Maestro Illaiyaraja felicitates Kavignar Vaali

Hi,

I came across this video where the legendary isai gnaani Maestro Illaiyaraja talking about the legendary Kavignar Vaali. Both are my favourite celebrities : great music composer Illaiyaraja and great lyricist Vaali. In fact Illaiyaraja is a wonderful lyricist too and one example is the songs in the Bharathiraja's movie Naadodi Thendral. In this video, you can see Illaiyaraja's great Tamil knowledge and how he used the tamil words... so nice to hear.



Kumaran RN

My Favourite Motivational Songs (Tamil)

Hi,

The following are my favourite motivational songs.. when I listen to them anytime and in any mood, I will feel recharged. Once I am able to find the link to the MGR song Kann Pona Pokile (Film : Panam Padaithavan), I will include it in this list too. Enjoy listening.


1. NIRAINTHU VAAZHGA (Movie : Perumaikkuriyaval, Singers : P.Suseela and S.Janaki, Music : M.S.Visvanathan)



2. NAALAI NAMADHE (Singers : T.M.Soundrarajan and SP Balasubramaniam, Music : M.S.Visvanathan)




3. VAAZHUMATTUM (Film : Kali, Singer : S.P.Balasubramaniam, Music : Illayaraja)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1UpCwAE2M4


4. VETRI KODI KATTU (Film : Padaiyappa, Singer : Sriram, Music : AR Rahman)




5. VAAZHKAIYA YOSINGADA (Film : Chennai 600028, Music : Yuvanshankar Raja)



Best regards
Kumaran RN

National Day Rally 2009 : My Views

Hi,

Every year I watch the National Day Rally that comes the following week (Sunday) after the national day celebration (9 Aug). Last year I had one of my dreams fulfilled which is to attend at least one of the national day rallies. I was selected to attend and I was impressed with the rally and the speech.

This year I did not get the chance but I managed to catch the live telecast on TV. I tried the online webcast but due to heavy online traffic it took very long time to connect to the video streaming, but the website looked simple and informative with sections to air the views and also live blogging.

I am not that impressed with this year's rally and felt it was draggy. this maybe due to the fact that during the past some years, I have been used to seeing new policies and "goodies" announced which was not done this year. Expecting an election at the end of next year, I expected interesting give-aways, but, well.. i was disappointed.

Still the main topics touched were of relevance to the current Singapore situation. The economic is recovering, slowly but steadily. The health sector to be enhanced further to cater to the future growth of the elderly population. One point in the message was clear : keep fit and embrace a healthy lifestyle and that will help in a big way to keep the health cost low or rather at a manageable level.

The racial and religious matters portion was quite well handled. The racial and religious discriminations do exist although the government policies and constitutions clearly condemn such discriminations and meritocracy is promoted. I find the better racial and religious integration among the younger generation is much better than the older generation and especially those who are not exposed to the global village. Internet technology, increased travelling to countries and global-level interaction, and our cosmopolitan society have all contributed to this reduction in the discrimination. That is my observation.

I have experienced racial discriminations since young and also during my former jobs, but it has only made me stronger to strive better, to learn more about in-depth my race, traditions, culture and religion, and also other races, cultures and religions to see the differences and the links especially the common spaces. That knowledge which is still growing helps me to educate (in a pleasant and more civilised way of course)ignorant people when they behave in disciminatory way towards me (actions or words). There have been many instances where such education have made the other party learn and appreciate my culture and sometimes other cultures too. They also get to understand their own cultures better too.

Well.. the discussions are going on as usual among the various groups, but it will take at least another generation or two to have a better understanding.

As for now, I will carry on my learning process and civilised eduction to those discriminators who I may encounter.

These are just my thoughts and views.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

One People, One Nation, One Singapore.. are we there yet ?

Hi,

One People, One Nation, One Singapore.

Nice and motivating phrase. Whoever coined this phrase must have really thought through it. If only many of the people show this phrase in action, this nation will definitely be a developed nation with people of social graces and national pride where the hardware and the heartware work hand in hand to create an examplery country that is a role model to the world, especially those countries with enthnic, racial, social and political problems and conflicts.

Of course the government of Singapore has the important policies, laws, programmes and foundations in place to eradicate any social and ethnic problems that may lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. The setting up of the People's Accosiation (PA) and then the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) are brilliant ideas that are still working well reaching out to the grassroots as much as possible. The response is encouraging and sometimes even excellent especially among the younger generation where the "one people" gelling is very obvious. Kudos for that.

As we are progressing in this well although there still exists some bad apples among the mid and older generation people (especially the majority race) that creates unnecessary blocks within themselves about the minority races resulting in discriminations and unhappinesses even within grassroots organisations (I have experienced them personally), the one nation phrase is still lagging behind to a great extend.

I have noticed and witnessed the nationhood and national pride among many other other countries and it only makes me jealous of them. In India for example, I have seen many people, even the celebrities ending their speech in "Jai Hind" (victory for India) and when they say that, you can sense their national pride coming from the bottom of their hearts, and when someone says something bad about their country, they go to the extend of even bashing that person up, and when the national anthem plays anytime anywhere, they stand up with pride and salute their nation. In Bangkok (Thailand) when I was there this year in Feb (2009), such an incident happened. At about 6.20pm (Thailand time) at the busy streets (opposite the Arnoma Hotel), out of nowhere, the national anthem sounded and the whole street stood up still giving respect to the national anthem. My wife and I also stood still. At the end of the song when my wife and I continued our walk, some of the Thais thanked us for respecting their national anthem.

Will that happen in Singapore ? I wonder. Just try playing the song in Orchard road or Shenton Way, or even in a busy neighbourhood during a peak hour and how many will stand still giving respect to the national song ? There maybe a handful, but the rest will just carry on their usual activities ignoring the national anthem. During a couple of grassroots events (both were national day-related events), at the end of my announcements, I uttered "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) and what I got ? Many stares making me feel weird. I hoped for a repetition of the phrase, but nobody bothered, even the MP. In fact how many MPs actually utter that phrase publicily in the events ? Even those serving the their nation as soldiers (NSFs and reservists) may not stand up for their national anthem in the public (unless it is in their army camp).

Why is this ?

I wonder again.... money, material wealth and many other personal reasons (grudges with the government policies, MPs, laws, etc) that maybe the causes I think. Nowadays, many notices made to be put up to encourage the people to display the national flags outside their homes. The number of displays are still pathetic if one goes around to observe. If there are any blocks of flats that have complete display of flags, this will only mean that their RC (Resident Committees) have decorated those blocks of flats for the best decorated flat or estate competition.

I like to display the flag, but I myself do not. Why ? The main reason being that they are selling the flags for money which I am not in favour of. The national flag is priceless and so how can a price be put for a flag and sold (even in NTUC, CCs and RCs) ? I find it as a lack of respect for the national flag. So, I refuse to display the flag. That does not mean I have no national pride. I am proud to be a Singaporean, my motherland. There maybe some personal grudges, but still I am proud of the government, many of its policies and some of the leaders, especially the founders.

I hope this evolves through better government policy implementations and reaching out to the grassroots and the leaders themselves feeling proud to utter "Majulah Singapura" (not only on national day but all days). The leaders and even the government officials and teachers showing their national pride in action and be examplery citizens for the rest to look upon and follow. This strengthening should overflow to the new citizens up to the point that they must start to learn and utter the national anthem and pledge and start to blend in with the Singapore's nationhood culture. Like they they "if you are in rome, do as what the romans do".. so if you are in Singapore, do as what the Singaporean do. Show your national pride in action even if you win a medal for the country (especially the foreign talents with citenzenships).

I am waiting for that day. A day when the "One People, One Nation, One Singapore" becomes a reality in Singapore not only in words but in action.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, The Legend, The One and Only

Hi,

The demise of the legend, the one and only, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson shocked me like all his fans around the world. His songs, dance, music videos, looks.. he is simply the best. A complete music entertainer. I still think that his music videos are the best and evergreen. I normally do not watch or buy any music videos, except for Michael Jackson's. His Thriller, Beat It, Billi Jean, Dirty Diana, Bad, Smooth Criminal, Dangerous, Man In The Mirror, Will You Be there and many many more...he is the best. His moonwalk, breakdance.. wow.. simply awesome. I got a chance to watch his History advertisement in TV 14 years ago where he will lead a contingent of soldiers and the helicopters will remove the veil of his statue (I think it was shot in Belgium or Austria).. that was really awesome.

Michael Jackson is a great loss to the world and music entertainment.

Here are some of his music videos (from YouTube)....















For more.. do visit the youtube the music stores near you.

Peace.

Best regards.
Kumaran RN

Toungue Twister

Hi,

I like tongue twisters and here are some of them for you to enjoy too :-

1.If you understand, say "understand". If you don't understand, Say "don't understand". But if you understand and say "don't Understand". How do I understand that you understand? Understand!

2.I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the Wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.

3.Sounding by sound is a sound method of sounding sounds.

4.A sailor went to sea to see, what he could see. And all he could see was sea, sea, sea.

5.Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People

6.If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?

7.I thought a thought.But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been The thought I thought, I wouldn't have thought so much.

8.Once a fellow met a fellow In a field of beans. Said a fellow to a fellow, "If a fellow asks a fellow, Can a fellow tell a fellow What a fellow means?"

9.Mr Inside went over to see Mr Outside. Mr Inside stood outside and Called to Mr Outside inside. Mr Outside answered Mr Inside from Inside and Told Mr Inside to come inside. Mr Inside said "NO", And told Mr Outside to come outside. MrOutside and Mr Inside argued From inside and outside about going outside or coming inside. Finally,
Mr Outside coaxed Mr Inside to come inside, then both Mr Outside and Mr Inside went outside to the riverside.

10.SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS ON THE SEA SHORE , BUT THE SEA SHELLS THAT SHE SELLS, ON THE SEA SHORE ARE NOT THE REAL ONES.

11.The owner of the inside inn was inside his inside inn with his inside outside his inside inn.

12.If one doctor doctors another doctor does the doctor who doctors the Doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does the doctor doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors? "When a doctor falls ill another doctor doctor's the doctor. Does the Doctor doctoring the doctor doctor the doctor in his own way or does The doctor doctoring the doctor doctors the doctor in the doctor's way"

13.We surely shall see the sun shine shortly. Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the Weather be hot, We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we Like it or not. Watch? Whether the weather is hot. Whether the weather is Cold. Whether the weather is either or not. It is whether we like it or not.

14.Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely.

15.A flea and a fly in a flue Said the fly "Oh what should we do" Said the Flea" Let us fly Said the fly "Let us flee" So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

16.If you tell Tom to tell a tongue-twister his tongue will be twisted as Tongue-twister twists tongues.

17.Mr.See owned a saw.And Mr.Soar owned a seesaw. Now See's saw sawed Soar's Seesaw Before Soar saw See, Which made Soar sore. Had Soar seen See's saw Before See sawed Soar's seesaw, See's saw would not have sawed Soar's Seesaw. So See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw. But it was sad to see Soar so sore Just because See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

Mantra to Improve and Fix the Finances

Hi,

I learnt this mantra during my visit for a session last month. It is quite a powerful mantra when meditated upon with discipline. I am slowly getting to see miracles happening around me and my financial situations improving.

Do take note that god will only help those who help themselves. Just by siting and doing nothing will not fix your financial challenges. One has to work on them and try to find the means and ways to get them fixed. Such mantras, especially this, and meditations help one to work and search smoother. It follows the universal principle of Law of Attraction. When working on this meditation and uttering of the mantra, do take note that consuming vegetarian diet as far as possible and having good and positive thoughts, and belief (on this mantra) goes a long way.

So, if you are interested, do practice this mantra and see the changes happening for yourself :-



This mantra is by Dattatreya Sivavababa. He is a siththar sage. For more information on him including his previous births and his other sayings, do feel free to visit his website : http://www.sivababa.org/

Best regards.
Kumaran RN