Venkat's Random Thoughts

 Rivika - My grand daughter and best friend On this very day 11th September ten years back two things happened, 1) The tenth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the twin towers in the US and  2) The birth of my Grand daughter Rivika, The second child of my son Anand and Mallika. Both the events are unforgettable in my life ,On the day of the 9/11 attack, I was in Bath UK on a visit to my son in UK and heard the news on the TV at a relation's house. On the day of Rivika's birth I was in Mumbai and on hearing the news , i booked my tickets to visit my son's in laws in Ghaziabad, U P to visit the latest arrival. I immediately posted on my Facebook page the following lines.   "Off to Ghaziabad to meet the latest addition in the family!!      My grand daughter" Needless to say I was very excited and was keen to see and hold this bundle of joy in my hands. We did travel and attended the naming ceremony in Ghaziabad. I next met her on her first birthday when I ...

                                Happy birthday Nakshatraa!!!! Happy birthday dear Nakshatraa!!  May GOD being you abundant happiness and joy in your life. I am writing this as a blog , since as you as a four year old is not in position to read and comprehend this , my humble offering today , but in future when you grow up and read this you will appreciate my love for you. I am asking some one  to read this out aloud at today's family gathering to celebrate your fourth birthday. At the gathering many of the family members are planning to present their performances to entertain the participants. Some one asked me "What will be your performance as a proud grand parent? " My reply was  "Our (me  and my wife's) greatest performance in life was when we were there in UK to help your parents and do our bit to bring you in to this world and continue be there for another three months till your pare...

A Star Is Born Before any of you read this I have to make certain things clear to you. I have tried to write this as if written by a critic.I am not a professional critic so I have liberally borrowed the descriptions of the various dances from the invitation card printed for the occasion and hereby acknowledge as the source of such descriptions. Maybe you can be a critic of my writing and pass comments on how good/bad my writing is. NOW here goes: I recently had the good fortune to witness the Bharat Natyam "Arangetram" of my brother-in-law Gopal's daughter Shraddha. "Arangam" in Tamil means elevated Stage. "Etram" means ascending. So "Arangetram" means ascending(climbing) the stage. Making the "debut" in stage performances before the public. I know that Shraddha has been learning the art with great gusto for the last six seven years and has been performing at various places. I have been hearing rave reports about he...