So I was watching my favorite pro sports franchise lose a must-win game on television last night. They’re out…they’re history…the season is over. “How in the world can that happen,” I ask myself, “with all the talent we have?” Then, the coach answers my question in a post-game interview: “We’re loaded with superstars, but today, we just didn’t work together…as a team.” What a loss – what a lesson.
Business, like many of the games in athletics, is a team “sport.” You have a collection of individuals who must work together to accomplish a common goal. While the players contribute in varying degrees, no one person can produce a victory on his or her own. Each member of the team has a role – a position. And each position has a variety of responsibilities: sometimes you shoot, sometimes you assist, sometimes you block…sometimes you’re in the spotlight, sometimes you’re in the trenches.
And two things are for sure: 1) Everyone on the team ends up being an equal winner or an equal loser, and 2) Limelight-grabbing ball hogs don’t last very long. Are you a team player at work? Do you give your best effort regardless of the role you play? Are you willing to do the things that are needed to help the group succeed? Do you work at being cooperative and communicating well with your coworkers? Are you considerate of others? Do you accept and value others’ ideas – especially when those ideas are different from yours? Can you be counted on to carry your share of the load?
If your answers to the above questions are all “yes,” success is definitely in your future. More interested in only being the star?
Just remember that even they get traded when teams lose!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Swami Haridoss bhajans
I have posted here Swami Haridoss bhajans. They can be straight away heard by clicking, since they are posted under "imeem" Please look on this label, since I will be adding his Radha Kalyana Mahotsavam and Dholotsavam etc in due course.
Mangala naadha
Naaraayana jai jai
Vandhe mohana
Mere tho giridharu
Raadhe krishna
Prabhujee
Laksha mori
Gunguru bhandhan
Oh brindhavaname
Odi vaa vaa kannaa
Thirupathi Vankataramana
jaanaki ramanaa kalyaana guna
Thoonilum iruppaar
Bhaj manu raama charanu
Naaraayanam bhaje
Raamachandra raghuveera
Raama charana suga
Bhajora bhayya Raama
Bhaj manu Raamacharanu
Hey Raam rasanu
Bhoodhayalo
Seethapathi
Sri Raamachandrqa ki
jay jay Harathi
Monday, August 4, 2008
To improve life
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He
then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends
and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He
then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends
and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Nations with highest per capita income
India
July 24, 2008
India's per capita income is almost Rs 40,000 ($950) per year, according to the latest figures released by the World Bank.
This has been calculated using the World Bank Atlas method that employs official exchange rates for conversion.
India's per capita income has more than doubled from $460 in 2000-01 to $950 in 2007 due to strong economic growth.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram had recently stated that India's per capita income could double every 9 years. By 2016-17, the country's per capita would be at $2,000; and by 2025, per capita would be $4,000 if India grows at 9 per cent.
At $950 per capita income per year, India ranks a poor 160th in the world.
According to the World Bank categories: Nations with per capita income (PCI) less than $935 are 'low income;' nations with PCI from $936 to $3,705 are 'lower middle income;' those with PCI from $3,706 to $11,455 are 'upper middle income;' and those with PCI from $11,456 or more are 'high income.'
So which are the world's richest nations, or people, in terms of per capita income? And where do India's neighbours like China and Pakistan stand?
Liechtenstein
Strange, as it might seem, the World Bank ranks nations, sometimes without giving their actual per capita income. No explanation is given by the World Bank, other than a footnote that says: �2007 data not available; ranking is approximate.'
However, information gleaned from other sources bears out the World Bank ranking.
So the nation with the highest per capita income in the world is Liechtenstein, a small country bordering Switzerland and Austria. Liechtenstein's per capita income is about $80,000 per annum.
The principality has an industrialised economy, with banking and financial services being the mainstay. Tourism too is a major revenue earner for the nation.
The personal income tax rates in Liechtenstein too are exceedingly low: basic income tax rate is 1.2 per cent on income up to 200,000 Swiss Francs, and maximum is 5 per cent on income over 2 million Swiss Francs a year.
2. Bermuda
Bermuda is tourist's delight, located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Bermuda's per capita income is almost 50 per cent more than that of the United States. The tiny island nation's per capita income stands at just above $78,000. It has the second highest PCI in the world.
Bermuda is a major financial centre and is particularly attractive because of its low taxation rates. Financial services is the nation's largest industry, followed by tourism.
Norway
Norway's per capita income stands at $76,450, which is the third highest in the world.
Norway has a mixed economy consisting of state-owned businesses and a robust free market. It's a high developed and industrialized state. Fishing, petroleum, hydel power, minerals contribute heavily to the nation's GDP.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg's per capita income is at $75,880. That makes it the world's fourth highest PCI.
Luxembourg is located in Europe and is bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany.
The nation has highly developed industrial and financial sectors.
Qatar
The per capita income of Qataris is $60,000, the fifth highest in the world.
Qatar is an Arab emirate located in the Persian Gulf.
The nation's economy mainly depends on its huge oil and natural gas reserves. There is no income tax in Qatar.
Switzerland
The Swiss enjoy a financially comfortable life, with a per capita income of $59,880. Switzerland ranks sixth in the World Bank's per capita income rankings.
Switzerland, a truly capitalist economy, has many giant banks and multinational corporations. It also has highly developed industries in sectors like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machine parts, electronics, precision instruments, banking, tourism, etc. Dairy farming too is an age old industry in Switzerland. It has very low tax rates.
Denmark
Denmark's per capita income is at $54,910. According to World Bank rankings, it is the world's seventh highest PCI.
Denmark has a highly industrialised economy, with robust agricultural and corporate sectors. Despite being one of the most competitive nations, the nation has a very weak financial regulatory system. Also, its labour laws are very lax and tilted heavily in favour of the employers.
Iceland
At $54,100, the per capita income of Iceland is the world's eighth highest.
Iceland has a very healthy power sector which helps it be a highly industrialised country. Apart from manufacturing, the nation is also taking big strides in the fields of software generation, biotechnology, tourism, and financial services.
Cayman Islands
The per capita income of Cayman Islands is more than $48,140 and less than $54,100, as per World Bank figures. It has the 11th highest PCI in the world. At number 9 is Channel Islands and in the 10th spot is Andorra.
The Cayman Islands are situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is a major financial centre and also one of the world's best known tax havens.
The nation's economic mainstays are tourism and financial services.
United States of America
America's per capita income is $46,040. It's the 15th-highest in the world.
The United States is mostly a capitalist economy, with huge mineral and oil reserves, apart from fantastic infrastructure, skilled work force, and the highest number of the world's largest corporations.
The country has highly developed sectors, like banking, financial services, automobile, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, etc.
China
China's per capita income is $2,360. It ranks 132nd in the world.
China is the world's second largest economy, with its GDP standing at slightly more than $7 trillion. India, by comparison, touched the $1-trillion mark in 2007.
China, the world's factory, has a highly developed manufacturing sector. It has a huge market which acts as a magnet for big multinationals who pour in billions of dollars into the economy to grab a chunk of the massive Chinese market.
The country also has a very well developed telecommunications market, apart from robust agricultural and industrial sectors.
Pakistan
Pakistan's per capita income is at $870. It ranks 163rd in the world.
For the past few years, India's neighbour has been growing at an impressive rate of about 7 per cent. Its economy mainly comprises agriculture, services, telecommunications, software, automotives, textiles, etc.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Jai Hind
I have received this mail from a friend of mine. I have forwarded this to many of my friends. However I thought it is worth posting so that many who are not in my mailing list can read this and get inspired. Please read this without ignoring
Lt. Saurabh Kalia of 4 JAT Regiment of the Indian Army laid down his
life at the young age of 22 for the nation while guarding the
frontiers at Kargil.
His parents, indeed the Indian Army and nation itself,
lost a dedicated, honest and brave son.
He was the first officer to detect and inform about
Pakistani intrusion. Pakistan captured him and his patrol party of 5
brave men alive on May 15, 1999 from the Indian side of LOC.
They were kept in captivity for three weeks and
subjected to unprecedented brutal torture, evident from their bodies handed over
by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999.
The Pakistanis indulged in dastardly acts of inflicting burns on these Indian officers with cigarettes, piercing their ears with hot rods, removing their eyes before puncturing them and breaking most of the bones and teeth.
They even chopped off various limbs and private organs of the Indian soldiers besides inflicting unimaginable physical and mental torture.
After 22 days of torture, the brave soldiers were ultimately shot dead. A detailed post-mortem report is with the Indian Army. Pakistan dared to humiliate India this way flouting all international norms.
They proved the extent to which they can degrade humanity. However, the Indian soldiers did not break while undergoing all this unimaginable barbarism, which speaks volumes of their patriotism, grit, determination, tenacity and valour - something all of India should be proud of.
Sacrificing oneself for the nation is an honour every soldier would be proud of, but no parent, army or nation can accept what happened to these brave sons of India . I am afraid every parent may think twice to send their child in the armed forces if we all fall short of our duty in safeguarding the PRISONERS OF WAR AND LET THEM MEET THE FATE OF LT.SAURABH KALIA.
It may also send a demoralising signal to the army personnel fighting for the Nation that our POWs in Pak cannot be taken care of. It is a matter of shame and disgust that most of Indian Human Rights Organisations by and large, showed apathy in this matter.
Through this humble submission, may I appeal to all the civilized people irrespective of colour, caste, region, religion and political lineage to stir their conscience and rise to take this as a NATIONAL ISSUE !!!
International Human Rights Organizations must be approached to expose and pressure Pakistan to identify, book and punish all those who perpetrated this heinous crime to our men in uniform.
If Pakistan is allowed to go unpunished in this case, we can only imagine the consequences.
Below is the list of 5 other soldiers who preferred to die for the country rather than open their mouths in front of enemy -
1. Sep. Arjun Ram s/o Sh. Chokka Ram; Village & PO
Gudi. Teh. & Dist.
Nagaur, (Rajasthan)
2. Sep. Bhanwar Lal Bagaria h/o Smt. Santosh Devi;
Village Sivelara;Teh.&
Dist.Sikar (Rajasthan)
3. Sep. Bhikaram h/o Smt. Bhawri Devi; Village
Patasar; Teh.
Pachpatva;Distt.Barmer (Rajasthan)
4. Sep. Moola Ram h/o Smt. Rameshwari Devi; Village
Katori; Teh. Jayal ;Dist.
Nagaur(Rajasthan)
5. Sep. Naresh Singh h/o Smt.. Kalpana Devi; Village
Chhoti Tallam;
Teh.Iglab; Dist.Aligarh (UP)
Yours truly,
Dr. N.K. Kalia (Lt. Saurabh Kalia's father).
Saurabh Nagar,
Palampur-176061
Himachal Pradesh
Tel: +91 (01894) 32065
Please sign in by writing your name and then copy and
paste it again to forward it to your friends and relatives. Let us give a supporting hand to Dr. Kalia in his efforts to get justice.
Remember, Lt. Kalia and his colleagues died on the front so that we could
sleep peacefully in our homes.
PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE ONWARD MOVEMENT OF THIS MAIL.
WE SEND ALL SORTS OF SILLY MAILS TO OUR FRIENDS WHICH
COMPEL ONE TO FORWARD BY SAYING THAT IT MAY HARM YOU IF YOU WON'T DO SO. BUT
HERE IT IS NOTHING LIKE THAT, IT WILL ONLY BE YOU WHO WILL FEEL
SATISFIED IF YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE.
JAI HIND ....Victory to India !!
Lt. Saurabh Kalia of 4 JAT Regiment of the Indian Army laid down his
life at the young age of 22 for the nation while guarding the
frontiers at Kargil.
His parents, indeed the Indian Army and nation itself,
lost a dedicated, honest and brave son.
He was the first officer to detect and inform about
Pakistani intrusion. Pakistan captured him and his patrol party of 5
brave men alive on May 15, 1999 from the Indian side of LOC.
They were kept in captivity for three weeks and
subjected to unprecedented brutal torture, evident from their bodies handed over
by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999.
The Pakistanis indulged in dastardly acts of inflicting burns on these Indian officers with cigarettes, piercing their ears with hot rods, removing their eyes before puncturing them and breaking most of the bones and teeth.
They even chopped off various limbs and private organs of the Indian soldiers besides inflicting unimaginable physical and mental torture.
After 22 days of torture, the brave soldiers were ultimately shot dead. A detailed post-mortem report is with the Indian Army. Pakistan dared to humiliate India this way flouting all international norms.
They proved the extent to which they can degrade humanity. However, the Indian soldiers did not break while undergoing all this unimaginable barbarism, which speaks volumes of their patriotism, grit, determination, tenacity and valour - something all of India should be proud of.
Sacrificing oneself for the nation is an honour every soldier would be proud of, but no parent, army or nation can accept what happened to these brave sons of India . I am afraid every parent may think twice to send their child in the armed forces if we all fall short of our duty in safeguarding the PRISONERS OF WAR AND LET THEM MEET THE FATE OF LT.SAURABH KALIA.
It may also send a demoralising signal to the army personnel fighting for the Nation that our POWs in Pak cannot be taken care of. It is a matter of shame and disgust that most of Indian Human Rights Organisations by and large, showed apathy in this matter.
Through this humble submission, may I appeal to all the civilized people irrespective of colour, caste, region, religion and political lineage to stir their conscience and rise to take this as a NATIONAL ISSUE !!!
International Human Rights Organizations must be approached to expose and pressure Pakistan to identify, book and punish all those who perpetrated this heinous crime to our men in uniform.
If Pakistan is allowed to go unpunished in this case, we can only imagine the consequences.
Below is the list of 5 other soldiers who preferred to die for the country rather than open their mouths in front of enemy -
1. Sep. Arjun Ram s/o Sh. Chokka Ram; Village & PO
Gudi. Teh. & Dist.
Nagaur, (Rajasthan)
2. Sep. Bhanwar Lal Bagaria h/o Smt. Santosh Devi;
Village Sivelara;Teh.&
Dist.Sikar (Rajasthan)
3. Sep. Bhikaram h/o Smt. Bhawri Devi; Village
Patasar; Teh.
Pachpatva;Distt.Barmer (Rajasthan)
4. Sep. Moola Ram h/o Smt. Rameshwari Devi; Village
Katori; Teh. Jayal ;Dist.
Nagaur(Rajasthan)
5. Sep. Naresh Singh h/o Smt.. Kalpana Devi; Village
Chhoti Tallam;
Teh.Iglab; Dist.Aligarh (UP)
Yours truly,
Dr. N.K. Kalia (Lt. Saurabh Kalia's father).
Saurabh Nagar,
Palampur-176061
Himachal Pradesh
Tel: +91 (01894) 32065
Please sign in by writing your name and then copy and
paste it again to forward it to your friends and relatives. Let us give a supporting hand to Dr. Kalia in his efforts to get justice.
Remember, Lt. Kalia and his colleagues died on the front so that we could
sleep peacefully in our homes.
PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE ONWARD MOVEMENT OF THIS MAIL.
WE SEND ALL SORTS OF SILLY MAILS TO OUR FRIENDS WHICH
COMPEL ONE TO FORWARD BY SAYING THAT IT MAY HARM YOU IF YOU WON'T DO SO. BUT
HERE IT IS NOTHING LIKE THAT, IT WILL ONLY BE YOU WHO WILL FEEL
SATISFIED IF YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE.
JAI HIND ....Victory to India !!
Aarabhi
A popular janya raga derived from the 29th mela Sankarabharanam. This is an audava sampoorna raga and also a murchanakaraka janya raga. Ri^ Ma and Pa of Arabhi taken as shadja resulta in the following ragas Abheri^ Mohanakalyani and Kedaragaula respectively. The svaras figuring in this raga are Sa^ Chatusruti Ri^ Sudha Ma^ Pa^ Kakali Ni^ Chatusruti Dha nd Antara Ga. An upanga raga in which Ga and Ni are deleted in arohana. This is th third among the Ghana Panchakas and is also an auspicious raga. Madhyamakala sancharas^ jantasvara prayogas^ and Dattu varises add charm and beauty to this raga. Arabhi is usually sung in the beginning of performances and tana is also performed in this. Ri^ Ma^ Dha are the jeeva and raga chaya svaras and Ri and Dha are kampita svaras. R M D R is a special prayoga and MgrsR is a ranjaka prayogas like dgrsnS - drsrsndP^ and Ni varjya prayogas like ssddppmgR are characteristics phrases of this raga. In Tamil Music this raga is known as Pazham takka ragam. A sarvakalika raga having svara sancharas in all the three sthayis. Closely resembling ragas are Syama and Devagandhari^ having same notes and derive from the same mela. But the way of singing is different. The emergence of gamakas and vilambakala prayogas will be more in Syama and Devgandhari. The dirgha Ga is a peculiarity of Devagandhari.
Aarabhi is a raga that dates back to 7 AD. Originally, it was called as pazhanthakka in Tamil music. Then it was sung in a mixed variation of Devagandhari and Aarabhi (which is sung now). But now these ragas are clearly distinguishable.
Aarabhi raga is an Owdava-sampoorna raga meaning, in arohana 5 swara comes (so it is called Owdava) and in avarohana all swara comes (so sampoorna). The arohana and avarohana structure is sa ri(2) ma(1) pa da(2) sa and sa ni(2) da(2) pa ma(1) ga(2) ri(2) sa. It is the janya raaga of Sankarabharanam and unlike Anandabhairavi it has no annya swaras in it. It is more or less a flat raaga without much kamakas and frequence variations. The important point is the swara "ga" always comes very close to "ma" so when we sing the phrase "ma ga ri" it sounds like "ma ma ri" likewise the swara "ni" always comes very close to the swara "sa" hence when we sing the phrase "sa ni da" it sounds like "sa sa da". The closest raga to this one is Devangandhari there are three main things which makes Aarabhi different
In Aarabhi the swara "ga" is close to "ma" but in Devaghandhari it is not the same.
The swara "ri" is not fluctuated in Aaarabhi but it is given "asaivu" in Devaghandhari
The phrase "pa ma da sa" should not be sung in Aarabhi it is exclusive for Devaghandhari
When anyone say Aarabhi everyone will remember the pancharatana krithi "Sadhinchanae" by Saint Thyagaraja. Here we can note that Thyagaraja uses phrases like "sa sa da" in the charanam although there are phrases like "sa ni da" also.
This raaga is a very energetic raaga and it gives more creativity for doing brigas morethan gamakas. Other main difference between Aarabhi and Devaghandhari is the former one is a medium pace raaga and the latter one is a slow paced raaga. The example is the "Ksheerasagara sayana" by Saint Thyagaraja is a slow paced song and the "sadinchanae" is a medium paced one.
This raaga appears to be favourite to many Artists. Balamuralikrishna tops the list with 5 songs PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR FEED BACKS OF ANY ERRORS OR DIFFICULTY IN DOWNLOADING.
Aarabhi is a raga that dates back to 7 AD. Originally, it was called as pazhanthakka in Tamil music. Then it was sung in a mixed variation of Devagandhari and Aarabhi (which is sung now). But now these ragas are clearly distinguishable.
Aarabhi raga is an Owdava-sampoorna raga meaning, in arohana 5 swara comes (so it is called Owdava) and in avarohana all swara comes (so sampoorna). The arohana and avarohana structure is sa ri(2) ma(1) pa da(2) sa and sa ni(2) da(2) pa ma(1) ga(2) ri(2) sa. It is the janya raaga of Sankarabharanam and unlike Anandabhairavi it has no annya swaras in it. It is more or less a flat raaga without much kamakas and frequence variations. The important point is the swara "ga" always comes very close to "ma" so when we sing the phrase "ma ga ri" it sounds like "ma ma ri" likewise the swara "ni" always comes very close to the swara "sa" hence when we sing the phrase "sa ni da" it sounds like "sa sa da". The closest raga to this one is Devangandhari there are three main things which makes Aarabhi different
In Aarabhi the swara "ga" is close to "ma" but in Devaghandhari it is not the same.
The swara "ri" is not fluctuated in Aaarabhi but it is given "asaivu" in Devaghandhari
The phrase "pa ma da sa" should not be sung in Aarabhi it is exclusive for Devaghandhari
When anyone say Aarabhi everyone will remember the pancharatana krithi "Sadhinchanae" by Saint Thyagaraja. Here we can note that Thyagaraja uses phrases like "sa sa da" in the charanam although there are phrases like "sa ni da" also.
This raaga is a very energetic raaga and it gives more creativity for doing brigas morethan gamakas. Other main difference between Aarabhi and Devaghandhari is the former one is a medium pace raaga and the latter one is a slow paced raaga. The example is the "Ksheerasagara sayana" by Saint Thyagaraja is a slow paced song and the "sadinchanae" is a medium paced one.
This raaga appears to be favourite to many Artists. Balamuralikrishna tops the list with 5 songs PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR FEED BACKS OF ANY ERRORS OR DIFFICULTY IN DOWNLOADING.
- Dheenadayalo - Balamurlikrishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?3hjmkrsaozj Dhurgalakshmi - Nithyashree
- http://www.mediafire.com/?y4mm2ifegtk Sri saraswathi - Nithyashree
- http://www.mediafire.com/?szfwmum22qj Sri sakala - Balamuralikrishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?wxvv0ydhaqk Thiruvarul purivaan - O.S. Arun
- http://www.mediafire.com/?zkxm2qeb0im Varnam - Sri venkatesham - Nithyashree
- http://www.mediafire.com/?en0kpjjmzji Ambaa sowrambaa - Aruna Sairam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?vv2mis0uxmz Dhurgaa lakshmi - Maharajapuram Santhanam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?x5m39rvnvww Mahadheva sudham - Balamuralikrishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?9udqvmewmyk Maragatha - Sudha Raghunathan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?2fjnnqntzwb Naa moralanu - Balamuralikrishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?fvltd2n92mv Shri Ramana vibho - Balamuralikrishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?fj4v2tzuxjlSri saraswathi - Maharajapuram Santhanam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?pxsagqp3xe2O Raajeevakshaa (Aalapna) - M. L. Vasanthakumari
- http://www.mediafire.com/?hkgejmevxqfO Raajevaakshaa - M. L. Vasanthakumari
- http://www.mediafire.com/?wmxudmnpjyd Chalakalla - R. Ganesh
- http://www.mediafire.com/?umntzsu9dsj Narasimha maamava - Maharajpuram Santhanam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?uh1y2b4z7mn Saalakalla - Maharajpuram Santhanam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?xwzxcbyjdiz Sri saraswathi - Bombay Jayashri
- http://www.mediafire.com/?nznfjy9xv03 Sri saraswathi - Radha Jayalakshmi
- http://www.mediafire.com/?lzbrdyd2h7e Joothaa muraare - S. P. Raamh
- http://www.mediafire.com/?izjtlzf2in2 Yen thaai neeyandro - Aruna Sairam
- http://www.mediafire.com/?t2sv41y4ho9 Saadinchane - T. N. Seshagopalan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?plnjzcssmpt Saadinchane - Neyveli Santhanagoplan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?yxaz29dsgo4 Kodubega dhivyamathi - M. L. Vasanthakumari
- http://www.mediafire.com/?saglyvw2yx9 Ongi ulagalandha - M. L. Vasanthakumari
- http://www.mediafire.com/?suluymvpk5c Ongi Ulagalanda - T. M. Krishna
- http://www.mediafire.com/?4hcei9qx5on Paahi parvatha - K. J. Yesudoss
- http://www.mediafire.com/?mmghp4lpms6 Pranavaakaaram - O. S. Arun
- http://www.mediafire.com/?mbf0j69xcoy Maara koti - Bombay Jayashri
- http://www.mediafire.com/?d8hiy0i9crf Varnam - Anname - T. N. Seshgopalan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?81tu9hthzwi Varnam - Anname - Ananthalakshmi sadagopan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?parpbsqu1fs Saadinchane - Nithyashree
- http://www.mediafire.com/?20reh49dyvq Iyyappanai Panivom - T. V. Sankaranarayanan
- http://www.mediafire.com/?s7gof3bvy0m Naadha sudha - Balamuralikrishna
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Pooja C. said... - thanks sooo much for this! i love the song sri sakala sung by sudev warrier! thanks again!
pooja <3
- Lakshmi said...
- good work.......can i get sadhinchane by sudha......
hvaidya said...- Ms. lakshmi, Thanks for your comments. I do not have Saadinchane by Sudha in my library. I will find out whether she has sung this in any concerts. Please be on the look out for her concerts.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
What is our character?
OUR CHARACTER IS SHOWN BY…
The jokes we CHOOSE to share…and not to share.
The derogatory terms we CHOOSE to use…and refuse to use.
The promises we CHOOSE to break…and the ones we keep.
The rumors we CHOOSE to spread…and those we ignore.
The resources we CHOOSE to waste…and those we use wisely.
The lies we CHOOSE to tell…and not to tell.
The responsibilities we CHOOSE to accept…and those we shirk.
The courtesies we CHOOSE to extend…and fail to extend.
The efforts we CHOOSE to put forth…and not put forth.
The quality we CHOOSE to provide…and the corners we cut.
.
The listening we CHOOSE to do and not do.
The respect we CHOOSE to give…and fail to give.
The helpful hands we CHOOSE to extend…and those we keep in our pockets.
The jokes we CHOOSE to share…and not to share.
The derogatory terms we CHOOSE to use…and refuse to use.
The promises we CHOOSE to break…and the ones we keep.
The rumors we CHOOSE to spread…and those we ignore.
The resources we CHOOSE to waste…and those we use wisely.
The lies we CHOOSE to tell…and not to tell.
The responsibilities we CHOOSE to accept…and those we shirk.
The courtesies we CHOOSE to extend…and fail to extend.
The efforts we CHOOSE to put forth…and not put forth.
The quality we CHOOSE to provide…and the corners we cut.
.
The listening we CHOOSE to do and not do.
The respect we CHOOSE to give…and fail to give.
The helpful hands we CHOOSE to extend…and those we keep in our pockets.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Music in Life
Music can complement neurological disorder management, says expert Special Correspondent
— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
CLARIFYING DOUBTS: Neurologist Krishnamoorthy Srinivas answering a question from the audience after a talk on “Mind, Stress, Music and Health,” the first in a lecture series, at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Chennai on Sunday.
| “Evidence shows music therapy constitutes an important branch of modern medicine” |
CLARIFYING DOUBTS: Neurologist Krishnamoorthy Srinivas answering a question from the audience after a talk on “Mind, Stress, Music and Health,” the first in a lecture series, at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Chennai on Sunday.
CHENNAI: Music can complement the management of neurological disorders, but should not be regarded as a panacea, neurologist Krishnamoorthy Srinivas said on Sunday.
Launching a series of medical lectures in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Dr. Srinivas, chairman-Emeritus of the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Voluntary Health Services, said the emerging body of evidence was substantive enough to show that music therapy, though debatable, constituted an important branch of modern medicine.
In a lecture on “Mind, Stress, Music and Health,” he pointed to the findings of a study he led in association with the IIT-Madras, in which a group of patients with no previous initiation into classical music were exposed to ‘tala’ cycles on the mridangam even as a functional MRI scan mapped their brain functions.
In the talk interspersed with snatches of music ranging from K. L. Saigal to M. S. Subbulakshmi, Dr. Srinivas said the study showed that exposure to a repetitive music rhythm triggered a “willed action” that involved attention, concentration, intentionality and a learning process, even in the musically naïve group.
“Importantly, the study showed that the location of memory in the brain is more diffused than localised,” he said.
This marked a departure from Western understanding of the memory function. Several studies, especially from Harvard University, appeared to illustrate how early initiation into music (7-8 years) helped individuals develop faculties sharper than others.
The senior neurologist had a few words of advice for the young and the old.
While the elderly would do well to practise anger management, exercise in moderation and try to understand and accommodate the culture of youth, youngsters should rein in their ambition, avoid cut-throat competition and spoiling their health by the time they reached the age of 40.
Courtesy The Hindu dated 28.7.2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Is India shining?
This was an interesting article appeared in Hindu. I thought it is worth sharing and so I posted this for those who do not have access to "The Hindu"
'Let my countrymen awake'
| Can we regain the lost glory? |
Mirle Karthik
An e-mail that I received compelled me to write this piece. The mail is about the achievement of Indians in various spheres both at home and abroad. While the veracity of the data in the mail may need closer scrutiny, even a cursory glance at the points mentioned therein makes interesting reading. The top names in the world’s leading IT companies are Indians. If Sabeer Bhatia is the founder and creator of Hotmail, the world’s leading web based email program, Vinod Dahm is the creator of the Pentium Processor. Azim Premji has overtaken the Sultan of Brunei in the list of the world’s richest men.
There are some more interesting statistics. 36 per cent of NASA scientists are Indians. 34 per cent of Microsoft employees are Indians. 38 per cent of doctors in USA are Indians. The mail then goes on to elaborate about the achievements of ancient Indians, purportedly mentioned in a German magazine. From metallurgy to surgery to mathematics to art and culture, it is obvious that Indians dominated the world with their remarkable accomplishments. For good measure, quotes from famous personalities like Einstein, Romain Rolland among others are also included.
Finally, comes the question “Why we are where we are today” with the exhortation to all Indians to rise and bring back the lost glory. The first thing that occurred to my mind was our appalling lack of self pride.
Anything that is Indian immediately means that it is inferior. Be it in our dress, food habits, mannerisms or lifestyle, it must conform to Western standards. The next thing that pulls India back by ten steps for every step forward is corruption.
From the highest level downwards, such is its stranglehold that it has virtually sapped the life blood of our country. All projects and schemes have their innards emptied by this monster which struts about in the form of officials for whom all the world is their stage.
Erosion of values
Caste and religion are the veritable albatrosses around our necks. Merit takes a backseat in front of caste considerations. Caste politics is a convenient tool for politicians to create schisms where none exist. Bright and deserving people have to silently gnash their teeth as less deserving persons sail past them on the basis of their castes.
Corruption, nepotism and favouritism are the visible signs of a sick society that has cut off its connections with its austere past and adopted an alien lifestyle marked by brash and consumptive living, devoid of moral and ethical values. Under such conditions, is it any surprise if enterprising Indians go in search of greener pastures?
And we, the gullible populace, who allow ourselves to be fooled election after election with promises of heaven on earth, are also to blame for we couldn’t care less about the country as long as we are comfortable. Granted, there are islands of green amidst this ocean of gloom. But they are few and far between.
Tagore’s statement “into that heaven of freedom, let my countrymen awake” must be interpreted as the freedom from all the aforementioned ills, if India has to regain her lost glory.
To improve life
This was an interesting article published in Hindu today, also regarding our Carnatic music and Science and its effects. Worth reading.
‘Semmangudi’s music allows you to transcend’ Meera Srinivasan
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
Dr. V.S. Ramachandran
‘Semmangudi’s music allows you to transcend’ Meera Srinivasan
| Paying tribute to the maestro on the occasion of his birth centenary, neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran reflects on ‘the impulse that drives great music and art...the tremendous need, this desire to reach for the stars, to transcend your mortal frame.’ |
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
CHENNAI: If there is something that fascinates physician and neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran as much as phantoms in the brain, it must be Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer’s music. His face lights up when he begins speaking about his favourite musician.
As a teenager, he went, with his mother, to one of the maestro’s concerts at the Mylapore Fine Arts Club and has been an ardent fan ever since. “His music has been a source of inspiration for the scientific, medical research I do,” says the Director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and Professor of Neurosciences and Psychology at the University of California, San Diego, and author of several acclaimed books about the human brain and mind. “Whenever I travel to give a lecture, I listen to a song by Semmangudi in my car. It elevates you to another plane and then the lecture goes off very smoothly. If you ask me why or what is going on in the brain, I still don’t know.”
From interactions with the great musician on different occasions, Dr. Ramachandran, who studied medicine at Stanley Medical College, Chennai and did a doctorate at Trinity College, Cambridge, recalls that Semmangudi’s perspectives exuded quintessential sarcasm, humour, and wit. “We spoke in Tamil and I’m afraid his humour will get lost in translation.” The neuroscientist, in the company of a few family members and friends, visited Semmangudi two years before he died in 2003. The maestro, who was born on July 25, 1908, was interested to learn that the neuroscientist was a grandson of Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer (1883-1953) and they had a memorable chat:
Hindustani and Carnatic musicDr. V.S. Ramachandran
Ramachandran: What is the difference between North Indian music and South Indian music?
Semmangudi: Look Rama, there is nothing like one being superior and the other being inferior. But North Indian music is like Krishnavatharam and ours, like Ramavatharam. Our music has purity. Their music is equally good but a lot of mischief creeps in, you see! We can sing in their style, but they cannot sing in ours. [The visitor requested the maestro to make available some of the audio recordings of his concerts. At that time, audio tapes were more popular than compact disks.]
Semmangudi: Rama, I do not believe in these tapes.
Ramachandran: Why do you say that, sir?
‘Flowers in a refrigerator’Semmangudi: Look, it is like this. When we sing swarams, it is like decorating the raga devadai [angel] with flowers. It should come spontaneously, flowing freely like a pravaham [cascade]. If you stuff the swaras into a tape recorder, it will be equivalent to keeping the flowers in a refrigerator and taking them out periodically to smell their fragrance. Some people even take the tape recorder into the bathroom!
[Dr. Ramachandran’s annotation today is: “It is as if he is implying that respect should be accorded not only to him, but also to recordings of his music. You can’t be disrespectful by taking it to the bathroom. Of course, he was saying it in a humorous manner. Obviously it is not meant to be taken literally.”]
Ramachandran: I agree with your view on tape recorders, but I have heard your Thodi swarams for Sri Krishnam Bhaja Manasa and your Kapi raga alapana a hundred times and they retain the original freshness of the flowers.
Semmangudi: Oh Rama! That’s your bhakti, not my music! When we are singing swarams, it is like decorating the raga devadai with flowers. It shouldn’t seem like a spelling. It should be soaked in bhava.
[The neuroscientist’s annotation: “Today, many seem a little obsessed with calculations to show their virtuosity rather than bring out the bhava of the raga, which is what is unique to our music. And he’s absolutely right about that, isn’t he?”]
Ramachandran: What do you think about today’s musicians?
Contemporary musiciansSemmangudi: Oh, today’s musicians sing very well. People say [the quality of] music is declining but that is not true. All of them sing well, but they all sound just the same!
Ramachandran: How do you say that?
Semmangudi: Now we have the tape recorder, right? In those days we did not have tape recorders. My style is different, Madurai Mani’s style is different, MDR [M.D. Ramanathan]’s style is different. We were singing differently. But today people listen to each other’s music and start sounding similar. There are fewer opportunities for each artiste to evolve his own distinctive style.
Ramachandran’s friend: Sir, what do you think of other musicians?
Semmangudi: Who are you referring to?
Ramachandran’s friend: What is your opinion of Dr. Balamuralikrishna?
Semmangudi: Budhishaali! (He is extremely intelligent.)
Ramachandran’s friend: Oh, but he can’t sing like you, sir.
Semmangudi: Neither can I sing like him.
Favourite raga?Ramachandran’s friend: Do you have a favourite raga?
Semmangudi: One cannot really say this or that is his favourite raga. Take Bhairavi, for instance. It is a boundless ocean. Each time you sing the ragam, the waves are different. What can we say about such an ocean? Take Thodi...it is another vast ocean.
Ramachandran: What do you think of MDR?
Semmangudi: He is a genius. You just have to listen to his Janani in Reethigowlai.
Ramachandran: What do you think of Mandolin Srinivas?
Semmangudi: He is a genius too.
Ramachandran: And M.S. [M.S. Subbulakshmi]?
MS ‘at the peak’Semmangudi: Well, she is really at the peak. How can someone like me even begin to comment on her stature? I merely taught her a couple of songs...but she is at the very peak now.
Semmangudi [on the future of Carnatic music]: There is a misconception that the interest in Carnatic music is on the decline. In fact, there is a tremendous interest and passion among our youngsters all over the world for our great tradition in Carnatic music: It is immortal.
On one occasion, while introducing Maharajapuram Santhanam to the audience at a felicitation function at the Music Academy, the maestro said: “He is my guru’s [Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer’s] son. When he was a little boy, I would toss him up in the air and play with him, but now [sizing him up with his eyes], I can’t quite manage that.” The audience roared in laughter.
“Some people can humble you with their very presence,” remarks Dr. Ramachandran. “He was certainly one of them.”
Science and musicGradually and cautiously, the research scientist in the passionate Semmangudi fan moves on to the question of how the brain could possibly produce music like his. “At this stage in our understanding of the brain,” reflects Dr. Ramachandran, “if we were to ask how the brain has these transcendental experiences, we are not anywhere near answering that question. If you ask a hard core scientist, he will tell you that there are neurons flaring away and some pattern of activity is producing a response to Semmangudi. So when I put on my scientist’s hat, I will tell you that there is some extraordinary pattern in his brain which is unique to him and him alone. On the other hand, sometimes, all you can do is throw up your arms in wonder and acknowledge that there is something transcendental which none of us understands and may be, will never understand. It is as if his music provides an antenna, a direct hotline to God. You feel transported.”
The ineffable quality of superior music is often inexplicable. “There is something about the music of Semmangudi or Madurai Mani. Madurai Mani’s swaram in Kanada, or Semmangudi’s neraval in Thodi are simply unmatched. Semmangudi’s swarams in the slower paces, medium paces were extraordinary. He was particularly good at that.”
Now, how does one explain, in neural terms, the experience of being transported?
The neuroscientist’s carefully considered answer is:
“People often ask me, reporters, journalists, students and colleagues — What is special about humans? After all, we are just a sophisticated ape, if you believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution, which obviously as a biologist I do.
“We have language, apes do not have language. You are aware of yourself. An ape doesn’t have that kind of awareness. We have laughter and humour, all of this is true. But in truth even the great apes have some rudiments of these abilities.
Transcendence“One thing unique about being human, ironically, is the desire to be more than human. No ape wants to be more than an ape. So this tremendous need, this desire to reach for the stars, to transcend your mortal frame — that is the impulse that drives great music and art. That is what our music does, which western music doesn’t. It is more intellectual. This is common knowledge. But coming from a neuroscientist, it may have more credibility.”
So what is the connection between brain activity and transcendence? Nobody knows the answer, Dr. Ramachandran responds.
“As I say in my book The Emerging Mind, we are perpetually in this dilemma, that, on the one hand, everything we know from science tells you that you are merely a beast and, yet, you know in your heart you are much more than that.”
“Nobody really knows the answer to such questions. So you feel like you’re an angel trapped in the body of a beast, forever wanting to fly off, seeking transcendence. That is essentially the human predicament in a nutshell. And that is what music does every now and then. Semmangudi’s singing gives you a glimpse of the other world.”
Can science really attempt to explain artistic greatness of the Semmangudi kind? “Doesn’t matter what scientists say,” the neuroscientist answers. “Like my friend, a bookstore owner, once said: ‘You can take Semmangudi, put him in an MRI machine, and the report will come out saying ‘completely normal’!”
Artistry, I persist, cannot be explained by science. But does science acknowledge that different faculties of the brain manifest themselves in different aspects of music?
“Undoubtedly, yes,” exclaims Dr. Ramachandran. “There is clearly something going on in the brain. But it may not merely be that. I adopt a point of view which is called being a Platonist in philosophy, which is very unfashionable because modern philosophers are realists. They believe that there are atoms and molecules, and everything else follows. The fallacy here is to argue that because you have explained something, you have explained it away. Contrary to this view, Plato insisted that there are other realms of reality. Each realm has its own laws and acquires its own beauty once it has emerged.
“You might say it has now acquired its own dimension of reality,” the neuroscientist adds. “And if you go even further beyond that, you get transcendence, which few musicians achieve. Just like Einstein came up with the theory of relativity...Semmangudi’s music allows you to transcend. Take his Sri Krishnam Bhaja Manasa or his Ragam Thanam Pallavi in Shanmugapriya, for instance. There is a certain grandeur about his music — it is majestic and extrovert —touching the very ‘hem of divinity’.”
Recalling his meeting with the maestro, Dr. Ramachandran says: “As soon as we walked in, we saw a photograph of Ariyakudi on the wall. I didn’t ask him anything about it and he didn’t say anything either. I remember that [Francis] Crick similarly had only Einstein’s picture on his wall. It sort of implies, ‘This is the only other person whose existence I acknowledge’.”
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