Notes From a 500 Rupees Farm

It was in the mid of December I got that call from Krishi Bhavan -

“Do you have any complaints on the seeds and saplings provided by us sir?”

I was a little surprised - a call from a Government Department!

It was about a couple of months back as part of a scheme from Dept. of Agriculture, the Krishi Bhavan had provided 25 agro-bags with organically fertilized soil and saplings. They brought it up to the terrace of my home all for Rs.500.

“I am perfectly happy. Why is this enquiry?”

“Sir, we have received numerous complaints on this scheme and we are conducting a meeting in our office with the seed authority officials to discuss these issues. You can join in case you have any concerns.”

“Ok. Sure. I will join if I have any.”

On the terrace, almost all my saplings looked healthy which included Chilly, Tomato, Amaranthus, Brinjal and Ladies finger.

From then onwards for another one month, at least half-an hour a day was spent on the terrace watering and watching those saplings grow up. Soon it became a part of our daily routine. Yes in between there were hard times as well due to pests. Again, it was all handled in an organic manner.

Amaranthus was re-planted to another 60 pots and to another small area at my sister’s home. The manure used for all these was cow dung and compost - all organic. The whole reason for this effort itself was to savor organic vegetables.

Soon followed the flowering – Amaranthus spread its red healthy leaves, Tomatoes started to bud with yellow flowers. Two weeks more – there we were on the terrace – gathering our ripe crops!

If Amaranthus was delicious to say the least, Tomatoes were out-of-world! Tomatoes in particular were sprouting in so many numbers that from those 5 bags, we already harvested around 120 tomatoes. Many times we were helpless to see its branches bend and hit the ground unable to carry the weight of tomatoes – Yes, the Height of my humble farmerism!

So far Amaranthus and Tomatoes are served to at least 15 households (friends and relatives). The joy of giving was special – as it always came back to us with more joy– 

“I am eating your tomato right now.  It is Super! No words to explain – I am giving it to my kid as well” – said Ajith in all happiness.

“I have not seen tomatoes with its stem. I am thrilled and they are delicious” – Aunt

"You know, here in Kochi you will get Amaranthus anytime you ask – But none are as rich as these – you don’t get this quality anywhere. Those at shop use chemical fertilizers which I never take – I want more from you when I come there next time.” - Uncle

“We prepared ‘rasam’ and Wow how tasty it was!” – Relative

The Krishi Bhavan officials visited our terrace farm and provided suggestions and appreciation. Last week a relative of ours visited Krishi Bhavan Office for setting up terrace farming. Referring to the terrace farm here the officer told -

"Take tips from how the terrace farm is done in Venus' house. That is well maintained."  

It was my dream to live as a farmer. Now soaking in all the applause around, I was relishing that humble dream – at least as a pseudo farmer!

ഗുരുക്കന്മാരേ നന്ദി!

ബാംഗ്ലൂരില സുദീര്‍ഘമായ 5 വര്‍ഷകാലത്തെ ചിട്ടയോടെയുള്ള അഭ്യസനം. പ്രഭാതത്തിന്‍റെ ആദ്യ കിരണങ്ങളില്‍ തുടങ്ങി രാത്രിയുടെ അന്ത്യ യാമങ്ങള്‍ വരെ നീണ്ടു പോകുന്ന സാധനയിലൂടെ അതിപ്രാവീണ്യം നേടി മധു പാന സേവനത്തിന്‍റെ നൂതന സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യകള്‍ സ്വായത്തമാക്കിയ മഹാരഥന്മാരുടെ കൂടെയുള്ള ഗുരു കുല വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം. അവിടെ നിന്നായിരുന്നു തുടക്കം.

ചില്ലു ഗ്ലാസ്സിന്‍റെ വരമ്പിലൂടെ നിരര്‍ഗ്ഗളമായി ഒഴികിയെത്തുന്ന ആ ചുവന്ന പാനീയം നോക്കി അമ്പരന്നിരിക്കുന്ന കൊച്ചു കുട്ടിയായിരുന്നു ഞാന്‍. അതില്‍ ഐസ് കട്ടകള്‍ വീഴുന്നതിനും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു ഒരു നാദം....“പ്ലക്”. പിന്നെ ഒരു ആരവതോടെയുള്ള ആ “ചീയേസ്”. കൂടെ നാരങ്ങാ അച്ചാറും കൂടി ആയാല്‍ - ഹാ, എന്തൊരു രോമാഞ്ഞം.

പക്ഷെ പഠിക്കുവാന്‍ ഒരുപാടുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. മധു പാന സംഭരണി (കുപ്പി) പൊട്ടിക്കുന്നത് മുതല്‍ കാലിയാവുന്നതു വരെയുള്ള വിവിധ ഘട്ടങ്ങളുടെ അഗാധമായ അവലോകനം. ഒരു പെഗ്ഗില്‍ തുടങ്ങി ഹാഫ് ബോട്ടില്‍ വരെ അടിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടാവുന്ന ചിത്തഭ്രമം, ബുദ്ധിഭ്രംശം മുതലായ അവസ്ഥാന്തരങ്ങളുടെ സമഗ്രമായ പഠനം. ചെന്തെങ്ങിന്‍റെ കള്ളു മുതല്‍ സ്കോച്ചു വിസ്കിയെ കുറിച്ചു വരെയുള്ള പ്രബന്ദങ്ങളുടെയും, നിരൂപണങ്ങളുടെയും സങ്കീര്‍ണമായ അവലോകനം. നിറഭേദങ്ങള്‍ നോക്കി വകഭേദം ചെയ്യുന്ന തന്ത്രം. മണം നോക്കി ഇനം അറിയുന്ന വിദ്യകള്‍. അങ്ങനെ എന്തെലാം.

ഇന്നിതാ, ഈ എളിയ ശിഷ്യന്‍ ചിട്ടയായ അഭ്യസനത്തിലൂടെ ആത്മസാക്ഷാത്കാരം നേടിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

അതെ, ഈയുള്ളവന്‍ സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച വകുപ്പായ കേരള ബിവറേജസ് കോര്‍പറേഷന്‍ ലെ പ്രോഗ്രാമ്മര്‍ തസ്തികയില്‍ തിരഞ്ഞു എടുക്കപെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. ആയിരങ്ങള്‍ എഴുതിയ ആ പരീക്ഷയില്‍, മുപ്പത്തോളം പേര്‍ മാത്രം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപെട്ടു. അതില്‍ രണ്ടാം റാങ്ങില്‍ പാസ്സായതു ഗുരുകന്മാരുടെ കൃപാകടാക്ഷം ഒന്ന് കൊണ്ട് മാത്രമാണ് എന്നല്ലാതെ മറ്റെന്തു പറയാന്‍.

അതിന്‍റെ റാങ്ക് ലിസ്റ്റ് ഗുരുകന്മാരുടെ പാദാരവിന്ദങ്ങളില്‍ അര്‍പ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഒന്നാം റാങ്ക് നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട ഖേദം ഞാന്‍ മറച്ചു വെക്കുന്നില്ല. മധു പാനം സേവിക്കാന്‍ വിമുഖത കാണിച്ച ബാലിശമായ ചിന്തകള്‍ കാരണമെന്ന് ഞാന്‍ അറിയുന്നു. ഗുരുകന്മാരോട് ക്ഷമ ചോദിക്കുന്നു,

കുപ്പിയില്‍ ആക്കി കൊണ്ട് വരുന്ന ഗുരുദക്ഷിണ തീര്‍ച്ചയായും സ്വീകരിക്കും എന്ന വിശ്വാസത്തോടെ.

നിങ്ങളുടെ ഏറ്റവും എളിയ അരുമ ശിഷ്യന്‍ ദിവാകരന്‍.

In Search of the Absolute Truth

Standing on the cliff of the green mountain I looked around.

In the middle of that night, the full moon seemed very close - like never before. The milky white luster was sprinkling down in that rich landscape.

This world is so beautiful. The moon lit meadows, the dense valleys, the medicinal breeze.

Taking a deep breath I looked down. There is that deep blue lake. Like the loosely tied glittering garment of the goddess.  Captivatingly calm. Alluring to the eyes. Its mild tides still caressing the already smoothened rocks. Few crabs are there clenching on the rock clefts.

I have been standing alone on this cliff for years now. When I came here, I was not alone. I had a bunch of friends with me. We were celebrating our life -  celebrating the days and nights like never before. We were happy like those birds flying above the trees. But soon, one by one started to jump down. Deep down into the abysmal lake. Few slipped, few jumped and few others seemed to be pulled down. I watched them wondering what they go through.

Now I am the only one left. Occasionally at a far distance I would see my friends in the lake swimming and calling out to me to join them.

“Jump, why are you still standing alone there !”  -  they would yell with a mischievous smile.

Few of them have gone deep below the lake, I have not seen them after that. Some are there resting on the far distant rocks in the lake, tired, yet waving to me.

But no one has come back to the shore.

What is in this lake? Why is it so enticing? Why are all my friends calling me?

They are laughing at me for standing alone!

Are all enjoying out there? But, if it is so beautiful, how are those crabs there? is there filth too ?

Again, I looked far into the sky. The little twinkle of the stars is so soothing. It is really rich here. I might be alone. But there is that essence of peace here.

The flow of my thoughts was suddenly disrupted by a deep voice.

“Son!”

I turned around. There is the old man who often visits me with his words of wisdom – head shaved, wearing a saffron garment looking at me with his rich kind eyes.

“What are you thinking so deep?”

“No, I was just thinking about this lake and my friends” – I replied.

“Why don’t you too join them?”

“Why do you too ask this same question? I am supremely happy here and feel pristine peace in each and every moment. They why should I?”

“Look my son.” The old man said placing his warm hands over my shoulders.

“This human life is meant for salvation. You are here to search for it and you should strive every moment of your life to reach that veritable state. And for that you should experience your life in totality. Just like a stagnant stream cannot reach the sea a static life cannot reach the Supreme Almighty. This is not the way for you.”

“They why don’t you too jump ?” – I asked back.

“Who said I have not? But unlike others, I know how to come back to the shore.”

“Then how do you come back? None of my friends have come back once they have jumped down – Please teach me”

“Nobody has asked me this question. Many asked me how to jump. But no one has so far asked me how to come back to the shore. I am surprised you asked it!”

And he continued -

“Dear, first, you let go of all your fears and jump off this cliff into nothingness – Do not fear the depth. Do not struggle in those tides. Neither should you try to swim over it – What you see below is nothing when compared to what you can find inside you.

Like the lotus in the pond, the canoe in the river – just float in this lake experiencing everything, irrespective of good or bad, and importantly accepting nothing as the real truth. Nothing can bother you then. Nothing can drown you.

Soon you too will join me and we together will be soaking in the moon lit night in real truth. Go my dear son. You can surely get through this and come back to me unscathed. Reach your salvation. Reach the ultimate peace. Convert your greatest fear into your biggest opportunity. Go and come back soon. I am here waiting for you, to be with you.”

I took few steps back. Looked again at those benevolent eyes of the old man. With prayers I took that sprint. From that cliff I leaped down – With my toes up, heads down – in search of the Absolute Truth.

HNY 2013!

Listen to it!

It is sweeping across

It is not a feeble weep. Nor is it a fading cry.

This time it is a deafening roar, thundering rumble -

Awakening the dread, Resurrecting the dead

It is coming down to us.

The Absolute Freedom is not far away.

Change is Ringing Rightly

And here it is.

Wishing all a HNY!