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...