Past to Present (4) – Those Toys

We used to be a team of 4 kids, in care of Amiya Mama and Masi, when Ma-Baba brought wooden toys from Kamrup Kamakhaya(Assam) and Shillong (Meghalaya). Actually they returned back much before the planned schedule, as on night, Ma saw some not so good dream about one of her kid. Phones were not available that time as its today . But she was so pleased to find everyone fine at home.

But we children have been interested in our concerns first. So we were inpatient to see what they brought for us. Mentionable is the tall wooden toy, which was a big wooden Baba, which can be opened at waist. Opening that came out his wife. Open the Ma, then came out their son. Open the son up, then came out another younger daughter. Our joys were no bounds. After taking those out we played a lot and afterwards playing kept them carefully. We used to pack them into the parental unit – the big Papa. I specially liked the youngest little one toy, cute type! But as a whole, it was a wonder toy. We were always encouraged for local made toys of handicrafts, made up of mud, and woods.

In that age group, only this toy, along with other wooden toys, was the matter of importance to us. The rest things of her bagful of bamboo / wooden items were of no use for us that time ! These included bamboo lampshade, basket, filter and round wooden containers to keep the household items. Except most toys (blame solely we four for loosing them) and lampshade all are still decorated on our racks today.

Even afterwards, she has been always interested in collecting the local handicrafts from the places, be it be Mathura , Ooty or Gangasagar. And there are short stories associated with all her purchases  May this tendency I carried unknowingly. And I have some unknown deep interest in the local artisans of the places. Its worth to say I am not much an Archies / Hall mark gift shop crazy (unless needed desperately) as my brain is already is hand crafted forever.

Recently on my Coorg tour, I could not get five minutes to buy a single item from the array of the Tibetan handicraft shops from Golden temple Tibetan artisans. It surprises me, that many a times that regarding these things, my tastes do not suit many of my friends. I was choosing glazing carpet type wooden table mats to buy. And I couldn’t buy. I simple balanced my self with fully fake smile for my hurried friends who were not interested even a bit about those shops.

And I am determined, one day with my dear companion; I shall go there again to purchase ‘those’ table mats.

Exploring Kerala (3) – Handicrafts

Kerala is rich in Handicrafts too. My Kerala tour was really good in all terms. I was able to spend considerable time in Uravu shop for handicrafts. I bought many coconut and wood crafts to my satisfaction. At the counter, when the purchased items were arranged at one place, a small cardboard box was needed to pack them up and needed a specialWooden Handicrafts of Kerala care in return journey.

I knew my purchases, hence spending support their efforts. And to be frank, when the bill was presented to me, I requested them for making it to some round figure. Its worth to say that they reduced it a considerable themselves more than what I expected. Hope this money (including more), I shall spent for those crafts again for those wooden pair of elephants some day!

Almost every place of India has some indigenous natural products. For our local area, we have Jute of best quality for handicrafts. And Kerala is rich in coconut, wood, forest (dry) flowers and stones. Since generations lasts, they have learnt the method of processing, refining and giving them a shape of elegance.

From a whole coconut with fibers they can make a cute elephant, flower vases and so many other items. There can be whole description about the usefulness of coconut fibers for making handicrafts. The Bamboo trunk, they use for making a whole variety of table top items as well as wall hangings. But after seeing the bamboo craft, I felt NE Indian craftsmen are better in indigenous Bamboo craft work. There were whole range of spices and paintings too for sales.

When the fortunate enough people, work in sync with underprivileged ones, filling up any unnecessary gaps, with helping hands and clean soul, social economics prospers.

I enquired about the shop and they gave their visiting cards and information booklet. All these social initiative were taken by Uravu. Now with my inquisitive tendency, we discussed about their efforts. I shall like to personally see their tribal crafts processing sometime in future.

Exploring Kerala (2) – Traditional foods and drinks

All the south Indian marriages till now I attended, are simply quite different than north Indian ones, and thats true regarding lunches too.

On the auspicious occasions, there are no non-veg items on menu. Foods were cooked with minimum spices. Thick small rice ( but tasty), sambhar, rasham, chutney, mazziga and at least 8 types of unnamed (boiled type) sabzi’s, papads and of course the famous banana chips. Finishing touch was with kheer in cups and ice-cream.

I was satiated, as I expected something different than north India. As I love variety in everything of life, I was pleased to have the meal with hundreds other there on a banana leaf.

The Kerala is a state with a good traditional knowledge of Ayurveda. Everywhere the water that was served to drink as normal drinking water used to be lukewarm and coloured pink or yellow or colorless sometimes. Customary, they prepare drinking water after boiling some herbs in it and cooling them down for drinking. The herbs ( I bought it later, its red wood type actually ) make the water coloured after inducing medicinal properties, appearing as if rose leaves extracts were diluted. And there is a slight specific herbal aroma in water. Though I drink a lot of water and that herbal treated water I took more than normal litres during my Kerala tour, the effect was better than packaged ones of Bangalore.

The main point about Kerala food is coconut. Though sometimes I failed to recognised the medium of cooking but most food items are cooked in coconut oil including egg curry and non-veg items. But the best thing about food is, for sure, cooked well and tastes well ( as per taste buds of my team there). Its difficult to find any trace of aroma of coconut oil that we find in coconut hair oils.

Over the head there one can find hanging thousands of coconuts everywhere, on the roadside – one can find broken coconuts drying in sun.

The climate in mid january is as if the climate of march-april in north India. Days and nights were warmer than Bangalore. So there was abundant in number of the shops, selling salt water boiled amla, carrot, mango, ber, anaras in glass pet jars. People buy them in considerable amount. For me two amlas were more than enough for my sensitive tooth. And that was a natural way for them to beat the heat in summers, I think !

Cofee and tea is mostly served unfiltered in one glass with an additional glass to pour and sip. The black coffee / tea many people prefer to sip after the dinner.

Exploring Kerala (1) – A traditional marriage

It was the occasion of our colleague Js’s marriage in her Kerala village on 13 January,2007. Month back, she wished to fix the marriage date specially on Saturday for our convenience of reaching there. On Friday night, after hectic office work, we 9 friends started off on a luxury bus for Kerala to attend her marriage on Saturday noon.

In morning, as expected, I really reached the land of coconuts.And our friend’s home was located on a small hill highland surrounded by acres of coconut trees, banana bushes, and fully grown pepper twigs. On the occasion of marriage, a typical Kerala house of her’s , looked magnificent with blue tents, close circuit TVs and a small make-shift mandap in aangan. All ladies hairs were full of white flowers. Gold jewellery, they wear abundantly with feminine elegance. Its was really bright when it comes about decorating bride ! I think (unlike north indian marriages, when the priorities distributes equally among other expects too) its the largest part of expense here, I am sure. Gents wore the traditional dresses.

Apart from in-home rituals of females, outside she got the blessings of grandfather. Barat( again a little late 🙁 , reached as a no frills mass of approx hundred ( no band-party, dances or decorated cars). There was a simple walking entry of groom on the gate. ‘Only he’ was welcomed after washing feet, traditional tilak and with a mala. Rest followed. There was spreading of flower petals and sprinkling of rose water by younger girls.

Then he was taken staight to mandap. And a short documentary was to be made.

The hardly 3o minutes marriage of Hindu Kerala tradition was really nice one ( for couple’s and arranger’s point of view 🙂 ) and only to the points of importance, unlike north Indian marriages,Kerala Hindu Marriage - Mandap which is nothing less than endurance test ( of something !! ) .

A small puja was finished off by pandit ji alone at the mandap before the marriage. The quality of puja performed was really good and he followed the processes well. At the time of marriage, the pair was blessed by pandit ji, parents, and everything including kanyadan was done in standing posture only. Probably the mother plays the vital role in Kerala vivaha. She hold the both hands of bride standing from behind and did some rituals of marriage. Worth to note that in that small mandap, at this moment, someone moved away the big diyas away from the hanging silk aanchals.

Of course pandit ji’s universal fees was there, but he was a good pandit ji, settled for really less compared to our sidepandit ji’s ! Then just after varmala was performed. Without following long mantras within short time came the moment of capturing the souls with permanent colors. First the bride applied yellow small tilak on groom’s forehead and groom put with small vermilion (sindoor) on the maang. The whole world got captured within two souls and their four eyes were evident of the moment.

And at last three pheras around mandap . And finally a traditional Kerala Hindu marriage was complete.

The photo session started with the relatives and us. The lunch followed in the other pandal.

Weekends in Kerala !

Soft / hard work for long hours ! Party (my type 🙂 ) harder and and that too for longer hours !

But how to do that this time! Grab an unique chance for longer trips to meet my second love, the rivers and oceans,  in Kerala,  God’s own country 🙂 Hope to see some of His leisurely finished artistic works there.

Thanks a lot , J for your wholehearted invitation.

নব প্রদীপ

অতীত জীবন ছায়া হারা,
ডাকো আমাকে, বিজন ছায়ায়,
এসো কাছে, সেই পাখির বাসায় ।

দিয়ো তোমার, দুঃখসূখের গান।
আড়াল করো, আঁচল দিয়ে,
তোমার – আমার, নব প্রদীপ, মন প্রান ।

Roman transcription:
(Atit Jiwon chhaya hara,
Dako aamake, bijon (peaceful) chhayay,
Eso kachhe, sei pakhir basay.

Diyo amay, dukhosukher gan,
Aaral karo ( protect / take care), aanchal diye,
Tomar – amar , nav pradeep , mano pran.)

Past to Present – (3) Learning Curves

It was the day, when I was promoted to Mama. Ma became Nani, and she grew older but in reality she found a new partner for cheers 🙂 .

I reached on time to the Mata Gurji Medical College Hospital from Siliguri, as I heard Didi was admitted there. And God’s clock ran faster than all human predictions! It was the first time, when I saw a newborn baby of less than one hour. A new born baby looks just like pink tiny body, to whom even touching may give a another kind of sensation. As my hands were not washed (with Dettol soap, as the TV commercials shows :), I didn’t touched the baby. As the world welcomed him, the baby too welcomed me with little open eyes and we shared something unknown.

My joys had no bounds for the newly welcomed guest for our home. For a person like me, these special events, brings up whole circle of turbulent thoughts.

For the first time, the first thing I imagined – Was I also appeared as the same tiny soul on earth in front of my elders ? Though this appears as the most trivial thought one may have, but imagining myself in the same tiny body, gave me a different feelings altogether. In evening hours, when the baby was resting with open eyes, Ma told me pick up the baby as I really wanted to ‘feel’ the baby. Though I did not have confidence to pick the tiny pink newborn baby up, I did so, on being insisted by Ma. With all the cushions of the baby ( I added one more thick towel 😀 ), I picked the baby up, softly.

As my joys were no bounds , I slowly made dance movements with my favourite devotional tunes cuddling the baby into my chest. It was the start of a very auspicious relation – of Mama – Bhanja. In our area, for many auspicious occasions, starting good works with this pair is said to be bringing good omens. And the baby seemed to understood everything and was perfectly calm on my lap. And even now at his naughty age of 4th year, Mridu (मृदु) in my company, turns out as – I am a good boy – automatically without any extra effort. Of course with a wish that he may enjoy a game on his fav compu ( laptop).

And on that day I got immersed into another array of thoughts. These ranged from the duties and sense of thankfulness of a grown up infant (that’s me) with my duties towards my elders – who cared for us some day and spent days and nights. How much dreams for our future and well being they must have carried in their eyes while trying to get us asleep! How much care they took for us when the infant grows up so much of precautions! The precautions ranges widely, slipping down from bed, small cuts, trying to eat everything including insects and emotional needs ! The list is endless…

Why one takes care for the small babies so much? While giving them selfless love, they never wish for money, fame or anything else. But of course they wish for a token of love and faith, in return back, when they grow up, even if the innocence diminishes with the human growth. How they may feel, when instead of treating them with love they are not given even the basic human treatment ?

Its worth(less) to mention about some persons, who on being shared these feelings, remarked “What so special, when every parents have to do their duties !! ” I was shocked and my feelings got buried deep.

Though it’s my practical experience that when the elder people especially old age are given a really good treatment, they turn out as child again. (A post pending here on our mausi caretaker- “Khairun’s Ma”)

Many things in our life, we can’t feel with ‘lectured words’ unless we undergo same situation to feel the same. Finding the new born baby in my lap, I was immersed with great sense of unpaid gratefulness. That day as Ma was sitting there, I put my head on her lap, recalling, what she might had done for us. We were again on the long enriching gossips, and her concluding remark was- “Ekhon kothai bujhechis Babu ! somoy aaschte jabe, aaro bujhbi. Kintu aajke bujhte paris, sei tai onek !! ( Babu (as she calls me) , when could you have understood all the things ! As the time will pass by, you will learn much more. And for now it’s satisfying that, today you can feel these things !! )

These mothers are always correct. Still I have to learn, and really a lot, I think.

Thanks a lot, for all the learning curves, paved by you, for us.

I can’t be richer more.

Walking on the road,
Alone, with myself.
I found lost somewhere,
In the big crowd,
My house lost,
In the concrete jungle.
My qualifications,
Still seemed disqualified.

Still I want get identified,
for my own, for my unique soul,
that lives in the elemental body.
And the identity comes,
When people identify me,
away from the crowd.
People calls me up,
among the mass.

And they know me,
only when I am useful to them.

I have only thing to give ,
Without spending a penny.
Just a well wish and care for them,
With my smile – reproduced,
Mostly my own, rest borrowed.
But it means to them – a lot.

I give them the smiles,
From my dry lips,
Sometimes making them wet
with my tongue.

And I have to give,
As they are poor,
Really poor, as most of us.
Many’s rich smiles ,
covered with dust,
on the face of ego.
Many just ignorant of,
Their richness gifted.
But they are hungry,
For a love,
They are thirsty,
For a love.
They need you,
Above the physical body.

I used to be poor.
Just like all, with me,
The poor fellow,
Shy and timid,
Now richer daily with friends,
With all the capitals spent,
Much more harvesting,
Day by day, all the assets,
With many of the smiles,
Returned back.
With all the friends,
Unwilling to leave.
And they care me,
And they love me,
From bottom of their heart,
They expect only a piece of love.
They shall be getting forever.

I can’t be richer more.
Now, I walk reposed on streets.

আমার তুমি

আজি প্রেমের মাঝখানি,
আমার গানে তুমি, তাহার প্রানে তুমি ।
আজি লুকানে তুমি, দেখানো তুমি ।

আজি আকাসে তুমি, বাতাসে তুমি,
সেই আশারে আষাঢ়ে তুমি, স্রাবনে তুমি,
দেখি -এখানে তুমি, সেখানে তুমি ,
আজি হাঁসি তুমি,নয়নজলে তুমি,
আজি জাগরনে তুমি, সয়নে তুমি,
আমার বিরাম তুমি,আমার গতি তুমি ।

তোমার মাঝে হারা পথিক,
আমি কোথায আজি,
হে আমার প্রিয়, জানি না আমি ।

P.S. Please install unicode fonts, e.g. Vrinda (Bengali) to read the text.