Sunday, July 31, 2016

Meghama.... Meghama.... - An Article

An old article I wrote about clouds.
There are verses written by many poets including SriSri (Srirangam Srinivasa Rao)

మేఘమా... మేఘమా...

(The photograph is by Your's sincerely. It is really big. Use it as wall paper if you like it!)

ఆషాఢస్య ప్రథమ దివసే మేఘమాశ్లిష్ఠ సానుం
వప్రక్రీడా పరిణత గజ ప్రేక్షణీయం దదర్శ

కాళిదాస మహాకవి తన కావ్యాన్ని ఆషాఢమేఘం గురించిన వర్ణనతోనే మొదలు పెట్టాడు. మేఘమంటే మనవారికి ఎంతటి గౌరవం. ఎంతటి ఆప్యాయత. ప్రేమ సందేశాలందించే సంధానకర్తగా మేఘాన్ని చూడ గలిగిన ఘనత మనవారికే చెల్లు!

మేఘాలు, వర్షాలుఇవి రెండు లేనిదే భరతవర్షం మొత్తం మీద హర్షం లేదు. మనవారు, వానల్లు కురవాలి వానదేవుడా, వరిచేలు పండాలి వానదేవుడా అన్నారే గానీ ఎప్పుడూ రెయిన్ రెయిన్ గో ఎవే అనలేదుగదా! వర్షం తోడిదే జీవనం. జీవనం అనే మాటకు అందుకే నీరు అనే అర్థం కూడా ఇచ్చుకున్నారు. ఇంతకూ కాళిదాసు ఆషాఢమేఘాన్ని దర్శించాడు. అతను ఉజ్జయిని వాడుగదా అదే దక్షిణానయితే, బరువయిన వర్ష మేఘాలు జ్యేష్ఠంలోనే మొదలవుతాయి. ఋతుపవనాలు దక్షిణాన ముందు వస్తాయిగదా!

కావ్యం అన్న తర్వాత ఋతు వర్ణనం లేకుండా ఉండగూడదు. అందరికీ హర్షాన్ని పంచే వర్షాన్ని గురించి, కవులు మరింత ఆసక్తితో పద్యాలు రాసుకున్నారు. ఒక్క కావ్యాలలోనే కాదు, చేతనయిన ప్రతిచోటా మేఘాలను గురించి చెప్పుకున్నారు. కాళిదాసుకు వర్షమేఘాలతో కూడిన సానువులు ఏనుగుల వలె కనిపించాయి. ఇంకొకరికి ఇంకొక లాగ కనిపించాయి.

వరాహపురాణంలో ఒకచోట మేఘాల ప్రసక్తి ఉంది. శివకేశవుల అభేదం చూపించాలి. వారిరువురి మధ్యనగల మైత్రిని నిరూపించాలి. రుద్రుడు నారాయణున్ని నాకు వాహనంగా ఉండగూడదా అన్నాడట. సరేనని విష్ణువు మేఘాల తేజిగా మారాడట. ఆ వాహనం ఎట్లున్నది?

ఘనగర్జల్ సకిలింత లాశ్రిత బలాకాల్ తెల్ల జల్లుల్ సకం
పన శంపాలతికల్ పసిండి సగతుల్ మాహేంద్ర చాపంబు మో
హన రత్నంబుల వాగెత్రాడు వడగండ్లా స్వస్రవత్ఫేనమై
తనరం దజ్జలదంబు కైరడిగముల్ ధారావిహారంబులన్

మేఘమనే గుర్రానికి గర్జనలే సకిలింతలు, మెరుపులు ఇంద్రధనుస్సులు జీను, కళ్లెం. వడగళ్లు నోటిలోని నురుగట.

మేఘం కేవలం ప్రేమ సందేశాలకు, మంచి ఉపమానాలకు మాత్రమే కాదు, శక్తికి, బలానికి కూడా ప్రతీక.

ఒక సమయమందు ప్రబల సంయుక్తి నెనసి,
తీక్షణ శక్తులతో సముద్రిక్త విలయ
భీషణ శతఘ్నికా వినిర్ఘోష సదృశ
సింహనాదంబొనర్చుచు, స్థిర నిరంత
వారిధారల గురియించు వైభవంబు
నీ ప్రభావముగాదె, నీ నియతిగాదె
నీవు మహిత ప్రభా సమన్వితవు గాదె

ఈ కవనం ఎవరిదో కనుగొనగలరా? శ్రీరంగం శ్రీనివాసరావనే శ్రీశ్రీ గారి పద్యాలివి.

భానునంతటి భాస్వత్ప్రభావయుతుని
మరుగు పరుతు వనాయాస కర నిరూఢి

అంటూ ఆయన మేఘాన్ని పొగిడారు.

చంచల మనస్కత బరిభ్రమించు నేను
నిన్ను బోలితి గాని యత్యున్నత ప్రభావ
సంపన్నరూఢ వైభవములందు
నిన్నుబోలిన ధన్యుండనే...  అన్నారాయన.

మేఘం నుండి వర్షం. బయట చితచితగానున్నది, బయట లసలసగానున్నది అంటారు విశ్వనాథ సత్యనారాయణ గారు ఒకచోట. ఆ చితచిత వర్షాలెక్కడికి పోయినాయో తెలియదు. లేని చోట చుక్కకూడా లేదు. ఉన్న చోట వరదలు. ఎడతెరిపి లేకుండా పడే వానలెలాగుంటాయి?

మిగుల జగంబు బగ్గడిల మించె దదుద్ధత వృష్ఠి యద్భుతం
బగుచు ఘనాఘనౌఘ సమదగ్ర నిరర్గళ ఘర్ఘరార్భటీ
లగన ఘనోచ్ఛల జ్జల ఝళంఝళ నిర్జర జర్జరీ భవ
న్నగ విగలచ్ఛిలా ఘనఘనాఘన ఘోషణ భీషణంబుగన్

అర్థం మాట అటుంచి, ఈ పద్యం ఒక్క గుక్కలో చదివి పూర్తి చేస్తే, పెద్ద వర్షం కురిసి ఆగినట్టు లేదూ. వర్షం సన్నని తుంపరలతో మొదలవుతుంది. ఆ తరువాత మెరుపులు, ఉరుములు, జడివాన గగ్గోలయి, జగము బగ్గడిలుతుంది. ఏమయి పోయినాయీ వర్షాలు? ఎక్కడికి పోయినాయీ మేఘాలు? ఈ పద్యం వ్రాసిన ప్రాచీన కవి ఎవరో (నాకు) తెలియదు.

గొడుగు లేకుండా బయలుదేరితే, తడిసి మోపెడవుతుంది. పొరపాటున గొడుగు తీసుకెళితే, మోత బరువవుతుంది, కృష్ణదేవరాయలు ఆనాటి వర్షం వల్ల వంటకు కష్టపడే ఇల్లాలి గురించి ఎంత కమ్మని పద్యం రాశాడు?

ఇల్లిల్లు దిరిగ నొక్కింతబ్బు శిఖి, యబ్బెనేనింటిలో బూరియిడి విసరక
రాజదు, రాజిన రవులుకో ల్వాసాల గాని కల్గదు, మరిదాన గలిగె
నేని, గూడగుట మందైన బెన్పొప్ప సుఖభుక్తి సేకూరదా భుక్తి కిడన
బ్రాగ్భోక్తలకె తీరు, బహునాన్నము, దీరనారులకొదవు బునఃప్రయత్న
మాజ్యపట ముఖ్య లయమెన్న రాలయాంగ
దారులయమెన్న రంతిక కారజనిక
పచన నాంధో గృహిణి రామి బడుక మరుడు
వెడవెడనె యార్ప నొగిలి రజ్జడిని గృహులు

ఆ జడి (అజ్జడి) వాన మొదలయిందంటే, నిప్పులు దొరకవు. దొరికినా రాజుకోవు. రాజినా రగులుకునేవి ఆశలే గాని మంటలు కావు. వంటయినా సరే, పొగ వల్ల సుఖంగా భోంచేయడానికి ఉండదు. తిన్నా, ముందు తిన్నవారికే కూరలయి పోతాయి. ఇక ఆడవాళ్లు మరీ నూనెగుడ్డలు, ఇంటి వాసాలు పొయ్యిలో పెట్టి, నానా తంటాలు పడుతుంటే, తిని పడుకున్న గృహమేధి, ఇంకా రావేమిటంటాడు.
రాయలవారు రాజభవనంలో ఉండి రాసిన కవితలా ఇవి? పల్లెటూరి జనజీవితంలోకి ఎంతగా దూసుకుపోతే, ఈ సంగతులన్నీ తెలియాలి!
ఇప్పుడిలాగుంది కానీ, కొన్ని సంవత్సరాల క్రితం కూడా వాన పడిందంటే పల్లెలో, సంగతి అచ్చం రాయల వారి పద్యమే కదా!

మనది వర్షాధార ఆర్థిక వ్యవస్థ. అందుకే అలనాటి నుండి మనవారు వర్షాలను, మేఘాలను అంతగా ఆదరిస్తున్నారు. మధ్యలో ఏం లోపమయిందో గానీ, మేఘాలకు మాత్రం మనమీద కనికరం లేకుండా పోతున్నది. 

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Sherlock Holmes in Telugu

I am proud to present four books of Sherlock Holmes series in Telugu.
I translated them as a tribute to my father.
The books already have created some ripples.
Not because of me though!
Holmes is unparalleled!

Here you go with a link to see and buy the books.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Old Humor

A Cartoon by Talisetti Rama Rao,

name he gave to the cartoon is Vadagalla Vana, rain with hail!

The above cartoon and the joke are from a magazine Anandavani 1950!

Company manager came into the parcel room on some work. A boy was sitting there on a box smoking beedi and and whistling. 

Manager was angry and asked him "What is your salary?"

"Twenty five rupees Sir," said the boy after saluting.

"Here, Take this twenty five, You don't have to come to work any longer" said the manager. Boy took the money.

later, manager went to his room, asked for the Head Clerk and inquired about the boy.

"Sir, He is working in another company. He came to deliver a parcel" said the clerk.

Got it?

Monday, July 18, 2016

Volumetric Painting

(Download and use it as wall paper if you like!)

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Invention - Innovation







Shadow - Folk Story

Rabbit lived alone in his tipi—alone except for his grandmother. Every morning Rabbit went out to hunt with his bow and arrows and always someone long and black followed his footstep. Whenever Rabbit looked back, the long black one was there. Rabbit could not shake him. It seemed as if he were stuck to Rabbit’s heels.

Rabbit was scared of whoever was following. He said to himself: “I will get up very early, before that long, black fellow.” But it was no use. The stranger kept dogging his trail. This went on day after day. Rabbit was angry. One evening, after he came home, he made himself a snare out of his bowstring.
“Why are you doing this?” his grandmother asked.

“Because someone is always following me,” Rabbit answered. “I am fed up with this. I will trap him.” He put the snare along his footprints.

In the morning, when Rabbit checked his snare, he saw that he had caught something. It was blindingly bright and very hot. He ran back to his tipi. “Grandmother,” he said, “I have caught something terribly bright and scorching. I am afraid of it. But I want to get my bowstring back.” He took his knife and went to where his snare was.

The thing he had caught in his trap was very angry. It shouted: “You no-good fellow, how dare you set a snare for me? Cut me loose at once or I’ll burn you to ashes!”

Rabbit wanted to obey but was afraid to come too near. The thing was so hot that already the grass around it was smoldering. “Who are you?” Rabbit asked.

“They call me Sun,” the glowing thing answered. “Why do you keep standing there with your mouth open? Miserable oaf, use your knife to cut me loose. Hurry!”

Rabbit crept near to the thing on his belly, stretching his arm, holding the knife as far out as he could. Quickly he cut the bowstring. At once Sun rose into the sky and lit up the world. Of course, the somebody who had followed his footsteps had been his own shadow. Coming so near to Sun, Rabbit had been burned between his shoulder blades. Ever since then he has a dark, reddish spot there.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Bapu Cartoon 1

With apologies to the Legend!

Do we have to add commentary?

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Hazrat Inayat Khan - Sufi - Word was God

The Power of The Word

We find in the Bible the words:‘In the beginning was the word, and the word was God,’ and we also find that the word is light, and that when that light dawned the whole creation manifested.

These are not only religious verses; to the mystic or seer the deepest revelation is contained in them.

Here is a thought, which may be pondered over for years, each time with fresh inspiration. It teaches that the first sign of life that manifested was the audible expression or sound: that is the word. When we compare this interpretation with the Vedanta philosophy, we find that the two are identical. All down the ages the Yogis and seers of India have worshipped the WordGod, or Sound-God, and around that idea is centered all the mysticism of sound or utterance. Not alone among Hindus, but among the seers of the Semitic, the Hebraic races the great importance of the word was recognized. The sacred name, the sacred word, were always esteemed in the Jewish religion. Also in Islam, that great religion whose mysticism the West is only beginning to discover, one finds the doctrine of Ismahism which,translated,isthe‘doctrineofthemysticalword’.TheZoroastrians,whohadtheir religion given to them long before the time of Buddha or Christ, and who have lost many of their teachings through the changes of time and conditions, have yet always preserved the sacred words. Sanskrit is now considered a dead language –but in the Indian meditations called Yoga, Sanskrit words are still used because of the power of sound and vibration that is contained in them The deeper we dive into the mystery of life the more we find that its whole secret is hidden in what we call words.

All occult science, all mystical practices are based upon the science of word or sound. Man is a mystery in all aspects of his being, not only in mind and soul, but also in that organism which he calls his body. It is his body, of which the Sufis say that it is the temple of God. This is not a mere saying or belief, for if man studies his body from the mystical point of view, he will find it to be much more subtle and for-reaching, and much more capable of doing, understanding and feeling, than he believes it to be. There are faculties of the soul which express themselves through certain centers in the body of man. As there are parts of lands to which water never reaches –and therefore they never become fertile soil –so it is with these centers when the breath never reaches them. They are intuitive, they are full of peace and balance, they are the centers illumination, yet never have they been awakened, for man has breathed only in those parts of his body by which he can eat, and live, and perform action. He is only half alive, if his existence is compared with the fullness of life that can be obtained by spiritual development. It may be compared to living in a great town and not knowing that there are many beautiful things that one has never seen.

As there are many people who travel to distant hands and do not know their own country, so it is with man. He is interested in all that brings beauty and joy, and yet does not know the source of all such things in himself. Man breathes, but he does not breathe rightly. As the rain falls on the ground and matures little plants and makes the soil fertile, so the breath, the essence of all energy, falls as a rain on all parts of the body. This also happen in the case of the mind, but man cannot even perceive that part of the breath that quickens the mind; only that felt in the body is perceptible, and to the average man it is not even perceptible in the body. He knows nothing of it, except what appears in the form of inhalation and exhalation through the nostrils. It is this, alone which is generally meant when man speaks of breath. When we study the science of breath, the first thing we notice is that breath is audible; it is a word in itself, for what we cal a word is only a more pronounced utterance of breath fashioned by the mouth and tongue. In the capacity of the mouth breath becomes voice, andthereforetheoriginalconditionofawordisbreath.Thereforeifwesaid:‘First was the breath’,it would be the same as saying;‘In the beginning was the word' 

Water - Some facts

నీరు - విశేషాలు

* మానవ శరీరంలో ఎక్కువ శాతం నీరే ఉంటుంది. యుక్తవయసుగల స్ర్తి, పురుషుల శరీరంలో శరీరం బరువులో 55 శాతం, 60 శాతం నీరు ఉంటుంది. అమ్మాయిల శరీరంలో కొవ్వు పదార్థం ఎక్కువ గనుక కొంత నీరు తక్కువగా ఉంటుంది.

* నీటి శాతం: స్ర్తిలు 55 శాతం పురుషులు 60 శాతం, శిశువులు 78 శాతం, క్రీడాకారులు 60-65 శాతం.

* ఒక్క టెన్నిస్ క్రీడాకారుని శరీరం నుంచి గంటకు 10 నుంచి 11 కప్పులు చెమట రావడంలో వింత లేదు!

* నీరు తాగకుండా ఒక మనిషి 7రోజులవరకు బతకవచ్చునంటున్నారు.
* తిండి లేకుండా నెల రోజులు కూడా మనం ఉండగలుగుతాము.
* మనిషి మెదడు 70 శాతం నీటితోనే నిండి ఉంటుంది. అంటే నీరు వేరుగా మాత్రం ఉండదు మరి!

* ఎండ బాగా ఉండే రోజున ఒంటె 53 గాలన్ల నీరు తాగగలుగుతుంది.
* ఒంటె తాగిన నీరు దాని రక్తంలో ఉంటుంది. మూపురంలో మాత్రం కాదు.

వాన నీటి చుక్కలు 2-3 మి.మీ దాకా ఉంటాయి. గాలి తాకిడి ఎక్కువయితే అవి చిన్న చుక్కలుగా విడిపోతాయి.

* ఈ ప్రపంచంలో 88.4 కోట్లమందికి తాగడానికి మంచినీరు అందడంలేదు!

* వ్యర్థం: మీ ఇంట్లోగానీ, మరోచోటగానీ కుళాయి నుంచి సెకండుకు ఒక చుక్క ప్రకారం నీరు లీక్ అవుతున్నదనుకోండి. ఒక సంవత్సరంలో 2,642 గాలన్ల నీరు వ్యర్థంగా పోతుంది!

Monday, July 11, 2016

A Story Samaramu-Shanti

సమరము – శాంతి

పక్కింట్లోకి కిరాయకు వచ్చిన వాండ్లు మంచి మనుషుల వోలెనే ఉన్నరు.
పలుకరించుకున్నము. ఆడివాండ్లు నిలవడి గోడ మీదినుంచి మాట్లాడుకున్నరు.
మూడు నెలలయింతర్వాత ఆమె తాళంచేతులు ఇచ్చింది. మేము గూడ ఇచ్చినము.
అప్పుడామె ఒక కుక్కను దెచ్చింది. సింహమంత ఉన్నదది.
దాన్ని సంభాళించాలంటె శేరు దినాలె.
ఆమె మాత్రం దానికి పేరుబెట్టి కుక్కబిస్కట్లుబెట్టి పెంచుతున్నది.
దానికి పుట్టినదినం గూడ చేసింది.
ఆ కుక్క సంగతి మాత్రం పట్టరాకుండ ఉన్నది.
అది దయ్యం మాదిరి ఇల్లిల్లు దిరుగుతుంది. గుంతలు దోడుతుంది.
పిల్లులను దరుముతుంది.
చెట్లను జూచిగూడ మొరుగుతుంది.
ఎంతయినా పక్కింటి వాండ్లయిరి. మేము ఓర్చుకుంటున్నము.
కుక్క రెచ్చిపొయ్యింది. మా తలవాకిట్లో పెంటజేసింది.
నేను దాన్ని ప్లాస్టిక్ సంచిలోకి ఎత్తి వాండ్లింటి ముందర పడేసిన.
మల్తనాడు మా తాళంచేతులు తలుపు కిందినించి మా ఇంట్లోకి వచ్చేసినయి.
తర్వాత వాండ్లింటి చెత్త మా చెట్ల నిండ వడింది.
ఎండలొచ్చినయి. అందరికి తిక్క లేచినట్టుగ ఉన్నది.
కుక్క గుంతలు దవ్వుతనే ఉల్లది.
పక్కింట్లో సందడి బాగ ఎక్కువయింది.
కుక్క మురికిలో దొర్లి, మా యింట్లోకి వచ్చి, మొత్తమంత గత్తర జేసింది.
ఆమెనేమో కన్న చెత్తంత మా యింటి ముందర పారేస్తున్నది.
ఒకనాడు ఇంటి ముందర లారీ వచ్చి నిలవడింది.
పక్కింట్లోకి కొత్తవాండ్లు వచ్చినరు.
వాండ్ల దగ్గర కూడ కుక్క ఉన్నది.
కాని, మొరుగదు.
రెండు వారాలు గడిచినయి.
నేను ఒకనాడు తిరుగుతుంటే కుక్క కనవడ్డది.
అది ఇంటి ముందర కాళ్లు బారజాపి పడి ఉన్నది.
నేను కొంచం దగ్గరికి వొయ్యిన.
మియ్యావ్ అన్న.
కుక్క ఒక్కసారి మొరుగుకుంట లేచి నిలవడింది.


Friday, July 8, 2016

Lake - Solzhenitsyn

This is the Telugu translation of a Prose-Poem by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Today I don't have to talk about this legends writings.
He is simply Great!

ఈ సరస్సు గురించి ఎవ్వరూ రాయరు. దాన్ని గురించి అందరూ గుసగుసగా మాట్లాడుకుంటారు. అదేదో మంత్రాల కోట మార్గాలవలె అక్కడికి వెళ్లే ప్రతిదారి మీదా ‘రావద్దు’ అంటూ రాసి ఉంటుంది. సూటిగా ఒక్కమాటలో నిషేధం చెపుతారు. 

మనిషిగాని, మృగంగానీ, ఆ మాటను దాటడానికి లేదు. వెనక్కు తిరగవసిందే. ఆ మాటను అక్కడ రాసిపెట్టింది నేల మీద పుట్టిన శక్తులే. దాన్ని దాటి ఎవ్వరూ పోకూడదు, నడవకూడదు, పాక కూడదు కనీసం ఎగరకూడదు. 

విచ్చుకత్తులతో, పిస్తోళ్లతో పహారాదారులు దారిపక్కన చెట్ల తోపులో నక్కి చూస్తుంటారు. 

సరస్సుకు దారి వెతుకుతూ, నీవా నిశ్శబ్దపు అడవి చుట్టూ ప్రదక్షిణాలుగా తిరగవచ్చు. కానీ, నీకెవరూ కనిపించరు. అడగడానికి ఎవరూ ఉండరు. అవునుమరి, ఆ అడవిలోకి ఎవరూ పోనే పోరు. వాళ్లందరినీ భయపెట్టి తరిమేశారు. ఒకానొక మధ్యాహ్నం వర్షం కురుస్తూంటే, పశువుల దారిలో ధైర్యంగా ముందుకు సాగడానికి నీకు అవకాశం దొరుకుతుంది. దూరంగా ఎక్కడో ఆవు మెడలోని గంట చప్పుడు మందంగా వినిపిస్తుంది. కంటపడిన మొదటి క్షణం నుంచి చెట్ల తోపుల మధ్యన విస్తృతంగా మెరుస్తున్న ఆ దృశ్యం నిన్ను ఆకట్టుకుంటుంది. ఆ గట్ల వద్దకు చేరకముందే బతుకంతా అది నీకు గుర్తుండిపోతుందన్న నమ్మకం కలుగుతుంది. 

సరస్సు ఎవరో వృత్తలేఖినితో గీసి తయారుచేసినంత గుండ్రంగా ఉంటుంది. నీవు ఒకవేపున ఉండి అరిస్తే, కానీ అక్కడ నీవు అరవకూడదు, అందరికీ వినిపిస్తుంది, అటుపక్కకు కేవలం కొంచెం చప్పుడు మాత్రమే చేరుకుంటుంది. అంత దూరం ఉంటుంది అవతలి గట్టు. సరస్సు పక్కనంతా అడవి పరుచుకుని ఉంటుంది. అంతులేని వరుసల్లో ఒకదాని వెంట ఒకటిగా చెట్లు దట్టంగా చుట్టుకుని ఉంటాయి. అందులోనుంచి ముందుకు సాగి నీటి అంచులకు చేరుకుంటావు. ఆంక్షలు పెట్టిన ఆ తీరాలన్నింటినీ చూడగలుగుతావు. 

ఇక్కడొక పసుపు ఇసుక పర్ర, అక్కడొక రీడ్‌ పొదల గుంపు, మరోచోట గాలిలో కదలాడుతున్న గడ్డి. నీళ్లు చదునుగా ఉంటాయి, ప్రశాంతంగా కదలకుండా ఉంటాయి. గట్టు మీద తుప్పలు కాక, అడుగు కనిపించని నీళ్లలో నుంచి మెరుపేదో వస్తూ ఉంటుంది. 

రహస్యమయిన అడవిలో రహస్యమయిన సరస్సు. నీళ్లు పైకి చూస్తుంటాయి. ఆకాశం కిందకు చూస్తుంటుంది. ఆ అడవికాక, మరొక ప్రపంచం ఉంటేగింటే అది అక్కడ తెలియదు, కంటికి కనిపించదు. అది ఉన్నాసరే, దానికి అక్కడ చోటు లేదు. 

కలకాలంగా ఉండిపోవడానికి అది సరయినచోటు. ప్రకృతిలో ఒకరుగా బతకడానికి తగిన చోటు. ఉత్తేజంగా ఉండ డానికి కావలసిన చోటు. 
కానీ, అది కుదరదు. ఒక దుర్మార్గుడు, మెల్లకంటి మహాక్రూరుడు సరస్సును తనది అంటాడు. అదే వాని ఇల్లు, అదే వాని స్నాన గృహం. వాని సంతతి దుర్మార్గులంతా అక్కడ చేపలు పడతారు. వాని బోటునుంచి బాతులను వేటాడుతారు.  ముందు నీటి మీద ఒక నీలం పొగమేఘం కనిపిస్తుంది. మరుక్షణం దూరంగా ధ్వని వినిస్తుంది.

అడవికి ఆవల దూరంగా జనం చమటోడ్చి కష్టపడతారు. ఇక్కడికి వచ్చే దారులన్నీ మూసి ఉంటాయి. లేకుంటే వారు దూరి వస్తారు. ఇక్కడ ఉండే చేపలు, జంతువులన్నీ దుర్మార్గుని ఆనందం కొరకే! ఇక్కడెవరో మంటలు పెట్టిన ఆనవాళ్లున్నాయి. కానీ, మంటలను ఆర్పేసారు. మనుషులను తరిమేశారు. 

ప్రియమయిన ఏకాకి సరస్సు! అదే నా స్వంత దేశం! 

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Palagummi Padmaraju - Story

These days, I am busy with writing and publishing books.
In the last six months I brought out at least 9 books, both small and big.
For some time , I have almost forgot about my blog, really!

After a long time, I am posting a translated story here.
It is by the veteran writer Palagummi Padmaraju, whose centenary was celebrated recently.

Translation of course is by yours' truly.

You may leave your remarks about the story and the translation please!

Viyyanna tata’s demise

No one ever thought that our Viyyanna tata will die like this at last.  Whatever he does,  he never does it like all the others. But he died like all the others. By the time grandfather died, our real grandfather was missing from him. Or he died a few hours before that. Infact, we all firmly believed that our tata would never die like this.

Ratti – the toddy tapper woman who is tata’s keep – got up early that morning and went to the fields for milking the cows. By the time she came back, it was nearing seven o clock. As there were no signs of tata being got up, she pushed the door and entered vexing.  At the same time I was walking towards the canal bund to answer nature’s call. From inside, Ratti’s angry voice was audible.
‘Get up! What sleep, its already late’

‘The same everyday, still  asleep….’

Ratti’s voice changed.  ‘Tata!.... Tata! Ta…’  She made a sound that never heard before. Pushing the door I also entered.

Ratti went blank on seeing me. ‘Ta….ta!”

Ratti did not cry, but she did as much as crying. In fact, Ratti never cries. She never laughed and never even cried also.  Even in very happy situations she never laughed.  Even when very important people passed away, she did not weep even. That does not mean either that our tata is not a very important person, and Ratti has no such love lost for tata.

Since I said tata, a grandfather you must have all got confused. If it comes to that he is a grandfather for everyone. Who ever imagines a tata in their own way, tata appears like that to them. He is a definition for the class of tatas or grandfathers. Everyone knows him only as a tata. No one knows with what other name one should address him. Even Rati used to call him tata.

In fact it is fifteen years, since our  tata started dying. He kept on dying at least once a year. But in order to die again the next year, he kept living. And all the villagers were disgusted that he would never die.  This time however, he died not to live again.

Vinanna tata however much did not believe in living, had never believed in death too. No one knows nothing about death. About living, everyone knows a bit or more. So instead of dying the unknown death, it’s better to live the known life was his argument. If death is better why not all this world die all at once?

It was only a few days back, that all our villagers started considering him a dangerous man.
Usually elders in the villages would keep women. Even if  all those who maintain keeps or not gentlemen, all gentlemen would have keeps. It’s a kind of status indication. But in our village, one gentleman never had a keep. Though he is not highly educated, since all his relatives in other places were all well-educated, he would know the worldly things much better than all the others. He would read the paper daily and comments for the benefit of village elders. Since he never had a keep all the village elders accepted his specialty.  About the inner purport of the rituals like widow remarriage – though he never got his widowed daughter married again- now and then he would explain in his lectures. About many other things, he would discuss and explain. Even with knowledge of all such things, that he never performed remarriage of his daughter, was the reason for the respect the entire village had in him. There is another reason - that there could be liberty to certain extent in man woman relations, that it is not a sin to keep a keep, however much sacrosanct marriage is it would not get despoiled just like that, he averred. With that all those village elders, who consider it a sinful act, and then could not put a stop to the habit were consoled and felt comfortable. In spite of all the knowledge, since he never kept a woman all of them venerated him with a lot of respect and devotion.

One day he came to our tata’s home and invited him for lunch to his place. It was the first ever time any fellow Brahmin to invite tata over for lunch. Tata felt a little funny.
‘Why?’ he asked demandingly.

‘Nothing! It’s my father’s anniversary. I did not like you being separated from among us like this….. I have been thinking of inviting you for a long time’.

‘ Then why did you stop?’

The gentleman cleared his throat and told mildly.

‘I don’t worry about such things. Each for his own likes and dislikes. Each for his habits. Just because of that …..’ he did not know what to say for that.

‘Listen to me. You came to me to invite as if doing a favour. Talking of habits, I shall tell you. I am not habituated to visiting other’s places. You are talking about Ratti. …’

‘Never! Tatagaru! Never that.  I don’t care for such things. I respect you for your courage. What! It is a big mistake?’

‘If it is not a mistake, why did not you go for a keep? Don’t go about prancing before me. I go according to my wish. Am I worried about your approval whether it is a big mistake or not?’
Terrified, the gentleman who came, departed.

There are many people who had keeps. But usually they don’t go about it openly. It was very usual to act as if they know nothing even if the matter was known to all and sundry.  Against this usual, Viyyanna tata openly keeping Ratti right at home was not slipping down the gullets for people to talk boldly about the matter was also equally difficult. So they started considering him as a dangerous man.  Parents with children had to eschew visits to his place.

Of the real death of Viyyanna tata, one must listen only while he narrates. But he did not die really at that time.

Oraey! In fact, I am a man like a peacock’, he would once in a while keep telling.
But, that’s a simple bluff. The debauchery is not just one of his habits. He never set foot in bogam street. Even then there was intensity in him. Instances of his life have to be thought about separate from one another. One such is the first touch of Ratti.

Ratti has a lot of history behind. He and her brother are orphans. The trials of marriage did not take place in time, when she came of age. Though she was silent, stubborn and unapproachable by habit, age has established  it’s trickery. A well-built toddy tapper friend was on his way to Rangoon and she looked at him peculiarly and threw a smile. Smiling, she also went to Rangoon along. But after a few months, the youth was not to be found, even after searching, she came back home with six months of pregnancy. Brother thrashed her. She did not cry. Did not revolt. Brother got medicine administered by someone. Pregnancy fell off but she remained outside the hut, for four days struggling for life. Then she sustained and got up. She thought of all that as a natural phenomenon. She did not utter a word about anyone. But she would raise sky high and would almost beat up the youth who dare to leer at her. She never cried since that day. Never laughed even. She never looked at any male and threw that smile.

Later Ratti joined as house maid in our Viyyanna tata’s homestead. Gradually she recovered. She grew breasts shining better than the days of going to Rangoon. She grew her hands smoother than that day.  But the age could not ascertain it’s trickery. She was like a ripe lime fruit. But if you look at her face, there would be a thorn ready to take a bite. Those were the days when Viyyanna tata’s  wife and son were alive.

Naturally peacock like, our  Viyyanna tata, one day when she was sweeping the floor, looked at her in a way. She roared. Though afraid a bit, mustering courage, he went near and with a voice dying in the throat said, ‘Ratti’ .

She raised high and slapped him hard. That evening on she stopped coming to work.
Later till some time Viyyanna tata forgot about Ratti. Though there was another servant maid  in Ratti’s place, Viyyanna tata never took a slap on the cheek from her.

Cholera came in our village. O.K, it came to Viyyanna tata also. One day he lost consciousness. Before he returned to consciousness, the son contacting cholera and dying, were all over. He realized of his resurrection from death first and then also of the failure of the son’s resurrection, gradually. But then he did not feel any anger, neither sorrow. Simply felt hungry. In spite of that, doctor never allowed food for four more days. On the first day his hunger was satiated, he wept because it would not be normal not to. ‘Why it was not me to die!’ he cried. But somehow he felt satisfied a little that he was not dead himself. 

A score of days passed. All were thinking that cholera was going away from the village. May be it thought why it should leave like all of them were thinking, cholera baby returned suddenly  and caught hold of tata’s wife. After four days by the fifth evening it appeared to be on the decline. By that time Viyyanna tata was well recovered. Cooking and all that at home, he was struggling about himself. Vexing he would even give water and other things to the wife when she demanded.
To the eyes that toiled for four days, a little stupor came about. In dream his son laughed with all the teeth exposed. ‘Wait you fool!’ he wanted to say but hesitated. The Vimanam departing to the roof and the boy looking back at him, sky breaking open and a bring stream along with fish huge as whales falling on the earth, from out of it a king and his minister getting down with glittering attires and many more things appeared to him. Meanwhile, a rumbling of devils fight was heard and Viyyanna tata woke up suddenly.

The lamp was gone he went to the cot. The cot was mumbling. He shook the patient and called  she simply said ‘Ummmm’ and started mumbling again. ‘What’s all this funny act?’ thought Viyyanna tata. Not knowing which way the door is, he squatted next to the cot. The cot shook a little. He shuddered and lady’s hand on the patient. Patient was shivering hard. He removed the hand with a jerk. The rumbling ceased. The rattle sound of insects raised a scale. Something in the darkness was turning into knots. What’s all this, thought Viyyanna tata. Meanwhile, something stopped suddenly. That was patent’s shivering. He called out mildly. No answer came. Doubting what danger would come about, he could not call out loud. Snoring was heard softly. Like the saw cutting jerkily, Viyyanna tata’s  hearts became cold. Struggling like one drowning in water for a while, he opened the doors and came out at last.  He shuddered like someone was chasing him.
Leaving the village he proceeded towards the fields.  He walked trying to split the headache open and the pull the ideas out. Fields, trees and all were pitch dark. He walked along the field bunds without a direction. Trees appeared like village Goddesses with their hair spread wide around. Water in the streams glows once in a while like a snake slithering.  Here and there, cattle lying lazily were ruminating sleep. From atop a toddy tree sap was dripping from the slit bunch since the opening of the pot was not in place. A drop fell, sweet and fresh on  Viyyanna tata’s face. ‘Thu…’ he said.
‘ Who’s that?’ called out a woman’s voice.

‘Thu!’ said tata again.

‘Why don’t you speak? Who’s that?’

Aside on the elevated piece of land there was a sound of a grassy bed. Somebody getting up and adjusting the saree was coming near.

‘Why?’ said Viyyanna tata.

‘I am asking who that is.’

‘It’s me. ‘

‘Who? Is it tatagoru?’

But Viyyanna tata could not identify the female voice. Like injured bird, he fell to the ground and squatted. She eagerly came near and held him saying ‘ Ayya!’

The leg slipped, leave me, it’s alright. To look at the living being getting up from amidst the darkness, tata felt irritated. Her touch was unwanted for him. He thought of avoiding it immediately. He could not come equal to her questions.

‘Why did you come like this? So late in night?’

‘Nature’s call’ He felt like strangulating her. But strength in his sinews disappeared suddenly. He remained there sitting.

‘Why come this way? What’s it?’

‘Abba! Let me think I dreamt in sleep… which side is this?’

‘West side field.’

‘Did I then cross the dam?’

‘You appear to be in confusion.’

Viyyanna tata was thinking in himself. Slowly he could remember that he crossed the dam.  Gradually he could even remember the person talking to him. The voice was familiar ‘Ratti’ he said suddenly.

‘Did not you recognize till now!’ said Ratti. Tata got up and stood.

‘How is madam?’

Suddenly house came to memory. The snoring, shivering and all that. The heart jumped suddenly.
‘She is O.K. Tomorrow I shall give her food.’

It felt like life was struggling in him in that darkness.

‘Ratti!’ he said. Ratti crossed the low bund and went to the other side. Tata also crossed the bund. She was standing waiting. Tata embraced her.

‘Wait a minute.’ Saying so she was  struggling. But somehow she did not shout loud. Some animal aroused high in tata. In her the stubbornness struggled for a while. But the glow of her body, suppressed all these days established its might again another time. She surrendered panting.
Tata could not recover till morning star rose. Suddenly he felt like crying ‘Ratti!’ he said.
‘Tatagaru!’ she said.

He set his voice right and sand carelessly ‘perhaps by this time my wife might have been died’.
‘What!’ said she stunned.

‘Ayyo  tatagaru! Then let’s go’

This time tata was not afraid of home. He felt like a big weight is removed from him. Because then he was also dead!

On the two flanks of the cot, just dead, Ratti and Viyyanna tata sat till day break.
Ratti did not look at the dead body at all. She sat looking at Viyyanna tata in wonder. How brutal he turned in the night! But that night boundless respect and love arose in her for him. She appreciated him that night.

Tata died that night. But he lived because of Ratti.  On the whole, what’s to be told is that our tata’s  was a strong life. Then proved imaging that he would go without the knowledge of  anybody.
        (From Kathavahini 1954)