श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितप्रश्नोत्तरमालिका शिक्षा च (5/3/2026 तमे दिनाङ्के प्रवृत्तायां अध्यापकवाक्यार्थसभायां प्रस्तुतः विषयः)

 

श्रीशङ्कराचार्यविरचितप्रश्नोत्तरमालिका शिक्षा च

उपोद्घातः

शिक्षा मानवस्य निर्मात्री अस्ति । कथम् ? सर्वाङ्गिकविकाससम्पादनमुखेन । स एव शिक्षित इत्युच्यते यः न केवलं पाठ्यपुस्तकस्थं विषयं जानाति, अपि तु अवगतानि तत्त्वानि अनुतिष्ठति । अत एव आचार्यलक्षणम् इत्थम् उक्तम् –

आचिनोति च शास्त्रार्थान् आचारे स्थापयत्यपि ।

स्वयमाचरते च यस्तु आचार्य इति कथ्यते ॥ इति ।

 बौद्धिकविकासमात्रं शिक्षायाः लक्ष्यं नास्ति ।  निर्दिष्टशास्त्रस्य अध्ययनमात्रं जनं शिक्षितं न करोति । अधीतनानाशास्त्राः बहवः अशिक्षिता इव व्यहरन्तः लोके दृश्यन्ते । मानवव्यवहारे समुचितपरिवर्तनमेव शिक्षायाः लक्ष्यमिति आधुनिकाः व्यवहारवादिनः ब्रुवन्ति ।

अस्मन्मनीषिणः ब्रुवन्ति यत् “साक्षरा विपरीताश्चेत् राक्षसा एव केवलम्” इति  अत्र उपलक्षणम् । कस्य उपलक्षणम् ?  हृदयविहीन-चारित्र्यहीनवैदुष्यस्य ।  अत एव भर्तृहरिर्वदति –

वृत्तं यत्नेन संरक्षेत् - - - -  वृत्ततस्तु हतो हतः ॥

इत्थं बौद्धिकविकासेन सह चारित्र्यादिविकासः शिक्षया साधनीयः इति तात्पर्यतः आयाति । तदर्थं अस्माकं शिक्षाव्यवस्थायां तादृशाः विषयाः अपि चर्चनीयाः, चिन्तनीयाः येषाम् माध्यमेन व्यक्तित्वस्य अन्यविधविकासः जायेत । अतः तद्दिशि व्यक्तित्वविकासापेक्षितगुणानां विवेचनाय अत्र प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका इति ग्रन्थः उपायुञ्जि ।

प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका

भगवत्पादाः आदिशङ्कराचार्याः नित्यानित्यवस्तुविवेकादिगुणैः ब्रह्म जिज्ञासितुम् अधिकृतानां निमित्तं प्रस्थानत्रयभाष्यं विलिख्य पुनः तदितरान् लोकान् उद्धर्तुं स्तोत्रादिग्रन्थान् प्रणिन्युः येषां मध्ये प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका अन्यतमः ग्रन्थः वर्तते ।  प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिकायाम् आचार्यशङ्करभगवत्पादाः मानवस्य पूर्णतः मानवत्वं साधयितुम् अपेक्षितानां गुणानां विचारं प्रश्नोत्तरमाध्यमेन प्रतिपादयामासुः । तदीयवचनानुगुणं  दृष्टादृष्टार्थसाधनपटीयान् प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिकां हृदि कुर्यात् । दृष्टादृष्टार्थसाधनपटीयान् इत्युक्ते कः ? यः आत्मनः इहपरयोः श्रेयः सिसाधयिषति सः दृष्टादृष्टार्थसाधनपटीयान् ।

प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका केवलं शिक्षार्थिनं न परिवर्तयति, अपि तु शिक्षकमपि । बहवो हि शिक्षकाः मन्यन्ते यत् – वयं छात्रान् उपदेशेन परिवर्तयिष्यामः इति । वस्तुतः परिवर्तनीयाः सन्ति न केवलं छात्राः, अपि तु शिक्षकाः अपि ।

प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका  शिक्षा च

इत्थं शिक्षछात्रयोः उभयोरपि व्यक्तित्वं परिष्कर्तुं प्रश्नोत्तररत्नमालिका विचारणीया । अत्र  आचार्याः शङ्करभगवत्पादाः आदावेव गुरोः लक्षणं प्रतिपादयमासुः ।

को गुरुः अधिगततत्त्वः शिष्यहितायोद्यतः सततम् ॥२॥

इदं पद्यं गुरोः स्वरूपं वर्णयति । गुरुः शिष्यहिताय तदीयविकासाय वा अध्याप्यग्रन्थसम्बद्धतया  बहून् विषयान् जानीयात् इति विद्मः । तदर्थं आचार्यभगवत्पादाः अधिगतत्वः इति पदं प्रायुञ्जत । तावता गुरोः गुरुत्वं न सेत्स्यति इति मन्वानां अन्यदेकं विशेषणं न्यवेशयन् शिष्यहिताय उद्यतः सततम् इति । गुरुः शिष्यम् अध्याप्य स्वीयं कर्तव्यजातं सम्म्पन्नमिति विरन्तुम् नार्हति । सः शिष्यहिताय सततं प्रवृत्तः स्यात् इति ते ब्रुवन्ति । “आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते” इति वचनानुगुणम् आचार्यः शिष्याय पादमात्रम् अनुग्रहीष्यति चेदलम् इति न मन्तव्यम् । अतः भगवत्पादाः कथयन्ति -स एव गुरुः यः बोध्यान् सर्वान् विषयान् सुष्ठु जनानः शिष्यस्य हितार्थं सततं परिश्राम्यति इति ।

कः शुचिरिह ? यस्य मानसं शुद्धम् ।

वयं लोके बहुत्र अशुचिविषये अनुभूतवन्तः स्मः । खेदस्य विषयो नाम यावन्तः अशुचिविषये प्रबलं प्रतिपादयन्ति तेषु अधिकाधिकाः स्वयमशुचयः एव । वस्त्रेण वपुषा वा अशुचयः न स्युः कदाचित् । किन्तु वाचा मनसा वा अशुचयः भवन्ति । यतो हि वाचा मनसा च शुचयः अतिविरलतया भवन्ति लोके । तत्रापि केचन वाचा कापट्येन शुचित्वं प्रदर्शयन्ति । किन्तु  पुरतः शुचयः इव प्रतीयमानाः अन्तरङ्गे विपरीता भवन्ति । अत एव अत्र भगवत्पादाः प्रत्यपीपदन् यत् - कः शुचिरिह ? यस्य मानसं शुद्धम् इति । “शुचिर्वाक्कायमानसैः” कायेन वाचा मनसा च शुचिः भवेत् । मनसा शुचिः भवति चेत् अवश्यं वाचा वपुषा वस्त्रेण च शुचिः भवत्येव ।

कः पण्डितो ? विवेकी…. ॥४॥ ।

भगवत्पादाः कथयन्ति – विवेकी एव पण्डितः इति । पण्डा अस्य अस्ति इति पण्डितः । पण्डा इत्युक्ते आत्मविषयकं ज्ञानम् । नित्यानित्ययोः सत्यानृतयोः ज्ञानाज्ञानयोः भेदज्ञानं यस्य अस्ति स एव पण्डितः । वैदुष्येन पण्डितः न भवति । वैदुष्येन विद्वान् भवति । सर्वोऽपि विद्वान् विवेकी भवति इति नास्ति । नित्यानित्ययोः भेदज्ञानं, सत्यानृतयोः वा भेदज्ञानं नाम किम् ? येन भेदज्ञानेन विवेकी इति प्रकीर्त्या पण्डितः इति व्यवह्रियते ।

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः इति वेदान्तदिण्डिमः । ब्रह्म तु स्यान्नाम सत्यम् । किन्तु अयं पुरतः परिदृश्यमानः सत्यत्वेन अनुभूयमानः प्रपञ्चः मिथ्या इत्युच्यते कथम् ? इति बहूनां सन्देहः । आचार्यभगवत्पादाः कथयन्ति असत्यम् इत्युक्ते सर्वथा अविद्यमानं तत्वं नास्ति । असत्यं मिथ्या इत्युच्यते । मिथ्या नाम सदसद्भिन्नं तत्त्वम् इति प्राथमिकं मिथ्यात्वलक्षणम् वर्तते । सत् इत्युक्ते त्रिकालाबाध्यं तत्त्वम् । भूतभविष्यद्वर्तमानेषु कालेषु यत् तत्त्वं स्वस्वरूपेणैव तिष्ठति तत् सत् इत्युच्यते । ब्रह्म सत्पदार्थः अस्ति । तत् ब्रह्म त्रिषु अपि कालेषु न व्यभिचरति । प्रपञ्चः सत्यत्वेन वर्तमानकाले प्रतीयते चेदपि भूतकाले सदा आसीद् इति वक्तुं न शक्यते । यतो ह अयं प्रपञ्चः सृष्टः अस्ति । सृष्टेः प्राक् अयं प्रपञ्चः अनेन रूपेण नासीत् । भविष्यत्काले अनेनैवरूपेण स्थास्यति इति निश्चयो नास्ति ।यतो हि नित्यं परिवर्तनशीलोऽयं प्रपञ्चः । अपि च कदाचित् अस्य प्रपञ्चस्य प्रलयः भविष्यति । अतः अयं प्रपञ्चः सत्पदार्थो न ।  यत् तत्वं त्रिषु अपि कालेषु अविद्यमानं भवति तत् असत् इत्युच्यते, यथा शशविषाणम्, अथवा खपुष्पम् । किन्तु अयं प्रपञ्चः वर्तनामे सत्यत्वेन अनुभूयते । अतः खपुष्पवत् असत् अपि नास्ति ब्रह्म इव त्रिकालाबाध्यं सत् अपि नास्ति । इत्युक्ते सदस्द्भिन्नम् अस्ति । लोकाः तावत् मिथ्या इत्युक्ते असत् इति मन्यन्ते । वस्तुतः मिथ्या इत्यस्य अभिप्रायः असत् इति नास्ति, प्रत्युत सदसद्भिन्नम् इत्यभिप्रायः ।

इत्थं विद्यमानं सत्यानृतयोः भेदं यः जानाति सः विवेकी इत्युच्यते । तच्च भेदज्ञानं वाचा ज्ञातं चेत् विवेकः इति नोच्यते शास्त्रज्ञैः । अनुभवेन सदसद्विवेकः यः भवति स एव विवेकः इत्युच्यते । यतो हि वाक् ब्रह्मस्वरूपं ज्ञापयितुम् असमर्था अस्ति, “यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते अप्राप्य मनसा सह” इति श्रुतेः ।  तथापि लोके सत्यानृतयोः भेदज्ञानमिव युक्तायुक्त-उचतानुचतादिभेदज्ञानमपि विवेक इति व्यवह्रियते । अनया दृष्ट्या पण्डितः इत्युक्ते उचितानुचितादिभेदज्ञानवान् विवेकी इति मन्तव्यम् ।

को वैरी ? यस्त्वनुद्योगः ॥६॥

अलसः सन् यः अकर्मण्यस्तिष्ठति सः समाजस्य शत्रुः भवति । यतः बाह्यः शत्रुः कस्मिन्नपि कालविशेषे एव हानिं जनयति । किन्तु अनुद्योगी नित्यम् हानिं जनयति ।  अतः “कुर्वन्नेवेह कर्माणि जिजीविषेच्छतं समाः” इत्युपनिषद्वाक्यवत् कार्यं कुर्वन्नेव जीवितुम् इच्छेत् मानवः । लोके अधीतविद्याः सर्वेऽपि स्वयमुद्योगिनः न भवन्ति । कश्चन उद्योगं दद्यात् तदैव प्रवृत्तिः जयते । अत एव सर्वकारः व्यावसायिकीं शिक्षां पर्यकल्पयत् येन अध्ययनानुक्षणं लोकाः उद्योगिनः सञ्जायेरन् ।

किं जाड्यम् ? पाठतोऽप्यनभ्यासः ॥१०॥

पठनात्परं अभ्यासः कर्तव्यः, अधीतस्य ज्ञानस्य व्यवहारे उपयोगः इत्यपि अभ्यास इत्यस्य अभिप्रायः अस्ति । तत्र आलस्यं न स्यात् । अत एव वेदाः उपदिशन्ति – “स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः” इति, आचार्यभगवत्पादाः च “वेदो नित्यमधीयताम्, तदुदितं कर्म स्वनुष्ठीयताम्” इत्युपदिदिशुः । अद्यत्वे स्वाध्यायः तदुदितकर्मानुष्ठानं अस्तां तावत्, नित्यकर्म सन्ध्यावन्दनमपि कष्टाय कल्पते । युवानस्तु “सन्ध्यावन्दनमाचरन्ति विभुधाः .....” इत्युक्त्वा उत्तरार्धे एव निलीनमानसाः भवन्ति ।  “आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः” इति सुभाषितकाराः वदन्ति ।

कोऽनर्थफलो ? मानः,

अत्र मानः इत्युक्ते दुरभिमान इत्यर्थः । अहङ्कार इत्यर्थः । दम्भदर्पादयः दुरभिमानस्य परिणामाः सन्ति ।  दुरभिमानः अनर्थम्  दुष्परिणामं जनयति । आत्मनः विषये अयथार्थप्रत्ययः अथवा यथार्थादधिकः प्रत्ययः दुरभिमानः इत्युच्यते ।  दुरभिमानी स्वसामर्थ्यादधिकं मानं वाञ्छति । तदलाभे क्रुध्यति । क्रोधात् किं भवतीति भगवद्गीतायां इत्थम् उक्तम् - क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः.... इति । “कामः क्रोधः  लोभः च नरकस्य द्वारम् इत्युक्त्वा  “तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्” इति भगवद्गीता अस्मान् उपदिशति । अपि च

“अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं  च संश्रिताः ।

मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः ॥

तानहं द्विषतः क्रूरान् संसारेषु नराधमान् ।

क्षिपाम्यजस्रमशुभान् आसुरीष्वेव योनिषु ॥ इत्येवं रूपेण गीता मानादीनां अनर्थफलं विवृणोति ।

का सुखदा ? साधुजनमैत्री ।

का सुखदा ? इति पृच्छामः चेत् एते युवानः सर्वे लोकान्तरं प्रविशन्ति । भगवत्पादाः कथयन्ति – साधुजनमैत्री एव सुखदा इति । “सतां सद्भिः सङ्गः कथमपि हि पुण्येन भवति” “सतां हि दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थभूताश्च सज्जनाः।
कालेन फलते तीर्थम् सद्यः सज्जनसङ्गतिः॥“ इति सुभाषितकारैः प्रोक्तं भगवत्पादैः सुष्ठु अनूदितम् ।

का प्रेयसी विधेया ? करुणा दीनेषु सज्जने मैत्री ॥ १६ ॥

का प्रेयसी विधेया ? वदन्तु …… । शङ्करभगवत्पादाः ब्रुवन्ति – दीनेषु करुणा, सज्जनमैत्री च प्रेयसी विधेया । भगवान् अस्मभ्यं किं वा प्रयच्छति ? धनिकानां समीपे एव पुनः पुनः धनं गच्छति । वयं दरिद्राः दरिद्रा एव वर्तामहे इति केषाञ्चित् रोदनं लोके वयं श्रुणुमः । ते निर्धनाः दीनाः भवन्ति अथवा विपदि विद्यमानाः, अन्येषां साहाय्यं अपेक्षमाणाः दीनाः भवन्ति । एतेषां दीनानां विषये सबलाः करुणां प्रदर्शयेयुः । इत्युक्ते तेषां साहाय्यं कुर्युः । तच्च साहाय्यं इष्ट्वा/प्रेम्णा कर्तव्यम् ।  एषा दीनानां साहाय्यार्थं अपेक्षिता करुणा अस्माकं प्रेयसी इव स्यात् दत्तचित्ता ।

एवमेव सज्जने मैत्री अस्माकं प्रेयसी भवेत् इति भगवत्पादा  कथयन्ति । यतो हि सङ्गदोषः मानवान् दानवान् करोति । सज्जनमैत्री नरं नारायणं करोति । अतः सज्जनमैत्री प्रेयसी विधेया, यथा काव्यानि कान्तासंहिततया मानवेन रामादिवत्प्रवर्तितव्यमिति उपदिशन्ति तथा सज्जनसङ्गः मानवं सत्पथे नयति ।

क्व स्थातव्यं ? न्याय्ये पथि दृष्टादृष्टलाभाढ्ये ॥२०॥

न्यायमार्गे स्थातव्यम् इति तु सर्वैरपि ज्ञायते । किन्तु दृष्टादृष्टलाभाढ्ये इति अत्र विशेषः । इहलोके वयं  वनितावित्तादि दृष्टं फलं प्राप्तुं  न्यायमार्गे वर्तेमहि एव । परलोके अपि अदृष्टफलं प्राप्तुं न्यायमार्गः अनुसर्तव्यः । यतो हि इहलोके परेषाम् अहितकारकं चेदपि स्वानुकूलं चेत् तन्मार्गं अनुसरामः । किन्तु अदृष्टफलप्राप्तिः तु स्वकार्यसाधनवेलायां परेषा अहितं यत् जातं भवति तत्फलेन सहैव भवति । अतः अस्माकं दॄष्ट्या न्यायमार्गे वयं स्मः चेदपि परेषां यत्र हानिर्न भवति तादृशमार्गे स्थातव्यम् ।

“न्यय्यात् पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः ॥“

कोऽलङ्कारः ? शीलम्, किं वाचां मण्डनम् ? सत्यम् ॥२२॥

शीलम् इत्युक्ते चरित्रम् । चरित्रम् एव वृत्तम् । एतच्चरित्रं मनुष्यम् अलङ्कारयुक्तं करोति ।  तद्विहीनः अनलङ्कृतः इव इत्येव न मन्तव्यम् । सः चरित्रहीनः अस्ति ।  -

पापोऽयं कृष्णरामेत्यभिलपति निजं गूहितुं दुश्चरित्रम् ॥4॥ नारायणीयं दशक 92 - कर्ममिश्रभक्तिः

ऐश्वर्यस्य विभूषणं सुजनता शौर्यस्य वाक्संयमो, ज्ञानस्योपशम: श्रुतस्य विनयो वित्तस्य पात्रे व्यय: । अक्रोधस्तपस: क्षमा प्रभवितुर्धर्मस्य निर्व्याजता, सर्वेषामपि सर्वकारणमिदं शीलं परं भूषणम्  ॥

कः पूज्यो विद्वद्भिः ? स्वभावतः सर्वदा विनीतो यः ॥२६॥

अत्र शङ्कराचार्याः इत्थं नावदन् यत् विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते इति, प्रत्युत विद्वद्भिः कः पूज्यते इति ।  स्वभावतः यः विनीतः स एव विद्वद्भिः पूज्यते इति । किञ्च यः विनीत इव कालानुगुणं अभिनीते/परिवर्तते सः न अभिप्रेतार्थः । बहवो हि तादृशाः एव लोके दृश्यन्ते । येषाः स्वभाव एव विनीतत्वम् अस्ति स एव विद्वद्भिः पूज्यते इत्यर्थः ।

कः कुलकमलदिनेशः ? सति गुणविभवेऽपि यो नम्रः ।

कः समग्रस्य वंशस्य प्रकाशने कारणीभूतः भवति  कमलस्य सूर्य इव ? बहवो हि स्वजीवने बहु किमपि साधयन्ति येन तदीयः वंशः कीर्तिमान् भवति इति वयं कदाचित् चिन्तयेम । किन्तु तथा नास्ति । गुणनिधिः चेदपि यः नम्रः विनयी भवति स एव वस्तुतः वंशस्य यशः वर्धयति । एतद्विरुद्धगुणाः भगवद्गीतायाम् उक्ताः दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च...इति पद्ये । एते दम्भादयः नम्रतायाः विरुद्धगुणाः । एते आसुरीगुणाः इति गीतायाम् उक्तम् । दम्भादीनां आश्रयस्थानम् वैदुष्यादिकम् अस्ति । दम्भादयः दुर्गुणाः न सन्ति इति मन्यामहे , केवलं सद्गुणाः एव सन्ति चेति । तथापि नम्रता नास्ति चेत् तदीयः वंशः न प्रकाशते । अतः सत्यपि सद्गुणविभवे य नम्रः भवति सः वंशस्य कीर्तिं वर्धयति इति शङ्करभगवत्पादाः न्यरूपयन् । 

कं न स्पृशति विपत्तिः ? प्रवृद्धवचनानुवर्तिनं दान्तम् ॥२८॥

विपत्तिं को वा इच्छति ? किन्तु बहवः वृद्धवचनं तिरस्कुर्वन्ति । वृद्धाः वस्तुतः शरीरेण दुर्बलाः स्युः नाम । किन्तु तेषाम् अनुभवाः नूनं यूनाम् अननुभविनां कार्ये जनिष्यमाणां विपत्तिं निवारयन्ति । ये अत्यन्तम् अनुभविनः ते प्रवृद्धाः । तेषां वचनम् अनुसरामः चेत् निश्चयेन विपत्तयः न स्पृशन्ति इति भगवत्पादाः कथयन्ति ।

कस्मै स्पृहयति कमला ? त्वनलसचित्ताय नीतिवृत्ताय ।॥२९॥

कमला इत्युक्ते लक्ष्मीः इत्यर्थः । सा कमिच्छति ? यः आलस्यविहीनः अस्ति, इत्युक्ते यः सक्रियः यश्च नीतिमार्गे चलति तमिच्छति इत्यर्थः । अत एव सुभाषितकारः वदति –

लक्ष्मीः समाविशतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम्

अद्यैव वा मरणमस्तु युगान्तरे वा

न्याय्यात् पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः ॥ इति ।

कः परिहार्यो देशः ? पिशुनयुतो लुब्धभूपश्च ॥ ३०॥

परेषां क्लेशदं कुर्यान्न पैशुन्यं प्रभोः प्रियम् ।
पैशुन्येन गतौ राहोश्चन्द्रार्कौ भक्षणीयताम् ॥ ३० ॥ काव्यमालाम् उक्तम् ।

महाभारते –

आक्रोशं परिवादं च पैशुन्यं च विवर्जयेत् ॥ इत्युक्तम् ।

को हि न वाच्यः सुधिया ? परदोषश्चानृतं तद्वत् ॥३५॥

मनुष्यस्य प्रायः अयं सामान्यः गुणः यत् आत्मप्रशंशा, परदोषस्य व्यक्तीकरणं चेति । वस्तुतः एतद्विपरीतं कर्तव्यम् । अतः तस्य अनुवर्तिकार्यत्वेन केचन आत्मनि दोषेषु सत्स्वपि परोपदेशम् कुर्वाणाः दृश्यन्ते लोके । सुभाषितकारः वदति -

परोपदेशवेलायां शिष्टाः सर्वे भवन्ति वै ।

विस्मरन्तीह शिष्टत्वं स्वकार्ये समुपस्थिते ॥

किं नु बलम् ? यद्धैर्यं, को मृत्युः ? यदवधानरहितत्त्वम् ॥४०॥

लोङ्गेवालायुद्धे अस्माकं पक्षे मेजर कुलदीपसिंह चान्दपुरी इत्यस्य निकटे केवलं ११८ संख्याकाः सैनिकाः आसन् । किन्तु पाकिस्तानस्य द्विसहस्रं सैनिकानां संहतिं पराजेतुम् प्राभवत् किमर्थम् ?

१९७१ तमे वर्षे भारतपाकिस्थानयोः युद्धे जगतः सर्वेऽपि देशाः पाकिस्थानस्य पक्षे आसन् रशियादेशं विहाय । अमेरिकादेशस्य रणभयङ्करी युद्धनौका गङ्गासागरम् उपसृता आसीत् । पाकिस्तानस्य निकटे अमेरिकादेशेन प्रदत्तानि अत्याधुनिकानि अशीतिसङ्ख्याकानि एफ़्.१६  युद्धविमानानि आसन् । तथापि भारतस्य सैन्येन ९३००० पाकिस्तानीयाः सैनिकाः शरणीकृताः ।

शिवाजिमहाराजस्य, गुरुगोविन्दसिंहस्य, राणाप्रतापसिंहस्य, राणासांगस्य, हरिसिंहनलवा इत्यस्य रणजीतसिंहस्य, ललितादित्यस्य, राजराजचोळस्य, बालाजीबाजीरावस्य, वासुदेवबलवन्तफडके वीरसावर्करस्य, चन्द्रशेखराजादस्य, भगतसिंहस्य, रामप्रसादबिस्मिलस्य, परमवीरस्य रामरघोबाराणे इत्यस्य, सोमनाथशर्मणः, सैतानसिंहस्य, बात्रविक्रमस्य, योगेन्द्रसिंहयादवस्य, देशस्य सुरक्षायै प्रवृत्तानां अगणितवीरपुरुषाणां च असीमपराक्रमः तदीयधैर्यस्य  परिणामतः एव प्रादर्शि इति पार्थक्येन वक्तव्यं नास्ति ।

उपसंहारः

 

सन्दर्भग्रन्थाः

1.     ब्रह्मसूत्रशाङकरभाष्यम्

2.     भगवद्गीता

3.     नीतिशतकम्

4.     सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागारः

5.     ईशावास्योपनिषद्

6.     छान्दोग्योपनिषत्

ಒಂದು ರೋಚಕ ಕಥೆ

 

ಹುಟ್ಟು ಗುಣ ಘಟ್ಟ ಹತ್ತಿದ್ರೂ ಬಿಡೋದಿಲ್ಲ, ನಾಯಿ ಬಾಲ ಡೊಂಕು, ನಾಯೀನ ಪಲ್ಲಕೀಲಿ ಕೂರ್ಸಿದ್ರೆ ಹೇಲ್ ಕಂಡ್ರೆ ಹಾರದೆ ಇರುತ್ತದೆಯೇ ?  ಅಂತ ಕೆಲವು ಗಾದೆ ಗಳು ಇವೆ.

೨೦೨೧ ನೆ ಇಸವಿಯ ಎಪ್ರಿಲ್ ತಿಂಗಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿಸರದ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ  ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿಸರದ ಆಗಿನ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಾದ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯಭಟ್ಟರ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಟ್ರೈಕ್ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ಕೊನೆ ಘಳಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯಭಟ್ಟರಿಂದ ಪ್ರೆರಿತರಾದ ಪೋಲೀಸಿನವರ ಆಘಾತಕಾರಿ ಮಾತುಗಳಿಂದ ಉದ್ರಿಕ್ತಗೊಂಡು ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ  ಲೈಂಗಿಕ ಕಿರುಕುಳ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ  ಭಾಗ್ಯಶ್ರೀ ಜಾನಾ ಎಂಬ ಉತ್ತರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಹುಡುಗಿ ಲಿಖಿತವಾಗಿ ವಿ,ಸಿ.ಯವರಿಗೆ ಕಂಪ್ಲೆಂಟ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಫೋನ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತಾಡಿದ್ಮೇಲೆ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಸ್ಥಾನದಿಂದ ಉಚ್ಛಾಟಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಬಳಿಕ -

ಈಗ ಮೂರ್ನಾಲ್ಕು ತಿಂಗಳಿನಿಂದ ಪುನಃ ವಾಮಮಾರ್ಗದಿಂದ ನಿರ್ದೆಶಕಸ್ಥಾನವನ್ನು ಗಿಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಏನೂ ಬದಲಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಹಲವಾರು ಪುರಾವೆಗಳು ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತಿವೆ.

ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ನಿನ್ನೆ ನಾನು ರವೀಶರ ಹತ್ರ ಫೋನ್ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ.

ಸ್ವತಃ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯಭಟ್ಟರೇ ಅವರ ಮನೆಯವರ ಮುಖಾಂತರ Outlook ನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ. ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ರು. ಅದೂ ಅವ್ರ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ ತೃತೀಯವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದುತ್ತಿರುವ ಶಾರದಾ ಎನ್ ರಾವ್ ಎಂಬ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿನಿಯ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ. ನಂತರ ಆ ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ. ಇಂದ ಒಂದು ಮೇಲ್ ಈ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ನ ಡೈರೆಕ್ಟರ್ ಐ.ಡಿ ಗೆ ಶಾರದಾ ಎನ್. ರಾವ್ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಕಂಪ್ಲೆಂಟ್ ಕಳಿಸಿದರು. ಅದು  ಯಾರ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ? ನಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಯಾಂಪಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ರವೀಶರ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ. ಅದೂ ಲೈಂಗಿಕ ಕಿರುಕುಳ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅಂತ.

ಈ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ರವೀಶರನ್ನು ಕರೆಸಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಲಾಯಿತು. ಆ ಬಳಿಕ ಸಮಾಧಾನ ಹೇಳಲಾಯಿತು “ಎನೂ ಚಿಂತೆ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕಾದದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಅವಳನ್ನು ಕರೆದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸ್ತೇನೆ, ಅವಳ ತಂದೆಯವರ ಹತ್ರನೂ ಮಾತಾಡ್ತೇನೆ”

ನಂತರ ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಲಾಯಿತು – “ನಾನು ಅವರನ್ನು ಕರೆದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದೆ. ಆ ಮೇಲ್ ಅವಳು ಕಳಹಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲವಂತೆ. ಅದು ಯಾರೊ ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ. ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಮೇಲ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಿರಬಹುದಂತೆ. ಅವರೇ (ಡಾ. ನರಸಿಂಹ ರಾವ್) ಲಿಖಿತವಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಪತ್ರ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ನೀವೇನೂ ಚಿಂತೆ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಕಾದದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ.”

ರವೀಶರು ಆ ಮೇಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ನಂತರ ಡಾ. ನರಸಿಂಹ ರಾವ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟರು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ ಪತ್ರದ ಪ್ರತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡರು. ಬಳಿಕ ರವೀಶರು ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಹೆಳಿದ್ರು – “ನನಗೆ ಸೈಬರ್ ಸ್ಪೆಶಲಿಷ್ಟಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯ ಇದೆ. ಯಾತಕ್ಕೂ ನಾನು ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಅವರ ಹತ್ರ ವಿಚಾರಿಸ್ತೇನೆ”

“ಯಾ.. ಯಾ.. ಯಾಕೆ ? ಹಾಗೇನೂ ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಎಲ್ಲ ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಇನ್ನೇನೂ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಇಲ್ಲ. ನೀವೇನೂ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡ್ಬೇಡಿ. ಆ ಫೇಕ್ ಮೇಲ್ ಐ.ಡಿ. ಒಂದು ವಾರದ ನಂತರ ಸ್ವತಃ ಡಿಲೀಟ್ ಆಗಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ.” ಇತಿ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯ(ಯಾಃ) ಉವಾಚ(ಊಚುಃ).

ಹಾಗಾದ್ರೆ ಡಾಕ್ಟ್ರು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಆ ಪತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಎನಿದೆ ?

ಮೊದಲಿನ ಪ್ಯಾರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಜವಾಗಿಯೇ ಆ ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ ನಮ್ಮದಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು/ನನ್ನ ಮಗಳು ಆ ಮೇಲ್ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲ .ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ.

ಎರಡನೇ ಪ್ಯಾರಾದಲ್ಲಿ –

ಈ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಬಹಳ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವರು. ತುಂಬ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಪರಿಸರವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಬಲ್ಲರು ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ.

ಈಗ ಸಂದೇಹ ಎನಂದ್ರೆ –

ಸುಬ್ರಾಯ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಶಾರದಾಳನ್ನು ಅಥವಾ ಅವಳ ತಂದೆಯನ್ನು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದ್ದು ಯಾವಾಗ. ?

ಲೈಂಗಿಕ ಕಿರುಕುಳದ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಸಮಿತಿಯ(Woman’s Welfare Committee…) ಮೂಲಕ ಲಿಖಿತ ಪತ್ರದ ಮೂಲಕ ಡಾಕ್ಟ್ರನ್ನು ಯಾಕೆ ಕರೆಸಲಿಲ್ಲ ?

ಶಾರದಾಳನ್ನು ಒಬ್ಬಳನ್ನೇ ಕರೆದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಿದರೇ ?

ತಂದೆ ಮಗಳಿಂದ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟನೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ ಬಳಿಕ ಡಾಕ್ತ್ರು ಕೊಟ್ರು ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದದ್ದು ಯಾರು ?

ಸುಬ್ರಾಯಭಟ್ಟರ ಕುರಿತಾದ ಹೊಗಳಿಕೆಯ ಅಪ್ರಾಸಂಗಿಕ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಪತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ  ಯಾಕೆ ಇವೆ ?

ಅದನ್ನು ಸುಬ್ರಾಯರೇ ಯಾಕೆ ಬರೆದಿರಬಾರದು ?

ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ ಯನ್ನು ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಅದರಿಂದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮಿ ಸಮರ್ಪಿತ ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕನ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಲೈಂಗಿಕ ಕಿರುಕುಳದ ಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಬರೆದು, ವಿಚಾರಣೆಯ ನಾಟಕವಾಡಿ, ಡಾಕ್ತ್ರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟೀಕರಣ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅಂತ ಫೇಕ್ ಲೆಟರನ್ನು ಆತ್ಮಪ್ರಶಂಶೆಗಾಗಿ ಬರೆಸಿ ಅದರ ಪ್ರತಿಯನ್ನು ವಿ.ಸಿ.ಗೆ ಕಳುಹಿದ್ದು ಯಾವ ಉದ್ದೇಶಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ?

ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿಯೇ ಹಿಂದೆ ಯೋಗ ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕ ರವಿ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿಯ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಕೂಡ ಇದೇ ಸುಬ್ರಾಯರು ಫೇಕ್ ಐ.ಡಿ. ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಪ್ಲೆಂಟ್ ನ್ನು ದೈರೆಕ್ಟರ್(ತನಗೇ) ಗೆ ಬರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೂ ಇದೆ.

ಈ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ತನ್ನ ಸೀಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಭದ್ರವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯುವುದಕ್ಕೆ, ತನಗಾಗದಿರುವವರನ್ನು ಮಟ್ಟ ಹಾಕುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಎಂತಹ ನೀಚ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲೂ ಹೇಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇರೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಬೇಕೇ ?

ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಫೇಕ್ ಈಮೇಲ್ ಐ.ಡಿ.ಗಳ ಪ್ರಯೋಗ ಎಷ್ಟು ಅಧ್ಯಾಪಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ಆಗುವುದಿದೆಯೋ ದೇವರೆ ಬಲ್ಲ.

ವೀ.ಸಿ ಯವರಿಗೂ ಅದೇನು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆಯೋ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಂತಹ ಅಧಮಾಧಮರನ್ನು ಸೀಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂರಿಸಿದರೆ  ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಗತಿ ಏನಾಗಬೇಕು ? ದೇವರೇ ಗತಿ.

ಅಜ್ಞಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಪಟ್ಯ ಗಳ ಮದುವೆ.

ಇಂದು ಪ್ರಯಾಗರಾಜ್ ನಲ್ಲಿರೋ ಆನಂದಭವನಕ್ಕೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಶಾಲೆ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ಭಾರತ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರೂ ಭಾರತೀಯನ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಗೆ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರಿಗೆ ಸಾರುತ್ತಿರುವಂತಿರುವ ನೆಹರುರವರ ಯಶೋಗಾಥೆಯ‌ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ  ನೋಡಿ ಬೆರಗಾದೆ!! ದೇಶವನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಬದುಕಿದ ಪಂಡಿತರ ಧೀಮಂತಿಕೆಗೆ ಮಾರು ಹೋದೆ!!!

ಇದು 20 ನವಂಬರ್ 2025 ರಂದು ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಭಟ್ ಫೇಸ್ಬುಕ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದದ್ದು. ಅಡ್ಡಗ್ಗದ್ದೆ ನಾಗರಾಜ "ನೆಹರೂ ನನ್ನು ಹೊಗಳುವ ಇವರು ಶಿಕ್ಷಿತರ ಅಂತ ಅನುಮಾನ. ಛಿ" ಅಂತ ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ನ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನನಗೆ ಕಳಿಸಿದ್ದು.

ಹೌದು. ಇದು ಅಜ್ಞಾನ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅಲ್ಲ. ರಾಹುಲನಂತೆ ಅಜ್ಞಾನದ ಮುಖವಾಡವಿರುವ ಕಾಪಟ್ಯದ ಕಂಟಕ.

ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ -

1962 ನೇ ಇಸವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ   ಥಗ್ಲಾ ಪರ್ವತದ ಹಿಂದೆ ಅತ್ಯಾಧುನಿಕ ಶಸ್ತ್ರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕುಳಿತಿದ್ದ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶದ 20 ಸಾವಿರ ಸೈನಿಕರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹೊಡೆದಾಡಲು ನೆಹರು ಬರೀಗೈಲಿ ಕಾಲ್ನಡಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅರ್ಧ ಬ್ರಿಗೇಡ್ ಸೈನ್ಯ. ಅಂದರೆ ಕೇವಲ 2 ಸಾವಿರ ಸೈನಿಕರು. ಸೈನಿಕರಿಗಂತೂ ಹೋಗಲು ವಿಮಾನವಿಲ್ಲ. ಬ್ರಿಗೇಡ್ ನ ನಾಯಕನಾದ ಬ್ರಿಗೇಡಿಯರ್ ಗೂ ಅದೇ ಗತಿ. 

ಆದರೆ ಅದೇ ವರ್ಷ ಕಾಂಗೋ ಗಣರಾಜ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರೋ 114 ಮಂದಿ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಪುಂಡರು ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಎರ್ಪೋರ್ಟ್ ವಶಕ್ಕೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ತಡೆಯಲು ಶಾಂತಿಪಾಲನಪಡೆಯ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಮಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿದ್ದು ಬರೋಬ್ಬರಿ 4 ಸಾವಿರ ಶಸ್ತ್ರ  ಸಜ್ಜಿತ ಸೈನಿಕರನ್ನು.

ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ  ಜಾಗತಿಕವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಶಂಸೆಯ ಕಿರೀಟವನ್ನು ತೊಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ  ತನ್ನ ದೇಶವನ್ನು  ತಾನೇ ಸೋಲಿಸುವ ನೆಹರೂನ ನಡೆಯಿಂದ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಕಲಿಯದ ಕೆಲವು ಪ್ರೊಫೆಸರ್ ಗಳು ಆತನನ್ನೇ ಆರಾಧಿಸುವ ಪರಿ ಬರಿ ಬಾಲಿಷ ಮಾತ್ರ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಕಪಟವೂ ಕೂಡ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?.

ಇಂತಹ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದೇ ಅಪ್ರಜಾತಾಂತ್ರಿಕವಾದ ಕಾಪಟ್ಯದ ವಿಧಾನದಿಂದ.

 ಮೊದಲ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಯಾಗಿ  ಸುದೀರ್ಘ ದಾಸ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿದ್ದ ದೇಶದ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸಮುಚಿತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣದ ಮೂಲಕ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಚಿಂತನಾಶಕ್ತಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಮೃದ್ಧ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕಾದವ ಒಬ್ಬರ ಮೇಲೊಬ್ಬರಂತೆ 5 ಮುಸಲ್ಮಾನ್ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿಸಿದ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಏನು ಅಂತ ನಮಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೇ?

ಪಾಕ್ ಆಕ್ರಮಿತ ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯಲು ಯಾರು ಕಾರಣ? 370ನೇ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸಿ 70 ವರ್ಷ ಅದು ಜೀವಂತವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿದು, ದೇಶದ ಖಜಾನೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿವರ್ಷ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಕೋಟಿ ರೂಪಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು  ಭಾರತದ ರಕ್ತ ಹೀರುವವರಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುವಂತೆ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಗತಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದು ಯಾರು? ದೇಶ ವಿಭಜನೆಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಂಧ್ ನ ಜನತೆ ಭಾರತಡೊಡನೆ ವಿಲೀನವಾಗಲು ಬಯಸಿದಾಗ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಿದ್ದು ಯಾರು?

ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ ನ ನಿಜಾಮ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ದಿಂದ ವಿಮಾನ ಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ರಾತೋ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಸ್ತ್ರ  ತರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ನರಮೇಧ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಸೇನೆಯನ್ನು ತಡೆದು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದು ಯಾರು?

ಜುನಾಗಡ್  ನ ವಿಮೋಚನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ , ಭೋಪಾಲ್ ನ ವಿಮೋಚನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇಶದ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದು ಕೊಂಡವರು ಯಾರು?

ಸೋಮನಾಥ ಮಂದಿರದ ಪುನರ್ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ  ದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಒದಗಿದ ಗುಲಾಮಿತನದ ವಿರುದ್ಧದ ದೇಶದ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನದ ಪರಮ ವೈಭವದ ಕ್ಷಣವನ್ನು ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಅವಕಾಶ. ಇದು ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಖರ್ಚುನಲ್ಲೇ ಆಗಬೇಕಾಗಿದ್ದ ಕೆಲಸ. 

ಆದರೆ ಆ ನೀಚ ಬುದ್ಧಿಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಖಜಾನೆಯಿಂದ ಖರ್ಚು ಮಾಡಲು ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲದೆ,  ದೇಶದ ಅಗಿನ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಪತಿಯೂ ಮಂದಿರದ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸದಂತೆ ತಡೆಯಲು ಯತ್ನಿಸಿದ್ದು ಒಬ್ಬ ದೇಶದ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನಿ ಪ್ರಜೆಯಾಗಿ ಹೇಗೆ ನಾನು ಸಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿ?

ನೇಪಾಳದ ರಾಜ ತ್ರಿಭುವನ್ ಭಾರತದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನೇಪಾಲವನ್ನು ವಿಲೀನಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದಾಗ ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿದ ನೆಹರೂ, ಭಾರತದ 10 ಸಾವಿರ ಸೈನಿಕಬಲದೊಂದಿಗೆ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಟಿಬೇಟ್ ನ್ನು ಚೀನಾಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಳ್ಳಿತಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟ ನೆಹರೂ, ಬಾಂಗ್ಲಾದೇಶದ ಹಿಂದೂ ಬಾಹುಲ್ಯದ ಒಂದು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯವರು ಭಾರತದ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ದೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಿಲೀನವಾಗಲು ಬಯಸಿದಾಗ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸಿದ ನೆಹರೂ, ಡೈರೆಕ್ಟ್ ಆಕ್ಷನ್ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟ ಜಿನ್ನಾನ ತುರುಕರನ್ನು  ಮಟ್ಟ ಹಾಕದೆ, ಅದನ್ನೆದುರಿಸಲು ನೌಖಾಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎದ್ದು ನಿಂತ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಾಂಬ್ ಹಾಕುವ ಬೆದರಿಕೆಯನ್ನೊಡ್ಡಿದ ನೆಹರೂ,...... ಅದ್ಹೇಗೆ ಧೀಮಂತ ನಾಯಕನಾಗಬಲ್ಲ?

ಅವನಿದ್ದಾಗ ಅದ್ಹೇಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ನಿಜವಾದ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಅಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಹಿಂದು ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯ ದಿನವನ್ನು ಕಳೆಯಬಲ್ಲ?

ಇದು ( ನೆಹರು ಧೀಮಂತ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಎನ್ನುವ ಮಾತು ) ಕಾಪಟ್ಯವಲ್ಲದೆ ಮತ್ತೇನು?

Novel Started 30 years back

 

ಭಗವತ್ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ - ಭಗವದನುಗ್ರಹ - ಸೈಟ್ ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ೨೨-೧-೨೦೨೪

 

ಭಗವತ್ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ - ಭಗವದನುಗ್ರಹ

 

ನಮ್ಮ ಎರಡನೇ ಕಾರಿನ ನಂಬ್ರ KA 18 MB 3040. ನಾನು ಅದನ್ನು ೨೦೨೪ ಸಪ್ಟಂಬರ್ ೫ನೇ ತಾರೀಖಿನಂದು ಖರೀದಿಸಿದೆ. ಕಾರಿನ ನಂಬ್ರ 3040 ಅಂತ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿರುವುದು ಒಂದು ಪವಾಡವೇ. ಈ fancy ನಂಬ್ರ ದುಡ್ಡು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಆರ್.ಟಿ.ಓ. ದಿಂದ ಖರೀದಿಸಬಹುದು. ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಇಂತಹ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗಳು ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಈ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಖರೀದಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿರುವುದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಅದರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಒಂದು ಪವಾಡವಿದೆ. ಅದೇನೆಂದರೆ -

 

ಒಂದೆರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಭಾರತಿಯ ಒಬ್ಬ ನಿಷ್ಠಾವಂತ ಪೂರ್ಣಕಾಲಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಒಂದು ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯನ್ನು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

ಅವರು ಮೂಲತಃ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ಬಳಿಯ ಹಳ್ಳಿಯವರು. ಅವರಿಗೆ  ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿತ್ರಾರ್ಜಿತವಾದ ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ಕೃಷಿ ಭೂಮಿಯಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅವರು ಬಾಲ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮನೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತವನ್ನೋದಿ ಜೀವನಪೂರ್ತಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪಿತ್ರಾರ್ಜಿತ ಜಮೀನಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತಮಗೆ ಬರಬೇಕಾದ ಹಿಸ್ಸೆಯನ್ನು ಅವರ ಅಣ್ಣಂದಿರಿಗೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರು. ಸುಮಾರು ೩೮ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಭಾರತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಯಿಂದ ನಿಜವಾದ ಅರ್ಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅನಿಸಿದ್ದನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಫೋನಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು – “ಇನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಮಯ ನಾನು ಈ ಸೇವಾಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಲಾರೆ. ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ೩೮ ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಹೀಗೆ ಕಳೆದಿವೆ. ಕೆಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ನಾನು ನಿವೃತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ನಾನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿದೂರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಹಂಗಿಲ್ಲದ ಮನೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ ಶಾರದಾಂಬೆಯ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರಬೇಕು. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಒಂದು ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಸೈಟು ಇದ್ದರೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿ. ಇಷ್ಟು ವರ್ಷ ನನಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಒಂದು ರುಪಾಯಿಯನ್ನೂ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಸಿಲ್ಲ.”

ಆವತ್ತು ನಾನು ಪೂಜೆ ಮುಗಸಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಲ್ಯವನ್ನು ತುಳಸೀಗಿಡದ ಬುಡಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾಕಲು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ ಅವರ ಫೋನ್ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅಂದೆ – “ಏನೂ ಚಿಂತೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ. ನಾನು ಈಗ ದೇವರ ಪೂಜೆ ಮಗಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಫೋನ್ ಬಂತು. ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದೀರಿ. ಇನ್ನು ನಿಶ್ಚಿಂತೆಯಾಗಿರಿ. ಮುಂದಿನ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ನನ್ನದು”

ನನ್ನ ಅಮ್ಮ ಹಿಂದೆ ದೇವರಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಮಾತನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ನೆನಪಸಿದ್ದ – “ನನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಳೀಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಪಲಾಪೆಕ್ಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಸತ್ಪಾತ್ರರಿಗೆ ಕೈಯೆತ್ತಿ ಕೈತುಂಬ ದಾನ ಕೊಡುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕೊಡು ದೇವರೆ”. ಪ್ರಾಯಶಃ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಆ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆಯನ್ನು ದೇವರು ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ ಈಡೇರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಅಂತ ಅನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ತಿಳಿದವರು ಹೇಳುವುದಿದೆ – ಬಲಗೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಎಡಗೈಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗಬಾರದು ಅಂತ. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಹೇಳಬೇಕೆಂದಿರುವುದು ದೈವಲೀಲೆಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೊಸ್ಕರವೇ ಹೊರತು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಸ್ವತಃ ಕೊಂಡಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬೆನ್ನುತಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಖಂಡಿತ ಅಲ್ಲ.

ನಾನು ಸೈಟು ಖರೀದಿಸಿ ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯ ಕನ್ಯಾಕುಮಾರಿ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕರ್ತರಾದ ಗೋಕುಲದಾಸ ಕಾಮತರು ಭೂವ್ಯವಹಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ತಳೆದು ತಕ್ಕಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಯಶಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಗಳಿಸಿದವರು. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಲಾಭದ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಸೇವಾಭಾವನೆಯಿಂದ ಈ ವ್ಯವಹಾರವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರಾಯಃ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ಏಕೈಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ. ನಮ್ಮ ಬಡಾವಣಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವಂತೆ ರಮೇಶ ಬೆಗಾರ್ ರಿಗೆ ೫ ಗುಂಟೆ, ಗುರುಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರ ಸೈನ್ಸ್ ಟ್ರಷ್ಟ್ ಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸೈಟು, ಜ್ಞಾನಭಾರತಿ ಶಾಲೆಗೆಂದು ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದೂಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು ಎಕರೆ ಯಷ್ಟು ಜಮೀನನ್ನು ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದವರು. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಸಮಾಜಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದ ೩೮ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಖಂಡಿತ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಮನವರಿಕೆ ಆಯಿತಾದರೂ ಸದ್ಯ ಅವರು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರವ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತಹ ಅವಕಾಶವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮುಂದಿನ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆನಪಿಸಿ. ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡೋಣ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದರು.

ಆದರೆ ಅವರ ದುರ್ದೈವ ಏನು ಮಾಡುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗುತ್ತೆ. ಅವರ ಹೆಂಡತಿಗೆ ಗ್ಯಾಂಗ್ರಿನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಒಂದು ಕಾಲು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿ ಬಂತು. ಅದರ ಪರಿಣಾಮವಾಗಿ ಅವರು ಆರು ತಿಂಗಳು ಕೊಪ್ಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಜರಿಗಾಗಿ, ಇನ್ನಾರು ತಿಂಗಳು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಫಿಸಿಯೋಥೆರಪಿಗಾಗಿ, ಬಳಿಕ ಅವರಿಗೂ ಹರ್ನಿಯಾ ಆಪರೇಶನ್ ಆಗಿ ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ವಾನಪ್ರಸ್ಥಾಶ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ (ಈಗಲೂ) ಕಳೆಯಬೇಕಾಗಿ ಬಂತು. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸುವ ಧೈರ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಬೇರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಯೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡೋಣ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಕೆಲವಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ ಅವರು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ನಿವೄತ್ತ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಬರುತ್ತೇನೆಂದು ಹೇಳಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕಂತೂ ತಲೆ ಕೆಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೆ.

ಆದರೆ ೨೦೨೩ ನೆ ಇಸ್ವೀ ಜೂನ್ ತಿಂಗಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಭಾರತಿಯ ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರ ಫೋನ್ ಬಂತು. ಅವರ ಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಅನಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು ಅವರ್ಯಾವುದೋ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ತುಂಬ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಆಳಕ್ಕೆಳೆದಂತಾಗಿ ಅತ್ತ ಹೇಳಲೂ ಆಗದೆ, ಹೇಳದಿರಲೂ ಆಗದೆ ತೊಂದರೆ ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ನಾನು ನನಗೆ ತಿಳಿದ ಇಂಗಿತಜ್ಞತೆಯನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಸಂತೈಸಿ, ಭರವಸೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟು, ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ಆಯ್ಕೆಗಳನ್ನ ಅವರ ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟೆ. ಅದೇನೆಂದರೆ – ತುರ್ತಾಗಿ ಬೇಕಾದಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಮನೆಯ ಬಳಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣನಾದ ಪಾವಂಜೆ ದೇವರಾಜ ಹೆಬ್ಬಾರರ ೩೦/೪೦ ಸೈಟನ್ನು ಖರೀದಿಸಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ದಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಡುವುದು. ಅಥವಾ ಕಾಮತರ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಒದಗಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಒಂದೆರಡು ವರ್ಷ ಕಾಯುವುದು. ಅಥವಾ ಒಂದೆರಡು ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೇ ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಸಣ್ಣ ಕೃಷಿಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಖರೀದಿಸಿ ಭೂಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸೈಟನ್ನು ದಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಡವುದು, ಆದರೆ ಅವರು ಮೊದಲನೇ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯನ್ನು ಆರಿಸಿದರು. ಇನ್ನು ಅಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪಿಸುವುದು ಕೆಲಸ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಬಾರಿ ಪಾವಂಜೆಗೆ ರಜೆಯಲ್ಲಿ  ಹೋದೆ. ಅವನ ಬಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದೆ – “ಈಗ ಈ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲ ಸ್ಕ್ವೇರ್ ಫೀಟ್ ಗೆ ಸುಮಾರು ೪೦೦ ರಿಂದ ೬೦೦ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಬೆಲೆ ಇದೆ. ಅವರವರ ಅದೃಷ್ಟದಂತೆ ಗಿರಾಕಿ ಸಿಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಈಗ ದಾನ ಮಾಡ್ಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟಿರುವುದು ೩೮ ವರ್ಷ ನಿಸ್ವಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಸಮಾಜ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಒಬ್ಬ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರಿಗೆ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದೆರಡು ದಿವಸವನ್ನೂ ಪ್ರತಿಫಲಾಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಬೇರೆಯವರಿಗಾಗಿ ವ್ಯಯಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಂಥಾದ್ದರಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರು ಬರೊಬ್ಬರಿ ೩೮ ವರ್ಷಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ತೇಯ್ದವರು. ನಾನು ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಸುಮಾರು ೮೬ ಲಕ್ಷ ಸಾಲದ ಒಡೆಯ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆಂದರೆ ೪.೫ ಲಕ್ಷ ಹೇಗಾದರೂ ಜೋಡಿಸಿ ಕೊಡಬಲ್ಲೆ. ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಉದ್ದೇಶಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಈ ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ನಿನಗೂ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ” ಅವನು ಎರಡು ಮಾತಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿದ. ಇದು ದೈವಾನುಗ್ರಹವಲ್ಲವೇ ?

ಆ ಬಳಿಕ ನಾನು ಇದರ  ಕಾಗದಪತ್ರದ ತಯಾರಿಗಾಗಿ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿಯ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ವಕೀಲರಾದ ಗೋಚವಳ್ಳಿ ಸತೀಶರನ್ನು ಸಂಪರ್ಕಿಸಿದೆ. ಅವರು ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣನ ಸೈಟಿನ ೯/೧೧ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ, ಭೂ-ದಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಗದಪತ್ರದ ತಯಾರಿಯನ್ನೂ ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ಆದರೆ ಅವರು ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕೊಡಬೇಕಾದ ಫೀಸು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಯಾಕೆ ಅಂತ ಕೇಳಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ರು – “ನೀವು ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನು ಫೀಸು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡರೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ನನ್ನ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಇದೊಂದು ಸೇವೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯಿರಿ. ಅಂದ ಹಾಗೆ ಅವರ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಹಸ್ಕೂಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಸಹಾಧ್ಯಾಯಿನಿ ಕೂಡ. ಆ ಲೆಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡ ನಾನು ಫೀಸು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳದಿರುವುದು ಒಳ್ಳೇಯದೇ.” ಇಷ್ಟು ಹೇಳಿ ನನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣನ ಸೈಟಿನ ೯/೧೧ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ, ದಾನಪತ್ರದ ಕಾಗದಪತ್ರದ ತಯಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿ, ನೋಂದಣಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಸಿ, ಖಾತೆಬದಲಾವಣೆಯನ್ನೂ ಸ್ವಂತ ಖರ್ಚಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ನೋಂದಣಿ ಮಾಡಿಸುವ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕಡೆ ಅಧಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಗುಮಾಸ್ತರಿಗೆ ಮಾಮೂಲು ಕೊಡುವ ಪದ್ಧತಿ ಇದ್ದೇ ಇದೆ. ಆದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಈ ದಾನಪತ್ರದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಮಾಮೂಲಿನ ಮೊತ್ತ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದಷ್ಟು ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾಗುವಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡರು. ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟಾಗ ಒದಗಿಬರುವ ಇಂತಹ ಪರಿಣಾಮವನ್ನೇ ಅಲ್ಲವೆ ದೈವಲೀಲೆ ಅನ್ನುವುದು.

ನೋಂದಣಿ ಆದ ದಿನಾಂಕ ಜನವರಿ ೨೨ – ೨೦೨೪

ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಭಾರತಿಯ ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಸೈಟಿನ ವಿಷಯ ಫೋನಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದ್ದು ಸುಮಾರು ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದು ನೋಂದಣಿಗಿಂತ ೮ ತಿಂಗಳು ಮುಂಚೆ. ನಾನು ಪಾವಂಜೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಅಣ್ಣನಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷಯ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಬಳಿಕ ಲಾಯರ್ ಸತೀಶರವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಅಣ್ಣನ ಸೈಟಿನ ೯/೧೧ ಮಾಡಿಸಲು ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು, ಪಂಚಾಯ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಲೋಕಸಭಾ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾಲ್ಕು ತಿಂಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ೯/೧೧ ಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದು, ಬಳಿಕ ಅಣ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಕೊಡಬೇಕಾದ ಹಣವನ್ನು ಜೋಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ತಿಂಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು, ನಂತರ ನೋಂದಣಿಗಾಗಿ ಅಣ್ಣನ ಮತ್ತು ನನ್ನ ಸಮಯದ ಹೊಂದಾಣಿಕೆಗಾಗಿ ಕಾದಿದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲ ಸೇರಿ ನೋಂದಣಿ ಆದ ದಿನಾಂಕ ಜನವರಿ ೨೨ – ೨೦೨೪ ಎಂದು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾದದ್ದು.   ನಮಗೆ ರಾಮ ಮಂದಿರ ಇದೇ ದಿನಾಂಕದಂದು ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ ಎಂಬುವ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಮೊದಲು ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ದೈವಲೀಲೆಯೆಂಬಂತೆ ಅದೇ ದಿನ ದಾನ ಪತ್ರದ ನೋಂದಣಿ ಆಗಿರುವುದು ನಮಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಂತಸದ ವಿಷಯ.ರಾಮನ ಅನುಗ್ರಹ ಈ ರೀತಿ ಆಗಬಲ್ಲದು ಎಂಬದು ನೆನಪಾದಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಸದಾ ರೋಮಾಂಚನಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ನೋಂದಣಿ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಮುಗಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನಮಂತ್ರಿ ಮೋದೀಜಿ ರಾಮಮಂದಿರದ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನಭಾಷಣ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರಸಾರ ದೂರದರ್ಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ೫೦೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ಭಾರತೀಯರಿಗೆ ಒದಗಿಬಂದ ಒಂದು ಧನ್ಯತೆಯ ಕ್ಷಣ ಅದಾದರೆ, ನಮಗೆ ಅದೇ ದಿನ ಅದೇ ಹೊತ್ತು ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಹಚ್ಚುವರಿಯಾಗಿ ಧನ್ಯತೆಯ ಕ್ಷಣ. ಇದಲ್ಲವೇ ದೈವಲೀಲೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ?

ನಾವು ಖರೀದಿಸಿ ದಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುವುದು 30/40 ಅಳತೆಯ ಸೈಟು. ಆರು ತಿಂಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ನಾವು ಖರೀದಿಸಿದ ಕಿಯಾ ಸೋನೆಟ್ ಕಾರಿಗೆ ಅಯಾಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿರುವುದು 3040 ನಂಬರು/ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ. ಅದೂ ಸಹ ಒಂದು ಕೇಂದ್ರೀಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನನಗೆ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷಾ ಆಯೋಗದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿದ್ದ ರಾಧಾಕೃಷ್ಣನ್ ರವರ ಜನ್ಮದಿನವನ್ನು ಶಿಕ್ಷಕದಿವಸವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಆಚರಿಸುವ ಸೆಪ್ಟಂಬರ್ ೫ ನೇ ತಾರೀಕಿನಂದು. ಇದನ್ನು ದೈವಲೀಲೆ ಎನ್ನದೆ ಇನ್ನೇನನ್ನಬೇಕು.

 

 

Tale of all

श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः

Tale of all

1

“My dear son, today I must go to your mama’s (Maternal Uncle) house in Tirthahalli. Pour the water for areca plants. It is summer. If we do not give enough water for Areca plants regularly, they will perish soon. In this village Mouli it is very hard to protect areca plants from the disastrous disease called Tunde Roga. It was started in Megur decades ago. Now it is spreaded across the Sringeri Tehasil/Taluk. It is only the prime source of income in this Malnad region.”

Last year there were so many old areca plantations have perished due to Ele Chukke Roga across the Malnad. Because of the blessings and guidance of His Holiness Jagadguru of Sringeri Sri Sharadapeetham we the devotees of Jagadguru performed a Laksha Gayatri Yajna. So we were able to protect our areca plantation. Even though we have black Mirch creepers in between our areca plantation and coffee plantation of 3 acres, still we will be dwarf if we would loose areca. So I repeat don’t forget to pour the water to areca.”

  Shrungeshwarayya was a Farmer of Mouli a village located 8 k.m. away from Sringeri. He belongs to liberal smartha shivalli brahmana family. His only son is Nagananda. Shrungeshwarayya owns 3 acres of areca plantation, 3 and half acre of coffee plantation and 2 acres of paddy field. He studied only upto 8^th standard. Besides these he studies a few Vedic suktas and mantras related to day to day puja in his home. Due to his father’s death in his early age due to severe disease he could not continue his education, not even up to 10^th std. In those days there was a new government high school was built in Sringeri in 1955,

After a few years a bridge also built to the River Tunga in Jayapura route. It was a comparatively high sighing facility to all of the people of eastern part of Tunga. Because in that region  4 months of the monsoon season affects all the students. They cant cross the river even through the boat. Because  the river Tunga has such a speed current of stream in rainy muddy water, crossing by boat was not so easy task. So maximum number of parents decide not to send their children to high school in the rainy season. So Srungeshwarayya also not so sticky upon his studies. Meanwhile his father also died. He stopped to go to high school and stayed in home only. He himself was very much interested to do the labour work in his farmland. So from his early ages only he involved in agricultural work and got a tremendous experience in that. Now in his age of fifty eight he can climb areca plant of 40/50 feet and spry Bordeaux Mixture in the rainy season. He himself ploughed his 2 acres of paddy field every day though bullocks in his early ages. And now also through Power Tiller he ploughs his fields. He knows and each and every agricultural work what his labours do and himself becomes ready to do in the absence of labours. He avoids to do the same along with labours when they come, because he knows that if he joins the labours in the field, they do not feel happy to do with him. Because they don’t want to do in which speed Shrungeshwarayya does. And they can take rest in between the work any time they want if he keeps himself away from them. So, he takes the labourers to work field, he briefs the work and procedure of doing the work.  As soon as briefing completes the labourers say “ we understood. You don’t worry. We finish it in a good manner. You please go home and have your own time.”

He knows the psychology of labours very well. So he calls the labourers only for such works which are so essential. Rest of the works are performed by him only in later days. So he comes back to home and perform the daily puja.

But in these days the government fallows false appeasement programmes. It gives free rice and other food grains to the ration card holders. So the labours are not interested to do hard work. If hard work is assigned by land owner, they demand double wages. Gradually grows a tendency of keep themselves idle always in the minds of labourers. So the productivity in agricultural sector becomes gradually low.

Shrungeshwarayya always thinks “If the government continues in the same way for further more years, certainly State will become the land of lazy people. If the state will be filled with lazy people, how can it survive? In kannada one proverb is there “Kutu tindare kudike honnu saladu” which means Even the potful gold will not be enough if one wants to pass the time without doing any work.   So politicians should think about the flourishment of the state by hard working instead of appeasement. Poor people should be supported through free medical, education, and insurance like facilities by the government. But they should earn their food on their own.” He shares his views with other villagers and relatives also. Most of them agree him. But Vishal Hegde the son of Gopal Hegde thinks contrast. He works in the department of sociology of  Kuvempu university Shivamoga.

He says “You people belong to the brahmin community, fallowers of Manu, supress the lower castes since a long ago.”

Shrungeshwarayya says – “No, it is not true. It is only an allegation. Do you have read the Manusmruti ?”

Vishal Hegde says with hesitation – “No, but I have read about Manu in Majaavani news paper”

Shrungeshwarayya asks – “Who has written that in news paper ?”

Vishal Hegde says confidently – Original writer is Purandari Roy. She wrote in an English News Paper. Someone translated the same into Kannada and published in Majavani last week. I read it twice.

Shrungeshwarayya asks “Has the Purandari Roy known Sanskrit ? Actually the original text is written in Sanskrit.”

Vishal Hegde says – “Probably she may not know. But she is a famous writer. And she is also a product of JNU. So, I think she is a real intellectual also.”

Shrungeshwarayya says –“She may be an intellectual. But if she has not known Sanskrit, she can’t understand Manusmriti. Without understanding the original text properly how can it be criticized ?”

Vishal Hegde says - “She might have read translated version of Manusmruti.”

No, I do not believe it. According to me, if you want to praise someone, you need not know him, but if you want to criticise anybody, you must know at least one such criticizable aspect of personality with evidence. In the same way Manusmruti also can be criticized only if you have found any such contradictory aspect in that text”

Vishal Hegde was unable to answer Shrungeswarayya. So he says – “I will bring the cut piece of news paper tomorrow.” However he thought himself that “How this 10^th passed this brahman old man active in these deliberations and closed my mouth also ? ”

Shrungeshwarayya also does not have in-depth knowledge about Manusmruti or else. He came across these issues through news paper only. Some times he listened to His Holiness Sringeri Jagadguru regarding the holy texts like Manusmruti Bhagavadgeeta and Upanishads. If he has any doubt discuss with Hareesha. Hareesha then was studying in the department of Advaita Vedanta in Sanskrit Collage.

***

Next evening Vishal Hegde brought the news paper to shrungeshwarayya while he was talking to Hareesha beneath the mango tree, sitting on the bench built through local stone slab. Shrungeshwarayya affectionately called the Vishal Hegde and said – “please be seated here. How are you ? You did not have collage today ?

I have Christmas Vacation in these days. Next Monday I will go and join my duty in the university. See, this is the Majaavani in which  ‘Purandari Roy’s article is there. Glance it once. I did not lie yesterday.

‘Why are you so exited ? replied Shrungeshwarayya. It is so silly thing. Why are you bothered so much? It was a discussion for time pass. Don’t take it very serious. Be cool… .’

Vishal Hegde interrupted “You might have thought that I was lying yesterday. But it is true that Manusmruti and Bhagavdgeeta and all ancient Indian texts are against humanity. See these quotations in this article – “न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यम् अर्हति”  “चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सॄष्टम्”, “मनु ने बताया कि अन्य वर्णों की सेवा ही शूद्र का कर्म है”  , Is it not true ?

“I also heard these quotations. But I don’t think that these are against humanity. Because our day to day life is not based on these quotations. Did you put your mother ,sister, wife or any woman in jail ? are they feel any kind of imprisonment in your home ? Do they not have any freedom in your home? We the fallowers of Sanatana Dharma do not have such inhuman restrictions to women. In this mater Hareesha can say more clearly with evidence than me as he is studying Acharya in Sanskrit collage. “What do you say Hareesh ?” Shrungeshwarayya asked.

Hareesha said –“ The coted line in the column is actually incomplete. The full quotation is-

पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने । पुत्रो रक्षति वार्धक्ये न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥

It means In the childhood and adolescence (up to the marriage) Father protects his daughter. After the marriage husband protects and in the old age son protects the mother. Ladies do not have freedom. That means they are free from the responsibility of their protection. What is wrong with this? If you interpret it as treatment with woman against humanity in true sense and blame the Manu accordingly you should accept in the same way the lines of same text –

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वा एवाफलाः क्रियाः ॥

It means – All the gods enjoys where women are honoured/respected. All the efforts will be futile where women are not respected.

Vishal Hegde says – It is o.k. But how do you defend the suppression of Shudras ?

Hareesha says – Manusmruti was written thousands of years back. Now we can’t imagine social conditions of then society. It can hardly be believed in present scenario the behaviour or social conditions of Kanuru Subbamma Heggadati which was written only 100 years back by Rashtra Kavi Kuvempu in Kannada.  IN the same way Dr. S.L. Bhairappa writes in “Bhitti” an Autobiography – when he was studying in Goruru in 1947, he was getting weekly four days of Varanna(The system of free meals served for poor students weekly basis) in the house of Sahukar Sampat Aiyangar a brahman agriculturist. He serves not only for brahman students but 8/10 students without discrimination of cast and creed. It was also so generous attitude of Ayyangar family that no one was feeding with half stomach. Daily the foods was being served with full spoon of ghee and unlimited quantity of items. Dr Beem Rao Ambedkar was taught and supported by a brahman teacher.

Intolerant Vishal Hegde said – I am working in Kuvempu University for two years. I can understand your manipulating skill. I want the clarification about the suppression of Shudras as explained in ancient Hindu Texts. I don’t  want to listen this kind of lecture from student like you.  Tell me - is it not true that - “मनु ने बताया कि अन्य वर्णों की सेवा ही शूद्र का कर्म है” as quoted in this column?

Hareesha said confidently - It is translated  sentence of the original text.

“एकमेव तु शूद्रस्य प्रभुः कर्म समादिशत् ।

एतेषामेव वर्णानां सुश्रूषामनसूयया ॥“  This is the original verse. And according to me the word Shudra is not stands for lower casts of society what we have see today. Manu told the Varna system in this  Smruti instead of Caste system. Varna system is totally different from Caste system. Today this  Varna system does not exist in its original form. And this caste system is exist in each and every corner of the world and including in every religion. Everybody thinks that caste system is not good for harmonious society. No one dares to come out from this system.

Because of this caste/race system only, so many conflicts are remained unsolved in even developed countries like USA and etc. Actual opponents of caste system the communists or their offsprings could not eradicate yet in their own land like Russia or China.

But in India we are not practicing Varna System in/against the value of Constitution weather it is good or bad. In Bhagavadgeeta the Lord Sri Krishna said – चातुर्वण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्म विभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥ It means - according to the nature and work of the human beings I formed the Varna system. Even though along with Maya I am the cause of the creation of this system, but In the true sense you understand me as non-cause as explained by  Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya in his commentary – यद्यपि मायासंव्यवहारेण तस्य कर्मणः कर्तारं अपि सन्तं मां परमार्थतो विद्धि अकर्तारम्, अत एव अव्ययम् असंसारिणं च मां विद्धि” ।

According to Varna System, any Brahmana may become Shudra, or any Shudra may become Brahmana. But this is based on his work and nature. Manu says it clearly - 

शूद्रो ब्रह्मणतामेति ब्रह्मणश्चेति शूद्रताम् । It means Shudra becomes Brahmana, and  Brahmana becomes Shudra because of his Karma. In this way Brahmanism or position of brahman is not fixed for those who called as Brahmanas, and visa versa. So what is wrong with Manusmruti ?

 

There are so many brahmans who serve in such fields which are not prescribed to them as on Manusmriti, like Military, Police Department, Business, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and even works as Scavenger, Sweeper and etc.  And in the same way there are so many people who called as lower castes lead the life with noble works and become the model for society. So by looking into present caste system we can’t consider this caste belongs to this Varna.

Thousands of years back when Manusmruti written, it might have considered as constitution of then society. But now the seventy-five-year-old constitution we have with more than hundred and twenty amendments. How  can we compel thousands of year old Manusmruti should be compatible with today’s society without any amendment. And if it will not be compatible because of a few  mis understood verses should it be totally rejected and burnt? There are so may doctrines & principles which are so relevant in this modern ere also.

Shrungeshwarayya -  Look dear Vishal, right now Hareesha may be a student. But he has profound study over the subjects in contemporary issues along with traditional shastras. Our priest always says that गुणाः पूजास्थानं गुणिषु न च लिङ्गं न च वयः”  (Qualities should be respected, not age or gender). So I don’t know that you accept his views or not. But I think his way of thinking and demonstrating his ideas is not destructive. It is inclusive in nature. It is the indigenous way of thinking I think.  I really like it.  If we respect each other,  where will be the case of dishonouring any one ?

See in our village, in the olden days all were living together with the livelihood of their own,  based on their caste. All were living by feeling of fragrance of peace everywhere . See Chammara, Kammara, Badagi, Kshaurika, Akkasali, Kumbhara, Nekara, etc all were having their own livelihood in the society they were living with mutual respect. There were harmonious relationship among all the castes. All were inter dependents.  Now we have independence to quit the ancestral skilled work.  But today we are dependents on Government.   Our children have anxiety to get government job or else far away from their village, even after having higher education.  European  Invaders broke the interdependency of castes in Indian society by introducing factory made products like Footwear, Aluminium Vessels, garments and etc. So gradually all are becomming unemployed.

Hareesha interrupted -  If the son of a weaver completes his higher education in the same field with special skills, and make research on it, he can establish his own start up to produce garments with additional technological touch up. In the same way all the castes have their own inherited skill sets which may be developed through education and training with the support of the government. Now a days it is more easy than earlier. Our prime minister is proactive especially in this area to achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat. But the situation was not conducive in the biggening of Independence. The then prime minister appointed five orthodox Muslim Education ministers continuously one after another. The temporal requirement was Indigenous education for the citizens of India. But Neharu did not want to flourish Indigenous education system in India. He actually wanted to educate Indians in the western frame work. Actually if you give Indigenous education to Hindu people they become more and more generous than earlier. But if you give religious education to Muslims they become more and more radicals. So Nehru denied Dharmik Shiksha to Hindus and free hand to have religious education to Muslims through the constitution.

Vishal Hegde did not say anything. But he was not ready to accept wholeheartedly either  Harisha’s clarification or Shrungeshwarayya’s endorsement. He did not have so much textual proof for his stand. He could only show some columns written in Majavani newspaper. The columns are considered as secondary resources.  Vishal Hegde did not study Sanskrit even in the secondary school level. There are almost all of the ancient Indian texts originally written in Sanskrit. Because of ignorance about Sanskrit and mis consumptions about Hinduism, he slowly starts to hate that language and Sanatana Dharma. So, he is knowingly or unknowingly does not want to refer Sanskrit Texts as original resource. Without referring the Sanskrit texts his deliberations will go futile. So he had to accept his defeat before Hareesha even though he is a student. At the end, he came to the conclusion that -both the Shrungeshwarayya and Hareesha are brahmins. So they defended each other because of their caste. But actually Vishal Hegde knows that, it was not so. For the sake of prevent himself from defeat feeling he came to conclude in mind so. In a corner of mind he was willing to debate with more textual evidence through the columns of Majavani News paper.

 

***

“Sorry Dad, I can’t do that. I came to know that one of the clerical post is advertised in the town panchayat Sringeri. So, I have to go to Sringeri today. I am going to apply for that job. Why are you suddenly decided to go to Tirthahalli?”

Nagananda wants to do the job in Sringeri so that he can get identity and social respect in his village. There are so many people oftenly ask him ‘what are you doing? Did you not get any job ? You should do any kind of job. Nobody should keep quite in his/her adultery. You are a rare degree holder in our village. In addition to that, you studied in JCBM collage’. Still, you are unable to get even a small job in town ? These kinds of questions haunt Nagananda when he is in solitary. Some times he tries to recall his collage life -

JCBM collage is reputed institution in Sringeri. Govt. 1st Grade Collage is started in Sringeri recently. Still, It has no a sufficient no. of teaching staff and infrastructure. JCBM collage has its unique identity in Sringeri. There are so many experienced teaching staff in each department are doing their best. A good infrastructure with well equipped labs, NSS, NCC and other cocurricular activities made the institution unique. So youths around Sringeri feel proud to study in JCBM Collage.  That’s why I also joined the JCBM collage to study B.A.

After completion of B.A. Nagananda wanted to get job in any of the institution of Sringeri. So he was searching for job. In the beginning he asked for clerical  job in SBI, Canara Bank, Karnataka Bank, Indian overseas Bank and Bank of India. But every where he was asked whether he has the knowledge of accounts. Actually all the nationalised banks do not appoint any part time clerical hands. One who able to pass the banking exam gets job in those banks. Nagananda doesn’t  know about that exam. So he enquired the all the nationalised banks. His next attempt was in the cooperative banks. In Sringeri there are more than 10 cooperative banks are there. But they pay a very low monthly salary and that also be given to close relatives of the board of members of the bank. Nagananda did not have such connections to get job in those banks. So his efforts to get job there become vain.

               In these days so many youths are called by so many shopkeepers of the Sringeri. But they offer very less salary. In addition to this the Nagananda’s community doesn’t feel good for these. So he is not happy with that kind of job.

****

Farmer – You know ? your Mama has called me to join them. Today one of the groom is coming to his house to get alliance with his daughter Shreya.

Son – So what ? It will be enough to go for betrothal when fixed. Why are you going now ? You do not have even a two wheeler. You have to go by walk for 2KM to Kunchebail or Doddahonne for 3 KM where you get bus to Sringeri. Then again you have to catch bus to Tirthahalli, which takes two hours. Chittebail is located three KM away from Tirthahalli. You may take an autorickshaw to go to Chittebail or opt to walk. Autowala takes not less than 75 rupees. When will you return back if you start now at 9a.m. today? It is expected hardly to return back at 7pm today. That means your entire day will be gone in vain for only join them. So I think it is better to attend betrothal of Shreya instead of getting these much of strain to unnecessary travel there. 

Farmer – You fool. Shreya is 21 now. She just completed her B.A. with minimum percentage of marks. If we bring her to our house, she not only will be the good life partner for you, but also she will look after all our agricultural works well.

Son – No dad, I completed my B.A. just 3 years back. My friends will humiliate me if I get married in this young age. I will get married only when I get a job at least in Sringeri.

Nagananda does not want to go Banglore to hunt a job, just like his friends are doing. He knows his limitations. Actually he was scared when he went to tour 8 years back. Then he was studying in 10^th standard in Govt Highschool Sringeri. School Headmaster decided to arrange all students a three-day educational tour to Mysore and Banglore.  The then Yeddyurappa Govt had an attractive plan of Free Educational Tour for school students. So Nagananda got a chance to visit Mysore and Bangalore. Nagananda was so delighted to visit Chamundeshwari Temple, Zoo, Palace and KRS Vrindavana Gardens. But during visit to Banglore he was very much tired. So he could not enjoy any of the sight in Banglore. Instead he was scared to see crowded areas, all roads jammed with traffic and huge air pollution. This first experience itself closed the doors of future earning life in Banglore.

Nagananda is a typical Malnad youth. He completed his primary education in a Govt. Primary school Mouli where he completed his 4^th Std. From 5^th to 7^th he studied in the Govt. Higher Primary School Kunchebailu. This school is 2 K.M. away from his house. In the Mouli School he had homely atmosphere. There was a teacher Ambuja from Kadur who was appointed in 1997. The then education minister Sri Govinde Gowda had appointed thousands of teachers for primary and high school across the Karnataka State. So almost all of the trained (Tch.) candidates selected whoever applied for the post. In malnad region there was no any training(TCH) collage. So no any malnad man was able to be trained. Some of them somehow managed to get trained from neighborhood districts like Udupi, Manglore, Shimoga. And a small number of people are trained in Chikkamagaluru.  So in all the schools of the malnad region does not have a good number of native teachers appointed. In the earlier days there was no need of T.Ch. (Now it is called as D.Ed.)   to get appointed in primary schools. Only 10^th Pass certificate with 2 months of in-service training was enough. So before 1996 appointments, there were so many native teachers who either trained in neighborhood districts or they might be appointed even earlier when certificate of T.Ch. was not mandatory. But when Nagananda entered the Primary School of Mauli there were no any native teacher found. Ambuja madam was newly appointed teacher only the Head miss of the school. Shyamala a neighborhood girl was appointed by School Betterment Committee. She was completed her PUC in Govt. Junior Collage Sringeri. She has been paid Rs. 2000/- per month by School Betterment Committee. Nagananda in his childhood did not feel unfamiliarity in his school because there were only  12 students were studying. In the fourth standard Mahesh and Vibha, in third std Lokesh, Jayanti and Naveen, in the 2^nd std Vasanti, Sheela and Sukesh, In the 1^st std Nagananda, Hareesha, Suresha and Mala. He knew very well all of these before admitting school itself. So, he did not scare when he entered to school first time as most of the children do. Among his schoolmates Vibha completed B.A. in JCBM Collage and she got married with a Guruprasad M. a High School Teacher of Kammaradi Govt. High School as soon as her B.A. exams finished. Vasanti got married with Lacchu who climbs the areca tree to pluck arecanuts in and around Mauli. Sheela and Mala got married with grooms of Balehonnuru. Jayanti married with Raju who works in the Goshala of  Sringeri Sri Mutt. Among the male schoolmates nobody is got married. So it also one of the reasons from Nagananda’s side for denying to get married. In addition to that, Nagananda wants to listen respectfully from his villagers about himself. He thought that it will only be possible if he gets job atleast in Sringeri.  His inner mind is very much disturbed about his unemployment. So he was trying to get job in Sringeri for three years. So he said to his father that “No dad, I completed my B.A. just 3 years back. My friends will humiliate me if I get married in this young age. I will get married only when I get a job at least in Sringeri”

Farmer – I was also thinking about it when you completed your B.A. But now there were so much of water flown in the river Tunga. It is better to pay attention on our agricultural land instead of hunting the job in Sringeri.

Son – No dad. I am educated. So I have to work in the city, not in the farmland. If I do the work in the areca plantation, people will not give me respect. It would have enough to stop education after completion of 10^th  itself If I need to work in farmland. But now I am a graduate from JCBM.  

Once Raju, Jayanti’s husband who works in the goshala of Sringeri Mutt told Nagananda, Ayya, why are you not trying to get job in Sringeri Sri Mutt ? There are so many people working  who belong to your community. They need youth like you to serve Annaprasadam to devotees twice in a day. They are also paying a good amount of salary which is quite higher than outside the Mutt people are getting. Besides the salary you will get free meals also.

The villagers always say that such people go to get job in Sri Mutt those who are not able to get job outside.  So Nagananda does not want to get job in Sri Mutt. He thinks that there are so many workers in Sri Mutt who have not passed even SSLC. ‘I am B.A. from JCBM collage’. He feels that he is more educated than any of the worker who serves prasadam in Sri Mutt. “If I work in Sri Mutt villagers will not respect me.”

Farmer – Don’t think so, my dear son. Hard worker always gets respect everywhere. Idle people are not respected in any society.

Son –. Look at my friend Hareesha. He is still studying in Sanskrit Collage. He always goes to mutt to have lunch. All the Sanskrit Collage students go there only to have mahaprasadam. I think they all are go to Sanskrit collage for so many years because Sri Mutt provides free lunch. Look at me, I completed my college education within three years. But after 8 years of studying they are still going to college. If I ask anybody they say that we are doing Ph.D. Is it not time pass studying ? I competed my graduation within 3 years. Am I look like idle ? I don’t want to pass the time. So I am trying to get job in the city.

Shrungeshwarayya wanted to tell him that he also wasted 3 years after completion of the graduation in the name of hunting the job. But he did not tell, because if he tell that Nagananda will be discouraged and his only son may be take it not so easy. Consequently/gradually he may be mentally disturbed and it may cause mental illness also. 

Farmer – Its really good my dear son. But until you get the job, you must do some work whatever you can. You can do something in our agricultural field.

Son – No dad, you don’t insist me to do that. I must be employed by getting even a small job in town. Afterwards you ask me anything about other work.

***

Hareesha became friend of Nagananda when he goes to house of Harish Bhat a Pujari of Durgadevasthanam while learn Some Vedic Suktas like Purusha Sukta, ShreeSukta, Rudraprashna Chamakaprashna, Ganesha Atharvasheersha Durga Sukta etc. Actually Nagananda was not interested in learning Vedic Mantras. But his father forcefully made him joined in this class when he was in I PUC. His father Shrungeshwarayya always calls Harish Bhat for any kind of rituals performed in his house especially Durgapuja and two Shraddhas of his parents.

Once Harish Bhat asked Shrungeshwarayya about Nagananda’s studies when he was studying in 10 std. Harish Bhat insisted – “Srungeshwarayya,  please get admitted Nagananda in Sadvidya Sanjeevini Pathashala after completion of 10^th std. An average student like Nagananda if join in the Pathashala he can learn Veda completely and if he wish to study further he can get command over the Shastras also. Beacause of the blessings of Jagadgurus and because of the grace of Godess Sharadamba your son will become good Vidwan with profound Indian traditional knowledge.” But after completion of 10^th Nagananda denied to get admitted in Pathashala. When Shrungeshwarayya asked the reason, Nagananda told –“Dad, Shikha is compulsory if  I get admitted in Pathashala. I don’t want to put Shikha in my head”.

“Why my dear son ? All of the students in Pathashala put shikha. Not only you. In Srimutt also each and every priest put Shikha. What is wrong with that ?” Shrungeshwarayya asked.

Dad, there are thousands of brahmana families In and around Sringeri we can see. There are only a few Purohitas put Shikha. I saw some elderly people are teasing for their shikha among our relatives also. In my class also one of the tamil ayyangar student put Shikha, was being teased always by all the students. So I don’t want to get admitted in Pathashala.

Srungeshwarayya understands the psychology of Nagananda and asked to Harish Bhat – “I know the most sacred texts of Sanatana Dharma  are Vedas. They are called the primary source of Scientific, religious, spiritual knowledge. They should be learnt by every sanatani. But this Shikha will be the main obstacle to learn such great texts. Should not this tradition be reformed ?”

Harish Bhat told – “Srungeshwarayya, don’t think so. Indeed, Vedas are sacred texts. These texts are not simple to learn as others texts. One who gives importance to the views of others upon him than his studies, how can he attain such a sacred knowledge ? The person who wants to study such sacred texts, he should not be bothered about what others opine his appearance. He should render himself entirely into his studies.”

“But Harish Bhatre, I can understand this. In the olden days the gurukulas were in the middle of deep forests. Once a child enter to the gurukulam, he come out only after the completion of his education there for at least 12 years. There were no any questions of discouraging the students by society regarding their Shikha or else. But now a days Vedas and Shastras not remained as only source of knowledge for livelihood. So people think education means schools and collages, that’s it.”

“I agree Shrungeshwarayya. Only a few of people sacrifice their life by doing extra ordinary work in each and every filed. But others claim for their share of fruit of that hard work to relish it without doing any sacrifice. Let me give you an example – Vinayaka Damodar Savarkar was punished for two times of Life imprisonment. That means 25=25=50 years of imprisonment. Vasudeva Balavanta Phadke, Chapekar Brothers, Chandrashekhar Ajad, Bhagat Sigh, Lal, Bala, Pal, … had sacrificed their lives for the sake of Independence India. But who enjoyed the independence ? All the Indians or not.  ( It is different thing that one man  enjoyed the power of prime ministership for 17 years without doing such struggle and without having the ability to lead the nation in right direction)   Likewise in the field of Vedic education some people should work hard and do sacrifice for the welfare of mass. It doesn’t matter whether your son get admitted into Pathashala or not. But a true disciple of Pathashala/Gurukula should be ready to sacrifice his worldly/materialistic desires while studying.

Ha, let me tell you one thing that you can send Nagananda to my house every evening. I will teach him some vadic suktas if your son will not be convinced to go to Pathashala. He need not put Shikha also.

Nagananda suddenly said “It is O.K for me”. He thought that instead of get admitted into Pathashala by putting Shikha, it is better to learn Suktas in evening in the Harish Bhat’s house. Srungeshwarayya also nodded to send Nagananda there.

***

2

Hareesha is from a middle class religious/ family. He born and brought up in his village Kabbinale of Udupi District. His father owned 16 acres of agricultural land in that village. Kabbinale is situated in the western ghat edge of coastal district Udupi. It falls in the middle of thick forest of western ghats with the climate of coastal belt.  Hareesha studied up to 4^th standard in the Govt. Primary School, Melmata Kabbinale.  This school was situated 1 KM away from his house. It is adjacent to Melmata Lakshminarayana Temple of Kabbinale Village. So it is called as Melmatha School (Mitta Shale). He started to go to school with his two sisters and two brothers when he was in the age of three years. The sole teacher of the school Venkappa Master does not teach small kids. Kid like Hareesha sits with his sisters or brothers in any class which doesn’t mater to anybody including teacher Venkappa Master. When Hareesha was admitted to first standard there were 8 students in his class. In second standard there were only four students Anitha, Ashwath, Umakant and Karunakar. In 3^rd standard there were Sudhakara Pujari, Manjula and Ratna.

In the 4^th std. there was no any student.

In each Saturday Venkappa Master does not take the classes. In that day students of all classes gather in the back portion of the school and start to sing the bhajans. Some of the students put the Portrait/Photo of the Lord Lakshminarayana in the chair before the students and decorate it with local flowers collected by students. In the end of the session one of the senior students goes to the Portrait/Photo, performs the Puja with Neerajanam. In between Bajan Venkappa Master silently comes and sits in his chair and does his record keeping work. There are two coconut trees in the school premises. There yields about 200 coconuts annually. So in each Saturday one coconut is used to prepare Panchakajjaya of Avalakki. Venkappa Master brings boll of Jaggary and 250 grams of Avalakki and hand it over to senior students who prepare the panchakajjaya. As soon as puja get completed panchakajjaya will be distributed to all students as prasadam and then they get disbursed.

Hareesha did not speak Kannada till he admitted to school. Even though everybody knows Kannada in his house, still he started to speak Kannada after admitting to school. Actually almost all families are speaking Tulu as mother tongue in Udupi and Manglore Districts except the Kundapura Taluk. Hareesha’s  mother was from Hemmadi of Kundapura where all the people speak only Kannada, and most of them even can’t understand Tulu. Because of Hareesha is the last son of his parents, his mother and all his siblings speak Tulu, he also started with Tulu only.

In the first day itself when Hareesha returned to home for lunch he spoke his mother that “Amma nanu snana madtene ”. His mother was so happy to listen his son a Kannada sentence at first time.

               Sudarshana his cousin was also admitted to the 1^st standard and his elder brother Raghupati in the 4^th standard. Their house is there in Perala which is 2 .5 KM away from his house. 1.5 KM of pathway in the paddy field of Shivaramadi, Aruvara, Bailumane, Kudumannu and Chinkmaru. Two revers should be crossed and 1 KM of pathway in the thick forest also to reach home.

               One Saturday after having the lunch in Hareesha’s house Sudarshana Invited Hareesha to his house. In the beginning Hareesha’s father denied to send. But Raghpati told him that Balu will come to Majjigudde to carry them where forest route starts. So Hareesha’s father agreed to send. Hareesha and Sudarshana become so happy and the were hurry to depart from there. All of the three Hareesha Sudarshana and Raghupati reached Majjigudde within 20 minutes. They thought to wait for Balu in the entrance of the forest way only. They waited for another 30 minutes. No sign of Balu they got. Again they spent 30 more minutes. Still Balu was not reached there. Now it is becoming dark. 5.45 crossed. Now all of they decided to start journey by talking very loudly, so that any wild animal may not attack them because of loud voice. When they reach the top most up in the forest Balu was coming towards them. All of the three now took a long breath/sighed with anger in a corner of the mind. Anyway they reached their destination Perala. Chikkamma also become tension free now to see her children with Hareesha and Balu. She served Uddina Kadubu and tea for all of the three with Sambar of cucumber. Balu already had Kadubu twice before departing to Majjigudde to bring his younger brothers.

After having the Kadubu, Sudarshana asked his mother to give Pagade Mane by which they play Pagadeyata with full of joy.Chikkamma herself brought the Pagademane and Pagadekayi and started as one among them. All are happy to play with her. 

Perala is a 12 acres of agricultural land stretched inside the thick forest owned by Hareesha’s Chikkappa. From Majjigudde it takes 15 minutes by walk. Beacause Perala is located in the top of steep hill it takes that much of time to reach there. Actual distance is only 01 KM. from Majjigudde.

Besides 12 acres of agricultural land Chikkappa encroached additionally 10 more acres of forest land not to develop as an estate but to protect agricultural land from immediate attack of wild animals. He himself ploughs the 8 acres of paddy field every year with the help of Sanjeeva Hasala. He had 2 pairs of buffaloes. One pair used by Chikkappa and other pair by Sanjeeva to plough. He grows paddy yearly twice. Hitta Bettu and Mittabettu are two groups of paddy fields each carries 4 acres. Remaining 4 acres of land used for Areca Plantation and residential purpose including goshala and front yard and back yard.

In 1983  Chikkapa Purchased a Huller a machine which make rice from paddy. Chandranna of Sampige had given him the information about that machine and helped to purchase that. Chikkappa built a shed for that machine. There was no dust remover. So chikkamma herself was doing that job with Tadpe/mora whenever urgency.   Otherwise Gowri the wife of Sanjeeva Hasala does that job.

There was a comparatively big goshala of 16 cows and 4 buffaloes. All the cows were native breaded called Malnad Gidda. They give very less quantity of milk. But the milk is very very pure and medicinal in quality. The cows are divine in nature. They are nature-friendly also. They never fall ill.  

Hareesha stayed in Perala in that day and continued in Sunday also. Monday morning directly he came to school with Sudarshana and Raghupati. In this way started to visit Perala often. But when he comes to 2^nd standard Raghupati and Sudarshan sent to Konkanarabettu Higher Primary School. So next three years he did not visit Peral.

****

In the month of Sona Hareesha  used to go temple daily from his early school days. In the  temple premises all the youths are used to play Kabaddi before Shakha Preyer. Even though Hareesha was so young, (when he studying in 1^st standard) still he was joining to play with elders like youths. Affectionately they used to sent him to ride some times. Sometimes his rides become succeed. So the Shakha Pramukh Hampe Chandranna loves him very well. Hampe Chandranna was the leader for all youths of the village.  He was the role model for all the villagers.  He is also the administrative chief of the temple also. After the Kabbaddi all are go to Kalyani(Pond of the temple) to wash their hands. And then gather in the temple to do bhajans. After the bhajan all of them come to ground to perform prayer of Shakha. After the Shakha prayer Puja-Arathi will be held. Panchakajjaya Prasadam is distributed. Then all are disbursed to their home at about 9.30 pm. 

Chandranna is the son of Hareesha’s uncle Hampe Anantayya Hebbar(called as Doddappa). When ever Chandranna comes to temple to look after the infrastructural work of temple if sees Hareesha affectionately bring him up and put him in his shoulder even though his clothes were dirty due to playing in the ground with mud. Usually if anybody sees children in this condition may talk to them affectionately but keeps distance. Chandranna was not so. He loves children very much especially Hareesha. Actually he was then 28 year old. He was unmarried. He fell in love with a girl of Shivaramadi. He helps villagers in many ways. He owned a Goods Tempo.  In those days there was no any four wheeler in the village except his tempo. To carry the bags of areca nuts to city like karkala and bring grocery and fertilizers from the city, all the villagers used to ask Chandranna only. For that he charges very less amount, so that people can afford it. He arranged rice making Hullers to so many villagers who are staying in remote area.  In those days 

 

3

 Venkappa Master never went to school before 11.30am. He has 7/8 cows in his Goshala. So he always used to cut two heaps of grass for them. And 2 heaps of green leaves for bedding of cows in his goshala. His wife passed away when she delivered Vinay. He had 5 daughters and five sons. Vinay was eldest one. Venkappa Master loves his daughters more than sons. He behaves rude with his sons also as with his students. He beats his students by wooden scale when they unable to understand what he teaches. Sometimes if he does not get any unbroken scale he used to squeezes ears of students or beats the cheeks of the students well. So many students frightened to him and deny to go to school. Because his harsh attitude a very less number of students get admitted to school.

He teaches less to first and second standards but more to 3^rd and 4^th standards. 3^rd and 4^th std students have both half yearly and annual exam. When Hareesha was studying in second standard Venkappa Master wrote down a patriotic song “Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyara” on the black board and taught how to sing it. In the month of June he wrote it and keep that for three months. Further nothing he taught for 3 months. In those days there was no half yearly exam or annual exam for 1^st and 2^nd std students. So Venkappa Master simply ignore to teach 1^st and 2^nd std students. Hareesha and his classmates simply glance at the black board and begin to start chat with each other through out the day.

Venkappa Master has a skill of singing melodiously. Actually he is trained to sing Yakshagana Verses in his early ages only. He sang oftenly  Yakshagana verses as Bhagavataru in the village in several occasions. Bhagavata means one who sings Yakshagana Verses and total commanding authority of total presentation of Yakshagana Play. Because of singing skill he used to sing the Kannada poems of each of the classes nicely. Hareesha and others like it very much.  He always put emphasis on correct pronunciation of Kannada letters. That’s why Hareesha and all other students don’t  feel any problem regarding the pronunciation of any language in their future life.

Venkappa Master always wear Dhoti and a towel as upper garment. In the costal Districts of Karnataka temperature falls always 30*C to 40*C. In addition to that he works for 3/4 hours in his agricultural land before going to school. So his body temperature automatically goes high. So he doesn’t want to wear shirts while going to school. He wears shirt only when he goes outside the village. Students were very happy to play games in school for long time. Because he never reaches school before 11.30 am. After noon he reaches after 3.30 pm. He takes the one period for each 3^rd and 4^th classes. So afternoon also students get huge time to play in the field.

***

Hareesha’s elder brother Karuna became a classmate in 2^nd standard. He is 2 and half year elder than him. When Karuna took birth he did not get enough milk from his mother’s breast. It caused him starvation. Because of starvation so many neighbours used to loose some comments upon him. He become gradually ignored child among the society. So he could not do well in the school days in early ages. He was unable to respond to teacher  in classroom. So Venkappa Master failed him once in 1^st std. and again once in 2^nd standard. So he became classmate to Hareesha in 2^nd std. After getting Hareesha as a beloved companion the enthusiasm is being sprouted gradually in Karuna. Hareesha and Karuna became good friends for ever.

Umakanta is the son of Ramanna Hebbar of Jarnabettu. His age was same to Karuna’s age. He was also put in the same 2^nd std by Venkappa Master even though he was the close relative. Santosha a younger bother of Umakanta has the same story that he failed to come to second standard when Hareesha passed to 2^nd std. Both the Umakanta and Santosha were over cared by their mother. If Venkappa Master squeezes the ears of any one of the sons once, the their mother Saraswati stops from go to school both sons for two days. There is a small river between the house of Hareesha and the school which has no bridge. There is a wooden bridge near by the Kambala Gadde of Kelamane which connects Gulelu, Hondadarkal, Langadu and Darkasu dwellers with school and temple. But Hareesha and his Karuna don’t want to use that bridge because that bridge always become slippery due to rain. Hareesha and his friends cross the rever nearby the Posamata which was the one of the paddy fields of Hareesha’s father owns. Here wooden bridge is not built every year. Hareesha and Karuna were so dare that they cross the river by holding some shoots of plants called Nekki Soppu grown in the river. But Saraswati fears to send her sons to school when ever it rains heavy and river flows with huge current of rainy water. So her both sons absent in school almost half of the monsoon season.    Sometimes adivasi dwellers of Mattavu come and build a wooden bridge by cutting 3 or 4 old areca trees of Hareesha’s father’s areca plantation. It survives for 4 to 6 months. During the  rainy season of four months there will be huge water flows in this river with tremendous speed. So it is so risky to cross the river without bridge.

School is situated 1 km away from Hareesha’s house. Still he with Kaaruna starts at 8.30 am only. Teacher Venkappa Master come only after 11.30am. The elders resist them not to leave the home before 9.30am. But Hareesha and Karuna want to go to school so early to play with other schoolmates there. After the rainy season even though the flow of water in the river becomes very low still Hareesha and Karuna don’t want to go school nearest Posamata route. At first go to Jarnabettu which is 500 meter away, where he joins Umakanta and Santosha and then all the four go through the paddy fields of Jarnabettu, Bandarabettu and Areca Plantations of Shivaramadi and Kemmoli. And the they get road to school near the house of Kemmoli Vishnumurty Bhat. If the walk for 500 meter in this road they get their school. Totally Hareesha hand his brother start their journey at 8.30 am from their home and gothrough the above said route of 2.5 KM. and reach the school at 9.30am. Nearby the Shivaramadi one of the Jamboo Tree is there. Jamboo tree is such a tree that gives fruits thrice in a year. The red blossom of the Jamboo tree looks so beautiful. These boys do not wait for fruit become very well grown and sweety.  In the beginning itself red flowers of the future Jamboo fruit are also can be consumed. Hareesh and his team don’t miss this chance ever. After ten fifteen days all the stingy petals of Jamboo flowers fall down. The tender jamboo fruit which tastes very sour. Still it is not being untouched by them. Some times owner of that tree Shivaramadi Appana becomes angry to see these boys plucking the flowers and consume, but he controls himself not to scold these naive boys. In the same way Hareesha and team collect some other junglee fruits(Cheermullu Kayi, Bolmaru Parndu, Beerpuli etc.) in the both sides of the road.

Girls of the school collect huge quantity of red seed which is called in local language as Channe Kayi. It has strong  shell  like Badam. But girls easily break the shell by putting and biting in between the jaws. Once Hareesh astonished to see the underneath of the bench of the girls where the heap of the shell of red seed was there. He asked them how to cut the seed shell and learned to cut and came to know the taste of the seed. From that day onwards he also started to collect the seed and consume it with his friends.

Since the month of February his team changed the route of returning from school. It is by entering into the coconut plantation of Melmane and go through Paddy field of Kelamane they get Kambala gadde (A large paddy field used to traditional race of buffaloes) In the eastern side of the Kambla Gadde there is a areca plantation of Kajane Venkatesha Hebbar.   In between the Kambala Gadde and Areca plantation a line of mango trees of near about twenty in number. Venkatesha Hebbar is very old aged agriculturist who lost his 28 year old son. Even though he has two daughters, still death of his son haunts him severely. His house is in hilly area Kajane which is 2 K.M. away from this areca plantation. So he is not interested to develop his areca plantation. He come to the plantation only twice in a year, once to spray Bordeaux mixture and again once to pluck the areca nut. That’s all. He simply ignores the mangroves and doesn’t want to sale the mangos. So the Hareesha and team utilise this opportunity to pluck the mangoes each and every day in the month of February and March and from tender to fully grown.  Actually Hareesha was taught to pluck mangoes there by Raghavendra of Gulelu who was studying in 4^th standard when Hareesha was in 2^nd std.

When Hareesha admitted to 3^rd standard with Karuna and Umakanta, Shivaprasa and his sister Jayamala  of Kelabettu got admitted into 4^th and 2^nd standard respectively. Earlier they were studying in Ujire where their maternal grandfather’s house is situated. After admitting shivaprasad into 4^th standard there become two boys in that class, Shivaprasad and Ashwath Bhat who was studying from beginning itself in that school. He is the fifth son of priest Madhusudana Bhat of Kelamata. Both Shivaprasad and Ashwath were so cute. One has dark complexion  and another  is white. Whike teaching mathematics Venkappa Master doest not mess to beat in smooth cheeks of Shivaprasad which look like burnt black brinjal,  and squees into three twists of white ears of Ashwath Bhat which look like red slice of tomato.

Once Vasanti a daughter of Pokru Hasala of Gampa comes to school after a long leave of one and half month. She was studying in 2^nd  standard^.  Venkappa Master became very angry and called her to him where he sat in the chair. She reached him with so much of fear. She was trembling when she reaches him. He caught her right ear and started squeezing it through his left hand and beaten her left cheek by his right hand. Because of shock Vasanti could not control the flow of her urine which fell upon Venkappa Master’s feet. His anger become boundless. You can imagine what happened then.   All these were happening in front of  third standard students Hareesha, Karuna and Umakanta only. And girls Sahana, Varalakshmi and Usha and Shyamala. Whenever Umakanta sees this kind of furious actions, reports it to his mother as soon as he arrives the house. She becomes  so frightened and denies to send Umakant and Santosh two three days. Then again Venkappa Master becomes angry and punishes in the same way. It happens always. So after the annual exam Umakant became fail in 3^rd standard.

In those days most of the parents do not be bothered by these kinds of actions of Venkappa Master. If students compliant it in their homes elders simply ignore it or used to say that “you children only might have committed some mischievous mistakes. That’s why he gives punishment to you”. So maximum number of students don’t complaint parents.  They know it will be futile.

***

Kurumbilu is a tenant living in a small hut with her five children in the corner of areca plantation of Bandarabettu Narayana Bhat.  She belongs to Gowda community which is not connected with the popular Okkaliga community in other parts of Karnataka. In Kabbinale Gowdas are called as Girijans who are categorised in a scheduled tribe. In front of her hut in the eastern side there is a small stream of about 10 feet width flows. The other side of the stream there is a stretched agricultural land of Hareesha’s father.

The youngest daughter of Kurumbilu Jayalakshmi was the classmate of Hareesha in first standard. She leaves the school later on.

 Bandarabettu Narayana Bhat has nearly 8 acres of agricultural land. He needs a family of labours to maintain his land. But was unable to pay attention to his land. Kurumbilu also has on idea of planned work sequence. She can do the work if Narayana Bhat asks to do any particular work. But she doesn’t have such a talent or skill to do with her own. Narayana Bhat always goes outside to work as cook in programmes. So he minimum 3 days out of a week stays outside. So she felt uncomfortable to do labour work in his agricultural land without any instruction. Meanwhile Hareesha’s father and Jarnabettu Shamanna Hebbar once offered Kurumbilu to work in their agricultural land. They promised her that if she agree they will help to construct a hut to her in between the two agricultural lands of Both Ramanna  and Shamanna Hebbars.

Kurumbilu discussed with her children Susheela, Ratna, Govinda Rama and Jayalakshmi. Govinda feels no more extra benefit because he always goes to forest to collect Honey, Dalchinni flowers, Ramapatre, and etc. By selling this in the town he earns enough money. Do does not go to any house of agriculturist to do labour work. So he was neutral. Rama also followed his brother. Susheela and Ratna agreed to accept the offer. Because they thought that anyhow house will be new one, whether it will be grass roofed or else. Both are agreed to work in Ramanna and Shyamanna Hebbar’s agricultural land.

Within 6 months a big hut with one kitchen, a living room and a narrow sit out with a raised platform is inaugurated.  The inaugural ceremony of that house celebrated with some local ritual with Chau Chau Bhaath and badam milk. Hareesha with Karuna Sudarshana Umakanta and Santosha happily joined the ceremony. Actually all the children were vey happy to have Kesaribhath by sitting on the raised platform of sit out of the house.

After two days Susheela and Ratna started to do the labour work in the Hareesha’s Agricultural land. They come at 9 am. Do the work for an hour. They  cut the shoots of the plants in the non agricultural land stretched behind the house of Hareesha. They make two Hore of shoots of the plants. It takes about 1 hour to them.  Then they get a break of half an hour for break fast with tea. Then again start the work up to 1 o’clock. Make again two Hore of shoots of the plants. It takes time upto 11.30am. They bring that Hore to cattle Shed (Goshala) and spread there as bed to cattle. Then they take a small break for drinking water with the piece of jaggary. Then they got o areca plantation and collects the dry leaves of areca plants. Put in the shape of heap upon the stand made by pieces of areca nut tree inside the plantation itself.   At 1pm. they go to their home to have lunch. Again come back at 3.00 pm. Cup of coffee served to them. After having coffee, they start grass cutting work. Make 4 Hore of grass for cattle. 

While leaving that day mother of Hareesha tells hareesha to give them each a Seru(1 Kg.) of Boiled rice. Their daily wage then was Rs.2/- per day with a Seru(1 Kg.) of Boiled Rice. Hareesha measures the rice and put into separate bowls give them. Both of them stretch their Pallos of their Saree, make raounded globe like shape, tie round the neck of the globe and departs to home with 4/5 wet areca nuts to chew the beetle leaf in their home at night.

Kurumbilu does not do labhour work, because she thinks that she now became old. She only prepares Boiled rice Gunji twice in a day, morning and night. In between she wonders in the Areca plantation of Hareeshas house collects a few areca nuts, remove the sippe/peal and cut into  small pieces, fill in to a small cloth bag hanged in her Sonta  start to chew with bettle leaf through out the day.

***

When Hareesha was in the 2^nd standard, after the mid term vacation Venkappa Master was called to attend one month training course in Mangalore. In the absence of Venkappa Master there was no any facility of substitution in the department. This story is same in almost all the schools of Karnataka. All schools in that time are running like one man army. So as per the instruction of BEO, Venkappa Master told the students to go to Konkanarabettu Higher Primary School for one month. There were more than hundred students studying. But there were only two teachers working. Between two, one is deputed to one month training in Manglore, as Venkappa Master deputed. So the remained one teacher was handling all the students. He was coming from Hebri by bicycle. He called by students as cycle master. Students don’t know his actual name. No one dares to ask his name also. The 8 K.M. road from Hebri to school was not tarred yet. There was so many ups in the road towards the school. Still the one and only teacher reaches the school in time. He teaches only from 5^th to 7^th standards only. In the beginning of the day, he opens the attendance book and ask all the students to come to him when he calls the name one by one. Each and every Students should extend his right hand when the teacher calls his name. The teacher beats by foot roll to extended hands of the students so that he can ensure that the student is really present in that day. From 1^st standard to 5^th standard students get only this much of benefit from the school. That’s all.

At the end of the month the another teacher rejoined his duty in the school after the completion of one month training. He also comes from outside only. But he comes by his own Bajaj Scooter. He parks his two wheeler near the borewell. Boys of 7 the standard instructed to clean the scooter daily. Students are so happy to do that because in those days in that village there was on any scooter. In the village like Kabbinale there was hardly any can see any scooter. Actually, in those days anyone who wants to buy a scooter he had to wait for a year after booking. So purchasing a scooter was not so easy task. According to Swamy’s handbook (In which service rules and regulations of central govt. employees can be see) – there was a provision of availing loan for even bicycle also. That means up to 3/4 decades of independence these kinds of very primary things also were not affordable to mass. So students think it was their destiny to touch that scooter every day. Actually Hareesha and others also want to touch that. But the teacher strictly told that only 7^th standard students can do the cleaning of the scooter.  Still the other students go to nearby the borewell and see the scooter is being washed by elder students during lunch break.

***

In Hareesha’s house so many beggars come always especially during festival season. It was the system of that house the father of Hareesha calls Hareesha or Karuna to bring a coconut after extract the peel and give to beggers. Karuna goes to heap of coconuts in the shed, choose a big coconut, removes the peel in Shula, gives to beggar.  Beggars again ask “Ayya nalk adke kodini (Master, please give me a few areca nuts)”. Shyamanna says – Hareesha, Karuna, give him a few areca nuts. Hareesha rens to upper yard and comes back with palmful of areca nuts and gives to beggar. Beggars again ask give them a small amount money as beggary. Shyamanna says we never give money to any beggar. If you want more I will give you additionally one more coconut. Beggars silently start to depart.

Karuna become an expert to peel the coconut. When he admitted to Konkanarabettu school his expertise becomes useful. As soon as rainy season ends Vasudeva of Neertodu starts to sell ice candy and ice creams. He brings ice cream in a box specially designed to put in the carrier of bicycle from Hebri.   In the beginning Hareesha and Karuna somehow able to manage some money as they collected

In the month of Sona(30 days from Tula Sankramana) Sonarati be performed in the Lakshminaranayana Temple at night. Before starting the Sonarati Puja Brahmapuja is performed in Brahmasthanam which is opposite to the Lakshminarayana Temple. There is Rajandaiva  called Kodamanittaya and Kukkentaya and associated thirteen Daivas like Panjurli, Kalkuttiga, Maindalamma, Bobbarya, etc. Panchakajjaya is prepared and render to all the Daivas. For putting the Panchakajjaya on the piece of Banana leaf as Naivedya, some volunteers are needed. In the evening at about 6.30 pm. Hareesha and Karuna did not miss this opportunity. In this brahmasthanapuja Kittanna of Kelamane was attending to prepare naivedya and render the Coconut to Kodamanittaya. It is the one of the ancestral duty performed by Kelamane family. After the Kittanna’s death, Channappanna started to perform this duty. The Archaka Ramachandra Bhat was appointed by Patler of the village performs the puja of all Daivas. This puja is always performed in the presence of Patler only. So  the elder family member of the Melmane attends here without fail. Usually Gopanna(Gopalakrishna Hebbar an younger brother of Patler Anantayya Hebbar)

               When Hareesha was in 4^th standard there were 6 students in his class. Umakanta remained in 3 standard only , because of very less attendance. Varalakshmi Shyamala Usha anda Sahana and Karuna  were his classmates. Lakshminarayana younger brother of Sahana was studying in 2^nd standard. After the mid term vacation one new teacher was appointed. His name is Seetarama Shetty. He occupied small room of the school to reside there. There was no any house if he wants to take as rental. He

 He was young and energetic. He was telling the Ramayana story every day after having lunch. It was so interesting to all. He teaches the students very affectionately. At 4 o’clock he brings all students to ground in front of the school.  He makes the students to play so many native games like Huli dana, Lagori, keredada, Kappe Ota, etc. So, all the children were so happy to have Seetarama Shetty as their teacher. Parents also came to know that Seetarama Shetty does well. So they also render the gratitude to him whenever they meet him. Especially mother of Sahana Ramapushpa occasionally come to temple with Hannukayi(Flowers and Fruits) certainly meets Seetarama Shetty and tell him to take special care for her son Puttanna(Lakshminarayana). Seetarama Shetty replies that – “your both the children do their best in studies. Puttanna is so nice and genius boy, he needs no any special care. Sahana also good girl. Our Venkappa Master also says that I have never beaten her because of her sincere study.” Ramapushpa become so happy to listen to him and gives him some fruits and with hurry leaves to home by saying – I have to prepare lunch for 12 labhours. Today is Sankashti, So I came here in the temple to render the Hannukayi. My husband will scold me if I will not be able to prepare lunch in time”

***

               After completion of 4^th standard Hareesha and Karuna admitted in Konkanarabettu Higher Primary School which is 4 KM away from his house. There was no any vehicle facility to go to school. By walk only all the students reach the school. Some students come from even for away like Kuchchuru, Kajane, Durga, Pullantbettu, Beerbettu, etc.

Sudarshan now became the classmate of Hareesha. From 2^nd standard to 4th standard Sudarshan was not studying in Hareesha’s school. He was admitted to Konkanarabettu Higher Primary school in 2^nd standard. His brother Raghupati then admitted to 5^th standard there.

In those days Cricket was the popular game everywhere in India. In 1983 Indian cricket  team won the world cup in the captainship of Kapildev. The legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri .… were the famous cricket players. Inthose days there was no television anywhere in this village. In 1986 one colour TV was bought by Krishna Bayari of Balegundi. But his daughter in laws not interested to watch cricket. They always watch TV only when some entertainment programmes transmitted.  The craze of cricket was not even sprouted in elders. But younger generation was very much attracted to cricket. They always listened to radio commentary of the cricket match. It doesn’t matter to them that where ever it may be held, which ever match it is. Nobody knows then English or Hindi. But through the commentary, they can easily come to know the score whether it is in  English or in Hindi. So many people switch on their transistor while they do any labour work any where to listen the cricket commentary. The effect of this can be easily traced in schools. In that Konkanarabettu school also students started to play cricket. Sudarshan was in 4^th standard. One of the evening in the cricket match in the school play ground he was doing the job of wicket keeper. Sudhakar Pujari was in the crease. Gulelu Raghavendra was bowler. Raghavendra was comparatively was taller than any of the other in that school. So he himself thought that I am Kapil Dev of this school. So he naturally plays as fast bowler. Unfortunately in that day in the last boll thrown  in such a way that the ball hit the stump speedly, Sudarshan focussed his sight on boll to catch it. But in between the tip of the  stump hit his right eye. Suddenly blood come out. All the students became scared and frightened extremely to see the blood. Raghavendra started to trembling. Sudhakar ran to the Headmaster. HM with other two teachers rushed to ground. HM suddenly took his hand kerchief and tied Sudarshan’s eye. There was only two bikes were there in the village, one is owned by Govindabettu Anantayya Hebbar and another one  is owned his friend Kesaribail Kittanna. Govindabettu is 5 km away from the school. But Kesaribail is only one K.M. away. So HM sent Rajashekhara Bayari of Durga who then studying in 5^th std. with Pradeep the son of Kittanna who is in 2^nd std. so that Kittanna may understand the depth of the problem and come quickly. Within 15 minutes Kittanna came. Kittanna asked the HM to inform the parents of Sudarshan. HM sent Sudhakara Pujari to Perala to inform sudarshana’s father Padmanabha Hebbar.  KIttanna doesn’t want to waste the time. So he started his Yazidi bike told the HM to sit in the back side with Sudarshan and Raghupati. Totally four are started towards Govt. Hospital Hebri in his bike. Evan though Moojimudi route is not tarred, still Kittanna had chosen that one only so that he can reach Hebri  by crossing the dry Moojimudi River carefully. There was no any doctor in duty. Previous doctor was transferred to Mudabidri last week. New one from Udupi was not interested to join in Hebri. So he was trying to cancel his transfer order. So sister Kamalabai made the first aid and suggest to admit him in Manipal Hospital.

Now Kittanna decided to take taxi from Hebri to Manipal Hospital. He Sent Raghupati to nearby Nellibettu Govindanna’s house where he can pass that night. With the HM he started towards Manipal by taxi. At about 7.30 pm. he reached the hospital and admitted  Sudarshan there in the emergency ward. Sudarshan was unconscious when he admitted. At first Doctor arranged glucose drip to him and asked to Kittanna  that – too much of blood is poured. So immediately blood is required. Who is there from your side to donate the blood ?

Kittanna  told – I am ready to donate.

Doctor told – first we have to check your sugar level and BP. Then only we will take.

Kittanna told. Don’t worry doctor, I donate my blood often. No need to check.  6 months back I have given the blood to Kittu Pujari labour of my rice mill.

Doctor accepted and send him to that section of the hospital to donate the blood.

After half an hour Sudarshan became conscious. But he did not come to know that where he is ? Sudarshana’s elder brother Sheshagiri, Naganna, and his parents surrounded him with HM and Kittanna. Sudarshana mother Satyamma was unable to control herself. But she never blamed openly God or Daivas in any furious condition. So now also she simply touch the forehead of the Sudarshan in the right hand and cover her mouth and nose with edge of her saree’s pallu.

Docter Madhusudan said – Look Mr. Hebbar ji, Wond can be cured with in a month. But I can’t give you guarantee about his vision in right eye. The stump damaged the entire retina of the right eye. He can mange 90% of his work with his left eye only. But he should be careful in future about his left eye and must not put much pressure on this eye. Left eye will be tiered soon if he watch TV or cinema in theatre more than an hour. Sudarshan did not feel bad because he has not watched any cricket match in TV till date. Because there was no any TV in his village at that time. One day match takes minimum three hours for first half and again three hours for second half. So it would be harmful if he would have watched TV for one day series. There was no question of watching the film in theatre, because he is living in such a place where he should walk 12 km to Hebri and again should travel by bus for one and half hours to Udupi if he would like to watch film. He had watched first film in his life in Kumta 2 years back with Hareesha when he was studying in 2^nd standard. Afterwards he forgot that he had watched the film. So doctor’s warning did not make him upset. But his mother felt so bad. She starts to think – “In future he should study at least to stand himself upon his feet. If he will be tired within an hour in his study because of single vision, how can he achieve in his studies ?” But she doesn’t say anything. She hardly expresses or shares her anxieties or sorrows or any difficulties.

               Sudarshana’s father, Sheshagiri Naganna discussed each other - who should stay in the hospital ? Sheshagiri said - I have to go to Milk dairy at 7 o’clock. I am the secretory of milk dairy. So Naganna said – I and amma will stay here with Sudarshana. So you can go along with appayya and Kittanna. Naganna rendered gratitude to Kittanna. Sheshagiri, appayya and Kittanna departed by taxi at 11.pm. They reached Hebri at 12. 15 am. Kittanna said – I get down here only. My bike is here. I will come by bike. Padmanabha Hebbar also get down and closed his palm in namaskara mudra and said to Kittanna – I never forget your help Kittanna. Kittanna said. It is nothing Hebbarre, in my place anybody was there he would have done it. Sheshagirianna also got down and render his gratitude. They both went by taxi up to Majjigudde via Mudradi. They reached home at 01.30 am.

***

There were three teachers in Konkanarabettu Higher Primary School - Devanna Nayak, Disouza, and Krishnaveni. In the 5^th standard all of the papers were being taught by Disouza only. She was looking very nice but furious to all while doing class work. She used to beat the students very cruelly by sticks. Once in the mathematics class she beat in such a way that so many students wounded, and blood came out from the wounds of all. Hareesha decided on that day only to leave the school next year. And he literally did it. He talked to his elder brother Subrahmanya who was studying there in 8^th standard.

***

Subrahmanya studied his higher primary at Hebri only. Then there was no any bus facility to Kabbinale to Hebri. Only one Bus “Deviprasad” which starts from Bacchappu to Udupi daily thrice at 7am, 11 am and 3 am. From home to Bacchappu there are 8 K.Ms.  The bus was not convenient to the students of Kabbinale to go to School in Hebri. So Subrahmanya along with his two elder sisters stayed in the small hut like house of Gopalacharya in Kuchchuru road of Hebri. The house had one Kitchen and one living room of totally 150 square feet. Same kind of three houses were there in that building. There was no toilet at all. In 1985 AD. it was common in all over the world except some cities and some developed countries. Raw floor of the house was not cemented in any of the three houses. But owners house was partially cemented with red oxide. Roof of the rented houses was constructed with bamboos and Mangalore tiles. There was one common bathroom for three houses.

 Balu and Gayatri of Perala also were staying with Subrahmanya and his 2 sisters. Totally 05 were sharing the rent of the house equally. It was the duty of one among them  to pasting cow dung in the floor and Chulli(furnace) once in a week. In the second house there were Maya, Gayatri and Chandrahasa of Melmane. In the third house there were Yogini, Naveena and Nayana of Kemmoli. These three are children of Venkappa Master.

In all the three houses and owners house wooden chops were only source of fuel for cook. All of them collect and stock the dry woods for a week in evenings. Usually they prepare boiled rice called Urpel Aritta Ganji in all the three houses. They bring pickles and coconut oil form home and purchase salt in the grocery shop. All of them did not know how to prepare Sambar or Rasam or any Curry. So their meals means only boiled Ganji with salt and pickles as side dishes. Some times someone may bring dry coconut Chatni from home in addition to pickles. In the end of the weeks almost all the pickles or chautnies  come to an end, and all are finish their meals of Ganji with only salt. Daily three times they were consuming only Ganji Ganji Ganji. So all were very excited to leave Hebri in the weekend and start to walk towards their actual houses in Kabbinale.

If they come to their house in the village, sure they can get either Dosa or Kadubu, or at least Bajilu and Uppittu. Kadubu they get in their house was seasonally variety in nature. In the month of June and July they get Halasina Kadubu(prepared from Jack Friut) In the month of September October and November there will be Kadubu of Cucumber or Pumpkin,  IN the summer there will be Cane Pundi, Bobbarya Kadubu, in the month of Ati/Ashada the Kadubu called Patrode, In the Ganesh Chauti, Nagara Panchami and Deepavali there will be Arasina Ireta Kadubu (Prepareded sweaty Kadubu by using Turmeric Leaf)  and Kotte Kadubu Kadubi (Prepareded with rice and black gram Kadubu by using Jack Leaf) and so on.

Subrahmanaya was so bored to consume Ganji every day. He did not want to continue his high school education in Hebri after completion of 7^th. So he asked to elder brother Shankaranna about his willingness to go to Udupi for furter studies. Meanwhile in Udupi the Sharada Doddamma asked Shankaranna to send any of his any younger brother to her to free from her solitary. Subrahmanya thaught that it is my destiny to go to Udupi. So he went there very happily. Sharada Doddamma also feel very happy to have a mild boy like Subbu. She did not feel burden of staying of Subbu. Even though Subbu was staying with his Doddamma, still he goes to Krishna Mutt every day to have Ganji in the morning and lunch at noon and dinner at night. She was getting up early in the morning. Come down near the well, wash the mouth and her artificial set of teeth. Take bucket of water from the well and goes to toilet which was there in the back yard of Annayachari Mutt. Then having bath in cold water of the same well by using a aluminium vessel called Koda to bring up the water from the well through the rope and Rate. At the end she put on clean washed wet cloth, take a pot of clean water from the well and takes to room.  She starts her Japa and puja at 5.30 am and continues up to 7.30 am. In between Subbu gets up and does his routine work and goes to Mutt at 7 am to have Ganji. He comes back at 7.30 am. Again he goes to milk dairy to bring the milk. Doddamma gives him 90 paise to him to bring 500 ml. milk. AS soon as he gets back, Doddamma prepares decoction of coffee and add a small quantity of milk in it and gives a glass of coffee to Subbu. She also take one glass of coffee and goes to Mutt to cut the vegetables. Subbu also departs to school in the same time at 8 30am.

She comes back from Krishna Mutt after completing her duty fallowed by the lunch there. Takes rest up to 4.30 pm. Then she prepares coffee again, serves a glass to Subbu who comes back from school. Gain she Departs to Chandrashale of Sri Krishna Mutt where so many old women gather and prepares garlands of flowers and Tulasi. After completing the preparation of Malas all the old aged women do the Bhajans of Purandara Dasa and Kanakadasa. After the completion of Mahapuja at 8 pm she gets neerajanam and teertha from the Swamiji and return back to her room.

In the evening at about 9.00 pm Sharada Doddamma completes her Japa, and she mixes butter milk(Aralu majjige) and a palmful of Aralu with a spoon of sugar and consumes it. She never takes dinner at night. Every day in the time of consuming Aralu-majjige she starts to tell her life story with Subbu. It was so interesting to listen to Subbu. The story telling session continues while spreading the bed, putting off the lights, till Subbu not stops to respond her with the sound of hoon. Subbu enjoys to listen these stories like watching the old movies.

In this way a year of time was spent very happily by Subbu with Doddamma. Even though the Subbu did not like the meals in the Mutt still he was happy to stay with Doddamma in Udupi. He was getting additionally coffee twice in a day and Doddamma used to give him some sweets often.  

Sharada Doddamma’s only son was serving in Hyderabad in Indian Military. She doesn’t want to stay with him due to adjustment problem with daughter in law. And she wants to stay nearby Lord Shi Krishna of Udupi. So she occupied a rented room in Annayachari Matha of Udupi. She was paying Rs 100/- per month in 1988 there. He r son Anandanna used to send her Rs. 200/- per month in those days. After paying the rent of Rs. 100/- she hardly could be able to manage her monthly expenditure. So she joined to a job of cutting vegetables in Sri Krishna Mutt where she draws the salary of Rs. 200/-. Per month. For a year she was leading her life happily without any financial burden. She could able to save some money for future and she cold happily spend money to watch any religious film of Dr Rajkumar in Geetanjali or Alankar Theatre ones or twice in a month, and also she could   able to participate in family functions of nearby relatives at least once in two months. But her fate had not accompanied her so long. 

As she passed a year in Sri Krishna Mutt as a vegetable cutter/chopper, other co-workers came to know that she belongs to Smartha faith. Other women workers complaint to the manager of Mutt and succeed to remove her from the job. Meanwhile due to some intolerance of daughter in law to sending money her mother-in-law she pressurised her husband not to send money. So Sharada doddamma barely fell to road as begger/Bhikari. So she was hesitating to say these details to Shankaranna. That’s why she asked him to send one more younger brother to her so that she can manage to give room rent for two three months. She thought that she can get the same job in Mutt again within two three months by complaining to the Swamiji against the manager. But manager manipulated the total story of that incident and revealed to the Swamiji the justification of the removal of Doddamma so earlier than she complaint. So Swamiji did not listen to Doddamma.

 In between,  Hareesha came to Udupi and admitted to sixth standard in the school where Subbu was studying. Shankaranna gave Rs. 200/- in the beginning to Doddamma. Doddamma once deeply sighed with a sudden relief. She had a small amount of money which was saved by her earlier. But that was so negligible.

4

Shrungeshwarayya – You are a graduate. You can understand easily about the scientific developmental procedures of agricultural sector. We have areca, black mirch, coffee and paddy in our agricultural land. We are fallowing the traditional method to grow all of these items. If you visit the horticulture department and get some scientific inputs to improve our agriculture, we can grow more and multiply our income in our own land.

Son – Now I am applying for the Job in Town Panchayat. If I will not be selected, I will think about that.

Shrungeshwarayya – What salary is offered there?

Son – Rs 5000/- per month.

Shrungeshwarayya – I am paying 600/- per day for my labourers here. If we multiply it for 30 days what will be the monthly salary of my each labour ?

Son – Still dad it is too difficult to accept. What should I do ?

Don’t worry my dear son. I will hand over one of my newly developed areca plantation to you. You are responsible to develop that plantation. You can enjoy the entire yield of that. But one condition is that you have to work personally by shedding the sweat. If you do like that you can earn 10 times more money than panchayat offers you.

 

After ten months

Shrungeshwarayya – How much yield have you got in this time ?

Son -  Dad, 14 quintal of Areca nut I could yield in this time.

Shrungeshwarayya – Can you say it in terms of rupees ?

Son – About 6.5 Lakhs dad. Besides this I could able to get 3 quintals of Black Mirch.

Shrungeshwarayya – At what rate have you sold that in market ?

Son -  58 thousand rupees per quintal Dad.

Shrungeshwarayya – Fine. That means you have earned additionally Rs. 1,74,000/- What is your gross income ?

Son – 8.24 Lakhs dad.

Shrungeshwarayya – What was your total expenditure in this agricultural work ?

Son -  About 2 lakhs Dad.

Shrungeshwarayya – How do you feel now ?

Son – You are really great Dad. You have opened my eyes by virtues and by providing practical experience with responsibility. Because of you I, not only able to earn money more, but also I came to know that “work is worship”. Now I am very much confident that next year I will work more hard. I am sure that I will be able to earn more than 10 Lakh rupees next year. I will not sit idle ever. Thank you very much dad. You an uneducated man are a real hero for educated man like me. Thank you so much.

About Chandranna Sampige

Doddamma Sampige

Gulelu Chikkappa

Peralada Chikkappa

Shankaranna

Channappanna Kelamane

Srinivasa Bhat Kemmoli was giving Mangos to Hareesha and others

Raghavanna’s Hotel in Setuve

Kumarana Angadi, Chandrana Hotel

Chauti in Kelamane and Melmane -   Shevige

Kambala

Kola in Kelamane and Kudumannu

Kola of Pearadabakyaru

Suryanna Shetru and making local wine

Kurumbilu Gaudti, Susheela Ratna – ¾ rice every day each

Siddu Gowda

Vasu Gowda

Nakra Gowda

Kaveriyakka of Bailumane

Srimati akka borrows 2 Seru Rice

Nagattige Bailumane

Seetarama Bayarabettu, Mablanna, Padmanabha Hebbar Bayarabettu – Kalasa tour

Watching films in the house of  Vishnumurty Bhat, Saraswati akka

Nagara bhajane

Shkravara Puje

Sarvajanika Ganeshotsava

Shivaratri - Stealing in night

Appada Pooja

Adike Puje

Gendada Puje

Upakarma

Anantana Chaturdashi

Mari

Kalavadhi Utsava

Ittugundi Utsava

Devi Mahatme Yakshagana in Kemmoli

Joganna/Shanta milk carrier

Naxalism in Kabbinale – Bomb Blast, Sadashiva’s murder, Visit to Hareeshas House, Discussion with Hareesha in Mattavu

 

Akhila

Vishakha tries to recall her sweet memories related to her maternal grand mother.

She completed her primary education in Eedu  a village nearby Naravi in Beltangady Taluk of Manglore district. The village is in edge of western ghat.  It is the border village of Manglore district  towards Udupi. Vishakha’s  grand father purchased an agricultural land of 11 acres with one big house which is one among 11 prime houses (Guttina Mane) of that village. It was purchased in the 1970 by paying 7 thousand rupees.

Vishakha was taken by her maternal grand father when she was at the age of 6 years. He told Vishakhas mother that – You can not look after your twin kids together in this crucial situation in this small hut. You help your husband to build a new house. I will take Vishakha to my home.’ Six year old Vishakha is put in the shoulder by her grand father and started to go to Eedu. Vishakha did not feel any detachment wither her mother, because her mother was always busy with agricultural work. But Vishakha always used to remember her father. Father loves her very much. So he used to visit Eedu within couple of months. Vishakha also very eager to see her father. If he comes he certainly brings Chakkuli and chocolates to her.

Her grand mother Ajji was such a typical Tuluva Brahmana lady who lead her entire life for the sake of the welfare of her family without having any personal desire. She hardly purchase one sari in a year to her. Her daughter in law Anita gives two sarees in each year to her. So she happy with them.

 Sometimes, once in a month she asks some money with Ajja to bring Suger Jagagry and a few other groceries from weekly Sante at Naravi. Ajja also not gives money immediately to her, without scolding her that “you always used to ask money. Where it comes from?”. But he also knows that she do not waste the money. So he gives sure later on. She goes to Naravi  4 k.m.s  by walk only. She prepares Sambar/Hu;I and put a Kadai on the Chulli for  Boiled rice, tells her husband to intensify the fire in chulli by putting firewood ahead. She  starts to walk at 9.30 am  and reaches Naravi at  10.15 am. She rounds the entire market at one hour, purchases a pot and some groceries. She never purchase vegetables from market. She not only considers it a waste of money, but also the vegetables available in the market are not so tasty. Because using  inorganic fertilizers in a huge amount vegetables are being produced in large quantity. But they can not be tasty and be rotted very shortly. So Ajji doesn’t even looks at vegetable shops in the market.

Vishakha always remembers her Ajji’s bitter grand rasam. Ajji prepares simple super rasam by bittergrand itself.  She cutts  one or two bittergrands into small pieces and puts a pot upon the Chulli of firewood. Pore some water into it. A piece of jiggery, and a small amount of Watepuli slices  she adds. Two three spoons of salt with 3/4 green mirchis smashed by a stone on a wooden plate. Add the same into pot. After a half an hour smell from the rasam comes out in the entire house. Hungry intensified by this in all.