ALUMNI CLUB

No.1 Boat Club Road, R.A.Puram,Chennai 600 028 Phone No: 044-24322195, 044-24321233 Guest Room: 044-24351449 E-Mail: acau@ymail.com Website: www.alumniclubau.com

Reciprocal affiliation for usage of guest rooms has been arranged with the following clubs. Members can contact our club office for further details: Coorg Sports Club, Kirgoor Road, Ponnampet, South Kodagu - 571 216, Karnataka. Facility: Bar, Badminton, Billiards, Capacity: Four Rooms. Contact Person: Manager - 08274-249074 www.coorgsportsclub.com The R.S. Puram Club, 1, Subramanian Road, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore - 641 002. Facility: Bar, TT, Tennis, Badminton, Billiards, Cards, Gym, Library, Carrom, Chess. Capacity: Eleven rooms, A/C deluxe & Non-A/C. Contact Person: Hon. Secretary- 0422-2547021 0422-2547022, - 0422-2547348, Email:info@rspuramclubcoimbatore.com Kodagu Planters Club, Post Box No.17, Gonikoppal 571213, South Kodagu, Karnataka. Facility: Bar, TT, Tennis, Indoor shuttle, Billiards, Cards, Reading Room Capacity: Two deluxe rooms. Contact Person: Manager - 08274-247707. The Madurai Union Club No.9, Tamukkam Park Road, Madurai-625 020. Facility: Bar, Tennis Court, One huge Billiards Hall, Indoor-shuttle court, T.T., Carrom, Chess, Cards and Modern Gymnasium. Capacity: Three double suites with A/C, Three deluxe double suites with A/C. Contact Person: Hon. Secretary- 0452 -2530105, 0452-2521945. Email: unionclub1883@yahoo.com

OFFICE BEARERS President Mr. C.S.Vijayaraghavan Vice President Dr. S. Sivanesan Secretary Mr.T. Swaminathan Treasurer Mr. C.A. Raj Mathivanan COMMITTEE MEMBERS Catering Mr. S.P. Chandrasekhar House-Keeping Mr. J. Ganesh Babu Entertainment Mr. D. Girish Library & Newsletter Dr.S. Natarajan Sports Mr. M.P. Premkumar Anna university Nominees Dr.P. Manohar Dr.P. Jayashree

Contents
March 2013

2 | MAR | 2013

Continuous effort not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential. Winston churchll

Newly installed facilities

Reception

Mens Wash Room

Dish Wash Facility

If the facts dons fit the theory, change the facts. Albert einstein

MAR | 2013 | 3

ALUMNI CLUB

The Alumni Club SUPER SINGER contest was held in the club during the month of February 2013. The preliminary rounds were held on 15th February and the FINALS on 23rd February 2013. The competition was held in the DISCO FLOOR area on both days and it was packed on both days with members enjoying the melodies from both Tamil, Hindi films and a few English songs as well. The program was open to Members, Spouses & Wards and we had more than 25 participants from all age groups for the preliminary rounds. The participants sang along with karaoke tracks provided by a Nabaroon Ghosh, who conducted the event and also picked the participants for the finals. The Judges for the Finals were Mr James Vasanthan, renowned Music Director who composed the music for Subramaniapuram and Nawabzada Asif Ali ,Heir-Apparent the Prince of Arcot. Mr Asif Ali has composed music for several movies and Albums for famous singers like Lucky Ali,
4 | MAR | 2013
Life is the flower for which love is the honey. - Victor Hugo

S.P.Balasubramaniam and many more eminent singers. The Judges were really amazed with the talent available with the club and agreed that it was difficult to choose the winners as all the singers were very talented. We also had 3 children participating with great enthusiasm and Rohans performance, especially Yele Kitcha needs special mention. Finally the winners were announced and the competition was so intense that there was a tie for the 3rd place between Titus and Preethi who were given another chance to decide the 3rd place and D.Titus king (M.No.1855) grabbed it with his favourite Mouna Ragam song. M.P.Premkumar,(M. No.1434) the multi-talented member and a Committee member walked away with the 2nd prize for the song KANNE KALAIMANE. Finally, when the judges asked the audience to guess the winner, the unanimous choice was Kavya granddaughter of Dr. T.R.Jagadeesan (M.No.50), who walked away with the FIRST PRIZE . The audience was pretty sure that we are going to see Kavya singing in Kollywood and Bollywood in the near future. The Judges Mr James Vasanthan and Mr Asif Ali gave away the prizes (smart phones) to the 3 winners. The President, Mr C.S.Vijayaraghavan and Secretary, Mr T.Swaminathan handed over the mementos to the distinguished judges, who took time off from their busy schedules to adjudge the winners. The Management committee would like to thank all the participants, the members and the judges for making the event a grand success.

Alumni Club Intra Quiz

The Alumni Club QUIZ contest was held in the club on 16th February 2013. The competition was held in the DISCO FLOOR area and it was packed with members . The program was open to Members, Spouses & Wards and we had close to 50 participants from all age groups . This was a first of its kind program at our club and it was heartening to see the response. The quiz was hosted by Nawabzada Asif Ali ,Heir-Apparent the Prince of Arcot.Mr Asif Ali who has hosted many a quiz contest. He made quizzing so much fun that the members did not want to leave and asked for more & more rounds. Finally after 3 rounds of exciting quizzing the winners were announced. The host Mr. Asif Ali, The President , Mr C.S.Vijayaraghavan and Secretary, Mr T.Swaminathan gave away the prizes worth Rs. 15,000 to the winners. The Management committee would like to thank all the participants, the members and the judges for making the event a grand success.
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. Helen Keller

MAR | 2013 | 5

SP O R T S CORNER
Alumpics Update Yellow House triumphed in a nail biting round of Rummy to emerge champions of Alumpics 2013. D. Narayanan was the last man standing to edge out Grey Houses Kanakaraj in the final round of Rummy. Please join me in congratulating the captain Ganesh Kasilingam and his Yellow House team members for the great show. Earlier Grey House kept its title hopes alive by winning Chess with Komeswaran beating defending champion Shankar of Blue House in a thrilling upset. However, Yellow House placed itself in a comfortable lead in the points table by winning Table Tennis with the pair of Ramesh and Natarajan. The seasoned veterans overcame a young and spirited Grey House team of Arun and Jagdish. Blue House perhaps let the title dream slip by losing the Carrom final to Yellow House. SP Chandrasekhar and Nithyanandam proved to be a handful for Sriram and Prem who led from the start but succumbed at the end in a closely fought 3 hour battle.

game

red

yellow

grey

blue

Snooker Bridge Shuttle Tennis Cricket Carrom Table Tennis Chess Rummy Total

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 5 0 5 5 8 8 0 8 47

0 0 8 8 8 0 5 8 5 42

5 8 5 0 0 5 0 5 0 28

Up next we have the Staff Alumpics coming up with Sundar, Gangadharan, Ramesh and Subramani leading their teams for Carrom, Volleyball and Cricket. We expect these games to be keenly contested as well. Sports Day on March 17 We will be having a car rally on March 10 and then bring the curtains down with the Annual Sports Day on March 17. We expect to see you all in the car rally and in the sports day games which we promise you will be interesting. We are
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thankful to Bharat Matrimony for sponsoring this years Alumpics and the Sports Day. Tennis Court Lighting The tennis courts are glittering at night thanks to a makeover of the lights, sponsored in part by Venture Lighting. Thanks to tireless efforts of sub-committee Mr. Kanakaraj, we now have a well-lit court for playing in the evenings. We welcome you to come and play a game of tennis one of the evenings.

The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. Lucille Ball

BahwanCyberTek-Alumni Club T20 Tournament ends with song and style!

The month long Bahwan CyberTek-Alumni Club Inter-club Twenty20 tournament concluded recently. The Prize Distribution ceremony was acolourful affair with an excellent recipe of various club cricketers, officials and well-known personalities. Madras Cricket Club was a worthy winner defeating T Nagar Social Club convincingly in the well-fought finals. MCCs GautamGopal won both the Player of the Finals and the Man of the Tournament awards. Srenevasan of Alumni Club won the Best All-rounder award, while Best Bowler award was won by AP SureshKumar of Madras Gymkhana Club. AS Rangarajan, Captain of T Nagar Social Club was adjudged the Best Batsman. The trophies and awards were presented by the Global Chief Operating Officer of BahwanCyberTek Group, Mr. Mike Muralidharan and former South Zone Cricketer and currently a successful coach, Mr. Sunil Subramaniam, at the prize distribution ceremony held at the Alumni Club lawns. While speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Mr. Mike Muralidharan congratulated the winners and expressed his happiness in sponsoring this tournament for the last four years. He conveyed a congratulatory message from Mr. S. Durgaprasad, Co-Founder & Global CEO, of BahwanCyberTek Group, to the Cricket Sub-Committee led by Mr. Harirajan, for the excellent conduct of the tournament.

Guest of Honour Mr. Sunil Subramaniam recalled his playing days in Chennai and appreciated the tournament that brings todays youngsters and yesteryear cricketers together. Dr. M. Sekar, Dean of College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University highlighted the fact that College of Engineering, Guindy gave India two Test Captains in Kris Srikkanth and S. Venkatraghavan. He spoke about how this tournament was a matter of pride for Alumni Club. He requested the Alumni to mentor and develop cricketers at Anna University to those levels. The evening was painted with variety and colour with scintillating and spirited performances by some of the guests. The popular vocalist Mr. Unnikrishnan (MCC) responded to the audience request spontaneously with his outstanding melody, Ennavaley adi ennavaley. This was followed by Mr. Asif Ali (Gymkhana) and Mr. Rangarajan (T Nagar Club) with their entertaining renditions. Mr. D. Girish, former Tamil Nadu Cricketer & Committee Member in charge of Entertainment, proposed the vote of thanks. Finals: T Nagar Social club 132 for 8 in 20 overs (Balaji 33, A.S. Rangarajan 48,Sathyajit Medappa 4 for 29, Narendar Jain 3 for 18) LOST TO Madras Cricket Club 133 for 4 in 18.5 overs (Gautam Gopal 84 not out , Anantha Krishnan 33) Man of the Match : Mr. Gautam Gopal (MCC)

Watch this space for monthly updates on Sports at the Alumni Club!
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Ralph waldo Emerson

MAR | 2013 | 7

FLYING TRICYCLE MOTORISED

Man has always been fascinated by birds who fly majestically above in the blue sky and many inventors and would-be-flyers lost their lives in crafting out something to fly with. Perhaps this was the passion of Leonardo da Vinci who had designed a working model of a helicopter but could not implement his innovation because technology of his time perhaps did not permit him to do so. The Wright Brothers were lucky in their pursuits when they flew the first ever working model of an aeroplane at Kitty Hawk. Although since the Wright Brothers invention, the aircraft industry has progressed to unimaginable heights, the latest being the efforts to fly a commercial plane into the space. However, the quest of the individuals to fly a flying machine and be included in those magnificent men in their flying machines never diminishes. and devoted flying hobbyists around the world are always in pursuit of making something that takes them into the sky, rather than flying remote controlled (RC) planes. And Larry Neal from Aurora, Texas USA, is one such passionate inventor who made it possible for him to lift his motor tricycle into air just like a helicopter and fly free in the wind. The motortricycle, called the super sky cycle, has been developed by Larry Neal from Aurora in Texas and consists of a 582cc engine and a three-blade 68-inch propeller. It can fly at 56kph, land in 20ft of space and has a top land speed of 104kph. It
8 | MAR | 2013

has a five hour flight time without refueling, and costs 46,000 pounds, the Daily Mail reported. However, the vehicle requires a pilots license to fly. Neal, of The Butterfly Aircraft LLC, has just been awarded a US Patent to build the vehicle on a large scale and sell it to the general public. He already has several orders for national and international companies. The project has been in development for several years but hit a stumbling block as Neal could not work out what to do with the propellers once the vehicle landed. However, he overcame this problem by making them foldable - allowing the vehicle to be driven on regular roads. The Texas border patrol has already made a large order of these flying machines. -Dr. S.Natarajan (M.No.876)

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you dont. Pete Seeger.

COOK NOOK

Take a walk down memory lane as we serve mouth watering delicacies which were a part of our culinary legacy.

Raw Mango Chutney

(Mmidikya Pachchadi) An ingenious combination of sour mangoes, jaggery and chillies Ingredients: Sour raw mangoes 3 Jaggery or sugar 1 tsps Oil 3 tbsps Salt to taste The 1st tempering Split black gram (husked) 1 tbsps Mustard seeds 1 tbsps Fenugreek seeds 8-10 Red chillies 20, nicked at tail with stalks retained Green chillies 2-4, whole with stalks removed Curry leaves 8-10, with stem Coriander leaves 2-3 tbsps, chopped roughly Asafoetida powder or paste tsp The 2nd tempering Mustard seeds tsp Fenugreek seeds tsp Method: Wash and pat dry the mangoes. Peel, grate and set aside. In a wok, heat 2 tbsps oil for the 1st tempering. Add the gram; as it turns golden, add the
10 | MAR | 2013

mustard and then the fenugreek. Switch off the flame and with the browning of the fenugreek, add the red chillies. As they turn bright red, stir in the remaining ingredients of the 1st tempering along with the jaggery. Grind this tempering into a fine paste without adding any water. Now add the grated mangoes and salt and grind coarsely. Heat the remaining oil for the 2nd tempering. Pop the mustard and then add the fenugreek. As the fenugreek turns brown, switch off the flame. Garnish the pachchadi with this crunchy tempering. Traditionally eaten with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee, this pachchadi also tastes good as a spread on toast or as an accompaniment to idlis and dosas.

Mustard Flavoured Vegetable

(va Pettina Koora) Raw banana with a twang of mustard Ingredients: Raw bananas 2, diced medium Turmeric powder tsp Oil 1 tbsp Salt to taste The paste Mustard seeds 1 tsps Raw rice 1 tbsp Ginger 1 inch piece Coconut cup, grated Coriander leaves cup The tempering Split black gram (husked) tsp Mustard seeds tsp Green chillies 2-4, slit Curry leaves a few Asafoetida powder a pinch Method: Boil the diced bananas in water along with turmeric powder till tender. Strain and set aside. For the paste, soak the mustard and rice in a little water. Grind finely along with the other ingredients for the paste using a little water. Set aside. In a wok, heat the oil for

tempering. Add the gram; as it turns golden, add the mustard. Lower the flame and add the green chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida. Add the boiled bananas, paste and salt. Mix well and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes. Switch off the flame. Serve as an accompaniment to chapattis or rice.

Dates Kheer
A sweet dish made of dates Ingredients: Pitted dates 15-20 Cows milk 4 cups Saffron 8-10 strands Wheat flour 1 tsp Nutmeg powder a pinch Cardamom powder tsp Cows ghee 1 tsp Method: Wash the dates thoroughly and chop finely. Bring the milk to a boil and allow it to simmer. Prepare saffron by rubbing it in 1 tsp warm milk until the milk turns orange. Set aside. In a thick bottomed pan, heat ghee, add dates and saut for 2 minutes over low flame. Sprinkle wheat flour over the dates and saut for another minute. Now slowly add the milk, stirring continuously to avoid lumps and continue cooking over low flame for 7-8 minutes. Dates add sweetness to this kheer, but if you like it sweeter, add a dash of powdered rock sugar. Stir the prepared saffron into the kheer along with the nutmeg and cardamom powders. Switch off flame. Enjoy a small helping and stay light.

MAR | 2013 | 11

RELATIONSHIP

A look at the changing dynamics in the marital experience down the line

The wedding vows have remained the same, so have the sentiments involved. Yet some rules have been re-written in the partnership called marriage in the last three decades, writes Smita Shenoy

12 | MAR | 2013

Upping the age ante Then: Her 18th birthday would send a girls parents in search of a suitable boy. And if she was still unmarried at 21, the family feared taunts from family and friends. Now: 18 is the age of exploring career avenues, embarking on world tours, sampling that first drink at a pub and getting a drivers licence but marriage? No way. With financial independence and a newfound confidence women are perfectly content to enjoy their single status till the right man comes along, no matter how long they have to wait. Master of ceremonies Then: The onus, monetary or otherwise, of organising the entire shaadi was on the brides family with the grooms side arriving just before the mahurat. Everything from the brides trousseau and jewellery to the gifts and the menu conformed to tradition. Any deviation from the set norms was considered catastrophic. Now: Experimentation is the mantra, convention taking a backseat. Elaborate shamianas have given way to beach resorts and palaces as preferred venues. Designer wear and sleek jewellery have replaced heavy wedding sarees and ornaments; foreign locales have become ideal honeymoon spots. In fact, most couples prefer to keep the celebrations low-key and spend the money on personal enjoyment. Infidelity stakes Then: Extra marital affairs were few and far between and only of the physical kind. The guilty partner was almost

2011: The world went awww when WillKat sealed their wedding with a now iconic balcony kiss. The combination of sizzling chemistry and compatibility reflected the body language of a young couple much in love and not afraid to show it. Rewind to 1981: Prince Charles gingerly planted a slightly awkward kiss on his bride Dianas lips. Instant comparisons were drawn between the two smooches with the son winning hands down against his father. It is perhaps a sign of the shift in gear in love relationships. Heres a dekko at some aspects that have undergone a transformation over the years.

Instant comparisons were drawn between the two smooches with the son winning hands down against his father.
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always the husband. And more often than not, the straying hubbies were magnanimously forgiven by their wives and life continued as before. Now: Technology has added a new twist to infidelity and blurred the gender statistics. Armed with the latest gadgets, men and women cheat on their spouses with equal ease. Indeed, e-cheating has taken a heavy toll on many marriages. Till death do us part? Then: A couple entered into matrimony believing the bond was for life and put in every possible effort to ensure it was so, even if it meant bending backwards, sacrificing individual aspirations and putting family before self. Men never brought their work home and women ensured timely meals on the table. This approach may be dubbed chauvinistic and old-fashioned by Gen Next but it guaranteed domestic bliss in the days of yore. Now: Divorce is no longer an ugly, Western phenomenon.

It is very much a reality in our country as well. Reduced tolerance thresholds, fragile egos and stressful lifestyles have deepened the rift between partners. The near extinction of the joint family system has taken young couples away from the protective counsel and experience of elders leaving them vulnerable. Consequently, the first signs of trouble in the marriage has them scuttling to the nearest divorce lawyer. Pre nups Then: Women considered it a sin to even think that their husbands could have anything but their best interests at heart. Complete trust and blind faith made them hand over the reins of their finances to their spouses. A split or untimely death of the spouse left the women high and dry and at the mercy of their family. Now: With arranged alliances on the wane, most couples know each other from long before the marriage. Knowing each others propensities and characteristics helps them

enter the marriage with their eyes open. Inking a pre nuptial agreement aids in setting things in order; contrary to popular belief, pre-nups actually help in improving openness within a marriage and avoiding sticky situations later on thus cementing the union. Compared to the previous generation, modern women are no longer ready to suffer silently in the name of love nor are they willing to be stuck in a loveless relationship. On the downside, the emotional connect between partners is fraying at the edges and threatens to snap ties easily. All it takes really is to embrace life with all its eccentricities, highlight the positives, address the negatives and keep the communication channels open and that much sought Happily ever after ending will not seem so elusive after all.

MAR | 2013 | 15

TRAVEL
The year 1998 was the beginning of a new era for Hyderabad as it assumed a new identity of an IT destination. Cyber Towers, the first phase of HITEC City, opened its gates to MNCs giving the new image as an IT hub. Thirteen years since then, a lot of things have changed including a boom in real estate, infrastructure
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and education; however the quintessential Hyderabad has remained the same. For a city which boasts of tradition and culture dating back to 1500s, Hyderabad is one of the few cities in India which has retained the legacy of a glorious past while embracing change. The city has forever been synonymous with the

term lavish, right from the times of the Nizams, in several things ranging from food, architecture, literature and theatre. The laidback lifestyle which people in Hyderabad lead seems quite ironic compared to the explosive growth which the city has undergone in the past ten years.

The city authorities are also planning to get a UNESCO World Heritage status for Charminar for quite a few years now. Among other prominent places of interest are the Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi tombs and Salar Jung Musuem, although every other building which is more than 50 years old has a story to tell. Recently, the Faluknama Palace, which belonged to the Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam, has been remodeled as a plush luxury hotel by the Taj Group. Needless to say, it takes ones breath away. A long time ago, Hyderabad state was the largest supplier of diamonds in the world till the 19th century. Today, the city is known for its pearls and bangles. In fact, theres an entire street, right next to Charminar, known as Lad Bazaar dedicated to bangles of all sorts of colours and designs. A little walk in the area around Charminar is a trip down the memory lane when the area was the heart of the newly formed city. Today, it still retains the charm of yesteryears and is a favourite hotspot for shopping at throwaway prices. Also popular is the Khara Dupatta an outfit composed of a kurta (tunic), chooridaar (ruched pair of pants), and six-yard dupatta (veil) which is usually worn with a jhoomar (a fan shaped ornament worn on the side of the head). With times, this outfit changed with the changing fashion yet, keeping the old style intact. Some now wear a sleeveless kurta over a koti resembling a choli to make it look in. For the men, its the sherwani or achkan and textiles most sought after is the Pochampally ikats. Time stands still There are two things which are too peculiar and unique to a Hyderabadi. If you ask someone for directions, pat comes to the reply, Seedha Jao (just go straight) and the liberty with which time is referred to might leave many surprised.

The Nizam reign The history of Hyderabad dates back to 1518 when Sultan Quli founded the Qutb Shahi dynasty and Golconda was the headquarters. Later, the dynasty flourished under Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who founded Hyderabad as a token of love for Bhagmati. Charminar and Mecca Masjid were commissioned by this ruler who was also known for his penchant for education, poetry and literature. At the turn of the 18th century, Asif Jahi dynasty rose to prominence and thus began the rule of Nizams, which lasted till 1948 when Hyderabad state merged with the Indian Union. Most part of the Nizam influence is restricted to the old parts of Hyderabad especially areas around Charminar, Mehdipatnam, Malakpet, Barkas, Koti, King Koti, Begumpet and few other areas. Several buildings including mosques and palaces, dating back to the erstwhile Nizams, are spread all across the city. One such palace is the Chowmohallah Palace, which was the official residence of the Nizam. Over the past few years, the palace has emerged as a cultural centre where plenty of musical shows and plays are hosted almost every week. After its restoration to its full glory, UNESCO awarded this palace the Asia Pacific Merit award for cultural heritage conservation.
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The laidback lifestyle which people in Hyderabad lead seems quite ironic compared to the explosive growth which the city has undergone in the past ten years

Biryani bowl The obsession with food, to celebrate every occasion or the lack of it, is something very unique to the city. If theres one thing for which the city will be eternally indebted to the Nizams and Qutub Shahs who ruled before them, then it has to be the famous Hyderabadi Biryani. Cooked in several styles, a full course meal is never complete without a serving of this Biryani. Competition is fierce among restaurants which claim to serve the best Biryani in the city; however the most authentic Biryani is credited to several families who are the descendants of Nizams. Shadab, Bawarchi, Paradise and Four Seasons are some of the restaurants which have quite a reputation when it comes to Biryani. And then theres Haleem, which is a Ramzan specialty in the city. Shammi Kebab, Sheermal, Mirchi ka Salan, Dum ka qimah, Double ka Meetha, Kubani ka Mitha, Dum ka Murgh, Katchi Biryani, Nihari and Paya are some of the other popular dishes. The emergence of the young and vibrant version of Hyderabad has brought about a remarkable change over the past few years. Several new townships and posh areas around Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Madhapur have become the focal points of all the activity. Pubs, hotels, coffee shops and high-end outlets are a common sight, which present a totally different side of the city. Even the attitude of the new generation of Hyderabadis slowly seems to be changing. A lot of efforts have been undertaken to preserve the traditions, which once flourished in the city. Over the past few years, several theatre groups have emerged and other cultural centres like LaMakaan have become the point of convergence of all things related to theatre, poetry, music and arts. The Nizams have left an indelible impact on the city and whatever change may occur in future, the traditions and culture will continue to flourish in its food, language, art, buildings and most importantly, the people. Despite the hustlebustle of the city, theres an air of complacency and the only thing which reverberates in our minds at the end of the day is another catchphrase which would define the city itself, Kya Jaldi Hai Miya, jara hallu chalo (Whats the hurry gentleman? Go slowly).

Perhaps theres a HST (Hyderabad Standard Time) and punctuality isnt a forte for the city dwellers. The laidback lifestyle is quite addictive even for the most strong-willed. And then theres Dakhni, the local language which is an amalgamation of Urdu, Hindi, Marathi and Telugu, another unique attribute of a Hyderabadi. It might very well be one of the first things which would bring a smile on to your face, if you are new to the city. The day begins even before sunrise as scores of people, mainly in areas surrounding Charminar, make a beeline in front of Irani Cafes for their daily dose of bread and chai. Once upon a time, these Irani Cafes used to be the hangouts for intellectuals; however things have changed now. Nimra Bakery near Charminar is one such place which still attracts people as early as 4 AM when it opens its doors with the aroma of freshly baked Osmania biscuits wafting through the air. As the day goes by, people mill around with their daily chores before heading back to hundreds of cafes and restaurants that have sprang up all across the city after sunset.
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24 | MAR | 2013

to

Humbling Yatra Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash

Part-I
Article and photos by N.S.Kumar, Membership # 455

n the third week of August 2009, our group of 55 left Delhi for Kathmandu after the formalities for the Visa were completed by the travel agent in Delhi. Following a brief stay in Kathmandu valley and visiting the Pasupathinath temple and other tourist attractions, we left for the Nepal-Tibet border climbing the lush green mountains which carried several cascades of waterfalls at varying heights. Some were busy taking snaps

and some others singing Shiva songs and the rest watching the scenario with awe. The buses steadily climbed passing above the valley of Indravathi where the majestic Kosi river winds through the mountains. We reached Kodari at 7500 from Kathmandu (4000), bordering Tibet (occupied by China since 1952). We filled up our rumbling stomachs with hot pooris, idlis and vadas prepared for us and washed them down with hot tea to counter the chill breeze. The

restaurant is propped with stilts in the mountain slope along the road and we were peeping out of the window into the deep ravine with a silvery water stream 500 below. We reached the friendship bridge between Nepal and Tibet for scrutiny of our papers and baggage by the unsmiling Chinese soldiers. It will be interesting to note that Visa is not stamped on the Indian passport but only a paper is attached and taken away later
MAR | 2013 | 25

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. George Bernard Shaw.

gasping for fresh air. Before leaving Nyalam, we ransacked the little shops with Chinese gadgets and some of us bought dozens of pen-cum-torch lights, 2 Yuan each (Rs.15), as souvenirs for a long list of relatives and friends. Leaving Nyalam, we drove through the gravel roads steadily climbing to Saga at 15000 feet, traveling 230km. Saga is an important military base of China and from the hotel window, if we take a photo, the camera would be snatched. This is a place where the Brahmaputra flows (Tsangpo) and a massive water diversion program northwards, is underway!!. On the fifth day, the drive from Saga to Paryang, at 15600, almost on a level plateau took 7-8 hours to cover another 230kms on the gravel road. There are areas of grass where a large herd of sheep, fat with their wool grazed them. Tibet is a high-plateau desert with a peculiar scenario of large windswept sand dunes on one side and little mountains of 1000-2000 feet rising above the plateau. These mountains intercept the cold air and precipitate moisture forming ice on their top; which melt down and form streams and later become rivers. As we drove across the plateau, we found huge naturally formed lakes. It is a lesser known fact that Tibet has the third largest ice reserve on earth after the North and South Poles. Driving through the core desert is allowed only for a group of vehicles, usually the rugged Toyota Land-rovers, backed up by a truck with spare

and they have a control list to check our Visa status. After lunch at Kodari, We passed zhangmu (2300 m) to reach Nyalam in the Tibetan plateau (3750 m), 150km away. Reaching this tiny town in the late night, we were hungry and cold. We huddled into the guest house after a hot soup and food and hit the cozily arranged beds with quilts. The next morning, the Swamiji in our group and the ardent devotees of Shiva,

especially the UK-NRI group, performed Linga abhisheka. Later we roamed about the little Tibetan-Chinese village where fat buffaloes with their beards were leisurely loitering the narrow streets lined with little mud and tinned houses whose walls were covered with cow-dung putties, like in India. The nearly 1000 cliff visible nearby allured some of us; a group of 20 of us took the challenge and reached the clifftop, taking-in the view while

26 | MAR | 2013 It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness
in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come. - Dalai Lama.

parts and tires. A big fat flat tire of Toyota is changed within minutes of the trailing truck reaching the spot and the team of drivers chipping in. Driving through the high plateau, we had to rollup the glasses to avoid the dust kicked up by the vehicles and for protection from the chill air. Even when

the car AC is on, the anomalous situation is that the infrared rays of the sun from the scantily clouded sky will burn the person directly exposed to the sunlight. Not knowing this, the person fighting for the front single seat, instead of being one of three in the back, will sacrifice the front

seat to others half-way through the journey, especially when the sun is beating through the front and side glasses Sometimes we sang in praise of Shiva to mitigate body ache and to pass time. Other times, the resourceful Tibetan/ Chinese drivers plugged in their USB drives with Shiva songs copied at Kathmandu. From Paryang, we reached the magical Manasarovar (Ma-pham Yu Tso) lake, 277kms and 8 hours away. This massive lake with a circumference of 120kms is situated at 15000 feet has an area of 320 sq.kms and a depth of 300 (max). This massive lake which freezes in winter is believed to have been created by the thought(Manasa) of Brahma. When we had a dip in Manasarovar in end August, 2009, the temperature was less than 5 degrees, not counting
MAR | 2013 | 27

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde.

the wind chill factor. One chants the Om Namashivaya to get the strength for the dip. While some of us dipped from a few minutes, a braving few stayed on knee-deep for quite some time, worshipping Shiva. Our Swamiji friend stayed on hip-deep for nearly an hour in meditation and I shuddered at the very sight Nearby are the sources of Brahmaputra and Karnali (Ghaghra), an important tributary of the Ganges. To the west of Manasarovar, there is the lake Rakshastal of 70 sq.km where Ravana is believed to have gone into hiding and done a long penance on Shiva. Ironically, there are no water weeds, fish, grasslands and white cobbles here though there is a natural canal (Ganga Chhu) connecting Manasarovar. Sutlej originates from the NW tip of
28 | MAR | 2013

Rakshastal, and it is the largest tributary of Indus, from the east. Our group performed Yagna, making a sacred fire and made offerings to Lord Shiva, on the banks of Manasarovar, praying for the success of our Circumambulation(Parikrama) of ice-capped Mt.Kailash, which looked near and yet 50kms away. One could see the famous Parvathi steps on the face of Mt.Kailash visible from the lake. In reality, these steps are 400 apart!! After the puja, on day 9, we drove to our base camp at Tarchan(meaning SalutationsNamaste!) to prepare ourselves for the 3-day, 52kms sacred trek of Parikrama of Kailash Mahameru . Nearly 10 persons stayed back at the base camp due to apprehension or indisposition. We left our main

baggage dumped in a big room and they were kind enough to look after them. During the morning tea, we met a couple of bearded tourists who had reached Tarchan through a short route from Delhi by bus, for two days and six days of trekking across the forest; until then, we thought, we had a tough journey! These yatris get special visas from a limited quota on a lot basis. After a hot and nutritious breakfast, we set forth with high spirits and four layers of clothing, got into our Land Rovers to reach the starting point of Parikrama. On the way, we stopped at a point in the undulating foothills called Yama-Dwara, a simple stone structure with a port, through which when one passes is believed to have conquered the fear of death.

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde.

Entertainment Schedule

March 2013
2nd Mar (Saturday) Tambola 9th Mar (Saturday) Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Tamil Movie

for the month of

16th Mar (Saturday) Kadal Tamil Movie 23rd Mar (Saturday) VANAYUTHAM Tamil Movie

29th Mar (Friday) MAATHA PITHA DAY

30th Mar (Saturday) HARIDAS Tamil Movie

LIBRARY NEWS We are pleased to inform you that regularly we have been receiving donation of books from the members. We request the members to use the library as well as the browsing centre regularly. On verifying our records, we find that some of our club members have not returned the books even after the stipulated period of 15 days from the date of borrowing the books. Hence the concerned members are requested to return the books at the earliest.
The old believe ererything; the middle-aged suspect ererything: the young know everything. Oscar Wilde.

MAR | 2013 | 29

BODY BUILDING
Supplements Reviewed
At the mention of bodybuilding supplements most people think of steroids or protein powders by the bucket full and things that make you go blimp in the night. That shouldnt be the case. Supplements for the weight training sports and fitness activities do have a place in health and performance enhancement. The hard part is finding out which ones work and how much to take safely. Here is a diverse list of supplements to consider.

Creatine

With any supplement, even vitamins, you need to ask these six questions:
1.Does it provide benefit? 2.Is it safe; now or in the longer term? 3.What is the amount that works, the dose? (Never take more than the prescribed dose.) 4.Does your supplement recommend that efficacious dose on the label? 5.Can you trust the supplement company to always deliver that amount in its product? 6.Can you trust the supplement company not to include unsafe or illegal additional products intentionally or unintentionally in the product?

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in muscle in large amounts. Creatine monohydrate is the supplement form and is a combination of the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine. Creatine drives the important creatine phosphate energy pathway, which is important in highintensity activity such as weight lifting.

Saf ety
At the recommended dose of 3 grams/ day creatine seems safe to use over the long term in studies published so far. Isolated adverse effects are reported but these may be as a result of poor compliance with the recommended amount.

Expected Resullts

Creatine can improve body bulk and training performance in high-intensity activities. Be aware that not everyone responds to creatine supplementation and 30 percent of users may not see any improvement. Women may not benefit as much as men. In weight training, increased strength, bulk and fat loss are reasonably consistent results.

How much

There are two ways of taking creatine: 1. Rapid loading with 20 grams daily, divided into 4 doses for 5 days. 2. Slow loading with 3 grams daily. The daily maintenance dose for both is 3 grams/ day. Unless you are in a hurry, dont rapid load.

30 | MAR | 2013

Dont handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Robert A.Heinlein

Caffeine
Caffeine is the naturally occurring alkaloid and stimulant in coffee, tea, cocoa, gurana, cola and other plant product beverages. A strong cup of brewed coffee will give you about 100 milligrams of caffeine, instant coffee around 80 milligrams, often less, and tea down around the 40 milligrams. It varies from product to product and how you prepare the drink. Caffeine supplementation has been shown to benefit some endurance athletes like marathoners taken before an event or training. Originally this was though to be related to energy availability, but more recently research has suggested that it may be more to do with delaying a condition called central fatigue, where the brain does not pass signals to the working muscles efficiently, which results in a general tiredness. Caffeine may slow or prevent this from occurring. Although caffeine has also helped in higher intensity training such as shorter track events, its benefits for weight training are not well established and similar stimulants such as ephedra are sometimes used. The safety of ephedra is under review. Even so, central fatigue is an issue long debated in the weight training community, so caffeine could well be a useful ergogenic aid for weight lifters. The strategy would be to include caffeine in a preworkout drink or supplement.

Electrolyte and Carbohydrate Replacement Drinks

Electrolytes derive mainly from minerals in the diet and they maintain fluid balance and assist the nervous system to perform muscle contractions. The heart is your most active muscle and electrolytes are intimately involved in the pumping action of the heart. Electrolytes are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, sulfate. Exercisers are particularly dependent on sodium and potassium balance. Carbohydrates are important for fueling exercise, including vigorous weight training, and in post-exercise energy replacement nutrition. Carbohydrates, mostly sugars, are formulated in sports drinks with electrolytes such as sodium chloride and potassium and sometimes magnesium. Sports drinks like Gatorade usually contain about 6-8 percent carbohydrate, sodium chloride (salt) and potassium. Sports drinks can be useful in weight training where sessions proceed beyond an hour of highintensity exercise or at the end of such sessions where rapid replacement of muscle glucose is good practice. See my article on the Bodybuilding Diet for more information on the use of sports drinks.

Saf ety

In general health terms, most medical opinion is that up to three cups of coffee a day are not harmful, and may even have some benefits, although some people respond to the stimulant properties with more problems than others. Heart palpitations and restlessness are experienced by some caffeine drinkers. In pregnancy, one or two cups each day are thought to be without harm for the fetus.

How much
The amount used by athletes has been in the range 3-6 milligrams/kilogram body weight (or about 1.5-3 grams/pound body weight). Some coffee houses sell double shots in big mugs with around 300 milligrams in one cup.

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you dont. Pete Seeger.

MAR | 2013 | 31

Protein Powders Whey, Casein, Soy, Egg

The above are complete proteins with all of the essential amino acids that the body cannot produce itself. There is no scientific justification for weight trainers or bodybuilders consuming more than about 1 gram/pound bodyweight a day of protein (2 grams/kilogram/bodyweight/day). You can count your protein intake by using a food database such as at www.calorieking.com. Protein powder supplements may be useful in certain situations. Protein supplements in the form of shakes may be convenient for before and after workout sessions to maximize muscle rebuilding. Different proteins, such as whey and casein, egg and soy have different absorption rates. Whether you should favor one over another for muscle building is still a subject of popular and scientific debate, although whey protein isolate, a more rapidly absorbed protein, has some support from various scientific studies. Dont waste your money on amino acid tablets or capsules; they contain too little of anything to be of benefit. For protein powders, asses the value by checking out the quantity of protein listed on the label. Dont be fooled by a host of other ingredients and fillers that dont add value. Some carbohydrate is okay and may even be essential after a hard workout. Just make sure you get what you expect. Try to buy from reputable manufacturers who guarantee their products and make details available on the labels. Cheap supplements from unknown sources may be unreliable or even hazardous. Low-fat milk powder is a reasonable source of whey and casein protein and for many people this makes an effective alternative to the more expensive protein powders. Taken with some carbohydrate after training, perhaps as a proprietary flavored milk, this is a simple and effective alternative.

Saf ety
No safety issues are expected with the ingestion of protein powders within reasonable limits. Excess protein consumption may not be safe for people with kidney disease.

Expected Resullts
Combined with resistance training, sufficient protein consumption in conjunction with an appropriate diet can lead to increased muscle and reduced body fat. Eat plenty of low-fat protein foods, supplement with skim milk powder or good quality commercial powders if necessary, but dont get too obsessive about different types for general bodybuilding and weight training. See The Bodybuilding Diet for supplement timing issues before and after training.

Less than 1 gram per pound of body weight each day total protein including meals. (2 grams/kilogram/bodyweight/day.) A supplement of 40 grams/day of whey protein with 8 grams of casein with weight training has performed better than other combinations (Kerswick 2006).

How much

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