ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ಕಾಮನಬಿಲ್ಲು

ಮುಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವ ಬಿಲ್ಲೆ

ನಿನ್ನ ಅಂದಕೆ ಸಾಟಿಯು ಎಲ್ಲೆ?
ನೀನಿದ್ದರೆ ಬಾನಲ್ಲಿ ಚೆಲುವು
ಸಂತಸಗೊಂಡಿದೆ ಮನವು
ಮುಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವ ಬಿಲ್ಲೆ,
ಹೇಳು, ನೀನೇಕೆ ಈ ಭುವಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆ?
ಈ ಝರಿಯ ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೆ?

ಮಳೆ ಹನಿಯೊಳಗಿರದ ಸೊಬಗು
ಈ ಝರಿಯ ಹನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟೆ?
ಹೂವಂತೆ ಹನಿಹಿಡಿದು ನಿನಗೂ
ಮೆರೆಯುವ ಆಸೆಯು ಬಂತೆ?
ಮುಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವ ಬಿಲ್ಲೆ
ಹೇಳು, ನೀನೇಕೆ ಈ ಭುವಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆ?
ಈ ಝರಿಯ ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೆ?

ಮೋಡದ ಪಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಗಿಂತ
ನೀರಿನ ಆಸನ ಸೊಗಸೆ?
ಜಲಪತದ ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಅಲೆಯಾಗಿ ಓಲಾಡೊ ಕನಸೆ?
ಮುಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವ ಬಿಲ್ಲೆ
ಹೇಳು, ನೀನೇಕೆ ಈ ಭುವಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆ?
ಈ ಝರಿಯ ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೆ?

ಈ ಸುಂದರ ನೋಟವ ನೋಡಿ
ಹಾರೊ ಹಕ್ಕಿಯು ನಾನಾದೆ
ನಾ ಹಾಡೊ ಹಾಡನು ಹಾಡಿ
ನಲಿದಾಡೊ ಬಯಕೆಯು ನಿಂದೆ?
ಮುಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವ ಬಿಲ್ಲೆ
ಹೇಳು, ನೀನೇಕೆ ಈ ಭುವಿಗೆ ಬಂದೆ?
ಈ ಝರಿಯ ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೆ?

*****************************

English Summary:

Have you ever seen a rainbow on water? If so how did you feel?
I had this rare oppurtunity of seeing a beautiful rainbow lurking on the waters of the astounding chelvara falls when i had been to coorg recently. Seeing the circle of rainbow right under the waterfall sent my imagination gallopping in full speed.
The result of that is this poem :)

O! beautiful smiling rainbow, there is no match for your beauty. Your presence beautifies the sky and makes everyone happy. Tell me, O! beautiful smiling rainbow, why did you choose to come down to earth? What is it that made you to mingle with the waters of this waterfall?

Are the droplets to this waterfall prettier than the lovely raindrops in the clouds above? Or are you jealous of the flowers that shimmer in the morning sun by holding these rain drops? Do you wish to catch the droplets of this waterfall and shimer like a flower? Tell me, O! beautiful smiling rainbow, why did you choose to come down to earth? What is it that made you to mingle with the waters of this waterfall?

You sit on the beautiful Palanquin made of clouds in the sky above. Did you find the seat of water more delighful? Or do you want to dance like a wave under the falling waterfall?
Tell me, O! beautiful smiling rainbow, why did you choose to come down to earth? What is it that made you to mingle with the waters of this waterfall?

Looking at this beautiful view, i am flying like a bird. Do you want to sing the song that i am singing along with me? Do you wish to rejoice the same way like me? Tell me, O! beautiful smiling rainbow, why did you choose to come down to earth? What is it that made you to mingle with the waters of this waterfall?

*********************

A bunch of kids, friends and intricacies

What is the difference between school and life?
In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

My day begins with the traffic jam brawl. There is the usual hustle, bustle in the streets. Vehicles keep honking; people are on the move, some screaming at the passers by and some spitting on the roads. Here and there, complaints are heard about the lack of good roads, good facilities and sound leadership.
I switch on the FM radio on my mobile and remain indifferent to my surroundings……

Today is different; I haven’t switched on the radio. I am deep in thought. I am thinking about “Light a Candle”.

No, I am not going to light any candles literally. Light a candle is an event; An event initiated in our office. It’s all about getting 50 odd kids from the government school to our office, giving them a feel of our work place, teach them about computers, have fun and in the meanwhile motivate them to study. Easier said than done. Isn’t it?

Let me elaborate.

Event name: Light a Candle.

Intent: To motivate the kids from the government school to study. These kids are from a background that does not facilitate education. For some it’s a financial burden, for some the lack of awareness. A few kids who want to continue studying don’t know the available courses after the high school. All in all it’s an effort to increase the awareness and stimulate them to pursue their education.

The day’s events begin with an introductory talk. The kids are shown the lead India video (watch the video here) to emphasize that even a small kid can take the initiative and make a difference. What follows is a kind of career counseling where a glimpse of the various options available after high school is provided. A pep talk trying to motivate them to study is also rendered.

The Introductory talk is followed by the grouping of kids into pairs and a friend is assigned to each pair. The “friend” is supposed to interact with the kids for some time, make an effort to get to know their background and clarify any doubts the kids have. Then the Friend and the kids do a painting together expressing what they learnt from the session. This form of interaction is the highlight of the day. I am sure most of the volunteers will agree when I say that the two-three hours of time that is spent here will actually form a bonding between the friends and the kids. All of them cherish this time. Some of them even share their phone numbers to keep in touch with eachother. It’s a unique experience and a relationship that is formed is unheard off.


What follows the painting session is a speak-up session wherein some of the kids explain what they have drawn and why. Then all of us have lunch together, watching videos, sing and dance.

Next comes the Internet and the touring session. Half of the group is sent to the training rooms where the kids are taught the basic of computers like googling, emails, Microsoft word etc. In the meanwhile the other half is taken for a tour where our cubicles. The conference rooms, fire exit and the pantry is shown. This is the most fascinating part of the day. It is greatly amusing to see that the kids are excited by nearly everything they see. They really enjoy the pantry and watch in wonder at how the coffee comes out of the coffee machine. We are careful just to show them how to prepare coffee and not let them taste it, lest they loose the enthusiasm.
This is followed by the trip to the gymnasium. The kids are so fascinated by the equipment that we have to pull them out of the gym in less than 5 minutes fearing damage.

Imprint session is the most imperative session for us. The kids leave their mark with us, accentuating the fact that they were there with us and spent the whole day. There is the Hand painting session in which the kids dip their hand in water paints of various colour and leave their finger prints on a banner cloth. The cloth is in the shape of a candle. We also have a huge 3D candle made of thermocol. The kids write their names on small diamond shaped papers which are stuck on the surface of the colourful candle. Later both the banner cloth and the 3D candle are displayed at the reception with the message “We have touched so many hands; we need to touch many more”.

After the imprint session all of us together play some games and we see them off with gifts and drop them back to their school.

Yes, it was good to see them, interact with them. They left some fond memories with us and so did they leave a lot of unanswered questions

• My parents want to get me married after my High school, they won’t listen to me, what do I do?
• My dad is a drunkard, my mom runs the family, and I need to support her. Can I do that and study at the same time…
• My parents are very supportive, but we need financial aid, can I get it?
• My brother is an auto driver, I will become one too after High school, my parents won’t listen…..
• I am physically handicapped and my parents think sending me to school is a waste of money.
• My parents have passed away; my brother is supporting me...


In this era of democracy where politicians are openly trading votes, where inflation is raising what is it that can be done to support these underprivileged?
I remember the hundreds of times that I have argued with my friends over the lack of infrastructure and sound leaders. I remember all the times when the arguments have been so futile that now I sit with my ears closed listening to the radio….
We all seem to think that somebody should build the infrastructure for us, somebody should lead our country, somebody should solve all the social, economical and the political problems that our country is currently facing, somebody should solve all our problems, while we are busy chasing our dreams. But none of us seem to realize that the responsibility of solving these problems lies with us as much as it does with anybody else.

In the beginning a beautiful quote said that the life gives us the test first and then teaches the lesson. Perfectly true! But it remains to be seen how long it will take for us to learn the lessons.
Until then the radio ploughs on………………….

KRAZZY day out

I am crazy. Also, I take immense pride in the fact that I know some of the craziest folks in the world. But amongst all the crazy folks that I have had the misfortune to meet, rJ is on the very top. So when she called me up and said

“Magaleeee…….lets go out somewhere..sikkapatee boar hodithide” I was more than willing to accept . Calls went to all our friends and finally me, rJ,sJ,vR, rN,nM,pL agreed to go to Gopala swamy betta. Knowing how my friends are I had a strong suspicion that this is going to be one of the craziest trips ever.

But I was wrong!!!!!!!!!!

I had not counted upon the fact of rJ’s friend sW joining in or rather I did not know that she is in the same league as me and rJ, so as a result the entire trip actually turned out to be OUTRAGEOUSLY CCRRAAZZYYY……………
July 5th, 2008
6.15 A.M
Received a pleasant good morning message from vR (goobe, phone ette)
Left for silk board to join the already josh filled caravan.6.20 A.MI boarded the qualis. Soon after began the ceremony of sJ handing over her cannon S3 camera to me and saying it’s all yours (how I wish she had not taken it back towards the end of the day). So thus began the photography session. We took photos, photos and more photos.

8.15 A.MWe reached Kamath lokaruchi. Had a hearty breakfast of neerdosa, akki rotti, chow chow bath, idli , masala dosa etc etc. Believe me everything here is delicious. After the shopping (which ended up in rJ screaming at all of us) we left the hotel and headed towards our destination. (I would like to thank nM, vR, sJ for their generous gifts :-) :-))

9.00 A.M
Now that all our stomachs were full we were bursting with energy. So we sang, sang and sang. We started with antakshari and played till we ran out of songs. Then we started rapid fire antakshari (picking a word from the song and singing another song beginning from that word) and repeated all the songs once again. The driver was probably flabbergasted by our singing coz he went so slowly that rJ started insisting that she will drive the quails herself. But we all became silent as we started climbing uphill and were mesmerized by the scenic views all around. The sunflower fields were a feast to our eyes.
We finally reached the top of the mountain at 12.30 P.M12.30 P.M
After a short visit to the temple, we all looked around and said “Wow” in unison. There it was the most beautiful view of green hills all around us. We were all glad that we had chosen this place for the weekend getaway. There couldn’t have been a better place to escape from our monotonous life and forget it completely.

So we hopped, jumped, danced, trekked, and shouted to our hearts content. It was fun taking photos at every step. We laughed heartily, rejoiced at the breath taking view and bugged each other to take photos. rJ took the lead and trekked the farthest and I soon followed, but we were chased out shortly as a herd of elephants was sighted at a short distance. Undeterred we came back and took more photos in every pose we could think of. By the end of the photo session (which took a long time) we were all hungry and feasted on loads of junk food that we had got along.

Soon it was time to leave and I did not wish to leave the place at all. But nonetheless we all left the place with a heavy heart.
3.30 P.M
We started our journey back and this time we stopped at a sunflower field. The sunflowers stood in their glory and we all took photos amidst them. All of us were dejected to leave the place but no one as much as rJ. She decided to vent her feelings singing along or rather braying along with the song that was playing in the radio that all of us were forced to cover our ears. We pleaded with her to stop singing which she did not. Finally pL had to threaten her saying that she will record her “wonderful” singing and upload it on “you tube”. That shut rJ up for a while.
5.00 P.M
Reached sangama. We went for a around on the “theppa” (round boat) which all of us enjoyed thoroughly (except sW).6.00 P.M
Statred back towards Bangalore. We had a delicious meal again in kamath lokaruchi. Again the meal had put energy back into us. We had immense fun translating the kannada songs to English and continued to do so till we reached our homes.


Thus ended a wonderful one-day trip. It was one of the best trips that I have been to and I am sure that the memories will remain fresh in my mind for a very very long time.

About the place.
Gopal Swamy betta is around 70 kms (takes around 2 hours) from mysore. Head towards nanjangud and then towards gundlupete. There is a gopalswamy(Krishna) temple on the top of the mountain. Busses can go till the top. The specialty of the place is that the Lord Krishna is always covered in mist. That’s why the place is known as “Himavad gopalswamy betta” (hima in kannada means snow). The best time to visit the place is early mornings or late evenings. They say that the whole place is covered by mist and we can actually touch the clouds at this time. There are no hotels or accommodation available on top of the mounatian. It is best to carry food and water.

All in all its one of the most, forgive me romantic places there can ever be.


Here’s a few of the 500 and odd photos that we took. Put on your headphones.

Bolo India Bolo

The lush green trees that once lined the streets of Bangalore forming a canopy of leaves overhead, have long disappeared. Their place inevitably has been taken by the spas and fitness centers and seems to have transformed the peace loving population of Bangalore into fitness maniacs. Not only do the inhabitants of the city walk, jog and exercise like never before but they also have inculcated an irritating habit, they advice.

While jogging:
A complete stranger stops me.
Stranger: stop!
Me: (Looking down at his big black dog ) slow down.
Stranger: This is not the way, there is no use.
Me: ?*))&%$#*>@+/????

Stranger: (demonstrating) you have to move your hands this way. Other wise there is no way that you will loose weight. Scientifically blah blah blah…
Me: (Who the hell asked you in the first place?) Errr
Stranger: blah blah blah
Me: (Managing to escape from him)
(Shucks! If only I wasn’t afraid of his dog)


By this time I am totally pissed off, so I start walking. This time I am stopped by my brother’s friend’s mother.

Aunty: No way! You got to loose weight.
Me: (WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM DOING?? BUNGEE JUMPING? ) Errr.

Aunty: Oh, look at me, I have lost two kilo’s. I am on ragi diet for the past two weeks. I am doing all this after I consulted a dietician. Your diet should be such that blah blah blah………………………………………………
Me: (Holy Angel!)
Aunty: blah blah blah…………you are so young, you have to jog, look at the effort that I am putting and I am not as fat as you.
Me: grrrrrrrrrrrrr

(If only she wasn’t my brother’s friend’s mother!)

At yoga:

Friend1: You going to yoga classes. Be careful your back is going to increase in size.
Me: (From where do these people come up with such stuff?)

Friend2: You going to yoga? Don’t ever say OM , women should not say it!
Me: sigh!

Friend3: You are going to yoga? Are you so religious??
Me: !@#$%^&*()-+?????


At GYM:
Friend1: YOU ARE GOING TO GYM? DON’T GO. YOU WILL BLOW UP LIKE HELL AFTER YOU LEAVE THE GYM
Me: (AM I A BALOON OR WHAT?)


If doing without weights
Friend2: Do with weights. The more weights you do with, you will loose weight faster.

If doing with weights:
Friend3: ARE U MAD OR WHAT? DO YOU WANT TO LOOSE WEIGHT OR GAIN WEIGHT?
Me: (Anna ninna bitbidu)


At Aerobics:

Friend: You got to loose weight
Me: (Wow! Just the thing I wanted to hear) I am trying.
Friend: Really! I don’t see any difference.
Me: (Your sugary sweet dulcet tones made my day) I am trying. Friend: If you are trying hard and are still not loosing weight, then you are not trying hard enough.
Me: (grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

Friend: blah blah (After a big lecture). I am telling you all this because I care about you
Me: (emotional blackmail?)


Outside:

- You have got to go and run marathaon.
- Why don’t you try swimming!
Old Aunty: You are so young and you are unmarried and you are overweight(with tears in her eyes)
Me: 1@#$%^&*()-+<>?


I am sure many would be getting similar advices wherever they go. For those of whom these advices are given they all know that these are nothing but complete crap. As for all the fancy little know-it-all’s, Bolo India Bolo, after all advice is free, even on phone.

ಓ ಮನವೆ!!!

ನೂರಾರು ಆಸೆಗಳು ಮರುಭೂಮಿಯಂತೆ ಚೂರಾಗಿ,
ಬಿಸಿ ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿದ್ದ ತಣ್ಣೀರ ಹನಿಯಂತೆ
ಮನದಾಳದ ಇಂಗಿತವು ಇಂಗಿ ಹೋದರೇನಾಯ್ತು?
ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯೊಂದಿದ್ದರೆ ಹೊಂಗನಸು ಮೂಡುವುದು
ಮರುಗದಿರು ಮೂರ್ಖ ಮನವೆ

ಹಗಲಿರುಳು ಹೋರಾಡಿ ಮರಳಿಂದ ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿ
ಅದರ ಅಂದವನ್ನು ಮನಸಾರೆ ಮೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತ ನಿಂತಿರಲು
ರಭಸದ ಅಲೆಯಿಂದ ಮನೆ-ಮನ ಕೊಚ್ಚಿ ಹೋದರೆನಾಯ್ತು?
ಹುರುಪೆಂಬ ಬಿರುಗಾಳಿ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೀಸುತಿರಲಿ
ಮಣಿಯದಿರು ಮರುಳ ಮನವೆ

ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಹಸನಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದಿರಲು,
ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆಯ ಪರಿಮಳ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲು ಹಬ್ಬಿರಲು
ನೆರೆಮನೆಯವರು ಚಿಗುಟಿ ಹಾಕಿದರೇನಾಯ್ತು?
ಛಲವೆಂಬ ಮರದ ಆಧಾರ ಇರುವವರೆಗು,
ಮುರಿಯದಿರು ಮೃದುಲ ಮನವೆ

ನೀ ನನ್ನ ಬಾಳ ಬರಹಗಾರ
ನಿನ್ನ ಬಲವೆ ನನ್ನ ಖಜಾನ
ನೀನೊಬ್ಬ ಜೊತೆಯಿರಲು,
ಜಗವು ಕಾಲಡಿ ಇರುವುದೆಂದು
ಮರೆಯದಿರು ಮೂಡ ಮನವೆ

English summary:
What if all my dreams are shattered?
What if all my desires evaporate?
Until there is hope,
don't weep my foolish mind

What if all my hard work,
is washed away by a single tidal wave?
until there is the spirit,
don't give up my thoughtless mind

When i am growing fast in life,
What if the others try to curb me?
until there is determination,
don't break my sensitive mind.

You are the painter of my life,
Your strength is my fortune.
If you are with me,
the entire world is under my feet
don't forget my silly mind.

Speak joys not sorrows

Ask a withered winter tree

The ecstasy of the first green bloom

Not the twinge of solitude.

My first haiku

A haiku is an ancient form of japanese poetry which consists of three lines.
Read more about haiku on
http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

Here is my first attemt :)

Like raindrops on still water
My heart dips, ripples, resonates and imbibes
The sound of your laughter

Biking my way

I did not understand why I was thinking about bicycles ever since I got down from my office bus. Not until I entered my aerobics class and saw a number of bikes neatly lined up on the polished wooden floor, did I suspect that it was a premonition of sorts. I took a look at the sophisticated spin bikes and I couldn’t help noticing that some of them were the same colour as my first ever bike.

It was a third hand bike, given to me because my cousin brother had grown too tall for it. He was getting a brand new blue colour bike and the old and small blackish orange bike was given to me. I was in 3rd standard then and it was the happiest moment of my life thus far.

I took half a day to learn how to ride and the next day I took off with my brother on my bike. I was delighted to find out that I could take all the turns as well as he did until I fell right into the gutter. The gutter was old fashioned and was made of hard stones. I hit the gutter on my knees and when I got up I saw that both my knees were bleeding. My brother must have got frightened by what he saw because he made me promise many times that I will not tell my parents about my fall or my wounds. He assured me that he will help me clean my wounds and bandage them, and it will disappear in no time. The first stage of our secret little pact went on very well, and it would have succeeded but for the next door aunty who went off like the fire-alarm of HP, as soon as she saw us. I don’t blame her, anyone would have freaked out if they saw a little girl washing her bloody knees in tap water and applying copious amounts of talcum powder on it.


My brother used to show me new tricks everyday, that can be done on a bike and I happily copied them. Soon I had learnt to ride leaving both my hands, skid my bike after a sharp turn and many more tricks like that. I never really understood how he made the front wheels of his bike rise in air and stood easily on the back wheels for a few seconds, though. “You should ride your bike faster and jam the brakes harder”, he used to say. Luckily or unluckily it never worked for me.

The summer holidays were a rare treat coz me and a small group of my friends went cycling early in the morning. Soon we knew every galli in and around sanjayanagar, Dollars colony and UAS Layout as well as any of the boys. Though I enjoyed riding in all the three areas, my favourite was UAS Layout. To get into UAS layout we had to go through a rough mud path and enter a small mud road lined with trees on either side. At the end of the road, there was a layer of rock and we had to shepard our bikes on to the other side. There was a poppy tree which always bore juicy fruits. We enjoyed eating the fruits from the tree and then taking off again on the wide tarred roads of UAS Layout lined with lush green trees. I used to ride my cycle so much that whenever I was introduced to any uncle or aunty in the area, they actually used to ask me if I was the “cycle hudugi” (cycle girl).

I was forced to apply sudden brakes to my cyclic memories when the instructor called us.
We were told to choose a “STATIONARY” spin bike. The instructor switched off the lights and turned on the disco lights. It was a pleasant affect, gave the hallucination that we were all in a dark albeit colourfull room. Bright blue, green, red, yellow colours were dancing around us as we biked, though I couldn’t help noticing that the colours fell more on the persons next to me.

I was uncomfortable in the beginning. I felt that the bikes were either too short or too high for me. I was perennially afraid that I would fall off my bike and the relentless screaming of “faster, faster” in my ears did not help. I lost my footing as if it were a rule, every time I was asked to stand up or sit down. Soon I was stretching myself beyond my short arms would permit me in order to hold the farthest handle of the bike while I cycled. I was cycling with my legs and exercising with my arms while all this while I was supposed to find new avenues from the barred window reflected in the wall mirror in front of me. I was also wondering if my legs would allow me to walk back home after all the hard work.

After I finished the class I had a strange feeling that an hour of time I had spent there had cracked the chasm of reality for me. I felt that the spin biking class was connected to my present life as much as the battered bike was to my past life. A perfect simile of the past and the present. One jolly and carefree and other confused and stationary. I was complaining about how boring the class was when one of the girls remarked: " So what? It serves the purpose". I hope with all my heart it does in the long run, but at the same time I cant help feeling that my little third hand bike had served the purpose better.