Creating a ruckus, making loud noise
Fleeting, lasting, deep, light, amusing, thought-provoking... All that I encounter.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Rising with the Falls
Creating a ruckus, making loud noise
Saturday, February 3, 2024
The Servant of God - Through Padma Shri Muthukannammal's Eyes
Every story has two sides to it. But sometimes, one voice gets lost in the clamour for change.
Change is inevitable. Change can be good. But for some, the change means losing their very livelihood.
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Srikant and I with Muthukannammal |
Today, I write about the Devadasis.
I am not the first to write about it, but this may be the first time you hear of it. So, I write.
Not the whole story, for who can know what the whole story was? But I write of one woman, and only as she narrated it to me.
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Between the Rock and a Soft Place
During my Kanchipuram trip with my cousins, I heard the two ladies discussing a trip to Coimbatore and Pollachi. They talked about when the husbands would be free and how many days they could travel.
"Hey, why am I not part of this planning?" I asked, puzzled at this whole plan I was ignorant about.
"Of course, you are part of it. Nothing is finalized yet," they said.
Friday, February 24, 2023
Taller than the Tallest
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Sunday, July 18, 2021
The Extras
Who are the actors?
What is the scene?
What is our character?
Sunday, October 4, 2020
The Journey
"Mamma, can we go by train?" Rupa's elder one, Advika, asked. "We never travel by train," the 13-year-old pleaded.
"You will get bored," Rupa responded mechanically as she checked the flight cost and availability to Chennai from Delhi in December.
Rupa's younger son Vivek looked up from his book and said, "Mamma will get bored, she means."
Saturday, September 12, 2020
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Words
She looked at him confused. "No, nothing is," she said, feeling as if he were assaulting her with that tone of his voice - an urgent demand, a persistent plea that wanted to grab her heart and open it violently. She felt her heart trembling and shrinking. "Don't imagine things," she said and turned away to continue pretending that everything was as should be.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Thursday, May 17, 2018
A Veil of Waves
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Musings on Death
To measure our lifespan?
What is too young?
When is the right time to be gone?
Friday, December 8, 2017
The Unchanging Times
Friday, July 28, 2017
Out of Depth
What would he like, truly? Why, the view of the hills on one side, sloping down into green valleys with a silent lake in their amidst, where he could fish when he wished in peace.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
The Beginning is the End
And it got its wish.
Fish... It swam, in a school, but still alone... Where it wanted, seeing, feeling, eating, on its own, sensing...
Sensing danger everywhere. Fear. Fear. Fear. Of not finding food. For it's life.
If only to live without this fear. To be strong. As the jaws closed on it, it's last wish was to be the predator and not the hunted.
A lion. Swimming without fear. Killing with impunity. Power. The king of the jungle. The world at its mercy. And yet, powerless against the tusks that bored, the horns that stabbed, age that withered.
To be stronger still. To be invincible. To conquer uncertainties.
The master hunter.
The master strategist.
The master destroyer.
The invincible.
Swimming. Flying. Climbing. Digging. Destroying everything on its path.
A big wave, and still it trembled. A strong gust of wind, and still it fell on its knees. A deafening thunder, and still it pleaded, "Please, help me, save me."
It wanted to be god - the creator, the preserver, the destroyer.
It did all that. And yet, it was created, it had to be preserved, it could be destroyed.
Not on its own. It could never become that which it wanted.
It cried, "Please let me become you." It begged.
Had it been dreaming all this while? Did it really happen?
The Cosmos heaved. It settled deeply and sighed in contentment.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
The Point of Intersection
How many together? How many in different directions?
Different interests. Different goals. Different approaches. Sometimes, even different languages...
What is the meaning of this relationship that came half way into our lives?. If the paths differ, why force two people to walk together? How do you keep it together?
Should one abandon one's own path to walk down another's? Can one force the other to enjoy the same sights and journey as ourselves?
Can even love make two hearts beat as one at every turning?
Will the paths tear them asunder, or will the heart give way?
These thoughts cloud the mind, and seem to plunge it in darkness. You cry out for light and lo! The mist clears. Why! Though the paths differ, the pace differs, the destination is the same! Even when you let go of the hands, the gaze turns to the same point. Though the hearts sing to a different beat, the tune is the same. When the eyes meet, the same thoughts connect them.
And you smile in understanding. At each other. At yourself. For it is at these points of intersection that you find the true meaning of this relationship. It is then that you understand what the other means to you. It is then that you feel grateful.
You continue walking, taking 70000 more steps, 700,000... 700,000,000.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Inching Up Step by Step
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Armed Against Anger
Friday, September 9, 2016
Not As In...
"Mmmm..." she replied noncommittally.
"Is that a yes or a no?" he asked, more from masochistic intentions of needing evidence to lament later on.
"It was good," Sadhana answered, but her tone did not reflect 'good.'