AUGUST, 2005

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS HEADLINES
MLA Constituency Status for Velachery!
Velachery has now been elevated to MLA Constituency. Chennai had previously 14 constituencies for Legislative Assembly. The Election Commission of India has now rearranged constituencies to form 2 new constituencies - Velachery and MGR Nagar. Thiruvellikeni constituency has been dissolved to form new Velachery Constituency. Maduvinkarai (Div.141), Besant Nagar (Div. 152), Velachery (Div. 153), Taramani (Div. 154) and Thiruvanmiyur (Div. 155) come under Velachery MLA Constituency.
Velachery division has nearly 1,05,000 registered voters, which constitutes 1/3 of the total registered votes of 3,09,000 of all the five divisions. Hence Velachery was the chosen name for the new constituency. This new elevated status for Velachery is sure to ensure more developmental schemes for the benefit of the public. A sitting MLA from Velachery would be an advantage for the people as the elected person would be easily accessible to the public.
The next Legislative Assembly elections is a good opportunity for residents of Velachery to elect a public service minded person.
s. kumararaja

Independence Day Celebrations!
The 58th year of India's Independence Day was celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over Velachery. From morning 8 O'clock it was unfurling of the National Flag by members of the public and various welfare associations.
Councillor Mr.V.Shankar hoisted the National Flag at the Corporation High School, Rajalakshmi Nagar.Dr.Arun Kumar, Twinkling Star, Lions Club was special invitee. Mr.A.Paul Raj, Headmaster welcomed the gathering. Students and staff were present on the occassion.
At Ramnagar 1st. street children's park the National Flag was unfurled by Mr.A.Antony Pushpam, President, Ramnagar Welfare Association. Residents and members were present. Mr.S.Kumara Raja hoisted the National Flag at Annai Indira Nagar Welfare Association building in the presence of residents and association members.Mr. P.Shanmugaraj, AD, Chennai Corporation,(Lights Div.) hoisted the National Flag at Baby Nagar. Members of the Baby Nagar Welfare Association, residents and Mr.S.Kumara Raja,Sec. Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations were present.
b.vimala

Federation Elects New Members!
The Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations held its generall body meeting on July 31st. New office bearers were elected in this meeting which was attended by over 70 members.Mr. S. Kumararaja, Sec. presented the annual report. While speaking he said that the Federation's member associations had risen from 18 to 22 welfare associations. He also spoke on the various issues tackled successfully by the Federation. Some of them were acquiring additional water tanks for street supply of drinking water from Metrowater Board, construction of compound walls for 6 parks, and removal of encroachments from 4 parks by Chennai Corporation
officials. He also stated that the Federation as a member of Save Pallikaranai Marshland Forum conducted human chain and one day satyagraha protests. These protests helped to wake up officials to the pollution problem. This has resulted in the Metrowater Board to construct a state -of-art sewage treatment plant at Perungudi. This plant will now prevent further pollution of the Pallikaranai Marshland. While concluding his report, Mr. S. Kumara Raja thanked all officials of Chennai Corporation, Metrowater Board, TNEB, PWD, State Highways and the media for their continuous co-operation. He also thanked the Councillor Mr. V. Shankar for acting on residents requests and complaints.Later new office bearers were elected for the period of 2005 - 2007. The following are the unanimously elected persons. President - Mr. G. Sundaram, Vice Presidents. - Mr. Govindaraju, and Mr. Anandan, Gen. Sec - Mr.S. Kumara Raja, Jt. Secretaries - Mr. V. Ramakrishnan and Mrs. Saikala Jayavel, Treasurer - Mr. Puddhisigamani, Nominated Auditor - Mr. Karrupuswamy.
b.vimala

Underground Electric Cable for Velachery - Will it be Laid?!
The Tamilnadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has been converting overhead electric lines to under ground cable system in many parts of Chennai city. Growing population and buildings have served to highlight the dangers of overhanging electric lines.
Mr. C.Ramakrishnan, C.E (Retd) said that the government has sanctioned funds for conversion of overhead lines to underground cable system for Velachery. But so far work has not been taken up in Velachery.Every monsoon means power cut in Velachery, as there is danger of overhead lines snapping and falling in flood waters. Junction boxes also remain submerged in rain water. Other than this perrenial problem, power lines hang down so low, that a tall person can touch these lines in some areas of Velachery. Maintenence seems poor as crows nests on electric poles show. With flats coming up more power is consumed, which is not supported with more transformers. So power flucuations, low voltage, unscheduled power cuts have become normal
circumstances in Velachery. Laying of underground cables has many advantages. Foremost is the
prevention of revenue loss to TNEB. Today power theft has become quite common. Hutments along the MRTS line on Perungudi side draw power from Baby nagar transformer. This has resulted in poor power supply to residents. Public meetings, temples, all draw power from electric poles, even though it is temporary. Overhanging tree branches need frequent pruning and cutting to prevent electric lines from brushing aganist each other. Underground cable system means a greener and safer city.
b.vimala.

Temporary Medians Laid!
Velachery Traffic Police laid temporary stone medians on the Velachery - Tambaram main last week. The absence of center medians and street lights on this main road was highlighted many times in our newspaper 'Reach Velachery'. Only now the concerned authorities have woken up to rectify this problem. Mr. Sundar Raj, S.I, (Traffic) was seen personally over seeing the work on Velachery - Tambaram main road. He said that vehicular traffic on this road was on the rise. Complaints from public had come to them regarding vehicles taking left and right turns where ever they wanted. This created not only traffic snarls but also accidents. School children found it difficult to cross the road. Even though the state Highways Department is yet to widen this road, the Traffic Police have made these temporary arrangements to curb accidents and streamline the flow of traffic.
While this temporary arrangement is needed, the Traffic Police should install reflectors on these medians for might traffic visibility. Only last week a heavy vehicle crashed through the temporary medians laid on Taramani 100ft road. Similar medians have also been laid at IRT campus junction. Regarding the widening of this road, Mr. Loganathan, A.D.E, State Highways said that the department had yet to acwuire dome parts of the land. Only when this process is completed, can the road be widened. This reason for slow woek has been heard many times by the public. Will the State Highways act swiftly to widen the road, lay permanent center medians and install street lights for the benefit of the public?
b.vimala

Slow Progress on IT Express way!
The CPT road from Madya Kailash to SRP Tools junction was dug up from May this year. This was the start of the project to widen the existing road and make way for a 6 -lane Expressway to a width of 120ft. The boon in the IT industry has led to many IT companies establishing their offices along the Old Mahabalipuram road. A new IT industrial park is now coming up at Sirunjeri, which is 20kms from SRP Tools junctions. The yet to come up 6 lane expressway is to start from Madhyakailash Temple to Sirunjeri in the first phase. The next phase of the project will link upto Mahabalipuram. This project is undertaken by the Tamilnadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 crores of which Rs. 34 crores is funded by the TN Govt. and the balance as loans from Financial Institutions.This road expansion work once completed will ensure free and smooth traffic flow. When will it be completed is the question asked by the public. Since May this year, work seems to be progressing very slowly from the Madya Kailash end. Its 3 months since the start of the project, the roads have been dug up and huge trees have been uprooted. With tin sheets as barricades, motorists now travel on a narrowed down road. This causes traffic jams along this road during peak hours. Last week the barricades were extended upto SRP Tools Junction. The recent rains have now filled the excavated parts of the road. Once monsoon sets in these areas are sure to be flooded in rain water. Regular motorists on this road complain that the
widening works could have been done in parts of one km. stretch, instead of digging up the entire stretch. Sources have also stated that once the project is completed toll gates are to the set up to meet the expenses. This means additional burden for the regular road user. With many cross roads cutting across this new expressway, where and how will the toll-gates be set up?Official Sources have stated that private telecom companies have paid the neccessary charges to lay cables along the expressway. Ducts are to be built to facilitate the laying of these cables. Bus bays and telephone kiosks similar to those on National Highways are to be built on this expressway. These facilities are to be available an on completion of the project. Till then commuters and motorists will have to face daily traffic jams, slow pace of motoring and bad road conditions.
The slow progress of road widenening works makes one wonder if this project will be completed atleast by the end of 2006?
b.vimala .

Canal Work Stopped! Once Again!!
Ever since the construction storm water canal was started in 2002, it has constantly faced many hurdles. Land aquisition, consent letters from land owners, court stay orders, shifting of heavy tension electric cables, electric posts and transformers, these are just few of the many problesm faced by Public Works Department in charge of construction.
Repeated appeals from the public through the Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations and various media reports helped the progres of the canal construction in fits and starts.
With small pockets of canal needing completion, work was finally started in June this year. PWD officials had earlier stated that canal construction would be campleted by October this year. Now it seems impossible. A private builder has obtained court stay order which has now stopped the construction of the storm water canal from Vijayanagar bus terminus junction to the MRTS Road overbridge on the Velachery - Tambaram main road. This stretch is the final connecting part that would drain excess rain water from the Velachery lake intro Pallikaranai Marshland. If this stretch is not completed before monsoons this year, then Velachery will be flooded similar to the floods of 2002. With vested interests acting to stop such public oriented projects, will the authorities act swiftly to complete the construction of the much needed storm water canal.
b.vimala


Concrete road dug up!
Just a day after concrete patch road was laid along side of Velachery main road, it was dug up completely. The Corporation of Chennai, Bus routes Department had widened the existing Velachery main road on both sides and laid concrete roads in second week of July. Hardly had the concrete set, when it was dug by the TNEB and BSNL to lay cables. As it is, all the roads in Velachery are being dug up by a private telecom company to lay cables. This lack of co-ordination between various government agencies and private companies only leadsto wastage of taxpayers money. Ultimately it is the public who suffer and put up with such hardships.
b.vimala

Roads Widened!
The Corporation of Chennai has taken up widening of many roads in the city. According to officials it is mainly to prevent encroachments, especially where footpaths have not been laid. In East Velachery more than 100 roads are now being widened at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.6 crores. Councillor Mr.V.Shankar had taken special effort to ensure that roads were widened all over Velachery. Corporation officials Div. 153 removed roadside encroachments at Sarathy nagar last week for road widening work.Roads are being widened at Vijayanagar, Sankar nagar, Baby nagar, Seethapathy nagar, Tansi nagar, Sarathy nagar, Ramagiri nagar, Sheshadripuram and Sachidananda nagar, Seetharam nagar, Padmavathy nagar extn, Ramnagr, Spic nagar, LIC colony, Dhandeeswaram nagar, Orandiamman Koil lane and Chelliamman nagar.While this work provides relief to motorists, many roads need to be completely relaid. All the roads in Murugu nagar need to be raised and relaid. Some of the roads in Annai Indira nagar also need to be relaid. When will the authorities act ask the residents as rain water will stagnate in the streets of these areas in the coming monsoons. This is because the surrounding area streets have been raised to 2ft and no provision has been made for rain water to drain away. The recently constructed storm water canals by the canal division at Ripon Buildings have yet to be connected properly for rain water to drain. When will they be connected?
b.vimala

ART & CULTURE
Indian civilization more than 10,000 years old!?
3 Scientists - Dr. S. Kathiroli, S. Badrinarayan and D. Venkata Rao of Velachery discover remains of submerged city in the Gulf of Cambay! Discovery could mean re-writing of world history!!! Pushes Indian Civilization age from 5000 years to more than 10,000 years.
The impact of this discovery could mean the re-writing of not only Indian history but also world history! Such submerged ruins could exist in other coastal areas of India is now a firm possibility - the opinion of some of the scientists.
Reach Velachery’s editor B.Vimala met these epoch making scientists in May 2002 to get first hand views of this find. This interview is republished as this discovery gains more importance in view of various submerged ruins now emerging along the Tamilnadu coastline after the Tsunami. Reach Velachery and its readers are proud to have in their midst such dedicated scientists who are instrumental in the discovery of our civilization’s roots that would enrich our cultural heritage and identity.
editor
“As the sun climbed the clear skies in the morning, people could be seen dotting the town ship here and there. The Vedic chants floated down the country side. The scavengers busy since dawn were cleaning the remaining few streets of night soil in their stone pails. Some of the women were seen making towards the granary situated at the western end of the city. On the way labourers were already engaged in the construction of few houses. The local craftsmen had opened for business, displaying the various bead chains, bracelets and knicknacks. The looms had begun their steady click - clack sound at the first ray of sunlight. Just further down near the river bank were the brick kilns providing the perfectly measured and fired bricks for the city’s structures. Children could be seen running on the well paved sheets, blowing their whistles, creating a ruckus!”
As you picturise what could be an idyllic day in today’s village was the scene of an Indian city, 9 km long, 2 km wide 10,000 years ago! This pathbreaking discovery of a submerged city was made by a team of Scientists of National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) during a routine pollution check of the sea waters in the Gulf of Cambay, off Gujarat coast in the year 2000. Headed by Dr. S. Kathiroli, Project Director, S. Badrinarayan, Geoliogcal Consultant and D. Venkata Rao, Jt. Project Director - all residents of Velachery, discovered what seemed to be man- made structures at the bottom of the Ocean floor from their sonar reports. Speaking to ‘Reach Velachery’, Dr. Kathiroli, a gentle, soft spoken man says, “Initially we were not sure about this ‘Pre- Harappan’ site discovered off shore. So we undertook side scan sonar as underwater videography was not possible. The waters of Gulf of Cambay are of high turbidity with strong currents. These strong currents churn the ocean bed floor making the waters a dark chocolate brown colour. The side scan sonar threw up pictures of what seemed to be geometrical structures, a river bed and signs of a lost civilization. Two years back our discovery was initially met with skeptism and at times out right hostility from the archeologists and various other scientists groups. This spurred us to make detailed visits to the site in the span of 2 years. We had trawlers to dredge the ocean floor nearly 60 times. 3 tonnes of mud was brought to the shore and cleaned painstakingly to find more than 2000 artefacts. Some of these were tested at various centres in India to date them authentically.
They were found to be more than 8,000 years old! With such proofs in our hand, our director Mr. Ravichandran who had been encouraging us all along informed the Central Govt. On May 2001.
Mr. Murali Manohar Joshi, Minister for Science and Technology made a formal announcement of this momentous discovery to the world press.”
Elaborating on this discovery, were S. Badrinarayan, a geologist with nearly 40 years of field experience, and D. Venkata Rao also a geologist with 35 years field experience. To both these geologists the familiar coast line from Bangladesh to Pakistan had previously not brought out such anthropogenic activity. Shifting from the Geology department to the autonomous body of NIOT meant dealing with latest state - of - art technology and equipments. Unlike other Government departments at NIOT scientists are given considerable freedom to pursue various researches and undertake various projects needed to monitor India’s vast coastline. Thus when this team made its routine survey of the Gulf of Cambay coast, they were able to identify that something unusual lay at the ocean’s bottom floor. The rest as they say is history or the makings of a new history!
S. Badrinarayan, literally the spokesman of the team, enthusiastically explained,"Our sonar reports showed unusual geometrical structures in the ocean bed. With my geologist back ground, I could instantly sense that these structures were no way natural but could only be man-made. So we then took side-scan sonar and sub bottom profiles of the ocean floor. From these reports, we could say that a culture existed in this area probably Pre-Harappan and relating to the Stone - age, which could be nearly 8000 years old!” D. Venkata Rao,a calm man , the silent observer, says,” Marine archeology today is developing rapidly. Unlike land sites, which has instant visual recognition, underwater explorations needs the combined expertise of scientists from various fields to recognise and investigate submerged sites. Because of our geologist background we were able to recognise these submerged structures as man made. Geology basically covers the history of the physical aspect of the earth. So looking at a piece of rock, we can say what type it is, when it could have been formed and the probable areas where it may be found in abundance. Looking at the sub bottom profiles, we found there to be a river line which must have connected both the sides of the Gulf of Cambay. This means, the Gulf of Cambay was a land mass upto 8000 years ago - then the end of Ice-age. During this period, there seems to have been a global melt down of ice caps leading to inundation of coastal areas around the world, and generally changing the face of the world map.”
S. Badrinarayan further elaborates, “This site containing well laid out and planned city of brick structures, paved streets, good drainage systems, waterway systems, granary and a great public bath along the lines of Mohen-Ja-Daro seems to be in a valley. We found 2-3 check dams in the river indicating a thorough knowledge of the use of such dams to provide water system for the city. This submerged ruins found 30 kms of the coast of Gujarat measures 9 kms long and 2 kms wide. Looking at the beautifully laid basements and floor plan of this urban settlement, one can say that there existed some sort of social structure. Buildings from the Eastern side had basements measuring 5 m x 4 m, the middle section basements measured 11m x 11m and the Western end had basements measuring 15 m x 14 m or 15 m x 15 m. The dilapilated granary and the remains of a great public bath were seen to be situated at the Western end of this settlement. Though all the artefacts recovered so far are of stone, they indicate the beginnings of a well developed culture. In fact this site could to be the forerunner of the Harappan and Indus Valley Civilizations.”
Supporting the theory of global inundation at the end of ice-age are the stimulated maps of Dr. Glenn Milne of Durham University. He is one of the world’s leading experts in ‘inundation mapping’ - which uses complex computer programs to calculate and produce accurate models of ancient shorelines of the world at any given period.
Lending further support to these maps, are the physical evidence present in the ocean. Badrinarayan says,” The presence of old corals near the coastline, indicate that this area was once clear and unpolluted, unlike today. Corals grow only in calm, clear waters. Today the sea in Gulf of Cambay is very turbulent carrying lot of silt and mud underwater. Constant churning of this sea bed by high currants makes the sea look dark chocolate brown unlike the clear blue waters of the Bay of Bengal or Arabian sea. We have found two types of layers in the ocean bed. The top layer displayed all evidence of salt water residues like shark teeth , sucker arms of octopus, dandilium etc. Digging a bit lower, we came upon fresh water formations likeriver conglomerate, which is possible only where rivers have existed.This firmly indicates that the area was once a land mass and submerged later.”
Of the 2000 and odd artefacts recovered from the ocean bed so far, are a collection of various cutting tools, arrow heads, implements with perfectly drilled holes of various sizes - ranging from a pin hole to nearly 1cm diameter, and ball and socket joints. Rectangular holes could also be seen. Perhaps the most ancient concept of lock and key? These ancient people seemed to have a deep knowledge of how to fuse different types of stones together. As Badrinarayan says,”The various tools and the types of stones used indicate a high awareness and knowledge amongst these people on the different characterstics of the rocks and stones. They were competent enough to know which stone could be used to turn different type of rocks and also drill holes in them. This technology also was used by them in bead making, the evidence of which can be seen in the beads that we have recovered. This simple tool that Iam holding in my hand is nothing but the shuttle used in weaving. The hole at the top facilitates the thread to be drawn through for weaving . Another implement is the most commonly used tool in construction, the ‘matta palagai’ or the leveller to smoothen the surfaces of the walls, roofs and floors.”
Small sculptures in stone and bas reliefs were also retrieved. As seen in the photo, these sculptures not more than 3 cms in size had the concept of mother or mother and child. Perhaps they were used as personal icons of worship similar to what we worship in our homes today. One of the flat stones had a bas relief of an ascetic in the Padmasana posture - indicating the knowledge and practise of ‘Yoga’ in those pre-historic times! The small figurines though under water for the past 8000 years display a fine craftsmanship, simplicity and abstract nature of the artist. It speaks of a bygone race creating all the concepts for modern living and which are still in practise today! The basic concepts of weaving, brick making, jewellery, construction, simple mechanisms,etc. have not changed even today. Then stone was used, today metal, wood and other mediums are used. Man over the centuries has not been able to improve these concepts, he has only been able to create new mediums of usage. Our so called pre-historic civilizations display the most refined and planned city systems with drainage, waterways, streets, public bath, granaries, etc. all which we have not been able to implement in this so called modern world. Today our citys are growing haphazardly, sewerage system is in bad shape, public is loosing its civic sense and there is water shortage every where.
This discovery by our scientists is not only path breaking but also is of great significance. They have literally traced the roots of every Indian today. When the dates of this submerged city is truly confirmed and accepted by the world to be more than 9000 years old it would mean re-writing of history. This discovery will prove India to be the mother of all civilizations and not as we have been taught over the years. This discovery should restore our national pride and lend richness to our cultural heritage and identity.
b. vimala

Pooja Vidhanam!
Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation is organizing Pooja Vidhanam workshop on Poojas (Varalakshmi Viratam, Krishna Jayanthi, Ganesh Chaturthi) Aug. 14th. between 9.30 am & 12.30 pm at Mylapore.
Learn about these festivals from Sri. S. Surendranath Smt. Revathi Shankaran & Smt. Prema Krishnamurthi. Arrangements, Kolam, Decorations, Pooja Dhrvyam, Mantras, Songs, Naivedyam, Maavilaku etc. will be taught in this workshop.For further Details & Registration Contact : S. Surendranath, Ph : 93826 98811, 93810 38385, 2493 5521

Speak Easy - Speak English!
Clear and simple communication is neccessary not only in our daily life but also essential for any profession. Today academic qualification alone is not enough. Fluency in language, especially English is a must. For those who find it difficult to talk in English, courses are now available. A new centre Zeal Speak Easy has opened at Ist cross street in Vijayanagar, Velachery.
The comprehensive course covers a wide range of subjects like fluency in English, interview skills, group discussions, presentation skills, confidence building and Etiquelte training. Speak Easy is a division of ZEAL, an ISO 9001 : 2000 company founded by Mr. Rajan in 2001. It has a set quality that provides training that is an international standards.
Students are not only trained to speak English, but are also trained to build self confidence and develop their personality. According to this center, " Being fluent ina language is not about memorizing common phrases to deal with different situations. It is about being able to communicate your ideas in English with the same comfort that you would in your native language."
The basic course duration is for 2 months, comfort course is for 2 months and special courses cover Corporate Training. For details contact : ZEAL Speak Easy, Ph : 5232 5233

Improved Court for Shuttle Cock Players!
Some of the parks and playgrounds in Velachery are now being put to good use. With badminton and shuttle cock players increasing in Velachery, new play courts are being developed. One such play court that has been developed slowly over the past few months is at the Baby Nagar playground. Extra lamp posts have been added with the co operation of the electrical department of Chennai
Corporation,Div.153. Now evening players play under sodium vapour lamps.
Residents who regularly use this play court have pooled in to lay a concrete floor for better facility. This has now attracted more new
players. Similarly players have been making good use of the park at Ramnagar 1st street. More than 20 players use this park regularly. They have now appealed to the Chennai corporation, Div.153 to level the ground properly in this park for improved playing conditions.
While the Chennai Corporation is making all efforts to protect such public places, it is heartening to see the local residents making proper use of it. Such public involvement prevents misuse of parks and playgrounds as garbage dumpyard (at Bhel Shakti Nagar Park) and as unauthorised car park. b.vimala

New Office Bearers Elected!
The general body meeting of Seshadripuram and Sachidananda Nagar Welfare Association was held on July 31st. The following were elected to the executive committee of the association. President - Mr.R. Venkaraman, V.President - Mr.K.P. Nagarajan, Secretary - Mr. D. Ravee, Jt. Secretary - Mr. R. Balakrishnan, and Treasurer - Mr. N.A. Somasundaram

CARE YOUR EYES
Mehul.K. Gosalia (B.S.Optometry) of True Vision Opticals, Vijayanagar, Velachery conducts various courses at Sankar Netralaya. Here he gives some tips on eyecare.Eyes are not only windows to the soul, but also windows to the world. Eye sight is gods gift and one of the most precious things we are born with.Eye care is a very important. Do we really know how to take care of our eyes? Let us find out!
If we have an eye problem whom do we consult?
You can consult an Opthalmologist or Eye Doctor who will diagonise the problem, whether you need to wear glasses, or you have an infection,alergy or any other medical problem.
An Optometrist-will guide you on the right type of spectacles or contact lens to wear.
What is the frequency of an eye examination?
The frequency to visit your optometrist is once in a year if you are wearing glasses and have no other ailments.
What are the basic tests that needs to be performed when I visit my optometrist?
Your history relating to any eye problems in the past.
Vision is tested with and without old glasses.
Refraction is done and new power is prescribed.
Slit lamp examination is done to access the interior portion of the eye
Eye pressure is checked up using Applanation Tonometer or Non contact Tonometer
Fundus examination to check for the portion chamber of the eye.
Who can use computerised testing and dialatation testing?
Computerised Eye testing is the latest form of testing which is speedy and accurate for people in the age group of 13 to 55 yrs. For children and elderly it is more admissable to dilate the eyes for eye testing.
What are the factors that affect vision?
The most common factor that affect vision are if you have power (long sight, short sight, astigmatic or presbyopic).
If you are Diabetic or have Hypertension for more than 5 - 8 years.
If you have Glaucoma or eye pressure in an advanced stage.
What are the forms of vision cooration for powered people?
1. Spectacles, 2. Contact lenses, 3. Laser treatment
How do we take care of our eyes?
Once a day especially in the mornings wash the upper and lower eyelids with luke warm water to keep them clear andclean from infection.
People having power need to wear glasses / contact lenses as advised by the doctor.
Anti- Reflection coating needs to be used by people sitting in front of the computer for long hours.
A balanced diet consisting more of greens and carrots is difinitely needed.
Sleep of a minimum of 8hrs is needed.
Mehul.K. Gosalia,(B.S.Optometry)

TEEN BUZZ
Stories from the Bhagavatham
The Pandavas win the great Mahabharata War. After years of glorious rule, the 5 Pandava brothers retire to the forest. Before going away they crown Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna as the king.One day King Parikshit went hunting in the forest. He gets seperated from his followers. As he wandered about the forest in search of water to drink he comes to the ashram of Sage Shresta. Feeling very tired and thirsty, he calls out for people in the ashram,but no one answeres him. He then sees Sage Shresta in meditation. King Parikshit asks the sage for water to drink. But he does not get any answer. He asks many times, but still he gets no answer. The very tired king becomes angry. He then throws a dead snake lying nearby on the Sage's shoulder in a fit of
anger.
The Sage feeling something on his shoulder, opened his eyes briefly. Seeing the dead snake, he curses, "Who ever threw this snake on me shall die by snake bite 7 days from today!"
Hearing this curse, King Parikshit comes to his senses. He realises the grave mistake he had made. Knowing that there was no escape from the Sage's curse, King Parikshit requests Sage Sameekar, son of Rishi Vyasa to recite the Mahabharata story. Throughout the 7 days, bhajans and religious discourses were conducted throughout the kingdom for the people to hear good things. On the 7th day when king Parikshit was to die, there entered the kingdom a well - known curer of diseases Kasiappar. Kasiappar's main aim was to earn a large fortune. He had the knowledge to cure a person of any deadly poison. On his way to the palace a man met him. He was none other than Angadan, the most deadliest and poisonous of all snakes. Angadan says to Kasiappar, "Prove your curing skills by bringing to life this tree which was bitten by me. I will give you whatever your want." Hearing this challange, Kasiappar uses all his medicinal knowledge to bring the tree to life. Angadan then showers him with wealth and fortune. The happy Kasiappar leaves the kingdom without meeting king Parikshit. Then Angadan, still in Brahmin disguise meets the king and kisses him on his cheek.
Atonce the king falls down dead. fulfilling the Sage's curse. Lord Vishnu blesses the king's soul and takes him to his abode at Vaikuntam.

Seashells on the Shore!
Have you picked shells in the beach sands? Can you name some of them. Next time you go to the beach have fun picking sea shells.
Do you know how a shell is formed? The mussel or molluses builds the protecting shell by a special part of its body called the mantle. This mantle seperates the carbonate of lime from the blood of the molluse. This lime is thrown out to the surface, which hardens to form the shell.
As the mussel grows, so does the shell. The shell can be divided into 3 layers. The innermost layer usually shines with rainbow colours. This part is known as the mother - of- pearl.

What is the word?
There is a word of 6 letters, the meaning of which is made exactly opposite by changing the places of the 2 middle letters.
What is the word?
Ans : 'UNITED' which is 'UNTIED' when 2 middle letter are changed.

Sita said to her sister, "I have 5 times as many mangoes you have."
Her sister replied, "Yes, you have 24 more than I have,"
How many mangoes did each have?
Ans : Sita has 30 mangoes and her sister 6
mangoes.

fun with letters!
Fill in the blanks
S -- -- B -- -- N
B -- -- D N -- -- R
M -- -- T S -- -- L
B -- -- T R -- -- D
C -- -- T T -- -- D
How many words can you make using 'OO'?

ART & CULTURE
AADI - THE MONTH OF AMMAN GODDESS!
Aadi or the period of Winter Solistice, also known as Dakshinayanam is dedicated to the worship of Mother Goddess.During this period the Sun ;and the Moon are in a straight line. This month is regarded as a period during which the Gods are said to be resting. Hence auspicious celebrations are not performed in this month.Instead most of the Amman temples perform pujas and ragi porridge is offered to devotees.With summer turning into winter,the change over period is of extreme climate conditions. Hot, sultry days and cool nights with short rain showers thrown in.The Goddess is garlanded with neem leaves. This is said to have medicinal properties that prevent epidemics of flu and chicken pox. Devotees also dress up in neem leaves to ward of any such infection.
This month is very important to farmers as it is time in which seeds are sown in the fields. Mother Goddess is worshipped as Mother Earth for good harvest.Here the well known Amman temples are presented to the reader.
text & photo:b.vimala