"The Deccan Chronicle deeply apologises to Vidya Balan and her family for the anguish and pain caused by our story headlined "My dad's death brought me closer to God" (27 July, Sunday Chronicle).

It was an unpardonable error on the part of our reporter to get such a crucial fact wrong and mention Mr Balan in the past tense. We understand how deeply it must have hurt and upset the family. Our most earnest apologies. We wish Mr Balan a very long, happy and content life.



God bless the family and our prayers and well wishes always with Vidya, her dad and the family." This appeared on the front page of the daily on July 29 2008.

Last week, I had mentioned the couple of celebrations in Chennai on the centenary of the one and only Semmangudi.

A friend of mine narrated an incident that brought to the fore the sharp sense of Semmangudi's humour.

"To Semmangudi, punctuality was more than a mere virtue. It was a way of life. He used to be before time for his concert or for any function in which he was to participate.

For a function over which he was to preside, he came almost an hour and a quarter late. Many on the dais and in the audience checked the time on their watches. Semmangudi noticed it.

In his speech, he said he was in the vicinity of Madipakkam fifteen minutes ahead of the appointed time.  He had to spend almost ninety minutes searching for the venue. 'Thank God, Ravana had held Sita Devi a captive in Sri Lanka. Had Sita Devi been held a captive in Madipakkam, Sri Anjaneya would still have been searching for the Goddess!'

Only Semmangudi can be so original!"

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of J R D Tata, TATA had recently come out with an ad, which read as follows: "I don't want India to be an economic super power. I want India to be a happy country - J R D Tata". Yes, his thoughts continue to inspire. Let me join TATA in saluting the legendary thinker. And doer.

H.Ramakrishnan