One afternoon Narayanan woke up from his siesta on the Kulappura parapet with an intense desire to pollute his gullet with snuff. He reached for the small urn like snuff box, made of bison horn, presented to him by a relative in Madras. He usually kept it tight to his hip, rolled on the corner of his Dhoti. But now it was missing. He made a search on the floor and the ground below. It was not there. He now started worrying, not because the aesthetically made little "urn" is missing, but because the golden brown dust it contained will not be readily available to send fire balls in to his brain. He got up and went to the house for inquiring with the children. Sometimes they used to tease him by hiding the snuff box. He pleaded with the children for giving back the snuff box but they had not taken it. Narayanan restlessly rushed out of the house and walked down the pathway of Ariyanipadam. He left the fields behind and climbed up the narrow pathway which leads to Madanassery angadi. As he entered the pathway, the Tamil lady who was standing in front of her house came to chat. But he was in no mood for that. Narayanan felt disheartened as he reached his destination, the small shop of Ramaru Chettiar, for, the shop was already closed. Then he remembered that today is Saturday, the day Chettiar went to Palakkad for taking goods. Now the only ray of hope was Nanu Nair's shop at the village junction. He walked down the mud road briskly. There also bad luck awaited him. Though the shop was open, it did not have stock of the precious dust...
WHIMS N FANCIES
Sunday, December 4, 2011
TRIBUTES -4
One afternoon Narayanan woke up from his siesta on the Kulappura parapet with an intense desire to pollute his gullet with snuff. He reached for the small urn like snuff box, made of bison horn, presented to him by a relative in Madras. He usually kept it tight to his hip, rolled on the corner of his Dhoti. But now it was missing. He made a search on the floor and the ground below. It was not there. He now started worrying, not because the aesthetically made little "urn" is missing, but because the golden brown dust it contained will not be readily available to send fire balls in to his brain. He got up and went to the house for inquiring with the children. Sometimes they used to tease him by hiding the snuff box. He pleaded with the children for giving back the snuff box but they had not taken it. Narayanan restlessly rushed out of the house and walked down the pathway of Ariyanipadam. He left the fields behind and climbed up the narrow pathway which leads to Madanassery angadi. As he entered the pathway, the Tamil lady who was standing in front of her house came to chat. But he was in no mood for that. Narayanan felt disheartened as he reached his destination, the small shop of Ramaru Chettiar, for, the shop was already closed. Then he remembered that today is Saturday, the day Chettiar went to Palakkad for taking goods. Now the only ray of hope was Nanu Nair's shop at the village junction. He walked down the mud road briskly. There also bad luck awaited him. Though the shop was open, it did not have stock of the precious dust...
Monday, July 25, 2011
TRIBUTES 3
Through the gaps of those thickets, white and red colors of the tiled roof houses on the other side of the paddy fields were visible. Beyond all these, Western Ghats, which we, the people of Pulappatta , called as Kalladikodan Mala stood raising its minarets into the cloudy skies.
We sat happily listening to the jokes and stories of Kunhukuttan Ammaman passing our hands through his pure white soft hair.
“It’s due to honey” he would say. “By mistake I applied honey in my hair instead of oil. Because of it hair became white….not because of age…”.We would laugh.
The family house property had four Gods installed in four corners of the property. Brahma Rakshas, considered soul of expired Brahmins who once upon a time owned the property, had their seat at South Eastern part. Dharma Deivam considered to be the God of present owners sat at the South Western corner. Kuttichathan and Parakutty occupied places at North Eastern and North Western corners respectively. First two were pure vegetarians and teetotalers and found pleasure in Appam, Adada, Avil, Malar and Payasam. Krishnan Embrandiri from Kottayil temple was called in once in a year to perform the pooja for them.
Eating habits of the Gods on the Northern side, however, was different. They preferred Chicken with Local Toddy or Arrack and therefore Kunhukuttan Ammaman took up the role of the Poojari twice in a year to feed them. In his absence Ponnambalan took up the responsibility. Neighbor boy Ramakrishnan played the second fiddle in both cases assuming the role of Kizhsanthi. For the children of the house these two poojas were the only occasions for tasting non vegetarian food from the house and they looked forward to it.
Pooja night.....
To hell with the Rooster soul!
Kunhukuttan Ammaman offered Avil, Malar (Puffed and beaten rice), coconut pieces and Rooster curry to the God by hand gestures. Arrack, which Chathu, the field worker who frequented the arrack shop, had procured from a local shop was poured in to a coconut shell and was offered. After the rituals were over, arrack was shared fifty-fifty by Kunhukuttan Ammaman and Ponnambalan as Prasadam. Though Ponnambalan was his usual serious self even after taking it, Kunhukuttan Ammaman tried to pretend as intoxicated:
"Now I can see two Sasi and two Suresh........" He declared to the children.
Though thecurry was made of one Rooster, it was shared to all neighboring houses apart from the large number of inmates. Sharing seemed to be the joy for all in those days!
One night Kunhukuttan was startled awake by his full urinary bladder. It was a winter night. He laid in half sleep awoke for some time looking at the pale light in the passage. Flying light worms were lighting the inverted lotuses on the wooden pillars under which he slept. Under another pillar Ponnambalan also slept. Narayanan was sleeping perpendicular to them on a wooden plank with his head to the south. Below, on the floor, on jute sack slept the guard of the house, Kalu, the dog. He had rounded himself tightly and the head was dug in to the center.
Kunhukuttan came out of the house and moved towards the Indian Gooseberry (Avla) tree near the Cow Shed, loosening his loin cloth. Outside, it was very cold. Silent night. The pinnate leaves of the Gooseberry tree were folded in sleep. A half moon in the sky and the winter fog weaved a translucent curtain around the house. Kunhukuttan was about to get up after passing urine when he felt some body pass by him. But who at this odd hour……..? It’s all my feeling….he tried to reason. But then he heard the sound of footsteps falling on dry leaves. Kunhukuttan, brave man he is, felt a lightning of fear flashing through his guts. He was sitting near the pathway below the tree which went up to the thick jungle outside the court yard of the house. He tried to lift the head and look ahead despite the stiffness he felt on the back of the neck due to fear. He saw a white colour moving towards the jungle. Was it a man wearing a dhoti? Grey hair...? Or is it just a feeling? He was not sure. It was not the stealthy movement of a thief….It was an authoritative movement…..as if somebody authorized to walk this way any time…….seeing him sitting there and walking ahead totally ignoring him. This recognition made Kunhukuttan sweat in the cold winter night.
He somehow got inside the house and called Ponnambalan in a hushed voice. Kalu hearing the voice looked up and identifying Kunhukuttan returned to his sleep pushing his head in to the round. Kunhukuttan with much difficulty woke up Ponnamabalan and told him he saw somebody out side.
“Ningalkku thonniyatavum…ippo kedannu orangin.” (Its your feeling.....try to sleep...). Ponnambalan pulled his blanket over his head and went back to sleep. It seemed, Ponnambalan, during his nocturnal wander around the house, had already encountered something similar.
Next day when Grand Father was sitting on the steps leading to the court yard Kunhukuttan presented the incident.
“Brahmarakshassinte Pooja nadathan vaiki………Krishnan Embrandirikku aale ayakkya…….” Grand Father said.
(Pooja for the South Eastern God is getting late. Send word for Krishnan Embrandiri.)
Years later when I came home on holidays, I visited Kunhukuttan Ammaman in his house. Now his elder brother's son was looking after him. He had grown weak and cataract had hung grey veils in his eyes. The large tummy, against which we leaned and listened as small children, when he recited the adventure stories, had wrinkled like a deflated balloon. He had difficulty in walking. Still, when I took leave of him, he followed me to the bamboo gate of the house with the help of a bamboo pole, improvised as a walking stick. I crossed Ariyanipadam and reached our Padippura. (Gate). When I looked back, he was still standing there looking at my direction. Was he able to see me through his cataract draped eyes? I do not know. I too stood in front of the Padippura looking back at him. It was evening. As we stood on opposite sides of the paddy fields, twilight slowly started fading and darkness between us grew denser....
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
TRIBUTES 2
As dusk fell, as all family members moved to the first floor for sleeping,as Ponnambalan embarked on his nocturnal journey through the farm with his long woodden pole and a lighted lantern and as Narayanan started reciting Kathakali songs aloud, often taking steps of a character in the folk art, it will be the turn of another desolate mother to weep thinking about her daughter and their plight....
Today a letter had come from Kalluvazhi,a remote village where her daughter is married away, which mother had read out. Parukuttyy Elayamma's daughter had given birth to another girl baby,her fifth, and this had pushed everybody into sorrow.
"Ini niruthan parayeen, anchayille penkuttikal..." Mother was telling Parukutty Ilayamma to advise her daughter for adopting family planning measures as she now has five daughters. The burden of marrying off five daughters obviously weighed in her advice.
Outside the narrow and high netted window of her bedroom, night became dense among the aged mango trees.Beyond the huge mango trees in pitch darkness sat Nagathan, the serpent God.Once in a year Krishnan Embrandiri came and performed the pooja for Nagathan and Dharma Daivam, the family God represented by a self erupted mud idol housed in a small temple.Wild creepers hung from the huge trees intertwining like mating snakes. Parukutty Elayamma looked out of the window unable to sleep as fire flies made the futile attempt of lighting up the jungle. In the solitude of her sleepless nights she thought of her life journey....
Her husband had expired soon after the birth of her daughter. How did he die? I have never heard any account of his death from the house discussions. Even otherwise it is not relevant. What is relevant is life after death. Of course not of the person who died but of the survivors. After the death of her husband, Parukutty came back to live with her brothers, carrying all her belongings in a Pettakam (Wooden Box), which was given to her as marriage gift as per the custom.When her daughter attained age, she was married off to the brother in law of one of her brothers.
After wards when her brother decided to move to his wife's place, Parukutty came to live with her elder sister, my Grand mother whom she called Ammu Eduthi and we called Achamma. She carried her Pettakam of belongings to our house and it found it's new resting place in her solitary bed room; and Parukutty identified herself with the numerable items of the kitchen. There she resigned to her solitude accepting her destiny.
Whenever father, who was a school teacher, got some extra income by way of official duties, he will add a line to the Gold Muthumala of Grand mother. Like other ladies of the house Parukutty Elayamma would examine the ornament when it was brought to house, holding it close to her eyes whose sight had started failing.Delightfully.Without jealousy...lust... or any complaint to the Almighty regarding the disparity, though the owner of the jewels and herself were the products of the same womb.Her daughter and children visited the house whenever there was a special occasion. They spent most of the time in the solitary bed room talking to her but were unable to mingle with the children of the house; some thing, economical or social or something I am unable to explain, separated them. So near a relation, yet so far.....!
Years passed on in the form of sun and rain out side the kitchen window during the day; In the form of rain, darkness and moon light out side the narrow netted bedroom window during the night.Vishu and Onam came one after the other. For Karkkidaka Samkranti Parukutty Elayamma welcomed the Goddess of prosperity, Sreebhagavathy. Sreebhagavathy and Chetta Bhagavathy are believed to be sisters. Sreebhagavathy will come only if Chetta Bhagavathy is routed out of the house. Ammukutty, the outside servant played the role of Chetta Bhagavathy carrying broom and other wastes in a mud pot. Paruktty Elayamma chased her out of the house calling out "Chette..Phoo, Chette ..Phoo... Chetta Purathu, Sree Bhagavathy akathu..". (Chetta out;Sree Bhagavathi in..). Next day onwards Grand mother made Shivothi for thirty days - on a wooden plank water in two Kindis were kept, mirror, flowers, sandal wood piece etc were arranged. Representing Sree Bhagavathy.
And one day grand mother, fell down due to cerebral thrombosis. She could not get up there after despite treatment of all sorts,systems. From her state of delirium she called out Parukutty and Ponnambalan day in and day out. Parukutty elayamma, herself aged and requiring assistance, nursed her sister along with Ponnambalan. So devotedly that when after three years Grand mother passed away, it was felt that Parukutty Elayamma has accomplished the purpose of her very existence on earth.Now she too was developing physical ailments and the question of who will nurse her if she is bed ridden disturbed the family atmosphere.It was time for her Pettakam to find a new resting place in their journey.......
Parukuty Elayamma's daughter's house turned out to be smaller than what I had imagined.It was a common Kerala style construction with tiled roof. Every corner of the house was so full that I doubted whether there was any room left for Parukuty Elayamma's pettakam. We carried it from the Jeep and kept it in a corner of the inside room which ,perhaps, was it's last resting place. In the front open hall itself her son in law, who was now unable to walk due to rheumatics, laid on a wooden cot. Her daughter also was visibly weak, physically.All their five daughters had been married away,fortunately, to good families. Most healthy among all the inmates seemed to be the octogenarian mother in law of her daughter. All of them received us heartily to my surprise.It seemed, just as Parukutty elayamma, all of them had accepted their fate without murmur and was ready for anything life had in store for them.......good,bad or worse.When we started off our return,Parukuty elayamma said to me "Come to see me once in a while....I just want to see you all......". Her voice strained of sorrow and I noticed her eyes were full of tears.......
After that even though we visited her every now and then and sent her small sums for her maintenance, Parukutty elayamma was brought to House only once;during the marriage of sister.She was brought one week in advance and seemed to be very happy to come home.....The home where she had spent more than thirty years; and loved whose inmates more than her own daughter and grand children.....Even though she had difficulty in walking, she went around the house and examined everything.
"Karoppila maram valuthayalo......"(The curry leaves plant has grown big). She said delightfully looking at the Curry leaves tree now full of dark green leaves.Some times getting curry leaves which was indispensable for any Kerala dish was difficult. Being the kitchen- in- charge, she had therefore planted a sapling near the kitchen so that there is easy access to curry leaves whenever needed. Some how my mind tried to equate her own life with that of curry leaves...Indispensable for every dish yet discarded by every one......
After the marriage when she got in the Jeep for her return journey, I noticed the tears in her eyes. Even though the family members were present to see her off, every body spared the etiquette of asking when she will come back next. Still she said as a soliloquy:
" Eni eppo varan ivade arudeem kalyanom illalo..." (Now there is no marriage here for me to come ...)
" There is no need of any such occasion.....I shall come with a Jeep and bring you here whenever you feel like coming here......" I wanted to say that.But before the words came out the jeep had moved........
Years later when the inevitable end came to her after getting bed ridden for some months, we were in a far away town for a major surgery for father. May be that was yet another irony scripted by destiny that we should not take part in the last rites of a person who had been so affectionate to us........
Only the persons who looked after her in her last days had the right for that........!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
TRIBUTES
Huge and old Areca and coconut trees surrounding the Kulam gave a Jurassic atmosphere as darkness descended over them. In the day light their inverted shadows used to sway like huge anacondas as wind created little ripples in the Kulam. Little fishes tingling my feet reminded me of the Piranhas in Phantom comics which I used to read with passion in my childhood. A water snake came swaying towards my feet and suddenly turned away, perhaps sensing a human.
Lights and the sound of the TV coming from the House suddenly vanished. Power cuts are frequent in the village. Thick darkness engulfed the universe. Through the gap over the Kulam I could see the haze of the clouded, starless sky. Only fire files with their little lights moved smoothly through the air.
Now from the far end of the farm bamboo fence, I could see a light slowly walking towards me. Beyond the farm fence was a large expanse of paddy fields called Ariyanippadam. In the middle ofAriyanippadam there is a marshy patch which will not be dry even in the most grueling summers. From the childhood stories that Kunhukuttan Ammavan told, a demon called Potti Pishachu travels in the area during solitary hours of the night. Fire balls will come out as it opens it's mouth. Several people had seen it. Now the light moving towards me .....is it Potti Pishachu?
As the light drew nearer I could see it was a person holding a lantern. He held a long stick too in hand. He was wearing only a Thorthumundu (Towel). I sat stunned unable to move or raise my voice. It was Ponnambala Tharakan! But...but..Ponnambalan had died at least twenty years ago..! Now in this night..how..
Suddenly the window of the house facing the Kulam opened with a noise.
"Ponnambala....are you there? Have you not finished your bath yet? We people have to go to bed after giving you food.We have to get up early in the morning...come soon..."
It was the voice of Parukutti Elayamma.I could recognize her voice even now ....fifteen years after her death! Now what is happening? My logic was un able to comprehend. Or have I been taken back to twenty or twenty five years back through a time machine?
2
Grand Father sat on the steps in front of the house listening to the Ramayana recital of Grand mother in the after noon. Summer heat was simmering outside. Tile roofing and wooden ceiling work of the old house insulated the interiors from the scorching heat to a large extent. Near to Grand Father, Kunhukuttan Ammavan, Senior Karyastan (Supervisor of farm, house etc) also stood looking at the workers making hay heap. First crop had just been taken and the entire courtyard around the house was spread with hay for drying and keeping in heaps.
"Rain clouds are gathering from the East. Quickly make the hay stack..". Kunhukuttan Ammaman called out to the workers.
Ponnambalan came from the side of the house with a cow and calf. He was wearing his eternal dress of thorthu. His loin cloth was visible through it as always. He carried a stack of fodder on his shoulders.
"See the time this fellow is bringing the cow! Now after his lunch when is he going to give it food and when is he going to milk it?" Kumhukuttan said prompting Grand Father to scold him. There were three Karyastans in the house. Kunjukuttan Ammaman, Narayanan Ammaman and Ponnambala Tharakan. All were chronic batchlers. While we children were taught to call the first two Ammaman (Uncle), Ponnambalan was taught to be called by his caste name, tharakan. Why? This had puzzled me in later life and I had a little bit of regret too about it. Ponnambalan being the Junior of the three Karyastans and in charge of cattle and internal matters was looked upon with a down cast air by the other two Karyastans who were in charge of paddy cultivation.
" Ponnambala...." Grand Father almost shouted, "why are you so late?”. Grand Father was respected and to some extent feared by all in the house. But Ponnambalan ignored the question and continued to guide the cow to it's shed.
"All so long you had been eating...are you not satisfied yet?" He shouted at the cow which made an attempt to pull hay from the stack that the workers were making.
"Dhikkari..!" Remarked Kunhukuttan.
That was the man - Ponnambalan. Never caring for anybody; even if it is his employer. His day always started early. When we children wake up in the morming, Ponnambalan will be milking the cows in the shed. The sound of milk spikes hitting the bell metal pot will add to the symphony by chirping birds in the morning. Most of his free time was spent in a small betel vine garden. Though Grand Father and Kunhukuttan ammaman required betel leaves it was often purchased from Ramaru Chettiar's shop in Madanassery Angady. Still Ponnambalan toiled with spade in the garden sometimes morning to night as if God has destined this as his life mission. Often food was forgotten in the process resulting in angry calls from Grand Mother and parukutty Elayamma.
Twice in a day Ponnambalan was to have a show of strength with a giant Grinding stone - immediately after lunch for grinding the cotton seeds for cattle and in the night for preparing batter for idly which was the permanent breakfast item in the menu of the house. These were the two jobs he did as a transcendental meditation loudly reciting some bhajans. At the end of the first shift he will carry the food and water to the shed and feed each cattle talking to them sitting in the manger. While one cow drank from the pot, the next animal will lick his hairy back with their scrubber like tongue.
"Ente muduku polinhoolo...!" (My back is broken..!).He will complain to the licking animal while caressing its face and removing ticks.
Visit to Mother's house was an occasion we earnestly looked to during the summer vacation. Ponnambalan had a crucial role to play in this annual ritual. Mother's house was in a very remote place and one had to walk about four kilometers through labyrinthine lanes after getting down from the bus, which itself was rare. And to catch the bus one had to walk another four kilometers. Ponnambalan and another young neighbor Ramakrishnan's role was to carry the two children when they were tired of walking. And both the children wanted to overtake the other by his carrier. While Ramakrishnan always kept his lead thanks to his young age, Ponnambalan came in for brutal attacks from the little rider for trailing behind. With tears in my eyes let me thank you ,Ponnambala Ammama, for not throwing the little devil down the labyrinth and walking back.
One day as I sat on the Kulakkadavu, Ponnambalan took a dip in the tank and started drying his body. I could see that age had started showing it's tiredness on his body.
"My ship is broken...Kuttee " he said." I am getting old and I looked forward to Chamy and wife to look after me...But now..." He left unfinished. Chamy, his brother had come in the morning. He had brought the sad news of the mental illness of his wife. I remembered Achamma, Parukutty Elayamma and all listening to the news with their index fingers placed on their nose.
"Don't worry...we are there for you..." Did I say that? No..I don't think. All along my life story had been not saying the right thing at the right time....Not repaying love and affection with love and affection.
Years later Grand mother, Achamma was laid immobile due to paralysis. In her delirium state she called out Ponnambalan and her sister Parukutty Elayamma through out day and night. As her children and grand children tried to sleep with a prick of conscience else where in the house, Ponnambalan and Parukutty Elayamma nursed her round the clock.
Ponnambalan was not well when I was leaving for a leisure trip to
After one week I came home after my tour. I sensed some oddity the moment I entered the gate. Our neighbor lady was coming from the cow shed after feeding the cows...Betel vine garden wore a gloomy look...Where is Ponnambalan? My mind suspected the worst.
"He developed chest pain and was taken to a hospital in town.....But could not save him.." I sat still unable to comprehend the reality. I thought about the the fears of old age that Ponnambalan carried in his mind even as he toiled for our family. Now he has left without waiting for the care of his brother or any body for that matter...
Years later I sat with my parents on the banks of Ganges in
"Ponnambala Tharakan,Narayanammaman,Kunhukuttammaman..." I murmured to my father who nodded confirming that he has already remembered them.