Anything happening To You?

Bore Gowda and Veere Gowda were two poor farmers, living in the same village. They both owned small holdings of agricultural lands on the outskirts of the village. A fence of wild bushes (called "Beli" in Kannada) separated the two lands. Over a period of time, a growth of "Soapnut bushes" ("Seege Mele" in Kannada) developed in the fence. It was not intentionally planted by either of them. The seeds of the nearby bush were carried by heavy winds and hence the growth appeared on its own. A dispute arose between the two farmers as to who should be the rightful owner of this soapnut harvest. The problem could have been easily solved by sharing the crop. Their family members advised them that it is not worth a fight in the court, but they would not listen to them. The annual yield of the crop was valued at Two hundred Rupees.  Vanity stood between the two neighbours and they filed a case in the court against each other, each claiming that the fence belonged to him. 

For those who have not heard of Soapnut, it is a fruit of a thorny wild bush with a fruit somewhat similar to the tamarind fruit. While tamarind is edible and much sought after, Soapnut is not edible. In Kannada language it is called as "Seegekaayi". "Seege" is the name of the bush and its fruit (Kaayi in Kannada) is hence called "Seegekaayi". This nut was powdered and used to get rid of the extra oil when people of the earlier generation took their favourite "Oil bath". Seegekayi has the ability to wash off the excess oil on the body. This quality has led to the proverbial "Enne-Seegekaayi" relationship. Any enmity between two persons or groups was being referred to as "Enne-Seegekaayi" sambandha or "Oil-Soapnut" relationship. Modern bath soaps have replaced the Seegekayi powder, but it is still used in villages. 

Veere Gowda spent Five Hundred Rupees and got an order from the court in his favour. Bore Gowda appealed against the order, spent One Thousand Rupees, and got an injunction preventing Veere Gowda from harvesting the crop. The case went on and on with both farmers losing money in the bargain. Chenna and Chenni, son and daughter of Veere Gowda and Bore Gowda respectively, were in love and wanted to get married. But the "Enne-Seegekaayi" relationship between their fathers prevented their plans. 

***** 

The patient was really very patient in his overall approach. Reading of Bhagavadgita from time to time had made him realise that his body does not truly belong to him. (Please click here to understand as to who "Owns Your Body"). He was quite aware that at some stage or the other, surgeons had a unfettered right over the body. Slowly but steadily, the time for surgeons to exercise their right over his body duly arrived. There was indeed some dispute about the actual time to exercise the right, but not the right itself. The diagnostic laboratory head and a primary set of doctors passed a decree that the time has indeed come now. The patient knew fully well that any appeal would be useless and submitted himself to the repercussions.  

The date for surgery was finalised after carefully considering various factors. The patient was given detailed instructions as to how to prepare for the surgery. The undisputed fact that he himself had no role during the surgery was of no consequence. The only thing he had to do was to go to the venue and lie down on the surgical table. Even for that, he did not need much efforts as half a dozen able bodied guys were around him to take care in case he tried to change his mind at the last minute. He knew that the words "Feasting" and "Fasting" were two words used together on many occasions. He had not understood why it was so. Once the detailed instructions for surgery were received, all his doubts were cleared. The days of feasting were behind him and he could now look forward for a bright and prosperous "Fasting" future. 

The patient studied the voluminous literature given as "Instructions for surgery". He actually felt that had he been equally serious about studying like this in his school days, he would have certainly passed with higher grades. He took a print out of the instructions as he was more comfortable with paper and pen than with pick and click. All instructions were equally important, but he highlighted some as he considered them as more important than others. He felt very lucky as he was not really required to fast, but it was only that the usual food items were substituted by a bouquet of various tablets. The combination of various tablets, pills and capsules, of different colour, size and odour, reminded him of the "Gad-bad" ice-cream (a sumptuous mix of various flavours of ice-cream) he generously used to relish in his younger days. 

The instructions required that the stomach was absolutely empty at the time of surgery. All thoughts, whether good or bad, were to be banished from the stomach. Of course, they could be kept in the mind. No food since the previous midnight and no water since early morning on the surgery day. Though food was permitted till 12 PM (midnight), he did not feel it appropriate to keep an alarm and gulp some food just before midnight. There were no instructions to suck out the gas in the stomach. Even the surgeons knew that air was something on which no one could exercise any control. 

*****

Bore Gowda diligently followed up the progress of the case, though actually it was not much, by regular visits to the lawyer's office and court halls. He was required to pay some fee at each visit or else even his presence would not be acknowledged. He sold his small and meagre assets from time to time, pawned his wife's only gold chain, and used the money in his pursuit of justice. He refused to do small chores at home when his wife asked him to, reminding her that he had to attend the court case. But the lawyer and his clerk made him to do the same chores at their houses, which he did not mind. Family was denied use of vegetables as they were to be given to the advocate and his clerk. 

Bore Gowda finally lost the case. He could not face the family members now. He overheard a conversation between two farmers that DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloro-Ethane) powder was not a strong pesticide for worms attacking crops, but Falidol is very strong and useful. It can even kill human beings if swallowed by mistake. He went to a farmers co-operative society, purchased Falidol and mixed with some food items and took it home. He called his wife and nine children with great love and affection. 

"Come, all of you. I have not spent time with you due to court cases. Today, we will all happily eat together"

"Oh, it is such a good day!"

"Yes. Eat well and happily"

Hungry since two days, family members grabbed the items and ate hurriedly. Bore Gowda was looking at them with tear-filled eyes. 

"Are you enjoying the food?"

"yes, very much"

"Anything happening to you?"

"yes"

"What"

"Hunger"

Bore Gowda fainted. Family members continued to eat the remaining food.

*****

The patient duly reached the venue of the surgery at the appointed time. After all the formalities and some more medication, he was wheeled into the Surgical Room. 

The next things he realised was after four hours. He was no longer in the Operation Room now. He was in the Observation Room (name of which he came to know the day after) surrounded by a fresh set of hospital staff. There were wires all around his body and needle pricks in many places. He was happy he was the centre of attraction. 

One of the Doctors (patient did not really know, but thought so as the person was having a Stethoscope around his neck, like the proverbial Snake on Lord Shiva's neck) was asking some questions now.

"How are you feeling now?"

He was taught to say "I am fine, Sir. Thank you", sixty years ago when he was in school. Things had indeed changed over the years. He remembered that his grandson had taught him to say "I am Good" in response to such questions.  

"I am Good" (I was never bad, he reasoned)
"Do you have any pain?"

"No"

"Dizziness?"

"No"

"Nausea"

"No"

"Anything unusual anywhere in the body?"

"No. I don't feel anything"

"Anything happening to you?"

"Yes"

"What is it?"

"Hunger"

After nearly 24 hours since last meal, the only thing he really felt was hunger. Naturally. 

*****

Bore Gowda episode is from a Kannada Film "Naadinaa Bhagya" (Land's Destiny), released in 1970, some fifty five years ago. R Nagendra Rao, a big name in the Kannada film industry was the director and his son R N Sudarshan was the hero. Dr Rajkumar had a guest role in the film. The theme revolves around how trivial disputes destroy peace and families in villages.

For the record, knowing that Bore Gowda would do something undesirable, the hero of the film, Anand took care to substitute the Falidol bottle with Sugar syrup at the society. The family survives, all villagers learn their lessons and live happily ever after. 

As far as the patient was concerned, he was allowed to eat some sandwiches and drink some apple juice. 

*****

You can indeed enjoy long drawn court cases. And surgical operations as well. Only requirement is that you should be in good frame of mind. Or out of your mind.

The Vicious Circle

A poor man was struggling to manage his day-to-day life.  The state of his poverty could not be measured or explained.  He simply did not have anything, not even two pairs of decent dress.  He moved around in tattered clothes.  He tried many means for earning a livelihood, but nothing worked.  Repeated failures frustrated him.  Others were reluctant to keep his company.  Life was one big unsolved riddle and mystery for him.  "Why should I ever live?", was a question that was confronting him each day.

A saint had embarked on a pilgrimage and on the way he camped in the poor man's village. Someone suggested to the poor man to meet the saint and seek his blessings.  He was also told that the saint had mystic powers and may be able to find a solution to the man's utter poverty. The poor man now had some hope. He visited the saint and waited for an opportunity to meet him when he was alone. When he got a chance, he fell on the saint's feet and cried uncontrollably.  His pent up emotions got better of him and he could not even explain his problem to the saint.

The saint could understand the problem of the poor man, more through common sense than through mystic powers.  He meditated for some time and by using his powers scanned the past history of the poor man.  During his many previous lives, this man had no record of giving away anything to someone else.  He was extremely selfish and had no tendency to share anything he had.  Since he had no habit of giving to others, his ledger showed "Nil" balance.  As he had forgotten the art of giving to others, he had forfeited his entitlement to receive from others. There was no balance in the account to permit debits and there was no possibility of receiving any credits.  Something had to be done for renewing the account. The sage realized that there was not even the possibility of giving him a loan.  He did not have any margin money to show for borrowing from someone else. He had indeed reached a dead end.  He was caught in the vicious circle.

The sage asked him about his assets or something he could give to others.  The poor man replied that he had nothing with him.  The sage saw that something was partly visible from the pocket of his torn dress.  "What is that? Take it out", he commanded.  It was a small brass tumbler he had kept with him for drinking water. "Let us begin with this", the sage said and took him to the village merchant.  He advised the merchant to purchase the tumbler and give the value to the poor man. "What value can I give to this battered brass tumbler?  It is not even worth three spoons of sugar!", the merchant exclaimed.  "Then you give him two spoons of sugar", advised the sage.  The merchant complied with the instructions.  The sage returned to his camp with the poor man and the small sugar packet. He took out a lemon from his bag and advised the poor man to prepare lemon juice using the sugar with him.  The small quantity of juice was distributed to a few persons available near the camp.  "Your future will be brighter now on.  Lead a pious life and help others, in whatever way you can", advised the sage and left on his pilgrimage.  The poor man followed the advice and continued with his life.

The sage returned from his pilgrimage after a few years and again camped at the village. By this time, the poor man's tide had turned.  He was in much better shape socially and economically.  He helped others whenever the opportunity arose and shared whatever he had with others.  His poverty had gone and he had come out of the vicious circle.  The sage was happy that the account was revived and continued his journey. 

*****

Poverty comes in many shades.  But the general perception is only about one of them; economic poverty.  That is so because it is very evident and visible to all.  It is also due to constant measurement of economic status by people around us. There are other types of poverty as well.  Social poverty or not having a sense of belonging to any recognizable group is another.  We hear of people going into depression or committing suicide despite being financially well off.  A feeling of being unwanted by their close groups at family, friends or at work is often a reason for this and it is a sign of social poverty.  Psychological poverty closely follows social poverty and acts on the mind of the concerned person. Intellectual poverty and moral poverty are still higher orders of poverty.  Of course, these are not very visible and can be easily camouflaged deliberately or otherwise.   

*****

"Garuda Purana" is one of the eighteen puranas and gets its name as it is in the form of a discussion between Lord Mahavishnu and Garuda.  It deals with details of life after death and the rituals that are performed after the death of a person, in some parts of our country. There is a practice of reciting this purana or arrange for its discourse during the fortnight immediately following the death of a person, when the heirs perform sacred rituals. May be due to this practice, no one reads it at other times! Many details in the purana deal with the punishments given to a person in hell for the misdeeds done when alive. This make people shudder at the thought of life after the death and avoid reading this purana itself.

One of the verses in "Garuda Purana" deals with this vicious cycle of poverty and sins.  It clearly identifies the reasons for poverty as not sharing one's wealth with others and not doing good deeds when one is capable of.  It reads thus:

अदत्त दानाच्च भवेत् दरिद्रः दारिद्र दोषात् करोति पापम् |
पाप प्रभावात् नरकं स याति पुनर्दरिद्रः पुनरेव पापी ||

adatta daanachha bhavet daridraha, daridra doshat karoti papam
papa prabhaavat narakam sa yaati, punardaridraha punareva paapi

Due to not giving (sharing), he becomes poor; he commits sins because of that poverty.  As a result of those sins he goes to the lower world (naraka) as a punishment, he is again born poor and repeats the sins.  The vicious cycle continues.......

*****

That leaves us with a pertinent question - should we believe in the theory of existence of other worlds and in re-birth and repeated births?

No one knows for sure, whether there are other worlds or there are re-births. But it is a matter of common sense that all material wealth has limitations of time. Likewise, there is true pleasure in sharing one's possessions with others while living as member of a civilized society.  It is better to share and enjoy their utility while they are still useful rather than hoard them and allow them to decay with time.   

The Drunkard's Daughter

The years spent in Middle School (5th to 7th year of education) were indeed wonderful days. General economic conditions in the early 1960s were difficult.  Aftereffects of Indo-China war of 1962 and Indo-Pakistan  war of 1965 had added to the misery.  As students, in the age group of  11 years to 14 years for most of us, we were hardly in a position to understand that.  We lived in our own world and school days were merry days and playful as usual.  Lunch break at 1.30 PM was eagerly looked forward to by all my classmates and I was no exception.  Students coming from nearby houses would run home to have a quick lunch and return to school for post-lunch classes.  Those staying away from the school had to perforce stay in the school compound and eat lunch from the boxes brought with them in the morning while coming to school.  Of course, there were many who did not have the luxury and practice of having lunch.  They were used to food only twice a day; before coming to the school in the morning and in the evening after returning from the school.  This had its own advantage; they never suffered from indigestion and related ailments.

For the children staying back in the school compound during lunch time, there were other activities.  Playing cricket or football was one of them.  There was no practice of giving pocket money to children in those days mainly because the pockets of the parents themselves did not have any money in them.  There were a few kids from relatively affluent families who carried small change in their pockets.  They had  attractions just outside the school gate abutting the main road of the town.  Two carts carrying items for sale beckoned them.  One of them carried groundnuts and uppukadale (salted chana) and the other laden with cut fruits available in the season.  Uppukadale and Groundnuts were acceptable, but we had strict instructions not to touch the cut fruits.  The threat of cholera was always lurking round the corner.  My mother's advice was soft and firm.  If any child in the family is tempted to eat any fruit sold on the cart, she should be informed.  She would arrange for getting the item and serve it at home in hygienic conditions.  If the instructions were violated and someone fell sick, she would not take care of them.  The threat was enough and there was no need to test her resolve.  We understood her perfectly and she ensured that the instructions were always complied with.

The cart with cut fruits was tended by one Hanuma.  He would procure the seasonal fruits like Guava, Mango, Jack fruit, Papaya and Watermelon.  Pineapple and Apple were also seen but rarely.  Mother's instructions were not to touch them; there was no ban on watching him clean and cut the fruits.  He was an expert in his trade and probably worth an award these days when everything is measured and awards given away.  He had his tools - knives of different sizes and shapes to handle the variety of fruits ranging from the hard and thorny jack fruit to the softer fully ripe papaya.  Processing activity of cutting and arranging the fruit pieces went on simultaneously with the sales activity of handing over the cut pieces to children, collect coins, count them and store them below the gunny bag table cloth.  He did brisk business during the lunch break and moved away to the nearby bus stand once the children got into their classes.

Hanuma was a hard working man and was always involved in some work or the other.  He had a small plot of land by the river side and grew vegetables there round the year.  After harvesting them for the day's sale he would proceed with other errands like sale of cut fruits.  His wife Ramakka carried the vegetables basket on her head selling them from house to house in the morning.  The quality and freshness of the vegetables ensured that there was no carry over of inventory for the next day.  Between them they earned a decent wage.  But the one weakness of Hanuma ensured that the family always lived in abject poverty.  Drunkard and inebriate are terms for a person who drinks hard liquors habitually. Drunkard connotes willful indulgence to excess. Inebriate is a slightly more formal term than drunkard.  Dipsomaniac is the term for a person who, because of some psychological or physiological illness, has an irresistible craving for liquor. The dipsomaniac is popularly called an alcoholic.  Hanuma was probably all of them.  He loved his family but it appeared he loved his evening drink even more.

Ramakka suffered silently and somehow managed the family affairs.  All her efforts to bring round Hanuma failed.  One evening she appeared before our house and wanted to see my father.  He had just returned from school and took his usual place in the front yard.  Their conversation went on like this:

"Swami, Hanuma's drinking is killing us.  Why don't you help me?"
"How can I help you, Ramakka?"
"Hanuma respects you a lot. Please advise him to give up drinking."
"I have advised him many times.  Every time I talk to him, he promises not to drink again.  But he does not stick to his promise.  His friends are not good.  He also cannot resist the evening drink."
"Then what is the way out for me?"
"We have to keep trying and hope for the best.  By the way, who is that girl hiding behind you?"
"This is our daughter Saraswati, Swami."
"How old is she?" 
"She is six years old, Swami."
"Have you admitted her to school? All children at this age should attend school."
"What will she do with school, Swami?  She helps me with household work and selling vegetables.  That is fine with me.  Hanuma also wants the same."
"Do not talk nonsense.  Do not spoil her life.  Bring her to school tomorrow.  I am the headmaster.  I will admit her to the school.  Ask Hanuma to meet me in the morning."

Hanuma duly arrived in the morning.  The discussion went on like this:

"Swami, It seems you wanted to see me."
"Yes, Why have you not put Saraswati in school?"
"What is the use of school for us poor people, Swami.  Moreover I cannot pay school fee."
"No need to pay any fee.  I will get her fee waived by the Government.  I will get her free uniform from Headmaster's quota.  I will also arrange for books from some other students who are promoted to the next class.  You have no excuse.  She should be in school by the time I reach there."
"Swami, should I really do it?"
"Yes, otherwise I will get you arrested by the police for violating government order."

Hanuma was afraid of government and police.  He did not even think of checking with someone.  He complied with father's orders.  Saraswati was admitted to first standard at school.  She was better than average in studies.  She passed her examinations every year.  By the time she came to High School, I had left the town and was working in a far away city.  On one of my home visits I learnt that father had arranged for her learning typewriting and shorthand in the local "Institute of Commerce". The Institute head was persuaded to give her a slot in the early morning class when the attendance at the institute was thin.  No need to mention that the fee was waived by him.

The last I heard of Saraswati was that she had secured a job as a Stenographer in the State Government and working in a building near Vidhana Soudha (State Secretariat). That was thirty years ago.

Why poverty in words?

Some four decades ago, before the advent of Television era, there used to be a program on All India Radio for teaching Sanskrit.   The program used to start and end with a sloka:

केयूरा न विभूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्वलाः
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालंकृता मूर्धजाः
वाण्येकासमलं करोति पुरुषं यासंस्कृताधार्यते
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाक् भूषणं भूषणं

Keeyoora na vibushayanti purusham haara na chandrojwalaa
Na snaanam na vilepanam na kusumam naalankrutaa murdhajaa
Vaanyekasamalankaroti purusham yaa samskrutaadharyatee
Ksheeyante khalu bhushanaani satatam vaakbushanam bushanam

Armlets do not decorate a person, neither garlands nor other ornaments, nor taking a bath or smearing with perfumes, nor flowers or attractive hairstyles.  A gift of refined speech alone beautifies a man. All other ornaments lapse or decay with time, only a refined speech stays for ever!

We have to perforce talk and interact with others during our daily life.  It is not possible to lead a civilized life without talking or communicating to others.  All the people with whom we interact do not do so at the same wavelength.  Transaction Analysis stipulates that there are three level of interaction: Parent, Adult and Child.  The best interaction takes place when both persons are dealing with each other at adult to adult level.  There are some people with whom we want to talk and interact.  There are some others whom we try to avoid.  Talking to some people uplifts our spirits.  When we talk with some others, we always end up being upset.  Why this difference?

When confronted with a problem, we think of sharing with somebody with the hope of getting some hints or suggestions to solve the problem.  When it is shared with such a person, the problem may not be solved.  But we get some comfort and direction.  Being firm in speech and action is often mistaken for being harsh and rude.  We all know of someone or the other who is very polite and courteous; yet they are equally firm in their words and dealings.  Their  voice is never raised, yet the firmness is felt and understood.

We know the story of the young astrologer and his Guru.  On completion of his education in the Gurukula, a young student started on the journey of life.  He was very good in his predictions and his fame reached the King.  The King sent for him and showed him his horoscope.  The young man studied the horoscope and told the king;  "I have never seen such a bad horoscope in my life.  Your sons and grandsons will die before you.  Your enemies will take control of your kingdom.  You will get it back only when you are very old".  the King was extremely annoyed and instructed the guards to put him prison.  This matter reached the Guru and he came to see the King.  The king was reluctant to see another astrologer.  But the Minister convinced the King to give him an audience.  Guru studied the same horoscope and exclaimed:  "Oh my dear King, I have never seen such a horoscope all my life.  You are very fortunate.  You will live longer than your sons and grandsons.  Even though your enemies take away your Kingdom, you will be able to fight back and rule your kingdom till your death!".  The king was very happy and wanted to gift something to the Guru.  Guru told him to release his student as he was still to learn some lessons.  Once the student was released from the prison, the Guru took him away and taught him the last lesson:

प्रिय वाक्य प्रदानेन सर्वे तुष्यन्ति जन्तवः 

तस्मात्  तदेव वक्तव्यं वचने का दरिद्रता ? 

priyavakya pradaanena sarve tushyanti jantavaha 

tasmaat tadeva vaktavyam, vachane kaa daridrataa?

All living beings (let alone human beings) are happy with sweet words.  Only such words are to be spoken.  why poverty in words?  What the student and teacher told the King were the content but packaged differently.  Only difference was that they were worded differently.  One version was palatable and the other was not.

Vachane kaa daridrata?

Why poverty in words?