‘Mom, your sweet son in law is there?’
‘Yes, he is hiding behind me. I’m sure that he did some minor mischief and came here to escape from your punishment’
‘Minor of course! Mom, you know what he did? He scratched my back when we were shopping in the Chettiar shop’
‘Top or bottom back?’
‘Behind neck’
‘It is OK, Ammalu. He has just returned from USA and would have been tempted by seeing hubbies and honeys mutually scratching backs , in public places, out of love’
‘Mom, you saying this? I’m sure that SP would have brainwashed you. Is he still hiding behind your back?’
‘ I have given him a small work. When he pleaded that I should protect him from your wrath, I asked him to milk our cow and he happily agreed. My milkman is absent today’
‘Will your milkman come tomorrow, mom?’
‘He may not’
‘Then, I will let SP to scratch my back tomorrow also’
‘Thank you, only top back’
‘Of course, only top back’
Category: A12– Everything under the Sun
-
Music flows on ; it never dies
In the predawn hours
When the world sleeps,
The sleep has pushed me aside
Like a baby who doesn’t like her toy
That doesn’t give her joy,
I think about you, who flew away
Leaving me alone ,
Like a baby who throws away her toy
That doesn’t give her joy.
I could read volumes in your silence,
As I do now from the winter sky
When moon shines, yes, that shine you had
In your face, in your life, a silent shine
Which did brighten all my dark, but now
You are gone leaving me in dark
Like a tree that has shed its bark,
But tree stays, trees are kind
But how do I call you unkind?
In vain, I look at the path I walked through,
Whether you are hiding somewhere in the bush
Like a deer deserted by its mother, by it’s herd.
Herd can desert a baby but how its mother?
Mother is kindness and Kindness was like a music in you,
That could be only felt, not seen,
When absorbed by my hard bones,
And so was love, like a music in you,
That could be only felt, not seen,
When absorbed by my inner cells.
I do hear that music now, when you are away.
Who said you are away, and how can you be away,
As you are always within me?
Then and now, like my bones and cells.
Oh, that is why I hear the music
Always, deep from my inside.
You turned me to music
Music only flows, never dies
Yes, music only flows, never dies! -
Toned up body and mind make life most enjoyable
Feel fresh, elevated in body and mind. The Global Energizer is the cause. The Sun has been bright since two days. Day temperature around 80 degF. Went for a walk around the colony after a long time. Removed even jacket. To be with a T shirt is like being in a lungi in our place. So free. The body wrapped with layers of cloth is a burden. Mind packed with all sorts of thoughts is a curse.
Sharath takes me to gym on alternate evenings. In the gym, watching scores of young and old, men and women, working out on different instruments, make me younger.
Megh takes me to the clinic everyday. Only old people are seen there, as patients. When I see old couple, the weak partner supporting the weaker one, I feel sad. They all come neatly dressed up, though their inner parts of the husband or wife might be getting eroded every minute. The hospital staff, right from the doctors, keep smiling, talk sweetly, though what they see around is not that sweet at all. They are extremely kind to the patients. You can ask any question, they will answer happily. My Oncologist is a handsome guy, smiling liberally. The auxiliary staff too are cheerful, cheering the patients. Hospitals and clinics teach us one thing. Old age is indispensable. Sickness is a part of it. This is not a big discovery. But, when I see the sick and sagging right before my eyes every day, I realize the well known fact as a new lesson.
I have a friend, through my daughter, in Florida. That girl is from Andhra, a nephrologist. ‘How did you land here?’ I asked.
‘Demand, uncle,’ she said. ‘Old people are more here’
Old kidneys, like old hearts and other organs, need better attention, which means more physicians. In fact, in Florida, there is a township exclusively for oldies, called, ‘The Villages’ Only retirees are allowed there. A vast area with hospital facilities, swimming pools, tennis and golf courts . Some book homes there, much before they become old. They know that they will, one day become old. All of us should know that. But, many realuze only when they land on that dry land!
At Habsiguda club, we have a tennis court, gym and swimming pool, both maintained well. There should be such facilities in every colony. If facilities are provided, people will use. People have to use, if they have to remain fit.
Physical fitness is equally important as mental fitness. In, India fortunately, the awareness has come. I have see. several people, young and old, going for morning walk. In Kerala, for temple goers, no other exercise is required. Early morning, both men and women, after a cold water bath, wearing neat clothes, visit temples . Three pradakshinams tone up the body while the morning worship rejuvenates their mind.
Toned up body and mind makes life enjoyable. -
Althara, platform bases of peepul or other trees
I miss in USA Aalthara or platform bases of peepul or other big trees, we see in temple premises, street corners or pond banks in Kerala . It is not that we don’t have big trees here; we have plenty . But the culture of worshiping trees and giving prominence, is not here. Althara is basically our cultural heritage, not West’s. You will realize their importance only when you miss those.
Seated on the safe and secluded althara, in many places, I have waited for buses, enjoying the cool wind and shade provided and have silently worshipped, with head -bow the idols of Ganapathy or Nagadevada installed there, while passing through. I have composed a Malayalam folk song, Standing before the idol under the tree opposite to Sreekanteswaram temple by my wife’s house.
The Ganapathy at the peepul tree base is my Lord,
The Ganapthy at the peepul tree base is my Way.
‘ Arasum moodu Ganapathy mama pathy
Arasum moodu Ganapathy mama gathi’
I have participated in the pooja performed at the tree base near Perinkulam pond, on the concluding day of the car festival in our village. I have sat and dreamed alone and at times with my friends below the huge tree on the bank of the Kalpthy River behind the Chathapuram temple in Kalpathy. That lovely river bank and tree base from where I get a good view of the Western Ghats was the soil where my story, ‘Kamu, my childhood friend’
Grew.
The aaltharas in our country used to provide an excellent meeting ground for people, to sit under, relax, discuss issues and debate. In the olden days great religious debates and classes used to take place under the tree bases. The picture of the SatchidAnanda roopa Dakshinamoorthy facing his disciples, much younger to him in age and conveying great spiritual thatwams, silently, is a familiar imaginative sight for Sanskritham lovers.
चिद्घनाय महेशाय वटमूलनिवासिने ।
सच्चिदानन्दरूपाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः ॥६॥
Cid-Ghanaaya Mahe[aa-Ii]shaaya Vatta-Muula-Nivaasine |
Sac-Cid-Aananda-Ruupaaya Dakssinnaamuurtaye Namah
चित्रं वटतरोर्मूले वृद्धाः शिष्या गुरुर्युवा ।
गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तुच्छिन्नसंशयाः ॥३
It is indeed chitram- strange to see the aged disciples seated
At the root of a banyan tree, in front of an young Guru, who is silent and that silence is his exposition of the supreme knowledge. That automatically dispels all the doubts from the minds of the disciples.
Pages and pages have been written to explain each sloka of the Dakshinamoorthy stothram by great scholars still much more remain to be said. Sankaracharya’s every hymn has inexplainable beauty and enduring essence of devotion and spiritual guidance. But, Dakshinamoorthy Ashtakam stands high and above .
The people of villages used to assemble on aalthara, discuss and decide important decisions concerning common good, under a Village elder. Collector, Thasildars, police officials etc on their transfer to a particular zone used to visit the village head first and take him into confidence.
As a social and cultural center, altharas had much importance. It served as an open theater and thanks to the divinity label attached to the aal tree, the base was kept clean. None spat chewed tobacco juice over there!
And the elevated Peetam or base itself, gives the tree and premises a status. An elevated place has a dignity of its own.
My father gave a few suggestions when I told him about my plan to construct a house:
1. Elevate the base, at least three feet above the ground level, build steps to clump up, but provide a side entry on the ground level for old people like me, which is possible as I have seen the area of your construction.
2. Provide high ceiling. When you enter your house, you should look up.
3. Provide for cross ventilation, plenty of fresh air should come in.
4. You house is facing East. Provide a ventilator above the front door so that the morning sun rays enters your hall.
The morning sun rays reaches my pooja room through the top ventilator now.
5 . Living room should be big. You should have the feeling that you are big. Others who enter your house too should have the same feeling, not only about you but about them too.
I did construct the house as per my father’s direction but we were not lucky. He didn’t live there. But I have a satisfaction that he visited my house after the construction and remarked seeing the two big halls:
‘Besh, Konthai. At a time you can feed 80/100 people.
The people of old days thought always about feeding others. That is how, today, we are not suffering for want of food and water.
Now, for the Malayalam literates, a folk song :
Aalaayal Thara venum- that is how it starts. If there is a peepul tree, it should have a base.
I add :
Yes, if there is a man, he should have a woman. That elevates his status, gives him respects and people will enjoy his hospitality and no body will venture to spit chewed tobacco juice..😄😄😄
ആലായാൽ തറ വേണം അടുത്തോരമ്പലം വേണം
ആലിന്നു ചേർന്നൊരു കുളവും വേണം (ആലായാൽ)
കുളിപ്പാനായ് കുളം വേണം കുളത്തിൽ ചെന്താമര വേണം
കുളിച്ചു ചെന്നകം പൂകാൻ ചന്ദനം വേണം (കുളിപ്പാനായ്)
(ആലായാൽ)
പൂവായാൽ മണം വേണം പൂമാനായാൽ ഗുണം വേണം (2)
പൂമാനിനിമാർകളായാലടക്കം വേണം (പൂവായാൽ)
നാടായാൽ നൃപൻ വേണം അരികിൽ മന്ത്രിമാർ വേണം (2)
നാടിന്നു ഗുണമുള്ള പ്രജകൾ വേണം (നാടായാൽ)
(ആലായാൽ)
യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ രാമൻ നല്ലൂ കുലത്തിങ്കൽ സീത നല്ലൂ (2)
ഊണുറക്കമുപേക്ഷിപ്പാൻ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ നല്ലൂ (യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ)
പടയ്ക്കു ഭരതൻ നല്ലൂ പറവാൻ പൈങ്കിളി നല്ലൂ (2)
പറക്കുന്ന പക്ഷികളിൽ ഗരുഢൻ നല്ലൂ (യുദ്ധത്തിങ്കൽ)
(ആലായാൽ)
മങ്ങാട്ടച്ചനു ഞായം നല്ലൂ മംഗല്യത്തിനു സ്വർണ്ണേ നല്ലൂ (2)
മങ്ങാതിരിപ്പാൻ നിലവിളക്കു നല്ലൂ (മങ്ങാട്ടച്ചനു)
പാലിയത്തച്ചനുപായം നല്ലൂ പാലിൽ പഞ്ചസാര നല്ലൂ (2)
പാരാതിരിപ്പാൻ ചില പദവി നല്ലൂ
Enjoy the Altharas in your place. -
You take everything and enjoy
‘Ammalu, this house belongs to me. The furniture, vessels, the cow in the shed, her calf, all belong to me’
‘Only the cow belong to you and the calf belongs to the cow, just as our children belong to me’
‘Wah! Our children belong to you! You created them by waving your peacock feather bunch! I’m nowhere in the picture!’
‘You too belongs to me. As you belong to me, everything in this house including the calf, belong to me. But the cow belongs to you’
‘Just now you said that the calf belongs to the cow!’
‘That was a minute ago. Hearing your absurd argument, the cow wants me to take charge of her calf too.
‘Who knows tomorrow, her dad too won’t become ambitious like SP and claim her?’ Asks the cow. Cows have foresight, you see’
‘Are you fooling me, old lady? Ha, ha! Cows have foresight, cows talk ! Yes, they talk stupid things’
‘Quite possible. The cow belongs to you’
‘Stop this nonsense Ammalu. In this house nothing belongs to me. Ok? Everything belongs to you. You take everything and enjoy. I’m leaving’
‘Cow?’
‘Vow! Vow! Vow!. Bye. I’m going . Close the gate’ -
Ammalu is always right
‘Let us talk business Ammalu. One day or other, we should do it’
‘What is there to talk about business? You could not successfully run even a kadukkaipodi shop for which there is a lot of demand’
‘Ammalu, by business I meant about our relationship’
‘What is there to talk about our relationship? You get your breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner and in between some snacks and drinks, even without your asking for’
‘It is not about that. Marriage life is not eating alone’
‘Then what else, at our age ?’
‘I feel shy to talk about it, Ammalu’
‘Ok . I will talk business. Your grass mat is spread on the veranda. It is very warm inside. Please go and sleep well.
Sweet dreams!’
——————————————–
In your club meeting, it seems you boasted,’that every time my husband looks at other women ( and he does it often) he likes me more’. Does your awareness tell you that you are a Rambha or an Urvashi?’
‘You got it all wrong, as usual, SP. It was my mom who told me, that too long, long ago, on the day I was leaving my home with you,
‘Ammalu, every time your husband looks at other women and he will do it often, he should like you more, not because you are a Rambha or an Urvashi, but due to fear of your look when you return home’
————————————
Ammalu, this girl Gomathy is very funny. She says, had I happened to be her husband, on the fifth day after our wedding she would have jumped into the Kalpathy River’
‘That girl at 70 + is funny indeed. Didn’t you ask her why waiting for five days?’
‘Wouldn’t have I? I did ask’
‘What was that 70+ girl’s reply?’
‘Four days, to go around the town to alert every girl in the twenty miles area around, not to become a victim like her, if someone tried to brain wash to agree to marry me’
‘I was then living beyond twenty miles from her’
———————————
Ladies , generally, have a good opinion about me. What you say, Ammalu?’
‘Yes. They have’
‘How do you know?
‘They tell me, whenever they meet me. And we meet quite often’
‘But, you and your old mom don’t think high about me?’
‘This is the reason- we both know your ins and outs . Others know only your ‘outs’, what goes out from your mouth’
——————————–
-
On comforts and comforters
I heard the word ‘comforter’ in connection with beds only after coming to USA. We, in India use bed sheets, bed covers and blankets too during the cold season. I have already two ‘comforters’ including an electrical one which can be connected to a power supply for use in extra chill nights. So, I questioned my son why he bought another comforter. In his usual style of using words sparingly, he said, ‘you will like it, dad’
Yes, I really liked it, on the very first night itself. It was very soft but at the same time sufficiently warm to protect me from cold. The blanket, I used during childhood , was rough, thick and heavy. Then comparatively light weight blankets arrived in shops but thinnest blanket I ever used were from America. But those are not called blankets, but comforters!’
The word comforter has originated from comfort. Many things which give us comfort need not be comfortable to others.
I don’t snore but snoring gives us comforts. Yawning gives us comfort which I do at times, especially while sleeping after a day of hard working. Flatulation or burping the accumulated intestinal gas with or without sound gives comfort to the doer and discomfort to others, like snoring and yawning.
‘Are you comfortable with the new sofa or new job?’ You can ask your friend.
But, you can’t ask, ‘are you comfortable with your new wife/ husband?’
‘Why don’t you come to the first bench?’ I invited a friend , who had come for a meeting, where I was the main speaker.
‘Thank you,’ he replied, ‘ I’m comfortable here’
‘For smoking?’
‘No. I have a habit of releasing excess gas with a heavy sound, when you start talking,’ replied the shameless fellow. -
Govindan and Nachimuthu
Govindan and Nachimuthu were my classmates in the fifth standard in Olavakkode Padathu elementary school. Govindan was hotelier Krishnan Nair’s son and Nachimuthu’s father was a scavenger in the railway station of our town. They were best friends. Govindan was tall and fair skinned and Nachi equally tall but dark complexioned. Nachi used to come to school extremely well dressed and with neatly combed hair, every day. None of others bothered about hair or wear, excluding a few girls. Nachi’s parents, probably, in their anxiety that their son should not feel social inferiority, spent extra money and time to dress him up well.
The school was in the middle of lush green paddy fields and hence the name ‘Padathu’. From the main road, there was a foot path to approach the school, crisscrossed by farmers their animals and at times even snakes . It gave us immense joy to cross the paddy fields especially during the seasons of seed sowing to harvesting when groups of men and women would be working on the fields, to our right and left. Watching life evolving from the stage of seedlings to fully grown plants, carrying heavy loads of yield, ready to be harvested was a unique experience.
During one lunch interval, Govindan made a comment deridingly about his friend’s dress, in a casual manner, which Nachi could not take sportively. He gave his friend a strong punch pushing Govindan flat on the ground.
We all laughed. Govindan got offended.
‘Eda, panni – you, pig,’ yelled Govi, regaining his standing position and thrashed his friend.
‘Eda, madaya, you, fool,’ screamed Nachi and kicked Govi.
Both the boys rolled and rolled on the ground till the bell for reassembling rang. Then, they both stopped fighting and got up, shirking off the mud from their clothes.
Govindan walked ahead a few yards towards the classroom, then returned. He looked at Nachi’s dress sympathetically and noticed some mud still sticking to the shirt. He removed that, by his little hands, looked down and cleared the dust on the nicker too. When he extended his hands to clear some grass blades hanging from Nachi’s head, he said, ‘jnaan nearae akkikkolam-nee nadanno- I will make it alright, you don’t worry’
( Picture from the net )