THAROORISM

I may be a sybarite

But I don't subscribe to it!

I am not tawdry

I have good taste by the way!

Sometimes I get into quagmires

But I come out of such situations.

Some consider me petulant

NO! I am by nature very patient!

Some think I am namby pamby

I am very firm to comply!

I have proclivity to write articles

But all don't appreciate my write-ups!

I find many are fatuous

I may be wrong in my views!

People's bad habits are inexorable

I find them very inexcusable.

Many are snollygosters amidst us

But still we vote for them in ignorance.

I can be at times sesquipedalian

It gives me joy to make you stun!

I pen these poems while resting 

Some say I am dilly dallying!

- Gopinath S 

MORNING WALK ON BENGALURU ROADS

MORNING WALK ON BENGALURU ROADS

As per my doctor’s advice, I shifted my walking routine inside my home to walking on the road around my home. My half-hour walks around the Rama Rao layout in Katriguppe daily at around 7:30 am is not a very pleasant one. Every day the same situation appears. Firstly, the garbage dumps on roadside appears at many places. This is in spite of the BBMP garbage pickup truck arrives every morning diligently. I tried to speak with the BBMP supervisor once why these garbage dumps accumulate although it is picked up from homes every morning, she said this happens because the people don’t listen to them. Even if BBMP fines them, they may stop for a day or two but return to doing it again. Some people find it cumbersome to give away the garbage when the pick-up truck arrives. They find it convenient to throw it on the roadside as and when it pleases them or when they step out on errands. What is depressing and pathetic is to see stray cows rummaging through the garbage for vegetable wastes. It is also reported that plastic bags have been found in the stomachs of some cows who have swallowed them by mistake. Sometimes, BBMP waste collectors are found clearing up these sites. It is very depressing to see these men handpicking the dry wastes and dumping them in their trucks. I wonder why the authorities have not mechanized these operations like in some foreign cities.

Then I find maids spraying water in the front yard of some homes before drawing a rangoli pattern for the day. There are rows of two-wheeler vehicles parked in front of shops left behind by early morning shoppers. In addition to the normal morning traffic, school buses of various schools arrive to pick up students waiting at their designated stops. These buses, being huge compared to cars, cause minor traffic jams whenever the buses stop while young students in their uniforms and backpacks board their buses keenly watched by their parents. Most car owners nowadays buy cars only to be used during weekends. For want of space to park their cars within their own premises, they invariably park on the roadside. These cars get moved only occasionally occupying almost one fourth of the road width when parked.

There are stray dogs parking themselves on roadsides. One has to be wary of these animals. There are reports of dog bites too. My wife and maid have experienced it once when they were attacked suddenly.

Besides BESCOM electricity poles on one side of the road, I also find poles connecting internet or mobile cables. But many of them have extra lengths of cables lying on the roadsides. There are occasions when these hanging cables have caused accidents to two-wheeler drivers driving at speeds as they are not noticeable at nights. While walking, I will have to be watchful and skirt around all these obstacles to be safe. I have already skidded and fallen down at home once and broken my hip and was bedridden for 6 months. I don’t want to go through that agony again. Do you expect me to walk on the footpaths laid by BBMP? Are they vacant and free? The footpaths are invariably occupied by street vendors selling coconuts, flowers, fresh vegetables and fruits. So, I have to walk on the edge of roads avoiding moist portions, pot holes, vendors, scooters, buses overtaking other vehicles and of course my fellow pedestrians. Problem comes when the drivers hit us from behind while we avoid these obstacles. I pray to God before and after morning walk every day for a peaceful stroll.

-        Gopinath S

--

Gopinath S
Chief Executive
nRG Consulting Services, Bangalore
http://in.linkedin.com/in/gopimysore
http://nrgcs.blogspot.com/
+91 99161 29728

MORNING WALK ON BENGALURU ROADS

BENGALURU TRAFFIC WOES

Beggar coming to vehicle at the signal

Regretfully one legged cripple

A woman with baby in her hand

Begging for alms in the stand.

Young adults on two wheeled cycle

Zipping through the space at will.

Tiny escooters ambling through

Delivery boys invariably rushing to.

Two wheeled scooters and motor cycles

Men women on their way to work places.

Three wheeled rickshaws carrying passengers 

Journeying to reach their respective destinations.

Four wheeled cars driven by owners

Mostly to go only short distances.

Four wheeled cabs ferrying youngsters

Mostly IT professionals on way to offices.

Four legged dogs and cows

Stranded in the middle of roads.

Six wheeled buses filled with women 

On way to temples till now not seen.

Six wheeled trucks carrying loads

Of industrial or household materials.

Six wheeled tractors carrying debris

Of construction or demolition sites.

Half road blocked for widening or white topping

Vehicles on the road very slowly manoeuvring.

All signals with vehicle accentuated unit

Stoppages last much more than a minute.

Each vehicle moves at its own pace

Traffic movement an obvious menace.

Can we hope this situation will ever be eased

Even AI with all its hype can't get it relieved.

India with its diversity is unique

No tech solution can tweak.

- Gopinath S

(penned without ChatGPT support)

FEELING LONELY

( World mental health day 10 Oct 2025)

You slept well in the night

But you are still not feeling alright.

You ate good food of your choice

But you cannot stand any noise.

You have worn a nice suit

But you are still not in good mood.

You have watched a nice movie

But you still feel gloomy.

You had a nice chat with your friend

But you still feel completely wrecked.

You went on a nice long drive

But you still feel you don't want to live.

You saw the vastness of the sea

But you still feel you are not free.

You climbed to the top of the hill

But you still do not get that thrill.

You have with you all the luxuries

But you are still not at peace.

All the while you looked for peace outside

You forget you have peace residing inside.

- Gopinath S

( penned without ChatGPT support)

EMOTIONS

You woke up late this morning

Breakfast you didn't mind skipping 

You got caught in traffic on the way 

You reached office somehow anyway. 

Several errors crept in your report

Your boss called you to retort.

You picked up glass to drink water

You spilled it on your desk in horror.

Your colleague came to discuss 

With her you behaved rough.

On your return you accidentally hit a two wheeler 

You accused him of not being a good driver.

You found your son still playing 

You beat him so hard he went crying.

You picked up newspaper to read

You dropped glass vase that sheared.

Your wife was busy in kitchen cooking 

You shouted at her for not listening.

This is the final result of pent up emotions

You should calm down first to avoid commotions.

- Gopinath S

(penned without ChatGPT support)

MY HOME MY LIFE

I may be in my daughter's home

She may extend love beyond known.

I may have visited son's abode

He may serve unprecedented.

But I wish to be in my own residence

Amongst my familiar surroundings.

I wish to follow my own routine

And act at my own pace pristine.

I wish to be around my known people 

To exchange pleasantries at will.

I wish to sleep in my own bed

And dream about my future ahead.

- Gopinath S

(penned without ChatGPT support)

BAMBOO WONDER PLANT

Bamboo surprisingly a grass family

That grows in tropical areas mostly.

Supposed to be fastest growing plant

And growing to very great height.

A good candidate for afforestation carbon sequestration

In these days of urbanization and climate change mitigation.

It is very versatile in its usages

With economic cultural significance.

It grows in vertical columns

It's hollow in its internal regions.

Giant panda endemic to Chinese montane regions

Feeds mainly on bamboo and bamboo shoots.

Bamboo shoots are also edible food

As raw, cooked or pickled.

Bamboo seeds taste like wheat 

They are served as rice to eat.

Bamboo stalks used to cook rice or soup and tea boiled

Bamboo cooking adds a distinctive taste.

Bamboo charcoal serves as fuel

Also activated carbon to purify water.

It has a high strength to weight ratio

Almost like timber to show.

It can be used to make baskets

Or any other furniture articles.

It is used for scaffolding fencing rafts

Even floating homes and fishing rods.

It is also used to make weapons

Staff sword spear javelin arrows.

Hollow bamboo serves to make musical instruments

Like flutes, wind pipes, xylaphones and organs.

Even kitchen items like utensils

Chop sticks trays and scoops.

Bamboo fibre is turned into yarns

That help in making textile garments.

Not to be left out are beauty products

Like bracelets ear rings necklaces.

Most importantly hollow bamboo stalks

Replace plastic when turned into water bottles.

It's therefore a plant that's exploratory 

As a material environment friendly.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

English is spoken by large sections

It's the favourite of the masses

Although it's a difficult language

Most have learnt it's usage.

 

It came into being in 5th century

It isn't ancient by this heresy

German Saxons came to this island

Thrust it locally as we understand.

 

It took several forms in later years

Shakespeare wrote many plays

Old English turned to middle English

And to modern English to distinguish.

 

Over time, it has become very rich

With words from Greek, Latin, French

Not to leave out Urdu, Hindi, Chinese

Also Dutch, Spanish and Japanese.

 

English is different in its grammar

Pronunciation unique in its manner

Still it is spoken in several countries

It's also used in UN organisations.

 

If US has Mark Twain, Dan Brown, Stephen King

UK has Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, JK Rowling

India is no less with RK Narayan, Ruskin Bond, KA Abbas

And Shashi Tharoor with his sesquipedalian words.

 

It's the language of science and space

Since inception, it's also IT's base

With Google and ChatGPT in wide use

English as a language is profuse.

 

English is India's official language

It's the second largest to manage

Indian English has won acclaim

With many authors poets to name.

 

Though British brought it here

We picked it up in cheer

Now we have many Indian citizens

More proficient than the Britishers.

 

English is official language in judiciary

Also in many states union territory

As we have many a regional language

English serves as link language.

 

English is popular for education

It is prevalent in communication

In seventy odd years since independence

English has gained a very wide prominence.

  

All name boards are invariably in English letters

Even vendors and maids use many English words

IT softwares Cell phones UPI Apps are all in English

How use of English can Indians relinquish?

 

Cricket is also a game British taught Indians

Now Indians have excelled in those skills

Cricket is now very much an Indian game

Why don't we include English in that frame?

LONDON 2023

London is a city with rich history

Cool weather country so princely

Bus travel is so convenient & comfy

Commuting is not at all a worry.

 

Life is so well organised

Neighbourhood shops harmonised

There is no crowd anywhere

People are friendly everywhere.

 

People don't use any two wheelers

They prefer to walk short distances

Train, tube and buses are an option

To go to any destination.

 

Buckingham palace, London eye

Tower of London one must see

Thames riverside, Trafalgar square

And Kingston market to shop or laze.

 

 

Education free, so also health services

Buses don't charge children and oldies

Others pay huge taxes

To cover these expenses.

 

London is a mega city known for arts

Entertainment, fashion, commerce

Education, tourism and technology

Making it a popular global city.