Sampath-Musings

  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:       CHARLIE CHAPLIN   (SIR CHARLES SPENCER CHAPLIN)   (16 April 1889 - 25 December 1977)     Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in London, England, he was an Actor, Comedian, Director, Composer, Screenwriter, Producer, and Editor - a blend of all these put together - in short, a versatile personality. William Claude Dukenfield  said, “Comedy is a serious business - a serious business with only one purpose - to make people laugh.” Charlie Chaplin completely lived up to this quote.   Chaplin had other ideas too about comedy and hassle-laden real life. His own words “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot” summed up the life he lived.   A world-renowned personality, Charlie was more known as one of the greatest comedians ever to take birth, and walk and talk on the earth, especially his peculiar body language which did more comedy than his dialogues. He had uniqu...

  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:   FUNNY FILM WORLD   Undoubtedly, films are the most attractive and fascinating source of entertainment for people from their inception. The film industry had phenomenally grown - in leaps and bounds - into the mammoth size of the present day with incredible, mind-blowing, and staggering technological advancements that one would not have even dreamt of. It is also called Film-land, Show Business, Dream Industry, Silver-Screen, or Big Screen.   ‘ROUNDHAY GARDEN SCENE’, recorded on October 14, 1888, by inventor Louis Le Prince in Roundhay, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England is believed to be the world’s earliest surviving motion-picture film.   At first, only silent films were produced and released. Then came the movie which was also called a picture, motion picture, moving picture, photoplay, or flick (slang). Thereafter, ‘talking pictures’ or ‘talkies’ came to dominate the scene. And, with its logical evolution and gr...

  FROM SAMPATH’ DESK:       FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (Lady with a lamp) ( விளக்கேந்திய   சீமாட்டி -  கைவிளக்கேந்திய   காரிகை ) ( दीपकवाली   महिला ) (12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910)   The President of India, Madam Droupadi Murmu, on 22.6.2023, conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 on 30 nursing professionals at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi for their utmost dedication, unfailing duty, and determined selfless-service to the ailing human community.   Curiosity now arises to know about Florence Nightingale, who was fondly and affectionately called ‘LADY WITH A LAMP’.   She was born to her British parents in Florence, Italy, and was named after her place of birth. Florence Nightingale was a British nurse, social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing - all rolled into one. She was credited with being the foundational philosopher of modern nursing and her...

  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:             SCRAP COLLECTORS, WASTE-PICKERS, RAG-PICKERS, AND  OLD NEWSPAPER WALAS   While having everything new is the general human propensity or craving, what an Old Newspaper/Scrap Collector/Waste Picker ( பழைய பேப்பர்காரர் / குப்பை சேகரிப்பவர் - पुराना अखबारवाला / रद्दीवाला ) is quite the opposite! Yes, he is one who runs after old newspapers, old metal vessels, old glass/plastic items, etc. Though looking odd, that is his compulsion and source to eke out his livelihood. He is an enabler and facilitator of recycling. He can also be called a ‘Recycle Material Collector’.   Obviously, they leave their homes at sunrise and return at sunset after more than a 10-hour hectic working day. One knows not (even they don’t know for that matter) what would be their paltry average daily earning. But, rain or shine, one can hear the yelling of these old material collectors as they cruise along our rods...