam lunch. It is always a great feeling taking part in such cultural activities.
The main attraction of the celebration was the traditional Onam feast, ie. Sadhya. A sumptuous lunch with a long list of curries served on a plantain leaf. All in traditional style.
As we were having the lunch, one of the dignitaries was addressing the crowd. He mentioned the value of money. These days we are hearing of several people affected by huge financial problems. Rich and ordinary alike are suffering because of poor financial planning.
His speech reminded me of KV Shamsudheen’s untiring community effort to teach the general public about the perils of bad money management and the importance of systematic financial planning in life.
Money is precious. Handle it carefully. It is hard to earn and easy to lose.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today Online
Electronic world – Short Take – Gulf Today Dt 29 August 2015
This is the age of electronic communication. This makes things easier for all. Children are well read and if they have any doubt on anything in this universe, they have the Google guru to assist. They don’t need to ask anyone else. They don’t believe anyone else too! Either their friends or what they find from searching on the Internet through Google.
I am amazed and amused by this trend. The other day I was in a shopping mall lift. A family of three came in with their child in the pram. I noticed the cute little boy of 3 to 4 years playing with an Android phone.
I thought he might be playing some games. As I observed closer, I was proved wrong, he was watching videos from a YouTube link active in it. Selecting and changing one after another!
As it was Onam, the harvest festival of Keralites, I went to the vegetable section of the supermarket.
I found a young couple, probably recently married, busy shopping. The boy and the girl were trying to impress each other on their mastery on vegetables and cooking! It was nice to see them trying to make headway in their life journey.
In between the girl too was searching on the Internet for various ingredients to be bought for a traditional Kerala recipe.
As I stood in the queue, I could see her calling her mother to confirm whether the items and quantity to be purchased were correct!
What would we do in this modern world if the mobile or electronic gadgets stop working?
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today, Short Take Dt 29 August 2015
Hard work – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt 8th August 2015
Hard work
I love to visit Mumbai whenever I get a chance. The place has a lot of specialities, which no other city in India can boast about. First and foremost I value is the way people work hard to earn their daily bread. One will get to find people living and enjoying with even a meagre daily income.
My regular visits have helped me connect with a special friend in Mumbai. I met him six years ago during a rainy season, when I was waiting for a taxi outside my hotel.
Many taxis passed by but I was not comfortable as I felt they might stop in the submerged roads. Then came the old model van. Its poor condition with open windows made it convenient for me to explore my photography opportunities. The driver was familiar with the city and took me around for the next three days.
The rapport continued from then on and every time he was my driver to take me around in Mumbai.
This time too I called him, but he arrived in a different car. His owner had sold his favourite (mine too) vehicle and given him a different model.
While travelling, several topics came up for discussion. I asked him whether he wanted to have his own car one day. He said he was happy with the daily earnings he got after paying a fixed amount to the owner.
With his earnings, he takes care of his wife and children, who live in another state. He said, “I believe in hard work and may be one day I would buy a bigger car to take tourists around. I don’t pray for a lottery win or any other way that I do not deserve.”
I am looking forward to the time when he would drive around in his own vehicle.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
Abdul Kalam left a rich legacy – Letters to the Editor – The National Dt 30th July 2015
Abdul Kalam left a rich legacy
Your editorial A humble man with big ideas (July 29) was poignant. With the death of Dr Abdul Kalam, India has not just lost a great scientist, but a great human being.
Two major incidents made this week particularly tragic for the country, as there was also a terrorist attack in Punjab.
Dr Abdul Kalam was a visionary, as he devoted his time to nurture young talent. He realised that the young generation is the backbone of the nation. He was also kind and compassionate. Dr Abdul Kalam strongly advocated an action plan to develop India into a “knowledge superpower”. His rich legacy will keep his memory alive. His books, particularly Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds, will carry his thoughts and ideas to millions of people. May his soul rest in peace.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National Online
Road tragedy a call for education – Letters to the Editor – The National Dt 15th July 2015
My reaction to your news story, Dubai police officer dies trying to help woman (July 12) is that this is a tragedy – and especially because it was the second recent incident in which a police officer has been killed in this way.
It once again confirms that most people just don’t realise that disobeying traffic rules not only jeopardises their own lives but also those of others. It is a lesson some people seem determined to only learn the hard way.
These type of accidents are likely to encourage the authorities to enforce stricter traffic rules for the people’s own good. That is the right choice.
All drivers in the UAE– and especially the young ones – need to be educated about being patient behind the wheel, not texting or speaking on the phone while driving and not driving while tired.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Point to ponder – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 04 July 2015
Point to ponder
It was a foggy morning and I looked through the windows outside. The busy road and the vehicles were not clearly visible as it used to be on any normal day.
Suddenly my eyes caught up with a flip calendar with a quote on it. The words on that day’s page read “Never do anything which you do not wish to do during the last hour of your life.”
I kept on looking at it for a long time. The foggy weather condition and the traffic situation were no more in my focus and thoughts.
My memories went back to a few years to a hospital room near the ICU. It was raining and I was consoling a loving family member who was, unknown to all of us at that time, in the last week of her life. Listening to my encouraging words, she was showing a brave face, but she knew at that condition a turnaround was the last possible thing.
That part of the thought ended then and there and it revolved to the present. Can we really make an effort to have the real essence of that sentence possible in our day-to-day life? I started thinking deep into it. How can we bring in a change that can make our last action everlasting?
Not an easy task. After all, no one wants to die fast. So, is that an excuse to do something unwanted to be given another chance to correct it?
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, visit Gulf Today online
Take a break – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt 27th June 2015
Take a break
Life moves at a crazy pace. At times I feel the 5W’s of journalism is immaterial in our day-to-day life. Who we are, What we do, When do we have time for ourselves, Where are we moving to, Why life is like this these days?
No one has time for the other. The stories we were taught about birds and tiny creatures storing their bits and pieces of grains for survival during the monsoon season, when it is normally tough to get supplies, were simple management techniques driven hard into our mind to preserve for a tougher time.
Do we have such an ideology to teach for the young generation these days? I don’t think so. Everything is impulsive and instantaneous. You buy the latest phone and within a few months change it with a new model. Same with cars.
I think there is a need to slow down, relax and enjoy the precious moments with peace and harmony.
Ramesh Menon
#PassionatePhotographers
#ClicksandWrites
Lower the height of signboards – Letters to the editor – The National Dt 22 June 2015T
Lower the height of signboards – Letters to the editor – The National Dt 22 June 2015
The new Onwani system will make it easier for people to access every location in Abu Dhabi. What we have to do now is get used to this change.
However, I would like to point out that the signboards with the building numbers and QR codes have been placed too high. This makes it difficult for short people or those of average height to access them to scan the QR codes.
Lowering the height of these boards will enable everyone to make use of the QR facility.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, visit The National online
Spiritual discipline – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 20th June 2015
Spiritual discipline
The Holy Month of Ramadan is here again. The religious aura it brings along is beyond explanation. Everyone tends to fall in to a spiritual routine and discipline automatically. It also adds up to an ambitious effort each day to remain focused and composed. Angry words and actions will become a history. Efforts to meet colleagues, friends or family each evening to break the fast become automatically a team-building effort towards positiveness in life.
Ramesh Menon
ClicksandWrites 
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