On completing 3 weeks of my stay in India I remembered this funny anecdote. A man once went to an astrologer, who after seeing his chart said "You will be begging after two years". "What will happen after 2 years ?" asked the man, now somewhat curious and concerned. The astrologer replied "Don't worry. You will get used to it". Similarly in the initial days in Odisha I struggled with the heat and dust, the sultry weather and the erratic traffic. Now I have got used to it.
During this trip I am occasionally having dry cough which I can relate to the heavy dust cover in the air, mostly due to never ending construction activities going on in our area since time immemorial. The arrival of monsoon would have settled down the dust. Monsoon seems to be constipated this year, stubbornly refusing to come out, delivering in bits and pieces, a few drizzles here and there. So far lots of thunder and lightning, all fart no shit.In my childhood days in Odisha, a dry cough had a medical term ascribed to it - "PETA GARAM", or warmth of the belly. No one really knows what it exactly means, but it was suppose to be the symptom of many diseases, especially related to cold and allergies. The term PETA is famously associated with the acronym for "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals". But here, the treatments for PETA GARAM is only associated to a species of mammal called humans, ethically treating the human belly from getting hot as a prevention which is better than cure.
My mother attributes my dry cough to its root cause of "Peta Garam" after her son landed up in this unfriendly weather. She has advised me to take bath sprinkling less water on head, but a liberal flashing of mugs of cold water on belly (PETA) to prevent it from going hot (GARAM). She says if your pee resembles Mustard oil in color and viscosity, it is the classic symptom of legendary PETA GARAM.
Shower and ablution back in those days were a combination of water, bucket and mug, the fad of toilet paper was still elitist. The concept of toilet paper was as alien as aliens were to me. Toilet and paper were two separate entity, those days juxtaposing them was strictly fantasy. In 40°C heat, post consumption of hot, spicy food water feels a lot cooler than the softest of toilet paper.
An NRI visiting India went shopping for toilet paper. The store was out of it. Said the furious NRI, "What kind of store you have, you don't carry a necessity item like Toilet Paper ?" "Sorry Sir", The storekeeper responded. We don't have toilet paper but we have plenty of Sand papers. "TIKE ADJUST KARANTU (Please adjust a little bit)". Trying to imagine the condition of the guy using sand paper in place of toilet paper.
Brahmins are expected to take shower in a semi naked state to prevent their PAITA (sacred thread worn over their shoulder) from getting MAARA (spoiled). And it should involve pouring mugs of water on your belly to keep it in cool and forming a barrage against disease.
It's not uncommon for folks coming out of our NIT hostel bathrooms in fully drenched and dipping cloth, a la male version of Mandakini, of Raj Kapoor's "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" fame. In summer such an experience was pleasant. In winter in Rourkela one needed to shiver for minutes before changing to dry cloth.
In our NIT hostel there would be beeline in front of the standing showers when the municipality supply water comes running at noon. The line used to be a lot longer during the winter months as the running water was relatively warmer than the stored one.
The first couple of mugs of water would be poured over the body with a burst of latest Bollywood hit song on top of the voice. That would instantly kill the fear of cold water. The BESURA (tone and beat less) song continues as mugs of water are flashed on the belly to prevent PETA GARAM. The song slowly dies down, as the next person in line keeps knocking on the door, a terse reminder to wrap up with soaked GAMUCHA and tip toe back to your room.
Not sure if those preventing measures against PETA GARAM really prevented us from common ailments. But am sure, "PETA GARAM" is just another name for dehydration. By drinking plenty of water one is better off than flashing liters of cool water on the torso.
I would like to end this blog with an ode to talented, blind author Faturananda from Cuttack who incidentally was born this month of June. He wrote many Odia short stories and was known for his dry humor and sarcasm. His description of minute details was amazing - especially of the human feelings. At a very young age he lost his eyesight, hence he could never fall in love at firstsight.
He described his feeling of love in Odia - "PETA RU GOTE GARAM PABAN BAHARI CHHATI KU KUTU KUTU KALA PARI EKA ABHIGYANTA" (Love is the feeling of a hot air emanating from the stomach and tickling your heart). I fell in love with that expression of a blind person who could see the love it without able to see. A feeling of PETA GARAM isn't too bad. My mother was so correct. Flashing of cold water on the stomach and drinking of plenty of water has helped me beating the PETA GARAM. More later....
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