Morning @ Chengalpattu, Chennai

One of the early days of TJY, at 5:30 am in the chilly morning the train stopped at Chengalpattu in Chennai.
The view outside was like a panorama I've seen in art movies. It was truly mesmerizing!!

The water looked greenish with fishermen trawling in the hope of catching a big one!!
The boat was one of a kind made of just 3-4 log of wood with a skinny fisherman sitting like a large pelican.

This was incredible India and a perfect platform to connect oneself to nature with shining orange strand floating in water and moving clouds making way for the rising sun!!

The moment will always be in me.....deep inside!!

Ancestral Solution back in Action- Hyped as Rain Water Harvesting!!

Nature bestows us with so many gifts still why do we feel there is shortage of resources ---Is it nature's fault or humanly acts??

The most endowed is sometimes forecasted or the hardly foretold --- rainfall!!. The average annual rainfall received by India is between 750 and 1500 milliliters. Today, after lot of bigshot introspection comes the age old ancestral solution of rain water storage and harvesting!!

The process is quite simple one making a huge difference---I just learnt it today from the workers making one in my hostel.

Dig a pit depending upon the storage requirement. Cover the sides with brick and cement to give a smooth finish. From the terrace to the pit, fit pipes crawling from the outside of the wall. As rain falls, the water flows in from the pipes and gets stored in the dug pit. A rain water filter is attached which cleans the water as it gets collected. The stored water can be used for washing clothes and other industral purpose but is not recommended for drinking.

The starting investment is usually Rs. 20,000 and depends upon the size of pit and usage of pipes.

It has been made mandatory by the Karnataka govt. for every owner or occupier of a building having sital area of not less than 2400 sq feet or every owner who proposes to construct a building on a sital area of not less than 1200sq feet.

Finally, after year long discussions and analysis, a common sense solution is understood by the masses!! 

(Coincidence)^2 on my way to Tata Jagriti Yatra

Tata Jagriti Yatra, a national train journey across India started on 24th December, 2010 but my yatra to Mumbai started on the afternoon of 23rd December. Just after scribbling through my last end term paper, I reached hostel. Not knowing what to pack, I dumped all possible clothes in my huge blue suitcase and left for the yatra early next day. Somehow reached the pick-up point with my difficult to carry luggage, waited for the bus with no idea about Bombay city. Added to that, phone calls from home asking me about my schedule - which was not even close to an idea at that moment!! All expressionless, I see this tall guy in a black SJCBA jersey! Enthused I couldn't stop to introduce myself and ask where he's heading. And for all heavenly lady luck, the answer came- BOMBAY!! Though he was unsure if he missed the bus, I was all elated to see someone travel with me to my unknown city of Mumbai. Then the second miracle happened- seat no-20 and me 21!! Double rejoiced!! Thanked God for 2 reasons- Have a company till Mumbai and have a schedule to tell home.

Now this guy is Robin aka Bombay Buswala. The full yo-attitude looking guy turned out to be full filmy bollywood style. We chatted all through, danced on some bollywood masala songs, clicked moon on the bus window and most by him- Mellu acts!! In moments we were like "chuddi buddies" sharing gossips and filmy songs. Not to forget, the most important thing- I learnt 2 amusing Bombay slang- Halkat and Chatis ka Akda!! Not sure when to use them but these are the memorable words of my trip to Mumbai aka Bombay :)