மாதொருபாகன் எனது பார்வையில்

மாதொருபாகன்  விடுதலைக்கு  முந்தைய காலகட்டத்தில் வாழ்ந்த ஒரு குழந்தையில்லா கணவன் -மனைவி கதை. நான் நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம் திருச்செங்கோடு வட்டத்தை சேர்ந்தவன் என்பதால் இதில் பயன்படுத்தபட்டுள்ள  செய்திகளும், சொல்லாடல்களும் எளிமையாக இருந்தது . அநேகமாக நான் படித்த புதினங்களில் மிக வேகமாக படித்தது இதுவாகத்தான் இருக்கும். நான் ரசித்த சில வழக்குச்  சொற்கள் ; பயா -பையன் /மகன் , உதுட்டு -நீக்கிவிட்டு , ச்சுடேய் -நாயை விரட்ட , பொட்டுக் கூடை -சின்ன கூடை. இந்த புதினத்தில் குழந்தையின்மையே கரு. திருச்செங்கோட்டு மலையை சுற்றி உள்ள இரண்டு  ஊரில் நடக்கும் கதை திருச்செங்கோடு திருவிழாவில் முடிவடைகிறது.

காதல், பாசம் அனைத்தையும் மீறி  குழந்தையின்மை கதைத்  தலைவன் தலைவி இல்வாழ்க்கையை சோகம் நிறைந்தாகுகிறது . தலைவிக்கு சமூகம் கொடுக்கும் அழுத்தமும், அதனால் உண்டாகும் வலியும், அந்த வலியால் உண்டாகும்   நிகழ்வுகளுமே கதையை நகர்த்தி செல்கின்றன. சாதி பிரிவினைகளை அந்ததந்த சாதிகளின்  வாழ்கை முறைகளையும் , அடுத்த சாதியுடன் கூடிய உறவையும் கொண்டு உணர்த்திய விதம் அருமை.

திருச்செங்கோட்டு மலையில்  செங்கோட்டையன் ,அர்த்தனரீஸ்வரருக்கு  இணையாக  காட்டுக்குள்  பவாத்தா கோயிலை பற்றி வரும் பகுதி அருமை. நெய்வேதியும் படைக்கப்படும் கடவுளும், கோழி படைக்கப்படும் கடவுளும் ஒருங்கே இருக்கும் செய்தி எனக்கு ஆச்சரியம். அடுத்து திருச்செங்கோட்டு மலைமீது இருக்கும் வரடிகல். குழந்தையில்லா பெண்கள் இதை சுற்றினால் பேறு கிடைக்கும் என்பது நம்பிக்கை. எனது அம்மாவின் ஆயா இதை சுற்றியதாக வீட்டில் கூற கேள்வி பட்டுள்ளேன். கரணம் தப்பினால் மரணம் என்பது இந்த கல்லை சுற்றுவதற்கு பொருந்தும். இந்த கல்லை கதை தலைவி பொன்னா சுற்றுவாள். இந்த ஒரு காட்சி விவரிப்பு குழந்தை இல்லா பெண் பட்ட பாட்டை விளக்கும்.

கதையில் வரும் தொண்டுபட்டியும், அதன்  பயன்பாட்டு விவரிப்பும் அருமை. ஆங்கிலேயனின்  நரித்தனம் நல்ல விவரிப்பு. பூவரச மர உவமை அழகு.சமூகம், குடும்பத்தில் இருந்து விலகி நிற்கும் நல்லுபையன் சித்தப்பாவும், அவரது முரணும் அருமை  . தனி ஒருவராக விவசாயம் செய்து மகனை வளர்க்கும் மாராயி பாத்திரம் நடைமுறை  வாழ்க்கையில் நான் பார்த்த ஒன்று.

 கதை இறுதியில் தலைவி மற்றொருவன் மூலம் குழந்தை பெற்று கொள்ள எடுக்கும்  முடிவும், அது திருச்செங்கோட்டு திருவிழாவின்  பதினைந்தாம் நாளில் நடக்கும் ஒரு வழக்கத்தின் மூலம் நடப்பதுவுமே சர்ச்சைக்கு  காரணம். இதில் தலைவியின்  முடிவு அவளால் எடுக்கப்பட்டது என்பதை விட சுற்றத்தால் தள்ளப்பட்ட ஒன்று என்றே கூற வேண்டும். அது கடவுள் நம்பிக்கையுடன் தொடர்படுத்தி இருப்பது ஆய்வில் ஆழம் மற்றும் ஆசிரியரின் ஆளுமை பொருத்தது. ஏனென்றால் இது பத்து-இருபது வருடங்களுக்கு முன் நடந்தது அல்ல , நூறு வருடங்களுக்கு முன் நடக்கும் கதை. ஆய்வு செய்து எழுத ஆசிரியர்க்கு எவ்வளவு உரிமை உண்டோ அதனை ஆய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தி எதிர்துரைக்க உரிமை எவருக்கும்  உண்டு. ஆனால் கடைசி நான்கு பக்கத்தை படித்துவிட்டு கூச்சல்  இட்டு மிரட்டுவது குறை குடம்  கூத்தாடுவதற்க்கு சமம்.

 ஆழி சூழ் உலகில் இதை காட்டிலும் தனி மனித ஒழுங்கீனங்கள் எழுத பட்டிருக்கும். அது கடல் வாழ் மக்களின் வாழ்கை.அதை எழுதிய ஜொ.டி.குருஸ், அவரது இன்னொரு நாவலுக்கு சாகித்திய அகாடமி  விருது பெற்றார். ஆக எந்த நாடும், இனமும், சமூகமும் ஒரே பழக்க வழக்கத்தை  தலைமுறை தலைமுறையாக பின்பற்றியதில்லை. எல்லாம் சிறு முதல் பெரும் மாற்றத்திற்கு உட்பட்டது.

எனவே எனது பார்வையில் இது நூறு வருடங்களுக்கு முன் இருந்த பண்பாட்டில் வாழ்ந்த ஒரு பெண்ணின் கதை. சரி அல்லது தவறு என்றுரைக்க நான் வரலாற்று  ஆசிரியனோ மொழியியல் வள்ளுனுனோ அல்ல. இதற்க்கு எதிர் கருத்துள்ள புதினத்தை யாரேனும் எழுதினால் அதையும் படிக்க தயார்.

Crossing Knives- My view on Kathi

It was a sunny morning in Ahmedabad. I and my younger brother were on the way to Acropolis Mall near Vastrapur Lake. A day earlier we decided to watch the movie ‘Kathi’ as it was the only Tamil movie screened in Ahmedabad. We got the ticket and were waiting in the lounge for an hour. My brother has always been a critic of vijay’s action movies. He argued that vijay naturally fits in the comedy genre rather than punch line uttering characters. And slowly our chat turns towards issue lingering over kathi movie. The movie producers ‘Lyca productions’ owner Subhaskaran told that this movie’s profit is his one day revenue from his other businesses. There was a tint of arrogance in his statement.  I told my brother, “If it’s not a matter of money for the business, what else he would gain from it. And if it’s the matter of service for Tamil people, he would have started the NGO”. My brother nodded my argument. And I continued; “Now we are paying Rs.360 for Lyca”. We smiled at each other and enter the theatre.

The audience strength was around 25-30; Most of them are Tamils, few Malayalis, a Tamil-Hindi couple (Initially we were bit confused by seeing Hindi speaking couple waiting to see a Tamil movie). It was an average intro and first one hour was not gripping as such. Hiphop Tamizha’s rendering was amazing and sathish’s jokes created quite few giggles.  My brother has already told me that there have been FB shares on anirudh’s copycat theme. And the funny thing is I found a copycat BGM in the scene where kathiresan(Vijay) is attacked by two white women. It’s 99.9% copy from A.R.Rahman’s Rang de Basanti theme. At last, towards the interval there had been good performance by Jeevanandam (Other Vijay). And the second half of the movie was with some purpose and whole events were sequenced only for the kathiresan’s (Vijay’s) press meet. Last 15 minutes was just an appendix because movie actually ended immediately after press meet. Murugadoss’s cameo and English delivery were funny.

Overall it’s a below average screenplay in first half and average screenplay in the second half.  The life of the movie is the core issue of corporate exploitation of natural resources. It’s a bold attempt to tell about Methane gas exploration in Cauvery delta, Packaging and selling of our own water resources, corporate loan defaulters. And the idly analogy on communism is already the talk of town.

But it’s undeniable that there are lots of conflicts in interest and authenticity of the people who given the message. According to the Murugadoss’s interview to Indiaglitz, he satisfied with production house’s answers for his questions and he doesn’t bother about the groups of people who have nothing to do with his business. If so, the corporates, against which his hero fight against have very much convincing answers than Lyca did to him. Adding to that he bluntly says movie is just a 15 days affair which people would forget after that. Then why he bothered to tell such a burning issue in the movie. Media corporates are dangerous than water sucking corporates, as movies are the medium which shapes the thought process of the society.  If Lyca’s intention is to make people of TN to think only internal problems not about the issues with Srilanka, then it’s not on the greater good of the Tamils. It’s only my speculation but it can’t be denied as per Kathi’s theme of corporate cunning attitudes.

Special mention about 2G Scam can be seen as appeasement of Jayalalitha and nothing more than else.

Already few people are questioning the moral stand of Vijay as he endorsed a cola company and endorsing a telecom company. Both are epitome of corporate structure. If the same dialogue has been uttered by Kamal, Rajni or even Vijay sethupathy might not brought criticism.Neither Vijay not Surya has that authenticity as sizable share of their income comes from the endorsements. Even Amir Khan suffered this trust deficit when he speaks in Satyavame Jayate. Incase, Vijay announce the people that he is just a mirror of director’s thought, it’s justifiable. But he seems to take the credit. And Murugadoss endorse this in ‘Coffee with DD’ interview promo that he want to see Vijay speaking the on screen dialogue off screen too.

It’s not new that cinema actors endorse, preach the principles. It’s good to the society. This is not new as it has been done by people like N.S.Krishnan-Rajam, M.R.Ratha, etc. But they lived as they preached. It becomes dubious attempt only when On-screen and Off-screen principles don’t match.

Last but not least- The fun show by Thirumavalavan and Velmurugan team. If they really felt that Lyca would be against the conscience of Tamils, they should went to people who would watch the movie at the end of the day. There is no clear justification on their opposition. It’s a very meek attempt and it brings only the frustration to everyone who follows them.

The future activities of Kathi team will give greater insight into their intentions. As of now it’s good profit for Lyca, Credit and money for Murugadoss, Rejuvenation and money for Vijay, Warning bells for Anirudh, Thalapathy Diwali for Fans, Pinch for corporates and government, Appeasement for Jayalalitha, Vengeance for DMK, Flop show for Thiru&Velu, Continued struggle for common man.

Friendship-My Perspective

I don't know the clear definition of childhood friendship. Guess, its all about togetherness. I don't have a perfect framework to fix the ideal childhood friendship. Childhood friendships are more of playing. Ego is an integral part of any relationship at any stage of life. Imagine how adamant we were during our childhood. I had ego clash with friends of my childhood but those are like passing clouds;shapeless and last no longer than a day or two. But the problem was that i didn't have have enough buddies during my teens. I was very much detached from crowd. I had a reasonless inherent fear to mingle. It may be a Social phobia. The school days were deprived of close friends. Its all started when i joined Diploma (Courtesy: Poor performance in entrance examination). I was out of the circle for the first the first time. For the first time, i had a sense of protection when i was in group. I was bustling out to make friendship like a hungry animal (Social Animal!!!). I reinvented myself to adjust with different personalities. I got inspired, endorsed, encouraged, amused, comforted, helped, soothed by my friends. I learned to respect the difference. My first slam book written by my friends when i was out of PSG Polytechnic gives a different perspective of me. I joined Btech at SSM College of Engineering where i have encountered a different breed of friends who were experienced and had a practical acumen. Thats the time when my father passed away and that incident teaches about many aspects of life. 'Friendship' was one such aspect which nourished out of by worst times. I was overwhelmed by the gestures of my friends during those days and thereafter. I always tried to be the part of their life in all the Good/Bad moments. And working hard to keep this self-promise.

When the needs are fulfilled by the parents, enough time to call up and chat with friends for hours, all seems to be smooth. There would be a void when we join job, take the responsibility of the family and subsequently getting married. Particularly marriage brings a different colours to the friendship. More the depth of friendship, higher the chances of family friendship after marriage.

I strongly feel, the preconceived notion about the traits of a friend or pushing them to behave in our way doesn't helps the friendship at all. When i be myself and let the people have their space, i believe the friendship blossoms. I am still a reluctant guy to initiate a friendship but still am getting friends. I guess thats the norm of friendship. But from my view there should be common ground for the stakeholders(friends) in friendship. It can be interest, hobby, cause,  etc.

We guys used to discuss about the friendship of a girl and a boy . Mostly we conclude that it won't last for long at least after the girl's marriage. But it has been proved wrong and it would be myth within this generation. From my experience, when there is a mutual respect, friendship lasts long.

Its difficult to get a true friend after college! True, its difficult but its not impossible. I came across wonderful people who were no match with me in age, status, education etc. But still it doesn't stop us to become friends. So avoiding prejudice is the best way to get good friends even after college.

Here comes maintaining friendship! Is it tough nowadays? Yes, its damn difficult. At Least with advent of social network. You may say, "Damn, What the hell are you saying? Social network kills friendship?". Yes its killing because i felt that i am not spending quality time with friends. I have an illusion that i am closely following the friends on day-to-day basis. But that gives me contention thats not very profound in nature. Actually i should have to call or meet to discuss about the life, crack jokes, share the joy/sorrow. Its not like we have to speak on daily basis. It should be like that we have to share the bond with which we can start where we left (even if its before 2-3 years). As like every other relationship friendship also needs a quality time.

My friends are the ones who boosted my morale and one of the reasons for my present being.I have to thank my friends for whatever they gave to me. I don't know whether i am justifying the friendship but trying hard to do so.

                         Happy Friendship Day to my friends who have a warmth place for me in their hearts!

இவர் இறைவன்

இறவாப் படைப்புகளை கொடுத்ததால்,

இசை இறைவனுக்கே சொந்தமாதலால்,

இரும்பும் இவர் இசையில் இசைவதால்,

இமைப்பது போல் இசைப்பது இவரியல்பு ஆதலால்,

இனியவை பெருக்கி இன்னாதவை விலக்குவதால்,

இசையால் இவர் இருப்பு நிரந்தரமாதலால்,

இரைச்சல் வாழ்வின் அமைதி இவரிசை ஆதலால்,

இரவின் ஒளி இவரது ஒலி ஆதலால்,

இயல்பு மாறாமல் இனமனைத்திலும் சேர்வதால்,

இவ்வுலகில் இந்திரன் சொர்க்க இசை படைப்பதால்,

இறையச்சம் உள்ளோருக்கும் இறைவனை எள்ளுவோருக்கும் இவரிசை பொதுவாததலால்,

இறப்பு வரை துணை வரும் இவர் பாடலால்,

-இவர் இறைவன்!இளையராஜா என் தலைவன்!

                         -பெ. கு. செந்தில்குமரன்

                                                 

Inner ME

Virtual bonds tied me from my flight

Nightmares scared me to a take a steep dive

Consciousness stopped me from do what others do

Fear blind folded me from seeing the hope

Moment of sorrow warned to celebrate the joy

Dwelling on thoughts made me a slow doer

Hasty decisions proved me disastrous

Guts conflicted with my rationalism

Creativity faded with opinions

Reading didn't go well with physical workout

Reasons helped me to justify everything

Guilty prevails on reading and seeing ideal things

Heart breaks made me to averse of relations

Instead being one of the parties, I happily judge

‘Trying good to everyone proves good to none’, made me sad

Swayed by time, situation and people

Dreams and practicalities seemed like poles away

Traits brought in positives and negatives

Change panicked me

But i am aware of my ‘Inner ME,’

And sitting in the driver's seat, though having a bumpy ride!!!!!!!!!!.....................

Rationalize the Emotions

  Q1: Why people of Tamilnadu so concerned on Srilankan Tamils?

  Q2: Why should India interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation-Srilanka?

                                                 These are the two questions asked to any sympathizers of Eelam-Tamils (Srilankan Tamils). The people who face these questions mostly have emotional attachment to that issue rather than a rational one. So in course of conversation they are bound to compromise or get out abruptly. Here the apt answer for the first question,

A1: A German meets another German in china. How he rejoice that gleefully! There is a sense of bonding if you have something in common. This is simple psychology. This is why India expresses the concern when Hindus in Pakistan are attacked. This is why Israel raises voice when there is violence against a Jew in any corner of the world. This is why people of Tamilnadu are concerned of Srilankan Tamils. 

                                              Those who voice out the empathy on Tamils are not chauvinist or fanatic. Those who keep mum or against it are not neutralist or idealist.  No man is complete and so aberrations can’t be taken as examples in either way.

                                              And here comes the next question. Everyone can have empathy or concern on the suffering of Srilankan Tamils on humanitarian ground. But bloody, being an Indian how dare you are to ask India to interfere into the internal affairs of a sovereign nation!

A2: Tamils in Srilanka are the people of the land. Its against the popular perception Tamils immigrated from Tamilnadu. Even Tamils who were taken by the British to work in Srilankan tea estates are still called as ‘Indian Tamils’. Since Independence Sinhalese majority don’t want Tamils treated equally. So constitution was tweaked to favor Sinhalese majority. Sinhalese was made national language. It is mandated that only Sinhalese-Buddhist can become president of Srilanka. Tamil students were denied equal opportunities during admissions.

       S.J.V. Selvanayagam (Thanthai Selva) inspired by Mahatma Gandhi fought peacefully to get equal rights to Tamils within in united Srilanka. But till his death he was unable to do it. From 1948 the year Srilanka get independence from Britain till 1977 the year Selvanayagam died there was no war despite the fact that there were no equal rights. Even Selva’s party calling for ‘free, sovereign, secular, socialist state of Tamil Eelam only in 1976 after humongous efforts.

    During 1970s many Tamil youths go against their leader’s principle of non-violence. And involved in anti-state activities. From here let’s see how India used this conflict to its advantage and aggravated it.

    After Indo-china war Srilanka threatened to give base to china. So in 1964 Lal Bahadur Shahstri  went on an agreement with then Srilankan president Sirimavo Bandaranayke to  call back  Indian Tamils.  Similarly after Indo-Pak war Srilanka threatened to give base to America. In 1974 Indiragandhi-Sirimavo Bandaranayke made a similar pact call back Indian Tamils. Likewise 60,000 Tamils came back. Also in 1974 an islet of Indian Territory (kachatheevu) was ceded to Srilanka. Till today TN fishermen unable to do fishing without fear because of this.                                                                                                                          

    After these threats from Srilankan government, India started to fund Tamil youth groups and encouraged their growth. In 1981 Yazhpanam library which had 90,000 rare Tamil books, Tamil business buildings were torched by Sinhalese mob. Thousands of Tamils died and fled out of country. India made use of this between 1983-1987, outfits like TELO, PLOTE, LTTE, EPRLF, TELA were given training, monetary support & arms. Of this LTTE rose to prominence with the support from RAW

   On 5^th June 1987 to show the solidarity with the Tamils, Indian air force dropped food parcels over Jaffna and warned Srilanka of dropping weapons in same fashion. Then LTTE was at the verge of  defeat, India dropped 25 tons of medicine, food. Subsequently Srilankan president Jayewardene –Rajiv Gandhi made an accord for the devolution of power.

    Indian peace keeping force (IPKF) was deployed in Srilanka. Against this Sinhalese youths formed JVP a communist outfit and many of them were massacred by the Srilankan government. Initially Tamil rebels gave up the weapons to IPKF but LTTE didn’t accept complete disarmament until 13^th amendment for devolution of power is made. When IPKF forced violently it end up in a blood shed where thousands of Tamil women’s were sexually assaulted and nearly 5000 civilians and 1200 army personnel died.

    After 3 years V.P.Singh called back the army. In 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE. But Jain commission raised many suspicions including the involvement of CIA, Subramanian  swamy, Chandra swamy were left out. Former CBI investigating officer K.Ragothaman raising many questions and pointed out the loop holes Investigation. In 2009 the war which was allegedly told as Indian sponsored war (Rajapakshe, srilankan president himself told ‘we fought India’s War’) came to an end. Kumaran pathmanaba one of the prime accused of Rajiv’s assassination is in srilanka and enjoying full freedom. No extradition was asked even after 4 years of war.

                       Throughout the bloody history, Indian and Srilankan government used and decimated Tamils. After the war also no devolution of power. Indian and Chinese companies are in the race to acquire land once owned by now displaced Tamils.And there is a strong lobby in media to showcase this as a illegitimate claim by fanatics in Tamil community. This could give the basic understanding on the exploitation of a community by two nations.

                                                     

Mind the Minority

                             Mind the Minority

Can we differentiate the Diwali holiday and Ramzan/Christmas holidays. People may say all are national holidays. What a national holiday mean? It tries to implicate all citizens of India are going to celebrate, participate the celebration, share the joy. But I have seen through my school days, Ramzan and Christmas are not treated alike Diwali. The students of that particular religion are asked can take leave and others has to attend the school. It has been perceived as the discipline & decorum. I don't know the children whom with they going to celebrate. And what impression do the children of majority population get in their mind.

But if anybody asks for the starting point of any extremism i would say the discrimination at your childhood. The tipping point can be anything at any part of the life.

I had the chance to have a conversation with a guy in Chittagong , Bangladesh. In broken English he started to speak with me. He is a Hindu by birth and his ancestors are from a village near by Chittagong. He know am an Indian and told he have relatives in west bengal. He just asked my religion and i told him that am a Hindu. Then he just started telling that here they have a famous durga puja every year. And he was not able to celebrate because of restriction laid by Muslims. He told that he cant use drums. And a famous Ragunath temple in Chittagong has been demolished to pieces. Also he told that his family owns a big farm and ancestral house and no longer they can go back and live there. If it’s India he might get some help to get back his property. During liberation war, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhist fought against Pakistan but after that they didn’t get the equal treatment. He told that they don’t have happy life here but still dont want to leave as this his motherland and tears were in the verge of trickling down. After he showed a Bengali novel written by him. At the end he told that he shared everything because we are "Same-Same".

Apart from being a Hindu I didn’t share any identity with him. Even i never went to a Kali temple. But the pain of loss and loss of identity in his own motherland is unbearable. Ragunath temple demolition in Chittagong, Babri Masjid demolition in Ajodhya, Yazhpanam Library demolition in Srilanka (Here in the name of language) are alike and done to against the minorities.

This is felt after hearing from a affected person. I never spoke with a person who expresses the pain of being a refugee after leaving the motherland. I never spoke with the person who has been stamped as Maoist for being a tribal. I never spoke with the children who cant go to school through a street with the slippers in foot. I never spoke to a person who has seen his own neighbours raged in night over him for being Muslim.

If everything happen against minorities in India then it can happen anywhere in the world. Because we have best of constitutions and the best ideologists. 'Unity in diversity', implies, have your identity and respect others.