Columbia Pacific Communities Blogs

Birthday is a day of joy and celebration Not just with feast but in kind and frolic Not because it is a day one is born It is a proof one has lived another year with nothing but the grace of god   It is a day to look back and see What we did; good or evil How we lived, rightly or wrongly Rejoice for right and repent for wrong Resolve to do good in place of evil.   Commit to a life of virtues and values Recharging sagging spirit and Rededicate to living right Forsake vanity and snobbishness Grow humble and humane.   Make every moment worth gold Making oneself immortal When the soul departs body, so dear to it In its sojourn to an unknown place Never to come back again For dear and near ones to see Leaving everything hoarded over a lifetime.   This blog post is by Dr A. Sreekumar Menon, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Nightingales and cuckoos are well-known and admired for their musical calls. Parrots, European goldfinch, American Robin birds, sparrows, peacocks and many other birds call out in soulful and musical notes. It has been scientifically proven that cows produce more milk when exposed to melodious music. It is also found that music stimulates the brains of birds, animals and man, alike.   The frogs croaking by the pond-side at night have a rhyme and rhythm, and so do the crickets and bumblebees. The constant whining of the mosquitoes may be annoying to our ears, but for them, it is a musical communication, informing each other of the availability of fresh human blood to be syringed out! However, if they “sing” into the ears of a musician, he may take it as a musical challenge posed to him by the mosquitoes. While people find an elephant orchestra amusing, it is believed that the elephants themselves find it calming and derive happiness from it.   Indian botanist Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose has scientifically established the fact that melodious music stimulates the growth of plants while violent music and sudden loud noise stunt their growth. In 1961 students and faculty at Annamalai University studied the effect of music on paddy fields. They found out that the fields exposed to Nagaswaram music of Rajaratnam Pillai every morning over a period of four months grew faster and better. There is a need to apply the melodious music therapy forward in various fields of human life.   Melodious music, whether it is eastern or western, has its effects and needs to be enjoyed within.   Non-melodious music, which is too noisy and uncomfortable, particularly to senior citizens, is preferred by youngsters. In a recent turn of events, researchers from Denmark have made a detailed comparative study of the melodious and non-melodious music and published a report on the effect of music on the protein chains of Amygdaloid bodies of the human brain and DNA changes. The damaging effects of non-melodious music are well brought out in that study.   Music is now being used for therapeutic purposes. Special children such as the ones affected by Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy or autism (to a mild extent) have shown improvement when exposed to Indian melodious music. So, it makes me wonder if we can use this therapy to bring about a positive change in criminals or terrorists? Can we use music in operation theatres, especially in pediatric clinics, to ease the tense atmosphere? Or perhaps to cure psychosomatic diseases particularly in senior citizens who feel lonely?   That’s some food for thought.   This blog post is by Dr Rajaram, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities.

The well known saying, “knowledge is power,” is true. A knowledgeable man can meet the challenges of life and become more successful. There are two main sources of gaining knowledge; one is through listening to informative talk or presentations and the other is reading books. Out of the two, reading books is the most important source. We get only a limited opportunity to learn from listening. The information conveyed through a lecture can in no case be as exhaustive as that in a writing.   There are other limitations to learning by listening when compared to learning by reading. Our mind can grasp much faster than we can speak; there is always idle time for the mind while the spoken words get imprinted on it during which the mind wanders. In other words, other alien thoughts pass through our mind which affects the concentration of the mind on the spoken words.   Another snag in listening is that we judge the ideas conveyed by the speaker while listening; this process is called “scheming”. While we scheme, we miss out on what the speaker is communicating. Our attention to the talk also depends upon how interesting the speaker’s presentation is. Even in the case of a sincere listener, it is difficult to hold his attention too long as boredom and other distractions tend to creep in.   When listening, the listener’s role is generally more passive, unless he tries to put himself in the position of a speaker, with empathy, which is a rare skill. When reading, one can adjust to the comfortable pause of reading. While reading, the time is his own. He can reflect on what he reads. Reading allows us to exercise our brain more intensely than listening can permit. It is within our control to keep the reading environment calm. While reading, our mind is in a deep state of concentration, the state of which soothes our mind and keeps us calm and composed, like we experience in meditation.   Reading activates our neural system and slows down the decline of memory due to the ageing process. It also enables us to organise information logically and cultivate patience. The information gathered through systematic reading gets embedded deeply and more clearly in our brain than information stored through listening. It is only through sustained reading habit that one can develop true scholarship.   However, with the advent of computers and the internet, reading has taken a backseat. At this rate, reading will soon become extinct and the material progress of mankind may reverse. The need of the hour is to restore this invaluable human ability by facilitating book reading sessions followed by discussions. Libraries, in particular, should organise such programmes periodically. Along with promoting reading skills, writing habit should also be promoted.   This blog post is by Dr A. Sreekumar Menon, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Community.

I look light and clean in my place I live in what you call as sky or space I am admired by all as I am beautiful I am adored by all as I am dutiful.   It has been a long time since I visited My only love whom from far I gazed Wearing blue and green canopy encased In splendid colors making all stand dazed.   Let me visit my lovely mountain spread All white and pristine makes me glad But what horror is this, it looks bad Littered with rubbish and looks so sad   Let me move to see my serene flowing river Nourishing and cherishing people all over Oh! Why she looks so dirty and dried up ever Polluted with sewage and plastic covers.   I am thankful that I am clean and white But what is this! my body has changed in a trite To black and ugly with soot and looks a sight Giving a blow to my beauty, pride and might.   When will I become beautiful and clean Regain my pristine form as I bemoan People of Earth, I plead with you anon Nurture all of us nature as we have been.   Avoid throwing rubbish on my mountains Stop sending sewage in my gentle rivers Please stop cutting down trees of my forests Kindly keep my sky and space livable always.   This blog post is by Uma Maheshwari, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Although the World Cup is over, the cricket fever is still on! For lovers of the game, here are a bunch of interesting facts that are hard to believe.   1.Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before India Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before making his debut for India. During a practice match between the arch-rivals at the Brabourne Stadium in 1987, Tendulkar was a substitute fielder for Pakistan.   2. Sanath Jayasuriya has more ODI wickets than Shane Warne Believe it or not, Sanath Jayasuriya has taken more ODI wickets than Shane Warne. While the left-arm Sri Lankan all-rounder has claimed 323 wickets in 445 ODIs, the legendary Australian spinner has taken 293 wickets in 194 matches.   3. Inzamam-ul-Haq claimed a wicket on the first ball he bowled in ODIs Former Pakistani skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has a unique record of claiming a wicket on the very first ball he bowled in ODIs. On November 24, 1991, he got the wicket of West Indian great Brian Lara at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Lara left the crease after offering a catch to wicket-keeper Moin Khan.   4. Peter Siddle – the only bowler to take a hat-trick on his birthday Australia’s Peter Siddle is the only bowler in the history of cricket to take a hat-trick on his birthday. He did so during a Test match against England at Brisbane on November 25, 2010.   5. Mahela Jayawardene – the only batsman to score a century in WC semi-final, final Mahela Jayawardene is the only batsman to score a century in a World Cup semi-final and final. The former Sri Lankan captain scored a 109-ball 115 against New Zealand in 2007 World Cup semi-final and hit a 88-ball unbeaten 103 against India in the final of 2011 World Cup.   6. Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is higher than Sachin Tendulkar’s Legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is 257. On October 20, 1996, Akram scored an unbeaten 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. It is also the highest score by a number eight batsman. On the other hand, Sachin’s highest score in the longest version of the game is an unbeaten 248. The Indian maestro scored a double century against hosts Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in December 2004.   7.Courtney Walsh remained unbeaten maximum number of times It is a fact. Walsh, the former West Indian fast bowler, played 132 Tests. In 185 innings, he scored just 936 runs at an average of 7.54. However, he remained unbeaten 61 times and his top score was an unbeaten 30 (against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 24, 1988).   8. Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker, Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets Richard Stokes watched only two Tests in his life. At the age of 10, he witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Forty-three years later, he was at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in Delhi where Anil Kumble took all the 10 wickets against Pakistan.   9. Leslie Hylton is the only cricketer to be hanged for murder Former West Indian pacer Leslie Hylton, who claimed 16 wickets in 6 Tests at an average of 26.12, is the only Test cricketer to be hanged. He was hanged on May 17, 1955 in Jamaica on charges of murdering his wife.   10. Vinod Kambli’s Test average is better than Sachin’s. Kambli scored 1084 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 54.20, while his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78.   11. Chris Gayle is the only batsman to hit a six off the first ball of a Test West Indian opener Chris Gayle is the only player in the history of cricket who hit a six off the very first ball of a Test match. The hard-hitting Caribbean batsman achieved this feat against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2012. The bowler was debutant off-spinner Sohag Gazi.   12. MS Dhoni has not scored a century outside Asia Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the holder of many records. One of them is that he has not scored a century outside Asia. Mahi has scored six Test centuries and ten ODI tons, but all of them are scored in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.   13. Lala Amarnath is the only bowler to dismiss Bradman hit wicket Amazing! Lala Amarnath holds the unique distinction of being the only bowler in the history of Test cricket to dismiss Sir Don Bradman courtesy of a hit-wicket. It happened at Brisbane in 1948.   12. Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian skipper and the first man to score 10,000 Test runs, was dismissed first ball of a match thrice. Gavaskar was out to Geoff Arnold at Edgbaston in 1974, to Malcom Marshall at Kolkata in 1983 and to Imran Khan at Jaipur in 1986. Interestingly, Sunny shares this unique record with Conrade Hunte, Chris Gayle, Sanath Jayasuriya – who were dismissed for zero on the very first ball of a match three times.   13. Sir Donald Bradman hit only 6 Sixes Legendary Australian batsman Sir Don Bradman hit just six sixers in his entire career. Sir Don hit five sixes against England and one against India. Apart from hitting two fives in his career, he smashed 618 fours in Test cricket.   This blog post is by Dr A Sankaranarayanan, resident of Serene Adinath by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Sneaking sun rays, making glitter Snow bound, Himalayan glaciers Sound of bullets, deafening the ears Sincere soldiers, silently tread Safeguarding the people of India   Death in front, devilish ice, chilling the body Dedication in mind, deadly weapons in hand Daring enemies, when will assault? Dangling question ever in the brain Drafting a plan to drive out the usurper   Hearty wife of native village in the heart Healthy thoughts of kith and kin Happily energizing the vital organs How to combat, to kill the enemy Having experienced many a war   Unstinted faith, undeterred will power Uniting all men of uniform together Understanding well, the skill of each other Up, up, marching above the silvery clouds Utmost alert in the Himalayan peaks   Strategy of border security force (BSF) Shots of sounding gun, targeting the enemy Soldiers of alien force meeting the end Sounding drums, trumpeting national anthem Saluting the tricolor flag with profound pride   Alleviating fear of insecurity from the holy nation Accepting in the chest, the bullets of enemy Achieving the task of saving the border Alas, alas, armed men of great nation Ascending heavenly abode from Himalayas   Widows and children of war heroes Will or no, digesting their non existent Worshippable deities of mother land What next? Let us, the people of holy nation Wake up to lit light to lift heirs of unsung war heroes.   This blog post is by Anna Mohan, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific communities