Sorry!. This is written in Odiya. A review of my book Ananya Jamaja is given by Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu (A Kendra Sahitya Academy Award Winner)
http://www.orissadiary.com/personality/writer/MAHAPATRAILAMANISAHU%20.asp
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A Review of Ananya Jamaja
Sorry!. This is written in Odiya. A review of my book Ananya Jamaja is given by Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu (A Kendra Sahitya Academy Award Winner)
http://www.orissadiary.com/personality/writer/MAHAPATRAILAMANISAHU%20.asp
Ananya Jamaja
A collection of 35 Odiya poems by me, will be released on 4th January 2009 9am by The Honourable Governor fo Odisha in Annual Function of Kadambini - an Odiya literary magazine. The function will be at KIIT Campus, Patia, Bhubaneshwar. Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu has been kind to write a forward note for the collection.
The Odiya poetry lovers may find it interesting. And the readers are cordially invited for a glance of the book. Your comments on the poems are also cordially invited.Please note that this is my the first experiment with literature!
Happy New Year, 2009!
Best regards
Hrushikesha
Friday, December 19, 2008
Riots of Billboards
Winter is settling hesitantly in Hyderabad because of harakiri of nature for rapid urbanization. And more, the hectic political activities has pervaded the city for ensuing elections. In addition to all these humdrums of life the quest for inner peace still persists in Hyderabad! The quest takes different routes for the people of different communities and tastes. As the case for India, Hyderabad has a very vibrant pluralistic society. It's natural of following the different search paths by them; though it's unfair to admit the occasional skirmishes among these search parties. Still, it's also not unfair to add that the number of such under-dog activities in on downhill track. The smog that blurs the vision is gradually getting cleared. The net result is the intense desire for the inner peace and self-searching. This drives people to different religious places, discourses and prayer halls.
The city dwellers have become spiritual! Yes, there are self-cut proofs. Just when you move at snail's pace you may find it's because you are nearing some shrines built almost on road for a quick darshan when one is even on wheels! As if this is not enough as a proof, Hyderabadis don't relent from reminding you the same in different ways at different times else one may get bored of the same proofs. These are seasonal stuffs. Seasons bring festivals. Many thoughts bring different political parties. And there are many events for many people. Each of these are important to some of them. It was so before. But, now each of these must be told to all of you, as I think my stuff is the most important for the humankind. And all must know it else, as if this is the only choice less question paper in the main exam! All of them pour out billboards – small or large with all colours, emotions, poses and postures. A society proves itself on its roads and Hyderabad choses billboards thanks to the advancements of printing technology. They put the personal news like birth, marriage, graduation, fatherhood, motherhood and the final - death on banners and billboards! Interestingly, some of them don't even forget to put their educational degrees – a hard owned one!
Currently, when you scan Hyderabad roadside banners, one prominently finds pictures of Ayappa Swamis. The swamis are in different postures – some pretend to be radiating, some looking eagerly at shooting camera. And some standing at a distance, even can be found giggling at their own pictures on banners hung at several cross roads. A swami community compete with another in raising their banners across traffic squares. So, also political parties vie to each other. The net result is riot of billboards!
Do I sound like a critic? I admit, these colourful billboards bring a lot of colors and so life for some. What's the problem? Any commuter must have felt or realized the problem due to distractions these billboards pose, more while driving. Particularly, I face a peculiar problem. Old habits die hard. In my childhood when I used to visit nearby town with little rubbing of English into me I used to read English on billboards . You may say that it's a colonial kickback or a pseudo-superior trait. But I would not like to shy away of my eagerness in learning English. Those days I used to take billboards as my testcases. It's to be noted that in Odisha, those days when very very few even had gone to primary school, there used to be many billboards written in English! I used to read each every posters, banners, mile stones etc. while passing by on a cricky rustic bus. I don't know for that my English has improved or not. But it's certain this habit has put me in trouble in Hyderabad. And also now I feel had I studied my text books so seriously, probably I would have been doing well now. Well, now old habits get on me when I'm on move. As I see a life-size picture of a politician with folded hands greets on a billboard, I can't resist self from not responding – that in early days grand-father taught in his first lesson of life! An impulsive response comes and my hands get off the steering wheel. Fortunately, ever vigilant wife Anjali is always there to pull down and to put me back on the track! Kids giggle of the reminiscences.
Thanks to the Riots of Billboards!
Hrushikesha Mohanty
19th December 2008
The city dwellers have become spiritual! Yes, there are self-cut proofs. Just when you move at snail's pace you may find it's because you are nearing some shrines built almost on road for a quick darshan when one is even on wheels! As if this is not enough as a proof, Hyderabadis don't relent from reminding you the same in different ways at different times else one may get bored of the same proofs. These are seasonal stuffs. Seasons bring festivals. Many thoughts bring different political parties. And there are many events for many people. Each of these are important to some of them. It was so before. But, now each of these must be told to all of you, as I think my stuff is the most important for the humankind. And all must know it else, as if this is the only choice less question paper in the main exam! All of them pour out billboards – small or large with all colours, emotions, poses and postures. A society proves itself on its roads and Hyderabad choses billboards thanks to the advancements of printing technology. They put the personal news like birth, marriage, graduation, fatherhood, motherhood and the final - death on banners and billboards! Interestingly, some of them don't even forget to put their educational degrees – a hard owned one!
Currently, when you scan Hyderabad roadside banners, one prominently finds pictures of Ayappa Swamis. The swamis are in different postures – some pretend to be radiating, some looking eagerly at shooting camera. And some standing at a distance, even can be found giggling at their own pictures on banners hung at several cross roads. A swami community compete with another in raising their banners across traffic squares. So, also political parties vie to each other. The net result is riot of billboards!
Do I sound like a critic? I admit, these colourful billboards bring a lot of colors and so life for some. What's the problem? Any commuter must have felt or realized the problem due to distractions these billboards pose, more while driving. Particularly, I face a peculiar problem. Old habits die hard. In my childhood when I used to visit nearby town with little rubbing of English into me I used to read English on billboards . You may say that it's a colonial kickback or a pseudo-superior trait. But I would not like to shy away of my eagerness in learning English. Those days I used to take billboards as my testcases. It's to be noted that in Odisha, those days when very very few even had gone to primary school, there used to be many billboards written in English! I used to read each every posters, banners, mile stones etc. while passing by on a cricky rustic bus. I don't know for that my English has improved or not. But it's certain this habit has put me in trouble in Hyderabad. And also now I feel had I studied my text books so seriously, probably I would have been doing well now. Well, now old habits get on me when I'm on move. As I see a life-size picture of a politician with folded hands greets on a billboard, I can't resist self from not responding – that in early days grand-father taught in his first lesson of life! An impulsive response comes and my hands get off the steering wheel. Fortunately, ever vigilant wife Anjali is always there to pull down and to put me back on the track! Kids giggle of the reminiscences.
Thanks to the Riots of Billboards!
Hrushikesha Mohanty
19th December 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
An ANSWER TO A PUZZLE
The puzzle: How was the society hundreds of years back, that built beautiful temples in India?
It was 3rd November 2008 evening at Bhubaneshwar. I'm done with my schedule and the rest of the evening was with me. I succumbed to my wishes – a darshan of Shiva Lingaraj. Dr.Prashanta Patnaik accompanied me to Sri Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneshwar. It was a Monday of Karhtik, an auspicious day for many ardent devotees. The temple is fairly crowded. We had a darshan. In every visit to an old temple I learn to appreciate the temple architecture and sculpture. and the Lingaraj temple is a treasure of it. In this visit I found stone carvings are made better visible, probably some agency has taken up a maintenance project.
Dr.Prashanta and me went around the temple watching and appreciating exquisite stone carvings, symmetry in a colossal architecture. The stability of such a huge stone structure is now still baffling. Managing construction activities of such a huge temple is a classical example of excellency in project management that should make, atleast, native business schools curious about.
Probably, to attract people to culture and heritage the forefathers have taken the help of some myths. Dr.Prashanta narrated me one of those on Lingaraj temple. The myth is woven around a a huge bull (Nandi) carved out of a large stone. The bull is adorned with ornaments carved on stone. Every curves on its body looks realistic. The enormous body is slightly tilted to its right resting on its right heap, belly, chest and the right front leg. The bull has a gracious look holding its head with beautifully decorated neck. The stone carved ornaments on its neck are partially hidden by scarfs and garlands offered by devotees. It's like customs and traditions hiding beauty of divinity. Its ears are right up and lively with minute details. People whisper their wants and wishes to bull's left ear for fulfillment. The bull is a divine giver? The left front leg is sculpted so aptly as if the bull is about to get up. At about ten feet distance there is a plant on an elevated stone platform. The plant (a peppal/bela tree variety) has been there for years but its height has been a foot only. It hardly gains in height and stem circumference. The day the bull gets up and eats the plant, is the final day for this world – the myth tells. Whatever, the myth could be but I enjoy a visit to the bull in my every visit to this temple. I salute the sculptor who has carved it out. Hundreds of years are flown, the sculptor is forgotten but his excellency is the perfection of the humanity and shines on!
My puzzle again popped up. Such an excellency the people of this land achieved hundreds of years back. What would have been society of Odisha at that time? Probably, there were prosperity around. People, sculptors, architects and the kings were rich enough to achieve this marvelous signature of their time. But then what made the society to plunge in such an abject poverty? How did the society forget the art of building such temples? Why didn't they excel further? I returned to Hyderabad only rekindling my puzzle.
“India Leaves its Footprints on Moon” adorns The Hindu newspaper's headline on 15th November '08 – a joyous movement for the country. Congratulations are showered on the architects of 'Chandrayan-1' for the excellency. And I got an answer to my puzzle.
We the footpath dwellers now privileged
For the clear view,
No roof there for us to stand in between
Us and Chandrayan!
We the jobless though bemoan
Still, will watch MIP as it's shown
Hoping the same (footpath) atleast for us on the moon!
We were the same ill-fated
That day stood behind
When the Kings built the temples for posterity.
So we kept the promise even bitten by the poverty.
But the kings distanced
Our sufferings remain unheard.
The flagged sanctum tells:
“I see the people who never failed in mission
I see the people who even hardly can make their ration.
But I hope excellency in humanity will prevail soon
For which I am still standing on!
Hrushikesha
17th November 2008.
It was 3rd November 2008 evening at Bhubaneshwar. I'm done with my schedule and the rest of the evening was with me. I succumbed to my wishes – a darshan of Shiva Lingaraj. Dr.Prashanta Patnaik accompanied me to Sri Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneshwar. It was a Monday of Karhtik, an auspicious day for many ardent devotees. The temple is fairly crowded. We had a darshan. In every visit to an old temple I learn to appreciate the temple architecture and sculpture. and the Lingaraj temple is a treasure of it. In this visit I found stone carvings are made better visible, probably some agency has taken up a maintenance project.
Dr.Prashanta and me went around the temple watching and appreciating exquisite stone carvings, symmetry in a colossal architecture. The stability of such a huge stone structure is now still baffling. Managing construction activities of such a huge temple is a classical example of excellency in project management that should make, atleast, native business schools curious about.
Probably, to attract people to culture and heritage the forefathers have taken the help of some myths. Dr.Prashanta narrated me one of those on Lingaraj temple. The myth is woven around a a huge bull (Nandi) carved out of a large stone. The bull is adorned with ornaments carved on stone. Every curves on its body looks realistic. The enormous body is slightly tilted to its right resting on its right heap, belly, chest and the right front leg. The bull has a gracious look holding its head with beautifully decorated neck. The stone carved ornaments on its neck are partially hidden by scarfs and garlands offered by devotees. It's like customs and traditions hiding beauty of divinity. Its ears are right up and lively with minute details. People whisper their wants and wishes to bull's left ear for fulfillment. The bull is a divine giver? The left front leg is sculpted so aptly as if the bull is about to get up. At about ten feet distance there is a plant on an elevated stone platform. The plant (a peppal/bela tree variety) has been there for years but its height has been a foot only. It hardly gains in height and stem circumference. The day the bull gets up and eats the plant, is the final day for this world – the myth tells. Whatever, the myth could be but I enjoy a visit to the bull in my every visit to this temple. I salute the sculptor who has carved it out. Hundreds of years are flown, the sculptor is forgotten but his excellency is the perfection of the humanity and shines on!
My puzzle again popped up. Such an excellency the people of this land achieved hundreds of years back. What would have been society of Odisha at that time? Probably, there were prosperity around. People, sculptors, architects and the kings were rich enough to achieve this marvelous signature of their time. But then what made the society to plunge in such an abject poverty? How did the society forget the art of building such temples? Why didn't they excel further? I returned to Hyderabad only rekindling my puzzle.
“India Leaves its Footprints on Moon” adorns The Hindu newspaper's headline on 15th November '08 – a joyous movement for the country. Congratulations are showered on the architects of 'Chandrayan-1' for the excellency. And I got an answer to my puzzle.
We the footpath dwellers now privileged
For the clear view,
No roof there for us to stand in between
Us and Chandrayan!
We the jobless though bemoan
Still, will watch MIP as it's shown
Hoping the same (footpath) atleast for us on the moon!
We were the same ill-fated
That day stood behind
When the Kings built the temples for posterity.
So we kept the promise even bitten by the poverty.
But the kings distanced
Our sufferings remain unheard.
The flagged sanctum tells:
“I see the people who never failed in mission
I see the people who even hardly can make their ration.
But I hope excellency in humanity will prevail soon
For which I am still standing on!
Hrushikesha
17th November 2008.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
RELUCTANTLY OLD
Crude oil price went up and the everything else in this world became costly. The inhabitants of that barren land have been lucky, but wonder how do they flirt this God given opportunity. It's more of a concern thinking the earthly juice may soon dry up – as the fortune-tellers harp on. The net effect of price rise is my grounding after my short lived love in blue sky. Interestingly, I developed a self-defeating luxury for which I am not made for.
The urge for visiting my native place was getting stronger in the last October. This has been absent not only for my kids but also those of the neo-city dwellers. For these kids, there are no native places but a pretension of it. They don't get intoxicated at the smell of native place. Theirs' is the place that looks good on TV screen. Suddenly, I decided to go home and being grounded chose Indian Railways. Good thing is Indian Railways is now a profit making organisation for which everybody from the Railway Minister to the lineman claim their eminences. A good team work that is praise worthy.
Tending to be green I chose the public transport to reach Secunderabad railway station. APSRTC: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is one of the few public transport in India having good name for its service. Let me spend a minute on it. For commuting in Hyderabad city, there are three types of buses viz. Ordinary, Metro-liner and Veera. Very wisely bureaucrats in APSRTC have chosen for three, probably being inspired by the importance of three in Hindu religion e.g. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara are the three taking charge of the total creation.
Ordinary buses are mainly chosen by poor fro its low price. Many a time, while traveling in such a bus you must be prepared to smell sweat soaked shirts of your co-commuters. Never mind, if you find yourself in the midst fo flesh. If you are short and out-of-size particularly overly sized then certainly you are at the receiving end. Metro-liner is fairly better with a lot of free space, a modest sitting arrangement at slightly higher cost. You are for sure for not finding a commuter who breaks his back in the hot Sun. Sometimes, you may get air of aroma from neo deo users. Veera bus is the luxury one and also the expensive one with push back seat to accommodate a passenger with out-of-proportion body. This is the kind of physique, socially, is taken as an index of the development. And Hyderabad is very much on that track. The bright proof - US has agreed to set up a consulate office in Hyderabad. What else proof you need? You yourself even can judge from the growing number of joggers/walkers on Tankbud/Necklace road.
As a Veera pulls into a bay and comes to halt, many shy away for its high priced fare. A person who decides for Veera could be a guy either on comfort searching or at the resigned state. I was among the later category to choose a Veera to reach Secunderabad railway station. I moved to middle of the bus to stand on alley for want of a seat. A feeling of disappointment creeps in if you don't get a seat in Veera. The feeling is alike to that of missing a first class for two marks; or being drained out after purchasing a plot and not being able to construct a house – the pain of a narrow miss. However, for every Indian there is a great history to back up and teach you to adapt. I prepared myself for one hour journey standing on my own leg, of course!
Veera pulled itself on much publicized well transformed road. A stop came and an old man boarded the bus. He looked around desperately for a seat to discover a youth occupying a seat for senior citizen. He walked up to and exercised his right little forcefully as the young guy showed an inhibition. Finally, the guy got up leaving the seat to the old. The young guy stood on alley and the guy standing nearby changed to a happy state, probably due to 'if not me not so others be' syndrome. The young guy at the loss of the comfort and embarrassment was getting tormented and looking for a point to cheer himself. Suddenly, he murmured at the hearing range of the old man commented on his deceptively black hair camouflaging grayed ones. The old man while settling on his comfortable push back seat got a pale face for being reluctantly old.
14th Nov. 2008
The urge for visiting my native place was getting stronger in the last October. This has been absent not only for my kids but also those of the neo-city dwellers. For these kids, there are no native places but a pretension of it. They don't get intoxicated at the smell of native place. Theirs' is the place that looks good on TV screen. Suddenly, I decided to go home and being grounded chose Indian Railways. Good thing is Indian Railways is now a profit making organisation for which everybody from the Railway Minister to the lineman claim their eminences. A good team work that is praise worthy.
Tending to be green I chose the public transport to reach Secunderabad railway station. APSRTC: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is one of the few public transport in India having good name for its service. Let me spend a minute on it. For commuting in Hyderabad city, there are three types of buses viz. Ordinary, Metro-liner and Veera. Very wisely bureaucrats in APSRTC have chosen for three, probably being inspired by the importance of three in Hindu religion e.g. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara are the three taking charge of the total creation.
Ordinary buses are mainly chosen by poor fro its low price. Many a time, while traveling in such a bus you must be prepared to smell sweat soaked shirts of your co-commuters. Never mind, if you find yourself in the midst fo flesh. If you are short and out-of-size particularly overly sized then certainly you are at the receiving end. Metro-liner is fairly better with a lot of free space, a modest sitting arrangement at slightly higher cost. You are for sure for not finding a commuter who breaks his back in the hot Sun. Sometimes, you may get air of aroma from neo deo users. Veera bus is the luxury one and also the expensive one with push back seat to accommodate a passenger with out-of-proportion body. This is the kind of physique, socially, is taken as an index of the development. And Hyderabad is very much on that track. The bright proof - US has agreed to set up a consulate office in Hyderabad. What else proof you need? You yourself even can judge from the growing number of joggers/walkers on Tankbud/Necklace road.
As a Veera pulls into a bay and comes to halt, many shy away for its high priced fare. A person who decides for Veera could be a guy either on comfort searching or at the resigned state. I was among the later category to choose a Veera to reach Secunderabad railway station. I moved to middle of the bus to stand on alley for want of a seat. A feeling of disappointment creeps in if you don't get a seat in Veera. The feeling is alike to that of missing a first class for two marks; or being drained out after purchasing a plot and not being able to construct a house – the pain of a narrow miss. However, for every Indian there is a great history to back up and teach you to adapt. I prepared myself for one hour journey standing on my own leg, of course!
Veera pulled itself on much publicized well transformed road. A stop came and an old man boarded the bus. He looked around desperately for a seat to discover a youth occupying a seat for senior citizen. He walked up to and exercised his right little forcefully as the young guy showed an inhibition. Finally, the guy got up leaving the seat to the old. The young guy stood on alley and the guy standing nearby changed to a happy state, probably due to 'if not me not so others be' syndrome. The young guy at the loss of the comfort and embarrassment was getting tormented and looking for a point to cheer himself. Suddenly, he murmured at the hearing range of the old man commented on his deceptively black hair camouflaging grayed ones. The old man while settling on his comfortable push back seat got a pale face for being reluctantly old.
14th Nov. 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
KFC and KPA
Just after Dasahara 2008, I felt an urge to go out for a day. We have not done that for almost headstrong health problems or nuisances that was following us for the last couple of months. My son Vakul also chose to stay back at hostel citing some reasons like he had only one day leave for Dasahara and just after it he had his mid term tests. I knew all these could be pleas for not being assured of good food at home because his mother’s health. Anyway, I also took this for a plea proposing our visit to Vakul’s hostel just after Maa’ Durga left for her heavenly abode with an assurance to visit earth for the next year. It’s really good to have so much circularity in nature; that gives quite a bit of confidence for mortals like me. We reached his hostel. Oh, I forgot; ‘we’ includes me, my daughter and Anjali - my wife. Sister and brother finished their long pending skirmishes and got tired for a good food. Both of them decided for KFC at Karkhana in Secunderabad. I should be honest in admitting that they always have or build up consensus (at least with the minimum common choices) on choosing a restaurant and menu.
We proceeded for that. I had a little inhibition anticipating heavy and silly expenditure. For example, it’s silly to pay hundred rupees for a sandwich. I prefer to bear with a roaring stomach instead of bleeding through nose. That happens when one flies with a low priced ticket. Anyway, in this case I didn’t have any choice. I listened to self telling ‘that would be your the first visit to KFC in Secunderabad.’ We reached. Fortunately, we could get a place for parking. People in this densely populated city don’t have enough place to put their body fully in their huts, forget car parking. We stepped in KFC being lead by ever enthusiastic daughter Anwesha (Pooja and Gelhi). She has sum total three names. And the third one is completely ethnic. Obviously, that name is put by me. For that they say I’m hundred percent rustic.
We stepped into KFC a swanky eatery with heavy lights focusing on heavily colored wall shades, matching furniture and ever deceiving plastic plants. The brightness was making my kids’ hearts floating around menus and offers. Whereas, hearts of the parents like me with shallow pockets must be sinking. I kept recollecting how many big notes could be there in my purse. Quickly, I could calculate the possible amount I would have, ofcourse without taking my purse out. I felt indebted to my grand father for insisting on mental mathematics in my childhood. These things are so helpful in life I never felt that time as now my kids take to my words on face value. Naturally, my kids especially my son being elder one understands my predicaments quite well. Both of them settled for a sum they have adjudged comfortable to me. I felt so much pleased with their understandings and felt unfair to complain of elders make for little ones. My daughter always feels being ahead of her brother. She settled down after scooping out a promise from me for another visit with some bucket chicken – a menu with sumptuous chicken pieces. They picked up the tray. And I took out my purse to pay. The boy at the counter returned some change. Usually, in these brand shops people always feel it’s low for counting money. But, I knew I couldn’t afford to such a trait anymore while just four days back I lost hundred rupees in Brand factory at Jubilee Hill. Here also, I found such a mistake and promptly complained. The supervisor returned me the forgotten hundred rupees. I excused the boy thinking his grandfather might have not taught him the mental mathematics. My kids settled down with food. My wife had little interest in all these except brooding over for kids. And I sat with my old habits – observing people around.
First, my eyes discovered smartly dressed KFC assistants oozing out with extra courtesy – i.e. unbelievable in standard desi dookans. The question obviously came to my mind. Why do they make mistake in bill payments and giving back the returns even after making use of so many calculating gadgets? That day Domino at Gachhibowli, a similar boy just took four rupees extra over the bill without a word. On asking he said he did not have change. But just felt quite right to grab extra four rupees. I thought over it. The answer came. The guys could be very much underpaid and might be even told to earn in this way. If this is true what ethics these business houses of free market economy are setting up here? I pondered. Will it happen in USA at its birth place?
I discovered a painting on wall – a sturdy looking man with a bow tie and a French beard. A brief write up below the painting telling how special the recipe of KFC is and this has been secret for so many years. Wow! What a business tactics. Will it be that way in India? G.Pulla Reddy came out his sweets in Andhra Pradesh and that made him famous. But, he encouraged and inaugurated shops of his competitors. I’m sure some of his cooks (halwaii) must have deserted him and joined his competitors throwing tact of sweet making into winds. Free economy but strangulated at the threshold of its birth place!
I must admit with a pinch of salt that I was the eldest one among all the customers present there. I was feeling awkward among mischievously young around. All were busy in their own world. I got a reflection of KPA ‘Kasinana Pakudi Aloodam’ shop on my village square. Every evening, people used to gather for a plate of hot pakudi and Aloodam. They used to relish with so many musings, lively chats and hearty laughs. The shop used to turn into a media centre – the news strips of many villages were exchanged in evenings over the pakoda plates. One used to offer other – a happy evening after a grueling day. What a contrast here! Instead offerings, here are the denials for the unfortunates when they just appeared as soon as you park your car. These are the spiders from darkness of white tiger of Aravinda Adiga.
By that time, my kids were done with. We had to rush back to drop Vakul at his hostel and then we had to return to Doyens. We proceeded to our parking place. The same scene was around us. I negotiated with some coins and got in to drive on. After a while, I was looking at my kids expecting their weary some faces for the scenes of spiders. I knew from other end, Anjali was looking at me approvingly though she is a captive of kids like any desi mother.
Hrushikesha Mohanty
November 1st , 2008
We proceeded for that. I had a little inhibition anticipating heavy and silly expenditure. For example, it’s silly to pay hundred rupees for a sandwich. I prefer to bear with a roaring stomach instead of bleeding through nose. That happens when one flies with a low priced ticket. Anyway, in this case I didn’t have any choice. I listened to self telling ‘that would be your the first visit to KFC in Secunderabad.’ We reached. Fortunately, we could get a place for parking. People in this densely populated city don’t have enough place to put their body fully in their huts, forget car parking. We stepped in KFC being lead by ever enthusiastic daughter Anwesha (Pooja and Gelhi). She has sum total three names. And the third one is completely ethnic. Obviously, that name is put by me. For that they say I’m hundred percent rustic.
We stepped into KFC a swanky eatery with heavy lights focusing on heavily colored wall shades, matching furniture and ever deceiving plastic plants. The brightness was making my kids’ hearts floating around menus and offers. Whereas, hearts of the parents like me with shallow pockets must be sinking. I kept recollecting how many big notes could be there in my purse. Quickly, I could calculate the possible amount I would have, ofcourse without taking my purse out. I felt indebted to my grand father for insisting on mental mathematics in my childhood. These things are so helpful in life I never felt that time as now my kids take to my words on face value. Naturally, my kids especially my son being elder one understands my predicaments quite well. Both of them settled for a sum they have adjudged comfortable to me. I felt so much pleased with their understandings and felt unfair to complain of elders make for little ones. My daughter always feels being ahead of her brother. She settled down after scooping out a promise from me for another visit with some bucket chicken – a menu with sumptuous chicken pieces. They picked up the tray. And I took out my purse to pay. The boy at the counter returned some change. Usually, in these brand shops people always feel it’s low for counting money. But, I knew I couldn’t afford to such a trait anymore while just four days back I lost hundred rupees in Brand factory at Jubilee Hill. Here also, I found such a mistake and promptly complained. The supervisor returned me the forgotten hundred rupees. I excused the boy thinking his grandfather might have not taught him the mental mathematics. My kids settled down with food. My wife had little interest in all these except brooding over for kids. And I sat with my old habits – observing people around.
First, my eyes discovered smartly dressed KFC assistants oozing out with extra courtesy – i.e. unbelievable in standard desi dookans. The question obviously came to my mind. Why do they make mistake in bill payments and giving back the returns even after making use of so many calculating gadgets? That day Domino at Gachhibowli, a similar boy just took four rupees extra over the bill without a word. On asking he said he did not have change. But just felt quite right to grab extra four rupees. I thought over it. The answer came. The guys could be very much underpaid and might be even told to earn in this way. If this is true what ethics these business houses of free market economy are setting up here? I pondered. Will it happen in USA at its birth place?
I discovered a painting on wall – a sturdy looking man with a bow tie and a French beard. A brief write up below the painting telling how special the recipe of KFC is and this has been secret for so many years. Wow! What a business tactics. Will it be that way in India? G.Pulla Reddy came out his sweets in Andhra Pradesh and that made him famous. But, he encouraged and inaugurated shops of his competitors. I’m sure some of his cooks (halwaii) must have deserted him and joined his competitors throwing tact of sweet making into winds. Free economy but strangulated at the threshold of its birth place!
I must admit with a pinch of salt that I was the eldest one among all the customers present there. I was feeling awkward among mischievously young around. All were busy in their own world. I got a reflection of KPA ‘Kasinana Pakudi Aloodam’ shop on my village square. Every evening, people used to gather for a plate of hot pakudi and Aloodam. They used to relish with so many musings, lively chats and hearty laughs. The shop used to turn into a media centre – the news strips of many villages were exchanged in evenings over the pakoda plates. One used to offer other – a happy evening after a grueling day. What a contrast here! Instead offerings, here are the denials for the unfortunates when they just appeared as soon as you park your car. These are the spiders from darkness of white tiger of Aravinda Adiga.
By that time, my kids were done with. We had to rush back to drop Vakul at his hostel and then we had to return to Doyens. We proceeded to our parking place. The same scene was around us. I negotiated with some coins and got in to drive on. After a while, I was looking at my kids expecting their weary some faces for the scenes of spiders. I knew from other end, Anjali was looking at me approvingly though she is a captive of kids like any desi mother.
Hrushikesha Mohanty
November 1st , 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
ROAD REFLECTIONS
(Note: 1. My fellow citizens may find it novice. It's not for them. 2. My address to 'Sirs' include 'Madams' too. I can have that kind type definitions in C! The picture here is of a road in Japan. Thanks to Goutam. )
Though I'm not a jet-setter still, I had some opportunity to visit some other countries. When one visits a foreign country at the first instance the roads catch your imaginations. Particularly for me a good straight road is of a pleasure. And I believe that's so for my fellow citizens. Sometimes, I feel the road features and features around roads somehow reflects a country. I'm not a social scientist to prove my hypothesis. But, for Indian context being a novice in social science I can say my hypothesis is more or less true. Let me prove it. It will not be like my earlier theory on a social operator on my blog http://mokatha.blogspot.com/2008/09/side-kick-social-operator.html I can't make it mathematical though would like to be that way. Sir / madam, that's the way I'm told you can sell (make) papers (research) in my profession. And I should get into that art sooner rather. But, here somehow that trait does not get reflected. I'll surely try for it later, I have to sir, to live up to my new pay commission. Anyway, let me see how does our roads reflects my society. I'll put seven points only. We in India, like the number seven. In our epics they say 'sa't janam' (born seven times to cross human life cycle) , 'sat phera' (make seven rounds of sacred fire to get in and out of a bondage) , 'sa't bar' (utter seven times to make a promise) , 'sa't saamudra' (Vishnu sleeps on his snake-bed beyond seven seas) etc. So, I'll stick to seven only to be well taken.
1.Hardly, a road in India is straight
That is how we live in our society, Sir. Nobody talks to the point straight whatever way that much watched anchor corners our beloved future makers.
My ex-boss also had another theory for it. He said for this quality only we Indians do very good programming. Somehow, we can make a program work by putting many go-to, if-then-else constructs. Of course he added, that's why we don't make software products.
2. If geographically the road is blessed to be straight, we love to put speed breakers
Sirs, when you visit us must be wondering of speed breakers. You should not and I'm sure you will appreciate of knowing our noble cause for it. We in this country are are very friendly people and we live perfectly and even physically together (though occasionally your press tells you of our bickering. But sir, it's not always true. Believe me.). And now a days you are sending vehicles of varying speeds and we don't want our friend surpass us. At speed breakers we can meet each other again. That is not enough sir. We have made speed breakers in functioning of all kinds of places like institutes, offices.
3.Everything under Sun is on our road
You must have seen cows, buffaloes and play grounds on our roads. And all the types of transports are also found there. That may be puzzling to you. But sirs, you should not. Actually, we are very transparent people. You can see everything we have on our road. Even you will find people in plush colonies eagerly hang their under linens making visible to roads. Let's not talk of vendors and unsold gods http://mokatha.blogspot.com/2008/04/gods-sojourn.html etc.
4.Roads are toilets
Most of the male Indians pee on rads. You may feel shameless. I agree with you sir. But, that is natural to them sir. Probably, that way they can save few minutes or save a coin by peeing by the side of the road. Anyway, ours is a sunny country. We have hot Sun to take care of environmental problem. But, do they do so when do they visit your country? You must tell me on my blog ( put comments).
5.Crazy traffic
This point if you make on traffic of my country I'll agree to you the hundred percent, Sirs. We while on move, try to make use of every inch of unpopulated place on road. You don't know from where a vehicle emerges out and stands at the front. We Indians believe on magics. It's a magic how all of us come back in tact after a cruise on our roads. We all believe on so many Gods. And at least one of them come to our rescue when any of us on road. Sir, this time when you visit us you can see in all the vehicles you hire with a God picture. They are always positioned there ,to help you out. They could be of any religion but they don't discriminate sir, for sure. Please don't get worried, He/She is there always in our country to help. They say that's why still we thrive and an oldest civilization!
6.Bigger the vehicle the mightier on the road
Oh, yes sir. This is true in our desi society too. In our roads, the bigger vehicles really bully the smaller one and so not to tell of the pedestrians. We are hierarchically a disciplined lot, sir. We are just like that, once we are destined to land on this land – so pious this land sir you will n't believe. Ganga Maa chose to land here on our land, even all the prophets too. All of them landed here. If you know some of them landed else where, that will be wrong soon sir when we become the most powerful nation after Bush uncle signs nuclear agreement on 8th Oct. '08.
I'm distracting your attention. Sorry sir. Actually, If you are on foot never hesitant to walk off the road. It's actually the place for you hierarchically disposed off.
7.Deafening Horns
That must be surprising for you if you are visiting us for the first time our swarnaprasu desa. I'm sorry for talking no sense word for you. I also don't understand it standing at cross roads with red traffic light. You will find spider like kids come forward to your cars. I'm going off-course again. Excuse me, sir. But standing at red traffic light you will hear the vehicles around you just blowing horns. It puzzles. It's a habit sir. We like noise. See, all our vehicles are fitted with music systems. That's must. Mine is an exception only. Though I wanted it very much but succumbed to my wife's opposition. I'm sure you also listen to madam.
We desis' overdo and make mess of anything we do. See, our public places, prayer places – everywhere you will see loudspeakers – a lot of sound. Without sound we really don't get kick of anything; even while driving.
Have a fun with our road reflections! In this we all are together – whatever you say of our conflicts based on caste, religion etc. all trashes!
Hrushikesha Mohanty
7th October 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)