The Purpose of Reconnecting

When I read mythologies and as I experience life, I am confounded with a simple question: does life emulate mythology or mythology emulate life? And the recent interactions with my Alma Mater after a gap of 20 years made me further reminiscent and reflect on this question and many others. But before I get into the questions and answers, let’s start with a story.

Krishna, his brother Balaram and rest of their friends were busy creating a raucous in Vrindavan. To end the raucous, Nand and Vasudev decided to send their kids away to Sandipani ashram for a formal education. As the news of the brothers going to the ashram spread like wild fire, other parents in Vrindavan too decide to send their kids to ashrams in the vicinity.

Amongst Krishna’s friends, Sudhama, a poor boy from a Brahmin family, was adamant to go along with brothers to Sandipini ashram. Nand and Vasudev took Sudhama along with their sons and left the three kids with Rishi Sandipani at the ashram. Sudhama being a Brahmin avoided learning politics and military science, while Krishna and Balaram being Kshatriyas learnt how to maintain peace, preserve army, motivate army prior to fight, pacify, etc. before learning the intricacies of military science.

During the course of learning, the three often ventured into the forest to collect firewood for the kitchen. On one of these trips, the kids lost their way and the timid Sudhama in fright turned pale and Krishna held his arms and assured his safety. In return to Krishna’s love and affection, Sudhama always carried a pack of aval (flattened rice) and jaggery (unprocessed sugar) at the corner of his dhoti to satiate the hunger of his dear friend Krishna. Over the next several years, the three boys bonded and imbibed necessary skills and knowledge to lead their lives before going their own ways.

Krishna and Balaram returned back to their kingdoms, got married became kings, protected and cared for their people. Balaram moved on to teach both Pandavas and Kauravas the art of fighting with a mace and remained neutral in the war between them, while Krishna turned himself from a King to a Kingmaker assisting Pandavas in their fight against Kauravas.  While the brothers were busy, Sudhama married a simple Brahmin girl and began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures, praying, and forsaking worldly pleasures and material pleasures.

Many years passed by before Krishna and Sudhama had their reunion. Even today their meeting is still regarded as test of longstanding friendship, mutual love and admiration they shared for each other. At the behest of his wife, Sudhama decided to visit Krishna at his Kingdom. Upon seeing Sudhama, Krishna leaves his throne and runs down the stairs to embrace him. As a sign of respect, he washes the feet of his dear friend, and anoints him with sandalwood past and makes him sit beside him on the throne.

Following a royal meal, the two friends decided to exchange the stories of their life starting with their departure from the ashram. Quickly sensing the difficult life at Sudhama’s end (Krishna's life wasn't a bed of roses either.); Krishna refrained from bragging about his life. Not only was Sudhama reluctant to ask his friend for help, but also ashamed to share the small gift of aval and jaggery that he carried at the end of his dhoti. Krishna noticing the small parcel innocently asks him if he has brought him a gift. He helps himself with three servings of the aval and jaggery as they shared their stories. Finally, Sudhama filled with happiness from seeing Krishna and reminiscing good old days leaves for home without asking Krishna for any help. Memories are precious!

Upon reaching his village Sudhama couldn’t identify his house, wife and children. A friend’s goodwill transformed his life and ended the ill-fortune. There is nothing that unexpressed love and friendship can’t give or heal.

Krishna and Sudhama’s friendship did not end at ashram. In fact, those years of separation transformed them in putting their education to use, defining their purpose of life, starting a family and helping them mature as individuals. Let's draw inspiration from mythology to engage and discuss in way we imagine the selfless friendship between Krishna and Sudhama. Also, let's take this opportunity to bury our hatchets, opinions and worries, selflessly express and reminiscent our love for each other, and continue to help each other in the journey of life without expectations. 

A Memorable Easter Journey....

An unconfirmed train ticket to Chennai made me take a bus from Mayavaram. I was not looking for an Accela Express or TGV kind of experience when I boarded a private bus service (DTK) to Chidambaram. Nevertheless, I was in for a lot of surprises on this route that I've once travelled almost daily to get to college.

Three days before this journey, I received a call from an unknown number on my mobile who addressed me as "KD", an acronym coined and used only by my college mates. It was Kishore at the other end and I could sense affection and familiarity in his tone despite not having seen each other for 20 years. Kishore was right after me on the roll call and we took most of our exams together, both theory and practical, since he rarely attended classes. :)

I have never been fond of reunions and have no presence on Facebook or other social media platforms. And I was surprised when Kishore managed to hunt me down. I know, I sound like an anti-social person, but I have my reasons. Life has a different script for each of us and if our journey's were meant to be different then why try making our paths cross. Moreover, most reunions quickly turn into a comparison and evaluation (viva-voice) of material success that instantly kills nostalgia. 

The bus ride with complete strangers and lilting Illayaraja melodies from 1980s made the journey nostalgic. The speakers were blowing hot and cold numbers. Every alternate song was a romantic number (Kannathula vai, Keladi Kanmani, Kalyana Maalai) and those in between castigated love (Kannai Nambathey, Kadhal Kasukudhayya), which evoked the same emotions from 20 years ago making me grin.

When I was added to the Whatsapp group, I posted a disclaimer of a sort. "I don't have anything in common with all of you here expect our shared past: 4 year education. Silence prevailed for sometime, a few recognized my presence and pinged me in private to know a bit more about my journey. To make the connect easier, I shared a short paragraph about my journey of life  and attached a recent picture to show them the ravages of time. Did the initial euphoria vanish? Will i feel stupid and disappointed like a school boy chasing a plastic bag taken away by the wind?

Nothing had changed on this route; rural South India seemed to be left behind in time. 

The demographic and economic composition wasn't any different from 20 years ago in the bus. There were students, elderly men, kids and women who still wore burqa and adorned their oiled and plaited hair with kanakambaram.

I'm not too fond of going in search of lost time and friends. I always had a set of friends who I sat besides in college and today I was checking out their display pictures to see if I could find or identify any of them there. Some of their display pictures had their families, while some had their kids. Unlike them, I didn't have any significant other(s) to show off as my achievement or attachment. 

To be fair and square, I changed my display picture with my recent image before I pinged a few of them privately. 

Unlike the cities which grow three dimensionally, the stretch on either side of the road continue to remain as green fields. Sirkazhi remains a sleepy town, Thaikkal remains a hotspot for weaving sleeping mats and the roaring engine along the 1.5 km long bridge across the Colleroon bridge took me back to my past.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself...Everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings. (Came across on Twitter). Even during my college days, I had only clicked and connected with a few in my class, but sadly I wasn't in touch with any of them. So, what is the point in joining a Whatsapp group with people who mutually ignored each other. But, before I could convince myself on this failed bid to reconnect, Vinoth Kumar, a dear classmate called me from Malaysia and conversation lasted whole 40 minutes. 

40 minutes still continues to be the ride time between Vaitheeswaran Kovil and Chidambaram. And the price of a bus ticket between Mayavaram and Chidambarm is just Rs. 18 for 36 km ride. In 1997, it was Rs. 12; a meagre 50% increase in 20 years and same melodies continue to play in the busses. Rural India seemed to be untouched as much by fast paced life as by inflation.

I used to travel every other weekend to see my grandparents and today I was making the same journey, but my bag didn't have any books and mind had no thoughts about assignments or exams. My grandmother got up earlier than usual to prepare my lunch for the trip. What keeps people connected is unconditional love and the giving spirit.

As the bus approach South Car Street, I dialed Kamal Kumar. He arrived within minutes on his Hero Honda, not the same one he drove from 20 years ago. He picked me up at the corner of South Car Street and we drove towards his house. Had he not picked me up, I would have still managed to find his house where I spent the nights before my exams. 

Close to 120 of us were in the 1993-97 batch of Chemical Engineering. 3 out of 6 women are PhDs, a dozen of them continue to work and teach in the same field, while many of us have found solace in alternative professions and industry verticals. Sadly, four reached their final destination in their prime. 

 

What I couldn't fathom or measure is lost time. As I entered his house I was on the look out for his rowdy pet Tipu. Over a cup of tea and snacks, I glanced at the wall to discover his father was no more. Before I could realize his palpable absence Kamal introduced his two boys, reintroduced his mother, wife and brother Sunil after 15+ years. Had I made this journey 5 months ago, I would have seen his father. Nevertheless, Kamal has imbibed his prudent investment principles and philanthropy and now leads the family in his absence.

My last wish before leaving the town was to get a glimpse of the college of engineering, which was recently taken over by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The new flyover over the rail tracks, Mariyappa Theatre, Polytechnic, Distance Education building was all familiar, but a departmental store in place of Srinivasa theatre. The 500m stretch between the theatre and Chemical Engineering Department used to be empty, but now I had to replace my old memory with new buildings including 5 ATMs across the Department. I stood in front of the Department staring back into the past and reminding myself of the laws of Thermodynamics and design equations of a distillation column. None of these seem to have had an impact on my life.

What made me smirk, while still in awe was Lallu tea shop and University Xerox adjoining the Department. None of us worked like Modi in a tea shop, but we swarmed this tea shop between classes and where we bonded over  tea and varki, while our notes were getting photocopied. Before time vanished in front of my eyes, I pulled out my camera and took some pictures to share in the Whatsapp group and made my nostalgia contagious.

While Kamal wanted me to catch the 11.30 am air-conditioned bus to Chennai, I delayed the trip and took a regular bus. The warm wind and music fanned my memories from the past. Relishing the chapathi and Bindi subzi packed by Kamal's wife, I got ready to catalog this emotional trip listening to Jency crooning Idhayam Poguthey on my phone.

Though I have done so many journeys to Chidambaram, but this one after 20 years seemed very special. The journey released so much of Dopamine in a short period of time that I felt difficult to handle. And making this journey on Easter was definitely an opportunity to renew my ties and rediscover the forgotten tree of friendship. Isn't Easter all about a new journey of that of resurrection and renewing hope?

The Modern Day Shishupala

While historians argue that history repeats itself, spiritual commentators believe characters in epics are reborn to only tally old scores and meet their end. Sometimes characters in the present day remind us of characters in epics due to its uncanny resemblance. Once such resemblance made me look up Shishupala Vadha (the slaying of Shishupala), a work of classical Sanskrit composed by Magha during the 7th/8th century. This epic poem of about 1800 highly ornate stanzas is considered one of the six Sanskrit mahakavyas.

 

Shishupala, a very interesting character in mahakavya caught my attention. He is a considered to be a reincarnation of Hiranyakashipu, a king slayed by Nrisimha (one of the 10 avatars of Vishnu). Shishupala incarnated as the son of King Damagosh and Satyavati, aunt of Krishna. He was born with three eyes and four arms that qualify him as a man with extra-ability than disability. Though Shishupala and Krishna were first cousins, but it didn’t help them to have an easy relationship as Krishna took away his intended wife, Rukmini and married her. This incident permanently marred their relationship, which led to frequent war of words between the two.

Though there have been many instances of standoffs between Krishna and Shishupala, the real enemy of Shishupala was his ill-temper and acerbic tongue. He repeatedly annoyed Krishna with his insults and today, when I hear Donald Trump speaking ill of women, declaring a war on Muslims, building a wall across the Mexican border, supporting water boarding and other inhuman practices to extract confessions from criminals, and finally, expressing his dark desire to torture families (wives and kids) of ISIS terrorists, I am immediately reminded of the haughty and hot-headed Shishupala.

Just like Donald Trump being surrounded by sycophants, Shishupala too was surrounded by the same kind and specially the Kauravas, who hated Krishna. They often created opportunities or put Shishupala in an assembly of noble men to take on Krishna or used his as an entertainment factor. Interestingly, Krishna had given a vow to his aunt that he would pardon her son a hundred times per day and will kill him when he exceeds the limit.

Every time Shishupala approached his limit Krishna reminded him of his vow and asked him to calm down. Krishna went on to diffuse his temper and douse his fiery words with kindness and advise. Not only candidates, but people belonging to various religious faiths and race have been subject to slander by Donald Trump and have in turn advised Trump to tone down his rhetoric. Today, the world leaders have joined with a section of Republicans to keep Trump's meteoric rise in check.

If we go back to the epic, the relationship between Krishna and Shishupala reached the tipping point as Pandavas were getting ready to perform Rajasuya yajna. When Krishna was bestowed the highest honor in this yajna, the enraged and jealous Shishupala derided Krishna not heeding to his warnings. Shishupala had no idea that his life was coming to an end in the hands of Krishna who represents love, affection and inclusivity.

As much as the present reminds you of the past, does the past outcome extrapolates to future? While Donald Trump may be overconfident about his recent wins in the primaries, but his end isn't far away from reaching the same end as Shisupala. Before he realized Shishupala quickly crossed the pardonable limit and faced his end in the hands of Krishna concludes the epic.

Not sure about the history of Trump’s earlier incarnations and what scores he is going to tally in this birth and against whom, but there seems to be a Krishna somewhere doing the countdown. Will the Trump Vadha will soon become a modern day mahakayva set in the United States? Let's sit back and closely watch the primary just like the audience in the assembly of Pandavas.

 

Madras and Music

Living in Madras can be a tough for every music connoisseur as there is so much choice wrt music and Sivarathri season doesn't make it any easy. Unable to make up my mind, I finally settled for the felicitation of Mridhangist Thanjavur S. Subramaniam by Charubala Mohan Trust (Sangita Kalanidhi M. Chandrasekar, Violinist) at Raga Sudha Hall. Mr. Subramaniam has accompanied Bombay Sisters for over 35 years among other vocalists. 

During the felicitation Mr. KS. Kalidas a senior Mridhangist shared some rare insights into the origin (brought to Tamilnadu by Maharastrians who moved to Thanjavur) and some playing techniques (for ex: Kumki) rarely heard today. Post felicitation, there was a performance by Dr. R. Ganesh.

Dr. R. Ganesh is one of the few male musicians who is naturally blessed with a soothing voice devoid of nasal tone. Moreover, he is able to comfortably travel across the three octaves. Importantly, he is a torch bearer of Maharajapuram school known for sowkyam in rendition and devoid of unwanted brigas and other gimmicks.

1. Begada Varnam - Intha Thamasama Mela - Lalgudi Jayaraman
2. Sri Mahaganapathe - Abhogi - Kalapanaswarams. Rendition reminded of his guru Maharajapuram Santhanam
3. Pariyachakama - Vanaspathi - Thyagaraja in this krithi gives examples of Sharanagathi by Draupadi and Prahlada. Though the raga is Vanaspathi (trade name for Dalda) Ganesh's rendition was agmark cow ghee, so pure and soulful. 

4. Khamas - Sanatanagopala - Dikshithar. An apt krithi given today is Ekadesi. 
5. Virutham - Sanguadai Yaan - Vachaspati followed by Paraathpara composed by Papanasam Sivan. Another apt krithi given Mahasivarathri is just two days always and obeisance to Papanasam Sivan, who lived in Mylapore and was insepreable from Kapali and Karpagam. Neraval at Hari Ayanum Kaana followed by multiple rounds of kalapanaswarams in Madhyama and Dhuritha kaalam that brought out the team work on stage.

6.  Kaanamal Vinile - Neelambari - Muthuthandavar that reminded us of Chidambarm and the blissful rendition of DKP (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b4lHwxuEyPs) 
7. Keeravani - Sri Chandrasekaram Aashraye - V. Raghavan. A composition on Kanchi Mahaswami. Swaram at Kamakoti Peetacharyam also raga mudhra appears in Pallavi (Keeravanipriyam). Here is a YouTube link of MS rendition - http://youtu.be/7u1h-sK2r2M
8. Misra Sivaranjani Thillana - Maharajapuram Santhanam

Ganesh being a medical professional dispensed music me like medicine, which is both therapeutic and curative. A special mention to violinist Madurai Balasubramaniam (student of Dr. M. Chandrasekar) whose bow dripped of honey and B. Guru Raghavendra who played respectfully in hall filled with more than 300 years of professional musical experience. 

Though Madras air has music all round the year, but there is definitely a difference between the music that you hear during the season and at other times. One usually hears musicians on stage constantly sabashing (praising) their co-artist, and bashing them afterwards, but today one could see the connoisseurs in musicians who had gathered sabashing the team on stage.