Happy birthday Manoj Das

 When the eccentric celluloid genius Kishore Kumar died in October 1987, the Editorial on Newspaper "The Times of India" came with a tribute about him - "The last of the originals". Today, 25 years later, I attribute the same, the last of the original Odia writer to Manoj Das on his 89th birthday.

I am not new to Manoj Das and his writing. Ever since as a 8 year old I read his book ALOKA O ANANDA RA KAHANI (Story of Light and Delight) published by National Book Trust (NBT) in 1977, I have never ever looked back. A writer at ease in both Odia, his mother tongue and English, he is an excellent story teller for a layman tyro like me, also a writer of philosophical stuff which can only be understood and appreciated by folks at an higher level of intellect (not me).

Manoj Das shifted to Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry in the early 1960s and it was a prudent decision on his part to leave Odisha, as the state is known as a graveyard for any kind of creative pursuits. I believe he would have been the proverbial "BANA MALLI BANA RE JHADI JAE" - "Jasmin flower in the forest falls off without its fragrance ever getting noticed". No sooner he left Odisha, than his talent was immediately visible and recognized, his writings were published by the widely circulating Newspaper "THE HINDU" and spread northwards beyond Vindyas when Delhi based The Hindustan Times started publishing his articles and short stories.

It didn't take very long for more adulation to follow, especially from two nations, whose success is often attributed for their penchant to appreciate and nurture talents - The United States of America, my adopted country and Singapore, my ever appreciated country.

The late Martha Foley annually listed the best short stories published in the United States for many years in 1970s. At least five short stories by Manoj Das were published in the year 1975 in some of the prestigious magazines and anthologies of the USA. To cite a few more examples Confrontation, a volume brought out by the Long Island University (1983) was an interesting anthology of the representative writings of Brooklyn, vis-à-vis the representative writings of the current world. The only story from Asia to find a place in the compilation was Manoj Das’s “Lakshmi’s Adventure”, a typical Indian short story worth a mystic touch. Similarly, the international Number of New Orleans Review (Loyala University, 1979) chose only one story from Asia and that was Manoj Das’s “A Bridge in the Moonlit Night”.

The government of Singapore invited him in 1980s to help them in their Moral and Ethical studies projects. Sri Das delivered lectures in Schools and Colleges of Singapore, wrote two textbooks for their school system, his work appreciated by non other than the Deputy PM of Singapore.

Manoj Das's short stories were serialized by Khushwant Singh when the Sardar (Sikh) edited "THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA", the most widely read and circulated magazine in 1970s. The writings styles of both the eminent writers were poles apart. The Sardar, a master of glut of smut, thrives on liberal dosage of crude humor, fart and sex in his writing, whereas Manoj Das's revolved on simple life philosophy and his subtle sense of humor hovering the mundane life episodes. The Sardar the salacious and the Manoj Das the sagacious formed a unique bond.

Yet both has tremendous respect for each other. Khushwant Singh recognized Manoj Das by publishing his stories in his magazine of repute at a time when authors of the day died to get their work published in the Illustrated Weekly of India which he edited. Manoj Das was one of the few whose writing made into the much coveted magazine on regular basis. Sri Das appreciated the witty Sardar as one NIRBHIKA LEKHAKA (fearless writer, proved by the fact that he dared to take head on the likes of Bal Thackarey and Sant Bhindranwale, at a time most other journos when they were expected to bend volunteered to crawl in front of them).

Manoj Das, in his tribute to Khushwant Singh after the his death has described how liquor used to flow during evenings at Sardar's party, when the invited odd man out Manoj Das would be sipping his endless glasses of Tomato juice. These two great writers formed a unity in diversity, of mutual trust and respect. The old Sardar still kept writing well into his 90s and may Sri Das, who passed away couple of years ago in his late 80s.

If I am allowed to vote for the greatest Odia achiever in my lifetime - it would go to this gentleman MANOJ DAS. He may be dead, not the immortal masterpieces from his pen. RIP Sir in heaven where you aptly belong.

RIP Pradip Kaka

Today I received one of the biggest jolts in my life. Pradip Panda uncle, a close friend, philosopher and guide to our family lost his battle with life after days of stay in the ICU. He was only in his mid 60s. I simply can't believe he isn't among us anymore. 

A very noble, kind and benevolent human being, he never dissapointed anyone. No one would ever return empty handed from his doorstep. Pradip Kaka, as we fondly call him was way ahead of time, way apart from others. He was a multifaceted talent who predicted all the outcomes in my life for last 30 years just by browsing my horoscope, surprising the sceptic in me. He predicted that I will marry in winter, as being born in the month of May certain "Dasa and Lagna" will always prevent me from getting married in summer months. Well I tried to defy my fate by almost tying the knot in summer but my marriage broke up. I ended up marrying in December, as predicted by him. 

He also accurately predicted my coming to America, settling down in South and what not with immaculate accuracy. He owed his accuracy of clairvoyance to his intuition and experience. And apart from being a brilliant astrologer, he was a moving encyclopedia who had answer to every query under the sun. Conversations with him was a erudite concoction of fun and knowledge. He would drive me to the best bookstores in Bhubaneswar and introduce me to the latest best sellers. 

Pradip Kaka was too good a person, a kind soul who left way too early, leaving a huge vacuum amongst his family and friends. A part of me snapped when I heard the news of his passing away. Sometimes I wonder about the vagaries of life. A doctor who cures patients from incurable diseases, can fall seriously ill. A great bowler who take wickets of the best batters often gets out to ordinary balls. Astrologers who can predict other's future can barely control their own. Burglaries in policemen's home aren't unheard of. And many more... 

May God give his family strength and courage to overcome this untimely tragedy. As I finish writing my obituary, I can feel the blurriness of my eyelids, my view turning hazy due to the moistening of the corner of my eyes. Unknown to me, my reflex action took the glasses off using my fingers, wiping off my tears, tersly reminded of this Hindi song, an ode to the nicest of human beings whose repertoire of love and affection to me and my family was never empty. 

ZINDAGI SAU BARAS KI SAHI,

ZINDAGI KA BHAROSA NAHI;

CHAAND CHHOOP JAE KAB KYA PATA,

CHANDNI KA BHAROSA NAHI. 

Transliterated.. 

Life is for living hundred years,

But destiny is unreliable forever;

Never know when moon can go into hiding,

For Moonlight is not worth relying.

RIP Uncle Pai

 Today is the birthday of Uncle Pai of The AMAR CHITRA KATHA (Immortal Tells in Illustration) fame. Like many from my generation, I spent my entire childhood reading his comics, which contributed immensely to my knowledge and character. More importantly, he inculcated a reading habit in me which I carry till date.

Pictorial depiction of stories and events can enliven the mood and leave long imprints in mind, which gets captured in memory like a lasting photography. For more than a decade I poured over those comics, starting when it was priced at Rs.2 until the price soared to Rs.20 - its range reaching myriad subjects, which includes but not limited to History, Mythology and the Saga of Freedom Fighters who participated in India's freedom struggle.

The popularity of these comics could be judged from being the most sought after items during my school days. Most of my schoolmates would rarely buy them. They would borrow from me and never return them. Some was outright stealing.

To stop this I came up with this novel idea - I lent those to whom I suspected of stealing with one condition. When I handed the Comics to them, I requested them to forget about returning and better keep them. The message was well taken. Though it didn't entirely stop the menace, it alleviated my problem to a certain extent.

(Another popular stolen and burrowed-to-never-returned materials were the popular Weekly Magazines of Sportstar, Sportsworld and Sportsweek, especially during the peak cricket season. The chief target were the colored center spread sheets of popular cricketers those days - Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. Those magazines would soon get raped and soiled, with those cherished center spreads gone missing. In our school library there was virtually a riot to be the first person to tear and grab those).

Back to Amar Chitra Katha - There is this anecdote of a famous King whose three sons could never focus on learning as they showed little interest in academics. So he appointed several tutors to impart knowledge on his recalcitrant children. All of them failed, until stepped in Vishnu Sharma of PANCHATANTRA fame. To these spoiled brats, he recited his famous short stories. The characters were mostly Animals conveying a strong social messages, which are very apt even at this age. The Princes listened to them with rapt attention and were soon transformed into a wiser, learnt lot.

Uncle Pai was one of those rare kinds, the modern world Vishnu Sharma. As soil needs tilling and crop rotation to retain and enhance its fertility, human brain's fertility can be nurtured through good reading habits. Uncle Pai was a pioneer in his field who immensely contributed to the fertility of brains of young and old alike with his matchless story telling ability. RIP Sir, wherever you are and many happy returns of the day.

One year of the Ukrain war

Russian invasion of Ukraine completed its first year, entering the second. Many, especially those who neither themselves nor anyone in their past 14 generations have ever stepped a day on a battlefield nor have done anything beyond swinging Lathis (sticks) in the age of AK-47, jumped to predict that Russia would vanquish Ukraine in 12 days. The loser Bhakts were supporting Putin. Ukraine has given the Bhakts, Whatsapp University foreign policy experts such a tight slap that they will never forget.

But at end of 12 months from the commencement of war it is still a stalemate. The big bear Russia was supposed to maul the hapless human Ukraine to pulp. But the hapless human though injured, like a cornered tiger has held on spectacularly against the big bear for 1 year and could do so for many more months to come.

Ukrainian resistance surprised graduates from Whatsapp University. Yet it has also surprised many military, strategic and foreign policy experts, including its aggressor Russia too, though it is not surprising that NATO, mainly the USA has played a key role behind the lines helping Ukraine to stubbornly resist the Russian aggression. At the same time the Russian troops are hardly motivated to be dogged in a long dragging, purposeless war against an enemy with whom they are emotionally and culturally bound for a long time. It is to be noted that for decades both Russia and Ukraine both were part of erstwhile Soviet Union or U.S.S.R. In fact the Bhakts and graduates from Whatsapp University who say that Russia supported India in 1971 war against Pakistan, they conveniently forgot that Ukraine then supported India too as part of erstwhile U.S.S.R.

In meantime the global economy may not be doing great, but it seems to have recovered from the aftershock due to the sudden spike in the crude oil price. Gas price has been stabilizing, at least in the United States. It has come down by no less than 25% at the gas stations from what was a year ago. That's certainly good news. Inflation though still high, has gone down a bit.

How this thing will end is a million dollar question. Frankly no one knows, especially in this age filled with tons of unpredictable factors the world's best astrologer or clairvoyant cannot prophesize the future. But what we know, considering the countries forming NATO are turning into more of a liability than assets to the United States. What's a wastage of tax payers money !

NATO countries are behaving like toddlers holding their parent's hands forever, complacent with the desire to stay forever young and dependent. They don't want to learn how to walk and are reluctant to decouple their hands from their parent's. It's high time America quit holding their hands and let NATO countries learn to stand on its own feet and walk by themselves.

Germany, France, England are formidable powers with a long military history. They should take care of themselves rather than forever leaning on America's shoulder. In the meantime let's pray that Putin sees some sense and the war ends soon. Because he is the one started it, he should end it. Ending this war is good for all except Putin's ego and the Arms lobby.

Urban legends from Childhood days

 Like many from my generation, I grew up amidst several Urban (a few Rural too) legends in Odisha. For a long time I believed them as gospels written on stone. Here you go :

Jeff Thompson was known to be the fastest bowler during my childhood days. It was then said, to Sunil Gavaskar, the better known cricketer of our time, once the ball came out of Thompson's hand it looked like a woman's Sindoor (Vermilion dot which adores Hindu women's forehead as a symbol of marriage). A la Hindu women, it was destined for Gavaskara's (Sunny's last name pronounced in a thick Odia accent) forehead.

But little, little Gavaskara knew about this folklore. Because the Little Master had the height advantage of having a small height, readily ducking Thompson's "bounsara" missiles without getting hurt.

In India, cricket is more skewed towards batsmen (probably the reason why we rarely produce quality fast bowlers). So whatever supposedly came out of our Gavaskara's mouth who dominated in the 1970s and 80s was treated as the gospel.

A guy in our neighborhood used to say that the world's fastest bowler was Lillian Thomson. Many would be wondering how can be a woman be the world's fastest bowler in a male dominated sport. Later on we alluded the guy as "Gullian" Thomson (Gullia in Odia means a person who kills light hearted jokes)

In the late 70s, a person from near my ancestral village near Puri, Odisha topped Civil Services, undoubtedly the most cherished job at that time, when government was the largest employer in the country. The legend goes like this, in the UPSC interview panel he was questioned - "What's Half Circle, Full Circle, Half Circle A, Half Circle, Full Circle, Right Angle A". Instantly came his answer - "Coca Cola", which catapulted him to a top rank above the rest who were not brilliant enough to answer this question correctly. Not sure if that question prompted George Fernandez, the champion Socialist of that era to drive Coke and IBM out of India. It's rumored he toiled hard to nationalize the Tatas, the largest private sector of the time. Glad sanity prevailed, nothing of that sort happened.

And this one beats all - the myth about Mahatab's head. A widely circulated story, attributed to the brain of late Dr. H.K. Mahatab, a Congressman and ex-Chief Minister of Orissa. Considered to be a wily politician of his time, it is said after his death America secretly fetched his head to investigate and explore the secrets behind his masterly shrewd political brain.

It is still rumored to be well preserved is some remote research lab in the United States. Source of this GULLI is most likely the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar where he lived and has a lot of fans. Many credit him for being the Founding Father of the New Capital city of Bhubaneswar. Never know one day I might stumble upon a mummified head in some museum in US with a slab underneath it 'The Brainiest Head in the history of Mankind'. 

 
The story about his head is a devotional lie which transformed itself into a well believed truth. No wonder Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda Minister during the days of Nazi Germany famously said - "A lie repeated hundred times becomes the truth". We have an Odia proverb - "TINI TUNDARE CHHELI KUKURA, or " a goat can be a dog if three persons say so". The meaning is self explanatory.

Change of habits after coming to America

Here is a list of my change in habits after coming to the United States. I am sure most of my contemporary NRIs are on same boat.

1. It has been a long time I have taken a shower in cold water. During my growing up days back in India, I used to take bath in normal tap water stored in tanks, even during the coldest of winters in Rourkela, Odisha where the temperature dips to single digit (in centigrade) in night. I can't do that now. Read somewhere that the prisoners in the famous Alcatraz Island are given shower in warm water jets, so that they can't escape swimming in the cold waters off the San Francisco bay. They have a point.

2. Putting ice in drinking water. Water in Room temperature tastes so bland, iced water tastes so crispy and fresh ! Bad habit.

3. Washing hands after peeing. Never did that when I was India and didn't regret shaking hands with others after shaking  the residue off immediately after peeing. I have watched some of them with trepidation when they rolled their hand over their chin and nose after shaking hands with me. Converted many tree trunks and walls as urinals, not anymore.

4. Catching up with Hollywood movies I missed earlier and became extremely selective on Bollywood ones, the later lacking ingenuity as years progress. No wonder a junk movie like Pathaan has become a blockbuster.

5. At work, Coffee has taken over Tea. Never liked the tea made out of tea bags. Love the brewed Tea which is restricted to home and developed a taste over cold, sweet tea - a specialty in the Dixie land of the Southern United States.

6. No more looking for News inside the Newspapers. I scan them for Coupons and Sale items in my neighborhood stores. Mostly get news from the Internet and Social media these days, followed by TV.

7. While stepping in or stepping out of doors or Elevators (called Lifts in India), I let the other person go first. Never cared to do that before, no one cared for me either. Rarely I get a thank you when I do the same back in India.

8. Never had the feeling of driving a car with steering wheel on the right hand side of the vehicle, as I never drove a 4 - wheeler in India. Now I won't dare. Used to lane driving, if I drive in Bhubaneswar, you can bet that either I will either hit some one or some one will hit me within a mile of me driving.

9. Developed gardening and blogging as hobby. Never thought in my wildest of my dreams I will cultivate these hobbies, but now I am addicted to those.

And few old habits die hard.

1. Unless I am using a restroom (toilet) outside my home, old fashion flashing off cold water to wash my bottom feels soothing. The softest of toilet papers is to Subways Sandwitch, as a Mug of Cold water is to hot chilli chicken.

2. Never could develop a passion for American Sports - Football, Baseball and Basketball. Still love Cricket, Soccer and Field Hockey (Hockey in US defaults to Ice Hockey which I find fast, furious and boring).

3. Wasn't able to develope a taste in English music. When the rockstar "Prince" died I got curious and asked others - "Prince, who" ? I googled about Rihanna when she twitted something controversial sometime back. Still stuck in the old Hindi music of Kishore Kumar, Mohd Rafi, Mukesh, Lata, Asha, Akshay Mohanty, Pranab Patnaik, Chitta Jena era whom I find soothing to my soul and don't mind.

Thoughts from Dil Dhadakne Do

 Simetime back I saw this Hindi movie "DIL DHADAKNE DO" (Let the heart beat). The story veers around a rich but dysfunctional family going through a financial mess and trying to cope with the changing reality. An ordinary movie, with some extraordinary anecdotes carrying subtle underlying messages.

A group of business families are on a Cruise Ship, armed by - "ADHARE HASA, ANTARE BISA" (Smile on lips, Venom filled Inside). Fakeness at its best is displayed by women in the group, who make the perfect use of their kitty party to indulge in classic "PARA NINDA, PARA CHUGULI" (Character Assassination and B**ching about others).

Men, if not dragged into avoidable squables on their wives behest were seen mixing business with pleasure. Apart from bragging about their wealth and amorous conquests, they were busy drinking, fixing deals and smartly trying to outmaneuver each other by manipulating using devious ways to proliferate their business through marital bond amongst their kids.

Loved this monologue delivered by Anil Kapoor in that movie - "Humans are basically pretentious. If others do it we call it hypocrisy, if we do it we call it worldly wise." How true !!! So also goes another narration in the movie. When the boy goes out on date, he is considered to have come to age by their parents who feel proud of his maturity. But if a girl does the same, she brings shame to their family. How shamelessly hypocrite !

All these traits acted out nicely by a group of performer who have one thing in common. Being from the tinsel town of Bollywood which reeks of hollowness and hypocrisy, playing these roles on screen came naturally to them, as a walk in the park.

Though the milieu shown in this movie is distinctly upper class, this venom of plastic runs fast and furious in the vain of the middle class, something we engage on daily basis. ADHARE HASA, ANTARE BISA (Smile on lips, Venom Inside) never seemed more apt. We see it all the time - smile on your face, stab on yout back.