Giri Stores- A retail chain with a difference

Mylapore is home to many iconic shops. One of them near the main entrance to the Kapaleeshwarar temple is the Giri Trading Agency , popularly known as Giri Stores- a  `One stop shop for all religious products`. Interestingly, Giri stores has its origin not in Chennai but  in Matunga, known in the olden  days as the `Little Madras` of Mumbai, where `Mamis in madisar ( 9 yards)sarees and Mamas  in their veshties were  a common sight. One such `Tam Brahm` from Tirupunithura in Kerala, V K Swarna Gireeshwaran  alias Giri,  an employee of a company , decided to quit a  well paying job in 1951 to start a  shop on a `Bakda` ( push cart) near Matunga Central station, selling religious books. As a spokesman for the Giri family, T.S.Ranganathan, the youngest son of Giri, whom I interviewed for this article told me, `There is a story behind, why my father  chose to sell religious books.  Early in his life he was invited to an  Upanayanam ( Sacred Thread) Ceremony of a friend`s son. He  wanted to present the boy with a book on `Sandhyavandanam`( a brahmin ritual). He could not find a copy  anywhere in Mumbai.. The non availability of such religious books in Mumbai , gave him an idea to  start a business of selling religious books`.

 Within a couple of years  the shop moved from push cart to a small 200 sq ft space opposite  the Matunga Post office near an Irani Restaurant. In the year 1990 when the owner of the restaurant decided to close shop he sold the 500 sq.ft space to Giri. Subsequently, Giri Trading  agency, was also selling puja items, curios, handicrafts, temple jewellery, CDs of religious songs besides  religious, spiritual and self help books in a number of languages.

Right from the beginning Giri had decided to take the help of his family in running the shop. Not only his wife Lakshmi  who was a pillar of strength, but his growing children were also encouraged to help out  during their spare times.. This exposure would ensure that all his nine  children were totally committed to their father`s dream of taking the  Sanathana Dharma idea forward.

Giri knew the real big market was in Chennai. So, in 1971, even while running the shop in Mumbai, he decided to open a Giri Stores,  occupying 300 sq ft  space  on the ground floor of a building  close to Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore, where even today the shop is located. A few years after the start of the Chennai shop,  Giri  moved his family  consisting of his wife and the  younger children  to Chennai leaving behind his elder children  to look after the Mumbai shop.

Giri was a great believer in Ayyappa ( one of his sons was called Ayyappan)and never failed to make a trip to Sabarimala every year. He decided to sell items required by pilgrims visiting Sabarimala like the black dhoti and other related ritual  items. Simultaneously, the shop also began stocking items required for various other South Indian festivals, besides a whole range of traditional gift items,  curios , handicrafts, temple jewellery and dance  jewellery . Today, the shop inventory covers 1,50,000 products .

 In 1986 the group had  established an  audio recording studio to produce religious and Bhakthi music, in house. Ayappan  was in charge of the unit . Ranganathan says, “I used to sing  inside Kapaleeshwar temple and sell cassettes. Then, I sang on All India Radio.  My family thought it was a good idea for me to record for our own  business. My  first recording, a Shiva Stuti was released on Shivratri day.  From then till now we must have sold about 50,000 copies”.

The shop was by now  on a fast growth track. Luckily another  2500 square feet in the same building  was available in 1991 which the shop acquired . A  small  shop had transformed into a big `organized religious  retail store`, paving the way for many more such stores in India. Today, the Giri stores  has six branches in Mumbai,  seven in Chennai besides Kancheepuram, Madurai, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Bangalore and Delhi. There is a dealer representing the group in Australia and an office in Texas U.S.A .There are over 400 employees working in these  units . It  also has a big warehouse  occupying 15000 sq.ft area in Mangadu on the outskirts of Chennai.

As a step towards backward integration, the group  started a publication division with a printing press attached ; to produce  number of religious books in different  languages, again in house.  While Meenakshi, one of the sisters  based in Chennai looks after the printing aspect,  Raman, elder to Ranganathan  takes care of the entire publishing business.  In 1990, the shop had already started bringing out  a monthly religious magazine in Tamil called `Kamakoti` with the blessings of Kanchi  Paramacharya, which is continuing to be published . 

Giri passed away in 1998 followed by his elder son Ayyappan in 1999. Ayyappan   was a driving force and considered a man of ideas in the family. Though the double loss did affect the group, the surviving children of  Giri, who were already  involved in the business took charge and decided to take the legacy of the father forward..

In  2000 the company converted itself into a private limited company, known as Giri Trading Agency P.Ltd., with all the siblings owning shares  and each in charge of specific area of activity. Mrs Sharada Prakash the eldest daughter of Giri is now  the Managing Director of the company.

One of the very popular items marketed by the group is the `KOLUPADI`- traditionally referred to the specially assembled  racks looking like  steps on which idols of variety of gods and goddesses are displayed during Navarathri festival  in Tamil Nadu. Kasi Viswanathan, the only non graduate in  the family but who is an engineer by instinct, designed  a multipurpose  rack system  made of plastic which can be assembled  as Kolupadis or as office storage racks. This is a very popular item which accounts for almost 5% of the total sales of the shop.

 Ranganathan says, “Earlier we were known for selling only  religious stotra books and now we are a brand—Giri—identified with Indian culture and tradition.”

How is the company facing the impact of technology on  both their  publishing and audio /video business. Ranganathan,  who has a flair for technology,  has an answer` Yes, when the digital technology came in, our remunerative  audio cassette business collapsed  and  we were in trouble. We took an early decision to go digital with our audio business with a  number of initiatives.  One of them is the  concept of aggregating music and offering the same to the customers through an APP. This  allows them to down load any song of their choice classified under a singer, music director,  raga or even thalam . Special Kiosks have been established in all the Giri shops where the customers can do this and get the collection transferred to  their thumb drives, for a fee. We have aggregated over 5,00,000 songs in our portfolio covering, religious, carnatic and even film music.  As a content aggregator we are also available on other platforms like Youtube, I Tunes, Saavn, Spotify etc. besides providing the `ringtone` facility. Though our products are available through online sites like Amazon, Flip Kart or Big Basket, they account for only 5% of our sales. Our major business continues to be at our retail stores.  Though  there are Web portals trying to sell similar religious products,  the Giri brand has a lot of credibility in the market”.

The company started using Computerised billing from as early as 2000 and a few years ago they have also introduced `bar coding` of their products for better inventory control.

Srinivasan, another sibling is in charge of the sales of the entire group. Every year he takes a group of  staff selected on merit to a trip abroad  to participate in a  festival at the Kamakshi Temple in HUM, Germany. In this temple he was instrumental  in installing  a 15 ft high statue of Lord Krishna. The company also has regular training programmes for not only the staff at all levels but also the family members attending  special programmes to keep pace with the latest developments.

The group  runs a family trust called `Lakshmi Giri Trust`encouraging first time singers in classical and devotional music and dance. The Trust also supports a few Veda Patashalas in the city.

Very recently the company has acquired  the rear portion of the building where the shop is currently  located  in Mylapore- increasing the floor space from 6000 sq ft to 11,000 sq ft.  A big leap forward! Giri Stores has now  entrance to the shop from both  the Kapaleeshwarar temple side and from North Mada Street.   

Though it has taken over six decades for Giri stores to reach the enviable  position it has reached today, the Giri family is confident that the long process has only helped to lay a solid foundation for the business because, `We are not here to just make money. But the whole family believes in carrying the message of Sanathana Dharma to  people. We also  believe in giving a contemporary outlook to our culture and tradition. I am sure that this steadfast belief will help us to  take  the company to greater heights  in the years to come.`

While many multinational retail groups are biting the dust  in India, it is good to see a local, religious retail chain  doing well .

This article has appeared in the 1-15^th February,2019 issue of Madras Musings

Charukesi- A prolific bilingual writer is no more

A dear friend is no more.  A person who re--opened a whole new world of Tamil literary world to me, post my retirement ,  has left this world. Creating a  big void in not only in my life but in the world of Literature.   The dreaded crab disease  snatched  away  S.Viswanathan (Charukesi) from us  this morning ( 30th january,2019) leaving behind a legion of his readers, friends and admirers mourning.

Though I had known about Charukesi for more than three decades as a popular writer and columnist,  I got to know him closely only in the last decade. It was he who introduced me to Ravi Tamilvanan of Manimekali Prasuram  on a book project which brought the three of us closer. It was at the launch meeting of the book titled `Alamaram` by Mrs Vijayalakshmi Sunderrajan at Tag Centre that the idea for the Tamizh Puthaga Nanbargal(TPN) was conceived by another great friend and philanthropist R.T Chari.  The four of us formed the core  group with Charukesi taking on the major responsibility of identifying  an author, his book and a reviewer for the monthly meetings held on the last Tuesday of every month at the Tag Centre for the last five years.  We had our 52^nd meeting yesterday where Charukesi`s absence was felt deeply by members present.

Charukesi who had turned 80 last year was a multi dimensional writer  who had completed 62 years in writing .  He had  his first article published in the then popular children`s magazine `Kannan` in their issue dated  15^th April,1955, when he was just 17 years old .  He later regularly contributed articles to Kalkandu, a popular weekly among the youth.

A writer who was known for his humorous essays in Tamil, Charukesi got his first short story published in `Kalki` weekly in March, 1960. Kalki, particularly its editor K.Rajendran encouraged Charukesi to write on a variety of subjects covering medicine, literature, painting, politics, theatre, administration, industry, etc.   Looking at his penchant for humour Rajendran also encouraged him to write political satires. While contributing articles for Kalki, he continued to write short stories which were published by Ananda Vikatan, Kalki, Dinamani Kadir, Amudhasurabi, Kalaimagal, and Kumudham .

 During his stint in Pfizer, a company where he worked for 37years, he  had contributed a few articles in English for the company’s house magazine ‘Crucible’ which were well  appreciated. That gave him the confidence to write in English.  Encouraged by the popular English dailies he began to be noticed as a writer in English even while  he was continuing to write stories and essays in Tamil. 

Charukesi`s reputation as an excellent translator of books started with an  assignment to translate Sudha Murty`s three books from English to Tamil.  Since then he has translated books of many others from English to Tamil & vice versa.  The last book he translated was the autobiography ( 1^st part) of Bharat Ratna Pranab Mukerjee, the illustrious Past President of India.

Charukesi`s  published books include -Three  collections of short stories for children  – `Kakitha Padagu, Natpu Valarga and Oru Kilai Paravaigal.    Two collections of humorous short stories – Thummalukku Kai Koduppom -Irumalukku Kural Koduppom & Oru Nayamaana Kadhal; a serious short story collection titled ‘Nagai’. His recent book of collection of articles in different Deepavali Malars and other special issues  was titled Mammootty Mudhal  Manmohan Singh Varai . His  book on Kanchi Mahaswami based on actual experiences by his devotees is  in  its sixth edition.  His travelogue ‘Cheena Anubhavangal’ was serialized in Kalki and then was brought out as a book.

Apart from the prizes he won for his stories in Kalki, Kumudam and Kanaiazhi he highly valued  the ` Best Translator Award` he got from Kalaimagal magazine- instituted by Ka Sri Sri family. Ka Sri Sri himself was an outstanding translator who had translated into Tamil all the works of the famous Marathi writer V.S.Khandekar.  

 Charukesi was the second son in a  big  family. After his schooling in Salem he got a D.Com from the Indian Merchants Chamber. He joined Pfizer Ltd, the multinational pharmaceutical company as a general assistant in 1960 in Chennai and retired as the Officer-in- charge of the Chennai Depot of the same company in 1998. All through his working career he continued to write as a hobby. He became a full time writer after his retirement.  A prolific writer he continued to pound away on his PC, both in English & Tamil, for at least 4 to 6 hours every day churning out interesting articles/stories until a few months ago when the dreaded  disease attacked him.

He was contributing  a weekly column in Dinamani, apart from writing for Hindu, Kalki, Mangayar Malar, Amudhasurabi and Madras Musings.  He was also well known as a music and dance critic. An active committee member of the Natyarangam of Narada Gana Sabha for several years he was also elected to the executive committee of the Narada Gana Sabha.

Charukesi`s looks were  deceptive.  A humble and a serious man in person his sense of humour in his writings was palpable. He also packed  a lot of energy in his thin, lean frame. A prolific writer, he has written over 8000 articles and a couple of hundred short stories in the last six decades.

Charukesi was  a gentleman to the core who was humility personified.  A loveable human being, he endeared himself to anyone he came in contact with. A bachelor all his life he was a great support not only to his siblings but also extended his helping hand to anyone in  need.

I was one of the beneficiaries of his generosity. He translated my  autobiography `Courage My Companion` into Tamil. He took me to all the literary meetings which he attended. Since I used  to pick him up in my car and drop him back home, he would jovially remark that he was getting Rajan`s `Car Seva`. We  had become inseparable twins at literary meetings. I am going to miss him a lot.

May his soul rest in peace!

( Edited version of this article has appeared in the Times of India ( Chennai) issue dated 31^st January,2019)

The slippery flooring

  Can you guess what is causing considerable anxiety among senior citizens when they are walking inside Airports, Malls, lobbies of star hotels or hospitals and even some recently renovated railway stations? It is  the shiny  granite flooring which I consider as one of the most senior citizen unfriendly thing to have happened in recent years. No doubt they look very attractive. But I find them very slippery and dangerous. I always feel unsure of my grip on the floor whenever I am walking on them. Even if I am taking careful short steps, I am not confident.

A few years ago, the Corporation of Chennai decided to beautify the Bessy, as the beautiful Elliots beach area in Besant Nagar in Chennai is known, with non glossy granite on the walking path adjacent to the parapet wall running across the beach front. Walking on this path I slipped & fell down a couple of times, fortunately without any collateral damage to my body. I was lucky. I have seen many others also falling, especially when the foot path is covered with sand carried by the winds blowing from the sea to the land or after rains. I feel  more comfortable walking on the main cemented road, like hundreds of morning walkers do every morning.

If you are a senior citizen and are travelling by flights, very often, you will find that you have to walk long distances from the entrance of the airport to the departure lounge inside the airport or from the aircraft to the arrival lounge. I have always found such walks a nightmare because of the extensive use of shiny, granite flooring everywhere. Invariably I would be walking with fear in my heart and prayer on my lips.  Imagine the plight of physically disabled people when they are not able to get the wheel chair facility at the airports.

These days even the lobbies of the multi storied apartment complexes have granite flooring. Many flat builders also proudly claim to have laid granite flooring inside their flats. Why granite flooring inside homes? I think it is a crazy idea. I am sure there are alternative floorings, equally good looking without the risks involved in having granite flooring.

Talking about flooring inside homes, I would like to share my own experience. During the devastating floods which created havoc in Chennai city in 2015, I went through the ordeal of water entering my independent home in Adyar. The entire ground floor of my modest home was covered with one foot of water for over a week. When the waters finally receded, I discovered to my shock that the entire mosaic flooring in the drawing room and the adjacent study, laid 30 years earlier,  was completely ruined. While I was averse to the idea of using mosaic flooring again because of the messy & time consuming procedure, I decided to use the inexpensive and easy to lay Linoleum flooring  recommended by my friendly engineer/contractor.  The wooden finish of the flooring looks as good as the imported laminated wooden flooring.  Visitors can hardly find any difference. Though the flooring has come with only an 8 year guarantee, it is ok by me as I can afford to replace the flooring every few years.  It took only four hours to lay the whole flooring without disturbing my routine.

I believe while looks are important, safety also matters when it comes to things used regularly, especially by senior citizens!

This article has appeared in the 20-26^th January, 2019 issue of Adyar Times, under my column `Rajan`s Random Reflections`

Feedback welcome on rvrajan42@gmail.com or  

                                        The slippery flooring

                                                by R.V.Rajan

Can you guess what is causing considerable anxiety among senior citizens when they are walking inside Airports, Malls, lobbies of star hotels or hospitals and even some recently renovated railway stations? It is  the shiny  granite flooring which I consider as one of the most senior citizen unfriendly thing to have happened in recent years. No doubt they look very attractive. But I find them very slippery and dangerous. I always feel unsure of my grip on the floor whenever I am walking on them. Even if I am taking careful short steps, I am not confident.

A few years ago, the Corporation of Chennai decided to beautify the Bessy, as the beautiful Elliots beach area in Besant Nagar in Chennai is known, with non glossy granite on the walking path adjacent to the parapet wall running across the beach front. Walking on this path I slipped & fell down a couple of times, fortunately without any collateral damage to my body. I was lucky. I have seen many others also falling, especially when the foot path is covered with sand carried by the winds blowing from the sea to the land or after rains. I feel  more comfortable walking on the main cemented road, like hundreds of morning walkers do every morning.

If you are a senior citizen and are travelling by flights, very often, you will find that you have to walk long distances from the entrance of the airport to the departure lounge inside the airport or from the aircraft to the arrival lounge. I have always found such walks a nightmare because of the extensive use of shiny, granite flooring everywhere. Invariably I would be walking with fear in my heart and prayer on my lips.  Imagine the plight of physically disabled people when they are not able to get the wheel chair facility at the airports.

These days even the lobbies of the multi storied apartment complexes have granite flooring. Many flat builders also proudly claim to have laid granite flooring inside their flats. Why granite flooring inside homes? I think it is a crazy idea. I am sure there are alternative floorings, equally good looking without the risks involved in having granite flooring.

Talking about flooring inside homes, I would like to share my own experience. During the devastating floods which created havoc in Chennai city in 2015, I went through the ordeal of water entering my independent home in Adyar. The entire ground floor of my modest home was covered with one foot of water for over a week. When the waters finally receded, I discovered to my shock that the entire mosaic flooring in the drawing room and the adjacent study, laid 30 years earlier,  was completely ruined. While I was averse to the idea of using mosaic flooring again because of the messy & time consuming procedure, I decided to use the inexpensive and easy to lay Linoleum flooring  recommended by my friendly engineer/contractor.  The wooden finish of the flooring looks as good as the imported laminated wooden flooring.  Visitors can hardly find any difference. Though the flooring has come with only an 8 year guarantee, it is ok by me as I can afford to replace the flooring every few years.  It took only four hours to lay the whole flooring without disturbing my routine.

I believe while looks are important, safety also matters when it comes to things used regularly, especially by senior citizens!

This article has appeared in the 20-26^th January, 2019 issue of Adyar Times, under my column `Rajan`s Random Reflections`

Feedback welcome on rvrajan42@gmail.com or 

                                                by R.V.Rajan

Can you guess what is causing considerable anxiety among senior citizens when they are walking inside Airports, Malls, lobbies of star hotels or hospitals and even some recently renovated railway stations? It is  the shiny  granite flooring which I consider as one of the most senior citizen unfriendly thing to have happened in recent years. No doubt they look very attractive. But I find them very slippery and dangerous. I always feel unsure of my grip on the floor whenever I am walking on them. Even if I am taking careful short steps, I am not confident.

A few years ago, the Corporation of Chennai decided to beautify the Bessy, as the beautiful Elliots beach area in Besant Nagar in Chennai is known, with non glossy granite on the walking path adjacent to the parapet wall running across the beach front. Walking on this path I slipped & fell down a couple of times, fortunately without any collateral damage to my body. I was lucky. I have seen many others also falling, especially when the foot path is covered with sand carried by the winds blowing from the sea to the land or after rains. I feel  more comfortable walking on the main cemented road, like hundreds of morning walkers do every morning.

If you are a senior citizen and are travelling by flights, very often, you will find that you have to walk long distances from the entrance of the airport to the departure lounge inside the airport or from the aircraft to the arrival lounge. I have always found such walks a nightmare because of the extensive use of shiny, granite flooring everywhere. Invariably I would be walking with fear in my heart and prayer on my lips.  Imagine the plight of physically disabled people when they are not able to get the wheel chair facility at the airports.

These days even the lobbies of the multi storied apartment complexes have granite flooring. Many flat builders also proudly claim to have laid granite flooring inside their flats. Why granite flooring inside homes? I think it is a crazy idea. I am sure there are alternative floorings, equally good looking without the risks involved in having granite flooring.

Talking about flooring inside homes, I would like to share my own experience. During the devastating floods which created havoc in Chennai city in 2015, I went through the ordeal of water entering my independent home in Adyar. The entire ground floor of my modest home was covered with one foot of water for over a week. When the waters finally receded, I discovered to my shock that the entire mosaic flooring in the drawing room and the adjacent study, laid 30 years earlier,  was completely ruined. While I was averse to the idea of using mosaic flooring again because of the messy & time consuming procedure, I decided to use the inexpensive and easy to lay Linoleum flooring  recommended by my friendly engineer/contractor.  The wooden finish of the flooring looks as good as the imported laminated wooden flooring.  Visitors can hardly find any difference. Though the flooring has come with only an 8 year guarantee, it is ok by me as I can afford to replace the flooring every few years.  It took only four hours to lay the whole flooring without disturbing my routine.

I believe while looks are important, safety also matters when it comes to things used regularly, especially by senior citizens!

This article has appeared in the 20-26^th January, 2019 issue of Adyar Times, under my column `Rajan`s Random Reflections`

Feedback welcome on rvrajan42@gmail.com or 9840392082

Celebrating the memory of Prabha

Six years have flown by since the passing away of my life partner of 40 years on 5^thJanuary,2013. Instead of mourning her death I have been celebrating her memory  through Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation by undertaking activities to encourage creatively  talented  women.

 Apart from being an accomplished writer in Tamil, Prabha was also interested in singing , gardening and social work. She was a house proud woman who believed in maintaining a beautiful home to which one was happy to return to every day- inspite of all the admonishing I would receive regularly for `messing up` the place.  By deciding to have my own independent space in the two story home I share with my son`s family- I feel her presence in every corner of the home. Thanks to also being surrounded by close family and  friends I don`t feel lonely but occasionally I do feel isolated. I miss  the minute to minute care and attention that one can expect only from a life partner. I try to dispel such negative thoughts by keeping my mind and body active and  friends are playing a great role in keeping me in good cheer. The arrival of a resident grandson Thavam ( my fifth grand child and my son`s first after 10 years of marriage) eight months ago has added to the cheerful atmosphere at home. He is truly a bundle of joy. It is a pity that Thavam is missing the presence of his paternal grand mother who would  have been a great help to his parents in bringing up the child- after all she was an experienced grand mother having helped my two daughters with the four children they brought into this world.

The sixth anniversary of celebrating the memory of Prabha witnessed my grand daughter Uthara Srinivasan  and her cousin Madura Muralidharan giving a scintillating carnatic music performance on 27^th December,2018 at the Tag Centre in Chennai. The packed audience enjoyed  the  performance and blessed the girls a bright future. I am sure Prabha would have been happy to listen to Uthara singing her favourite Bharathiar `s song, `Chinnanchiru Kiliye..` which brought back memories  of Prabha singing this song at every opportunity she got in our social get-togethers. I had goose pimples and some tears listening to Uthara singing the soul stirring song .

While wishing my near & dear ones  all the best for 2019, I pledge to continue the activities under Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation in celebrating  the memory of Prabha.

Doctor patient relationship

Much has been written about the doctor-patient relationship. We have heard of doctors who are friendly, understanding and reassuring and others who put the fear of God every time the patients meet them. Such doctors, whose tribe is growing, are impatient, unfriendly and very often rude to their patients.

I have had the pleasure of dealing with both types of doctors in my fairly long life. I remember, in my student days in Bombay, where I grew up, we had a family doctor whom we would visit for all our health related issues- be it common cold or anything more serious. A very negative person, this doctor would mention the name of some dreadful disease or the other while listening to our complaints. If it was a severe cough, it could be because of Tuberculosis; if it was a stomach ache, it could be because of ulcers or appendicitis. I always hated going to him. But my father believed in him and felt that he was a `rasiana` ( lucky ) doctor.  It did not matter that he frightened us beyond our wits! However, we did become alright after visiting him. Consuming the special mixture in glass bottles with dosages indicated by paper stickers and the packets of medicinal powders that was dispensed by  his compounder - a tribe which has vanished thanks to the invasion of prescription drugs for every ailment.

I now have a family doctor who is ever positive and cool. As soon as you enter his consulting room he will check your BP and pull out a prescription pad and start writing the names of medicines to be taken even while you are describing your symptoms. He does not believe in prescribing unnecessary tests. In my anxiety whenever I requested him to recommend some tests, he would say ` For your age , all your parameters are ok. No need for any tests. Just take these medicines as prescribed and you will be alright`. Whenever I suffer from any ailment for more than two days, I rush to him and invariably begin to feel alright after meeting him and paying his fees ( Dakshina!). That is what trust in a good, friendly doctor does to you! He can be rightly described as an `Intuitive doctor`. 

On the other hand my experience with a heart specialist a few years ago was dreadful. A couple of months after becoming a member of the `Stent men`s Club` ( yes, I have a stent in one of my arteries after I suffered a heart attack), I had gone to see him regarding  a stomach related bleeding problem I was undergoing. After hearing my complaint when he screamed `Blooddaah`, I almost had another heart attack. Instead of pacifying me and telling me that the bleeding problem was because of the blood thinner tablet I was having after the stent procedure and that the problem could  be sorted out with alternative medication, he frightened me beyond words.  How I came out of his clutches and got cured of the problem is a story by itself

It is a fact that majority of  modern day doctors who lead a highly stressful life have no time or patience to listen to their patients’ complaints and rush with tests and treatments  without taking the patients into confidence. Result is that most of the patients visiting  specialists very often feel  cheated and exploited.

 Even as I was thinking that  it is high time that Medical colleges  taught  human psychology as a subject to the doctors during their training period I was happy to a read news item that India has already joined a long list of countries that have included a course in medical ethics as part of an undergraduate medical education. The Medical Council of India calls it `Attitude Ethics and Communication Competencies` under which the medical students will be `trained in effectively communicate with patients and their relatives in a manner respectful of the patient`s preferences, values, beliefs, confidentiality and privacy`. Wow, that sounds great. Can we hope for ` Ache din` for patients in their dealings with doctors in India?

Three generations of herbal medicines

It was a week before Diwali when I had gone to interview Mr.Badrinath, the current owner of the iconic Dabba Chetti Kadai- well known for `Nattu Marundu` ( traditional herbal medicines). The small  shop on the busy Cutcheri Road in Mylapore was teeming with customers. It took me almost 50 minutes to get the attention of Mr Badrinath, seeking an interview with him for this article. He rightly advised me to come after Diwali and preferably around 11am when he would be comparatively free. Two weeks after Diwali when I reached his shop around 11.30 am, on a weekday, I was surprised to find Badrinath still surrounded by half a dozen customers. And there was a continuous stream of customers arriving  by foot, by two wheelers, and by cars. It took me 45 minutes before  Badrinath agreed to spare some time for me and  answer my questions while he continued to  attend to his customers – some placing specific orders with a long list in their hands, some seeking his advice about the ideal medicine for their specific health issues and others seeking his approval for herbal medicines recommended by some other doctors. Mr. Badrinath was catering to the demands of every one, unfazed,  without loosing his cool and with  information on his finger tips. He was being helped by his wife and two assistants in identifying and packing the medicines.

 Badrinath is the third generation of the Chetty family to run the business started by his grand father  Krishnaswamy Chetty together with  his brother way back in 1885. Though initially it was  started as a Kirana shop also having a paints section, it started specialising in herbal medicines only in the early Nineties. The starting of Venkataramana Ayurvedic college down the road in 1905 provided an opportunity for the shop to supply raw materials to the dispensary being run by the College. That was the beginning of the evolution of the shop specializing in Herbal medicines. Since the products were neatly placed  in tin containers on display, it came to be known as the `Dabba Chetty Kadai` in the neighbourhood which eventually became the official name of the shop-a memorable brand name for quality herbal medicines, which has survived for 127 years.

Though in the early years the shop sold only the raw materials required for making medicines at homes  based on Patti Vaidyam, ( Grandma Remedies), in recent years based on the demand from the customers, who were hard pressed for time, the shop started selling ready mixed medicines- mostly `legiams`. Though the Diwali legiam is most in demand during the Diwali festive season which lasts for about two weeks, what sustains the shop is the continuous demand for post natal` legiams` used by young mothers after the delivery of their  babies. The shop also sells a few typical puja items apart from a very limited number of branded Ayurvedic products, supplied on demand.

I was also surprised to learn from Badrinath that the shop which went through a  lean patch a few years ago has picked up business with a  lot  of youngsters patronizing the shop. It seems the internet and the increasingly popular ``google doctor`  are playing a major role in the revival of the herbal medicines among  the youngsters. I could vouch for this judging by the number of youngsters who visited the shop. Three of the six customers whom I talked to had come to buy the `Post natal Legiyam`.

Do his customers come only from the Mylapore area?  Mr.Badrinath`s prompt response was, `No sir, they come from all over the world. Wherever our people are located in India and the world, they come to us  searching for specific items. Many of them are from USA, Australia, Middle East, Europe etc. and belong to all age groups.  It is the  word of mouth advertising  and our guaranteed quality which have helped us gain popularity over the years.`

 Most popular items are `Chukku, Homam, Panam Kalkandu`.  The major problems for which the herbal medicines are sought are for common cold, Diabetes and other seasonal ailments, besides ,  the ever popular `Post natal` legiams.

 I asked Badrinath, a commerce graduate,  who has been running the shop for the last 40 years, if he ever thought of growing bigger  and opening more branches like  what other Food and Snack units like Grand Sweets or Adyar Anandh Bhavan have done.   He said he was content with the current operations where he could guarantee the quality of the products sold from his shop which occupies just 180 sq. ft area and another 280 sq. ft  godown area located in the neighbour hood.  

He was hesitant to talk  about the future of the shop. His two sons  who are still in college may or may not come into the business, as  it involves a lot of hard  work , sweating it out in a road side shop amidst the constant noise from the passing vehicles enveloped by the smoke,  dust and grime which naturally follow  the heavy traffic on the road. Yet, since it is a profitable business one of his sons might get into it and take the `Dabba Chetty brand name`  to greater heights as the second generation of the owners of Grand Sweets have done to that iconic brand. Let us hope Badrinath`s  dream comes true and the  `Dabba Chetty Kadai` continues to serve its customers in the years to come.

This article has appeared in the Madras Musings issue dated 1-15, December,2018

Digital Detoxification Digital Detoxification

 According  to a Paediatric Therapist in U K excessive touch screen use by modern day kids is preventing children`s muscles from developing sufficiently making it increasingly hard for them to even hold a pen or pencil, leave alone writing.  A lady speaker at our Rotary meeting mentioned that addiction to electronic gadgets is like drug or liquor addiction. Billions of people in this world, especially the youngsters, are gadget addicts living in a virtual world leading to a major social crisis. I was shocked.  Is there no solution to this problem? It seems there is.

A news item talks about the idea of `Digital Detoxification` becoming very popular in the Western World. The idea is to temporarily get disconnected from the `Data Deluge` that every one is subjected to every day. This is done by enrolling oneself in one of the hundreds of special `Digital Detox` camps which are held periodically in Resorts or in any facility available to the organizers of such camps. In the camp the participant refrains from using electronic communication devices like the smart phones or computers. This provides an opportunity to reduce stress, focus more on social interaction and connect with nature in the physical world. The benefits include increased mindfulness, lowered anxiety, and better appreciation of one's environment. I wonder if people undergoing this treatment also suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

Closer home, many of the Nature or Ayurvedic health camps have already been banning the use of gadgets during the duration of the camps  by participating members. Of course in these camps the primary objective is to `detox` one`s body by various treatments offered by the organizers. If you also get `digital detoxification` it is a bonus .

I believe that such temporary efforts will not cure society from the harmful effects of the `data deluge`. What is required is to tackle the problem at the grass roots level. Right from the time when children are exposed to these gadgets. As the lady speaker mentioned earlier is attempting to do through her ` Jhoola Activity Centre` where  children  are  kept  away from  gadgets  and taught  social and life skills.   They are taught history and mythology through games. They are also introduced to traditional games. She  believes that parents should create and share gadget-free time with their children.  

She recommended that new born babies should not be exposed to any form of electronic screens until the age of two. Seems a good idea. But will the young parents take this advice seriously. I wonder. Because it is the parents who thrust the gadgets in troublesome children`s hands  to divert their attention so that they are free to do their chores.

I was happy to learn about other initiatives like ,`Utopia` started in Chennai which has facilities for fitness, music, dance, play, adventure and art where parents and kids can immerse themselves in a real world away from gadgets.

But you will agree that electronic gadgets have been a great boon to senior citizens, who have retired from active professional life. They spend most part of the day either watching television or are busy connecting with their near & dear ones through `WhatsApp` forwarding all kinds of messages. No need for them to attend `Detox camps`!

This article has appeared in the Adyar Times issue dt 21-30,2018, under my column `Rajan`s Random Reflections`

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