Naveen Halemane

Stone-Heart... Stone and Heart

2011-03-07T01:50:00.000-08:00

I had been to Historical Hampi a few days ago for a seminar at Hampi Kannada University. The way the stones tell story and the way an artist or nature have worked with them. See if the nature or the artist talk to you silently! The photos are taken at the University and at water falls near Hampi... N..joy

A Part of My Life Thus Moved Away...

2010-03-27T02:43:00.000-07:00

Madhukar, was an important part of my life between 1996 and 2009. He had been very rare and special friend of mine, who made me realize I am very special. At least, he had thought so. He took pleasure in every meeting with me. Every visit to my village. He seemed like he is tasting life to the full till the last drop. A unique comment he gave about me, "I have liked your tastes so much that I fancy, if you were a girl, I would have married you". His wife felt jealous about these words. Madhu, Hemantha and Me... all 3 good frinds for a decade compared ourselves to 'Dil Chahta Hai' friends. Myself to Sin, Himself to Sameer and Hemanth to Aakash. There are many things that happened similar between we 6.

Hemanth-Madhu-Me at KRS...

In May 2009, two serious diseases together took his life away. These are my thoughts recorded there at the hospital and at funeral one year ago in my mobile. Those who know US, know, what it means to me to lose him. I know it is a lengthy story of the fight between life and death.

Madhukar, my friend sleeps there on the bed with so many pipes into him or out of him. Green dress he wears, beard seems to have grown well. With his head tilted to a corner and open mouth seemed to demand more life. Some nurses ran around him with needles, medicines, napkins and some more unknown devices. After some hours, when the doctors had told that he is becoming stable, he seemed to be getting wild, beating his hands and legs every 5 seconds, he seemed to demand a normalcy with so much force. Doctors kept on trying to tell that nothing is in their hands and safely in God's. One or two persons who listened to the doctors directly seemed to search for at least a single word which has a positive note: Any word like stable, improving, quite ok, any some such thing. After they came out from there some 5 to 6 concerned well wishers surround to find out at least a single word of hope.
Now I see his head tied under lips. Bleeding on both the sides of mouth. One day hopes come out and another day only leaving everything to Him or fate or date. All relatives wait as if he is delivering a baby and they are expecting that great news. But few know that the evil disease has taken its time to grow in his body and it will take some more time to gradually leave him. Experienced and inexperienced elders talk according to their knowledge rarely and imagination most of the times. Young wife asks, "Is he out of danger?" Surgeon as if taken aback by the question says, "no. No. No. We can't say all such things. We can just say that we've started our medicine."
13th May 2009
Now at 3 doctors are talking in clear negative terms. Damages are observed at different parts of the body. Like kidney, brain, lungs etc. Even sugar level is changing. All our medicines and supportive systems are just eaten up by the virus. Can mosquitoes be such dangerous? All loved ones are crying and daring ones are giving courage. I stand alone. Away from both. Not crying. Still hoping for miracles.
3.45 I had closest look at my dear friend. Varying numbers on two screens. Many pipes from his nose and mouth. Brown clot blood around his mouth and nose. He is breathing heavily. A blood bathed cloth was tied to his face. His tongue which was out teeth, made him look miserable. Some of his faces of his happy time passed in my mind. 'Even if you touch that would open nerves inside', a voice said. His father in law who was caressing his forehead with love and tears, removed his hand suddenly. I pressed his shoulder and pulled him back. I came out cool as if he ate the fruits I gave him. Could not control putting my hand on his little wife's head. Patting her I said, 'let's wait and see, putta. Only a miracle can help.' Her aunt standing beside said, 'Ya a miracle. I have trust on Him. Only He's capable!' His sister who had started crying three days ago, had raised her voice today. She held my hand and said, 'we had been teasing him about him imitating you.' I said, ' We too did about his love for u.”
I told some words of hope or stoicism. 'We are not responsible for what has happened. Only thing we can do is hoping for the best to happen. Don't cry even before the tragedy.' I hurried downstairs as if I had some urgent work. I stood at ground floor’s open window. Looked at some strange flowers blooming. Suddenly their fall came to my mind. Remembering his face eyes filled with tears. Swollen throat helped the tears come out easily. Philosophy n stoicism flew away rather washed away. Didn't bother to see if somebody observed. Went to wash room and washed my real face. Went to juice stall asked for apple juice without milk. Had fun time with the boys for he repeatedly said apple without milk does not have any taste and nobody asks for it. Had juice and suggested the little boy who took Rs 15 though it was without milk, that he should stop working and study more to pass the Maths and English papers in supplementary exam, which he could not clear in latest 10th results.
Mamatha's sister came while I was returning from there. She asked the condition. I briefly told it. She came to her sister directly and called her to another spacious corner along with her mother and sisters who kept asking me numerous times 'we can hope na?' When I accidently went near them, that sister was in the middle. All on their knees. Joined hands like human chain, she was dictating and others repeated her words when it was small sentence and repeated only last word. She was quite louder that others sitting there suddenly turned their heads and saw them. Others were murmuring. "Almighty Jesus. None but you can do something. Neither human being not doctor can do anything. We have hopes only on you. You are capable of miracles. Only you. If we've done any mistake just forgive us and help us now... Amen! '
6pm I was trying to stay cool. His father-in-law came hurrying. He gestured me to go upstairs. And he was crying and signalled Madhu's life over. I came to ICU. One of the doctors asked for any relatives of Madhu. I said I’m one. He looked at me and didn't believe it. Asked who I’m. I'm his close friend. Because of my climbing fast I was breathing heavily. He thought I’m tensed. He locked his hands. Ah body language! He has become defensive. 'Let everybody come' he said. I didn't want to force him to reveal the expected bad news. I turned to go out but could not wait, asked 'Can you be brief at least?' Then he seemed to trust me. He said, 'there is nothing much to hope. He had a cardiac arrest just now.' 'How many hours more?' 'Actually few mins.' 'thank you' He looked sorry. I walked out. Where are others? All were searching. Mamatha came by lift. With all curious eyes she looked at me and ran towards me and held my hand asked, 'what happened?' ‘A cardiac arrest' I said. Then we entered the ICU. The doctor used some useless convincing words. Then said that they did their best and no more hopes. Mother-in-law fell on doctor's feet and asked to save him.
I was quite busy consoling and cooling one by one who were hitting their heads or chests. I held their hands tight saying 'we didn't do it. It happened to us.' Many were not sad by nature but by seeing others' sadness they began to cry. Mamatha kept on saying without tears, 'I must not cry. I've got little Minchu from him. I'll live for and with her. '
By then some news channel people had come sniffing for news. Their target seemed to be the Govt which had put him for election duty at such a place which turned fatal for him. But some more opinions about surroundings of the house came up. Then they tried to talk to doctor over phone who seemed to give no proper responses. We were asked to bring clothes for the corpse. Shopping- For the dead body! White cloth. 5m enough? Who knows? 8m? He showed what 1m looks like. We decided 5m would be more than enough. When brought and gave they said it's covering cloth. Bring a shirt and lungi. Shopping again! This time the sales girl asked for colour, range, design... We kept on saying 'dead body.' She could not get it. We asked for red, brown or dark coloured which hides any bleeding marks. Brought and gave them to ward boys.
Packing the body would not have taken that much time. But clearing the huge bill was the issue. Without saying why, they made us to wait. After they got clearance certificate, they brought the body down. People with garlands, strangers asking 'what had happened' like asking cricket score. The body was kept under many coverings. Only face was visible. Many saw and many were afraid to see. 'Why head is tilted left? Why tongue is out? Medicine failed?' disappointed media people seemed to have left. A few cried and some were completely unaware of the reason behind the big crowd. Before the body was placed into the vehicle some showed their eagerness to put garlands to the corpse. Some were allowed and others kept in the vehicle. I began to send msgs to common friends. Some calls I got which showed their shock, disbelief, reasons, details of the disease, time and place of funerals etc. I displayed my first hand knowledge of losing a close friend who used to say 'if you were a girl, i'd have married you.' Mamatha recalled it and was telling visitors about this while introducing me.
14th May 2009 1.00PM
I'm walking behind a vehicle which carried his body. Mamatha’s uncle holds her and she rests her head on the coffin. People walk behind crushing puffed rice thrown on the vehicle. Wood was piled at the same place where his father's body was burnt 4 years ago. 'I’m not feeling like crying. Let me feel it fully and calmly', he was saying amidst all his family members who had been crying with wailings reaching skies. His sister had asked him, 'Don't you feel anything? Doesn't he mean anything to you?’ Now I was playing his role. His wife asked me the same question. I told nothing but truth, ' I can't cry in front of you. You are already doing it.'
Some ten elderly relatives or well wishers stood there, giving instructions to those who were arranging the body on wood. Since there were 3-4 opinions about everything, young and enthusiastic doers were lot confused. Like about the direction of the body, whether the plastic cover should be removed or not. Whether white cloth should be there on the face or let it be open for those who want to see. Whether the kerosene should be put on the top or bottom. Etc. I brought mother, Mamatha for performing puja. I brought them back to shade from killing hot sun. When they shouted 'if anybody wants to see the face finally, come. His brother saw. By the time I went it was already closed. I said I want to. Once closed it should not be opened again they said. I remembered the security at Medical ICU, where I didn't get opportunity most of the times to see his face as I didn't look somebody important related to Madhu. I accepted. Turned to come back. Mamatha was hurrying from the shade led by my sister. Many were luckily considerate. They opened the face. She saw the face with all the care she had like looking at a baby. She caressed his forehead, looked for a while till somebody said, 'Take her back. Standing there would increase her pain.' I shouted, 'It's ok. We know. Wait.' Then, I led her back to shade. Then his brother was asked to put fire by touching quickly on all the corners. But he started very slowly. Others shouted ‘Quick!’ QUICK! He was not at all ready to continue. He could not even complete it. Somebody took it from him and continued. Some elder announced. 'COME ON, MOVE. Nobody should sit here now.' Most of them moved. 4 years ago when such thing was said, Madhu had said 'It's ok. I'm not disturbed. I will sit here for some more time.’ One of his cousins said the same thing and she got scolding from her uncle. She moved. I sat there holding and consoling his father-in-law who was sobbing like a child saying 'I had thought that I got a son who would put fire when I die. But I have to see him burning. What fate is this?' I pressed his hand and consoled. I waited while my close encounter with death was heading towards its climax. As there were very few to suggest, it was now easy to follow advices about to which side additional kerosene. It should be put guided by the direction of the wind. Ten mins. There was no big heap of wood any more. Hot summer was helping the fire. Somebody showed me the body fluid dripping. Madhu - BACK TO SOIL. Came back home having some chocolate put at the gate. At home, a lamp was lit. Madhu continues to give light. Entered home to see Mamatha. House, book racks, music system, show case, HE WAS IN EVERY CORNER! Sitting beside Mamatha caressed her hand. Her head dropped, took only a glass of tender milk. Looked at me, with a pale face and forced smile, 'WHAT NEXT?' Sincerely, even I was blank, except Minchu, her only guiding light.

ಒಡಹುಟ್ಟಿದವಳನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು...

2010-02-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

ನಾನು ನನ್ನಕ್ಕನನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
"ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಅಳಿಯ ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಮಗನೊಬ್ಬ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದಂತೆ, ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಮಗಳೊಬ್ಬಳನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಂತೆ..." ಎಂಬ ಮಾತಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಭಾವ ಅಂಥ ಮಗನಾಗಿದ್ದವರು, ಈಗ ನನ್ನಕ್ಕನನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಮಗನಂತಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೂ ಮಂಕಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಚೈತನ್ಯದ ಚಿಲುಮೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಮಕ್ಕಳಾದ ಸಿಂಧು(೧೪) ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಂದು(೧೧) ಮಾತ್ರ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿನ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊರಬೇಕಾದ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಜೀವಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆಯ ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಾಗಲೇ, ತಾಯಿಯ ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಾಗಲೀ ಅಕಾಲ ಮೃತ್ಯುವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಕಂಡವರೇ ಅಲ್ಲ.
ಈಗ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಕರು ಸಮಾಧಾನ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ, "ನಾವು ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ರೆಡಿಯಾಗಿರಬೇಕು ಅನ್ನೋದು ಈಗ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ." ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ನೆನಪಿನ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಬಹಳವೇ ದುರ್ಬಲವಾದದ್ದು. ಸಾವಿನ ಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ "ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಇಷ್ಟೆ. ಇರುವಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿರಬೇಕು. ಯಾವಾಗ ಏನು ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗೋಲ್ಲ" ಅಂತಾರೆ. ಇನ್ನು ನಾಲ್ಕು ದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಂದಿನ ಇಲಿ ಓಟದಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಧಾವಂತಗಳ ನಡುವೆ.
ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಾವಿನ ಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಜರಿದ್ದು ಧೈರ್ಯ ತುಂಬುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನಮ್ಮ ಎಲ್ಲ...ದರಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಕುಳಿತುಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. "ನನ್ನೆದುರಿಗೆ ೪೦ ವರ್ಷ ವಯಸ್ಸಾದರೂ ಒಂದು ಎದುರು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವಳಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಕೆಟ್ಟದಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವಳಲ್ಲ. ದುಷ್ಟರ ಕಂಡು ದೂರ ಇರು ಎಂಬಂತೆ ಇದ್ದವಳು. ಈಗ ನಮ್ಮ ನಡುವೆ ಒಂದು ಫೋಟೋವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ ಎಂದು ನಂಬಲೇ ಆಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಂದು ಬ್ಲೌಸ್ ಪೀಸ್ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲೂ, ’ನೀನೇ ಬಂದು ಆರಿಸಿಕೊಡು, ಅಕ್ಕಯ್ಯ’ ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು. ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಜನ ಆಳುಗಳಿಗೆ ದಿನವೆಲ್ಲ ಅಡುಗೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಹಾಕಿ ಸೋತು ಹೋದಳು. ಈಗ ಸುಖವಾಗಿ ಹೊಸ ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಓದಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಗಂಡನಿಗೆ ತೋಟದ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಾಯ ಹಸ್ತ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದವಳು... ದೇವರು ಅನ್ಯಾಯ ಮಾಡಿದ. ಅವಳಿಗೆ ದಶಕದ ಕಷ್ಟಕೊಟ್ಟು ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷ ಸುಖವಾಗಿರಲು ಬಿಡಲಿಲ್ಲ"ಎಂದು ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಹರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

’ಅದು ಸರಿ. ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ಹೇಗಾಯ್ತು?’ ಇದು ಎಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ.

ಅಂದು ಜನವರಿ ೫, ದೊಡ್ಡವಳಾದ ಸಿಂಧುವಿನ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದಬ್ಬ. ಹಿಂದಿನ ದಿನವಷ್ಟೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕವಳಾದ ಬಿಂದುವಿನ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದಬ್ಬ. ಇದರ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತ ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕಿನ ಬೆಟ್ಟದಹಳ್ಳಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆಂದು ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಹೋದವರು, ಬೈಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದಿರುಗುವಾಗ ರಸ್ತೆ ಉಬ್ಬೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಕ್ಕಿದಂತಾಗಿ ಬೈಕಿನಿಂದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದವಳ ತಲೆಗೆ ಪೆಟ್ಟು ಬಿದ್ದು ಕಿವಿ, ಮೂಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತಸ್ರಾವವಾಗ ತೊಡಗಿತ್ತು. ತಕ್ಷಣ ತುಮಕೂರಿಗೆ ಕರೆದು ತಂದರೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ’ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ನಿಮ್ಹಾನ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ಹೋಗುವುದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ಪರಿಚಯದ ನರ್ಸ್ ಸುರೇಶ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿದ್ದು ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಮಿದುಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಂಚ ರಕ್ತ ಸ್ರಾವ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಿದುಳಿನ ಊತವಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಔಷಧಿಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಹುಷಾರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. "ನೀವು ಯಾವುದೇ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಅಬ್ಸರ್ವೇಶನ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಟ್ಟರೂ ಸಾಕು" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ ನಂತರ ಆಕೆಯ ಕಾಲರ್ ಮೂಳೆ ಕೂಡ ಮುರಿದದ್ದರಿಂದ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಸಿಗಲೆಂದು ಸೆಂಟ್ ಜಾನ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ದೆವು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಳೆಯದೇನೂ ಮುಖ್ಯವಲ್ಲ ಮಿದುಳಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾವು ಸೀರಿಯಸ್ಸಾಗಬೇಕೆಂದರು. ಸರಿ ವಾಪಸ್ಸು ನಾವು ನಿಮ್ಹಾನ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ಬಂದು ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ‍್ಗಳ ಕೈಲಿ "ಯಾಕೆ ಪ್ರೈವೇಟ್ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ಹೋದ್ರಿ?" ಎಂದು ಬೈಸಿಕೊಂಡೆವು. ಆದರೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಗುಣಮಾಡಿ ಎಂದು ಗೋಗರೆದು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡ್ಮಿಟ್ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು. ಮಾರನೆಯ ದಿನವೆಲ್ಲ ಸ್ನಾನ, ತಿಂಡಿ, ಹಣ್ಣಿನ ರಸ ಕುಡಿದಳಾದರೂ ಯಾವುದನ್ನೂ ದಕ್ಕಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೂ ಬಂದವರನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಗುರುತಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಆಕೆ ಹುಷಾರಾದಳೆಂದು ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು ಬಿಟ್ಟರು.
ಆದರೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಅನುಭವಸ್ಥರ ನುಡಿ ಒಂದೇ, "ಮಿದುಳಿನ ಏಟು ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳೋಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ಲ"
ಅಂದು ಸಂಜೆಯೇ ಆಕೆಗೆ ಫಿಟ್ಸ್ ಬಂದಂತಾಗಿ ರಕ್ತಸ್ರಾವ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಸ್ಕ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಆಕೆಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸರ್ಜರಿಯ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯಿದೆಯೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಯಿತು.
ಆಕೆಯ ಮಿದುಳು ಊತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಜಾಗ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಡಲು ತಲೆ ಬುರುಡೆಯ ಮೂಳೆಯನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಅದನ್ನು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿಟ್ಟು, ಆರು ತಿಂಗಳ ನಂತರ ಅವರು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಗುಣ ಹೊಂದಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೂಳೆಯನ್ನು ಅದೇ ಜಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೂರಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಅದನ್ನು ಕ್ರೆನೋಟಮಿ ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ ಅಂದ ನೆನಪು. ಸುಮಾರು ೩ ಗಂಟೆಗಳಕಾಲ ನಡೆದ ಈ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಯಿತೆಂದೂ, ಆಕೆಗೆ ಕೃತಕ ಉಸಿರಾಟದ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯೂ ಬೀಳಲಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದೂ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ‍್ಗಳು ಹೇಳಿದರು.ಸಂಜೆ ೭ಕ್ಕೆ ಶುರುವಾಗಿ ೧೦ಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು ಆ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ.
ಆದರೆ ನಮಗಾಶ್ಚರ್ಯವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಆಕೆ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆಯೇ ಚೇತರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಳು. ೯ನೇ ತಾರೀಕು ಜನವರಿ, ಆಕೆ ಇಡ್ಲಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಒಂದು ಇಡ್ಲಿ ತಿಂದಳು. ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಆಕೆ ಎಂದೂ ಕುಡಿಯದಷ್ಟು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಲೋಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಜಿ ಕುಡಿದಳು. ಸಂಜೆ ೪.೩೦ಯ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ’ಕುತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೋವು, ನವಿ’ ಎಂದು ಒದ್ದಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು. ನರ್ಸ್ ಮತ್ತು ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್‍ಗಳು ಸರ್ಜರಿಯ ನಂತರ ಅದು ಸಹಜ restlessness ಎಂದರು.೬.೩೦ ಸಂಜೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್ ಬಂದು ಮಾತನಾಡಿಸಿ ಹೋದರು. ಆಕೆ ಗುಣವಾಗುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಇನ್ನು ವಾರ್ಡ್‍ಗೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿ ಎಲ್ಲರನ್ನೂ ಸಂತೋಷಗೊಳಿಸಿದ. ೭.೩೦ಯಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವು ಡಾಕ್ಟರ‍್ಗಳು ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಕಾಣಿಸಿತು. ನನಗೆ ಕಂಡರೂ ನಾನು ತಣ್ಣಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಅಮ್ಮನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದೆ, ಯಾಕೋ ನಿರ್ಮಲನಿಗೆ ಏನೋ ಆದಂತಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲೀನ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಹೆಂಗಸು ’ಹೃದಯದ ಬಡಿತ ನಿಂತಿತ್ತಂತೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನೋಡ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ’ ಅಂದರು.
ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಮುಂದೆ ಬರೀ ಆತಂಕದ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಮುಂದಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನಕ್ಕ ತಾನಾಗಿಯೇ ಏನೂ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮಾತನಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನು ೩೬ಗಂಟೆ ಕೃತಕ ಸಹಾಯ ಬದುಕಷ್ಟೆ.
’ಆಕೆಗೆ ಯಾಕೆ ಈ ರೀತಿ ಆಯಿತೆಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಹಾರವೇನಾದರೂ ಶಾಸಕೋಶಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಯಿತಾ? ಹೆಪ್ಪುಗಟ್ಟಿದ ರಕ್ತವೇನಾದರೂ ಹೃದಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮಿದುಳಿನ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಮುಂದುವರೆದು ತೊಂದರೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತಾ? ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸೋಣವೆಂದರೆ ಆಕೆಯ ಉಸಿರಾಟ, ರಕ್ತದೊತ್ತಡ, ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಕೃತಕವಾಗಿವೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಚಲಿಸಲೂ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ’ ಎಂಬ ಮಾತುಗಳೇ ಕೇಳಿದವು.

ಜನವರಿ ೧೦ರಂದು "No improvements. ಹಾಗೇ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ" ಎಂಬುದನ್ನೇ ದಿನವೆಲ್ಲ ಕೇಳಿದೆವು.
ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷಿಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಆಕೆಗೆ ೭೦ ವರ್ಷ ಆಯಸ್ಸಿದೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ಪ್ರಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಏನೂ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬರೀ ದೇವರ ಜಪ ಮಾಡಿ ಎಂದರು.
ವೈದ್ಯರೆಲ್ಲ ಆಗಲೇ "ಆಕೆಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಆಶಾದಾಯಕವಾಗೇನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಆಸೆಯನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು"
ಹಿರಿಯವೈದ್ಯರು, "ಆಕೆಗೆ ಹೀಗಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅಷ್ಟರ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಚೇತರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಳು. ಈಗ ನಾವು ದೇವರಿಂದ ಪವಾಡವನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಬಹುದು" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳತೊಡಗಿದರು.

ಕಿರಿಯ ವೈದ್ಯನೊಬ್ಬನನ್ನು "ಈಗ ನಿರ್ಮಲ ಹೇಗಿದ್ದಾಳೆ?..." ಎಂದು ಮಾತು ಮುಗಿಸುವ ಮೊದಲೇ, "What do you want to know? Senior doctors told you everything na? She is going to die any moment. THAT'S ALL" ಎಂದ. ಆತನ ಹತಾಶೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ತಾನು ಕಲಿತ ವಿದ್ಯೆಯೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬಳಸಿಯೂ ಆತ ಏನೂ ಮಾಡಲಾಗದವನಾಗಿದ್ದ. ಸಮಾಧಾನವನ್ನೂ.
ರಾತ್ರಿಯೆಲ್ಲ ಆಕೆಯೊಳಕ್ಕೆ, ಹೊರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಲವು ವೈರುಗಳು, ಪೈಪುಗಳು, ದ್ರವಗಳು... ಎಲ್ಲ ಕೃತಕ.
In case of emergency?
ಯಾವ ವೈದ್ಯರೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ಒಬ್ಬರನ್ನು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಇರಲು ಕೇಳಿಕೊಂಡಾಗ, "ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವು ತುರ್ತು ಕೇಸುಗಳು ಬರುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರುತ್ತವೆ. ನಾನು ಇಲ್ಲಿರಲೇ ಬೇಕು.ಅಕಸ್ಮಾತ್ ಏನಾದರೂ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಕಾಲ್ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಆಗ ಬರುತ್ತೇವೆ." ಎಂದರು. ಅಪಘಾತಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾಗಿ ತಲೆಯಿಂದ ರಕ್ತ ಸೋರುತ್ತಿರುವವರು ರಾತ್ರಿಯೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಳಬರುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದರು... ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ.
ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಜಾವ ೪.೩೦, ಜನವರಿ ೧೧, ನರ್ಸ್ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. "ಬಿಪಿ ಏನಾದರೂ ಉತ್ತಮವಾಯಿತೇ?" "ಇಲ್ಲ ಬದಲಿಗೆ ಆಕೆಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ಹೃದಯ ಸ್ತಂಭನವಾಯಿತು. ವೈದ್ಯರು revive ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಕರೆಸಿಬಿಡಿ." ನಾನು ಆಕೆಯ ಕೈಗಳನ್ನು ಒತ್ತಿ ಅವು ಬೆಚ್ಚಗಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಖಾತರಿ ಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡುಬರಲು ಊರಿನ ಬಸ್ ಹತ್ತಿದೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ಹಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನದಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಕುಂಕುಮವಿತ್ತು. ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷಿಯ ವಿಭೂತಿ ಇದ್ದವು.
ನಾನು ಗುಬ್ಬಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದಾಗ ೮.೩೦ ಆಗಿತ್ತು.
ಇದ್ದುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಧೈರ್ಯವಾಗಿರುವಂತೆ ಕಂಡಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ನರ್ಸ್ ಸುರೇಶ್ ಹೇಳಿದರು. "ಅಕ್ಕ ಹೋಗಿಬಿಟ್ರು."

Happy Day!

2009-09-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

Wishes pour from everywhere...
You too feel that there are so many people who know your birthday...
You wear new clothes...
You feel the freshness of another year getting over...
You are another year old...
To make you forget that, people say, "Happy Birthday!!!"...
Flowers, boquets, which are going to lose life tomorrow are given to you!
(Fresh fragrance due to the perfume sprayed on them just when they are bought)
You too feel happy that this day is a great day!
You go for a party in the evening.
It is sponsored by you or your loved ones.
Ah.. What a day! you feel and go to sleep.

The next morning... you wake up to see...
Nothing has changed.
It is another tedious day's beginning.
Ah you feel why can't it be another day of celebration!
In fact, WHY NOT?

Feel that it is another day to celebrate life like you did on your birthday.
Begin the day with same thrill.
I know how you are put down by so many things of 'actual' life.
But it is upto you to take it as a day of celebration.
After all day is going to be as it is.
It is not going to announce itself as a happy day.
Only you remembered your birthday, only you announced it.
It was you, who celebrated it with thrill!
Why don't you do it everyday?

Happy ANY Day!

These are my wishes on your birthday madam.
Hope you liked the idea!
Celebrate life!

e-English: r v changin langwij?

2009-07-16T03:18:00.000-07:00

Language has always been dynamic. For whatsoever reasons, English has been the most popular language throughout the world. All the languages change from time to time and English is not an exception. It is only through change that we grow. A language also changes and grows.

In the recent days, many observations are being made about information technology’s influence on the language. English used in internet, e-mail, chats, SMS, online communications, etc is undergoing lot of changes. We can have a look at what has happened to English because of electronic medium in academic world.

SMS has been one of the most popular ways of communication among youngsters. The language used here has lot of deviations in terms of spellings, language, short forms, punctuations, emoticons, etc. The teachers are horrified at the way English is used by their students in the e-mails, SMS and shockingly in examination papers. Most of the youngsters are using a different type of English unknown to their parents or teachers but can be easily understood among their peer groups. A generation gap seems to have occurred in language too.

This was not what they were taught in the grammar or spelling classes. The youngsters have been trying to script the colloquial language they had been using. “Are you coming to movie?” of their grammar classes to “coming to movie?” to their of sms which reads, “cmng 2 muvi? .” The teachers can question the language used by the students only in the answer papers or class. The youngsters among themselves communicate in e-English, which can’t be stopped at all. Even if a student sends an SMS to the teacher, “hpy teachrz dei!” there can’t be a rightful objection at all.

If the users are asked about this, we are sure to get an answer like, “I wanted to say something. I have said it in my own way and the intended receiver has understood it.” So, e-English has been developing with this idea only. The lexical, grammatical, punctuation and discourse features are changing drastically there. Excessive use or complete negligence to punctuation marks, bizarre spellings which are based on phonetic features of the words, use of smileys or emoticons wherever feelings need expression and so on are widely used.

Lack of time for communication, to be creative, to save space, to be short, to rebel against the rules of the language seem to be the causes of this language change. Its future can’t be predicted. We can only recognize it once it happens. The short forms have already entered the dictionary. They may enter grammar books too! On the other hand it may develop as a new dialect of English. Let’s wait and watch, as we know, it can’t be stopped!

Haiku

2009-03-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

An SMS Poem

2009-02-27T21:39:00.001-08:00

Your Own Fault - A Gazal

2009-01-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

Putting the small lamp against gushing wind was your own fault
Floating the small yacht against forceful flood was your own fault

Movements without internal understanding are losing meaning
Clinging to values and sacrificing the life was your own fault

Human love is stinking with lust everywhere in the world
Looking for platonic love in tasteless people was your own fault

Dejection rises along with more hopes in the world
Wishing for fruits without watering the plant was your own fault

What do you get by alleging the betrayer now?
Trusting somebody other than your own self was your own fault

Know you not the countless ways of alleging the world? It is so.
Dear Sali, not changing yourself was your own fault.

Original in Kannada : Chidananda Sali

Translation: Naveen Halemane

Painting Courtesy: Cathy Beharriel

Rein

2009-01-12T22:20:00.000-08:00

A drop on my head,
Thousand dreams sprout,
Many are your kids,
And some of my evil memories!

Mother’s lost fragrance,
No grains spread to collect,
No cows to drive home,
No joy of expectation!

This fastening on my rain coat,
This covering, that belt,
Around my neck, head and waist
Stop me from having more drops

No more I sing or dance
The music swallowed by glass
Sons of sin outflow the gutter
The city tree is falling down

Pure drops of blessings
On dirty dust of development
Started to reach the money house
Cursed, “Oh! This sick rain!”

To wish or not to wish...

2009-01-02T23:53:00.001-08:00

New year day comes and goes!

Festivals come and go!

Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Friends' Day, Sorry Day, Valentine's Day, Cake Day and so on come and go.

We have wished each other and said, "Happy_____ Day!"

Online and offline greeting card/gift sellers celebrate the "season"!

SMS costs go high if they were low, and they cost if they were free.

For a friend whom you have been so considerate when he was in real need, you wish through telephone or mail or greeting cards or flowers.

This is one part of celebration.

There are some who say, "Do we love our mother only on Mothers' Day. There is nothing special for me today. I love, respect and adorn my mother every day."

or "Why celebration only on Dec.31st midnight? I'd like to cebrate life everyday!"

These are considerable, but, there are some more who would bring in religion between, "This is not OUR new year, ours is Ugadi." But try to find out from them what is the date on that day according to THEIR year. Hardly you would get a right answer.

Pushpak-A Speechless Movie with a Louder Message

2008-06-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

After so many years of so much speech in the movies Singeetam SrinivasRao came up with a speechless movie in 1988 and it is the winner of National Award too.

The movie has a simple plot(so to say and so it seems) of an unemployee's staying in a star hotel in the name of a rich drunkard and his coming back to normal life after great realization.

Search for happiness having money in mind is the main theme of the movie. Just looking for and having a close look at the other side of the pasture. The poster of Karl Marx in the unemployed youth's room, the rich drunkard's photos with his wife, the hotel owner's photos from his small tea stall to a five star hotel-These three are the models dealt with in this movie.

i) The first is a graduate and unemployed. He is in a bad need for money, his cup of tea is half full, he has his artificial ways to show the world that they cup is full. Getting into the rich drunkard's identity is symbolised here.

ii) The second is very rich and is extremely into the habit of drinking. With richness he has acquired this habit, his wife has an illicit relation with other man and that man wants to kill this drunkard. He has hired a killer to do this. By that time our unemployed man is there tasting the facilities of the rich, in the room where the drunkard used to stay.

iii) And the third, the owner of the five star hotel who has taken hardships to attain the current financial position. He fondly remembers the way he has come up this ladder.

The first stealing the identity of the second and staying at the rich hotel of the third, forms the main plot of the movie.

Two deaths are contrasting and important in the movie. One is the death of the Pushpak hotel's owner and the other is the death of the beggar. At death both the corpses are not at all respected. Lovers using this occasion to have time for sweet nothings and when the money is discovered at the beggar the body is thrown and all fighting for money.

Other things to observe in this movie are:

a. The beggar seems as important as the hero in this movie. When the hero shows the coin, beggar makes fun of him by showing more notes, when the hero shows his currency bundle(which doesn't actually belong to him) the beggar has appreciating looks at him, when the beggar dies the collected money is taken by some workers who were lifting his body. This scene makes the hero feel sorry for the beggar and probably himself for he had not understood the realy value of the money. It is also interesting to note that when the hero waves the currency notes, the beggar waves his plate. The right way v/s wrong way!

b. The girl and the richness are like mirages. Now here, now nowhere.

c. is nicely portrayed in the movie. The hero who does not have money and longes for money, the girl has money she wants a small flower which is there on the broken wall.

d. the hero has to cross through the noisy market on his way to Pushpak is also a symbol. Your way to richness is not all that calm.

e. with richness come worries. When the hero was unemployed life seemed very cool. He had to handle a killer when he becomes a rich man.

In this way the movie talks so loudly about an issue which is always there around us...

Gitanjali... My years' dream!

2008-05-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

My anna, Prof. Lingadevaru Halemane who released, Prof. Ki. Ram. Nagaraja who presided over the occasion and Dr. K Y Narayana who spoke about the work and my publisher Dr. M. Byregowda. ^

My Publisher Dr. M. Byregowda, to whom I am grateful for the way he has introduced me to the Kannada Literature.

Invitation of book release with a sketch of Tagore by Satyajit Ray >

Ya... I have to believe it after pinching myself!

India's only Nobel Prize winning literary work Tagore's Gitanjali in my simple Kannada translation got released on 22nd May 2008. This is my first book being published, though this is the sixth book I've translated.

I usually 'live' than dream. But production of this book was like a mirage. It was just like it would come out the very next week. But even after a year it would be in press only.

Tagore through this book showed me that life can be very simple.

I have had my invitation to this world's festival,
and thus my life has been blessed. My eyes have seen
and my ears have heard.
-Gitanjali
These are the lines which made me celebrate life. It was like enlightenment. "All other things are so complex in this life. You can't make them simple. Why to give literature in simple language?" said a critic.

In addition to 6 translations which are already published , mine is another. Why did I do it? Just for the love I had for the book. No other reasons. I may not know meter, I may not know rhyme scheme. I liked the poems. I tried to give the reader the same pleasure I got from them. When I was just finishing the translations, I came across some other translations, I felt I have conveyed the ideas in the way they have appeared.

"He should have written these poems in Vachana style. Then they would have had scope for more meanings." another critic said. I did not want my translation to be like some other poem. This is how I understood. This is how I put!

Literature should not be the reason for us to have our own sect separated from society. Let's include society. Let's draw them here then, let's use high quality language, for which they have to see the dictionary.

I am thankful to Chidananda Sali, Prof. BK Anantha Swamy, Hemanth and Dr. M. Byregowda, who have played important roles in bringing me and my book to light and all others who took interest in this endeavour of mine.

Those who missed the Book Release function say, "Sorry, I could not make it..." I say with a smile, "Don't worry, I will invite you again for the Second book release function." Afterall, they are not talking about my marriage!

...if we say these Kannada poems are better than Tagore's poems, Bengalis would become angry. -Jogi, Kannadaprabha.

Opportunities... Bangalore

2008-04-30T04:38:00.001-07:00

Hi….
New to Bangalore?
Come to Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic.. so called) or Bangalore City Railway Station. Stand still in a corner, so that you are safe, and see how many people are entering this city of Bangalore and almost refusing to leave it. If somebody hits you in hurry, never mind. He may not have time or patience to throw a ‘sorry’ at you. After a moment, you will see that only you are still and the whole world around you is restless, either body or soul or most possibly, both.

Stop anybody forcefully (because you can’t do it easily) and ask him/her “Why Bangalore?” Nine out of ten would definitely use the word, “Opportunities”. Like, about some boy from his village who escaped from home and joined as worker in a garment factory, at a cable operator or some such work, years ago. Heard that he was staying in a room along with five other boys like him, somewhere on Hosur Road. Now after six years, the same boy, “don’t know, what he did in Bangalore”, visited his parents last month and gave one lakh(!) to them for his sister’s marriage and even said, “Appa, if you need more, tell me, I will arrange. But don’t ever go to anybody begging.”

Yes..OPPORTUNITIES… and of course, it is true. Your story might be different as your qualification and attitude are different. What all you can do here? Anything… Do you have guts and know to use body and brain? You will get an opportunity. What can you sell here? Anything. An intern was sitting beside me just now and he said, “I was thinking who is going to buy a TV set everyday? How many can I sell in four months? But after entering the market I am finding that my own SIP company is selling hundreds of TV’s evvvryday !!!”

Many times, while wandering around heart of the city, I have come across some insignificant, ill-equipped cinema hall, showing some insignificant, not worth mentioning movie, in which some insignificant actors have acted according the instruction of some other insignificant Director and on the poster …. hold your breath…. “Successful 25th Week”!!! I have wondered “Who would be watching such a wretched movie?” Then I have found the answer. This cosmopolitan city has consumer for everything you produce. Of course, on the other hand, producers always know what YOU want. There are colourful people here with colourful needs and colourful producers. All on their marks…It’s just a matter of vision. It takes vision to perceive opportunities!!! See Beckham’s vision.

This is just a peep into this hungry world. You have somebody to buy your product. Don’t be hesitant. Move forward… be a little fast… the other guy does not have enough time to listen to you. The little boy selling pink heart-shaped balloons at the traffic signal has only 90 seconds to choose the customer, convince him and sell the product. He will. You have a lot of time!!!

You can do it!!!

Leave this job... Go to another job!

2008-04-30T04:37:00.001-07:00

This is what most of the youngsters who have newly joined feel!The reasons can be many. Most of them are attitude resulted. The youngsters who enter a new job expects a warm welcome; many fail to get it. In a world where numbers matter a lot members are considered less important for the fellow beings. Many first days of the new employees end with, "Wow.. what a nice interior. Nice location and pick up and drop vehicle" which are lifeless. Talk about the colleagues they met, they do not have much, "ya, good, but all were busy, could not say more than hi or hello". The difference is obvious.Meet the same 'joined recently' fellow after two months or so, you have much to listen to. With "ya, manager is very happy with me. he encourages" to "my seniors who are there from many years are not cooperating with me, they are unhappy that I am given a better position though I am a new fellow."Meet the same 'quite accustomed to job' fellow after four months he would put a bomb shell, "Actually I am looking for different openings" But you were on cloud nine when you were selected for this post/company na? "Ya, everything is fine. But I have lot of pressure. I am not getting time to receive personal calls too. In a hurry I need to finish my lunch. I need to make lot of official phone calls I hate. My boss has begun to find faults with me even when I do better than the seniors..." He is talking about the problems so he is taking much time. He had all smiles when I met him first time. Now he is frowning a lot and looking down most of the times..." Ahem..
I remember a story which I had read in my childhood from an outdated text of IV Standard Kannada.
A boy was starting a journey. His mother, like any mother, gave him a pack of 6 rotis so that he can have them on the way. When it was noon he felt hungry and sat under a tree to have his food. He ate 1st roti; it was obviously not enough. He had his 2nd, 3rd and 4th roti he didn't feel full. With the 5th only he felt quite satisfied. When he had the 6th he was full. He uttered, " Oh! What a fool I am. I should have eaten this 6th roti first. I could have saved all the five rotis".
All these new employees are like this boy only. They want to learn things and earn more without going through the toil. You must eat all the rotis if you want to be FULL!

Why Aa DinagaLu is an off-beat movie?

2008-04-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

I recently watched this movie namely, AA DINAGALU(Those Days). I had to watch the movie for various reasons which can't be revealed. :-) I liked the movie for many reasons. Go through this blog and tell me whether you watched the movie. What did you feel?

After watching the movie on my recommendation my friend sent an SMS which read, "Doesn't d movie seem anachronic? V being used 2 RGV's kind of Crime n Killing feel impatient.. Y doesn't he just shoot him off? No guns. Killing wasn't so easy"

I wrote him, "You should have seen the subtitle of the movie , Underworld that suffered in the oven of love." It literally happens in the movie unlike the Crime Movies that sprout every week where love suffers due to underworld mostly in raw form and illogically. The youngsters do not have anything against the don except that he poked nose in their love, which in turn was not the usual work of the don. But as it has happened with the most of the underworld dons, this don also gets killed by a group of novices.

They do not have the hurry because it is real life story! As simple as that! This movie has the authenticity required for the story because one of the characters involved in the main episode is the writer of the story. This could have been the case in many love stories. Any underworld don might have not written a story! But Sridhar has written "Daadaagiriya Dinagalu", which in fact is not a story but narration of experiences. We can see decency, ideas, thoughtfulness and rationality of the character which represented the writer himself. This might be the polish done or the actual portrayal.

Since it is a real story which happened during 1986, two decades ago, things can't be and are not glorified. The whole movie unfolds as it happened in real life. Naturally Ram Gopal Varma has all the liberty to send his characters abroad or use the latest weapons which a real past story doesn't have!

Except for the early demonstration of the don's cruelty without reason everything else in the movie moves like a leaf on the stream.

Songs(which make the movie a love story, haunt you for many days), performances(which reminds us of the real characters) and cast(which suits the temperment of the characters) have worked well.

By making the movie AA DINAGALU which was DAADAAGIRIYA DINAGALU, the director and writer have made those days pleasant and worth suggesting somebody, "Watch this movie! It's different!"

No wonder, the movie has gained a place amongBest Twenty Indian Films of 2007 as expressed by The Week!

Govinda said...yES, I liked your blog, "floating like a leaf on a stream"!I did not that your favourite book was and is "The outsider" buy ALbert Camus!You had lent the book to me!Good day!Sharma Govinda (INC)March 26, 2008 6:48 AM
Madhukar said...Hi..Ya.. the movie AA DINAGALU is really Natural... unlike most of the current day underworld movies..Though it may seem very unlike of present crime movies, it effectively presents that past time..How were Those days...How difficult Killing was.. Unlike the present 'just Shoot off'.And... why do v like underworld movies... If v observe the movies which v've liked...(which u too've mentioned)... those are movies made by some greatly skilled directors..Maniratnam, RGV etc..So.. not all the crime movies are liked. It's the men at the helm who matter.. i mean their perspective. The way they portray...March 31, 2008 10:27 PM
KS Anand said...I havent watched that movie. By going through your Blog i understand the content of it. Allow me to look at this through Evolution - Biology :-)Evolution has brought man through harsh situation, he has survived through tough situation starting from the cave man platform. He had strugled for food and survival by fighting within his community and from other common predators ( like Lion, cheetha etc). So that is the reason we like these kind of movies !! and the genes we carry are having the history of our strugle for existence so we naturally like them. That may be the reason why movie like "Godfather" has become blockbusters and inspired other directors to make similar kind of movies and even they are attracting audienceApril 1, 2008 10:46 PM

Why do I like these Underworld Movies?

2008-04-30T04:33:00.000-07:00

Whenever some webpage profiles asked me to fill the column, Your Fovourite Movies, I have been writing Nayagan, Satya and Sarkar along with others.(Since I have not got an opportunity to watch The Godfather which I feel I would have definitely added! Because Ram Gopal Varma begins Sarkar with the declaration: Hundreds of filmmakes all over the world have been influenced by The Godfather, I am not exception)
Even my students asked me, "Why do you like underworld themes so much?" May be they have in mind that I, a very peace-loving person, am releasing all my stress through Kamal Hassan, Manoj Bajpai or the the Bachchans! But I still remember that I mentioned the last words of Ramgopal Varma in Satya, "My tears to Satya and those whom he killed" and Naykar Mama replying his grandson's question, "Are you good or bad?" as, "I don't know!" Was he speaking on behalf of all of us?
I used to like these movies with no second thoughts until my 'thinking' friend Vijay said, "This is what I hate in these great directors like Maniratnam. People are already worshipping Rajani and Kamal for their mannerisms and acting. If those matinee idols become Dalpati and Nayagan in the hands of the great Maniratnam, won't their worshippers follow their ways and philosophies?"
This second thought should have come to me.
I have liked the movie Nayagan, since with all the underworld activities they have in hand, they keep on asking, "Am I good or bad?" ; Dalpati for it is an intelligent adaptation of Mahabharat's Karna'a story; Satya for the laconic narration; Sarkar for the close-up shots and sepia colour in addition to its similarities with Nayagan.
I have liked all these movies for it is the world we have not been in touch with. Crime has been the instict of man peace has been the practiced culture of man. Though I have people so calm like me (ahem!) it has taken generations' work for the genes to make this animal, a gentleman!

Suju said...
Peace is a cultural phenomenon...we are taught to hide our anger and stay calm in order to be called "good" by the society. But aggression is definitely a part of all of us. Thats why i guess crime movies attract us because at the end of the day "Evil is fascinating". Very like The Forbidden Apple. Good piece of writing Naveen....just keep writing.
March 27, 2008 9:27 PM

Deadly Matters

2008-03-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Pramod Mahajan Died...He had been young and enthusiastic and future face of BJP. But he became the victim of his own brother's vices. If at all he was killed by someone else there could have been political exploitaion of this death too.Remember what happened in Bangalore when peace loving Dr. Rajkumar, matinee idol passed away? Riots killed another 8 people. I who was in Hyderabad at that time was shocked and confused!!!Why people are burning buses if a loving person of the whole community passes away?Some rumours even said that it is to malign the new tailor made govt. of HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa, some have done this.Whatever..... what an irony? A natural death led to 8 people's accidental deaths.
I was disturbed. I
t brought Brand Bangalore a bad name. Bangaloreans have always been known for hospitality and the comfort they give the outsiders here. It is cosmopolitan in its true sense. I see so many people come into Bangalore from all directions. I don't see too many people going out of the city. Let's try to retain the reputation.
1 person said...it is terrible when people riot about death, murder is understandable, but i must say that when those who feel bereft and want retribution for something that happens naturally, its silly, and they missunderstand. i like ur blog. keep posting for me, i like to read.

I will go back....

2006-05-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hoguvenu na... begins a poem by the Kannada poet Kuvempu who said that he would love to go back to his hilly native which is filled with greenery and life. But he did not leave Mysore city till he died. But his son silently went there and has been living a great life of Malnad Farmer... Writing things about agriculture, wonders, computers and what not. He has taste for photography, painting, fishing and so many others things! He is a model for me, in a way.

I have always said... I DON'T HAVE ANY AMBITION. But one ambition that I have repeated in vague words is that.... I MUST HAVE A FARM HOUSE. I must grow everything that I eat and which can be grown in my climate. I must reduce buying and selling to the maximum possbile extent. Plainly speaking, BACK TO SOIL. That's the original and truthful thing about existence.

Man, who is just another animal(who refuses to think so), has made his life so complicated by calling himself a rational creature. Henry David Thoreau's WALDEN clearly gives many hints about how simplified a man's life can be. He lives by a lake namely Walden for some years, A L O N E! and proves his point. How spiritual life can really become!!!

The pace of this city life, unwanted tension, unpleasant money matters, running behind nothing to get nothing... If given a choice and support from my family, I WILL GO BACK....