My wife Prabha and I had visited Shirdi Sai Baba`s temple in 2002 as a part of our visit to many temples in India. At that time I was not an ardent devotee of Sai Baba. My favourite deities have been Balaji and Ganesha over the years. Baba has entered my life only in the last four years. My interest in Baba was kindled by a series of articles on Baba`s miracles I had read in Ananda Vikatan, a popular Tamil weekly, a few years ago. Suddenly I started seeing Baba`s images every where and his name being talked about by many people. One day when I was having a conversation with my family in my drawing room on Baba, my grandson who was two years old then pointed out at the small marble statue of Baba sitting on the corner display table along with other figures. I felt that Baba was giving me a message and promptly shifted the idol to my Pooja Room. I decided to visit Shirdi with a friend and had made all travel arrangements. We were to leave for Shirdi on 24th March,2020. But the announcement of Lockdown starting from 26th March made us cancel our trip. I was disappointed.
A place to share my views on this and that; then and now and my professional and personal life
Saturday, April 26, 2025
My tryst with Shirdi Sai Baba
Importance of feedback for creative people
I was walking towards the neighbourhood shop. As I was passing by the Mahalakshmi temple near the entrance gate in our community, a young lady stopped me and asked me,” Are you Mr.Rajan, the writer of articles I read in the N & N WA groups?”. When I confirmed that her guess was right, she told me that her parents, who are no more, used to live in Phase 4 and that she was visiting to meet some people. Since she continues to be on the contact list of N & N groups as the owner of the apartment where her parents lived, she sees all communication sent through WA. She told me she thoroughly enjoyed reading my stories and recognized me from a photograph she saw in one of my postings. My day was made!"
I used to have
similar experiences during my morning walks at Elliots Beach Road in Chennai, when my fortnightly column, `Rajan`s Random Reflections,` was published for five years in Adyar Times before the pandemic.
This is not to
boast of my greatness as a writer. But to emphasize the point that for any
creative person, feedback is very crucial. It motivates them to continue their
creative journey. Whether he /she is a writer, singer, dancer, or in any other
creative activity, getting an unsolicited positive response in any form makes
the person happy. Unlike in the past, social media allows people to share their
creative efforts instantly with large groups and the response is also
instantaneous.
I started my
writing career only after retirement. The success of my autobiography `Courage
My Companion` published in 2009 and encouraged by my mentor, Mr. S. Muthiah of
Madras Musings fame, I started writing on a variety of topics. Posted
them on my blog, which my daughter created for me, shared them with my
friends on Facebook and WhatsApp, and mailed them to selected contacts
through email. While I write on a variety of topics, I also enjoy writing
interview-based human interest stories of inspiring personalities. Many of my
articles have been published by both local and national media.
After posting them,
I eagerly wait for responses from my readers like any writer does. More than
the `likes` or `emojis` I get, which are important, it is the comments that I
value most. Some readers respond to every post I send. Though many read they
don`t respond every time. I get thrilled when once in a while I see a response
from a friend who normally does not respond. Some beg to differ with my views
or have some more input on the topic of my posting. As a person who has been in
the creative business- 45 years in the advertising business and as a writer
/author for the last 16 years, I can take both bouquets and brickbats. Though
criticism hurts, I believe in using it to improve my writing. It is
important for creative people to accept constructive criticism.
So friends, it will
be great to see your responses to my articles once in a while, which
will keep me going as a writer.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Using ventilators - a doctor`s advice
I came across a very interesting post on the practical aspects of using ventilator support. The article is by Dr.J Bhaskaran, my good friend, a well-known doctor in Chennai, known for his pragmatic approach in treating his patients. His original posting in Tamil had a case study described in detail at the end of which the Doctor gives practical tips to the family members. I am reproducing below my understanding of the doctor`s message for the benefit of my readers
Ventilator
support involves providing oxygen support to the Lungs making it function
artificially. This enables the oxygen to be sent to all parts of the body
through blood circulation. It is a form of life-saving device. For those
diseases where normal breathing is likely to return, it is important to
administer this procedure for such patients. Because the ventilators are
performing the role of the lungs, the patient will continue to breathe and will
become alright in due course. The ventilator support can be withdrawn in a few
weeks in such cases. It is called the `Acute crisis`. This must be done in
cases involving patients who still have an active life ahead.
However, in the
case of super seniors who are past 80 and whose active life is behind
them, it is important for doctors to advise the family of such patients about
the pros and cons of the use of ventilators before deciding to administer the
procedure.
There is another procedure
called `tracheostomy`. It is a surgical
procedure creating an opening (stoma) in the trachea (windpipe) in the neck to
allow for breathing through a tube. This procedure is often necessary when
someone cannot breathe normally, usually due to a blockage or other airway issue. Even for this procedure, permission
must be sought from the family by the doctors. Since the family wants to keep
their dear one alive, they leave it to the doctor to decide. Invariably
resulting in the prolonged stay of the patient in the ICU, with mounting hospital
bills, adding tremendous stress to the caring family members without any idea
about when the ordeal would end.
In cases where a
senior citizen has a stroke resulting in oozing of blood in the brain, or any
other terminally ill situations, and chances of such patients recovering to
lead a normal life is very remote it is advisable to provide `Conservative
management` instead of making the patient suffer the ordeal of ventilator
support. It would be better for the family to take the patient home and treat
them with prescribed medicines with full-time attendants, if necessary. The
family should not hesitate to make this decision to allow their dear ones to
exit from this world peacefully.
To enable the
family to decide without feeling guilty, all senior citizens should
prepare a living will, which allows the family to make the right decision
when it becomes necessary. As I have done. I have registered a living will,
notarized by a notary public, in which I have made it clear to my children that they
should not agree to put me under a ventilator or any other life support system.
I have also indicated that they should not agree to an open heart surgery or
even dialysis. If my time has come, they should
allow me to exit this world with dignity.
It
is time that seniors and their families understand the importance of a living
will.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
The pleasure of having grandchildren
Grandparenthood is the greatest promotion one can get in life. There cannot be a bigger gift than getting a grandson or a granddaughter. I had the privilege of becoming a grandfather at 54 when my grandson Arul was born. I remember the day vividly. I was busy in the office in discussion with my Secretary, when I got a call informing me of the arrival of a baby boy - my first grandchild through my eldest daughter Kavitha & RU. I jumped with joy shouting `I have become a Thatha!` Arul arrived in this world seven weeks before my silver wedding anniversary. I had a grand function planned at the Savera Hotel. The invitation went in the name of Arul which carried a line at the end `No gifts please. My grandparents say I am the best gift they got for their Silver Wedding Anniversary.`
Since that day 29 years ago I have been blessed
with five more grandchildren. Three grandsons and three granddaughters. Arul (
29), Uthara(24), Nila(23), Keshav(22), and the two late arrivals – my resident
grandchildren - 7 years old Thavam and 4 years old baby doll Bakthi. The
lovely kids of my son are keeping me entertained and spreading joy around
whenever I visit Chennai from Coimbatore. However, I must confess
that at 82, I don't have the energy that I had 23 years ago to
indulge them physically.
I am also no good at telling stories to my
grandchildren as I find my memory has become rusty that I don`t remember all
the details of our mythological classics like Ramayana or Mahabharata. When I
attempt to narrate some stories from one of these epics, my grandson Thavam
interrupts and says “You are wrong thatha… this is what happened…” and he goes
on to complete the correct story which he has heard from his maternal
grandmother, making me feel embarrassed. Some days I attempt to take the easy
way out by reading stories from books. I find even that effort difficult as I
feel exhausted by the time I read a story for 10 to 15 minutes. These days I
have found another method to keep them engaged, We have a family group called
`T & B` group in which I keep forwarding videos that will appeal to the
kids. Whenever I am in Chennai and have time to spend time with the kids I show
the videos to the kids. They keep watching them until they get bored and run
away.
It was always good fun when all my children and
grandchildren used to visit my home for a family get-together. But these days
with the senior grandchildren away from their homes, pursuing careers of their
choice it has become difficult to have such get-togethers. The last time we had
such a get-together was on my 80th Birthday. Even at that
function one grandson was missing.
I am proud to say that the four senior
grandkids, all talented in fields of their choice, have grown into
mature kids with their heads on their shoulders- I am sure the latest arrivals
also will follow suit judging by the way my son Balaji and daughter in law
Tulse are bringing them up. Please join me in blessing all my
grandchildren with a bright future.