Pragna videos 2019

ಎಲ್ಲಿತ್ತಯ್ಯ?

ಅಕ್ಷಯ ತೃತೀಯ

ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮಾರೋ ತಂತ್ರವಯ್ಯಾ !

ಮಾರೋನ್  ಚೀಲ ಭರ್ತಿಯಯ್ಯ

ನಿನ್ನ ಥೈಲಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ

ತೂತವಯ್ಯ

(ರಚನೆ:

 ತಮ್ಮ ವಿಧೇಯ

ಲ. ನಾ.  ) 

Pregnant pause

The most exciting event that we have witnessed in our families is the 'pregnancy'. But the mystery of pregnancy has a '9-month long pause' which raises expectations of the entire family. Ultimately the build-up of climax ends with the arrival of a 'lovely child'!

Technology has invented new ways of inducing pregnancies.  Moreover childless couple may also go for surrogate pregnancies.  But surrogate pregnancies may

give rise to new social and emotional possibilities too. In the hit film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), Madhu (Preity Zinta) who is hired as a surrogate mother falls in love with the father of the child, Raj (Salman Khan). Trouble brews when Madhu insists on having Raj in return for the child! Does pregnant pause provide time for development of new equations?

Teenage and rape pregnancies are certainly problematic.  In Mahabharat, Kunti probably had the shortest pregnant pause

and therefore no time to think. She painfully exercised the option of leaving the child to the care of 'mother Ganga'. Now-a-days too often we witness mothers who do 'Kunti-type of acts' for various reasons.

Honourable Supreme Court of India has examined the legal, medical and social aspects of unwanted pregnancies.  In the famous

case of 'Murugan Nayakkar Vs Union of India (2017)', SC permitted the termination of 32 weeks pregnancy in the interest of a 13-year old rape victim!

The term 'pregnant pause' is a popular metaphor too.  Some pauses 

in a dialogue, speech or event resemble pregnancies as they are filled with several meanings and possibilities. Listeners and watchers who look forward with excitement are bound to witness surprising meanings and results!

Let's examine the 7-week long Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Is this a classic case to describe an event of 'pregnant pause'?  Right now nearly 2/3rds of India has already voted and is expecting the results with excitement.  Some of us are even bored and often think whether the election process should have been this long!  Will not this long process give rise to new possibilities and equations?

In the middle of the election process, pregnant pause has provided time for several queries.  Almost all opposition parties have raised

doubts on the possible misuse of EVMs! It almost looks like they are seeking an anticipatory bail in case of a possible defeat.  But they never had problems when they were the winners earlier! Opposition parties are further demanding counting of 50% of VVPAT slips which virtually takes us back to old days.  Look what is happening in Indonesia?

Early this month, simultaneous elections (paper ballot) were held there for the post of President and the two houses. Counting was a long drawn process.  Long drawn and continuous counting has taken its toll resulting in the death of nearly 270 counting officials! No wonder if Indonesia comes to India for seeking help in order to introduce EVMs in their next elections. But look what our opposition parties are demanding?

Long drawn election campaigning has witnessed wild and unfair abuses from both the sides.  'Chowkidar Chor hai' slogan has

gone up to the scrutiny of the honorable SC, which has asked Rahul Gandhi to apologize. Even PM Modi's address to the nation on the occasion of the successful operation of the satellite-destroying missile has come in for scrutiny of the EC.

In the meanwhile, voting percentage in big cities like Bengaluru 

has become a cause for concern. Bengaluru witnessed just around 50%.  Neighbouring Mumbai and Chennai too have witnessed similar low voting percentages when compared to their lesser privileged outstations. Many reasons are being quoted like

i) non-revision of electoral lists weeding out same voters registered at two places.  Such voters might have voted in their native places.

ii) large section of outsiders who may be residing just since 2-3 years may be less interested in local elections.  They might have registered as voters for ensuring other benefits.

iii) many officials, businessmen and professionals who are away on work are bound to miss their voting opportunities.

Pregnant pause provided by our long drawn elections, has certainly given rise to fierce debates on its outcome. It's 'Modi again', is the

the cry of Modi-supporters.  They have made their calculations.  They are prepared to conced loss of seats in Uttar Pradesh and other States which may be substantial up to nearly 80 seats.  But Modi-bhakts are confident of making-up about 30-40 seats in States like Orissa, West Bengal, N.E. and Tamil Nadu.  Still Modi will be close to 280 seats, they point-out! 

In case the calculations of Modi-supporters go wrong, it opens way for Third-front and Rahul, argue many others.  Some unattached seniors warn that no coalition can be stable unless it is headed by a major party with about 200 seats.

But for we laymen, there is no escape from the anxieties of the 'pregnant pause' imposed by the long drawn election process. Let us hope that a stable Government emerges which will be good enough to ensure a better future for our beloved country.

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Sri Ramanavami Reflections

My musical greetings to all our friends on the occasion of Ugadi and Sri Ramanavami, which marks the launch of music festivals all over South India.  This is the occasion to remember our 'musical gurus' who have gifted us the treasure of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music).

Saint Purandara Dasa (1484-1564) who lived in Hampi (Karnataka) during the regime of Vijayanagara empire is revered as the 'pitamaha of Carnatic music' (top in the pic).  He laid the foundation for systematic learning and singing of Carnatic music. As a tribute to this musical great, music learning starts with his basic lessons called 'sarale, janti-varase, geethams and alankaras' throughout South India. No student can learn music unless he starts from humble geethams like 'Lambodara, Vara Veena, Kereya neeranu' composed by our Pitamaha. 

Saint Tyagaraja (1767-1847) acknowledges the greatness of Saint Purandara dasa in his famous kriti 'Kana Kana Ruchira' by singing

mariyu Narada Parasara Shuka Sounaka

Purandara Nagarajadhara mukhyulu sakshi

Tyagaraja has also derived inspiration from kritis of SaintPurandara dasa. The spirit of Pitamaha's song 

 Ramane tandeyu, Janaki tayiyu

Laxmananannanu namagella 

is very much reflected in Saint Tyagaraja's composition

Seethamma mayamma

Sri Ramadu ma thandri

Saint Tyagaraja, Saint Muthuswamy dixitar and Saint Syama sastry (see down of pic above) who were all contemporaries are revered as the 'trinity of Carnatic music'. They continued the tradition of nourishing music.  But for all these greats,  music was only a 'bhakthi maarga' for reaching God.

Coincidentally all the three musical greats Tyagaraja, Dixitar and Sastri hailed from same place Tiruvarur in TN (Tanjavur Dt ).  

Recently we had the opportunity to visit their homes of birth. 

 

Thiruvaiyaru (TN), on the outskirts of Tanjavur is famous for Saint Tyagaraja Aradhana festival (see pic above). Musicians and devotees from all over the country gather here during the Aradhana day (falls during January) to sing 'pancharatna kritis' of Saint Tyagaraja in chorus (see pic above).  Bengaluru Nagarathnamma (see inset above) was a musician and a dancer who took initiative to build the Tyagaraja temple here from her personal sources in order to nourish the annual Aradhana festival.

This year 2019, marks the birth centenary of Padma Vibhushana D.K.Pattammal (born 19th March 1919), the famous Carnatic

classical singer.  She was the first lady to break the male dominated domain of classical singers.  She was an authority on kritis of Muthuswamy Dixitar and was the first lady to sing 'ragam, tanam, pallavi' on stage.

Music over the years has undergone a sea change. It is disappointing to see thin attendance in classical music concerts. Our youth have a great attraction towards film and pop music. 

They throng in lakhs to witness live events of famous western musicians.  Our Indian film musicians are also second to none.  Like test cricket has given way to shorter versions like IPL cricket, classical music has given way to modern music.  There is a striking similarity between the two.  Shorter version of cricket owes its origin to test cricket.  But for connoisseurs of cricket, nothing is more attractive than the test cricket. So also classical music is the best version for all real lovers of music, whereas shorter versions are for the masses. 

'kalaya tasmai namah'! People and even music has to change with times. But we can't forget our roots. I am sure Lord Rama will provide the 'sethu bandhana' between old and the new. 

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Going to school - 2019

Your rooftop can earn!

ॐ भास्कराय  विद्महे 

 महादुत्याथिकराया  धीमहि

 तनमो  आदित्य  प्रचोदयात

“Om Bhaskaraya Vidmahe Mahadyudikaraaya Dhimahi Tanno Aditya Prachodayaat”

Meaning: I learn about the one who is the source of light and meditate on one who is so radiant!  Let Lord Surya illuminate my intellect.

Sun is the source of all energies for our mother earth since billions of years! The ability to harness sun's energy for generating heat and electricity is known as solar power. Solar power is environment friendly besides being renewable in nature.

With all traditional sources of energy like petrol and coal almost getting exhausted, the only ray of hope for future is the solar power.

Solar power plant for your home!

Let us assume that your house is built on a 30'X50' site and is having a roof-top space of about 1000 Sft and the power sanctioned is about 5 kW. Let us examine a project implemented by Solar power company.

A solar power company implemented an integrated state-of-the-art rooftop solar systems for 32 row houses / villas constructed by a leading developer in Bengaluru.

They have designed and commissioned 5.25 kW solar power plants for each of these row houses. 

The solar system had to be installed on RCC roofs and the client specifically requested the company not to drill any holes on the roof to prevent the possibility of leakages during the later course of time.

Power generation in each of the houses is about 14,400 units per year which works out to about 1200 units per month.

An average house having 4-5 inmates needs about 600 units of power per month, assuming that they have solar water heater and they have 2-3 ACs in their home.  This becomes cost-free and therefore the cost savings on electricity bill may be about Rs.3,000 pm! One may check his/her monthly bill and assess the cost.

Remaining 600 units of power will be released from the system to Electricity board, which may purchase power from you at a slightly lower cost.  Let us assume that electricity board will reimburse you about Rs.2000 pm.  Thus your solar power plant on your rooftop can generate you about Rs.5000 pm!

But what about the cost of installation of the solar power plant of 5.25 kW capacity? As per enquiry I have made it may be about Rs.4-5 lakh. This may come down for community projects.

Each residential unit is preventing emission of 10 tons of Carbon-di-Oxide to atmosphere every year (assuming that entire power comes from a thermal plant).

Power plants will be operative for about 300 days in a year. Life of the unit installed is about 25 years and this entire period is guaranteed by most well known companies. 

All above calculations are based on my enquiry and calculations.  You may please check the actual details from a popular brand like TATA solar power.  It looks an interesting proposition.  Is it not?

Commercial & Industrial projects:

• Tata Power Solar commissioned 820.8 kWp at Cricket Club of India (CCI) stadium,  Mumbai in 100 days.

• The installation of this solar rooftop project has helped to generate over 1.12 million units of electricity per year, which has led to 25% of savings in the power consumption cost. Entire power consumption of the stadium including flood lights is provided by the solar power unit.

• CCI will also be able to curb the emission of over 840 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Customized solutions for individual houses are also possible.  Besides solar power plants have also caught the attention of big industries and the State governments. Governments are expected come out soon with subsidies for installation of solar power plants.  Banks are ready to extend loans for this purpose.  Let's hope that our people will realize the benefits of solar power plants and go for it in a big way resulting in cheaper and environmentally friendly power system.

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A woman's selfie with her life!

On the occasion of International Women's Day, my greetings to all women of our mother earth.  This blog on the occasion is dedicated to all women who have shaped and influenced my life.

It was ‘Ashok Van’ in Ravan’s Lanka.  Expectant Sita became jubilant on hearing Rama’s victory and the killing of Ravan.  Soon came Sarame, the wife of Vibhishan asking Sita to dress up for being taken to meet her victorious husband Ram.  Wearing the choicest jewels gifted to her by Mata Anasuya, eager Sita comes to the battle ground to meet her ‘Prabhu Ram’ whom she was missing for over one year. All were excited including Sita, but not Lord Ram!  There was eerie silence all over.

‘Janaka Putri’………….Ram addresses Sita to break silence……‘I have fought this war and killed Ravan not for you, but to uphold the glory of my Ikshwaku dynasty!  There ends my task.  You were in the custody of rakshas Ravan for so long. I don’t believe in your chastity. I don’t like to accept you back. You are free to go anywhere’.  It took some time for Sita to withstand the shock of thundering words of Ram, but recovered to shot back at him. ‘Ram…..my father got me married to you hoping that you are a noble man.  How can such distrustful thoughts come to your mind to reject me’?

It was turn of Laxman to intervene and prevent Sita from falling in to the fire nearby.  Laxman took Sita’s cause and fired at Ram. ‘Supposing Sita too questions your chastity during her absence, what answer you can give? Accept Sita and move on.’ 

Under forced retreat at Valmiki’s Ashram, ripe pregnant Sita took a stroll at the turn of events during those days.  Her mind probed…….’Is Ram harsher than Ravan? Whether it was the same Ram who took up the cause of immoral  Ahalya and reunited her with Saint Gautam’? ........

 Yes it was a decades old story…………….Ahalya, the young and beautiful wife of Saint Gautam had to live a ‘dry’ life.  Frail bodied Gautam always used to be in ‘tapas’.  Naturally Ahalya was tempted towards the seducing King who used to visit the ashram.  When the ongoing event came to Guatam’s notice, he became furious.  He told  her illicit acts to all in the neighbourhood and went away to distant Himalayas for doing ‘deep tapas’.  Shamed Ahalya confined herself inside the Ashram for days together.  When neighbours knocked at her door, she threatened to hang herself.  Neighbours gave up, but started keeping food and water at her doors everyday.  Ahalya started living this way, but continued to confine herself inside and was virtually cut off from the rest of the world for years together. (In original Ramayan it is described that Ahalya became a stone, but it was only a self-imposed exile).

When Saint Vishwamitra along with young Ram and Laxman came to meet Gautam at his ashram, they came to know about the ‘self-imposed exile’ of Ahalya.  Prompted by Vishwamitra, Ram took initiative to bring out Ahalya and reunite her with Saint Gautam.

‘Why this judgment of double standard by Ram?  How can he be so kind to errant Ahalya and be so cruel to me, who lived only for him and nobody else?.............Did Ram question his Guru Vishwamitra, who strayed with Menaka giving up his tapas? Is justice different for men'? Sita’s stream of sorrowful thoughts continues.  And while sending her away from Ayodhya,  Ram not even bothered to tell her the facts. Under the pretext of sending her to offer ‘pujas to Rishipatnis’, Ram sent away pregnant Sita to Valmiki’s ashram along with Laxman.  While leaving her,  Ram’s agent Laxman just mentioned that ‘Maharaj’ has divorced her and went away!

Sita continued to reminisce.......'What made Ram to conduct himself so curtly against me, not on once, but on two occasions?  Did Ram become power conscious and too scared about public opinion?  Did ‘maryada purushotham Ram’ gave way to ‘Maharaj Ram’?  Did he not err in his roles as a dear husband and an expectant father? Could he have chosen to give up power to uphold  family life and human values'?   

Now it was the turn of Saint Valmiki to take up Sita's cause.  He brings her along with Lav and Kush to Ram's court to work out a reunion on the occasion of 'ashwamed yag'. Valmiki's sane words were an eye opener to the  entire court and Ram too.  Relenting Ram invites Sita to join him.  But  now Sita becomes assertive and speaks rising her voice........'this reunion initiative came from Saint Valimiki, not from you Ram.  Not even once you thought about me during these sixteen years of my 'vanavas'.  Had you called also, I wouldn't have come.  I am a daughter of the soil and I prefer to go back to Valmiki's ashram to continue farming.  Farming for me is the best way to reunite with my boo-mata'.  Then Sita walks away.  And the entire court becomes dumbstruck! Ram's desperate shouts......'Sita, Sita please come back' goes in vain! Helpless Saint Valmiki laments.........'I could only write Ramayan, but couldn't influence its tragic end'!

Santheshivara Linganniah Bhyrappa's Kannada novel ‘Uttara Kanda’ (published during 2017) is Ramayan, re-written from Sita’s perspective. Sita is never a passive woman here and she dares questioning Ram and treads her own path. Moreover no miracles here, every event is a real one.  Entire Ramayan is presented as a flash back by reminiscent Sita in Bhyrappaji's  ‘Uttara Kanda’.  

In Bhyrappaji's Uttara Kanda, 'agni pravesh' is only an accident that would have happened which was prevented by Laxman at the nick of time.  Similarly 'boo-mata' swallowing Sita towards the end is nothing but Sita's determination to go back to Valmiki's ashram to take up farming to find her livelihood and collapsing to death while working in her farm.

Thus Bhyrappaji's Sita is an assertive lady, who can be a role model for modern women.  She dares questioning Ram and ultimately rejects to live with him.  She finds her own way to live towards the end.  Even today we see our sisters, whose fidelity is doubted by their husbands, and are harassed and deserted for silly reasons. Sita has already shown them the way forward!

Long live naari shakti