Nagi

I love to read books of Dr. Shivaram Karanth. I have already discussed about "Sarasammana Samadhi". Today I just want to talk about Nagi. I don't know why, but I have thought about this character Nagi so many times in my life. I still remember, when I read Jnanapeetha award winning novel "Mokajjiya Kanasugalu" for first time, for so many days I was just thinking about Nagi.

It was not that I read novel for first time. Most of the novel which I used to read before, were love stories, with that perfect man, perfect woman, perfect world. This was the book which showed me entirely different view of woman.

Nagi was married to a person, who thinks that talking nicely to his wife may spoil her as she may take him as granted and may pass orders to him. He is not capable of expressing his love in words. He will be always trying to show that Nagis importance in his life is very negligible. He will be always telling that there are so many things important to him than Nagi. She was married at very early age. Her husband never understands her feeling. Once she discusses her problem with her friend, who suggests her to go back to her parents. According to her friend that is the only way to correct Nagi's husband.

Nagi feels that correct and go to her parents. But their one person who is rich, will come to know Nagi's state. He will be having his own family, but to him women is like a toy. Somehow he talk with Nagi and within few days Nagi will be attracted by his money, his beautiful talks.

Nagi's husband first think that it is below his status to go and ask his wife to come back. It is only when the news of Nagi staying with another person reaches him, he realizes what has happened? His relatives ask him to re marry. But he realizes that it is because of his fault that Nagi is not in his life. He decides that no other woman can take Nagi's place.

On the other side, person with whom Nagi went, takes care of her for some days. She becomes mother of two children. She looses her beauty. And he goes in search of another woman.

Now whole village starts laughing on Nagi. But to the shock of people, her husband asks her to come back in his life. He assures her that he will take care of her children as his own. But Nagi refuses him. She says that she has given birth to her children and she will take care of them.

She lives in same village, in front of people who will be laughing at her. Only thing she knows is making artistic things from Bamboo. She continues that. Even though people laugh at her, they like the artistic baskets made by Nagi.

She lives in a small village, and doesn't know what education is. As years pass by, her children help her, they also roam in forest to get good bamboo , they also learn how to make nice things from Bamboo. Her husband stick on to his decision and he waits for Nagi to come back.

Mookajji is the only character in book, who feels sorry for Nagi and her husband. People think that Nagi is character less woman and her husband is mad, who is waiting for that woman. But once Nagi's children grow and become capable of looking after themselves, Mookajji ask Nagi to send them to some far away place where people don't know them. So that they can live normal life. " I have showed you how to live. Now you go and live your life" Nagi says to her children.

Now once again her husband comes back and ask Nagi in his life. And this time Nagi.......................

There are so many things about Nagi which haunts me. If she wanted, she would have gone back to her husband. But she rejects it. Otherwise, she would have left that village. But she lives there, in front of people who laugh at her. Why? I think she wanted to show to that person that, she can take care of her children. Or she might have thought why should she leave the village when the person who is equally responsible is living without any hesitation in the same village. Or she might have thought that she has done a big sin and she deserve punishment for that. Or is it that, she just wanted to go opposite social norms.

Even today if you ask me which is the most beautiful woman character I have read. It is Nagi.

Jyotishya Shastra

Why don't we learn to live in present? Why we are always curious about future? There are so many people earning their livelihood from predicting the future of people. Prediction might not be the right word. Because for people whatever they tell is the fact, not prediction.

Anyways, wherever my appa and amma showed my janmakundali before my marriage, there these predictors were telling that my future is very nice. My husband will be very good looking, understanding, my family life will be very good blablabla. And after my marriage they were telling that, it is written clearly in my janmakundali that my family life will not be that good. Hahahahaha.

So many people are curious about their future that even after having so many predictors, it is difficult to get their appointments. Thank god, my parents are not the only idiots. There are so many people to give them company.

I am thinking about adopting a child, once I finish my M.Tech. From the day I have decided to adopt a child, wherever I see children or whenever I am free, I think about my child. I plan so many things for my child. I should send her to dance class, I should teach her to face the world boldly etc. Then suddenly after some time I realize that her liking is important and nothing is in my hand. I am also living in future.

Yes, sometimes I feel that dreams are part of our life. As long you live, you will dream. Some dream for small things some dream for big things. It's your liking. But you dream. After my college I was dreaming about marriage. The failure of this dream, scared me for some time. But I learned how to face the shattering of dream. But I didn't stop dreaming. Now I dream of adopting child. Life goes on.

Kamala and Bagga

Behind my Ajja's house in Kadidal, Leela's house was there. When I was small I used to think that Leela's job is the most interesting job in this world. You know what was her job? She used to take the cows for grazing. Morning aroung 9.00am she used to take them. In front of Ajja's house one small hill was there, where she used to take them. Then around 11 am she used to take them to tunga river, which was at a distance of 1km from Ajja's house. That was our main attraction.

On the other shore of river there is a place called Tirthamuttur where one temple is there. And river is little bit steep at that shore. Every year one or two people used to die there. Ajja never allowed us to go to river alone. We were also afraid of going alone.

So morning 9 am as soon as Ajja would go to farm we used to run behind Leela. She was having three children. First one, Manja was famous as "Koli Kalla" means "Chicken thief". Next two Kamala and Bagga were our best friends. I used to envy them as they were not going to school. I always used to think why should I go to school when Bagga and Kamala are not going. Leela tried to send Bagga to school. Those days, Government was giving uniforms to children who study in government school. So everytime Bagga used to go first day, collect uniform and comeback. That would be his last day. Then happily he will use that uniform while going to market.

Both of them were experts in climbing trees. So as soon as we get hungry, we will show them some tree where fruits are there. They used to climb that tree, no matter what is the size of tree. From 9 am to 11 am we used to play with them. Then at 11 am we used to follow her to river.

After coming back everyday we tried to enter house slowly so that Ajja could not see us. But somehow he used to catch us. Then because of our mistake Ajji will get scoldings. "You are responsible for all this. Your grandchildren are waste. I am sure that one day I will find them on the top of one big tree along with those Bagga and Kamala. They haven't even touched the book from so many days". In fact we tried to learn how to climb tree, But we could not.

Then after taking bath, during lunch time also he used to scream at us. Then we would wait for Ajja to go to his room, and after that as usual play with Bagga and Kamala.

Ajji was fed up with Ajja's dialogs that her grandchildren are waste. When I got engineering seat, she started giving taunts that "See, you were telling that my grandchildren are waste. But today she proved you wrong" When I got my first salary I purchased saree for Ajji and kadi shirt material for Ajja. When I gave it to Ajji, she told me "Your Ajja was always telling that only job suitable for my grandchildren is taking cows for grazing. Today I am so happy that you proved him wrong"

Last month when I lost Ajja, I had been to Kadidal. I heard someone asking me from back "How are you?" I turned back and saw Kamala. After so many years I saw her. When I talked with her I felt that, we have become so much strangers. Now my world and her world are so different. I don't know how it changed. I sometimes feel like going back to those days. Roaming in forest, waiting for Ajja to go to sleep so that we can go out, that 24 hours rain of rainy season. I miss so many things.

Bhootappa and Choudi

Bhootappa, Choudi! these are few names with the mention of which people of Thirthalli and South kendra get scared. People believe that they should make happy these Bhootappa and Choudi for better life. According to people these gods are the actual rulers and place where our house and farms are there belong to these gods. And once they get angry you will be destroyed, they will not allow you to live in their place. So you should make them happy by giving blood of chicken or sheep. There are plenty of Bhootappa and Choudi stones in Thirthalli. Atleast yearly once you have to give them blood. Thirthalli side they call this as "Bhotappana Harke". In each and every house you can get thousands of stories about Bhootappa and Choudi.

In Kadidal, near to the arecanut plantation of Ajja, one Bhotappa stone was there. Ajja used to tell us stories about that. Once it seems one servant tried to steal some arecanut during night. When he was coming out, he saw a powerful light and a white shadow which was Bhootappa. He left everything there itself and ran for life. Next morning when Ajja went to his plantation he saw bags full of arecanut near gate and one knife, which he identified as his servants knife. Then that servant didn't live long as he was scared that he got the curse of Bhootappa.

You know people in Thirthalli are scared of these things more then law and police. Once you put a board that your farm is under the control of so and so god or Bhootappa, actually stealing cases will go down.

In Kadidal, in front of Ajja's house one room was there, where Ajja used to store rice bags, food of cattle etc. There was a bell which Ajja used to tie to his Ox cart. After few days Ajja sold that cart and that bell he tied to the roof of that room. There was a small space from house attic to that room.

One day suddenly we heard the sound of that bell during night. It was really scary. We were just thinking "Who is making that sound?". It continued for few days. One of my aunt decided that Bhootappa is responsible for this. They performed pooja to Bhootappa. Still it continued!

One day our favorite, Venkta (remember last post) came. Ajja asked him to find for snakes. He started playing his pipe. After some time he said that there is one snake inside house. Ajji scolded him, "How is it possible? It's not a very big house. And so many people are there" But Venkta argued that he is correct and continued to play his pipe.

Guess what! One snake came slowly from attic. That was the Bhootappa, responsible for making sound every night in the room. Many rats were there in that room and that snake was going to that room from attic. Obviously while passing from attic to room on the way that bell was there, which was making sound. Hahahahahaha.

In Thirthalli side one village means on house. People live there, surrounded by thick forest. six hours powercut during summer, and during rainy season, no power at all. If you call office to enquire why power is not there (provided your phone is working) then they will give you list of places where trees have fallen on electric wire. When I was kid I used to think that these people are giving some excuse. But now I understand how difficult it is for them also to find out what has happened in such a big area that too in such forest.

"Bhootappana Harke" was a occasion where you will invite relatives. During old days no transportation was there, so relatives used to stay there for a week and then go. People enjoyed it as they can get few people to talk to, which will be a change for them from that silence of forest.

But I don't understand why Bhotappa wants blood of chicken and sheep? I wonder, what happens if one day Bhotappa appears infront of people and say "I want your blood".

Venkta

I have spent most of my life in Kadidal. My grandpa was having some Arecanut plantation and paddy field. Everyday morning by 9.00am he used to go to his Arecanut plantation and come back by 12.30pm. Then he will have bath, lunch, afternoon sleep. In evening he used to do work in garden, planting new plants in his garden, plucking weeds etc. Today when I compare our life with the life which my grandparents lived, I really feel why we are struggling so much!

Yearly twice a man named Vekta used to come. He was a snake-charmer and he used to catch snakes by playing his squeaky pipe. People who believe in science say that it is not possible to catch a snake like that as snakes don't have ears. People used to say that Venkta cheats. We used to enjoy his work. We used to follow him wherever he used to go, even tough Ajja used to scold us. I have seen him catching snakes and he used to remove the poisonous teeth of snake in front of us. Yellow color liquid used to come out. I just can't believe that he cheated us. Wonderful thing was he could make out the direction in which snakes are there by playing his pipe.

There is a woman called Paddi and her house is nearby to my grandpa's house. One day some one from Paddi's house came and said that king cobra has come to paddi's house. These snake charmers live in a place called Basavani at a distance of some 8km from Kadidal. They asked our vehicle to get snake charmers. My brother Vasuki and my cousin Abi went to Basavani. By the time they reached Basavani it was 9.00pm. They found the house and knocked at door. One snake charmer opened the door and guess what! He was completely drunk, not in a position to even talk properly. Vasuki and Abi tried to find some other charmer. But same situation every where. Finally as they were not having any other option they explained the situation to these people. As soon as they said King cobra, charmers asked 2000rs. No other option was there. So Abi and Vasuki agreed for that. They asked Abi and Vasuki to wait for some time. These two boys were waiting in jeep when one woman came and begged Abi and Vasuki not to take her husband(She was the wife of one snake charmer) as he is not in position to catch King cobra. Suddenly her husband came and he slapped her and she went crying. These two boys were standing there in full confusion.

Then that snake charmer explained that "his wife is a big idiot. She can't understand outside world. She doesn't know her limitations. She doesn't know that women should not interfere in these things. Blablablabla". Really she was a Idiot. She was trying to save this person who can't even understand that she was doing it to save him. Anyways these people came to Paddi's house. It was aroungd 11.00pm.

But one thing I have to appreciate. Even tough they were completely drunk, very easily they caught that king cobra. They were having a big pipe. On one side of a pipe they tied one bag. Other side they took near to that snake. Snake moved from that end of pipe and as soon as it got into the bag, they tied the bag. Abi and Vasuki came back. Then there in Paddi's house bargaining started. These Snake charmers asked for 2000rs. Paddi and her family members started arguing that they will give just 200rs. After some time as it was already late they stopped arguments and went to sleep. They thought of deciding it next morning.

Funniest thing was that next morning Paddi gave 50rs to them. These snake charmers were not remembering anything of last night as they were drunk. They thought that they might have asked 50rs. They took 50rs without any argument and went.

Gandhi Vadh Aur Main by Gopal Godse

I was reading this book written by Gopal Godse "Gandhi Hatye Mattu Naanu" (It's Kannada version of "Gandhi Vadh Aur Main"). Once you finish this book you will start thinking that Nathuram Godse is a hero, who freed us from a big villain Mahatma Gandhi.

I am not exaggerating. This is the fact. For the first time I realized that for every act you can give explanation. And you can convince people that even a shameful thing of killing a person is worth doing if you have good explanation skills.

Thank god, Rama didn't ask Ravana for explanation. There were chances of Ravana convincing Rama that whatever he did was correct and Rama might have asked Ravana to keep Seetha for himself. When I read this book, I myself was confused for some time.

I always used to think that there are good things and bad things. I mean for me there was clear cut boundary between good and bad. But this book changed my view completely. Good and bad depends on your thinking level.

Mahatma Gandhi didn't use any weapon to fight against British. But people who killed him say that they killed him just because he asked India to give money to Pakistan. Hold! I am not saying that partition was good thing. Partition was the worst thing happened.

In India joint families are common. If a person wants to get separate from family, whole family feels bad. But they can't just send him out. He has to be given some money from which he can start his life, even tough you don't like his act.

If you believe that whatever Nathuram Godse did was correct, then you don't have any right to say that terrorists or naxalites are bad. They too have their own explanation!

No one has got right to kill other person. Here each and everyone has got his own opinion. People who live in one house can't think alike. Then how can you expect whole world to think alike. "Oh, they are not thinking like me then kill them"! Yes, sometimes you may feel like you have been cheated, society is not fair. But killing people, taking revenge is not the solution.

Please make this world a better place to live. Everyone in this world has got equal right to live.

Language

Recently I read news about Jaya Bachan and Raj Takrey. I was just thinking why MNS is making big fuss of small things. It is not just MNS. In Karnataka we have Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. They are also doing same thing.

When I was child(Before IT revolution in Bangalore), I used to like Bangalore. There was not much difference between Shimoga and Bangalore other than size. Haan, only in few places as MG road I used to feel little bit lost. But to be very frank with you, today I am observing a very wide difference between Shimoga and Bangalore. As soon as I get down at Majestic, I see people who are very different from me. People hardly smile at you, hardly they speak Kannada. I don't expect people of other states to learn Kannada. But I expect Kannadiga's to speak Kannada. Children behave as if talking in Kannada is a big sin. I really don't feel that I am in India. It's completely westernized.

Yes, it's not only language. Somewhere I feel as if our cultural identity itself is changing. That is the reason I think, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and MNS people are shouting so much.

When I compare Bombay and Bangalore I like Bombay. This city includes people from all parts of India. But still it has not lost its cultural identity. I feel like I am in my country. Here you can find variety of people. Very rich, very poor, people living in chawl, middle class. People here are very hardworking. Life is very difficult compared to Bangalore. Weather is horrible during summer. Still when you go in local train, you find people with smiles on their face. If you want any help, you can ask anyone. They will help you for sure.

I just love this city, where you can find true India. In spite of having people with different languages this city has maintained its identity.

Goal

"Goal is very important for life". I have heard this statement from so many people. What is my goal? I don't know! Why I am here? Why I am living? Is doing M.Tech my goal? or working for any multinational company? or writing any software?

No. I just can't accept these things as my goal. You know when I think about my situation I get this song "Main aisa kyun hu". Yes, when people around me are so competitive, why can't I be? I don't know! I just don't get that competitive spirit. I never feel like "Oh, people are doing this thing, I should also do". I don't know, I have made it a practice to accept life as it comes. I don't want to achieve anything.

And I am happy the way I am. But sometimes when I hear some great people talking about goal of life, I really get tension. Why the hell am I leading a goal less life? Then I convince myself saying that "Coming here was not my decision. God has sent me here. So it is his duty to show me my goal. I still don't know my goal, means God is not doing his duty. Why should I bother?"

Sarasammana Samaadhi

This book by Dr. Shivaram Karanth is one of my favorite books. In this book Dr. Karanth has explained all the possible ways in which women suffer in India. There is a small village with one temple of Sarasamma. Sarasamma has become "SATI" (It is assumed that she loved her husband so much that when he died she decided to die along with him). People believe that Sarasamma can solve any marital problem .

People who are having marital problem go to Sarasammas temple on Thursday night (No one should see them going there), they pray to Sarasamma, and put one tender coconut to the pond in front of Sarasammas temple. Friday morning they go and see the pond. If that coconut is not there then it is understood that Sarasamma will solve their problem.

Chandranna lives in same village and he has got craze about ghosts. Once he meets a ghost called Bellamma and even after knowing that it is ghost he develops some attraction towards her. Bellamma explains him that throughout her life she searched for true love,which she didn't get that's why she has become ghost and she begs chandrannas love.

Chandranna accepts her love. All these things happens in front of Sarasamma temple. Chandranna asks Bellamma to visit Sarasamma's temple so that they can get Sarasamma's blessings. But Bellamma refuses to enter that temple. Finally he comes to know that Bellamma is no one else than Sarasamma. She has been forced to become SATI with her aged husband. Hahahahahaha.

Throughout the novel you see many women, educated, uneducated struggling in their life and visiting Sarasamma's temple in search of solution. And novel ends with Sarasamma begging Chandranna's help to get away from her husband.

"Kahin pe ye dil kabhi mil nahi paate, kahin pe nikal aaye janmo ke naathe"! That's life.

Alchemist

I heard of this book in IIT,Bombay from one of my friend Saroj. And this book really played a very important role in changing me.

This book is about your destiny, your dreams and positive thinking. We all have our own dream. But due to some silly reasons(After reading this book, you feel them silly) most of the people never try to make their dreams come true.

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho is an excellent work. At each and every statement, we stop reading and start thinking "Oh, this has happened to me so many times! Oh even I used to think like that!" You get answer to so many questions of life. And when you finish this book, you feel as if you have found the secret of life. I felt as if I found answers to so many questions which were always used to be there in my mind for two years.