Nostalgia continued
The Phoenix
thread.
*********************************************************************
And as we would wade across "Perungulam" and reach the other side,
I would shift closely to my mother, hold on to the end of her sari
and spend countless minutes playing with it, the talk would meander
from local politics to Grandpa's health, and as we reached shore, Grandpa
himself would be waiting for us.
Now Kasthuri Iyer was a proud man, Being 6' 1" and pocessing a huge broad
forehead big enough to drive a car through but mostly used for applying
"Vivoodhi" in three straight lines, he always presented a formidable
reception comittee. "Ennama Journey Sugam thane"( The journey was pleasant,
wasnt' it) he would ask my mother endearingly, "No problem, Kashtame Padama
Vandhutom"(arrived with no difficulty) my mother would quip. I would watch
this conversation within the comfort and protection of my mother's sari,
and would always wonder about how my family would always mix English with
tamil. A trait which I found ubiquitious in my social circle.
"Dai Badhava, Yenda Amma sarikkule olingundrikkai"(Hey, why are you
hiding behind your mother's sari) would bellow grandpa and wake me up from
my slumber. "Appadi ellan onnu ille thatha"(nothing like that grandpa)
would be my standard meek reply.
Grandpa would then take me into his arms and then ask " Ammam
Sandhyavandhanam ellam panroyoda" ( Are you doing your morning prayers)
This was the dreaded question, now being the orthodox family we are
my grandfather had insisted that I have my "upanayanam"(thread ceremony)
atleast by seven, and true to form my Dad who could never even wonder
about questioning his father- in - law's words performed it. Now performing
the ceremony was one thing, I actually enjoyed all the attention that
was shown on me and the great gifts that were presented, but to expect me
to perform "Sandhyavandanam" every day was another. I mean give me a break
I was more interested in depicting kamalahasan singing "Sippi erukkude,
sinnam erukkude, kavithai paada neramilla rajathi" and watching the
neighbours girl, than stoicly devoting half an hour morning and evening
to my prayers.
Anyhow being the diplomat I am, I lied without any hesitation and
answered in the affirmative. It is in situations like this I
adore my mother. Though she is my harshest critic, she also is someone
who never lets me down when it comes to the line, and so she nodded
her head confirming my words.
This pleased Grandpa immensely. He valued our customs and traditions
too deeply to ever question its validity. I mean if my Grandpa had
spend all his life within this closed enclave, I could have then
rationalized his beliefs as one caused by social conditioning, but
Grandpa as Grandma would proudly say was an engineer from the Baneras
Hindu University. He had worked in the days of the Raj in Kolar Gold
Fields and later in TNEB, and had decided to spend his last days in his
village.
Grandpa was now fully involved in the teaching and explaining of
vedic rituals and as we walked towards home he would castigate my
mother for allowing me to be "westernised", "Avanu paru, eppa
parthalam pant shirtu pottu, crop vetti suthindrakan, endi
koyandhuku veshti vangi kodukkavendiathane" ( look at him, he is
always wearing in western clothes, why can't you get him some of
our own?)
My mother would try to weasel out of this by citing one excuse
or another, "ella appa, nan vangi kodathulu endha kallathile yaar
vesti wear panra, ellarum pant shirtu than pottukara, adhunalathan"
( who wears 'veshti' these days father, times have changed and
thats why he prefers that)
As this epic battle between modernity and tradition goes on, we
would have reached home, and there grandma would be waiting. She
would be wearing her customary 9 yards sari, leaning on the door
and straining her neck to get a clear view of the road without
actually stepping on the verendah.
Her face would light up, as she would see our frames approaching
in the distance. As we got nearer she would move away from the door
and look at both sides of the road to see if our arrival was marked
by any auspicious sign or not. Being the morning hour, milkmen would
abound everywhere and grandma would exult that this is very auspicious.
As soon as we reached the verendah, she would rush to me. You see
Grandma and me are very close. Early in my childhood grandma used
to spend a lot of time with us to help my mom, and in many ways my
grandma acted as my surrogate mother for quite a while.
So as soon we got in, my grandma would ask my mother how she is and then
whisk me back into the kitchen. There she would have "manna -like" coffee
waiting for me. She would have herself milked our cow "lakshmi" and would
have freshly ground the seeds. She would also have "idlis" baked with
the use of a cloth then of a plate to maximise the softness, and have
"moluga podi"(chilli powder) all ready for me. She would then sit down
and wait on me as I proceeded to eat. She would not move anywhere till
I finished all the stuff she would place periodically on my plate.
To be continued
*************************************************************************
This is now resulting in me slipping into memories which are in many
ways more related to the community or social order I was brought up
in. This could be boring/pedantic or just plain nuisance for some/most
people. So if you feel this is becoming a drag send mail and then
i will spare everyone the misery. Till then you all are trapped I
guess.
The Phoenix
--
The Greatest burden in the world is to have The Phoenix
a great potential. Reed #252
Linus from "Peanuts" Reed College
Portland, OR-97202
Mathai Chundattu
>So as soon we got in, my grandma would ask my mother how she is and then
>whisk me back into the kitchen. There she would have "manna -like" coffee
>waiting for me. She would have herself milked our cow "lakshmi" and would
What is "manna-like" coffee?
Is it the biblical manna!
--
Mathai Chundattu
Department of Chemical Engineering & Material Science
University of Oklahoma, Norman
OK