Arrogant and greedy leaders, try to be blemishless, at least from now on.

Watching the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi, the grandeur and might of India is a very happy and proud feeling. The celebrations at Delhi remind me of my several visits to Delhi, mostly for official work, and of all the prominent landmarks and monuments in and around Delhi. As a matter of fact, my Republic Day Greetings-Picture on Facebook and WhatsApp are of me and my wife at Kartavya Path (Rajpath) standing in front of India Gate. Unfortunately, we did not have Republic Day celebrations in Hyderabad at the famous Parade Grounds not due to COVID this time but as I know due to arrogant and dirty politics.

Such bad politics and arrogant politicians who deprive people of National celebrations will go down in history if at all if they are remembered, as crooks. The leaders, politicians and persons who do good will always remain close to the hearts of the people around them. The greater the leaders, the great their popularity and longer their memory in our country and around the world. And the history of good that lasts long is always an inspiration to the present and future generations.

Our history is full of great men and on Republic Day we remember them and especially our military and police force which is safeguarding us and our borders and honour them.

Our country has great monuments across the length and breadth of our country, temples, forts, palaces, places of great beauty and varied cultures, arts and cuisines and recollecting a bit of it through the Republic Day Tableaux from different States and UTs is so lovely.

Talking about leaders and politicians, especially the characterless and arrogant ones responsible for a lot of turmoil in our country I advise them to mend their ways for the good of all, and may they be inspired by the Iron Pillar of Delhi, which has remained blemishless for over 16 centuries, it stands tall and is admired by everyone who takes a sightseeing trip of Delhi or reads about it.

For the sake of those who have not heard of the Iron Pillar of Delhi, it is a historical monument that allures everyone with its mysterious iron that has not rusted since its construction which was more than 1600 years back. Despite being placed in the open air, this Iron pillar still stands sturdy, presenting an excellent example of scientific and engineering advancement in ancient India. It has become world’s one of the oldest mysteries that archaeologists and materials scientists are still trying to solve. It is situated inside the Qutub Complex where the famous Qutub Minar is also located. The Iron Pillar stands majestically with a height of 23 feet and 8 inches and is estimated to weigh 6 tons. It is generally agreed that it is made from 98% Iron, 1% of Phosphorous and 1% of a mysterious material concoction that prevents its rusting and as you know rust is very powerful, it deteriorates iron even with the moisture in the air, and eventually destroys a small component or a structure. But the iron pillar does something very strange. When it comes in contact with moisture or rain, it produces a strange material called Misawite which has not been seen anywhere before. This material forms a protective coating over the iron pillar and shields it from damage!

There used to be a popular practice where visitors would try to circle the iron pillar with their backs to the pillar while trying to make their hands meet. It was believed that doing it would bring good luck to the person doing it. It is fenced now but allowed to embrace the pillar in this way we must all try to wish that our leaders are good persons and not evil persons and criminals.

British-Era Road Names in Secunderabad City.

 

This article though mainly about the names of many Streets and Roads in Secunderabad of British origin, it is also about the history and interesting facts about Secunderabad in brief. First I shall furnish the British origin names and the details of these roads through the attached charts and a few road maps which the people of the Twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, I am sure would appreciate. Then below these charts and maps are a video and two articles of mine which will be of great interest to locals and I hope to anyone who reads this article. Now before you read further here is a very brief introduction to Secunderabad:

In the year 1806, the then ruler of Hyderabad State, Nizam III, Mir Sikander Jah Bahadur issued an order allocating a huge area to the North of Hussain Sagar Lake for the Cantonment of the British Army. This followed the signing of a subsidiary alliance for military and political cooperation between the Nizam and the British Empire. This area consisted of several existing localities and largely unpopulated areas for the occupation of the British Army facilities. This entire area handed over to the British was named Secunderabad after Sikander Jah, the Nizam. And that is how all the following British road names came into existence and most of the names are still in use today. Secunderabad is still a cantonment area and the largest in our country!

The names in Red are British-era names and those in Black are the new names of those roads. There is no change in the names of some old British time ones where the details of those roads are mentioned in Black.

About My City - Splendid Secunderabad! – A Video:

My City: “Secunderabad” – Part I.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-city-secunderabad.html

My City: “Secunderabad” – Part II.

https://srisrilara.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-city-secunderabad-part-ii.html

Sankranti Festival Greetings! - 2023

On this happy occasion of Sankranti Festival, I wish you and your family, happiness, prosperity, good health, success and peace.

- N. Raghu.

సంక్రాంతి శుభాకాంక్షలు!

Wish you all a very Happy Sankranti!

- N. Lalitha Raghu.

Here are some pictures of this year’s Sankranti festival, which I am happy to share and below these pictures is a video of Sankranti festival celebrations at our house ‘Srilekha’ over the years (since the early 80s when Sudhir, Udaya Bhasker, Srikanth and Srinath were small children):

సంక్రాంతి సంబరాలు @ శ్రీలేఖ! Sankranti festival celebrations @ Srilekha! Since Sudhir, Bablu, Srikanth and Srinath were very young! – A Video:

Please don’t laugh at this arrangement…

Please don’t laugh at this arrangement,

Funny but a source of entertainment…

It is a desperate attempt,

To see at least one bird at our house,

Though it is a puppet,

And the chirping from the internet!

Birds but for pigeons,

Have become rare in Twin Cities,

No longer do they fly to the trees,

At our house ‘Srilekha’…

We miss the birds that lived in our trees,

At our Kothagudem house and then at ‘Srilekha’.

We can only see the lovely birds,

When we visit Zoos/Bird homes,

Or see and hear their sweet sounds,

On YouTube Videos,

Or own a few caged pet birds,

Or own a few bird toys!

What to do with this liquor inducer?

 

Some thoughts and concerns over ever-growing liquor sales, in the form of poetry:

What to do with this liquor inducer,

A greedy, wealth and power monger,

More of a dangerous creature,

His profit-seeking ways are poisoning the lives of many,

He's an enabler and a destroyer all in one,

Trying to spread his wings all over,

Here are five poems about his nature,

Someone please nip him in the bud, forever…

A man so shallow, so callous, so blind,

To the people he means to keep in bind.

He sells the poison that ruins their lives,

And when they suffer, he has no strife.

He offers them food and encourages them to drink,

Disregarding their future, he's deadly in his wink.

He takes their money and profits from their pain,

The sorrow he causes, he'll never regain.

He has no skill to survive, but he'll bluff his way,

He's a drunkard to the core, with nothing else to say.

He's opened liquor shops everywhere, all around,

And with the profits, he's doing nothing that is good.

The community he builds of drunkards and alcoholics,

Their lives he destroys, and never takes a pity.

He's unconcerned of the problems they create,

All he wants is money, they're just his bait.

This liquor shop owner is truly a menace,

His selfishness has no bounds, it's so immense.

His actions are wrong and have caused great distress,

But to his relatives and friends it is all success.

Though customers have become alcoholics and irresponsible,

He doesn't care and just wants to be invincible.

Having no skill to survive and just bluff his way,

He has only alcohol to make him sway.

Let him be a lesson to all of mankind,

That being selfish and so heartless is not kind.

For the sake of others and their well-being,

He should have helped them instead of being mean.

He stands tall and proud, a master of his trade,

A liquor store his weapon and his blade.

He sells the booze to everyone,

It's his way to make his fortune, again and again.

He thinks he plays no part in their destruction,

And doesn't understand why they're in such a funk.

He just wants to make a living and so,

He sells his beer, whisky, gin and rum.

He'll take no responsibility,

For the lives his liquor destroys.

Not aware of the damage he causes

He just wants to make more joys.

He's in it for the money, his business is his aim,

He'll never understand the sadness of his game.

The cycle of destruction he helps to create,

Will never be understood until it's too late.

He says I am not a villain; I am just trying to survive,

But his actions will have consequences that he can't deny.

His profit-seeking ways are poisoning the lives of many,

He's an enabler and a destroyer all in one.

This man's heart is so cold,

His soul is made of stone,

His mind is so distant,

He's never fully known.

He opens up a liquor shop,

And sells to all men and women,

He makes them drink and drink again,

The money is his win.

He cares not if they stumble,

Or if their lives go awry,

He only watches with a smile,

As their troubles multiply.

His heart is filled with greed,

His pockets are full of cash,

His conscience is too far away,

To even feel the lash.

This man's actions are so wrong,

His soul is full of vice,

He's made a world around him,

Where everyone's addicted to the bottle of lies.

This liquor shop owner stands apart,

A man of selfish heart.

No care for the well-being of men and women,

No thought for the damage to those within.

He bluffs his way, a nice man he pretends,

But alcohol is all that he comprehends.

He feeds his family and friends with his ill-gotten gains,

And recklessly encourages them to feel no shame.

The problems created by this drunken lot,

Are of no consequence to this man of rot.

He only wants the money that comes from his stock,

No thought of the damage and hurt that he has brought.

This liquor shop owner stands apart,

A man with no skill for survival of the heart.

Best Wishes For A Very Happy And Prosperous New Year 2023!

 

Heartfelt New Year Wishes for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2023 and a very bright future ahead to every one of you. Here are some photographs of us happily welcoming the New Year with smiles and decor!

May God Bless Us All Abundantly.