tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136171852024-03-13T08:29:19.412+05:30Welcome to my cornerWelcome to my corner - quite a messy one; here is my writing desk, and there painting board; my studio and music corner. Tread carefully, you may catch dust, as clay is strewn around here.
Pull a curio chair, have a cup of e-tea with me.Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-76634267210465101192020-09-15T21:01:00.006+05:302020-09-18T01:36:31.815+05:30Hindi Divas and Kannada Conscience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV6KEgd9E2yvw3HNPZrnEUGj5saKRaotBHtW91vKrslijnjoXhgHn4lqLtou6NPEp0KjnlyHjm9pLz7xJNB7Sx9aeJ5cfBgN3DqOgppoG3qo6c4fgKjRRAaQgBh2c4P5d-wfutQ/s1097/hindi+divas1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1097" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghV6KEgd9E2yvw3HNPZrnEUGj5saKRaotBHtW91vKrslijnjoXhgHn4lqLtou6NPEp0KjnlyHjm9pLz7xJNB7Sx9aeJ5cfBgN3DqOgppoG3qo6c4fgKjRRAaQgBh2c4P5d-wfutQ/w400-h217/hindi+divas1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">सभी हिन्दी बोलने वाले साथियों को
"राष्ट्रीय हिन्दी दिवस" की बधाई | इस हिन्दी दिवस जो है, भारत के किसी और
श्रीमन्त, पुराने और वैज्ञनिक भाषाओं को भी नही मिला हुवा एक पुरस्कार है!
इस के लिये आप सभी को फिर एक बार बधाई | हम लोग 'सौत' के हैं (जो भी भारत
का एक हिस्सा है लेकिन जिस का मातृभाषा हिन्दी नहीं है), हमारे हिन्दी गलत
हो सकती है; अगर गलत है तो माफ कीजियेगा (क्यों कि "कन्नड् गोत्तिल्ला"
जैसे अनाडीपन हमारे लिये नामुमकिन है - of course with due respects to all
those friends who are linguistically sensible and really courteous to
others)<br /><br />(Hearty congratulations to all those Hindi speaking friends on the day of "National Hindi Day". This is a special honor that even the richer, older and more scientific languages did never get. Congratulations once again for that. We are the people from 'South' (which is also a part of India, but our Mother tongue is not Hindi), so it is possible that our Hindi could be wrong. If it is, we beg your pardon (because we can't be as rude as saying "Kannad Gothilla" - of course with due respects to all those friends who are linguistically sensible and really courteous to others)<br /><br />Having
said that, I don't see why the whole India should be celebrating "Hindi
Divas", while none in India is celebrating Kannada Divas, Tamil Divas,
Oriya Divas, Kashmiri Divas. Don't tell me "Hindi is our National
Language". This is one singular lie that has been consistently
perpetrated by the politicians of North and their party followers from
South for decades. There is a saying - "a lie told hundred times
becomes accepted as the truth"; but, the truth remains, that it is a
lie. To start with, can we have a look at the official website of the
Indian Government that lists out all the National elements? Here it is:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.india.gov.in/india-glance/national-symbols">https://www.india.gov.in/india-glance/national-symbols</a><br /><br />The
website lists out the National Flag, National Anthem, National Song,
State Emblem, National Bird, National Animal, National Flower - it goes
on even to list out National Tree, National Calendar and Currency Symbol
but no National Language!<br /><br />Now let's see what our Constitution
has to say about the "National Language" - Nothing!!! Yes, absolutely
nothing. Article 343-347 of The Constitution read with The Official
Languages Act 1963 and the Official Languages Rules 1976 just say that
Hindi is the Official Language (note, Official Language, not National
Language) of the Union, that too limited to be used in the communication
between the Union and the Hindi speaking states. With all other states
the official language continues to be English (of course, along with
Hindi)! And the article 348 specifically provides that all the Court
proceedings and legislation must be in English! Not just that - Article
344(3) clearly stipulates that Parliamentary committee on official
language "shall have due regard to the... just claims and the
interests of persons belonging to the non-Hindi speaking areas in
regard to the public services"<br /><br />And interestingly, in 2010 there was a PIL (<a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/169332/" target="_blank">Sureshbhai vs Union</a>) before the High Court of Gujarat seeking directions to make it mandatory to print the goods details in Hindi since Hindi was the National Language of India. The Court struck the petition down saying "there is nothing on the record to suggest that any provision has been made or order issued declaring Hindi as a national language of the country"<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So much for the claim of Hindi,
The National Language. On the other hand, the Schedule VIII of The
Constitution lists out 22 official languages, of which Kannada and Hindi
(and even Maithili) are the parts on equal terms. Can somebody tell,
from where this idea of Hindi being a National Language comes from?<br /><br />Anyway,
let's forget this official business. True to my Indian spirit, I read
(at least translations in some cases), listen to, relish and respect Sri
Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera, Kabeer, Nanak, Chaitanya, Jayadeva, Ramdas,
Dnyaneshwar as much as I do Sri Ramadasa (Bhadrachala), Annamayya,
Tyagaraja, Tiruvalluvar, Kambar, and Swathi Tirunal. They are as
respectable for me as our own Dasas and Sharanas. I can even quote a
few of them heartily. I feel the emotional vibrations and a sense of
belonging when I visit the places connected with their memories. Kailashnath, Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Vishwanath of North are as mine as the Dwarakanath in the West and Jagannath in the East and Rameshwar in the South. We live to celebrate India in its true spirit - "aa sethu himachala paryanta (from the "Great Bridge" till the Himachala)". While
Rajkumar is our heart-throb, we don't like less of Big B or
Rajanikanth. Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Mukhesh, Kishore Kumar,
Mohammad Rafi still haunt many of our hearts with their lasting
melodies. Do we have a reciprocation? No, this is not a 'return of favors' - Do you feel the same about the rest of India (Do you even recognize that India stretches even beyond your 'Hindi Land')? The idea of nationalism can not
survive without mutual respect, equality and a sense of belonging. It
can not survive with two sets of citizens namely Hindi and Non-Hindi<br /><br />Hindi is neither National nor any extra-special that Kannada is not. Instead of expecting us to learn Hindi just in order to obey your "Bhayya, Ek Masala Dosa dena, Ek eedli aur vada dena" etc, why don't you try to learn Kannada to happily coexist with us. I am sure we can't expect you to learn Kannada and speak with us when we come to live with you in your place.<br /> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Click <a href="https://nannabaraha.blogspot.com/2020/09/blog-post_15.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the Kannada version of the above article<br /></p>Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-65645239767347272282020-05-24T16:57:00.002+05:302020-05-24T19:34:10.474+05:30Harmony is life...<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Recently
I have observed a trend in Facebook and other social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somebody, say a Brahmin, puts up an ad to
sell some foodstuff dubbed to be some brahmin savories - that is on their wall
or some group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly it starts
getting intense reactions, rebuttals, outrage, on one hand, and a vengeful
support from the opponent group on the other hand, which ensures that the ad
catches the maximum attention and garners more sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, since the people who put up this kind
of ads are from poor and helpless families who must be doing this for their
livelihood, that kind of momentary emotional reactions helped the family in a
way - good.</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But
beyond this, it gives raise (must give raise) to a few serious thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we embark upon the same, let us try to
summarize the criticisms that have risen against selling community related
(read Brahmin) food:</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Brahmins have been treading
down all other communities (!!!), especially the last community of the society,
for thousands of years now</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While doing so, the community
which is just </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">in strength, has been able to access and control the
major share of the country's economic, political, social resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the "Social Capital" of
that community.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This social capital is the
sole factor that enables a Brahmin succeed in life, no matter how poor he is
initially; the others can never make it no matter how rich they are.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The caste indicator of a
Brahmin is a part of his Social Capital</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To use this 'illegitimate'
Social Capital is to deprive the others of their opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, to be fair, Brahmins should never use
their caste anywhere in their endeavors.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hence it is a social injustice
for the Brahmins to form community associations, to carry trade/commerce in the
name of their community, to promote their caste brands, or doing any
vocation/trade that is associated with their castes.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of
course, there must be an element of truth in the fancy story of this minuscule </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">having
down-trodden all the other castes for thousands of years - but how big is that
'element' is still debatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
must be true that, for at least a few hundred years at some point in the
history, if not for thousands of years, the Brahmin community got embroiled in
their superiority complex, trod down several communities, with many Brahmins
enjoying royal patronage, land-lordships, endowments etc (And let us put aside
the question of how many hundred years, how much of the Brahmin population
enjoyed this 'superiority' and what has been the fate of the legendary
traditional 'poor brahmin' during this 'hay time').<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having read the spiced up and bloated history
based upon the thin thread of this truth, many modern-day brahmins have really
repented their past, and have taken many personal and social measures to make
good for their 'sinful' past, let us not forget that (just have a quick glance
at the list of modern secularists who are Brahmins by birth).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us also take note of the fact that the
ugly practice of untouchability, which was rampant till a few generations back,
is almost extinct in the present generation of Brahmins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, there is this 'Reservation Policy' of
the government which aims at rectifying the social injustice caused over the
past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us, for the time being, forget
the fact that there are quite many anomalies and flaws in its use and implementation
though it is absolutely just in its spirit, and remember that these very
Brahmins have in a way accepted it, albeit grumbling; of course there have been
opposition, but which government measure does not face the opposition?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">60% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
the power positions are occupied by Brahmins (I don't know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that be the truth, do you think this </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">60%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">could not do away with Reservation which is dubbed to be opposed by the
Brahmins?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn't these 'cunning jackals'
have removed it cleverly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That must either
disprove the fact that </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">60% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of power is controlled by Brahmins, or it must prove
that they are not as bad, after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
could it be that they have kept quiet fearing the rest </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">40%</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If yes, then it just goes to prove that this </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">60%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is a bunch of weaklings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then why
fear/hate them so much?</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fine,
let's now have a look at this Social Capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before that, let's have a quick glance at real capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an estimate that about </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">30%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of the total wealth of the country is controlled by </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
the population; and a meager </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of the wealth is distributed over </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">50%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remaining </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">62%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">wealth is controlled by </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">49% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of the population, so says the estimate.</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now,
can we say this </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1% (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">around </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1.3 </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Crores) that controls about </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">30% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
wealth belong to Brahmin community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don't have any statistics to indicate this, but I don't see a single Brahmin in
the list of top ten wealthiest persons in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, among </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">60-70 </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">billionaires
in the country, excepting some </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5-6 (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">whose caste I could not make out), the rest are all Baniyas,
Farss, Kayastha, Muslim, Christian, Nadar etc (Let's count these unidentified
castes to Brahmins only - a maximum of </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That means, percentage of
Brahmins in this wealthiest bracket controlling </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">30% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
wealth is </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">10% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1%</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, i.e., </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">0.1% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brahmins constituting about </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of total
population, where do the remaining </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3.9% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">stand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shall we put them in the second bracket of </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">49%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">that controls </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">62% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of wealth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
sir, there have been poorest of poorest in Brahmins, since ages - who find it
difficult even to make one square meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even in the regime of so many Brahmin Dewans, Amaldars, Zamindars,
Ministers, Prime Ministers, the common Brahmin has been the legendary "Poor
Brahmin" only; Many brahmins in Delhi work in public toilets, many pull
cycle rickshaw, run auto-rikshaws (no, I am not telling all this with a sorrow
that the Brahmins have got to resort to these vocations, well there have been
many other communities doing these since ages; I am telling this only for the
sake of statistics).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, there
have been a lot of Brahmins across the country who 'work' in government-controlled
temples for peanut salaries (there are around </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">35000 </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">such
temples just in Karnataka alone).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
there are countless women like the one who gave the ad which is the matter of
current discussion, who prepare and sell Happala, Sandige, curry powder
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these can come within the
above second bracket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must figure somewhere
in the lowest rungs of those </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">50% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">that accesses just </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of
the wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how much their number
is, most of them are helpless illiterates, they won't even know priest job -
they somehow run their life doing some cooking, services and miscellaneous
household chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">01%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">rich Brahmins above have never been of much help to these hapless
people, nor have their so called 'Social Capital' been able to uplift them as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them are people of self-respect,
won't hold out their hand for alms, like to somehow lead a contented life of
self-esteem, with whatever they have, doing whatever little they know to earn a
living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have never begged, nor
demanded for some privilege from the government, nor even requested somebody to
bail them out by buying their products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have some products and services; they know that there is a specific
demand for Brahmin-made products and services in the society, and they are just
offering that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that there is this
social media, they are just trying to expand their traditional trade through
social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should one say if we
find 'fault' of some Social Capital hitherto unknown to them, instead of
admiring and appreciating their effort for self-reliance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has been a traditional relationship
between the vocation and the caste; and the society has been living like this
for ages - Priests (Brahmins) for marriages etc, Washer men for washing the
clothes, Barbers for haircut and playing auspicious musical instruments
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it right or wrong, is a
different debate; it is also a different debate whether one can pursue the
other's vocation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these people are not as read as us, they cannot deliver lengthy speech about
Social Capital etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Filling their tummy every
day is their immediate concern, and they have a trade in their hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They carry it out, with dignity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brahmins have been traditionally known for priestly
works, cooking etc (I am not telling they do it cleanly etc) but that is their ancestral
vocation; there have been distinct communities that demand their products and
services - these demanding communities could be Brahmins or non-brahmins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When there are suppliers and demanders, what
is our business between them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it's
their brand as well - specific castes and communities are known for specific
savories, and there is an opportunity for everybody to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier the savories of Lingayats and Gowdas
were not as famous; now they have built their brand and sell in the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are buyers for that as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now
there arises a question, a rather ill-meaning one - "fine, but do you eat
in a Dalit eatery?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ill-meaning
because there is no real concern here, the intention is to just rake up
discontent and spread hatred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I
can't give a blind answer like "Dalits have never sold their brand till
now, how can I say?".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there is
that social 'stigma' even today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
agree that many people do not patron a Dalit Khanavali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But does it help the cause of Dalit Khanavali
if you bar a few others from using their traditional brands?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, not all people go to Lingayat, Gowda or
even Brahmin khanavali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an
individual's choice, isn't it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But new
brands have never stopped coming up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
knows, even Dalit Khanavali can find its root in due course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is important is encouraging them to
undertake it like many other vocations, not curb the other people from carrying
out their vocations in their traditional settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I don't have any specific
'choice' of people with whom to dine - as long as they have no objection dining
with me - I dine with anybody happily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know there are thousands like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why,
even in our offices, cafeterias, hotels, do we think who is sitting next to us,
who is serving us, and how is cooking for us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does their caste even cross our minds?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How long can we keep muttering the mugged-up lines from the age-old sociology
textbooks, without recognizing these social changes?</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
there is a counter question for those who ask where Dalit canteens really
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, if true, it is really sad
thing that the Dalit canteens/coffee-bars won't work at least in urban
India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diehard cattiest won't drink in
Dalit coffee-bars, let's leave them aside for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drink; there are scores of people who think
like me, they drink; and there is a huge non-Hindu community that keeps blaming
Hindus for their casteism at every single opportunity (They are almost </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">25%
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of the country's population).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They must certainly not have any qualms drinking these coffee-bars; And
the Dalits themselves form more than </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">15% </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of Indian
population (and I believe they must not have any caste restrictions within
themselves - because as far as the 'narratives' hitherto go, casteism is the
forte of 'forward' communities like Brahmins, Lingayats, Gowdas etc); you can
definitely enlist their support in the smooth running of their own hotels; Then
there are these secularists, diehard ones - seeing their noise and dust across
Facebook, I don't think they are very small in number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you say Dalit hotels won't run even
with this huge number of people outside the cattiest groups, should we take
this 'secularism' fake?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn't the
pseudo-secularism more dangerous than the open, albeit wicked, casteism?</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well,
let's, for now, set aside the Brahmins of 'low economic strata'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's see how this Social Capital has helped
the people of economically lower middle class like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in college, even I had thought a lot
about this Social Capital stuff; had felt a lot bad about the 'injustice' caused
by my ancestors; I firmly believed that it is a shame to tell one’s own
caste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, I left the fields of caste
and religion while filling application for the college admission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clerk called me and scolded me to fill
these fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to deliver speech
on the line of secularism etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got
angry and shouted at me that I was actually trying to hide my caste in order to
get the government privilege like free ship, scholarship etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also threatened me to complain my father
whom he knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget it, even today, try
to fill some government online form - the fields of caste and religions are
usually mandatory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is unfortunate
that the so-called secular government does not recognize you apart from your
caste.</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Okay,
let's keep aside this technical matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let's accept, for now, that is is a shame to tell one’s own caste,
especially for Brahmins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead let us
call it a "Social Capital Caste (SCC).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was born in this SSC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father
was a teacher with Rs. </span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">100+ </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as salary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Naturally I studied in a government school - we had the students from
'all' castes there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barring a few
wearing their caste marks on their forehead, I don't know the caste of anybody
even today; it didn't even occur to us then to ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Subsequently I left this school and joined the
school where my father taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than
half of the students there were from Dalit communities; a couple of us were
from SSC (Social Capital Caste), and the rest were from other communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fought occasionally, but those fights were
due to some childish reasons, never for caste reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few among these boys were my close
friends and at times my saviors as well - they protected me in many quarrels :)
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father never taught in my class,
for he did not like to give me one more Social Capital that I was a
"teacher's son".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
many teachers from Dalit community too, a few of them really good teachers, and
a few not as good; there were a few not-so-good teachers from the other
communities as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers used to
beat us, but never for caste reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the Seventh class, a girl came first to the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was quite brilliant and did not belong to
SSC community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don't remember anybody raising ruckus
over "gender inequality, social capital etc" (None of us were aware
of these things those days, hence I must guess our life was far cooler).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home, my father scolded me that day, that
I did not study properly.</span><span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was a teacher in High-school whose name has been etched in my heart forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name is Doddamma </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">🙏.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was our Kannada teacher (a few friends
who are still active in FB can vouch for this).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This affectionate lady was from the same Dalit
community, and if today I have any passion towards classical Kannada, I owe it
to her. It was for the first time that I learnt that Kannada could be spoken so
beautifully and so elegantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would
encourage her students so passionately to study classics. Not that she was a
scholar, but she was a quite academic; if she could not resolve our questions,
she would find it out and revert to us next day (I heard unfortunately she
later developed some serious mental illness and died a couple of decades ago).
This is the 'social capital' I hold, her bounty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as it enriched my inner life, it
didn't help in my vocation, let's remember.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There
was another teacher, a Lingayat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
taught us English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never liked this
stout man of ill-health because he took a lot of special classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always bunked his classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He disliked me equally, for the same
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what he did during these 'unnecessary'
special classes was, he thoroughly and comprehensively taught English grammar
(what is specified in the syllabus and and also what is not) and gave detailed
notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, who was always looked down
upon by him, realized the value of this only after I completed my high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, I had scribbled most of these
notes from time to time from the notebooks borrowed from my classmates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat during the holiday before the college,
made a neat note of the whole English grammar notes and learnt my English
solidly during holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
'capital' that has helped me a lot in my vocation, his bounty </span>🙏<span lang="KN" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don't know if you call this
a Social Capital or what else.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "nirmala ui" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
I never got any job or privilege from the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In private interviews they have never asked
me about my caste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as far as I know,
it is the skill I learnt that helped me in my job, no my 'Social Capital'
called caste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there are hundreds
of stories like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this is the
case, let us not get envious or judgmental about people who are deprived of all
other capitals, if they use their social capital for their livelihood (not for
building a bungalow); let's be happy that they are building their own lives
without being a burden on the society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, let us redirect the same effort in thinking about how to fill
the capital for those who are deprived of their capital.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Please click <a href="https://nannabaraha.blogspot.com/2020/05/blog-post.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the Kannada version of this write-up.</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
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<![endif]-->Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-3931140013420355522020-03-16T15:33:00.002+05:302020-03-16T15:36:59.453+05:30Corona - No panic, no superstition - Be responsible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauNNP03pofdGa93CwjP3xXqUbaV_vN-4ZJ4b4F_mpgme3Hgg1Kgk_bgYykTp1pMsxEiI_PdzoEjhnRjSTEnFiwaJ5rzllrybqhVEFWxHbLLkEFXBMo7fNA7x5XhrRewNlVR933w/s1600/Corona.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1185" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauNNP03pofdGa93CwjP3xXqUbaV_vN-4ZJ4b4F_mpgme3Hgg1Kgk_bgYykTp1pMsxEiI_PdzoEjhnRjSTEnFiwaJ5rzllrybqhVEFWxHbLLkEFXBMo7fNA7x5XhrRewNlVR933w/s400/Corona.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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While the whole world is gripped by the Corona fear, I have in front of me, four news items of harmful ignorance and superstition. Well, there could be hundred such cases, and these four represent them:</div>
<ol>
<li>Four youth who had recently traveled from Dubai to India have refused to go through Corona tests for religious reasons.</li>
<li>Some "Gaumootra Party" it seems - It seems a lot of people hailing from even far off places have participated in the 'party' organized by some radical cow-urine promoting organization, and found their mental elation by drinking mugs of Gaumootra, 'worshiping' Corona Virus , and shouting slogans "Corona, saanth ho jao" Some of the organizers claim that Gaumootra is a sure-shot anecdote for Corona Virus; and they even assure a guaranteed remedy for whoever attacked by the virus.</li>
<li>A Mullah from Iran has 'discovered' that some essential oils applied up the anus will eliminate Corona, and has urged the people to do so</li>
<li>A doctor who firmly believes in, and only in, protests, has called upon the people to come out in torrents and protest against the government's decision to close the schools, colleges, functions etc in the wake of Corona threat</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Well, we saw the four faces of ignorance. While both those who are for and who are against those 'schools' have shared these news items and and are enjoying admiring/trolling the same, our TRP-hungry, disaster-desparate TV channels are busy revving up deathly music, terming Corona as "the agent of death", "the death knell" etc, even as the virus has just made its entry into India and has not even killed ten people. And the government is just coughing into the ears of everybody who try to make phone call, and has been successful creating a huge aversion about the Corona message, rather than the corona itself. Suppose you want to call somebody urgently, but they are not picking up the call. If you make ten failed call, you will hear this half a minute coughing sermon every time, making it around 10 minutes of wasted time. How can anybody remain cool and composed with this?<br />
<br />
And even amidst this chaos, hundreds of scientists across the country and across the world, are burning the mid-night oil in order to find an anecdote for the virus; thousands of doctors, and nurses are risking their lives attending the patients; scores of government personnel and health workers are struggling in airports and public places to bring about/implement suitable administrative measures contain the spread. <br />
<br />
Should the efforts of all these saviours not go waste, it is our sole responsibility to cooperate with them by showing a little more maturity, by avoiding all this chaos. Cracking jokes about CoronaVirus is one thing, spreading rumors and superstition in another. The first one keeps the mind light and healthy, but the second one will corrupt the mind and lead to disastrous behavior.<br />
<br />
It's the right time to stay home and spend some quality time with the family, avoiding going out, especially the areas suspected with infection. Home-entertainment and home-food can at least strengthen the family bond to an extent. Well, if somebody is forced to go to work, you can't help - just wear a mask and exercise due care and caution. Let's not flock the medical shops for masks. It is not difficult to make a mask at home with clean and sterilized cloth. After all, the mask will not protect you from corona to a great extent. When somebody coughs and sneezes the droplets will get ejected from the nose/mouth and can travel wide and far. Mask contains that force of ejection and to that extent it slows down the spread. Likewise, it may (not stop but) restrict a free entry into your nose/mouth for the virus already in the air. To this extent the mask will slow down the spread.<br />
<br />
Expert help is of utmost importance, avoid self medication. Yes, it is a traditionally known fact that medicinal things like tulsi (basil), ginger, pepper, garlic, guduchi/amritavalli (tinospora cordifolia), neem, papaya leaves do strengthen the body immunity in general, and the strengthened immunity may enhance your ability to fight Corona, to some extent. But this is just a general guess, no lab-tests have till now confirmed that these are effective in fighting the Virus. Of course, we won't lose anything by using these herbs/medicines from the point of view of general immunity - why, for many ailments the traditional household medicine have proved to be a sure-shot anecdote. So there is no harm in using this but let there not be a false sense of safety, that we are safe from Corona just because we are using this. Let's not neglect the timely diagnosis and treatment protocols.<br />
<br />
There is an elaborate protocol already published by the government and other concerned organizations, to be followed in order to avoid/manage the infection. It is enough if we follow them scrupulously. DO NOT trust any 'solutions' coming from unauthorized sources. Please remember, those who advise drinking cow-urine or applying some oil into the anus are neither doctors nor even ayurvedic/Unani experts. Yes, there is a traditional belief that the 'gaumootra and gaumaya' (cow urine and dung) act as a disinfectant, but they are all for for general use, not for a bodily use. Even the religious rituals like 'panchagavya' prescribe just a drop or two of gaumootra - I have never ever come across any scriptural/medical prescription prescribing to drink mugs of cow-urine. Even if some scripture says that, it can not be trusted unless proven by lab-tests (While people dole out loads of unsolicited pseudo scientific explanation for the purly belief-based rituals like shikha (tuft) and the yajnopaveeta (sacred thread), namaskara (prostration) etc, it fails me to understand they expect you to 'trust' cow-urine as a medicine and drink mugs of it). As long as they are not inhuman, the religious beliefs and practices are always respectable, but they must remain in the level of beliefs (It is even my belief that certain beliefs work miracles sometimes). But it is important that the others should not be jeopardized by your belief. It's okay if you offer some sayings against Corona Virus to Tirupati Balaji, make some offerings to a local demigod, or distribute sugar in a dargah, or offer prayers in a church. That is your belief, and we respect it, and wish you the best. But if you say you won't do anything other than this, then, well, it is your fate - remain locked indoors as long as your beliefs protect you - don't come out and spread the fruits of your 'beliefs' to the others. If you feel you are absolutely safe from Corona just because you have drunk a liter of gaumutra, or you have applied some special oil up the anus, then take our bow, and don't come out of your cage at all 🙏🙏🙏<br />
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[Click <a href="https://nannabaraha.blogspot.com/2020/03/blog-post_16.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the Kannada version of this article]</div>
Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-74192574918246839242018-10-05T21:02:00.002+05:302018-10-05T21:02:47.193+05:30test posttest postManjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-5096683654849955892018-09-14T16:53:00.000+05:302018-09-19T02:07:11.314+05:30Vandemataram - Sri Aurobindo and myself<div style="text-align: justify;">
Earlier I had translated the famous song Vande Mataram into Kannada - you can see it <a href="http://nannabaraha.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Now in the backdrop of discussions about the National Anthem, this song has sprung back into discussion. My good friend Sri <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharath.bhat.75" target="_blank">Sharat Bhat Seraje</a> has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharath.bhat.75/posts/10160569434975167?__xts__[0]=68.ARD9_6wRyr7K8ipT2fU_Jt4yBrh9yE58VCSkCRt_ZwXZh0qjGnTZb0so4yOG00FEATnLeSAiCdcm0MqoJKHm_Axh6Upa40M88hSVLVXHUwuDuu5CUckpBv-Ckz4oVSQBunVjLQQlnIdOJT7z0UKMrI11ZQVkJFKNhlADDZQOIUWmT8qIgWZIS7A&__tn__=-R" target="_blank">put together</a> and analyzed five translations (both Kannada and English) of this song. I am pleasantly surprised to see even my translation featuring among the translations of the likes of Sri Shikaripura Harihara and Sri Aurobindo. Among these translations, the translation by Sri Aurobindo drew my attention for many reasons. Following is the translation of Sri Aurobindo:<br />
<br />
Mother, I bow to thee!<br />
Rich with thy hurrying streams,<br />
bright with orchard gleams,<br />
Cool with thy winds of delight,<br />
Dark fields waving Mother of might,<br />
Mother free.<br />
Glory of moonlight dreams,<br />
Over thy branches and lordly streams,<br />
Clad in thy blossoming trees,<br />
Mother, giver of ease<br />
Laughing low and sweet!<br />
Mother I kiss thy feet,<br />
Speaker sweet and low!<br />
Mother, to thee I bow.<br />
<br />
(Original:<br />
वन्दे मातरम्<br />
<br />
सुजलां सुफलाम्<br />
मलयज शीतलाम्<br />
सस्यश्यामलां मातरम्<br />
वन्दे मातरम्<br />
<br />
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीम्<br />
फुल्लकुसुमितध्रुमदलशोभिनीम्<br />
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्<br />
सुखदां वरदां मातरम्<br />
<br />
vande mAtaram<br />
<br />
sujalAM suPalAm<br />
malayaja SItalAm<br />
sasyaSyAmalAM mAtaram<br />
vande mAtaram<br />
<br />
SuBrajyotsnApulakitayAminIm<br />
PullakusumitadhrumadalaSoBinIm<br />
suhAsinIM sumadhura BAShiNIm<br />
suKadAM varadAM mAtaram<br />
<br />
vande mAtaram)<br />
<br />
Presenting this Sri Seraje explains it as a re-creation inspired by the original, reminding us of Keats and Shelly. I guess this is the most apt explanation. Though this piece is beautiful in its own right as an independent poem, I feel it fails as a translation, on many counts. It but surprises me that the likes of Aurobindo could translate the word "sasyaSyAmalAM (सस्यश्यामलां)" as "dark fields"! It is true that the word श्यम means dark, but that word acquires different hues of meanings and moods when used with different things and colours. Moreover, there is no indication of the word "field" in the phrase "sasyaSyAmalAM (सस्यश्यामलां)" - What is green can be fields, can be gardens and can be forests as well. That the poet intents to convey is "thick green" but even that translation does not touch the mood of the original. the right translation in this context should be "lush green". Though there is no mention of the word green in the original, there is a mention of vegetation (सस्य - sasya). That gives the sense of green, and it must essentially be brought in the translation.<br />
<br />
Likewise, the original depicts the words जल, फल, मलयजसीतल, सस्यश्यामल etc as the lively dimensions of the mother. But in Aurobindo's translation these have become lifeless physical things like hurrying streams, orchard gleams, winds of delight, dark fields etc. But this is not what is intended by the poet originally. Moreover, the prefix "सु" has a world of meanings about it in Sanskrit. It is difficult to get a word with the same scope of meanings in English. Well, you can use the word "good" but that has lost much of its sense due to over-usage. So use of the adjective "good" gives but a bland translation which does not tell anything much. So, instead of aiming at covering the whole spectrum of meanings for "सु" the translator has to contend himself by choosing one meaning that aptly depicts the 'goodness in the thing in question. Here Sri Aurobindo has translated the prefix "सु" as hurrying in respect of water, and gleam in respect of fruit. But neither the flow is the measure of 'goodness in water nor is the gleam in fruits. For water it is the taste and for the fruit it is the freshness and sweetness that measures its 'goodness. Likewise, there is a unique place for a mountain breeze among the breezes. You can get a cool breeze from over the sea also, and it brings you delight as well. But that is not exactly describe the hilly breeze. So it is very important to mention the "mountain breeze" in the translation - the translation "cool with winds of delights" does not bring the cool fragrance of the mountain breeze.<br />
<br />
And we can see the other parts of the translations as well. He translates the verse "शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनि (SuBrajyotsnApulakitayAmini - the one with nights tingled by bright moonlight)" as "Glory of moonlight dreams, over thy branches and lordly streams" It just does not touch the original anywhere. And फुल्लकुसुमितध्रुमदलशोभिनि (PullakusumitadhrumadalaSoBini) becomes a drab "Clad in blossoming trees". And instead of taking a simple translation of "One with a sweet smile" for the word सुहासिनि (suhAsini), he translates it as "Laughing low and sweet" In the first place, there is a world of difference between a smile and a laugh. Laughing low can be a suppressed laughter (signifying sarcasm) at the best. And Laughing low and sweet can not become anything but a cunning smile. Same is the case with सुमधुर भाषिणि (sumadhura BAShiNi). Instead of contending with "sweet words" he translates it as "speaker sweet and low". It is obvious that the translator has throughout been after the rhyming words like streams-gleams, delight-might, dreams-streams, trees-ease, sweet-feet, low-bow. But the price that he had to pay for these rhymes is very big - it is nothing less than the very essence of the poem! <br />
<br />
<br />
As Mr. Seraje rightly puts, it can be called at the most a poem inspired by the original, but It is difficult to term it as a translation.<br />
<br />
It is not very simple to translate from one language to another. Many a times word to word translation becomes a nonsensical translation. Likewise a translation of just the mood can become a sheer escapism. A good translator chooses to tread between these two extremes - he strives hard to catch the strains of the original meaning, mood, feeling, the music of words, and their rhythm etc. In doing so, many a times he resorts to word to word translation, sometimes the translation of the mood as well. But he is always aware that he would be destroying the translation if he goes after one extreme. The translation takes a beating the moment he dozes off for a moment.<br />
<br />
Thinking on the same lines, I also tried a translation. I can't say I have scrupulously followed the principles of translation that I myself depicted above. I am sure this translation if full of all the drawbacks that are inevitable in a translation - I am aware that the brevity of the original has taken a beating here as well, and the rhymes are not exact rhymes and they are not religiously observed also. I have tried to follow them as much as possible, and where it means compromising with the mood of the original, I have given the rhymes a slip. I only hope that I have tried the best to bring the translation as near to the original as possible. I am not, in any sense claiming any comparison, let alone superiority over Sri Aurobindo's translation above. As I mentioned, it is just another translation that sprung up while thinking about the above.<br />
<br />
To thee I bow, O mother<br />
<br />
Rich with sweet streams, fruits so fresh,<br />
And cool with fragrant mountain breeze,<br />
And green, O mother, so rich and lush<br />
To thee I bow, O mother<br />
<br />
O thou, with nights tingled by moonlight bright</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Adorned with woods blooming,<br />
With those soft smiles and words so sweet,<br />
Comforting with bounties<br />
<br />
To thee I bow, O mother<br />
<br />
Click <a href="https://nannabaraha.blogspot.com/2018/09/blog-post.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the Kannada version of the above article.</div>
Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-38532618081563536222018-04-28T19:02:00.001+05:302018-04-28T19:04:41.881+05:30A 'rub' with an India-Born-American-'Pardesi'<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span data-offset-key="3p07n-0-0"><span data-text="true">(This has no relation with the scores of Indians who have built their own respectable lives in US or elsewhere in the world and living a dignified life - some of whom are my good friends; this is about an Indian soul that sold itself to America and wishes that the unsold 'Indian' souls did not exist)</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="28v3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">==========================================================</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5lqin-0-0"><span data-text="true">Place: The dining hall of a decent Indian hotel</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="b1m45-0-0"><span data-text="true">Occasion: A luncheon hosted by Pardesi </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="enh9p-0-0"><span data-text="true">Audience: 8-10 strong group of friends and relatives, with myself honored with the fortune of sitting next to the host :o </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="38rvo-0-0"><span data-text="true">======================================================</span></span><span data-offset-key="28v3g-0-0"><span data-text="true">====</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2lv7u-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2lv7u-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: You have been abroad sometimes?</span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="86ktp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="86ktp-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Yes, a few times <this>, <this>, a couple of times to <this> and a few times to <this> country... </this></this></this></this></span></span></div>
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="45ki9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="45ki9-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Oh okay. So you have visited all... kind of... 'laid back' countries, 'easy' countries... eh?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="ei6iu-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ei6iu-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ei6iu-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="a7jdu-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a7jdu-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a7jdu-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: hahha... hmm</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="e3p2p-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e3p2p-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e3p2p-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="94u0l-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="94u0l-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="94u0l-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Have you been to Germany?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="5dh2s-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5dh2s-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5dh2s-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="eeqcj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eeqcj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eeqcj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: No</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="37mve-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="37mve-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="37mve-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="dav9b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dav9b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dav9b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Germany is very tough country. Equally tough is America. They are workaholic. They work from morning 8 till evening 8.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="cr6m2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cr6m2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cr6m2-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="8a7lq-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8a7lq-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8a7lq-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Is it? But I heard they usually start early like 8-830 and close by 5-530?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="b5p6f-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b5p6f-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b5p6f-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="7hcds-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7hcds-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7hcds-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: (with an emphasis) No no no no... you are mistaken. They may appear to close by 5 but they actually continue working :o </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="dab11-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dab11-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dab11-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="ad48k-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ad48k-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ad48k-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Is it? hmm</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="bhu34-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bhu34-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bhu34-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="b8rf6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b8rf6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b8rf6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: And in America they are very particular about time, you know? 10o Clock means 10o clock only.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="d0t5r-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d0t5r-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d0t5r-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="8r8os-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8r8os-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8r8os-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: O, yes, I know. I always appreciate it...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="53k5d-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="53k5d-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="53k5d-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3s882-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3s882-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3s882-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Really? But here in your India, 10 may become 11, 12, 1 or even 2.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="9ajfs-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9ajfs-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9ajfs-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="bhunk-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bhunk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bhunk-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Sometimes, yes, we do skip, but much depends.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="1849h-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1849h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1849h-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="1v51d-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1v51d-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1v51d-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: No, it's always. You must have heard about IST (Indian Standard Time)... HA HA HA HA HAAA...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="6smq8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6smq8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6smq8-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="189io-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="189io-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="189io-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: (smile)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="a826b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a826b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a826b-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="5a9i4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5a9i4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5a9i4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Many of my Indian relatives are settled abroad, I always prefer to meet them in America or some European country, rather than in India, you know? It's always convenient to meet them there than here.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="38k73-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="38k73-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="38k73-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="f3cc6-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f3cc6-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f3cc6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Hmm... (after a long pause) Which is your native?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="9udeo-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9udeo-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9udeo-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="dchia-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dchia-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dchia-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: I was... er... born and brought up here in a place called Hubli, but I studied for sometime in a place called Mysore and then in Bangalore before I went to Mumbai on my first assignment and then to Delhi before I flew to England and then to America.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="9im2j-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9im2j-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9im2j-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="ds2dm-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ds2dm-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ds2dm-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Oh, that's nice. Then you must be speaking Kannada at home.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="79ocn-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="79ocn-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="79ocn-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="7rqqk-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7rqqk-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7rqqk-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: (with a straight face), hmm, rarely, a little, broken, you know? But we speak a lot of Marathi, Gujarati, and even Hindi at home - when we feel bored with English that is.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="6mbpo-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6mbpo-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6mbpo-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="c8thv-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c8thv-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="c8thv-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Where do you live in America</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3bajb-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bajb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3bajb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="crv6b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="crv6b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="crv6b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: <this city=""></this></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3bvpf-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bvpf-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3bvpf-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="258te-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="258te-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="258te-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Hmm.. I have many good friends around there. Must be having a good Kannada community there right?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="7ekb-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7ekb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7ekb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="864bc-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="864bc-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="864bc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Hmm... we have a good South Indian community, but we don't discriminate between Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and all. We all celebrate Onam as well as Pongal.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="aakdd-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aakdd-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="aakdd-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="e0iem-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e0iem-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="e0iem-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: You must have attended that famous Kannada convention... AKKA</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="d39m4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d39m4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="d39m4-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3llgp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3llgp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3llgp-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: Yeah, I have heard about that, but have not been there</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="boljg-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="boljg-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="boljg-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Hmm.. (long silence)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="ed3ma-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ed3ma-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ed3ma-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="eom6m-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="eom6m-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="eom6m-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: You know? There's a big myth even among Americans, that Indian guys are very intelligent, genius etc... But I have never bought that, you know?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="72ed5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="72ed5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="72ed5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="2qhls-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2qhls-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2qhls-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Is it?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="b2fvb-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b2fvb-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b2fvb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="5gtst-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5gtst-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5gtst-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: I asked a few Indian professors also here in America "Is it true?"</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3j9e9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3j9e9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3j9e9-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="88eo5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="88eo5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="88eo5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self:...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="b43cp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b43cp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="b43cp-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="fe17b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fe17b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="fe17b-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: They said no, that's an absolute nonsense. Where is the originality in India? No significant inventions, no significant contribution to science and technology, no significant discovery, nothing. They are just using and supporting what the West invented. They are in demand just because of cheap labor. Now that also they are losing out to China etc.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="acv22-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="acv22-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="acv22-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="4cuut-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4cuut-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4cuut-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: That may be true as far as IT-BT is concerned, but India is not all about IT-BT...</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="60nra-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="60nra-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="60nra-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="2pim3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2pim3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="2pim3-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: (Little agitated) What else? What else, you tell me. But for IT-BT who would even look up to India?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="bk3ln-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bk3ln-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bk3ln-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="4qdal-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4qdal-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="4qdal-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Hmm... (long silence). You are also in IT?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="75tmh-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="75tmh-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="75tmh-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="9pshm-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9pshm-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="9pshm-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: No no no... (Proudly) I am a scientist.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="bur5b-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bur5b-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bur5b-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="1agce-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1agce-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1agce-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Oh, is it?... Then, who does the inventions for you there?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="8qb24-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8qb24-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8qb24-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="5hum8-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5hum8-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="5hum8-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: What? (quickly recovering), Well, not all Indians are like that. There are exceptions, you know?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="3ebip-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3ebip-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="3ebip-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="22a43-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="22a43-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="22a43-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: hmm (smile and long silence)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="86va4-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="86va4-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="86va4-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="18en5" data-offset-key="7lpkr-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7lpkr-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7lpkr-0-0"><span data-text="true">Pardesi: You know what? Americans are always straight forward in their outlook and talks. They don't like round about talks. But Indians are never like that. They just beat around the bush - never speak out openly.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ben9u-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Hmm... sometimes that helps, you know?</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3m2a6-0-0"><span data-text="true">Self: Certain things can't be told straight on the face, especially to our own brethren :)</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ke38-0-0"><span data-text="true">Conversation broke, as the lunch was served - A long, silent and filling one.</span></span></div>
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Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-5107797055142638652011-09-14T02:54:00.001+05:302011-09-14T04:02:11.653+05:30Adi Shankaracharya vis a vis Buddhist religion - a historic perspective<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is very widely felt that Sri Shankaracharya was instrumental in driving the Buddhism out of India. We need to see if this is entirely true or how much.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Buddhism which came into existence by 6th century BC continued to rise even after the demise of Buddha. It saw its peak during the regime of Mauryas, especially Asoka (4-3rd century BC) during which period the Buddhism was all pervasive in India and even a political power to reckon with. Soon after Mauryas, probably the religion started fading out very slowly. Chinese travelers like Fa-Hien (early 5th century AD), Xuanzang (early 6th century AD) note with concern that Buddhism was on a sharp decline in many parts of India. Shankaracharya's came much later, that is 9th century AD.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By the time of Sri Adi Shankara, the Buddhism in India was no more than another a major community and just a theoretical opponent for the Sanathana Dharma. It was no more a big political or religious power to reckon with. It was already on its way out, not because of Shankara, but due to many other politico-religious and economic reasons (and it had more reasons stored in the future in the form of various invasions).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By the time of Shankara, India was in the shape of a religiously looted house, from the point of view of Sanathana Dharma. Buddhism had lost its sheen and had already become highly devoid of all the great ideals taught by the Buddha. 1500 years of its reign in India had certainly created a deep impact on Indian psyche (both in positive and negative ways). But since Buddhism was no more a religion of power now, the Buddhists were helpless, powerless and by and large disillusioned. On the other hand, the followers of Sanatana Dharma had long forgotten the noble way shown by the Upanishats and had confined themselves scrupulously and stubbornly to the ritualistic parts of the Vedic scripture. Those who did not like this but still not embraced the Buddhism had a kind of appreciation towards Buddhism, at least in principle, due to many of its appealing principles like non-violence, no-sacrifice etc. Many sects like Vaishnavaites had already abandoned Vedic sacrifice etc and adopted a life of non-violence and vegetarian life style. Thus the mass, (Buddhist and Sanathani mass all alike) had lost belief in their respective religions. The Sanathana Dharma was crumbling under its own weight. This was the situation that needed a leader who could revive Sanathana Dharma from the clutches of ritualistic approach and show the people the noble path of divine knowledge.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This was the socio-religious scene when Shankara stepped into picture. He had a big task of harmonizing the Hindu scriptural preaching with the moral conscience of the masses. Buddha's principles and teachings appeared quite appealing, including those that deal with fallacy of world, the cycle of karma, trap of desires, the principle of live and let live etc. It seems even Shankara was quite impressed with these principles, why not? They are universally appealing. But there was a problem. Buddha squarely rejected the supreme authority of the Vedas. On the other hand, Sri Shankara’s belief and conviction about the Sanathana dharma, and its eternal goodness was firm. He firmly believed even the Vedic scriptures (upon which the Sanathana Dharma relies) ultimately taught those very principles. He believed that this noble vision was only covered behind the thick veil of mundane rituals. To reform this would mean a bitter debate with the Sanathanis who stuck to their guns. This is where he had the challenge - of treading on the tight rope - of bringing about the reforms within the framework of Sanathana Dharma and its religious scriptures, the Vedas. This was a fine-balancing act. If you take a stand that Vedas were the ultimate authority, you would be upholding all that is told by the Vedas, even the so called "inhuman practices" prescribed by the Vedas; On the other hand, if you take a stand that the Vedas should be followed except where the practices are evil ones, it means you are not accepting the ultimate authority of Vedas (which was exactly the stand taken by Buddha) it will be a philosophy "outside" the framework of Sanathana Dharma). So a politically, diplomatically and philosophically correct and acceptable middle path was very much necessary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Upanishats (also called Vedanta, as they are usually found to be the last of four classes of Vedic literature, i.e., Samhita, Brahmanas, Aranyakas & Upanishats) are a form of philosophical sublimation of the rest of the Vedas. They deal with the metaphysical and spiritual aspects of life such as Atma, Brahma etc rather than ritualistic codes and duties. Hence this part of Vedas is called "Jnyana Kanda". The rest of Vedas that deal with the worldly and ritualistic aspects of life are called "Karma Kanda". Many Vedic schools consider the Karma Kanda itself as the Veda proper, and they consider the Upanishats as only an abstraction and sublimation of the Vedas. Those who pursue the "Karma Kanda" are known as "Poorva Meemamsakas". For them it is only the Veda proper (i.e., Karma Kanda) is the ultimate authority, not the Upanishats. On the other hand there are others who consider only the Upanishats i.e., "Jnyana Kanda" as the ultimate authority. It is said when you enter the realm of supreme knowledge as preached by the Upanishads, the "lower level" ritualistic preachings become meaningless ("atra vedaH avedaa bhavanti"). This is the school of "Uttar Miasma". For them Upanishats are the only pramanas, not the rest of the Vedas. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Shankaracharya identified himself with this "Uttara Miasma" for three reasons:</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One, after all, the meaning of all the rituals and all pursuits is ultimately the self realization which comes from the ultimate knowledge of the world and the Brahman. Once you have the knowledge you will realize the futility of all rituals, karmas, and life struggles; you will realize just how unreal the world is, and how you are nothing but an illusory image of the Brahman itself. This, he perceived, to be the view of the Upanishats. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Two, with this you will be doing away with the Karma Kanda, or at least do not consider it as an authority. Thereby all the "evil Vedic practices" like animal-sacrifice etc (which the Bouddhism had always been criticising) will stop even in Sanathana Dharma also (thereby making it as appealing as the Bouddha dharma that was in vogue).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Three, this reform will be well within the frame-work of Vedic scriptures (for Vedanta/Upanishats is nothing but a sublimation of the Vedas proper). It is significant to note that so called "advita" as we call it today was not the name given to it by Shankaracharya. He rightly calls his philosophy as "oupanishada darshana" (the darshana according to Upanishats - since he upheld the supremacy of Upanishats).</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then, who were Shankaracharya's main opponents? Not Buddhists, but the Sanathana Dharmis who still had faith in "Karma Kanda" i.e., the "Veda proper". Naturally Shankara had a lot of debates with the doyens of Poorva Mimamsa and other schools like Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya etc, apart from the already fading Bouddhas. Since Buddhism was never against Sanathana Dharma except in respect of meaning-less rituals etc, this new model of Shankaracharya which by and large resembled the Buddhist model of denial of world and karma, and yet "within the framework of Vedas" really appealed to people and scholars alike. This was the reason why Shankara was able to take the Indian philosophic arena by storm with his novel philosophy. He had as big an impact as the Buddhism itself and eventually filled the political and philosophical vacuum created by the exit of Buddhism in India.</span></div>
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Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-45985951441878599652010-05-05T16:42:00.003+05:302010-05-06T12:01:57.928+05:30A Sale Note<div align="justify">When Satya called me two days back to announce that he was planning to sell off his library, I thought for a moment that he was joking. So I replied him coolly "fine, tell me your quote, I shall buy it". It was usual for us to chit-chat this way when we met casually. Whenever the talk turns to routine financial difficulties, he would say "Manju, take my library and give me two thousand bucks" I would say "that is too much".<br /><br />I was lost in thoughts. After a brief pause he told, "No Manju, I am serious". Really? Having lost his younger brother just a few days back, I remembered he was not in a mindset to joke. Then was he really going to sell off his library? I could not believe it. Had this not been a joke, it was not Satya then! I had seen him from my childhood; I grew watching him build his library - book by book.<br /><br />A small boy with cinema drama and literature filled in his heart and soul, he had left for Bangalore with a big dream in his eyes. True to his dreams, he grew quite a bit as an artist, if not in terms of social/economic standards. He formed his own artistic and cultural life, working with the likes of C.G.Krishnaswamy of Ranganirantara, B V Karantha etc. Popularly known as "Katlu Satya" in amateur theatrical circles, he authored many plays like "baavi", "daambaru bandaddu" etc that won him many accolades from the public and experts alike. He made a good name as a theater artist and a director as well.<br /><br />The kind of care-free and simplest of simple life-style that he had developed for himself was a matter of envy for us. Like cinema and stage, books was his another passion. While we all resorted to TV, Cinema for our entertainment needs, Satya frequented the book stalls to beat the boredom. Wherever there was a book exhibition or sale in the city, Satya should visit the same; should buy at least 5-6 books; did not matter if it was first hand-second hand or costly-cheap. If the book was valuable, it should be brought home. There was the kind of engrossment in his shopping for books, one that one would find in a boy who shops for his toys. Book purchase was not just for show off. As soon as the book came home he should sit and finish reading it in next two three days. Since most of the books was bought at book fairs, being new and costly, it had turned out to be a very costly affair. Every hundred rupees that he saved would serve to buy a book, he thought. Best part of savings/earnings went go into books. Thus the library, rather than just a library, was an extension of his very personality. He had developed the kind of affinity with each book in his 2500 strong collection that he was able to tell with an impeccable exactness, which book was where, what the content was and where it was torn, when and why. It was a matter of pride to exhibit his collection. After all, it was an owner's pride, really.<br /><br />Should somebody decide to sell such a prized possession, the situation must be really serious. Though I did not ask this personal question, it was quite evident that he had been through this decision-making nightmare for past two months before finally deciding to sell off his sole "property". Of course this could be a temporary phase, that would pass over with a little endurance, but this (parting with his possession) would be something permanent and should not happen for any reason; for his book collection was an inseparable part of his personality; not something that could be sold to meet some worldly demands. I thought hard if something could be done to save his possession. But the mess was too big for any of his well wishers/friends to resolve. Even the sales proceeds of this library would only meet the most urgent part of the total demand. There seemed no other way than selling the library off.<br /><br />While I was lost in these thoughts, Satya interrupted: "Manju I know it pains you; I know that you can't afford a library at this point of time, but all I am asking you is to write about it. I am sure there are people out there as crazy as myself; our current task is just to find and establish a connection with them. Since you have interests similar to mine, I am sure there could be such lots in your friend-circle"<br /><br />I felt so too.<br /><br />Well, now down to business. He expects the library - with around 2500 books spanning from archaic literature to modern ones, western to eastern, and drawing from a wide spectrum of poetry, poetics, drama, history, spirituality, science, arts, theater etc - to fetch him at least Rs.2 Lakhs (an average of Rs.80 per book). Any book lover knows that the intrinsic value of a book is far more than its face value, especially if it is a collection. It is the value of the "collection" that is more than the sum total of value of individual books. And it is the Library as a whole that is put up for sale, not individual books. Any single individual or group of individuals can buy the library, but the condition is, the library should be bought as a whole. Else, he feels, it does not even serve his financial needs, and moreover it is painful to watch the personal library cannibalized and disappearing into oblivion. Added to this, the hope is that the buyer of his library would look after the library intact.<br /><br />Here are some snaps of his book collection. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ksmanjunatha/SatyaLibrary">http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ksmanjunatha/SatyaLibrary</a>#<br /><br />Those interested can contact Mr. Satyanarayana directly; visit him and his library at Bangalore personally. His mobile number is + 91 94487 03864<br /><br />While the decision itself is painful, I personally wish that its execution is less painful; for it is not just the question of buying/selling a library but the question of ones faith in a value. If it harms ones belief that one can live by himself without any materialistic dimensions, our tonnes of writing and ages of dreaming about a non-materialistic and simple life-style is a waste.</div>Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-62075151809427600382008-04-30T01:38:00.002+05:302009-10-30T13:41:04.784+05:30History of Mysore Palace, rediscovered by TourismLast week I was in Hyderabad on some official work. Returning home, I found in the Hyderabad Airport, the displays of AP tourism about various places of tourist interest. One eye catcher was the historic Mysore Palace. Eye catcher, not because it was Mysore palace, not because it was historic, or not even because it was splendid. The AP tourism had made a path breaking discovery in the history of Mysore palace.<br /><br /><strong>It belonged to Tipu Sultan !!! (See the photo)</strong><br /><br />This "historical monument" was silently catching the eyes of whoever cared to see - especially of tourists (many of whom would be foreign tourists who would return home with memories of India, of our ignorance, and of our audacity to exhibit our ignorance).<br /><br />Here is the text of my email to the AP department of tourism:<br /><em><br /><blockquote><p align="justify"><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Dear Sir,<br /></em><em></em></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Please see the attached photos of one of your displays at Hyderabad Airport taken on 25th April 2008. This is the picture of the world famous Mysore Palace. But shockingly <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194772382121370706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" height="150" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-rxdPuzyT9Q-HaNwnjvXYhYxpvKRJ80Md4wWDaBDrwPvs94vvCeUY5WuY-Ca7YerpyQdJq6PEBkZ3ixa6Hz1p3DueBBl43ZDozEkXI_w-cdyNTL6F4oyq67zrLTGtFMdaSnWaQ/s200/Mysore+Palace.JPG" width="221" border="0" />enough, the caption reads "Tipu Sultan's Palace, Mysore"!!!<br /></em><br /></span><em><span style="color:#336666;">I had dropped a complaint in the airport complaint/suggession kiosk, but no response till now. For your information, here is a small piece of details about the said palace:<br /></span></em><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>The construction of this palace was started in 1897 to replace the old palace which was destroyed due to fire.<br /></em><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>The regent of Mysore at the time, <strong>Queen Kempananjammanni Vanivilasa Sannidhana</strong>, commissioned a British architect, Henry Irwin, to build yet another palace in its place. The construction was completed in 1912.<br /></em></span><br /><span style="color:#336666;"><em>Not that the above piece of history may interest you, but this is just to insist that you <strong>please stand corrected and immediately remove or correct the display before many more visitors laugh at us.</strong><br /></em><br /></span><span style="color:#336666;"><em>The tourism department which is supposed to guide and enlighten the tourists about our rich cultural heritage, forgets (or ignores) the history of just 95 years, is a matter of shame, more so when it is displayed in such a bold manner in front of the whole world !!!<br /></em><br /><em>Regards,</em><br /><em>Manjunatha.K.S</em><br /></span></p></blockquote></em><br />The email id of AP tourism is <a href="mailto:info@aptourism.in">info@aptourism.in</a>, if you want to send a mailer - just a small hope that it may open the eyes of those who are (ir)responsible, and warn them against blabbering just whatever comes to their mind about our national heritage.<br /><br /><em>PS: If you know a better email id, please share it with me.</em>Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-43139916875821785612008-01-29T00:31:00.003+05:302010-08-26T00:09:10.154+05:30In quest of a lost charm..."These cargo ships come from & go to Iran" told my companion. We were standing on the Port Khalid side of the creek which separates the port area from the rest of Sharjah. It was an early evening. Desert cold had started, and it would be chill there after the dark. In the middle of the hectic working hours, we had sneaked out for a fifteen minutes break; to travel in an "abra" across the creek of Sharjah. This creek runs through Sharjah, through Dubai. Those lucky lot who can not afford a car or do not have time to wait for a local transport bus use this inland waterway for their daily travel.<br /><br />"Abra" is a ferry boat which carries you from the Port side to the city side. It is a 5 minutes sail across the creek, and he charges you 1.5 Dirhams. The waters acquire a beautiful golden shimmer in the evening; a lot of sea-gulls fluttering around. The shores are abuzz with activity. You can see a lot of boats, yatches and cargo ships anchored along the shores. They carry all kind of food, clothings, and assorted stuff. Instead of crossing the creek, if you sail along the creek for about a mile, there is deep sea. It is a day's journey to Iran from here to Iran by the ship, they say.<br /><br />If you cross the creek you reach the part of the Sharjah city, which is now called Old Sharjah. With its neat, quiet and narrow lanes, historical, cultural and religious museums, intriguing curio shops... stands silent, humble but vivid and lively; in comparison with the rest of the city that is called Sharjah with all its bafflingly gorgeous roads, sky scrapers,hippy shopping mals, KFCs, MacDonalds and the same old dumb stuff.<br /><br />A weak attempt to search for the soul of the town that was; a local concience that is lost somewhere in the global uniformity; Straining the ear drums to catch strains of that old-time arabic music...<br /><br />Well, I know I have ignored this small corner of mine for quite long. There are many things that try to come out of the bonds of my laziness. This is one such fortunate sketch.<br /><br />Rest, a while later.Manjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617185.post-15718850776060371352007-02-10T07:45:00.000+05:302007-06-11T19:24:06.278+05:30First PostAt last took up the task of designing my blogspot. Though I had created this one long back, I could not somehow go any further. Should I call it a time constraint? Well, that is safer ;). <br /><br />Just stepped into my new corner. Decorated with fonts, colours and layouts to make it somewhat liveable (at least for myself). Now I have to fill it with all the curio stuff strewn around. Well, you may find this place empty for some more time to come, till I get time to sit and arrange, that is.<br /><br />While making this blog, I was wondering if I should make it in Kannada or English. On a second thought I realized that the question itself was meaningless. When I think in both Kannada & Engilsh, live in both and even beyond, and when I have friends of both languages, and more over when it is my own corner where I do not need to pose, why bother about the language. I shall go on posting as it comes.<br /><br />Well, I think this much is enough for today. Need a break from this much of Housekeeping work ;) Catch you later<br /><br />ByeManjunatha Kollegalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06597757236883289208noreply@blogger.com11