ಕಣ್ಸಂಗಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು…

July 30, 2010

ಮುಂಬಯಿಯ ಲೋಕಲ್ ರೈಲೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಮಾಟುಂಗ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ, ಅಣ್ಣ ಕಲೀಮ್ ಹೇಳಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಚಿಂತೆಗೀಡು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದವು. ಮುಂಬಯಿಯ ರೈಲುಗಳು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 30 ಸೆಕೆಂಡ್‌ಗಳು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತವೆ. ಈ ಮೂವತ್ತು ಸೆಕೆಂಡ್‌ಗಳ ಅಂದಾಜು ಒಂದು ಟೀವೀ ಜಾಹೀರಾತಿನ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಳಿಯುವವರು ಉದುರಿಕೊಂಡು ಹತ್ತುವವರು ಸ್ಥಳ ಸಿಕ್ಕಲ್ಲಿ ನೇತು ಹಾಕಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯಿಂದ ನುಡಿದಿದ್ದರು. ಮೈಸೂರಿಗಳ ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಗುಣಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಾದ ಆರಾಮತನವನ್ನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಜಾಸ್ತಿಯೇ ಮೈಗೂಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಅವಸರದ ಕೆಲಸಗಳು ಭಯ ಮೂಡಿಸುತ್ತವೆಯಾದರೂ ಬೇರೆ ವಿಧಿಯಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ…

ರೈಲು ನಿಂತ ಕ್ಷಣ, ಒಳಗೆ ನುಗ್ಗುತಿದ್ದ ಯಾತ್ರಿಕ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಾಳುಗಳನ್ನು ಭೇದಿಸಿ ಮುನ್ನುಗ್ಗುತ್ತಾ ಹೊರಬಿದ್ದೆ. ಎರಡು ಕ್ಷಣಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ, ಹೇಗೆ ಇಳಿಯುವುದು ಎಂಬ ಭೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸಮರವನ್ನು ಗೆದ್ದು ಬಂದ ವೀರನಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು. ನನ್ನ ವೀರವೇಶವನ್ನು ನಾನೇ ಪ್ರಸಂಶಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಮುನ್ನೆಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ನನ್ನ ಹೆಗಲಿನಿಂದ ಸೊಂಟಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಗಿದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾ ಬ್ಯಾಗ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಏನೋ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ಆದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯಿತು. ವೀರವೇಶವೆಲ್ಲ ಮಾಯವಾಗಿ ಅಂಡು ಸುಟ್ಟ ಬೆಕ್ಕಿನಂತೆ ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾ ಬ್ಯಾಗನ್ನು ಬಗ್ಗಿ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ಬ್ಯಾಗಿನ ಜಿಪ್ಪು ತೆರೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಕ್ಯಾಮರಾ, ಗಡಿಯಾರಗಳ ಪೆಂಡಲಂನಂತೆ ಜೋತಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಇನ್ನೇನು ಬೀಳುವುದರಲ್ಲಿತ್ತು. ಇಂತಹ ಅವಾಂತರಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸದ ನಾನು ಗಾಬರಿಯಿಂದ ಕ್ಯಾಮಾರವನ್ನು ಮೇಲೆಳೆದು ವಾಪಸ್ ಬ್ಯಾಗಿಗೆ ತುರುಕುತ್ತಾ ಅದೇ ಬ್ಯಾಗಿನ ಮೇಲ್ಬಾಗದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನ ರೇ-ಬ್ಯಾನ್ ಕನ್ನಡಕಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ತಡಕ ತೊಡಗಿದೆ. ಮೂಲತಹ ವಾಟಾಳ್ ನಾಗರಾಜರ ತರಹ ನಿತ್ಯ ಕನ್ನಡಕದಾರಿಯಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಶೋಕಿಗೆಂದು ಕನ್ನಡಕಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದ ಗೆಳಯ ಭಾನುವನ್ನು ಕಾಡೀ ಬೇಡಿ ಅವನ ಕೆಲಸದ ವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಎಳೆದೊಯ್ದು ಎಂ. ಜಿ. ರಸ್ತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಿಂದ ಕಣ್ಣಂಚಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ತಂದಿದ್ದ ಕರಿಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಂಬೈನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಮೂರ್ಖನಂತೆ ನಿರಾಸೆಯಿಂದ ರೈಲಿನಿಂದಿಳಿದು ಬಂದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಕಣ್ಣು ಹಾಯಿಸಿದೆ. ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಣ್ಣ ಕಲೀಮ್ ಇನ್ನು ರೈಲಿನ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಬಳಿಯೇ ಇದ್ದು ಬಗ್ಗಿ ಏನನ್ನೋ ತೆಗೆದು ತನ್ನ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಆಸಾಮಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುತಿದ್ದರು, ಆ ಆಸಾಮಿಯ ಕೈ ಆ ವಸ್ತುವನ್ನು ತಲುಪುವದರೊಳಗೆ,, ಅದಾವ ವೇಗದಲ್ಲೋಗಿ ಅದನ್ನು ಕಿತ್ತುಕೊಂಡೆನೋ ತಿಳಿಯದು, ಆದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಕರಿಯ ಕಣ್ ಸಂಗಾತಿ ಮರಳಿ ನನ್ನ ಕೈಗೆ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಇಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂಡಿನವರೆಲ್ಲ ರೈಲಿನಿಂದಿಳಿದು ಬಂದರು. ನಾವು ಮಾಟುಂಗಾದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಂಘಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಲ್ನೆಡಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊರಟೆವು. ಹೀಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲುಗಳು ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರತವಾಗಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಬಾಯಿಗಳು ಸುಮ್ಮನಿರಬೇಕೆ? “ಏನಾದರಾಗಲಿ ಒಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನ್ ಕನ್ನಡ್ಕ ಸಿಕ್ತಲ್ಲ ಬಿಡು” ಎಂದು ಅಣ್ಣ ಸಮದಾನದ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನಾಡಿದರು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯಾಗಿ ನನಗು ಈ ಕನ್ನಡಕಕ್ಕು ಇರುವ ಬಿಡಿಸಲಾಗದ ನಂಟನ್ನು ತೋರುವ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಸಂಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳಲಾರಂಬಿಸಿದೆ…

ಅಂದೊಮ್ಮೆ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಮಂಜುಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ಇಂದಿರಾನಗರದ ನಮ್ಮ ರೂಂಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ. ರೈಲು ಬೋಗಿಯ ಕಾಲು ಭಾಗದಷ್ಟು ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾಗಿದ್ದು ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಗೆಳಯ ಶಿವು ಇಬ್ಬರು ಕೈಕಾಲು ಜಾಡಿಸದೇ ಮಲಗಬಹುದಾಗಿದ್ದ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಪೊಟ್ಟಣದಂತ್ತಿತ್ತು, ಈ ರೂಂ. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳು ಬಂದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ತಿಥಿಯೇ ಆಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಹೇಗೋ ನಮ್ಮ ಈ ಕಿರಿಯ ಕೋಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗಬಹುದಾದ ಆಥಿತ್ತ್ಯವೆಲ್ಲ ಬಿಚ್ಚು ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ ಬೆಳಗೆದ್ದು ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಹೊರಡುತಿದ್ದ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಮಂಜು, “ಬಾರೋ ನಾಗ್ಜಿ, ಹೋಗ್ತಾ ನಿನ್ನು ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟೊಗ್ತೀನಿ” ಅಂತ ಉತ್ಸಾಹದಿಂದ ಕರೆದ. ಅವನ ಆಹ್ವಾನವನ್ನು ಮನಸಾರೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿ ಅವನ ಗಾಡಿಯ ಹಿಂಬದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಮಂಜು ನಾನು ಒಂದೇ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿದವರಾದ್ದರಿಂದ ದಾರಿಯುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಹರಟೆ ಕೊಚ್ಚಲು ನಮಗೆ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ ಇರಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ಹೊರಡುವಾಗ ಮಾಘಿಕಾಲದ ಮಂಜನ್ನು ಮುಂಜಾನೆಯೇ ಎದ್ದು ತಿಳಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದ ಸೂರ್ಯನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಆರಾಮ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತ್ತಿತ್ತು.

ಇಂದಿರಾನಗರದಿಂದ ಬನಶಂಕರಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪುವ ಆತುರದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ನಮಗೆ ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ಸಿಗುತಿದ್ದ ಕೆಂಪು ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ಗಳು ರೇಜಿಗೆಯನ್ನುಂಟುಮಾಡ್ದಿದ್ದವು. ಪ್ರತಿ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ಲನ್ನು ಚಕ್ರವ್ಯೂಹ ಬೇಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಸೆಣೆಸುತ್ತಾ ಮುನ್ನುಗ್ಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಮಿತ್ರನಿಗೆ ಡೈರಿ ವೃತ್ತದ ಬಳಿ ಕೆಂಪು ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ಸಿಕ್ಕು ನಿಲ್ಲಲೇಬೇಕಾಯಿತು. ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಪ್ರಭೆಯಿಂದ ಆಗಲೇ ಬೇಸತ್ತು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದ ನಾವು ಗ್ರೀನ್ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ಗಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತ ನಿಂತ್ತಿದ್ದೆವು. “ಎ ರಾಜ” ಎಂಬ ಶಬ್ದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಿವಿಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ತೂರಿರಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲೇ ಹಿಂಬದಿಯಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಚಪ್ಪಾಳೆಯ ಸದ್ದು ಕಿವಿಗೆ ಗುದ್ದಿದಹಾಗಾಯಿತು. ತನ್ನ ಅಂಗೈಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಚಾಚಿ “ಕೊಡು” ಎಂಬಂತೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಕೊಜಾ ನನ್ನ ಎಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ.
ಈಗಲೇ ನಿಮಗಿದು ಹೇಳಿಬಿಡುವುದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಅನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಮುಂದೆ ನನ್ನ ನಿಲುವು ಹೇಗಿರುತ್ತದೋ ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು. ನನಗೆ ಕೊಜಾಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡರೆ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯ ಅಕ್ಕರೆ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ‘ಡಿಸ್ಕವರಿ ಚಾನಲ್’ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರ ಸಂಘ, ಜೀವನ ಶೈಲಿ ಹಾಗು ಉತ್ತರ ಭಾರತದ ವಿವಾಹಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರನ್ನು ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಕರೆಸಿ ವಧು ವರರಿಗೆ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಕೊಡಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಂಗತಿಗಳ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಕುಟುಂಬ, ಸಮಾಜ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳಿಂದ ದೂರವಿಡಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಈ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡರೆ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯ ಅಕ್ಕರೆ.

ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಪಕ್ಕ ಬಂದು ಹಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿರುವ ಈ ಜೀವಿಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸುವುದು? ಸರಿ… ಕಿಸಗೆ ಕೈಹಾಕಿ ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆಗಾಗಿ ತಡಕಿದೆ, ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಇರುವಹಾಗೆ ಕಾಣಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಬೇಸರದ ಮುಖಮಾಡಿ ಚಿಲ್ಲರೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದೆ…. “ಚಿಲ್ಲ್ರೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಮಾಮ… ನೋಟೇ ಕೊಡ” ಅನ್ನಬೇಕೆ… ಸರಿ! ನೋಟು ಇಲ್ಲ ಅಂದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಆಕೆ (ವಸ್ತ್ರಾಲಂಕಾರನದಿಂದಾ ಹೆಂಗಸಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದರಿಂದ “ಆಕೆ” ಎನ್ನಬೇಕಷ್ಟೇ) “ಕನ್ನಡ್ಕ ಕೊಡ ಒಂದ್ ಸರಿ ಹಾಕಿ ನೋಡ್ತಿನಿ” ಎಂದಳು. ಮೊದಲೇ ಹೇಳಿದ ಹಾಗೆ ಗೌರವ ಅಕ್ಕರೆಗಳು ನನ್ನಾವರಿಸಿ ನನ್ನ ಕರಿಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದು ಆಕೆಯ ಕೈಗಿಟ್ಟೆ. ಅಲ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಮಹದೈಶ್ವರ್ಯದಂತೆ ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡಕವನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೀರಿಸಿ ಕುರುಡನಿಗೆ ಕಣ್ಣು ಬಂದಂತೆ ತನ್ನ ಸುತ್ತಲಿದ್ದ ಜಗತ್ತನ್ನು ದಿಟ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ “ತೆಗಿಯೋ ಮಾಮ ದುಡ್ನಾ…” ಎಂದಳು.

ಮುಂದೆ ಬರಲಿರುವ ಕೆಲವು ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನದ ಅತಿ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದ ಹಾಗು ಈ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ಬರೆಯುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳೆಂದು ನನಗೆ ಆಗ ಅನಿಸಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗೆ ಕಂಡವರ ಕಣ್ಣೇರಿದ ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡಕವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗಿಡಿಸದೇ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗಿ ಕೊಡುವಂತೆ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. ಆಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಮಾತನ್ನೂ ಲಕ್ಕಿಸದೆ ಭಿಕ್ಷೆಗಾಗಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗಿದಳು. ನಾನು ಗಾಡಿಯಿಂದ ಜಿಗಿದು ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಾ “ಅಕ್ಕ ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡಕ ಕೋಡಿ” ಎಂದು ಆಕೆಯ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕನ್ನಡಕ ಭಿಕ್ಷೆ ಬೇಡುತ್ತಾ ಹೊರಟೆ!

ಭಿಕ್ಷೆ ಬೇಡುತ್ತಾ ಮುಂದೆ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಆಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನಗಲಾರಬಿಸ್ಸಿದ್ದ ಜನರನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಬೇಸರವಾಗಿದ್ದ ನಾನು ” ಅದು ತುಂಬಾ ಕಾಸ್ಟ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಕ ವಾಪಸ್ ಕೊಡಕ್ಕಾ” ಎಂದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಿಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. “ಜೇಬ್ನಾಗೆ ಮೂರ್ಕಾಸಿಲ್ಲ ಮೂಗ್ಮ್ಯಲೇ ಮೂರ್ಸಾವ್ರುಪಾಯಿ ಕನ್ನಡ್ಕ ಹಾಕ ಮೂತಿ ನೋಡು” ಅಂತ ಚುಡಾಯಿಸಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟಳು. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡಕ ಆಕೆಗೇ ಉಪಯುಕ್ತವಾಗುವಂತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ದಿನವಿಡೀ ಬಿಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು ಭಿಕ್ಷೆ ಬೇಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅವಳ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕರಿಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯಿಂದ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವಾದರೂ ತಂಪು ಸಿಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತಲ್ಲವೇ.

ಆದರೂ ಶ್ರೀಸಾಮಾನ್ಯನಾದ (ನಾನು ನನ್ನದು ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ) ನಾನು, ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡಕವನ್ನು ಬಿಡಲು ತಯಾರಿರಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಬ್ಯುಸಿ ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್ಕೀನ ಮದ್ಯೆ “ನನ್ ಕನ್ನಡ್ಕ ಕೊಡ್ತಾಳೋ, ಕೊಡಲ್ವೋ ಎಂಬ ದ್ವಂದ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಒದ್ದಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನನಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ “ಏ ಮಾಮ” ಎಂಬ ದ್ವನಿ ಕೇಳಿಸಿತು. ತಿರುಗಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ್ಕ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕೈ ತೊಗೋ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಚಾಚಿತ್ತು. ಕನ್ನಡಕವನ್ನು ಮರಳಿ ಪಡೆದು ಸಮಾದಾನದ ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು ಬಿಡುತ್ತಾ ಮಂಜುವನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕತೊಡಗಿದೆ…..ಗ್ರೀನ್ ಸಿಗ್ನಲ್ ಸಿಕ್ಕು ಮಂಜು ಗಾಡಿಯನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಹೊಯ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸ್ಸಿದ್ದರು. ಕೈಗೆ ಮರಳಿಬಂದ ಕರಿಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೇರಿಸಿ ನನಗಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ಮಂಜೂ ಗಾಡಿಗೆ ಜಿಗಿದೆ! ಮೊದಲೇ ಹೇಳಿದ ಹಾಗೆ ಹರಟಲು ಬಹಳ ವಿಷಯವಿದ್ದರೂ ಈ ಘಟನೆಯೊಂದೆ ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಸವೆಸುವಸ್ಟಿತ್ತು.

ಮಾತು ಮಾತಲ್ಲೇ, ಮಾಟುಂಗ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಿಂದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಂಘಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಸೇರಿದ್ದೆವು. ನನಗು ನನ್ನ ಕರಿಯ ಕಣ್ಣುಸಂಗಾತಿಗು ಇರುವ ನಂಟನ್ನು ಹಾಗು ಅದನ್ನ ಕಳಕೊಂಡು ಪಡಕೊಂಡ ಸಂಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ಹಿಂಡಿನವರೆಲ್ಲ ಮನಸಾರೆ ನಕ್ಕರು. ಈಗಲೂ ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ನನ್ನ ಗೆಳೆಯರು “ಏ ರಾಜಾ” ಎಂದು ಕಾಲೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಆ ಘಟನೆಯನ್ನು ಮೆಲುಕುಹಾಕುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಲೇಖನ-ಚಿತ್ರ: ನಾಗ್ಜ್

A walk in the clouds – Mahabaleshwar

Caleidoscope

July 29, 2010

Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra — Photograph by Sri hari

Rain has always been synonymous with fertility and life, washing away the dirt and grime collected over time. The ability of rain to invigorate life is one of the major reasons for its universal appeal. It has often teased the psyche of people with its haunting melancholy, a leading a reason for it to be romanticized for generations. It not only shrouds the world in a blanket of mystery, but with its elusiveness, it gently stokes the deep inner passions and indulgences in many. One of the many indulgences worth mentioning – piping hot, light fluffy pakora! And where does the thought of a hot fluffy pakora take me? No it isn’t the warm welcoming house of my grandmother or any relative for that matter, but to the chilling hills of Mahabaleshwar.

Nestled deep in the belly of surrounding valleys, Mahabaleshwar is undoubtedly the most green, chilling and mysterious places to visit during the monsoon. With a setting straight out of the books of Ruskin Bond, Mahabaleshwar encapsulates a cryptic force that draws you to it and makes sure that you don’t leave without an everlasting mental imprint in your brain. Any person who has been there, swears by the endearing chill they feel that permeates straight to the soul. No amount of hot beverages or fried food can take that chill away, but then a plate full of golden, deep fried, “crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside” cottage cheese pakoras, doesn’t hurt either. A cuppa of warm syrupy tea to wash it all down with a panoramic view of the gray slippery roads snaking their way into the heart of the “cloud capped” mountain is a reason for delight.

Mahabaleshwar Photo — Photograph by Nishanth Jois

Once up there, it is like a whole different world. One of the many reasons for this place’s popularity is the dream that mankind has always desired for – a walk in the clouds. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that you are literally walking into the clouds once you’ve reached the heights! The feeling of the cold, fluffy light clouds caressing your body isn’t just surreal, but it did give me the heebie jeebies as well! Also it would be a crime to go up to such a spot without a partner or a friend! If you are alone, the loneliness can get to you, making the place more haunting than it really is. Never a believer in traveling with the entire family to get the maximum joy, this place undoubtedly opened my eyes to the “ phenomenon” of traveling with a loved one to reach the crux of nature’s beauty.

Being a lover of berries, but with all the strawberry gardens shut down during the monsoon, I was disappointed when I couldn’t get my hands on the melting sweet, crimson red, speckled fruit in all its freshness and glory. There were indeed many other options in the form of jams and jellies, but nothing beats the joy of popping a fresh fruit in your mouth and experience a flood of tart and ridiculously sweet syrup ravaging your taste buds. It certainly beats the banality of the products that come straight out of a factory. But I could feel despair settling in my heart as we decided to pull out empty handed! Aware that we were burdened by regret and with better senses taking over, we headed back home with a carton full of locally grown fruit jellies, large bottles of strawberry jams and many varieties of fruit squashes sitting neatly in long slim plastic bottles.

As the cold monsoon winds swept across my face, the thought of returning to the humdrum of daily life brought forth a gloom mostly experienced at the beginning of another daunting year at college. But then as the tall trees and the mountains started to distance themselves from me, I moved forward with a feeling of hope incited by the beauty and the suspense of a place that I am longing to return to.

– Factfile –
Nearest Town – Pune – 120 km (3 hours)
Elevation – 1,353 metres (4,439 ft)
Transport – By taxi or local bus from Pune city
Place to stay – Regular hotels available
Other attractions – Venna lake, Wilson/Sunrise Point, Lodwick Point, Panchgani
Food – strawberries and mulberries.
Reference – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabaleshwar
http://www.mshwar.com/june99/guide.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/weeklysnaps/510496842/in/pool-mahabaleshwar

Travelling to Wayanad? Here is Our Tip to Make it a Hit!

Caleidoscope

July 25, 2010

Wayanad is emerging as a famous tourist hotspot of Kerala. A State that was once visited mainly for incredible coastal beauty and beaches is now being visited for its hill stations. A significant part of the Western Ghats lies in Kerala, and Wayanad is a gem of that part. It is teeming with exotic flora and fauna and mighty waterfalls. It has caves dating back to the early civilizations. You can roam in the pristine jungles and witness the tigers on the prowl. Camping, forest walks, plantation tours, organic farming, tree houses, and riding on the waves – the list of adventures and activities to do at Wayanad is really long!

Well, if you are also intrigued by this place, then we have got an impressive list of the best places to stay. Read the list and choose the site that aligns with your wishes and preferences. Wayanad cottages are famous for being a perfect mix of rustic and modern elements. Also, you can find an ample number of Resorts in Wayanad with activities and Wellness Centres.

So, find out the best places to stay in Wayanad and make your trip a hit!

What does Wayanad Offer?

#1 – Edakkal Caves:

The Edakkal Caves have been home to the Neolithic Civilization and attract thousands of tourists every year. The caves have etchings and drawings of humans and animals. These markings are yet to be deciphered. The surrounding scenery is mesmerizing. You have to take a mountain route to reach the caves. This is why it forms a crucial part of many trekking trips.

#2 – Soochipara Waterfalls:

Located in the Velarimala Hills, Soochipara Waterfalls is one of the most prominent tourist hotspots in Wayanad. The site is famous for rock climbing as well. Hence, it is loved by the nature-lovers and adventurers alike.

#3 – Meenmutty Falls:

This waterfall is accessible after a hike from the Wayanad-Ooty Road. There are three tiers in it. You can enjoy fun-filled time with your friends and family. However, we suggest avoiding it during the rainy season.

#4 – Phantom Rock:

Roughly resembling the shape of a human skull, this is a naturally-formed metamorphic rock structure. It is precisely located in Ambalavayal. You can enjoy rock-climbing, hiking and camping in the region. During the spring season, the valley becomes a carpet of wildflowers and vegetation.

#5 – Chembra Peak:

It is the highest hill in the region with a small hear-shaped lake and plenty of greenery. It forms an exciting place for camping, hiking, and sightseeing. There is a waterfall in the vicinity that adds to the charm of this place.

#6 – Kuruva Island:

Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island is a 950-acre protected river delta. It comprises three densely wooded uninhabited islands and a few submergible satellite islands, which lies on the banks of the tributaries of Kabini River in the Wayanad district, Kerala, India. These are the mangrove islands that are famous for boating tours. You can witness the exotic flora, orchids, and evergreen forests here.

#7 – Pookode Lake:

Here you can enjoy boating and sightseeing. The beautiful freshwater lake in Wayanad, Pookode Lake lays 15 kilometres away from Kalpetta. Nestled between evergreen forest and the Western Ghats, the lake is spread over 13 acres and is 40 m deep. This is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Wayanad.

#8 – Muthanga and Tholpetty:

These places are famous for witnessing the incredible wildlife of Wayanad. From safaris that bring you inside the habitats of tigers and elephants, to the forest walks – you can enjoy many things.

How to reach Wayanad?

You can reach Wayanad via the following means of transport:

By Air – Karipur International Airport at Kozhikode
By Rail – Kozhikode Railway Station (110 KM)
By Bus – KSRTC buses provide an efficient and fast transport in and around Wayanad. There are many super fast buses as well.

Rest, you can find all kinds of transportation in Wayanad.

Best places to stay in Wayanad:

Now, let us read about the best places to stay in Wayanad. These places offer lots of resorts in Wayanad with activities. You can also find Premium and Luxury Wayanad Cottages that are hidden in the green cover of the region. So, you must plan your stay at one of these places to witness and experience the real beauty of Wayanad.

#1 – Kalpetta:

Kalpetta is the main town of Wayanad that offers all kinds of accommodations and restaurants. The 3 major tourist attractions are Soochipara Waterfalls, Kanthapara Waterfalls and Meenmutty Waterfalls.

Chembra Peak is located just 10 KM away from Kalpetta. Boating in Pookode Lake and shopping in the local market are the other enjoyable activities you can do in Kalpetta.

If you have time, you can also visit a lovely manmade marvel – Banasura Dam. It is just 24 KM away from the city and is loaded with beauty. Banasura Waterfall is a mandatory visit in the region. The scenic splendour there is the stuff dreams are made of!

#2 – Sulthan Bathery:

It is a hub of the finest and the best Resorts in Wayanad with activities and Wayanad Cottages. You can explore the ruins of Jain Temple, Edakkal Caves, Muniyara and Muthanga Wildlife Reserves. There are lots of resorts with wellness centres that have everything – natural beauty, facilities and luxury. You can also be a part of various adventurous activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, camping and Tribal area visit etc.

#3 – Mananthavady:

This is where the Kuruva Islands are located. This is an eco-island that spreads over more than 900 acres. The islands are located 17 KM away from the mainland and are accessible via rafts. One major thing about raft travelling is that rowing is done with the help of ropes. There are no oars and ropes are fastened to the trees to row the rafts. Pakshipathalam, the tomb of Pazhazzi Raja and ‘Boys’ town are the other major attractions here.

So, these are the best places and attractions of Wayanad. When are you planning to explore them?

Can you handle the Nafrat… Taksha, a Hindi Rock Band

Manasi

July 23, 2010

Taksha, a Hindi Rock Band Nafrat… angst… can it be better expressed than through the raw power of rock music… Rock music has an ability to capture the underlying anxiety and anguish within a person. “Khatron mein jeena hain, har lamha sehna hai, ruk nahi jaana hai, rehna hai tujhko bekhauf!” The lyrics and the music from “Bekhauf”, one of the songs in the album ‘Nafrat’, create a blend of melody and aggression leaving you deeply moved by its uniqueness.

Rock music and Hindi… yes, Hyderabad is the city of origin for ‘Taksha’, a unique Hindi power rock band that emerges from a group of seasoned musicians. Their music makes you wonder whether, angst and aggression can be better portrayed in a four minute song. “We believe that a language barrier prevents a wider audience from enjoying rock music”, says Shadrach Prabhu, the lead guitarist. The name of the band also has a story behind it, “The name was a simple choice”, says Anjani, another member, “we wanted to bring out the Hindi quotient that is imbibed in our lyrics and our music; so, naming it after the oldest university in India made complete sense.” The band has a female vocalist, another unique feature in Indian rock music scene.

Shweta – Vocals
Shadrach – Lead Guitar
Maruth – Guitar
Anjani – Bass
Suman – Drums
Kiran – Keyboards

The six piece Hindi rock band came together in August 2009 and it debuted live just in two months with an original set. The members bring in nearly 10 years of experience in rock music with Shadrach, Maruth and Anjani being were a part of ‘Sledge’, another leading rock band from the city. They work in a regular 9-to-5 job but still make it a point to work on their music with passion. Shadrach, the lead guitarist, was awarded the Best Guitarist at the Castrol Garage Rock National, 2003 for his out of the world speed on the guitar. He is a trained western classical guitarist and has been teaching music as well. Maruth, the rhythm guitarist, has compiled background scores for movies like, Annukojunda oka roju (Telugu) and Angrez. Anjani on the bass runs ‘fullvolumerecords.com’ which takes care of the band’s music. Suman on the drums is a sales manager in an insurance firm. Kiran on the keyboard is an engineer. Shweta, the vocalist is a pass out from Hindu College, Delhi and was selected after rigorous rounds of auditions.

Taksha, a Hindi Rock Band

The band has recently launched its debut album, ‘Nafrat’ along with the video release of ‘Bekhauf’, one of the songs. The music brings along with it a unique sense of originality and holds various influences from Western Classical, Progressive Rock, and Symphonic rock. The band did not believe in bringing in influence from Indian folk or classical notes as they wanted to keep the ‘rock’ alive in their music.

Talking about the special feel in the songs, Shadrach says, “The lyrics were contributed by friends after we briefed them about the essence of our music. You would come across numerous oxymoronic emotions in our songs. Nafrat itself has a different edge to it; the main emotion is that of hatred out of love.” The album also contains songs which bring out the feeling of anger, depression, loneliness, intensity, love-hate and also god. The instrumental of ‘Talaash’ is extremely fascinating and so is the song,

‘Masoomiyat’.

Usually, in a rock performance, the audience loves it when cover versions are sung because they can take pleasure of singing along. But Taksha makes it a point to perform only original compositions and it still has been successful in drawing a great response. The band has just returned from a successful tour from Bangalore. “The most important thing to keep the magic going amongst the audience is performing live regularly”, says Anjani with 10 years of experience performing live. Unfortunately, he says there is not much of a music festival culture in India, although rock is mainly promoted through big college events like Strawberry Fields in NLS, Bangalore or Deepwoods Fest of Madras Christian College. These fests provide the much needed platform for upcoming bands to present their talents.

Discussing about music as a fulltime career, Anjani says, “Rock as a genre has not been a part of mainstream music for a long time, although with movies like ‘Rock On’, rock is gradually entering and making it big in the mainstream. We have been playing music for 10 years now, and I can’t recollect a better time for our kind of music than now in the country”. Talented musicians today are finding their way to the top without being patronized. Although, sales through cassettes and CDs is disappearing overtaken by new media like the internet and mobile ringtones, and the members of the band feel that this is going to take them higher for sure. The band is presently in the process of composing their second album and promises its release at the earliest. My advice is, watch out for Taksha, the next big thing from our city of Hyderabad.

Factfile:
Masoomaiyat live – http://www.youtube.com/watch
Bekhauf music video – http://www.youtube.com/watch
Fan pages – facebook.com/Takshamusic
myspace.com/takshamusic

Expanding Your Family? Plan Ahead by Taking These 7 Financial Steps

Caleidoscope

July 7, 2010

Expanding an individual’s family can be a joyous time; however, it can also cause them to worry substantially about how they are going to cover the additional expense. In India, many families are expanding due to the improvement in economic conditions and the rise of the middle class. From this boom, families are considering ways to finance additional children while still achieving their investment goals. If you are considering expanding your family in India, review the information below:

7 Important Financial Steps to Take If You Are Expanding Your Family

Consider these seven important financial steps to ensure you can afford to have another child in India with ease:

Commence a Savings Plan

If you are considering expanding your family, then it is important to find the right savings plan for you. A child savings plan is a great way to allocate resources aside to anticipate for the additional expense that a new child will give you in INR. Some examples of this are for hospital bills, educational, or general living expenses that you will be responsible for in the short, medium, and long-term.

Know Your Employer’s Health Insurance

Depending on where you work, it is possible that you will have some health insurance benefits. Read these benefits carefully to see what amount of capital you will need to cover on your own and which amount will be covered by your insurance.

Pre-Delivery Planning

Having a baby is expensive regardless of where you are in the world. Make sure you budget money to pay for any doctor visits and the actual day you are giving birth so that you have enough capital to have the best care possible.

Allocate Your Projected Post-Birth Expenses

It is important to figure out what your additional costs will be. Once you do so, you will be able to establish target goals for your investments and achieve them.

Consider 5-Year Investment Plans

Given that not all of the expenses that children cause occur right away, establishing a 5-year investment plan is a wonderful idea in India.

Consider Investing in Real Estate

If you are able to afford real estate, it is wise to buy your apartment so that you know that your rent will be covered. Later on, as you become more successful, you will then have a secondary source of income that will be beneficial to your expenses.

Set Aside an Emergency Fund

Regardless of what you will be budgeting to cover the cost of having a baby, it is important to have an emergency fund that is separate to be sure you are never without funds.

Final Remarks

Having a child is an exciting time in a family’s life. It is important to be sure that your family is ready for the additional expenses so that your child has the best possible upbringing possible. By planning well, you will be able to have success raising your child in the coming years with ease.

Assessing Your Needs: 7 Tips for Choosing the Best Credit Card

Caleidoscope

June 23, 2010

Choosing the Best Credit Card — Image – Pixabay

If you are in the market for a new credit card, you have plenty to choose from and they all have slightly different features. As you shop around, it’s a good idea to evaluate your needs and pick a credit card that fits your budget and offers some rewards.

The best credit cards do not just have bonuses and rewards that you get when you open an account. They have features that provide rewards long after you’ve made your first purchase. Some Indian credit cards, like Buzz Credit Card, offer rewards for money you spend and for milestones you reach along the way.

These are some tips for choosing the best credit card to meet your needs:

1. Changeable payment date

This might not seem like the most important feature of a credit card, but if the date the credit card company chooses for you doesn’t work, then changing the date can save you money. If you cannot make a payment by the date that the company chose, you could end up with late payment charges. But, if you can change it, you will not have to pay late fees.

2. Annual fees

Annual fees can be excessive for some credit cards. As you are already paying interest, you don’t want to pay extra rupees each year just to keep the card. It is difficult to find a card without an annual fee, so find one with a small one.

3. Signup bonus

When you sign up with some cards, you get an immediate bonus. In some cases, you have to spend a certain amount of rupees before the award is given, but some cards give you an immediately welcome gift, like a gift card, a voucher, or a discount. When looking for a card with a signup bonus, find one that will fit your shopping needs.

4. Co-branded cards

Co-branded cards can be helpful if you shop in the same place regularly. If you use a co-branded card, you can get bonus points that you can use at the shop. Usually, you get extra points if you shop at the co-branded store, but if you shop elsewhere, you do not get the same number of points.

5. Easy payment options

Being able to make a payment is important for keeping your credit card under control. If you cannot make a payment at a convenient spot or through an ATM, then it might not be the right card for you.

6. Conversions to EMIs

Another helpful tool in Indian credit cards are conversions to EMI, especially when you buy something expensive, like electronics. Making equal monthly installments lets you pay off your balances quickly.

7. Simple fee chart

The last feature to check is the fee chart. Hopefully, it is easy to read and there aren’t many fees, especially for things like mobile alerts and replacement cards.

Earning Extra Cash as an Uber Driver

Caleidoscope

June 19, 2010

Uber, and other ride hailing apps, have revolutionised the way we get taxis. According to their publicity, it’s really easy to set yourself up as an Uber driver and start earning extra money. But is this really the case?

Basic Personal Criteria

Although it’s true that most people will be able to start the application process, there are a few restrictions. UK Uber drivers must be over the age of 21, and have a full UK driving licence. As rules about taxi licences vary around the UK, some areas may also specify a minimum number of years driving experience too.

Private Hire Licence

Uber doesn’t actually licence its own drivers. People wishing to pick up work through these sorts of apps must go through the process of applying for a private hire licence like any other taxi driver. The process varies by location but could involve any of the following:

Extended driving test
English language test
Local area knowledge test
Enhanced DBS check
Safeguarding training

Individual applicants meet the cost for all of these checks and tests. Once issued, a private hire licence usually lasts for three years. In many areas, there is a backlog of people waiting for approval as a private hire driver. DBS checks take time to process, as does getting an appointment to take tests. Setting up as a driver isn’t something you can do in a few hours and get straight out onto the roads. It’s therefore perhaps not the best choice for anyone who needs an additional source of income quickly.

Car Checks

As well as checking out the drivers, cars have to meet certain requirements to get a private hire licence. Councils might set age limits on minicabs, and cars which are being used as taxis need more frequent MOT tests too. The MOT for a taxi isn’t different to the MOT test for any other car, but the tests start when the car is one year old, not three. Again, you’ll pay the costs for roadworthiness tests. Your car will also need four doors, with no commercial branding and with seatbelts fitted for all passengers and the driver. Cars being used as taxis also require specific insurance.

How Does it Work?

Once you have registered as a driver, gone through all the checks and had your car approved, you can start work. Drivers are free to log into apps and work as little or much as they wish. Many drivers are signed up with two or more apps, switching between them to keep busy. Passengers pay up front through the app before getting into the car, so there’s no risk they’ll skip out without paying. However, apps take a percentage of driver earnings, often as much as 25%. Some drivers make a full time wage driving through apps, but more use them as a top-up to other types of work. £15 per hour appears to be the average amount, but remember you’ll have to deduct fuel and other running costs from earnings.

Booking cooking gas without having to leave your house.

Caleidoscope

June 19, 2010

The most important requirement for all people is their meals, and one of the most common methods of preparing warm food is cooking gas. Although there are alternatives like the microwave, wood fires and using biogas, cooking using cooking gas is the most common. In this day and age, cooking gas is also quite common in the vast majority of Indian households which makes it very easy to use.

Why does one create a gas card?

The Government offers subsidies on cooking gas to people who would like to avail of them. Although this is regulated by individual states, the overall rule is that people receive about 12 cylinders a year at a subsidized price and would have to pay the entire price if they would need more above the number.

A gas card allows the gas provider to keep a track of the number of cylinders that an individual has purchased. It also gives the provider directions to people’s houses so they can deliver their cooking gas at their doorsteps. This is usually handled through a vehicle that visits different areas at different times in the week. It allows people to gather their cylinders and wait for their return.

What is the process of getting a gas card?

There are two main documents that need to be attached along with the basic forms. The forms are available at the addresses of the gas provider offices closest to you. Applicants have to attach their address proof and identity proof to receive a gas card. The documentation is handled at their end and people would receive a call informing them that their cards were prepared and that they had to collect them.

The new system allows applicants to handle the entire process online. Other than just going through the forms, they would be able to research their providers, either HP, BP, or Indane, go through their rules and check their delivery schedules, and also find out the best price that they can settle on.

Furthermore, all the details including the forms needed and the supporting documents are mentioned online. This means applicants can download them, fill them out and send them back. It also implies that the website would have someone else on the other end who would handle the running about and make the applicant’s life easier.

In an age where everything is calculated in minutes and seconds, traveling to an office to get forms and then again to submit them is not something that makes much sense. This was one of the reasons why people preferred sidestepping the process. However, with the new system, it makes everything a lot better and way more convenient.

Vasantahabba festival – A Distant Memory!

Levine Lawrence

June 18, 2010

How would you relish a jugalbandi of Taufiq Qureshi on tabla and Niladri Kumar on sitar; or Nirupama and Rajendra’s dazzling display of kathak; delightful Qawwali by Warsi brothers; or an Indo-rock fusion session by Indian Ocean; or listen to the soothing Carnatic classical on Saxophone by Kadri Gopalanath… How would you like it if all these enchanting performances are served free…

While you wonder how such an eclectic collection of artistes can happen, let’s take short ride out of the bustling city of Bangalore. Moving on the Pune-Bangalore highway, you have to take a right turn at the Dasarahalli junction. Then after you cross the Jalahalli airforce station, move towards Hesaraghatta village. Once you cross the Hesaraghatta lake, you should ask directions for Taj Kuteeram hotel. Next to it is the mecca of Indian dance learning, the ‘Nrityagram‘ dance village. Nrityagram used to host an annual national level dance & music festival named ‘Vasantahabba’.

First held in 1990, Vasantahabba was the brainchild of Protima Gauri Bedi, who wanted to create a ‘Woodstock’ festival for classical dance and music in India. It is heart rending to note that today this enchanting event is no more. Dance and music lovers who once flocked every year on the first Saturday of February, rue the loss of this fascinating program has not happened since 2005.

Witnessing Vasantahabba was like an annual pilgrimage for dance and music devotees. They knew it happens on the first week of February every year, heralding the arrival of spring season (‘Vasanta Habba’ literally means spring festival in Kannada). Every year, music aficionados of all hues descended on Bangalore and proceeded towards Nrityagram.

Vasantahabba - The Nrityagram Odissi ensemble
Vasantahabba – The Nrityagram Odissi ensemble

The pilgrimage metaphor fits in fine – just like pilgrims going to Vaishnodevi or Shabarimalai chant ‘Jai mata di’ and ‘Swamiyye Ayyappo’, devotees noisily congregated in hordes to the remote village beyond Hesaraghatta lake. From 1990 to 1999, they would fit inside a cramped amphitheatre to witness a dawn-to-dusk festival. The stage is built like a Greek amphitheatre, with its architecture inspired by Hampi’s ruins. Later during 2001-2004, large TV screens were installed outside for the thousands who could not get inside. They cherished the seeds and soil packets given by the Nritygram Foundation as token of respect. Just like in any temple, the sanctum of stage was revered by the devotees.

Obviously, with such hype about it, you had to reach the venue at least two hours early to get a seat inside the amphitheatre. There was space only for 5,000 people to sit and the 15,000 who would turn up every year, had to manage standing throughout the night at the edge or sit in front of the projector TV screens outside. Fortunately, I and my friends ensured that we always got a seat inside. But in 2003, our gang could not get inside until midnight despite having our privileged press id!

Vasantahabba - Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and his son
Vasantahabba – Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and his son

Dancers and musicians of national and international repute performed on this revered platform. Each artiste was given about an hour to perform and sometimes, the audience request for an encore used to hamper the schedule. I remember in 2001, the Taufiq Qureshi performance went on beyond dawn.

The program schedule of this dawn-to-dusk festival had a typical structure. Just as the crowd settled, the lights would come on along with a reverberating sound of Dollu drums filling the air. Belliappa’s troupe’s Dollu Kunitha drummers would produce a rhythmic and heart thumping beat. Soon, renowned actress Arundhati Nag (affectionately called ‘Aruakka’) would come on stage and introduce the program’s background and the artistes who would perform tonight. The first one by the Nritygram ensemble headed by Surupa Sen would unravel a plethora of performances.

Vasantahabba - Bhangra by Butasingh and team
Vasantahabba – Bhangra by Butasingh and team

So between 6.30pm in the evening to 6.30am on the next day, we could enjoy world class performances of at least 10-12 celebrated artistes. Here is compilation of famous artistes who have performed at Vasantahabba:

Odissi dance – Bijoyini Satpathy
Kathak – Nirupama and Rajendra
Contemporary dance – Astad Deboo
Kalaripayattu and contemporary dance – Daksha Seth and her famous daughter Isha Sharvani
Hindustani classical on guitar – Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and his son
Hindustani and Trance fusion – Taufiq Qureshi on tabla and Niladri Kumar
World music – Raghu Dixit’s band Antaragni
Carnatic classical on Veena – Suma Sudhindra
Carnatic classical on Saxophone – Kadri Gopalanath
Fusion classical– Shubendra on sitar & Saskai on cello
Carnatic vocal – Bombay Jayashri
Qawwali – Warsi brothers
Indo-rock fusion – Indian Ocean

It is obvious that an event of such mega scale cannot be held without the support of large hearted sponsors. The organisers were adamant on keeping the entry free in accordance with Protima Bedi’s vision of popularising dance and music among the masses. Corporate and individual sponsors kept the event alive by funding the artiste fees and event organising costs.

Our gang at Vasantahabba
Our gang at Vasantahabba

Sadly, Vasantahabba has not been held since 2005. The problem first arose when huge relief efforts were undertaken for the Indian Ocean tsunami that happened in December 2004. Many of the corporate sponsors diverted their social responsibility funds to tsunami relief. The event was never held again and Nrityagram later blamed it on the global financial crisis. However, a point to be noted is Bengaluru Habba, another mega cultural festival that happens in the heart of the city, has not suffered a similar fate! Since Nrityagram has not commented on the fate of Vasantahabba, it is assumed that the festival has been scrapped for good.

Now, we can only reminisce the fading memories of Vasantahabba where we friends used to congregate once in a year and feel nostalgic about it!

Checkout our story on Pune’s Vasantotsav in Pune – 10 years of musical excellence

– Fact file –
Organiser – Nritygram Foundation
Place – near Hesaraghatta
ht tp://www.nrityagram.org/contact/contact.htm

– Reference –
http://www.vasantahabba.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasanta_Habba
http://virtualthoughts.org/2010/vasantahabba-will-this-spring-fest-return/

Rushikonda Beach – The Perfect Weekend Getaway

Manasi

June 14, 2010

Have you ever been so rejuvenated that you actually felt like getting back to work on a Monday morning? Life is nothing but a mind blowing experience and our job is just to find those special moments which make it worth living. I found one of those special moments prancing on the golden sands of the Rushikonda Beach with the water tickling my feet!

Rushikonda Beach is considered to be one of the most untouched beaches in Andhra Pradesh. Situated at a distance of about 10 kms from the city of Vishakhapatnam (Vizag), it serves as perfect weekend getaway. We fell in love with the place at the very first glimpse! The road from Vizag which leads to

the beach is extremely scenic with the Ramakrishna beach on one side and the mountain on the other. We arrived at the Haritha Beach Resort in Rushikonda. This resort is well placed on the top of a hill and one can descend to the beach by a flight of stairs. All the rooms at the resort are sea facing with extremely reasonable tariff rates. It has an amazing sea food restaurant known as ‘Off Shores’ right next to it, which also serves as a pub.

The name Rushikonda means ‘Hill of the Sages’, it is named after Saptarshiswaralayam, the temple of Lord Shiva built on the coast by seven sages. The beach is spectacular with patches filled with golden sand on one side and a rocky area on the other. This particular rocky area serves as a perfect spot to witness the sunset in the evening. However, one piece of advice to travellers: never take off your shoes when you are sitting on these rocks, for the water is waiting to steal them away!

Rushikonda Beach Bheemli beach — Bheemli beach, Wikimedia

On our first day at the resort, we decided to explore the place a little. We hired a taxi for the day and our first halt was the Bheemli Beach (Bheemunipatnam), the ideal place for rejuvenation. This beach is extremely serene with the Bay of Bengal reaching out to its coast. The town of Bheemunipatnam has an interesting past; it was a flourishing port established by the Dutch settlers in the 17th Century. Unfortunately, there is no sign of a flourishing port now; all that remains is a Dutch cemetery and a light-house by its coast.
The cemetery was known as ‘Hollander’s Green’ and contains graves with memorial tomb stones of Dutch and English settlers. The most captivating tomb stones are the ones built in a conical shape with Dutch inscriptions. Recently, the local people have built statues of Buddha and the five Pandavas on the beach. A fascinating mermaid sculpture also sits on the rocks by the sea, whose origins are unknown. We spent most of our early morning, playing at this beach and struggling to build a sand castle! There is nothing more mesmerizing than a day at an untouched beach listening to the silent lull of the tides.

Rushikonda-Beach-01 — Morning at Rushikonda Beach – Wikimedia

Our next halt was the well known Ramakrishna Beach near Vizag. This beach has an extremely high ocean current and it is not at all advisable to enter this beach, as it has proven to be fatal in the past. However, one can enjoy these scenic waters by a ship/boat cruise which is conducted every half an hour at a reasonable rate.

Moving on, our next destination was the Kailasgiri Hill Rope Way. A short ride on to this hill gives you a spectacular view of RK Beach and Rushikonda Beach on its either side. It has a children’s play area and a toy train which goes around the hill giving you a breath taking experience of the ‘City of Destiny’.
Once you drive out of Kailasgiri Hill and head towards Rushikonda, you would come across ‘Bay Leaf’, an ayurvedic spa resort. This is an ideal place for all those out there looking for a calm afternoon to unwind. We discovered this place during a search for a restaurant one afternoon.

The food here is very good and holds a personal touch to it. It also has beautiful cottages for a night stay. The spa treatments include chocolate and milk spa ritual, hot stone massage, ayurvedic facial and hair treatment and many more such relaxing treatments for a peaceful mind, body and soul. The overall experience on this particular weekend along with the spa treatments was completely pleasurable.

— Fact-file —

Nearest Town – Vishakhapatnam

Transport – By taxi or local bus from Vishakhapatnam city

Place to stay – Haritha Beach Resort (APTDC), Rushikonda

Other attractions – Borra Caves, Arakku Valley, Matsyadarshini (Aquarium)

Food – sea food, especially prawns

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