Friendship Forever

Nadpudan,

Memories of Jan 05 Batch - Part 3

Here comes the third and last part - Sweet memories of my batch mates. Great movies acted by No 1 heroes n heroines from UTP. No heart feeling guys. Just for fun. This photos was published in UTPTAMILAN website for Valentine Edition on 2006.

Dei... Kaiyai Edu - Staring SJ Surya & Nisha

Oru Olli Oru Gundu - Staring Captain & Puvi


Double OK - Staring Robert & Vilma


Thodaamale - Staring Suthan & Pooja


Kaluthai Odaikkava? - Staring Vinod & Laila


Perusai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukku - Staring John


Thottal Moonji Kiliyum - Staring Kajen & Sadha


Rubber Engira Azhagu Sundram - Staring Kumanan


Terinthum Teriyaamalum - Captain & Meera


Telepathy - Prakas


Kedi-ya Taadi-ya? - Staring Chandran


Valukkuthu - Staring Damo & Pooja


Aanai & Paanai - Staring Sarath & Grrr


Solli Kadippen - Guna & Trisha


THE END

Memories of Jan 05 Batch - Part 2

Old version


New Version

to be continue...

Memories of Jan 05 Batch - Part 1

Still left few days to go in UTP. I would like to take this great opportunity to share some of the sweet memories which have been published in UTPTAMILAN website. For your kind information the UTPTAMILAN website will be no longer available after 1^st of December, 2007. My special thanks go to all my batch mates and all UTP Indians for your kind contribution in making the website a great success. Love you guys. ;-)

to be continue....

Confidence, Trust & Hope

CONFIDENCE:

One day all villagers decided to pray for rain.

On the day of prayer all people gathered and only one boy come with umbrella.

That is confidence.

TRUST:

Trust should be like feeling of a 1 year old baby, when you throw him in the air, he laughs.

Because he knows you will catch him...

HOPE:

Every night we go to bed, have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning.

But still we have many plans for coming day…

KEEP CONFIDENCE, TRUST IN GOD AND NEVER LOSE HOPE!

My Mom & Dad

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”

My Mom

“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.”

“I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.”

My Daddy

“How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of an oak which he has planted.”

“Father in Heaven! When the thought of thee wakes in our hearts, let it not awaken like a frightened bird that flies about in dismay, but like a child waking from its sleep with a heavenly smile.”

Unconditional Love

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.


Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There's a miracle called Friendship. That dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started; But you know the special lift. It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Think it i say... Modern IT

Once upon a time, there was a software engineer who used to develop programs on his Pentium machine, sitting under a tree on the banks of a river. He used to earn his bread by selling those programs in the Sunday market.

One day, while he was working, his machine tumbled off the table and fell in the river. Encouraged by the Panchatantra story of his childhood (the woodcutter and the axe ),

He started praying to the River Goddess.The River Goddess wanted to test him and so appeared only after one month of rigorous prayers. The engineer told her that he had lost his computer in the river.

As usual, the Goddess wanted to test his honesty. She showed him a match box and asked, " Is this your computer ?" Disappointed by the Goddess' lack of computer awareness, the engineer replied, " No."

She next showed him a pocket-sized calculator and asked if that was his.

Annoyed, the engineer said "No, not at all!!"

Finally, she came up with his own Pentium machine and asked if it was his.

The engineer, left with no option, sighed and said " Yes." The River Goddess was happy with his honesty.

She was about to give Him all three items, but before she could make the offer, the engineer Asked her, "Don't you know that you're supposed to show me some better computers before bringing up my own ?"

The River Goddess, angered at this, replied, "I know that, you stupid donkey! The first two things I showed you were the Trillennium and the Billennium, the latest computers from IBM !". So saying, she disappeared with the Pentium!!


Moral of the story
If you're not up-to-date with technology trends , it's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Padithatil Pidithathu

Maths of Life

A SMART MAN + A SMART WOMAN = ROMANCE

A SMART MAN + A DUMB WOMAN = PREGNANCY

A DUMB MAN + A SMART WOMAN = AFFAIR

A DUMB MAN + A DUMB WOMAN = WHAT ELSE? MARRIAGE!

A SMART EMPLOYER + A SMART WORKER = PROFIT

A SMART EMPLOYER + A DUMB WORKER = TRANSFER

A DUMB EMPLOYER + A SMART WORKER = PROMOTION

A DUMB EMPLOYER + A DUMB WORKER = OVERTIME!


A HUSBAND SHOULD NEVER TRY TO REMEMBER HIS MISTAKE

AS THERE IS NO POINT IN TWO PEOPLE REMEMBERING IT!


A MAN NEVER THINKS OF THE FUTURE TILL HE MARRIES

A WOMAN ALWAYS THINKS OF THE FUTURE SO SHE MARRIES!

Padithathil Pidithathu

Before & After the Marriage

Before the marriage:

He: Yes. At last. It was so hard to wait.

She: Do you want me to leave?

He: NO! Don't even think about it.

She: Do you love me?

He: Of course!

She: Have you ever cheated on me?

He: NO! Why you even asking?

She: Will you kiss me?

He: Yes!

She: Will you hit me?

He: No way! I'm not such kind of person!

She: Can I trust you?

Now after the marriage you can read it from bottom to the top !!!!

Padithathil Pidithathu

Micro Thodargal Macro Sinthanaigal (Part 4 - 5)

4. புடம்

காட்டில் இருந்த மூங்கில் ஒரு நாள் கத்தியால் வெட்டப்பட்டது. நெருப்புக் கம்பி தன்னைத் துளைத்தபோது 'ஐயோ" உடல் புண்ணாகிறதே..." என்று கதறி அழுதது.
'கொஞ்சம் பொறுமையாக இரு.." என்று மூங்கிலைப் பார்த்து ஆறுதல் சொன்னது காற்று.
மூங்கில் புல்லாங்குழல் ஆனது.
மேடையில்...
உலகமே மயங்கும் இசையை அள்ளிப் பொழிந்து கொண்டிருந்த புல்லாங்குழலைப் பார்த்து மேனி சிலிர்த்தது காற்று.
அது சொன்னது -
'புண்பட்டவன்,பண்பட்டவன்."


5.நிறைவு

நகைக் கடைக் கண்ணாடிப் பெட்டியில் கண்ணைப் பறித்த இரத்தினக் கல்லைப் பார்த்துத் தெருவில் கிடந்த குறுணிக்கல் பொறாமைப்பட்டது.
'எனக்கு ஏன் மதிப்பில்லை? நானும் ஒரு கல்தானே..." என்று ஓலமிட்டது.
தெருவோரத்தில் கிடந்த கடப்பாரை கூறியது:-
'ஏ குறுணி! காலம் முழுதும் உன்னை நீயே பெரிதாக எண்ணிக்கொண்டு பலரும் பார்க்க தெருவில் கிடக்கிறாய். ஆனால், இரத்தினக்கல் அப்படியா? நிறைந்து வளர்ந்து இரத்தினமாகும்வரை வெளியில் தலைகாட்டியதே இல்லை. எங்கோ மண்ணின் மறைவில் அது தன்னைத்தானே உருவாக்கிக் கொண்டிருந்தது..."
'அப்படியென்றால்..?" என்று இழுத்தது குறுணிக்கல்.
கடப்பாரை சொன்னது:-
'நிறைவாகும்வரை மறைவாக இரு'.

Micro Thodargal Macro Sinthanaigal (Part 1 - 3)

1. நட்பு

கடலோரத்தில் நண்டு நடந்துகொண்டிருந்தது. மணலில் பதிந்த நண்டின் கால்தடத்தை அலை அழித்துக் கொண்டே இருந்தது.
நண்டுக்கு ஒன்றும் புரியவில்லை.
ஒருநாள் ஒரு நரி கடற்கரை ஓரம் நண்டின் கால்தடம் இருக்கிறதா என்று தேடி அலைந்தது.
வளைக்குள் இருந்து ஓரக்கண்ணால் எட்டிப் பார்த்த நண்டுக்கு அலை தன் கால் தடத்தை அழித்த காரணம் இப்போதுதான் தெளிவானது.
அலையின் நட்பை அடிமனத்தால் போற்றியது நண்டு.
தனக்குள்ளேயே அது சொல்லிக்கொண்டது:-
"முன்பே காப்பான் அன்பே நட்பு"


2. தேவை

புல் மேய்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தது மாடு.
மரத்தில் இருந்த குருவிக்குஞ்சு தாயைக் கேட்டது:-
'ஏனம்மா மாட்டுக்கு நம்மைப்போல் சிறகு இல்லை?"
தாய்க்குருவி சிரித்தது.
'மாட்டுக்கு நம்மைப்போல் சிறகு தேவையில்லை'
என்றது தாய்.
தாய்க்குருவி சொன்னது:-
'வானத்தில் புல் முளைத்தால் மாட்டுக்கும் சிறகு முளைக்கும்'


3. மழை

'வழங்கும் வானமே நீ வாழ்க"
என்று நான்கு திசைகளும் வானத்தை வாழ்த்தின.
காற்றுக்குச் சினம் பொங்கியது.
'என்ன கொடுமை! வானமா வழங்கியது?"
பூமிக்காகக் காற்று பொருமியது:-
"நீர் கொடுப்பதோ பூமி பேர் எடுப்பதோ வானம்"

Don't change the world but...

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin, and would cost a huge amount of money.

Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money ? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet ?"

The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a "shoe" for himself.

There is a valuable lesson of life in this story :
To make this world a happy place to live, It is better to change ourself - our heart; and not the world...

உன்னை நீ திருத்து உலகம் தானா திருந்தும்.

Thirukkural after so long...

Thirukkural is the masterpiece of Tamil literature with the highest and purest expressions of human thought. It is written in the form of couplets (two line poems) expounding various aspects of life. It contains 1330 couplets, divided into 133 chapters of 10 couplets each.

Thirukkural has three major parts. The first part deals with Aram (Virtue), the moral value of human life. It has 38 chapters. The second part is on Porul (Wealth), the socio economic values of men in a civilized society. It has 70 chapters. The third part is on Kamam or Inbam (Love), the psychological values of life. It has 25 chapters.

Thirukkural was written by Thiruvalluvar, who is believed to have born 30 years before Jesus Christ. The Tamil Calendar is dated from that period and referred as Thiruvalluvar Aandu (Year). We find Thiruvalluvar as a moral philosopher, political scientist and master of public administration in the first two parts of Thirukkural. We find him to be a creative artist in the third part, depicting the fascinating aspects of lovers.

Thirukkural's immortality and universality are unquestionable. Its ethics and values are applicable to all religions, countries and time. It has been translated in over 60 languages of the world.

Let we take this good opportunity to get know more about one of our Tamil literature legend...


More Links on Thirukkkural

1. Thirukkural in Tamil (pdf format)

2. Thirukkural by Tamilpower.com (need tamil font)

3. Thirukkural a full review (in NEglish & Tamil)

4. Thirukkural in Tamil by Thamilsky.com (best viewed in IE)

Significance of Thevaram

Thirutchitrambalam

Many devotional songs in praise of God have been created in the Tamil language. Thirumurai is one of the first works in Saivism, one sect of the Hindu religions. It reflects important core values and preserves them literally as well as grammatically. The songs contain all the information found in the Vedas. These holy hymns have been sung by Saivite Saints, poets, in a great spiritual wisdom and in seeking only the Truth, having seen the God himself. They have numerous healing powers that make wonders, having staged many miracles such as restructuring bones into a woman and making a dumb person speak.

Panniru thirumuRai (12 thirumuRaikal) is a collection of 12 holy scriptures sung by 27 devotees in Tamil (from ThirujnAnachambandhar to ChEkkizhAr) most of whom lived in different times. The songs reflect and teach the ways of present life, after-life and the path to reach the Almighty. They help to live life and experience it to its fullest with happiness and prosperity. They are suitable for and accessible to the masses and the elite alike and apply to all in various states and conditions.
The first letter in the first thirumuRai in Tamil script is "thO" as in the word "thOdudaiya", which can be separated into the basic "th" letter and the "O" sound. The last letter is "m" as in the word "ulagelAm". Together, these sounds form the pranava "Om".

Of the panniru thirumuRai, thEvAra thiruvAchakankal is one of the most important. ThEvAram refers to songs (pAmAlai) sung in God’s praise. It consists of the first 9 thirumuRaikal sung by a total of 12 poets. These songs are organized by melodies (paNmuRai) or abodes (thalamuRai).

ThirujnAnachambandhar lived during early 7th century and sang the first 3 thirumuRaikal. ThirunAvukarachar who lived during late 6th to 7th century sang the 4th - 6th thirumuRaikal. Sundharar lived during late 7th century and sang the 7th thirumuRai. These three poets were three of the first four pillars of Saiva SiddhAntham. The fourth was MAnikkavAchakar who sang the 8th thirumuRai. The 9th was sung by the remaining 8 poets. These 9 thirumuRaikal / thOththiram, are followed by thirumandhiram / ChAththiram (guidelines), the 10th thirumurai sung by Thirumoolar, prabantham (assorted) the 11th, and purANam / periya purANam (history of the 63 nAyanmArkal) as the 12th thirumuRai sung by ChEkkizhar. All together they make up the panniru thirumuRai. Much benefit can be derived from singing these songs dedicated to God and thus, allow for His blessings in life.

Thirutchitrambalam.

Source: Unknown

More links on Thevaram:

1. http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/thiru.html

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thevaram_(Verses)

3. http://www.saivaneri.org/

4. http://www.templepages.com/

5. Thevaram in Tamil from Wikipedia

6. http://www.templenet.com/abode_initial.html

Nuggets of Gold

I've Learned ...
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be
someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.


I've learned ...
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.


I've Learned ...
that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be
someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

I've learned ...
that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.

I've learned ...
that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned ...
that it's not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned ...
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned ...
that you shouldn't compare
yourself to the best others can do
but to the best you can do.

I've learned ...
that it's not what happens to people
that's important. It's what they do about it.

I've learned ...
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned ...
that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I've learned ...
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I've learned ...
that it's a lot easier
to react than it is to think.

I've learned ...
that you should always leave
loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned ...
that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned ...
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I've learned ...
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I've learned ...
that regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first,
the passion fades and there had better be
something else to take its place.

I've learned ...
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned ...
that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned ...
that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned ...
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned ...
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned ...
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned ...
that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

I've learned ...
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I've learned ...
that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to doesn't mean
they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned ...
that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned ...
that you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and
what a tragedy it would be
if they believed it.

I've learned ...
that your family won't always
be there for you. It may seem funny,
but people you aren't related to
can take care of you and love you
and teach you to trust people again.
Families aren't biological.

I've learned ...
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you
every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned ...
that it isn't always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.

I've learned ...
that no matter how bad
your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned ...
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned ...
that sometimes when my friends fight,
I'm forced to choose sides
even when I don't want to.

I've learned ...
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned ...
that sometimes you have to put
the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned ...
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I've learned ...
that you shouldn't be so
eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I've learned ...
that two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I've learned ...
that no matter how you try to protect
your children, they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned ...
that there are many ways of falling
and staying in love.

I've learned ...
that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves
get farther in life.

I've learned ...
that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely
and lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned ...
that your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

I've learned ...
that even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned ...
that writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

I've learned ...
that the paradigm we live in
is not all that is offered to us.

I've learned ...
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned ...
that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I've learned ...
that although the word "love"
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.

I've learned ...
that it's hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.

A Mouse Trap

Dear all,

Sometimes we don't bother because we think it doesn't concern us. This simple story illustrates just how wrong we can be. God wants us to be concern for one another and to look out for one another. In Philippians, Paul's selfless attitude and his putting the interest of others ahead of his own should be an example worth emulating in our lives. Let we see the story...

-------------------------ooo-------------------------

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain? The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning :

There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, ' Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.'
' I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!' The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. 'Be assured you are in my prayers.'

The mouse turned to the cow and said 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER

EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;

OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a friend.

The Greatest Enemy in Our Self

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away and hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "But when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge. People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever. Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Three Word Phrases

There are many things that we can do to perk up and strengthen our interpersonal relationships. Yet the most effective involves the saying of just three words. When spoken or conveyed, these statements have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore relationships that have cooled.

The following three-word phrases can enrich every relationship.

I'll be there
If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there". Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

I miss you
Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other "I miss you". This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."

I respect you
Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become close friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

Maybe you're right
This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe your right" is the humility of admitting, "maybe I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.

Please forgive me
Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

I thank you
Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

Count on me
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating "you can count on me."

Let me help
The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help.

I understand you.
People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know in so many little ways that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. This applies to any relationship.

Go for it
We are all unique individuals. Don't try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how weird they seem to you. Everyone has dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to "go for it."

I love you
Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs. The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your family, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words. "I love you."

GOD BLESS YOU!
(These are 3 words too, right?)

UTP MIND Team

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Indian Students

Malaysian Indian Educational Development Team

(UTP MIND TEAM)

Since the country's independence of 50years, we have been lacking in terms of education, social, and economy. While we must thank and applaud our national leaders, MIC and particularly Dato' Seri S.Samy Vellu for their continuous support, and contribution towards the betterment and development of our society, we should not be caught unprepared and fighting among ourselves. There are much more to be done before we can proudly stand tall and say "Yes, I am an Indian!"

There are many lawyers, doctors, engineers, IT, businessmen and what's not. All are professionals in their own fields, and they are youthful, vibrant, energetic Malaysian Indians. They too like any of us have the great willingness and fire within themselves to help contribute to the society so that their fellow brothers and sisters can be on par with the others, can get decent education and not be discriminated just because they lack of financial assistance. How many of our Indian brothers are to be looked down everyday in their life?

With conjunction with above matter, we are the UTP Indian Students, recently have come up with a special charity program for academic excellence at the SRJK (T) Tronoh (Tronoh Tamil Primary School) under our own team called UTP MIND Team. We started this program last year on the 8th August 2006. This charity program has been named 'Yennal Mudiyum 7A' (I Can Achieve 7A). We are planning to continue this program every year.

The main objective of this program is to assist the Standard 6 students by having tutorials and motivational talks to prepare them for the UPSR Examination. At the same time, we are also conducting classes to Standard 3, 4 and 5 students. We conduct this program every Saturday for about 3 hours (11.15am – 2.15pm). Moreover, we are also conducting classes daily during the school holidays. At the moment, we have around 10 UTP Indian Students who are actively involved in this program. The figure is expected to increase as the time goes on.

The concept of this program is that mostly we have personal one-to-one basis class where each student will be taught by one tutor (UTP student). The subjects that we currently have been teaching are Tamil, English and Bahasa Melayu (Science and Mathematics in the future). We are preparing the study materials our own every week after consultations with the school teachers.

The school managements are very glad to welcome us. They are also happy with the progress of the program and they have been really supportive. As a result of the program we are proud to say that, the school student’s shows positive response and impressive results for the last year UPSR Examination. One of the student, Ranjani Krishnan scored 6A’s and 1B, followed by Yuvarani Revichandran, 5A’s and Kumaresan Segaran, 4A’s. Last semester UTP Indians student showed a lot commitment towards the program and personally I would like to congratulate them for their hardworking and also supports.

So for what you’ll guys waiting for? It is time that we, undergraduates to start doing what our community need the most. We must step out of our "I don care, Who care" attitude, we must look back through what we have learned and experienced to help our community. They need us more than anything else. They are hoping that the 'educated ones' of the society will change their future.

They are there, sitting in some rural estates, or urban squatters, grateful for the one meal a day that they eat, while some of us are enjoying sips of RM15 Starbucks coffee. Have we ever thought that each resume of Indians represents his/her whole family? Have we ever thought that the RM30 that we pay as entrance fee (cover charge) for some high end night clubs in Ipoh can actually feed a family of 5 for 2 days at least?

I would like to call upon my fellow brothers and sisters in UTP, to heed the challenge and the responsibilities shouldered on us. Let us all come together and create a new platform as a network of young Indians. We are targeting all the Indian students from all courses and first year, first semester of engineering and above to join this team.

We are now creating history in UTP. What we do today will be the landscape of our future; what and how our young brothers and sisters will grow up. This is a re-branding of Malaysian Indian. Let all see that our youngsters are all-rounder and capable of everything, yet not forgetting their social obligations.

For further information regarding this program, please kindly contact:

by phone: Gunasegaran Kulanthy Velu at 012-6716680 or Ravikumar Aleyak at 012-5623333

by MIRC : Guna @ Aaray or Ravi @ Japanesetofu

by email: k_gunasegaran@yahoo.com or ravialeyak@yahoo.com

by blog : http://kguna.blogspot.com/

Your kind cooperation and support are much appreciated.

Thank You.

A Cup of Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university lecturer.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.

While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups.

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

Posted to my e-mail by my friend, Joshua Hensel.

Good or Bad Hard to Say

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his followers very much because he was very wise and always gave very useful advice. Therefore the king took him along wherever he went.

One day, the king was bitten by a dog, the finger was injured and the wound was getting worse. He asked the follower if that was a bad sign. The follower said, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. In the end, the finger of the king became so bad that it had to be cut off. The king asked the follower again if that was a bad sign. Again, the follower gave the same answer, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. The king became very angry and sent the follower to prison.

One day, the king went hunting in the jungle. He got excited when he was on the chase of a deer. Deeper and deeper he went inside the jungle. In the end he found himself lost in the jungle. To make thing worse, he got captured by the native people who lived inside the jungle. They wanted to sacrifice him to their god. But when they noticed that the king had one finger short, they released him immediately as he was not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice. The king managed to get back to his palace after all. And he finally understood the follower's wise quote, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. If he hadn't lost one finger, he could have been killed by the native people.

He ordered the release of the follower, and apologized to him. But to the king's amazement, the follower was not mad at him at all. Instead, the follower said, 'It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up.' Why? Because if the king hadn't locked the follower up, he would have brought the follower along to the jungle. If the natives found that the king was not suitable, they would have used the follower. Again, the quote 'Good or bad, hard to say' stands.


The moral of the story

Everything that happens in this world, there is no absolute good or bad.

Sometimes good things turned out to be bad things eventually, while bad things become a gain.

Whatever good things that happen to you, enjoy it, but don't hold on too tight to it; treat it as a surprise in your life.

Whatever bad things that happen to you, don't feel too sad nor despair; in the end, it might not be a totally bad thing after all.

If one can understand this, he or she will find life much easier.

Posted to my e-mail by my friend, Yap Chuan Chew.

Circus: A ring of abuse

'I cannot even begin to imagine what life must be like for these circus animals. These animals only leave their cages, which are barely the size of their own bodies, for a few minutes each day to go into a ring and perform tricks that are unnatural to them.' - Shilpa Shetty

While most people gape and applaud when an 8,000-pound elephant stands on one leg or a tiger jumps through a ring of fire, very few pause to think how exactly these animal 'stars' perform such unnatural acts.

Despite the glittering image projected by circus advertising, performing animals' lives are very miserable. Unlike human artistes, animals do not choose to spend their time in this way. Their handlers make them do what they would never normally do through the use of fear, pain and hunger. Whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks and other tools used during circus acts are reminders that these animals are being forced to perform. When animals are not performing, they are confined to cages barely larger than their own bodies. When they become ill, they rarely receive proper veterinary care.

Shocked at this cruelty, Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty immediately volunteered to do an ad campaign for PETA (People for Ethical Treatment for Animals). The ad, which shows Shilpa dressed in a body-hugging tiger-striped bodysuit (her make-up compliments of glamour make-up artist Cory Walia) about to leap through a ring of fire, with the tagline "Beaten, Lonely and Abused-Boycott the Circus", has been released in 10 languages nationally and internationally.

Here are some of the cool advertisement in different languages!

Source : www.petaindia.com