Oh God!

It is the last week of yet another calendar year. With people thronging the streets the evenings are generally crowded. And now, with the petrol and diesel getting cheaper than the grocery and vegetables, there are more and more of these private vehicles all around. 

I am on my way to home from office in public transport. It is 40 km, 2 hour travel to reach my destination on normal days. But today, in one hour the bus has moved only 5 km. I was yearning to reach home to be with family. "But it is year-end traffic jam." - my seasoned mind consoled myself.

Standing in the crowded bus I see the Toyotas, Suzukis, Hondas, most of them with one or two passengers, honking at each other. How sad. They are feeling uncomfortable even in their luxury. Traffic police are struggling to control these monsters. The siren of an Ambulance speeding down suddenly stopped - has the suffocating life in it "escaped"?

My father used to tell me the adage to understand Capitalism - "Rich becomes Richer, Poor becomes Poorer." I felt, I am experiencing it. Materialism and lust for luxury has mobbed us. "A car for each will make all cannibals and a private bus among them will result in genocide! Feels to shoot the jaguars easing through. Oh God! Where are you in this hour of necessity? What are you waiting for?" - my tired mind started to grumble. 

In the peak of unbearable physical and mental suffocation I got down from the crowded bus. It is already dark around. The thought to reach home had evaporated long back. Sipping a tea, I walked through the traffic watching the world running after itself. I had walked almost 2 km. Then suddenly, in the thin air seeping through the thick traffic, I heard the beats of percussion - the drums, the gongs, the bells! There at a distance, to my utter disbelief, I saw the big elephant riding through the crowded highway with the omnipotent "God" sitting on top! The long walk has brought out the big truth - the whole "fun" was due to the "curse" of the God - In fact the procession of God - "Incredible India!"

It is time of the year!

Once again,

It is time of the year to look up - towards the night sky - 

To watch those dreamy stars - proclaiming the eternal peace -

for the whole of human kind!

We had enough of competition,

We had enough of confrontation,

We pricked soul from those sagging hearts,

We kicked the God in our own hearts,

We sowed evil everywhere on our dear earth.

Now is the time 

To take the vow to be different - 

May all our eyes be looking at the sky

Feeling the infinite - And then - 

In the midst of December mist we will see 

the stars twinkling with the Message of Peace 

MERRY X'MAS

Vrischikolsavam - 2014

Every year we wait eagerly for these eight special days on earth.
For the rhtyhm of temple percussion to kick us,
For the whiff of burnt oil lamps to blow us,
For that impeccable resonance of Kutcheri to mesmerise us,
For those deep notes of Kathakali singer in the middle of night to swing us,
Without all these life is not just incomplete. Rather Life is simply Lifeless.
Today begins the Vrischikolsavam at Poornathreyesa Temple, Tripunithura -

one of the very few reasons which inspire us to hang on in this earth!

Sarvam Brahmamayam

It was yet another usual night after a grilling day in office with those recurring meetings, recursive codes, reclusive bugs and illogical deadlines! But this day, apart from dinner, my wife has something special for me. Carefully she has recorded a one hour Carnatic Concert in AIR (I mean, the good old Aakaashwani radio) into her medieval era cellphone. And as soon as I got in, she started insisting me to listen to it, specifically, the last song in Darbaari Kanada, which we had "discovered" recently.

I somehow managed to delay it till our dinner is over. There is no easy way on her cell to move quickly to the last song. One should listen it entirely to reach the last one. But then there is no way I could escape without listening to this "deligent" recording. Thus I ended up lying on the bed listening to this Bombay Jayashri Kutcheri, in her chiselled tone over a poor recording. And at last, came the last song - Sarvam Brahmamayam composed by Sadasiva Brahmendral in Darbari Kanada.

It is the first time I am listening to it. But what to say, even in its poorest of possible recording, it just blew me away. This gem of Sadasiva Brahmendral finely modulated by Bombay Jayashri in Darbaari Kanada was many times more than what my material mind could handle. I felt, I am melting, melting into nothingness. 

Though in hindsight it could be due to various factors it hit me so hard - tiring day topped by the family, the society, work, money - all creeping all over and then suddenly someone says "Sarvam Brahmamayam!" HA! WHAT A PEACE! Not sure if anyone could make any sense out of this. But for me, now every time, I find sense only in this - yes - "Sarvam Brahmamayam"!

Hug a Vegetarian

If I look back at my life and ask why I feel lucky or what am I proud of in myself - I have nothing else but my Veganism to lean upon. Yes, I could take no credits as it is just by chance that I am pushed down to this earth in a very strict vegetarian family. Again, though I could be proud of being able to maintain a no fish no meat diet for three and half centuries, that pride is punctured here and there by the moments of egg diet I had years back.

As this last Friday of September rolls up in the International circuit as Hug a Vegetarian/Vegan Day, I feel more resolved to look at myself and move towards a more Spartan lifestyle. It is time now not just to be a Vegan but to slowly start taking out the need for taste from my tongue.

It is deliberate. But it is needed. It is time to hug the real taste of life.

One last time savoring their taste buds before they end up among our taste buds

Mangalyaan

24.Sep.2014, 8:15 am IST: The radio in the bed room is reading the Morning News. In the drawing room, my morning prayer is in progress. In the background of japa, the radio news said:

"India's Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan has successfully entered the Martian orbit a short while ago."

The prayers continue -

for my Nation,

for our World -

"Lokasamastha Sukhino Bhavanthu"

Aha! Atham

When that Atham Day of Chingam hits the Kerala coast every year it unfailingly brings with it some sort of magical energy which those close to this coast can sense in their souls. This year too it is not different. A cleansing rain early in the morning, a quaint feel at Poornathrayesa Temple, the overwhelming feel of Tripunithura town - gearing up for Athachamayam procession - was just the right starter for this festive season! And for me the thought of the day started when my wife quoted on a article by Dr.V.P.Gangadharan - 

"Onam is now celebrated competitively ! Pookalam (Floral Carpet), which adorns every household during Onam representing its simplicity has now transformed into a fierce competition factor - Look at the schools, colleges, clubs - all are spending so much to import flowers from neigbouring states simply to compete against each other - all for a festival which itself resonates the harmony of humanity!"

Yes. In one way this thought really makes some sense. isnt' it ?! As I look around there is so much of competition - apart from the struggle and competition for livelihood which we Indians are unfortunately destined to, we are competing uncompromisingly against each other during our festivals too. Festival is the time for cooperation and not confrontation - But I look again and I find only chaos - chaos of competition.

Here, I dare to dream from the confines of my room, an Onam - calm with natural coherence, traditional simplicity and with that characteristic festive chaos! As I slip into my dream, I listen to the chorus of rain outside corroded by the chaos of competing cars.

Tastes of Life - 2 - 'Hittu' Story

It is a rainy July night. In a cosy drawing room, an entire konkan family is busy with a bunch of jackfruit leaves and finely cut coconut-leaf pricks. The centuries old traditional home craft is unfolding in its most natural way. 

The leaves in a bunch of four and sometimes five are folded together to form unique jackfruit leaf baskets.

Naturally it is those traditional old hands which carve the finest.The new generation enthusiasts have to struggle to bring out the right shape or quality - a reflection of modern life?

After two hours of patient effort, there they are - those unique tiny handmade baskets - ready for the processing of "Hittu" - a centuries old Konkan dish!

The next day early morning, the "Hittu" baskets are carefully filled with Idli batter flavoured by chopped ginger. Then they are steam cooked as like the Idlis.

In a matter of thirty minutes the breakfast is ready for us.

The sublime, steam cooked, off-white "Hittu" in those thick green natural jackfruit leaf basket brings with it that centuries old traditional aroma. In a combination of fresh white coconut chutney carefully sprinkled with mustard, roasted curry leaves and red chillies they taste refreshingly delicious, richly colourful and above all rightly natural. A must try completely natural traditional konkan dish !

Vande Mataram

I feel proud of my Nation neither looking at its past, 

nor looking at its present, 

not thinking of its leaders - past or present

but by merely watching the sight of our Tri-color flying high, flying free unmarred by mundane matters right below!

Reborn - Why?

Once dead no one wish to come back. At least I do not. 

Let it just decompose once and forever rather than getting back again into the unending turmoil of pain and pleasure, joy and agony - only to die again.

But from one of the many little deaths we die when alive, I have come back - to live again.
If I ask myself - why? - I do not have a clear answer.

Did I wished to live again? - Not really. Maybe I just allowed life and death to take its own course.

This is probably that juncture of life to probe myself how close I am to the feet of Almighty!
Then there is that sense of some pending karma waiting for me to take right action to nullify it for the ultimate liberation!

Bicycle Diaries - 4

20.05.14 - A year together pedaling our two-wheeler :D

Vishu - 2014

Like for any festival of a Modern Malayali, 

More than the Festival itself, He survives just by whiffing its Nostalgic flavour from his subconscious mind.

But, then, he has to survive :)

So in our fast track of Life, let us just sit back (at least for few minutes) and rewind to its long faded charm and wish each other yet another 

H A P P Y   V I S H U

and the Nandu's are celebrating their 2nd year on this Planet!

My Foot@35 :P

It has been a long journey for these two. Carrying a cumulative average of sixty-five kilograms they have wandered Three and a Half Decades on this Planet. From the modest lanes of a little Village to the pompous streets of vibrant City, Rope-walking along the treacherous terrains of Fate and Gliding down to the Disarming Smile of Destiny, Along the filthy tracks in Indian suburbs to the revered paths of Indian Himalayas, Drenching in Holy Ganges, Dipping in Pristine Manas, Walking down the Wall Street, Circumambulating the Kailas, Through the Conditioned Corridors of Multinational Inc. and then relaxing among the files and registers of Beverages under a crawling Crompton 48" Dusty Brown Ceiling Fan, they have explored all possible facets of human life.

Now, sitting down on this perch and looking back there are lessons a plenty the whole journey has taught. Condensing them into one says:

“Walk On. Along Thy Defined Path. Walk On.

Harming None, Owning None, Feeling Thy In All –

Walk On, Walk On, Walk On.

Neither clamped nor lured, Till Thy abode hath not reached –

Stop Not, Halt Not. Just Walk On, Walk On, Walk On.”

Bicycle Diaries - 3

Feeling the Silence. Listening to Nature. Polluting None. Promoting Peace.

This Humble Journey Pedals towards its Destiny.

Tastes of Life -1 - Gourmets Day Out

For the vegans, Bangalore is a great place to savour the traditional South Indian cuisine in its authentic form. So when we three - mother, I and my consort - got a day out in Bangalore we thought to hit the streets with our Gourmet's Hat on!

We are at Malleswaram. It is 9 am and we are rushing down the 19th Cross to reach Margosa Road and from there to the 15th Cross. At a distance we identified our Destination No.1 of the Day. There it is - a nondescript shop with a small hoarding - "Veena Stores". The office crowd has already gathered on the road side. It is just a counter-mode shop without any seating provisions. Take the coupon, have food standing and rush to office! So, we too decided to join the crowd – “Three plates Idly-Vada” (Rs.39 each) - the USP of Veena Stores. One Vada and Two Idlies are served in arecanut leaf plates with a plastic spoon. There is no concept of Sambar here. There is however, puthina sprinkled chutney. Idlies are hot and so is Vada. They are so tender that watching the spoon gliding through the Idlies and slicing the Vada one might think they are made of butter! Enter mouth, in fact we feel more butterly as they melt down into us! Ha! A gourmet’s moment to cherish!

We skip the tea at Veena Stores as our Breakfast is not over. 8th Cross is a little far to walk. So we take an auto to reach Hotel Janatha. Yet another modest hotel, but with seating provisions. There is no huge crowd here but there are several customers inside. Before losing our breakfast feel, we take another round of Idli - now with sambar and chutney. A single plate Sambar-Vada, the USP of this Hotel is also ordered. Vada here is a little big and a bit dense too. Sambar is on the sweeter side. And when these two merge, it tastes distinctly unique! A cup of strong tea each made up our breakfast for the day.

MTR - front view

We walked a few kilometres to burn our breakfast and to get ready for the lunch. Yes. The Lunch. When we are in Bangalore with Vegan Gourmet Hat where could it be? Undoubtedly it should be at no other place than MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms). With a legacy of more than 80 years of uncompromising quality, MTR is an experience to be experienced.

MTR - Inside

It is 2 pm when we reached MTR near Lalbagh. Taking the coupon for South Indian Lunch (Rs.200 per person), we walk upstairs. There as I expected, and as my other two parts never even dreamt, is a festival crowd, including foreigners, waiting for their turn. There are genuine thoughts on the quality and cleanliness of food at such a crowded place. All our doubts evaporate as soon as we go in. Those who serve the food do not even use foot wear inside. After finishing the lunch we are told to pass through the kitchen to exit. A clear indicator that they are sure on what they serve us!

Old pictures at MTR

The lunch is majestic with series of courses. It starts with grape juice in a steel glass (it used to be silver glass earlier). Then the kuruma curry, chutney, payasam, carrot salad and vegetables are served with hot poori. Sweet Kesari is served next followed by Vegetable Pulav and Khichdi. Pure Ghee poured over steaming white rice served with hot Rasam is what I felt heavenly. Yes, another round of rice with sambar follows. It then extends to curd rice with pickle. The fruit with ice-cream and the sweet pan simply exhaust us completely.

The Wait! - at MTR

But the day is not yet over. The evening is for the fourth and last destination of the day –We are back at Margosa Road in Malleswaram. This time at Sree Sagar (CTR). It is in a small building at the corner of the road with old wooden door and windows. Inside, we see those classic wall pictures of Gods and feel that distinct vintage aroma (you got it right?!) – bringing it a true tempting traditional feel.

@Malleswaram

The heavy time with food has tired all three of us. But we have just this one day to celebrate with food. So at CTR we three merged and ordered its famous “Benne Masala Dosa” – a single plate for all three. Masala Dosa, with its origin in Udipi, is quite different from what we get in Kerala. Here it is just a little more than palm length, thick with lemon yellow masala inside and golden brown lustre outside. The Benne (Butter) glazing on its crisp brown layer gives it a unique look, fine feel and exclusive taste! Here we bring the day to an absorbing end.

Benne Masala Dosa

We sit back, sipping hot milk coffee, watching the growing traffic outside and reflecting our dream tastes of the day filled with those inimitable traditional flavours!

RUN

RUN.

RUN We Must.

RUN From the Evils Around,

RUN From the Devils Within,

RUN From the Ignorance,

RUN From the Fear of This Transitory Life.

RUN We Must...To Reach Out To the Ultimate.

Dear Friend, On this Special Day, Don't Pause, Just RUN, RUN, RUN.

(Wishing Ram on his first ever participation in Mumbai Marathon)