Through A Stained Glass

I've been interviewing the staff of the Library for the souvenir. And I'm struck so much by how much our attitudes colour the way we look at life.

Here is U, an Anglo Indian. Now past 70, its hard to see the beauty she once must have been when she was crowned Ms.Bombay. Having lived it up as long as she could; she settled down late in life with someone she feels was second best. Her life has been a downward spiral monetarily and finally her husband and she landed up in Ooty. They've been given a free cottage but she has to make do with her small salary. She's always well made up and dressed well inspite of her ill health but thinks life hasn't been too good to her.

Contrast H, who is quiet and mousy. Happily married, she says she wouldn't change anything about her life except maybe ask for a better voice to sing. She might even work for free at this job if need be. All the staff at the Library are like her family.

Helper S, is pushing 80 and can't remember any happy event in his life. Life just is - he feels. He lives with his wife and 4 children.

Helper D, also born in the same year has had 2 wives and 5 children and lives alone in the same free home as U. He is grateful for the rooms, grateful for this job which gives him peace of mind and his children whom he visits every week.

Sadly, how much money one has does seem to matter a lot and colour the way we feel about our lives and other people.

Food for Thought

There are somethings we do that we take for granted without really thinking is this truly necessary?

One being - the printing a souvenir to mark an occasion.

The latest one I'm involved with is a souvenir to mark the 150th year of our Nilgiri Library. I'm suitably low down on a sub sub committee with some tasks strictly outlined for me. Though my personal view is that the whole running of the Library is far too snooty (not for nothing do we have the epithet snooty Ooty) and it should be open to more people; still I have been doing what is asked of me in return for the strong base the Library has been in my life at Ooty.

This morning as I was interviewing the staff for an article for the souvenir, an elderly gentleman started asking me the point of the whole thing. (He did remind me of my Father with his pertinent, uncomfortable-making, difficult to answer questions).

He said all souvenirs end up in the basket. They only go to people who already know about the institution. Souvenirs are created to put in the photos of the existing committee and to blow up a few egos. Why don't we use the money to prop up the building which is disintegrating and to increase the salaries of the staff who are of course paid a non-living wage?

All very valid. Now, do i have the courage to put this across to the haloed committee?

Movies

Saroja- Fun, light movie. Its not a movie you go home and think about. But neither is it boring. The young director, Venkat Prabhu has taken pains to present a thriller but with elements of comedy that prevent it from getting bogged down by darkness. And there is literally a lot darkness as most of the movie takes place one night - in a dark broken down factory.
There are a lot of promo efforts going on to fill empty theatres and I do hope they succeed. As Im sure Venkat is going to give us better movies as he goes on.

Raman Thediya Seethai. I thought being Cheran's movie, it would have a new theme, new outlook and different characters. The one flaw could be he is too serious and not entertaining enough. All expectations got fulfilled except that the movies is not Cheran's but is directed by K.P. Jagannath and produced by Moser Baer who are going to produce family -pics. This is all of one. You can see it with the whole family though it may hold only the older generation .

The theme is 'bride seeing'. How difficult it is when the groom has a 'flaw' or defect or drawback. It instantly puts off girls and the depressing effect it has on the boy.

Cheran is the protagonist but there are stories of other people too. Pasupathy as a blind, extremely self confident and self reliant Radio VJ makes a terrific impact. And newcomer Nithin Sathya as a thief with blarney. Pretty girls come and go. The photography is good and the backdrops, scenery very pleasing to the eye.

Tirupparankundram and Marriages

Last week we were in Tirupparankundram, not specifically to worship Lord Muruga but to celebrate a marriage.

Tirupparankundram is three miles southeast of historic, bustle-filled Madurai. It is one of the Aru Padai Veedugal or six sacred places selected by Lord Subrahmanya for his abode.

Lord Murugan or Karttikeya or Subrahmanya or Skanda has a Thousand Names. And a thousand temples confined to Tamil Nadu and Srilanka, Malaysia, Maldives..only wherever Tamils congregate unlike his popular elder brother, Ganesh or Pillaiyar as we call him. Why?

Tirupparankundram is built in a cave in a hill and no one seems to be quite sure of its age. The idols are cut into the rock face. The tank outside is surrounded by a grand rock on two sides making a nice view. Muruga married his Northern wife, Devyani, daughter of Indra here and so this temple is considered very auspicious for weddings.

The day we were there, the temple was packed – with newly married couples and their families - weddings were going on in every available space. It was rather nice to see young happiness all over. The happiness of a wedding does spill over to watchers.

The wedding we attended was in a hall close by. It went off very smoothly without hitches. Two factors contributed to the lack of confusion. One was that the bride was a Bengali and her bewildered family could hardly add their views to the proceedings. Second was that my cousin sister (groom's mother) had quarelled with her immediate family, so they were politely around but not feeling good enough to hand out contrary instructions. :-)

But the discordant note was actually the entertainment laid on. A variety entertainment group (of 'Vijay tv pugal") tried attracting an indifferent audience with old jokes, songs, dances , acts in various costumes. It was sad to see them saying 'come on clap for us'. I do think we shouldn't get singers/dancers etc to perform during weddings. It is so insulting to them when people hardly pay them any attention.

Family weddings are fun when we have the time to stay overnight and really interact. But when we spend hours travelling to the destination, make a token attendance and then rush back then it all seems pointless.

My sis has a new rule. Attend only the weddings of people whom you have seen something of outside social functions. Applying this rule, I should have to give a great many family wedding a miss.

Sujatha -in Irandaam Kadhal Kadhai

Although the title says kadhal kadhai-love story; the story is more about a girl liberating herself - even, from love. Sujatha or Rangarajan proves himself as always a forerunner in thought.

This story was first published several years ago so I guess its okay to reveal bits of it.

Nidhi, the protagonist is a headstrong young girl, going to computer classes on the surface but actually going around town with her young lover, Dumbo. Her father suspects something is going on and actually gets a detective agency on her case. Nidhi is outraged. Father hastily arranges a marriage to a whiz kid who comes to his office to raise capital for his venture.

Post marriage, Nidhi finds her unease about her new husband growing. Many things are mysterious and shady in his life. At this point I wanted to abandon the book. We see enough of it on Tv and hear similar stories so often. But I did continue and Im glad.

Because Nidhi is no crying-buckets-type. She is bold and takes charge of her life.She escapes with great difficulty to come back home only to find her parents disbelieving and unsupportive.

In real life, many women can be convinced by her parents to go back. But not Nidhi. She contrives with the other partner of her father's firm to take charge of the firm ( she could since a lot of the shares are in her name) and plans her revenge on her father and her husband.
Meanwhile she sheds her playful girl avatar and becomes a very responsible, successful manager.

The characters in the book are all interesting.Very well etched.

Nidhi blames her father for several things. One he has never been a very good husband nor a good father although he has been a good provider.He has never listened really to her. But only wanted her to listen to his ideas and live life accordingly. In his haste, he doesn't investigate the new bridegroom whom he is convinced is a wonderful 'boy'.

Mom has never opposed her husband. Because, she says, her family was financially dependent on her husband, they taught her never to question him. Her job was look after home and children while he made all the decisions. Im left wondering if some women are/were like this truly?

Augustus, the perfect secretary is one interesting character in the book. Neat, dry, efficient he becomes Nidhi's guide in business and life. At one point she even feels she might marry him. This does happen very often in real life. Women are drawn to men who encourage support and help them; especially when they are going through a distressing patch. Even if they are socially or financially or otherwise junior. And sometimes marry them.

Dumbo the lover who feels outraged when Nidhi presses him to marry her. Too late he realizes what he's given up. He tries to get back to Nidhi later, but she has grown beyond him.

A young girl turning around a company may not be plausible. But the way she turns around her life is great. This story which appeared in Anadna vikatan years ago maybe was a forerunner of the serial which appear today on tv. A strong woman is inspiring and maybe that is why such stories and tv serials are popular. We need role models.

Monsoon Clouds

Oncoming rain - through my window - so a bit blurred.
I only wish I had a camera that could capture the sun shining on a bright green hill beyond those dark rain clouds



Those bright fluffy white clouds suddenly getting covered by dark ominous clouds. Reminded me of something I read this morning.

"Have you ever thought, when something dreadful happens, a moment ago things were not like this; let it be then not now, anything but now.
And you try and try to remake then but you know you can't. So you try to hold the moment quite still and not let it move on and show itself". Mary Stewart

Today might be tough for you.
You might not want the next moment to show itself.
But at least you have it. you still have life.
A choice as to how you will live this precious day. -Sara Teasdale

man aasai

As I went on my walk this afternoon -
The view on my left



The view on my right




Investment? Financial Savvy? A little hideout in the Hills to be used once a year?
Development for Man but i can hear the hill cry

Ponniyin Selvan

Favorite of my mother's generation - and I can see why. The story is racy having appeared in a weekly and having to enthrall readers each week.

Its innocent and descriptive and great fiction. Well researched too. A very imaginative and prolific writer. Love at first sight with accompanying flowers and butterflies and gazes that cannot be broken; skirmishes at the turn of a page, forest assignations, glories of king and cities..one lives in Chola nadu.

But its the names that fascinate- the brave Vandiyedevan, the beautiful and bold Kundavai, Arulmozhi varmar, Aditha karikalar, Kanthamaran, Alzwarkadiyaan,.. they roll of the tongue so mellifluously.

Ive just finished the first book . 5 more to go .

Sea of Poppies

Well researched, informative - boring.

One can learn about the opium trade- cruelty of mankind- racism - human nature if one perseveres which I did having loved a couple of his older books.