31rst August

Completed morning program.  Visited CGHS. Met Pravesh. In chamber from 2 to 4 pm.
News of the day: "Last month has been exciting for the scientific community, with confirmation of the discovery of Higgs Boson particle, popularly known as the God particle.For the common man, however, the particle and its significance remains a mystery. "Imagine a political gathering, with many groups of people. If someone powerful and important enters, the nearby 'cluster' gathers around her/him and resumes its conversation when she/he leaves the 'field of attraction'. This clustering explains how a particle's mass is generated. This important personality is like the Higgs' particle," TOI, dt.,31.08,2012 Nagpur,on line
Retired for sleep at 10.45 pm.

30th August

As we had to reach AIIMS by 9am, we left home at 7.30am. Could not stick to morning program. Went for half hour walk in the evening. Consulted Prof. Nikhil Tandon as advised by Prof. Acharya of Gastroenterology department of AIIMS. Prof. Tandon said that we are taking the right course of requisite medicines and that he would not like to change the same. He,however, asked to take a briefing from the Dietitian/Staff nurse regarding the correct procedure of  injecting insulin as also what the dieting chart Venita should follow. Venita met and was briefed by them.He also said that she should maintain a chart of blood sugar levels at different times of the day. His assistant gave a chart which is to be filled up regularly by her.  We have to see him after a month.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

29th August

Went for 30 minutes brisk walk. It was raining. Had to go to AIIMS to meet Professor Acharaya of Gastroenterology Department. He had seen Venita on 22nd July and desired to see her after a month. He said that she had no other problem except diabetes. She should control it and advised to continue with the prescribed medicines for another three months.We have to see him thereafter. Took appointment to consult Professor Tandon of endocrinology tomorrow as suggested by Prof. Acharya. In chamber from 1.30 to 4.30  pm.

The general atmosphere in the society is of corruption. The agencies connected with the maintenance of  law and order and general enforcement of other laws are equally infected by it. Let us introspect. Are we ourselves honest in performance of duties? We are careerists.We follow the rule of life rather than rule of law. We bend before the bureaucrats and politicians to please them to get favors. They use us for their selfish ends and we happily do as they wish. In short we have no moral courage to standup to resist them. The police reforms are likely to give courage and spine to the police officers and other enforcement agencies to standup and not to succumb to illegal orders of the superiors, politicians and bureaucrats. The force follows the leaders. But if the leaders are spineless and corrupt, the force is corrupted. A corrupt force does not give proper service to the community and otherwise causes havoc to the common man

Let us try to strengthen the hands of police officers by implementation of Police reforms as recommended by the National Police Commission 1979 so that they behave responsibly and serve the community.
Retired to sleep 11pm.

28th August

Completed 40 minute brisk walk, pranayam and some asans. Visited Safdurjung hospital with Venita to show her teeth to a dentist. A seminar on" Society & Law Enforcement", organized by ARSIPSO is scheduled to take place on 2nd Sept. 2012 at IIC. I am preparing a write-up for the occasion. In chamber from 1to 5 pm.We returned home at about 6 pm.Tomorrow we have to meet Prof. Acharya, Head, dept.of gastroenterology, AIIMS.He had called us after a month for a review. Vnita is better now.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

27th August

Completed morning program partially with 40 mins brisk walk.
Today is Silku's birthday as well as marriage anniversary of Pilku and Ruchi. Silku's birthday was celebrated  yesterday along with my birthday. There were Pujas and havan at Gurgaon for Silku. Venita distributed khir and sweets to all in the house and at the temple.
.In chamber from 12.45pm to 4.45 pm.
Cyber war is in the news and social networking is under attack. Social media has both a positive as well as negative side. We cannot impose complete censor on it, blocking websites. We have to balance freedom of speech and draw a line somewhere so that social media cannot be misused for a wrong cause resulting in disharmony and unrest in society. The need is of surveillance, so that it cannot be misused. The social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, etc. have to cooperate in this effort.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.  

26th August

Completed morning program.I was born today. Hope to do Vipassana meditation in the 74th year more regularly. Attended a get-together of children and grandchildren in a restaurant at Gurgaon.They gave me useful gifts. Silku brought a beautiful egg-less cake with words on top of it "Happy Birthday ". Since Silku's birthday falls tomorrow, we cut the cake jointly. I was impressed with the restaurant staff as they put out the light when we were cutting the cake. The two little candles flooded the darkness of not-a-two big Chinese restaurant, opened and managed by a Chinese born and living in Kolkata. It was full with customers. They looked amused with the onset of darkness all of a sudden with two little candles doing their best to lighten the environment. Each of children and grand children fed me & Silku with a piece of cake. So did I. There was singing of "Happy Birthday to you", twice, once for me and another time for Silku. Akshat's birthday falls on 15th September. I asked him to let me know the gift we should give him on the day. He gave an innocent and disarming smile. I am sure he was thinking about it, but could not makeup his mind. I will ask him after a few days. Khyati's birthday is on 10th October. Venita's birthday follows a day after. If both of them agree we could celebrate the two together as I celebrated my birthday today along with Silku, whose birthday follows a day later. Ritsy asked about our next visit outside Delhi. I told her that we were to go to Fatehpur for 10 days during Diwali holidays and thereafter to the 12th Jyotirling near Ranchi during X-mas holidays. Venita has already visited eleven Jyotirlings. The Jyotirlings are located at places where Lord Shiva appeared on the callings of his devotees.
Neha discussed the matter relating to extraction of Akshat's milk tooth for dental stem cell bank.

After the lunch we went to Silku's house and spent sometime with Aleynah, who could not come as she is too young. We took her to a nearby mall where she bought a few things of her choice. Silku took us to his flat in a nearby place where we met Mr.Mundre, his father-in-law. He was busy in finding out the cause of corrosion/erosion of the metro airport railway track. He is a recognized authority on railway track technology all over the world.
We were delighted to know that under 19 Cricket brigade won the World cup final in Australia. Earlier they beat Pakistan in the Quarter finals and later New Zealand in Semifinals. We also watched on the TV in the restaurant India beating New Zealand in the first test match at Hyderabad with an Innings and 119 runs today.
Retired to sleep at 11pm.

   

25th August

As i had to leave early to meet Commissioner of Police Delhi to handover .303 rifle for the Delhi Police Museum, couldn't do the morning program. Went for brisk walk for 45 minutes in the evening. 303 rifle belonged to late SC Verma, my father-in-law. As it was a prohibited bore weapon, I had to take charge of it after his death  I had come to know from my in-laws that he had bought it from a Britisher when he was posted at Lakhimpur Kheri, as SP in UP. We decided to give it to Delhi Police Museum as none could inherit it after me, being a weapon of prohibited bore. One .38 revolver which is now in the custody of DM Alwar, could also be taken by Delhi Police for the museum. A petition is to be submitted to the Commissioner in  this connection so that he can initiate the process of taking it back from the DM Alwar.. Barun Verma, S/o Late S C Verma, who was present when the rifle was handed over to the Commissioner, is to submit a petition in this regard.The revolver was taken by DM Alwar from him for failure to renew the licence for quite sometime.  We will initiate action as desired by the Commissioner.

In chamber from 2 to 5 pm
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

24th August

Completed brisk walk for 40 minutes. Visited CGHS (Ayurvedic) and SBI. In chamber from 1.15 to 3.30 pm. 
The transfer of Police Commissioner Mumbai, Sh. Patnaik  for failure to take action on 11th August has  been a matter of much debate. After having seen the video of the unrest and hooliganism on the streets of Mumbai , i feel that police action was not adequate. 
CAG's assessment of loss in allotment of coal blocks is another issue in news. Govt. may take a cue from the report to earn more revenue by competitive auctioning of coal blocks in future.
 News of  the day :"LONDON: Nasa's Curiosity rover has captured a strange white light dancing across the horizon of Mars and four blobs hovering in the sky, which UFO hunters claim are alien ships monitoring humans' baby steps into the universe. 

While the images are certainly a curiosity, Nasa and photography experts insist they are nothing more than blemishes on the images , picked up by the camera lens sitting on the rover. Nasa has not commented on any of sightings. " TOI, dt., 24th August, 2012, on line.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

23rd August

Went for a brisk 40 mins walk covering more than 4 kms. Did pranayam, some asans and exercises too. In chamber from 12.30 to 4pm.
I have served in Assam for over 25 years. I have seen people of Assam, in particular and North-East in general from close quarters. Exodus of the North-East people from rest of India back to their hearths and homes is natural consequence of their simple and credulous nature. They are not crooked. They are straightforward. They live frugally. Their needs are not too many. They enjoy life with whatever they have. It is easy to misguide them. Rumors can make them panicky. Their reaction to go back was the result of their simplicity. As they could be misguided to go, they can be guided to come back. I believe that they will come back soon as they are assured of and come to understand the mischief of vested interests to disturb normal life in the country.

News of the day : "Curiosity took its first test drive around the gravel-strewn Martian terrain Wednesday, preparation for the ultimate road trip to find out if the red planet's environment could have supported life.

The six-wheel NASA rover did not stray far from the spot where it landed more than two weeks ago. It rolled forward about 15 feet, rotated to a right angle and reversed a short distance, leaving tracks in the ancient soil.

Mission managers were ecstatic that the maiden trek of the $2.5 billion mission was glitch-free".The Associated Press.in Google News on line, dt., 23rd August, 2012.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

22nd August

Went for brisk 40 minute walk. Did pranayam, some Asans and exercises. Visited CGHS. In chamber from 12.30 to 4.15 pm.
News of the Day :"What has been fascinating about the Mars Curiosity mission so far has been the way that we have experienced NASA’s mission to the Red Planet not as a singular moment, but as a continuous flow of news, updates, photos, videos and, of course, tweets.While there may have been a single defining moment for Mars Curiosity — the night that we all stayed up late to watch the fateful "seven minutes of terror" — it is more likely that NASA’s fantastically successful mission to Mars will continue to be lived more as an ongoing flow of experiences and insights rather than as a singular moment, frozen in time." The Washington Post, National, dt, 22nd August 2012 on line
Retired to sleep at 10 pm. 

18th to 21st August

On 21rst
Went for brisk walk in the evening due to rain in the morning. Got up very early morning. Did pranayam. Visited camp office of National Population Registration program (NPR). It is said that NPR card will be acceptable as proof of one's identity all over the country. In chamber from 1 to 2.45 pm. Attended a conference in Oberoi hotel from 3 to 4 pm.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.
On 20th 
Completed morning program. Today is Eid holiday. Spent the day reading newspapers, magazine and sorting out personal papers.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 PM.
On 19th 

Completed morning program. Met Subhash and Sunita at Gurgaon. Attended Alaynah's birthday celebration. She received me and Venita with a 'Hello'. Just after few minutes, it appears, she got scared of my slightly heavy voice when I started talking to her. She cried and had to be taken to her mother. She cut the cake in presence of us, maternal grandparents, her parents,  Babloo, Neha, Akshat, Khyati, an Axis Bank officer, a friend of Ritsy. Venita gave a piece of cake to her, followed by me and others. She relishes cake, like any child of her age. During my stay in the house she gave me only  fleeting attention. She was quite happy to play with Akshat. She liked the toys given by Venita and Neha. She carried them wherever she went.She is two today.
 We gave one book each to Khyati and Akshat.While giving 'Encyclopedia on wild life' to Khyati. I told her to go through it. If she can answer the questions in the book at the end of each chapter in due course, a prize of her choice will be given. She said that she would take an Apple Ipad. I said, 'Given'. Later her maternal grandfather told me that he had an Ipad which he could give her. But Ritsy and Silku, her parents, were not at all keen to give it to her. They feel that it will affect her studies. In that case, I will transfer the cost of it to her account after talking to Silku. Ritsy has a flawlessly decorated house After using a toilet of the house, I looked for the hand drawer as if I was in a star hotel. She is a mother of  2 and 10 year  old daughters. She looks after them with love and care. On top of all these she takes pains to keep the house in an absolutely spotless condition. She cares for her parents and  husband equally well. I am really proud of her and bless her for happiness and prosperity. I don't know who takes care of her. I think she takes care of herself  too.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

On 18th
Could not do morning program. Had to leave for the airport at 8.30 am to see off Ruchi and children. Spent some good time with them. I had an interesting conversation with Amolikaa . I told her that i would return her visit  for 3 days and would go there again only  after she came to Delhi. She said that she would come after a year . I said that I would return the visit thereafter .She said that if she did not come whether i would also not come . I said  that I would not come . And I would  then become a forefather in due course (I had shown her all her forefathers in the family tree during her stay at Vikaspuri ) .She said that I could not be a forefather as I was only 73. I noticed that she was upset with the idea of my becoming  a forefather. Noticing it,  I told that i would be a forefather only after attending her marriage.She said that she would  get married  at 25. I said that i would then be 91 year old .She was quite happy to know that  and looked cheerful.   .
Attended a conference in Oberoi hotel .
Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

17th August

Completed pranayam, some asans, some exercises and 40 minute brisk walk.Visited Aurvedic CGHS. In chamber from 1.30 to 3.30 pm.
Pilku told Ruchi, who is leaving for London tomorrow, to carry a 'Sarai' from Vikaspuri. 'Sarai', a big brass pot, is used in Pujas. It is also used for offering pan leaves with betel nuts to the guests in the context of 'Atithi Devo Bhav'. It is an auspicious present. It is primarily used in Assam and is a part of local culture. It has traveled to other parts of the Northeast from Assam.The one, being sent to London, was given to me at Kokrajhar at the time of my farewell on transfer from Goalpara dist. to Guwahati in July 1974.  I was the then SP Goalpara dist with hqrts at Dhubri from 1971 to 74  It is now bifurcated into 4 dists. Kokrajhar was then only a Sub-Division. Now it is a dist. In  area, the then undivided Goalpara  was the biggest dist of Assam . When I joined as SP Goalpara in July/ August 1971, Pilku was less than 3, Silku less than 1 and Babloo was yet  to be born.  He was born in the not- so- well-kept- Civil hospital at Dhubri. There was no other good hospital. The 'Saray' made me reminiscent of the past.

News of the day:"Every now and then, a simple yet radical idea shakes the very foundations of knowledge. The startling discovery that the world was not flat challenged and ultimately changed the way people perceived themselves and their relationships with the world. “If the earth were really round,” it was argued, “Then the people at the bottom would fall off.” For most humans of the 15th century, the notion of Earth as ball of rock was nonsense. The whole of Western natural philosophy is undergoing a sea change again, forced upon us by the experimental findings of quantum theory. At the same time, these findings have increased our doubt and uncertainty about traditional physical explanations of the universe’s genesis and structure.

Biocentrism completes this shift in worldview, turning the planet upside down again with the revolutionary view that life creates the universe instead of the other way around. In this new paradigm, life is not just an accidental byproduct of the laws of physics.

Biocentrism takes the reader on a seemingly improbable but ultimately inescapable journey through a foreign universe—our own—from the viewpoints of an acclaimed biologist and a leading astronomer. Switching perspective from physics to biology unlocks the cages in which Western science has unwittingly managed to confine itself. Biocentrism shatters the reader’s ideas of life, time and space, and even death. At the same time, it releases us from the dull worldview that life is merely the activity of an admixture of carbon and a few other elements; it suggests the exhilarating possibility that life is fundamentally immortal.

Biocentrism awakens in readers a new sense of possibility and is full of so many shocking new perspectives that the reader will never see reality the same way again." Extract is taken from Robert's book on 'Biocentrism' on line in Google news. 
It's basic theory is that it is life which formed the universe and not the other way. Life is immortal. The Vedant also says the same.
Retred to sleep at 10.30 pm

16th August

Completed morning program.In chamber from12.45 to 5 pm. Venita accompanied. She went to look up Ruchi at Patpatgang. Ruchi is sick. She is leaving for London by Emirates on 18th August at 11 am along with her mother and children. Her mother is accompanying her to settle her in the new house. In fact Venita was asked by Pilku to go to London for the same. She could not go due her own sickness and treatment in AIIMS and RMLhospital, Delhi. DDA'S demolition squad demolished some unauthorized structures in the Society.We returned at about 7 pm.

News of the day : "Since its dramatic touchdown on Mars on Aug. 5, Curiosity has been doing an extended "stretch" of sorts -- unfolding its limbs, testing its cameras and sending reassuring notes back to Earth.In the coming days, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge will test the rover's steering actuators. Then Curiosity is to take its first few "steps" -- driving perhaps a few feet before turning around and surveying the spot where it landed." Los Angelas Times, local, dt.16th August, 2012

Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

15th August

Completed pranayam, some asans, exercises  and 45 minute brisk walk. 66th Independence Day was celebrated with flag hoisting, children games etc.Venita  organized food for 150 persons  on the 6th day of the birth of Shri Krishna. 200 persons took food. Ruchi could not go today. No seats were available in any airlines. She is booked to go back now on 20th along with her mother. She developed fever.

News of the day:"NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, has announced that it has completed "brain transplant" on Mars rover Curiosity.
As its main and backup computers have been successfully upgraded with new software after a four-day effort, Curiosity is now a big step closer to begin its mission of finding out whether life has ever existed on Mars, according to the JPL.
Curiosity has been on the  surface of Mars for over a week now since it successfully touched down Aug 5, reported Xinhua."  TOI, dt. 15th August 2012 on line.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

14th aUGUST

Completed 40 minute brisk walk. Met Pravesh. In chamber from 1.15 to 3.45 pm.

 The Institute of Social Sciences  organized a talk by Dr. Mark Jeurgensmeyer, Professor of Sociology, Global and International Studies and Director,  Orfalea Center at University of California, Santa Barbara on  “One Year Later, Whither the Arab Spring”   at 3.30 pm today. Attended it. After the talk interaction with him continued up to 5 pm. His thesis is that "religion has returned to public sphere with a global vengeance and with a global moral critique."

"Prof. Jeurgensmeyer is the author of dozens of widely-acclaimed books including - Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State, from Christian Militia to Al Qaeda.; Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence;  Gandhi's Way: A Handbook of Conflict Resolution; The New Cold War? Religious Nationalism Confronts the Secular State and God and War: Imagined Enemies and Global Struggle.

The News of f the Day."The Indian myna bird which was introduced in Australia in 1862 to control insects in Melbourne's market garden is now posing a threat to some of the signature species of the country, a new study has claimed. 
Researchers from Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and Australian National Universityfound that the myna bird in Australia is threatening native species including laughing kookaburra, crimson rosella and sulphur-crested cockatoo,'The Age' reported. 
These species have reduced in numbers as they can not compete with the aggressive nature of common myna bird for nesting sites and food, researchers believe.
The myna is a bird of the starling family (Sturnidae) and occurs naturally only in southern and eastern Asia, especially in North India" The Economic Times, dt.,14th August  2012 on line.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm

12th & 13th August

On 12 & 13th
Completed 50 minute brisk walk.

 The three daughters-in-law, Ruchi, Ritsy and Neha with grand children, Khyati, Abhishree, Amolikaa and Akshat attended Mishti's wedding  ceremonies  along with us. Only Pilku could not come. The youngest member of the family, Alaynah, was too young to come. It was a gala day for the children. Even before the couple to wed sat on the beautiful sofa,they had rolled over and  did Punji jumping on it.   About five hundred guests including relations joined in the dinner.  Snacks were good. On arrival of Barat, the Mamas , Phuphas, Chachas, Jijas etc. of the bride's side had to receive and hug  the counterparts  on the bridegroom's side.The snaps were taken while we hugged each other. I was called upon to hug the first Phupa. Subhash and Pramod followed. Coincidently, both sides had three Phupas . We got one each to hug.The bridegroom came on a white horse.It was not under good control. 'The Jaymal' was done on a beautifully lit and decked platform. Silku left at about 10.30 pm. I followed later. Venita, Ruchi, Neha and children stayed for the 'Saptapadi'. It all ended at 2 am. Abhishree, Amolikaa, Akshat and other children continued playing till then.They got a full hall to run about.  Neha informed in a mail. She wrote " Had a blast in the wedding. Udi was refusing to come back to the room after 2 am also. "

News of the Day : "With a little British pomp and a lot of British pop, London brought the curtain down on a glorious Olympic Games on Sunday in a spectacular, technicolor pageant of landmarks, lightshows and lots of fun.The closing ceremony offered a sensory blast including rock ‘n’ roll rickshaws, dustbin percussionists, an exploding yellow car and a marching band in red tunics and bearskin hats.While the games may have lacked some of the drama and grandeur of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, there were many unforgettable moments.Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt became an Olympic legend by repeating as champion in both the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints. Michael Phelps ended his long career as the most decorated Olympian in history." The Hindu, dt., 13th August,2012 on line.

Retired to sleep at o1.30 am.

On 13th
Went for 50 minute brisk walk. Venita returned at 2 pm. In chamber from 3 to 5 pm.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm

11th August

Completed morning program.
Attended cocktails on the eve of Mishti's marriage in Greater Noida . Met the relations.Ruchi danced to the tune of 'Jai ho' along with Abhishree. Both of them danced quite well. Others also danced. It looked as if they had practiced a lot. Mishti looked a big girl all of a sudden. Her husband  looked quite handsome.The saga of dance and drinks continued in the Cocktail party. In between there was ring ceremony also. I took Abhishree near the ceremony. I had taken a pint of beer. Venita took me away from the company of all those who were drinking. She made me sit near insipid ladies and gentlemen who ask you " How are you ?  How is everything ?" and that is the end of conversation.They were lost in themselves.I thought over the episode. She does not want me to drink perhaps for two reasons. She does not succeed in arguing with me when i had drinks. I start speaking not- so- palatable truths which may not be liked by some. As it was a  crowd of relations, she did not want them to be offended.We had food at about 10 pm. After dropping the children in the hotel, returned home at about midnight.
Retired to sleep at about 030 hrs. 

10th, 9th and 8th August

On 10th
Went for 45 minute brisk walk. Janmashtami is being celebrated today. We did Puja in the morning along with Ruchi and grandchildren after a gap of quite a few years. We had prasad together. Children did Arti. Later all of them left with Venita to join in  Mishti's Mehndi ceremony in Greater Noida.They will stay in Raddisson hotel for three days to join in her marriage ceremonies. At the time of leaving the house, Abhishri asked me to go with her to Greater Noida. I said that i would join her next day. Ruchi, grandchildren all are loving.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm
On 9th
Completed  45 minute brisk walk. Met Sanjay Sharma of BOCAS and collected passes for entry into the  Departure lounge of the airport to see off the children on 15th. In chamber from 5 to 6.30 pm. Dr. Prasad and family came for dinner. I gave a set of children's books, received from Rashmi, their editor,  to Aditi, granddaughter of Dr. Prasad. She is 7 year old. It is a pleasure to talk to her as it is with Amolikaa, my granddaughter. Amolikaa is 3 months junior to Aditi.
Retired to sleep at 11.30 pm.
On 8th
Completed  45 minute walk. Visited CGHS (Aurvedic). In chamber from 12 to 2 pm. Accompanied children to Subhash Nagar and Westside malls. They played around different games. Enjoyed Punji jumping in particular. Bought clothes and shoes of their choice. Ruchi remarked that Subhashnagar mall compared well with a mall of Central London.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm..

7th August

Completed morning program. 
News of the Day:"After covering a distance of nearly 570 million kms, Curiosity, launched on November 26, 2011, landed at the Red Planet's Gale Crater at about 11am (IST) today. During its two-year mission,Curiosity will explore if the Martian environment can support microbes and will lay the ground for future human exploration."
Ruchi arrived along with grandchildren. Received them at the airport. Dr. Prsasad  came along with Ruchi. Mrs Prasad along with Puja, her kids, also came to receive  them. Before they arrived, I was having Coasta coffee and giving company to Aditi, a seven year old granddaughter of Dr. Prasad, in singing Ganesh Arti. She was reciting it on my request to sing. Perhaps a coffee drop went into my windpipe in the process. It made me restless. Aditi told not to take coffee any more. Her concern touched me. 
Retired to sleep at 11 pm.   

6th August

Completed morning program. In chamber from 1 to 4 pm. 
News of the Day :" 1.Usain Bolt achieved his aim of becoming a sporting legend on Sunday as he scorched to the second-fastest 100 metres ever seen, a superb 9.63 seconds, to become the first man to win back to back Olympic titles on the track" IBN Live, dt. ,6th August 2012
2. "The Mars science rover Curiosity landed on the Martian surface shortly after 10:30pm Pacific time on Sunday (1:30 a.m. EDT Monday/0530 GMT, 11 AM IST ) to begin a two-year mission seeking evidence the Red Planet once hosted ingredients for life, Nasa said." HT, dt.,6th August on line.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.

5th August

Completed 45 minute walk. Spent the day reading news. Ruchi is reaching on Tuesday the7th August, 2012 to attend Mishti's wedding. Sent messages to few friends on the Friendship Day and also rang up Dr. Chetan Kapoor at Fatehpur. Agnihotri rang up and said that he treated me like an elder brother rather than friend.When friendship and brotherhood merge, it becomes a deeper bond.
News of the day : "Nasa plans to follow up a decade-long search for Mars' lost water with a mission to learn whether the Red Planet once harbored other ingredients necessary for life.The astrobiological hunt begins oncethe$2.5 billion Mars Science Lab Rover Curiosity lands itself on the Mars. Touchdown, monitored from mission control at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, is scheduled for 10.31pm on Sunday Pacific time (1.31am EDT /0531 GMT  and 11 am ISTon Monday)." HT, dt. , 5th August  2012.
Retired to sleep at 10.45 pm.

4th August

Completed 45 minute brisk walk. Had a cup of Coasta coffee in Subhashnagar mall. Spent the day reading newspapers and magazine. Wrapped ' The Travelogue ' a 20 page write-up in a gift pack to be given to dear Abhishree & Amolikaa in a small ceremony during their visit to Delhi to attend Mishti's marriage. The ceremony will be anchored by dear Khyati in the hotel Raddisson Blue in Greater Noida.' The Travelogue ' was written by us after our return from London in July 2012.
News of the day :"The rover is headed for a two-year mission to study whether Mars ever had the elements needed for microbial life. Because of its heft, the 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) robot can't land the way previous spacecraft did. They relied on air bags to cushion a bouncy touchdown. This time NASA is testing a brand new landing that involves gingerly setting down the rover similar to the way heavy-lift helicopters lower huge loads at the end of a cable. How hard is it? "The degree of difficulty is above a 10," says Adam Steltzner, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the mission." TOI, dt.4th August, 2012 on line. 
We should watch the landing of the Rover on the Mars on sunday.
Retired to sleep at 11 pm.

3rd August

Went for 50 minute brisk walk. Venita underwent a procedure in the Center for Sight in her right eye. In chamber from 12 to 3 pm.
 News of the Day :"A dust storm on Mars and a minor wobble in the spacecraft's trajectory have given scientists something to think about, but leaders of NASA's Curiosity mission said Thursday that they are on track for a Sunday landing — the delivery of the largest and most ambitious machine ever sent to another planet
Curiosity, a roving lab that will scour Mars for the ingredients of life, is scheduled to land at 10:31 PDT Sunday in an ancient geological feature known as the Gale Crater. It is a complex operation. At 1,982 pounds, Curiosity is five times heavier than previous Mars rovers. Its landing requires a dizzying sequence of pyrotechnics and on-the-fly adjustment, all done automatically because Mars is 154 million miles distant, too far for the swift communication needed to guide the landing from Earth." Los Angeles  Times: Local  on line today. 
Jug Suraiya in a write-up in TOI of date in the editorial page, captioned ' Singing in the rain' Why the grass is greener on the other side,  says : " We look hither and yon, and pine for what we've not/Our deepest longings are never for what we've got." He says he has paraphrased the poet.
Retired to sleep at 10.30 pm.

2nd August

Completed morning program. After bath, put on the rakhis sent by the sisters. Visited Subhashnagar Mall for a cup of Coasta coffee. Venita bought some clothes for Alanyah. Her birthday falls on 19th August .
Retired to sleeo at 11 pm. 

1rst August

Completed 45 minute brisk walk. Visited SBI. In chamber from 1.30 to 4 pm.
News of the day :"NASA’s Curiosity rover will land on the Martian surface at 0531 GMT Aug 6 and the landing process will be broadcast live from the New York City." First Post, dt. , 1rst August 2012 on line.
Retired to sleep at 10 pm.