I Have A Dream...

Thank you, Dr.Martin Luther King jr. for the abundance of positive energy today.

 It is the 50^th year of the iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech of King, and even though half a century has elapsed, the powerful words of this brilliant orator still exudes the same influence and motivation as before.

Come to think of it, isn’t there a raw power in his words, ‘I have a dream’? I felt so, especially as I read through his speech this morning. I just love hearing powerful orators who motivate and inspire and I must say that I was roused by the powerful words of this timeless orator, who filled me up with hope and goodness, not mention a wonderful energy.

I know I am just an insignificant, common citizen of this nation, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming and hoping… for better days to come.

I dream that one day, we would be living in a corruption free land where people are not influenced in any manner by money or fame or any other criteria.

I dream that one day we will enjoy democracy in its truest form, and will be led by educated and enterprising leaders who will lead our nation to pinnacles of glory.

I dream that one day my country will not be divided on the basis of caste, creed, color, sex, religion, or political affiliation.

I dream that one day all Indians respect each other’s rituals and religions and live happily in tolerance.

I dream that one day we will learn to value and adhere to the laws of the land.

I dream that one day women would be treated with respect and will not be looked upon as mere objects of man’s lust.

I dream that one day my country would be self sufficient in its agricultural produce and that my countrymen would never go hungry.

I dream that one day our children would respect nature and its bounty, and replenish this land with the greenery that it deserves.

It is my hope, it is my faith, that one day the future would be ours. But instead of dreaming alone, why don’t we make it a collective dream and steadily work towards it?

Join me in my dreams… United we can!!!

The Friday Persona

Come Friday morning and he used to be present at our gates for alms. In fact, his visits were so regular that very often we used to realize the dawn of a Friday only by his presence. Lanky and dark, the shabby man well past his prime was always dressed in a tattered lungi and a full shirt which had seen better days. A makeshift bag created from old scraps of cloth was slung down his stooping shoulders. Perhaps it held all his worldly possessions that had been painstakingly collected through the passage of time…With an unsteady gait the bent skeletal figure tightly gripped the metal frame of the gate as though for support, and rattled the latch so as to announce his arrival to the household.

More than the sound made by the rattling of the latch, it was a deep hollow cough which made us aware of his arrival. As I went out with a few rupees in my hands, I would often witness acute spasms of dry, racking cough that would hit his frail body causing him to gasp for breath. He would accept the money that I handed out to him, acknowledge his gratitude by raising his bony hands to his forehead and depart as insignificantly as he came.

Some Fridays, he would be looking very ill, and as I went out to give him money, he would show me a medical prescription, indicating the need to buy medicines.  Some other days, it would be a wound on his leg which required a doctor’s attention. Then I had to go back to get some more money that I would hand over to him. But sometimes, in my hurry to finish off the morning’s chores before starting off to work, I would willfully choose to ignore the plea in his eyes. I would then see him slowly head towards other homes in our locality, anticipating the generosity of yet another household.

It has been a few months since his visits stopped and often I wonder why he seems to have disappeared… Could it be that he is too ill to move about to make money for his daily bread?
Could it be that he has relocated to another place to visit other homes every Friday?
Or could it be that he has finally found a blissful release from the miseries of this world?

Wish I knew….

Waiting and Watching

A doctor's clinic is one of those places where I normally dread to go. Regardless of whether I am the patient or whether I am accompanying one, I usually have to undergo a waiting period ranging from half an hour to more, depending on the long queue ahead before I get to meet the doctor. I am not complaining because the one advantage of this long wait is that I can freely observe human nature and its various nuances. And i tell you, it is really interesting...

 For one, it is amusing to watch people take an interest in the affairs of the other. There is a particular category which compulsively strikes up conversation with the person sitting alongside (usually a lady). Questions usually begin with her particular ailment and can progress to the topic of the best shop where one can get the freshest brinjals at a fair price! The gullible victim who is none too eager to pour out her miserable life following a persistent cough, has in no time revealed her entire family history including details of spouse, kids, in laws, neighbors, the cow, cat, dog, and a whole lot of personal stuff without realizing that it has been heard by the entire humanity assembled there...

Then again, there is another category who are commonly known as hypochondriacs. They suffer from some imaginary disease or the other and believe in changing doctors frequently because in their opinion, the previous doctor was not expert enough to diagnose their ‘serious’ medical condition. These people invariably ramble on about the irresponsibility and unreliability of ‘these new-age doctors’ to an unresponsive audience composed of bored and restless patients who are impatiently waiting for their turn.

The third category is usually older men who are mostly seen accompanying the patient who in most cases would be their wives or mothers. Totally unsympathetic and impatient to the woes of their groaning spouses, these enthusiastic people are full of ears for the tales of agony of the other suffering souls in the waiting area. That’s not all, since this particular category consider themselves to be uncrowned experts in the field of medicine, one can expect a whole lot of advices like managing diabetes by drinking a daily dose of red chillies boiled in water to which a few neem leaves has been added  to running barefoot on sand to counter chronic osteoarthritis!

Another genre of people often similar in status to the ones mentioned above are those who absolutely think the worst of every medical condition, except their own. Totally obsessed with pessimism, these people firmly believe in scaring the already frightened patient out of their skins. I actually heard a man who had accompanied his ailing wife talk to an elderly lady who inadvertently revealed that she was suffering from a wound on her foot which was taking time to heal due to her diabetes. He vehemently told her in no uncertain terms that she was suffering from the same fate as one of his relatives who ultimately had to amputate his leg!

Oops! Here comes an elderly lady to occupy the seat next to mine, with a dangerous glint in her eyes that truly belongs to the second category. Guess I need to make my escape…

Of Telegrams & More...

The telegram had been an integral part of India’s communication network till perhaps a few decades back. Now that BSNL is going to discontinue its telegraphic services from July 15, 2013, yet another popular service of the yesteryears is going to be buried forever…

It was a bygone era where telegrams were very much in vogue. A harbinger of urgent information, telegrams normally brought in the news of a relative’s death or the arrival date of the homecoming of a son who lived far away. Similarly, illness of a close relative, request to come home for a ‘bride-seeing’ ritual, victory in examinations, birth of a child, etc used to be communicated to various relatives through the humble telegram. 

The sight of the sincere village postman walking frantically to the address of the recipient followed by a hoard of curious children was a scene to behold, according to my mother, and quite often, the curious onlookers would be satisfied only after the recipient opened the pink flap with shaky hands and perspiring brows to finally react as per the information contained in it. Good news would be rewarded by a generous tip to the person who delivered it, and news of a death or serious condition of a relative, it went without saying, would start off a spate of heartrending wails by the ladies of the house. Very soon, the whole village would have assembled there to pacify and sympathize with the bereaved family members.

The present world, with its instant communication services will certainly not miss the telegram, but reading the news of it being discontinued, I felt a vague sense of loss… a feeling which was brought about by the fact that yet another chapter has been relegated to the pages of history…

RIP

A Few Random Twilight Thoughts

As the sun rides its golden chariot towards the western horizon, as the graying sky quietly unfolds its myriad hues, gradually giving way to an all enveloping darkness, my mind goes through a variety of emotions which takes me through childhood memories, old and precious…

Twilight, for me, is a happy childhood memory of the short time spent at my small village which holds my roots… My ancestral house which stood proudly by the huge, magnificent pond; the small Aiyappa temple on one side of the pond, the reflection of the steadily burning flame of the temple lamp on the water of the pond as it moved in ripples, the fragrance of fresh sandalwood paste given with fresh flowers on green banyan leaves, and the mystical chime of the brass temple bell during the time of the evening pooja… To this day, twilight temple visits leave me with the same intense memory and my mind feels utmost restful.

Twilight, for me, reminds me of lonely evenings I spent as a child in a far away boarding school, looking forlornly at the cold, grey sky, filled with longing for the proximity of my family. How I hated the Tamil devotional songs which blared from a nearby temple… Even today, those particular hymns evoke in me a sort of melancholy that is hard to get over…

Twilight, for me, reminds me of those days bygone, where under the watchful eyes of our grandmother we had to recite aloud various prayers in front of the lighted lamp or ‘nilavilakku’.  It was here that I got introduced to the forms of various Gods and Goddesses, through the assorted pictures that adorned the walls of the narrow corridor. Some days, we would be told stories from religious scriptures too, which no doubt enhanced my interest towards mythology…

Twilight, for me, is the sight of the innumerable flock of homing birds as they make their way in an orderly manner to destinations unknown. The inverted ‘V’ like formation never fails to captivate me even today, as I tilt my head up and eagerly lap up the sight.

Twilight, for me, is also the overwhelming view of the fire in the majestic mountains that are far away, leaving a bright golden line within the dark silhouette, gradually fading away into nothingness…

Twilight, for me, is total spirituality. It’s a time when I feel the desire to be with myself and my thoughts… a time to recharge and re-energize… to introspect and make amends. For me, it is the time where i feel totally at peace with myself and the whole world….

Memories of a bygone era...

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to hear the loud call of a man who sharpens knives and scissors, in our residential locality. Carrying a wooden contraption on his frail

shoulders onto which was affixed a grinding wheel for sharpening knives, he went around expectantly from door to door, offering his services…

Dressed in a shabby ankle length check lungi and an off- white, frayed, full shirt which had definitely seen better days, the dark man with a weather beaten look about him went about with drooping shoulders and a defeated demeanor . I doubt if his visit to our locality was worth it. In these days where knife sharpeners are available readily in any departmental store, I guess people like him may find it hard to make a living out of their dying profession…

Come to think of it, these days, a lot of professions seem to be fast disappearing. I remember till about a couple of decades or so, just before the onset of the monsoons, men used to go about repairing umbrellas and bags. Similarly, cobblers too with shabby bags filled with tools and spares were a common sight as they sat in front of houses, re-stitching broken straps or soles, and sometimes even reconstructing the whole slipper which was often in pretty bad shape.  

Then there were dusky Tamil ladies with kids in tow, who used to go about asking if households wanted their grinding stones redone (Ammi Kothal) or copper vessels lined with lead without which it couldn’t be used (Iiyam pooshal). Aluminum and stainless steel vessels of all shapes and sizes were carted around on a bicycle by vendors who often traded it for old clothes… My own grandmother, like many other ladies of her times, had a hobby of buying such vessels from these people and took great pride over her collection!

I have no doubt that many such professions have passed away to give way to a developed nation with its modernistic views and attitudes. Such changes are inevitable too. But once in a while when I see such a person from the past, I can’t help taking pleasure in the feeling of familiarity which dotted my childhood days…

Thrissur Pooram

One of the most colourful temple festivals of Kerala, the spectacular Thrissur Pooram was introduced by the erstwhile Cochin Maharaja, Sakthan Tampuran (Ravi Varma 1751-1805), and is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medom (April-May). Spanning a duration of about 36 hours, this illustrated festival of Kerala is referred to as the ‘Pooram of Poorams’ and is witnessed by lakhs of enthusiasts irrespective of religion or creed.

The word ‘pooram’, in Malayalam, literally means a group or a meeting. It is thought that during the Thrissur Pooram, Gods and Goddesses of neighbouring provinces get together to pay their respects to the Lord Vadakkunnathan.

History of the Thrissur Pooram

The Trissur Pooram is said to have originated as a symbol of liberation from the oppressive caste system practiced in ancient Kerala. The higher castes represented by the Namboothiris ruled over Kerala autocratically. The efforts of Prince Ravi Varma (Sakthan Thampuran) brought an end to this repressive state of affairs.

It is believed that once upon a time, the largest temple festival of Central Kerala took place at Aaraattupuzha, where the smaller temples from in and around Thrissur eagerly participated in the festivities. But this practice was hindered by the aristocratic Namboothiri supremacy which put an end to the custom and denied entry to these temples. In such a situation, Prince Ravi Varma, who was the then ruler of Cochin State, invited these temples to Thrissur to pay their respects to Lord Vadakkunnathan, the presiding deity of the majestic Vadakkunnathan temple. The two other main temples of Thrissur, the  Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple were instructed to provide all help and support to the visiting temples. Thus Sakthan Thampuran succeeded in putting a stop to the Namboothiri domination.

The pooram has continued to be a tradition of Trissur since then and even today, it goes on as per the prescribed age-old customs and traditions. The much popular episodes of the Pooram namely the `Madathil Varavu', `Elanjithara-Melam', `Thekkottirakkam' and `Kudamattom' are conducted with much vigour and vitality.

Religious Significance of the Trissur Pooram

The Thrissur Pooram is considered to be the festival of the common masses in all respects. People from all walks of life irrespective of religion, caste, or creed gather to witness the spectacular festivities on the day of the pooram.   

In this prominent temple fair held on the grounds of the Vadakkunnathan temple at Thrissur (Thekkinkadu Maidanam), two rival groups representing the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple fiercely compete with each other in showcasing their capabilities.

The Thrissur Pooram commences with the ezhunellippu (procession) of the Kanimangalam Shastha in the morning to the Vadakkunnathan temple followed by another ezhunellippu of six other minor temples. Totally, ten deities from in and around Thrissur pay their respects to the Lord Vadakkunnathan during the Pooram.

Elephant Power

Think Thrissur Pooram, and immediately the image that comes to our mind are those of magnificently caparisoned pachyderms majestically lined up in all their glory!

Elephants are an unavoidable part of the Thrissur Pooram and the best of the lot from the length and breadth of the state are specially brought to grace the occasion. Both the Thiruvambadi and Parammekkavu factions compete heavily in this aspect and make full use of the rules which allow a display of a maximum of fifteen elephants each. The sight of these impressive creatures in all their ornate decorations, making their way through the milling crowd and lining up on the temple grounds is indeed spectacular, and is witnessed not just by Malayalee enthusiasts, but also a lot of national and international tourists who reach Thrissur specifically on this day.

 

As part of the Pooram celebrations, the decorations to adorn the elephants (aana chamayam) are prepared well in advance each year by both the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temple boards, to be displayed to the eager public prior to the Pooram. (Aana Chamayal Pradarshanam).

Kudamaattom

The `Kudamaattom' or display of decorated parasols atop the majestically lined up elephants are yet another colourful aspect of the world famous Thrissur Pooram. This particular event is highly competitive in nature and is a matter of prestige for the Thiruvambadi and the Paramekkavu temples, who fiercely compete with one another in putting up the best display of parasols. The Kudamattom brings about deafening cheer and sighs of amazement from the awestruck spectators dazzled by the innovative and colourful exhibit.  The most amazing aspect of this show is that every year, both the temple wings bring in newer models for exhibition that are an epitome of creativity.

Various Pooram paraphernalia along with the decorated parasols are also put up on display during the Aana Chamayam Pradarshanam held prior to the Thrissur Pooram.

Panchavaadyam

The liveliness and spirit of the festivities during the Thrissur Pooram is enhanced manifold by the alluring effect of the ‘Panchavadyam’. Maestros in the respective fields are roped in by the two competing temple factions and the result is pure magic! The sight of multitudes flaying their arms and swaying their heads to the beat of the music is indeed a fantastic sight. No other festival in Kerala draws such an unbelievable crowd to a single event.

Display of Fireworks

The Thrissur Pooram ‘Vedikettu’ or display of fireworks is undoubtedly one of the much looked forward to attractions of this unique temple festival of Kerala. Both the factions of the Thiruvambadi as well as the Paramekkavu temples are always known to  put up a spectacular firework display.

Thousands of people throng the venue and nearby areas just to witness the innovative and breathtaking firework display which starts some time after midnight and lasts to several hours at a stretch. A couple of days prior to the Thrissur pooram, a ‘sample vedikkettu’ or a sample display of fireworks are held, which is equally enthralling in its beauty.

Trissur Pooram – A cultural Bonanza

The Thrissur Pooram is considered to be the most popular temple fair of  Kerala.  Religious unity is the highlight of this world famous event and even though it is a Hindu temple festival, both the Muslim and Christian communities play a very prominent role in the celebrations.

Most of the pandals put up for the Pooram are the result of the indigenous craft work of related experts from the Muslim community who work untiringly months ahead of the festival.

For the two days of the festival, the CMS High School located on the western part of the Swaraj round and owned by the North Kerala Diocese of CST Church, is a hub of activity, being the headquarters of the Thiruvampadi Devaswam. The temple elephants are tethered in the school compound. The ‘Aana Chamaya pradarshanam’  prior to the Pooram is also held at this school. The decorated parasols for the ‘Kudamattom’ are said to be offerings by various churches!

At these times, when the secular fabric of the Indian society is slowly decomposing and the feelings of religious intolerance are swiftly on the rise, one cannot but admire the relevance of the Thrissur Pooram, which strives to bring all religious communities under one banner.