An evening to remember

We had a get-together of the veteran Air Force officers and families based in Lucknow. A great evening as always, with the signature josh of the fauji people. A few lines to capture the spirit and camaraderie of the evening.

“A smile, a laugh, a wink, a clink
Loving faces and warm embraces
Endless chatter with friends who matter
Tales of squans and midnight plans.

Memories pop, and glasses are topped.
Old bonds are strong and new ones form
Eyes sparkle, and hearts are aglow
Loud are the laughs and stories flow.

Singing voices and dancing feet
Rejoicing spirits and gracious meet.
Firm are the links of the blue skies
Again and again we renew the ties.”

"Ganjing" the history pages

 I  have been to Hazratganj for shopping, for chat, for meals or for just “Ganjing” a favourite pastime of all Lucknowites. But, last Sunday I went to Hazratganj to explore the hidden stories some lost with time, some lost in plain sight.  As is common in Lucknow every locality here is associated with history…be it the Nawabs, the First war of Independence, the British, and even our freedom struggle. Hazratganj too has a rich past full of historical vibes. The walk was superbly curated by Shri AK Srivastavaji and Shri Pradeep Kapoorji! 

We started from the Laxman Park near the stadium, where stands a memorial to a group of English and Indian soldiers killed by Indian freedom fighters, and the site of the hanging of Raja Jai Lal Singh by the British. One passes this way frequently but never realizes its historical significance. We moved on to the main branch of SBI, which was once an astronomical observatory. Called the Tarowali Kothi, it housed instruments from Greenwich, London, and was one of the best works in astronomy in India around 1841. It fell out of favour under the last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, and was shut down. Later it was also the centre where strategy was being decided under the guidance of Raja Jai Lal Singh. Burnt and destroyed by the British after 1857, it later housed the Bank of Bengal, then Imperial Bank, and in its current avatar, the Main Branch of SBI. From starry heights, to nerve-wracking war games, and now to the grounded reality of money matters, this kothi has seen it all.

We move a few metres ahead to the office of CPMG, the Post Master General. In its original form, this magnificent building was the “ Ainakbaaz kothi,” a name given due to  its opulent interiors of mirrors and glass. 

There was a Kankar kothi nearby, which is now lost. Lucknow has numerous kothis built by the Nawabs, the Rajas, and the Taluqdars. Hazratganj itself is lined on both sides by some imposing kothis starting from Kothi Noor Baksh, which is now the residence of the District Magistrate, all the way to Kothi Hayat Baksh, which is now the Raj Bhawan. 

From the Ainak wali kothi, we crossed the road and walked down to one of the most beautiful monuments, the Sibtainabad Imambara. Maintained beautifully, yet encroached upon, damaged beyond repair this place is an example of how callously we treat our heritage. The imposing gateway now has houses built into it! Unimaginable but unfortunately true. We could see ACs installed in the window of the room in the upper floor 0f the gateway. An address,1 Maqbara gate, and a monument is taken over. We walked in expecting to be shocked by more encroachments, but what we saw was a pleasant surprise. The Imambara is beautiful with green walls, four arched doorways with stained glass panels. It houses the grave of Nawab Amjad Ali Shah, also known as Hazrat, who gave us our ultimate shopping and walking destination. Such a marvel of history and architecture hidden in plain sight amid the hustle bustle of Ganj. Another interesting trivia. At one point the Imambara was also used as a church by the British, before they built their church where Cathedral stands now. 

The historical perspective given to us by Srivastavaji, who, with his map, old photographs, and vast knowledge and passion for the city makes us visualise the place as it was in  days past. I love to close my eyes and see the river meandering visible, from Ganj, Dilkusha gardens, which stretched till Raj Bhawan, the Chaupar stables now Lawrence Terrace, the imposing Cathedral, then only a small church in the design of all churches.

And from the Imambara, Pradeep Kapoorji takes over. This is the anecdotal part of the walk and we are treated to a feast of stories of the glory days of [Mayfair and other places of this elite market.It did break my heart to be standing in front of the staircase, shuttered now, where once we had watched movies like My Fair Lady and BenHur. The British  Council Library on the first floor  has been wound up. We heard about the three Sindhi gentlemen Thadani, Advani and Mansukhani who gave modern Lucknow its best places. Tales of car parking in the centre of the road, Ranjana and Annapoorna, Royal Cafe which was at one point near Halwasiya, the origins of Sahu film hall. So many more. Maybe, we can have a story telling session in the India Coffee House! 

But history was not over yet. We moved to Janpath, another favourite shopping place in Hazratganj. Not a plaque,not a stone, not a board to tell us this was, once upon a time, Begum Kothi, part of the Kaiserbagh [complex. It was also the place of a bloody battle between our freedom fighters of 1858 and the English forces. Some 800 people were martyred, burnt, thrown, and buried in a ditch that surrounded the Kothi. But nothing to commemorate this resistance. 

This walk has been one of surprises, two heartbreaks, awe at a glorious Imambara, and more importantly, an understanding of the history of Lucknow in a correct perspective.  Away from the Nazakat-nafasat-Tehzeeb view of Lucknow, it gave us an understanding of the city, its past and its evolution in a measured manner, and the numerous stories and events that swirl around its roads, ruins, and buildings. 

A special thanks to Aadaab Arz Lucknow for this fascinating event and to co-walkers who made the three hours very lively. 

Jordan Day 2

 Salaam Jordan Day 2:

After watching the setting sun in the Dead Sea ,last night we got up in the morning to see the full moon reflected in the waters and setting in the sea on the West Bank.. The beach was to open at 8.30. We had our breakfast … foul(pronounced fool Jordan's oldest dish) made of fava beans, various types of bread garnished with oregano and tahini, hummus, Babaganoush, and all that we dream of in a Middle Eastern Mediterranean platter.

With cats and the sun and the sea for company, we had a fabulous breakfast and then went ahead for the big event of the trip. A swim, or shall I say a float in the Dead Sea. For anyone planning this trip, I would advise you to wear slippers or sandals with a strap to tie them. The salt around the sea is sharp and cuts through the skin on the sole and feet. I wore slippers and tentatively got into the water. I am just a floater, not a swimmer, but it felt good to lie on my back and just float around. Of course, one of the slippers decided to have a float of its own and I had to retrieve it and had to walk barefoot on the salt deposits for a few seconds but that was enough for a few light bruises. Hence this warning for future travellers. The historical, geological and geographical contexts of the Sea are interesting and worth a read.

After a few minutes of floating, we did the next thing, rubbed black mud from the sea. A large bowl of mud was kept on the beach. With the hope that it would solve a lot of my pigmentation issues and makes me glow, I applied it generously. But we were getting late for the next leg of our journey. So, back to the sea we went to wash it off.

Much of wisdom comes and is given later. As we were walking back to the room, a local tourist told us we should have scraped mud off the bed of the sea and applied it. That is more useful. A heads up to all future visitors to the Dead Sea.

And we were off for the next part of the trip to the Wadi Rum. An interesting trip too.

The Jordan visit

चलो USA चलें,लंदन चलें पेरिस चलें …… छोड़ो हम चले कहीं और ……हम चले Jordan। Jordan जहाँ Dead Sea के किनारे हैं,जहाँ crusaders की लड़ाई की दास्तान हा,जहाँ वादियाँ हैं,बाइबल की कथाओं के ज़मीन है, खोया हुआ एक शहर है और उसके खोने की अनसुलझी पहेली है।

आज पहला दिन है ।दिल्ली से अबू धाबी और वहाँ से अम्मान ।सबकुछ ठीक ठाक चल रहा था।दिल्ली के उड़ान थोड़ी देर से चली पर अबू धाबी की फ्लाइट दौड़ भाग कर मिल गई।सामान भी सही सलामत पहुँच गया।

पर पिक्चर में twist तो तब आया जब हम वीजा लेने पहुंचे।यहाँ बता दें कि Jordan जाने के लिए visa on arrival है और जाने से पहले एक Jordan Pass लेना ज़रूरी है। अम्माँ पहुँच वीसा लेने पहुँचे तो उसने हमारे कोड़े पासपोर्ट को दिल्ह पूँछा आप अमेरिका से हैं,अमेरिका का वीसा है या यूरोप का।सब नहीं नहीं बोल दिया गया तो उसने हमें पुलिस वाले के पास पहुँचा दिया।लगभग एक घंटे मगजमारी के बाद पाँच मिनट में वीसा का ठप्पा लग गया। कुछ और भी माथापच्ची हुई,समय बर्बाद हुआ पर फिर हम रवाना हो गए Dead Sea के लिए ।

अहमद जी हमारा इंतज़ार कर रहे थे।छ लोगों के टीम के लिए एक ट्रैवलर नुमा गाड़ी तैयार थी ।पहले दिन का प्रोग्राम था की शाम को हम Dead Sea में तैरेंगे और बाद में करख जाएँगे ।airport में देरी से कुछ उलट पुलट हो गया और हम सीधे पहुचे Al Karak जहाँ एक पुराना क़िला है । Amman से Al Karak का रास्ता भी गजब सुंदर है| Amman से दक्षिण की ओर कोई डेढ़ घंटे का रास्ता है| Medieval जमाने यानि Crusades के का बना यह castle ईसाइयों और अरब मुस्लिम के बीच हुई जंगों का भागीदार रह चुका है।जहाँ कभी सैनिकों के आने जाने,नाकाबंदी की कहानियां,एक पूरा शहर था इसमें ।चर्च था,कमरे थे,खाने पीने का पूरा इंतज़ाम। अरब राजा के हाथ पड़ा तो मस्जिद है ।castle उस जगह की सबसे ऊँची पहाड़ी पर है और वहाँ से नीचे की घाटी और दूर दूर तक सब दिखाई पड़ता है ।बड़ी strategic जगह है और उस ज़माने में इस क्षेत्र पर अधिकार जमाने के लिए उपयुक्त।

हमें वहाँ गाइड करने के लिए मिला याहया,जो कारक यूनिवर्सिटी में इतिहास पढ़ता है और जिसके पिता ने दिल्ली से MBBS किया और कारक के अस्पताल में डॉक्टर। नमस्ते करते हैं और भारत की आबादी से नाराज़ है ।

उतर कर चल पड़े हम Dead Sea की ओर। यह रास्ता ग़ज़ब का था।हम अब नीचे उतर रहे थे। Dead Sea समंदर के स्तर से नीचे है। दाई ओर थे पहाड़,कोई पेड़ नहीं,भूरे,हवा के थपेड़ों से उन पर नाक नक़्शे सब बने हुए हैं । अहमद ने बताया उस वादी में एक hiking trail भी है जो समंदर तक जाती है ।

कहानी तस्वीरों की ज़बानी!

A birthday note to myself

  I am all of 60 years.

 But no big bang celebrations today.

 I will tiptoe softly and enter the 61st. I will gently ease into the decade of my sixties. 

 I want it to be a low-key entry telling time to be gentle with me.

 I want my heartbeat to be steady and not miss a beat I want the blood in my veins to not scale new heights nor plunge too deep, 

I want the sweetness to be of my smile not of blood sugar. I want my hands to be busy with work, my feet to keep walking, to be awake and keep moving, to sleep the sleep of the dead. 
I want to tiptoe softly into the sixties, dance a waltz, and hum a catchy song. I want my still undyed hair to grey like a diva’s, I want the wrinkles to be those of smiles and the eyes to still hold their sparkle.

 I want to be naughty and wise, I want to be playful and steady,

 I want long treks and short talks.

 I want the comfort of my people and enjoy my own company. 

I want the grass green on both sides and to smile when flowers bloom there or here. 

I want to wake up with a smile on my lips and a spring in my step and there be no wrong side of the bed.

I want a zen space and some hustle bustle. I want the humdrum life and a spike or two of adventure.

I want the silence and I want the noise.
But for now, I want to tiptoe and let time not know that I am sixty today.

Written on my 60th Birthday 30th August 2024

Lost and forlorn

 Home becomes a house 

I went into the empty house today

The four walls and lifeless furniture

They were once home.

The walls echoed our laughter 

The dining table laden with delicious dishes;

The kitchen bubbling with activity 

The floor busy with running feet. 

Home is not the four walls or the 

Beautiful paintings that adorn it; 

Or the carpet that was a favorite with mom 

Or the table and chairs bought with so much haggling and choosing. 

Not even the kitchen and the dainty China tea set 

Look inviting now.

All have memories 

But those who created the memories are not there 

One of the two is no more with us.

And the other so independent, so loving, so strong 

Perforce leaves her home to be dependent.

And the home is just a house 

Plants watered, her birds looked out for her for some days

And then flew to other places.

This home is just a house now.

 20th November 2021

Lost life

 The dreams there are none now

I cannot see ahead

Do not look forward to the next day 

A day struck off my life as night falls. 

Counting them on the calendar

Just bottles inside

Holding all my emotions

Noticing with mask on

And a zip on the lip

I cannot speak my mind

I live a life inside my head

A place where I am laughing

And crying

Shouting

Loving

I am hysterical

Delirious

I jump with joy

I fight

Where I get up in the morning with a smile

A lazy stretch

Look around to see the morning sun in my window Look forward to the day

Sing my favourite song

Hum a tune

Embrace the day.

The dreamer just dreams

And lives shadow lives

With open eyes the dreams vanish

And inside the head a world is vibrant 

And the heart beats to a different song.

Wisdom

Travel times are always the best times

lands of different cultures

Different history,

Different geography

A world so unknown 

every region,every piece of 

The earth

Has a history as old 

As our Planet 

Grandmothers who weave stories

Grandfathers whose faded eyes are 

Clouded with memories

Customs and traditions 

And the music and dance 

From the great great great and 

Many more 

Grandparents 

The once upon a  time, 

 Retelling,

Story times 

The traditions of gathering 

And recounting 

So that  ancient wisdom survives

Struggle stories pass on 

Ancestors live through us 

The past is the present 

In the future 

Each piece of this planet 

Has a tale 

Rich,

Learning from nature 

Being one with her. 

Ancient wisdom

Was taught 

Listening to the winds 

And understanding them 

Watching the sun’s path 

And marking it 

Feeling the farmlands 

With the heart.

The birds,the trees 

The wild and the tamed 

The lion and the snake 

The dark forests and 

Mighty mountains 

When men were part of them and they 

Of the men 

Stories and tales woven around 

Worshipped 

Part of the household.

Worship rituals and divinity 

Habits and daily routine 

Sun worshippers and 

the sacred moon 

Solstices and equinoxes 

The waxing and waning 

The folklore of the earth 

On a tortoise 

Every corner has its interpretations 

And oneness with Nature.

 

Morning peace

 Every morning before dawn 

I wake up to see

The first blush of the day

I feel the  pleasant breeze that brushes

the leaves 

Caressing the birds nests

To awaken them 

I hear the early songs 

Under the

Morning star 

And the pale moon merging in the blue sky

Wisps of clouds float 

Before the mighty sun 

Melts them 

I close my eyes,then look up 

My heart is open to 

the morn’s delights 

My soul is blessed 

With divine rays 

In those silent moments

The universe sends a message 

Of peace and comfort.

I am one with nature and

United with the cosmos. 

 

Spoiler Alerts and end is the beginning

I have started reading a thriller and I turn pages part  skipping,part skimming so that I can reach the end quickly and know whodunit. At home my daughter laughs at me.She tells me not to see a movie backwards or to open a book from the last page."Mom,you are killing your suspense!What remains in the book if you know the killer?" I tell her the book itself remains.The words remain.The skill of the author in weaving the story remains. 

    I cannot savour the words,the plot,the characters.My mind is always focused on what will happen in the end.Who was the murderer,who was the perpetrator of the crime,who married whom? I just cannot wait till the end to find out.Are you also one of this type? Of course I do not start reading the book from the back but do read the first few pages to get to know the plot.

    After that it is a rush to reach the end.Once I come to know the end,I let out a sigh,I feel relaxed,I am patient and I start reading the book again.This time I enjoy each character,each description,I marvel at the beauty of the places,at the wonderful way a scene has been described.I read slowly appreciating the way the plot has been woven,a thread leading to another or I find fault at some loose end.I find a discrepant note and frown.  

    I do not want to have the thought creeping up again and again of what will happen in the end.I want to finish with that doubt and then enjoy the book.The journey is more beautiful than the destination. Haven't we all read and re-read a favourite book hundreds of times? Haven't  we all watched a movie nth times ?We may know the dialogues by heart and can mouth them before even before they are uttered on the screen.But we find the same happiness and pleasure in all those re-reads and all those re-runs as we had in the first time.

    Many a times I have read some reviews of  TV series and it warns me of  spoiler alert.No problem ,say I. I don't mind them at all.For me the pleasure lies in the acting,in the way a character is formed.I am not half thinking of what will happen at the end,nor sitting at the edge of my seat.I feel the end is already fixed and whether I read it now or reach it in the proper sequential manner it will not change.So I opt for knowing it before hand and then reading the book leisurely,enjoying each tiny bit of the author's penmanship. 

    But this is true not only for mystery books,thrillers,Agatha Christie,PD James and the likes.Even when I am reading a romantic novel or a PG Wodehouse or something as predictable as a Mills and Boon,after reading the first few pages I jump to the last page after starting the book,so that I am convinced of the end.Then I come back to where I had left it and continue with the book.In the case of TV series I search and search till I find reviews with spoiler alerts.For movies I do go to the reviews or the Wikipedia and read the plot of the movie,the cast,the story and then sit down to watch it.In case of some movies and serials I am banned from opening my mouth because others in the family want the suspense to continue.So I am gagged when we watch a serial together.

    I wonder if it happens to other people?What would the psychiatrists say about it?That I cannot take pressure?That I do not have nerves?That I am impatient?That I cannot handle the intense suspense?That maybe I cannot handle tough situations? Afraid of the unknown? Sometimes even though I know the end,I keep hoping that by some extra terrestrial miracle,the end might be different.

Despite what everyone says I still love to read the ending of a book,puncture the suspense and then sit back  read and enjoy every nuance of the plot.And yes I so love party spoilers too !

National Simplicity Day 12th July 2020

Talk on National Simplicity Dayatch?v=cbnLF43HyXU

Do you remember the one golden saying that our parents used to repeat often was "Simple living,high Thinking".सादा जीवन उच्च विचार। 

This one single thought,just four words make our life so blessed, so uncomplicated so joyful. Today we celebrate National Simplicity day which  is observed every year on July 12 to honour the life, work and philosophies of Henry David Thoreau. Born on July 12, 1817, Thoreau was an advocate of living a simple life and wrote a number of books around the subject. He was an American philosopher, environmentalist, poet and essayist. He is best known for Walden or Life in the woods, published 1854.The book is an account of a simpler life lived in natural surroundings. He described ways people could tap into themselves and be happier through a less hectic lifestyle. Thoreau was also a  tireless champion of the human spirit against the materialism and conformity that he saw as dominant in American culture in his times.

In Walden he writes and I quote:

"Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail . . . Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion". unquote 

Even after more than 200 years the concept of this simplicity holds true as much as it did in Thoreau's time. Look around us.Do we not find ourselves surrounded,in fact weighed down by so many things which are really just the trimmings to our existence.We value the mobile phone we hold in our hands though it just a means of communicating. Our communications have become minimal but the means  have become disproportionately important. Our houses have all fancy gadgets,yet we suffer from lifestyle diseases.Our minds are cluttered with thoughts and not a single one brings us peace or tranquility. As part of the complete ecosystem of the earth,we are part of nature herself. But we are getting further away from her,isolated in our airconditioned houses,concrete buildings and mechanical devices. We have forgotten to listen to the song of the birds,the rustling of the trees,the vibrant hues of the sunrise and the colours of the setting sun. Relationships are becoming complex,they are becoming taxing and like taxes they weigh us down and sap our energies.Make them simpler,say simple words and relate to each other honestly. Our daily living fills us with anxieties.Do we really need to compete with our friends for a holiday abroad? Our existence is not defined by what we wear it is defined by who we are.The consumerism all round us has instilled in us a sense of constant competitiveness,a constant nagging of being left behind and in today's terminology of having FOMO or fear of missing out.        

A simple living is a way of life that focuses on simplicity, intentionality and living life with regard to simplifying your activities, eating habits, home, emotions and thinking. There is happiness in lifting our heads from the social media platforms and the movie streamings and looking around us to find joy and beauty in the sonorous singing of the bird,in the fun of doing routine chores,in the watching live videos made by nature and her creations.

Leonardo de Vinci said:"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". Isn't this a truth we all know?We need to acknowledge and accept it and integrate it in our lives.Simplicity should manifest itself in everything we do and where ever we are.Just be true to yourself and cut out the excess everywhere.It does not really mean living the spartan way or living in poverty.With riches also you can be simple.You can be setting up a big business empire but you can be simple.A Head of state and yet simple.Mahatma Gandhi who led our freedom movement yet his core was simplicity.Simplicity is contentment.Mahatma gandhi said,

"Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plan living and high thinking the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. Man's happiness really lies in contentment."

Even Steve Jobs,the co founder of Apple computers has this to say

"“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

So simplicity is not about lack of ambition, or about being dull or boring or unenterprising.It is about being in harmony with nature,with your own true self ,about less is more and about throwing out the non essentials.

Let us see what Thoreau has to say about the simple life since we are celebrating his life this day.

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.

But let me end with a quote from my favourite physicist Richard Feynman.

"There is always another way to say the same thing that doesn't look at all like the way you said it before. I don't know what the reason for this is. I think it is somehow a representation of the simplicity of nature."

And that is what we should aim for, a simplicity in everything we do, say and think.

Road not taken

Road not taken

As I grow old and sit on my verandah
Everyday pops up a new memory
Of days gone by, of evenings spent
Moments that I cherish, years that I regret.

I close my eyes and see myself
Standing at a crossroad or was it a fork
I wonder why I took  a road
Opted for one and left the one

What would have happened if
I had travelled on the road not taken
Where would I have been if
I had opted for that not this.

Would Destiny still have led me here
To this family, to this armchair
To this wrinkle, to this white hair
To the same heart and same hearth?

The road not taken is so unknown
I can only see where it begins
There is no algorithm for a path not travelled
Nothing to say how it would have unraveled.

 But how many times have we shaken our heads
And those dark thoughts crept on to us
If only I had done this or done that.
Just remember the  road not taken
 was not meant to be.

A road less travelled or a road travelled well
Both have their rewards and Karma coins
Just be true to values and humanity
Just do everything with integrity.

Priceless

Priceless

The priceless are ours for the taking
No wallet to be opened,no card to be swiped
A hand in ours
A smile of gratitude
A heart bubbling with joy
The first dada gurgled
The first step taken
An old parent's shaking blessings
A laughter that resonates
On the grass with faces upturned
A sky full of stars
Waves that crash at our feet
Despair turned to hope
Eyes that glow at your sight
A picnic basket
A hop,skip and jump
A tumble in the mud.

The price for priceless things is but
Forsake the rat race,
Slowdown.,shed the mask.

Tiny wonder

A tiny flower I may be
Among the bed of green
But I still raise my head
And  don’t go unseen.

 15th June 2020

Memories of summer past

There are some memories which I do not
Look into often
Some which lie deep down in my heart
No one knows I have those memories
Of moments that did not last
Of summers past
Of sunny afternoons and sultry evenings
When I looked up to find your gaze upon me
And I held that gaze and kept it in my heart
When I felt the cool breeze of a sigh
I  made that a memory too
A helping hand outstretched
Yet loathe to touch me
I have kept that feel without the touch
And whenever summer comes
And some times become unbearable
I peep into memories
Of the summers past
And get the cool breeze, the helping hand,

the loving gaze
To see me through.

When will it end?

Walking in Mighty Corridors and shuffling files
No life at stake and no walking miles
No nights spent in bunkers with bullets whizzing by
No son of theirs wore a uniform proudly
And put his life on the line
Young wives,  young kids
Sons gone before their parents.
Cushioned,armchair lives have no glory
Send your sons to the frontier
Tell them what pride it is to
To lay down one's life
for the motherland.
And then when you will plan you will know the value of each life,
How we spend our lives measuring each breath that we take
How we laugh in tomorrow's shadow
When you will wait for promises of returns
that he made
And wait in vain
Then when you plan and strategize
You will do with your heart
And do it knowing that a loved one
Is ready to take the bullet
And then you will do it to end this caravan
of Tricolour wrapped
Treasures
Just send your precious ones to the border
Then when you write a note
it will be different.

The awful Covid-19 pandemic

Note:This was broadcast on the ESD service of AIR on 30 th March 2020 

The world is in the grip of a pandemic caused by the novel Corona Virus or COVID-19.Though there are a number of diseases like polio,measles,flu and the common cold caused by viruses, problems arise when the body encounters a virus it has not seen before. Corona Virus is one such instance. There are three reasons why it is dangerous.Firstly it is a respiratory disease that spreads from one person to the next. Secondly our body has no natural immunity to this virus, there are no vaccines for it and no pharmaceutical products have yet been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19. Thirdly for some of the infected people, the disease can be fatal.
The symptoms of having been infected with this virus are almost like flu. This may include high fever,a dry cough and exhaustion. There may be body aches,shortness of breath ,muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headache and sometimes diarrhoea. It appears to affect the elderly more and those with a pre existing medical condition like hypertension, diabetes, heart ailments, lung disease or suppressed immunity.
The disease spreads largely through droplets that are emitted when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes. These droplets hang on to surfaces like someone’s hands, doorknobs, rails etc and when you touch them they get transferred to your hand and then reach your lungs when you touch your mouth or face. Therefore to prevent spread of this disease a number of precautions have to be taken. One is washing hands with soap and water thoroughly or with an alcohol based sanitiser. Then we should also avoid touching our face with our hands. The most important way to prevent spread of this virus is “social Distancing”. A safe distance from people is about three to six feet. One should avoid crowds so that there is no physical contact. Greet people with Namaste or adab or just a verbal greeting instead of shaking hands.
Many countries of the world including India are now in a state of lockdown. This has been done to ensure that there is no physical contact between people and the spread of the virus is contained. People have been asked to stay indoors and all schools, colleges and a large number of offices and institutions have been closed.
During this lockdown period when we are required to stay in our homes and not venture out a number of situations may arise. When venturing out people should stand at a safe distance from each other. There is no cause for panic if precautions are taken. At home children will be restless. They need to be kept busy. Everyone in the family will have to take on responsibility of household chores as house- helps may not be able to come. In an enclosed space tempers may rise. Keep cool,keep calm. Watching the television, playing board games, learning new skills from each other or the internet are good ways to pass the time.Listen to the radio esp All India Radio which has some of the most educative and informative programmes on air. Go back to the ways older generation used to keep themselves busy with story telling or playing Antakshari.
The government has taken steps to make life smoother for the citizens by arranging for food and vegetable supplies. Chemists shops and other essential goods shops like groceries and home delivery of food  are still open.With active help from all its citizens  Let us hope that this lockdown will help us fight the pandemic and India will be able to contain and control it.

Pongala Mahotsavam—A Festival of Women

India is land of diversity and its different regions have customs and traditions which are very unique and hold a lot of significance. The home of an ancient civilization it has traditions which have been carried on for centuries. It is a land of gods and goddesses. God is worshipped not only as the only absolute “one” omnipresent and omnipotent but also in different and manifold manifestations and with different names, forms and divine attributes. According to ancient puranas, Shiva and Shakti both were worshipped. In India the female form of God has been worshipped with as much devotion as the male form.

No wonder then that in one of the southern states of this country we witness the largest congregation of women for a religious activity. In fact this gathering has even entered into the Guinness Book of World records in 1997 and 2009.The certificate given by the Guinness Book of world record states that: ‘The largest annual gathering of women is achieved by 2.5 million women in an event organized by the Attukal Bhagvathy temple in Kerala India on 10^th March 2009’. A gathering of 25 lakh women in one place. Isnt it amazing? The number is increasing every year and has reached upto forty lakh in recent years.

The Attukal Bhagvathy temple in Trivandrum is an ancient temple and is also known as the Sabarimala of Women because most of its devotees are women. So much so that during the Pongala  Mahotsavam men are forbidden to enter the temple. Several legends are associated with this temple. According to mythology, Attukal Bhagvathy is an incarnation of Kannaki who was the heroine of the Tamil epic Chilapathikaran written by The Tamil poet Ilango Adikal. Her husband was falsely accused of theft and beheaded by the king. Kannaki cursed the city of Madurai and left the city. On her way to Kodungallur she took a sojourn at Attukal.  Kannaki is also the incarnation of Bhagvathy hence Bhagvathy is the presiding diety of this temple. Another story says that ‘Attukal devi’ is Bhadrakali, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva to kill the demon king Daruka. Mother Bhadrakali is a form of Shakti (Mahakali) worshipped mainly in Kerala. ‘Bhadra’ means good and ‘Kali’ means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is often referred as the goddess of prosperity, time and salvation.

Whatever be the origin, the Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother, creator of all living beings and the mighty preserver as well as destroyer of them all.

Pongala is a ten day long festival Oof this temple and commences in the Karthika star in the Malayalam month of Makar-Kumbham which is February-March by the English Calendar. The festival begins with Kappikettu ceremony when the idol of Devi is adorned with Kappi or bangles.The ceremony is accompanied by musical renderings of the story of Kodungallur Bhagvathy annihilating the Pandyan king and symbolises the victory of good over evil. The temples and the nearby area are decorated and bear a very festive look. The musical offerings, bhajans and chanting of the various names of the goddess continue for nine days. However it is on the 9^th day, when the Pooram Nakshatra coincides with full moon night that this festival reaches its zenith. All roads in Trivandrum are lined with brick hearths and earthenware pots. The area in a radius of five kms from the Attukal Bhagvathy temple is treated as consecrated ground for this ritual and all houses, shops, commercial establishments keep their doors open on this day for thr devotees. Women from all over Kerala start converging to this temple in the very early morning hours of the 9^th day. One can see crowds and crowds of women carrying earthen pots, jaggery, rice, coconut, firewood and going to their designated places on the roadside to build hearths and  cook the Pongala or the sweet jaggery rice in the open, as an offering to the goddess. They wear new saris called Pongala saris. For Pongala shops keep saris for as low as Rs 75 so that even the poorest can afford to wear a new sari for this ritual. The signal for lighting of the fire in the hearth is given by the head priest of the temple at the auspicious time or muhurtam. First the fire in the temple kitchen thadippaly is lit by the chief priest. Then the hearth or the panadara aduppu prepared in the temple premises is lit by the co priest to prepare the Ponagala. This is followed by a beating of drums and then lakhs of brick hearths on the roadside of Trivandrum are ignited and women prepare varieties of sweet rice as an offering to Attukalamma to bless them with prosperity and fulfill their wishes. Of course no traffic movement is permitted in the area around the temple that day and all schools, colleges, offices are closed. No men are allowed entry into the consecrated grounds. The devotees do not eat till the Goddess has been offered Pongala in the nivedyam ritual. This can be sometimes around two pm in the afternoon. After the offering the priests extinguish the fire in the temple hearths.This sanctified water is supplied to all the devotees on the roadside to extinguish their hearths. Now the devotees can go and distribute their Pongala to friends, neighbours, relatives and their family members.

It is indeed an atmosphere of festivity but also of devotion and faith. The women sitting on the sides of the roads, in new saris under the scorching sun cooking on brick stoves with firewood and in earthen pots have a prayer on their lips at all times. Their faith in the goddess is unflinching, pure and absolute. They have lit the flames of faith and offered to the goddess her favourite food.

Pongala also has two more rituals. One is the THALAPPOLI by young girls who make offerings to the Goddess for health wealth and happiness.The other is  Kothiyottam by boys under the age of twelve.They are considered to be the wounded soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasur Mardini . The boys  have done a week long penance in which they have to sleep on the mat, observe strict diet restrictions,stay in the temple, perform 1008 prostrations before the deity in the morning and evening. On the ninth day they perform the Kutthiyottam with the hope that the Goddess will bless them with inner and outer beauty and health,wealth and happiness.They accompany the Goddess when she goes in a divine procession to the Sastha temple in Manacaud reaching there in the wee hours of the morning. After a few rituals she comes back to Attukal and is welcomed with a “deeparadhanam”. The boys are delivered of their penance in an orderly manner. The ten day festival ends with the ceremonial removal of the Kappu and a sacrificial offering called “Kuruthi Tharpanam” at night.

Witnessing this unique festival and the faith of the women devotees is a moving experience and representative of the diversity and richness of our ancient heritage.It is a land where the continuity of our heritage has been preserved.

Us is just a bundle of emotions

What is us if not just
a bundle of emotions
Not work, not just a job
Duties and obligations must
Yet with no feeling, no love,
 Where is the passion?
You look at years and years
And make sense of what you have done
Excellence and success
And all things right.
Touch your heart, look deep within
darkness
No laughter, no tears, no surrender
No one
Just a long line of
Works well done!

We are killing the trees

There were lakhs of us here
Looking at each other
Growing,deeper and taller
Shadier,
Sheltering lives,nests with little ones
The breeze through the leaves
Humming a melody
Holding life together
The clouds stopped to drain
The ground received bountifully
Holding firm the earth .
Sunlight filtered through small holes
Now there are only holes left
Big gaping holes
No breeze sings a melody now
The earth gives way
The sun batters
The nests are going away
Searching for their lost homes.