Hi there,
I have been planning to write a short story for some time. Here are my attempts to come up with a rough draft. Please feel free to send me your review comments and help me better the narration.
Cheers.
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The wind was blowing slowly across the manicured lawns of the municipal park, picking with it the faint scent of wet earth. An indication that a sprinkler was working somewhere in the park. It was a hot summer afternoon and all one could see when they looked up was a bright blue sky with an intensely hot and yellow sun. The park was almost empty except for a couple of kids running around. I was sitting under a tree and resting, while trying to figure out how best I can tell you what I intend to tell.
Before I proceed further, let me introduce my self to you. I am the narrator of this story. A story in which I play the major part. A story of how my eyes opened to the world and how I had to adapt to it. And for the records, my name is Rohan.
I had a normal middle class upbringing in India. And this story has a lot to do with that aspect of my life. Nowadays, people are talking about how the middle class of the world are driving markets and so on. Lets leave that topic for another day. What that meant in India was that you wouldn't go hungry, but you couldn't do a lot of things either. Taking vacations to exotic places, for example. But I wasn't complaining. Like millions others, my dad worked in a government controlled firm. Mom was at home. My daily life, while in school, went on routinely and one day was not really that different from the other.
Over the years, I learnt that I had a disease. Now don't worry if the story line is going to change, or I am burdening you with a sad story of how I almost escaped death or am living with half my vital organs chopped off. I had something called optimist-ism. A very rare disease which is 50% of the time curable. What ever I did, even when all hope is lost, I would say that we almost are winning. Or if we lost, I would say things that would make people want to kill me but they let me go because they know that I have a disease. I would probably rally around the Indian cricket team when they are chasing Australia's 350 with 8 wickets down and 100 on the score card. But then again, I have a disease. You get the picture.
To be continued....
Friday, November 03, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Independence Day
Independence. What does that mean to you? For me, it’s something I can't live without. A few years earlier, I wouldn’t have said something like that. Back then I was carefree and nothing in the world bothered me. I did what I thought fit.
I realize now that was what independence was all about. No curtailing of thought, any dogma to follow, freedom to express my thoughts. And thankful I am for being born in such a country. I pity the poor souls caught in countries where oppressive regimes try to control and enforce their line of thinking or way of life. I used to think, as a kid, that the grass was greener on the other side. But now, oo boy... the greenest is at home. I have traveled far, I wouldn’t say wide because I still have to go there, and understood that the basic requirement to thrive as an individual and as a community was independence.
As the 59th year of India's independence goes by, this little and rather warm memory comes to my mind. I don’t remember when, but I think the year was between 1992 and 1995. I was at Nagahole, a wildlife preserve on the Karnataka/Kerala border in southern India. It was the rainy season and monsoon was in full force. The forest had come alive with renewed life and vigor. With bustling green and the smell of rain & earth filled in the air, it was a treat to the eye.
We went up to the road next to the main building of the forest department. It was noting big and elegant. But for the board and the flag pole, you would not have been able to differentiate it from any of the other building there. There was a small crowd of people assembled there including the IFS (Indian Forest Service) official, the one who is the head official of the forest. Before we could proceed on the ceremony, a small group of tribal kids who were from the local school chugged along to watch the flag hoisting ceremony and sing the national anthem. This was one of the most amazing sights I saw there. Here are these children, who unfortunately are at the far end of the development ladder, but were still participating in celebrating our country's tryst with destiny.
People might question if they really intended to be there celebrating or do they know the significance of independence, because they are still oppressed in their own country. There is no place on this earth where there has not been some form of oppression. Be it the rich oppressing the poor, one religion/caste against the other. Operession stems from inaction and ignorance. People have to stand up and make it felt that this sort of behaviour cannot go on. And what best place to do it in but a free and independent country.
I only hope that those kids realize their full potential and make the most that our country has to offer and in turn do us proud.Independence is something that we don’t realize we had till we loose it. My experiences in the past as well as present have proved one thing: Not to take what I have for granted.
I realize now that was what independence was all about. No curtailing of thought, any dogma to follow, freedom to express my thoughts. And thankful I am for being born in such a country. I pity the poor souls caught in countries where oppressive regimes try to control and enforce their line of thinking or way of life. I used to think, as a kid, that the grass was greener on the other side. But now, oo boy... the greenest is at home. I have traveled far, I wouldn’t say wide because I still have to go there, and understood that the basic requirement to thrive as an individual and as a community was independence.
As the 59th year of India's independence goes by, this little and rather warm memory comes to my mind. I don’t remember when, but I think the year was between 1992 and 1995. I was at Nagahole, a wildlife preserve on the Karnataka/Kerala border in southern India. It was the rainy season and monsoon was in full force. The forest had come alive with renewed life and vigor. With bustling green and the smell of rain & earth filled in the air, it was a treat to the eye.
We went up to the road next to the main building of the forest department. It was noting big and elegant. But for the board and the flag pole, you would not have been able to differentiate it from any of the other building there. There was a small crowd of people assembled there including the IFS (Indian Forest Service) official, the one who is the head official of the forest. Before we could proceed on the ceremony, a small group of tribal kids who were from the local school chugged along to watch the flag hoisting ceremony and sing the national anthem. This was one of the most amazing sights I saw there. Here are these children, who unfortunately are at the far end of the development ladder, but were still participating in celebrating our country's tryst with destiny.
People might question if they really intended to be there celebrating or do they know the significance of independence, because they are still oppressed in their own country. There is no place on this earth where there has not been some form of oppression. Be it the rich oppressing the poor, one religion/caste against the other. Operession stems from inaction and ignorance. People have to stand up and make it felt that this sort of behaviour cannot go on. And what best place to do it in but a free and independent country.
I only hope that those kids realize their full potential and make the most that our country has to offer and in turn do us proud.Independence is something that we don’t realize we had till we loose it. My experiences in the past as well as present have proved one thing: Not to take what I have for granted.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Chandra Giri
Latest on this: This became my second speech at toastmasters :-)
I haven't been to Tirupathi, the abode of lord Venkatesha in AP, that often. The last time I was there was in 1997 and before that in 1992. Tirupathi is a good 5 to 6 hour drive from my hometown of bangalore. The road passing thru some quaint little villages in AP. One thing that caught my attention was a diapalated old castle with all the works. An outer wall with cannon slots and a moat. As these sighting were thru a speeding car window, I had formed a vague image in my mind. (The view to the road)
Thru the ages, that image transformed itself into a simulacrum of India in the middle ages. I had built up my own version of the forts history. Starting from beautifull and ornate chambers, barracks and a dungeon. But time had taken its toll and these images were buried deep in my mind and were wanting to be satisfied. I decided to take a break from work and head to India for some time with my family and friends. Thats when my folks planned a trip to tirupathi. This was an ideal time to visit tirupati as the weather was good and I had unfinished business.
On our way back, I saw Chandra Giri ("Moon Mountain" when translated literally) in the distance. This got me sitting on the edge of my seat and absorbing the view. Trying to get the details and compare them with what I had built in my mind.
This place is really breathtaking. It has so much history built into, starting from the 10th Century AD. (A sculpture damaged by Hyder Ali's invasion. Also notice the roof design. The castle was redesigned by Hyder Ali)
Here is a little history about the fort:
It is believed to be have built about 1000AD by Immadi Narasimha Yadavaraya, a Karvetinagara chieftain of Narayanavaram. It was considerably improved by the Vijayanagara rulers. After the battle of talikota in 1565, chandragiri became the third capital of the declining Vijayanagara Empire in 1592. It came under the control of Hyder Ali in 1782 and was under Mysore till the treaty of Srirangapatinam in 1792 after which the British took over. This site was also witness to the signing of the document relating to the grant of fort St. George to the British East India Company.
The Mahals inside are from the time of Vijayanagara Empire and is a fine example of Indo-Saracenie Architecture. (The other view)
The central durbar has occupied two stories and is crowned by Dravida Vimana. The floors were supported by massive pillars in groups, carrying cross arches with square coffered ceilings. The entire construction is made of stone and brick in mortar. No timber is used. The entrance faces hills on the north while the balconies and windows on the south over looking the extensive grounds where perhaps the troops paraded.
The rani mahal (-->) was a separate quaters for the queens with a bath. And the gallows (<--) was located on top of the hill.
This trip to tirupati and the visit to chandra giri was really good and worth the effort involved. It was really educational and gave me a lot of insights on the life in those times. The mahal now houses a museum with priceless art from chandra giri and surrounding places. It also has arms used in those days. The Archeological Society of India has done a good job in maintaining this historic site. This trip reminded me what Patrick Hazard said once "History in our kind of society is not a luxury but a necessity". Until my next trip....
I haven't been to Tirupathi, the abode of lord Venkatesha in AP, that often. The last time I was there was in 1997 and before that in 1992. Tirupathi is a good 5 to 6 hour drive from my hometown of bangalore. The road passing thru some quaint little villages in AP. One thing that caught my attention was a diapalated old castle with all the works. An outer wall with cannon slots and a moat. As these sighting were thru a speeding car window, I had formed a vague image in my mind. (The view to the road)
Thru the ages, that image transformed itself into a simulacrum of India in the middle ages. I had built up my own version of the forts history. Starting from beautifull and ornate chambers, barracks and a dungeon. But time had taken its toll and these images were buried deep in my mind and were wanting to be satisfied. I decided to take a break from work and head to India for some time with my family and friends. Thats when my folks planned a trip to tirupathi. This was an ideal time to visit tirupati as the weather was good and I had unfinished business.
On our way back, I saw Chandra Giri ("Moon Mountain" when translated literally) in the distance. This got me sitting on the edge of my seat and absorbing the view. Trying to get the details and compare them with what I had built in my mind.
This place is really breathtaking. It has so much history built into, starting from the 10th Century AD. (A sculpture damaged by Hyder Ali's invasion. Also notice the roof design. The castle was redesigned by Hyder Ali)
Here is a little history about the fort:
It is believed to be have built about 1000AD by Immadi Narasimha Yadavaraya, a Karvetinagara chieftain of Narayanavaram. It was considerably improved by the Vijayanagara rulers. After the battle of talikota in 1565, chandragiri became the third capital of the declining Vijayanagara Empire in 1592. It came under the control of Hyder Ali in 1782 and was under Mysore till the treaty of Srirangapatinam in 1792 after which the British took over. This site was also witness to the signing of the document relating to the grant of fort St. George to the British East India Company.
The Mahals inside are from the time of Vijayanagara Empire and is a fine example of Indo-Saracenie Architecture. (The other view)
The central durbar has occupied two stories and is crowned by Dravida Vimana. The floors were supported by massive pillars in groups, carrying cross arches with square coffered ceilings. The entire construction is made of stone and brick in mortar. No timber is used. The entrance faces hills on the north while the balconies and windows on the south over looking the extensive grounds where perhaps the troops paraded.
The rani mahal (-->) was a separate quaters for the queens with a bath. And the gallows (<--) was located on top of the hill.
This trip to tirupati and the visit to chandra giri was really good and worth the effort involved. It was really educational and gave me a lot of insights on the life in those times. The mahal now houses a museum with priceless art from chandra giri and surrounding places. It also has arms used in those days. The Archeological Society of India has done a good job in maintaining this historic site. This trip reminded me what Patrick Hazard said once "History in our kind of society is not a luxury but a necessity". Until my next trip....
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