Dew

We have heard this word often. Today, I felt the essence of it truly. It is a practice in Indian families to host a ritual called Shrardham in remembrance of close people who have reached God's abode. Ten years ago, the same day, we lost our grandmother. After all the initial mourning and intermediate outbursts that happen when ever we think of her, life kept us busy... I was away every year when my parents conducted the Shrardham for my grandma. This year, fortunately, I am in India and had a chance to see the proceedings and generally participate when required. The grandchildren have a small role to play in the whole ritual and it was nice to be a part of it, especially when my mind was all lost in the thoughts of the past when my grandma was around. After ten years, I mean ten long years, even as I write this post, I am unable to stop the flowing tears.. and I don't intend to... It was like that in the morning as well when the priests were at home. I walked over to the ki...

There are a number of opinions floating around in the state about the International Tamil Conference, being held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. I was not too keen on commenting about it. I always believe that there are people who surely know what they are doing and what they are getting into. Often, we may not be in a position to understand why they are doing what they are. So, although I had my own view points about this conference, rather about the large scale spending that is happening in the state for this conference, I chose not to comment. This morning, I heard an old lady remark : Wonder if someone can take me straight to the conference venue to meet the Chief Minister. I would ask him what is the significance of this conference and the money splurged in it, to the villages in Tamil Nadu where they have to run for about a kilometer's distance to fetch a pail of water. Apparently, last week there was a T.V programme that showed the plight of a specific village in Tamil Nad...

ஏழ்மையிலும் நேர்மை கோபத்திலும் பொறுமை தோல்வியிலும் விடாமுயற்சி நம்பிக்கையின்மையிலும் தைரியம் தரித்திரத்திலும் பரோபகாரம் என் பாட்டியிடம் இருந்து படித்த நினைவு. இன்றைய கால கட்டத்தில் நாம் மிக வேகமாக சொல்லும் ஒரு வார்த்தை 'முடியாது'. இந்த வரிகள் சொல்லும் ஒரே உண்மை : உன்னால் முடிந்த வரை ஒவ்வொரு விஷயத்திலும் கவனம் செலுத்து. முக்கியமான விஷயங்கள் : நேர்மை, பொறுமை,விடாமுயற்சி,தைரியம், மற்றும் பரோபகாரம் என்பன. இவை எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் முடியாது என்று மொத்தமாய் ஒரு வார்த்தையில் கூறி முடிக்க கூடாது. இதுவே கருத்து.

The early morning dawned grand and beautiful and festive for all of us. We were at a village off Palghat for my cousin's wedding in a few hours from then. We were to get ready, go to the temple ( only in Kerala you see a lot of people starting their day with temple visit as early as 5:00 A.M ), and then reach the venue at 6:30 A.M. Scene 1 : It was me cribbing about my frizzy hair. No matter what trick I tried, it just would not set the way I wanted it to. I tried my best to avoid oiling my hair that morning. I didn't want the shine of the oil in the photographs. People suggested that either I try applying some oil and get the work done or just stay there for the rest of the day setting my hair style right, while they all march off to the temple first and then to the hall. Reluctantly,,,,,,,,, very reluctantly I looked around for coconut oil. I was walking around the house to find the home-made coconut oil that the bride's party brought for us the previous night. Scene 2: ...

சித்திரமும் கைப்பழக்கம், செந்தமிழும் நாப்பழக்கம், வைத்ததொரு கல்வியும் மனப்பழக்கம், நித்தம் நடையும் நடைப்பழக்கம், நட்பும், தயையும், கொடையும் பிறவி குணம். பழக்கத்தின் சக்தியை உணர்த்தும் ஒரு கவிதை. இணையத்தில் தேடினால் முழு கவிதையும், இதன் எழுத்தாளர் விவரமும் கிடைக்கலாம். ஆனால் என் மனதில் பதிந்த இந்த வரிகளை மட்டும் எழுத தோன்றியது இன்று. எனது அருமை பாட்டியின் சொல்படி என் மனம் கவர்ந்த வரிகள் இவை மட்டுமே.