8 REASONS WHY I LOVE CHENNAI

1. Legendary personalities born here


First and foremost I am proud of the fact that some of the eminent people who have made a mark all over the world, who have created a history, who are popular universally are either born in Chennai or have been brought up here. These are personalities who have not only excelled in their field, but have done such great work that people look up to them and worship them. They have not only won millions of hearts but have earned love and respect world-wide.
Most of these personalities are people I truly admire and have been inspired greatly from.

Ace Music Composer – A.R. Rahman                            World-class actor : Rajnikant     
                       

                               

 Chess wizard  : Viswanathan Anand                      Indian Michael Jackson – Prabhu Deva

 

Successful woman Chairperson &                            Bold & Beautiful Bollywood Actress : 

CEO, Pepsico: Indra Nooyi                                                               Rekha                               

                       

Freedom Fighter/ Scientist/India’s 11th President, Great contributor to Aeronautical & Missile Technology of India: 

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam

(Born in Tamilnadu, Aerospace Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology –Chennai)

2. Low cost of living

Despite the fact that Lonely Planet describes Chennai as lacking Mumbai's prosperity, Delhi's history or Bangalore's buzz, nobody can deny the fact that the cost of living in Chennai is lower than the other metropolitan cities. 

Life in the financial capital(Mumbai) comes at a premium and the hike in LPG prices will only strike another blow to Mumbai's affordability quotient among major cities. An analysis of the latest consumer price index (CPI) figures issued by the Reserve Bank of India reveals that the cost of living in Mumbai is anyway higher than the average of all-India cities.

 Mumbai emerges as a more expensive city than Delhi, Chennai or Kolkata, pipped in the price race only by Bangalore.

 Cost of Living Comparison Between Chennai and Bangalore

Indexes Difference

  

Consumer Prices in Bangalore are 15.70% higher than in Chennai   

Consumer Prices Including Rent in Bangalore are 16.30% higher than in Chennai   

Rent Prices in Bangalore are 20.04% higher than in Chennai   

Restaurant Prices in Bangalore are 24.29% higher than in Chennai   

Groceries Prices in Bangalore are 13.04% higher than in Chennai   

Local Purchasing Power in Bangalore is 12.54% higher than in Chennai  

Source : Numbeo.com

      

3.   Safe and  Sound place for women

Women in Chennai can feel safer about venturing out alone; government statistics are on their side. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on crime in India in 2009, Chennai ranks 34th among 35 cities across the country when it comes to crimes and offences committed against women.

While Delhi, Hyderabad , Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Mumbai take the top five slots, Chennai is penultimate on the list, followed by Dhanbad. 

Source: Times of India – Eve-teasing-NCRB report

        

4. Marina beach

The grand and exotic beach located along the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean extending to a length of about 12 kilometers that is one of the most visited beaches of the world. Golden sand, pleasant ambiance and a shimmering clean blue sea, well enhanced with a jogger’s track, various memorials and spectacular statues, food stalls and shops, aquarium and a lovers spot ; that is what Marina beach is all about

The beach along with its extra-ordinary features and offering many attractive recreational adventures like beach volleyball, beach cricket, is a perfect hangout for people of all ages. 

                                   


5. Food

Although I agree that the weather of Chennai is scorching and humid  almost throughout the year, the food here is to-die-for! Be it the appetizing Idly-Vadai-Dosai or the irresistible and lip-smacking and tummy-filling ‘Tamil Sappadu’ served on Vaazhai Ilai/banana leaf is truly a great feast and specialty of this city or perhaps the state. I am very fond of Tamil Sappadu!!

6. Temples

Located in Mylapore, Kapaleeshwar is a centuries-old temple renowned for its 8th century Pallavan architecture. According to legend, the temple is located on the spot where Brahma, one of the Hindu trinities, installed a Shiva lingam. Kapaleeshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and also has the shrines of Goddess Parvathi, his consort, and the bronze idols of 63 Saivaite Saints or Nayanmars.

A striking feature of this ancient temple is its towering gopurams (towers) - typical of South Indian temples – visible from a distance. 

I have visited this temple, and its soothing and divine ambience has made my experience wonderful and heartwarming.

Another beautiful temple, which is the country’s largest  ISKCON temple built on 15 acres of land is  located at Shozhinganallaur, Chennai.

7. The IPL Team – CSK

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni  and coached by Stephen Fleming,is the most successful team in the Indian Premier League team so far. The team has won the IPL title twice in succession (2010 and 2011) and reached the play-offs every season. They were also the first Indian team to have won the Champions League Twenty20. The brand value of Chennai Super Kings was estimated at $53.37 million, making them the second-most valuable franchise in the IPL in 2011. And people from other cities, instead of appreciating the Chennai Team are merely jealous and talk ill about it –which disgusts me just too much! :/

8. Sensational Hits 

Regardless of the fact that the movie stars are "not that hot", I can’t be without mentioning the sensational hits that the amazing artists from this city have produced. 

The History creator – Why this Kolaveri Di

 Entertaining -Nakka Mukka :P

The impish –Apdi Pode

These were the top 8 reasons why I love Chennai, my birth place so much. You are welcome to share your list !! :)

INDIA’S GROWING TECHNOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY

Another very interesting article in the Business Line dated 7th November 2011

  that totally caught my attention was about Harnessing diffused creative knowledge.

Its about this book called “The India Idea: Heralding the era of path-breaking innovations” by L.K.Sharma, where he talks about how the interplay between society and technology has been intensified, each influencing the other, and how its full force is being felt in India.

Reminding us that satellites and mobile phones are providing education, expert advice, weather information and other critical information to farmers, fishermen, patients, and students, Sharma paints a reassuring picture of the Indian villager who once had to trudge miles to sell her farm produce at whatever price she got: “Today she gets the mandi price on the cell phone before setting out for the market, averting exploitation.” Likewise, “On a Village Resource Centre(VRC) computer, the farmer sees an image of his small plot taken by a remote-sensing satellite, gets to know its soil characteristics and a list of recommended crops.” Interesting isn’t it?

LIFE SAVING SMS

A chapter titled “Indian needs, Indian solutions” lists more than a dozen snippets, ranging from the streaming of moving images to villages, to the triggering of irrigation pump remotely by a mobile phone by Santosh Ostwal. In the context of recent cap on SMS, it should be interesting to learn that mobile phone msgs – generally derided for the signals of love sent by the young, advertising texts by the businesses and the effective use by activists – can also save lives, thus: “Veerampattinam, a fishing village near Puducherry, used to lose seven to eight ppl every year to the tidal waves. But since 1998 not a single life has been lost at sea. Now the fishermen know in advance when it is dangerous to go fishing.”

There is a also a snatch about Gautam Kumar, winner of the 2011 Technology Review Social Innovator award , for developing a fire alarm system/device, Suraksha, that consists of a sensor that smells gas(in case of cooking gas leakage) and sends SMS to five registered users.

R.A.Mashelkar’s piece on “Inclusive innovation” is all about MLM, more performance by using less resources for more people(rather than for more profit). Tata Nano you know, but ‘nano’ refrigerator, may come as a surprise to many! Developed by Godrej and Boyce, the ChotuKool is ‘world’s cheapest refrigerator with a $69 price tag’. The portable, top-opening unit weighs only 7.8kgs, uses high end insulation to stay cool for hours without power and consumes half the energy used by regular refrigerators. It does not uses a compressor but runs on a cooling chip and a fan similar to that used in computers.

WASH CYCLE

Another example of innovation showcased in the chapter is the pedal-driven rural washing machine that can work without electricity. Remya, a Kerala school girl, developed it bcos she had this incredible combination of constraints coupled with her inspirations. “Her father was down with cancer. Her mother was perennially ill. She had to change 3 buses to go to school, come home and do her studies. She created this washing machine, so that she could read, while the clothes were being washed, while she pedalled away.” 

Interesting to know how India’s growing connectivity is helping improve rural development. I would recommend all the readers of my blog to definitely read this book. If you can get ur hands on it, nothing like it! A celebration of innovation, which can leave you asking for more!!

How safe is woman in India??

In modern India, women have adorned high offices in India including that of the President, Prime minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition, etc. The current President of India is a woman.

But the question that lingers in my mind is, why does the land of the Mahatma, that has traditionally viewed "stree" (women) as the embodiment of "shakti" (power) -- ill-treat them thus? Perhaps the answer is embedded deep in the national mindset. Indian women, especially the rural folk, have deep-rooted fears about losing their economic support and shelter if they rebel against a violent spouse. There is also a lurking fear of ostracism which makes them put up with abuse as their "destiny"

For a country on a dizzying upward economic growth trajectory, India's treatment of its women is abysmal. Dowry deaths, rapes, molestations and a swathe of other crimes against women are commonplace even amongst the socio-economic elite. 

The The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)  stated that 45 per cent of Indian women are slapped, kicked or beaten by their spouses with India also having the highest rate of violence against women during their pregnancies – nearly 50 per cent women were kicked while expecting babies with nearly 74.8 per cent attempting to commit suicide.  Can u even imagine the psychological and mental  trauma tat a woman must be going through, apart from the negative impact on their physical health???

However, in a belated but welcome move, the Indian Parliament has, for the first time ever, passed the path-breaking - Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act this year. The Act defines "domestic violence" as all forms of abuse -- physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic. Physical violence is defined as "beating, pushing, shoving and inflicting pain" while sexual violence covers a slew of offences such as "forced sex, forced exposure to pornographic material or any sexual act with minors". 

But while the Act, a landmark legislation no doubt, augurs well for human rights, there is skepticism that it may offer little succor to the rural poor (70 per cent of India's populace) who do not place much trust in such laws in any case. So where really does the solution  to the malaise of spousal violence lie?

I've been reading about the molestation incidents that happened a few days back in India.
Alarming and shameful..!!!!

I ll tell you an incident that happened , some employees of an IT company had enjoyed some rave party in a farm house, men were boozing , gals were swimming in the pool with swimwear, some ppl have started involving in sexual activities. Suddenly the police comes in mid night, arrests all of them, files case against the men, and warns then releases the gals alone. Before arresting them the police had taken photos of the gals with their cell phones. after some days the police has blackmailed those gals with the photos.
Now say who is bad and who is worst, the ppl who molest gals or police who blackmail gals?
With such a kind of incidents do you expect us to believe in police?

We all are aware of how several politicians, actors, directors, officers at higher posts have been leveled charges of  sexual harassment, rape, molestation, sex scandals….!!! Isn’t it disgusting?? The worst part it they just get away with it ! Some get arrested, imprisoned and some just shoo away the whole matter reasoning the charges to be “big-time conspiracy” against them!!

Talking about  Delhi, it wouldn’t  be wrong if one calls it as  “CRIME CAPITAL / RAPE CAPITAL” of our country!! Mere mentioning of Delhi makes me sick!!!!

There are  many articles, mainly by women, about how Delhi is generally unsafe for women. About how a woman defended herself with karate against two would-be-assailants on a crowded street (while hundreds stood around and watched while she called for help).These filthy, vile creatures lurk around the tourist areas and won't hesitate to crane their necks, point, and gawk at westerners, even modestly dressed ones.

When we call an Indian modern woman is free, I doubt if all women feel this at their heart! No matter how a woman is free-spirited and modern, she has a constant fear that she might be assaulted or teased at public places. With this fear, how could we expect the women empowerment steps to be successful?

For how long women would be the targets of eve teasing? Will they ever be able to roam around without any fear at heart? To my opinion, besides asking women to be equipped with pen, knives or pins, men should be made educated enough to respect their counterparts, colleagues and co-travelers!

Will men folk ever put a full stop to their demeaning activities???? Will they ever stop looking at women as an object of sex or a baby factory??

I will far rather see the race of man extinct than that they should become less than beasts by making the noblest of God's creation, Woman, the object of their lust.