March 6, 2012
After channel flipping through the high octane coverage of assembly election results from five states early this morning, went to check out the Vijnanolsavam (Knowledge Fest), a 10 day book fair organized by the Kerala Bhasha Institute at the V.J.T hall. Half the hall is the book fair and the other half is a painting exhibition honoring the centenary of famous painted, K.C.S. Panicker.
Since Kerala Bhasha Institute is a government body that focuses on well researched non-fiction, the demand is less and discounts are staggering. Bought the three famous "Unni" tales from 13th century: Unniyadi charitam, Unniyachi charitam and Unnichirutheyi charitam. These are prose-poetry mixes called the "Champu" form dedicated to three renowned prostitutes of that period. Glorified under the title "Devadasis" (slaves of the gods), they were like the vestal virgins of ancient Rome. Initially, only Brahmins were the gods served by the Devadasis but soon they expanded business to include the royalty, warrior class, rich merchants, traders and poets. It is from the poets who camped in the magnificent mansions maintained by these women and their teams that these "champus" poured forth. I have been wanting to read them for many years now. It will be a great contrast to get into after finishing Dr. Azhikode's brilliant work on the Upanishads. From the sublime to the seductresses...
Also picked up the Malayalam translation of Neelakanta Sastry's history of south India, Dr. Shashibhooshan book on the mural paintings of Kerala and a gift book for Achan on the improvisations in Kathakali. Thanks to all the discounts, the total cost was close to Rs. 300.
The painting exhibition featured some captivating work by artists like N.N. Rimzon and Sunil Kovalam. Sunil's "Dreamy Seascape" is a delight of detailing that delivers more and more as one succumbs to it. On the stage, a special collection of work by the famous students of K.C.S Panicker like M.V. Devan, Kanayi Kunjiraman and C. Karunakaran. Devan is a master of lines. Kanayi has a disturbed mind which was a little too much for me to digest. Karunakaran was magnificient in the colors, themes and technique. If Bhasa, Bhavabhutti and Kalidasa wanted their timeless works illustrated, they would probably pick someone like Karunakaran.
I had never been up on the stage of VJT hall before. As one climbs the narrow wooden stairs, there is a stone plaque that declares the dedication of the hall to commemorate 50 years of the empress of India, Queen Victoria. It was inaugurated in 1896 by Sri Moolam Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore. From the stage, it is possible to notice that the hall has balcony seating at the back.
By evening it was clear that Mulayam Singh's Samaj Party would come to power in Uttar Pradesh with absolute majority. BJP hangs on by a razor thin margin in Uttarkhand and defeats Congress comfortably in Goa. Biggest surprise in Punjab where for the first time, the incumbents have been returned to power by the people. A great day for Akhilesh Yadav and rocky day for Rahul Gandhi. These princes of India politics will go to bed tonight with different opinions about their subjects of the fiefdom.
As if to contrast with the "Knowledge fest" in the morning, hour long discussion at dusk of scary, spooky stories with the 14 year-olds in the neighborhood. Stories about the Yakshi who drinks the blood of young men; about the 'Maadan' (giant) who disturbs people in the house if a lamp is not lit for him in the evening; the old lady who appears and disappears in the small patch of woods; the fish that jumped back into the river after its tail was cut off and the mysterious death of the fisherman next day; the sound of heavy anklets in the dark, deserted alleys; the inexplicable heaviness felt at night on the rider seat by the motor bike riders on a kilometer long stretch near the military camp.
Night had fallen at the end of the story sessions. The electricity department contributed an unasked for, but chilling effect by keeping the street lights off. "Somebody should walk with me back home. I am too scared. I can't believe that all these years I didn't notice that the local temple goddess is a Yakshi!" said one of the boys who hadn't expect such a fright night start for his two month long school vacation.
Tomorrow, over 3 million women congregate in the city to celebrate the Pongala at the Attukal Devi temple. Hearths will be burning in rows on the main roads of the city for several kilometers. Drinking water stations have been set up even in areas near our house which is 7 kilometers away from the temple. I guess blessings traverse space and time. When I saw an old lady get into a fight yesterday morning for stealing bay leaves which are a must-use ingredient in the ritual and therefore cost as high as Rs. 3 per leaf tomorrow, I realized that blessings cross all conventional notions of morality as well. By hook or crook, get it done and the goddess will be pleased, it seems!
While browsing through a book on local birds at the book fair, saw that it is easy to confuse a species of Barbet with the Pitta. Barbets have a white eye patch and Pitta have black. I will try to remember "Warner Brothers British Petroleum" for "White Barbet Black Pitta" next time the noisy, green winged yellow breasted birds are in the area. Among animal identification mnemonics, here's one that has saved me a couple of times in Texas. To differentiate between stripped poisonous King snake (coral snake) and a harmless garden variety mimic, remember: "Red and black, venom lack; red and yellow, can kill a fellow!"
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