Remembering Tsunami - 2004

Honestly, I din't remember this day until a few minutes ago.  Most people wouldn't forget December 26, for it was the day India experienced Tsunami in 2004.  I was in my grandmom's house during that time in Trivandrum.  Being in my grandparents' place, I am always disconnected from the rest of the world (but thats another reason why I like being there :-) and this day also was like that.  Some of my cousins and aunts were there too bcos everyone had come together the previous day for X'mas.  We really had a great time this season setting up the X'mas tree, hut, dolls, stars, lights and all.  We started working on it from the second week of December.  We were very happy this season bcos we've never celebrated X'mas this grand in my grandparents' house with all of us together.  

We came to know of the Tsunami hit only after switching on the television later in the evening on the 26th.  It was disastrous to see and know that most coastal areas of Tamil Nadu were affected including my home district - Kanyakumari.  But the next day (Dec 27), there was news that our place (Kaniyapuram) was likely to be affected too bcos we were just 1.5 kms off Puthenthope beach.  Around 9 pm, we could see all our neighbors packing up and moving their vehicles out of the park.  We just went out to see what's happenin and it was unbelievable.  People were walking in clusters towards the route opposite seaside.  The road, as far as I could see, was full of men, women, and children.  It was like watching a movie wherein the people flee from their hometown when they are asked to leave after a disaster or catastrophe or even similar to a post-war situation.  Is this happening to my heaven-like place?  Before I could stand still thinking of all these, my uncle called me in and asked me to pack some really important things and leave with everyone immediately.  I hesitated to leave bcos I couldn't think of it.  I know there won't be a problem for us and the tides are not going to reach us here. Moreover, I din't want to leave home; the X'mas tree was still shining brightly with lights on it, the balloons and ribbons all over - how could something happen at such time - am I dreaming? Not! I couldn't leave anything behind.  But I had to take something and get everyone prepared before my uncles get more angry. Everyone was packing something, maybe dresses. I din't know what to take along with me then.. got my officebag, took my diary, the certificates I got with me, and a pair of dress - nothing more could get into the bag!  Now I had to bring everyone together and walk out.  Still hesitated, lingered at the door, and then passed the X'mas tree, which was outside the house in our garden.  

Now, I and my cousins were looking at the tree in the garden and the dolls inside the decorated cardboard hay hut.

One of my younger cousins asked, "Are we goin to leave all these behind?"

I was in the same state of mind and wanted to ask my elders the same question, but playing the mature way, I didn't.  But when my cousin asked me, I replied "We'll save them...just pick'em up."  And we collected the dolls of Baby Jesus, the angels, the shepherds, the flock and the gifts too, and within seconds we put them all in a box, opened the room and put them on the shelf above.  The kids felt happy, and me too.  Felt as if we saved something or someone from a critical situation. Now we were a bit happier and walked through the short lane from our house to the road.  

Just then someone said, "Don't forget to let the dog (Pappu) loose."  True golden words they were.  Imagine if the waters entered the area and he is tied to the tree. 

My uncles directed me the route to take, but they were not accompanying us.  I was surprised.  They said it was necessary for them to stay there and would be with us later.  I too wanted to be there at home sending the others away.  For that moment, I wished I were older than my uncles so that I could order them to take the others away and stay there ;-).  Pity, I was younger then. 

 

All of us walked in a group along with other people. I can't explain the experience - entirely different.  Walking away from home.... I know I'l be back.  But when?  I could see people carrying their children and many others their baggages and even two of them carrying their television sets with them.  I din't know where we were going until I asked my grandma and she told me we had a relative some 1 km away and we were goin to stay there that night.  Walking together with lots of people was experience in a lifetime in a situation like that.  KSRTC had started free bus service by then to pick people from beach areas and drop them at the bus depot.  We could see buses moving at the speed of ambulances while we were walking.  That added much tension to everyone as if something v.serious had happened. 

We reached the relative's house, but I've not known them before. While others went in, I was out watching others pass by - don't know whether they too had some relatives at the other corner or are they just goin to walk till dawn.  Wanted to spent that nite someway and come home.  I too joined the others who were watching television in that house.  Some channels were telecasting live the situation in other parts of Kerala and Tamilnadu.  Any place, we could see people walking in groups to some other place like we did.  Disastrous things happened at good times and there comes good times after disasters also.  What a way to spoil the New Year that all were awaiting.  How could Tsunami match the days between X'mas and New Year?!  I always kept wondering at nature's gifts, or God's.  Nature has everything beautiful within it and it shows its ugly faces at times in form of earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, cyclones, and now a Tsunami.  Not talking of that now.  

After some hours of stay in our relative's house, we planned to leave for home.  We just enquired the situation with our uncles and went back home.  Others were still moving opposite us when some like us were moving back home.  Entered home and this feeling I can't express - I'm back and its "home."  This is why we call it home.  I knew I'd be back, but not so soon.  We were at our X'mas tree again and we're happy we can light it again tomorrow.  I could also understand something; there is no need to panic at any situation - just be aware, awake, and alert.  That will tell u what to do.  My uncles were out all nite gathering news from friends who were still near the beach and we were looking for alerts on TV.  Later fell asleep bcos of tiredness and woke up afresh the next morning (really not much time in between) with bright sunlight beaming on me to have hopes for a good day.

This day - that Year is memorable not bcos of Tsunami alone; this day had a feeling of togetherness.  All of us were together - it makes me understand what family and society is.  Everyone in the neighborhood were together, everyone rich or poor walked together bcos everyone had to leave something or everything behind and all they could take along with them was their loved ones with lots of love in their hearts.  This must be the Tsunami-message to the world if it had not killed any.  Losing some, we understand the value of many around us, who being close to us feel being very far from us.

H. Sridhar - Sound in Silence

The Man of Sound is Silent Now

H. Sridhar, the Wizard of Sound 

The Wizard of Sound is no more.  It was late news for me and moreover, bitter - I only knew it on the 5th of December that he went into silence forever on Dec 1.  It was tragic news immediately following the terror attack.  H. Sridhar - The man who mastered and engineered sound throughout his career.  He could perfect sound as sound as it could sound to its natural tone.  To describe him more would be a very difficult task for me bcos the legends who worked with him, and the music industry, who are shocked too, have already shown their gratitude and poured in all possible word to define him and his work.  

Not even many of music lovers would recognize him despite the fact that he was right-hand of A.R. Rahman.  He had been associated with A.R.R. right from the onset of A.R.R's career.  The way the duo has performed outstanding music needn't be explained.  I liked the way he designed and mixed sound as the way I liked A.R. Rahman.  Only because of him have I come to know of audiography and wished to be an audiographer and pursue a career in sound engineering after my schooling.  Well, that's still a dream - bcos I know it can only be a dream, with no steps of advancement.  The way I heard music after he stepped in cannot be expressed in words as I find no other form other than music to express it, as he is related to it.  If Rahman introduced music in the digital form, this man too would be the cause for its digital introduction. 

Theres no doubt the music fraternity will miss him forever.

But its still hard to believe, as many say, he passed away at the age of 50 from a massive heart attack.  He was a hardworker as I could know from everyone in the industry.  This must be life - unpredictable!  Just imagine, he was working the last night with A.R.R. and Murugadoss at the final stages of Aamir's Ghajini.  He left the workplace around 4 a.m. and  by around 8.30 a.m. he was gone in his sleep not to wake up anymore.  The loss would be a loss forever for his family and A.R.R. more than anyone. 

I just can't imagine how Rahman would be feeling right now having lost his close friend and teammate, who has been with him throughout his career.  I've been tracing to get some news from Rahman regarding this and I got this:

Shocked at the untimely death of his friend H Sridhar, the music maestro packs off for a break in the US.

AR Rahman has been so shaken up by his friend H Sridhar’s death that he has packed his bag and headed off to New York to spend some time away from Chennai.   “Rahman has been shattered. Sridhar was absolutely fine, working with Rahman till the last day on the music of Ghajini. Nobody expected him to pass away at such a young age,” said a friend.

He won the prestigious President's Gold Medal (National Award for best Audiography) four times.  

"He engineered the correct sound equilibrium to the Mozart of Chennai's tunes."  - Sify.com

"H. Sridhar was a towering icon when it came to mixing music." - Indiaglitz.com

"He was the best sound engineer I have ever worked with, he pioneered the DTS format in the country."  - Director Priyadarsan

He was a favourite of Mani Ratnam, Shankar, Kamal Hassan, P C Sreeram, and many others.   He pioneered the use of Digital Sound in the DTS format in the country.  What more can someone say of him after having opened up a new era in the history of music and cinema.

And, everyone who knows his work and search for his name in movie titles, you can't find it anymore.  More saddening is that there wont be the 'H.Sridhar/Siva Kumar' title in cassettes/CDs anymore. 

But still, every time I slide up and down the equalizers on my audio system, I am sure without doubt, I will remember you Sir.

You're one of the very few technicians and mastermind I will admire forever. 

This post is a tribute to 'Sridhar Sir,' as many call him in the industry, to whom this is the least I can offer.

Image Source: Indiaglitz

Firing Mumbai & Raining Chennai

"Chennai now has a different kind of water problem: the problem of plenty." - 'The Hindu' said. They had to say this bcos Chennai always had the thirst for water from its birth and any amount of water would just be vapour in quite some time. But this seems really plenty. Plenty plenty down the road and nothing conserved!

Burning Taj

I'm still watching the TV screen on my right. My TV went off only when the power went off - in the last 48+ hours. To reiterate the incidents, which you too would have come across on your screens, is boring. But I really felt the need to write this one out at least to relieve some pressure off me. Now, the net is flooded with blogs and images of the War on Mumbai. Its really astounding to know that all bloggers were active blogging all day and nite for the last 50 hours now. I've been through many of those and its really gives me a feeling of unity when most of them share their feelings and have almost the same feelings. Many bloggers were active throughout feeding posts every minute and even every second sharing information. Kudos to all of them. And by now, Flickr is flooded, like the waters in Chennai, with images of Mumbai and the Taj in various stages of operation and in various angles. Wonder so many of them were out there amidst the chaos picturing it.


The Taj Hotel is a real monument for me, though I've visualized it only through photographs in magazines, images on television, and so. It cant be ruined to this form. No wonder they call it the worst attack on India.


Most news channels took a break only after 48 hours of continued live telecast and reporting. Maybe its survival and business for them, but they could do everything to be informative and give people more information on the situation around and especially for those who were in their homes in Mumbai knowing nothing about the situation outside. But did they do the right thing? This is the news that shook the nation and the world for sure.


But the bad news is that they din't have any other news until now (60 hours past since attack began). Everyone just forgot Chennai covering only Mumbai. Its the 6th consecutive day its raining in Chennai and the whole city flooded. Most of the state of Tamil Nadu is attacked by the cyclone "Nisha," which has claimed some lives and too many losses. Schools and colleges remain closed for the 3rd consecutive day and most to reopen on Dec 1. Only local news channels took effort to show them amidst the Mumbai terror. The value of a human life is the same whether attacked by a terrorist or a cyclone. But not to blame it on the channels anyway, bcos its an issue of national integrity and they have done the best to stay connected - I could find reporters risking their lives, lying flat on the ground, stil reporting every second of the incident. But the fact that Chennai suffered and is suffering a lot is still unnoticed. Instead of repeating the whole scenes that happened right on day 1, they could have gone further with other news at least once in a day, which has not been reported until 3 days now.


There still isn't power supply in most areas of Chennai and people aren't much aware of the situation around them and the floods and then how of Mumbai. It must also be for the first time that a former Prime Minister's death went unnoticed. The former PM's death news just scrolled beneath without anyone reading a word about it.


This is not a blog for the channels. The topic just flew off from me this way, which I dint expect.

Image from Flickr

Struggling to Live?

I would have been more happy if I commenced this new blog on a happy note, as done before.  But I really couldn't stay so long with this blank page.  The incidents, the news, the images, and the firing.....

This wasn't a good week for me either, as for the whole of India.

Are we really struggling to live?

Sometimes, it seems so.   Some people lived to struggle for freedom and we still Struggle to Live!

Its either Nature's Attack or a Terror Attack.  Either way, there has been excess supply of both.  The Terror Attack on Mumbai and the Heavy Rains in Chennai.  Any attack, its we suffering!  The rains can't be blamed bcos nature knows no boundaries and can't be taken to court for surpassing. 

How 'bout the humans who know the law, frame the law, and are Inhumane?

Image from Flickr