Dear Annan, (Prof. Thenappan)

My habit is this: whenever I realise that someone is genuinely good at heart, somehow I feel like putting in an effort to build a relationship with him. I feel genuinely good people are very difficult to find.

During our earlier interactions in our gatherings, our conversations were always brief and mostly professional. So, I actually knew very little about you.

It was only during my brother’s issue that I had an opportunity to interact with you more closely.

Though you joined the wagon only in the last lap of my brother’s entanglement, I learnt a few important life lessons from you, which I sincerely wish to adopt for the rest of my life.

To be specific, I observed two qualities in you that I would like to imbibe:

1. You have never taken sides. At the same time, you offered suggestions — not as advice or instructions — to both parties on what they could do from that point onwards.

2. More importantly, you did not really care whether they followed your suggestions or not. You neither got disappointed nor developed any aversion towards them when they chose not to follow what you had suggested.

I found these two qualities quite remarkable.

It was only after Achi’s departure that I came to know more about your family — about Achi’s generous hospitality, your sons’ education and achievements, and many other things. And I wondered how humbly you have carried these rare possessions without making them visible to others.

That made me feel that I should make a conscious effort to associate with you and interact with you more often.

Have a happy and peaceful time in the US, Annan. Once you return to Kottaiyur, I shall certainly come and meet you.

Until then, have a great time and take care of yourself, Annan.

Thank you.

Ramu
6 October 2026

DOROTHY – TAMIL MOVIE

CONCLUSION:

MUST WATCH;

BUT CAN’T WATCH (if you are not – broadminded, more tolerant)

Feel proud of Tamil cinema, Director Karthik Subburaj and two male heroes.

Ramu

*”பத்தா – Bhaththa” திரைப்படம்”*
– ராமு, 5/10/2026

பரிந்துரை: என் வாழ்க்கையில் பார்த்த சில ஆயிரம் திரைப்படங்களுக்கள் டாப் 10 தில் ஒன்று.

வயது வரம்பு : 5 – 90

ரகம் (genere) : One of the most Entertaining films,  I have ever watched at the same time implanted with a deep life philosophy.

Don’t watch any reviews. Simply go to theatre with your spouse, parents, children, grand children and all together.

Entertainment is guaranteed. Lessons can vary according to your life maturity.

Salute to the டைரக்டர் Balaji தரணிதரன், விஜய் சேதுபதி and the most cute XXX.

LOVINGLY YOURS,
RAMU

Just in four decades… the pace of change the world has witnessed is phenomenal.

A few practices and behaviours that were considered crimes, taboo or simply unacceptable during the mid-’80s are today accepted, legalised and, in some cases, even openly celebrated.

What fascinates me is not merely that technology has changed; our definition of what is acceptable has changed along with it.

A friend’s son graduated a few years ago in ECE and got a core job in an MNC, drawing ₹1 lakh per month. Though he was posted in Coimbatore, he hardly visited his office for 10 days during his two-year stint. The rest of the time, he worked from home and prepared for CAT.

During the ’90s, I was caught red-handed while preparing for GATE during office hours. I received a severe warning, along with a threat of dismissal.

In 1985, one of our classmates was asked to write an apology letter for having indulged in a private sexual act in a hostel bathroom.

Today, society’s attitude towards sexuality, personal freedom and LGBT identities has changed dramatically. What was once largely treated as taboo or unacceptable is now openly discussed, recognised and, in many societies, legally protected.

During 2000, when I was working for Tatas, one of the most respectable employers themselves had banned visiting job sites. Emails were tracked to check whether they contained any RESUME-related material, etc. A few of my friends were even expelled from the organisation.

Today, employees are being encouraged, and in many workplaces even expected, to use AI to improve productivity.

During Jayalalithaa’s tenure as Chief Minister, around 2015, I was fined ₹1,000 for using a mobile phone while riding a two-wheeler.

Even the vocabulary we use in our daily lives has undergone a sea change during our lifetime.

From mentally retarded → intellectually disabled
handicapped → differently abled
blind → visually challenged
deaf and dumb → hearing and speech impaired
toilet → washroom
and the emergence of expressions such as third gender.

Some of these are not merely changes in vocabulary. They reflect changes in the way society thinks about dignity, privacy, disability, gender and individual freedom.

What was once regarded as unacceptable can become acceptable. What was once considered perfectly normal can become insensitive. Even the words we use to describe people can change because our understanding of them changes.

I sometimes wonder how lucky we are — those of us born in the ’60s and ’70s — to have witnessed such phenomenal changes within a single lifetime.

We have not merely read about history changing.

We have lived through it.

Progressively yours,
Ramu

If you want to be lifted in every walk of life, then keep yourself LIGHTER than others.
— Ramu, 26/9/2026

Hopefully, the above title is an immensely power-packed one.

What is meant by being LIGHTER? How does one define it, and how does one keep oneself LIGHTER? That, perhaps, is the entire crux of life.

Some of us may have faith in the famous saying: “Your Network is Your Net Worth.”

Just as an example, I often used to contemplate about myself: if I were to go to the job market with my present skills, I doubt whether I would be paid even ₹25K per month.

However, I have been earning a few multiples of that for over a decade.

The difference between what I could have earned based purely on my individual skills and what I have actually earned makes me think about the value of “Being LIGHTER.”

Being LIGHTER does not mean being less capable than others. It means being the kind of person whom others find easy to trust, support and lift.

After some introspection, I have arrived at a few qualities that have kept me LIGHTER and, therefore, made it easier for a few people to lift me:

Being straightforward in my dealings with direct stakeholders; giving freedom to my employees without cheap suspicion; developing faith in them that if I win, they will win automatically; being easily approachable; not being haughty; etc.

I also realise that I have not always been LIGHT enough. There have been qualities in me—such as impatience and being short-tempered—which may have made me heavier for others to lift. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why my potential rewards have not always reached their fullest possible level.

To conclude, if you want to be lifted, first define for yourself what “Being LIGHTER” means. Then introspect on what has kept you heavier for others to lift, and work towards becoming LIGHTER.

Lightly yours,
Ramu

“Father Time Always Wins” – Warren Buffett
– Ramu, 19/9/2026

If you don’t possess English language skills beyond Shashi Tharoor, if not Shakespeare, one can’t make out the above title, since it is a PHRASE.

Initially, I didn’t understand that it was a phrase. After having gone through his letter a few times, I have finally understood that it is a phrase, similar to “MOTHER NATURE” / “FATHER TIME”.

Since it is a profound statement, and that too, spelt out by the most immaculate man of our era, I want to share his pearls with our esteemed readers, so that you can appreciate the meaning and life lessons behind the single power-packed sentence.

What he has meant by “Father Time Always Wins” is roughly as follows:

(1) Age ultimately defeats everyone.

(2) Therefore, succession must happen before it is forced upon you.

(3) Money can compound. Businesses can compound. Knowledge can compound. But your remaining time cannot be compounded. Once a year is gone, it is gone.

(4) Use time as your greatest ally in investing, while remembering that time itself is your ultimate opponent in life.

“Father Time Always Wins.”

Thank you, my dear friends.

Timingly yours,
Ramu

நான் கடந்த மூன்று நாட்களாக மைசூரில் சுற்றுப்பயணம் செய்கிறேன். அதில் அடுத்தடுத்து எனக்கு ஏற்பட்ட உன்னதமான மூன்று அனுபவங்கள் என் இனி வரும் காலங்களில் மனிதர்களைப் பற்றிய நன் மதிப்பபை இன்னும் அதிகரிக்கும் என்று எண்ணுகிறேன்.

அனுபவம் #1:

ஒரு நல்ல தரமான கடையில் “6 மைசூர் சில்க் சாரீ Rs 18000” எடுத்தேன். என் கையில் இருந்தது Rs 2000.  Gpay பண்ண முடியாத நிலை. Rs 2000 ஐ அட்வான்சாக வைத்துக்கொண்டு என் தங்கும் இடம்  – மஹிந்திரா கிளப் விலாசம் கொடுத்து இரவு 9 மணிக்கு சரரீஸ் கொடுத்துவிட்டு பணம் வாங்கிக்கொள்ள முடியுமா என்றேன்.

உடனே கடையின் உரிமையாளர் வந்தார். என் போன் நம்பரையும், நான் வந்திருக்கும் கார் டிரைவரிடம் போன் நம்பரையும் வாங்கிக்கொண்டு நீங்கள் சரரீஸ் ஐ கொண்டு செல்லுங்கள். டிரைவரிடம் பணம் கொடுத்துவிடுங்கள் என்று கூறியது எனக்கு ஆச்சரியமாக இருந்தது.

ஆயிரம் செக்யூரிட்டி சிஸ்டம் இருந்தாலும் நேற்று வரையில் நான் முன்பின் தெரியாத சக மனிதர்கள் மீது இவ்வுளவு நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருப்பேனா என்பது கேள்விக்குறியே!!

அனுபவம் #2:

ஒரு கோவிலில் உள்ளே சென்று அனுமரை தரிசிக்க Rs 10/- டிக்கெட். பணமாகத்தான் தரவேண்டும். Gpay அனுமதி இல்லை. என்னிடம் பணம் இல்லை.

ஒரு 30 வயது மதிக்கத்தக்க ஒரு பெண், தன் 5 வயது சிறுவனுடன் வந்தவர் சர்வ சாதாரணமாக Rs  40 ஐக் கொடுத்துவிட்டு, என்னிடம் Rs 20ஐ gpay மூலம் வாங்க மறுத்துவிட்டார்.

அனுபவம் #3:

இது மிகவும் இன்றியமையாத அனுபவமாக எனக்குப்படுகிறது.

பொதுவாக மனித மனதின் உளவியல் செயல்பாடு பற்றி நாம் தெரிந்து கொண்டு அதில் நம்மை விடுவித்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

ஒரு ஊரிலோ அல்லது நாட்டிலோ ஒரு சிறுபான்மை ஜாதி, மதம் அல்லது தொழில் செய்பவர்களில் யாராவது ஒருவர் தவறு செய்தால் நாம் அந்த ஒருவரை தனியாக பார்க்காமல் அந்த ஒட்டுமொத்த சிறுபான்மை இனமே அப்படித்தான் என்று முத்திரை குத்துவோம்.

ஆனால் அந்த சிறுபான்மை சமூகத்தில் ஒருவர் நமக்கு நல்லது செய்தால் நாம் அவரைத் தனி ஆளாக பார்ப்போம். அந்த ஓட்டு மொத்த சிறுபான்மை சமூகமும் நல்லது செய்வார்கள் என்று முத்திரை குத்தமாட்டோம்.

இது மனித இயல்பு. அதை நாம் மாற்றிக்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்பது இன்று எனக்கு கிடைத்த பாடம்.

ஒரு இடத்தில் சிறு நீர் கழிப்பதற்கு Rs 5. என்னிடம் சில்லறை இல்லை. Gpay கிடையாது.

கொஞ்சமும் யோசிக்காமல் 30 வயதிற்குள் இருக்கும் 3 இஸ்லாமியப் பெண்களில் ஒருவர் Rs 20 ஐக் கொடுத்துவிட்டு, நாங்கள் கொடுத்துவிட்டோம் சார் என்று கூறியது எனக்கு மிகவும் ஆச்சரியமாக இருந்தது.

மேல் கூறிய என் அனைத்து ஆசிரியர்களுக்கும் என் மனமார்ந்த பாராட்டுக்கள் மற்றும் நன்றிகள்.

ராமு

Freebies to Corruption to State Economy Collapse

Ramu – 14/9/2026

I have been travelling in Mysore. Before reaching Mysore Palace, my cab driver asked me for two ₹50 notes.

On the way to Mysore Palace and Brindavan Gardens, there are two tolls, each charging ₹200 per entry.

The Karnataka government perhaps thought it was smart since these are tourist spots and people would not mind paying.

It appears that Karnataka’s economic advisers are too naive to understand a few basic economic concepts: how higher taxes can lead to poorer tax compliance and how the unintended consequences can take the form of bribes and corruption.

These cab drivers and toll officers seem to have developed a tacit understanding. When cab drivers approach, the officers pretend to scan the FASTag stickers but collect ₹50 under the scanner machine.

To win elections, these politicians have thrown a plethora of freebies at the people, such as a few thousand rupees every month for each woman, free bus rides for women, etc.

To fund these schemes, they raise taxes. The higher the taxes, the poorer the tax compliance, which leads to bribes and corruption. Consequently, the expected tax collections may not reach the state exchequer.

Then the state has to compromise on infrastructure spending, quality education, healthcare, etc. This would lead to slower GDP growth, an increasing debt burden and, eventually, economic collapse.

It is not just Stalin, Vijay, DK Shivakumar, etc., among state-level politicians who have got into this vicious circle, but Trump too has announced cash handouts ($5000?) to win his upcoming mid-term elections.

The same American politicians shout from the rooftops that communism has failed, but capitalism has thrived.

They don’t even understand one of the basic tenets of capitalism: the laissez-faire model of a free-market economy.

All these politicians, put together, gradually turn democracy and its stakeholders, including the Election Commission and the people, into a mockery.

Oh, God! Save us from these politicians.

Ramu

Dear Sir,

Congratulations and my heartfelt wishes as you enter your eighties and become an octogenarian.

We are truly blessed to have an elder like you to guide and supervise us—not only in our business but also in matters concerning our family. Your wisdom and guidance have always been valuable to us.

In my observation, you are one of the very few people of your generation who have remained so relevant and comfortable in this rapidly changing era of AI, Instagram and new technology.

I sincerely request you to unfold and share, without any reservations, the enormous spiritual and life wisdom you have accumulated over seven decades. I believe that sharing this wisdom with the younger generations would be one of the greatest contributions and legacies you could leave for this world.

I only wish that I remain healthy and sensible enough to write an eulogy for you when you reach your centenary too!

With warm regards and sincere wishes,

Ramu

September 2026

Dear Palaniappan Annan,

I am surprised to realise that you have reached 70! Your composed nature and impeccable dressing sense seem to hide your age.

Though I have had only a few direct interactions with you, I have come to know quite a lot about you through my late father-in-law and business mentor, RMC.

I still remember the 1990s, after I married Unna. My father-in-law had a secluded room where he would sit in his easy chair and listen to music. He had a large stereo system with a graphic equalizer and those big knobs for volume and tuning, and nobody was allowed to touch it!

Whenever I got a new Ilaiyaraaja cassette, I would want to listen to it. But nobody allowed me to operate the stereo. My uncle alone would insert the cassette, gently turn the knobs and wait for my reaction.

Later, Unna revealed that you had gifted him the stereo and that it was one of RMC’s most cherished possessions.

That small incident has remained in my memory because it told me something about the affection you both had for each other.

On a few occasions, my uncle also shared stories about you. I remember one particular incident when somebody had borrowed money from you and failed to return it. My uncle was so upset on your behalf that he was ready to confront the person himself. That was the kind of affection he had for you, and he carried it until the last day of his life.

When I joined ENAC, Ambattur, in 1990, I used to hear many stories from the workers about the time you were involved in looking after the management. What I particularly remember was their appreciation of the way you empathised with the workers.

I also know that you have always been a very private person and rarely attend functions unless you genuinely feel connected to the people involved. That is why I have always felt honoured that you attended some of the important milestones of my life—starting with my housewarming and, later, my daughter’s marriage, where you came all the way to our native place and stayed for two days.

I know you came largely because of the affection you had for my uncle. Nevertheless, I cannot deny that I felt proud when you arrived at my functions in your Jaguar! I had never had such a distinguished visitor, and I quietly enjoyed the recognition it gave me among my friends.

And when I speak about you, I simply cannot leave Uma Achi out.

Even today, I consider conducting my only daughter’s marriage as one of the most memorable achievements of my life, and I honestly believe I could not have done it without her.

My late uncle told me countless times, “Had Uma Achi not been there, this marriage would not have happened in such a grand manner.” He would repeatedly remind me to settle the accounts of the cooks generously, even beyond what had originally been agreed, because they had been identified and brought in by Uma Achi when we were in a difficult situation.

Even as I write this, my eyes become moist when I remember how Uma Achi insisted that my daughter wear her special ottiyanam, as though her own daughter were getting married.

That is something I will never forget.

Today, we consider you and Uma Achi among the very few elders in our lives whom we hold in great moral respect. We hope you will continue to guide and bless us.

At 70, I wish you both good health, peace and happiness, and many more wonderful years together.

And I sincerely hope I remain healthy enough to write another eulogy for your 80th—and eventually your 100th birthday!

With utmost respect and affection,

Ramu,
Unna & Thenu