G Sangram

           (Google map timeline of my South tour) The Subtle Power of Literacy    Did you ever wonder how literacy makes difference on a broader perspective? Well, then Kerala (popularly known as God's Own Country) might have an answer for you. In India, state Kerala has the highest literacy rate which hovers around 96.2 cents, way higher than the national average of 77.7 cents. Here is a story.    On a delightful morning around Nov-2020, I was hovering on the roof of my PG at Trivandrum, Kerala. The time was atypical as the Coronavirus cases were soaring in the state shutting the vibrant tourism industry of GODS OWN COUNTRY. From the roof, I saw a pedlar wearing a mask selling breakfast on his Luna motorcycle. Upon arrival of a customer, he got down the bike, sanitized his hands, pulled an elastic glove in his hand, handed over the Puttu-kadala curry (a variety of breakfast) and gently put his glove back to its place. he repeated it fo...

 Jasmine City of India     J asmine , a sweet-scented flower also referred to as "Malligai" by the majority of Dravidian people is an important element of Indian culture. But do you know the biggest market of Jasmine in India? Yes, it's Madurai, an ancient temple city known for the glorious Menakshi Amman temple where the famous sweet-scented Malligai has been grown for centuries. References to Madurai’s jasmine is can be traced back to Sangam literature which revolves around 300 BC to AD 300.     In Hindu rituals, pujas or auspicious occasions remain incomplete without the family members decorating their homes with fresh, sweet-scented Malligai. For children, young girls, brides and married women as well as the elderly women, tucking in a strand of jasmine is a part of their beauty, an indication of their personality and a celebration of an auspicious occasion. Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier    M adurai , the ancient city located in the s...

 Tales of South series holds short stories of my solo motorcycle ride throughout the southern India. Though my personal experiences, it's not really about me, it's about SOUTH India, its kind people, unique culture, customs, beliefs, food and biodiversity. Through this series, you will have a glimpse of how unique is this region in India as well as in the entire world. Preface to 'An act of kindness' It's been little more than 270 km since I started from Hyderabad with a tiny halt near the roaring Krishna river. I was completely wet as it was raining most of my journey. Due to the heavy rain from the last few days, the water bodies in or around southern Andhra were either full or overflowing by causing a flood-like situation. Many lower lands even suffered from floods. An act of kindness I was riding high, slicing the air, grasping the chill. Just crossed Kurnool district of the state Andhra-Pradesh and rolling somewhere on the Kurnool - Ongol highway. My body was a...