Security and Happiness

Mysore Sept 2013

I walked back home after a down pour. It was 10 pm and the road was deserted and rain was threatening to intensify. I managed to reach home and in the safety of home rain looked completely different. Sitting in the warm room it is so pleasant to watch the rain beating on windows and listen to a variety of sounds and smell the fragrance of the soil that rises after the first showers. A what - if thought comes to mind. I imagine life outside for someone who has no shelter, no warmth and belly only half full. Future appears desolate, dark and without hope mirroring the rainy and wind-blown night. I feel so secure and feel grateful to life.

A Walk in the Beach

Marina Beach Dec 2013

It is 6 am in the morning and I am in Marina Beach, perhaps the longest one in India. Sun is not out yet. It is hidden behind clouds. Morning does not evoke any serenity let alone the morning magic one expects. It is warm and humid and a restless feeling comes over. I walk some distance away from the shore as it is really dirty there.

There were many odd sights- some depressing, some funny and a few uplifting.

There are many saplings along the path with tree guards.  The guards protect them from animals and vandalism. Amma (Jayalalita, the chief minister) is everywhere. You cannot escape her presence. Amma’s poster is on every guard with a message urging public to grow more trees. Benign, smiling Amma perhaps is protecting the trees. I am reminded of North Korea where leaders look down on you wherever you go.

Along the path there are many statues. Avvayar,Bharati Dasan, Bharati , Kannagi, Periyar, Anna … all facing the road  and their backs to the glorious sea. Shivaji Ganeshan, Tamil actor, due to some reason does not find a place in that row but occupies a position in the midst of roads. He has funny attire - all golden and looks grotesque. (Recently Madras high court has asked the government to remove the statue as it is obstructing the traffic) There are some vacant spots perhaps reserved for the future or perhaps they have run out of great Tamil personalities. In Hyderabad NTRamarao ,chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, in his prime, also put up many statues of Telugu greats – Kshetrangya, Annamacharya etc and skeptics believe that all resemble him.

There is a man walking with an artificial leg. I pass him admiring his courage. I also meet a lady leading a man, a few years older, by hand as he has some difficulty in walking. Then there are burkha clad, hijab wearing Muslim women walking along. They do not want fresh air in the morning even though it is hot and humid.  I wonder if they had to face resistance even to come out like that. Then there is a man looking at the hidden sun and offering his prayers. Cure of Diabetic  by herbal juice is doing good business so also various healthy fruit juices. Aloe Vera seems to be the favourite. And some are busy bargaining for fresh greens.

Now sun appears on the horizon crimson and moon like. Above the ocean it hangs and looks serene. It is a marvelous sight and you are stuck for words. You forget the surroundings.

Birds are in hundreds. Mainly crows but there are sparrows and other birds too looking for food. There are left overs of many eating joints of previous evening and a few functioning already in the morning to provide food for hungry souls tired after a few minutes of strolling. Garbage, dust, dirt, litter, plastic, paper, decaying food all assault you and you feel angry and sad. There are some old people still on the pavement covering themselves with bed sheets and trying to sleep. There are some children running around. Children have no hope and old look utterly crushed. It makes you very sad.

I could opt out and find some Gym with tread mill. But I prefer to walk outside. I imagine the beach at once clean, no litter, no garbage, and no smell. White – brown expanse of clean sand to walk and the vast sea ahead to gaze.

Dream gets punctured soon. I am confused. Looking at the terrible environment and even more the frightening conditions of people I scream silently – why should we be deprived of clean air and water and what does the suffering humanity mean?

Movie in the afternoon

18 March 2012

Had a nap. Woke up. After 30 minutes of Shehnai I had a delightful coffee. Left for Suchitra. Wore a soft half sleeve fab India shirt. So soft in summer. Then a ride in the car with A/C . It is so cozy. On the way spoke to Paddu on various things. In particular about yesterday's cricket match - india vs Pakistan which India won. Every thing seems to be normal in the world ! On the way stopped and bought Polo. It is nice to pop in a Polo or a peppermint in the middle of the movie.

Auditorium is so so . Outside noise - sound of Bus horn and auto rattling - creeps in even when the doors are closed. Not that they are all the time ! People keep coming late , keep the door open and walk in the aisle undecided where to sit, sometimes debating, changing and all the time obstructing the view. Even in such a setting after a while movie takes over. Yesterday it was the movie ' Once ' and in some sense appropriate setting as in the movie Music is created with shoe string budget, played on worn out CD players, artists eat some Pizza and drink some cheap bear - but nevertheless beautiful Music is born .

I feel like saying ' Kurai Ondrum Illai Kanna ' ( No complaints my Lord )

Abhishek comes Home (nearly)

Abhishek Raghuram, one of my favourite singers, came home or should I say came near home. There was his concert in Tamarind tree resort, a mere hundred feet from home. It was held in open space. Both artists and spectators are seated under the evening sky.  It was a small gathering of about 100 or so. There were children of 5 – 6 years and many young people and many older ones some in their sixties and seventies.

The ambiance was soothing and different. Apart from open theatre the weather was pleasant with light breeze. As evening progressed the sky turned yellow, pink and red before darkness advanced.

The most interesting were the artists. Raghuram and his cousin Ananth on Mrudangam and his grandmother on violin. Lalgudi Rajalakshmi is her name and she must be in her late sixties. She was competent but often struggled because of lack of practice or age or both. The affection between her and the two grandchildren was open and heartwarming. She was proud and happy. Abhishek was thoroughly enjoying the concert with subtle and often direct encouragement to his grand ma. More than the music the combination of family members separated by 60 odd years and two generations apart but still bound by music and affection was a remarkable sight. I smiled and thought of my grandson Gundu.