VHS Cassette

Pic source: www.radiomuseum.org

1978-1998  was the time when Video Cassettes were very popular. We used to watch many programs recorded on VHS tape by my brother in the UK and many times we used to take the cassettes to some wealthy friend's house, play them on the massive 'National' or 'Panasonic' top loading VHS recorder decks that resembled marine barges, costing at least 75000 Rupees those days! Most of the times, it was 'Top Of The Pops', a BBC TV music show.

I still remember going to Mr. Moin Bawa's house above Ladyhill Petrol Pump to watch video cassettes at least thrice with my friend Mahaveer and couple of other friends. We also had the habit of watching our fav films on buses that used to be parked at Vrinda Service Station Lalbagh,  fitted with VHS Players

Couple of times we've even borrowed VHS players or recorders from friends.

One Mr. George from Datamatics Bangalore once lent his VHS recorder but he and his wife sat with us till we watched the two cassettes continuously from 6:00pm to 10:30pm and took back the recorder to ensure safety! We also borrowed from rentals many times.

There was hardly an evening spent without watching movies on VHS, when my brother Kamalakanth finally decided and bought a Video Cassette Player(VCP) in 1981 paying a hefty price. I guess the brand name was Weston. Weston assembled and sold Hitachi CKD those days. He bought it soon after he bought a Bush CTV following the start of Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra. For about a year we watched B/W relay from Bombay and Madras DD channels and then Asiad happened in Delhi in 1982 and colour relay started.

Kamalakanth was also member at a video library(Video Palace?) in Unity Building, JC Road Bangalore. he narrated a funny incidence that happened there when he was there to borrow a cassette.

A local rustic looking guy came and hurriedly asked the man at the counter "Paast aap peeri aithenayyaa?"(Do you have Past of Peeri?)

The man was startled, and he asked his colleague "Yeh kyaa boltabaa?"

His colleague thought for a while, scratched his head and suddenly his eyes brightened!

He said "Oh.... Fist of Fury-naa?"

"Ade ade...Yeno ondu peeri. Aithenayyaa?"

What the chap meant was 'Fist of Fury' starring Bruce Lee.

Hats off to the Video Library chap who guessed it right and that too so fast!

The Scratched Record

Image source: www.45cat.com

Disclaimer: All the characters in this true story are real. The incident narrated is also true. There maybe slight alteration in the exact dialogues that took place.
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It was one late afternoon in the winter of 1998 in  Bejai. I was coming down the steps of Panchami Complex opposite KSRTC Bus Stand. My intention was to buy some bakery products at Baliga General Stores below our office.

As I went past a white Santro car parked near the store, a familiar voice called me aloud.

"Kanthaa!"

I stopped and looked aside. Standing tall, about to get into the car, having a grin on his face, was Ramachandra Baliga. I too exchanged smile and said, "Hello Ramachandra. How are you?"

Ramachandra Baliga is my friend and brother of my one time closest friend, classmate Late Naresh Baliga, who has since passed away in a tragic and untimely death in 1976.

"I'm fine. Just came here to buy some things. Also thought it will be a change for father who otherwise sits at home and gets bored."

"Oh your father!"

Though I was standing close to the front passenger window, I'd not noticed his father. I saw two curious shiny eyes staring at me and a hesitant smile on his face. He was at least 80 years old but had very less wrinkles on his well nourished, but sort of shrunken face. he was still as gracious as he looked in the Seventies when I'd seen him last, but the scanty silver hair on his head and the silver white eyebrows made it rather difficult for me to match his face with his younger version that had the presence of some Hollywood movie character!

I folded my hands and said, "Namaskaar Baliga Maam. How are you?"

He was surprised that I knew him!

He looked at Ramachandra suggestively.

Ramachandra said, "Kantha. Naresh's best friend. He used to come to our house to meet Naresh. Don't you know?"

(Naresh intimately used to call me Kantha and I am known as Kantha in his family)

"Ravi Surendra? I remember Ravi Surendra. He always used to come and talk to me. This man...! Have I seen him? Let me think."
His voice sounded unusually feeble. The commanding loudness and presence in his rich bass voice had dampened obviously due to senility. Now he sounded more like a horn speaker than the woofer of the Seventies!
 
He thought for a while and laughed aloud, showing the empty cavity in his mouth! He had no teeth. None at all!"

Ramachandra asked me if I could understand whom he meant by Ravi Surendra.

I said, "Yes. Ravi Surendra is Surendra Shenoy, our classmate who was your neighbour. He also used to join us those days at your place."

Ramachandra replied, "Yes. Surendra was staying close by, he used to come frequently to our house and was very intimate with father. That's why father remembers him well! Now senility has caught up with him and he can't remember Naresh's other friends. It's been a long time since he saw you. May not place your face properly. Please don't feel bad. At home he keeps asking us about all the old friends of Naresh who used to come to our place."

I looked at Baliga maam, smiled and told Ramachandra "Oh don't mind at all! I was too skinny and young those days. How can we expect him to remember me when he had not even talked to me once during those days! I used come to your place by bicycle, get down and ask for Naresh. Your father used to sit by the left side window of the verandah on a Bata chair with both his legs relaxed on a stool and chain smoke cigarettes in style. He never even looked at my face. He just shouted in a controlled tone "Nareshaa...." and continued to smoke. I was always too scared to talk to him and go inside to meet Naresh!

Baliga maam watched us slyly, but he acted as if we were talking about someone else and stared through the front windshield in a distance!

I was timid those days alright, looking at the majestic look of Baliga maam, the successful textile businessman from Bantwal Vaikunta Baliga's family, but now he looked very friendly but firm in his looks.

I told him, "Baliga maam, it is indeed a pleasure to see you after so many years and more so, talking to you freely. I had a dream in my life, that was getting intimate with you. When I told Naresh that you never talked to me when I tried to communicate with you those days in the Seventies, he used to say that you are very strict and disciplined. You never mingled with the younger generation. Now I am happy that you are jolly friendly. You made my day. Thank you!"

His eyes glowed and he was speechless for a moment.

Then he laughed aloud and said, "Aha... That scratched record! Was it you who borrowed a gramophone record from Naresh and didn't return it for a week fearing that you mishandled it? Don't worry. I won't scold you now!"

I too laughed aloud and replied, "Oh! You're too good Baliga maam. Yes that 'Kitty Can' SP record by the Bee Gees. I never thought that you knew about it. I just avoided returning it for a week because you were always there when I visited you. Naresh said, you will be away on business trip at the weekend and then it's safe to return the record!"

Baliga maam continued laughing and said, "You cunning brats! Where do you get those brilliant ideas from? Now listen to me carefully. You must come to my home daily and talk to me for at least an hour. I will see that all that talk you missed those days will be given to you with interest! What is the present rate running in Banks? I will give you two percent more over that!"

As they left, my heart was heavy and all my younger days apprehensions about Baliga maam were cleared.

No man is as tough as he looks. He wears that look just to guard himself from some apprehension he may have about communicating with the younger generation, that too with those who try to get more familiar than necessary. That's what's all about 'Generation Gap'. The gap gets filled up automatically as people get old and their wavelength becomes equal. They become younger mentally and try to associate more with the younger generation.

In our case, the Scratched Record had filled the generation gap!

ಕರಡಿ...ಕರಡಿ

Pic courtesy: http://laxmipras.blogspot.in/

ಅರುವತ್ತರ ದಶಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ವಾಸವಿದ್ದ ಬಳ್ಳಾಲ್‍ಬಾಗ್‍ನ ’ವೀರ ಭವನ’ ಕಂಪೌಡ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಮನೆಯ ಮಾಳಿಗೆ ಕೋಣೆಯ ಎರಡು ಕಿಟಿಕಿಗಳು ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ ಗಾಂಧಿ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಕಡೆಗಿದ್ದು, ಆಗಿನ ಪಾಲ್ಕೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಚಾರ್ ಹಾಲ್‍ನ(ಈಗಿನ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ್ ಜುವೆಲ್ಲರ್ಸ್) ಉತ್ತರ ದಕ್ಷಿಣಕ್ಕೆ ಚಾಚಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ರಸ್ತೆಯುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗುವ ಜನರು, ವಾಹನಗಳು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು.

ದಸರಾ ಸಮಯ. ನಮ್ಮ ಕಂಪೌಂಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಕ್ಕು ಐದು ಪೈಸೆ ಹತ್ತು ಪೈಸೆಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕಾಣೆಗೆ ತೃಪ್ತಿಪಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುವ ಪೇಪರ್ ವೇಷ, ಚಕುಬುಕು ಚಟ್ಣಿ, ಪೈಂಟರ್ ವೇಷ, ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ವೇಷ, ಕೊರಗರ ವೇಷ, ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ವೇಷ, ಸಿಂಗಾರ ಪಾಟಿ ವೇಷ, ಅಸ್ತಿಪಂಜರ ವೇಷಗಳಿಗೇನೂ ಕೊರತೆಯಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ! 

ಆಗಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಭ್ಯತೆ ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವತ್ತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಗಮನ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಉನ್ನತ ಮಟ್ಟದವರು, ಹರಕೆ ಹೊತ್ತವರು ಹಾಕುವ ಹುಲಿ, ಕರಡಿ, ಸಿಂಹ, ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಅನಾರ್ಕಲಿ(ಬ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಸಿದ್ಧಿ)ಗಳು ಪರಿಚಯವಿಲ್ಲವರ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಣಿಯುವ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಆಚೆ ಇದ್ದ ಲಾಲ್‍ಬಾಗ್ ಸ್ಟೋರ್‍ನ ನಾರಾಯಣ ಶೆಟ್ರ ಕಂಪೌಂಡ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಥವಾ ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಣಿಯುವ ಅಂತಹ ವೇಷಗಳನ್ನು ಅಥವಾ ನಮ್ಮ ತಂದೆಯವರ ಪರಿಚಯ ಇದ್ದವರು ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕುಣಿಯುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಖುಷಿ ಪಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. ಅಂತಹ ವೇಷಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಗಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಒಂದೆರಡು ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಸಂಭಾವನೆ ನೀಡುವುದು ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯ, ಶಿಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ.

ಒಂದು ರಾತ್ರಿ ಸುಮಾರು 9:45ರ ಸಮಯ. ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಮಿಣುಕು ದೀಪಗಳ ಬೆಳಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಶ್ಶಬ್ಧವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದೆು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ, ಅಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುವ ವೇಷದ ಗುಂಪೊಂದನ್ನು ಮಾಳಿಗೆ ಕೋಣೆಯ ಕಿಟಿಕಿ ಬಳಿ ಕುಳಿತ ನಾನು ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣ ರಾಧಾಕಾಂತ್ ಕಂಡೆವು. 

ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಕೂತು ಆ ದೃಶ್ಯವನ್ನು ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಬಾರದೇ?

ಇಲ್ಲಾ!

ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ಸ್ವರದಲ್ಲಿ "ಇದು ಯಾವ ವೇಷ?" ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿದ.

"ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗುವ ಹುಲಿಯೇ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಬಂದು ಹಿಡಿಯೇ..." ಅಂದ ಹಾಗೆ, ಆ ವೇಷದ ಗುಂಪು ಒಮ್ಮೆ ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿ ನಮ್ಮತ್ತ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿ "ಕರಡಿ... ಕರಡಿ!" ಎಂದು ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿತು!

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಧಿಕ ಪ್ರಸಂಗ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಇದ್ದ ನಾವು ಕೂಡಾ ಜೋರಾಗಿ "ಕರಡಿ... ಕರಡಿ" ಎಂದು ಅರಚಿದೆವು!

ತಕ್ಕೋ! ನಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಿತ್ತೇ?

ಕರಡಿ ವೇಷದ ಗುಂಪು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯತ್ತ ತಿರುಗಿ ಬ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಬಾರಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಗೇಟ್ ಸರಿಸಿ ಒಳನುಗ್ಗಿತು! ನಾನು ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣ ಬೆಚ್ಚಿಬಿದ್ದು ಹೌಹಾರಿ ಎದ್ದು ಕೆಳಗೋಡಿ ಹೊರ ಚಾವಡಿಯ ಲೈಟ್ ಆರಿಸಿ ಹಾಲ್‍ನ ಎರಡೂ ಬದಿಯ ಬಾಗಿಲುಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿ ಏನೂ ಆಗವರಂತೆ ಒಂದು ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಿತು ಕುಳಿತೆವು. ಹಾಲ್‍ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಕೂತಿದ್ದ ನಮ್ಮ ತಂದೆಯವರು ಬ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಸದ್ಧು ಕೇಳಿಸಿ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿ ನಂತರ ಹಾಲ್‍ನ ಬಾಗಿಲುಗಳು ಬಂದ್ ಇದ್ದುದನ್ನು ಕಂಡು, "ಬಹುಷ್ಯಃ ಪಕ್ಕದ ಮನೆಯ ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದಿರಬೇಕು ವೇಷ" ಎಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸಿದರು.

ಅತ್ತ ಕರಡಿ ವೇಷದವರು ನಾಲ್ಕೈದು ಸಾರಿ ಬ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಅರ್ಧರ್ಧ ಬಾರಿಸಿ ಯಾರೂ ಹೊರಬಾರದ್ದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನಿರಾಶೆಯಿಂದ, "ಬಂದ ದಾರಿಗೆ ಸುಂಕವಿಲ್ಲ" ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡು ತಮ್ಮ ಅದೃಷ್ಟವನ್ನು ಹಳಿಯುತ್ತಾ, ನಮ್ಮಿಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ಹಿಡಿ ಶಾಪವನ್ನು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾ ಬರಿಗೈಯ್ಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಪಸಾದರು!

ನಿಜ ಸಂಗತಿ ಅರಿತ ನಮ್ಮ ತಂದೆಯವರು ನಂತರ ಸಹಸ್ರನಾಮವಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅಷ್ಟೋತ್ತರ ಪಾಠವನ್ನು ನಿರರ್ಗಳವಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮಿಬ್ಬರ ಮೇಲೆ ಪ್ರೋಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಕೃತಾರ್ಥರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದರೆಂದು ಬೇರೆ ಹೇಳಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ!

The Suppandi in My Life

Pic courtesy: https://i.ytimg.com/

The name 'Suppandi' may remind you of the famous Tinkle comic character, but he was actually looking like one! That's why I remember him as that comic character by Uncle Anant Pai. Any professional may employ such office boys hard to find in modern times, and I also did.

Early 2004, Suresh, a cousin of my short term profit sharing partner Dileep in my office in Bejai, working for a private Computer company asked me one day, if I want to employ a youngster who was smart looking, honest and faithful. As Dileep wanted to manage his sister's new BPO coming up in Mangalore, I too needed someone to manage my office during my absence. Those days I had just invested in a new professional video equipment and wanted to go full swing with video documentaries and ad films, I had also called for a technical hand, in a local daily. Another lad from a nearby small town by name Steven who had experience working for a TV channel came to me and I found him good enough for the videographer cum editor. Along with him, I employed Rakesh the man recommended by Suresh, as office boy.

Rakesh was working for a courier company earlier. His job was to sort mail, seal them in covers, affix tags and prepare them for delivery/dispatch. His personality was slim lean fair, wearing specs, rather he had a charm on his face. He smiled like a gentleman and was right on time before I opened office every morning at 10:00. So far everything seemed so good.

Then I started observing a strange behaviour in him. He would nod to anything I said, tried to do the jobs well before I explained him the nature of work, but he did that all wrong! I tried to teach him audio and video editing but he was stuck at ABCD! Steven on the other hand, was too quick and smart, he knew some shortcut methods that I even hadn't mastered during my initial years in office! Only drawback with him was, he being from a small town and not educated well, had difficulty with English. Most of my clients those days were students from KMC who were North Indians or NRIs, who didn't speak or understand local dialects. So, communicating with my clients was difficult for Steven, but Rakesh with a good command over English could communicate well. However, since his brain was programmed in a reverse order like I explained earlier, nothing would register in his mind!

So, I had to do half of the work Rakesh and Steven were allotted! Steven even used to use wild animal pics for wedding video titles as background, which I had to change and redo. During the rush season when KMC had inter-class cultural competitions, I left half of the students to Steven and half I managed, doing their audio mixing work for dance, drama and fashion show sequences. Steven picked up audio editing amazingly fast and he worked with the students according to my need. He also learned fast to copy paste text from photo captions as titles, which I taught him.

Now Rakesh was sitting idle most of the times and dozing off in his chair outside or inside the office. I asked him why he feels so sleepy and he said he's bored without work. He also added that he was under some medication for health issues. I advised him to consult a good physician but he nodded and sadly confessed that their family had the curse of 'Brahma Rakshasa', a demon who caused ill will!

Brahma Rakshasa!

I had read about such fictitious character only in Chandamama and Balamithra, kids' illustrated books. I had read stories that Brahma Rakshasa lived in a big Banyan Tree and he scared and attacked people. Someone in real life believing in such stupid things made me sympathise with him. I told him such things don't exist and he must be having some pathological problem associated with brain and other vital organs. I also tried to draw his attention towards the silly mistakes he does in his daily work. However, I still didn't get upset or lose my temper. His looks made any one's rock solid heart melt and feel a sense of respect for him. My childhood friends Mahaveer and Vinaya Kumar who visited me were so impressed by his personality, they got up from their seats when Rakesh entered the office suddenly, assuming that he was some college professor, a famous doctor or someone of high status!

Suresh, the one who recommended him asked me after a month, whether I am happy with Rakesh. I told him that the man is very good natured and honest, but he's very bad in grasping what I tried to convey! Suresh was to get married soon and he requested me to cover the video of his wedding and reception. Thus, I sent Steven with the camera to cover the event at Derebail Church and Rakesh was sent along with him as lamp boy. They completed the work and returned in the afternoon. When I viewed the video coverage, I could see the shadow of the mic moving up and down, side to side on the face of the priest as well as the MC! Steven said, Rakesh was dozing off while holding the lamp and he was very jumpy! Twice he almost sat on the hot halogen lamp, but was cautioned well on time by Steven.

Visibly, he was nervous and he spoiled the show. Since Suresh was close to him and he was easy going, he didn't blame us for the bad coverage!

Then on, I stopped taking up private videos, except a few of my own relatives' functions. Rakesh was however, meticulous in cleaning VHS tapes to remove fungus, and I used to receive heaps of them from my clients then. I also gave a few tapes to him and asked him to clean them at home at his free time, so that he can earn some extra income. At least that, he did perfectly well. Steven on the other hand, was more interested in video coverage as I paid him extra for that job, and he was discouraged by my stand not to take up video coverage like before. He slowly started being irregular and was not available when I needed him for audio/video editing work.

Some other day, a client whose photo editing was done by me, wanted prints. I told Rakesh that I will be transferring a few photo files on a rewritable CD and he's supposed to go to Prakash Offset Printers to get the digital printing done. I also handed him a list of file names, the address and contact numbers of Prakash Offset and told him to wait, till I prepared the CD. I was talking to a friend and preparing the CD, when the friend told me that my office boy had left already!

I was shocked! He had left the office with the list of file names but without the CD! That would definitely make the Prakash Offset guys laugh their heads off and think that Kudpiraj Multimedia Professionals have zero professionalism!

I hurriedly dialled Prakash Offset number and waited. There was no reply. I tried 2-3 times but same story. Rakesh didn't have a mobile phone with him and I was worried about how to contact him and ask him to come back without attempting to give that list to the Prakash Offset guys! Steven was on leave that day, otherwise he had a bike and I'd have sent him to Prakash Offset to stop Rakesh.

Then the phone rang and I was relieved to hear Rakesh's voice. He was cool as usual and he informed me that Prakash Offset was closed!

Yes! That day was Ugadi and they had holiday! I asked him whether he has taken the CD with him. He said no, and added that he has the list given by me! This time I was a bit upset and I raised my voice, scolding him for his silly mistake. I told him to catch the next bus and come back to office.

After he came back, I gave him a long sermon, explained him that so far touchwood, I had no hypertension whatsoever, I have been very patient and tolerant all those years after starting my profession, but suddenly I suspect a drastic variation in my BP, all because of his stupidity! He bowed his head and listened to me without saying anything, showing apologetic look and also scratching the floor tile with his toe! After I completed my sermon, he took the wiping cloth, went out and started wiping the glass panel of the aluminium partition. I felt very depressed, almost cried, but there was no one to console me!

The whole episode reminded me of the famous 'Venku Panambur' story that I had heard when I was young.

Next morning, I called Rakesh, asked him to sit in front of me, looked at him, then outside, looked at him, then at the ceiling fan, looked at him, then at the computer monitor. With blood rushing to my brain, my mouth foaming with fury, I let out a big cry hearing which, the neighbouring spectacles shop salesgirl Shobha came running, peeped through the 'Footwear Out Please' sticker on the door glass panel, and she smiled a grin of relief to see that I was still alive!

Still trembling, I said "Look Rakesh. You are a very good man. Very good means, the best guy in the entire world. You have very pleasant manners, good smile, personality and heaps of charisma! You never commit any mistake. All the mistake is committed by me because I employed you and in turn, I have to withstand your good nature, turning myself into an evil of unspeakable horrors like 'Mr Hyde' from 'Dr Jekyll' almost ten times a day! I am by nature not a bad man. I would never even step on an ant while it crosses my path. I'd stand still like a traffic policeman, wait till it moves carrying something in its mouth, disappear in its hole and then I cross its path. Such a peace loving and nonviolent man like me is getting wild ideas like squeezing necks of unassuming people! If I tell you to do any job my way, you nod your head as if you understood everything, but the fact of the matter is, nothing enters your brain. It is not your fault. Your near sighted creators have filled in a duplicate brain in your skull. What can you and me do if your creators failed to see an optometrist on time? Still, I'd beg to confess that I've never had hypertension, but now after you joined here, I not only have that, but I may soon be a paralytic, a vegetable almost resembling a rotten cabbage, that has no other use but to lie down, watching the ceiling fan 24x7x365. Now please listen to me carefully."

I folded my hands, stood up and humbly said "Rakesh, I don't go to temple, I don't pray, I don't perform any pooja or such ritual but I feel like worshipping you. Don't know why, but this strange instinct has suddenly made me superstitious. By the way, do you know Dr Madhav Rao or Dr Ravish Tunga's contact numbers?"

Rakesh hurriedly got up from the seat, reached out to the telephone book and started searching for those psychiatrists' contact numbers!

I silently cried inside myself, as my office was in a strategic and busy Bejai area where Ashok Rai's Cigarette distribution boys were moving briskly. I was also afraid that my childhood friend Seetharam may hear me crying and may come running to see the spectacular scene he had missed since 1966! The premises owner, my classmate Durgadas Baliga may feel sad to see an adult like me cry like a school boy. He had never seen a happy go lucky me crying even in school when I was scolded by Gonda master in his Geography class using unparliamentary words and sent me out of class for giggling in 9th standard! The thought of Durgadas losing all hopes for me made me behave properly and I wore an artificial grin.

Luckily Rakesh couldn't find both the psychiatrists' numbers in yellow pages, as he was searching in Veterinary Doctors' section!

I grabbed the telephone book from his hands and slammed it on the table. Then I stared at him for 5 minutes. He as usual got demoralised, bowed his head down, started scratching the floor tile with his toe, slowly moved over to the wiping cloth and started wiping the glass panel on the aluminium partition! I felt very bad for scolding him, and I thought of giving one more chance to him. I called him in, and told him to continue working for me for another 15 days, during which if he repeats mistakes, he may leave the job. He looked happy and he smiled and replied "It is not your mistake. You never found fault with me. It was the Brahma Rakshasa in me who is causing all the problems. I know!"

This Brahma Rakshasa business was getting on my nerves, but I stayed calm and acted as if he didn't say anything.

Steven announced after 3 days, that he had to take care of many fixed expenses like his mobile bill and also house hold expenses. What he's been earning in my office was not sufficient. So, he had decided to leave the job and be a freelancer in his home town. I gave him green signal, as I was not earning much by employing him anyway. I never wanted him to suffer at the same time. I paid his dues and wished him luck.

Days went by without much excitement. The 15 day observation was almost coming to an end and I was more or less determined to relieve Rakesh from his duty. I asked him if he has any alternative job in mind. He said he's looking for one, but no one seems to be convinced by his skills! I really felt pity for him and told him, as long as he is able to clean VHS tapes at home, I shall pass them over to him and pay him 75% of what I charge the clients. I also assured him that whenever he needs my assistance, I will help him financially to take good medical treatment for his ailment. The man was so good, he never bugged me for any extra money! He was also decently relieved from his duties at the end of the 15 day observation period, and I regained my peace of mind.

I never employed anyone after he left.

Yet, I kept calling him and giving him outsourcing job like VHS tapes for cleaning. He did that promptly. In the meanwhile, he joined back the same courier company doing the same job. Once or twice while I passed by his office, I halted and enquired about his health. He also became father a baby boy after many years of marriage, and I congratulated him and also gave him some cash as gift for the new born. That happiness didn't last for long. After a few months, he stopped accepting the VHS tapes and he also didn't answer the phone. His father told me that he was very ill and he can't walk to the phone and receive calls.

Almost two years after he left my job, he passed away due to the chronic illness he had, maybe malignancy of some sort. My eyes became moist when I heard the news. I had never cried when my own father passed away, but for Rakesh I felt very emotional. He was more than a good human being. He had innocence, goodness and whole lot of honesty written all over him!

There will never be another Rakesh in my life.

PS: The names Rakesh, Steven, Dileep and Suresh have been changed from their original names to protect privacy.

Saturday Night Fever

Pic courtesy: http://www.childrenspartysupplies.com.au/

In the year 1982, I was staying in a rented house with other friends from Mangalore in 3rd block, Rajajinagar Bangalore. One of the inmates was good at disco dancing. He used to dance at rock concerts and sometimes in the house on weekends, when we used to switch on coloured dim lights and play loud music on the record player driven through my high wattage system.

It was August and I saw an ad in Sunday Midday about disco competition at Knock Out Disco on Brigade Road. That Disco was owned by Sanjeev Kumar, the veteran actor's Black Pearl Hotels. My brother Kamalakanth told me that one of his friends, a Dental practitioner in Bangalore had won first prize in the previous year's solo competition. He added that our friend is a good dancer and he may also win if we groom him up well. I brainwashed our house mate  Narayan and his relative Shivanand who was also our house mate agreed to pay the entry fee and also for Narayan's costume. They went to a tailor and got light pinkish orange satin dress like Mithun Chakraborty wore in Disco films!

We started grooming up the guy and late daily evening his disco session started with myself playing all the hit disco numbers and watching his steps and rhythm. My knowledge of disco music came in handy and I knew what they played in modern discos those days. Kamalakanth also came as an observer on weekends and gave his nod that the guy is indeed good at his steps!

Shivanand had given the name as Avinash in the entry form because Narayan sounded very ordinary. Avinash was more trendy! The competition was on Saturday the September 11th and my birthday was on 9th!

I hosted my birthday party at Hotel Elite near Sangam Talkies with Solan No.1 and sumptuous food. Mahendra and Shivanand the other two house mates wore clean ironed clothes and I was looking shabby that day with unshaven beard, unpolished shoes, crumpled dotted grey shirt and grey trousers. Only jazzy outfit I wore was a foam leather jacket! It was decided that I am going back to room and the other two will be going to Knock Out with Narayan...oops Avinash. Mahendra pestered me to come with them but I refused. I wanted to celebrate my birthday in a very subtle way!

The disco competition was to begin at 9.30pm and they left at 8.30pm by auto to brigade road. I continued partying with other friends at Hotel Elite.

At around 9.00pm, I was curious to see what's happening at Knock Out Disco! I went straight to Brigade Road riding Shivanand's scooter, parked the scooter and went up the stairs to Knock Out. Shivanand and Mahendra were seated outside the entrance and both were looking furious and disappointed. I asked Shivanand what happened and why they're there. He said the show will begin any moment but he and Mahendra were not allowed to go in! I asked why. He said, they allow only couples with entry tickets and single contestants. So Avinash(Narayan) was allowed to go in and they were stopped by the guard! Avinash was standing aside, looking confused himself.

I said I'll find a way out. I went to the guys there and told them "Look guys. These two friends here have to accompany Avinash. He can't speak English and someone has to assist him while he's asked questions."

"That's not our problem. That's your problem. We've made it clear that only couples with ticket and the competitors are allowed to enter!"

I too felt slightly annoyed. Then an idea flashed to me. I went to the guard and told him  "I don't know what's the problem for you to allow someone to go in with the competitor. We're here just to see our friend win the dance competition and we're absolutely peaceful guys. I'm the one who trained this guy and he needs me with him because he can't speak English! If you don't allow all the three of us, it's OK. At least allow me in!"

The guard seemed to be convinced and he whispered something in the ears of the conveners. They looked at me and asked me "You're the one who trained him? You a choreographer?"

I nodded my head. They asked my name and I said "Rajnikanth".

They nodded approvingly and showed me the way in and I happily went inside with Avinash(Narayan). They told me not to come out time and again, as the bosses may interfere and catch me red handed. Then I turned around and saw a glimpse of Shivanand and Mahendra sitting outside, watching the door helplessly!

Once in, I told Avinash to change his dress. We went straight into the toilet. Avinash's kick was down and he felt slightly nervous. I took a quarter bottle from my hip pocket and gave him. He took a swig and passed on to me. I too took a swig. Avinash put on the disco shirt. As he was about to put on the pants, I heard the announcement "Next contestant is Avinash! Welcome him with a loud applause please!"

Clap clap clap...............!

I told Avinash to run fast and appear on the floor. He hurriedly took another swig and ran out wearing pinkish orange satin disco shirt and coffee brown polyester pant! I hid the empty quarter bottle behind the flush tank and came out of the toilet. 'Pop Musik by M' was on and Avinash was dancing well....except for one small mistake. He was not facing the audience! He got very good support from the crowd and I asked the guy standing next to me "How's his dance? I trained him!"

That guy made an acid remark "He's good. He's good. He's gonna win today! I'll see that he goes to number one! I'm the boss...don't you know?"

I said "He's better than anyone else. Just a small error, him not facing the audience in the beginning. Later he's just superb. He ought to win, whether you decide or not!"

That guy seemed angry and he was about to mumble something. Then his friend winked at me and made sign language that the guy is not OK!

I slowly slipped away and by then Avinash's dance was over and he was being cheered by many. Some girls kissed him on the cheeks and I was thrilled to see all that! It was like entering a movie set for me!

I took Avinash to a corner sofa almost near the entrance and as the door was swinging, I could see Mahendra still sitting on one side looking at the ceiling! I went out with Avinash and told both Shivanand and Mahendra that Avinash did a fantastic performance but I was slightly worried about his start with back to the audience! Shivanand said it is usually Mithun's style and nothing wrong with it! I felt like banging my head against the head rest of the chair! I told him "This is not like Hindi film disco man! This is western style! Then Shivanand and Mahendra told me bitterly "You lucky brat! You know how to talk and your English is too good. That's why they allowed you in and didn't allow us!"

I said "I was very polite in my talk and perhaps that clicked."

They both left the place without further hope to get in, and I went inside with Avinash. We ordered a beer and shared between the two of us.

There was an interlude before the couples competition started and Avinash found a partner to dance on the floor. Girls were readily coming forward to dance with him! I was all alone at our table.

Few guys at the next table had some dispute with their partners. They were arguing aloud. I asked one of the girls what's up. She said the girls wanted to dance but the guys are not in the mood. I asked one of the guys "Hey is it OK if I take one of the girls for dancing?"

That guy looked furious, he mockingly laughed and said "Take your boy friend. He's good for you!"

Then the most unexpected thing happened! The girl who spoke to me few minutes earlier, got up from her seat and announced "I am going with him. Let me see who stops me! Let's go buddy. Don't care about them!"

Then she took my hand and walked proudly onto the floor and we danced! Her costly perfume made me dizzy and her confident looks and eloquent dancing style made me slightly nervous! One thing kept me going was the booze! I was sweating even in the chilled ambiance but didn't miss the steps. My dancing style was too fast for her steps. The girl was giggling, looking at me sweating and wiping it off with my hanky!

Then the dance ended, and I asked my partner how was the dance. She didn't say anything but her body language showed that she thoroughly enjoyed it. Then we were back to our seats. I saw that most of the boys sitting next to us had left already! There were 4 girls and two boys left and they all looked bored! I didn't have the courage to ask the girls if they'd have something on me. My wallet was thin already!

After the couples competition, we got one more chance to dance and this time we need not ask. The girls voluntarily came to us and accompanied us! This time a taller girl was my partner and her steps were much in rhythm with mine. We left the place at 1.30am and didn't want to continue, as I was almost broke and had just Rs.25/- in my pocket which was not even sufficient to buy a beer!

Zero entry fee for me, no dancing partner to take in, and yet I managed to dance twice with two different partners, thanks to my presence of mind! Our expense inside was just Rs.28/- for a beer and they gave free wafers along with it!

The competition was won by Ajay Hegde, a Kannada film actor those days. He was too good and energetic. He did a few somersaults and acrobatics on one hand too! His turn was before Avinash's and hence we hadn't seen his dance. He did it once more after winning the competition.

A surprise Saturday Night Fever, 25th Birthday Present for me at the Disco that evening in Bangalore!

Ananth Baliga - Man for All Seasons

Ananth Baliga, a caricature by me

Prologue:
Today being Teachers Day in India, I deem it my duty to pay homage to the most respected and remembered teacher of my times. He was a 'Man for All Seasons'. A legend, a true hero in my life from whom I learned good manners, good sense of humour and social etiquette. He was also responsible for my love for English language, that I developed over the years after leaving school.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Goodbye Mr. Chips'.

Yes that was our non-detailed text book in 10th standard back in the year 1971-72 when I was in Canara High School Urva. Our Class Teacher cum English teacher was B Ananth Baliga, a tall lean chap with receding hairline well groomed with hair oil, small thin moustache, wearing white cotton mundu(dhoti), off-white jubba(Kurta) and a shawl. His jubba had buttons on the shoulders like we see in Bengali style kurtas. He taught us English from 8th to 10th standard. He also was popularly nicknamed as Mr. Chips by some of us, for his personality resembled that of Mr. Chips!

Ananth Baliga otherwise a shy and quiet person, used to enact and narrate the stories in his own unique style. When he wanted to explain how a story character arrived on a horse, he would walk over to the entrance of the class, enter the class, doing action as if he's riding a horse, and then deliver the dialogues! He also had the habit of carrying a pocket dictionary with him and whenever he had a doubt or if any student asked the meaning of not so usual word, he would simply stub his hand into his jubba pocket, fish out the dictionary, find the meaning and explain it.

For example, when he read "It cost me Fourscore Ducats in France", we would ask what's Fourscore and he used to refer to the dictionary and say "Aah here it is! One score means Twenty, so Fourscore is Eighty!".

Marvelous guy!

His unique way of scolding any student when that student erred or neglected studies still projects before me, as I close my eyes and reminisce over those school times! He used to point his index finger to the student(mostly my close friend Naresh Baliga who often used to play mischief in class mimicking Mr. Baliga, who is no more), swing it and ask him to come out of the class. He would take him out with him, take cover behind the wall and scold him in low voice, most of the times giving him sermons on how important it is to hold family name high in the society and how to behave in the class and be a better refined human being! He never used to raise his voice or use abusive language like some of the terrors known as teachers those days. He also respected privacy of his students and never gave scope for others to watch him scolding the erring students!

I was Mr. Baliga's neighbour in Ballal Bagh. He being an eternal bachelor, lived with his spinster sister in a small outhouse in Lalbagh Narayana Shetty's compound as tenant. Often he would ask me to meet him at his home when I was free, when he had to say or convey something to the Headmaster in his absence. At his home, he would be sitting on a very old easy chair almost hidden behind a stack of newspapers and magazines wearing round rimmed spectacles, reading a book or paper, peek through the glasses as we opened the wicket gate and entered the compound.

He would stare at me and say "Aah! There you are Mr. Shenoy! Come in, have a seat. I shall be with you in a moment."

He would then complete reading the chapter he had half read, keep a book mark and close the book, then get back to me and explain what he wanted to say, but never before asking me about how I have been, about my father and my brothers. At home he mostly conversed in Konkani and I of all the people used to feel relaxed, since my spoken English was pretty bad those days, and Mr. Baliga was very particular about proper usage of vocabulary!

While we friends Mahaveer, myself and Vishnudas were on the way to or from school walking down the Nehru Avenue Road and by chance if we saw Ananth Baliga approaching us from a distance, we used to panic and hide behind a tree on the way and wait till he passed by!

One day, I was a bit late in hiding behind a tree, he spotted me and suddenly stopped, smiled at me and asked what we boys were up to!

I shyly said "Nothing Sir, just felt like stopping over here and sit under this tree for a while."

He understood, smiled, said nothing else, and moved on!

Being a low paid school teacher those days, he was also very conservative. He would buy groceries and things from Lalbagh Stores, just sufficient for a day or two for him and his sister. he also used to save on city bus fare by catching the bus at Maidan Road or at Hampankatta Old Bus Stand, get down near Besant School and walk all the way, the Three Furlongs from Besant to Ballal Bagh to save 5 Paise. Those days city bus fare from Hampankatta to Besant was 7 Paise and to Ballal Bagh and beyond till Lady Hill or Bejai was 12 Paise.

Ananth Baliga was also a good singer. Though he hailed from Kanhangad in Kerala, he mostly sang Rabindra Sangeet or similar patriotic Bengali songs. During any social functions in the School such as valedictory function for outgoing SSLC students, he would stand tall on stage, look at the ceiling and sing a Bengali song!

The best service apart from teaching English Mr. Baliga did in Canara High School Urva was, keeping track of past students by maintaining a comprehensive list with addresses and send School Day invites. He would stop any one of us and ask the addresses of our elder brothers who were past students, note down their addresses and send them card promptly, at least a month before School Day every year and that worked wonders! Most of those who settled with good placements felt good that they were remembered by Mr. Baliga and sent voluntary contributions to the School! As long as he was in service, he maintained that order, later taken over by Laxman Anchan, who was not as slick as Mr. Baliga in following up.

I still have my SSLC Cumulative Record in which he has filled up my details with such a good handwriting, which I have displayed here.

He retired from service somewhere in the late Seventies or Early Eighties I guess. We had left our Ballal Bagh home and moved to Mannagudda in 1974 but I could see him walking around the town, stopping me and talking to me at length about my family. I got the Bank job and moved out of town, and later in the Eighties, I heard that he was in Dr. Giridhar Rao Sanjivi Bai Home for The Aged near Navabharat Circle with his sister.

Last I met him was in the early Nineties when he stopped me near Hotel Ayodhya, gave me a small book with a yellow cover with his own cartoon holding a basket full of fruits(Gems?), containing his short stories collection, which was priced at Rs.4/- I think. He said there was no compulsion that I should buy that book from him, but he would be very happy if his old students read the book! The title was something like, 'Toothless Uncle with Countless Fruits(Gems)'.  Yes, He did look toothless then alright! He also told me that then he was alone and that his sister passed away. Yet, he looked like a jolly good fellow, not showing any signs of sadness, but he expressed his disappointment over my not completing Degree.

Sadly, I misplaced his book, when we moved from our old home to the present one in 1998. Ananth Baliga passed away few years after he gave me that book.

His autograph with the common message for all his students, 'Handsome is that handsome does' still guides me to lead my life meaningfully.

May his soul rest in peace. May his tribe increase.

Our Childhood Independence Day Fun

Pic source: http://www.guy-sports.com/

When we were in school, Independence Day was a day we looked forward to, at least 15 days in advance!

We used to dream about the flag hoisting at school followed by distribution of sweets, all singing "Vijayi Vishwa Tiranga Pyara" in 3D surround sound that started with a fade in and reached peak level when all sing "Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara". At Besant Basic School, each pupil got a fully grown sugarcane,and we used to drag it all the way from school to our home in Ballal Bagh Circle!

We even used to wait beneath the big tree in front of our home in Ballalbagh Circle and watch people in big groups on lorry back passing by, shouting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". We also used to shout and cheer them!

The flag hoisting and  the parade at Nehru Maidan followed by entertainment such as flying a remote controlled toy plane was never boring.

We also used to hire bicycles from the nearby Ramnath Prabhu's shop in Ballalbagh or Hariappanna's shop near Mannagudda Gurji, tie the indian flag and balloons to it, sometimes tying a balloon or an ice cream stick or even a broken plastic tongue cleaner at the back wheel so that when the wheel turned, that would make 'Dub dub dub....or a buzzing noise..... kirrrrrrrrr!".

We 3-4 friends pedaled our bicycles down the highway via Kadri Hills on to Nanthoor and upto Ullal bridge in the pouring rain, happily getting drenched and shout 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' all through the way! On the way, we also used to catch hold of the lorry chain or bus ladder at the back gaining momentum, of course taking some risk. The cycling used to last the entire day exploring many main roads of Mangalore before we caught cold and started sneezing! Later as I joined college, my classmates Naresh Baliga and Aravind had Lambretta scooters and they used to take me to Panambur or Ullal beach with them. Watching a movie with them at Central or New Chithra talkies was also a routine every year.

Those were the days! Can never find such enthusiasm among the present day youth, as virtual entertainments like TV internet and mobile phones have over shadowed real celebrations. Club culture and partying has taken over simple thrills!

Ajinomoto Crazy

Pic courtesy: http://chefkaori.wordpress.com/

It was in the year 1982 that we 4 friends plus two parasites(Sorry I had to use this word because some of our friends used to come and enjoy free board/lodge in our home) in Bangalore started cooking Chinese food at home! I was responsible for making basic Chinese preparation fried rice because I got the recipe from my friend in Madras Ganesh Baliga, who was an expert cook compared to me those days!

He whispered in my ear "Rajani whatever, go ahead and make this as I told you. Don't forget to add 'Ajinomoto'!

Ajinomoto! When I found a packet of that in a Store in Rajajinagar and brought it home, my friends laughed their heads off and started shouting "Ajjina moTTo"(Grandma's Egg in Tulu).

Whatever, I was cool and I asked our master chef Shivanand Shenoy to assist me in making fried rice. Shivanand had a way with cooking. He was a perfectionist. He'd lost his mother when he was in school and that made him a compulsory cook but his cooking was mostly restricted to GSB dishes. He was excited that finally our home kitchen goes Chinese, almost competing with Rice Bowl and Continental Restaurant on Brigade Road!

He kept the rice for cooking and chopped the veggies as I directed him. Others were watching with eyes wide open! We didn't have a wok to prepare Chinese food. All we had were two Hindalium vessels, one tall and the other wide! The wide one was used for making sambar for lunch and was kept for scrubbing. I looked at Narayan Kini and Narayan sensed danger! He's the one who washes/scrubs vessels, as he's not good at cooking or chopping veggies! He said "I just remembered that I've to give these recorded cassettes to Dr Murthy. I'll go to Rajajinagar and be back in 15 minutes!

Rajajinagar! We're staying in 3rd block Rajajinagar and he said he's going to Rajajinagar! Very good. I knew what he meant. He meant 4th block where their Anand Disc Club, an LP record lending library was situated. I told him to hurry up, or else he won't get the fried rice. He grinned wide, nodded and disappeared like an arrow! I managed with the tall vessel.

The method was rather easy. fry the veggies, add salt, pepper, ajinomoto and soya sauce, mix in cooked rice and finally garnish with vinegar.

I made a pantastick fried rice(It was sticking to the pan/vessel) and just when I switched off the gas and kept the hot fried rice on the dining table, Narayan appeared with a broad smile, nodding his head approvingly!

We all sat down and helped ourselves. Strange but true, we all shared the food equally those days, irrespective of individual capacities!

The fried rice which can be renamed as Chinese Khichdi was consumed within a minute by all, exclaiming with superlatives like -

 "Solid mhaaraayre....top....super....bhayankara....class....!"

I felt like Nala Chakravarty as they all flattered me and showered me again and again with praises!

This fried rice business went on for a few days, almost on alternate evenings!

Then one day Narayana and Kedar(One of the parasites) seemed enlightened and they declared "The secret is Ajinomoto. It enhances the taste of Fried Rice. We must try and add it in other preparations!"

Since that day, the two Ajinomoto Crazy guys almost enacting Charlie Chaplin in the movie 'Modern Times',  added Ajinomoto to sambar, daalithove, rasam, upkari and almost every food preparation. They also went to the extent of adding it to tea coffee and buttermilk! I later read about the ill and addictive effects of Ajinomoto and realised why I started developing murderous attitude towards the two innocent guys Narayan and Kedar of late!

Within one month, the 50Gm packet of Ajinomoto ran over and a disgusted, frustrated, furious myself announced like Julius Caesar -

"Friends, roommates, countrymen! Henceforth, I won't bring Ajinomoto into our kitchen. Ajinomoto is the worst enemy for mankind after the Hiroshima bomb! If anyone is seen or even heard pronouncing AJINOMOTO, he will have to buy the ticket to the next KSRTC bus and go home!"

Narayan and Kedar looked worried and depressed. I don't know if they cried or had bad cold but they did sniff and sob a little.

Osibisa Unleashed

Pic courtesy: http://collectorsfrenzy.com/

In the autumn of 1981, one of the most popular groups of our times, Osibisa's sound of joy was unleashed in India, when they toured the cities Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Madras and Calcutta. More than 350000 people enjoyed the 8 shows in total, each of them attended by 20000 to 50000 people.

I was in Bangalore that year October. Local papers announced that Osibisa was to perform live in Bangalore as part of their 'Osibisa Unleashed India Tour'. 20000 watts of sound output with strobe lights and special effects, were expected to make an impact on the music buffs. I was as excited as my brother Kamalakanth and my Bank colleagues SM Padaki and a few others.

The tickets were initially priced at Rs.500/-, 250/-, 125/- and 50/-. I was very conservative those days watching my low bank salary. Almost a month before the concert, I discussed with my brother about buying the tickets in advance. He said he has his own plans and I can go ahead and buy mine. So, I chose the Rs.50/- class and bought my ticket. Within a couple of days, they announced Rs.25/- ticket and I was shocked and disappointed! The thought of losing Rs.25/- made me rather depressed. I asked Kamalakanth about his ticket. He coolly replied that he went for the Rs.125/- class, as he has to maintain certain standards, being a practicing dentist, and if any of his patients attended the concert and they found out that he went for lower class, he may lose his prestige and practice! I told him, I went for the Rs.50/- class not because I could afford to spend that much but they hadn't come out with the Rs.25/- tickets when I bought mine!

However, that day in October we reached the RSI football stadium on MG Road in the evening. Kamalakanth parked his scooter in the parking area, we walked over to the entrance and parted, him standing in the Rs.125/- line and myself searching for the queue to my class. It had rained heavily that afternoon and we were still worried that the show may get cancelled if it started raining again! There was heavy rush and a long queue to get in. I saw my colleague Padaki and his family cheering and waving at me. They were standing in the Rs.25/- queue! After almost 30 minutes of being pushed and pulled in the rush, I was inside the stadium!

Some Osibisa number was playing on the cassette at a rather low volume, and the stage lights were being tested. The entire ground was looking like paddy field just tilled with a power tiller! There was slush and mud all over and walking was rather difficult. Each step made me slip slide and skate, and I was holding on to the metal folding chairs for support as I walked almost to the back where there was some grass on the ground, that was slightly comfortable to stand and watch the show.

Those who bought the Rs.25/- tickets were silently sitting on the solid stone and cement stands, looking very comfortably at that. I was imagining about the front stalls where Rs.500/- down to Rs.125/- class people were struggling to keep their clothes free from dirt! I also thought about Kamalakanth who in an attempt to save his prestige and maintain his class by buying Rs.125/- ticket, was stranded between the Rs.250/- and Rs.50/- classes in the sea of mud, struggling to watch the show!

As soon as Osibisa entered the stage and started to play, there was a loud cheer from the crowd and people started to run to the front, breaking the bamboo barriers and settling down in the Rs.500/- class! Many slipped and fell down, got free mud bath and the ground was full of chaos as security people watched helplessly! I too managed to reach the Rs.250/- class and watching some smart guys standing on the metallic folding chairs, I too climbed on to a chair and made myself safe!

Rest of the evening went on without much calamity and weather was clear. Only problem was moving around in the dirt, so not many tried to dance to the music. Those who broke the barriers and reached the front were whistling, cheering and dancing aggressively, while I was slowly swinging on the chair I had landed on, nodding my head to the rhythm of Osibisa, that not only Unleashed Afro-British music that evening at full blast, but also unleashed a herd of spectators who bought Rs.25/- tickets and reached Rs.500/- class and enjoyed the concert to the maximum, while the ones who bought higher class tickets stayed aloof and watched helplessly as their clothes were painted with mud!

Our 'All Electric' Home

Pic courtesy: http://boster-kobayashi.com/

It was July 1974. We were supposed to vacate our home in Veera Bhavan Ballalbagh. My father had shifted some of our belongings to a house in Alake where flood waters entered and spoiled many books and photos, if not wooden furniture! So, my father frantically searched for a new place to dwell. Then came AG Nayak the ARTO to our rescue, who had many contacts.

I was in Mangalore Nursing Home for a week, to recover from an attack of Para-Typhoid. So, my involvement in shifting our home was zero. Rather I too became a piece of luggage for my family and they moved me along with a few other belongings to a 1000Sq Ft home in Shediguri.

There were three identical houses in one compound belonging to the Yenepoyas which they let out at Rs.400/- per month, rather steep those days. Yet, the compulsion of going for a house for at least 3 months before our own under construction could be complete, made my father agree for that rent and move in.

Our home was in the middle of the three, slightly modern compared to where we had lived for 16 long years. It was a compact tile roofed one with wooden false ceiling, not surprising, as the owners were Timber Traders. Flooring was Red oxide but both the attached bathrooms had glazed tiles, flush tanks and chrome plated fittings. Best part was, the house was all electric. All electric homes were rare those days and we felt privileged to be in one!

All electric alright, but we didn't have many electrical appliances to utilise the load. Water was heated in the conventional way in a copper pot with wood fire. Cooking was done on LPG or kerosene stove and we never had a fridge. I even boasted with my Ballalbagh friends that we're in the luxury of an All Electric Home!

Whatever, we felt very comfortable initially and we also made friendship with the family of a Tamilian Santhan Kumar, working for MCF living in the house to our right and the noted Kannada writer Aa Na Kra's daughter's family to the left. I was taking rest after recovery from Para-Typhoid and was mostly at home.

After a few days, one fine morning, our domestic helper Mechu was mopping the floor in my brother's bed room. I was tuning in our National Ecko radio to listen to Radio Ceylon. Suddenly she jumped two feet off the floor, yelling "Ayyamma!". I was surprised and went in to see what happened. I saw her trembling and she pointed at the corner of the room saying "I got a solid shock when I tried to mop the floor. Lucky that I am still alive!"

I went slowly near the area and touched the floor with my knuckle. I had learned a few tricks then to check electrical leakage those days out of my own instinct, and I knew that knuckle has the least contact surface which can be retracted faster than directly touching with fingers.

Of course, I too got a shock!

I then observed that there was a patch of moisture on the wall where the main switch was installed. Water had seeped through the pipe mounted on the tile roof for passing the electrical wire from main pole. Maybe that leak had seeped into the flooring and caused electrical shock in the area.

I called my mother and sister in law and announced aloud, that nobody should go near the area below the main switch in that corner of the room till something is done about it. I also told Mechu not to mop the area. They all nodded but were worried that in case they forgot, what would be their fate!

In the afternoon, my father came home for lunch and I showed him the area and told him the story. He said, he will have a word with 'Pipe Fitter Pandu', our family plumber cum electrician.

Late in the afternoon, Sampath Kumar, our Tamilian neighbour came home from college and we went outside and started playing cricket along with my brothers Kamalakanth, Radhakanth and couple of other boys in the neighbourhood. After a while we stopped playing and Sampath Kumar went on talking something, while resting his right foot on the water pipeline that ran over the skirting of our house and he too yelled "Ayyo!" and jumped off! That pipe also had electrical current! The sleuth in me became alive. I slowly tip toed and touched the pipe and felt the current. Then I slowly went into our bath room and touched the tap and got a shock there as well!

So now our home is indeed 'All Electric", I announced and laughed aloud! My mother shouted at me and said it's not funny and we must do something fast. I went to the nearest telephone and called my father to tell him that the entire house has electrical leakage. My father said, he has informed Pandu about it and Pandu may come the next day. Father also adviced me not to touch any plumbing fixture that may have leakage of current.

Much later in the evening my brother Srikanth came from Manipal, went into the bathroom, tried to open the tap to wash his face, and got a shock! We all wore Hawaii slippers and protected ourselves that evening. Needless to mention that we didn't sleep well!

Next morning, Pandu arrived, inspected the electrical and  plumbing line for leakage and said, the earthing has not been properly fixed.

He set right the earthing connection, and the house came back to normal.

My Journey in a Paper Van

Pic courtesy: http://www.imcdb.org/

It was July 1984 and Mangalore got a TV station to coincide with the Los Angeles Olympics. My brother wanted a Dyanora CTV(CT212) which was not available in Mangalore.

In Bangalore there was heavy rush as well but I could succeed in booking one through M/s Devi International on Madrtas Bank Road(St Mark's Cross Road). After much waiting that evening till 10:30pm, I got my piece, tested it, got it repacked and took it to my home in Malleshwaram. I also purchased 3 sets of 5 element antennae with mounting pipes and a full coil of ribbon cable for my brother and two other friends which was cheap compared to Mangalore.

Now the question was whether to book all that in a lorry or take it in the bus. A friend of mine told me that Hindu paper van(Matador) starts at little after 11:00pm and reaches Mangalore much before 7:00am to deliver paper and works out cheaper than bus/lorry. I booked a seat for the next night's schedule and also luggage space in that van at Sheetal Hotel in Gandhinagar which was the booking and pickup point.

Reached there well on time at 10:00pm and loaded the TV and the antennae plus my suitcase. The van was almost 50% loaded with heaps of cartons making chirping sounds that they told me are baby chicks that were being delivered to a Poultry. There were also 3 passengers seated in a cramped manner on the back seat! I wondered how they're going to dump the paper. That day being a Thursday, the weekly magazine Frontline was also printed and ready for loading. I got the front seat behind the driver on which I placed the TV box near the window and sat in the middle.

The van went straight to Hindu press on Cunningham Road, parked inside the compound and loading started. It was a never ending load and by the time they stuffed in all the bundles, the van was jam packed and even the back of my neck started getting hurt by the paper bundles! Besides, the birds kept chirping and I started getting a mild headache! From Hindu press, the van started at 11:45pm and the driver drove like a rally driver, screeching brakes at major towns like Kunigal, Chennarayapatna, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Uppinangady and unloading bundles of paper and Frontline. It rained cats and dogs almost all through the way and he entered every small town and was throwing them bundles expertly out of the window, without even stopping over! I had a doubt whether the paper remains intact in such a heavy rain but the driver said, someone will pick them bundles from the steps of the shops sooner, where he threw them.

Great network, that!

The chicks kept chirping nonstop. Two of the passengers behind me kept grumbling about chicks being loaded on paper van but I was tight lipped, as my load of TV and antennae were also questionable!

The cartons containing the birds were unloaded at BC Road and we all sighed in relief!when we reached Hampankatta little after 7:00am, it was bright and sunny. I sighed in relief that at least for unloading, I got an ideal weather! We reached Vyas Rao's Paper stall in Mannagudda near to my home, where I got down and unloaded the luggage, caught an autorickshaw and went home. The TV and the antennae reached safely.

My plight didn't end there. My head was reeling and I still heard birds chirping around my head with 3D surround sound like a baddie knocked down by the hero in some cartoon strip! I couldn't hear a word that my folks at home spoke and I was literally moving around like a zombie. I'd not slept a wink after getting into the van!

It took me almost two days to overcome that chirping sound and become normal!

Cycle Balance

Pic courtesy: DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images

It was October 1967 and Dasara time. A Tamil song from Sivaji Ganesan movie was playing aloud on the horn loudspeaker. Over a hundred people were gathered around the make shift arena built on the vacant land of Panchavati Colony behind Modern Talkies Shimoga. They were cheering aloud as a slim dark man in his Twenties, wearing black half pants and colourful floral design shirt, was pedaling the bicycle round and round, nonstop. A banner written in rustic Kannada and Tamil read "Cycle Balance non stop 7 days. Shanmugham challenge".

Yes. Such scenes were not unusual those days in the Sixties in old Mysore province. They were supposed to keep pedaling the bicylce for 7 days without touching the feet or other parts of the body to the ground. I have also seen a movie in which, jobless hero has pressure on him to get his mother or sister cured for a deadly disease and he resorts to nonstop cycle balance to earn money.

That Shanmugham seemed to do it regularly for a livelihood. They had all the necessary equipments like the gramophone and the public address system with something written in Tamil. I think they travelled by buses and went from town to town, him performing the feat.

I was fascinated, as I was on a holiday, staying in my sister's home nearby, I was still 10 years old and I had nothing better to do! My brothers, a few relatives and myself stood and watched Shanmugham pedal the bicycle while he did some feats like they do in circus like wheelie and staying still without touching his feet to the ground. He also entertained the crowd by miming his lips to the song playing on the gramophone.

Couple of days went by and late one evening, I saw Shanmugham leaning over the fencing and having bath with cold water, while staying on the bike. I appreciated that, but also wondered how on earth will he attend to nature's call while balacing on the cycle!

Then on the fourth day, Four of us boys went to watch a movie. At around 10:00 in the night, we were returning home. As we reached the arena where the cycle balance was going on, we neither saw any light, nor we heard any sound on the gramophone. Shanmugham was visible sitting on the bicycle in the dark smoking a beedi, but with his left foot touching the ground! We laughed aloud and suddenly music started to play, lights were switched on, and Shanmugham threw the beedi butt and started pedalling the bike aggressively!

As we tried to move away, a woman grinned at us with an apologetic look on her face that seemed to say 'Please don't think he has broken the challenge. He was out of his mind or probably he was sleepy. Otherwise he will do this nonstop!' We just laughed heartily and went home.

Shanmugham completed his "7 day nonstop Cycle Balance challenge" exactly on the Seventh day amidst a loud cheer, some folks garlanding him and applying turmeric powder and ash on his forehead and offering him tender coconut to drink. He looked like real hero of Tamil film with dark glasses on and milky white teeth sparkling in the sun!

He gave a long speech in Tamil, thanking all the people and said he never gets tired when he takes up challenges like the one he just completed. The crowd cheered and threw coins into the bowl a small girl went around with. However, he ignored us boys smiling and watching him with keen eyes! 

Cheap Of-FUR

Winter days were fast approaching when I was in Mysore in 1979. I had to travel early in the morning to Chamarajanagar and return late in the evening. Some of my colleagues suggested me that I buy a sleeveless sweater and beat the chills.

Those days, a sleeveless sweater in any shop cost little above Rs.120/-. I did check in two or three different stores but was two minded, whether to buy one or not. My salary of little over Rs. 500/- per month just kept me going and I had to travel to Mangalore once in three months to overcome home sickness. That cost quite a bit because I took some goodies home and while returning, purchased something for my friends and colleagues.

Then on a weekend, I was chatting with my Mangalorean friends near the post box in KR Circle. A Tibetan woman grinned and asked us if we want sweaters. I was attracted to the different designs, some resembling typical American Apache Indians' attire! I asked the woman the price. She said it ranged from Rs.45/- to Rs. 75/-. I thought, the prices were reasonable as well, and asked her to show the pieces.

Prabhat Kumar, the senior most among us, also my childhood friend, warned me that Tibetan sweaters were not good. He advised me to buy a branded one in any shop paying more. I again thought about my bank balance and nodded my head. Just to save myself from the curse of Prabhat, I asked the lady to move on and said I'm not interested. She was surprised and she went away.

The next day I was standing alone at KR Circle waiting for my friends. It was just 6:30pm but was already dark. Sundays my friends usually appeared late, as they either went for a movie matinee show or to have evening snacks and coffee at Madhu Nivas Roof Top, Deepa Drive-In or Dasprakash before reaching the usual hangout, the Post Box.

Then she was there, the same Tibetan woman. She was looking as charming as she was the previous evening and she again grinned and asked me if I want a sweater. I was bored and thought why not have a look into the heap she was carrying. I also developed sympathy for her, being a refugee who travelled all the way from Tibet to reach Kushalnagar and settle down, doing hard work and making sweaters. I thought, I will buy one for sure, no matter anyone likes that or not!

I asked her to show a sleeveless white one with dark blue ethnic design. She showed that and I knew there was bargain in Mysore for almost every deal. She started from Rs. 45/- and I started from Rs. 10/- and was rigid about it. After many minutes of bargaining, she parted with it for Rs. 10/- and I bought it, feeling jubilant. I also wore it, though it had some foul smell. I thought I'll surprise Prabhat and other friends with my buy and bluff that I purchased it in a showroom on Dhanavantari Road.

After 20 minutes or so, Prabhat Kumar, Krishna Kumar and Shashidhar Pandit appeared on their scooters and bikes. Pandit had an eye for fashion garments and he was fascinated to see my sweater. He came closer, touched the sweater and asked me, from where I purchased it and how much I paid for it.  I first boasted about the name of a ready made garment showroom on Dhanavantri Road and said I paid Rs. 100/-  but he didn't believe me. He said, the feel says this is a Tibetan sweater! Prabhat heard him and stared at me with a "I told you not to, but you didn't listen to me" look!

I then told them everything and said I am not worried about the quality, as It was a temporary measure till January when the winter will be over. I also added that I felt good by helping that Tibetan woman who was struggling to sell the sweaters. They laughed and said that's usually the case with new bakras who fall for Tibetan women, their smile, their sweet talk and charm! I started feeling a bit odd but controlled my agony.

When I reached my room after a night out at Kings Kourt and removed the sweater over my head, I heard couple of stitches giving way. I also felt some kind of itching sensation around my neck. When I examined my neck in the shaving mirror, I saw red rashes all around it! Then when I gazed at my Raymonds Woolen pant, the area that was covered with the sweater was full of white fur from the sweater. I could not remove it that easily and I felt helpless. I frantically tried to rub the pant with nylon washing brush without success. My roommate Mohan Reddy was laughing aloud watching my plight and I shouted at him to get lost. I said I shall leave the room the very next morning, if he ever tried to laugh over my miseries. He silently went out on the balcony and watched the stars in the sky.

I hung the sweater on the wooden frame of my bed, went to bath room and washed my arms and face with soap and water. Still felt the itch on my neck but I was helpless, without any anti-histamine tablets or cream in stock.

I called Reddy and said, " Look. I think I am allergic to the wool they've used in the sweater. That's why I got the itch. I remember using some woolen blanket in Dwarka Hotel Hyderabad few years ago, and then also it was itching like this."

Reddy said "No sir. It is some cheap fur they use to make these sweaters. You should feel lucky if they haven't made it with Dog's fur!"

I was shocked! For the first time in my life I felt grossly taken for a ride by that smiling fair skinned charming Tibetan woman. I cursed my luck and thought, there's no hope left for humanity in this world. If we get duped by people for whom we show sympathy and try to help them this is what we get in return! I also thought, Reddy might be right. That's the smell, dog smell that I got when I wore the sweater for the first time!

Next morning I wore the sweater and travelled in the train to Chamarajanagar. Most of the train mates were impressed by the design but they warned me that Tibetan sweaters are not strong. I need to get them stitched on the insides for better reinforcement. For a moment I also heard some grinding sound of wheels on railway track and thought the train is skidding while changing tracks at Nanjangud outer signal, but we were still in Kadakola. It was Vijay Kumar of Indian Bank and Badalu Srinivas my colleague squeaking like rats trying to laugh without showing any emotions. I just nodded my head and watched the marshland through the window with deep worry.

After I reached the branch, I removed the sweater and did my work. In the late afternoon, our Bank sweeper Madamma came and she watched the sweater hanging on the back of my chair. She asked me how much I paid and where I bought it. I told her about that. She asked me to get one for her the next time, as she wanted one badly to keep her warm in her thatched roof home.

Suddenly an idea struck my mind!

I whispered "Madamma.....!"

"Sir?"

"Do you really want a sweater like this one?"

"Yes sir."

"Definitely? God promise?"

"Ayyo sir...what are you saying? Don't you believe me? I want one sir!"

"Take this Madamma. It's all yours."

"But sir, don't you want it? How much should I pay for it?"

"Nothing Madamma. Just take it, but on one condition. Don't tell anyone about it. Never wear this when you come to Bank. I don't want anyone to know that I gave this to you for free."

"Sure sir. Thank you sir. Goddess Chamundeshwari bless you sir."

She was looking extremely delighted. I still remember her smile when she took the sweater and turned around twice before leaving, and looked at me with gratitude.

(Almost)Missed Train - Experience 1

Pic source: http://wallzoa.com

Train journeys are fascinating. We get to enjoy the nature passing by, while we make friends with fellow travellers, have breakfast, lunch and dinner on board and also have the facility of toilet.

My first train experience was from Mangalore to Manjeshwar in the year 1966 when my father's friend Manjeshwar Vasudeva Kamath and his family came down from Mumbai to attend the festival 'Manjeshwar Shashti'. Since they stayed in our home, they persuaded me to come with them and enjoy the festive mood. We travelled by the passenger train in the evening to reach little after dark. That was by all means thrilling, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I was invited by my friend Ganesh Baliga in the year 1976 October to visit Madras for the first time. He was working for Fedders Lloyd Airconditioners then.

That Saturday, I caught the Mangalore Madras Mail in the afternoon and reached Madras the next morning. Baliga came to the Central Station and picked me up on his Lambretta scooter and we reached his room in a Lodge opposite Kodambakkam Railway Station.

I spent 4 days with him, happily visiting relatives and friends, visiting places including a day trip to Mahabalipuram and thoroughly enjoyed his hospitality. He was a good cook and his simple rice and daalithoi with a curry in the night is something to reminisce over.

My return journey was booked by Brindavan Express to Bangalore, where I wanted to spend a couple of days with my brother and my uncle's family.

The night before, Baliga told me "Rajani, your train is in the morning at 7:35. We need 15-20 minutes to reach the station. SO, I'll keep the alarm set for 6:00am, prepare coffee and have some bread butter with it. By 6:45 we must start. You better be alert and wake up as soon as I call your name first thing in the morning!"

I nodded, but the night was stilling and we kept listening to the album 'The Sound of The Sunshine Band' that I had recorded for him on a cassette and also talked and talked till maybe 2:00am!

The next morning when I heard Baliga shout my name, I opened my eyes and saw him looking at me with panic in his eyes! He feebly said "It's already 7:05am and we have hardly time to talk anything. I'll run to the parking lot and start my scooter. You come down with the luggage. Now don't waste any time!"

Obviously, he had missed the alarm and woken up late!

I nodded my head, just washed my face, changed my dress, packed my bag in a hurry and ran to the parking lot. There he was, ready with his scooter. The time was 7:15am.

He drove very fast on the Kodambakkam High Road and reached Mount Road. Luckily traffic was not much, but as he went past the various Embassies, Secretariat and reached the other end, there was deviation for some road work going on! Time was 7:30am.

He cursed the Municipal Corporation for the sudden development and somehow managed to reach the Central station at sharp 7:35am!

He shouted "Rajani Brindavan is on platform no.1. Go from the open right side gate of the terminus. I'll park the scooter and be there. If I miss you, we shall meet next time in Mangalore".

I did just that and as I reached the train, it blew horn and started moving! I jumped into the nearest compartment, stood at the door and saw Baliga appearing just on time to wave goodbye. I too waved at him.

The jubilant, happy and thrilled expression on both our faces was copious!