Briha

  An occupational hazard is any condition, circumstance, or factor in the workplace that has the potential to cause harm, injury, or illness to the person working. These risks are inherent to specific jobs and are generally categorized into physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards, though some sources also list safety and work organization hazards. All of this information I got from Google.  Plagarism is an occupational hazard for writers, specially for "chota mota" writers like me. To stay out of trouble, I have given google it's due.  As a teacher, my voice, patently, was getting bad and that was an occupational hazard I had to deal with. The Allopathy doctors said I need to leave teaching. I left those doctors. Finally I learnt to cope with my vocal cords, thanks to one of my student's parent who suggested that I see a particular homeopath. His concoction worked along with some voice exercises. I have never suffered back pain due to note ...

 Day before yesterday I was on Thiruvanmiyur route for a play rehearsal scheduled at 6 am. Vatsan as usual presuaded me to take the PTC bus. I agreed because I wanted to soak into Namma Chennai after my five and a half months stint at my daughter's place in Minneapolis. I was also not yet ready for the Ola /Rapido/Uber auto man dialogues. Enga mmae droppu? Extra 20 sethu kuduppeengalaa? Appo Cancel pannidunga. The US return in me was not ready for all this lollu. ( lollu is a word with a lot of feelingsu - you may not find it in any dictionary. Ignore it - its unexplainable) I took the T29C from Mylapore to Thiruvanmiyur. En route I saw many changes. I had left behind a much better Chennai. In these 163 days that I was away, "Take diversion" has become the wordle word  for all Chennaites.  But the real changes came after I crossed the Adyar bridge. My mind went back some 40 years, into a retrospective mode. Rewind!  An 18 year old, young Shyamala, those days better k...

  It is said - Exploring different career options while in class 11 helps one make informed decisions about their future. But not always. A person's  career may take turns and diversions like it's  now in Chennai,  due to the Metro railway construction work. You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination.  Years 1981 - 82.  I wanted to become an engineer when in class 11. I got hold of some friends in Coimbatore PSG college to get me an application form. I had a fascination for civil engineering just because I had a smart relative who was a successful civil engineer. Since I was good with Mathematics, I thought I too can become a great civil engineer.  Years between 1983 - 88. Then the take diversion, roads closed  happened, I joined Kalakshetra to do a 5 year course in music after class 12.  Everyone said I sing well. I had a good high pitched voice and could imitate great singers t...