Fulbright Fellow ... Chap, maybe?

I really haven't had a chance to sit down at the computer - to blog, I mean. I am at the computer a lot: editing Arjun's Arangetram invitation and text for the brochure; sending a zillion emails back and forth between Guru, Shishya = student, and graphic artist!

I am popping in to share with you all that on July 15th, Ramesh officially became a Fulbright Research Fellow. All the paper work and approval came through on time, and the USEFI folks in Delhi are wonderfully prompt and a pleasure to deal with! Ramesh's research will deal with the development of Internet technologies in rural India, and their impact on a host of different issues, such as e-governance, communication, and business. Ramesh will continue to be hosted by IIT, where he will teach a course or two over the next nine months of the fellowship, but will primarily concentrate on his research. He is also finishing up editing a book on global issues relating to computer security, privacy, and law for IGI Global. He is making a tentative promise that he will post his experiences once a month - on a blog other than mine.

In the meanwhile, I hope you are all having a wonderful summer in the U.S. Keep popping in. I will be back to post later this month, when I am done with the brochure. Some topics swirling in my head include: Call center customer service (ha! and you thought you were the only one dealing with service in Bangalore!); Musicians off-Stage (any resemblance to real musicians is only coincidental!); and the ever popular "More Rules of the Road!"

Namaskaram!

Diminished Majesty

You remember that I started my very first post with this giant - the thoongu moonji maram = sleepyhead tree or Rain Tree. It has provided character to our neighborhood, shelter to dozens of birds, squirrels, and monkeys, and shade to everyone around (there's usually a 10 degree F difference between standing out in the open and under a tree!)

Today, our neighbors, who have completed the renovation of their home, decided to trim - more like an army buzz cut - its branches. The Rain tree's giant branches reached out over their water tank, and terrace, causing problems. They were muttering about its roots tearing up their paved walkways, but mercifully, decided against cutting the tree down. (The tree is right on the property line, making for a sticky situation, should there be an issue.)

Here are some pictures of the process:




Check out the tree outside the window. It helped create such wonderful light, that our photographer friend, who took professional pictures of Arjun, wanted the shoot in this very room!








IIT monkeys passing through our neighborhood. Two moms and their babies (rambunctious, and so human!) hanging out on the neighbor's overhead water tank.








One mother was much more cautious and stayed on the bigger branches, while the other mom allowed her little one to wander off and explore a path to our terrace. One could watch them for hours!
While we think that they are way too adept to fall off the tree, Ramesh says that many IIT monkeys do fall, and because they fall on concrete pavements, and not in to forest canopies, they actually do break a limb or two.







No cranes, no equipment. Just a hack-job, with a hand saw, and some rope to belay the branch.












A job well done! Firewood for the workers' family.











Not quite the concrete jungle that one might expect - but definitely on the way to one. [Don't miss the blue building!]










Bye! Got to go curtain shopping!