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நேற்று ஒரு உபநயனத்துக்குப் போனேன். மேடை மேல் உபநயனப் பையன் மாலை அணிந்து கொண்டு நான்கு புறமும் வேடிக்கை பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தான். அவன் அணிந்திருக்கும் செயின் போட்டோவில் விழவேண்டுமே என்ற கவலையில் அவனுடைய தாய் அடிக்கடி குனிந்து அதை எடுத்து மாலை மேல் நெளிய விட்டுக் கொண்டிருநதாள். ஸாஸ்திரிகள் புத்தகத்தைப் பார்த்து மந்திரம் சொல்லிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். வீடியோக்காரர் அவருக்கு வெளிச்சம் காட்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். வேத மந்திரங்கள் மகா புனிதமானவை, அதைக் காதால் கேட்டாலே புண்ணியம். அதை வாயால் வேறு சொல்வானேன் என்ற எண்ணத்தில் பையனின் தகப்பனார் மந்திரத்தைச் சொல்லாமல் வாசல் பக்கம் பார்ப்பதும் வருவோர்களைக் கை கூப்பி வரவேற்பதுமாக இருந்தார். அவரது ஓவர்சைஸ் தொப்பையும் பஞ்சகச்சமும் பொருந்தாத் திருமணம் புரிந்த தம்பதிகள் போல போராடிக் கொண்டிருந்தன. வேட்டி விவாக ரத்து செய்துவிடப் போகிறதே என்ற பயத்தில் அவர் அடிக்கடி அதைக் கையால் பிடித்தபடி இருந்தார். வடுவிற்கு பசிக்கப் போகிறதே என்ற கரிசனத்தோடு அத்தைகளும் சித்திகளும் அவனுக்கு அடிக்கடி பால், ஜூஸ் முதலானவற்றைக் கொடுத்துக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். 

என் அருகில் பேண்ட் டீ ஷர்ட் அணிந்த மீசை வைத்த மூத்த குடிமகன் ஒருவர் இருந்தார். (அமெரிக்க) நாடாறு மாதம், (இந்தியக்) காடாறு மாதம் வாழ்பவர் என்று அவர் நெற்றியில் ஒட்டியிருந்தது. அவர் முன் வரிசையில் பிட்ஸ் பிலானி என்று அச்சிட்ட டீ ஷர்ட் அணிந்திருந்த ஒரு பையனிடம் ஸாஸ்திரிகள் சொல்லிக் கொண்டிருந்த மந்திரங்களுக்கு அவ்வப்போது ரன்னிங் காமெண்ட்டரி கொடுத்துக் கொண்டிருந்தார். ஒரு தடவை என் பக்கம் திரும்பி இதை எல்லாம் நாம தான் இந்தக் காலத்து இளைஞர்களுக்கு எடுத்துச் சொல்லணும். ஒண்ணுமே தெரியாமல் வளர்றதுகள் என்று சொன்னார். 

ஆசீர்வதிக்க வந்த மக்கள் பல குழுக்களாகப் பிரிந்து பேசிக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். ஒவ்வொரு நேரத்தில் ஒவ்வொரு குழுவின் பேச்சு பலமாக ஒலித்ததால் எல்லாவற்றிலும் கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சம் காதில் விழுந்தது. 

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ஏன் மாமி, இந்தப் புடவை பிரசாந்தியா? அதில் தான் நிறைய வெரைட்டி வருகிறது. நன்றாக இருக்கிறது. 

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எதுக்கு மாமா கல் மேலே நிக்கறான்?
கல்லைப் போல உறுதியா இருக்கணும்னு உபதேசம் பண்றார் குரு, அதாவது அவன் அப்பா. குழந்தாய், இந்தக் கல் மீது நில். அதைப் போல் அசையாமல் இருந்து உன் எதிரிகளை வெற்றி கொள் அப்படின்னு அர்த்தம் இப்போ சொல்ற மந்திரத்துக்கு.

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சென்னை சூபர் கிங்க்ஸ் இந்தத் தடவை ஜெயிக்காதுன்னு முன்னாடியே தெரிஞ்சு போச்சு. 

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எதுக்கு மாமா கயறு கட்டறா? கயறு இல்லேடா. அதுக்குப் பேரு மௌஞ்ஜி. முஞ்ஜிங்கிற புல்லினால் செய்யணும். இப்போ தர்ப்பையாலே முறுக்கிப் பண்றா. இந்த மௌஞ்ஜி வீட்டைத் தூய்மைப்படுத்துகிறது. பிராண அபானங்களுக்கு பலம் தருகிறது. ஸத்யத்தைக் காப்பது. பகைவரைக் கொல்வது. இதனால் நாம் நலம் பெறுவோம்னு அந்த மந்திரத்துக்கு அர்த்தம். 

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வாண்டுகள் ஒன்றை ஒன்று துரத்திக் கொண்டு மண்டபத்தைச் சுற்றிச் சுற்றி வந்தன. சுரிதார்கள் ஒரு ஓரமாக நின்று கிளுகிளுத்தன. ஒரு எட்டு வயதுப் பட்டுப் பாவாடை மாம்பழ ஜூஸ் கொண்டு வந்து எல்லோருக்கும் கொடுத்தது. குடித்துவிட்டு எல்லோரும் பிளாஸ்டிக் கப்புகளை நாற்காலியின் கீழ் போட்டுவிட்டுப் பேச்சைத் தொடர்ந்தனர். 

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தக்ஷிணை எவ்வளவு?
இருபதாயிரம். 
அடேயப்பா. இருந்தாலும் இந்த வைதீகாளுக்கு இவ்வளவு பேராசை ஆகாது.
இதெல்லாம் டிமாண்ட் அண்ட சப்ளையை பொறுத்த விஷயம் ஸ்வாமி. நல்ல வைதீகா கிடைக்கிறதில்லே. அதனாலே தான் இந்த டிமாண்ட். 
இருந்தாலும் வேதத்தை அத்தியயனம் செய்துவிட்டு தர்மத்துக்கு வழி காட்ட வேண்டியவா இப்படி அக்கிரமம் பண்ணினா ஜனங்களுக்கு வைதீக சிரத்தையே போயிடும் ஸ்வாமி.

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குருவே, நான் வேதம் பயிலத் தகுதி அடைந்து விட்டேன். என்னை அருகே அழைத்துக் கொள்ளும்னு பையன் சொல்றதாக அர்த்தம்

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காலம்பர டிபன் நன்னா இருந்தது. யார் கேட்டரிங்
அடுத்த தெருவிலே தான் இருக்கார். அவா கிட்ட எப்பவுமே சாப்பாடு ஐட்டம் டேஸ்ட்டாகத் தான் இருக்கும். ரேட்டும் மாடரேட்டா இருக்கும். 
ஜனவரிலே பொண்ணு கல்யாணம் வெச்சிருக்கேன். இவாளையே சொல்லிடலாம்னு பார்க்கறேன். மத்தியான்னம் லஞ்ச்சையும் சாப்பிட்டுப் பார்த்துட்டுத் தான் சொல்லணும்.

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வேதம் காயத்திரி, பரப்ரும்ம்ம் இவ்றில் எதை நாடுகிறாய் அப்படின்னு குரு கேட்கிறார். பரப்ரும்மமே எனது லட்சியம், மற்றவை சாதனம்னு பையன் சொல்றான். இவா ரெண்டு பேருமே வாயைத் திறக்கல்லே. ஸாஸ்திரிகள் தான் கேள்வியையும் கேட்டு பதிலையும் சொல்லிண்டிருக்கார்.

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மேடையில் ஒரு ஸாஸ்திரிகள் செல்போனில் பேசிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். நீங்க ஒண்ணும் கவலைப்படாதீங்கோண்ணா. வேன்காரனே கீத்து, கழி, சட்டி, நெய் ஜாடா சாமானும் கொண்டு வந்துடுவான். நான் இன்னும் அரை மணிலே வரேன்.

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இந்த்த் தடவை புதுக்கோட்டைலே ஏடிஎம்கே தான். 
சொல்லமுடியாது. ஆன்டி- இன்கம்பன்சி பாக்டர் தான் கடுமையா இருக்குன்னு ஒரு பேப்பர்லே எழுதியிருக்கான். 

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எதுக்கு மாமா மரக்கிளையைக் கையிலே வெச்சிண்டிருக்கான்?
பொரச மரம்னு ஒரு மரம். அதோட கிளை இது. பலாச தண்டம்னு ஸம்ஸ்கிருதத்திலே சொல்லுவா. பலாச தண்டமே, நீ எப்படி தேவர்களது நிதியைக் காக்கிறாயோ அப்படியே நான் பிராமண நிதியான வேதத்தைக் காக்கணும்னு பையன் சொல்லணும்.

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நாளைக்கு நீர் ப்ரீயா?
நான் நாளைக்கு துரோந்தோவிலே டெல்லி போறேன். உபாத்தியாயக்காரா ஆத்திலே கல்யாணம். வர நாலு நாளாகும் 
லகாரத்தோட திரும்பி வருவீர்?
அப்படிப்பட்ட எடம் இல்லே. கொடுத்ததை வாங்கிக்க வேண்டியது தான்.
நாலு நாளைக்கு ஊரை விட்டுப் போறதுன்னா தக்ஷிணை கணிசமா இல்லாட்டா நீர் போமாட்டீரே. சிஷ்யனை அனுப்பிப் பண்ணி வைக்கச் சொல்லிடுவீரே. எனக்குத் தெரியாதா?

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பாடம்னு சொல்லு, பாடம்னு சொல்லுங்கிறாரே ஸாஸ்திரிகள். எதுக்கு மாமா?
குரு சொல்றதுக்கெல்லாம் சரி சரின்னு பையன் சொல்லணும்.
.நீ பிரம்மசரிய ஆசிரமத்தை அடைஞ்சுட்டாய். 
நான் சொன்ன பிறகே உணவு சாப்பிடணும். ஆனா தண்ணீர் மட்டும கேட்காமல் பருகலாம் 
.பணிவிடைகளைச் செய் 
பகலில் தூங்காதே 
பிட்சை எடு.
ஆசிரியருக்கு அடங்கி இரு
இப்படி ஒவ்வொண்ணா குரு சொல்லச் சொல்ல பையன் சரி சரின்னு சொல்றதாக அர்த்தம். 

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இது தான் கடைசி மந்திரம். பையனுக்கு சந்தியாவநதனம் செய்யறதிலே சிரத்தை உண்டாகணுங்கிறதுக்காக சொல்றது. சௌபாக்யம் உண்டாக்கும் சிரத்தா தேவியே, உலகில் இன்பம் தேடும் அனைவருக்கும் இன்பம் தருக. உன்னை நான் மூன்று வேளைகளிலும் அழைக்கிறேன். எனக்கு சிரத்தை உண்டாகும்படி செய். இந்த மந்திரத்தையாவது பையனை ஒழுங்கா சொல்ல வெச்சு அர்த்தம் சொல்லி இருக்கலாம். ஸாஸ்திரிகளுக்கே அர்த்தம் தெரியுமோ தெரியாதோ!

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ஒரு பிளாஸ்டிக் வாளி நிறைய அரிசி வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. பையன் வெள்ளித் தட்டைக் கையில் ஏந்தியபடி, அம்மணி, பிச்சை போடுங்கள் என்று பரிதாபமாக வேண்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தான். வித்யார்த்திகளுக்கு உதவ வேண்டும் என்ற பாரம்பரியம் தவறாத பட்டுப் புடவை மாமிகள் க்யூ வரிசையில் நின்று அந்த ஏழை மாணவனின் பசி தீர்ப்பதற்காக வெள்ளிக் கிண்ணத்தால் அரிசி மொண்டு மிகுந்த பரிவுடனும் சிரத்தையுடனும் தட்டில் போட்டனர். கூடவே ஐந்து ரூபாய் பத்து ரூபாய் நாணயங்களையும் போட்டனர். அரிசியையும் காசையும் அவன் வேறு ஒரு வாளியில் கொட்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தான்.

அவன் எல்லா அரிசியையும் காசையும் தின்று அஜீரணத்துக்கு உள்ளாகிவிடப் போகிறானே என்ற கவலையால் ஸாஸ்திரிகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் ஒரு மூட்டையாகக் கட்டி வைத்தார். 

தன் சிஷ்யனைக் கூப்பிட்டு டேய் இதை எடுத்துக்கோடா என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு மேடையில் இருந்த தேங்காய்களைத் தன் பையில் போடத் தொடங்கினார். அவர் கிளம்புவதைக் கண்ட பையனின் தகப்பனார், ஸாஸ்திரிகளே, மாத்தியான்னிகம் பண்ணி வைக்கணுமே என்று பவ்யமாகக் கேட்டார். 

எனக்கு நேரமாகி விட்டது. இன்னிக்கு ஏகப்பட்ட வேலை. உமக்காக வந்தேன். நீங்களே மாத்தியான்னிகம் பண்ணி வெச்சுருங்கோ. நான் வரேன்.

பையனின் தகப்பனார் எழுந்து பஞ்சகச்சம் விழாமல் பிடித்துக் கொண்டு கீழே இறங்கி வந்து ஒவ்வொருவரிடமும் மாத்தியான்னிகம் பண்ணி வெக்கறேளா என்று வேண்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். ஒருவரும் சம்மதிக்கவில்லை. என் பக்கத்தில் இருந்த அரை அமெரிக்கரிடம் கேட்டபோது அவர் நான் பேண்ட் போட்டுக் கொண்டு வந்திருக்கிறேன். மந்திரம் சொல்லணும்னா அதுக்குள்ள வேஷத்தோட இருக்கணும் என்று சொல்லி மறுத்து விட்டார். 

என்னிடம் வந்தார். நீங்கள் சந்தியா வந்தனம் செய்வதில்லை. உங்கள் பையனும் செய்யப் போவதில்லை. நாளை முதல் நிறுத்துவதை இன்றைக்கே நிறுத்தி விடலாம் என்று சொல்ல நினைத்தேன். அதைத் தான் சொல்வானேன் வாய் தான் நோவானேன் என்று நினைத்து மௌனமாகத் தலையாட்டி மறுத்தேன். 

பையனின் குடும்பத்தாரின் பிராமண அப்பிராமண உறவினர்களும் நண்பர்களும் கியூ வரிசையில் சென்று ஒவ்வொருவராகக் கவரைக் கொடுத்துப் போட்டோ பிடித்துக் கொண்டார்கள். போட்டோ செஷன் ஒரு மணி நேரம் நடந்தது.

பையனுக்கு வேத அத்தியயனம் செய்யத் தகுதி வந்து விட்டது. வரும் ஆவணி அவிட்டத்து அன்று அவன் வியாச ஹோமம் செய்து வேதத்தைக் கற்கத் தொடங்கி விடுவான் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடனும், தன் மேல் சுமத்தப்பட்ட வேத ரக்ஷணம் என்ற மிகப் பெரிய பொறுப்பைப் பிராமண சமூகம் இன்று வரை நிறைவேற்றிவிட்டது என்ற திருப்தியுடனும் எல்லோரும் சாப்பிட்டுவிட்டுக் கலைந்தனர். 

இப்படியாக உபநயனம் சிறப்பாக நடந்தேறியது

Siva Siva Humor!

Making human life useful

Vegan Diet

JUNE 20, 2012, 12:01 AM

Can Athletes Perform Well on a Vegan Diet?

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

With the publication this month of "Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness," by the vegan distance runner Scott Jurek, vegan diets have become a wildly popular topic on running-related Web sites. But is going totally meatless and, as in Mr. Jurek's case, dairy-free advisable for other serious athletes, or for the rest of us who just want to be healthy and fit?

To find out, I talked with three experts about why, and whether, those of us who are active should consider giving up meat or more. None of the experts are themselves vegan, though two are vegetarian: David C. Nieman, a professor of health and exercise science at Appalachian State University, who's run 58 marathons or ultramarathons and has studied runners at extreme events; and D. Enette Larson-Meyer, an associate professor of human nutrition at the University of Wyoming, as well as a longtime competitive athlete and author of "Vegetarian Sports Nutrition." A third expert, Nancy Clark, who describes herself as "two-thirds vegetarian" -- she doesn't have meat at breakfast or lunch, but does at dinner -- is a sports nutrition expert in Massachusetts and the author of "Nancy Clark's Food Guide for Marathoners."

Q.

Will a vegan diet make someone a better athlete?

A.

Nancy Clark: I was just at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual meeting in San Francisco, and there was a presentation about vegetarian athletes that basically concluded that there's not enough research to know how vegetarian -- let alone vegan -- diets affect athletes. But anecdotally, people do fine. It's possible that some vegan athletes are low on creatine, a nutrient that you get only from meat and that can help during short bouts of intense exercise, like sprinting, though supplementation isn't necessary. My feeling is that hard training trumps everything. Diet, if it's healthy, isn't going to make that much difference.

Q.

Is it hard for someone who's training vigorously to get enough protein on a vegan diet?

A.

David Nieman: The foods that vegans like Scott Jurek avoid, like dairy products and eggs, are the easy ways to get protein in a plant-based diet, obviously. But you still have grains, nuts, soy. Eat enough of that and you'll be fine. The one issue is vitamin B12, which is found only in meat; B12 is important for endurance athletes, since it affects red blood cell production. But many cereals and soy milks are fortified with B12 now, or you can take supplements.

Nancy Clark: You do have to be diligent about protein intake if you're vegan. I have clients, especially women, who say, 'Oh, I put a few chickpeas in my salad.' But that's not going to do it. Women need about 60 to 90 grams of protein a day, and athletes are on the high end of that. That means you have to eat cupfuls of chickpeas. And you can't eat a quarter of that cake of tofu. You need to eat the whole thing. It's not that there aren't good sources of vegan protein. But it's not as bioavailable as meat. So you need to have more.

Q.

Is it true that you can combine plant proteins throughout the day to create complete proteins? You don't have to eat them all at the same meal?

A.

D. Enette Larson-Meyer: Years ago, studies in rats showed that if they were fed only one source of protein, like corn, all day, they did not get sufficient amounts of essential amino acids. From that, the idea grew that you had to combine proteins at the same meal. But since then, other studies have found that if you get multiple sources of protein throughout the day, that's fine. Have rice at breakfast and beans at lunch or dinner.

Q.

Is it hard for someone who's training vigorously to get enough calories on a vegan diet?

A.

Nancy Clark: It's not hard at all. My favorite weight gain or weight maintenance advice is to drink juice. Grape juice, pomegranate juice, tart cherry juice. They have plenty of calories, and if you pick the right juice, especially pomegranate or tart cherry juice, it looks as if they can help with recovery. Tart cherry juice was a very popular topic at the recent American College of Sports Medicine meeting. It's a potent beverage, in terms of speeding recovery. And it's vegan.

Q.

Will vegan or even vegetarian diets help you to lose weight?

A.

David Nieman: Short answer: No. Vegetarians tend to weigh 6 to 10 pounds less than meat eaters. But that's probably due to self-selection bias. Many vegetarians are more health conscious to start with. You can overeat on a plant-based diet. There are obese vegetarians. Junk food can be vegetarian. You still have to make healthy food choices, whatever your diet.

Q.

Because of Scott Jurek's book and others, there's some sense out there that athletes should become vegans. Do you agree?

A.

David Nieman: I know Scott. He's been a subject in some of our studies at the Western States 100. He's a great guy -- opinionated, sure, but he's been very successful as a racer, so he can have opinions. But runners always think they have inside information on nutrition. They don't. It's my duty as a scientist to separate out the hype from what's been validated.

What we know is that when it comes to endurance performance, it's all about the fuel, primarily carbohydrates, and you can get sufficient carbohydrates whether you're a vegetarian or a meat eater -- unless you follow a really goofy diet, which some people do. It's possible to eat a lousy vegetarian diet, just as you as can eat a lousy meat-based diet.

Q.

So is there any compelling reason for those of us who are active but not necessarily running ultramarathons to decide to become vegan?

A.

D. Enette Larson-Meyer: In general, vegetarians are healthier, with less risk for heart disease and obesity, although there are obese vegetarians. Many people tell me after they start a vegetarian diet that they feel better, but then again, many of them -- and I believe this was the case with Scott Jurek -- were eating a pretty poor diet before, so of course they feel better. They could have switched to a healthier meat-based diet and they would probably have felt better.

I like to tell people that if we got most Americans to eat one less serving of meat every day, there would be far greater impact from that, in terms of improving overall public health and the health of the planet, than convincing a tiny group of endurance athletes to go full vegan.

Gretchen Reynolds is the author of "The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer" (Hudson Street Press, 2012).

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Divine grace essential

Humor in real life !

My nagging wife, my doctor, and a costly scan
N. SETHU MADHAVAN

One fine morning when I woke up as usual, there suddenly appeared two human figures, resembling my wife, standing at the foot of my bed, something which never happened earlier.

Surprisingly, both figures were identical, my wife did not have any twin sister, or for that matter, any sister at all. At first, I thought it was only my imagination, as my wife is normally omnipresent in the house, always saying ‘don't do that or do this,' being a person always looking for perfection.

Seeing the puzzled look in my face and my popped up eyes, my wife (original one), who was standing at the foot of my bed, asked me what happened. I did the greatest mistake of telling her the truth. My wife, who always thinks that in her previous birth she was a doctor of great repute, said it must be vertigo or giddiness due to high BP or diabetics and that I should immediately consult the doctor.

As the day moved on, I thought she would forget the whole episode, but to my surprise she kept reminding me of the visit to the hospital every time we crossed each other. I invented all possible excuses to explain to her how busy I would be for the next three or four days, hoping that she would forget the matter by then. But, alas, on the fourth day she was there again to remind me of the visit, and my imagination failed to find any more excuses.

So, the next day we went to a leading hospital to check my double vision problem (in my case, it is a wife problem). After standing in a queue for more than 15 minutes, I got myself registered and got a token number 13, an unlucky number going by the old belief. I knew from now on my attractive (!) name, which probably my parents selected after lot of discussions and visiting many religious places, will have no relevance and I will be known more by this number 13. Anyway, after two hours of unpleasant waiting, the doctor called us. Before I could open my mouth, my wife started reeling out how often I see things as double and at times even triple, etc. As I feared, the doctor suggested that I undergo a few tests starting with blood, urine and X-ray and see him again in the evening with the results. I once again pleaded with my wife that we could do all these at a later date, but she was not prepared to concede my request.

Reluctantly, I underwent all the tests spending my hard-earned money which was meant for our old age. By evening, the results came and as I expected, all readings were so perfectly balanced between the minimum and the maximum that even an acrobat with high balancing skill would be surprised to see such stability.

In the evening, after another hour of agonising wait, we again peeped into the doctor's chamber. He examined the results, smiled and said they did not show any abnormality. I knew the outcome, even with my limited knowledge of medicine. I thought my ordeal was over and now we could go home and live happily ever after. At that point, my learned wife shot a question to the doctor, whether there could be something wrong with my brain. I knew she is having a dig at me since once in a while at home I do casually say she does not have any brain.

Having got a hint from her, the doctor immediately said though nothing seemed wrong, it would be better to do an MRI scan if we wanted to be 100 per cent sure. I was very happy even with his 90 per cent surety, knowing very well that an MRI scan was going to make a big hole in my pocket. But my wife wanted me to be 100 per cent fit and so said that we would rather go through the scan. The doctor then said the hospital MRI scanning machine was under annual maintenance and also there was a long backlog of cases. I was happy to hear that and relieved until the doctor added that we could do it at a particular scan centre outside and he would give a recommendation. I knew the doctor had already earned an extra income through his casual suggestion.

I knew that none of these expenditures would be reimbursed by my health insurance company since for some strange reasons it insists on hospitalisation for reimbursement. So I politely excused myself and pulled my wife outside and explained to her that that these tests would not be reimbursed. As always, she had a quick solution — “Ask the doctor to admit you in the hospital for one day.” I said that while the hospital authorities would be only too happy to do that, I would deprive a genuine patient of a bed. She immediately declared that I too was a patient and so it did not matter. During my management consultancy sessions, I always used to tell executives not to pick up quarrels with the bosses since arguing with your boss is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. After a while you realise that while you are getting dirtier and dirtier, the pig enjoys it.

I remembered this and kept quiet. Without waiting for me, she went inside the doctor's chamber and came back with a prescription for an MRI scan, holding it as if it were her doctoral degree. All this time, I wished that I had not seen that figure of my wife and was also cursing myself for having told her about it. Now that I had committed the crime, I had to go through the consequence.

On reaching home, I called the scan centre to fix an appointment. The young girl (I presume) at the other end with a sweet voice said they had a heavy backlog, but still asked me which doctor had referred me. On my mentioning the name, she lowered her voice as if she was telling me a secret and whispered that if he was the one who had referred me to them, then they would try to accommodate me the next morning at 8. I am used to such tactic and I myself used it when I was active in my job as a marketing executive during the early part of my career, promising customers quick delivery of goods as a special case, when the stocks were lying unused. The hospital girl must be telling this story to every patient and I don't blame her — after all she has to be an obedient and loyal employee.

The next morning, sacrificing my favourite walk, we went to the scan centre at 7.45 a.m., thinking that the place must be like a railway station full of people. But, surprisingly, there were only very few people. We were asked to pay a hefty amount and I could visualise a portion of it already flowing into my doctor's pocket. At 8 a.m., I was made to dress like a buffoon and loaded into a ‘tunnel of suspense' with a lot of instructions of ‘dos and don'ts' which, however, made me feel at home. Suddenly the ‘tunnel of suspense' became a ‘tunnel of horror' with roaring sounds and flashing lights moving all around me, reminding me of the film ‘Star Wars.' Finally, after 40 minutes of ordeal, I was out of the machine looking like a drunkard coming out of the bar. We were told that we could collect the report by that evening. But I decided to postpone the collection, hoping to have one more peaceful night.

The next day also I was not eager to collect my ‘death warrant', but, since my wife kept reminding me of it every half an hour, I did not have any other option but to go and collect it. Immediately on receipt of the report and the films, I looked at them expecting to find a big hole in my brain or at least a dark patch somewhere. But everything was Greek to me. They all appeared more like M. F. Husain's paintings. On reaching home, my wife snatched the reports from me and started looking at them against light as if she was a super-specialist in neurology. There was no expression on her face for five minutes. Finally she kept the films and report on the table and walked towards the bedroom and for a minute I thought she was going there to weep without my seeing her. So I asked: “What does it say?” She turned around and said: “How do I know? Tomorrow we will go to the doctor.”

We visited the doctor again, after the usual agonising wait, and showed him the films and the report. When he saw the MRI scan cover itself in my hand, I could see a satisfied smile on his face for obvious reasons. He then studied the report and said: “I told you there is nothing wrong with you.” The moment I heard that I jumped out of my seat, thanked him and got out because I was afraid my wife would utter something else and a few more tests would be on their way. Once out of the room, she asked me what about my getting admitted to the hospital for insurance reimbursement. This time, I put my foot down and said enough was enough and said a big ‘no.'

On returning home, by adding up all the bills, it was found that I had paid a penalty of more than Rs.10, 000 for a strange dream of seeing my wife as double. Anyway, after this experience I took an oath that I would never ever dream of my wife — not even as a single person. And if at all I see, I will never speak it out.

KarNan rocks!

Karnan rocks in re-run, set to hit century

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3533649.ece?homepage=true

For some it's the screen presence and powerful performance of Sivaji, while others are addicted to the music store

Watching a film at Sathyam cinemas on Friday, S. Manickam was transported back in time to 1964 when he caught the first show of ‘Karnan' in Ooty. Over four decades later, he was there to watch the same film. And the magic, he says, is intact.

It seemed so, at the end of the matinee show at the multiplex. A woman, easily in her sixties, came out with moist eyes, while a little boy, who looked barely 10, stepped out grinning widely. The ‘Karnan effect', it seems, can evoke different responses in different viewers.

In a week from now, the celebrated Sivaji Ganesan-film will reach the 100-day mark in its re-run. Producer of the digitised version, Shanthi Chockalingam of Divya Films, along with fans of the actor, are planning a big celebration.

“For all you know, the film might complete 125 days too. All the credit goes to Sivaji's fantastic performance, the great music score, the dialogue and the costumes,” Ms. Chockalingam said. Some city schools even made bulk bookings for students to watch the epic film.

Class VII student M. Akshaya, a Vijay fan, seemed on the verge of shifting loyalties. “Sivaji was superb. In the end, when he lies down on his mother's lap and cries, I also cried,” she said, looking mildly embarrassed. What is it about the film that has struck a chord with film buffs across generations, one wonders?

For some it's the screen presence and powerful performance of Sivaji, while others are addicted to the Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy music score. For a few others, it is the charm of watching an epic they have read and how it willingly lends itself to the cinematic idiom.

Interestingly, many of the fans even defend the film anticipating any possible criticism that could arise against it. Geetha Krishnamani, a proud ‘Sivaji fanatic', has seen the film thrice since it was re-released in March. “You can see how passionate these artistes are. Not just Sivaji, even Asogan, NTR and Savithri… all of them are remarkable,” she said. It's not melodrama, but intense performance, she said.

Mr. Manickam said the film seemed longer now than it did the first time around. But he was quick to add, “With such great performances, it doesn't really matter.”

For Sathyam Cinemas and Escape, the two theatres in Chennai where the film is playing now, ‘Karnan' has proved a double delight — good business and a new audience. According to Swaroop Reddy of Sathyam Cinemas, several senior citizens were now spotted at the theatres.

“Karnan has drawn a different set of audience that has, perhaps, not had a multiplex experience earlier. The film has a brand value that has lasted several decades,” he said. Many senior citizens, some using walkers and even wheelchairs, were seen gathering at Sathyam to watch the film. Many of them said they were there for the first time.

Sivaji seems to have won a whole new generation of fans too. His son, actor Prabhu, said many friends, including some young people, called him to say how much they loved the film.

“My father never cared if a role had scope for heroism or not. He always chose characters that had good potential for him as an actor. It is heartening to see Karnan's phenomenal success now,” Prabhu said.

Director Panthulu and his father, Mr. Prabhu said, shared a special bond. “And look at NTR in the film — he comes in just 10 to 12 scenes but just steals the show. All the actors in the film bring in their own charm to the screen. But I am touched to see how daddy's fans love him so much even today. I tell myself, daddy is alive.”

Be a role model for youth!

Grace and Guru-bhakti

Welcome to Vegville!

Could a vegetarian diet work as well as a non-vegetarian one in providing proteins and amino acids necessary to power muscles?

Are you thinking of going vegetarian like those millions across the globe, but with doubts about whether a vegetarian diet can build your body and power your muscles, the way a non-vegetarian diet does? Relax. Nutritionists assure that a vegetarian diet is never a limiting factor when it comes to growing strong, tall or building muscles.

“It is possible to achieve maximum growth through a vegetarian diet. And yes, we can strengthen our muscles too. But to achieve this, apart from diet, exercise is a must,” says Dr. Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, Chief Dietician, Apollo Hospitals Group. The key is to ensure that a variety of vegetarian foods is consumed.

ENSURING VARIETY

A crucial fact that must be understood is that our bodies can synthesise some of the amino acids (the building blocks of protein) we need, from other amino acids that we acquire through food. The rest of the amino acids — isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and histidine — can't be synthesised by the body and need to be acquired directly from the food we eat, and are termed ‘essential' amino acids.

Yes, most vegetarian protein sources are not complete protein sources, as they don't have all the essential amino acids present in the right proportion. But, vegetarian food can still give all the essential amino acids, provided a wide variety of foods that includes grains (wheat, rice, millets, oats, pulses), legumes (beans and lentils), nuts (especially groundnuts, almonds, walnuts and cashews), seeds (soya bean which is a very high quality protein source), and fruits and vegetables, is consumed. For instance, grains such as wheat and rice have low levels of the amino acid lysine, but this can be set right by complementing grains with legumes, as legumes have high levels of lysine. “For instance, if you are allergic to peanuts, you can still manage by eating other foods from the same food group,” says Dr. Nirmala Jesudason, consultant and head, food and nutrition, Frontier Lifeline. A dietician can help you work out a vegetarian diet that's ideal for growth, taking into account your food practices and choices. But, in general, traditional diet plans are a safe bet, as they the right proportion of various food groups have been arrived at over centuries.

Moreover, you don't have to get all your essential amino acids from every single meal, because, our body stores amino acids and uses them whenever needed. So eating a variety of foods over the course of the day can give you all the essential amino acids. Even vegetables and fruits do supply some protein. For instance, 49 per cent of the calories in spinach is protein, 11 per cent in potatoes, 15 per cent in oatmeal, 12 per cent in millets, 11 per cent in barley, 8 per cent in brown rice, 43 per cent in Tofu, 35 per cent in soy beans, 32 per cent in broad beans, 29 per cent in lentils, 21 per cent in pumpkin seeds, 18 per cent in peanuts, 13 per cent in sesame seeds, 13 per cent in almonds/cashews, 8 per cent in watermelon, and six per cent in papaya. So we don't really need meat. In fact, some scientists feel that too much protein, especially of animal origin, could lead to kidney stones, osteoporosis, and sometimes activates tumour growth.

GOOD CHOICES

And, of course, milk and eggs, which are high protein foods, are good choices for body building, if you are a lacto- or an ovo-vegetarian. “If you are a vegan (a vegetarian who doesn't consume milk and milk products too), Vitamin B-12 deficiency could be a concern,” cautions Dr. Jesudason.

Remember, the human requirement for protein is 4.5-10 per cent of total calorie intake. To put it in perspective, breast milk, which is touted as the complete food for the growing baby, is 5 per cent protein! “Kids require much more protein than adults, especially since they are growing. The requirement of protein is almost double for a sportsperson, compared to a non-sportsperson. Of course, a lot depends on the kind of sport that is being pursued,” Dr. Bhuvaneshwari elaborates. Protein needs also vary with state of health, body type, pregnancy and lactation.

Finally, remember that it is not only protein that determines growth. It's important to ensure adequate calcium intake in order to build sturdy bones. While milk and its products are a great calcium source, green leafy vegetables, orange juice, etc, have some calcium content too.

Says Dr. R. Parthasarathy, general physician, “Almonds, a rich source of vitamin E, help prevent free-radical damage to muscles, and foster growth. Olive oil helps prevent muscle breakdown. And drink plenty of water, as protein synthesis occurs better in hydrated muscle cells than in dehydrated cells.”

Homemakers

Homemaker, may her tribe increase!

It was just the other day when my wife, a homemaker, wanted to visit her mother who was ill that our tryst with the kitchen started. On the day of travel, she asked, “Do you want me to cook some dishes and keep them in the fridge?” I bravely said: “Oh, no, we will manage.” “But,” she said, “Anyway, I have prepared sambar, beans thoran, seasoned butter milk and dosa batter and kept them in the fridge.”

This was followed by some more instructions: “The maid will come at 7 a.m. Get her to wash the clothes and hang them on the clothesline. See that she sweeps the courtyard and tell her to come in the evening also. Please remember to put the trash bin outside with the lid closed for it to be cleared. Don't forget to water the plants.” To my son: “Don't forget to feed the fish in the tank. Don't forget to pick the milk packets from the box at the gate. For tonight, all the food is kept on the table.”

We saw her off at the station. We returned home for the adventure in the kitchen to begin. The following day, I picked up the milk sachet and looked for a vessel to boil milk to make tea. My dilemma started from then on. I was not sure which vessel was earmarked for boiling milk. From the numerous vessels stacked, I finally settled for one. I wondered why in the world we need so many vessels of different shapes and sizes! As milk was boiling, the door bell rang. It was the faithful maid. She wanted to know if sweeping was to be done first. I never had to interact with her before; it was always my wife and her: right from duties to duty timings, payment, loan, dos and don'ts.

Precious time was wasted in finalising the order of priority. I rushed back to the kitchen to find that milk had spilt over. With the little leftover milk I managed to make tea. Cleaning the stove was left for the evening. I ended up with three things in the sink — the milk vessel, a strainer and a spoon. As I just settled for my tea, the servant called me again. “Please switch on the motor to fill the overhead tank with water,” she said. There goes my tea and morning newspaper session!

Day One was easy as there were some bread and curry. I boiled an egg and a cup of milk, and my breakfast was over. In the bargain, three more vessels are in the sink. Well, I thought I will sort it out in the evening. Off I went for work locking the door. I was in the train when an alarming thought struck me. Did I turn off the gas? I was not sure. Did I lock the door? I was not sure. Did I switch off the ironbox? I was not sure. These thoughts kept tormenting me all my way to work and throughout the day till I returned home.

Lunch was over at the canteen and I returned home tired. I needed some rest. But what about dinner? I rummaged the fridge, found some cooked rice. Ah good, I silently thanked my wife for being so thoughtful. I put it in a vessel to warm. The curry, the beans fry, sambar and some fish curry. End result, some six vessels in the sink.

My wife has the habit of keeping the sink clear of dirty vessels, as they attract roaches. The kitchen is kept spick and span before she retires to bed. I wanted to emulate her. So, after dinner the cleaning and washing of vessels started. I was sapped at the end of the session. I felt like having dinner again. Tired and spent out, I just fell into the bed. Suddenly, I woke up at dead of night. The lights are on! Has anybody come?, No, I realised that I had left them on as I buried myself into the bed.

Day II dawned in an almost similar fashion. As I was having my bath, the telephone rang. Half done, I rushed out to find out that the telephone company was reminding me of my dues. Back to the bathroom to finish the unfinished task. I rummage the cupboard for vests and briefs. Where have they gone? I turn the cupboard topsy-turvey. I realise they were washed yesterday and hung out to dry. I have not taken them and kept them in their place. What about the socks, I am unable to find them too – a matching pair seems elusive! It is a hurried breakfast. Only egg and milk. Time is running out. I remind myself to close the gas stove, switch off the iron and remember to make sure that I have properly closed the main door.

Off I rush to office. I am already hungry. Then it struck me. Did I take my daily dose of medicine? I am not sure again! I try to rewind the day at home. I cannot remember opening the medicine box. I am in a dilemma. Better not take it when I am not sure, I resist the temptation to go to the medical store. I experience palpitation. Oh how I wish I could check with my wife if I had taken the morning dose. Her reassuring word would have been the panacea for my worry.

I come back home and find it brightly lit. Has any intruder come in knowing that my wife is away? I slowly open the door. Then the realisation dawns on me. After the usual power cut from 6 to 8, I failed to switch off power when leaving for work. I am sure that my wife is going to find it out when the monthly electricity bill comes. Next, some strange odour in the house. Gosh, I did not empty the trash today. I seal it in a plastic bag to be emptied tomorrow. I am too tired to cook or warm the food. I down some fruits with water. I also remember to take my medication and off I go to sleep.

Before that I set the alarm for 4 a.m. I need to go to the station to receive my wife. I am all excited as my travails in the kitchen will come to an end. I promise to help her in the kitchen every day. I hope it is not like the New Year resolution! At the station as I receive her very warmly, she sees something amiss, my usual abrasive behaviour has vanished. She is perplexed. “Is everything okay? Is there anything for breakfast at home?” I sheepishly answer in the negative. All right, then let's stop en route and have idli and dosa and a strong cup of coffee. This hotel near our home is famous for it.. I am glad to oblige her and off we go. May her tribe increase!

(jj_jacob24@rediffmail.com)

Vittal-ji is inspiring !

It takes a Carnatic village

By Harsha

02nd June 2012 10:08 PM

• Photos

• 
  Vidwan Vittal Ramamurthy at the workshop

Married to a family less familiar with classical music and staying in a nondescript village that remains marooned for most of the time during monsoons, K Krishnaveni Hebbar dared to dream of sharing her passion and initiating the uninitiated into the world of Carnatic music.
Krishnaveni begun realising her dream by motivating her five children to defy all odds and train themselves in Carnatic music. Decades later, the talented siblings led by renowned violinist Vidwan Vittal Ramamurthy have institutionalised their mother’s dream through the annual Carnatic music workshops organised particularly for children from neighbouring village in their ancestral house in Nidle, near Dharmasthala, Karnataka.
The family’s commitment to the cause of classical music is seen to be believed. The siblings, including Ramamurthy, and his disciples take time off from their packed music season and ready their house to host the free ‘Karunbithil Sangeetha Shibira 2012’, modelled on the lines of a typical Gurukulam.
As in the past, the entire family, barring a couple of sisters including US-based Vidushi Rajarajeswari Harish Bhat who initiated the annual camp in 2001, and disciples of ‘anna’ (Ramamurthy) were in attendance to serve the young delegates and get immersed in soul-stirring music from May 8 to 13. Ramamurthy, who perfected his craft in typical Gurukulam style under Carnatic violin icon Lalgudi Jayaraman, believes that the workshop also exposes the younger generation to similar traditional methods of learning Carnatic music.
The workshop also breaks the myths about classical music and teachers. For top artistes like M Balamuralikrishna, T M Krishna travel all the way to this sleepy village, share their knowledge and even perform before the students for free. The workshop trains students, aged six to 25, on bhajans, basic exercises, keertan and manodharma (creative interpretation). “The workshop emphasises improvisation of raagas which distinguishes artists and the resulting hard work which is the key to success and not music lineage,” says Ramamurthy.
The popularity of the annual workshop, which was launched with just six students, is evident. The 13th workshop attracted as many as 200 participants and students from as far as Kasargod, Mysore and Chennai.
The six students from the first batch continue to enroll in successive camps is another revelation on the workshop adopting a flexible curriculum for learning. “It is a wholesome camp which has something for everyone,” says Ramamurthy.
During the workshop period, the house and its surroundings resound with Carnatic music day in and day out. The workshop also brings participants closer to conventional ways of living.
The participants eat, sing, sleep under one roof of the century-old house. The day begins around 4 am, as they take turns to complete the morning rituals. The music lessons and practice sessions that begin at 9.30 am continue non-stop except for ‘Kashayam’ (granny’s potion to soothe singing throats) breaks. The lunch menu also shows the camp is not just a fest of melody but also homely mouth-watering cuisine.
The time after lunch and the evenings are spent in exploring hills, farms filled with a variety of fruit-yielding trees. The evening performance sessions from 6 pm to 8.30 pm provides every student an opportunity to perform solo or in groups on the stage. The presentations vary from simple geetams, krithis to elaborate concerts.
Lalgudi’s Chennai-based senior disciple S P Ramh was all praise for the dedication of students. Poorvikalyani raga, a difficult composition of Ramanathapura Srinivas Iyengar used as main item in solo vocal concerts, was on the lips of students within minutes of its rendition. “In learning compositions quickly, students here have proved to be no less than their Chennai counterparts,” Ramh stresses.
What motivates Ramamurthy and his wife Chandrika to conduct the family’s ‘charitable event’ year after year and even dream of a music school in Nidle? “It is the extending family of Carnatic music lovers,” he emphasises with a smile and goes on to cite a few instances of some uninitiated members of the workshop establishing themselves as Carnatic vocalists of repute.

என்ன மன்மதன்னு நினைப்போ ?

AIM For Seva announces NAYANI !

AIM For Seva Fundraiser - 2012
Houston - September 22, 2012
Stafford Center for Performing Arts


(Click on Links for more details)
Rukmini Vijayakumar and party
-- Quick profile  (Rukmini's web-site)
-- Wikipedia
-- NY Times article
-- Video
-- YouTube
-- Rukmini on Facebook 
-- KollyTalk interview - Role as Rajnikant's sister in film Kochadaiyaan

Ayurveda

Ayurveda formulations validated, verified by modern biology

The pharmacologist says his product is evidence-based while that of the vaidya is empirical. But the latter says that his is time-proven science

Modern pharmacology is molecule-based, and often single-molecule based. The molecule is expected to act usually on a single step in the body physiology, occasionally on a ladder of steps. However, disorders such as diabetes affect a variety of biochemical processes and thus the single-molecule approach is inadequate.

It is here that a multi-component mixture becomes useful. The million-dollar puzzle is “which components?”

Traditional medications of the Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, or oriental schools are invariably mixtures, extracts from plants and herbs (and occasionally animals). The approach of the traditional physician is thus qualitatively different from the molecule-wallah.

And it is here that the difference of opinion starts and stays.

Today's pharmacologist says his product is evidence-based while that of the traditional vaidya or hakim is empirical.

The latter, however, contends that his is the time-proven science that works even today. And the hapless patient is willing to try anything to getter better.

Will the twain meet? Can we take traditional medications through the rigours of modern biology and pharmacology — so that validation and verification occur?

The Chinese have taken this up on a mission mode, and happily enough the renowned medical scholar-statesman Prof. M.S. Valiathan of Manipal University has initiated such a programme on some Ayurvedic practices, by bringing together Ayurvedic schools (Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala) and modern biologists (immunologists, geneticists, biochemists, cell biologists, material scientists and chemists) on two flagship projects.

The first is to evaluate the effects of Panchakarma on body physiology, using immunological and related methods.

While the results of this project are being compiled and evaluated, early results of a second project, done in collaboration with the renowned developmental biologist Prof. Subhash Lakhotia of Banaras Hindu University and his associates Vibha Dwivedi, and Mousami Mutsuddi, have just been published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE 7(5): e37113 doi: 10.1371/journals.pone.0037113.

This study has attempted to evaluate the effects of two Ayurvedic formulations: Amalaki Rasayana (AR) and Rasa-Sindoora (RS), on the life processes of the model animal, the common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

AR is prepared from gooseberry (amla, nellikai, phylanthus emblica) in a four-step procedure. The dry Amalaki powder obtained in 3 rigorous steps is blended with honey and ghee in a well-defined and quality assured protocol, by Kottakkal. Likewise, Rasa Sindoor or RS is prepared in a 3-step process, and is made up of a highly pulverised (nano-sized) dust of mercury sulphide or cinnabar.

The protocols for making AR and RS have been standardised by the Kottakkal group of E.M. Anandan, Rajesh S. Mony, and T.S. Muraleedharan. Both AR and RS have been used as health tonics in Ayurveda.

The authors set out their basic premise in a precise, rigorous manner in the paper: “Since the Ayurvedic medicines/formulations are complex integrated derivatives involving several specific preparatory steps, studies using isolated active compounds may not really provide full insight into the efficacy or mode of action of the traditional formulations.

In order to undertake scientific investigations on action/s of Ayurvedic drugs/formulations using experimental animals, there is an urgent need to develop good model systems which can permit in depth studies on the in vivo effects and mechanisms of actions of different Ayurvedic formulations.”

Why choose the fruit fly as the model? Several reasons: (1) As the nameDrosophila indicates, the fruit fly loves sweets, such as AR (and hopefully RS); (2) the complete developmental cycle, genetic and physiological, is well understood; one can thus follow the effects of the formulations at each stage — larva, pupa, imago, adult insect — on the anatomy, physiology, life cycle and genetic connections, (3) their life spans are in days so that their life histories can be followed through generations quickly, and (4) Prof. Lakhotia has special expertise on the developmental biology and genetics of fruit flies. What did they find?

(1) Flies fed on small doses of AR lived longer than those that did not; life span of 40 days when fed on 0.5 per ecnt AR in the feed vs 36 (however higher doses are harmful. 1 per cent reduced the life span to 30 days.)

(2) Not only does the fly live longer on AR, it also develops sooner (the egg-larva-pupa-emergence period hastened by a few hours).

(3) They also appear to produce more eggs —fecundity rises.

(4) When fed with AR or RS, the flies are able to tolerate heat (higher temperatures) better than control flies.

(5) Finally, such supplementation also appears to allow them to tolerate starvation better, i.e. can go without food longer.

Of the two formulations, AR appears to be somewhat better in some biological effects than RS.

However, the worry that some scientists have had, namely that mercury is harmful and poisons the body, does not appear to hold here. One wonders whether the mode of preparations, generating nanoparticles of HgS, has something to do with this is not clear.

(A Chinese group has shown that cinnabar does not get converted into poisonous methyl mercury in the human gut). Also, it is not the ghee or honey, used to prepare AR or RS, which are involved in the beneficial effects. Taken by themselves, they do not show any of these effects.

Likewise, dry AR powder is not as effective as the paste made with ghee and honey.

So, the Valiathan-Kottakkal-Lakhotia trio shows the positive biological effects of AR (and RS) on the fruit fly. In doing so, the fly is a useful and acceptable model for studying the effects of a drug candidate on the body and its parts. But flies are not men, not even mice.

Should one not repeat the experiments with mice or rats as experimental mammalian models? I am sure they are on the way to do so.

Even as it is now, are there lessons that the flies teach us? Note the value of moderation. Too much of a good thing (1 per cent, not 0.5 per cent supplementation) shortens life span.

And this supplementation allows starvation tolerance — a note for hunger-strikers. But more than anything else, the trio has shown that rigorous in depth analysis using modern biological, evidence-based tools and methods can be applied to validate and verify traditional medical practices.

D. BALASUBRAMANIAN

dbala@lvpei.org