Sadako, sending love and peace to you! 💞

Five Facts

• There is a children peace monument in Hiroshima, Japan
• It was initiated by children themselves
• That is the only one of its kind in the world
  
• There is a girl statue in the monument with raised hands and a crane
  
• Paper cranes are sent from across the world till date

                   Source: Google Images, peace-tourism.com

Over to the history behind

Who and What is Sadako Sasaki?

Sadako Sasaki is the second child among four living with her parents in Japan.

She is always active, very loving and energetic yet sensitive.

She is a born runner and her ambition at the age of eleven was to join the high school team and win prizes.

She strongly believes in good omen and lucky charms.

Sadako Sasaki and Hiroshima Attack

She was just two years old when the horrifying attack happened. Six close family members lost their lives in the attack. To her, even the commemoration of peace day (August 6) is a carnival where she could have fun with other children and eat candies. She consciously avoids having a direct contact with any victim of the attack for their 'ugly faces' and even avoids looking at their photographs.

The day she wins race for her team (a selection to the high school team) is the first time she feels a kind of dizziness. This later leads to a collapse on the field while running and proceeding tests confirms Leukemia due to the Hiroshima attack. She gets admitted to the hospital, stays alone in the night, worries, cries and loses hope.

Sadako Sasaki and Paper Cranes

Her close friend, Chizuko, visits her in the hospital and gives her hope in the form of a traditional story of Crane, popular in Japan. As cranes are believed to live for thousand years, one who makes thousand paper cranes would live longer and healthier is a common belief. This gives Sadako the hope and she starts making paper cranes. And also reads, writes letters to her loved ones from the hospital. Everyone (her parents, siblings, friends, nurses) gives her papers to make cranes & write letters during every visit. She even makes one big crane for Kenji, an unborn at the time of attack (a nine year old boy in the next room suffering from Leukemia with no parents and only guardian), to give him hope. But he soon dies and it shatters her more.

Still, she does not give up making more cranes. It goes from tens to hundreds. Those cranes are hung in the room by her elder brother. As the number of cranes increases, she seems to get better. But the graph fluctuates. When she gets better (number of cranes was close to 600 now), her doctor permits to visit her house and stay for a week for O Bon celebration (where Japanese families set their houses ready so as to welcome spirits of their dead loved ones). Sadako is happy being at home after a long time but her health is deteriorating. After a week, she again moves to the hospital, cries all alone, thinks and dreams about death. Now her fear is no more the disease but the death.

How painful it is for parents & family to see their child visibly losing health and slowly going away from them. And for the innocent kid to think of death all the time 😢

During her last days, she is gifted a silk kimono (traditional Japanese wear, quite expensive for the family to afford) made by her mother and kokeshi doll (traditional Japanese doll with no arms and legs) brought by her friends. Her 644th crane is the last one she makes. She couldn't make anymore as her hands lost stability and the doctor says not to worry and try making one next day and TOMORROW NEVER CAME FOR HER.

Sadako Sazaki and the monument

The remaining 356 cranes to bring it to 1000 were made by Sadako's friends to bury along with her. Those lovely friends made a book of letters sent by her from hospital and named it Kokeshi and passed it on to many to know her life. They wished for a monument in her memory and began to raise funds. Thus born the Children Peace Monument in 1958 with the message this is our cry, our prayer, Peace in the world. Children and adults are sending cranes to the place till date.

P.S.: Undoubtedly, children are the worst affected in any war without any understanding of what is happening around. Unless and until every single action of ours keeps children in mind, no change would ever take place on earth. A must read for everyone and do pass this message to every kid. Let them grow learning what PEACE means to the world, as adults are too grown up to understand and they are absolutely hopeless!!!!

And nowhere in the book I read on Sadako, was there a mention of the US and their ruthless action in the world war II, thus giving a start to spreading "Peace". Love to you, Japan 💓

Writing with a truly heavy heart😢 Peace, please🙏

Oh, Shin Chan 😊

Shin Chan has become a part of our family now as our daughter is fond of it. Sometimes the whole family imagines a scene like what would happen if Shin Chan comes to our house and the discussion would naturally turn out to be hilarious and sweet. That is the extent of his influence in our family. (Please note that neither the kid nor the family is addicted; and that is the only kids channel we have subscribed for and that is the only show she fondly watches).

Whenever we are dumbstruck with our daughter's reactions and responses in recent times, we unanimously conclude that it is the influence of Shin Chan 😂Being a girl child, let her grow as a talkative, assertive and enthusiastic, independent person. So we are very much fine with it. 

Why is the show loved by us as a family and why didn't we find a reason to say a strict NO to watching it? Coz this show is far far far far better that many nuisance and non-sense cartoon shows aired on TV. Let me list out the reasons:

• The whole show is about a kid, his parents, his sister and friends, Shero (the puppy) and all that surrounds him - simply a natural setting for any kid/family to relate to. 👪

• There is no fantasy - such as spider man saving lives or flying kids to save earth kind of stuff. Everything is real 👍
  
  
  (Shin Chan movies are exceptions; we do not enjoy it ) 

• The lead character is no "Best Child" as per societal norms. He is good as well as incredibly naughty giving all forms of headache to his parents, teachers and friends. Like any other child.😍

• There is no good vs evil preaching or any kind of preaching for that matter. Thank God! 🙏

• Though mom is a housewife who does all chores all by herself, she is the financial head of the family and has no regrets in leaving children behind with her husband to do her most favorite pastime, "shopping" 😅. Sometimes we even feel that 'SHE' is the lead character of the show.👸

• Shin Chan and his friends never quarrel over who is the best, who is who's competitor, who scores the highest kind of stuff we normally see around. I mean to say that there is no discussion on their marks, scores and ranks; basically no non-sense 😝

• Shin Chan and his father cannot escape from helping Shin Chan's mom on holidays on household activities 😎

• Be it a rainy day or a sunny day, Shin Chan can be independent (sometimes we feel its overboard when he goes out in heavy rains too) and can also be of great help to anyone on earth he comes across, but of course in his own naughty ways 😃😆

• The school set-up is also so informal where the Principal is more or less a friend to these children✌Many a times I feel that the show's director had taken hints from the book "Totto-Chan" 🙌

• One of Shin Chan's friends, Neni (the only girl in the gang) is so dominant and I simply love it 👌

• Absolutely zero temper tantrum 😊

• There is always a portrayal of natural relationship between the lead family and their neighbours, their relatives and friends. No drama.💟

• Event the financial difficulties of his family are well understood by Shin Chan but in a lighter way. Even that would sound and look cute. 😘

• There is no violence except for the trademark hit Shin Chan receives from his mom 😁

There may be (are) flaws in the show but definitely this is, any day, better than watching a boy/girl gaining strength by eating ladoos or reaching out to super powers to get their desires fulfilled.

That's my daughter's drawing of Shin Chan family on the wall :-)

P.S. Why didn't the director choose a girl for the lead role? 🙇 Nonetheless, we love this show 💓💕💗💙💚💛💜

போரும் பரிசுப்பொருளும்

     "கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டாள்" என்ற  திரைப்படத்தின் ஒரு காட்சியின் சாராம்சம் இது. எழுத்தாளர் இந்திரா என்ற கதாபாத்திரம் அவரின் இலங்கை தோழரிடம் இலங்கையின் போர் பகுதி ஒன்றில் உரையாடுகையில் ஏன் உலகில் இது போன்ற போர் நடைபெறுகின்றன என வினவுவார். அதற்கு அந்த தோழர் "ஏதோ ஒரு மூலையில் இவ்வாறான போர் நடைபெறுவதில் யாரோ ஒருவருக்கு லாபம் இருக்கிறது" என்று பதிலுரைப்பார். எப்போது இந்த போர் அனைத்தும் முடிவுக்கு வரும் என்று கேட்பார் எழுத்தாளர். அதற்கு தோழரின் பதில், உலகில் உள்ள அனைத்து போர் உபகரணங்களும் கடலில் வீசப்பட்டால் ஒரு வேளை போர் இல்லாமலே போகலாம் என்பார்.

ஹெச்.ஹெச். முன்ரோ என்ற எழுத்தாளரின் "அமைதியின் பொம்மைகள்" என்ற சிறுகதையில் ஹார்வி என்ற கதாபாத்திரம் தனது அக்காவிடம் குழந்தைகளுக்கு அமைதியை பிரதிபலிக்கும் பொம்மைகள் பற்றி ஒரு அறிக்கை தெரிவித்துள்ள கருத்துக்களை பற்றி குறிப்பிடுகிறார். இவ்வாறான முயற்சி சிறந்தது என்று கூறுபவர் இது  எவ்வளவு சாத்தியம் என்று கேள்வி எழுப்புகிறார். அதற்கு அவரின் அக்கா தன் பிள்ளைகளை பார்க்க வரும் போது அவ்வாறான பொம்மைகளை வாங்கி வந்து பரிசளிக்குமாறு யோசனை  கூறுகிறார். அவ்வாறே அவரும் செய்கிறார். தன் அக்காவின் இரண்டு மகன்களும் எப்போதும் போர் சம்மந்தப்பட்ட விளையாட்டுகளையே பெரிதும் விரும்பி அதீத ஆர்வத்துடன் விளையாடுபவர்கள். தன்  மாமா அவ்வாறான பரிசே கொண்டுவந்திருப்பார் என்று எதிர்பார்த்தவர்களுக்கு பெருத்த ஏமாற்றம். மாமா வரலாற்று சிறப்பு மிக்க செய்திகளை விளையாட்டாக அறியவும் அதனை கொண்டு விளையாடும்படியான பொம்மைகளை அளித்ததுமில்லாமல் அதனை பற்றி அவர் விளக்கியது அப்பிள்ளைகளுக்கு ஏமாற்றத்தையும் வெறுப்பையும் அளிக்கிறது.  ஹார்விக்கும் அக்காவிற்கும் உள்ளூர ஒரு சிறு நம்பிக்கை என்னவெனில், அப்பிள்ளைகள் சிறிது நேரத்தில் அப்புதிய பொம்மைகளை விரும்ப ஆரம்பித்து விடுவர் என்று.  இறுதியில் நடந்தது (அப்புதிய பொம்மைகளை தங்களின் போர் விளையாட்டுக்கு உகந்தவாறு மாற்றி மீண்டும் போர் விளையாட்டையே ஆர்வத்துடன் விளையாடினர்) அவர்களுக்கு அதிர்ச்சியை அளிக்கவில்லை, மாறாக தங்களின் முயற்சி தாமதமானது என்பதை உணர்ந்தனர். உணர்ந்தும் பயனில்லாத நேரம்!

சரி, மேற்குறிப்பிட்ட இரண்டையும் இணைத்துப்பார்ப்போம். உலகில் போர்கள் ஓய்ந்த பாடில்லை, ஓய்வதற்கான அறிகுறி எதுவும் சாட்டிலைட்டிற்கு எட்டியவரை தென்படவில்லை. மாறாக போர் என்பது ஒரு விளையாட்டு ரூபத்தில் ஒவ்வொரு வீட்டிற்குள்ளும் உறவாடிக் கொண்டுள்ளது.

இவ்வாறான விளையாட்டுகளே நம் பிள்ளைகளிடமும் (அதிகமாக ஆண் பிள்ளைகளிடம்) காண முடிகிறது. துப்பாக்கி, வில்-அம்பு, பெரிய கட்டைகள், கத்தி போன்ற விளையாட்டு பொருட்கள் பெருமளவு குழந்தைகளால் விரும்பப்படுகிறது. தன் நண்பனை சுட்டு விளையாடுவது ஒரு இன்பத்தை தருகிறது. இது விளையாட்டு தானே என்று புறந்தள்ளுவது  சரி இல்லை என்று தான் தோணுகிறது. மேற்கு நாடுகளில் பள்ளி மாணவர்களிடையே பெருகி வரும் துப்பாக்கி கலாச்சாரம் இங்கு கத்தி கலாச்சாரமாக உள்ளது. அவ்வளவே வித்தியாசம்.

உளவியல் ரீதியாக பிள்ளைகள் சிறு வயது முதலே இவ்வாறான பொம்மைகளுடன் விளையாடி (பெரும்பாலான நேரங்களின் பெற்றோர்களின் கண்காணிப்பின்றி) அதுவே தன் நண்பர்களுடன் வெறியாக மாறுகிறது. பாகுபலி செட் போன்ற பொருட்களில் இல்லாத போர் உபகரணம் இல்லை என்றே கூறலாம். தீபாவளி பண்டிகை முதல் திருவிழா வரை துப்பாக்கிகள் வித விதமாக கிடைக்கின்றன. மேலும் திரைப்படங்களில் ஹீரோ, வில்லன் இருவரிடமும் துப்பாக்கி வழங்கப்பட்டு இது நல்ல பொருளா, தீய பொருளா என்ற அறுதியிட்டு நம்மால் நம் குழந்தைகளுக்கு விளக்க முடியாத நிலையும் உள்ளது. கத்தி போன்ற பிற பொருட்களும் அவ்வாறே.

ஒரு பக்கம் பள்ளி பாடங்களின் வழியே அஹிம்சை முறையை பிள்ளைகளுக்கு அளிக்க பல்வேறு வழி முறைகளை முயற்சி செய்தும், அது குறித்த ஆலோசனைகளை வழங்கியும் "Prajnya" போன்ற அமைப்புகள் செயல்படுகின்றன. நாமோ வீடுகளில் நேர்மாறாக நடந்துக்கொள்கிறோம். இதை நம்மால் சுலபமாக சரி செய்ய  இயலும். பெற்றோர்கள் தம் பிள்ளைக்கு இவ்வாறான பொருட்களை வாங்கி தராமலும், நாம் பரிசுகள் வழங்கும் போது "அமைதி பொம்மைகள்" போன்ற கருத்துகளை மனதில் கொள்ளலாம். இவை அனைத்தும் சிறு வயதிலேயே செய்யப்பட வேண்டியதும் அவசியமென்றே தோன்றுகிறது. நம்மை சுற்றி  வன்முறை கூடிக்கொண்டே போகும் சூழலில் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு நாம் அளிக்கும் பரிசுப்பொருட்கள் உலகின் அமைதிக்கு நம்மால் இயன்ற ஒரு சிறிய பங்கு என்பது மறுக்க இயலாத உண்மை.

யார் கூற இயலும், இவ்வாறான முயற்சிகள் உலகில் உள்ள அனைத்து வீடுகளிலும் பெற்றோர்களும் செய்யும் பட்சத்தில் இன்றைய குழந்தைகள் நாளைய தலைவர்களாகும் போது எங்கள் நாட்டில் இனி போர் உபகரணங்கள் இருக்காது என்றும், போர் என்றது கொடிய தீஞ்சொல் என்றும் கூறி உலகை அமைதி பூங்காவாக சுலபமாக மாற்றி விடுவார்களாவோ என்னவோ.

"அணு விதைத்த பூமியிலே அறுவடைக்கும் அணுக்கதிர் தான்" என்ற பாடல் வரி நாடுகளுக்கு மட்டுமில்லை வீடுகளுக்கும் தான்.

Hon'ble PM, we expect something else!

Hon'ble PM,

The nation listens to you, always, particularly in times of distress.

So, why don't you address this nation on key issues. 

Please talk to us on (and many more):

• How to fight fear of this unexpected situation?
• How are the microbiologists and virologists involved in fighting against this pandemic, and many more to come in future?
• Any plans of setting up more laboratories across the country for now and future?
• Are we on par with other countries that do rapid testing to minimise casualties?
• Will the vacant positions of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals be filled every now and then, hereafter?
• Will slowly government hospitals overtake private hospitals in performance and quality?
• What are economists doing? Have they found the way through this maze? or at least in the process of finding one?
• Don't the economists tell the government ways and means to keep emergency fund ready all the time? 
• Are we judiciously using the huge funds received from Philanthropists such as Tata and how?
• Will the government adopt transparency in sharing details of inflow and outflow of money during this emergency?
• How is India going to cut costs on unnecessary stuff and save for emergency situations such as this?
• How will the government keep a check on charges levied by private hospitals that treat such pandemics? Do we have helplines to report on high charges for testing and treatment?
• Why did governments of state not provide facilities for migrant labourers in their place of work to find shelter and food, and instead forced to move in times of such emergencies?
• Is the government prepared to support needy families if this lockdown continues for few more weeks?
• Are the stressed medical professionals, and other frontline workers treated to destress in any possible way?
• Will health (and education) occupy a major place in the following year's budget?
• What do we have to learn from affected and unaffected nations across?
• Is the government working on identifying its flaws?
• What is your biggest realization as the head to focus on during such difficult times?
• Will you show us how to walk with the nation after this lock down for a better and safe tomorrow?

We know, it is more important to prevent community spread and save lives of our citizens than discussing the above points. We know, actions speak louder than words. But we also know that focusing these is better than asking us to clap and light.

Think tanks and corona

Let me go straight to the point I would like to share instead of wailing away time on topics of little significance such as clapping (instead thank your family doctor & other staff when you meet them next time) and lighting lamps (instead be empathetic day in and day out).

What next?? The pandemic has hinted us on creation of think tanks for a better tomorrow. The first  and random thought that came to mind is this:

A think tank comprising "Conservationists, Environmentalists, Policy makers & Economists": As this lock down has has hit the 'refresh' button of nature and other living beings on earth, why not think of such a national lock down every year and help nature refresh itself?

Points to ponder in this direction

• When can the nation be locked down every year? Period and duration
•  How can the economic slowdown of this period be addressed?
• What can be the role of government?

To answer

'When' needs to be decided in consultation with the

1. Department to Tourism: to identify off-season when the revenue generation is normally less in a year
2. Environmentalists/conservationists: to identify the period that is conducive/favourable for nature to reset itself on its own; and to identify the minimum and maximum number of days that would make a significant difference
3. Department of Health: to identify the right season in a year that is suitable/better for public to stay indoors
4. Economists: to analyse and identify the less economically-active period (in relative terms only) in a year in the country, if any
5. Election Commission: to ensure that no election related works happen during that time
6. Political off-season where no assembly/parliament sessions take place and budget related works happen

Economic slowdown

As it is natural to have a steep decline in economy graph during a national lock down, the role of economists becomes highly significant. The think tanks of economists need to arrive at decisions/ideas/proposals to tackle it and provide ways and means to get rejuvenated right after the period.

Considering this equation nature⥸economic growth for sustainability or the very existence of earth, compromising with economy is a better option.

Planned lock down and its benefits

• Nature and our fellow living beings would thrive happily
• No chaos/fear among public as they would gradually get used to this format; and therefore they would begin to plan well in advance
• Quality family time
• Children's creativity provoked, adults' too
• Encourage community living
• Possible increase in health consciousness
• No alcohol; therefore no related crimes 
• No breaking news to channels to survive on

 Role of government

1. To ensure paid/half-paid/minimally paid leave for everyone (organized and unorganized sectors)
2. To have child and women helplines (counseling services too) to report abuse of any form
3. To revamp government hospitals, schools, ration shops and offices
4. To attend to shelter-less and migrant labourers (making use of closed cinema halls, schools, community halls, wedding halls, colleges and get a community kitchen in place to support them)
5. To identify the real needy sections that would be in need of emergency fund to run their lives, as many would be prepared in advance as the lock down would be on the decided/announced date.
6. To ensure that alcohol is not bought and stocked at homes that might eventually result in domestic violence  

...to be continued on what is expected of my Prime Minister!

 P.S.: There are just the preliminary thoughts and portions of the post might undergo changes depending on mind-processing (of course no portion would be deleted😛)

Art and Hypocrisy

To me,

 

Maniratnam is romantic;

Bala is raw and dark;

Shankar is stylish;

Mysskin is violent, yet humane;

Samuthirakani is idealistic;

Vasanth is gentle and caring towards women;

Karthik Subburaj is unique;

CS Amudhan is humorous.

The

List

Goes

On…

This is just my perception of the personalities depending on their movies I have watched so far (many of you would have developed similar perceptions).

In this connection, my idea of the legendary director (late) K. Balachander is that he is progressive (ahead of his times) and a hard core feminist. His films were women-centric and empowering, by having created real BOLD, CHARISMATIC and ASSERTIVE women to shoulder his scripts. It is quite natural for anyone like me to, therefore, look up to him as a real fighter for women rights!

Cut to a recent interview of a yesteryear actress Rekha (one of the lead characters in K.Balachander’s superhit Tamil movie, Punnagai Mannan). She has now revealed that her consent was not sought for the popular lip lock scene in the above mentioned movie with actor Kamalhaasan. Importantly, she was a minor then. What a trauma it would have been for the girl!

At the least, it is not sure if her parents/guardians gave their consent on her behalf, and whether the popular and influential male actor involved was aware of this scenario. Whatever be the case, not having sought the consent is (on the belief that her statement is true) unacceptable and it is highly unexpected from the director who is celebrated for the strong women characters of his films.

What do I write; how do I express; which medium do I prefer; where do I stand; why do/don’t I act: All this depends on who I am and what my thoughts are. My creations are what I am!! 

If that isn’t true, then what do we call it? Hypocrisy!! Who are my film makers, my authors, my artists, my musicians, my teachers, my mentors, etc.? Hypocrites?!?! 

Sorry, the moment you are exposed, you cease to exist in my space!

Fairy Tales for Children

"They lived happily ever after" is the most common finishing line of any fairy tale we have read in our childhood or in the fairy stories we read for our children today. It sounds so positive and poetic, & happy and hopeful. 😊😊😊😊

More than boys, girl children seem to be attracted to these tales. Why is it so? May be for the simple reasons that 

(1) girls/women are the lead characters of the tales, 

(2) fairies are always girls/women and 

(3) these fairies turn girls of the stories angel-like and bless them abundantly😇! 

Boys prefer ultimately different stuff, thankfully 😂

What are the beautiful sides of these fairy tales?

• The punchy or attractive titles (mostly the girls' names or their description for Eg. Cinderalla, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast)
• The vibrant colours used in the books
• The expensive fairy-like dresses used to depict the lead character
• Magical/Fantasy side to it.
• The palace, garden and similar environment in which the story is set
• The typical fairy-tale ending, very positive and hopeful

Given these, I strongly recommend not to read these stories for children for the following reasons. (you may take out those fairy tales you have to check this interpretation. Therefore, I did not give examples here)

• Most of these stories revolve around BEAUTY and FAIRNESS of the girl lead
• We often come across STEPMOTHERS and STEP SISTERS, those cunning ones and beast-like, that ABUSE the girl
• CURSE occupies a prime position in many fairy tales
• It is mostly a PRINCE that saves the girl at the end, the saviour
• The girl's story is supposedly settled happy once she GETS MARRIED to the prince and steps into the palace

There can be few more added to these points, but I restrict to the key ones that are not at all positive for a child to read or for a parent to read for the child. There are hundreds of stories for our children on earth, why these so-called fairy tales???!!! Definitely these tales are not just good vs evil, it has more hidden venom.

P.S.: I once heard from a group of male college students studying English literature in a rural area that they had never heard of Cinderalla story. I said good that they did not learn about child-abuse and girl-abuse at their early age.