Maharaja Swathi Thirunal

#M For Maharaja Swati Thirunal Palace & Museum

 A Few months back, visited Thiruvanthapuram (Trivandrum) on a personal work. Being in Kerala is not new for me and on one occasion almost 10 years back, visited Kottayam and stayed there for one week. Second time, when I was in Mysore to take translation lessons from CIIL, got into nearby places like Sultan bathery of Kerala. Eye feasting greenery and cleanliness are the ones I like most about that state. When I was in Trivandrum, in my leisure, roaming across railway station and other streets just for a purpose of sight seeing. Padmanabha Swamy temple came to my mind and called an auto to go there, it's not so far that I found in my inquiries.

Don't think that I am a staunch devotee of Anantha Padmanabha swamy. And Am not a hater of him either. I gave up idol worship long back, keep following Yoga sadhana only. I neither love nor hate any God or Prophet in particular. With curiosity both Bible and Quran were read along with Hindu scriptures, what I understood from my reading is all religions were different on surface but in deeper they all have one eternal message. After prophets, different followers said different interpretations according their own limitations. The same is happened with Hindu scriptures. On the pretext of "Bhashyams" , most of the texts were distorted. 

We should not make sweeping comments on any prophets with our limited knowledge of worldly factual acquisition. That's what my policy. Well, let me come to the point. Visited the temple and found it not so rush on that day. All that street ,most of the shops were belonged to golden ornaments. One must see, the fort and Museum adjacent to the temple. It was built by Swati Tirunal Marthanda Varma in 18th century. The fort has 122 rooms altogether. Museum filled with precious olden paintings, crafts, swords, spears, Imported antique items and so on. Travancore king defeated and captured Dutch army in 1741, Aug 10. And many new things we could learn from these treasure troves. 

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This Post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023

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Lone Fox Dancing

 #L For Lone Fox Dancing

"Lone Fox Dancing " is the autobiography of the renowned author Ruskin Bond. He is one of my favorite writers. I happened to read many of his stories. What I like in him is his non complicated narrative with a sweet way of telling any kind of story. Empathy, that's what we feel about his characters. His intricate details about every insect, plant, shrub, animals and places just awesome , that's how children and adults as well get attracted to his style of writing. Most of his stories sound like his own experiences in the hills of Himalayan prone areas like Simla, Mussori and Dehra etc.

My doubt proved somewhat right after reading this book of autobiography. Descriptions in his real life just made me recall some characters in his novels and stories. "The Room on the roof" novella is an excerpt from his childhood and adolescent part of life. Every reader could grasp it from this book. Ruskin Bond revealed many of his brighter and darker sides of  life. This book is published by Speaking tigers. Book cover is very nice and photographs given in the book were worth watching as they would speak volumes. Available with Amazon. 

  ----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : this post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023 ,  Blogchatter Link

Kandy of Sri Lanka

 #K For KANDY

Let me recall my days at Kandy of Sri Lanka. I visited Sri Lanka in the year of 2018. It was purely a tour with some like minded people. Thank God it was before Corona and Economic and political crisis. Kandy is the most beautiful city apart from it's significance as a city of Temple of  Buddha's tooth relic. The temple was seemed full rush with travelers and devotees on that day. Mostly people looked like from Thailand, Korea and Japan. And of course, some Europeans were too there. White lotus flowers were being offered to the Lord Buddha. Temple was very grandeur with Sri Lankan architecture, timber used in large scale apart from paintings inside.

Beside the Kandy's Buddha tooth relic temple, there were beautiful gardens, lakes and other statues. Temple was in white color. Premises and inside the temple was also looked clean and calm except in the time of rituals. This temple has a connection with India. Here, Tooth relic of Buddha preserved was sent by a Kalinga king during 4 AD, by sea route. Received at  Anuradha pura by a king and it was later sent to Kandy. Present temple housed the holy relic of Buddha and many devotees started to come here right from some hundreds of years.

Entry fee was 1000 Sri Lankan rupees. At the airports of Sri Lanka, exchange for Indian currency was not available. So I have taken it outside in the market. Kandy temple appeared to me just like an other temple in our country. With white lotus flowers, coconuts and incense sticks all over there to offer the Lord Buddha. Houses seemed a bit like Kerala traditional houses with slope angles. I thought of Buddha's journey via our country. Those who gave up everything for a greater cause, definitely their aura would spread all over the world. 

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note: This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Joyful moment

 # J For Joyful

Some days back, early in the morning, checked my whatsap messages. And got Joyful instantly seeing one particular message. It was a message sent by a research scholar, named by Dileep from a university, as he has gone my article on the novel "The God Father" authored by Mario Puzo. It has been placed in Nava Telangana daily, last year, publishing from Hyderabad.  Usually I keep writing for many Telugu journals. Readers used to call me by phone to say thanks and sometimes we start a conversation on the subject. I have had many many good friends in this way. And of course, there were some crooked critics, their only duty was to hurt others. I don't entertain their antics.

Receiving a message from a Ph.d research scholar in appreciation of my article is something substantial and which could have helped him in some way. That's good. I didn't know who he was, in person. But his name was Dileep. Phone number was there to call him back. But I thanked him by a message as well. With my hectic work plans , I couldn't call him back. Comparing to English, our capacity of expression in vernacular language is usually commendable, it's so with me. Perhaps such quality is inbuilt in every human being.

 

(My article in Nava Telangana daily)

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Haunted House

 #H For Haunted House

Well, in my previous post, I told you about Ghost details. As most of the people are scaring to open up in the issues like this for different reasons, me too scarcely discuss with other people. Here, I am comfortable. And also no face to face interaction with my blog readers. That makes me energetic to put my experience in a few words. I don't know how people will receive it but want to be read by some enthusiasts and react if there were any with same kind of experience. This incident has become a part of my life when I was living in my hometown on the work of a new house construction.

It happened almost 25 years back. I have taken a rented room in front of  the newly construction site. Construction has been started and taking progress day by day. After finishing off day time work, masons and his helpers were used to go to their homes. The place where I have taken a rented room was comfortable reasonably with other residents living in their own homes. I was sleeping in my room but feeling some uneasy, inexpressible to say. No nightmares or any of that sort, but felt somebody's presence in the room. And there was no person to see.

After almost a week, one night I was sleeping on my bed. In fact, it was not a deep sleep, aware of sounds of surrounding places. One hand slowly started caressing my back. First I didn't care. Then slowly that hand moving up to my waist. Yes, feeling it in my flesh and blood. My God, something wrong. Startled myself. I tried hard to open my eyes. Struggling and struggling to open my eyes. No, they were not opening. That hand was not stopping and now some ladylike entity perched on my back. Yes, I was still feeling. 

All of a sudden, I reminded my spiritual Guru's name incessantly in my inner self. Amazingly, that scary entity's influence subsided slowly. Then my eyes got opened. Got up from the bed and helped myself with some water. The very next day, on my inquiries , I came to know that a teenage girl had committed suicide due to a love affair, just to backside of my rented room. Once upon a time, I used to defy the presence of Ghost and God alike. My own experiences can be dissected into many layers before this incident. Meditation or Dhyaanam opened new doors for me. I will write all that whenever time permits me in the days to come.

----- Murthy Kvvs

NOTE : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023  

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Do you have any "Ghost" experience ?

 #G For Ghost

Do you have any Ghost experience ? or scared of being seen ?

Some people used to tell us what others have experienced and rarely tell us what they experienced. Why ? inhibitions. Fear out of being branded yourself as a person with irrational mindset. In this vast world, there are lot of unexplored things and they will always be hard nuts to crack. Through the lens of material science , we will never get witness to show others. But they make us experience in a subtle way. They always live in our secret thoughts. But expressing in proper words are very difficult. Sometimes, reveal symbolic through five elements and sometimes gross but dreamlike. 

However daring we are, we get scared, startled and a moment thoughtful. We can not rubbish our own experience. Its piercing chill unleashes our inner self. We can't lie to ourselves. Our logic, reason and so on seem failed or unanswered. All the knowledge earned until then is different. Its tools are different. Clueless we remain. Then many charlatans appear before us to set them right. A time of getting confused furthermore. In my life, I have had an experience with a Ghostlike one. 

When ?

Where ?

How ?

Want to know all these ?

I will write it in the next post. Yes H post.     

Until then

Bye , bye..!!!

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note: This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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My journey with Flute

 #F For Flute

I would like to share some of my experiences with Flute, the soft and sweet music instrument. Is there any human being who doesn't like the soothing sound of Flute, I guess a big no. Ever since heard the flute music by Pandit Hari prasad Chourasia in some of concerts, an urge sprouted up to try my hand on Flute. Not only that, some film songs especially from the compositions of Ilaya Raja, AR Rehman and RD Burman instilled great love and passion in me. 

I don't have any plans to give classical music programs and so on, but to play my favorite songs in my leisure time. That's what my idea. Started going to classes. Everyday one hour. I enjoyed a lot, especially the soothing sound came from the hollow bamboo flute. I was using C Middle flute. There are many types of flutes according to scales. What I noticed is practice makes one perfect. That is cent per cent correct in the matter of flute blowing. The more you practice, the more you excel. Unless you practice everyday at least some time, no Guru however great he is, can't do anything.

Am following Hindusthani flute tradition. At present lingering on Janta swaraalu. With my other works, I was missing some practice sessions. Anyway, I keep practicing at my residence whenever there is some leisure time. Through this flute practice, came to know that how dedicatedly the real masters have practiced long hours everyday with all that unflinching perseverance. There are many intricacies in the flute that we can practice for a life time.  

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2023

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Oriya people write Expressive English

#E For English

English is an undisputed and time tested entity in our country. However some people occasionally raise their voice against using English are quite opposite in their practical life. English has taken the place of powerful lingua franca in our country. For good or bad, our colonial past presented the language and we are bound to use it for our needs. Be it technical, educational, professions at outer lands whatever the situation English is at our side to help. In our Telugu states, when English medium opened in the government schools, some people made ruckus that showing the reason, children would be anglicised and devoid of local language. I don't understand the logic. Already there are numerous English medium schools in the private sector, almost started like mushrooms for the last some decades. What evil they did to the children..? 

All high profile people wanted their children educated in English medium. They preach unnecessary ethics when it comes to the common people. Any language when it lost its utility, importance and usefulness, automatically which will die without getting anybody's permission. Do English get people distracted from their vernacular language, a big no. Take my example. I will still write and speak my mother tongue with no hesitation when it needed. English opened new windows and connected with wider range of people. For example, this blog writing makes me familier to many people and I could also understand the opinions of others through their blogposts. How simply life made with English language.

I can't say all Indians who know English are proficient, in fact, that's not necessary except teaching professionals. Yes. The teacher should be well equipped and then only English skills will be passed on to the generations. As I was roaming in India, understood the influence of local language on their expression in  English also. It's not a big crime. In fact, there was some beauty in it also. That's the spirit of Indian English. Already English is the official language in 7 states and 7 Union territories. Our software professionals have been reigning in the US and other counties. Is it possible without English..? Many people say south Indians speak and write more English than other states. But these days, many  north Indian state people too pursuing the suite.   

But in my view, as I have observed in my traveling, Oriya people write beautiful and expressive English comparing to many other states. I knew some bilingual writers from Orissa like Late Manoj Das, Jayanta Mahapatra and many others. They write in a natural flow without sacrificing linguistic beauty. Of course, it's my personal opinion. You are free to have your own opinion. Let me know about it. How English is doing in your surroundings , of course, leave big cities aside. They are all alike in this issue. 

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023

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Dummugudem : A Colonial Signature

 # D For Dummugudem

Dummugudem is a small village. A non descript place. And nobody could say hardly a word about it. I am  not saying about others or outsiders, even present generation people of this village don't know what significant features their village have had once. That's not their fault. Of course, I point out none. Things have been going on like that with our present education system and Am not saying about the teachers working in the schools. Our policy makers at the helm. We read lessons byheart, fulfill dreams of our parents by becoming software Professionals, Doctors, Engineers or well paid employees. That's it. Who cares about the past of our places and activities that have conceived of.

          

 ( Bose Babu statue amidst the village, they treat it as their trade mark for the place)

Well. Let me begin. The place now we are telling has the foot prints of Colonial British employees and their quarters, church, navigation center, and of course their tombs along with erstwhile zamindar's house. All are now in dilapidated condition. As the people are not so conscious of  historical events and older constructions, year by year, getting destroyed. Sometimes with the acts of hooligans and sometimes with the harsh weather conditions. I have gathered some information from very old people a couple of decades back. According to such account, Once upon a time, before independence, all this Dummugudem and nearby Lakshminagaram villages were hubs of British employees.

 

(An old building of British Era, Zamindar's residence)

River Godavari was used as traveling route right up to Rajamundry and boats and steamers were busy in serving travelers. They also have established a repair center and it's called by work shop. River Godavari was the biggest asset for Dummugudem as a transportation mode. They established a hostel for downtrodden children nearby a church. This hostel is also in ruining condition now. Their quarters were already vanished with passing time. Have seen some of the tombs when I visited the place. All tombs were read as high profile employees like an ICS officer named Angus Alstair Fernandez and well versed English teachers like Dorothy, Sara clare and other a girl named Charlotte Henrita etc..

                                                        (A Britisher's tomb)

At present, all this place looked like deserted and with nobody's attention. But if you have an eye for colonial history and nostalgic view, this place would speak volumes of things about the past. If you roam around the surrounding tribal villages, don't surprise, you will also randomly meet some people with blue eyes, long jaws, fair skin and European sort features. Maybe, signatures of  the history. Who knows, Anything could have happened. I leave the matter to you and remain here.  

----- Murthy Kvvs

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023

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Cattle Milk Okay..?

 #C For Cattle

We use mostly packaged milk. That's not uncommon these days. You will see milk pack at your doorsteps soon after the doors are opened in the early morning. Behind the huge service, there are number of cattle. Buffaloes , Cows and sheep etc. And of course, many say artificial milk creation racket is also there but I have never seen even one of such crooks ever arrested. That's how things go in our country. Dairy industry is a huge money spinner in any state. Do we really have such a large scale cattle to provide millions of our country. It seems definitely not. 

Where ever you go outside, I mean countryside , cattle folk is not to be seen in the fields as it was happened before. Why ? decreasing number of cows so evident in our Telugu states. But everywhere you can see buffaloes and village people believed that buffaloes milk is profitable comparing to cow's. Is it correct or blind belief..? Maybe profitable okay. They give more milk. But why most of the developed nations still consume cow's milk instead of buffaloes..?

No, don't misunderstand me. I don't have any religious leanings in the matter of cow. Just  give a thought of it for a while. If you go through our old scriptures of any kind mostly our people consumed cow's milk, even up to the generation of our grand fathers.  Even  our Ayurvedic medicines recommend cow's milk and never of buffaloes. One of my friends used to say, our today's generation became weak physically and lazy in attitude due to buffaloes milk. He also gives example like when his vehicle goes so  closer to some people on the road, they don't give a damn just to move aside. All these attitudes came into people's DNA  from buffalo milk consumption everyday. 

Note : This post is a part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge 2023

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