வடகிழக்குப் பருவ மழை!

காவிரி கரை தொடு
கொள்ளிடம் கட...
தஞ்சை பெருவயல் நன்செய் தங்கிடு
நெல் மணி குவி.. கன்னல் விளை!
கொள்முதலாளியின் கைப்பை கனக்கும்
மந்திரிமார்களின் நிலவறை சிரிக்கும்!
பெருமிதம் கொள் - அதன்முன்
பேதமைக் கொல்!
ஆக்கியவன் உலைக்கே சோறு இல்லையாம்...
அவன் சிசுவின் வயிற்றை நீராய் நிரப்பு!

The 20$ Bill

A Christmas eve in New York city should be exciting. Time square probably is the brightest junction in the world. Then that World’s tallest Christmas tree at rock feller? Another important place to pose in front of. I shall meet my best friend after a gap of 8 long months since I left India. That makes this trip all the more special. I shall go with him to the World’s most powerful capital, The Washington DC. I am going to be happy for the next 4 days. My heart was pounding with excitement as I waited at the Appleton airport for my flight to arrive at the gates. My excitement quickly changed into perturbation when the speaker announced a delay in flight due to pilot problems.


I have to reach New Jersey tonight. I was determined. The connecting flight at Detroit should be delayed too. I prayed. All my prayers went in vain. The last flight to New Jersey has already departed from Detroit. I waited in the long queue patiently for hours, explaining the situation to my friend on phone. I was provided a hotel room to stay for the night and got my flight tickets booked early in the morning to reach the La Guardia airport in New York. An overnight delay might mess up with the tour plan I thought. It will be almost afternoon when I reach there. And I have already missed the fun of Christmas eve. It ached.

After resolving an issue that my fellow passenger (a colleague) had, I reached the hotel room post midnight. The day broke and I was ready to get into the first shuttle to the airport. Wishing a merry Christmas to all the unknown faces in the hotel reception, with a warm smile, I got into the shuttle. Walk, walk and walk miles inside the Detroit airport and finally I was there at the terminal. A window seat should be mind blowing I thought. I can capture a few aerial photographs of the New York city. As the flight lands, I shall have the beautiful sky scrappers trapped in my eye piece. Fortunately it was one.

A charming cute child with a pink hat and coolers came dancing through the walk way of plane with her mother swiftly following up. As I looked into her eyes, I could see the innocence, anxiety, happiness and excitement. She is in all smiles. Should be 4 years old. Within minutes I understood that she will be my neighbor for the next 2 hours. Her activities bought in a great deal of nostalgia. I remembered how I used to crave for vacations and long hours journey. Meeting my cousins and going around places. Those were the best days of my life I thought.

Now there is a dilemma. I know how I used to fight for the window seat during my childhood. Why Childhood? I still do :-). The child in us is still awake. Even a while ago I was thinking about it. But now, a 4 year old will be happier to be there I thought. Even for me it’s the first time. I want to enjoy the beauty of the cities underneath as the flight flows through the sky. Should I still give it to her. She never asked for it but still, she would love it. I know. I could see that in her eyes. Finally I made up my mind. I am giving it to her this time. I can probably capture the sky scrappers from the ground and of course there is always this another time. But will I ever get a glimpse of that child’s beautiful smile again in my life time?

I started talking to her. She should be from Iraq, Arabia or may be India. The traditional Muslim costume that her mother wore indicated. I asked her to take the window seat and I got back what I expected. A million dollar smile :-)

She was so happy. That made me happier. I was talking to her mom too who was in her late thirties. Seemed to be a nice women. She was talking about my profession and my reason for traveling. About my family for sometime and then my education. I came to know that they belong to Punjab but have got settled in United states a few years ago. All the while the child was enjoying her window view. I realized the pleasure of sacrifice. As the drinks and snacks came in, I took the responsibility of helping the child drink and eat those.

After a nap, I again woke up to see her enlightened face. The flight was about to land. The following conversation took place between me and the child’s mom Ms. McSuda when she unexpectedly pulled out a 20$ bill from her wallet and gifted it to me.

McSuda: Please have this as my gift

Me: Not at all! Please… but Why?

McSuda: When you go back to India get something for your mom with this money

Me: No aunty.. I won’t take this. I shall convey your regards to her. That should do.

McSuda: Son! Listen to me… I know you are earning a lot probably more than we do. I know you are capable of getting your mom the best of things that are around. I am not giving this to you , because you don’t have it but I wanted to gift a mother who should be proud and happy to have yielded such a nice boy…

It’s a great thing to be a mother. You will not understand. :-)

Me: speechless!

She just smiled and requested me to take it.

I again objected. I told her, I just need her blessings and nothing else. She forced the 20$ note into my palm and wished me a long life and a successful career. I thanked her. That was my first ever Christmas gift. A Muslim presenting a Christmas gift to a Hindu on an auspicious day. I thought, above caste, creed, culture and religion, affection and humanity prevails. That Thursday was no less than the best days of my life.

The flight landed. The child departed happily waving her hands at me and I waved back with a gratified, peaceful and ecstatic heart. I still hold the 20$ note safe in my wallet and I shall gift my mom with something bought out of this.

True! If at all I am a little good, I owe it all to my parents. When I spoke to my mom, she was puzzled initially but when I explained, she just told I am good. I don’t know what made McSuda think that she should gift my mom. Probably it’s between mothers which I don‘t understand. :-)

I then reached my friends place and we had an excellent and tiring trip. It was fun. The capital house, white house, Washington monument, time square, the wall street, Brooklyn bridge, the empire state and the statue of liberty. And much more of this kind. But undoubtedly the 20$ bill still remained the best.

PS: The New York trip was an interesting one and had many awakening, comical, frustrating and tiring incidents. I shall write about those sometime.

காத்திருந்த காதல்!

மதம் ஜாதி ஜாதகம் கோத்திரம் இத்தனைக்கும் தாரைவார்த்த பின்...
சேர்த்து வைத்திருக்கிறேன்...உனக்கென கொஞ்சம் காதல்!
வெகு ஜலப் பிரவாகம் உனது முத்தம்...
அந்த ஊற்றில் பெருக்கெடுத்த பேராழி போல் என் காதல் இன்று...
மறுப்பதற்கில்லை கண்ணே!
சம்ஸாரம் சாகரம்!

The A^2 Syndrome - A Post to honor a great friend!

Crazy are the thoughts sometimes! Crazier the dreams are…

I meet my childhood friends, colleagues, well wishers, parents and relatives every night, one or many together at a time under incomprehensible circumstances only waking up in the morning to realize that it was but a dream. Sometimes it’s a total bizarre.

Even when conscious, I recall the golden days of my career life quite often to cherish the sweetest of happenings that are only a history now. The thoughts make me laugh, cry, emote, dance and sing but only within me. Probably I am totally jobless these days and hence giving too much to the past. I decided to introspect. Let me not discuss the results of self introspection here.

I deeply felt that one such retrospection should be written about. Before leaving India I went through a relatively tougher phase in my career. Nothing was working the right way for me. After a profound analysis I found that it’s “Time’s” time to play a spoil sport and I can do nothing about it J

Relationships have always been dangling in my case. I always believed that college is the ultimate place for a loyal, affectionate friendship and there is no such thing beyond that. Though many of my colleagues have proved me wrong by now, this one person was amazing.

She was known to me by name for few weeks then, by person a few days ago and she was there near me to listen to me and support me during my turbulent times right away. I neither requested her nor expected it from her. I thanked her for being so generous and she just smiled.

I don’t know. I keep my pathos to myself when I am dejected. I crib sometimes but it’s rare. There are 2 reasons. Cribbing doesn’t help. I don’t trust people easily.

But she looked deep into my eyes when I spoke to her. I could see honesty and empathy in her eyes. For hours I would talk about my plans and activities and hindrances and she would listen so sincerely and affectionately. It took a while for me to realize that I was self -centered and stole a lot of her time. She never complained. One morning, during a coffee break, I casually asked her why would she be so kind to me. Her reply was spontaneous.” What’s so important than spending some time to listen to a friend?”. Mine was a boring melancholy. I know. She told it never was. She told she could feel the agony, the anxiety, the passion and the pain. I was dumbstruck. She is a friend! A true friend for life …I told myself… My instincts are usually right.

I talk to her about my everyday activities so consistently and seek her advice on important things I do. She is still generous to lend her ears to me though she is working assiduously on her tasks. She proved me what difference, a friend can make to one’s life. Even an arrogant, level headed and emotionally balanced person crave for a friend to paddle out of trouble. I found one in her. It’s her character to help and support people. How noble? Am I not gifted? :-)

I have a bunch of treasure in the form of friends and she is a precious stone in the lot who would stay close to my heart.

"There is blessing in disguise when you undergo tougher times". You ascertain your friends and others hands down. I now realize how true this adage is.

PS: The title is still relevant to the post but not obvious.

உக்ரோதயம்

அத்தியாயம் 1
கிழக்கு கடற்கரை

கிழக்கு கடற்கரையின் பொன் மணற்பரப்பைப் பூரண சந்திரன் தனது வெள்ளிக் கிரணங்ளால் மிளிரச்செய்து கொண்டிருந்த மகோன்னதக் காட்சி கலையுணர்வென்பதே கிஞ்சித்தும் இல்லாத மூடனைக்கூட ஒரு கணம் கவிஞனனாய் மாற்றக் கூடியச் செழுமையை பெற்றிருந்தது! அடிவானில் முழுமதி உதயமான மருகணமே அவளின் கவின் கொஞ்சும் வதனத்தை தொட்டு விடலாம் என்ற இருமாப்பில் வழக்கத்தை விடவும் அதிகமாய் எழும்பி ஏமாற்றம் அடைந்த அலைகள் "ஓ!" என்ற இரைச்சலுடன் ஆற்பரித்து கொண்டிருந்தக் காட்சி மானிட வாழ்வின் எண்ண ஓட்டங்களை பல கோணங்கலில் பிரதிபலிப்பதாய் இருந்தது! சித்திரை மாதத்தின் தெளிந்த வான்வெளியில் மின்னிக் கொண்டிருந்த தாரகைகள் அந்தக் கடலலைகளைக் கண்டு நகைப்பதுப் போன்றேத் தோன்றிற்று! ஒருவேளை அவைகள் வெகு தொலைவில் இருந்ததனால் நமக்கு அந்தச் சிரிப்பொலி கேட்கவில்லை போலும்! இளவேனில் வெப்பத்துக்கு அருமருந்தாக அமைந்தது ஜில்லென்று வீசிக்கொண்டிருந்த சமுத்திரக் காற்று! கடற்கரைக்கு சற்று தொலைவில் இருந்த நெடிதுயர்ந்த சவுக்குத் தோப்புக்குள் ஊடுருவிச் சென்று அந்தக் காற்று கடலலைகளுக்கு போட்டியாக மற்றொரு ஓம்காரத்தை எழுப்பிக் கொண்டிருந்தது!

இந்த ஓவியக் காட்சியில் சிறுதும் லயிக்காது அந்த ஜனசஞ்சாரமற்ற இடத்தில் ஆழ்ந்த சிந்தனையில் மனதை நிலைக்க விட்டிருந்த அந்த இளைஞன் சொல்லவொண்ணா வேதனை அடைந்திருக்கிறான் என்பது அவன் முகத்தை பார்த்தால் ஐயமற விளங்கும். ஞாயிற்றின் ஒளியை தேக்கி வைத்திருந்த அந்த விழிகளை கூட ஏதோ ஒரு துன்பம் மேகம் போல் மூடி மங்கச் செய்திருந்த போதிலும் பார்வயில் தொனித்த கம்பீரம் சிறிதும் குறையாது, நெஞ்சுறுதியையும் நம்பிக்கையையும் எடுதுக்காட்டுவதாய் அமைந்திருந்தது.
இரவு நன்றாக ஏறிவிட்டதை அடுத்து மதுமதி உச்சி வானை அடைந்திருந்தாள். தொலைவில் தோப்புக்குள் ஊளையிடும் நரிகளும், மெதுவாய் ஸப்திக்காரம்பித்த ஸர்பங்களும் அந்த கடல் ப்ராந்தியததை ஆபத்தான களமாக அறிவிக்க முயற்ச்சி செய்துகொண்டிருந்தன! துணையின்றி அவ்விடம் நெடுநேரம் படுதிருந்த அந்த யொவன புருஷன் பெரும் ப்ராக்ரமசாலியாகத் தான் இருத்தல் வேண்டும். அச்சம் என்பதே எள்ளளவும் அறியாத குடியில் தோன்றியவனாய் இருத்தல் வேண்டும்!

காட்டாற்று வெள்ளம் போன்று உள்ளத்தில் பொங்கிய எண்ண அலைகளால் தனக்கு பின்னால் தன்னை ஓசையின்றி சூழ்ந்து கொண்டிருந்த ஆபத்தை கவனிக்கத் தவரியவன், மெல்ல எழுந்தமர்ந்து திரைக்கடலை நோக்கினான்!திடீரென்று ஏதோ அறியப்பெற்றவனாய் விடுக்கென்று எழுந்து சவுக்குத் தோப்பை நோக்கி நடக்கலானான். அவன் நடை போடத்தொடங்கிய மறுகணமே சவுக்குக் கிளைகள் பரபரப்படைந்தன. நரிகளின் ஓலத்தோடு மனிதர்களின் ஓசையும் மெல்லியக் காற்றில் கேட்க ஆரம்பித்தது. இத்தனைக்கும் அந்த வாலிபனுக்கு மட்டும் எதுவுமே செவியில் ஏறவில்லை போலும். தனது நடையை துரிதப் படுத்தினான்.

இந்த ஒரு தனிமனிதனை அந்த நள்ளிறவில் என்ன ஆபத்து சூழ நேரிடும்? ஒருவேளை கொள்ளையர்களாய் இருக்கலாம்.ஆனால் கொள்ளையற்க்கு ஆபரணம் தரிக்காத ஆண்மகனிடம் என்ன வேலை? ஒரு வேளை கொலைகாரர்களாய் கூட இருக்கலாம். ஒரு அப்பாவி இளைஞனை அந்த நடுநிசியில் மறைவில் காத்திருந்து கொலை செய்வதில் அவசியம் என்ன இருக்கிறது?
ஆனால் அந்த இளைஞன் ஒரு சாதாரண ப்ரஜையாய் அல்லாமல், அஸ்வத்தாமன் வழி வந்த பல்லவ குலத் தோன்றலான அவனிசிம்மன் என்னும் பட்சத்தில் அந்த அவசியம் ஏற்படுகிறதல்லவா?

... தொடரும்

I shall Blog!

It had been a while since I blogged. I am jealous of my fellow bloggers who blog quite consistently, interestingly and meticulously. I had been through few creative posts on net and most of them are inspiring. Short stories, history, scientific facts, interesting trivia, news updates, life updates, poems…. Wow!
Every time I come across a creative post, I would tell to myself… “I am blogging tonight”. There will be a topic that I would have zeroed on.
When I reach home in the evening, Srikkanth(my friend and head of my Appleton household) would be there already mostly. If it’s one of the early days of the week, Chinmayi would be screaming at the top of her voice “இது தமிழகத்தின் மிக ப்ரம்மாண்டமான குரல் தேடல்!”. As soon as I remove my shoes, “Renu செரியாப் பாடல!” he would say. “Oh! என்ன பாட்டு?”. This is me!
I will assure myself that she will not be rejected as she is the greatest voice of the show. I will mostly sit with him to watch the rest of the program.
Towards the end of the program, my eyes would beg for rest, as I would have slept only 4 or 5 hours the previous night. I don’t have work @ home these days. I am usually idle in the evenings. But I sleep very late, after compensating for the lost sleep back log from the previous night, waking up late to cook late while talking to my offshore folks and to finish my dinner late only again to sleep late. Lately this has been my routine. I talk to my mom on the camera late nights and on phone late mornings.

By then I would have totally forgot the topic I've decided upon. Rather I desperately forget it in order to keep me away from typing.

The following contents were partially composed and remain dormant in the blog memory space of my brain…

1) Sandilyan’s Raja muthirai
2) Kemo’s farewell
3) My old poems
4) The Lankan -Tamil war and the fall of de-facto capital Kilinochi
5) Washington trip (Actually supposed to be a trip to New York) :-)
6) A quick recap of 2008
7) the A^2 syndrome (A commitment that has to be kept up)
8) Childhood memories
9) Three years of Cognizance
10) Legendary compositions of Isaignani Ilayaraja

11) From Kanchipuram to Appleton

I am getting a topic everyday. But I don’t write! Laziness is killing the creator in me. I have decided to fix my routine this weekend. Things should start working quickly hopefully and I should take up full fledged writing whether or not I have followers to go through them :-)
You will see the above mentioned topics revised, revisited, prioritized and written about, in days to come.

Stirring up the Hornet's Nest - 2

Finally I prevailed over my laziness to continue my Blog on SS…
With a lot being said in my previous blog, I’ve decided to hit the bull’s eye right away

Why is Sivakami less impressive?
She is an ace Bharathanatyam dancer in the pallava kingdom. She is the most beautiful women. She is adored by the people of her country for her ability to tie them up with her Abhinayams. More than everything, she is the lady love of prince Narasimhavarman alias Mamallan. As per kalki, she is the primary reason behind the battle of Badami. With all that being said, she is obviously the heroine of the story as the title indicates.

Yet, to me, she is not impressive. She is very unstable. Probably that’s the way the character has to be… to trigger all those events that followed up. She is not so wise. Short tempered.. Emotionally wobbling… At no point in the novel she has completely trusted the prince of the land.
She feels insecure throughout the story. It’s an understandable behavior during the initial stages of the story as she is too young but even during the climax of the story she is precarious. By then she should have got matured.
I never felt empathetic towards this character during my journey across the pages. The romance between her and Mamallan is another disaster. It wasn’t cute anywhere. Yes! A romance portrayed without trust is definitely a disaster.

Narasimhavarman - A sore loser?

For people who don’t know what kind of a person Narasimhavarman is, there wouldn’t be a problem in accepting his characterization. Projected as a short tempered, less decisive, ruthless, stupid romantic hero who is even ready to let go his country and it’s people for a woman, the character fails to captivate me. Especially when he yells @ Paranjothi in the climax I hated the characterization to the core.

Now let me tell you who the real Narasimhavarman is….One of the greatest warrior that Bharat has ever seen. One of those 6 notable kings who never lost on the battle field. The ruler who got rid of religious savages called Kabalihaas in thamizhagam.
Being a great architect, he is a sculptor himself. The architectural epitomes on the shore of Mamallapuram still echo this ruler's name. Above all, he is a great war strategist and administrator. A smart, alluring, caring ruler he is. Adored as the greatest emperor of Pallava dynasty, his era is referred to as the golden age of Pallava Rule. The Mei Kirthis written during his period and later reveal all these.

But I should sincerely thank Kalki for projecting King Mahendravarman as such, without ruining his glory for the sake of a love saga.

Amidst imperfect characterization, the narration never induces a feel that the lovers should unite. It failed to create the anxiety and curiousness amongst readers in this regard.

There are logical questions too…
Why would Sivakami believe in Naganandhi till the climax? After all she knew from the Chakravarthi himself that he attempted to kill Mamallan, her love interest. She also understood that the deceptive Buddhist monk is in love with her and he does anything to win her hand. (indulging in cruel acts throughout)
Probably Sivakami didn’t believe in Mahendra as he was against her love for Mamallan. Also she had a soft corner for Naganandhi as he saved her father when they were caught by the Chalukyan soldiers. Fine! Didn’t she believe in the most trusted and eminent spy Gundodharan too?
Even before the climax, Naganandhi tells her that he would return as a king from Ajanta to marry her. Her reaction here is hilarious. Projected as a bold girl who saved innocent women from Pulikesi, a daring girl who sang and danced for a song written criticizing the Chakravarthi, in his very presence, she didn’t even react to the word of the monk when he proposed her despite knowing her affair with Mamallan.

Probably she is now numb and dejected. After all it’s nine years since she had been in the royal Vathabi prison. Yet not convincing.

Why didn’t Naganadhi reveal that Mamallan is already married? It gives him a chance to induce hatred towards Mamallan in Sivakami’s heart. Later he could’ve won her heart displaying his loyalty.
Probably he thought it would trigger Sivakami to pursue life menacing acts. Again not so convincing. The all powerful Budhist monk can easily safeguard Sivakami from such acts.
The climax was so dramatic with the unnecessary deaths of the royal chariot rider Kannabiran and royal spy Gundodharan.

Also throughout the story Kalki couldn’t maintain the suspense as it was with PS. On the very introduction of VajraBahu the readers could easily predict that he is none other than the Chakravarthi himself. There are many more such instances. And again the revelation of Vajrabahu as Chakravarthi comes at an insignificant point.

Vathabi thaganam, which for me was the most expected part of the novel, the climax, Kalki couldn’t create the magical feel. Probabaly not much research went into the warfare and strategy when he wrote it. I should definitely give it to Sandilyan in this regard. He was just amazing in explaining the nuances of wars, arts, architecture and romance.

To conclude:
For those who have read Ponniyin selvan before SS, it would be a rank below. Undoubtedly SS remains one of the greatest novels of 20th century just for the effort, innovation and the narrative style. If you don’t get too much into history and accept Sivakami as a normal girl bounded and driven by feminine emotions, the story can be appreciated. Also shed all your respect for Mamallan. Look at him as Sivakami’s lover and Sivakami's lover only :-) You can digest the novel peacefully.

After all I’ve fallen in love for more than 1000 times now with Ms. Nandhini :-)
I don’t even want to befriend Sivakami ;-)

Kalki definitely is one of those great writers of all time. But for him SS is definitely not the Magnum opus.

Probably for Kalki too, it’s just another book! :-)

But I recommend literary lovers to go through this novel and form their own perceptions. It’s definitely one of it’s kind and can be completely enjoyed for the narrative and style and few historical facts. All you have to do is shed your prejudice on Mamallan as a colossal emperor and Sivakami as Ms. Perfect beautiful before taking it up for a study. Enjoy reading SS!