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.
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'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.