Monday, May 4, 2020

Life in Lockdown - Day 41 of 54 (or more), May 4, 2020

Day 41
Pic Satish Nargundkar

Watched the movie 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood' last night. Very nice indeed. Column day so wrote a bit. Then headed out to loot Polimera and Ratnadeep - actually not really - just a short list. For the first time since the lockdown I did not have to wait a minute and walked in like a raja in both places.

Car battery is giving problems and I trusted the good god and a helpful soul to push if it doesn't start. At home, it started, on the last and final try and thereafter I kept parking it on sloping grounds. It didn't start at Ratnadeep too and thanks to the slope it started. I scurried back home and though it didn't start well, it all ended well.

Sravan Feeds 100 Families
Sravan is an ex-student of mine and a wonderful person with some superb qualities. He lives quite close home and we meet once in a while at the park (pre Covid days). Learned today that he had gone ahead and provided food for 100 families. His sentiment is that if someone could pick up the cue, and a good deed spread like the virus, we can handle the crisis better.
Sravan 

Packing

Food


Sharing

Very well done Sravan. You're the hero of the day.

Fear - Khalil Gibran
Shobhs shared this the other day.


GHMC Painted Trees
In a truly thoughtful act, GHMC painted the trees in our colony, something which I have never seen done in the last four decades (if my memory serves me right). Why are they painting the trees? I have no clue. Could this money be used to fed some poor soul?

Food Pics
Pallavi sent this - haleem like but not haleem, something like khichdi.


That kind of rounds up the day. More tomorrow.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood - Movie

It's a movie based on an article written in 1998 in the Esquire magazine on TV persona Fred Rogers who ran a successful TV show 'MrRoger's Neighbourhood' from 1968 to 2001. The movie is so different to what we are used to and we frequently go - what - but has some brilliant messages and great acting and stuff. Voted top 10 films or something. Watch.


Sunday, May 3, 2020

Life in Lockdown - Day 40 of 54 (or more), May 3, 2020

May 3, 2020

Watched 'Bangalore Days' on Hotstar which seems to be allowing some movies to be watched free. Long but nice. Also finished watching a docu series on the Second World War - ten episodes - and it shocked me even after all the information I had about it earlier. The cruelty and greed of the people at the top could control anyone with their 'rules' and 'national pride' - 75 million people died in the war - 20 million military and 40 million civilians including genocide. Just mad leaders who led their millions to do all kinds of atrocities. It's time to get some sense and knock off the mad leaders.

Messiah of Lockdown
Came across this link - of Salim Kodia, of Kodia group of companies - who distributed 5 lakh food packets so far. A former cricketer who played for Islam Gymkhana Salim attributes it all to god.

http://www.maeeshat.in/2020/04/salim-kodia-the-lockdown-messiah-for-over-11000-poor-and-needy-people-in-mumbai/


Army Gets Into Action
The Army got into action too. In a different way.


They organised a fly-by and dropped flowers on hospitals, lit some ships and also played a band to encourage COVID warriors and police.
https://www.news18.com/news/india/iaf-flypast-live-updates-time-covid19-warriors-srinagar-thiruvananthapuram-navy-mumbai-delhi-shower-petals-2603159.html

Former Chief of Indian Navy Admiral Ramdas has a view on this.
https://sabrangindia.in/article/mayday-mayday-mayday

However, I took inspiration from the army and did my bit. I lit a lamp. I am sure the migrants and the poor are quite thrilled with this.




Anjali Gets Creative
Anjali got creative and painted her T shirt.
Anjali painted a cheetah on her T shirt


Food Pics
Rava fish fry and caramel custard - today's pics
Rava Fish Fry
Caramel  Custard
That's for the day.

Ankur - Movie

Watched Shyam Benegal's debut movie 'Ankur' set in rural Telangana. Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi's first film. Glad I saw it. Now to see a bunch of his movies - Nishant and Bhumika next.

Interestingly Shyam Benegal is a Hyderabad from Trimulgherry and is Guru Dutt's cousin. Watch.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Life in Lockdown - Day 39 of 54 (or more), May 2, 2020

May 2, 2020

After watching Shyam Benegal's 'Ankur' I crashed in the early hours of the day. After the regular chores, hit some work. One old project to be completed, another new one sent off, I like the new productivity. Post lunch I attended a study group and a call or two and here I am.
Pic Satish Nargundkar

As he does every other day, ever since I told Krishna that I am posting good news from the COVID crisis, he has been sending me licks. Today he sent me these lovely links. 

From Krishna's Desk
Dr. Gomes and Team Gives His Patients Some Love
In Goa, the COVID team has developed a new protocol. Instead of making the patients feel lonely and scared the team decided to pep them up with 'you'll get better' messages which they kept giving diligently several times a day. The gesture by Dr. Gomes team seems to have a fine effect - the first patient who was discharged came back to give the good doctor a hug. and another who became a father called his doctors and caregivers to share his good news. It's a wonderful initiative by the team and one that will go a long way in healing not just the patients, but the world.

Well done Dr Gomes and your fearless young team. When I go to Goa next, I'll pay you a visit.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/goa-doctor-tries-power-of-proximity-to-heal-disease-that-isolates-6379474/

Labourer Gives Up Haj Savings to Help COVID 19 Crisis - Abdul Rehman
In Bantwal taluk, Dakshin Kannada, a labourer, Abdul Rehman, gave up his lifelong savings for his Haj pilgrimage to feed the 'poor' who were suffering from the COVID crisis. 'People are hungry and don't have food,' he said and bought rice and other stuff to feed them.

How big can a heart get?

https://www.indiatoday.in/good-news/video/good-news-meet-the-man-who-gave-up-his-haj-savings-to-help-people-in-times-of-corona-1671796-2020-04-27

Pavan Hits the Road
Pavan, my old mate from MCC, decided to hit the road and provide Pongal and water to policemen and homeless who are hungry.
Pongal
Packed
Water
Pavan is shy about publicising his effort. He said that he realised that people on the road don't seem to have enough water to drink so he supplied water too. Not just for people, he has organised water and some food for animals and birds in his area too. Good on you Pavan. Hero for the day.

Food Pics
Someone sent me this.
Caramel Custard



Friday, May 1, 2020

Spartacus - Movie

Finally got this 1960 classic out of the way. Ever since I saw the movie 'Trumbo' - about Dalton Trumbo, a celebrated screenwriter who was put out of work in the infamous  McCarthy era where all supposed Communists were seen suspiciously and harassed. Trumbo wrote under other\people's names and they won awards for 'Roman Holiday'. 'Spartacus' was another of his great screenplays.

Martin Sheen plays Spartacus, a rebel slave turned gladiator who leads a slave rebellion and escape, from the Romans. Grand scale. If you're in the mood to watch 'Benhur' type films this is one.

Life in Lockdown -Day 38 of 54 (or more), May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

And another month moves on. Watched 'Spartacus' last night - long movie at 3 hours plus. But spectacular and grand. Glad I watched it. After the morning chores which took up all morning I settled down to some work which continued all day. Have begun reading  book that's been pending on my list for ages 'I Am That' - a series of discussion with Nisargadatta Maharaja. Quite liking what I am reading.

There's a sense of some layers falling off. Something interesting.

Got the news in the evening that the lockdown has been now extended till May 17. Cool with that.

Finally, Stranded Migrants Get Relief
Finally, stranded migrants who are stuck in relief camps at various places are now allowed to go home. Trains and buses are the mode of transport. It will still be a logistical struggle but they can at least go home.

I heard that a train left from Secunderabad to Jharkhand today with migrants. Thank god.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP1clfB1VAg (Train flagged off from Lingampally, Telangana)

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-centre-s-new-order-on-letting-migrants-travel-there-is-one-operative-word/story-e0WZuNMAJVqsGqVc25BWiN.html

Saharanpur Can See the Himalayas Clearly
I don't know why but I feel like going to Saharanpur. But anyway, I believe after a long long time, the Himalayas, which are some 200 km away, are visible from Saharanpur after ages, thanks to reduced pollution. At this rate, we should be able to see the Himalayas in a month.

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/saharanpur-wakes-up-to-view-of-himalayan-peaks-after-30-years-as-lockdown-clears-up-air-2599443.html

Krishna Sent Me This Lovely Link
30-year-old Raji Radhakrishnanset aside her intellectual disability and made 1000 masks to help stay safe from COVID 19 infection. Her mother runs an NGO which has been helping out in whatever way it can and Raji also joined in. The health minister K Shailaja not only wrote about it but also met Raji. I am in complete awe of K Shailaja.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-woman-intellectual-disability-makes-more-1000-masks-health-workers-123322