Saint Thiagaraja Aarathana at Temple of Fine Arts(JB) - February 2008

Snap shots taken during Saint Thiagaraja's rememberance day special prayer function held on a Sunday at Temple of Fine Arts(JB)in February 2008. Almost 200 people attended. Mostly students and parents graced this event. Saint Thiagaraja is one of the trinity Saints of Carnatic music. Each year, special prayer function is held to pay tribute and extend love offerings in the form of prayers, music piece and classical dance deliveries by teachers and students of Temple Of Fine Arts.

Melaka trip ( January 08 )

I had basicaly prepared this writting sometime ealier but kept aside to post on a specified date. However, I leisurely forgotten about this piece almost altogether until I viewed my archive files. I will narrate my story of his trip in next coming posting. These pictures are taken during Chinese New Year hodidays in Melaka.

Exam fever..!!!!

No matter how experienced and old one can be, the jitters when sitting for ``exams''( of any kind) are always there to be faced. Yesterday, 28th March 2008, was another jittery day for me!! At last I faced with reduced jitters when sat and performed my veena basic level 1 exam in front of my teacher and examiners, Mrs Vimala and Mrs Banu of TFA. Total of 15 veena students of Ms Yogeswari (Temple of Fine Arts) sat for their level 1 examination (practical) who went through quite tense moments, but all came out with very good performance. Yoges, teacher was very pleased, proud of her students performance and achievements.

When I reached TFA(JB), after work, Tanusha, and her 2 friends already faced the examiners and seems happy to be out(completed) and started to guide and ``tipping'' the rest of us what to expect!! I could see, the rest of the students on a frantic mode of practice and last minute rehearsing ``alagaram'' set on second speed taala. Yoges teacher came out from the exam room and asked us to keep practicing and wait for our turn. Few students parents were there too, looked as jittery as their kids(smile).

Parames came in and sounded a little worried about her second kaala (speed) alangarams. In between while performing in a selection of any of the ``sarilivarisai's'' lessons, ``taatu varisai'',``jandai varisai'', `hetchusta stayai varisai'' and ``alangarams'', examiners will ask basic questions on aspects of speed , taala, kaala, aksharaas, simple questions on father of carnatic music, veena, and etc.

Teacher's effort in ensuring her students performs to their best was eventually fulfilled. Her dedication in ensuring our basic veena foundation are `strong' had paid off and the result - all her students passed the exam! My heart moved when heard her saying that she was proud of us and how proud she is being our teacher! (after the exam). We are indeed proud of her and our foremost gratitude. THANK YOU TEACHER..

Next..musical journey continues....begins ``Geetham.''(second level)....

HH Bodhinatha Veylanswami in Malaysia !

These are series of photos captured during HH Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami's recent visit(16th March) to Malaysia to conduct What is Hinduism? Part 2 at Kalamandapam, Kandaswamy Murugan Temple, Scott Road, Kuala Lumpur. A capacity crowd of about 450 participants attended this seminar. This seminar was part of continuation from last year's intial segment of revealing insights on Hinduism in comtemporary context, practices, deeper hindsights on whats' and whys' of Hinduism in the modern world.

HH Satgru Bodhinatha Veylanswami and His team of monastic orders in Kauai, Hawaii had packaged an overall summary of ``What is Hindusim?'' as a guide to every Hindu family irespective of their denomination. This book explains in detail on every aspect of Hinduism that will render the readers to get a total clear picture Hinduism in nutshell. Get a copy of this book now! A must for all Hindus! A gem, this books explicit explainations and myriad of color pictorials splashed almost in every pages. This books sets as benchmark and good authoritative reference source for laymen as well as intellectuals who wanted to know the many questions found unanswered or unclear elswhere. An interesting, revealing, easy to understand and lastly the book that will surely make you feel how proud that you are a Hindu!!

Back to seminar! We had a wonderful seminar and also busy helping out Iraivan floor-stone fund raising. Gowri ``akka', Dr Maruthu, Mogan, Girish, Kulapathi Thanabalan, Kulamatha Agila and Vennila were on toe signing up Iraivan's floor-stone sponsors. Arvind and his team were on the second floor managing and organizng event proper. As usual Kulamatha Amutha and Kulapathi Silvaraj are incharge of books sale. All other Kulapathis and Kulamathas are busy giving an helping hand at various ``spots' and counters. Church members children too had their share of workloads, gaining valuable experience together with their elders.

Kindly go to www.gurudeva.org to view for more infomation and also you could view more of seminar pictures that were posted in TAKA on 26th March (go to archive page)

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Back after couple of busy days!

Wow! I couldn't even get to sit down and scribble my thoughts these few days as there are increased workload to be cleared off. As usual, new customer handling, verification of suppliers and subcontractors, customer audits as well as related auditing activities are high on agenda to be completed. Introducing process changes, reorganise teams members to be more lean(streamline), getting ideas across, presenting quality status, setting new goals and targets are main focus area.

Managing people in an organization, albeit a small, do have its own challenges. How to put across ideas that will benefit both, the company (shareholders) and the people(workers) need delicate mental discrimination before embark on the ground floor. People who have worked long enough in an organization are always the least susceptible for changes. Any drastic changes in policy or basic organization structure will send a `panic' signal to their external brain mind. This will translated into subtle ``resistance'' towards any attempt to implement changes.

Training is a part of many solutions to ``break'' the mental barrier. Company management can play a crucial role in enhancing these workers skill and resourcefulness after recognizing the ``old timers'' contribution in their stable by providing appropriate training programs. It's a fact that most of the older staffs in an organization do have basic skills and vast experience in their `tool box'', but they still have to move forward with current trends, technologies , new discoveries in manufacturing fields , uptrend modern management tools as well as suiting their capabilities to be varied and diverse.

Workers too should have a positive mind open to changes, motivate self to face new challenges that demands right attitude and receptive mind frame.The passion to learn and keep learning as way of life will lead them for more rewarding and stir their intellect to be innovative and creative. Creative and innovation sees no age, gender, race or color. The right ingredients are only the quest to know more, the hunger to self perpetuate, the keep doing better and better, never say die attitude, diligence, doing the extra mile, giving 100% in our ability to do the best, honesty, and treating everyone equal.

Great days ahead....

Reminder - Shweta's Barathanatyam performance - 9/03/08

A gentle reminder !

Don't forget to attend Shweta Baskaran's Barathanatyam performanace on 9th March 2008 (Sunday), at the Jotic Auditorium, JB at 7.30pm. Please read my earlier postings. She is a wonderful and passionate dancer that could touch your heart and pull your mind to joyously blend in her graceful steps, beautiful facial expressions and captivating dance style!

Since it's on Sunday, come and enjoy with your family and watch how a local talent, product of TFA, mesmerises you to an unforgettable barathanatyam dance pieces.

Those interested can call TFA at 07-2227400 (Velasini/Julie) for further info.