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Showing posts from November, 2014

jugaaD

Necessity is  the mother of invention. And, getting the desired result from available resources is jugaaD .  I had come across the word jugaaD for the first time when I heard this song by Kailash Kher. Quite a catchy number - especially, the ' karle jugaaD karle, karle koi jugaaD ' bit........ And, it was the first word that came to my mind when I saw this all-weather volleyball/ badminton net at a rubber plantation quite  recently. When I expressed my admiration, the lady with me explained that it was her husband's idea and workmanship.  Well.... a real net is a luxury that a farmer of limited means cannot afford. This net is the result of a cash-strapped grandfather's desire to add a dash of professionalism to the games played by his grand children..... Only a true sports enthusiast can have the determination and patience to carry out such ideas! The entire net is made up of stiff, sturdy nylon cord - the kind that's used to fasten heavy

Birthday No.5

Alter Idem turns five today! It means, 'Story-time' .... You know, many a time, when you read a short story, you are not aware of the impact it would have made to the author's career.  I had read the story Sooryana Kudure by Sri.U.R.Anantamurthy about 5-6 years ago. But, it was only when the author passed away three months ago that I came to know - it is rated as one of the best stories in Indian fiction. Sooryana Kudure literally means 'The Sun's Mount'. In some dialects of Kannada, it means 'Grasshopper' (the insect). The story is so true- to-life that you can relate to the characters and the narrative if you have lived in the Malnad  for a considerable period! Here goes.... Anantu is on a visit to his hometown. At the market place, he runs into his school-mate and childhood friend, Venkata - the dunce of their class. Venkata is now an expert masseur - cum- astrologer and he convinces Anantu to be his client, and, thus, guest for the day. Thoug