SYMA honoured good Samaritan(s) - Childfest 2026

 

Imp Pre-script :  the mind blowing act of honesty   happened in Jan 2026, everybody from the CM to Corporates recognized the person.  Being a Triplicanite, SYMA thought it fit to honour them on stage – that of Childfest 2026 Prize Distribution.  A small write-up coming up rather belatedly. !!

 

The proverb "honesty is the best policy" originated in late 16^th -century England, emphasizing truthfulness as the wisest long-term strategy over deception. It reflects cultural values of integrity in personal and public affairs. Moral character is formed by one's actions. The habits, actions, and emotional responses of the person of good character all are united and directed toward the moral and the good. Character and action are intertwined  

 

The great Thiruvalluvar said : 

தூய்மை துணைமை துணிவுடைமை இம்மூன்றின்

வாய்மை வழியுரைப்பான் பண்பு.

 

It is slightly off the topic yet conveys :  in this Thirukkural, Valluvar highlights the qualities of – ‘Integrity, resourcefulness, soul-determined & truthfulness – as the hallmark of a person who can be a trusted emissary. Integrity and truthfulness are hallmark of great sincere honest people too !!  

Embezzlement in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) primarily falls under Section 405 (Criminal Breach of Trust), defining it as dishonestly misappropriating or converting entrusted property, with Section 406 dealing with general punishments, while Section 409 imposes stricter penalties for specific individuals like public servants, bankers, or agents.  Not to feel tempted and not to usurp other’s asset is a great virtue.    

 

In Indian ithihasam – the epic tale of Harishchandra stands out – a real tell-tale version of striking testament to unyielding honesty, pushing the limits of human endurance. King Harishchandra of Ayodhya, famed for truthfulness, boasted to sage Vishwamitra about his integrity.  He descended into poverty, working as a menial cremation ground keeper enduring lashes and humiliation while upholding his vow.

 

In the 17^th  century, Galileo Galilei honestly shared evidence that Earth orbits the Sun, despite opposition from authorities. Facing house arrest, his truth advanced science and earned posthumous vindication, proving honesty endures beyond personal risk. Benjamin Franklin exemplified honesty through his personal virtues and life experiences, often weaving it into his writings and actions. His autobiography and "Poor Richard's Almanack" highlight stories where truthfulness built trust and success. Franklin listed "Sincerity" as one of his 13 virtues: "Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly." He tracked his adherence daily, crediting it for his influence and relationships, as it made others seek his company despite imperfections.

 

Honesty remains a timeless virtue, as illustrated in engaging moral stories that show truthfulness leading to rewards and inner peace.  Triplicane’s couple Mr Subramani & Mrs Padma are epitomes of these virtues.    

 

Srinivas YOungmens’ Association [SYMA] founded in 1977 has been actively engaged in social service, enabling betterment of the society in many ways.  From 1989, we have been running a Medical Centre, where free medical consultation and medicines are provided (at a notional fee of Rs.2/-).   From 2008, we are running a Free Educational support centre – SYMA Growth – taking care of more than 100 years every year. This centre has two X Std sections and one each of +2 Commerce & Science groups.  The beneficiaries are from the economically challenged group of citizens.

 

Childfest is our initiative for the past 3 decades – this year on 7^th & 8^th of Feb 2026  we conducted 10 competitions at NKT National Girls High School – more than 80 schools and 2000 students participated in the two day extraganza.    

0n 8^th Feb 2026 evening, Prize Distribution was held.  The Chief Guests were -  Subedar Major Anandasayanam, more than 3 decades of distinguished service in the Indian Army, (Army Service Corps);  Mrs. A. Jayanthi, a teacher in Army Public Schools across various states Mr Kasi Viswanathan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chennai Super Kings  were on stage.  

On the stage – SYMA honoured Mrs Padma & Mr Subramani [for sure you have seen news about them in various media / social media and more] … still to recap.  In Jan 2026, Mrs Padma employed as a Conservancy worker found a bag in Maharajapuram Santhanam Salai, T Nagar .. .. .. and it was jewellery of 45 Sov (approx 50 lakhs worth!).  without battling an eye-lid, she along with her co-workers and husband went to Pondy Bazaar Police Station and handed over the bounty.  It was simple and plain – it was not mine, someone had missed it and it should reach them !!  moving back a few years, in Feb 2021, her husband Mr Subramani, an auto driver found a bag in Beach road and handed it over to Police – it contained Rs.1.75 lakhs in cash. 

Mr Subramani is well known to Triplicanites – he now drives an auto and earlier was a devoted Sripathamthangi (bearer of vahanams of Perumal) at Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukkovil.  They are shining jewels of Triplicane.    

 

SYMA thought it fit to honour them on stage as they will be a living example of honesty for the future generations.  Those on stage too felt overwhelmed in appreciating and honouring them on stage. 

Here are some photos of the honouring of the couples at SYMA stage on 8^th Feb 2026.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar
Vice – President, SYMA
10.3.2026

"crow bath" - காக்கா குளியல் - kauwa snan

 

How long do you bathe ?  A "crow bath" (காக்கா குளியல் or kauwa snan in Hindi) is a colloquial term for a very quick, shallow, or superficial shower, similar to the Japanese phrase karasu no gyouzui (crow’s bath). It refers to taking a rapid bath without properly scrubbing, often implying a hurried morning routine. Though stated thus, Crows do take a neat long bath – some sources say !! 

காகங்கள் நீரில் மூழ்கிக் குளிக்காமல், தன் அலகால் நீரைத் தெளித்தோ அல்லது தலையை மட்டும் நீரில் நனைத்தோ மிக வேகமாக குளித்துவிட்டுப் பறந்துவிடும். இதைப் போலவே, உடலை முழுமையாகத் தேய்த்துக் குளிக்காமல் அவசரம் அவசரமாகக் குளிப்பவர்களை "காக்கா குளியல் போடுகிறான்" என்று ஏளனமாகச் சொல்வார்கள். பேச்சுவழக்கில் இப்படிச் சொன்னாலும், உண்மையில் காகங்கள் தண்ணீரில் நன்றாக இறங்கித் தன் சிறகுகளை விரித்து உற்சாகமாக குளிக்கும் பழக்கம் கொண்டவை என சில காணொளிகள் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகின்றன.

 

Here is Pigeon’s bathing !!

11/3/2026

துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு ~ Calf jumping !!

 

At the turn of the 20th century, businessman Horace Pennypacker Jr., has two families: one wife and eight children in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and nine children (by a deceased wife) in Philadelphia. During the course of events, his bigamy is uncovered, and he struggles to maintain the status quo  !!  [don’t jump to say nothing uncommon !!]. 

Ever heard this or seen this song that was featured in an old movie – theme being the story of  a man hailed as  virtuous in the society but leading  a double life, having two sets of families. :

 

துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு

தோழி மணமாலை காதலின் பரிசு!! 

துள்ளி விளையாடும் கன்றுக்குட்டி மகிழ்ச்சியின் அடையாளமாகும். அது தன் தாயின் அருகே துள்ளிக் குதித்து, ஆனந்தமாக ஓடித் திரிந்து, விளையாடும் காட்சி காண்போரை மகிழ்விக்கும். கன்றுக்குட்டிகள் பெரும்பாலும் சுறுசுறுப்பாகவும், ஆற்றல் மிக்கதாகவும், விளையாட்டாகத் தன் சூழலை ஆராயும் இயல்புடையவை.  

"துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு" என்பது 1966ல் வெளியான மோட்டார் சுந்தரம் பிள்ளை திரைப்படத்தில், P. சுசீலா மற்றும் எல்.ஆர். ஈஸ்வரி பாடிய புகழ்பெற்ற பாடல் ஆகும்  

•        திரைப்படம்: மோட்டார் சுந்தரம் பிள்ளை (Motor Sundaram Pillai).

•        பாடகர்: பி. சுசீலா, எல்.ஆர். ஈஸ்வரி, சூலமங்கலம் ராஜலட்சுமி  

•        இசை: M.S. விஸ்வநாதன்   

A bold theme of those days – released in 1966 – ‘Motor Sundaram Pillai’    directed by S. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo starred Shivaji Ganesan, Ravichandran, Sowcar Janaki and Jayalalithaa.  It was a remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963), itself based on the American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).  

Described in the starting para, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker is a 1959 American DeLuxe Color comedy film starring Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire directed by Henry Levin in CinemaScope. The film was based on the 1953 Broadway play of the same title, which ran for 221 performances and which had featured Burgess Meredith as Horace Pennypacker and Martha Scott as 'Ma' Pennypacker.  

Moving away from all the double-life – here is a video of  raw happiness unfolded – a Calf (either just born or just the day of birth) moving gleefully in the streets of Triplicane.  :  https://youtu.be/Z53kiDPk2bM

 
Pure bliss !!!
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.3.2026

Siruthai !!! ~ Panthera pardus fusca

Enjoyed interview scene in Vaalu – Brahmanandam asking Simbu & repeating the same Qs to Santhanam  -  ‘rocket entha speedla pogum !’   .. .. Singathukkum Siruthaikkum enna vithiyasam ! [what is the difference between Lion and Leopard !!]

The movie opens  with Bhavuji, a ruthless rowdy, receiving a call that IPS officer, Rathnavel Pandian is still alive, when everyone believed that he was killed by Bhavuji's younger brother, Badhra. Bhavuji and his henchmen went to Rathnavel's grave to exhume his body to which they found a coffin of heavy rocks, which meant that Rathnavel was still alive and Bhavuji is desperate to know his current location.

Meanwhile, Rocket Raja and his friend Kaatupoochi are small-time criminals who steals expensive items and cons people into giving them money. Kaatupoochi receives a call that a very rich person is having a wedding near their area, which Raja and Kaatupoochi go there to steal. In the wedding, Raja meets Swetha and immediately is attracted to her, which she also reciprocates. 

Moving away from Movies – the big awesome animals that fit into the Cat family are :  Lion, Tiger and ………  Leopard, Panther, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma .. . and 

The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is  widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is threatened by illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to human-leopard conflict and retaliation for livestock depredation.

Felis fusca was the scientific name proposed by Friedrich Albrecht Anton Meyer in 1794 who described a black leopard from Bengal that was on display at the Tower of London.  Leopardus perniger proposed by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1863 were five leopard skins from Nepal, out of which three were black.  Since leopard populations in Nepal, Sikkim and Kashmir are not geographically isolated from leopard populations in the Indian subcontinent, they were subsumed to P. p. fusca in 1996.    

The Indian leopard has strong legs and a long, well-formed tail, broad muzzle, short ears, small, yellowish-grey eyes, and light-grey ocular bulbs.  Its coat is spotted and rosetted on a pale yellow to yellowish-brown or golden background, except for the melanistic forms; the spots fade toward the white underbelly and the insides and lower parts of the legs.   

Here is a Leopard [Siruthai] photographed at Vandalur Zoo recently.

The movie described in 2^nd & 3^rd para was “Siruthai” – starring Karthi, Tamanna, Santhanam, directed by SS Rajamouli with the music of Vidyasagar.   The story revolves around "Rocket" Raja, a petty thief who comes across a little girl says that he's her father. When he learns the truth about his lookalike Rathnavel Pandian, who's an honest cop, he decides to turn a new leaf and help get rid of a crime gang.  The film hit the screens during Pongal 2011.  

It was a remake of 2006 Telegu movie directed by Rajmouli – ‘Vikramarkudu’    based on a story by V. Vijayendra Prasad.  The movie starred  Ravi Teja and Anushka to the music of M. M. Keeravani, with cinematography by Sarvesh Murari.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar

10.3.2026

Celebrating Women (I know and have heard of !!)

celebrating International Women's Day - remembering great women  !!

My knowledge of Cinema is very low – have not heard of this Hindi movie ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’   directed by Ashutosh Gowariker starring Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone  BUT feel bad in not knowing  Pritilata Waddedar !! – who ??- Gandhi and Congress fought Britishers and got freedom without drop of blood and Jawaharlal Nehru guided the Nation !!!!!  

                    According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, King Janaka of Videha Kingdom held a Rajasuya Yagna and invited all the learned sages, kings and princess of India to participate. The yagna lasted for many days. The galaxy of scholars, included the renowned sage Yajnavalkya.  There  were eight renowned sages who challenged him for a debate, which included Gargi, the only lady in the assembled gathering of the learned.  Gargi and Yajnavalkya's exchange centered on the ultimate "warp" of reality ("warp" means "the basic foundation or material of a structure or entity).  

This is a post on ‘wonder women’ ~ it would not require a Nobel for a woman to be impressive and an influencer    before you read further, this post is dedicated to all the Women known and those who influenced me – the list would start with my mother, sister, wife – my teachers at elementary school,  my female colleagues, my women bosses and my dear friends).. ..  also to those women who zip past in the morning – the Conservancy workers of Chennai metropolis.

Today (8th March) is International Women’s Day .. ..  Appreciating all Women I know right from my mother, wife, sister, sister-in-law, relatives, teachers, women bosses, female colleagues – and all feminine gender known to me- my  special greetings to all of them  ~  Happy International Women's Day 2026.

  

March 8, 2020 was a Red letter day  for  Indian women's cricket. India's maiden appearance in a T20 World Cup final, against defending champions Australia, drew 86,174 spectators at the MCG - the most ever at a women's or men's T20 World Cup final and for a women's sporting event in Australia.  India lost that match !  .. .. years later at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai in Nov 2025, India  won their first-ever Women's ODI Cricket World Cup  defeating South Africa by 52 runs.  In that finals India posted 298-7, with key contributions from Shafali Verma (87) and Deepti Sharma (58), before bowling out South Africa for 246.

In some ways this is a western concept – marking a day and attaching all importance to it by marketing it. Our literature has cherished  place for women and traditionally we are taught to respect women. Our moral stories are replete with instances of obeisance to mother and femininity holding them in high regard; yet 8th Mar would be a special day.

Any reference to women of fame would not be complete with writing about ‘Avvaiyar’ -  great tamil poetess  whose statue also stands in the marina closer to Queen Mary’s college. She  lived in the southern parts attributed to sangam period. Reverred to be noble besides her extraordinary poetic skills, the term means ' respected old woman' or 'Grandmother'. Her works include Purananuru and Aathichoodi. She had cordial relations with the Kings Pari and Athiaman.  

There are many others who achieved, though not as famous – Reena Kaushal Dharkshaktu was the first woman to reach South pole and Sucheta Kadethankar was the first to have walked across Gobi desert.   Devika Rani was the first recipient of the prestigious film prize, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.  Rajkumari Amrit Kaur from the Princely family of Kapurthala was the first Women Cabinet minister – she was the health minister in the Indian Cabinet for ten years after India's independence from the British Raj in 1947.

In Sept 2022,  a young Kurdish woman was detained in Tehran after allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress code. Days later, the 22-year-old died in custody — allegedly after being beaten by police.  Mahsa Amini’s death unleashed a wave of protests under the slogan “Women, life, freedom,” which came to express decades of discontent not only with the country’s veiling laws but with the ruling system itself.  

If there is one field where Men & Women compete together – it is Horse racing   where men and women compete directly against each other on equal terms, sharing the same tracks, prize money, and glory. While historically male-dominated, female jockeys regularly compete alongside men, and studies show they are often slightly underestimated by betting markets.

Jamie Melham is an acclaimed Australian jockey known for breaking barriers in horse racing. She has achieved historic milestones as one of the top female riders globally. Born in 1995 as Jamie Lee Kah, she started racing at 15 and won her first premiership in 2012.  She secured the 2025 Caulfield Cup on Half Yours, making her the first woman to win it, followed by the Melbourne Cup on the same horse, becoming only the second female winner after Michelle Payne.   By early 2026, she was named Woman of the Year.

If you still remember that name at the start – “Pritilata Waddedar” – here is something on that great woman [5.5.1911 – 24.9.1932] – a mere 21 years !

She studied in  Chittagong and Dhaka, attended Bethune College in Kolkata;  graduated in philosophy with distinction and became a school teacher. She is praised as "Bengal's first woman martyr". Pritilata joined a revolutionary group headed by Surya Sen and led  fifteen revolutionaries in the 1932 armed attack on the Pahartali European Club, during which one person was killed and eleven injured. The revolutionaries torched the club and were later caught by the colonial police.  Pritilata was born in a middle-class Vaidya Brahmin family  in Dhalghat village in Patiya upazila of Chittagong (now in Bangladesh).

In 1932, Suriya Sen planned to attack the Pahartali European Club which had a signboard that read "Dogs and Indians not allowed". [Remember this epic instance was clumsily captured in Rajnikant starrer Maaveeran]   Surjo Sen decided to appoint a woman leader for this mission. Kalpana Datta was arrested seven days before the event. So,  Pritilata was assigned the leadership of the attack.  On the day of the attack, Pritilata dressed herself as a Punjabi male. Her associates Kalishankar Dey, Bireshwar Roy, Prafulla Das, Shanti Chakraborty wore dhoti and shirt. Mahendra Chowdhury, Sushil Dey and Panna Sen wore lungi and shirt.  They attacked the club building and set it alight.  There was firing from inside by the Police officers.

An injured Pritilata was trapped by the colonial police;  She swallowed cyanide to avoid getting arrested. In Bangladesh, she hailed as an ideal woman.    A trust named Birkannya Pritilata Trust (Brave lady Pritilata Trust) was found in her memory. Pritilata's birthday is celebrated by the trust in different places of Bangladesh and India every year. The last end of Sahid Abdus Sabur Road to Mukunda Ram Hat of Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong has been named as Pritilata Waddedar Road.  In 2012, a bronze sculpture of Pritilata Waddedar was erected in front of the Pahartali Railway School, adjacent to the historical European Club.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (transl. We Play with Passion)  is  an account of the 1930 Chittagong armoury raid -   an attempt on 18 April 1930 to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces from the Chittagong armoury in the Bengal Presidency of British India by armed Indian independence fighters led by Surya Sen.  The group included Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Bal, Ambika Chakrobarty, Harigopal Bal (Tegra), Ananta Singh, Anand Prasad Gupta, Tripura Sen, Bilash Dey, Bidhubhusan Bhattacharya, Pritilata Waddedar, Kalpana Dutta, Himangshu Sen, Binod Bihari Chowdhury, Subodh Roy, Monoranjan Bhattacharya.  Now honestly tell 3yourself – whether you know or read about any of these personalities who sacrificed their life for our freedom !!   .. .. [Mahatma Gandhi got us freedom without drop of blood and Jawaharlal Nehru guided the Nation!!]

In the footsteps of legendary PT Usha, Hima Das was a sprinter.   She holds the current Indian national record in 400 m with a time of 50.79s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games. She is the first Indian athlete ever to win gold medal in a track event at the World U20 Championships.  She received the Arjuna Award in 2018. A few years ago, Indian sprinter Hima Das    was  inducted as Deputy Superintendent of Assam Police and referred to the moment as a childhood dream coming true.  

Appreciations and greetings to all  Women known and those who influenced me – and pranams to those great women like Pritilata

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
8.3.2026

  

  

celebrating Women's Day 2026

 

Chennai Corporation celebrated Womens’ Day 2026 at Marina beach – honouring Women Health workers, Sanitary workers & drivers.

Part of the celebrations ! a group performing gymnastics !!

: https://youtu.be/6rmm5hSDOSA

what war does ! ............. a Price Drop !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

காதல் கத்தரிக்காயும் ! ஈரான் சண்டையும் - என்  செய்யும் என் தங்கமே !!

 

Few years ago, Brinjal (egg plant) prices soared in local market in Chennai – when asked the vendor said - there is WAR  between Iran and Iraq.

 

Almost every household purchase brinjals every week.  In Chennai, the wholesale market is in Koyambedu (earlier it was kothawalchavadi!!) – supply of vegetables come from Tindivanam, Cuddalore, Maduranthakam, Trichy, Krishnagiri.   Yes, brinjal and vegetable prices do go up  due to the Gulf/Middle East war (Iran-Israel-US conflict),  they would say - higher fertilizer, fuel, and logistics costs disrupting supplies.  Wars often trigger price spirals – to distant places too. 

Post-WWII hyperinflations hit Germany (1921-23) and Hungary (1945-46) after massive war financing via currency issuance. Post-1973 Yom Kippur War oil shocks sparked 1970s stagflation globally.  The war started on 6 October 1973, when the Arab coalition launched a surprise attack across their respective frontiers during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which coincided with the 10th day of Ramadan. Wars cause GDP drops (13%), consumption/investment falls (11-14%), and inflation surges (50-62%) lasting years, financed by printing money that erodes purchasing power. 

Can you imagine some  price drop ! in the backdrop of war !! that too of something that has been going up, up, up and up in  India !! 

 

Gold rates in the Gulf are falling due to a stronger US dollar, rising US Treasury yields, and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts amid persistent Middle East tensions and inflation fears. Spot gold dropped about 5% recently to around $5,029-$5,118 per ounce after peaking above $5,300, pulling Gulf prices down (e.g., Dubai discounts amid air traffic issues disrupting flows). Dubai physical gold trades are  at discounts due to suspended Middle East air routes halting bullion to India/Asia, amplifying local rate drops despite global safe-haven bids. 

News reports suggest that Dubai's gold market is offering significant discounts, as Middle East conflict disrupts flights and shipping. Buyers are hesitant due to high costs and delivery uncertainties, leading traders to offer up to $30 an ounce below the global benchmark. While some shipments are moving, delays are impacting physical bullion availability in India, though current inventories are ample.  Many shipments remained stranded on Friday, the people said, although some bullion had been loaded onto flights leaving Dubai from the middle of this week. 

The United Arab Emirates, and Dubai in particular, is an important center for refining and exporting bullion to buyers across Asia, as well as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland, the UK and several African countries. Its airspace has been partially closed due to a barrage of Iranian missiles as the US-Israeli war with Tehran extends for a seventh day with no sign of resolution. Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft.  With  flights from the UAE severely restricted, traders and logistics firms are reluctant to transport high-value cargoes overland to airports in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, due to the risks and complications involved, particularly when transiting land borders.  

While the Dubai Good Delivery standard — the standard of gold bars widely used locally and regionally — is typically traded at a discount to the London prices, the shipping bottleneck is making the gold even cheaper.  But buyers in India – one of the largest consumers of gold shipped from Dubai – can afford to wait, with near-term demand relatively muted and inventories swollen by a large volume of imports in January, said  a  consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus.  “As of now, there is ample stock,” he said, “but if this drags on for a few months, then there will be a problem.” 

There are also some signs that refiners are encountering challenges in sourcing doré – semi-refined gold bars typically cast at the mine site. India’s largest precious metals refinery, MMTC-PAMP, gets around 10% of its doré from a mine in the Middle East, but supplies have been disrupted, said a spokesperson. For new contracts supplied from elsewhere, logistics costs have soared by 60% to 70% since the war began, he said.

 

The not so good news for Indian buyer is - Indian gold rates are likely to remain volatile short-term but trend higher overall in 2026, driven by global safe-haven demand, inflation hedging, and seasonal factors like weddings, despite recent Gulf-linked drops. 

தங்கம் வாங்கலையோ தங்கம் !!  இதை படிச்சுட்டு வீட்டுக்காரம்மா உடனடியாக தங்க கடைக்கு போகணும்னு சொன்னா !!  Enjoy life with Thangamani !!

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
7.3.2026
 

Tiger-nap ! (Catnap) - sleep without guilt !!

On holidays, do you fall sleep in the Afternoons !  (not a Q to those fortunate to sleep on all days of the week !)  Sleep is every day activity.  Many a times, when you get up after a short [or long sleep in AN] – you may have some confusion on the time of the day – is it morning or evening ?

A few decades ago, most people believed sleep was a passive activity during which the body and brain were dormant. “But it turns out that sleep is a period during which the brain is engaged in a number of activities necessary to life—which are closely linked to quality of life.” 

For many of us  addicted to social media, the sleeping time is getting reduced.  When one is sleep-deprived, eyes and mind crave for a nap.   Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults, including: relaxation, fatigue reduction, increase in alertness, good moods, quicker reaction and better memory.  The timing of sleep in humans depends upon a balance between homeostatic sleep propensity, the need for sleep as a function of the amount of time elapsed since the last adequate sleep episode, and circadian rhythms which determine the ideal timing of a correctly structured and restorative sleep episode. 

Siesta,  a ‘Spanish’ word  from the Latin hora sexta – "the sixth hour" (counting from dawn, therefore noon), hence "midday rest”.  It is the  traditional daytime sleep of Spain, and through Spanish influence, of many Latin American countries. Factors explaining the geographical distribution of the modern siesta are mainly high temperatures and heavy intake of food at the midday main meal.   The "siesta" can refer to the nap itself, or more generally to a period of the day. 

The afternoon sleep is often called ‘Catnap’. A catnap is a short sleep, usually one which you have during the day.   The phrase dates back to at least the early 1800s, with notable literary use in 1916 by Edgar Rice Burroughs in "The Son of Tarzan."  The term takes its origin from how cats take a series of naps throughout the day and night. This idiosyncratic cat-like behavior is thought to help cats stay their alert and agile selves, and humans can take afternoon napping to reap similar benefits. There’s no medical definition of a catnap, and there’s no strict limit on how long they last.   

In case you get confused when you get up of the time of the day ! – thinking of getting up, brushing your teeth as in the morning, while it is evening, don’t feel bad and never start crazily querying on forums and searching on web.  If you do so, you might get influenced by some modern phraseology like : 

Confusional arousals -  a sleep disorder that causes you to act in a very strange and confused way as you wake up or just after waking. It may appear that you don’t know where you are or what you are doing. One may have slow speech, stammering, confused thinking, poor memory, blunt responses !!   When a confusional arousal occurs, you may seem to be awake even though you have a foggy state of mind. Episodes often start when someone else physically wakes you up forcefully. 

Sleepwalking or shouting during an episode is common. Some people with confusional arousals also grind their teeth.  Confusional arousals is considered a parasomnia. 

‘Sundowning" refers to a state of confusion that occurs in the late afternoon and lasts into the night. Sundowning can cause various behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions. Sundowning also can lead to pacing or wandering. Sundowning isn't a disease. It's a group of symptoms that occurs at a specific time of the day. These symptoms may affect people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.   

வேதநூல் பிராயம் நூறு மனிசர்தாம் புகுவரேலும்

பாதியும் உறங்கிப் போகும் நின்றதில்  பதினையாண்டு

 

தொண்டரடிப்பொடி ஆழ்வார் - திருமாலை பாசுரம் -  ஓர் தினத்தில்  உள்ள அறுபது நாழிகையில் முப்பது நாழிகை உறக்கத்தில் கழிகிற கணக்கில்  வேதசாஸ்திரத்திற்படியே  நூறு வருஷங்கள்   வாழ்ந்திருப்பர்களேயானாலும், அந்த சதாயுஸ்ஸில் பாதியான ஐம்பது வருஷமும் உறக்கத்தாலே கழியும் !!! 

There is still some stigma about naps but as long as it does not affect your work, your mind or your night sleep, never mind.  Don’t have any guilt, it is acting to the demands of body and mind.  Sleep well and happy – have naps and do not have interrupted sleeps.  Life is too beautiful to be spent worrying.

Pictured here is a White Tiger – cat-napping at Vandalur even as restless visitors wanted it to be active  ! – it did get up to the amusement of onlookers. White tigers, a color variant of Bengal tigers, sleep 16-20 hours per day on average, much like other tigers.  They are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk for hunting, so they rest extensively during daylight in shady spots like thickets, caves, or under trees to conserve energy after intense bursts of activity.

This long sleep helps them recover from high-energy hunts, maintain their large body mass (up to 500 pounds), and avoid human conflicts by aligning rest with daytime human activity. However, life is different for them in captivity.  Captivity alters white tiger (as is the case of most caged / zoo animals) sleep patterns, reducing total sleep time compared to the wild (16-20 hours daily) while increasing fragmented resting and stereotypic behaviors like pacing due to unnatural environments and feeding schedules.

Fresh from today’s afternoon sleep – yours friendly aasami sirippu sinthanaiyaan.

 

With regards – S Sampathkumar
7.3.2026