Musalakisalayam

In this post-modern era, when everyone is a self-proclaimed victor in any debate, it is the art of debate itself which is at dire straits. It is the logic (very often the lack of it) that hurts (rather is hurt) the most; In that, it will be amusing to observe how people manage to come up with the most inappropriate (and impossible) examples.

One of my friends, who is so fond of being the devil's advocate, often brings up a thought and asks for others' opinion on them (Simple'a solla pona.... Pesa vittu vedikka paakkardhu :P ); Recently he braught me a topic about love, and stated an example "Assume that an eighteen year old guy falls in love with a ninety year old woman" (now don't try imagining motherly, or grand motherly or platonic - he meant the popular romantic sense of it). Abstraction is indeed a worthy dimension towards understanding things, but these kind of examples run it to ridiculous limits. It is something like "assume 1=2 for the time being"; If I was to protest, the response would be "just assume - u need not accept".

Though old Indian schools had comprehensive grammar for logic, reasoning and debate, and several learnings associated with them, time and again people were coming up with arguements of the kind above. It is a popular reference in many refutations to such (worthless) arguements using one 'good old' and 'popular' example - Musalakisalayam.

Musalakisalayam literally means offspring of a metal staff (the long cylindrical rod which is used to crack paddy in a stone drum - Ollakkai kozhundhu in Tamil). "Olakkai Kozhundhu" is a word used to call someone an Idiot; but the original usage was to challenge someone who generalises a logic to inappropriate ideas. If one were to ask how an offspring of the metal staff will look like, if the response to come was that it would be like the same staff but smaller in size, then you are in deep trap, because one can never assume things which he has never known or seen. (eg. - form of a tadpole is never even close to a frog).

The same Musalakisalayam had a significant role to play in my dear Srirangam, sometime in the early 13th century when a modest cook was working in the house of a great Master. One early morning in the Master's drawing room, a few scholars were discussing some Sastra-vishayam, and our Cook was intrigued though he hardly understood a word. He managed to ask one of them - what they were discussing about. One arrogant scholar responded that they were discussing about Musalakisalayam - mocking at him that he is so illiterate. Our Cook still couldn't get the mockery, was patiently sitting by the side, listening to them; and eventually was running late for his daily errands. Since he was late in getting the meal ready, his master asked him for the reason, he told the story and his interest in learning the Musalakisalaya-Tattva. The Master was grief-stricken by the attitude of the scholars towards his servant, as he had high regards for the sincerity of his Cook. He began teaching his Cook as his prime student from that day, and our friend learnt so well that he graduated to the capacity of becoming a Jeeyar to serve Sri Ranganathan and Lord Varadarajan in the name of Vadikesari Azhagia ManavaLa Jeeyar, whose sishya parampara are still serving the Kanchi Perumal Koil Jeeyar Mutt.

Adding to this, HH VAMJ wrote a book (Vaadha granta) called "Musalakisalayam" apart from the most celebrated 12,000 padi vyakyanam for Baghawad Vishayam, Tatva deepikai and Deepaprakasa. And before I forget, the 'Master' we have just seen was none other than Sri Krishnar or popularly known as the Vyakyana Chakravarthy HH Periyavachan Pillai.

Though we are not qualified enough to read Vaadha grantas of our poorvacharyas, and not even fit to learn Tarka Sastra (art of Debate) according to the protocol, atleast we shall try to listen to the learned elders and start talking sense instead of fooling around being a Olakkai Kozhundhu.

Drama Classics - 3 : Crazy Thieves

Crazy Thieves in Paalavakkam - the spectacular entry to Tamil Stage by Crazy Mohan.

I first listened to the popular abridged version in MIO. It was impressive, especially to listen to SVe Sekar in his younger days, without the script modified like 1000 kicks. (Also One more exorcist and Tenant Commandments are on tape in the original version as Crazy Wrote them). Last year one of my fellow enthusiasts uploaded the full (113 mins) version taped from an old stage performance; It had exteded role for Ekalyvan - the writer, and Manager Cheena as Ramabhadran.

One piece with Ekalyvan is the pick of the script. FYI Ekalyvan is a petty writer and happens to be Sudarsanam's neighbour. Uppili is Sudharsanam's (fit for nothing) brother-in-law.

Ekalyvan : புதுசா ஒரு கதை எழுதிண்டு இருக்கேன், அதபத்தி தான் சொல்ல வந்தேன். உப்பிலி, கேளேன் ..."சுந்தரராம ராஜகோபாலர், மிகவும் நல்லவர், ஏழை, பரமசாது; சந்தர்ப்பமும் சூழ்நிலையும் அவரை குற்றவாளி ஆக்கிவிட்டது"

Uppili : சு சு சு ! கதை ரொம்ப பிரமாதமா இருக்கு சார் ! 

Ekalyvan : கதை இல்லப்பா, டைட்டிலே இதுதான் ! 

Interview - Velai - Vetti

Yesterday, me and my roomie were searching for english subtitles for a telugu movie, and ended up comparing between Bing and Google (I am a relegious googler! :P), and started searching for our names. It was then I came across this (sl. no. 28 ;-)).

Memories went back to that afternoon(11 July 04) in Sathyabama campus, when the interview results were to be announced in another hour or so; had just finished a "Satyabama lunch" :). Some 10 of us from Mech were sitting together under the shamiana, ready for a good after-meal nap; butts parked in a chair and legs in two others, ties on the shoulder like a thundu, those who napped - napped, others kalaichufying each other and the interviewers. We were like some exhibits being watched by nervous bunch of Comp Sci and MCA fellows and also few from other depts; It was so obvious that we were the ones least bothered about the results.

To elaborate further, we need to rewind full 48 hours further back. Anna Univ released results, the day before our prelims with Infy was scheduled for at Sathyabama. A few dumeels, many miraculous escapes and ofcourse many cleared arrear cases filled the drama. Anna Univ had pushed the button on one of my good friends AV, that too in HPC! :P. He called me up and spoke in abyss of morale on what would happen the next day, bcos he will have a standing arrear, despite being confident that he would clear in reval (so typical Anna univ case!). The next day pre-placement talk had a super goof-up, when the HR chose to ignore the 6th sem results all-together. Now those who got flunk-results last night are eligible and those who cleared standing arrears do not qualify now! - So very sensible. Well... the best part was AV took my advice and came in formals (LOL) and clean shaved, to talk to the PO to save his skin.

People were so immersed in their Shankuntala Devis and George Summers; one fellow from my class, KKanna had mugged entire George Summers up!; Our dear old Machan Mallu was shaddowing a stud from EEE all along and managed to get a seat next to him in the exam hall (I still don't know why :|). The test was over in no time, and when we all came out, Machan Mallu tried panicking me that I could be rejected for being in top 10 percentile :P as if I was bothered (I scored a 59/60 btw - I managed to see my paper while at the interview the nxt day). The shortlist for the interview was announced late in the afternoon, and to everybody's "surprise" 90% of my college girls dumeeled (including my 'then' best friend). "Gender BIAS"!!. Some 14 were in from my class; too much of stomach burnings around bcos we joint-topped with CS-A with the numbers.

The interview day begun with Mr.Bull tying ties for all of us (The only other time I wore one was to try out a windsor knot for which I got a demo in an email forward ;o) ); one akka from MCA losing her ID card in the waiting room, machan mallu sweating and trying to transfer his nervousness to all of us, VJ trying to act cool, me & dog not sure on how to react, Policeman being all-ears, AV at his comical best, and I have no rememberance on what our Nellai Hero was doing. I was called for the interview, had a good talk with the 50 something HR person, about Finite Elements, variational calculus and that I am planning to study further and this job is just a back up. After it was all over, we were sharing our experiences; AV had the best of all. He got a lady trying to stress him up questioning his Mech background for an IT job and he pinning her down in a single response, and many more mundane exchanges with others.

Now back live; Our gang napping and relaxing under the shade. The stage got occupied and people were coming back to get seated. Our PO started with CS and went through with 20 names with expected celebrations and Hi5's all around, and then "Now Mechanical Engineering.... Mr. Santhosh Chandrasekaran", all of us turned to him and he slapped on his forehead :D

இந்த உலகத்தில் சாதாரண மனிதர்களுக்கு தர்மம் வேறு; இராஜகுலத்தில் பிறந்தவர்களுக்கு தர்மம் வேறு

Atlast I have read Sivagamiyin Sabatham, a classic epic by Kalki, (unfairly) the second most popular, next to Ponniyin Selvan. It has been a good decision on my part to read Kalki's works in the order in which he wrote, though he wrote Parthiban Kanavu, the logical sequel to SS, first. I was waiting to read this for more than a year after finishing PK, and it was worth the wait that I finished this 4 part epic in 5 days (quite a toll).

I am not here to write a review, as no words by a silly me can do justice to this masterpiece - be it in the plot, or the characterisation, the narration, the description of the Kanchi town and the allied historical information, socio-religious-politics, perspectives, concious distortion of facts, conspiracy, espionage, bravery & fool-hardiness, gratitude and above all FAITH over which (both having and shaking from) the plot stands.

I was all but a front-bencher in a tamil cinema theatre, laughing, clapping, jumping but could not whistle :P. I so wanted to whistle in the Vajrabaahu episode(in the picture is the scene where Vajrabahu and Paranjothi meet), especially in the Malai kaNavai chapter where he tells Paranjothi about his promise to the kaNavai Durgaa devi.

It had almost all kinds of personalities - Epitome of Selfassurance: Chakravarthy Vichitrachittar Mahendravarman, height of loyalty: Chatrugnan and Gundotharan, Fickle minded and short tempered: Sivagami, Lack of Self-control: Aayanar, Mangayarkarasigal: Puvanamatha Devi and Vaanamaadevi, Tasteless Wild Beast: Pulikesi, Artistic-Sadistic-Cunning-Longshot thinker: Nagathanthi, Obedient Students: Kumara Chakravarthy and Pranjothi, Very ordinary mortals: Kannapiraan, Kamali, Kalipagai, ministers, etc...; All of them live through your thoughts even after you close the book.

One feels pity for Chakravarthy Mahendravarmar when he realises Garvabangam and that he was not Krishnaparamathma to get everything right and going his way. The character build up for the Hero of the novel was so profound and heavy that you would love to live in service to such an Emperor.

The best thing I got from this novel is the title of this post, which Chakravarthy Vichitrachittar Mahendravarmar states twice. I have always maintained this view point against the leftist jealousy over people who inherit high-position and wealth. All the legal heirs inherit only the responsibility and with the responsibility comes the luxury and unfortunately it is the luxury that attracts all the evil eyes.

And about the suspense factor that comes after having read Parthiban Kanavu is the villain in PK who comes from SS, I expected VishnuVardhan to be the one after having read the first three parts, and I was wrong.

There are ofcourse three major disappointments since I had some expectations from my side to begin with.

1) I expected a Vichitrachittar kind of a role to Chakravarthy Narasimhavarman in the last part, but he was potrayed only as an ordinary person with a lot of personal conflicts.

2) I expected Pulikesi to die in a wrestling duel (obvious expectation :P)

3) How dare Kalki spun an epic which had its heart at Kanchi without even a single mention about Atthigiri ? ! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :x

Yes! but from What? and now Where?

Prof. DEJ often talks about his opinion on who the "Last Great Indian" was/is. He always awarded Barrister Mohandas Gandhi as the one who was the "Last Great Indian" and PM AB Vajpayee as the one who is the one. Well... this was good 5 years back. Now the former is has almost become a was, and today I am in quite a lock on who is the one. It is difficult for me to choose between two of the good friends in the country today - Shri Arun Shourie and ThiruvALar S Gurumurthy.

I am writing this post in the eve of completion of 62 years since India's political Independence from British Rule. But, in Shri Arun Shourie's perspective, it was merely a transfer of power and not really an independence. Not many of us are taught the real truth; Local democracy existed even before 1947; Indians were allowed to contest elections for the legislative assemblies in the Presidencies (states were called presidencies back then). Congress controlled most of the states, and apart from Congress, Muslim league, Justice Party and Swatantra were the dominant parties. It was the British constitution which was the "Super" Government over the Legislature and the constitution that was forced on us in the form of the "Super" Government was the subject of the dispute and that was what we demanded Independence from. Shri Shourie's book "Worshipping False gods", narrates almost every significant incident from the 'Liberation Day'(not 1947) till the framing up of constitution to neccessary details. We had copied the exact same ideology that we had opposed and the Constitution of India, in its first draft was a near carbon copy of whatever existed till then.

Many modern "Indians" blame it on McCaulay's policies for the intellectual slavery we were into, till then, and even after Independence, we have made no serious attempt to get ourselves out of the mess we had been subjected to. Shri Shourie cites often about the timidity of the intellectual class in the society as one big reason for our inability to get out of the shell. Bharat is a land of very vibrant societies, and could hardly be confined to a book in the name of Constitution. But unfortunately the framers modeled a large unit which is as big and rich and diverse as the world itself into a State, and thrusted words, lines and pages to dictate how the complex commonwealth of societies would, rather should, behave.

More so, the modern day intellectualism is only as good as how Thiru Gurumurthy has put in his latest article as "Most Indian intellectuals, including the media, often love to draw a contrast between ‘India’ — meaning the urban — and Bharat — meaning the rural; the former as ‘modern’ and the latter as distanced from ‘modernity’ ". Today, IPC has replaced Morality, Professional ethics as a course taught in classrooms has replaced Value Education at home by elders, Disputes to be solved at home are braught to Judiciary, Local Democracy gotten crushed by State Legislations, in short, whatever that was native of the land getting replaced customarily in the name of modernaisation without debate on the need for a change. I, being a conservative Old-Schooler, often face with a funny question "are your ideas still applicable in this modern society?". We still intake through our mouth and ______________. Can you please change that ?

Marx in his expositions about India had interestingly contradicted with himself: Calling India to be a successful society right from time immemorial with richness in social order, success in achieving democracy even at the lowest level, criticised the civilisation, in a later piece of writing, as a semi-barbaric society, since it did not accomodate a revolution. So, according to him, even a successful society must face with a revolution and become 'modern' despite being short of a real need to change. So, in similar lines, we must shed all our civilisational input, and become modern in order to be successful.

Now things seem more consistent. The so called "Modern" thinkers, who largely identify themselves with the ideas of the West, demand modernisation by shedding originality without a need, which falls in socialist lines. In short, they want something which they originally are opposed to. Such is the intellectual slavery and so is upheld the 'Land of Paradox" title annointed by the West.

We were subjected to Intellectual slavery back until 1947 and today marching towards grand success in subjecting ourselves into deeper pits, in looking at the rest of the world to define and redefine ourselves.

My job is here not to pass a judgement like how the 'Modern Intellectual Class' of today does, without being able to appreciate differences between 'opinion' and 'fact'. My plead is same as what Thiru Gurumurthy pleads with all the responsibile sons of the land, the same thing what Kullachaamy directed Aurobindho Gosh to do in a tea shop in Pudhuchchery, "empty your cup and start thinking afresh"

Looking at the past to find solutions for our today's problems is in no way disrespectful, and the world is not going to grade you on your level of modernisation but on your success. If we can be successful with our originality, then why look to change?

Let me close this seemingly incoherent post with this -

Drama Classics - 2 : Manja Jibba & kaavi veshti

a quick one in Adhirshtakaaran, though only ordinary by Venkat's standards :

Hero Gopalakrishnan (SVe Sekar) is trying to fool his father-in-law-to-be, by acting like a millionare, with the help of his friend Siva, who works in a film production company.

He is going to meet the mamanaar-to-be for the first time and the identification as told by his "aaLu" would be "Manja Jibba and Kaavi Veshti" (yellow kurta and saffron dothi)

சிவா: கோடீஸ்வரன் மாதிரி நடிக்கணும் அவ்வளவு தானே?

கிருஷ்ணன்: ஆமாம்.

சிவா: ஏன் பார்ட்னெர்! எதுக்காக என்ன அம்மாவசை அன்னிக்கி ராத்திரி பத்து மணிக்கு மகாபலிபுரம் பீச்சுக்கு வர சொன்னின்க்?

கிருஷ்ணன்: அப்போ தான் சுண்டல் சீப்பா கிடைக்குமாம். உன்ன எவண்டா மகாபலிபுரம் பீச்சுக்கு வர சொன்னது? இப்போ தானே நாலரை மணிக்கு நேரு பார்க்குக்கு வரசொன்னேன்.

சிவா: இது டியாலாக்டா. நீ தானே சொன்னே உன்னோட மாமனார் வரும்போது பெரிய பணக்காரங்க மாதிரி ஆக்ட் பன்னானும்னு.

கிருஷ்ணன்: நீ இப்ப ஆக்ட் பண்ணியா? நீ எப்போ சாதாரணமா இருக்க எப்போ ஆக்ட் பண்ணறேன்னு ஒண்ணுமே புரிய மாட்டேங்கறது. டி.வீ. ல ஞாயத்துகிழமை மத்யானம் அவார்டு பிலிம் பாக்கறமாதிரி இருக்கு. எல்லாருக்கும் புரியற மாதிரி நடி

சிவா: இப்போ பாரு..... ஹுஹாஹாஹாஹா!

கிருஷ்ணன் : தெலுங்கு டப்பிங் லெவெலுக்கு போய்ட்டியே !!

Gems of MRV

I am a follower of Gurumurthy (Indian Express), and offlate I have become a fan of one of his sishyans MR Venkatesh, another popular chartered accountant from Chennai; especially for his Guru style bold expletives and tough conservative idealogical stands.

This is one 'burst out with laughter' piece of his in a recent speech on Illegal Funds of Indians - Abroad.

goes as "................... One.. tall, handsome lawyer from Sivaganga [pause], who wears dothi only and speaks in good english, and whose english is mistaken as economics by people........."

Click here, to listen to the speech in full.

His special digs at PC (public comedian! :P) are really worth reading or listening to.

Do go through his articles in his website, if u are interested in reading about economic/trade policies and nationalism in economics or nationalism in general.

Drama Classics - 1 : Katpadi Krishnan

A special scene in Crazy Mohan's classic Meesai Anaalum Manaivi, where in Maadhu hires "Deadbody" Manavalan, a specialist in acting as a corpse in movies, as a fake Bride's father, to take his wife and brother-in-law away from home fearing further confusion at home with their presence.

The imaginary character created by Maadhu was to be Katpadi Krishnan, the Bride's father; and He would ask Katpadi Krishnan to mail a letter to his Brother-in-law Ramanujam about the prospective alliance and come home to take him away to Katpadi for the Bride-interview (peNN paarkkum padalam ;-) ), and this is what Ramanujam gets in the letter.

[ones in brackets are comments by Ramanujam while Maadhu reads the letter aloud]

Maadhu tries to prophess what would have been in the letter, and Ramanujam replies as follows:

ராமானுஜம்: இருந்துதே! வரிக்கு வரி ஒண்ணுவிடாம எல்லாமே தப்பு. நான் நெனைக்கறேன், இந்த காட்பாடி கிருஷ்ணன் கேட்டச்சகுனத்துக்குன்னு ஒரு கட்சியே ஆரம்பிப்பான்னு . இந்தாங்க மாப்பிளை நீங்களே படிங்க.

Maadhu reads:

அன்புள்ள திரு ராமானுஜத்திருக்கு,

டெட்பாடி கிருஷ்ணன் எழுதிக்கொண்டது. (kAtpadi'ya deadbody aakkiduthu)

நான் நேற்றே மரணம் என்று நினைத்தேன், மடியவில்லை. நிற்க!

இன்று நான் பெண்ணின் போட்டோவுடன் டெட்பாடியிலிருந்து வருகிறேன்.(manasula Jesus nu nenappu, deadbody'lerndhu varraaraam)

உங்களுக்கு பெண்ணின் போட்டோ பிடித்திருந்தால் இன்றே டெட்பாடிக்கு சென்று பெண் பார்க்கும் சடலத்தை வைத்துக்கொள்ளலாம். முஹுர்ததிர்க்கு மார்ச்சுவரியில் நல்ல நாள் இருக்கிறது. (March'varai nalla muhurtham irukkaam)

இப்படிக்கு,

டெட்பாடி கிருஷ்ணன்.

My brother who hardly likes any of these audio dramas, was on the floor laughing noiselessly-breathless, while beating on his forehead, for this piece.

This must be regarded as one of Crazy's masterpieces, because, there is nothing seriously wrong about this letter, but for "key" spelling mistakes in a "few" places.

Tamil Dramas

Many of my friends know that I am an ardent fan of Tamil Dramas, especially of those by Cho, SVe Sekar and Crazy Mohan. I belong to an 'elite class of enthusiasts' who go to bed listening to a drama, and you would be surprised to know that in some communities in Orkut, people put up the drama which was running the previous night, in the bed side.

Most of the reactive on-liners, that I often crack, are inspired by great humourists like Cho, Crazy Mohan, Venkat, GK and Krishnakumar (wirters for Natakapriya).

Some episodes in those dramas are unforgettable and I wish to share them under a common head "Drama Classics - #" - something like thought for the week or thought for the day or heck whenever I get a thought of it :P

Yours humourously,

Sriram ;o)

Worship?

This is a small reflection on one of the posts by my friend.

Questions in the minds of most of the young Hindus today, about God and allied practises, are rather fundamental and need immediate attention.

Addressing these questions are simple and yet they look more daunting than what they really are.

Why Worship? How? and more so... What is Worship?

His key statement was (not verbatim) "God created the universe and all of us, the beings in the universe and expects us to spend a significant time in our short life praising Him"

Well, analogies are pretty simple - take for example, one's parents. It is written in Sastras that a basic duty of man (read human) is to respect, support and worship his parents. Every parent would expect their son to honour the sastra. In that case will that mean that they gave birth to the child to get themselves served or to subject the child to their servitude?

Continuing with the same example, I am not sure if Sriman Narayanan has actually been able to design a hell for Sin against one's mother. I am still to find a hell mentioned in Garudapuranam for abusing the parents, mother in particular. But if someone is really thrilled to try it out, then consider doing this - Go to your mother, and say, "Mom!, I have cleaned the garden, I will also sweep the floor and dust the windows. But I am also hungry, will you feed me in exchange to all the chores I do/did today ?".

I am not sure what hell I will get to, for even typing that down, but on the flip side, every other Hindu today is committing this very sin. It is understandable that people do body-paining penances to all Demi-Gods to seek their blessings to achieve some material gains, which are again well permitted in Sastras, but to even getting that, the "Super-Motive" should be to walk closer to the Ultimate Goal (Purushartha). For example, even Andal worshipped Lord Manmadhan to bless her with love towards Kannan, the ultimate purpose in life. But doing the same to the Jagath Karanam is rather insulting, and is the sorry state of affairs today. Even more painful is this.

Enough of cribbing; Coming back to the question - Why Worship ?

Well.. He is the Creator, you are the created. So love, respect and worship Him as you mother.

He is the Lord, you are his servant(slave acc. to vishishtadvaita). Respect Him as your master

He is the Protector, and you are the protected. show your gratitude towards Him.

He did not prefer high scholars to mingle with. He chose to hug a hunter, a monkey and a demon in a birth and playing around and sharing food with a bunch of cowherds in the next. Treat Him as your friend, He is more reachable than you could have ever imagined.

You will not gain any (tangible)benifits by Worshipping Him, but it is our duty as a part of the rulebook (Sastra) and following the instruction manual will help you get through the process of living and more so - to get out of it peacefully. Else, from today, start driving your vehicle as you please... why worry about rules ?

As I begun, this is only a 'small' reflection, and more serious discussions on how to worship? modes of worship, difference between temple worship, to that at home and meditation, etc., are likely in near future in my other blog .