Jayanti Mangalaa Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini | Durga Shiva Kshamaa Dhaatri Svaahaa Svadhaa Namosthuthe !

The Coromandel Express chugged slowly into Platform No 8 of the Howrah railway station.It was the month of August 1986 and Durga Puja was still a month away.Ever since Vijaya had made Kolkata her home,she had been actively participating in the neighbourhood Durga Puja every year and she was eagerly waiting for this puja , knowing very well that it could be her last puja as a resident Kolkatan ,for the family was set to migrate and settle down in the south of India the following year.

"Hey that is Hotel Saravana Bhavan on Theyagaraya Road ,Well !! Idlis can come later," I said to myself.. I am right now on flashback mode.I browse the morning papers, the net over a cup of filter coffee,and I can see myself on a narrow long corridored balcony with a shingada in my hand and a cup of tea .

Hey friends "that's my local address twenty eight years back ,and the view from the top.... I can see heads walking front and back ."The noise and the din was music to the ears and the mood always palpable...

YESSSS !!! I am sitting right on Gariahat junction , and I resided in a place so enviable.Rashbehari Avenue is one of the most prestigious and important avenues of Kolkata.A major portion of this road , is Gariahat,the prime shopping and a residential neighbourhood of south Kolkata. 

Rashbehari Avenue falls in the residential neighbourhood of Ballygunge.It was destined and Nayaki considers herself very lucky to have spent her childhood in the heart of a commercial hub in the City Of Joy.The princess lived in Yashoda Bhavan with the finest of sweetmeat shops and saree boutiques such as Adi Dhakeswari Bastralaya and Traders Assembly for neighbours.

She was a teenager when the family had shifted to the new house on the third floor.......a landmark on Gariahat junction.The sprawling balconies overlooked the Gariahat junction.She would roam....wander around.The place was mayhem and she guesses it still is....with people shoving and pushing one another,making a bid for the best buy at the craziest prices and purportedly believing in having clinched the best deal.The hawkers with makeshift shops that crowded the sidewalks were lively men waiting to pounce upon the prospective buyers...and once in, the gullible buyer had no way out.A tactical move on the part of the buyer had the hawkers going, and it just needed a simple bargaining to begin the process.Often the bid started at less than half the price quoted by the paan chewing seller and he would lure the tolerant buyer in his inimitable style of refusing and finally relenting.

It was again that time of the calendar to close all activities and just wander astray and to gorge on Bong sweetmeats and delicacies.The celebrations had begun a whole month ago,exams had been left behind and it was time to splurge ,with new dresses and six yards to be released.

Vijaya had Navrathri celebrations at home and the Pujas came free.That was the double bonanza of being a MadRasKolkatan with a TamBong connection.The pre-puja days were chaotically hectic I remember and I made frequent trips to the Traders and the Dhakeswaris to strike a bargain ."That was a cool buy ,"I would reassure myself and bring home a collection of Tangails,Jamdanis and Dhonekhalis...

Misty eyes camouflage my thinking now.It's nearly three decades since I had been to Kolkata last ,during a Durga puja.Every year as Mahalaya approaches,I become very emotional.I listened to Chandi Path rendered by Shri Birendra Krishna Bhadra today morning at 4AM with a lump in my throat .I was transported back to the good old golden days.The broadcast on Akashvani is vintage and the lyrics brought tears to my eyes.

The planks have descended from the lofts above and the GOLU STEPS have to be arranged today.

I hear the sound of a conch faraway up in the mountains,the grrrrrrrrrowl of the Mahishasur and the clank of the divine weapons .I see Mardhini emerging from behind the clouds and the triumph of good over evil,I see Ganesh,Karthik,Lakshmi ,Saraswathi too and I pray for TIMES NOW to stand still ...............

"Can you hear the sound of the Dhol?" I then reiterate, and ask myself repeatedly......

"Oh ! Not yet ! Though ! what I do seem to hear Is

 MIKE TAYSTING ! MIKE TAYSTING !"........intermittently..........

LIFE LIMPS BACK TO NORMALCY !

The four of us Father,mother,my brother and myself left for Calcutta by Coromandel Express,the very next day.A highly remorse filled uncle had come to see us off at the Chennai Central station.Knowing that both my brother and myself were avid reader of books,he took us to the Higginbotham's stores inside the station premises and purchased story books,left ,right and centre.I just stared in awe as he picked up books and also magazines at random. I still remember fondly,that inspite of my repeated pleas, requesting him not to spend so much on books,he remained defiant and we were overwhelmed.

Unable to express my gratitude in words,as I waved my hand from the moving train,a visibly troubled and shaken uncle was sharing my sentiments.He was trying to control hard but as tears rolled down his cheeks,I was choked with emotion too.That's my dear uncle....he roars but in reality he is tender hearted..

When I think of my golden bygone days, as I recollect now, I remember a few articles…..simple products that we used everyday in the sixtys and the seventys. I remember scented erasers topped with a strip of translucent green and a cheaper eraser called the Sandow. The long pencil with a small plastic hand with sharp fingers at the end was grandpa’s favourite.I remember the slate and the slim chalk pieces that screeched on writing .The teachers used the fatter ones in school ,we carried broken chalk pieces in our pockets and it was a pleasure to write on the black boards and erase using the dusty duster....We waited for the teacher to give us a chance to write on the blackboard and those who were denied an opportunity during the class hours ,made up for it when a teacher was absent,during breaks, in between the periods or after school hours.....That was Fun Unlimited....

“Good Morning Miss !” we screamed in unision. Mrs Narayanan,the chemistry teacher hurriedly reached out to the new wooden box and pulled out a white chalk.As she started writing on the blackboard ,we screamed yet again…”Maam ! It screeches.” Aah ! an ear sore…Please break it and use it “….the girls shouted in one voice.”That is an unforgettable moment of school life for all of us…Am I right ? “By the end of the day,the box was empty and chalk pieces, red. green, blue and white lay strewn on a powdery floor. The following day would be no different , for we did not care to stay quiet but Maam was set to rule thereafter.

Life was bubbly and carefree.Lifebuoy was the soap I washed my hands with . Hamam ,Margo or Cinthol were the bars to bathe with ,except for people with aspirations, who bought Moti, a fat round of soap ,too large for my small hands . Pears was a luxury and any household that routinely used Pears was a home that also bought Kissan jam,Kissan orange squash, Kissan Ketchup ,where the children went to convent schools and owned complete sets of the Amar Chitra Katha comics and the Enid Blyton series....

While the Dove has flown in today ,we still have the Chandrika and the Mysore Sandal loyalists.The sandalwood soap that was considered a luxury still reigns over millions of hearts .Chandrika continues to be a hot favourite for some and has stood firm ground...that it foams and dissappears soon is a reality even today. Surf came in a cardboard box ,in a sky blue colour and did not boast of breathing oxygen into the clothes.Tinopal and Ranipal were the only whiteners to stay on for a long time in the markets....till Ujala and more recently Vanish entered the markets.Vicco and Dabur are a few names that still hold sway.The Vicco and Boroline ad jingles are popular even today.

Nearly everybody used Colgate and that hasn't changed, but for a while Binaca  was a real contender and most of us know that Binaca sponsored the Radio Ceylon programmes "The Binaca Hit Parade" and later , film songs “ Binaca Geet Mala.”There was a short-lived star in the toothpaste arena, called Signal, which came in white and red stripes. Forhans and Kolinos were very popular too and the Dabur Red is my favourite today.

Talking of Binaca ,also brings to my mind,memories of a baritone Mr Ameen Sayani…He was probably the heartthrob of many till Amitabh Bacchhan and later Tejeshwar Singh  hit the screens....one reigned over tinseldom and the other shined on the small screen.Tabassum was a favourite too with her Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan on DD and Monday nights I was hooked to S.Kumar’s kee Filmi Mukadhama on VividhBharati.A trip to the movie theatre was incomplete.if we missed out on the news reel at the beginning and the national anthem at the end….

We have come a long way since my childhood days and the marketing mantra is  important to advertise the innumerable products .Ponds & Cuticura have also managed to survive the onslaught of talcum powders.Tooth powders were a craze too……The senior citizens and even my Chandru uncle sweared by the Bandhar chaap danth manjan.......though my mother still maintains that there can be no substitute for the faithful neem bark,the nut meg ,shikakai,milk cream, natural sandal,honey and perfumed turmeric to enhance ones beauty......

The train was just entering into Vijayawada station and I was fast asleep on the upper berth.As my father called out saying...."Nayaki...We are in the Vijaywada station.Would'nt you like to get down and grab some Kondapalli toys,my dear ? "...Sleepy faced but absolutely delighted ,I jumped down much to the amazement of the fellow passengers.......

GREEN CARD CANCELLED !

Anxiety gripped a worried Viji and a concerned aunt Sukanya as they waited for the boy's mother.Having finished off with the morning chores ,they confided in each other and were rehearsing a mock conversation,pondering on what to talk,what not to say and how to react to any statement not to their liking...Radha was pretty much amused....

At around 11AM ,the beaming grand short and stout woman made an entry.As she entered ,she was all smiles and handed over flowers and  a basket of fruits to Viji.Sukanya escorted her to the living room and offered her a glass of water.As they settled down, Chandru, Subbu and Radha were called in to join the conversation.

From the very outset she appeared to be  business like and forthright in expressing her views.Without wasting a single moment she got down to the main topic and began thus...

"We like your daughter and as we have already stated earlier,since my son has to leave for the USA we request you to make arrangements for the wedding as early as possible.As you know,my husband works as a part time accountant in several firms as and when jobs are available,We have come up the very hard way and all the three children are still pursuing their education.I wish to be frank with you.My son is pursuing higher studies in the USA without aid.He works part time for his sustenance.He is currently in the USA on a student visa and his education is being funded by a bank loan with a benevolent benefactor as a guarantor. The loan conditions also stipulate holding a designated fixed amount as bank balance for  the entire period of his education , as proof of being financially sound.Our financial status is not hidden from you and though we are against acceptance of dowry in any form,we expect the family of the girl to support him entirely."

Even before she could continue and elaborate on the sum required,and how he has been managing so far,interrupting her,Chandru chipped in and said in his usual authoritative tone.....Well ! If that be the case,I am sorry to say we are unable to proceed further.I understand that your son is meritorious and we wish him a very bright future.Well ! my advice would be,in the present scenario,instead of burdening him with additional responsibilities,it would be best in his interests to complete his studies,settle down and then get married.Since you also have a daughter in her final year of graduation you may wish to see her married too, in which case and and in all probability the onus of providing the wherewithal then, also rests on your son's shoulders.Your younger boy is still in school and as a duty bound son,your eldest son will also strive hard  to raise the standard of the family as a whole.My niece is very precious to me and though she has been brought up with values of compassion and service,it would be highly unfair on my part if I become the reason for transfer of your son's responsibilities on her young shoulders...

The woman was rendered speechless.She or for that matter the others present did not expect such a blunt and sudden retort from Chandru..

In a suddent twist to the tale,the uncle had emerged from being a matchmaker to becoming the matchbreaker.Heaving a sigh of relief and appreciating the mother for being so frank,he laughed heartily and said....MAMI...ENGALODA SAPPIDA UKARUNGO...SUKANYA THATTA PODU MA.....

As Chandru and family bid adieu to the woman for good, Viji had several questions in their mind.Was she really honest in her outpourings ? Was the family and the boy genuine ? Brushing aside the entire incident as a bad dream,Subbu set off for Calcutta with renewed hopes .radha was not aware of what the future held in store for her ........but radha, a couple of years later as a Shrimati was destined to bump into the Resident Mandaiveli Indian family yet again,  in 1989......

GREEN CARD - PART V !

The four parted ways and with a book in my hand ,I slipped away quietly into one of the balconies ,overlooking a well maintained lawn within the Income Tax/Central Excise/Customs Residential quarters campus on Nungambakkam high Road.

The Aaykar Bhavan complex on Nungambakkam high road houses the offices of Income Tax,Customs and the Central Excise.Uncle was serving in Chennai at that time and he was residing in a Type V government accomodation within the same campus.

Availing the time in hand and seizing the opportunity to meet his colleagues and friends at Aaykar Bhavan which was just a stone 's throw away,my father reached out to the hanger in the wardrobe, and pulled out the same shirt that he had worn the previous day.In order to avoid any further confrontation with my uncle,hurriedly buttoned up his shirt and as he stepped out of the house,called out to my mother just to inform her that he would be back home by lunch time.

In the meantime the aroma of the shallot sambhar and the Mysore rasam had managed to cool down an irate Chandru.As he was getting ready for work , the telephone bell rang ,he picked it up and spoke in his own inimitable style....

HYELLLLLO !!!!!! G O O DD !!!!!! M O R NN I N G!!!!!! ! THISSS  ISSSSS CHANDRAMOUUUUULEEEEE !!!!!

Please note that I have stressed on his accent and the punctuation for the pause , he takes ,between words while speaking .Like our own Vajpayee Jee ,he blinks,shuts his eyes,opens them ,perhaps thinks,rehearses in the mind and then speaks slow,loud and clear.

The voice at the other end must have replied in Thamizh.He was quick to respond...

NAMASSSSSKAAAAARAMS ! !!!!!!!!!!

SOLLLLLLLUNGGGGO !!!!!!!!!!YEPPO VARRRREL ?

A worried mother ,was uttering the name of the Lord in whispers in the adjacent puja room.Even as she recited the hymns, her ears were glued to the telephone conversation and she was well aware that it was the mother of the boy at the other end...

VANGO VANGO ! NANGO UNGALLAI AAVALUDDAN ETHIRPAARTHINDIRUUKKOM....(Please come .We are expecting you eagerly.)

Hearing this,my mother almost fainted,even as a determined aunt came to her rescue...saying..."Let the lady come.If she is coming alone as my dear husband  says,I am certain that there is more to this than meets the eye and your innocent brother- in- law, I am sad to say dear Manni, has not able to read her mind.".............

GREEN CARD...PART IV

As morning dawned, a sleepy faced mother ,pondering on what was still left in store in the alliance drama,was trying to come to terms with the present situation.My mother unlike her seemingly meek and docile appearance is a very strong woman.If anybody could confront my uncle ,it was only her.She can be equally adamant and stubborn, if she wishes and can penalise people around her with her silence . A strong willed lady,over the years ,she has earned the admiration and respect of my uncle in a way, that he holds her in high esteem today..

My uncle is a good facilitator,a great friend and above all  a supportive husband.He held high positions in the IRS and is a down to earth person.An early riser ,he would always lend a helping hand in the household chores also.He still loves to do the sweeping,mopping and the odd cleaning jobs. Chandru a firm believer, that work is worship and that hard work alone can earn rich dividends  , has never employed a household helper all his life.

It was breakfast time and as the daily practice,aunt placed the bread ,cheese,butter, jam and veggies ........onions ,tomatoes and cucumber on the dining table .Then uncle took over,helped himself to a sandwich and the rest of us followed suit.Each one of us was given the freedom to prepare our own breakfast and when done,a kindhearted Uncle did the entire cleaning...

A voracious reader ,he read three newspapers everyday.In between the innumerable phone calls that he would attend,in the morning hours, he would also cut vegetables and decide on the menu.Here, it was again that moment of the day ,when he would suddenly turn into an oppressive despot and all hands and legs would start working silently...

As he browsed the morning paper on that day,with a tone of authority, he informed us that the mother of the boy would be coming home in the afternoon.Still in a state of shock ,disbelief,and unable to think with a calm state of mind,the three.......my father, mother and aunt stood speechless.Unhappy with their reaction,and reiterating that although all aspects have to be taken into consideration ,while fixing a match , prima facie , education and character have to be taken into account first , and when one is convinced of the genuineness of both , the rest can be ignored..

However , my mother did not concur with his views entirely, expressed her opinion vehemently  like never before and emphasised on the need for a financially sound family background first and foremost .As we listened to her in rapt attention,I was in awe of my mother ,the others must have been impressed too.My uncle was yet to come down from his pedestal and in a moment of rage , a furious Chandru blew his top and the four were silenced......

GREEN CARD UNDER SCRUTINY -Part III

A highly reluctant and shaken mother,escorted by my father ,accompanied by my uncle and aunt left home at 6PM. My mother is by nature a very sentimental woman and she was extremely superstitious in those days.Over the years,she has changed considerably,and citing her grandchildren as reason for her transformation ,she has willingly compromised on some of her rigid beliefs and customs.A highly diplomatic woman,since her life now revolves around her grandchildren ,cleverly she has adapted herself to suit the needs of the fast and the texting new generation.From a strict mother she has evolved into an atrociously lenient grandmother who is bent on satisfying the young brats...

Nevertheless,since word had been given to the parents of the boy,my mother agreed to pay a visit to their home.That my mother was disinterested ,was clearly evident in her long drawn out face and unlike even normal days when she is usually prim and properly dressed,on that particular evening she presented a grim picture of herself....a trait she can slip into sometimes even today...

On the way they bought fruits,flowers ,sweets and other items including coconut and manjal kumkumam for the Vettrillai paaku as per the customary practice.Uncle was in no mood to relent to the mood of my mother and had admonished her for not being cheerful.Picking up courage to appear normal,she had accompanied them..

The family of the boy lived in Mandaiveli.Earlier in the day,my uncle had obtained the address and the directions from the boy's father and the travelling distance was only a few kms from Nungambakkam to Mandaiveli...

As they approached Mandaiveli ,the boy's father was waiting near a designated landmark on his two wheeler.The car followed him into the bylanes of Mandaiveli..Winding their way through small lanes and bylanes,enroute the market area in Mandaiveli,they reached the boy's house...

Already in a state of dissent and dissatisfaction,my mother's worst fears appeared to be coming true and the others including my uncle were in for a rude shock.The locality resembled a chawl and the family of five lived in a one room kitchen unit on the second floor.A narrow staircase lead the four to the second floor and as they walked along the dim lit corridor ,the scenes of open doors, men ,women and children loitering around ,hanging clothes,the common dirty passageways and the din was appaling...

The family was indeed coming up the hard way.Mr Ramani was a meritorious student and had passed out from the prestigious Anna University.That they did not hide their status was appreciable and yet disconcerting too.They were courteous and had offered sweets,snacks and coffee.After spending an hour or so,my parents returned home with a new story for me.

We grew up the hard way too.Dilapidated,yet ours was an independent flat at Kolkata .That was the story of the sixtys and the early seventys.By the late seventys we had moved into a comfortable and spacious accomodation .So adapting now to this kind of a habitat even temporarily was unthinkable..

As far as my parents and aunt were concerned,there was no point in moving further and the match had to be called off.On the other hand,shaken but firmly holding ground ,Chandru was trying hard to make the other three still see reason to continue.

The mother of the boy had offered to come again the next day and the bewildered foursome had no other option but to say YES....

The Green Card- Part II

Chandru was adamant.He would not tolerate the sobbing and the cribbing. He was highly impressed with the education credentials, the behaviour of the boy and that was it.The wails of a concerned mother fell on deaf ears.Brushing aside my mother's opinion as foolish maternal sentiments,he urged my father to proceed into the matter.

The Subbu family had a loving patriarch in Subbu and a stern Hitler in Chandru.Chandru was a man with a hard exterior but a tender interior.One has to live with him to comprehend his goodness.Contrary to the stern appearance and the rough behaviour that his personality exudes ,he is a man with a  heart.I have always wondered why he is always frowning and I am still searching for answers.

The octagenarian ,who retired as Director of Customs,is a self made man, an active bridge player even today and was a regular columnist in various newspapers till a few years back.He succumbed to love quite easily and Nayaki was the apple of his eye.He had aspirations and dreams for her just like a father and showered her with love and affection, albeit in his own strict distinct style..

The conflicts usually arose when somebody dared to defy him.He always had the welfare of the family in mind and took the major and minor decisions.In order to maintain decorum within the four walls and knowing that he was a true well wisher,all of us abided and obeyed him blindly without a slightest sigh or a complaint.Lest he opens the third eye,we acted in accordance to his wishes and tried our best not to give him any opportunity to lose his cool....

It was a similar situation on that fateful day in 1986.Fearing his rage,we kept mum.Mother and myself huddled up at night and also confided in each other.Mother was not happy.Call it the maternal instinct or the seventh sense,something did not augur well for her.She was forthright in expressing her displeasure in proceeding with the alliance and I could sense that she was feeling rather insecure..

My mother did not sleep a wink that night.Neither did I.I kept pondering over why I was not able to come to a conclusion.He was good mannered ,well educated and good looking.Yet ! something was also stopping me in expressing my like for the boy and the willingness to get married to him. Teary eyed my mother asked me ,"Do you know the story of 47 Natkal? "I nodded " Yes,I do Manni." That story haunts me she had told me that night.....Incidentally,let me tell you I address my parents as Anna and Manni

The next morning,Chandru was up,highly eager to go and meet the parents of the boy.He called up the father and informed him that the four of them ,my father,mother,uncle and aunt would like to meet him formally at their house at any time convenient for them...

The father of the boy readily agreed and I clearly remember it was a Sunday and my parents were invited to their place either before 4.30PM or after 6PM......