It isn't much of trouble when switching languages while typing. All it needs is a toggle that after sometime becomes quite instinctive for the mind, not that easier though it seems when it comes to switching the languages while speaking.

Well, at least for me it has not been easier. Everyday I interact with so many people in Kannada that switching back to English sometimes gets me staggering.

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So, I got around to sketch this today:

This is for an article that questions the prudence of State Government's decision to allocate funds for providing free Electricity to Farmers in this year's budget.

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From Udyavara we headed towards our next destination - Kunjarugiri, a hillock (giri = hill, mountain) with temple of Goddess Durga atop. One can reach the top either by steps (a hundred or so) or by road. Though we wanted to climb the hills, we didn't want to risk our luggage on the bikes with so many monkeys around. There were so many monkeys near the temple, I stood gaurd near our bikes while Srik went inside the temple. And later we switched. To the west of Kunjarugiri, there is another smaller hillock. And there is a temple of Parashurama.

From there we visited Pajaka, the birth place of Sri Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy. He is the one who installed the deity of Sri Krishna at Udupi. A priest volunteered and took us on a guided tour. It is said that Sri Madhvacharya used to visit the Durga temple everyday & worshipped the goddess. Listening to the stories and the legends, took me to my childhood days of reading books and comics. And how we tried enact or immitate the mythological heroes.

After traveling 500+KMs in todays and visiting many places, we were tired. We reached Srikanth's Aunt's house in Surtakal. Before calling it a day, we met another fellow blogger Venu Vinod. At the end of day two, our trip meter read 540 KMs & distance for the day 100KMs.

Day Two:

Udupi - Malpe - Bengre - Udupi - Udyavara - Kunjarugiri - Pajaka - Kaup - Surthkal

Day One:

Bangalore - Kunigal - Hassan - Belur - Yagachi - Chikkamagalur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri - Agumbe - Hebri - Udupi

Most of us take photographs and many of us post them in this vast, nearly infinite internet. Inherent to this process is a desire to put our name on the pictures - either to protect them from plagiarism or to feed our ego or whatever other reason. There are many software and multiple ways to [...]

ವಿವರಣೆ ಬೇಕೆ?© Sandeepa Nadahalli

ಅದು ಕವಿ­ತೆಯಾ? ಕಥ­ನವಾ? ಕವಿ­ತೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಹೇಳುವ ಕತೆಯಾ, ಕತೆಯೇ ಕವಿ­ತೆ­ಯಾದ ಬೆರಗಾ?
ಹೀಗೆ ಶುರು­ವಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ ಅದು;
ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಬರು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ ಮಗೂ, ಹಾಲು ಮಡಕೆ ಮುಚ್ಚಿಡು.
ಕತ್ತ­ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡ­ವ­ದಂತೆ ದೀಪ­ವೊಂದು ಹಚ್ಚಿಡು.
ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಬರು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ ಅನ್ನು­ತ್ತಲೇ ಹಾಲು ಮಡಕೆ ಮುಚ್ಚಿಡು ಅಂತ ಬರೆ­ಯು­ತ್ತಾನೆ ಕವಿ. ಅಂದರೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ತಿಳು­ವ­ಳಿ­ಕೆಗೆ ತದ್ವಿ­ರುದ್ದ ಯೋಚನೆ. ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಬರು­ತ್ತದೆ ಹಾಲು ಮಡಕೆ ಮುಚ್ಚಿಡು ಅನ್ನು­ವುದು ಒಂದು ಥರ. ಅಧರ ಮುಂದಿನ ಸಾಲಲ್ಲೇ ಕತ್ತ­ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡ­ವ­ದಂತೆ ದೀಪ­ವೊಂದು ಹಚ್ಚಿಡು ಅನ್ನುವ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಅಚ್ಚರಿ.
ಇದನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಕವಿ ಮತ್ತೆ­ಲ್ಲಿಗೋ ಜಿಗಿ­ಯು­ತ್ತಾನೆ;
ಬೆಟ್ಟ­ಗ­ಳಿಗೆ ಹಗ­ಲಿ­ರುಳೂ ನೀಲ ನೀಲ ನಿದ್ದೆಯು
ಊರ ಸುತ್ತ ತೆನೆ­ಗ­ಳಿಂದ ತೊನೆವ ಹಸಿರು ಗದ್ದೆಯು
ಸಾಲು ಮರದ ನೆರ­ಳಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾವಿ­ನಂಥ ಹಾದಿಯು
ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ­ಯಿ­ಡುವ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿ­ಗಿ­ರುವ ಭಯ ಅನಾ­ದಿಯು.

ಹೀಗೊಂದು ಚಿತ್ರಣ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಕವಿ ಜಿಗಿ­ಯು­ವುದು ಊರಿನ ವರ್ಣ­ನೆಗೆ. ಆ ಊರಿನ ವರ್ಣ­ನೆಯೋ ಮತ್ತೂ ವಿಚಿತ್ರ;
ಊರು ಉಡಿ­ಯೊ­ಳಿ­ಟ್ಟು­ಕೊಂಡು ನಿಂತ ತೆಂಗು ಅಡ­ಕೆಯು
ಸಾಲ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋಲಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಯು­ವ­ವರ ಮಡ­ಕೆಯು
ಮುಗಿಲು ಹರಿದ ಹಾಗೆ ಸುರಿ­ದು­ಬಿದ್ದ ಮಳೆಯ ನೀರಿಗೂ
ನೆಲದ ನೋವು ಎದೆಯ ಕಾವು ಆರ­ಲಿಲ್ಲ ಯಾರಿಗೂ.
ಈ ಊರಿನ ಚಿತ್ರ­ದಿಂದ ಒಂದು ಕ್ಲೋಸ­ಪ್ಪಿಗೆ ಹೊರ­ಳು­ತ್ತದೆ ಕವಿತೆ. ಅದೂ ಎಷ್ಟು ಚೆನ್ನಾ­ಗಿದೆ ನೋಡಿ;
ಇಲ್ಲೆ ಇದ್ದ ಮಂಜು­ಗೌಡ ಕೆರೆಯ ಬಯ­ಲಿ­ನಂ­ಚಿಗೆ
ಹೂವ ಹೊದಿ­ಸು­ತಿತ್ತು ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಹೆಣೆದ ಮನೆಯ ಹೆಂಚಿಗೆ
ಅವ­ನಿ­ಗಿ­ದ್ದ­ಳೊಬ್ಬ ಮಗಳು, ನಾಗಿ ನಾಗ­ವೇ­ಣಿಯು
ಹಾವಿ­ನಂಥ ಜಡೆಯ ತುಂಬ ಹೂವ ಮುಡಿವ ರಾಣಿಯು
ಇದು ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಸಮೀಪ ಚಿತ್ರ. ಊರಿ­ನಿಂದ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದು, ಮನೆ­ಯಿಂದ ನಾಗಿಯ ಕಡೆ ಹೊರಳಿ ಕವಿ­ಕೆ­ಮರಾ ನಿಲ್ಲು­ವುದು ಅವಳ ಮುಂದೆ;
ಬೊಗ­ಸೆ­ಗಣ್ಣು, ಗಲ್ಲ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿ ನಗೆಯ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ
ಕಂಪು ಸೂಸಿ ಕರೆ­ಯು­ತಿತ್ತು ಕನ­ಸು­ಗ­ಳನು ಮೆಲ್ಲಗೆ
ಅವಳ ನುಡಿಯ ಮಿಂಚು­ಕಿ­ಡಿಯ ಹೊತ್ತಿ­ಸಿತ್ತು ಸುತ್ತಲೂ
ಅವಳ ನಗೆಯ ನೂರು ಬಗೆಯ ನೆನಪು ಬುಗ್ಗೆ ಎತ್ತಲೂ
ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ನಾಗಿಯ ಸೌಂದ­ರ್ಯದ ವರ್ಣನೆ ಕೊನೆ­ಯಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಶುರು­ವಾ­ಗು­ವುದು ಅವಳ ದೈನಿಕ. ಕಷ್ಟದ ಬದುಕು. ಆ ಕಷ್ಟ­ದಲ್ಲೂ ಒಂದು ಚೆಲು­ವಿದೆ ಅನ್ನು­ತ್ತಿ­ದ್ದಾನಾ ಕವಿ;
ಹೊಳೆಯ ಅಲೆ­ಗ­ಳೆ­ತ್ತಿ­ಕೊಂಡು ಸಾಗು­ವಂತೆ ನಾವೆಗೆ
ಹಾಡು ಹರಿದು ಹೋಗು­ವಂತೆ ಮಾವಿ­ನಿಂದ ಮಾವಿಗೆ
ಹುಲ್ಲು ಹೊರೆಯ ಹೊತ್ತು­ಕೊಂಡು ಅವಳು ಬರುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ
ಸೂರ್ಯ­ನೇಕೋ ತಣ್ಣ­ಗಾದ ನಿಂತ­ರೂನು ನೆತ್ತಿಗೆ.
**­*­**
ಸುಬ್ಬಣ್ಣ ರಂಗ­ನಾಥ ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿ ಅವರ ಕಥನ ಗೀತ `ನಾ­ಗಿಯ ಕತೆ' ಹೀಗೆ ಶುರು­ವಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಕೆ ಎ್ ನರ­ಸಿಂಹ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿ ಕೂಡ ಮೃದು ಮಧುರ ಪದ­ಗ­ಳನ್ನೇ ಬಳ­ಸು­ತ್ತಾರೆ. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯೇ ಮೈವೆ­ತ್ತಂತೆ ಬರೆ­ಯು­ತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕತೆಗೆ ಕೂಡ ಕವಿ­ತೆಯ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ ಕೊಡ­ಲೆ­ತ್ನಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವಳ ಚೆಲು­ವನ್ನು ಬರೀ ಮಾತು­ಗ­ಳಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಣಿ­ಸಿ­ದರೆ ಸಾಲದು ಅನ್ನಿಸಿ ಕವಿ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಹಂತಕ್ಕೆ ಜಿಗಿ­ಯು­ತ್ತಾರೆ;
ಅವಳ ಹಗುರು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚೆಲುವು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿತು
ಗೇರು ಹೂವಿ­ನಂತೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಎದೆಗೆ ಲಗ್ಗೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿತು.
ಅವಳ ಕೈಯ ಕೊಡವ ಕಂಡು ನೀರು ಬೇಗ ತುಂಬದು
ನಿಲ್ಲು ನಾಗಿ ನಿಲ್ಲು ನೋಡ­ಬೇಕು ನಿನ್ನ­ನೆಂ­ಬುದು.
ಈ ವರ್ಣ­ನೆಯ ನಂತರ ಕತೆ ಶುರು­ವಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ತನ್ನೂ­ರಿನ ಜಾತ್ರೆಗೆ ನಾಗಿ ಹೋಗು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ. ದುಂಡು ಕುಂಕುಮ ಇಟ್ಟು, ಹಸಿರು ಸೀರೆ­ಯುಟ್ಟು, ಹೊಳೆವ ರವಿಕೆ ತೊಟ್ಟು ತಾಯಿಯ ಜೊತೆ ರಥೋ­ತ್ಸವ ನೋಡಲು ಹೋಗು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಹಾದಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆ­ಗೊಂದು ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಸಿಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಎಷ್ಟು ಚೆಂದ ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಾ ಅದನ್ನು ಅಮ್ಮ­ನಿಗೆ ತೋರಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ ಆಕೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ಎದೆ­ಗೊ­ತ್ತಿ­ಕೊಂಡು ಮುದ್ದಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ.
ತಾಯಿ ಮಗಳು ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಸಂತೆಗೆ ಹೋಗು­ತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸಂತೆ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವ­ರಿಗೆ ಅನೇ­ಕಾ­ನೇಕ ಅನು­ಭ­ವ­ಗ­ಳಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತವೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆ ಅವ­ನನ್ನು ೇಟಿ­ಯಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ.
ಯಾರ­ವನು?
ಚಿಗುರು ಮೀಸೆ ಎಳೆಯ ನಗೆಯ ರೂಪ­ವಂತ ಆತನು
ಎದೆಯ ಕದವ ತೆರೆದು ನುಡಿದ ಕಣ್ಣಿ­ನಲ್ಲೆ ಮಾತನು
ಕಣ್ಣು ಕಣ್ಣಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡಿ ಝಳ­ಪಿ­ಸಿತ್ತು ಮಿಂಚನು
ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯೆಂಬ ಸಿಡಿಲು ಹೊಡೆ­ಯು­ತಿತ್ತು ಹಾಕಿ ಹೊಂಚನು

ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯನ್ನು ಸಿಡಿಲು ಅಂತ ಕರೆ­ಯು­ತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿ. ಆ ೇಟಿಯ ನಂತರ, ಕಣ್ಣು­ಕ­ಣ್ಣು­ಗಳ ಸಮಾ­ಗ­ಮದ ನಂತ­ರದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ­ಯನ್ನು ಅವರು ವರ್ಣಿ­ಸು­ವುದು ಯಾವ ಪ್ರೇಮ­ಗೀ­ತೆಗೆ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಹೇಳಿ?

ಯಾರು ಹಾಕಿ ಹೋದ­ರ­ವಳ ಎದೆಗೆ ಗಂಧ­ಧೂ­ಪವ
ಯಾರು ಹೊತ್ತಿ­ಸಿ­ಟ್ಟ­ರೊ­ಳಗೆ ಬಂಗಾ­ರದ ದೀಪವ
ಯಾವ ಕೆರೆಗೆ ಯಾವ ಕರೆಗೆ ಹಾರು­ತಿ­ಹವು ಕೊಕ್ಕರೆ?
ಯಾವ ತಾರೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂರೆ ಮಾಡು­ತಿ­ಹವು ಅಕ್ಕರೆ?

ಈ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ­ಗ­ಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರೇಮದ ಸಾರ­ಸ­ರ್ವ­ಸ್ವ­ವನ್ನೂ ಹೇಳುವ ರೀತಿ ನೋಡಿ. ಇದ್ದ­ಕ್ಕಿ­ದ್ದಂತೆ ಹಾಜ­ರಾ­ಗುವ ಕೊಕ್ಕ­ರೆಯ ರೂಪ­ಕ­ವನ್ನು ಗಮ­ನಿಸಿ. ಯಾವ ಕೆರೆಗೆ ಯಾರ ಕರೆಗೆ ಹಾರು­ತಿ­ಹವು ಕೊಕ್ಕರೆ ಅನ್ನುವ ಸಾಲಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆಳೆ­ತ­ವನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿ­ರುವ ರೀತಿ ಬೆರ­ಗು­ಗೊ­ಳಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತದೆ.
ಜೊತೆಗೇ ಬೆಕ್ಕನ್ನೂ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ರೂಪ­ಕ­ವಾಗಿ ತರು­ತ್ತಾರೆ ಅವರು. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಉಳಿ­ಯು­ತ್ತದಾ? ಅದನ್ನೂ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸೊಗ­ಸಾದ ಉಪ­ಮೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಹೇಳಿ­ಬಿ­ಡು­ತ್ತಾರೆ ಅವರು;
ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಹೊತ್ತಿ­ಸಿಟ್ಟ ದೀಪ ದಾರಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕತ್ತಲು
ದೀಪ ನಿಲ್ಲ­ಬ­ಹುದೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಳಿ ಬಂದು ಮುತ್ತಲು

ಇದರ ಜೊತೆಗೇ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ತೀವ್ರ­ತೆ­ಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳುವ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಸಾಲು;
ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಪಂಜು ಹೊತ್ತಿ­ಸಿತ್ತು ನಾಗ­ವೇಣಿ ನಾಗಿಗೆ
ಆರಂ­ಭ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ಬೆಕ್ಕಿನ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಹೀಗೆ ಕತೆ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರು­ಕ­ಳಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಯಾಕೆ ಬೆಕ್ಕಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕವಿತೆ ಶುರು­ವಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ ಅನ್ನು­ವುದು ಗೊತ್ತಾ­ಗ­ಬೇ­ಕಾ­ದರೆ ನಾಗ­ವೇಣಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಧಿ­ಯಾ­ಗುವ ತನಕ ಕಾಯ­ಬೇಕು. ಆಕೆ ಬೆಕ್ಕನ್ನು ಎದೆ­ಗ­ವ­ಚಿ­ಕೊಂಡು ಅದರ ಸಂಸ­ರ್ಗ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯನ್ನು ತೋಡಿ­ಕೊ­ಳ್ಳುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೇ ಅವ­ಳಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಅನು­ಭ­ವ­ವಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ;
ಸಾಲು­ಮ­ರದ ನೆರ­ಳಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾವಿ­ನಂಥ ಹಾದಿಗೆ
ಕೈಯ­ಳೊಂದು ದೀಪ ಹಿಡಿದು ಸಾಗು­ತಿ­ರಲು ನಾಗಿಗೆ
ತೆರೆದ ಹಾಲು ಮಡಕೆ ನೋಡಿ ಬಿಳಿಯ ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಹಾರಿತು
ಕತ್ತ­ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡ­ಹು­ವಂತೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ದೀಪ ಆರಿತು.
ನಾಗಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಸೆಳೆ­ತಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಮನೆ­ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೋಗು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಅವ­ಳನ್ನು ಹಾವಿ­ನಂಥ ಹಾದಿ ಅದೆ­ಲ್ಲಿಗೋ ಕರೆ­ದೊ­ಯ್ಯು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೆ ಸಾಗಿ­ಹೋದ ಹಾದಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗ­ವೇಣಿ ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಕಂಡ­ದ್ದೇನು? ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಆಕೆಗೆ ಎದು­ರಾ­ದ­ದ್ದೇನು? ಬಿಳಿಯ ಬೆಕ್ಕು ಹಾರಿ, ದೀಪ­ವಾ­ರಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಅವ­ಳನ್ನು ದಡ ಸೇರಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತದಾ?
ಅದ್ಯಾ­ವು­ದನ್ನೂ ಕವಿ ಹೇಳು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದ ಫೋಕ್ ತಿರು­ಗು­ವುದು ಅವಳ ಮನೆಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ. ಮನೆ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವ­ಳಿ­ಗಾಗಿ ಹುಡು­ಕಾಟ ನಡೆ­ದಿದೆ.
ತಾಯಿ ಬಂದು ನಾಗಿ ಎಂದು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕರೆ­ದಳು
ಮಂಜು ಗೌಡ ಮಗಳ ಹುಡುಕಿ ಊರು­ಕೇರಿ ಅಲೆ­ದನು
ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ­ಯಿ­ಡುವ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಂದೆ ಬರದ ಹಾದಿಯು
ಇಲ್ಲೆ ಅಲ್ಲ­ವೇನು ಹೆಣ್ಣಿ­ಗಿ­ರುವ ಭಯ ಅನಾ­ದಿಯು

ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಪದ್ಯ ಮುಗಿ­ಯು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಹಾದಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಆ ಅನಾ­ದಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊರ­ಟಾಕೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತಲು­ಪು­ತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಅವಳ ಅನಾದಿ ಭಯ­ವನ್ನು ಪ್ರೀತಿ ನಿವಾ­ರಿಸಿ ಅಭಯ ಹಸ್ತ ನೀಡು­ತ್ತದಾ? ಅವಳು ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗೆಲ್ಲು­ತ್ತಾಳಾ? ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ­ಗ­ಳಿಗೆ ಕವಿತೆ ಉತ್ತ­ರಿ­ಸು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾಗಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿ­ಯನ್ನು ಹುಡು­ಕಿ­ಕೊಂಡು ಹೊರ­ಟ­ಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಕತೆ ಮುಗಿ­ಯು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಮುಂದಿ­ನದು ಮುಂದಿನ ಕತೆ. ಅದರ ಸುಳಿವು ಬೇಕಿ­ದ್ದರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಪದ್ಯ­ಗ­ಳನ್ನು ಓದ­ಬೇಕು.
ಅದರ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪದ್ಯ­ದಲ್ಲೇ ಬರುವ ಎರಡು ಸಾಲು­ಗಳು ನಾಗಿಯ ಭವಿ­ಷ್ಯದ ಕತೆ­ಯೇನೋ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ಕಾಡು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಪದ್ಯದ ಹೆಸರು `ಹು­ಡು­ಗಿಯ ಕತೆ'.
ಮುರಿ­ದು­ಹೋದ ಗುಡಿ­ಸ­ಲೊಂದು ಹರಿ­ದು­ಹೋದ ಚಾಪೆಯು
ತೊಟ್ಟು­ಕೊಂಡ ಲಂಗ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂಟೋ ಹತ್ತೋ ತೇಪೆಯು
ಸೊರ­ಗಿ­ಹೋದ ಕೊರ­ಗಿ­ಹೋದ ಮೈಯ ಕೆಂಡ ಕೆಂಡವು
ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಅವಳ ಕಣ್ಣು ಏನೋ ಏನೋ ಕಂಡವು
ಯಾರಿ­ವಳು? ನಾಗಿಯ ಮಗಳಾ? ನಾಗಿಯಾ? ಅಥವಾ ನಾಗಿ­ಯಂಥ ಮತ್ಯಾ­ವುದೋ ಹುಡು­ಗಿಯಾ? ಯಾವ ಸೂಚ­ನೆಯೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಕೂಡ ವಿಷಾ­ದ­ದಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಗ­ಮ್ಯ­ದಲ್ಲಿ, ನಿಗೂ­ಢ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊನೆ­ಯಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಪದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವು ದಾಟಿ­ಕೊ­ಳ್ಳು­ವಂತೆ ಮಾಡು­ತ್ತದೆ.
**­*­*­*­**
ಕವನ ಕತೆ ಹೇಳ­ಬಾ­ರದು ಅನ್ನು­ವುದು ನವ್ಯರ ನಿಯಮ. ಅದೇ­ನಿ­ದ್ದರೂ ಒಂದು ಭಾವ­ವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿ­ದಿ­ಡ­ಬೇಕು. ಆ ಕ್ಪಣ ಮನ­ಸ್ಸಿ­ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿ ಮರೆ­ಯಾದ ಒಂದು ಲಹ­ರಿ­ಯ­ನ್ನಷ್ಟೇ ದಾಖ­ಲಿ­ಸ­ಬೇಕು. ಒಂದು ಮುಂಜಾನೆ, ಒಂದು ಅಗ­ಲಿಕೆ, ಒಂದು ಹಂಬಲ, ಒಂದು ಪ್ರತೀ­ಕ್ಪೆ­ಗ­ಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿ­ದರೆ ಅದು ಕವಿತೆ ಎಂದೇ ನವೋ­ದ­ಯದ ಮಂದಿ ನಂಬಿ­ದಂ­ತಿತ್ತು. ನವ್ಯರು ಅದನ್ನು ಕೊಂಚ ವಿಸ್ತ­ರಿಸಿ, ಸುಪ್ತ­ಮ­ನ­ಸ್ಸಿನ ಅತೃಪ್ತ ಆಶೆ­ಗ­ಳನ್ನು `ದೀ­ಪ­ವಿ­ರದ ಹಾದಿ­ಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಡ­ವ­ರಿ­ಸುವ ನುಡಿ'ಗ­ಳನ್ನು ಮಾತಾ­ಡಿ­ಸಲು ಯತ್ನಿ­ಸಿ­ದರು.
ಕಾವ್ಯ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವರೂ­ಪ­ವನ್ನು ಬದ­ಲಾ­ಯಿ­ಸಿದ್ದು ಅಮೇ­ಲಾ­ಮೇಲೆ. ಖಡ್ಗ­ವಾ­ಗಲಿ ಕಾವ್ಯ ಎಂದರು. ಅದು ಬಿಡು­ಗ­ಡೆಯ ಹಾದಿ ಎಂದರು. ಅದು ಅಭಿ­ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಅಂದರು. ಅದನ್ನು ಅಸ್ತ್ರ ಎಂದು ಕರೆದು ಬೆನ್ತ­ಟ್ಟಿ­ಕೊಂ­ಡರು. ಕವಿತೆ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ವಿಮೋ­ಚ­ನೆಯ ಹಾದಿಯೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಅದೊಂದು ಕತೆ ಹೇಳುವ ವಿಧಾನ ಮಾತ್ರ ಎಂದು ಅನಾ­ದಿ­ಕಾ­ಲ­ದಿಂದ ನಂಬಿ­ಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದದ್ದು ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಮರೆ­ಯಾ­ಯಿತು. ಇವತ್ತು ಕಥನ ಕವಿ­ಗಳೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಕವ­ನ­ದೊ­ಳಗೆ ಕತೆ­ಗ­ಳಿಲ್ಲ, ವ್ಯಥೆ­ಗ­ಳಷ್ಟೇ ಇವೆ.
ನಮ್ಮ ಮಹಾ­ಕಾ­ವ್ಯ­ಗ­ಳೆಲ್ಲ ಕಥನ ಕವ­ನ­ಗಳೇ. ತಿಳಿಯ ಹೇಳುವ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕತೆ­ಯನು ಎಂದೇ ಕುಮಾ­ರ­ವ್ಯಾಸ ತನ್ನ ಕಾವ್ಯ­ವನ್ನು ಆರಂ­ಭಿ­ಸು­ತ್ತಾನೆ. ಕಾವ್ಯ ಎಂದಾ­ಕ್ಪಣ ಅದು ಯಾರ ಕತೆ ಎನ್ನು­ವುದು ಮೊದಲು ದಾಖ­ಲಾ­ಗ­ಬೇಕು ಅನ್ನು­ತ್ತಿ­ದ್ದರು ಆ ಕಾಲದ ವಿಮ­ರ್ಶ­ಕರು. ಜನ­ಸಾ­ಮಾ­ನ್ಯರ ಕತೆ ಕಾವ್ಯ­ವಾ­ಗು­ವು­ದಕ್ಕೆ ಯೋಗ್ಯ­ವಲ್ಲ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜಾ­ಧಿ­ರಾ­ಜರ, ಚಕ್ರ­ವ­ರ್ತಿ­ಗಳ, ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ವಂಶ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ­ದ­ವರ ಕತೆಯೇ ಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಆದಿ­ಕ­ವಿ­ಗಳೂ ಅವರ ನಂತರ ಬಂದ ಅನಾ­ದಿ­ಕ­ವಿ­ಗಳೂ ನಂಬಿ­ದಂ­ತಿತ್ತು.
ಕವಿ­ತೆ­ಯನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ಹೇಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬಳ­ಸ­ಬ­ಹುದು ಎಂದು ತೋರಿ­ಸಿ­ಕೊ­ಟ್ಟ­ವರು ಬೇಂದ್ರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಡಿಗ. ಅವ­ರಿ­ಬ್ಬರ ಕವಿ­ತೆ­ಗ­ಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಿ­ಸುವ ಭಾವ, ಕೇವಲ ಭಾವ­ವಾ­ಗಷ್ಟೇ ಉಳಿ­ಯು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಮಾತಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳ­ಲಾ­ಗ­ದ್ದನ್ನು ಹೇಳು­ತ್ತದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಅನೂಹ್ಯ ಆಶೆ­ಗ­ಳಿಗೆ, ಅನಿ­ಸಿ­ಕೆ­ಗ­ಳಿಗೆ ದನಿ­ಯಾ­ಗು­ತ್ತದೆ. ಕೆಎಸ್ ನ ಕವಿ­ತೆ­ಗಳು ಕಥನ ಕವ­ನದ ಧಾಟಿ­ಯಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದಂತೆ ಕಂಡರೂ- ಗಂಡು, ಹೆಣ್ಣು, ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಮದುವೆ, ದಾಂಪತ್ಯ, ಬಳೆ­ಗಾರ, ತಾಯ್ತನ, ಮಗು, ಕುಟುಂಬ- ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಬಂದರೂ ಅದು ಕೇವಲ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಆಗಿ ಉಳಿ­ಯು­ವು­ದಿಲ್ಲ.
ಹುತ್ತ­ಗ­ಟ್ಟದೆ ಚಿತ್ತ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆತ್ತೀ­ತೇನು
ಅಂಥ ಪುರು­ಷೋ­ತ್ತ­ಮನ ರೂಪ­ರೇಷೆ
ಎಂದು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾ ಅದ್ಯಂತ ರಹಿತ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ­ಯನ್ನು ತಲು­ಪು­ತ್ತದೆ.

ಒಂದು ಆಹ್ವಾನ-
ಮುಂದಿನ ಭಾನುವಾರ, 27ನೇ ಜುಲೈ 2008, ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿಯವರ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಕಾವ್ಯ ಬೆಳ್ಳಕ್ಕಿ ಹಿಂಡು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರು ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಆನಂದ ಝಂಜರವಾಡ ಮತ್ತು ಜಿ ಎನ್ ಮೋಹನ್ ಮಾತಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆನಂತರ ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿಯವರ ಕವಿತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸಿ ಆರ್ ಸಿಂಹ, ಜಿಕೆ ಗೋವಿಂದರಾವ್, ಎಚ್ ಎಸ್ ವಿ, ಕಾಯ್ಕಿಣಿ, ದಿವಾಕರ್, ರವೀಂದ್ರಕುಮಾರ್, ಬಿಳಿಗೆರೆ, ಮಮತಾ ಜಿ ಸಾಗರ, ಬಿ ಸುರೇಶ, ರೋಸಿ ಡಿಸೋಜಾ ಮತ್ತು ರಘುನಂದನ ಓದುತ್ತಾರೆ.
ಸೆಂಟ್ರಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಆವರಣದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸೆನೆಟ್ ಹಾಲ್ ಗೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಎಕ್ಕುಂಡಿ ಕಾವ್ಯಲೋಕ ತೆರೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ.
ಅಂದ ಹಾಗೆ ಇದು ಸಂಚಯದ ಸಂಚು.

March 29, 2008 - a warm, yet pleasant Saturday afternoon - I was driving back from my first visit to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area when I saw the signs to mineral museum - not one, but two!! I should have carried The Picking Table (Journal of The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society) that Dr. [...]

I had to use the following in my /etc/X11/xorg.conf to get acceptable performance on a old PC with Ubuntu 8.04 installed.

Section "Device" Identifier "Configured Video Device" Option "AccelMethod" "EXA" Option "AGPMode" "4" Option "ColorTiling" "1" EndSection

  

It was early in the morning. I was in the toilet, trying to hurry morning rituals awaiting my Manager’s call. While in tension, nature’s call or telephone call – seldom comes on time.

 

We had an appointment for an important meeting today, which, as per my manager, would “change the face of the company.”  We were to meet someone who was to re confirm the meeting in the morning and I was supposed to be ready early and wait for my manager’s call since we had to be there within the next one hour… I woke up early, but the tension was not allowing me to finish off the routine!

 

I was still in the toilet, looking at the heaven…no progress. “Do not concentrate on it. Change the focus; keep a book in toilet and start reading. You will find it easier that way” the doctor had told me. I took the book kept there specifically to shift the focus but “shit”… Oh No… realized that I did not have my reading glasses!

 

Outside, my mobile started ringing. I was in no position to get out and receive the call. “It is probably the manager” I told to myself. “Darling, take the call, I am in the toilet” I gave loud plea at my wife

 

My wife does not like to be disturbed like this in the morning. Early in the morning, sending the kids to the school is her top priority. According to her, those who have finished schooling should be able to do all their own work independently…but today was an exception. Probably she had overheard me talking to my manager and thought of helping me.

 

Suddenly, my sleek cell phone came sliding in from beneath the toilet door. I do not know how good she is in bowling game; it came all the way in, hit my toe and stopped there. I was about to pick it up, it stopped ringing! I foresaw the trouble. Manager would call me again and fire me for not taking the call. Anyway, if something is bound to happen, it will…

 

It started to ring again. Without my reading glasses, Caller ID feature was useless for me. I was ready… ready to be fired. Mustering all the courage to hear it all from the manager in early in the morning, I said ‘hello.’

 

“Good morning sir…” A sweet voice sailed through… “I am calling from XYZ bank. Can I have five minutes of your time sir?” She requested.

“Sorry… I am busy here” (Oops… I did not intend telling her that… but that was my standard reply for such calls and as a routine, it had come on its own.)

“I will take just two minutes sir” she pleaded again.

Credit card, auto loan or personal loan or some other product promotion- It’s going on everywhere and this is no different - I thought for myself. “Look madam… I have enough of credit cards. My company is about to give me a car and hence I have no idea of taking vehicle loan. My Father-in-law had promised a house site during marriage… though it has still not come through, I have no idea of going in for a housing loan. Now tell me why do you want to meet me? I gave a full burst of negatives so that she will not try talking to me again.

 

“But sir, I think I have answer for some of such problems…give me two minutes” she told at her mildest voice.

 

“I am sorry… I am expecting an important call… call me later on in the evening” I told her and disconnected.

 

Out of focus for a few seconds, the nature’s call was up and kicking straightaway! What a relief… I thanked the lady profusely for the favour…

 

***

 

Getting dressed up, I had a small doubt. Should it be formal or normal is alright? This meeting will “change the face of the company” was still ringing in my ears. I did not want to take chances. I put on the formal dress.

My cell phone rang again. It was my manager. “Sorry I did not call you earlier. Are you ready? We will be there to pick you up in two minutes, wait near the main gate of your building’

“Yes sir, I will be there” I told and almost ran to the main gate.

To my surprise, my manager was dressed in white dhoti and silk shirt with decorated kumkum on his forehead. “Sir, I did not know… otherwise, even I would have dressed like this” I begged his pardon.

“It’s OK. My dress suits the person we are meeting. When I introduce a well dressed person like you as my assistant, it shows my status” beamed my manager.

 

After about half an hour drive, we stopped in front of a big compound. May be a big rural industrialist - I thought, but he was not. We were in an ashram and we were told that Swami is waiting for us.

 

Hands folded in the Air India mascot style, we went and sat in front of him.

 

“So you are here to consult me on your promotion” told the Swami “and you want to know whether it is safe to accept the new position”

 

“So far I was in charge of our operations within the country. Now my area would be the whole of Asia. That is why…” smiled the manager.

“You will succeed” Commented the Swami “but you have to take some precautions before accepting the position. Ensure you assume the charge on a clean slate. All the misdeeds of the previous Director should be cleared up. Even remote chances of failure are written off straightaway. Otherwise, next year, it will be counted as your non-performance and your failure”

 

“But Swami, that way, my whole company portfolio could be wiped off. The company is already into trouble because of sub-prime losses” my manager was apprehensive.

“What is important for you? Your performance or that of your company? All the bigwigs are writing of losses accumulated over the years in the name of sub-prime losses this year. It is a chance. God sent chance. Ask for the clean slate. The management will agree, the lenders will agree, the investors will not grumble, and above all, the tax authorities will not question. This year would be considered an exceptional year and there is nothing wrong in taking the best out of it.  Write off all, if you could recover something in the next year, it adds to your future performance” Swami was quite authoritative.

 

“OK Swami”

 

“One more thing” swami told “By the by, who will replace you here?

“I have not recommended anybody, let me see”

 

“See to it that you put one of your trusted men here and make sure that your performance here is not unduly checked and reported. This will help you in the future”

 

“OK Swami” my manager bowed, put some folded currency near his feet and we came out.” “He was a management consultant earlier but the returns in this profession lured him here” commented my manager on our way out.

 

“Even before we met Swami, I had you in my mind as my replacement. Now that Swami guided me on this, I will recommend your name” my manager sitting in the car.

 

“But Swami never told my name” I expressed my surprise.

 

“He told to put somebody here who is my man. Who else can protect my interests here more than you?

 

“But we will also request to write off all those losses, as Swami told this is a chance to clear all those” I put it mildly.

 

“No… No… That will spoil my reputation, my HR files… Let it be there. Write them off slowly in the next few years”

“But that will spoil my HR files and will ruin my promotion chances” I retorted.

“You don’t understand. Now I am in a position just to recommend you. Don’t forget, I would be moving to a position where I would be approving your promotion”

 

Realising the danger of talking anything silly, I said “Yes sir. I know”

 

“Now you go to office, I will go home, change my dress and come to office. Keep this meeting secret. If anybody asks, tell them it was a business meeting.”

 

***

 

I could see my manager’s chair from my seat. A few days more and I will be sitting there, which I did not even dream in the morning!

 

The lady who called me in the morning must be really lucky for me…?

 

I was just wondering but enjoying the very thought of it.

My cell started ringing. It was the same lady … My lucky lady again!

I said “hello”

“Good evening sir, I am calling from XYZ Bank. You had told me to call in the evening”

 

“Yes… I remember you… I am free now… Tell me” I did not want my lucky lady to get angry and curse me!

 

“Sir, I would like to suggest an investment option which would secure the interests of your entire family. I told your wife about this and she showed great interest in it. She has told me that you will be at home by 8pm. I want to come and meet you both. Would 8:30pm be fine?

“Well, if my wife has shown interest and invited you, you can come by all means”

 

“She has convinced my wife as well! That is great” I thought.

 

I had never joined any investment scheme other than that teakwood plantation scheme, where the company had died even before the sapling. My wife had joined several schemes in the past and every time she wanted to invest in some, she would call the agent home and discuss for half an hour about the scheme in my presence. But still, I would forget every other detail except the agent’s appearance and the amount invested.

 

My lady luck was at home when I arrived. She was looking gorgeous in her blue salwar. My wife was discussing the investment scheme with all the seriousness. I was not interested in that half percent more here and the few promotion lotteries there.

 

Looking at them I declared instantly “today is a great day and I will invest in your scheme”

My wife was surprised. A week earlier I had sent back her cousin, who had an investment scheme – saying that I have no funds at the moment.

My wife called me inside and asked me “where the money has come from now?”

 

“I still have no money. But I think we can withdraw the deposit we made with the lady who had come with a red color low cut blouse?”

“That’s still not one year and there is heavy deduction on premature withdrawal before one year”

“How about that deposit which we put with that lady with jeans and sleeveless T shirt?”

 

“That is the only deposit we have which yields above 8% return when calculated over a period of five years”

 

“Come on, we will take it out and give this lady. Or that deposit held by the bank of that girl who always wears dangerously low jeans?”

 

Why? What is this lady offering? 6.5% with a chance to visit Manali. We will never win such offers. We know our luck very well.”

 

“But we will try” I pleaded

“Why? I do not understand. What is special with this lady?”

“I think she is very lucky for me”

 

Oh No!! I should have explained starting from the toilet to what my manager told after meeting the swami. Without that, it was bound antagonize my wife.

My wife went out like a rocket. “Leave your Telephone number with me. We have to cancel some other investment and then only we can invest in your plan. I will give you a call when we are ready” and practically pushed my lucky charm out.

 

“Thank you madam. I will keep calling you to remind you for this sir” told the lady and went away

“OK… but call me preferably early in the morning… like today…” I quipped in.

 

***

 

I was desperately searching for the list of over due and problem accounts brought home yesterday to prepare a report. I needed something to clear the tense air as well. Taking a big breath I announced aloud “The entire home including my table looks surprisingly clean. Who did the great job?”

 

My daughter replied from the next room “mama brought a new broom and we all tried it out in turns. It was great fun.”

   

July 18th happens to be the birthday of Jayachamarajendra Odeyar, the last ruler of Mysore. He was born on this day in 89 years ago (1919).

(Photo: From an article in Hindu written by Sriram Venkatakrishnan)

Jayachamarajendra Odeyar (JCW) is considered as one of the prominent composers of Karnataka Sangeetha in the 20th century. In addition, he was an accomplised exponent of Western classical music as well.

Here is a speech by well known musicologist (and Vainika) Prof R Satyanarayana. The original speech was in Kannada, and translated by yours truly. This is probably a speech from the late 1970s or 1980s. Even though it is not a word-to-word translation, I have tried to retain the original flavor of the speech.

===============================================================

Prof R Satyanarayana’s speech on Jayachamarajendra Odeyar:

It was JCW who conceived the idea of starting a music college at the University of Mysore.  When efforts were put in that direction for the first time, it had to be shelved because of the mutual jealousy of some musicians. Later, with the foresight for starting college of lalita kalA institution, JCW left a large sum of money as a donation (datti) to the Mysore University. That was the seed money from with this great institution was started from. There is a special relation between Mysore University and the Maharaja. It was indeed here where His Highness attended the classes just like a commoner, and got his degree. Mysore University should be congratulated and thanked for teaching a member from the royal family along with common people and make a scholar out of him.

Before considering him as a composer, let me tell a few things about his expertise in music. Even when he was very young, he took on interest in western music with his father’s influence. Many people may not know that JCW stood first in the extremely difficult music examinations from Cambridge and Trinity colleges in London. He was an excellent piano player. His sisters were also experts on the piano. JCW was invited to Europe and America several times not because he was a King, but because of his expertise on the piano, and his insight into Indian ‘darshana’s. He has performed on the piano at a large number of prestigious halls, and spoken in front of elite audience in many of these countries.

Apart from this, JCW’s vision and understanding of Indian music had a great depth and width. Before he was crowned, he did ‘shishyavritti’ with Sri Vasudevachar (in vocal music), and also with Veena Giriyappa (for Veena) for a short term. The music he learnt from these teacher-duo (even though it was for a very short time) flowered and bore wonderful fruits. We can see an example of his critical abilities and knowledge of music in his address at the Music Academy’s annual conference.  This inaugural address at the Music Academy’s annual conference, which he delivered in the year when Mysooru Chowdayya was the President of the conference proceedings, was so sparkling that it made all the earlier conference addresses seem very dull.  This showcased Maharaja’s internal vision into the shAsrta aspects, darshana, Vedanta aspects, and the expertise he had in lakshya. The examples and suggestions he gave to fellow musicians to reach their goals, was so inspiring then, and is so even now.

I can talk a lot more about him, but it is not the right time. I would now like to concentrate on the specialty of his vaggeyakaratva. Vaggeyakara is a technical term used to indicate a person is one who provides the mAtu, and rAGa and tALa (svara laya bandha) for a composition; there were two reasons for him to become a vaggeyakara. The first one was the breadth and depth of musical the practical experience viz the music which he had imbibed from his gurus like Venkatagiriyappa and Vasudevachar; the influence and exposure to hindustani music which he got from his uncle that can be seen in his compositions in rAgas like mAnd, and his practical and theoritical expertise in Western music.

When he started composing there was one more major influence in his compositions. If you look at the invitation you have received, in the first page, you can see it starts as “jayaratna jayachamarajendra oDeyar”, where it compares the great qualities of 9 great kings with that of JCW.  Many of these kings were from Karnataka. That’s why he is called navaratna jayachamaraja oDeyar. When I was writing this, I felt it would be just to add one more quality that is missing in the list here. I wanted to make it a list of 10 qualities.  There is one extremely rare quality which JCW had, and that wasn’t there in any other king before –That is his accomplishment in srIvidye. In addition to the background and inspiration from the sangIta, srIvidya was also instrumental in bringing out these compositons. These compositions were a just vehicle to express his inner spirit’s longing for mOkSha and the enormous effort it was going through in aligning it in that direction through the mode of musical expressions. While composing he took some suggestions from Vasudevachara, and sometimes from Venkatagiriyappa for appropriate suggestions, and he would give a final form to the compositions considering their inputs. Often he played the kritis on Piano and gave a final shape to a composition.

Let me tell you how he became Srividya upAsaka. Sri Siddhalingaswamy, who was a very known sculptor from Mysore initiated JCW to Srividye. Odeyar indicates Siddalingesha as the svagurunAma (Siddhalinga Swami). His guru, (Guru of Siddhalinga Swamy) was Odeyar’s parama guru nanjunda yOgIndra. Odeyars parameshTha guru was nAgalinga yatIndra (Guru of Nanjunda Yogindra). We can see JCW remembering these gurus in many of his kritis. JCW also indicates the influence of his father’s music on him by the word narakanThIrava. kanThIrava means lion. narakanThIrava means narasimha. Chitprabhanandanatha was his deeksha name given to Odeyar by his guru Siddhalingaswamy.  Normally JCW includes the name chitprabhanandanAtha along with his ankita Srividya. Getting a dIksha nAMa is the first step to initiation into Srividye.  He has used this name ‘chitprabhAnandanAtha’ in many kritis. I hope singers note this point while singing his kritis.

JCW made chamundi as the aradhya dEvi for Srividya upAsane. Chamundi was the kuladiava of Odeyars. However, in yaduvamsha, Chamundi wasn’t the only royal diety. They worshipped Shiva as well. If there ever was a royal dynasty that could be termed secular, it was the oDeyars of Maisooru. They were staunch followers of Brahmatantra parakAlaswamy, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, and also of Veerashaiva mathas.In short, Odeyars pracitioners of ‘Sarva dharma samanvaya’- equality of all religions- principle. Even though his ancestors were shiva worshippers, JCW became an upasaka in the shaktipradhANa kAdi mArga  dakshiNAmoorti tradition of SrividyA upAsane.

One interesting fact about his compositions is that they are all are in Samskrita. They all follow the pattern, and style of muttuswAmi dIkshIta’s compositions, who was also a Srividya upAsaka. They use similar technicality of muttuswAmi dIkshita’s compositions on Srividya. Another notable feature of his compositions is that he has used as many as ragas as are his compositions. This is a very rare thing, and no other vaggeyakara has done this feat in the entire world of Indian music. In doing this he has used ragas like kOkilapriya, supradIpa, gambhIranATa, vijayavasanta, nIlavENi, kOkilabhAShaNi, mALavi, vagadhIshwari, pratApavarALi, nAmanArAyaNi, shuddha tODi, amrtavAnini, hamsavinOdini, bhogavasanta, nadabrahma etc – rAgas that are new, or rAgas that had only one or two earlier lakshya examples.  He created laksyha for ragas like amRutavAhini and pratApavarALi, which had only example from Tyagaraja. This is something we have to be proud of.

All the 94 or 96 kritis are about SrIvidye.  You may ask how I’d explain to say his compositions on Shiva and Ganesha. Even Ganesha and Shiva are considered as the dieties that open the door of Srividya. He made chAmunDi as srRmAte. In Chamunda is the seventh mAtRuka in the second chakra called trailokyamOhana chakra, in the prathamAvaraNa of Srividya worship. JCW often uses the word mAtRuka again and again in his kritis. There is shlEsha in that, I will take an example in a kriti and explain later.

JCW not only reached the pinnacle in musical capabilities. If we include his contribution to music, we have to invent a new word- Ounnatya shaTka-  ‘six fold-pinnacles’ to describe him, because he was an extra-ordinary man who reached the difficult-to-attain ‘ounnatya panchaka’ – the ‘five-fold pinnacles’. There are only a few, who have reached this ounnattya panchaka.

He attained kAyOnnati – Whoever had seen him can vouch for the truth of this fact. His tall stature, and build that indeed was befitting the golden throne he was occupying. Next one in the unnati panchaka is mAnOnnati. It does not just mean he was abhimAnashAli.It has a much deeper meening. ‘mAna’ means to measure; If you have to create a new measure to evaluate someone or something, that shows the greatness of the insights and personality of him or her. All of us develop measures according to our own capability. JCW created new units of measuring for evaluating all worldly qualities. In addition to his, he also had  manOnnati and vidyOnnati. He was a great scholar and a dArshanika. If you read his book, ‘D attatreya- A Study’ you can appreciate and understand his deep insight and scholarship in the darshanas. To top it all, he also reached  AtmOnnati, thus completing this unnati panchaka. When you add his sangItOnnati, it indeed becomes ‘unnati shaTka’

JCW was thus a great soul who attained these pinnacles in contemporary times. But unfortunately, I feel sad that our generation does not seem remember and recognize contributions the kings of maisUru like mummaDi Krishnaraja Odeyar, nAlvaDi Krishnaraja Odeyar and Jayachamaraja Odeyar made specifically to our music and to our society in general.

—————————————————————————————–

(I’d like to thank Sri Rajachandra, who gave me the audio recording of this speech.)

-neelanjana

Arabian Sea - Udyavara beach

Our second half of the day started after a sumptuous food. And this time we went in search of 'Udyavara beach', one more beautiful place suggested by Rajesh Naik. If you have been to Maravathe & like the place, here is the miniature version but more beautiful & pristine of Maravante.

The river

A narrow stretch of land (of about 200-300 meters width) is sandwitched bwtween Arabian sea on the west & a river on east. Starting somewhere near Kaup, the stretch suddenly hits a dead end very close to Malpe, where the river joins the might sea.

The boat & the journey

The place is very close to Udupi & yet less known to the world. Udyavara town is 3 KMs from Udupi & another 3 KMs from there takes you to Pithrodi village. A boatman awaits for people to take them to & fro the main land & the other side. One has to cross the river in a narrow boat which can accomodate 5-6 people.

The boatman

It's pretty difficult to find a beach in India which is clean & also no one around. But this was an exception. It was clean & untouched, not even foot marks of people. We were there around 3PM, definitely not a suitable time to be at the beach & for photography. But we had no other choice. I want to go there again to witness the Sunset, before the place get stormed by people & turns into just another beach in the world.

Continuing the West coast ride story

Route day two:

Udupi - Malpe - Bengre - Udupi - Udyavara - Kunjarugiri - Pajaka - Kaup - Surthkal

Route day one:

Bangalore - Kunigal - Hassan - Belur - Yagachi - Chikkamagalur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri - Agumbe - Hebri - Udupi

ಕಡಲನ್ನು ಸೇರುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎಂದು
ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲದ ನದಿ
ಕಡಲು ಸೇರಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ತನ್ನ ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನೆ
ಕಳಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸೋಜಿಗವ
ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸಿದರೆ ಕವಿ
ಋಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾನಂತೆ
ಯೇಟ್ಸನಂತೆ
ನನಗೋ ಬೋಧಿಲೇರನ ಹಾಗೆ
ಸಂತನಾಗುವ ಆಸೆ;
ಅಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ದಿವಂಗತನಾಗಿ.

ಮಾಡ್ ಗಾನ್ ಬೆನ್ನಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದ
ಯೇಟ್ಸ್‌ಗೆ ಕೊನೆಗೂ ದಕ್ಕಿದ್ದು ಎರಡೇ ಸಾಲು;
Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?
ನಾನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಿ ಕವಿತೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ
ಎಂದು ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಕಿಚ್ಚು
ನಾನು ಕವಿತೆ ಬರೆದು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ
ಎಂದು ಇವನಿಗೆ ಗುಮಾನಿ.

ತನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೂಡಿದ ನದಿಯ
ನೀರಿನ ರುಚಿ
ಕಡಲಿಗೆ ನೆನಪುಂಟೆ?
ನೆನಪನ್ನೂ ರುಚಿಯನ್ನೂ
ಕಡಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ
ನದಿಗೆ ಕೊರಗುಂಟೆ?

ವರುಣಸೂಕ್ತ ಪಠಿಸುವ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೇ
ಅಗ್ನಿಕಾರ್ಯ ಶುರು.
ಕಡಲೊಳಗೂ ಸುಡುಕೆಂಡ
ಬಡಬಾಗ್ನಿ;ಬಾಕಿ ಮೊಕ್ತ.

ಜುಲೈ ತಿಂಗಳ ಮೊದಲಿನಿಂದ ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಬಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಪ್ರತಿದಿನದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದಲ್ಲೂ ಹೊಸತೆಂದು ತೋರುವ ಏನಾದುರೊಂದು ಇದ್ದೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ.

ಬಸ್ಸಿನ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಈಗ, ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳೆದ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರದ ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ತುಣುಕು.
ತುಂಬಾ ದಿನದ ನಂತರ ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಜುಬ್ಬಾ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೊರಟಿದ್ದೆ. ಇಳಿಯಬೇಕೆಂದು ಏಳುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಜುಬ್ಬಾ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸೀಟಿಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದೆಂತೆನಿಸಿ ಗಾಬರಿ ಬೆರೆತ ಅನುಮಾನವುಂಟಾಯಿತು. ’ಹರಿತಾ?’ ಎಂದು ಬಗ್ಗಿ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ಕಂಡಿದ್ದು..


ತಟ್ಟನೆ ಒಂದು ಫೋಟೊ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಇಳಿದು ನಡೆದೆ.© Sandeepa Nadahalli

ಗೆಳೆಯ ಜಿ ಎನ್ ಮೋಹನ್ ಫಿಶ್ ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮೀನೆಂದರೆ ಇಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಪಂಚಪ್ರಾಣ. ಫಿಶ್ ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟ್ಟು ಕೂಡ. ಷೇಕ್ಸ್ ಪಿಯರನಿಗೂ ಫಿಶ್ ಮಾರ್ಕೆಟ್ಟು ಇಷ್ಟವಿತ್ತಂತೆ! ಓದಿ ನೋಡಿ. ಮಜವಾಗಿದೆ.

William Shakespeare is a successful playwright living in old London. He’s smart, he’s funny, and he’s got the world at his fingertips. He’s the Stephen King of his day and everyone wants to be him. So what does he do? He gives someone a chance. In what many deem as a medieval publicity stunt, Shakespeare announces that he will pick someone to be his apprentice. Everyone in London is eligible, and wherever Shakespeare goes, people try to stand out. However, Shakespeare soon proves remarkably picky about whom he will take on.
Then, one day at the local fishmarket, Shakespeare sees Corbin Mantruck. He’s dirty, he’s poor, and he speaks in iambic pentameter. He’s perfect. Shakespeare has found his apprentice. Shakespeare makes Corbin Mantruck bathe, take that hat off, and then he begins to teach him the ways of the playwright.
It’s a huge surprise when we find that Corbin is an exceptional apprentice playwright. He soon begins writing plays that Shakespeare could only dream of writing. Though Mantruck’s plays aren’t in iambic pentameter, Shakespeare is stunned to see that they are, in fact, in diambic decameter and triambic pentakaidecameter. Corbin’s plays are so good that only William Shakespeare is able to appreciate them fully. It’s Good Will Hunting all over again.
But Shakespeare has grown used to wealth, celebrity, and velvet clothes. He’s long been known as the greatest playwright that ever lived and now he’s scared to give it up. And while Corbin Mantruck locks himself up in a room and continues writing plays, Shakespeare puts on Mantruck’s plays as if they were his own.
England loves the new plays and all the shows sell out except the first one. Shakespeare becomes even more famous and wealthy as the new plays have even more explosions, nudity, and swears, all of which leave audiences gasping for more.
Shakespeare knows he’s living a lie though, and his fame becomes empty and his riches become worthless. And boy does he start drinking. Though he receives Tony award after Tony award for Mantruck’s plays, they are just constant reminders of how fucking great Corbin Mantruck really is. In one stunning scene, after a Tony Awards, a jealous and drunken Shakespeare intrudes on the reclusive Mantruck. Shakespeare tells Mantruck that all of Mantruck’s plays have been garbage. Garbage! Amazingly, Mantruck agrees with Shakespeare, (!) but he tells him that the one he is writing now is his masterpiece. His masterpiece!
Shakespeare reads the first draft of Corbin Mantruck’s masterpiece and it blows his boots off it’s so good. Ashamed and crying, Shakespeare gets on his knees and confesses his plagerism crimes to Corbin Mantruck. What can he do? he pleads, What can he do to make it up to Corbin Mantruck? Mantruck tells Shakespeare that the only way he can make it up is to win London’s annual marathon race and donate the £500,000 prize to the local fish market.
Shakespeare can’t do it alone. His drinking problem has made him overweight and out-of-shape and he’s in no condition to run a marathon. Fortunately, Corbin Mantruck has an idea. He quickly sets to work writing a new play, a play where Shakespeare is the star. In the play, Shakespeare’s character does warm ups, jumps rope, eats healthy, and quits drinking. To rehearse for the play, Shakespeare does all these things. Soon he has abs of steel and he’s very in shape. It’s a true testament to Corbin Mantruck’s playwrighting ability.
On the day of the big race, both Shakespeare and Mantruck line up as contestants. They’re longshots because they’re up against known cheaters Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Barry Allen, and Edward de Vere, all of whom are dressed solely in black 15th century running gear.
The race starts and sure enough, Marlowe puts tranquilizers in Shakespeare’s water, Bacon cuts Shakespeare’s Achilles’ heel, Allen uses his powers, and de Vere uses his roller-skate shoes. It’s looking bad for Shakespeare, and he’s upset because he really wants win the money for the fish market so he can make up his plagiarism crimes to Corbin Mantruck.
Corbin Mantruck, expecting these troubles, is quick to react. In no time at all he writes another script in which Marlowe, Bacon, Allen, and de Vere all die before completing the race. Quickly, Mantruck passes out the screenplay to each of the four cheaters. Soon they are all dead, and Mantruck’s only problem now is getting the tranquilized and crippled Shakespeare across the finish line. In an act of complete heroism, Corbin Mantruck writes a script giving him the strength to pick up William Shakespeare and carry him across the finish line. As they cross the finish line together, Mantruck tells Shakespeare that he never cared about the plagerism. He just cared about their friendship. The movie closes as we watch Corbin Mantruck’s masterpiece play. It is called “Shakespeare’s Apprentice,” and it’s the Corbin and Shakespeare’s story.

No, I am not talking about Ravichandran’s movie

Bhakti Vedanta Darshana [a periodical published by  ISKCON,Bengalooru],  features my article (in Kannada) as the cover page feature in its July 2008 issue.

Click to read the article here:

Panduranga Vitthala: nele - hinnele (PDF)

The entire July 2008 issue of Bhakti Vedanta Darshana is available here.

My special thanks to Sunil Jayaprakash and Shrikanth Mishrikoti.

-neelanjana

ಗುಡಿಸಲು ತುಂಬಾ
ಮಸಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಮುಕ್ಕಾದ
ಇಂಡಾಲಿಯಂ
ಪಾತ್ರೆಗಳ ಸದ್ದು-ಗದ್ದಲ

ಹಗಲಿಡೀ ನಿದ್ದೆಯಿಲ್ಲ
ಕುಡಿದ ನಶೆ : ಆರಕ್ಕೇರದು ಮೂರಕ್ಕಿಳಿಯದು
ಪಾಪ!
ಹರಕು ಚಾಪೆ ಕಾಲಿಗೂ ಸಾಲದು

ತವರ ಪಾಲಾದ ಹಿರಿಮಗಳ,
ಮೇಜುವಾನಿ ಮಾಡುವ ತಾಯಿಯ
ಜೋಡಿ
ಎಕ್ಕಡಕ್ಕೆ ಚುಚ್ಚಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೊಂಡು ಮೊಳೆ!

ಮೂಲೆಸೇರಿ ಹೇನು-ಸೀರು ಕುಕ್ಕುವ ನೆಪದಿ
ಕಂದಮ್ಮಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ತನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ
ಕೋಪ-ತಾಪ
ತೀರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಗಂಡ ಸತ್ತ-ಹಿರಿಸೊಸೆ

ಮಾತೆತ್ತಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು
ಸೋರುವ ಮೂಗನೂ ಸೀಟದೆ
ಆಕಾಶ-ಭೂಮಿ
ಒಂದು ಮಾಡುವ ಮೊಮ್ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹಿಂಡು!

ಗುಡ್ಲು ತೆಗೆದು ಹೊರಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ಕೋಳಿ ಪಿಳ್ಳೆಗಳೂ,
ಮೂಲೆ ಸೇರಿ ಬೂದಿಬಿಸಿಗೆ ಮೈಯೊಡ್ಡಿ ಮಲಗಿದ್ದ
ಮುದಿನಾಯಿ
ಹತ್ತದು ಹರಿಯದು;

ದಿನದೂಡಿ,ಸಂಜೆ ಮಾಡಿ
ಅರವತ್ತರೆರಡಷ್ಟರನ್ನು ಕಣ್ಣು ಕಿರಿದುಮಾಡಿ
ನೇರ
ಗಂಟಲಿಗೆ ಸುರಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಾಯ್ತು

ಮಫ್ಲರ್ ಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ವಾಚ್‍ಮನ್ ರಂಗಯ್ಯನಿಗೆ
ಇಂದೇ ಅತಿನಿದ್ದೆ,ಕನ್ನ ಕೊರೆದು ಮನೆ ದೋಚಿದರೂ
ಕಣ್ಣು
ಬಿಡಲಾಗದಷ್ಟು,ಸದ್ದಾದರೂ ಕೇಳಿಸದಷ್ಟು!

ಮನೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮನೆಗಳು
ಆಕಾಶ ಮುಟ್ಟುವಂತೆ
ಅಂಗಳ , ಹಿತ್ತಲು?
ಎಲ್ಲ ನುಂಗಿಯಾಗಿದೆ
ಈಗ ಬಿ.ಎಚ್.ಕೆ ಅಮಲು

ನೆರೆಹೊರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು?
ಅವೆಲ್ಲ ಬರಿಯ ಹೊರೆ
ತಂದೆ ತಾಯಿ?
ಊರಲ್ಲಿಹರು..
ಕಾಸು ಕಳಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ

ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ
ಹನಿನೀರು, ಮೂರು ತುತ್ತೆಂದು
ಬಂದೀರಿ ಜೋಕೆ!
ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಜಡಿದ ಬೀಗಕ್ಕೆ
ಚಂದ್ರೋದಯದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ

ಗಿಡ ಮರ ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಹೂವು?
ಓಹೋ ಕುಂಡಗಳಿವೆ
ಬಣ್ಣದ ಗಿಡ
ಪೇಪರ್ ಹೂವು
ಎಲ್ಲ ಫಾರಿನ್ ಸಾಮಾನು

ಕಟ್ಟಿಟ್ಟ ಉಸಿರು
ಪರದೆಯೊಳಗಿನ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ
ಪುರುಸೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ
ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲೇ...
ಯಾಕೆ ಬಿಡಿ...

ಆ ಮಾಲ್, ಈ ಮಾಲ್
ಆ ಸಿನೇಮಾ, ಈ ಹೋಟೆಲ್
ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಪಿ.ಡಿ.ಎಫ್
ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಕರೆಗಳು
ಕೊನೆಯೆರಡು ದಿನಗಳು

ಊರ ಹೊರವಲಯದಲಿ
ತುಂಡುಭೂಮಿಗಾಗಿ
ಮೈಮೇಲೆ ಸಾಲದ ಗಾಯ;
ಉಪ್ಪು ಮೆತ್ತಿದ ಹಾಗೆ
ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆರಡು ಇಎಂಐ

ಹಸಿರು ಉಸಿರು, ಗಾಳಿ ಗಂಧ?
ಹಕ್ಕಿ ಪಕ್ಕಿ, ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಬಯಲು?
ನದ ನದಿ ಕಡಲ ಮಡಿಲು?
ಹೌದಲ್ಲ! ಬಹಳ ತಿಂಗಳಾದವಲ್ಲ
ಪ್ರವಾಸವಿಲ್ಲ

ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯ ಬಾಳೆಂದು?
ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆರಡು ಸಲ
ಭೂಮಿಯ ಆ ತುದಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ
ಬಂದರೆ , ಎರಡು ಕಾಸು ತಂದರೆ
ಖಂಡಿತ ಖಂಡಿತ...ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ

It has been a couple days since most of the mankind, including myself, went through the pains of updating to the latest and greatest iPhone software yet, and I have had some time to play around with some of its new features and try out some of the free cool apps. What follows below are [...]

೨೯೯ ಅಮೇರಿಕನ್ ಡಾಲರ್ (೧೨೦೦೦ ರುಪಾಯಿ) ಕೊಡಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೊಳ್ಳಿರಿ ಚಿಕ್ಕದೊಂದು ಲ್ಯಾಪ್-ಟಾಪ್. ಕೆಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಮುಂಚೆ ಸಿಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ಅಂತ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಒಂದು ಕಂಪನಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಲವಾರು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಮೇಲೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ್ದು ನಿಮಗೆ ನೆನಪಿರಬಹುದು.

ಹೊಸಾ ಪೀಳಿಗೆಯ ಈ ಯಂತ್ರಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದಂಥ ಸಾಧನ. ಆದರೆ ಯಾರೂ ಇದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದು ಕಾಣಲ್ಲಾ. ಹಲೋ?

ತುಳಸಿಯಮ್ಮನವರ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಪ್ತದೀಪ್ತಿಯವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಇದೆ ಜುಲೈ ೨೭ಕ್ಕೆ, ಬೆಂಗ್ಳೂರಿನ ಸುಚಿತ್ರಾ ಫಿಲ್ಮ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ೧೦ಕ್ಕೆ. ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಹೋಗಿ, ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೊಂಡು ಓದಿ :-) ಭಾಗ್ವತ್ರಿಗೆ ಬರ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಾಗಲ್ವಂತೆ. ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಪುಕ್ಕಟೆ ತಿಂಡಿ, ಮಧ್ಯಾನ್ಹದ ಪುಕ್ಕಟೆ ಊಟ ತಪ್ಪಿಹೋಯ್ತು ಅಂತ ಭಾಗ್ವತ್ರು ತುಂಬ ಕೈ ಕೈ ಹಿಸುಕಿಕೊಳ್ತಿದಾರಂತೆ :-)
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Did you watch men's Wimbledon finals between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal? It is one of the best live tennis matches I have ever watched so far. Breathtaking beauty it was. When I started watching, the match was held up due to rain (first time interruption). I was shocked to see Federer trailing. Then the match started again. I wanted the match to go into 5th set and it did!!! I was jumping in joy seeing Federer save 3 championship points. Ultimately Nadal won, and he deserved it, for he was the better player throughout the match. Federer is my tennis sport idol and I wanted him to win from the beginning. However, I had no complaints for Nadal winning the match! In my view both were winners, but yes, officially we can have only one!

I like these champions for their focus, determination, never-say-die attitude and perseverance. The absolute class with which Federer saved the match points and sets, how he maintained his calm, composure throughout those tense moments....I just love it. Even during the post-match interview, each player gracefully acknowledged the greatness of each other. May be they are groomed to behave like that by their image building agencies, but does that matter? Is there something for our new generation of over-hyped cricketers to learn from this?

The past one year has been very disappointing for me in sports:-) All my favourites are on back foot. My cricket idol Dravid abdicated the captaincy, lost his place in limited overs team, was humiliated publicly in IPL....New England Patriots lost in the superbowl (NFL) to underdogs NY Giants, Federer lost Australian Open, French Open and now Wimbledon.....It is so disappointing. After the Wimbledon finals I was thinking about the match and was feeling bit low for some times!! How should it be for Federer then? When John McEnroe tried to interview Federer, he was almost about to break down and he finally did. Tears must have rolled down, but he turned his face away and went back. McEnroe ended the interview there very sensibly. It is a testimony to what emotions, stakes go into playing those matches. Money alone isn't the factor there. Have you ever invested so much of your heart into anything like that?

I was following Dravid ever since I came across an article when Dravid was 19 or 20 years old. It was essentially saying that Sachin got into Indian colours very early because he was from Mumbai. Although Dravid had a similar record in domestic cricket, he had to wait till the world cup of 1996 got over. I remember the Ranji match commentary. Kambli was replaced by Dravid in the Indian team before the start of that Ranji match. The commentator, with his own leanings for Kambli, was criticising Dravid's technique comparing that to Kambli's!!! That made me like Dravid more :-) I followed him very closed ever since. I liked him for his perseverance, elegance, substance and patience. He will hold on to one end come what may!!

This never-say-die attitude...it is real great fun. You try and try and try and try....till you are convinced that there is nothing left and that you have tried your absolute best. It makes one happy just for that effort put in!!! To be happy, I think there are two ways. One is to be laid back. You should not be perturbed by any earthly matters :-) You are one and only one in the world and there is nothing else to disturb your peace :-) Second way is to 'want' something and have a full go to get it. It could be as simple as wanting to watch a movie in a theatre of your choice. Or it could be becoming Prime minister of India :-) Once you have decided that you 'want' something then you should go for it!! I think the excitement will be in the effort that we put in rather than in the result.

It does not matter what you are or what you are not, if you want to enjoy. All that matters is that we have only one life and no one till now has escaped death :-)....So... have it or lose it :-)