Cinema over the Years

25th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge 

It happened to Hollywood. The movie industry enjoyed prestige and mass appeal during the golden era (Late 1920s to early 1960s) when production was controlled by reputed studios like MGM, Paramount, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. During this period the movies had great story telling ably supported by bankable stars like Cary Grant, James Stewart, Clark Gable, Gregory Peck, Grace Kelley, Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Heburn and Elizabeth Taylor to name a few. The period saw stories based on solid screen play to which the viewers could relate to . From such an enviable position, the industry later moved away to big projects with the focus being on technology led, spectacular spectacles with an overdose of violence and sex. 

Sadly, Hindi cinema followed in its footsteps and in turn regional cinema, seems to have aped Hindi cinema. Although formula ridden commercial cinema existed in the 50s, 60s and 70s, they were still rooted to the Indian context, to which the cine goers could relate. The heroines still had important parts in the movies of that period, executed with elan by talented artists like Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Nargis and Vyjayanthimala. Cut to the present times and you have heroines in Hindi movies whose presence is merely ornamental .Their role is often limited to appearing in two or three provocative dance or duet sequences 

As against this sad state of affairs today, during the golden era, even the heroines who mostly did commercial films had a few iconic roles which they could be proud of - Like, Sharmila Tagore in "Aradhana", Mumtaz in "Khilona" or Hema Malini in "Seetha aur Geetha",  movies in which they essayed the central character. Mindless violence, excessive show of skin and extravagant use of technology mark today's films. An insider was heard remarking that the scripts of Hindi films today are written in English as many actors do not know how to read Hindi properly. In fact, many come to know of the lines to be rendered, only at the time of prompting during the shoot.   

It is necessary to have life experiences in order to effectively portray the dynamics of various characters. Unlike their parents who had seen poverty and hardships at close quarters before they made it big, the star sons have no exposure to life other than their privileged environment. No wonder, there are unable to get under the skin of the characters and deliver lines with the appropriate feeling like the stars of yesteryear.

A person without acting skills can aspire to be a hero in Hindi movies if good in dancing, able to do fight sequences and looks good in romantic song scenes. However, of late the same trash repeated film after film under the stewardship of unimaginative directors have resulted in steady decline in the viewership, even rejection of mainstream Hindi films by viewers. Only a few actors who have chosen to be different from the prevailing trend like Rajkumar Rao, Ayushmann Khurana, Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar are able to retain viewer's interest in their work. 

Most of the regional cinema have also gone the 'Hindi cinema' way, focusing on large, expensive productions, banking on the super stars and explosive action (heavy doze of violence and bloodshed). Malayalam and Marathi cinema, however, have come out with films outside the typical commercial formula of the day. These films are increasingly gaining the interest of international audiences and viewers from  states other than their own  who are watching them on the OTT platform. 

If Indian cinema is to regain its past glory, 'content' should once again be king. Actual production of cinema should return to the hands of 'Real producers' and directors who are totally involved in the process and all aspects of decision making at each stage - Producers like B.R. Chopra, Rajkapoor, Tarachand Barjatya, J. Om Prakash in Hindi or like S.S.Vasan and AVMeyyappa Chettiar in the south. 

The actors, no matter what their market value, should not be allowed to call the shorts but asked to restrict themselves to the roles assigned. Today the 'Super star' decides the director, co-artists, music director, technicians etal. Although, this method appeared for some time to work effectively, the industry has realized the hard way that handing over total power to these so called 'super stars' has in fact cut at the very roots of the well- being of the film industry. 

The corporates who have entered the fray in a big way have proved that they are ill equipped to handle matters of creativity. The lie to their erroneous belief that merely signing a saleable hero, heroine and spending a lot of money on technology and exotic locales hits the jackpot, stand exposed. The industry is finding out the hard way that the primary step in film making, is to have a good story and script that is capable of engaging the viewers. You simply can't put the cart before the horse! You do so at your own peril.

Nightfall

End of daylight, end of another day 

the birds back in their nests

the dusk has quietly set in... 

yet in cities, the night is still young 

artificial  lights keep the activities going 

delaying rest, sleeping time, for many...

Another day has come to an end

it's time to introspect, take stock,

were opportunities used  by you today?

or was it a day of missed opportunities ? 

did you make money or make new friends today? 

Did you go through the day auto pilot?

reacting to things spontaneously, giving in

to anger, annoyance, irritation without thinking? 

or did you respond to situations deliberately,

fully aware of  what you were doing? 

Ah, time has come to retire for the day 

time to remember all good things from the day

to lump, all the negative events  

and throw them out of mind, before sleep 

Then, tomorrow appears as a new day 

with no hangovers or carry overs

a fresh one, offering new hopes and  possibilities 

Nightfall has its place, providing a closure

and enabling fresh beginning, confidence 

to meet the challenges of another day! 

NB:  This poem was composed on a prompt  for the Seniors Today poetry meet , I recited it online on 24th February 2023 

The Future of Marriage

23rd day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

The other day I was chatting with an  octogenarian doctor who had briefly served for a few years in the UK and finally settled in Bangalore. However, his daughter and son in law are doctors practising in UK and therefore, the doctor and his wife shuttle between England and Bangalore. The topic of our discussion was marriage. According to him, the children of many of his friends settled in the UK, be it a son or a daughter did not wish to get married. Some of these 'children' are in their forties and remain unmarried.

The prospect of a marriage is not appealing to them. They are concerned about losing their independence, particularly women who presently enjoy financial and social freedom. The discussion thus far, reminded me of a poem I myself had written on 20th March 2015 titled " Crumbling Institution"( Link). The doctor was wondering aloud as to whether this is happening in UK because of the cultural differences that the next generation immigrants had to confront, making them apprehensive  and fearful of marriages. 

I told the doctor that the situation is not very different in respect of the educated, financially stable, eligible bachelors living in the urban areas/ big cities in India as well. There is a general reluctance to embrace the uncertainties associated with marriage. Being educated and financially independent, women do not feel the need to say 'yes' to these uncertainties. In big cities, in the modern times, biological needs can be satisfied even without getting married. Therefore, the motto seems to be "Don't get married; at least postpone it to as late a date as possible. Even if you marry, avoid the burden of motherhood which not only involves labour pains but also puts spokes to your promising career." 

Some time back, I was watching a talk show titled "Neeya Naana" on Tamil Vijay TV where girls debated for and against marriage or rather stiff conditions that must be ensured before a marriage can happen. Some of the participants who were well educated and in good jobs felt that there is no need to 'hurry' into a marriage. If not anything, the groom should be well educated with a professional degree and be earning more than the bride. He should also be owning an apartment before venturing out to marry. Girls are no longer willing to marry boys older than themselves; it must be the same age or at most couple of years older. The priorities have changed over a period of time.

The fight for equality has taken forms of confrontation. So much so, it leads to arguments like "I did the dishes on Tuesday. There is no way I will do it on a Wednesday! After all, we have the days clearly defined and demarcated." Couples are more worried about marking and defending their territory rather than engaging in developing a platform of mutual love and respect. If the problem of sharp differences was believed to be more in western countries, it is increasingly seen in countries like India that have been looking to the west for guidance on what is 'modern' and 'up to date'. It is reported that men from the US are increasingly going in search of brides to Asian countries like the Philippines in order to wed wives who are less aggressive and more 'family oriented'. 

Will the institution of 'Marriage' survive and reinvigorate or crumble and fade away in the years to come? Is it a bane, that is best done without, given situations like 'Dowry deaths' that frequently happen in our country? To my mind, the institution can revive and thrive not in a scenario of confrontation but when both partners begin appreciating the needs and motivations of each other. Women do not become equal or powerful by becoming more "masculine" but by bringing their own unique feminine nature to the table. After all, John Gray had called his book "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus". 

Coming back to the question in the first line of the previous para. It all depends on the players in the drama. Time alone can tell...   

Act Now Before it's Too Late

20 th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

Dr Mathew, the Chief  Trainer  of  a  Manager Development institute based out of Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam District, Kerala, has facilitated a few training programs for BEML during 1998-2000.  One of his flagship programs was for employees who were due for retirement in the next five years. The program sought to acknowledge their long service to the company and also give them inputs on psychological, physical, social and financial matters to enable them to handle the post retirement phase effectively. The programs were well received and appreciated by the participants.

At that time as Head of the Department of Training and Development, I used to sit in on major programs to see the impact of the programs and also get inspired myself from the content of some ace trainers. An absorbing, yet very touching story Dr Mathew used to relate was of his mother as she lay in the coffin after death. His father, a person not known to outwardly demonstrate his love or tender side, suddenly burst out crying " Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth you have been a wonderful wife and mother! You sacrificed so much for us whole through your life. Yet, I couldn't tell you even once how much you meant to me, to all of us!" He kept weeping repeating similar lines. 

Mathew then looked at the participants and said "Don't wait till the death of people. Tell them you care, when they are alive." It is very sound advice. Yet most of us find it, difficult to follow. For one thing, we tend to believe that our deaths or that of our dear ones will not happen in the near future. Further, In India, culturally we tend to take things for granted and are reluctant to openly acknowledge the good deeds and gestures of near and dear ones . While going through the ups and downs of life, one tends to look at the faults of others rather than their plus points and it is only in their absence that the good things about them and how much we miss them  hits us in the face. 

As I pondered over the subject of discussion, it struck me that it is not just about appreciating/acknowledging a dear one but spending sufficient time with the people you care for or look up to is equally important. We tend to postpone things to a later date and then it can be too late. Some things of course happen unexpectedly and are beyond our control. As for example V. Bimal my colleague in Hyundai Motor India Ltd worked in sales. He was very effective in his work and was instrumental in creating some high levels of customer delight which I have recorded in an earlier blog. (Can Read here ) It is also included in my book " Straight from the Heart- Thoughts and Experiences of an HR Professional". 

Apart from being great as an executive in his chosen field, Bimal had a special place in my heart also for the kindness and regards he extended when I was serving in Chennai. As I was living alone, (my family stayed back in Bangalore) Bimal invited me to his house for dinner and I had met his wife and school going daughter two to three times. Whenever he went abroad on personal or official trip, he would invariably bring for me a little memento as a remembrance of the occasion. 

When I retired and left Chennai for Bangalore,  I invited Bimal and his family to come and visit us in Bangalore. Destiny did not allow this to happen though. It was with deep shock that I came to learn of his demise due to covid complications in June 2021. As a person a lot younger than me, the last thing one would have expected is for him to leave us so early. A friendly, ever helpful personality Bimal is missed a lot by many friends and family. His friends circle was far and wide. Condolences had poured in from Bulgaria where he had done his engineering.   

Mr Brahmadathan, retired chief engineer, Kerala State Electricity Board had made a mark not only in his profession but in a number of other areas like sports, yoga and education. He represented his electricity board in the National Badminton championships of the electricity boards. He was instrumental in starting free yoga coaching centres in Thrissur to encourage and develop the practice of of yoga in his city. 

He was the Founder Executive Director of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology, Thrissur which has today grown in to a big, reputed institution in the state. The impact he has made on society can be seen by the fact that even after 12 years since his crossing over, every year on 17th September, Brahma Smriti is observed by the Vidya Academy remembering K.R. Brahmadathan as the philosopher and guiding light that made all this possible. (Can read here )

Mr Brahmadathan also took the initiative to develop a township in Poomala, Thrissur district with the concept of independent houses owned by senior citizens with all back up facilities so that they can stay there with the like minded, in camaraderie and peace of mind. They could visit children and stay with them for short periods and return when they wished to do so. He was also a lot into spirituality which stood him in good stead during the trials and tribulations of life. I was fortunate to have access to the noble soul (married to his wife's  elder sister's daughter) and enjoyed discussions with him on spirituality and yoga. 

Whenever, we visited his house for a couple of days, he would invite me to his yoga center to practice yoga. I would decline saying I would take leave, come for a week or two and learn it properly. However, this never happened as the matter kept getting postponed during my hectic corporate tenure. Before, we knew it, he had left for his heavenly abode. One thing I will always regret is not having spent more time in discussions and interactions with this multifaceted, inspiring personality.    

So, there you have it readers, the message is loud and clear. Do take the initiative in respect of those important people in your life and "Act now, before it's too late..."     

Challenges of the Elderly

 

16 th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

At a time when everyone is in a rush 

not enough time to eat, even sleep properly

to converse leisurely with family or friends 

where does it leave the elderly?   

No one wants to listen to grandma's storytelling, anymore

or to grandpa's rant, about his exploits in the past 

in the army, at work or in his old social circles

the youngster's expression conveys "When will the bore stop?" 

Already removed from the 'family' in feature films 

of Indian cinema, be it Hindi or regional cinema

the grandmas and grandpas have no place 

perhaps because in 'real life' they no longer 

have much interaction with younger generation

Focus being solely on the hero, shero - the ones 

carrying film on their shoulders! 

Longevity and loneliness, big challenges for elderly

a time when immunity is low and illness walks in easily 

a time when lethargy, complacency has set in....

Only way out for the elderly, is to take responsibility 

for own health and wellbeing- find time for exercise

have restraints on food, beat lonliness by activity 

engaging in what you love, interacting with the like minded 

and stop wallowing in self pity! 

Perils of a Short Fuse

15 th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

We all know that anger is better eschewed and it can put us to a lot of trouble if not kept in check. However, in the times we are presently living in, it is all the more important to be cool and calm as more and more people are getting stressed up and the number of persons with a short fuse is rising rapidly.Take for example, the instances of road rage.There is a lot more impatience all around and  a tendency "to teach the other guy a lesson". We find eventually that in the process of teaching him/her a lesson, the balance in our own lives could go for a toss. 

We have seen the case of Navjoth Singh Sidhu, an accomplished cricketeer who could not contain his road rage during an incident on 27th December 1988 at his home town, Patiala.  A 65 year old Gurnam Singh had asked  Sidhu to  move his parked car and give way to him, Sidhu along with his friend Rupinder Singh Sandhu had heated arguments with the senior citizen. It ended with Sidhu beating up Singh and fleeing from the scene. Gurnam Singh  was declared as "Brought dead" when he was taken to hospital. It is after years of legal battle and the accompanying mental stress that Sidhu has been finally handed over a sentence of one year imprisonment. 

There are cases of honour killings which stems from anger over a family member's decision to marry in line with her/his own will and against the wishes of the family. A spurned lover 's anger provokes him to kill or throw acid on the girl. It was again, anger that prompted retired 55 year old Lt Colonel Ramraj to shoot dead a 13 year old boy, Dickson on 3rd July 2011 in Chennai. The boys living nearby, had the habit of entering the army officers' quarters enclave to pluck fruits in spite of warning. The officer was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme court reduced the punishment to 10 years imprisonment and Rs 2 Lakh fine which was to be handed over to the boy's parents as compensation. 

Supreme court observed " There was no calculated intention or premeditation on his part to commit the murder of the deceased". It was a case of losing self control over a sudden provocation by the children. A former domestic help of the officer testified that " Ramraj was short tempered and had chased the boys in the past." It is clear that short fuse is the cause of many hardships for everyone involved. 

In the light of what we have discussed, I would like to go back to the first para of this post to reiterate that being calm and cool is the need of the hour. A few years back, I had got down at the Bangalore city railway station, early in the morning at around 6 AM. When I got into the auto, I noticed that the driver looked like a teenager. I was wondering whether he was old enough and whether he had a licence. These fears multiplied when he started driving.

 He was very rash as he drove speedily jumping red signals. I told him not to do it but he ignored me. When he drove past the red signal for the third time, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Easy brother, drive slowly following the rules." The boy turned back swiftly. From the ferocious expression on his face, it seemed he would hit me. He said "Hey, I know what is to be done. It is my auto and I know how to drive it without getting in to trouble. Just shut up." 

He had not even given allowance for my age or to the fact that I was a customer.  I immediately told myself that it was a mistake to tap him on his shoulder. For all you know, he could be a drug addict and what he may have consumed the previous night may still be working on him. That brings us to the understanding that not only should we not have a short fuse but also be very careful dealing with those who do!

Bullying in Educational institutions

14 th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

Bullying in educational institutions have been around for some time. However, its nature and intensity has changed over periods of time . In India, the problem (called ragging ) was mostly at college level, particularly in the professional colleges. In the US, the problem starts right from school. There have even been cases of shooting and death of students due to bullying. The world having become so small with the arrival of the internet, you know what is going on in any part of the world and there is a natural tendency to replicate it. Therefore, it need not be a surprise if bullying happens in a big way at the school level in India as well. After all. today we hear of increasing use of drugs amongst school students in the cities of India. 

Bullying can take many forms such as physical bullying, verbal bullying, relational or social bullying and cyber bullying. While physical bullying is easier to identify, the others are more difficult to prove and restrain the culprits. As for example cyber bullying which is on the rise is done anonymously. The students in educational institutions are reluctant to report ragging as they fear negative, more severe repercussions. Another reason is that they do not expect effective adult responses from the college or parents. 

In real terms bullying can psychologically scar the victims and result in the loss of their confidence level for life. In the year 1985, one of my cousins on the maternal side had joined the Manipal Engineering college and found it very difficult to deal with the ragging in the college. When he came from the college hostel for my wedding in September of that year, he was not able to join in the fun and frolic of a celebration. He remained withdrawn and appeared physically and mentally drained. He later quit that college and joined a college in Mysore. In the video below, the case of ragging in a Bangalore college is reported.

On October 14, 2022, the partially decayed body of  Faizan Ahmed, 22 year old student of IIT Kharagpur was found in his hostel room. The cause of death is attributed to severe ragging.

It may be interesting to note that ragging not only affects the victim but can also scar the psyche of the perpetrator.This was discussed in the 1987 Malayalam movie Amrutham Gamaya wherein the hero, Haridas, a medical student played by Mohan Lal , leads his gang in ragging a first year student who pleads to not hurt him as he is a heart patient, Haridas however mocks him and insists that he carry him on his shoulders around the campus leading to the victim's death. Haridas then begs his professor to save him and the death is covered up by the college as a playground accident. 

Later, as a doctor, the protagonist comes across the family of the victim who lead a miserable life, as they had pinned all hopes on their academically brilliant son. Haridas is now plagued by guilt and remorse and he even takes to injecting drugs on himself to forget the haunting past. Thus there are no winners engaged in this heinous act of ragging. They just get into it for the perception of power and status amongst the peer group. Although under the UGC Regulation Act 2009, ragging is punishable with imprisonment  which may extend to a term of up to two years and fine that may extend to Rs 10,000 or with both, it has not been a sufficient detterrent to the practice.

It is necessary for colleges to act swiftly taking parents also into confidence. Positive relationship and closer interaction  between teachers and students would enable students to confide in them. Further, sensitizing the so called "seniors" (who deem it their right to bully) to the reality of ragging is most essential. Making them aware that no real power or prestige accrues to them and that on the contrary the scars of ragging may pop up inconveniently in later life is key to the success of an intensive anti bullying/ ragging campaign which is long over due!

Good Samitans as Friends- A Short Story

13 th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

Prakash sat with his face fully covered by his left hand; body drooping. He was one of five young working professionals unmarried  and living together in a rented apartment so as to save  money. It had worked well during college days for those who hated to stay in the college hostel. Only two of them had studied in the same college though at the Punjab engineering college in Chandigarh..Prakash was from Pune and the other two were from the south, one from Tamilnadu and another from Telangana. 

It was Rakesh , the guy from Telangana working for Infosys, who first noticed the hopeless body language of his house mate .  He immediately rushed down to inform the other three who were playing shuttle in the indoor stadium of the gated community. As soon as they finished an ongoing game, he called out to them. They came outdoors and sat on one of the stone benches. " Hey, have you guys noticed something abnormal about Prakash, of late? " he asked

" No, why do you ask?"  

"Well I just came back from town and there he was sitting looking completely lost and dejected"  

"Is everything okay with his girlfriend Sarita?. I heard that she now has second thoughts about a wedding and would like to just remain friends"  

"Oh, they will make up. How many times hasn't that happened. In any case, I do not think he was very worried about that.?" 

" Do you think he is having problems with the the new boss at office? 

"No idea. Let's go home and cheer him up. Rakesh buy some samosas from Venu's shop on the way."

"Ok guys, but we will go in together"

As soon as the house mates, entered the house they rushed to Prakash. His face had moved partially out of the hand and was now visible although his shoulders continued to droop. 

"Buck up man! No need to be depressed. We can together come out of any problem. After all, what are friends for?" 

"Here, we brought you samosas to cheer you up"  

"Hey Prakash, are you having any issues at work?"  

Prakash stared at his friends as if they had gone crazy. 

"I am doing great. What is with you guys?" 

" Then why were you sitting burying your face in your hands as if everything is lost? 

" Oh that!  I was pondering over what to write today for the # Blogchatter daily write challenge. It is already evening and my mind is blank." 

"Hey, not to worry. You said that you can declare "Zero words written for the day" and make up the total monthly number in the writing to come" 

"Yeah, that's right. Let's then take a break and enjoy the samaosas. Hey guys, how about going to a movie tonight? After all, it's a Sunday!" 

Golden Quotable Quotes

 

12th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

I have always been a big fan of inspiring quotes from anywhere and everywhere, be it books, something displayed in an office or what someone said in a speech. It is not as if  I used them verbatim in talks or speeches as an HR executive, trainer or teacher. Just reading or listening to them  gives me a high, a good feeling. It is as if the words do something silently to your cells making you healthier or wiser depending on the gist of the message. I have many diaries with the latter part reserved and filled with what I deem as "Golden quotes" that show the way for a better living. 

In my blog I have published 33 posts with the title "Captivating Lines from Here and There" with around 10 quotes in each of them, touching upon subjects such as communication, leadership, health and spirituality. In the last such post I had included this quote from  Paul.J. Meyer, author and pioneer of self improvement industry that reads as follows:  

• Most people experience difficulty in making changes in themselves because they try to change conscious actions without changing the attitudes and habits which automatically govern their actions- Paul. J. Meyer  

Now, there is a lot you can do with a quote like that. You can start focusing on the attitude and habits to get best results. One thing to note is that the wisdom in the quote should resonate with you as an individual. It is possible that by nature something is not important to you. If this is so, no amount of deep wisdom on the matter will get through to you. I once read a self- help book in which the author  mentioned a quote within a few pages, at the beginning of the book. It was obvious that the said quote was very important to him as he repeated the same 6 to 7 times in the book reiterating its value each time. However, as a reader I did not relate to it and was a little irritated with its repetition so many times. 

I will end this post with a funny experience I had in this connection. In the office, our tables had a glass top under which you could place important information that can be read any time through the transparent glass. Production engineers put their weekly/monthly targets and schedule under the table top. When I was working in BEML at the corporate office, I placed my favourite quotes under the glass top.

However, some quotes were facing the visitor so that anyone coming in could read them. Couple of others were for "My eyes alone" that were placed facing me on my side of the table. The quotes that the visitors could see included one that read "Your smile is the most important thing you wear". 

Once a lady who had come to meet me at the office on some official matter saw the quotes and was very impressed. Even as she was reading and appreciating them, she asked me about the ones that were on the other side, facing me. I told her that they were meant only for me. However, within seconds she rushed to my side of the table to read them. I was taken aback. I was meeting this person for the first time and yet she had taken the liberty to do what she did in spite of my forbidding it. Such is the power and attraction of valuable, golden quotes. 

I firmly told her that the ones on my side were meant only for me and that others wouldn't even understand them. She wasn't happy but returned to her seat. Actually,I had told her the truth . As for example, a  message on my side simply read "Only a dream". By itself it may not mean much to most people. But for me it was Osho 's advice not to take this world seriously, not be unduly perturbed by official pressures as everything was "Just a dream".  

So, dear readers what are your golden quotes and  how did they make a big difference to your lives?

Ego and the Comfort Zone

11th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

When we think of people with an ego, we immediately think of  those with puffed up self image bordering on arrogance and who are dismissive of other people. Therefore, I was surprised when I read somewhere, the proposition that the ego can adversely affect those who are seemingly having low self esteem.As for instance, there are persons in the audience at a conference who are itching to ask a question after a presentation by the speaker but would never do so because the ego says "you may look foolish". You may be ridiculed, it cautions. Ego ensures that we do not get out of our comfort circles; take risks or try new things. 

Children have no such problems. They are not afraid to make mistakes .You find them easily picking up many languages or skills at play. In order to be effective, we need to be able to come out of our comfort circle. We need to ask ourselves "Is our ego trying to protect us from ridicule and in turn  stopping us from trying out new things?" If the answer is 'yes', then perhaps we need to just thank the ego, calm it down and go ahead and do what we are fearful of, anyway!

When the Asian literary society (ALS) FB group expanded its vision to commence and include the "performing Arts" group in its fold, I joined group but was reluctant to sing in the beginning. I had been drawn to songs and music even as a little kid. I used to purchase little film lyrics books or note down lyrics in a note book , after listening to songs on the radio and sing along. The craze and love for music continued through youth and middle age. But actual singing was more or less confined to the interiors of the bathroom. In the ALS Performing Arts group, everyone was singing along with Karaoke music. This scared me, as I thought that I wouldn't be able to get the timing right. 

Therefore, although I had become a member, I refrained from singing in the group for a long time . However, I sang a couple of songs without music and posted them on my Facebook page. Ms Asha Kodamanchili, who was at that time, an admin in the Haven International on listening to them, had words of encouragement . She urged me to sing songs with karaoke music. But at that time, I did not have the courage to do it. 

Later, I started experimenting and started participating in the group's daily challenge of singing continuously for five days on various themes such as "Devotional", "Love", "Sad', "Party" songs etc. At this point, although I was comfortable with the melodious songs, I was wary of singing the fast "Party songs" that also required lot of 'letting go' and singing with abandon. With time, I believe that I have been able to beat to some extent, the diffidence towards fast numbers. A lot of credit for this goes to the dynamic admin team and encouraging members of the group.

Coming out of the comfort zone gives you a lot of confidence. Although I had taken my own experience as an example, anyone at any age can achieve big things in any discipline by coming out of the comfort zone. As for example, new courses can be taken up by employees to further their career. An executive can start speaking before audiences confidently. A house wife can resume her dancing passion after gap of many years or a person can change his or her career if finding the present one dull and unfulfilling.  The ego which operates in a repetitive, automatic, predictable manner aims to protect us from perceived harm. Handling ego appropriately instead of fighting with it, is the key to becoming the best we can be! 

Pondering over a Movie Lyric

 

10th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

" Chirikkumbol, koode chirikkan, aayiram per varum.

Karayumbol, koode karayan, nin nizhal maathram varum" 

Translated in to English, this Malayalam lyric from the movie "Kadal" (Sea) reads like this:  

" When you are laughing, 1000 persons will come to laugh with you

    When you are crying, only your shadow would be there, to cry along with you.." 

There is a lot of depth and truth in the lines penned by the veteran poet, Sreekumaran Thampi. This was a time when there used to be poetry in the film lyrics (1968) . We have seen instances of persons who are rich having a lot of friends but deserted the moment they fall on difficult times. We need to also keep in mind the fact that this song was written in the sixties when most people were struggling to make both ends meet. Unemployment was a big problem .There were less number of people who were financially sound and the majority did not have much to laugh about.  

The next two lines in the same song declares thus " Happiness is a guest who visits you once in a while but sorrow is a relative who never leaves you."  Although, the song reflects the times and financial difficulties faced by the people (our tide turned in 1991 with encouragement of liberalization in the budget and the consequent emergence of a robust middle and upper middle class) during that time, the wisdom of the first two lines holds good even today. 

In the present times, seemingly hundreds of thousands of friends on social media are ever ready to "Laugh" and "celebrate" with you. How many of these friends would be ready to stand by you in a crisis is however debatable. After all, it is not as simple as clicking an emoji of "concern' or 'sad'.  I read an interesting account of a reader in Reader's Digest some time back. She said that usually when she posts something on social media, she used to get many comments and emojis. However, there was total silence when she wrote this about her brother- "My brother is very sick. Please pray for him."  She was totally puzzled as to why there was no response to this post. When she reread her post she noticed that instead of "Pray", while typing she had written "Please pay for him". 

In respect of friends there is this old saying "A friend in need, is a friend indeed!" However, it is not just in terms of financial assistance. What is sorely missed these days is a sounding board in the form of a friend with whom you can share anything and he/she would not judge you. A 'friend' who has the time to listen to you with empathy and is not in a hurry all the time, is hard to come by. There are many available though to "say cheese" for a happy group photograph  on social media. The need of the hour is to look for and cultivate authentic, genuine friendships. It doesn't matter if you have only a few genuine friends as against thousands who would disappear at the drop of a hat!

Rail, Road or Flight?

9th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

What is your preferred mode of travel? In my time (I am a senior citizen), I have travelled quite a lot by road (bus/car) and train and less by flight. Each of these modes have their advantages. As for example, if the destination is very far away, the plane is the best or perhaps the only bet. When I started my career in VISL Bhadravati we had the choice of going by bus or train from Bangalore to Bhadravati. which was 250 Kms away. It took six hours by bus and the journey was tedious. There were no airconditioned buses then. There was only one train which left very late in the night from Bangalore and reached Bhadravati very early in the morning. Depending on your need and urgency you choose between the two modes. If you were coming from Madras by Brindavan that reached Bangalore at 2PM, you may not like to waste time waiting for the train that leaves at 11PM. Instead, you may choose to take an immediate bus to reach home by night on the same day. 

Other things remaining equal, if the destination can be reached by an overnight journey by train, I would vote for the train any day. I find the road travel very tedious and find it difficult to sleep in the bus (today we have sleeper buses too!) unlike the train which has a comfortable berth to lie on. You get food at the stations and can conveniently use the toilet when the need arises. The bus, when travelling from Bangalore to Kochi has only a single stop (at times no stop if it starts late) for food. Passengers particularly women face problems for relieving themselves. 

How about flights ? Are they not the most convenient? you may ask. Although the unwelcome guest Covid 19, has been instrumental in my using flights more often to visit Kochi , I find the airport very far away when compared to the railway station. Moreover, you have to report two hours in advance which means you have to leave home at least three hours earlier to give allowance for the traffic in the city. On reaching the destination also there is a longer travel time from the airport when compared to the railway station. 

In the train, sitting by the window, you can lazily watch the sights outside and activities on the platform of the railway station. It is said that travelling by the Mandovi Express and other trains of the Konkan railway provides breath taking sights to the passengers (I am yet to do so although it is on my bucket list). It is all the more beautiful during the monsoons as borne out by some videos on you tube. 

                                     View from the train of Konkan Railways

There are lot more opportunities to make friends while travelling in a train.Sometimes, you may end up making friends for life! Fellow passengers guide you on how to go about in a new place you are visiting for the first time. In suburban trains, people travel every day to the city and back for work. It is the interaction with the regulars including activities such as playing cards amongst friends that enable them to be not conscious of long hours of travel. It is now clear to you dear readers that for a mid-distance journey of under two days I would prefer the train over the road or air any day! Now,tell me,what is your preferred mode of travel?  

Being One With Nature

 8th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

In a recent blog, I had mentioned the importance of enhancing the happy hormones in humans for leading a fruitful, healthy and happy life. One way you can do that is to spend time amidst nature. Kerala is known for her natural beauty that attracts tourists from all over the country and abroad. Although I am basically from the state, I have not visited most of the tourist attractions of "God's own country". Tourists go gaga over the backwaters, the hill station of Munar and the wild life at Thekkady forest among others. Having studied my graduation and post-graduation in Chennai and subsequently moving to Karnataka for work, my visits to Kerala were limited to the home town Kochi. 

It was only in October 2017 when we visited Kochi and nearby areas as a part of the India Poetry Circle (IPC) members get together that I had the opportunity to witness the magnificent Athirapally falls (Location for many Indian films including the block buster Bahubali-1) . On that occasion we also travelled in a house boat on the backwaters in Alleppy. Recently, I got to see more of the beauty of this area when we visited Chertala in connection with a marriage proposal We stayed at the KTDC run Kumarakom Gateway resort. The trip provided wonderful moments to experience nature from the comfort of the resort that had its own old world charm. Here are some pictures depicting the captivating beauty of that area. 

  

I am no travel blogger. In the hands of ones more adept and experienced, grander pictures could have been taken. By the way, the proposal for marriage for which we stayed at the resort and visited the boy's house fructified. My daughter in law Niranjana's sister Amrutha's wedding with Harinath happened on 8th December 2022 at Bangalore followed by a reception on 11th December at Cherthala.

Life in a Township

7th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

I was born and did my schooling in Ernakulam/ Kochi Kerala. Subsequently, I did my graduation and  post-graduation in the then Madras or today's Chennai. As these were cities, I had had no exposure to living in a township of a company. It was when I secured my first job as management trainee in Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Ltd (VISL), Bhadravati that I got the opportunity to live in a township, situated 250 Kms away from Bangalore. Around 60 of us joined VISL as management trainees (mostly engineers) in April 1981. I lived in the township for about 10 years and left on being transferred to another unit of SAIL in Kuteshwar, Madhya Pradesh in 1991. The township brings back sweet memories as it was the place to which I brought my bride after marriage, where we celebrated the first birthday of our elder son Manas and other such events. 

In recent times cities have been attempting to replicate the township style of having all your requirements met at arms distance within a township or a couple of kms away. As for example, those days people who wanted to do important shopping in Bangalore went to commercial street, MG road or Majestic area. Today, malls and super markets have come up in various residential areas like Jayanagar, Koramangala, JP nagar etc . 

At Bhadravati, in our township, we had the post office, a beautiful park, a100 bedded hospital with specialist doctors , the VISSJ Government polytechnic and the Visvesvaraya college all in walking distance. The officer's club premises had facilities to play shuttle,  indoor games like carroms and of course some enjoyed playing cards. We also had a canteen at the club and small hotels in the township. For other requirements like the movie theatres, you only had to drive a couple of kms. Therefore, most families had two wheelers that took them to wherever they wanted to go including the work place. 

The road facing the main gate had lovely flowering giant trees on either side giving it a grand peaceful air to it (See picture on top). I was thrilled to see this road when I first came from Madras to Bhadravati. Unlike Madras, Bhadravati had a cool temperate climate. Seasonal vegetables were available in abundance brought from the nearby villages. I could appreciate this aspect all the more when I moved to Kuteshwar MP, a mining area on transfer. Here, most vegetables were not available. People mostly bought potatoes and onions in large quantities.   

Those days, Bhadravati town depended mainly on the business generated from the customers working for the two industries viz VISL and MPM (Mysore Paper Mills). As the factories worked for 6 days the markets in Bhadravati for the convenience of customers were open on Sundays and had Tuesdays as their weekly holiday. In the township there was close bonding with everyone knowing each other. This is particularly so in respect of neighbours. As for example my neighbour on the left of our house Balakrishna Shetty had joined the company together in 1981 and both worked in personnel (as HR was known then) department. My wife Jitha and Balakrishna's spouse Asha became good friends. 

Nostalgic memories flow to my mind when I think of Bhadravati and our township. My son started his LKG schooling  here. His first birthday is a sweet memory. He could just about stand a few days prior to the birthday. My wife was teaching him to blow the candle for a week before the D day. Friends who had assembled for the celebration were surprised (some amused) to see the one year old birthday boy blow his candle before cutting the cake. 

At the time of writing this post, I searched on the internet for pictures if any, of our township. I found a you tube channel "Namma Payana" (our travels) with an episode "Bhadravati - A glimpse inside new town". One of the comments written below the video was by a nostalgic viewer who said "This makes me very emotional. Next time can you please show our home at D/F quarters?" To my surprise and delight the one who had written the comment was Nanda Vijayadev, the daughter of our neighbour, Vijayadev who used to live opposite to our house. I can understand her feelings. We share a similar nostalgia...  

Success and Dignity of Labour

6th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

The other day I was watching the Flowers Oru kodi program in Malayalam organized by Flowers TV  wherein contestants participate in a quiz program in which one crore prize money is at stake. It is loosely modelled on the "Kaun Banega Carodpathi?" (KBC) program aired on Sony TV channel . What sets this program apart is that the host spends a lot of time tracing and dwelling on the life and life circumstances of the contestant from childhood to the present. For the viewers it is like watching a movie as each contestant has had ups and downs in their lives, sweet happy moments and  those of deep sorrow. 

I found the episode featuring Dr Jatheesh Sivadasan of Ernakulam district very interesting and inspiring. The contestant was born in a remote village Manikandan chal separated from the mainland by a river. Children had to travel 10 kms by a little boat to go to the nearest school. Their ordeal was all the more when it was raining as they travelled by boat to school. Most people in the village including Jatheesh's father went to the forest (away for 6 to 7 days at a time) and cut bamboo for a living which was later converted to mats by their women folk. 

In view of illness and financial constraints, Jatheesh discontinued his studies in class IX and went to assist his uncle in a village in the mainland as a barber. However, he later studied privately and completed school. Subsequently, he did a part time course in electronics offered by the state Government. He did all this even as he worked in the shop. Jatheesh went on to study privately and secured B.A. in history and post graduation in Malayalam literature. The UGC approved qualification enabled him to secure employment as a lecturer. 

 However, Jatheesh was not willing to forget his roots and worked at the barber saloon after the teaching assignments to support his family. Although initially, a couple of lecturers expressed their dissent through anonymous calls asking him to choose either of the two professions as it brought disrepute to the teaching fraternity, he stuck to his guns. The teacher received support from students and the society. In fact, later he gained fame being featured in newspapers and T.V. channels as the "UGC qualified barber". Jatheesh went on to do his Phd coming out with a doctoral work studying the lyrics of noted poet and lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi in Malayalam cinema. Jatheesh has also gained attention for his poems and ability to write songs.  

The journey of Dr Jatheesh Sivadasan underscores the importance of dignity of labour. It is not what you do but how well you do it that matters. It is always preferable to be a first rate carpenter than a third rate doctor. In Kerala the younger generation have been reluctant to do work that is held "menial" and as a result workmen from other states like Bengal, Odisha, Bihar etc have been filling the gap between demand and supply. 

Another thing to be noted is that the single most factor that altered the life of Dr Jatheesh was obtaining higher education. Notwithstanding his grit and determination, the access to education helped him to reach where he has. Although the literacy rate in the country has increased over the years, many do not have access or opportunity for higher education. The budgets for education is quite dismal considering its importance as harbinger of change. But then it is convenient for politicians to keep the masses less educated so that they do not ask uncomfortable questions.

 It is reported that the Delhi Government has been making the highest allocation in its budget for education and have also introduced schemes for school students to develop entrepreneurial skills by jointly associating in small business ventures. Perhaps, such initiatives need to be adopted all over the country for alleviating the problem of unemployment and encouraging young people to aspire to be "Job providers" rather than "Job seekers".    

A better Person Through Writing

The #Bloghop prompt of Blogchatter for the week 31st Jan to 6th Feb was "3 ways writing has made you a better person" 

You jump in and out of a number of shoes 

see other people's points of view, not just your own 

understand  their  motivation, compulsions, circumstances 

in other words empathy for others blossom even

as you engage in the sacred art of writing !   

Writing keeps you on your toes, always on the look out

for new ideas, topics on which to write

mental faculties exercised in the writing process 

keeping one alert, socially concious, full of life! 

Research, curiosity, physical activity for travel bloggers 

imagination, mental travel as you write poetry, fiction

crafting distinct, unique characters, enjoying the divine journey 

generating dopamine, other happy hormones in body & mind  

With big influence on  the physical,  mental  and social well being 

writing opens your heart to a bigger, expansive realm 

an active, alert mind drawing in zest for living

 keeping at bay, diseases like the alzheimers!

NB: This post is in response to Blogchatter's #bloghop prompt: www.theblogchatter.com    

NB: I recited this poem during the Seniors Today meet on 10th February 2023

First Impactful Novel that I ever Read

School students usually don't get exposure to classical novels. However, we were fortunate in that the CBSC syllabus in the early seventies (We were 1975 pass out) had an option to take third group in class IX with the electives of economics, history and English literature. Those days under CBSE, schooling was only up to Class XI after which students could directly join for graduation in college. 

In the syllabus, as literature students, we had for study the celebrated novel of Thomas Hardy "Far from the Madding Crowd". It was a pleasure to go deep into the village life (far from the madding urban life) in England, understanding the motivations and compulsions of well etched out characters in the novel under the guidance of our teacher R.K. Mishra. The principal characters in the novel are Bathsheba Everdene, Sergeant Francis 'Frank' Troy, William Boldwood, Gabriel Oak and Fanny Robin. 

The novel is set in Thomas Hardy's Wessex in rural south west Victorian England. Bathsheba is the village beauty with many admirers and later she also inherits her uncle's farm. Gabriel Oak is a hard working, down to earth shepherd who became friendly with Bathsheba but she turns down his proposal for marriage. He continues to be devoted to her and helps in crises affecting her farm. 

Boldwood in his forties is the most eligible bachelor in the village with good financial background. During a valentine's day, Bathsheba in jest sends him a valentine beautifully embossed with the words "Will you marry me?" The man takes it seriously, becomes obsessed with her and proposes marriage which is turned down. An upright and highly respected person suddenly goes to pieces over his ardent quest to attain the object of his desire. 

In the meanwhile, a swashbuckling, handsome sergeant Troy enters the scene and Batsheba is drawn to him after an initial dislike. This leads to conflict between Boldwood and Troy. However, Bathsheba  marriesTroy who takes to gambling and is not serious about running the farm. It turns out that Troy was having an affair with a simple village girl Fanny whom he did not marry due to a misunderstanding. Fanny becomes impoverished and pregnant with Roy's child. When Troy comes to know about it, he gives her some money. But Fanny and the child die during child birth. A remorseful Troy kisses the lips of the dead body which pains Bathsheba. If that wasn't enough, he says "This woman is more to me. dead as she is, than ever you were, or are, or can be", crushing Bathsheba.  

Troy later goes away and his clothes are found near a river and he is presumed to be drowned. Boldwood, once again proposes to Bathsheba. This time she said she would consider the proposal after expiry of 7  years ( period after which her husband Troy would legally be held as dead). But, an year later, Troy having gone through a tough life returns and goes to Boldwood's house where a party was going on. He commands Bathsheba to go with him. Bathsheba shrieks; Boldwood shoots him dead and is imprisoned for life. At this juncture Oak who was by her side helping her all the while, decides to quit. It is then that Bathsheba realizes that Oak "was her oldest and only real friend" and dissuades him from leaving. He proposes marriage, she accepts and the two are quietly married.

Although, unlike most of Thomas Hardy's novels, this has a happy ending, there are varying emotions and dramatic moments in the novel gripping and engaging the reader. As students, we were exposed to the details during discussions. In one of my blogs, I have mentioned about my acting at school  participating with enthusiasm on stage during the annual day celebrations. ( Link  )

 I looked at each of the characters in the novel and asked myself  "If we played this on stage which student would be suitable for which role?".  " What role would I like to play- the guy who gets the girl in the end? the daredevil Troy or the upright Boldwood who went crazy and lost all balance on account of love?" 

I visualized the pretty girl in our  class for the role of Bathsheba. My Troy was visible in another classmate; as also Oak in another one, known for his stocky, steady persona. However, as an actor, I was drawn to the challenging personality of Boldwood who was living a happy life minding his own business. His situation is akin to waking up a person who is sleeping to tell him there is no food for supper. I saw a lot of possibilities with the fluctuating emotions in this character in his forties and wished to play it, if I had the opportunity. 

Overall, "Far from the Madding Crowd" written in 1874, is a fascinating novel deeply engaging to the reader even if read today. It is arguably the best novel of Thomas Hardy and the first quality novel that I ever read! 

The Four Happy Hormones

4th day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge  

In the modern day life style, humans face a lot more challenges with each passing day. As for example, when I started working in 1981, although it was less easy to land a job, retaining it was not such a challenge. Many expected to complete their work innings of 25-30 years in the same company. Today although the pay is a lot higher, particularly in the services sector like IT, there is the anxiety of job loss at the drop of a hat. 

Technologies could become obsolete abruptly or  changes occur  in the business scenario due to unexpected developments like the sudden appearance  of a deadly  pandemic like Covid 19. Add to these the pressures of maintaining healthy relationships even as  both partners in the family are working and having equally strong career ambitions, Pressures also come from the need to keep up with the Joneses and handling the new, colourful world of social media. No wonder stress levels have gone up and the corresponding increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. 

It is in such a situation that it becomes necessary to look out for the happy hormones and ensure that they are present in our body and mind  in sufficient levels. The other day I was watching a video that explained about the four happy hormones viz dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphin and what we can do to enhance it. 

Dopamine, the feel good one is generated by achievements and the praises connected with achievements. It is also enhanced by extending praise and compliments to others. Therefore, at the job where we spend a big chunk of our waking life, we have opportunities not only to receive appreciation but also appreciate others thereby increasing our dopamine levels. As one who has retired from formal work, I look to my blogs and posts in literary groups where I not only receive appreciation but also appreciate the creative outputs of other members. 

Serotonin wards off bad vibes and we get it from light and the warmth of the sun. Fifteen minutes under the sun in the morning and afternoon would do us a lot of good to ensure serotonin levels. Other ways are travelling, music and dancing to enhance moods. 

Oxytocin can be raised by good relationships and therefore more time with family, friends and kids will do a lot of good for enhancing this love hormone. Here, the initiative has to come from ourselves, busy as people are these days with so many preoccupations. Playing with children and grandchildren can be very good in this regard. As my grandson lives far away, I keep in touch by watching his videos of happy smiles and high energy. 

Endorphin is the natural beater of pains. It is enhanced by exercise, music and meditation. Something as simple as walking can meet the exercise requirement. You can sing to yourself, if reluctant to sing to others. In any case there is no barrier to listening to as much music as you want. As for mediation,  more and more evidence through scientific studies are proving the efficacy of mediation for calming the nerves and having a sense of peace and well being. 

We can see from the above that quite a few things are common for enhancing the happy hormones. We   not only enhance serotonin levels but beat Vitamin D deficiency by taking in the sunlight everyday. Music and dance do the trick not only for raising serotonin but also endorphin hormones. As I was sitting at the veranda of my home, eyes closed and feeling the warm pleasant rays of the sun on my body, I was contemplating on the suggestion of travel as a way of enhancing serotonin levels. 

For many, financial or age-related limitations could place actual physical travel out of bounds. Yet, I had read somewhere that you can travel to anywhere you want through your imaginative mind and obtain similar feelings of satisfaction and well-being. So that is what I experimented today. With eyes closed, I travelled to a beach scenario where sun was gently coming through number of palm trees all over the beach. Having got my fill, I then moved to a mountainous terrain and then to the backwaters of Kerala. Tomorrow, I could visit a lush green forest and watch deers playing happily near a water source. Ah, it is truly a divine feeling. Wishing all my readers a great time in enhancing the four happy hormones in their mind and body!

Paying a Visit to the Doctor

3/2/2023 – Third day of #Blogchatter daily write challenge 

Today I visited the doctor; no, not the usual doctor but an ayurvedic doctor at the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala at its Bangalore branch in Jayanagar. I have had good results from ayurveda in the past on issues such as back pain. This time, actually my problem started a while ago on 25th October 2022, when I felt some pain in the mouth that I believed to be a dental issue.Normally,  I would not have taken it that seriously so as to rush to see the dentist on a Deepavali, festival day. I would have waited a couple of days to see how it went. However, this time it felt like some electric current passing when I brushed my teeth or spoke loudly. 

I went to a corporate run clinic near our residential area where I usually go for general health requirements.But, this was the first time that I was going to their dental wing. The lady doctor who attended to me claimed that 5 composite filling @ Rs 1700 each was required, although only one was more important. As I was concerned about becoming okay, I told her to go ahead. She was not paying much attention to what I was explaining about the symptoms. For her, it was a business opportunity to make Rs 8500 on a general holiday. She kept on telling me that she was an experienced dentist of over 11 years of practice. The bill was made out in the name of another doctor though for reasons best known to the clinic.

After the procedure, I found that things had gotten worse in a couple of days. When I came back, I decided to consult the doctor on whose name the bill was prepared. Even as this lady was looking into my mouth, the doctor who had done the procedure rushed in from the adjacent room and said that everything should be fine as she had 11 years of experience and that the best possible had been done. Things would get better with time. When I was advised to brush well for maintaining oral hygiene, I pointed out that brushing and eating food had become even more difficult and painful after the procedure. However, the dentist who did the procedure was in denial. The other person prescribed me an ointment to numb the areas in the mouth each time I brushed or had food.  

With no improvement in my condition, I returned and the dentist (one in whose name bill was made out) refered me to a lab for an Xray. She said that the lab would send them an Email of the result and that there was no need for me to rush back with the physical Xray report. They would call after examining the report. However, when no call came even after two days, I decided to consult another dentist. After examining me, the dentist said that one of the fillings had been done incorrectly and that the cement had stuck in between the gums of teeth which was causing the problem. He therefore removed the filling from the tooth and said further treatment if any can be done after it has healed. 

This was when I started checking on the internet as to what could be my real problem as I had an electric shock like pain on the face while touching my right cheek and while shaving apart from the seemingly dental pain. I found that apparently I had this condition called "Trigeminal neuralgia", a very painful condition that is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve. I met an allopathic neuro physician to know more about it but decided to turn to Ayurveda which has helped me in the past for chronic conditions. I met doctor and bought a month's requirement of medicines at Kottakkal Arya Vaidaya sala when I visited Kochi, Kerala and am now continuing the treatment in Bangalore. I have got very good relief through the ayurvedic treatment. 

The irony of this ordeal is that I had spent Rs 9200 ( 8500+ 700 for removal of negligent filling) for dental procedures that were not required in the first place. In a world that is increasingly seeing everything as "for profits", health and education which were once held "noble professions" have fallen into the hands of unscrupulous elements. In corporate hospitals the "dead" are kept alive for days so that they can fleece the hapless relatives. I recently came across this very interesting video on you tube that draws attention to how our lives have been manipulated and changed in the past few decades to suit the convenience and profits of vested interests. 

The morality and commitment in respect of all professions have deteriorated over the years but the price we have to pay is very heavy when it comes to areas such as health or public infrastructure as borne out by the recent collapse of the suspension bridge over the Morbi Macchu river in Gujarat, killing 140 people and injuring over a 100. As a society, it is high time we woke up and treated health, education, safety etc. as sacred, to be placed in the hands of competent and morally sound persons. As of now, this appears a tall order with corporatization of health services that has the primary motive of profits and many educational institutions owned by politicians whose primary concern is also profits.  

My Alarm- My Pet Cat

My pet Bahu Billi wakes me up almost every morning. I don't need an alarm. The only problem is she does it too early in the day when I would have preferred to sleep a little longer. I say it to anyone who are willing to listen that this is very unfair. Bahu sleeps most of the time during the day and when it is time for us humans to rest she puts a spoke to it. 

Some of my readers may recall the post in which I explained how Bahu Billi got her name. For those who didn't get to read it, here is what happened. She got her name because she is a tough survivor like Bahubali. She lost her mother early in life and was living on the mercy of kind people who gave her some crumbs when they ate at a kiosk near our residential complex. 

One day, when my wife was passing by, she saw an injured kitten limping away. She brought it home with the intention of healing the wound and putting her back after a couple of days to "where she belonged". But when she came home we found her to be a trusting and loving kitten and therefore decided  to keep her along with two other cats we already had. Later, we found that Bahu had developed hernia and she underwent an operation to combat the problem. If all this wasn't enough, Bahu ventured to jump out of the window of our third floor flat and survived the fall as well. Thus she earned the name of Bahu Billi!  

There are people who prefer dogs to cats for their loyalty and affectionate nature. Cats are dubbed as "Matlabi" or selfish, cuddling up to you only when they want something from you. There is a joke that dogs are thankful and faithful to the master for providing a place to stay and food to eat, Cats on the other hand give the impression that they are doing us a favour by letting us  stay with them!  In any case it is this independent nature of the creature that is intriguing and worthy of respect. 

 In modern times many human beings behave without spine ever willing to dance to the tunes of those in power or positions of influence for a few crumbs that they may throw their way. When they are asked to bend, they are willing to crawl.  Contrast that with this little creature with a mind of its own. It is rarely willing to do things, permit us even to  fondle or pick it up if it is not in the mood. Having said that, I must say that Bahu is very affectionate, She misses us when we go out and would invariably be waiting at the door to welcome us as we enter, rubbing her body on our legs with palpable enthusiasm. 

As I associate more and more with Bahu and her loving nature, I am in awe of pets who demand so little from their owners, just some food to eat and a little attention. Human beings on the other hand are so complex with huge expectations which they are  not even willing to reveal in simple terms. They expect you to 'guess' and fulfill what they want, if you really care and love them. Add to that puffed up egos, strong likes & dislikes, jealousy, back biting, posessiveness etc and it is easy to see how animals are more simple, loving and trustworthy than humans in a dog eat dog world,  This post started out as the role played by Bahu as a morning alarm for me  but ended up discussing how a pet can bring a lot of meaning and love in one's life.    

                                                     Bahu watching TV with rapt attention...