Agraharam

Today I wish to know what is the population of Iyer’s (Kerala) emerging from the agraharams? Will a time come when all have migrated to cities and no more Iyer’s will be left at agraharams?

With the Iyer’s moving out to cities from agraharams and from cities to outside India, is that number decreased in the last 20 years?

My wife from Kannambra mentioned that the place is getting less and less of Iyer’s. Even my late father use to say about it for Koduvayur (my native village).

Will this be the beginning of the end for the specific culture trait of Iyer’s, who have unique tastes with respect to eating habits and speaking styles?

I think it is an illusion of end that is generated out of fear of losing the identity.

The particular nature of the Iyer’s is their inability to be in a group but grow bigger and taller as an individual.

Whether data will be available from census or an Iyer will come forward and start a website with some base data to collect the information, no idea. The problem of non-availability of the data is absent, since Iyers' by nature are inclined towards education and an educated one will surely like to be part of universal loop and not like to stand alone.

I had a thought, whether village or agraharam tourism like settings can be initiated by selecting one agraharam and maintaining all the essence of it. By essence, means the agraharam selected will be adhering to the basic requirement like:

·         Clothes

·         Food

·         Speech

The agraharam will be a place to relive or protect the charm of being an Iyer from Kerala.

This is random musings by a city born but with a heart rooted in agraharam.

To know little more about agraharam below link will serve that:

https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/what-is-agrahara-list-of-agraharams/

Note: It is worth visiting the blog https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/ it does contain besides above many other interesting write ups which illuminates everyone.

A R Rahman

After posting write up on Republic day, while searching YouTube, I happen to visit the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ-k0zP0uGE

The video is about a performance by A R Rahman ( Music Maestro) from India. The music is very fast and captivating. Though deafening at times but can be listened to.

This performance was never heard by me.

Republic Day - India

Today India celebrates 67^th Republic day.

Yesterday an interesting interview appeared in newspapers wherein MP Shashi Tharoor stated that it is time we have to move towards Presidential system from Parliamentary System. This was mentioned with the grudge that Parliamentary System has not delivered the desired objectives. Classic case is the citizen representation at some constituencies 1 MP represents lakhs (33.68 lacs – Outer Delhi – Elections of 2004). I will bring out one note (December 17, 2011) of Shashi Tharoor here:

“The basic outlines of the argument have been clear for some time: our parliamentary system has created a unique breed of legislator, largely unqualified to legislate, who has sought election only in order to wield (or influence) executive power. It has produced governments obliged to focus more on politics than on policy or performance. It has distorted the voting preferences of an electorate that knows which individuals it wants but not necessarily which policies. It has spawned parties that are shifting alliances of individual interests rather than vehicles of coherent sets of ideas. It has forced governments to concentrate less on governing than on staying in office, and obliged them to cater to the lowest common denominator of their coalitions. It is time for a change.”

Here, I wish not debate about pro or cons of Parliamentary or Presidential system. On the contrary, I wish to remember the article written by Capt. Raj Mohindra titled When Italy opened its arms to Indian sailors (The Hindu, April 03,2013). This article is about Second World War how Indians displayed their culture and did not go in for spoils of war. Despite Italians were on the other side of fighting Indians, the Indian soldiers’ behavior was well respected. I reproduce here a section of the article to bring out the fact:

“I was invited to dinner by the family of the late Ms. Ines Ghosh, the Italian wife of the late Surgeon Rear Admiral J.N. Ghosh of the Indian Navy. Ghosh met Ines in Taranto where he was a prisoner of war. There I heard heart-rending stories of World War II. They narrated how when the British 8th Army comprising British, Australian, Canadian, Indian and troops of other nationalities invaded southern Italy in July 1943. The soldiers from all armies except the Indian Army indulged in rape, molestation and plunder.

One of the elderly ladies present told us how she was being chased by two Allied soldiers when an Indian soldier intervened and protected her. He told them not to harm her because she was his sister!

In another instance a posse of Indian soldiers voluntarily guarded an apartment building and prevented soldiers of the other Allied armies from entering it. There were numerous stories of heroism like this. These marvelous episodes bore testimony to the ethical standards and professionalism of the Indian Army.”

We have to understand that we need to carry, on our shoulders the responsibilities of being an Indian.

http://www.shashitharoor.in/article-by-me-details.php?id=294

http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/intresting_states.aspx

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/when-italy-opened-its-arms-to-indian-sailors/article4573884.ece

Look beyond celebrities

Two different writers very different perspectives. Today morning i managed to read two articles which was very well written. It holds or hooks the reader from start to finish.

Some portion of it i will bring out here, to tease the reader to venture out and read the entire article. The link for the article is mentioned below the teasers:

"Hypocrites, terrorists reject modernity, but use its fruits such as modern weaponry, and the internet to propagate their diseased ideology."

"Unfortunately, the internet can lead to gross misguidance. Viewing remains largely unmonitored by family elders, depriving of traditional learning through sohbat – companionship of the wise and enlightened."

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/a-muslim-crossroads-millions-gather-against-blasphemous-depictions-but-similar-numbers-are-not-seen-protesting-against-isis/

"Would you rather have a jolt-free ride or see a babe fed? And if God forbid some craters do or did cause some broken bones, did it also not ensure work for a poor doctor who needs to make ends meet? Come on, Man, when will you learn to see beyond your own measly discomforts and think of others? In the larger scheme of things, finished work in finite period means no work, no food for many in the long run, but work in infinite progress, means infinite opportunities for years.

Take it this way and for once think of others before yourself!"

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sweet-n-sour/work-in-progress/

The above two articles remind that it is not necessary that articles written by celebrities are only to be read and others to be ignored. Both articles literally made me complete the reading due to its easy flow, crispness and holding the reader tight till the end.

Love Your Job

Every employee on joining a new work place, expects the senior to whom he reports, is a one who will support him in his journey.

However, it is observed that the journey is solo and the employee has to find a path for himself. If not he gets struck.

In this context, it is advised to utilize the time available at work to increase value of self, by loving the job / work and not the work place.

Loyalty to work is more important than loyalty to work place, this statement was inspired by words of wisdom from Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, "Love your job but never fall in love with your company, because you never know when it stops loving you".

Here, one more statement from Ruth Porat (Google CFO) is to be noted:

Hard work for the wrong boss will never get you noticed.

Then the obvious question is what will you do when you work with a wrong boss. 

Deeply love your job / work, passionately involve in every aspect of it and one day the work / job will rise up and take you to the place where you deserve to be placed.

Natsamrat (Marathi Movie)

Golden period of Marathi Cinema started from Shwaas (Director: Sandeep Sawant, Released on December 2004, recipient of two National Awards - Best Feature Film and Best Child Actor) and is gaining strength since then.

I have always regretted that Indian movies (majorly Hindi) lack the content, dialogue or performance which holds an audience to his seat. I will borrow from Natsamrat; the performance has to be such that the audience holding chips in his hand and watching the performance should not be allowed to put it in his mouth, even though the distance is very small.

Now about movie, for a Maharastrian, Natsamrat is a name frequently heard as a book written by V V Shirwadkar (popularly referred with his pen name Kusumagraj). The character Ganpatrao was immortalized by Dr Shriram Lagoo through innumerable stage shows.

Movie is about a stage actor Ganpatrao resigns from stage and hands over all his wealth to his son and daughter, despite wife “Sarkar” suggesting otherwise. Subsequently the problems faced by both Ganpatrao and Sarkar runs through the entire movie.

The story appears to be a typical emotional age old sentimental family issues. Yes, I agree with that it is an emotional family drama.

Now what separates this movie and why it should be seen, I will list it down the separators:

·         Exceptionally electrifying and die hard performance of Nana Patekar ( Ganpatrao)

·         An easy looking but strong performance by Vikram Gokhale (Rambhau)

·         Heavy dialogues which relates audience to real life scenario

·         There are many scenes where the audience suddenly feels himself in the shoes of Ganpatrao, Sarkar and Rambhau.

Some of the dialogues are worth reproducing here as they epitomize the heart beat of the movie:

Pratishtha mhanje ek bhaakad oza. Kadhi yogyata nastana milta. Kadhi chook nastana nighun jaata

Kuni ghar deta ka? Ghar? Eka toofanala kuni ghar deta ka? Ek toofan bhinti vaachun, chhapra vaachun, manasachya maye vachun, devacha daye vachun, dongra-dongrat hindta aahe. Jithun kuni uthavnar naahin ashi jaga dhoondta aahe. Kuni ghar deta ka re? Ghar?

Naahin, raagavun kay faayda aahe? Aani radnaar suddha naahin. Mazya dolyat asva jama hovayla laagli tar khi... khi... khile maarun khacha karun taakin pan hya adhai samor mee radnaar naahi.

Source: http://thecommonmanspeaks.com/2016/01/03/natsamrat-dialogues/

In fact I want to reproduce all the good dialogues but due non availability of it I fail do so. Especially, on the death bed of Rambhau, when Rambhau and Ganpatrao speaks about Mahabharat character Karna.

For people who do not understand Marathi (English subtitles are there, even though they do not connect to the heart) please watch performance of Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale and Medha Manjrekar (eye expressions especially).

There is no doubt that Natsamrat Movie and Nana Patekar will walk away with National Award for Best Feature Film and Best Actor. I can only hope that the movie goes on to Oscar as nomination from India under category (Best Foreign Film). Even though I know it is difficult, I will pray if Nana Patekar’s performance is send for Oscar for Best Actor.

Worth watching many times. Once in a life time of a performance by an actor.

Movie: Natsamrat

Directed by: Mahesh Manjrekar

Produced by: Nana Patekar and Vishwas Joshi

Story by: Kusumagraj

Written by: Kiran Yadnopavit, Abhijeet Deshpande

Release date: 1^st January 2016

Actors: Nana Patekar, Vikram Gokhale, Medha Manjrekar