No.1 Boat Club Road, R.A.

Puram,Chennai 600 028 Phone No: 044-24322195, 044-24321233 Guest Room: 044-24351449 E-Mail: acau@ymail.com Website: www.alumniclubau.com

NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the 20th Annual General Body Meeting of the Members of Alumni Club, Anna University, will be held at the Conference Hall in the Club premises at No.1, Boat Club Road, Chennai 600 028 on Sunday, 23rd June 2013 at 10.30 A.M to transact the following business brought by the Managing Committee. 1. To receive, consider and adopt the Committees Report of the Society. 2. To receive, consider and adopt audited Balance Sheet as on 31st March 2013 and the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended as on date. 3. To appoint the auditor to hold office from the conclusion of the Annual General Body Meeting till the conclusion of the next Annual General Body Meeting and fix his remuneration. 4. To consider any other matter brought by the Managing Committee. 5. To consider any other matter brought by any eligible members by way of resolutions with explanatory notes. 6. To elect the Members of the Managing Committee for the year 2013-2014. The Annexure to Notice, Annual Report for the year 20122013, audited Balance Sheet for the year 2012-2013 and the Income & Expenditure Statement will be despatched shortly. T. Swaminathan (Honorary Secretary) Chennai. 8, May 2013

OFFICE BEARERS President Mr. C.S.Vijayaraghavan Vice President Dr. S. Sivanesan Secretary Mr.T. Swaminathan Treasurer Mr. C.A. Raj Mathivanan COMMITTEE MEMBERS Catering Mr. S.P. Chandrasekhar House-Keeping Mr. J. Ganesh Babu Entertainment Mr. D. Girish Library & Newsletter Dr.S. Natarajan Sports Mr. M.P. Premkumar Anna university Nominees Dr.P. Manohar Dr.P. Jayashree

2 | MAY 2013

By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower. - Rabindranath Tagore.

Matha Pitha Day

aatha Pitha Guru Deivam , this is something that all of us have been taught ever since we started going to school . However in this day and age where life works on fast-forward mode, one finds it impossible to acknowledge all that we have learnt and act on it. Alumni Club created a wonderful opportunity to all its members on April 6th 2013 to put into practice what they believed and learnt for decades now Celebrating their parents. Maatha Pitha day, a unique concept to celebrate parents was organised by the club. The members could treat their parents to a sumptuous buffet dinner, rib tickling comedy and some very heartwarming music. The season of the bat and ball had started and cricket being religion in India, the committee members were a bit worried about the turn out at the event, much to everyones surprise the grand event that was held at the club lawns on a wonderful star lit evening and was attended by a large audience aging 6yrs - 80yrs. The concept was to treat the parents of the members with great food, soothing music and a lot of laughter. Bosskey and his group lightened the evening with some wonderful comedy. He performed standup comedy and the famous vetti pechu league along with his group comprising of Neelu, Naani and Prasad. Some very soothing music was rendered my 3 upcoming singers from super singer (Vijay TV) Deepa , Soundarya and Krishna. Prizes were also given away to the oldest parent (male, female) who came and enjoyed the show along with their children. When old age homes are growing in number, it was heart warming to see the members bring along aged parents for an evening of fun and laughter. The president should be given credit for this wonderful idea and the entertainment committee for putting it together. The evening did come to an end... but the thought of celebrating parents had just begun... - Preeti Nedumaran Sub Committee Member
If a man can control his mind he can find the way of Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. - Gautama Buddha

MAY 2013 | 3

by M. P. PREMKUMAR Snooker The Vijju Memorial Snooker Tournament was conducted with gusto by the organizing committee covering 120 matches over 6 weeks! The long drawn out ranking tournament followed a league- cumknock-out format to rank 32 players. The Singlesfinals saw Sivakumarbeating Natarajanto be crowned the Champion. Vibhuraja and Vimalwere the losing Semifinalists. Flash doubles draw also saw frenetic competition. Natarajan and T.K.Mani beat Sivakumar and Raju in the final. The losing semi-finalists were Krishnaswamy &Prabhakar andNithyanandam& Raju Natarajan.

The Prize Distribution Function was held on Sunday the 14thof April, Vijay Mohans 1st Anniversary with some music and dinner. Shuttle A summer camp is planned to be conducted from April 22 to May 12 by Chennai Badminton Academy under the leadership of top coaches Siddharth Jain (2000French Open Winner), T. Maran (Senior International Player) &Deenu (Former Tamil Nadu Player) with special coaching by former International Player Thomas Kurien. Rummy The Rummy Intra tournament was conducted on Sunday 21st April.Following were the prize winners: 1st PrizeArun Anbazhagan 2ndPrizePuhazhendi 3rdPrizeK. Kanakaraj Bridge Maharashtra Bridge Association is conducting a Bridge League in some of the states. From each state 4 teams will qualify for the Finals at Pune during July. Alumni Club is participating in this tournament under the captaincy of R. Shankar. We have already completed two matches. The matches involving our club are held at our club or at mutually convenient venue. We wish the best of luck to our Bridge team!
4 | MAY 2013
The mind is like a white cloth. Dip it in red dye, it turns red dip it in green, it turns green. Put it out in the sun for long, it loses its colour. The mind truly is the Self itself, with no colour.

Entertainment Schedule for the month of

MAY 2013

4th May Saturday TAMBOLA

11th May Saturday SETTAI Tamil Movie

18th May Saturday Kedi billa killadi ranga Tamil Movie

25th May Saturday Chennaiyil oru naal Tamil Movie

Reciprocal affiliation for usage of guest rooms has been arranged with the following club. Members can contact our club office for further details: KARNATAKA STATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION Hockey stadium premises, Rhenius Street, Langford Town, Bangalore - 560 025. Guest Room Capacity : 13 Air-conditioned Rooms Facility : Restaurant, Bar, Swimming pool, Two Hockey Fields, Billiards, Gymnasium Contact : Hon. Secretary 080-22277007/22277373/42443777/43443701 Fax: 080-22277007 Email Id : karnatakastatehockey@gmail.com Website: karnatakahockey.org

* Images for representation purpose only

The jewels of the soul is priceless, and yet it is being squandered like this , in exchange for a mere shell. - Sri Guru Granth Sahib

MAY 2013 | 5

Truly Mind-Blowing! Least Known Facts about India. This is a compilation of random facts related to India. 1. Navi Mumbai, a planned satellite township of Mumbai, was developed in 1972 and is the largest planned township on the planet. 6. India is one of only 3 remaining countries in the world to have a horsed cavalry regiment. 7. Agni III is the most accurate missile in the world in its range category and BrahMos is the fastest operational cruise missile in the world. 8. The process of crystallization of sugar from sugarcane juice was discovered in India in the Gupta period (350 AD). 2. Nearly 10,000 crore of rupees were spent and 800 soldiers died in the war mobilization effort after the parliament attack. Reportedly, over 100 children died and many farmers lost their livelihoods due to heavy mining in the border areas. 3. War of 27 years fought between the Maratha Empire and the Mughal Empire from 1681 to 1707 was the longest recorded military engagement in the history of India. 4. In 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru rejected an offer to India for a permanent UN Security Council seat to avoid being embroiled in the cold war politics. 5. Viswanathan Anand is first player in chess history to have won the World Championship in three different formats: Knockout, Tournament, and Match.
6 | MAY 2013
Time is free, but it is priceless. You cant own it, but you can use it. You cant keep it, but you can spend it. Once youve lost it you can never get it back. - Harvey Mackay.

9. Many tribes in India worship Asura and Ravan and consider Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra to be black days. 10. In 1928, when the Indian Hockey team was on its way to Amsterdam, they played a series of exhibition matches in England. Seeing its calibre, England decided not to field a team for the Olympics as they did not want to lose to a slave country. 11. Lonar Lake, a saltwater lake in Maharashtra, was created by a meteor hitting the Earth and is one of its kind in India.

12. Raj Kapoors 1951 film Awaara was massively popular in Soviet Russia and China. The film and its title song were Mao Zedongs (Founder of Peoples Republic of China) favorite. 13. There were two US navy warships called USS Krishna and USS Indra that served during World War II. 14. Unlike in Border movie, only 2 Indians died in battle of Longewala. 15. English Actor Sir Ben Kingsleys birth name is Krishna Pandit Bhanji and he is of Indian (Gujarati) descent. 16. Freddie Mercury, British musician was actually of Gujarati descent. 17. John Doe orders (restraint orders against unknown persons for breach of plaintiffs rights) are called Ashok Kumar orders in India. Likewise, unclaimed or unidentified dead body found in a public place is called is Ashok Kumar. 18. The oldest building in Asia is in India, the Sanchi Stupa.

21. The first railroad was constructed by two Indians (Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and Jaganath Shunkerseth) and not the British. 22. Tamil is an OVS (object-verb-subject) language, a characteristic it shares with Klingon (a fictional language spoken by a race in Start Trek Series). 23. Mount Kailash has never been climbed , in spite of Chinese governments support to the climbers.

24. Security at Tihar jail is managed by Tamil Nadu special police force. 25. When going to battle Indian kings would make their horses wear trunks. The other sides elephants would refuse to attack the horses thinking that the horses were baby elephants. 26. If Uttar Pradesh were to be a separate country, it would be worlds fifth most populous country. 27. Bodhidharma, a prince of the Pallava dynasty went to China and began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Kung Fu.

19. Bal Thackerays father changed his family name from Thakre to Thackeray after the British writer William Makepeace Thackeray. 20. There is a species of Shark known as the Ganges Shark that inhabits River Ganga and it is critically endangered

28. A sugar company in Andhra provides rocket fuel to ISRO. 29. Tipu Sultan used Rockets with Swords fixed in the front against the British in the AngloMysore Wars. 30. There is a French electronic band named Masala Dosa. 31. Did you know India has a National Ice Hockey Team?

One should be cautious not to speak anything that hurts others. Such king of speech never helps but always brings destruction. - Rig Veda

MAY 2013 | 7

32. Australias Cricketer Stuart Clark is of Indian origin. Both his parents, Bruce Clark and Mary Clark are Anglo-Indians. 33. A city name Jhumri Telaiya actually exists in Jharkhand. 34. There was a Great Hedge built by the British across India primarily to collect the salt tax. It was 4000 km long and 12 feet in height spanning from Punjab to Orissa. None of it remains today. 35. Kunal Nayyar (Rajesh Koothrappalli from Big Bang Theory) is married to a former Miss India, Neha Kapur. 36. There is a village called Delhi in New York, USA. There is a city called Madras in Oregon, USA. 37. After United States, India has the largest number of English speakers. 38. During the battle of Rezang La in the 1962 India-Sino war a battalion called 13 Kumaon Regiment consisting of mere 120 soldiers held off 6000 Chinese with heavy artillery killing 1300 of their soldiers. 39. Bangalored is a word in Oxford dictionary, which came up after heavy outsourcing to India took the world by storm. 40. One of the oldest College of Engineering in the world is in Chennai, College of Engineering (Guindy). 41. There is a village in Assam called Jatinga where over the last 100 years, thousands of birds have flown to their death over a small strip of land. 42. India has the worlds smallest prison population. 43. The average cost of census taking in India is $0.5 per person (US: $39, World Average: $4.6). 44. India Post allows you to order personalized stamps with your picture on them. Source N.S.Kumar (M.No.455)
8 | MAY 2013
Good behaviour can cover the lack of beauty but beauty never cover the lack of good behaviour.

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14 | MAY 2013

MAY 2013 | CLUB CLASS | 15

Advertorial

cook nook

From spicy curries to delectable gravies, Chettinad cuisine is all about enjoying the bounty of flavours.

Kuzhi Paniaram
Food Category Starters Time to prepare 15 mints Number of Serving 6 portions Ingredients: Parboiled rice 150 gms Raw rice 250 gms Ural dhal 100 gms Methi Seeds 10 gms Mustard seeds 3 gms Channa dhal 10 gms Chopped green chili 15 gms Chopped ginger 10 gms Coconut (small pieces) 1 whole coconut Cashew nut (broken) 50 gms Salt To taste Fresh coriander 10 gms Curry leaves chopped 10 gms Olive oil 60ml
16 | MAY 2013

Method: 1. Soak parboiled and raw rice, urad dhal and methi together for minimum three hours. 2. Grind them to make a fine batter and keep it aside for fermentation (5 to 6 hrs). 3. Heat oil in a pan; crackle mustard, add channa dhal and urad dhal. Add ginger, green chili, and curry leaves, finely chopped coconut, cashewnuts and saut. 4. Add the mixture into the batter and add salt and coriander. 5. Pour the batter in a heated paniyaram griddle and cook till it turns golden brown. 6. Serve with coconut, or tomato chutney.

Murungaelai Saru
Essence of drumstick leaves combined withthe versatility of moong dhal as base Ingredients Pesara pappu (Moong Dhal) 1/4 kg Drumstick leaves kg Onion small 3 Chillies 3 Lemon 3 Chilli powder 1 tsp Salt to taste Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp Coriander leaves For seasoning Ghee 3 tsp Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp Crushed garlic flakes 5 Curry leaves Method: 1. Soak moong dhal in water for about 10 minutes and cook over low heat till it is 3/4th cooked. 2. Mash the dhal thoroughly and add chopped onion, chillies and drumstick leaves and cook for a few minutes, before adding a glass of water. 3. Add salt, turmeric and chilli powder and cook for 10 minutes. 4. Melt ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds, crushed garlic flakes and curry leaves till the mix turns light brown. 5. Add this mixture to the dhal sauce and add coriander leaves. 6. Remove from fire and sprinkle lemon juice.
MAY 2013 | 17

RELATIONSHIP

Poison Pals
Friends make the world go round. But not all friends turn out to be the way you expect. What are the telltale signs that a buddy is toxic? Smita Shenoy analyses.
here is nothing sweeter than true friendship but then there is nothing sourer than a relationship with the wrong ones. Is your craving for companionship making you turn a blind eye to the faults of your so called mates? Here are six types you are better off without.

sundry just like her relations had been of her. She finds it impossible to accept that others can accept responsibility for their own lives and actions.

Aunt Agony:

She is the free advice dispenser. From fixing a broken gadget to mending a broken heart, she has instant solutions for everything under the blessed Sun. Her readiness to resolve matters though welcome at times may be largely jarring on the nerves because a friend in this category is always on the lookout for problems when there are none.

Understanding Them:

Probably, a repressed childhood, a sheltered upbringing and a set of domineering parents have stifled her natural instincts. Now as an adult she is the victim of an uncontrollable need to fix others lives. She is overly critical of all and
20 | MAY 2013

nt The mome an you book day, li o h e in lp A nd she goes a n reserves a alet h c e iv s lu c ex nd in Switzerla

Eternal Borrower:

She reverses the adage giving is better than receiving on its head. And money is not the only think she borrows. Your favourite thriller, your comic book collection, a bowl of sugar, your LBD, your range of imported cosmetics: nothing is safe from this sponge. Once things vanish into the black hole of her apartment they are not likely to see the light of the day again.

Constant Cribber:

She may easily have been the originator of the expression down in the dumps. A proverbial wet blanket, she has probably never heard of the word optimism. Any plans your bunch of buds makes will elicit groans and grunts from this perpetual moaner. Headaches, backaches, pollution, global warming: something is always wrong with her or around her.

Understanding Them:

Strange as it may seem to us, some people are addicted to borrowing and get quite a kick from their compulsion for debt. In cases such as these, it is the lender who has to be assertive and mouth an emphatic no. The conflict between being kind and being exploited is a moral dilemma most of us face but a firm stance has to be taken against such compulsive borrowers for the sake of our peace of mind.

Understanding Them:

Women by nature are more sensitive than men and crave emotional dependence. Sometimes, insecurities about their personal and professional lives compel some women to bicker and nag. Instead of identifying the source of their discontent and seeking to better the situation, they find solace in self pity and whining.

Loose Lips:

Backbiting is her passion and divulging your secrets as soon as you confide in her is her hobby. She takes pleasure in tweeting, posting and mailing your intimate details to the world. She not only spills your secrets, she exaggerates and makes stuff up to spice up the proceedings.

Understanding Them:

It is actually quite difficult to understand what perverse pleasure some people get from sharing their friends confidences with the world. It could stem from a psychological urge to create a sensation even if it is at the expense of others. It is best to be wary of such people and not let any cat out of the bag in their presence as there is always an imminent danger that the cat may transform into a tiger behind our backs and come back to prey on us.

One-Upper:

Whatever you have she aspires to have one better. The

MAY 2013 | 21

moment you book an Alpine holiday, she goes and reserves an exclusive chalet in Switzerland. The minute you buy a Versace gown, she will indulge in a Prada dress. For every LV clutch you own, she has a Hermes equivalent. It is almost like watching your reflection in the mirror, albeit a snobbish and slightly pompous one.

Understanding Them:

This set of ladies is more irritable than harmful. And the best part is that most of these oneuppers are not even aware that they are doing something very annoying. There is not much we can do about their behavioural pattern except maybe give them a dose of their own medicine by bragging about some weird and outlandish things we may have done (in our dreams). Ultimately, it may lead them to realise that they have to put a full stop somewhere or risk losing their sanity.

us want to stick it out with them through thick and thin. The effort required to seek out new friends seems so tiring that we would rather stay with the friends we have made, some of them right in kindergarten. The sense of familiarity we feel with our preschool buddies hinders us from acknowledging that we may have long since outgrown the friendship and that it is time to move on. Also most toxic friends are called so because they poison our emotions by laying a guilt trip on us making it a no win situation for us where we feel wretched in their company and miserable with guilt if we tell them off, she says.

How to deal with toxic friends

Vainglorious Vamp:

Inflicted with the classic frog in the well syndrome, this self absorbed lady would put Narcissus to shame. She is identified by her affinity for the words, I, me, myself. Her conversations are only about my family, my clothes, my job. One hour in her company and you would even know which brand of toothpaste her kids use to shine their pearlies.

Understanding them:

If you really are into them, then try and understand their behaviour and help them defuse the pattern Maybe over familiarity has given them the licence to lord over you. A few months break may infuse freshness into the friendship and help them appreciate your worth Subtly move them from the centre of your life to the periphery where you stay in touch with them but just barely If you are up to your eyeballs in frustration at the no show status of your friendship with your poison pals, cut them out of your life fully; there are no half measures.

Normally, we feel only women talk about themselves but it is a guy thing too. The subjects of mens conversation may be different, ranging from gadgets and gizmos to the latest set of wheels they purchased, but once they start a monologue it is difficult to contain them. It may just be a ploy to grab eyeballs and keep the spotlight fixed on them but these ladies and gentlemen have to be made to realise that the Earth does not revolve around them and that if they keep up this trait they may soon be talking about themselves to themselves.

Why we cannot get rid of toxic friends

Our instincts scream at us to end the relationship yet most of us hang on to our toxic buddies longer than is healthy. Relationship counsellor Madhu feels that a mixture of familiarity, guilt and compassion makes

Her readiness to resolve matters though welcome at times may be largely jarring on the nerves because a friend in this category is always on the lookout for problems when there are none

22 | MAY 2013

HOME

Scale down smartly and add an extra dimension to your abode: invest in a swanky kitchenette.
What
If your otherwise lovely and cosy home is short on space then kitchenettes can be the perfect solution that you are looking for. These space saving additions are the miniature replicas of their much larger siblings but kitchenettes can be every bit as useful as kitchens.

How

Why

Once you decide on getting a mini kitchen you can either look at the readymade models available in interior stores or have a contractor build everything from scratch and install a custom built kitchenette. Have it painted in bright and unique hues to distinguish the area from the rest of the house and to give it a character of its own. The basics required to set up a kitchenette include: A mini refrigerator A small cooking range/induction stoves A mini microwave A simple sink A couple of small wall cabinets Counter space You can upgrade on these basics as per your needs. Add features, alter sizes and increase the components as required. Stock up on necessities and replenish depleted items once a week.

The main advantage of a kitchenette is that it allows you to carry on all your culinary functions without engulfing precious square feet area. They are particularly recommended for houses, studio apartments, basement or attic flats, condominiums and mezzanine (usually above garage) houses. For the mother in you, kitchenettes can be a great way of involving your tweens and teens in cooking activities. A kitchenette is comparatively safer because of the small area and thus makes it easy for you to keep an eye on the little ones as they carry out their culinary experiments.

Where

If you entertain small groups on a regular basis or indulge in informal dos with your gal pals then it makes sense to have a kitchenette in a comfortable corner of the house where you hold the soirees, even if you have a large kitchen and a larger house. With such an arrangement you can whip up scrumptious snacks and refreshing brews while chatting with your guests instead of being holed up in the kitchen and missing out on all the fun. Also, if you are a work from home professional then it makes sense to have a tiny kitchenette near your work area so you dont have to keep rushing back and forth every time you feel like having a cup of coffee or some light refreshments.
24 | MAY 2013

PAGO

MAY 2013 | 25

ARIES (22nd March- 21st April) Professionally there are a lot of transitions taking place in life during this month. Old projects end and it is time to look out for fresh opportunities and new ways of working. Financially too this seems to be a good time and investments grow. A woman who is financially sound helps you in enhancing your monetary status. Health keeps you fit and cardio exercises do you a lot of good. Travel shall be favourable and a motherly figure will help you in this front. An extra effort from your end helps you in achieving further success in matters related to your family. Avoid confrontations of any kinds in matters of heart. Lucky Colour: Grey/ Black

TAURUS (22nd April - 21st May) Romantic endeavours enrich your life as the month progresses. You are being blessed in this front and new beginnings create further love and harmony in life. Financially, this is the time to contemplate your previous investments and keeping them in mind plan future ones as well. Professionally, there are a few setbacks that might come through as the month progresses. Written documents might create some confusion and disappointment. Health shall keep you fit. Being in the company of your loved ones shall be therapeutic. Travel shall be favourable during this period. Emotional anxieties might be on the higher side as far as your family is concerned. The end of the month might turn out to be pretty expensive. Lucky Colour: Blue

GEMINI (22nd May- 21st June) Financially, this seems to be an excellent month for you. New investments especially in creative ventures shall be favourable as the month progresses. Your family supports you in your endeavours throughout the week. Being patient and tactful in matters related to your family helps in creating further happiness and harmony. There will be situations when you might feel that your partner is not giving you due attention. There are phases when you might feel that you have not got your due in your love life. Professionally too there can be problems related to office premises and even partnerships might turn out to be pretty demanding as the month progresses. Health needs to be taken care of as too much travel might cause you anxieties and might take a toll on your health. A youngster might be very demanding while on a journey. A lot of opportunities shall knock your door as the month comes to its end. Lucky Colour: Dark Green

CANCER (22nd June - 21st July) New beginnings in matters of heart shall be pleasant and create peace and harmony in your life. Romance and passion breeze back into your life creating a lot of memorable moments for you. Financially you will feel blessed as investments turn northwards and unexpected help from friends and family also come through. Professional stress dilutes as the month progresses and you win back over your contemporaries and gain strength in your projects achieving targets in time. Health too keeps you in a fit shape and you will feel blessed and happy when in the company of your loved ones. Travel is also favourable during this phase. Being too possessive about your family can create claustrophobic mindsets. The cards guide you to take things easy in order to enjoy the company of your loved ones. You shall get credits for your efforts as the month comes to its end. Lucky Colour: Blue

26 | MAY 2013

LEO (22nd July - 21st August) Matters of heart shall be romantic and you will feel quite relaxed and happy in the company of your loved ones. New health activities implemented in life shall boost your health. Following your intuitive guidance helps you in further rejuvenating your mind, body and soul. Sensible handling of your projects brings in desired success on the work front. However, be careful while dealing with your finances as the cards indicate major outflow of money during this month. Travel too is best avoided during this phase as it might create a lot of restlessness in you as well. Whatever effort that you make during this phase in matters related to your family bring in happiness only when the month comes to its end. A man with a pragmatic mindset might differ with your viewpoints in life by the month end. Lucky Colour: Orange

VIRGO (22nd August- 21st September) Professionally, celebrations will take place and the environmental situations will make you achieve your professional targets in time. Creative ventures take off easily. Financial success too comes more easily during this period. Property matters shall be rewarding. You might also want to spend quality time with your loved ones. Emotional anxieties shall be on the higher side and you might feel disappointed with the way things shape up this month in your love life. A youngster shall help you in rejuvenating your health. Travel is best avoided during this phase as it might not give you desired success. There are also possibilities of someone letting down your trust levels while on a journey. Be careful about any written messages that you plan to send to your family as chances are that it might get misinterpreted. However, you overcome all your problems as the month comes to its end. Lucky Colour: White / Pistachio Green

LIBRA (22nd September- 21st October) Professionally a number of opportunities knock at your door as the month progresses. However, there are a few setbacks as far as your financial matters are concerned. Be careful about joint investments or investments in property matters as they might be tough nuts to crack during this period. A fatherly figure might be a cause of concern during this phase and can affect your love life in an adverse manner. Health shows sudden improvements in the latter half part of the month. Travels shall be favourable and travels to new destinations shall be pleasant and successful. You would be in absolutely in control of your life as the month progresses and would also learn the art of appeasing your family members with ease and comfort. There could be a bit of sadness that might creep in your life as the month comes to its end. Lucky Colour: Peach

SCORPIO (22nd October- 21st November) Matters of heart shall be pleasant and romantic. Outdoor travels and journeys shall be favourable and enjoyable. Financially there are setbacks and sudden outflow of money during this phase. Coordination with juniors is the key to success at work. There are possibilities of news which might not be as per your expectations on the work front. Avoid being all by yourself or lonely as this can also create depressive tendencies and affect your health adversely. There are issues which still need a heart to heart open talk and working towards it shall help in eradicating most of your health problems. Travel is best avoided during this period as chances are that sudden problems might arise while on a journey. You might meet up with old friends and family members you had not met for long during this month. Old memories flash back as the month progresses. Emotional anxieties in life will be high as the month comes to its end. Lucky Colour: Red

MAY 2013 | 27

SAGITTARIUS (22nd November- 21st December) Health keeps you in a fit shape throughout the month. Guidance of an elderly person who has excellent PR skills shall help in rejuvenating your health during this period. Double check your documents and any legal paper that you have to sign in this period as a minor error might cost you a lot. You need to continue making efforts in your love life to keep it going perfectly. Avoid business travels related to finances which might turn out to be disappointing. Travel shall be favourable as the month progresses. An extra effort from your end shall help you in achieving success in family matters. The month ends on a positive note and a spiritual guide or an expert from your field shall help in your endeavours during this time. Lucky Colour: Lemon Green

CAPRICORN (22nd December- 21st January) Professionally this is a good period for you to achieve success and get appreciated for your work. This is a huge transition period that is taking place at your end and which is creating new ways and patterns in your professional life. Experimenting with your projects shall benefit you during this period. Financially this seems to be an average month where changes would be just about enough to meet your needs. Avoid confrontations of any sorts with your loved one as this might blow up beyond proportion and damage control will be a tough task to deal with later on. You might have to deal with dental problems during this phase and a minor surgery like root canal might need immediate attention. Travel shall be fruitful and a number of travel options might surface as the month progresses. Shunning off old, unpleasant memories and thinking proactively about your future helps in harmonising a lot of family issues. Happiness shall surface only when you are more futuristic towards life. A youngster might be a cause of concern as the month progresses. Lucky Colour: Fuchsia

AQUARIUS (22nd January- 21st February) Professionally there is a lot to achieve in your life. You will gain from your projects and a youngster helps you in this front. However, financially this month can prove to be tough as investments will turn out to be pretty demanding. Someone on whom you have a lot of trust might not return your favour. Being restless and emotionally drained out can cause rifts in matters of heart. Health too needs a lot of attention as chances are that you might experience muscle spasms, bone aches or gastric troubles during this phase. New travel destinations bring in excellent results in your favour. However, the cards guide you to avoid travelling with your loved ones during this phase. A woman who has a pragmatic outlook towards life shall help in your endeavours as the month approaches its end. Lucky Colour: Orange

PISCES (22nd February- 21st March) You are being too possessive about your relationship during this phase and this can cause a lot of anxieties and claustrophobia between you and your loved one. A woman who is financially quite strong helps you in your professional projects. New ways of investments when applied in your portfolio gives you an extra edge in your financial matters. Also following your intuitive instincts in financial matters shall turn out to be quite prolific for you during this phase. Health keeps you in a strong position. Travel will be pleasant and memorable especially when done with your loved ones. There are possibilities of some legal tiff in the family. However, there are also chances when you might feel that your family is not giving you due respect and attention. New beginnings by the end of the month shall be emotionally good. Lucky Colour: Red

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a confluence of people!

hen more than ten million people from all walks of life go for a holy dip at the Triveni Sangamam it is an event of this century! Maha Kumbh, a physical phenomenon entwined with mythology from ancient times has become a rarest event. Information, data, news and events have become commodities which flood every household today. We wondered as to how it would be, if we could also dip-in with this swarming humanity and experience the event first hand. Soon - tickets, connectivity, and accommodation fell in place - from Chennai to Delhi to Lucknow via Kasi to Allahabad by air, rail, road, boat and the last few kilometers by foot. Spanning over 55days from 14th January to 10th March- 2013, Mahakumbh inspired millions from all over the world to take a spiritual journey to Allahabad , and be part this magnificent confluence of all our cultures. After spending a few hectic days in Kasi (Ganga aarti seen from a boat is one of the most exhilarating experience), we left by road to Allahabad . After a four hour drive on a bright sunny

day- with cool breeze from fading winter - we motored a four kilometer bridge over and along the silent and serpentine river and vast vistas of white crystalline sand banks, to reach the shores of the Triveni Sangamam Cottages, tents, temporary housing quarters, first aid camps, make shift hospitals, rest rooms and all forms of shelters were put-up, in a organized manner to take care of the millions. Melas, exhibitions, street plays, vegetable and fruit mandies, roadside eateries petty shops, sherbet and cool drink stalls, dhabas, and restaurants competed with each other to serve the thronging millions, who converged on the auspicious days.

Avoid comparing yourself with anyone. Remember that it is who we are, not what we do that is important

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The aerial view of this panoramic stage of the Sangamam below resembled a giant size honeycomb, with people looking like bees crossing the pontoons bridges and spread all over the silvery sands, moving towards the bathing ghats! Our local guide, Manoj, kept repeating-bap re bap ! myne yesa beed, jindagi mei kabi nahi dekha..(meaning God!I have not seen such a rush of people in my life!) At every turn of the street, Manoj had exciting narrations, of events that were amazing and shocking, with his arms out stretched and waving at the widely stretched sites. Rikshawallas charged `500 for a 5 Km ride and rich food with sweets and fruits, was served free of cost! We were amazed and thrilled to witness, people from all stratas of life, sharing this massive platform in thanking the divine.

Triveni had become the axis to the congregation of variety of human kind from the most revered Naga sadhus to the ever inquisitive foreign tourist, encompassing - sadhus, sanyasis, yogis, gnanis, pandits and the ordinary - from all over the world! The Naga sadhus who came down from the Himalayas were privileged to take the first dip in the Sangamam. For some one who is hardly clad, they walk as if they own the world!
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There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein.

All modes of transportation were cordoned off at 20 kilometers radius around Allahabad . Aamir, garib sab paidal hi jana padega my ne ye shaher yesa kabi nahi dekha ,ji! Meaning Rich or poor everyone walks here! Never seen this city like this. Battalions of army personnel, police and security forces, drawn from five neighboring states plunged into this mammoth event to make it safe for everyone. At any point of time men in uniform almost equaled the pilgrims. Not a single untoward incidence reported, around the ghats. Even the prying lens men were kept at a distance. The greatest boon from this Kumbh to aam admi (common man) is - no power cut!! As we were ferried few kilometers into the river another big surprise awaited! The clear demarcation of green color Ganges and the yellow color of the Yamuna in the confluence .There was a thick white band between the green and yellow .Perhaps the colloidal mineral deposits varied densities. It disappeared like a mirage as we rowed past. The gigantic Akbar Fort, overlooking the confluence, the reclining Hanuman in the
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. - John Wooden.

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temple below, the teeming crowd lost in religious fervor and the cool breeze blowing across the Triveni formed virtual images permanently etched in our minds. The sights and sounds in and around this holy confluence picked by grey cells were installed eternally within our hearts. The great sage-poet Sant Kabir has explained this sublime thought of Kumbh in his typical manner Kumbh is the confluence of all our cultures. It is the symbol of spiritual awakening. It is the eternal flow of humanity. It is the surge of rivers, forests and the ancient wisdom of the sages. It is the flow of life itself. It is the symbol of the confluence of nature and humanity. Kumbh is the source of all energy. Kumbh makes human kind realize this world and the other, sins and blessings, wisdom and ignorance, darkness and light. Holy rivers are the symbols of the lyrical flow of humanity. Rivers are indicators of the flow of water of life in the human body itself. In the human body that is an embodiment of home, nothing is possible without the five elements. The elements fire, wind, water, earth and sky symbolize the human body.. R.Nirmala Prabhu (Member No. 162)

Rajeshwer.S (s/o M.Sekaran,CEG 83 batch,M. no:1519) studying ECE, IInd Year in SSN ,won First Prize in Thinkquest 2012, international Digital Media Competition conducted by the Oracle Education Foundation for which he received an award and several prizes From their head quarters in San Francisco, California, in Oct,2012. He was also selected to be part of the IIT-M shaatra 2013 techfest for the hackfest event in which he worked on KDE platform. A keen participant and finalist in many competitions held at various technical fest like IIT-M shaastra, CEG-Kurukshetra.

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Happiness is like a butterfly, The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, It comes and sits softly on your shoulder. - Henry David Thoreau.

Stretching is an important part of any workout routine. It helps increase your flexibility and reduce your chances of injury. You can stretch anytime of the day though not immediately after eating food. Below are some common stretches for the upper and lower body. Perform each stretch at least once and hold each stretch for at least 10 seconds (more if you have time!). Each stretch should feel good. If you feel any pain, ease up and go slower. Instead of Swiss ball a chair could also be used for stretches.

The appearance of things change according to the emotions and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty really are in ourselves. - Kahlil Gibran

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Standing Quadriceps Stretch

Stand and hold onto a wall for balance if needed. Grab the top of the right foot and bend your knee, bringing the foot towards the buttocks, knee pointing straight at the floor. You should feel a stretch right down the front of your leg. You can squeeze your hips forward a little to feel it more in the hip flexors. Switch sides

Chest and Shoulders

Sit or stand and clasp your hands together behind your back, arms straight. Lift your hands towards the ceiling, going only as high as is comfortable. You should feel a stretch in your shoulders and chest.

Chest
Stand in a doorway and place your right forearm on the side of the doorway wall at chest level, elbow bent to 90 degrees. Slowly turn your body to the left. You should feel a nice stretch all through your chest. Switch sides

Upper Back
Clasp your hands together in front of you and round your back towards the floor, pressing your arms away from your body to feel a stretch in your upper back.

Biceps
Take your arms out to the sides, slightly behind you, with the thumbs up (as in The Fonz). Rotate your thumbs down and back until they are pointing to the back wall. You should feel a stretch in your biceps.

Side Stretch
Sitting or standing, clasp your hands straight up overhead, palms facing the ceiling. Gently lower to the right side until you feel a stretch down your left side. Switch sides and repeat.

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When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

Shoulders
Take right arm straight across your chest and curl the left hand around your elbow, gently pulling on the right arm to deepen the stretch in the shoulders. Switch sides.

Triceps
Bend the left elbow behind your head and use the right hand to gently pull the left elbow in further until you feel a stretch in your tricep. Switch sides and repeat..

Dying Man

A priest was preparing a man for his long journey into the night. Whispering firmly, the priest said, Denounce the devil! Let him know how little you think of his evil. The dying man said nothing. The priest repeated his order. Still the dying man said nothing. The priest asked, Why do you refuse to denounce the devil and his evil? The dying man said, Until I know where Im heading, I dont think I ought to aggravate anybody.

The first guy says, I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man? The second guy says, I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow. The last guy replies, I would like to hear them say... Look, Hes Moving!

below freezing to over 300 degree celsius. The Russians use a pencil.

Sick Cookie

Why did the cookie go to the doctor? Because He felt crummy.

Beautiful?

Pen in Space

Hes moving!

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $ 12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from

3 friends die in a car accident and they go to an orientation in heaven. They are all asked, When you are in your casket and friends and family are talking about you, what would you like them to say?

There was a lawyer and he was just waking up from anesthesia after surgery, and his wife was sitting by his side. His eyes fluttered open and he said, Youre beautiful! and then he fell asleep again. His wife had never heard him say that so she stayed by his side. A couple minutes later his eyes fluttered open and he said Youre cute! Well, the wife was dissapointed because instead of beautiful it was cute. She said What happened to beautiful? His reply was The drugs are wearing off!

If a man can control his mind he can find the way of Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. - Gautama Buddha

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macular degeneration, a major cause of loss of vision in older people. Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, which can help relax the blood vessels, and helps in lowering high blood pressure. Watermelon is a rich source of the B group vitamins which keep up our energy levels while keeping the calories down. Tips for selection and storing: The best and tastiest watermelons have deep reddish pink pulp. It is safer to buy whole, uncut watermelons which are heavy for their size. The rind should be relatively smooth, and neither too shiny nor dull. One side of the watermelon should have a patch distinctly paler from the rest of the rind, which is yellow or cream coloured. This is the spot that rests on the ground while the melon is ripening on the vine. If the fruit does not have this mark, it may have been harvested prematurely, and artificially ripened, and therefore insipid in taste and lower in nutrients. Research undertaken at the University of Innsbruck in Austria indicates that antioxidant levels increase in fruits as they ripen. Thus, overripe fruits would have a higher concentration of antioxidants. You can maximize the beta carotene and lycopene in watermelon by storing the fruit at room temperature. However, once the fruit is cut, it is best to store it in the refrigerator. The watermelon should be cut into as large pieces as possible, and then wrapped in cling film or stored in airtight containers to preserve the juicy freshness. Cut them, slice them, add them in fruit salads and sorbet or enjoy watermelon slices just as they are. Watermelons are a juicy way to pamper your taste buds and add zing to your life.

Watermelons are a deliciously soothing way to face the summer heat. Heavenly in slushes, milk shakes and fruit salads, watermelons are just as fun to eat in big chunks cut straight out of the fruit. Luscious, thirst quenching watermelons also pack a punch in health benefits. Watermelon is high in the richness of nutrients, and lower in calories than most other fruits. A dieters delight, a full cup of watermelon has only 48 calories while delivering more nutrients per calorie than many other fruits and vegetables. Watermelons are not just tasty; they are extremely healthy as well. They are rich with potassium, a nutrient that is known to help control blood pressure, regulate heart beat, and possibly even prevent strokes. Potassium may also reduce the occurrence of kidney stones and age related bone loss. Watermelons are a treasure trove of the most vital antioxidants found in nature. The disease fighting anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and beta-carotene, are found in abundance in watermelons. Researchers believe that antioxidants such as Vitamin C and beta carotene can help prevent heart disease, cancers and other chronic ailments. Pink watermelon is also rich in lycopene, the potent carotenoid antioxidant. These powerful antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body, which can cause great damage, creating conditions leading to heart attacks or strokes, enhance the severity of asthma attacks, and damage the lining of the colon, creating pre cancerous conditions. The vitamin C and beta carotene in watermelon can neutralize the bad effects of free radicals. Recent research indicates that lycopene, one of the carotenoids abundant in watermelon, can help reduce the risk of cancers of the prostate, breast, endometrial tissues, as well as lung and colon cancers. Antioxidants are also believed to ease the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and help preserve the health of your eyes. Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related

obituary With profound greif we inform you that Mr.T. Dhanapal our Erstwhile Senior Manager passed away on 27th April 2013. May his soul rest in peace