Miranda Musing

If you happen to drive from Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) to Kanayakyamari, the southern tip of India, it is hard to miss sight of this towering structure, St. Thomas Church, a Roman Catholic Church, located in a small fishing hamlet called Virapandianpatanam. This St. Thomas church was built in 1886 and is known for its Gothic architecture and grandiose. Flanked by St. Thomas Higher Secondary school on one side and Mother Mary grotto on the other this magnificent church could be seen at a distance from the neighbouring villages. The church has blessed many people including dignitaries like Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi on their visit to this village. August 2011 witnessed the church’s quasquicentennial festal celebration which commenced on 6th August and culminated on 15th August 2011. Central to the lives of people who are born or have made this village their home, this church continues to draw thousands of parishioners from different parts of the world all through the ye

Today 1st May 2011 Pope John Paul II was beatified. He will hereafter be called "Blessed John Paul II". He is few steps closer to be declared a saint. As a Pope who was head of the Catholic Church for 27 years he left a long legacy not only to the Church but also the world. He was a saintly man but was also a courageous man who is being credited with bringing down communism. He was leader who reinvigorated Catholic church. Wherever he went political leaders came to him, people flocked to him and world loved him. I remember seeing him at close quarters at Chennai near Santhome Church when he passed by in his Popesmobile . The brief encounter and his smiling face left a lasting impression on me. Throughout his 27 years Catholics were proud to call him Pope and their leader. A man who had seen Nazism, Communism he eventually saw their end and worked hard for world peace. His step towards sainthood has come by after year long research and witness to the miracles performed by h

I have been running half marathon for the past seven years. Barring two editions I have run all the seven editions of Mumbai Marathon. However as I keep getting wiser, read older, I have started running a technical race than the first time when I ran blindly without a technical practice. I wanted to recount the experience of my fifth half marathon with the readers. Prior to the race day, I started having butterflies in my stomach. I started telling myself, why am I nervous. I had been eating mainly Pastas for the past week that my sons started complaining about the food. I was bent on increasing my carbohydrate quotient. I also consumed electrol mixed in water to stop myself from dehydration during the run. I went to sleep early and after tossing left and right managed to sleep well. I woke up at 4.30 am and got ready for the run. When I reached the venue at Bandra Reclamation grounds it was like a mela of spirited runners. The participants have been increasing every year. The air w