Puddles of Sunshine

In to the Wilderness...

2011-04-12T04:47:00.000-07:00

View point, Betta. 18:26

Nitin looked at his large dialed, silver chained fast track watch. He still remembered the day. It was exactly five years ago. She had half-surprised him as she had selected the gift and specifically selected the place. The place was exactly same now. The evening Mysore sun was gliding steadily over the west, sending the last shimmers of brilliant orange blaze. His gaze now shifted to the majestic Mysore palace and the memories came rushing by. . . . !

He could still recall the day he had first seen her. It was the first lab of his engineering course. The professor had begun calling names from the register and was assigning the apparatus for the experiments. Apparently they had to share the apparatus since the batch strength was quite high. "Niharika" the professor called and he had followed her every move till she reached the titration apparatus. She was wearing a blue denim and a simple T-shirt and as Nitin had told her later, He had never believed in love at first sight until that day .The experiment was rather simple, Whilst Niharika was busy taking the readings, Nitin was busy scanning the room for good looking girls and by the time the lab was over, The conclusion was that Niharika was the most beautiful girl in the batch.

Through a series of such labs over a period of few weeks, Nitin and Niharika's relation had grown from experiment partners to friends and by the time their first sem results were announced, They had become good friends. The partnering of experiments continued for the rest of the year along with fun-sharing of care free college life at their regular classes. Of course not undermining their academics especially when at VTU as an adage goes it was Very Tough University. When they had finished their second year, They were the best of friends.

He looked at his watch again.It was 18:39. His gaze now shifted from the magnificent palace to its surroundings. There it was. His own Mysooru. The city he was born, he spoke his first words, took his first steps, learnt his first letters and the city which gave him his first love. Nitin could not help but drown in memories how he and Niharika had spent time together in this city. The bike rides after college. The sterling movies. The DD’urs road shopping. The long chats at Cafe Coffee day. The KD road strolls, The Kukkarahalli kere evenings, the short trips to KRS or Balmuri or even to Maddur CCD.

A bead of sweat had now appeared on his forehead, as he remembered the day he had proposed to her. It was the day their sixth sem results had come out. She had scored an FCD with 82% and he had managed a first class with 67%. He had to admit how he had admired her commitment to studies while he always felt short of his expectations. He blamed the erratic questioning of the university and bad correction. They say the best feeling in the world is to love and be loved. That statement turned gold to Nitin when Niharika accepted his proposal.

A cold wave of air went past him and he inhaled it deeply and let out a sigh. Life was perfect. They had passed out just about three years ago with a job on hand in reputed MNCs. They would work for some years and would eventually get married and it would be "happys endings “Though Niharika wanted to do her higher studies, Nitin always thought once she got in to working mode there was no turning back. It was a shocker when she had told him she was applying for universities immediately after their B. E since her GRE and TOEFL were in fact very good. They had talked it over. Over and over how it would not be difficult one being in Bangalore and one being in California, since they had known each other so well. How they would be in touch 24*7 with all the improvised internet wave sweeping through. Although Nitin was not fully convinced. He never wanted to be a dent in her ambition.

Nitin now recounted how things had gone from wonderful to good. Good to bad. Bad to worse. The long distance relationship was taking a toll on both of them. Nitin, now having a professional life had to make compromises devoting time to his career and his personal life. He did. But it was seldom reciprocated. from Niharika. She was starting to be a different person now. She was cocooning herself from him. He started getting doubts if it was the same person he had loved all this while. Their conversations now were turning sour every few days. Though they patched up at every instance, the bridging gap was evident. And the final blow came when Niharika disclosed one day that she had feelings for one of her classmates there in U. S She explained how she never meant to hurt Nitin, How she had deeply loved him but had no answers how the transformation had happened. That explained how her facebook relationship status changed from “its complicated” to “in relationship with Kiran” Her new classmate-boyfriend.

Nitin now realized there was a crowd around him He saw a couple just beside him laughing over. A dialogue from a famous kannada movie rang in his mind:”Ee preethi prema annodu kevala pusthakada badnekai”He asked himself a question: Was it? NO. He still regarded Love as something sublime and divine. That threw him one more question: Was he a “Devdas”? The answer was a strong NO. He had moved on in his life. In fact he had pooled all his dissatisfaction in his personal life to his professional life and had blossomed at work. In fact he was the best performer of the term and was to leave to United States to head a project in coming months. So what made him come to the betta view point on his birthday and that too wearing a watch his former girlfriend gifted him at the same spot five years ago? Well to be honest he had no answer to that question. He had read somewhere that there are no answers to some questions life poses at you. It did not matter now as he had gradually put the fire out of his relationship. The conversations grew shorter all the while because there were far less things to talk about. For about a year and half now Nitin had stopped all contact with Niharika. It was not easy. It was not impossible too.

But being a person who once valued a relationship, Nitin could not get Niharika out of his system. It was exactly as they depict in movies-The first love stays with you…. FOREVER.
He wanted to have the view of the illuminated palace from the view point. It was always his favorite spot. Today being his birthday made it all the more special to be here. He had lied to his friends that he had an important work and had told them he would meet them at the restaurant he was supposed to treat them.

Suddenly there were hushes oohs and aahs from the crowd. It was 19:00 and the palace was illuminated in one glow. It looked like a jewel in the midst of darkness. He had seen that sight innumerable times but it still enchanted him. His eyes were transfixed on it for a whole minute. His cell phone let out a small beep. He had got a message from one of his friends. It said-Get your “To be kicked ass” here fast. He smiled and turned back to leave. He saw a car pull over just a few paces in front of him.

Nitin thought the ground he stood slump down and he was falling in to a bottomless well when he saw Niharika and Kiran come out of the car.He composed himself, avoided himself being noticed, went up to his bike and drove off in to the wilderness of dark Chamundi betta road. Nitin had already got his birthday bumps

7 Wonders of Mysooru

2011-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

While reading Bangalore Mirror on a lazy sunday morning I came across a poll conducted calling the readers to vote for 7 wonders of Bangalore.My mind immediately started listing the possible 7 wonders of Mysooru.Now for those of you who alternate between 5 days Bangalore 2 days Mysore itinerary will comprehend why I did that,because that breed always compares things between the two cities.
Here are my possible 7 wonders of Mysooru....

7.Star of Mysore:
For over decades,Star of Mysore,Mysore's popular evening daily has been Mysooreans companion for evening coffee.I for one have the fondest of memories running from school to grab SOM sipping bournvita and listening to Mayamruga title track.Be it the spiderman's comics by Stan Lee,or the jokes in "laugh and the world laughs with you" section,or the information packed yet simple narratives of KB Ganapathy or the profound columns of HSK's moving finger Mysoorens have made it a habit to see the world through this 12-page newspaper.What makes it a wonder is even in this new age media boom and breaking news dramas SOM manages to strike the right chord with people providing the exact amount of news with inimitable flavor of Mysore in it.

6.Mysore Pak:
Invented by Kaakkasura Madappa in the erstwhile palace kitchen,Mysore Pak continues to enthrall the taste buds of people round the world and is synonymous with South Indian cuisine.No wonder down south its referred to as King of desserts.

5.Jagan Mohan Art Gallery:
Built in 1861 as an alternate palace for Wodeyar Dynasty,this architectural marvel was converted in to a art gallery in 1915.It houses the rarest of rare paintings of Raja Ravi Varma,exquisite antique pieces of Wodeyar household,souvenirs of foreign visitors.Benevolent gifts by British officers.The depiction of Tippu Sultan battling against the Britishers can be found here.That by the way is the only available visual representation of battle of Srirangapattanam.The weapons of war,musical instruments,sculptures,rare coins and currencies makes this place an art-lover's wonder.

4.Dasara Jamboo Savari:
The 9-day long navaratri festivities culminating in a grand procession on the final day is undoubtedly the cynosure of millions world wide.The globally famous Jamboo savari not only portrays the unparalleled cultural diversity of the land but also the tradition every Indian endures.The 758 kg all-gold howdah being carried on the Dasara elephant's back has become a symbol of Mysore's identity for many a decade now.

3.Krishna Raja Sagara:
The brain child of perhaps one of the greatest statesman,engineer and administrator of India-Sir M Vishveshvarayya,this engineering marvel is the main source of water for Mysore and Mandya districts.It also provides drinking water to most of Bengalooru too.Built in 1932 this 125 feet 3.5 km long dam sure is held in reverence by most people of Mysore and Mandya.Its true that even today Sir MV's portrait is worshipped in the household next to the deity.The Brindavan gardens were also a staple diet for most romantic duets of old Kannada films.

2.Chamundi Betta:
Legend has that Goddess Chamundi incarnated to kill the demon Mahishasura and no wonder Mysooreans hold betta in high reverence.Patronized by all the Maharajas of Wodeyar clan,the temple is a must visit place in every tourist's itinerary.The panoramic view of the city atop the hills is indeed breath taking.

1.Amba Vilas Palace or Mysore Palace:

With 2.9 million visitors in 2009,this palace is responsible for Mysore getting its epithet "City of palaces".Built in 1912,this Indo-Sarcacenic marvel which blends Hindu,Muslim Rajput and Gothic architectures is a clear winner among wonders because it attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal.The epicenter of the world famous Dasara procession,the illuminated palace looks spell bounding and remains etched in every tourists memory.

What's Life....

2010-09-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

What's life without a dream,
Something to cheer-about and keep smiling all-day.

What's life without hope,
Something to look forward,and think all would be well.

What's life without an ambition,
Something to strive hard and stretch every sinew.

What's life without thorns,
Something to tell you its not always bed of roses.

What's life without failure,
Something to make you stronger and fight harder.

What's life without family,
Something to tell how much you are loved expecting nothing

What's life without friendship,
Something to cling on to when nothing else works.

What's life without without love,
Something to make you special out of six billion in this world.

What's life without success,
Something to appreciate your work and make you a stand-out.

What's life without a bear-hug,
Something to make you realize the warmth of love.

What's life without struggle,
Something to make you refined and aim higher.

What's life without good music and humour,
Something to slow you down and lighten up things.

What's life without criticism,
Something to remind you that cynicism is a norm

What's life without competition,
Something to bring out the best in you.

What's life without the feel-good factor,
Something to tell you you are happy as you make up your mind to be.

What's life without writing a poem,
Something that satisfies you as you had not written one for a long time.

-Pavan Kunch

The Collosal Aura:An Evening at Ranga Shankara

2010-06-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

When I told my mom I had been to Ranga Shankara the previous evening,Shes asked:"Yav hudgi patayskondidya?"Even though he knows I am a teetotaller,My dad asked"Eno koodoyok yavaginda shuru madkonde?" My Ajji exclaimed "Vivekananda kansalli bandidra".And when my room mate,Vishal heard I had been to Ranga Shankara,he told "Wrong choice maga,MG road nalli sakkath hot hudgeer idru" :)

Its not easy to fathom now why I had been to Ranga Shankara on a rainy evening when I could have cozily watched television at home.It all started in the morning when my senior collegue,Shyam Prasad,a theatre enthusiasst came up to me and said "Ganchali bidi Kannada mathadi antha yavaglu helthya,Facebook page start madidya,Ranga Shankara kke yak innu hogillla".I replied "Kannada andre bari nataka alla.nunge ishta illa,naan hogilla".He looked at me as though I was Swami Nityananda and just remarked:"Muchkond baa ivattu ticket book madthiddini".I could not even think of replying anything else.

Though I had heard of theatre in Mysooru,which has kalamandira which inturn houses Rangayana,I had never really had an urge to go to any of the plays.I had even known from a blogger friend that Rashtrakavi Kuvempu's Malegalalli Madumagalu was a blockbuster hit and created a record of sorts for enacting it non-stop for nine hours.So I thought its not all bad to atleast have my first theatre experience.

The name of the play was "Neenaadrenaanena?" The Kannada film "Ulta Palta" was based on this play.Its all about the wrong person being in the wrong place at the wrong time.The rules of Ranga Shankara are quite simple:Be here atleast half an hour before the play,No late commers.Not five minutes not three not even one.I heard the receptionist say"The CM is also not allowed if he is late,or for that matter not even Arundathi Naag".Its true...None are allowed after the bell is sounded indicating the play to begin.

The ambience at the outset was itself magnificient.It was one of absolute beauty.The whole surrounding was of pure old cultured look.The best way to describe was Ranga Shankara is opposite to Mantri Square Mall.Here is a bit more from the website.

Ranga Shankara is a world-class theatre facility in Bangalore, India. The most affordable theatre space in India today, Ranga Shankara is dedicated to showcasing theatrical performances from India and abroad, to producing and commissioning new and innovative theatre forms and productions, and facilitating outreach programmes to build audiences for theatre and to impart theatre skills. Ranga Shankara is a commitment to the art of theatre, to the cultural fabric of our country and its people: bringing to them a wholesome feast of theatre to awaken and thrill the senses.
Ranga Shankara is Theatre Alive!
Born from a dream envisioned by actor – director Shankar Nag the theatre is a celebration of artistic excellence. Arundhati’s tireless task of building the theatre over 10 years was propelled by the selfless contributions made by hundreds of donors to make it a reality, and supported by the invisible friends who stand by the theatre and quietly work everyday without any expectation only because they believe. The rewards are in the relentless theatre that happens every day at Ranga Shankara; and in the participation of a community that has embraced the space and made it its own.

The Outset

Ranga Shankara celebrates the glorious traditions of theatre, and also looks with anticipation to the future. Through making available the performances of experienced artistes to new theatre-goers and practitioners, through allowing both young and the veteran to engage over endless cups of tea, through jointly lugging sets and painting flats well into the night, through heated discussions over beliefs and styles, that we evolve the dramatic arts and crafts. By investing in the new generation of youth that now uses the space, whether to perform or to watch the cutting edge theatre we invite throughout the year, we strengthen our bonds and invest in the future of Theatre Alive!

Ranga Shankara is a space dedicated to theatre and we do not rent out the auditorium for anything other than theatre performances. All bookings must be for shows open to the public.

Ambience:Classic and captivating

As many of you might have known RS was brain child of Kannada super actor Shankar Naag.I admire him as the original perfectionist.Here is how Shankar Naag continues to inspire even today.

Shankar Nag (1955-1990) was one of the most extraordinarily talented and energetic theatre practitioners of our generation. He began his theatre work at the age of sixteen in Bombay and his commitment to theatre continued unabated despite his enormous success as a screen actor. Shankar won an acting award for his debut performance in Girish Karnad’s ‘Ondaanondu Kaaladalli’ at the International Film Festival in New Delhi in 1979, and later himself directed the television serial Malgudi Days.This serial remains in syndication even today and continues to appear not only on Indian TV channels and private screens but also internationally.

Shankar’s heart always belonged to theatre and he dreamed of creating a vibrant, affordable, inclusive space for theatre and theatre lovers in his adopted city of Bangalore. For him, theatre had no boundaries; it simply swept people off their feet and transported them to lands of infinite possibility and potential. Confronting the challenges from film and television and resisting the lure of commercial stages, the spirit of theatre had to be kept alive – it needed a home where it could grow under the care of experienced practitioners and where it could nurture younger people and guide them into a loving and supportive community, a community that they would revitalize with their energy and new ideas.
Shankar’s tragic death made it all the more imperative that his dream stay alive. The Sanket Trust, with the help of friends and lovers of theatre from all over the country, made sure that the dream would live and inspire others to join the celebration of Shankar’s life.
The dream Shankar left us is a dream that we could embrace and share and fulfil in our own ways, a dream that we could enrich with our own energies and commitment.

Shankar Naag,The original perfectionist

The performing stage hogs all the lime light at RS.When I first entered in,I was filled with awe.Here is more on it from the website since I am no expert on the matter but an art lover not to demure the deatils:
The main stage at Ranga Shankara was designed after conversations and debates with theatre practitioners, taking into account the needs of performers as well as technical teams.

The auditorium has a thrust stage with a floor area of 1750 sq ft., with four green rooms and the very best of sound, lighting, and technical facilities. The auditorium is air conditioned and seats 320.
Our thrust stage is the first and the only one of its kind in Bangalore. The stage and the auditorium arrange the acoustics in a way that artificial amplification becomes unnecessary.
Innovative directors at Ranga Shankara have made unconventional and maximal use of our stage and its surrounding areas.

The main stage:Lightning and acoustic:Perfect

The stage from diogonal view

The actual play itself was icing in the cake.Since Shyam had been there many times he first explained me the technical pre-requisite to understand a play.It began it went on.on and on.on and on.Trust me guys I have never laughed so much in my entire life.It was an absolute masterpiece.Even though I knew the story (had seen the film) The actors mannerisms were no match.Sihi Kahi Chandru was at his humorous best and with him was the Paapa Pandu protogonist who played a dada in the play.All the characters in the play gelled so well that they could manage to put up a show quite outstanding.The servent in the play who at regular intervals would just get up and say"Rokka Bantha" would have the audience in splits.The overall play was not to be missed not even for a second.

Althogh mobile phone usage and photography are prohibited here is a pic from one of the play

To Sum it up an evening most memorable in recent times had come to an end with standing ovaition by each and everone in the audience.It was no exaggeration.It was thoroughly well deserved.It took me a bit time to come out of that aura.I promised myself to be a regular to theatre.Nope its not old fashioned.Nope its not only to pensioners,Nope the quality is not bad.Kannada theatre truly has come off age.Its vibrant,Its indegenious,Its classical and its collosal.Ranga Shankara stands a testiment to all the adjectives used.And to end on beatiful note.I found a lot of beautiful girls in the audience.So Vishal:"Illa maga,that was right choice"

Quite but Me.

2010-05-28T12:42:00.001-07:00

An Indian by birth,Kannadadiga by blood,Mysoorean for life.But I call Myself an Universal Citizen!

A Mechanical engineer by course.A software engineer by profession.Pursuing PGDBA in distance learning-An artifact of Indian system of education.But I wanted to become a KSRTC driver as a kid!

A poet by heart.Blogger at times.Cricket maniac most times.But I enjoy most singing in the bathroom!

Have read all Dan Brown books.Some Jeffery Archer books,Most Sidney Sheldon books.Loved Khaleed Hosseini's books.But R.K Narayan is my favourite author.

An admirer of Charlie Chaplin.Have seen Titanic 26 times.Absolutely adore Dr Rajkumar Dr Vishnuvardhan & Shankar Naag.But Tom & Jerry and F.R.I.E.N.D.S are my favourite shows.

If Cricket is religion,Sachin is definitely God.But strongly believe none can be as unimitable as Rahul 'The Wall' Dravid.

As cliche as it may sound,I live life as it comes.I like success,I can take failures.But most of all I love living life to the fullest!

Five reasons why I should learn to Whistle

2010-05-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

(5) To Whistle at Dr.Vishnuvardhan in Aptharakshaka especially when he says:"Howla Howla"
(4) To Whistle at the 9th std girl who successfully argued with a middle aged man for a women reserved seat on a BMTC bus,telling him "Parliament nalle 33% women reservation ide,Nimgen kashta numma seat numge bitkodokke"
(3) To Whistle at Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar,for scoring the first ever double century in ODIs.
(2) To Whistle at Dr.Rajkumar's "Belli mooditho kooli koogitho" song from Bangarada Panjara.It remains one of my all-time favourite Kannada song
(1) To Whistle at MA Chinnaswamy Stadium when RCB is playing and join 55,675 people chanting "Aaarrr Seeeee Beeeee"

ಅಮ್ಮ, ಐ ಲವ್ ಯು....

2010-05-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಅಕ್ಕರೆ,ಕುಡಿದಂತೆ ಹಾಲು ಸಕ್ಕರೆ.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಪ್ರೀತಿ,ನಮ್ಮ ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ಸದಾ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಮಮತೆ,ನಮ್ಮ ಬದುಕಿನ ಹಣತೆ.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಮುದ್ದು,ಇದ್ದರೆ ಬರುವೆವು ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಗೆದ್ದು.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಮಡಿಲು,ನಮಗೆ ಸ್ವರ್ಗದ ಬಾಗಿಲು.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ವಾತ್ಸಲ್ಯ,ಎಲ್ಲದಕಿಂತ ಅತ್ಯಮೂಲ್ಯ.

ಎಷ್ಟೇ ದೂರ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅಮ್ಮನ ನೆನಪು,ತರುವುದು ಬಾಳಲಿ ಹುರುಪು.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಸನಿಹ,ನಿರಂತರ,ಅತಿಮಧುರ.

ಅಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇಡುವ ನಂಬಿಕೆ,ಬಡಿದೊಡಿಸುವುದು ಕಷ್ಟಗಳನ್ನ ಹಿಂದಕ್ಕೆ.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹದ ಮಾತು,ನಮ್ಮನ್ನ ಹುರಿದುಂಬಿಸಲು ಅಷ್ಟು ಸಾಕು.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ರಕ್ಷೆ,ಭೋರ್ಗರೆಯುವುದು ಕೊಂಚವೂ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆ.

ಅಮ್ಮನ ವಿಸ್ವಾಸ,ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅವಳು ನಿಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ.

ದೇವರು ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಇರಲು ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ,ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ.

ತಾಯಂದಿರ ದಿನದ ಪ್ರೀತಿಪೂರ್ವಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.

ಐ ಲವ್ ಯು ಅಮ್ಮ,ಹಿಂದೂ,ಇಂದೂ,ಮುಂದೂ,ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ.

-ಪವನ್ ಕುಂಚ್ ಟಿ.ಆರ್

Sometime Across...

2010-02-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Across the horizon,
We sometimes stand up
Across some emotions,
We sometimes play
Across the minds,
We sometimes scribble
Across some goals,
We sometimes stumble
Across some dreams,
We sometimes compromise
Across some determination,
We sometimes fall short
Across some anger,
We sometimes give it a bit more
Across some happiness,
We sometimes tend to be less happy
Across some comfort,
We sometimes feel uneasy to come out
Across some love,
We sometimes get hurt
Across some gossip,
We sometimes give a bit more ear
Across a needfull friend,
We sometimes take it for granted
Across family,
We sometimes give much less than we receive
Across religion,
We sometimes draw boundaries
Acroos good health,
We sometimes neglect
Across altittudes,
We sometimes lessen the bar
Across faith,
We sometimes harbor divide
Across education
We sometimes generalise
Across struggle,
We sometimes quit quickly
Across our jobs,
We sometimes think of having better ones
Across our lives
We all prepare to live,
We seldom LIVE....

-Pavan Kunch T.R

Of Kannada,Kannadiga and Kannadism

2009-11-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

YOU'RE PICKING up a pair of Nikes in a showroom on Commercial Street. And you overhear someone asking the shop assistant: "Esht guru idu?" You double over, as if someone just landed a blow on your solar plexus. The three little words ring blasphemous in the well-lit, carpeted interiors of a shop where nothing comes for less than a couple of thousands. That's the "punch" the local lingo carries in some spaces in namma Bengaluru! You may be a Basavangudi lad who knows enough mathru bhashe to sing high praises of Ajji's nucchin unde. The shop assistant, who changes two buses from Nagarabhavi to reach his workplace, may not have missed a single Rajkumar starrer. Still, the two of you will never dream of talking to each other in Kannada.
Is the language of the State dying a slow death in its capital? This question has been bandied about many times over with varied emotional intensity: with concern, anger, or mad fury that leads to a riot or two... The easy victim, in extreme situations, is always a hapless migrant labourer from a neighbouring State.
But even those of us not inclined to paranoia would concede that we are increasingly hearing less and less of Kannada in all kinds of spaces in Bangalore. OK, we don't speak English when we ask for holiges in Subbammana Angadi off D.V.G. Road or mutton chops in a military hotel in Majestic. But even traditional Kannada bastions, such as Gandhi Bazar, now have a Health and Glow or a Food World outlet, where the lingua franca is, invariably, English.

As the complexion of the economy and the notion of upward mobility change, the Pensioner's Paradise gets drunk on its own "happening" (whatever that means!) Pub City image and the Garden City turns into Silicon Valley. So, look at it figuratively or literally, the language we choose to speak in is fast changing.

It follows that those who can make the language (and with it lifestyle)-switch survive and those who can't are left behind. So, as Jnanpith Award-winning writer U.R. Ananthamurthy once pointed out, rather ironically, our local cultures and languages survive because of people who missed the bus to progress. (This statement generated a small storm with Chandrashekhar Patil asking if he meant to say that people should remain illiterate and backward if Kannada has to be protected.) English and the power package that comes with it speak a ruthless language of inclusion and exclusion. Simply put, firebrand Kannada activists can't learn the latest computer software or land a call centre job.

V.B. Tharakeshwar, lecturer, Department of Translation Studies, Hampi University, says the question is not of saving Kannada but of addressing the inequalities that exist between the "English haves" and the "English have-nots". He wonders if we have a right to quarrel if these "have-nots" abandon Kannada and pursue English in search of better opportunities. Ananthamurthy himself admits elsewhere: "In these cruel times of colonial inferiority, a person who does not know English would not get a job that fetches him more than Rs. 500 a month."

So, where does Kannada find a nestling place in a metropolis like Bangalore, as the English juggernaut rolls on, fuelled by economic, social, and political power? It's often been argued that one's mother tongue is the "hiding place" that provides spiritual and emotional sustenance in an increasingly globalised, consumerist era. But does anything in life work in watertight compartments?

S. Sriranga, a young lawyer, talks about how English has a tendency to slowly creep into all spheres of activity. It's in English that we teach our toddlers to count and recognise colours, speak to our friends, interact at workplace, and gossip as we chill out at a pub on weekends. The language defines the lifestyle of a crowd that, in turn, defines the city as "happening". And Kannada then becomes an odd word inserted in a Spice ad for special (or jejune) effects. So, unlike a generation that "thought and felt" in its own mother tongue and translated it into English for interactions outside, Gen X seems to sleep, eat, and drink only English. Come to think of it, that passionate argument with your spouse over unsold stacks of old newspapers or those confessions of undying love happen increasingly in English these days. And without much self-conscious effort at that. Singer and actor Sunil Raoh says: "Some youngsters may speak English because it's cool, but it's simply a way of life for others."

A.K. Ramanujan, that wonderful poet, translator, and scholar, once called himself a "hyphen" human being, who lived simultaneously in many language worlds — English in the office upstairs with his father, Tamil in the kitchen where his mother and aunts spent time, and Kannada on the streets where he played with friends. That leaves us with a question to ponder over on the eve of Kannada Rajyotsava: Are we ceasing to be even hyphenated as we move towards a world ruled by one, non-hyphenated word — English?

-Source:A post from The Hindu:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/30/stories/2003103000690100.htm

A thought provoking post indeed.Even 1t 2009 and possibly many years to come the kannada divide may go on..Only this time we may take more time in deciding where kannada in karnataka is.

Classic poems

2009-10-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

The Road not taken:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

two roads diverged in a wood, and I --

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

What is Succeess:

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Three poems that have always inspired me just to be my own , live life to the fullest and never to quit:

IF by Rudyard Kipling:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

and

Liesure by William Henry Davies:

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Dont Quit:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow,

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Five strikes on BMTC

2009-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a few observations from a year long journey with,on,across,beside,behind,in Bangalore Metro Transport corporation busses.

1.Eventhough you are damn sure of the destination of the bus.you are tempted to ask the driver or conductor If it stll goes,And even before you have uttered half of the name of the destination, you would have received replies like:"banni banni hogathe" or "ticket thagolli" or "10 rupees"
wonder from where those drivers and conductors learnt to mind read from half uttered words

2.If you give 100 bugs to the conductor,You receive a stare at face,then at your purse,then "change beku,belagge belagge noor rupay kotre yar change kodthare" I have heard that sentence even at 19:15 once...wonder thats a standard sentence to get change desperately...out of 100,90 conductors would scribble the remaining change, and if at all you happen to get a chance to see thier breast pockets,there would be notes of all dominations neatly bundled.Guess they are saving those change for last trip or tomorrow's ride:-)

3.I have been fascinated by conductors holding notes in their left hand,handicrafted between their fingers like flower with correct denominations.Even though when you thought his hands are full and hand him a note,he invariably has enough space to all the people in the bus at that time

4.Ever observed the accuracy in which the conductor recognizes the language of people from their faces.Precisely he will ask the passenger in thier language where to? no matter he is from north India,Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,Kerala....I asked a conductor once how many languages he knows...He counted and told me 5...and after some told me include urdu also in that:-)

5.The collosal fights...In my year on BMTC almost every other day,we have fights...fights for seat,right from entering ...to fights for change...fights for not giving change...fights for taking the money out late...fights for not telling he needs a ticket or has a pass...fights for resting the hands heavily on the other person...fights for sweating on the other person:-) fights for giving advice to move to a vacant space to ease congestion at entrance:-) funny it may seem,If we think a bit frustration goes out at irregular intervals at irregular situations at wrong people.

A heart felt gratittude to all the BMTC drivers and conductors who make our lives in this city always on wheels, a littile more comfortable

How I miss my Mysore

2009-09-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

When people said you will realize the value of a thing when you loose it,I half agreed because at that time I could not think of anything that I lost or missed.
Today 144 kms away from my city,sitting on a push back chair in an air conditioned cabin at my work place,I feel a part of me has been lost.Lost in transit..from an easy going college student to a professional.

Frankly I have never missed a dasara in Mysore in 22 years,and today when I realized that a lot is missed by me of my ooru,Mysooru.
Not for anything that I go every week for 2 days and I stay merely 144 kms away from my hometown is a consolation but its not being there.Here are a few things I miss from Mysore:

Just being at my home,in my room,with clothes scattered on my cot,with my diskman always connected to the plug-point,with the novel presently reading bookmarked on shelf,listening to all the aunties discussing the soaps and asking me from time to time were they disturbing me.and my ajji asking dont pay attention to their discussion and concentrate on studies:-) my street with all the tution going students (My adjacent building houses a tution) chattering about their day talking about WWE and cricket and sometimes filling my house to see live cricket.Listening to music with volume 32 and singing with it and getting scoldings from niebhour uncle..Believe me I used to crib at that before but now It has become that much important to be mentioned in the blog:)

D.Devaraja Urs road....urs road sometimes,dd road someimes or simply DR sometimes.walking aimlessly pointlessly cluelessly reasonlessly wait, there sometimes was a reason:bird watching:-) But walking at 23:36 in the middle of urs road,with friends avoiding police uncle,and if we do come across any asking him "en sir ,aytha oota" was bliss.Really that raod holds some magnetic force as bermuda triangle.Ask any mysorean,he tells a refreshing tale hoe urs road is dear to him.Here I need to mention Sumanth and Harsha.Guys if at all you read this blog.you know what I am talking about right! .Also loafing at CCD seeing buses plying or eating masalpuri at More junction.or buying pirated books from Manju (I am his regular customer from 2005) and bargaing everytime knowing he will atlast give it to 50 bugs no matter what price he asked in the begining,no matter what size the book is.No matter the quality of paper(its pirated and they have divisions of quality of paper,belive me!) or shopping with amma at market prior to festival.

Sayyaji rao road.No short forms for this (why?its a mystery till now) drinking Badam milk at Bombay Tiffanies.eating masal dose at Bombay Indra Bhavan with coffee,chatting with Shivanna,the server there from 25 years.He once confided with me in one of our conversations that if at all there was a next birth he wanted to be a server at Indira Bhavan.or Ismail opticals where I bought my first spectacles or Guru sweets whose steaming Mysore Pak makes everyone go mad.

Mysore palace....walking almost everyday after supper in the road leading to palace from corporation junction.and on the way back having Badam milk at VB bakery.tell you guys thats worth a million bugs! Arjun and Srinidhi,If at all you read this post I miss you guys and you know we miss all three being together after supper walking to palace.Harsha Sumi and Nagesha also acknowledge the fact that road is indeed kinda romantic (alvendro?)

Betta......riding on Raghunandan's CT-100.singing loudly,he perfectly,me imperfectly:) Raghu:maga I miss that a lot kano! going at 21:17 on fridays to the main temple not waiting in queque on the pretext of having influence and calling Vishwa standing in front of temple gate and asking him to come and escort:) Deepu:you know what fun it is:)

Hmmm I can go on...and on...its kinda improptu blog.with no connections to any of the sentences...(I know) But thought of writing this on a day Dasara 2009 was inaugurated and I missed being in Mysore not seeing the bulb light litted Palace or DD urs road or Sayyaji rao road or not being at Maharaja college grounds for yuva dasara...

Will catch all of them when I go there next wednesday:-)

Life's little instruction manual

2009-09-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Have a firm handshake.
Look people in the eye.
Sing in the shower.
Own a great stereo system.
If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
Always accept an outstretched hand.
Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
Whistle.
Avoid sarcastic remarks.
Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 per cent of all your happiness or misery.
Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
Lend only those books you never care to see again.
Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.
When playing games with children, let them win.
Give people a second chance, but not a third.
Be romantic.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, Nothing is as important as it first seems.
Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
Be a good loser.
Be a good winner.
Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
Keep it simple.
Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets
Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes.
Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
Once in a while, take the scenic route.
Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
Become someone's hero.
Marry only for love.
Count your blessings.
Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.
Wave at the children on a school bus.
Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
Don't expect life to be fair.

Source: A forward

Why "Puddles of Sunshine"

2009-09-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

Now when you just think of doing something ,its for two reasons.one its absolutely necessary.other its a part of your life,inadvertently imbibed in your system.
I thought of blogging in 2007.That statement is kind of a speech implied to woo children to do homework.But I have to admit I always found time and reason to avoid it.Though I posted poems elsewhere and here,I always felt Blogging on a regular basis is literally not my cup of tea.
This Blog’s title”puuddles of sunshine” was coined when I was travelling on a KSRTC suvarna sarige bus from Madikeri to Mysooru.From that day I always felt telling everyone(Dont know who) how I got to that tiltle.So here I go with my first blog dedicated to vast stretches of greenery dotted with blue skies on State highway 57
Window gazing was always my fantasy as I have spent as mush time in buses as much as in classes .Craving for window seats at city bus was always my top priority till 6th grade.Arithmetic,poems by Kuvempu,or Brazil’s geography came later..So when I had a widow seat that day and gazed across it,I found a lot of things that fit in to poetic way of seeing life.Not hi-fi or matrisized or complicated,Just a way I looked at it in the scenario of fitting the things where it belonged.
Across our journey of a saga called Life.We run through a lot of things,things foreseen,unseen.Things we expect, things that go wrong.Things we think are right and believe to the core they are right.Things that we get influenced and things that sometimes give us a jolt and say”hey buddy,its not that way”.Things that mould our personalities and sometimes mar.Things that change our perceptions and things that alter our permutations.
Across our journey we meet people,Now there are hell lot of catogories of people.But some Influence.Some conjure hate,some fallacies.some correct mistakes and some we just take them for granted and ignore.
Across Life we have a dream.a lot of dream or a conflence of dreams.We reach some…We dont even try trying some.We are blindfolded at some and quite accidently realize at some point of time its not a dream for people like us.
Across life we play with a galaxy of emotions.we done different roles at different time.We act sometimes and tell others not to act.We sometimes hold some emotions dearly and some we give importance rarely.
Ufff,Indeed Life is a gist of all the three paragraphs above a lot more.I will leave that to your imagination.But on that bus what struck me was even with so much confluence in life,We always find ways to be happy.Quite evidently life gives lots of hard hits but we stand up and be hit hard.And fall down again.Thats life at its best
“Being happy one more day”
I found the road the bus carrassed was dotted with lot of puddles.Since it had rained an hour back,they were filled with water.As I went scanned across the road the sunlight was being reflected at each of the puddle.It occured to me through life we constantly looking at these sunfilled puddles.
Some ray of hope,some smiley of joy.some value of success.some taste of victory.some recognition for love.some apprectiation to hard work.some encouragement to drive.some reason to celebrate.some ambition to reach out for.and some thing to stand up for.Most importantly to be a person that none in this universe is….
Thanks Life:)

LIFE'S LIKE............

2008-06-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Life's like,Getting up early,
Having headstart always..........
Life's like,going to toilet,
When you got to go,you got to go....
Life's like,having a hot shower,
Some enjoy it,for some inevitable...
Life's like,going late to class,
Not all things happen on time...
Life's like,listening to a boring lecture,
Interest is a variable commodity.....
Life's like,mobiles in silent mode,
Knowing when to shut up.....
Life's like,A canteen chat.........
To respect everyones opinion........
Life's like,Falling in Love,
Excuse me...Shoudnt Love be Elevating?
Life's like, flunking once in B.E,
Success sweets most when you have known defeat....
Life's like ,Listening to good music,
Just to keep your thoughts in order...
Life's like,seeing a cricket match,
You need 11 to win a game.........
Life's like,Doing night out during study holidays,
Knowing there is only one life to succeed......
Life's like success,Doing what you do the best,
And doing it all the time.........
Life's like ,writing these lines at 3.47 A.M,
Having the last graduation exam at 10 A.M.......

HOPE YOU READ THIS....:-)

2008-05-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

I was on a ventilator,
The doctor's eyes buoyed with sympathy,
The nurse's pat said it all ,
Not sure what you would do,
On your last day in this earth.
I slept.
I dreamt.
I entered a market,
A beautiful market of expressions,
I had used them all in my life.
Still I had a chance to purchase them.
There was innocence.
I bought some.
There was determination.
I bought some.
There was hate.
I did not need any.
There was compassion.
I was in debt to it.
There was love,
It was crowded.
I bought it all.
I came to the last stall,
It sold hope.
I exchanged all others for it.
I had realized 'Hope is the essence of Life'
Hope I* see the sunshine tomorrow.

* Its not me:-), its the Protogonist!!!

- Pavan Kunch

TO SIR,WITH LOVE..................

2008-04-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

TO SIR,WITH LOVE..............
A child was held to the door,
"Is that you dear mother?"
A child was helped on a bicycle,
"Is that you dear father?"
A child was taught the first letters,
"Is that you dear teacher?"
Its him the same..........
Mother,Father,all in a beloved TEACHER........

-Pavan Kunch

(This poem was written on the farewell day to our beloved Ramesh sir dedicating it to him)

Twoness in one

2008-04-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

Twoness in One

Two eyes to capture,

Two nostrils to respire,

Two hands to clap,

Two legs to jump,

Two ears to resound,

Two lips to whistle,

Same eyes become moist,

Same hands become still,

Same legs become heavy,

Same ears become smothered,

Same lips become mum,

IT HAPPENS AT YOUR FAREWELL DAY.

But we still have,

One mind to recollect,

One heart to love,

Countless memories to cherish,

Countless feelings to treasure.

Pavan Kunch T.R

10 Minutes with Him

2008-04-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

10 Minutes with Him.................

For a little while now ,he was smiling.......
eyes transfixed,with all bliss........
still hard to believe ,me with little left........
no one in sight,target of rendezvous sight.....
numb as lemon,still as statue,no option but to stare........
And then he spoke out,with that authority dignified....
let me for the first time to be myself,to tell all that I had done........
In that life,he gifted,to treasure,to face,to enjoy........
hardly voice erupted,too obvious might he thought......
and giving a chance to hear what i did,what i did not........
from past he enabled,things seen unseen........
only me nodding,everything rite........
growing accusitions,all still true.........
shame surrounded thee,guilt skyscrapped.......
wondering whats all this,but wiyh that divine stare???!!!
Stopped him for once,said me to speak........
simple nod to suggest nothing left and everything rite......
so at last all my wrong pointers in his scrapbook.........
Thought I ,all that Good..........where did it all vanish......
Reading my mind he simply smilled..........
stoking my heavy heated head he said:

"Its stiill with you my son,with that you could feel me".......

PAVAN KUNCH T.R.

Heart Your Mind

2008-04-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

HEART YOUR MIND
The league was drawn ,the batlle was set
with a poor homo sapien in question....
His two distinguished organs pitched up.......
wondered he which would reign supreme....
curious to spell from which he his like......
That which had all sublime aura to........
Make him,mar him,to him,to all others.......
The ravaging debate,knew he ,was not ordinary........
Thus spake the mind:
asked all to turn around them.........
to place their vision on every posibble object.......
to guess what would happen without them.........
to imagine how their lives blended with them.......
to simple tooth bristles to complex chips.......
which concieve every partof universe.........
now making it our own,our house,ourselves.......
spell bound all ,looked with surprise.........
agreeing unconditionally with what mind said.......
everyone but one smiling with dignity in corner.........
ignoring its presence,spake the mind
telling atlast head held high.
"friends it was all percieved by me"
appluse resounded,they knew benchmark was high......
leaving them to think why everyone say
to mind their tongue instaed of mind..........
And nestled back to its cushion.........
along came the other competitor,The HEART.....
smiling as lily,blooming as lotus..........
looking eye to eye with homosapien:
"Its LOVE who percieved all those things buddy,
& how proud I am because all these people ,
When they LOVE,show thier HEART ,not mind".........

PAVAN KUNCH T.R.