You might have heard of the Rule of Halves. The other day, when Prof. Mohan, President, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Chairman, Dr. Mohan's DSC presented to the media, the results of a survey held in Chennai described the Rule aptly. He said, of all the diabetes patients in Chennai, only half (50%) knew they had it. Out of the 50%, only half were taking treatment. Only in half of those 50%, is the ailment under control. I think it is a universal Rule.

Chennaiites would still remember the Willingdon Hospital, which was in existence until not very recently in Nungambakkam. It was a well-known Medical Centre. For reasons best known to the owners, it was sold. Only recently I came to know that out of the receipts from the sale and after settling all outstanding dues, the owner created a corpus fund. From out of the interest of this fund, Mr. V Narayanan, Director, Chennai Willingdon Corporate Foundation is helping the public of Chennai in many areas and in particular the health sector. May his tribe increase!

The many-faceted personality Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna just turned seventy-eight. A child prodigy,he gave his first performance at the tender age of five. He composed Raganga Raga, based on the seventy two melakartas, when he was just sixteen. He is at ease with violin, viola, Mridangam, kanjira, Flute and Veena. He has composed several varnas, keertanas, jawalis and thillanas. He has sung several ever green pieces for films. Who can forget his 'Oru Naal Poothuma' or his 'Thanga Ratham Varukuthu'? He has created several new Ragas, like Ganapathi, Mahathi, Murali and Onkaari. He has acted in a film. He is a multi-linguist.

This genius has a few tips for staying eternally young. He says only the body ages, and not the mind. So, if you keep your mind happy and blemishless, you can be young, both in mind and body. Secondly, always be busy constructively. Thirdly, consider yourself just an instrument.

Long live the one and only Dr. M Balamuralikrishna.

I received a mail from Ramu from Coimbatore. He had described in detail his trip to Gobichettipalayam.

Excerpts: We headed towards Kondathu kaliamman temple situated in Pariyur about 4 kms from Gobi. We enter through a tall gopuram. Immediately facing you is the South wall mounted on which are statues depicting a scene of Meenakshi Kalyanam as well as figure of Dakshinamoorthy , muyalakan & disciples. Inside the temple is the sanctum Kondathu Kaliamman surrounded by statues of "Brammahi, Maheshwari, Gowmari, Vaishnavi, Mahendri and Chamundi. In the outer prakaram are sanctums of Kalyana Vinayakar, Saptha kannigai and a huge statue of Muniappa Swamy, the protector and curer of persons possessed with evil spirits. On the North side of the temple, the Lower Bhavani Canal runs which along with the adjoining lush greenery, is cynosure to the devotees's eyes.

Our next destination was the Pachamalai Balamurugan Temple. The road up was closed for construction so we had to walk up all the way. The hill is at a high altitude. The view of Gobi countryside from the top is just beautiful. The main features of this temple are the tall ivory colored gopuram with a black vertical Vel in the front & a tall statue of standing Muruga both of which are visible from a distance. The temple interiors are colorful with beautifully carved pillars and long spacious corridors.

H Ramakrishnan