Summer Storm

I was having a peaceful post lunch siesta when I heard a distant rumbling and this is what I saw when I looked out of the window. Sun shining on the tree tops near my house and dark clouds above the nearby hillock. 

By the time I took the picture from the window and went to the balcony  half the sky was dark

It was already getting darker and few drops had started falling when I went on to the terrace.

In a minute it got very dark and the birds were getting disoriented. There was lot of lightning and thunder and I wanted to get a picture of the lightning. But I was barefoot and it was like standing on a frying pan on the terrace. I rushed down.

It was pouring the next minute but it lasted just a minute. 

The rain wet the ground, increased humidity and the power supply got cut for an hour because some where a branch fell on a line because of the wind.

That was all the benefit we got from the summer storm which made a big noise, blew a lot of wind, created lot of excitement and petered away just as fast.

I hope the Modi tsunami does not turn out to be a summer storm! 

'Raayara Mahime'

I recently wrote a small article in Kannada (avaravara bhaavakke avaravara bhakutige) based on a personal experience and posted it on my blog, maatu-kate for my kins to read. The kins who read the piece seemed to have concentrated more between the lines and seemed to have detected ‘Rayara mahime’ (greatness/miracle of ‘Raayaru’) in the article which I am sure was not there when I wrote it. That certainly must have been ‘Rayara Mahime’!

Since I found considerable enthusiasm amongst them in discussing ‘Rayara Mahime’, I thought that I would make it the subject matter in this piece and provide more food for their thoughts. And so, here I am.

Disclaimer : I am only the narrator of this ‘Ghatane’ (Incident) as told to me by Anni (we called our father ‘Anni’) and do not vouch for the veracity of the incident. (And I do not think Anni made it up just to pull my legs.)

Before I proceed, for those who may need some basic information:  Raghavendra Teertharu or Raghavendra SwamigaLu  or ‘Raayaru’ as he is popularly known as, lived between 1595 - 1671, and was called Venkanna before he accepted ‘Sanyasa’(renouncing of the worldly affairs).  He is said to have refused Sanyasa as he was married and it would not be fair to his wife and child. He is supposed to have relented after goddess Sharadadevi appeared in his dream and asked him to be a ‘Sanyasi’ and provide spiritual guidance for the  betterment of this world. He was initiated into ‘Sanyasa’ by his guru Sri Sudheendra teertha and was named Sri ‘Raghavendra teertha’. After the time of Sri Sudheendra teertha he assumed the leadership of the Matha  (an organization meant for spreading spiritual knowledge)  which later became popular as ‘Raghavendra Matha’. He effectively undertook the task of spreading the Dwaita philosophy (Of Madhwacharya), was a great scholar, author and musician. He chose Mantralayam, a village near Adoni in Andhra Pradesh as the place for his Matha and Brindavana. (The final resting place or a sacred tomb for the Pontiff or the head of a Matha).

Raayaru is said to have entered the Brindavana alive in 1671 and while doing so, said to have mentioned that he would continue to be alive in his physical form inside the Brindavana for the next 300 years and then in a subtle form for another 400years. The day he entered the Brindavana is the day of his ‘Aradhane’(special worship) and in this context the 300^th Aradhane held during 1971 assumes significance.

‘Raayara Aradhane’ is a big day in any Raayara Matha (subsidiary or a franchise of the Matha in Mantralayam - hundreds of them all over India) and more so in Mantralayam.  Lakhs of people visit Mantralayam during Aaradhane which falls in Shravanamasa of the Hindu calendar, usually July - August, during rains. There was great excitement and enthusiasm amongst the devotees during the 300^th Aaradhane, a very huge crowd was expected to visit Mantralayam and suitable arrangements were made. I must have been in 10^th standard during the time and remember having read/heard about it.

Mantralayam in 1971 was not what one sees today. The infrastructure was limited and communication, poor. I believe many temporary shelters had been erected to accommodate the large number of devotees and the overflow was expected to accommodate itself on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, which flows close to the Matha. Since the Aradhane is performed over three days, people were staying  overnight and a large area around the Matha had to be illuminated. One of Anni’s relatives, a prominent devotee of Raayaru and an electrical contractor, had taken the task of lighting up the area.

I understand that arrangements had been made expecting a big crowd but by the afternoon on the first day of ‘Aaradhane’ it was evident that the organizers had underestimated Raayaru’s influence on people. Rather, people’s faith in ‘Raayaru’. The arrivals were already double of what was expected and the second day being the most significant, it was going to increase further. The organizers tried to do their best and Anni received a frantic message from his relative, the electrical contractor, to get there by next morning (second day) with as much of wiring, fittings and tubes as possible. (For those who do not know Anni, he was employed with a dealer of electrical goods and was capable of organizing the material at short notice.)

Anni left for Mantralayam by evening carrying the goods and a bag containing a towel and a dhoti for himself. (Anni always travelled light. If he was going to any other place, he would have added a shirt to his personal luggage but he felt that there was no need for a shirt in Mantralayam as one does not wear shirts in a Matha.)

He arrived in Mantralayam the next morning much to the relief of his relative and immediately got involved in the task of installing the lights all the way up to the river. He was so much involved in his work that he did not have the time to stand in the long line to enter the Matha and offer his respects to Raayaru nor he had time for his lunch. He finished the task by late afternoon and was terribly tired and hungry. It is customary that those who visit a Matha for Aaradhane have their lunch there but it was long past lunch time and so Anni went to the river for a bath and was hoping to be able to just enter the Matha for ‘Darshana’ (traditional viewing of the idol) before trying to find something to eat in one of the small eateries in Mantralayam town.  He came to the Matha and was surprised to find that there were a large number of people who were yet to have their lunch and that the food was still being cooked. 

I understand that due to the unexpectedly large crowd, the food grains stocked for Aaradhane was inadequate and the food prepared for lunch was exhausted by the time half the people had eaten. The organizers were desperately trying to procure more grains but Mantralayam being a very small place there was not much hope. The prospect of thousands of devotees going without 'Prasada' (food served to devotees after the traditional offerings to the lord and Raayaru) was looming large when a truck carrying a load of food grains had arrived - a contribution to the Aaradhane from one of the big traders in Andhra and the food was being cooked with renewed enthusiasm. People waited patiently. Since there was time for lunch, Anni stood in the line for Darshana.

By then the arrangements for lunch began. ‘Patravalis’ (plates made by stitching leaves together) were spread on the ground in the tents erected for the purpose and people rushed there and sat waiting for the lunch to be served. So did Anni. ‘There is no god greater than the stomach god’ (ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ದೇವರಿಗಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡ ದೇವರಿಲ್ಲ ) goes a Kannada saying. There was a mild drizzle outside. Just as the food was brought out to be served, the mild drizzle turned to a torrential downpour and water started flowing on the ground carrying with it the patravalis. Traditional serving was abandoned and people were asked to pick up their ‘plates’ and stand up to receive the food. 

Most of the patravalis (which were also in short supply), had been washed off and there were many without a ‘plate’ to hold their food. People stood cupping their hands together to receive the food and crowded around those who were serving. The situation was getting chaotic. The food that was poured into the hands was freshly cooked and hot and people had to juggle it in their hands, to prevent burning their hands. Then they had to eat it fast without burning their mouths and ask for the next serving. But nobody complained. They felt lucky and happy that they received the ‘Prasad’of the 300th 'Aaradhane'. 

Anni had no intentions of fighting through the crowd to get his 'Prasada' and so, while the concentration was on the ‘Prasada’ he went for the 'Darshana', offered his respects to Raayaru but decided to cut short his visit and return to Bangalore the same night. The bus stand was a little away from the Matha and there was still time for the bus. So Anni decided to spend time on the river bank  and  go to the bus stand in time for the bus, eat whatever was available in the local eateries and catch a bus. He went to the river, away from the crowd, and sat on a rock contemplating on the recent happenings.

He was sitting there lost in his thoughts when he heard a voice “Son, take this. You must be hungry”.  (ಹಿಡಿ ಮಗು, ಹಸಿವಾಗಿರಬೇಕು ನಿನಗೆ.) He opened his eyes to find an old man standing in front of him with a container in hand. As if by reflex, Anni cupped both his hands together and held them out and the old man poured some ‘HuLiyanna’ (rice mixed with vegetable curry) from the container into his hands. Anni was very hungry and he began eating eagerly without even thanking the old man. It did not take long to finish what had been put in his hands. Anni looked up holding his hands out for another serving but there was no old man anywhere in sight! And even though Anni had eaten just a few mouthfuls he felt strangely full and contented. He did not want anything more!

Anni found a place to sleep in one of the makeshift tents erected along the river bank, had a sound sleep, participated in the Aaradhane celebrations of the third day, had a memorable lunch in the Matha and returned to Bangalore by the night bus.

This is what he told me. Did a stray old man carrying Huliyanna really come looking for Anni that evening? Who was he? Was Anni so hungry and tired, that he hallucinated? Did he make up a story just to pull my legs? Am I making up a story to pull your legs? I leave the answers to avaravara bhaava, bhakuti and brains. 

Short Story Contest - My View

To,

The Hosts, My Pocket Story, Tell A Tale.com,

Madame,

It was nice of you to think of and organize the short story writing contest, My Pocket Story. I participated in the contest and have enjoyed the process. The conditions and the time slot made the contest interesting. I congratulate Tell A Tale for putting this up.

While I enjoyed the process of writing for the contest I have my reservations regarding certain aspects of the same. First, the extension in timings announced when the time slot was about to end. It is a letdown for those who stuck to the time limit and sent the stories on time. Rules cannot be changed halfway through the game. If at all there was any compulsion, the contest should have been scrapped and a new date, theme and set of words  announced.

Now, about ‘promoting’ my story. According to the instructions I am required to announce the link to the contest on all the social network sites I subscribe to and request my friends to vote for my story. More votes, more chances of winning. It is obvious that those who can reach more friends through these sites get more votes, immaterial  what is written. Now, what is the contest about? Is it about the literary abilities of the writer and the quality of writing or the ability to gather friends who can click ‘like’ on request?

In fact, the organizers should have prohibited writers from canvassing for votes through their social networks. If reader feedback was essential for judging the stories, the visitors to the website should have been requested to go through the stories and rate them. What is being followed now is the viewer vote system of TV channels the intention of which is to increase viewership. I agree that we have to change with times, but not in contests like this if what you are looking at is good literary abilities.

Well, that is what I feel.  Sorry for questioning the hosts instead of being busy garnering votes.

With regards

Raghunandan. 

(I was very happy to note that my concern was addressed by the hosts immediately. their reply is also here).

Thank you for your feedback.

Addressing the 2 issues that you have raised one by one:

1. Changing the timelines mid-way - This was done to accommodate many writers who had registered for the contest but who contacted us saying they were unable to write within the stipulated time period since Saturday was a working day for them. As organizers, we felt that it was our duty to enable all registrants to participate. So instead of questioning why they registered if they had to work, we extended the deadline to include Sunday as well. Since multiple entries were allowed, this would also give time to those who had already sent in their entries to improvise (if they wanted to) or send in another entry. If this caused any inconvenience to you, we sincerely apologize.

2. Promoting the story - Social voting has been included as a fun round to get readers and writers involved in the judging process. The social voting is in no way a screening round, neither contributes a major share to the final score. We have a panel comprising of judges drawn from different age groups and different streams within writing and publishing who will be judging the entries. You can go through their profiles on the website at this link: http://tell-a-tale.com/my-pocket-story-judges-write-up/. 

Additionally, it is only readers on the website who can vote for these entries. E.g. if you share this post on your Facebook wall, and get a 100 likes for it, they will not add to your score. But if your entry gets a 100 likes on the website, that adds to your score.

The final score will be a combined score, with judges' score carrying higher weightage. 

I hope this addresses your concern.

Regards,

-Arunima

Election commission Of India.

Went early to vote this morning as I did not relish the idea of waiting for half an hour in the hot sun to vote for some undeserving fellow. All of them are undeserving but I have to vote for the best of the worst. I did. 

I had reached there by fifteen minutes past seven hoping to be amongst the first few but there were already about twenty five people in the queue. People smarter than me. I stood in the line mentally preparing to be there for at least forty five minutes (Based on my past experience). Pleasant surprise. I did not have to wait for more than fifteen minutes. The line moved very fast, I was done in no time and I came back wondering at the orderly conduct of polling and the efficiency of Election Commission of India.

I had been following the exchanges between the ECI and the West Bengal chief minister for the past few days and had noted the audacious statement of the CM, WB. It was gratifying to read that she had to bow down to the ECI and follow orders.

We hardly have any institutions in our country worth being proud of. I feel ECI is one. A big LIKE from me for our Election commission. 

Reaction to CM's statement 25.03.2014

BJP workers will get priority for government schemes, Says CM. (head line) Navhind Times 25.03.2014

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured party workers that they will be the first to get benefits of government schemes and later on others will be considered without any discrimination. (!!!) (report)

I read the sentence twice to make sure that I am reading it right. I had not read it wrong. Now, either the CM was wrong, or got his wording wrong or the press got it wrong. I hope that it is one of the later two. Because if our CM really meant what he said, he will lose what little respect I still have towards him and BJP will be out of consideration in my voting priorities.

If he means what he said, then it translates to “if you want to be a beneficiary of government schemes then enroll with BJP and be a party worker.”  And after this glaringly discriminatory statement he ridiculously goes on to say “later on others will be considered without any discrimination”.

Every time I see some such statements from our politicians I feel that this is the lowest our politicians can stoop but they always excel themselves and manage to stoop lower than the lowest.

I read till the end hoping to see a disclaimer in small print stating “I have made this statement just to appease the party workers and do not really mean it” but unfortunately there was none.

The Company Of Books.

'The Suitable Boy' joined the Bhagavadgita and the dictionary on my table for eight months. 

‘The Suitable Boy’  By Vikram Seth. 1350 pages.  5,91,552 words. Started - 10^th June 2013, Completed -7^th Feb 2014. (My reading. Not Seth’s writing. I believe he took ten years to write it.) I had borrowed the book from our public library and renewed it eight times during the eight months I took to read it. The longest for a book borrowed from the library. I enjoyed every moment of my reading the book and as months rolled by, I was feeling sad looking at the reducing number of pages on the right. Just as one of the reviews said.  Most of my reading is done in the clinic, while waiting for patients, between patients or when people miss appointments. Anyone missing an appointment is usually an irritation but during the time I was reading ‘The Suitable Boy’, I was looking forward to people missing appointments! I remember my niece Shruti having written about the novel in one of her posts.(nychthemeron.blogspot.com) I do not remember the details but she had analysed it well, appreciated it very much and had strongly recommended it.  I do the same.  

As mentioned above, most of my reading is done in the clinic but I also read during the brief periods between lunch/dinner and nap/sleep.  I usually keep two books. One on my table in the clinic and the other near the swing on which I spend the transition period between the dining table and the bed.  After eating, I read till I feel sleepy. The book slipping from my hands is the indication that it is time to shift to the bedroom.  My wife notices that, pokes me in the side to wake me up  and sends me to bed. Usually it does not take more than ten minutes for this to happen and very often I do not remember what I had read during this period. I end up reading the same parts again and again. Since it was taking very long to finish ‘The suitable boy', I attempted to read it in the clinic as well as on the swing. But the book was very heavy to hold and there was the danger of internal injury if it slipped from my hands and fell on my stomach. So I gave up the idea and it remained on my table for eight months.

'The Week,' best for the weak handed and weak minded.

There are two other books which have stayed there much longer. One is The Bhagavadgita which is doing its fourth year and the other is the dictionary which is almost always there. My association with the Bhagavadgita started when I was in primary school. (Maruti Vidyaalaya, Wilson Garden, Bangalore). Every Friday, the last period, 4.15 PM – 5PM, was meant for mass recital of the Gita. Almost all of us had the first two chapters by heart. Competitions were held and I had even won a prize for reciting ‘The qualities of Sthitapragnya’ (The stable minded).  A stainless steel Tea Spoon! (I keep mentioning it whenever the topic of Bhagavdgita comes up - like Bertie Wooster, who had won some prize in scriptures or some such thing when he was a child).

The qualities of the ‘Sthithapragnya’ (Verses 54 to 72 - Second Chapter - Saankhyayoga) were also part of our morning prayers when I was in National High School. All of us had a ‘Pocket volume’ of the Gita and my copy went into the possession of my father after I finished the school. He had read it end to end, could quote freely from it and had filled the margins of the book entirely with his comments. I never bothered to see what he had written then but would give anything to get that copy and see his comments now. But it has vanished. I have none of my father’s qualities or capabilities but I have kept the Bhagavadgita on my table hoping to read, understand and practice its teachings one day. I expect my genes and my long standing association with the Bhagavadgita to help me out! Whether I read it or not, the very presence of the book on my table seems to have helped my image a lot  and it certainly is worth retaining on the table! 

The dictionary (Pocket oxford dictionary) is not ornamental and I open it every now and then while reading. I get the meaning, continue my reading and forget the word again. There were a lot of words new to me (Ineluctable, Apostasy, Traipse, Crenellations, Quatrain, to mention a few) in ‘The Suitable Boy’. Initially I studiously went through the dictionary whenever I found a new word but since I spent more time reading the dictionary (and many words were absent even in my dictionary) than the novel, I stopped looking for the words if I could vaguely make out what they meant, going by the context. I also need the dictionary while writing since my language is not up to mark. I have to double check to make sure that I am writing what I mean. Shortly I will have to replace the volume that I have on my table as its pages are getting detached one by one. The date of purchase says that I bought it thirty years back. I had paid thirty five rupees then and I think that I have got back every paisa.

The much used dictionary - on top.

There are two more books hidden between the patient cards and X ray films. These books were given to me  by a well meaning friend (to read and return - but he made the mistake of saying that I may keep them as long as I want them) more than a year back. ‘The Lost Art Of Healing’ by the Nobel Prize winning cardiologist Bernard Lown,( Renowned cardiologist, won the Nobel peace prize for his work against nuclear weapons) and ‘Ignited Minds’ By APJ Abdul Kalam.

‘The Lost Art Of Healing’ is a wonderful book. It is a very good read for anyone and I feel it is a must for everyone in health care. Here are some quotes from the preface, which when associated with the title will give an idea what Dr Lown has to say.

 “doctors no longer minister to a distinctive person but concern themselves with fragmented, malfunctioning biological parts. The distressed human being is frequently absent from the transaction.”

“technology has become a sufficient substitute for talking with a patient”

“a doctor who takes a careful history reaches a correct diagnosis in 70% of the cases. This is far more efficient than all the currently available tests and technologies.”

“medicine is the science of uncertainty, the art of probability”

 I intend reading it again. My friend anyway has said that I may keep the book as long as I want it.

 I have read parts of ‘Ignited Minds’. I have lot of regards for its author and his views but the book has not impressed me much. But I intend finishing it.    

For repetitive reading (books that I have read half a dozen times or more) I have DVG, Kailasam, G P Rajaratnam, Beechi, (all of them kannada authors) PGW, James Herriot, Laura Ingalls and Gerald Durrel. These are my all time favourites, whom I do not mind reading another half a dozen times.

I started writing about the Suitable Boy which impressed me a lot (the size deters me from attempting to read it again) and I have reached here. I have no idea how to proceed. I think I should stop.

“A man is known by the company he keeps” goes the popular saying. If a man is known by the company of the books he keeps  I may expect to exhibit a much better version of myself than what I actually am!

A Footwear To Walk With

I had to deposit a cheque in the bank. I stopped in front of the bank but there was no space to park my scooter. I had to go ahead, park the scooter and walk back. My wife said that she would wait near the scooter. I dropped the cheque in the drop box, returned and kicked the starter. “Wait a minute” said my wife “We are right in front of BATA. Let me go in and see if I find something suitable.”

BATA always attracts her. I should have been careful while parking.

“You have at least two dozen pairs at home. Do you really need another?”

“Don’t exaggerate. I certainly do not have more than fifteen. And I can’t use them for walking”

“Can’t use them for walking? What do you use them for?”

“I mean when I go for a walk. All of them are either rain wear, casuals or to be used for occasions. I had only one pair which I was using for my walk and it is torn.”

“Go have a look. I will wait here.”

“Instead of standing here why can’t you come in and help me choose something?” 

I followed her dutifully into the shop.

After going around the shelves labelled  ‘50% discount’ and finding all of them in size ten I joined my wife in the ladies section.

“What are you actually looking for?”

“I told you that I need something comfortable which I can use for walking.”

I went through the shelves and after examining several pairs, I picked out one and handed it to her. “This looks good for me.”

“Looks Ok. But the sole is very hard. I can’t use these for long walks.”

I picked another pair making sure that the sole was soft. She turned it around in her hands. “This does not have a toe ring. I am not at all comfortable with one without a toe ring.”

These two conditions eliminated a major part of the stock. After searching some more I found a pair having soft soles and toe rings.

“How can you call this a lady’s foot wear? It looks so masculine. I said that I want something which suits ME.”

“But this was in ladies section, right here.”

“These shop fellows have no sense. At least you should have.”

“Why don’t you buy a pair of shoes? I think the choice is better there.”

“I have shoes. I am looking for something which I can use as casual wear as well as for a walk. Say, when I go to the temple and then continue for a walk or visit someone and then go on for a walk.”

It was quite complicated but I persevered and managed to find one more pair.

“Can anybody like this pattern? We have been married for thirty years. I do not know when you will understand me. This is  horrible and it is not at all delicate.”

I tried my luck with yet another pair and got “You do not know the difference between delicate and flimsy. This is flimsy, looks like it is made of spaghetti and it won’t last more than two weeks.”

I gave up.

I went round the shop, looked at everything that I would never buy and returned after twenty minutes. She had found a pair. She felt the sole, tugged at the straps, turned it around, examined it minutely, tried it on and asked for a smaller size. Luckily they had a smaller one. She carried the box to the counter to be billed. The fellow manning the counter read the label and was about to type it on his computer when she said “please wait”. She took out the selected pair, looked at them again and asked “Do you have brown in this?”

The fellow must have accepted defeat but before that I was out of the shop and had started the scooter, ready to run. She followed me and sat on the pillion.

“Could you not wait for me? Walking out like that leaving me alone there. You are so impatient. I do not know why I ask you to come with me. Whenever you accompany me I come back empty handed. Now don’t look at me like that. You will sprain your neck. (I had turned my neck trying to look her in the eye) Let us go home.”

And we returned home.