Bhanu's blog

2023-05-11T16:38:00.001+05:30

ಮತದಾನ - ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಅಡಿಗಲ್ಲು

ಒಮ್ಮೆ ದೀರ್ಘವಾಗಿ ಯೋಚಿಸಿ ನೋಡಿ.

ನಾವೆಲ್ಲ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಭಾರತ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರಾತಂಕದಿಂದ ಜೀವನ ಸಾಗಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಮೂಲ ಕಾರಣ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ. ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಾವೇ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಹಕ್ಕು ನಮಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದಲೇ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ದೇಶದ ಆಡಳಿತದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಪಾಲುದಾರರಾಗಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶವಿರುವುದು. ಭಾರತದ ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಪ್ರಕ್ಷೋಭೆ, ಗೊಂದಲ, ವಿವಾದ, ಹಿಂಸೆ, ಅರಾಜಕತೆ, ಆಡಳಿತ ಕುಸಿತ, ಹಣಕಾಸು ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳ ಅವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಜನರ ಕಷ್ಟದ ಬದುಕು ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಕಾಣ್ತಿದ್ದೀವಿ. ಆದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸುವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿ, ಕಾನೂನಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿ, ಸಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ, ಸುಲಲಿತವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವಾರಿಸಿ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿರುವ ಸಮರ್ಥ ನಾಯಕರೇ ಕಾರಣ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಬಲವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿರುವ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾವಂತ, ದೇಶಪ್ರೇಮಿ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳೇ ಕಾರಣ. ಜನರ ಬೆಂಬಲ, ಸಹಕಾರ, ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ದೊರಕುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೆಂಬ ಅರಿವು ಜನನಾಯಕರಿಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅವರೂ ಜಾಗರೂಕರಾಗಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದರಿಂದಲೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನ ಸುಗಮವಾಗಿರುವುದು. ಇದಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಸಮರ್ಪಕ ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನವೇ ಕಾರಣವೆಂದನಿಸುದಿಲ್ಲವೇ? ಈ ಸೌಖ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವವನ್ನು ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಸದೃಢವಾಗಿಸುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಹೊಣೆ.

ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಚುನಾವಣೆ. ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಅಡಿಪಾಯ. ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವವಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತದಾನ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಭಾಗ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿವರ್ಗ ಹಗಲುರಾತ್ರಿಯೆನದೆ ಶ್ರಮವಹಿಸಿ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಸುಸೂತ್ರವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುವಂತೆ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಾರೆ. ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಹಣ, ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮ ಮತ್ತು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯವಾದ ಸಮಯ ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವ್ಯಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದು ನಾವೇ ಕಟ್ಟಿರುವ ತೆರಿಗೆಯ ಹಣ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ, ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆದರೆ, ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಮುಗಿದರೆ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ನಿರ್ಣಾಯಕ ಘಟ್ಟ ದಾಟಿದಂತೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಮತದಾರರು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಸಹಕರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮತದಾನದ ದಿನ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಬಂದು ತಮ್ಮ ಮತ ಹಾಕಬೇಕು. ನನ್ನ ಒಂದು ಮತದಿಂದ ಏನೂ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವಾಗದು ಎಂಬ ಸಿನಿಕತೆ, ನಿರಾಕರಣದ ಮನೋಭಾವ ಇರಬಾರದು. ನಮ್ಮ ಒಂದೊಂದು ಮತವೂ ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವವನ್ನು ಬಲಿಷ್ಠಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಅಸ್ತ್ರ. ಆ ಅಸ್ತ್ರದ ಸದುಪಯೋಗವಾಗಬೇಕು. ಅದು ನಮ್ಮ ನಿರಾಸಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ನಷ್ಟವಾಗಬಾರದು, ಅಪ್ರಯೋಜಕವಾಗಬಾರದು. ಆ ಕಾಳಜಿ ಮತದಾರರಿಗಿರಬೇಕು. ಸಂವಿಧಾನಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆ ಇದ್ದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮತದಾನದ ಭಾದ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನೂ ನಾವು ಪೂರೈಸಬೇಕು. ಹಕ್ಕು ಮತ್ತು ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಎರಡೂ ಒಂದೇ ನಾಣ್ಯದ ಎರಡು ಮುಖಗಳು. ಭಾರತದ ನಾಗರೀಕರಾಗಿ ಮತದಾನ ಮಾಡಿ, ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಸಬಲೀಕರಣದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ಪೂರೈಸಿದರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಒತ್ತಾಯ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು. ಮತದಾನ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಕ್ಕು ಮತ್ತು ಹೊಣೆ.

ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾಗಿರುವಂತೆ ಕಾಯ್ದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ನಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಭಾದ್ಯತೆ. ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ನಮಗೆ ಶ್ರೀರಕ್ಷೆ. ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯದ ಅವಿಭಾಜ್ಯ ಅಂಗ. ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಅಡಿಗಲ್ಲು. ಅದನ್ನು ಗಟ್ಟಿಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಆದ್ಯ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ.

ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವ ಸಂತಸದ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವ. ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಹಬ್ಬವನ್ನು ಸಡಗರದಿಂದ ಆನಂದದಿಂದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಉತ್ಸಾಹದಿಂದ ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು.

ತಪ್ಪದೇ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಮತದಾನ ಮಾಡಿ. ಮತದಾನ ಮಾಡದ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತನ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಕೆಟ್ಟ ಸರಕಾರ. ಉತ್ತಮ ಆಡಳಿತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮತದಾನ ಮಾಡಿ.

The choice of an intelligent non-voter is bad government.

Vote without fail to ensure good governance.

2020-05-01T15:32:00.001+05:30

What has the CoVid19 virus pandemic done to the world? Where are we heading?

The puny, invisible virus has forced the world down on its knees and brought out the positive and negative traits of humans. The fear of catching the dreaded virus has created panic and

On one side, the noble human values of sympathy, empathy, compassion, helpfulness, co-operation, civility, unity, brotherhood, discipline, sharing, caring have all manifested in the fight against the Corona pandemic.

On the other side, the ugly and ghastly face of human beings is also revealing it's real colors through senseless violence, brutal attacks on police, health workers, doctors, government officials and volunteers, and destruction of public property.

People seem have lost the sense of relationships, family values, bonding, societal responsibilities and humanitarian sensibilities.

Greed, selfishness, self-protection and survival by any means, blatant disregard and disrespect for rules and law, bigotry, thuggery, thievery, elitism, vanity, religious fundamentalism, chauvinism have all degraded the human character and behavior pulling them down to the unbelievable dark, disgusting depths of evil and devil.

The virus has shown the true nature of mankind - both the dreadful and respectful - when faced with insurmountable challenges and fear of the unknown in the face of an unpredictable rival.

The unseen Corona virus has been a great teacher which has exposed and illuminated the hitherto hidden wickedness in humans. Conversely, several persons have realized peace and joy through philanthropy and charity and by extending a helping hand to those in need in these stressful times.

Society will not be the same again.

The total lockdown imposed by governments in almost all countries across the world to counter and control the spread of Corona virus has affected all realms of our life. The life style, activities, priorities and functions of all humans have undergone a sea change, to say the least, as a consequence of the hitherto unknown and unforeseen restrictions placed on routine activities. There is an inevitable blurring of the line between rich and poor, powerful and weak, educated and illiterate, white skinned and dark skinned, supremacist and the downtrodden and the like. People confined to their homes have realized the uselessness of amassed wealth while healthy lifestyle and food habits have come into sharp focus. Many individuals have come to appreciate the importance of family values and trust while spending indoor time with kith and kin. Of course, the darker side of this proximity has appeared through contempt for one another and instances of domestic violence.

No travel, no shopping, no recreation, no functions, and tragically, no decent religious obsequies for Covid19 related dead friends and relatives. Traditional office work, as known to us till now, has seen a revolutionary transformation. The concept of Work From Home, until recently a privilege enjoyed by software professionals and alien to many others, has invaded other offices and forcibly modified the idea of work per se and output thus becoming an acceptable practice. The metrics for evaluating the performance of employees have to be recalibrated to sync with changing times and situations.

Airports, railways, Metros, buses, cabs, private vehicles etc., have all been stopped. Vehicle sales and fuel consumption have taken a nosedive. Roads are empty - no accidents and less pollution. Insurance companies have to rework their premia and terms and conditions to bring back their clientele. The syndicate of petroleum producing nations have lost their leverage and cannot hold the world to ransom with threats of reducing production or hiking prices. People no more track the rise and fall in fuel prices. No one seems to care. Vehicle manufacturers and ancillary units face a bleak future now that people have realized the futility of unwanted travel and the advantages of WFH system.

Tourism and hospitality industry have taken a big hit. Crime and anti-social activities have dropped. Entertainment, adventure and recreation professions are facing the brunt. Artists are now forced to go online not only for performances but also for tutoring their pupils.

Electrical power consumption has gone down leading to a surplus power in the grid. Office spaces are vacant. Gleaming glass façade buildings have lost their glitter and shine. Meetings, group discussions, seminars are all happening online. Time saved, travel avoided and expenditure pruned! Pilgrimages have taken a back seat and places of religious importance wear deserted looks.

Industrial activities and manufacturing have grinded to a deafening halt. Construction works are at a standstill. Service sector has been severely affected. Job losses, pay cuts and disaster stare at the disillusioned and dejected faces of workmen.

Schools and colleges have closed. Teachers are delivering lectures and notes online! Students are denied the physical company and happy times with their mates. Lessened paperwork, more digital environment and more time spent at home providing great relief to parents!

The efforts and risks taken by the frontline Covid19 warriors like healthcare professionals, police, municipal corporation workers have been recognized, acknowledged and appreciated by one and all. It is heartening to see the police personnel being felicitated by the very same persons who had previously chided them for imposing strict measures in crime and traffic control! The bouquets and accolades bestowed on these personnel signal the welcome return of the moderates in the civil society.

The greatest beneficiaries of this virus attack on human beings have been planet Earth and our environment and other living beings. Significant decline in plastic usage has been a relief. We see cleaner rivers, clearer air, lesser noise, more greenery and free movement of animals. The big polar hole in the ozone layer has closed by itself. A healing process has started by mother Earth.

Nature has reclaimed its rightful space.

Theft in Nandi Gardens

2019-11-13T16:58:00.001+05:30

THIS IS A LONG STORY, BUT VERY INTERESTING AND VERY RELEVANT TO ALL OF US. IT HAPPENED IN NG II.

I WILL NOT MAKE IT SHORT AS IT CONTAINS ALL ELEMENTS OF A THRILLER, A MYSTERY, INTENSIVE INQUIRY, SCRUTINY OF EVIDENCE AND LOTS OF METICULOUS INVESTIGATIVE WORK. IT HAS A MAZE OF RED HERRINGS AT EVERY STEP, MISTAKES, DEAD CLUES, WRONG ASSUMPTIONS, MISLEADING TRACES, BLANK HINTS, DEAD-ENDS AND SUSPENSE WHICH ALL CONSTITUTE A DETECTIVE’S NIGHTMARE!

THE THIEF WAS INTELLIGENT AND A MASTER-STRATEGIST. POLICE HAD A TOUGH CASE AND NEEDED EXTRAORDINARILY INTELLIGENT INVESTIGATORS TO CRACK THE CASE. AND THEY CRACKED IT, AFTER WEEKS OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS! A FEATHER IN THE CAP OF BANGALORE CITY CRIME BRANCH POLICE.

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A CLEAN, NEATLY EXECUTED THEFT. NO BROKEN DOORS OR FORCED ENTRY. IT APPEARED LIKE AN INSIDER JOB. SOMEONE HAD GAINED ENTRY INTO THE APARTMENT WITH A SET OF ORIGINAL KEYS. EVERYTHING WAS AS THE OWNERS HAD LEFT WHEN THEY WENT OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT TO COLLECT TWO BIG COURIER PARCELS THAT COULD NOT BE DOOR-DELIVERED.

THE COURIER GUY WAS PESTERING THE KRISHNAMURTHYS FOR THREE DAYS TO PERSONALLY COME AND COLLECT THE PARCELS. SO, MR.AND MRS.KRISHNAMURTHY LEFT HOME AT 245PM ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2011 AND WERE LITERALLY TAKEN FOR A LONG RIDE TILL CHAMARAJPET. THE CALLER MADE THEM WAIT FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND NEVER ARRIVED. THE COUPLE RETURNED HOME AND FOUND THE STUDY LIGHT ON. SENSING SOMETHING AMISS, MR.KRISHNAMURTHY WENT INTO THE BEDROOM AND FOUND THE ALMIRAH OPEN AND THE GOLD ORNAMENTS AND CASH CLEANED OUT FROM THE LOCKER INSIDE THE CUPBOARD. NOTHING ELSE WAS TOUCHED. BUT, A CALM HOUSEHOLD WAS DEVASTATED!

POLICE CAME, SAW AND WENT AWAY SINCE IT WAS ALREADY LATE IN THE EVENING. FINGER PRINT EXPERTS ARRIVED AND GOT SOME PRINTS WHICH DID NOT STRIKE A MATCH WITH ANY KNOWN CRIMINAL. THE ONLY VITAL CLUES WERE THE DOOR BEING OPENED WITH KEYS AND THE THIEVES KNOWING THE PRESENCE OF GOLD AND CASH IN SAFE LOCKER AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE ALMIRAH WAS NEVER LOCKED. THE SUSPICION IMMEDIATELY FELL ON THE MAIDSERVANT WHO HAD JOINED JUST ABOUT TWO MONTHS BACK. BUT, WHEN THE MAIDSERVANT CAME AND ATTENDED TO HER WORK NEXT MORNING WITHOUT ANY HINT OR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED, HER INVOLVEMENT WAS RULED OUT.

THE PREVIOUS MAID SERVANT HAD A HISTORY OF SOME MINOR CRIMES. IT WAS PRESUMED THAT THIS LADY HAD SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MAKE A DUPLICATE SET OF KEYS AND PASSED IT ON TO SOMEONE WITH INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF VALUABLES AND THE LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE. VERY PLAUSIBLE INDEED! POLICE KEPT A WATCH ON HER MOVEMENTS AND CHECKED ALL HER MOBILE CALLS. NOTHING CAME OUT OF THIS LEAD. POLICE COULD NOT TAKE HER IN FOR QUESTIONING WITHOUT STRONG EVIDENCE OF HER INVOLVEMENT.

THE CCTV FOOTAGE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE GATE SHOWED TWO OUTSIDERS ENTERING AT ABOUT 3PM ON DECEMBER 10TH. THE SECURITY PERSONNEL RECALLED THAT THEY WERE COURIER DELIVERY BOYS AND THEY WERE ALLOWED IN AFTER ENTRIES WERE MADE IN THE REGISTER. ONE NEIGHBOUR IN BLOCK 11 SAW TWO GUYS GOING UP THE STAIRS AND UPON ENQUIRY WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DELIVER A LETTER TO 11/07. THIS NEIGHBOUR IDENTIFIED THESE GUYS FROM THE CCTV FOOTAGE. SO, IT WAS NOW CERTAIN THAT TWO GUYS MASQUERADING AS COURIER BOYS HAD ENTERED BLOCK 11 AND WERE SEEN GOING TOWARDS FLAT 07.

THE SUSPECT NOW WAS THE COURIER GUY WHO DELIVERED MONTHLY MAGAZINES AND WHO HAD OBTAINED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WITH PHONE NUMBER OF MRS.KRISHNAMURTHY ON HIS DELIVERY SHEET. TO THE EXTENT THAT HE KNEW THE HOUSE AND THE PHONE NUMBER IT FITTED WELL. BUT, HOW DID HE GET THE KEYS TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE HOUSE? NOTHING CAME OUT OF THIS LEAD EITHER.

THE ONLY SOLID CLUE AVAILABLE WAS THE MOBILE PHONE NUMBER FROM WHICH THE PARCEL GUY HAD CALLED FROM. THIS NUMBER WAS RECORDED ON MR.KRISHNAMURTHY’S PHONE. POLICE OBTAINED THE SIM CARD DETAILS AND TO THEIR DISMAY FOUND THAT IT WAS SOLD IN GULBARGA IN THE NAME OF ONE HAFIZ. THIS GUY HAD NO IDEA THAT HIS NAME HAD BEEN USED FOR BUYING A SIM! THE ONLY CALLS MADE AND RECEIVED FROM THIS SIM PERTAINED TO MR.KRISHNAMURTHY! NO OTHER CALLS.

THE INVESTIGATORS THEN IDENTIFIED THE MOBILE IMEI NUMBER FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDER’S DATABASE AND FOUND THAT FOUR MORE SIMS WERE BEING USED ON THIS MOBILE. ALL CALLS MADE AND RECEIVED FROM ALL THESE FOUR SIMS WERE TRACED AND THE CALLERS WERE QUESTIONED. THE PHONE WAS KEPT UNDER SURVEILLANCE. CALLS MADE FROM THESE SIMS ON 10TH DECEMBER WERE VERIFIED. ONE NUMBER POPPED UP REPEATEDLY. THE OWNER OF THIS NUMBER WAS TAKEN IN FOR QUESTIONING. HE WAS ONE OF THE TWO GUYS WHO HAD ENTERED THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AS A FAKE COURIER BOY TO DELIVER A LETTER TO 11/07 AND WHOM THE NEIGHBOUR HAD QUESTIONED AND IDENTIFIED ON THE CCTV FOOTAGE. THE POLICE HAVE MEANS OF EXTRACTING INFORMATION WHEN THEY LAY THEIR HANDS ON A SUSPECT. HE SPILLED THE BEANS. HIS PARTNER WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED HIM AS A COURIER BOY WAS ALSO ARRESTED. BUT THESE WERE HIRED PETTY OFFENDERS WHO ONLY EXECUTED A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN. ONLY ONE OF THE TWO HAD A PAST POLICE CASE. THEY HAD BEEN USED TO ENTER THE APARTMENT AND STEAL ALL VALUABLES. THE KING-PIN WAS STILL AT LARGE. THIS MASTER THIEF HAD GIVEN THEM THE KEYS.

THE GANG HAD JOINTLY CASED THE APARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 15TH BEFORE THEY EMBARKED ON THE JOB. THEY KNEW THAT CCTV WAS OPERATIONAL AT THE MAIN GATE. ALL COURIER DELIVERY GUYS WERE ALLOWED INSIDE ON 10TH DEC ONLY AFTER THEY MADE ENTRIES IN A SEPARATE REGISTER AT MAIN GATE. ONE GUY ENTERED AT 3 PM AND WAITED FOR THE KRISHNAMURTHYS TO GO OUT ON THEIR WILD GOOSE CHASE. THE OTHER GUY CAME IN AT 323 PM AND TOGETHER THEY WENT TO BLOCK 11. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAME FACE TO FACE WITH A NEIGHBOUR WHO QUESTIONED THEM AND WAS ABLE TO LATER ON IDENTIFY THEM. THE DUO FINISHED THEIR JOB AND DECAMPED WITH THE LOOT.

BUT HOW DID THEY GET THE KEYS?

THE POLICE LAID A TRAP AND ARRESTED A CAB DRIVER WORKING FOR EZEE CABS. HE WAS ASKED TO PICK UP A PASSENGER FROM JAYADEVA HEART HOSPITAL. HE PERHAPS KNEW THAT POLICE WERE ON HIS TRAIL BECAUSE HIS TWO HIRED ACCOMPLICES HAD BEEN ARRESTED. AFTER INITIAL REFUSALS HE RELENTED AND CAME TO JAYADEVA HOSPITAL WHERE THE POLICE TOOK HIM IN. HE FEIGNED IGNORANCE AND SAID HE HAD COME TO JAYADEVA FOR A HEALTH CHECK-UP FOR HIS HEART PROBLEM. THE POLICE HAD NO PHOTO IDENTITY AND WERE A BIT CONFUSED WHETHER THEY HAD THE RIGHT GUY. BUT, THE POLICE CAN SEE THROUGH A THIEF WHEN THEY SEE ONE. THEY COULD NOT USE FORCE, SINCE HE WAS A HEART PATIENT AND WAS JUST A SUSPECT. ANYHOW THE SUSPECT WAS INTERROGATED AND FINALLY, HE ADMITTED TO HIS ROLE IN THIS INTELLIGENT PLOT WHICH IS A FIRST CASE OF ITS KIND IN POLICE HISTORY.

ONE YEAR BACK, MRS. KRISHNAMURTHY HAD HIRED A DRIVER FROM EZEE CABS. THIS CAB DRIVER WAS THE MASTER CRIMINAL. HE MADE A DUPLICATE SET OF KEYS FROM THE ORIGINAL KEYSET THAT WAS LEFT IN THE REAR SEAT IN THE CARRY BAG WHEN SHE HAD GONE TO THE DOCTOR. HE PATIENTLY WAITED FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE USING THE KEYS.

HE CALLED MR.KRISHNAMURTHY AND ASKED HIM TO TAKE DELIVERY OF TWO BIG PARCELS AND PULLED THE COUPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE. HE WAS WAITING OUTSIDE NG II AND HIS HIRED ACCOMPLICES WENT IN AND CAME OUT WITH THE BOOTY. HE SHARED SOME OF THE CASH AND TOOK AWAY THE GOLD ORNAMENTS. BUT, ONE OF THE THIEVES (WHO WENT INTO THE HOUSE) HAD POCKETED SOME JEWELLERY ITEMS. A CLASSIC CASE OF ONE THIEF CHEATING ANOTHER THIEF - GOES TO SHOW THAT THERE IS NO HONOR AMONG THIEVES!

HE HAD SUCCESSFULLY USED THE SAME MODUS-OPERANDI PREVIOUSLY ON TWO OTHER PASSENGERS WHO NEVER LODGED A COMPLAINT. HE HAD FOUR MORE KEYS IN HIS POSSESSION WHICH HE WOULD HAVE USED TO LOOT THE UNSUSPECTING VICTIMS BUT FOR KRISHNNAMURTHY’S COMPLAINT AND THE PERSEVERANCE WITH WHICH THE CCB INVESTIGATED AND SOLVED THE CASE. ALL THE THREE CRIMINALS ARE IN JAIL.

SOME LOOSE ENDS :

1. WHEN THE TWO THIEVES NANDI GARDENS II IN THE GUISE OF COURIER BOYS, NO SECURITY PERSON ACCOMPANIED THEM TO THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER THE LETTER. ONCE INSIDE, THEY HAD A FREE-RUN.

2. THERE WAS NO VERIFICATION OF THE ENTRIES THEY MADE IN THE REGISTER AT THE MAIN GATE. THEY KNEW THAT IF THEY ENTERED ON FOOT AND COVERED THEIR FACES BEFORE THE CCTV CAMERA, THEIR IDENTIFICATION COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. THEY DID NOT COME IN WITH THEIR VEHICLES AS THE VEHICLE NUMBER WOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE CAMERA.

3. THEY HAD CHOSEN THE TIMING WELL. AT 3PM MOST OF THE APARTMENT CORRIDORS WOULD BE EMPTY.

4. THERE WAS NO WAY THE SECURITY GUARD COULD HAVE CONFIRMED THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RESIDENT IN THE HOUSE BEFORE ALLOWING THE COURIER GUYS INSIDE TO DELIVER THE LETTERS.

5. THE MASTER THIEF ERRED IN USING THE SAME MOBILE WITH DIFFERENT SIM CARDS. IF HE HAD USED ONE CHEAP INSTRUMENT FOR THIS CASE AND THROWN IT AWAY, THIS CASE WOULD HAVE REMAINED UNSOLVED! EVEN THE MOST INTELLIGENT THIEF LEAVES A TRAIL! THERE IS NO PERFECT CRIME.

6. ON HINDSIGHT, KRISHNAMURHTYS TOOK TOO MUCH FOR GRANTED BY KEEPING GOLD AND OTHER VALUABLES IN THE ALMIRAH AND NOT LOCKING IT. THIS ONLY MADE THE JOB OF THIEVES EASIER.

7. ONE BIG LESSON FOR ALL OF US IS THAT WE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE UNATTENDED BAGGAGE CONTAINING PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE REAR SEAT OF VEHICLES EVEN FOR A SMALL WHILE. NO PLACE IS PERFECTLY SAFE, NOT EVEN NANDI GARDENS.

WHAT WE CAN DO :

1. THE SECURITY AT MAIN GATE SHOULD CHECK AND VERIFY THE OFFICIAL IDENTITY CARDS OF COURIER BOYS ENTERING NANDI GARDENS II. ONE SECURITY GUARD SHOULD ACCOMPANY THEM TO THE HOUSE WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER THE LETTER.

2. THIS PROTOCOL SHOULD BE FOLLOWED EVEN IN THE CASE OF SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO COME FOR SERVICING AQUAGUARD, REFRIGERATOR, TV, WASHING MACHINES ETC.

3. THE LICENSE NUMBER AND OTHER DETAILS OF THE CAB DRIVERS SHOULD BE CHECKED AND ENTERED BY THE SECURITY SUPERVISOR WHENEVER AN EMPTY CAB COMES IN TO PICK UP PASSENGERS.

4. FIX ANOTHER CAMERA AT THE ENTRY TO ZOOM IN ON FACES OF PEOPLE ENTERING THROUGH MAIN GATE.

5. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SHOULD HAVE AN INTERCOM SYSTEM TO ALL APARTMENTS AND ALLOW VISITORS ONLY IF THE OWNER CONFIRMS THEIR IDENTITY OF VISITORS TO THE SECURITY SUPERVISOR.

(IF THIS SYSTEM HAD BEEN IN PLACE, THE FAKE COURIER GUYS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO TO BLOCK 11 ON 10TH DECEMBER, NOR WOULD THE GANG HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SURVEY THE PREMISES ON 15TH NOVEMBER).

Illusion of permanence - a human fallacy!

2019-04-21T17:24:00.001+05:30

Life on planet earth is unpredictable. Except day and night! Human endeavors not withstanding, the world moves in mysterious ways and pace. Strange are the ways of this constantly and continuously changing labyrinthine enigma. Rain, sunshine, floods, earthquakes, storms, volcanoes - all of nature remains unconquered despite rapid strides in science and technology.
Is there any order or method in this? No one knows. Yet, humans feel invincible and all powerful.
The end of living beings, called death, is swift, sudden and without notice. Death is inevitable, unconcerned and unbiased. It brings about change. It removes stagnation. It happens unexpectedly.
No one can definitely say when the end occurs. Everyone has to depart from this materialistic world and leave the given identity of the biological body. Yet, we keep an alarm clock on the bedside hoping to wake up next morning!
Death may pass a seriously ill or grievously injured person and pick a healthy individual. Immense medical knowledge hasn't been able to forecast or prevent death.
To some the end may be a relief, a friend, a hope. To many, death is an inconvenient, uncomfortable, horrifying thought. Something that separates them from their riches and luxuries and takes away their privileges, power and authority. The arrogance of power drunk individuals has been vanquished time and again by death. Even the wealthiest have to leave behind everything at the end! This stark fact is well known. Yet, callousness, insensitivity, indecent attitude and dictatorial tendencies in humans remain to the point of claims to immortality.
When the end comes, as it must, living beings, however mighty, are helpless and defenseless.
Death is a great leveller. Gravity and death make unequals equal!
Nature prevails in the end.

ಲೌಕಿಕ ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳೆಂದರೆ ಇಷ್ಟೇನಾ?

2019-04-17T18:16:00.001+05:30

*ಲೌಕಿಕ ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳೆಂದರೆ ಇಷ್ಟೇನಾ?*

ಇಹಲೋಕ.
ಈ ದೇಹ.
ದೇಹಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಆಕಾರ, ಸ್ವರೂಪ.
ಅದಕ್ಕೊಂದು ಹೆಸರು.
ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳು, ನಂಟು, ಗಂಟು.
ಸಿರಿತನ, ಬಡತನ, ರಾಗ ದ್ವೇಷಗಳ ಅಂಟು.
ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ವಾತ್ಸಲ್ಯ, ಮಮತೆ, ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ, ಕಾಳಜಿ, ಗೌರವ, ಕರುಣೆ, ಅನುಕಂಪಗಳ ಆಲಿಂಗನ
ಆಸೆ, ಕೋಪ, ಅಸಹನೆ, ಅಹಂಕಾರ, ಕಾಮ, ಅಸೂಯೆ, ಲೋಭ, ಕ್ರೋಧ, ಮದ ಮತ್ಸರಗಳ ಹೊರೆ.
ದುಗುಡ, ದುಮ್ಮಾನ, ದುಃಖ, ಕ್ಲೇಶ, ಕಷ್ಟಾನಿಷ್ಟಗಳ ವ್ಯೂಹ
ಭೌತಿಕ, ಶಾರೀರಿಕ, ಲೌಕಿಕ (ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ, ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ, ಸಾಂಸಾರಿಕ) ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆಗಳ ಸುಳಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿ ಅತ್ತ ಮುಳುಗದೆ ಇತ್ತ ತೇಲದೆ ಇದ್ದೂ ಇಲ್ಲದಂತೆ, ಬದುಕಿಯೂ ಬಾಳದಂತೆ, ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ತೊರೆದು, ಇಳೆಗೆ ಇಳಿದಂತೆಯೇ ಮೇಲೇರಿ ಹೋಗಿ ಆತ್ಮವಾಗಿ, ಆತ್ಮೀಯರಿಗೆ ಸವಿನೆನಪಾಗಿ ಉಳಿವ ಮಾನವ!

ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಅಳಿವಿಲ್ಲ, ಹೆಸರಿಲ್ಲ, ಗುರುತಿಲ್ಲ, ಆಕಾರವಿಲ್ಲ, ಬಣ್ಣವಿಲ್ಲ, ರೂಪವಿಲ್ಲ, ಗಾತ್ರವಿಲ್ಲ, ಗಂಧವಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು-ನನ್ನದು ಎಂಬ ಅಂಟಿಲ್ಲ.
ಆತ್ಮ ಕಾಣಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ನೆನೆಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಬಿಸಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ಒಣಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಬೆಂಕಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.......
ಅದು ಯಾವ ಭೌತಿಕ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ ಪಡೆದು ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದೆಯೋ ಬಲ್ಲವರಿಲ್ಲ!
ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ನನ್ನ ನಿಧನಾನಂತರ ಪರಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಪಿತೃಗಳ ಭೇಟಿ, ಒಡನಾಟ ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ? ಮತ್ತೆ ನಾನವರನ್ನು ಕಾಣುತ್ತೇನೆಯೇ? ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ಆಸೆ ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆಗಳು ಕನಸಾಗಿಯೆ ಉಳಿದು ಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆಯೇ? ಬರೀ ಭ್ರಮೆಯೇ?
ನಾನು-ನನ್ನದು ಎಂಬ ಗುರುತೇ ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಸುವುದಾದರೂ ಏನನ್ನು?
ಹೀಗಾಗಿ, ಇಹಲೋಕದ ಆಗಿಹೋದ ಅನುಭವ+ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಈಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸವಿನೆನಪುಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ವಾ?

Selective anti-pollution activism

2018-08-22T19:34:00.001+05:30

Pollution is a modern problem.
I am perturbed when armchair preachers wake up on every Hindu festival and behave as though our festivals are the cause of all the environmenal ills in the world.
Have these goole-search activists methodically collected data of how much pollution happens throughout the year and how much our festivals have contributed to that ?
Do we even know if all this hue and cry by activists is even worth talking about ?
Are other festivals so eco-friendly that no activist thinks of passing on advisories ?

It is when each and every Hindu celebration becomes a time for over-activism, that I see a threat and a problem.
So, why do activists remember and remind us about responsibilities of environment protection only for 5 or 6 times a year during Hindu festivals and not bother at all for rest of the year or the New Year craze?
Isn't the problem big enough to be worried about all through the year ?

Hindus have celebrated these festivals for thousands of years without any issues. The problem lies in the mordenrity of last 150 years which is causing so much of harm to the environment. It is a complex problem to solve.
I have issues when activists with their limited intellect, simplify the problem domain, blame our festivals, pass sermons and feel happy having contributed to the environmenal cause. Instead of targetting Hindu festivals, let them apply their mind to analyze the problems brought about by mordernity and address those issues.

Why is it that some preacher-activist always assumes that Hindus need gyan about environmenal protection ?

Criticisms commence across Social Media just before any Hindu Festival. The impact of this is that our Children (most of them, if not all) see our festivals as polluting festivals.

We are self-incriminating. Flogging ourselves for all mistakes - those committed by others too!
Only we are responsible for all the ills plaguing the society. The responsibility for the entire environment protection efforts rests on us.
For every one else festivals are celebrations. But, we Hindus are made to believe they are polluting nuisance. This self-berating pointed advisories singling out our cherished festivals and events is a common phenomenon to belittle and demean our consciousness and to numb us into believing that we are eternally the wrongdoers!

Yes. We need to encourage eco-friendly ways of enjoying and celebrating our festivals. But, selectively targeting Hindu festivals under the veil of anti-pollution activism is not to be tolerated.

We have been celebrating these festivals for ages. We are a self-correcting community; we have corrected ourselves in the past and will do so in future. We don't want outsiders to tell us how to celebrate our festivals.

Time we prevent negative tainting of Hindu festivals.

My networth or network?

2018-01-28T04:15:00.001+05:30

What is my Net worth?
My AADHAAR, my CIBIL rating, my cloud storage?
In today's digital life context, my networth is the number of FB friends I have and the number of likes I get for my updates!
The number of WhatsApp groups I am in and the number of views of my status is also a measure of my Networth!
The internet has changed our lifestyles and understanding of the concept of success and failures! It has shrunk the globe and enabled me to focus on me, myself and mine.
The greed, vanity and selfishness that pervades this materialistic world has transformed people into zombies and beasts ever on the run ignoring the beauty of life and importance of relationships.
May we change for the better and aim for the true indices of net worth - sama (tranquility), dama (command over senses), uparati (contentment), titiksha (forbearance) shraddha (faith) and samadhana (blissful peace) - the real life success as described in the scriptures!

Balance sheet of life

2017-06-11T19:28:00.001+05:30

I have been through tumultuous, frightening, troublesome times in my life -albeit nothing compared to the difficulties faced by my parents.
But, I consider myself fortunate.
My life could be someone else's dream.

At some desperate moments I have cursed the Almighty. Why am I burdened with all difficulties heaped on me alone? I also turned a non believer having seen my pious, devout dad's pain and suffering during his final days.

I had a chance to listen to Veda Brahmashri Sudhakar Sharma.
He said we Hindus believe in Karmaphala and rebirth. Our life is believed to be divinely ordained. It's predetermined destiny based on our past deeds and misdeeds.

We can attain the state of moksha or mukthi (salvation) and get relieved from the cycle of life and death if we are good. The good should outweigh the bad. This is cleansing of the soul over generations
The cleansing happens by way of troubles appearing at every footstep.

Karmaphala also means that our past sins in past life also have to be paid for and the past dues cleared. Nothing can be left outstanding.

Life is a balance sheet of good deeds and sins that we have committed over generations. When the assets (good deeds) even out with liabilities (sins), the balance sheet is final.

The logic is, if you face difficulties now you are repaying the debts of the past. Which means that your past misdeeds are written off. Your liabilities column in life's balance sheet becomes lighter. To that extent the balance sheet is healthier. A small irritation in this life may clear a liability from past life and increase the asset (good) in the balance sheet. By doing so, you get closer to mukthi which is the ultimate aim of the soul.

So, Pandith Sudhakar Sharma advises all to look at difficulties positively.
They lead us to mukthi. In fact, he says we should welcome troubles and face them and overcome them. Because, you are lessening the burdens of past misdeeds. In addition, do more good in this life.
If you believe in the Hindu way of life, the above explanation is meaningful. It relieves you of tensions. And helps you face troubles more candidly.

Our wise ancestors used to go through troubles with deep sense of sacrifice. Some rishis would go in search of difficult paths to cleanse themselves and attain moksha.

After listening to Shri.Sudhakar Sharma, my view of "difficulties" has changed.
My dad's physical (health) sufferings took on a new dimension. All the testing times he faced, though troublesome and painful, took him closer to the final tally of balance sheet.

Now, I am able to face the travails and tribulations in my own life with more courage and satisfaction. There's a sense of fulfilment and contentment.
I am at peace with myself and the difficulties that come my way.
This has been my personal experience. Never shun troubles and difficulties. Don't run away from them.

Many may say it's a load of bunkum.
But it gives me an incentive to do good and be good!
Now, I am at peace. With good and bad!

Too philosophical. But thought I'd share with all.

ನೆನಪುಗಳು

2016-03-27T22:59:00.001+05:30

ತಿರುತಿರುಗಿ ಅಲೆದಾಡಿ ತಂಪೆಲರು ಬೀಸಿರಲು
ಹರಿಹರಿದು ಜಲಧಾರೆ ನೊರೆಯಾಗಿ ಸುರಿದಿರಲು
ಸರಸರನೆ ಎಲೆನಡುವೆ ಮರೆಯಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿರಲು
ಬರಿದಾಗೆ ನೆಲಹಸಿರು ತೃಣವೆಲ್ಲ ಮಲಗಿರಲು

ಹೊಸ recipe....

ನೊರೆ ನೊರೆ ಹಾಲು ಕೆನೆ ಕೆನೆ ಮೊಸರು
ಸಿಹಿ ಸಿಹಿ ಜೇನು ರಸ ರಸ ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ
ಹುಳಿ ಹುಳಿ ಮಾವು ಕರಿ ಕರಿ ಮೆಣಸು
ತಿಳಿ ತಿಳಿ ನೀರು ಬೆರೆತರೆ ಪಾನಕ

ವರುಣದೇವನೆ ಧರೆಗೆ ಬಾರೊ
ಹರಣಮಾಡುತ ಭುವಿಯ ತಾಪವ
ಅರುಣನಾಟವ ಮೊಟಕುಗೊಳಿಸಿ
ಕರುಣೆತೋರಿ ತಿರೆಯ ನೆನೆಸು

ಶಿಷ್ಟನಾಗಿರು ಮನುಜನೆ
ಕಷ್ಟವೆಲ್ಲವನೆದುರಿಸಿ
ನಷ್ಟವಿಲ್ಲವೊ ಇಳೆಯಲಿ
ಇಷ್ಟಜೀವಿಯ ಬಾಳಲಿ

ಭ್ರಷ್ಟನಾದವ ಬಡವನೆ
ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟವೆಲ್ಲವು ಸುಳ್ಳಲಿ
ವೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿರಿ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ
ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠತೆಗೆ ಸಮವಿಲ್ಲವು

Endless journey. ..

Quest to get the
Best of joy with
Nest of peace in
West of life....

ಮಾಡುವ ಮಾಟದಿ ಧ್ಯಾನವಿಟ್ಟಿರಬೇಕು
ನೋಡುವ ನೋಟದಿ ಆಸೆತೋರಲುಬೇಡ
ಹಾಡುವ ಕೂಟದಿ ಮೌನದಿಂದಿರಬೇಕು
ಆಡುವ ಆಟದಿ ಆನಂದವಿರಬೇಕು

ಶರಣು ದೇವನೆ ಕಷ್ಟ ಕಳೆವನೆ
ಕರುಣೆ ತೋರಿಸಭೀಷ್ಟ ನೀಡುತ
ಕರವ ಪಿಡಿಯುತನಿಷ್ಟ ನೀಗಿಸು
ಚರಣ ಪಿಡಿವೆನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯೊಡೆಯನೆ
_______________________

ಬಾರೊ ಪ್ರೇಮಕುಮಾರ
ತಾರೊ ನ್ಯಾನೊ ಕಾರ
ತೋರೊ ಅದರಲಿ ಊರ
ಕೂರೊ ಹೋಗದೆ ದೂರ

ಬಾರೆ ಪ್ರೇಮಕುಮಾರಿ
ಏರೆ ಪಕ್ಕಕೆ ಹಾರಿ
ನೀರೆ ನಗುವನು ಬೀರಿ
ಊರೆ ಉರಿಸುವ ಪೋರಿ
________________________

Endless journey

2016-03-16T08:29:00.001+05:30

Quest to get the
Best of joy with
Nest of peace in
West of life....

ಭ್ರಷ್ಟನಾದವ ಬಡವನೆ
ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟವೆಲ್ಲವು ಸುಳ್ಳಲಿ
ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿರಿ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ
ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠತೆಗೆ ಸಮವಿಲ್ಲವು

ಕೈಯಚಾಚಿ ನೀಡುವವನು
ನಗುತ ಮಾತನಾಡುವವನು
ಮನವತೆರೆದು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುವನು
ಅವನೆ ಶುದ್ಧ ಮಾನವನು

ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ ಶವವನು ಆತ್ಮವು ತೊರೆದು
ಕಟ್ಟಿಹ ಅರಮನೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಇರದು
ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ಹೃದಯವೆ ಬಾಳ್ವೆಯ ಬಿರುದು
ಮೆಟ್ಟೆಹ ನೆಲವದು ಎಲ್ಲವ ಬಲ್ಲದು

ದುಡಿಯುವ ಕೈಗಳು ದೇಶಕೆ ದೋಸ್ತಿ
ಹೊಡೆಯುವ ದೊರೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಲಿ ಶಾಸ್ತಿ
ನುಡಿಯುವ ದಣಿಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ
ಗಡಿಯಲಿ ಕಾಯುವ ಯೋಧರೆ ಆಸ್ತಿ

ಶಿಕ್ಷಕಿಯೆಂದಿಗು ಶಾಲೆಯ ಒಡವೆ
ಭಿಕ್ಷುಕನೆಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ಅಲೆಯುವ ಒಡೆಯ
ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯವೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ ಧ್ಯೇಯದ ಹಾದಿ
ಲಕ್ಷವಲಕ್ಷಿಸೆ ಅಕ್ಷಯವೆಲ್ಲವು

ತಾಯ ನನೆಯುತ ನಮಿಪೆನವಳಿಗೆ
ಮಾಯೆ ರೂಪದಿ ಕಾಯ್ದು ಎಮ್ಮನು
ಕಾಯ ಬೆಳೆಸಿದ ತ್ಯಾಗಮೂರ್ತಿ
ಆಯು ತುಂಬಿದ ಮಾತೆ ದೇವತೆ

ವಿಶ್ವರೂಪಿ ಜನ್ಮದಾತೆ
ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ಎಮ್ಮ ಮಾತೆ
ಶಾಲೆಯವಳು ಜ್ಞಾನದಾತೆ
ನಾವು ಕಂಡ ಯಶೋಗಾಥೆ

ಅಪರಿಮಿತ ಆನಂದವ
ಅನಿಗಧಿತ ಅನುರಾಗವ
ಅನುದಿನವು ಆರೋಗ್ಯವ
ಅನಿತಿನಿತು ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ
ಅನಿಯಮಿತ ಬಾಳನಡೆಸು
ಅನುಕರಣೆ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ ಸಂತಸಕೆ

ಆವುದನಾಬೇಡಲೆನ್ನೊಡೆಯನ
ಕಾವನಿರಲಾದುರಿತನಿವಾರಕ
ಸೇವೆಗೈವುದನರಿತನಾಸೇವಕ
ಪಾವನನಾದೆನೈಯವನಭಜಿಸುತ

ಇವನವ ಮೋಹನ....

ಕರೆದರೆ ಬರುವನು ಹೊರೆಕೊರೆಯುವನು
ಮರೆತರೆ ಕರೆವನು ಮೊರೆಕೇಳುವನು
ಸಿರಿಯರಸನ ಸರಿಸಮನಾರಿಹನು
ದೊರೆಯವನೆನೆ ಹರಿ ಗುರಿತೋರುವನು

Sunrise

2016-02-24T09:20:00.001+05:30

ಬಾನಂಚಲಿ ಬಣ್ಣಚೆಲ್ಲಿ
ದಿನಪನೇರಿ ಬೆಳಕ ಹರಡಿ
ಕೆಂಪಾಗಿಹ ನಭದ ಕಡಲ
ಹೊನ್ನ ಕಿರಣದಲೆಯ ನಡುವೆ
ಮೋಡ ನೌಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾನು
ಬಾಳಯಾನ ಸಾಗಿಸಿಹನು

ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಯ ಬೆಳಕನು ಬಾನಲಿ ಪಸರಿಸಿ
ತಳ್ಳಿದನಾಗಸದಂಚಿಗೆ ನಿಶೆಯನು
ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಹರುಷವ ಹರಡಿದ ದಿನಪನು
ಪೊಳ್ಳಿನ ಜೊಳ್ಳಿನ ನಿಜಗಳ ಸಾರಿ

ನಿಶೆಯ ತೋಟದ ತಾರೆ ನಡುವೆ
ಶಶಿಯ ಅಂದವು ಮನವ ಸೆಳೆಯೆ
ಉಷೆಯ ಕಿರಣವ ನಭದಿ ಹರಡುತ
ವಶಕೆ ಪಡೆದನು ಭಾಸ್ಕರ

ಚಂದದ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಭಾಸ್ಕರನುದಯಿಸಿ
ಬಂದಿಹ ಬಾಳನು ಬೆಳಗಿ
ಅಂದದ ಹೊನ್ನಿನ ರಶ್ಮಿಯ ಹರಡುತ
ತಂದನು ಬೆಳ್ಳಿಯ ನಗುವ

ಮೂಡಣದಿಂ ಕೆಂಗೋಳವು
ಪಡುವಣದೆಡೆ ಚೆಂಗನೆಗೆದು
ಬಿಡುವಿಲ್ಲದ ಭಂಟನಂತೆ
ಗುಡುಗುತಿಹುದು ಚಂದ್ರನರಸಿ

Poetry

2016-02-03T23:12:00.001+05:30

ಹನಿಮಂಜು ಧರೆಗುರುಳಿ ಜಲಧಾರೆಯಾಗದು
ನೊಣ ರೆಕ್ಕೆ ಬಡಿದೊಡನೆ ಬಿರುಗಾಳಿಯೇರದು
ರವಿಯೇರಿ ಬೆಳಕೀವ ಕೋಳಿ ಮಲಗಿದ್ದರೂ
ನೀ ಕುನ್ನಿಯದನರಿಯೊ, ಎಲೆ ಮಾನವ

ಇಷ್ಟವಾದದ್ದು ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗದ್ದು
ಕಷ್ಟವಾದದ್ದು ಕಷ್ಟವಾಗದ್ದು
ನಷ್ಟವಾದದ್ದು ನಷ್ಟವಾಗದ್ದು
ಇಷ್ಟೆ ಬಾಳಿಗೆ ಪುಷ್ಟಿ ಎಲೆ ಮಾನವ

ಭಯದಲಿ ಭರದಲಿ ಬರದಿಹ ಬರಹವು
ಬಲವಿರೆ ಬರುವುದು ಬಯಸದೆ ಬಿರುಸಲಿ
ಬಿಸಿಯಲಿ ಬೆವರುತ ಬೆಸೆಯುತ ಬಸಿಯುತ
ಬೆರಗಲಿ ಬರೆವುದೆ ಬವಣೆಯ ಭಾರ

ಬಡಗಿಯು ಒಡೆಯ

2016-01-15T16:30:00.001+05:30

ಬಡಗಿ ಕೆತ್ತುವ ಕಲಾಕೃತಿಯಲಿ
ಚಿತ್ರ ಬಿಡಿಸುವ ಕಲಾವಿದನಿಗೆ
ಕವಿಯ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಗಿಹದು ಪರಿಮಿತಿ
ಕಲೆಯದೆಲ್ಲವು ದೈವದತ್ತವು

ಉದಯರವಿಯ ಕಿರಣ ನೋಡಿ
ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಾನದಿಂಪ ಸವಿದು
ಚೆಲುವ ಹೂವ ಕಂಪ ಹೀರಿ
ನಲಿದಾಡುವ ಭ್ರಮರ ಕಂಡು
ತಂಪುಗಾಳಿಸೊಗಸಮಿಂದು
ಸಂತಸದಲಿ ಮನದಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿರೈ

ಗುಂಡಿನ ಗಮ್ಮತ್ತು
   ಗುಂಡದು ಗಂಡಿನ ಗುಂಡಿಗೆ ಗುಂಡು
   ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಹಿಂಡಲು ಹೆಂಡದ ಹುಂಡಿ
   ಪುಂಡನ ಮಂಡೆಯು ಕಂಡಿತು ಗುಂಡಿ

ಬಡಗಿಯು ಬಡಿಯುತ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಬೆಡಗಿಯ
ಮರದಲಿ ಮೆರೆದಳು ಮರವನು ಮರೆತಳು
ಸರಸದ ಸಿರಿಯಲಿ ಸೆರೆತನ ಸರಿದಿರೆ
ಅರಿವಿನ ಅರೆತನ ಅರಿತಳು ಅರಳುತ
ಅರಸನ ಅರಸುತ ಕೋರುತ ಕರೆದಳು

ದೇವರು ಮನುಷ್ಯನನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ. ಮನುಷ್ಯ ತನ್ನ ಕನಿಷ್ಠಗಳನ್ನ ಮರೆತು ಮೆರೆದ. ಅರಿವಾಗಲವಗೆ ದೈವದ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಬೇಡಿದ ಮುಕ್ತಿ.

ಬಡಗಿ, ಅರಸ = ದೈವ
ಬೆಡಗಿ = ಮಾನವ
ಅರಳುತ = ವಯಸ್ಸು ಕಳೆಯುತ
ಸೆರೆತನ = ಸೆರೆವಾಸ, ಸೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಭಾಸ
ಸರಿದಿರೆ = ಸಾಗಿರಲು
ಮರದಲಿ = ಸುಂದರ ಮಾಂಸಖಂಡಗಳ ದೇಹದಲ್ಲಿ
ಮರವನು ಮರೆತಳು = ತನ್ನನ್ನು, ತನ್ನತನವನ್ನು, ಇಹವನ್ನು, ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದವರನ್ನು ಮರೆತ ಮಾನವ

ಗೀಚುವಾಗ ನಾನು ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಂಡಂತೆಯೆ ತಮಗೂ ಆಗಲೆಂದು ವಿವರಣೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ..
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ philosophically heavy ಅನ್ನಿಸಿದರೆ ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ. ..
ಗುಂಡಿನ ಗಮ್ಮತ್ತು ಬರೆದ ಲೇಖನಿಯಲೇ ಇದನ್ನೂ ಬರೆದದ್ದು.... ಗುಂಡಿನ ಗಮ್ಮತ್ತಿಲ್ಲದೆ.... ನನ್ನ ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದ ರುಚಿಯಾದ ಹುಗ್ಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪೊಂಗಲ್ ಗಮ್ಮತ್ತಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಬರೆದದ್ದು!

ಡಿವಿಜಿ ಸಂಸ್ಮರಣೆ

2015-12-09T13:02:00.001+05:30

ಪ್ರಾತಃವಂದಿತ ಡಿವಿಜಿ...

ಕಗ್ಗಂಟಿನ ಕೋಟಲೆಗಳ ಸಂಯಮದಿಂ ಪಾರುಗೈದು
ಮುಗುಳುನಗೆಯೊಳುತ್ಸಾಹದಿ ಜೀವನವನನುಭವಿಸಿ
ಕಗ್ಗವೆಂಬ ಸುಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಳಿನೊಳತಿರುಳನ್ನಿರಿಸಿ
ಜಗಕೆದಾರಿತೋರಿದ ದಿವಿಜನೊಡೆಯಂಗೆ ಶರಣು

ಶಿಸ್ತನು ಪಾಲಿಸೊ
ಆಸ್ತಿಯ ಗೌಣಿಸೊ
ವಿಸ್ತರ ತತ್ವದ
ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕಗ್ಗ

ಜೀವನದಾಟದ ಬಯಲಲಿ ಬೆಂದು
ಮಾವನು ಬೇವನು ಬೆಸೆಯುತ ಉಂಡು
ನೋವಲಿ ನಲಿವಲಿ ಶಿಸ್ತಿನ ಗಂಡು
ಪಾವನಮೂರ್ತಿಗೆ ನಮಿಪೆವು ಬಾಗಿ

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಪುರಿಯ ಭಿಕ್ಷುಕನು
ಕರ್ಮಹೊರೆಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷೆಯಲಿ
ಮರ್ಮಗಳನಲಕ್ಷಿಸದ
ಧರ್ಮನಿರತ ರಕ್ಷಿತನು

ಬಲಿಪಾಡ್ಯಮಿ

2015-12-08T16:43:00.001+05:30

ವಾಮನನನ ನಿಜವನರಿತು ಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವಗೆ ಭಿಕ್ಷೆಯೀವ
ಹಿರಿಮೆಯದುವೆ ಬಾಳಲೊಂದು ದಿವ್ಯಸಂಧಿ ಭವ್ಯಕ್ಷಣವು
ನರರಿಗೆಂದು ದೊರೆಯದಂತ ಭಾಗ್ಯವೊಂದು ದೊರೆಗೆ ಸಿಗಲು
ಕಿರಿಯನೆದುರು ಹಿರಿಯ ಬಾಗಿ ಕುಳಿತನವನು ರಾಜಯೋಗಿ
ಮೂರುಪಾದಕೆಡೆಯ ಬೇಡೆ ಬಲಿಯು ಒಡನೆ ನೀಡಲೊಪ್ಪಿ
ಭುವಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ನಭದಲೊಂದು ಪಾದವಿಡಲು
ಉಳಿದ ಪದಕೆ ತಲೆಯನಿತ್ತು ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪಡೆದ ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಪುಣ್ಯವಂತನು

When man tries to play God…..

2013-01-14T18:52:00.001+05:30

A small, interesting anecdote in the Garuda Purana about the age of human beings is usually narrated by the priest performing the post-demise thirteenth day ceremonies in Hindu tradition. Initially, when God created this universe and all the living beings, He had given them all the same life-span. But, man being more intelligent amongst them asked for a longer life. Brahma, the Creator, said he could not indulge in favoritism and made a small concession. If any of the other beings would like to transfer some years of their life, He would not mind adding those years to a man’s life. So, the greedy man went around seeking a part of life from animals. Most refused to oblige. When he approached a donkey, the animal was willing to give away twenty years of it’s life provided it got “mukthi” (salvation). So, they went to Brahma who added twenty years to man’s forty years and man’s life extended from forty to sixty and the donkey got it’s “nirvana”. Then, the dog agreed to gift another twenty years and man’s life was further increased from sixty to eighty years. The owl also parted with another twenty years and man got his dream life-span of hundred years. Now, on hindsight, it seems the animals were more intelligent than the human being by consciously willing away a part of their life-spans so that they could attain “moksha” sooner than man!

Be that as it may, the next part is more illuminating. The years that man got from the donkey (forty to sixty) are called the donkey years during which man just slogs without realizing what or why of his aim in life. Many men in their forties say unhesitatingly that their life has become routine and they work like a donkey – “katthe duditha”. The age of sixty to eighty is likened to a dog’s life where a man retires and is home-bound taking care of the house and protecting his precious acquisitions which surely is akin to a dog’s life. You ask any retired man about his post retirement life and it is always “naayi paadu”. The eighties sees a man being compared to a “goobe” (owl) waiting for things to happen, not being able to realise or comprehend the goings-on around him and being castigated by one and all as “goobe”.

This tale or yarn as you may wish to see it is a pointer to man’s greed, his propensity to take what is not his and his stupidity in measuring life in terms of volume rather than qualitatively!

This set me thinking about man’s attempt to add quality to his life.

The discovery of inheritance of genetic traits through seven generations by Father Gregor Mendel through his experiments on pea plants laid a strong foundation for modern genetic science. But, the concept of hereditary characteristics was known and well documented in Hindu religious scriptures ages before others could dwell on these matters. We have heard of elders talking of “elu janmada punya” and “sanchita karma” and accumulation of the worth of good (and bad) deeds over seven lives in human life-cycle. The common prevailing practice of gothra based family union has been the corner stone of marriage relationships in Hindu households. The compounding of undesirable hereditary traits and the resulting physical, mental and medical adversities due to in-breeding were known to our ancestors. The introduction of diversity and thereby genetic improvements through preclusion of “sagothra” marriage has enhanced the richness of our genetic pool.

The “Human Genome Project” aims to map the human genes (around 30,000 of them) present in the DNA. Genes are unique to every living organism. The Crick-Watson model of the double helix DNA structure electrified the genetic studies. Bio-technologists have been trying to improve life by tweaking the human genes. Geneticists have identified the disease-causing genes (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) in human beings. A day may not be far off when most of the diseases can be eliminated in the womb at the genetic levels by tinkering with the genetic matter at conception stages. Genetic Engineering will be the order of the day!

We need not be surprised if customized babies with attractive characters are offered by sperm-banks! A person with well-built, athletic body, intelligent, healthy, strong, tall, fair colored skin, blue or grey or green eyes, blond hair, aquiline nose, perfect set of shining white teeth and so on may be available on demand. Even now, the sperm banks screen donors for disease susceptibility and physical traits. They accept sperms only from healthy, strong, fair, able-bodied youngsters. Intelligence quotient, family medical history, education levels of donors and various other parameters are verified by the sperm banks. Molecular mapping and genetic finger-printing is a common protocol that scientists adopt to trace chromosomal trails. The scientific experiments in the domains of human, animal and plant bio-technology have seen revolutionary revelations, discoveries and inventions. We have seen hybrids and genetic modifications (both animal and plant). GM crops have caused huge controversies. Anti-cancer, anti-rabies and immunity-inducing vegetables and fruits are now awaiting government approvals for release for human consumption. Many learned people say these are hyped up fancy scenarios which may not really benefit the common man and will ultimately fatten the cash chests of multinational companies which do not hesitate to indulge in unethical and immoral conduct to achieve their selfish goals by exploiting the ignorance of common populace!

The macabre and horrendous events leading to ethnic cleansing by the German “Aryans” during Hitler era in concentration camps caused extermination of Jews and Romanian nomadic tribes. The Nazis were seemingly protecting the “Super Race” and preservation of the purity of “Aryan race” during 1930s and 40s. The Ku-Klux-Klan and white supremacists in USA see the non-white people as unworthy scum belittling this planet. The Apartheid regime in South Africa considered the black population as undesirables. Even now, racial attacks are not uncommon in several parts of the world. These are but manifestations of attempts by some persons to establish racial hegemony by segregation and elimination of what they see as impure and unwanted fellow-beings.

Science can and may deliver the “Super Man” in the near future. But, can his attitude, behavior and mentality be customized or controlled? Will man continue to be greedy, vengeful, devious, violent, selfish, intolerant and aggressive?

Man may try to become God. Can he really be benevolent and non-discriminatory?

How many trees do we sacrifice for development?

2012-08-17T13:45:00.000+05:30

The road widening projects of BBMP and BDA have drastically decreased the green cover in Bangalore. Such projects are designed selectively by choosing the roads with maximum number of trees that can be cut. At grassroots level, contractor is the king. Engineers are mere puppets in the hands of these tree-killers. The Timber mafia rules the roost. The recent widening of Chittaranjan Das Avenue in Thippasandra bears testimony to such contractor-oriented-work where countless trees were butchered mercilessly. For every tree identified many more unmarked trees were axed and the valuable tree carted away by the contractors.

The new Sirsi Circle – Agara signal-free corridor sought to be imposed by the government is bound to require tree-cutting. The Karnataka High Court, in a landmark judgment, directed the concerned government agencies to protect trees and also involve local citizens in the planning process. This forced the government to invite the public to a meeting on 13th August, 2012 in Vikasa Soudha. The meeting was chaired by Sri.Kaushik Mukherjee, Addl. Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka and other participants included Mrs.Amita Prasad, Principal Secretary in Urban Development Department and Sri.Shankarlinge Gowda, Commissioner of BBMP apart from representatives of various RWA, NGOs and general public. The discussions mainly centered around Hosur Road – Koramangala – HSR Layout portion of the project with the residents of these areas protesting the traffic diversion and the resulting chaos which would affect their daily lives. Surprisingly, nobody raised the issue of protecting greenery which was the basic premise on which the High Court had directed the civic agencies to consider public opinion before embarking on such infrastructure projects which involved public money.

At the fag end of the meeting, I drew the attention of all present to the fact that the reason for the meeting itself was to conserve greenery and to review the need for the signal free corridor. The alternative routes or project proposals to benefit those who were inconvenienced by the alignment planned by BDA could be discussed only after the two primary issues were addressed. Trees should be protected at all costs. I explicitly suggested that the road alignment and width must be marked out clearly so that only trees that intruded into the edge of the road could be identified and labeled. And local citizens must have a right to say no to cut any trees which do not affect the road widening work. Each tree to be felled should be marked and only that particular tree must be cut in the presence of local people. If the contractor unauthorisedly removes any unlabelled tree, then the engineer supervising the work and the contractor should be penalized appropriately and criminal proceedings should be initiated for murdering the tree. Tree cutting is a punishable offence under existing statutes and also as per orders of the Green Bench of Supreme Court of India.

The Chairman assured that he would take all necessary steps to prevent unnecessary removal of trees. The sincerity and commitment of the top officials are not in doubt. But, the same seriousness does not percolate down to the lower level supervisors who look the other way and let the contractor do what he wants. This contractor-engineer nexus should be broken.

Greenery of Bangalore is more precious and essential than the comforts and conveniences of a few elite. Before Bangalore goes bald, we need to cry a halt to development projects which necessitate reduction of green cover in Bangalore. It is indeed heartening to note that the High Court of Karnataka has supported this cause of preservation of trees and forced the government to rethink on infrastructure projects which affect greenery.

A tree is not just a green canopy providing much-needed oxygen. A tree is an ecosystem by itself. Millions of micro-organisms flourish in a tree apart from the birds, insects and reptiles that make it their home. Felling a tree uproots the lives of these living beings which have more right to live on this planet by virtue of having been here prior to evolution of mankind. Human beings have no right to degrade nature, nor cut the defenseless trees.

I hope the concerns expressed by members of the public regarding protection of trees and preservation of greenery in Bangalore are appropriately addressed while deciding on the need for the Signal-Free Corridor from Sirsi circle to Agara Lake and also in future infrastructure projects.

Single Digit Lottery

2012-07-14T20:05:00.001+05:30

SINGLE DIGIT LOTTERY

Before the government banned lotteries, there was an extremely popular scheme called “single digit lottery” which had ruined many families and created many paupers! But, some, like my friends Arun, Suri, Srinidhi and Vasanth Kumar, who tried to out-smart the system by forming ‘syndicates’ and playing one number continuously on consecutive days could salvage some of their investments, although their notorious dream of instant prosperity remained a mirage! I never came across anyone becoming rich by playing the ‘single digit lottery’. The government, bowing to dictats from the courts prohibited lotteries altogether.

The above convoluted preface became necessary to overcome the beginner’s block to narrate the fortune bestowed on me by a mistaken “single digit” in my mobile number (xxxxx 88838). In an entirely different way I have had the privilege of speaking to a host of VIPs, big-wigs in the celluloid world, litterateurs, budding artistes, dramatists, students from film schools and a host of luminaires whom I could never have aspired to talk to even in the wildest of my dreams. When I receive a call on my cell phone from an unknown number I prepare myself for receiving an invitation to be the chief guest of some function or to grace some program to be felicitated for my “unparalleled contributions” to the film world! I feel weird knowing my inclination to avoid movies which I personally feel is a waste of time much like cricket matches! The world would be better off without movies and TV and, of course, the cell phone! No, I am not talking about going back to the stone-age; but of eroding cultural, social, ethical and moral values. Let me not digress.

Invariably, it is some important personality who begins eloquently with “namaskaara meshtre” without for a second realizing that the person at the other end could be someone else. Much unlike the landline conversations which usually commence with confirmation of the receivers’ identity, the ubiquitous cell phone culture has so much firmed up the callers’ belief of speaking to the right person right away. Initially, I was flabbergasted at being called “meshtre” which I consider a big honor. I was also upset at receiving unsolicited calls at odd times. After sometime, I started enjoying the envious tag though I felt uneasy at times realising how unqualified I was for that prefix. I came to appreciate the fact that the caller expected the called-number to be correct or did not know that I was an unknown entity not anywhere close to the illustrious “meshtre” he was trying to contact.

I have had the honor of speaking to Sa Ra Govindu, Dattanna, Ramesh Aravind, B Jayashree, Tara, Gowri Dattu, students of Adarsha Film Institute, Narayana Gowda of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and a host of other eminent personalities.

Without testing the patience of my dear readers, I will reveal that the misdirected calls were meant for the famous film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar whose mobile number is xxxxx 88858. That one misplaced number (3 in place of 5) has made me a ‘duplicate’ film director!

I have taken the correct cell number of Nagathihalli Chandrashekar from Suchitra Cinema Academy and now surprise the callers by giving them the correct number and thanking them for inviting me unknowingly and telling them how I enjoyed speaking to them.

Thereafter, the thankful caller always invites me to the function as a member of the audience and not as chief guest!

An objective comparision of two main characters in Dr.U.R.Anantha Murthy's novel "SAMSKAARA" and Dr.S.L.Bhyrappa's "VAMSHAVRUKSHA"

2012-02-12T19:09:00.000+05:30

“ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತು “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯ – ಒಂದು ಮೌಲ್ಯಕ ತುಲನೆ

ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರರಾದ ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ ಕೃತಿ “ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ” ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದದ್ದು ೧೯೬೫ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರಿಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿಯ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ೧೯೬೬-೬೭ನೇ ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ತಂದುಕೊಟ್ಟಿತು. ೧೯೭೨ರಲ್ಲಿ “ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ” ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವಾಗಿ ತೆರೆಕಂಡಿತು. ಗಿರೀಶ್ ಕಾರ್ನಾಡ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬಿ.ವಿ.ಕಾರಂತರ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ ತಯಾರಾದ ಈ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ “ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ” ರಾಷ್ಠ್ರಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ದೊರೆಯಿತು.

ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾರಸ್ವತಲೋಕದ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ದಿಗ್ಗಜ ಡಾ||ಯು.ಆರ್.ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ” ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದದ್ದು ೧೯೬೫ರಲ್ಲಿ. ನವ್ಯ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಅಪೂರ್ವ ಕೃತಿ ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ” ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ವಿವಾದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಿತು. ೧೯೭೧ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪಟ್ಟಾಭಿರಾಮರೆಡ್ಡಿಯವರ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ” ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾಗಯಿತು. ಗಿರಿಶ್ ಕಾರ್ನಾಡ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ನೇಹಲತಾ ರೆಡ್ಡಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಭೂಮಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರವೊಂದು ಮೊಟ್ಟಮೊದಲ “ಸ್ವರ್ಣಕಮಲ” ರಾಷ್ಠ್ರಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಪಡೆಯುವಂತಾಯಿತು. ಹೊಸ ಅಲೆಯ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ನಾಂದಿಹಾಡಿತು. ಡಾ||ಯು.ಆರ್.ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸೇವೆಗಾಗಿ (೧೯೯೪ – ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಆರನೇ) ಅವರಿಗೆ “ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಲಭಿಸಿತು.

ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ “ಮಂದ್ರ” ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಮೊದಲ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತ “ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಸಮ್ಮಾನ್” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಗಳಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟ ಹೆಗ್ಗಳಿಕೆಗೆ ಪಾತ್ರವಾಯಿತು. ಡಾ||ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ವೇದಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿಚ್ಛಿಸದೆ ಮರೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕೃಷಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅಪಾರ ಜನಮಣ್ಣನೆ ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಲೇಖಕರು. ಬಲಪಂಥೀಯರೆಂದು, ಆರ್.ಎಸ್.ಎಸ್ ವಕ್ತಾರರೆಂದು ಹಣೆಪಟ್ಟಿ ಕಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳು ಬಹಳ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಬಹುತೇಕ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಅನೇಕ ವಿದೇಶೀ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೂ ಅನುವಾದಗೊಂಡಿವೆ. ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ೧೯೯೯ರಲ್ಲಿ ಕನಕಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ೬೭ನೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆ ವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಡಾ||ಯು.ಆರ್.ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರು ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ವರ್ಣರಂಜಿತ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವುಳ್ಳವರು. ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಕೈಯಾಡಿಸಿರುವ ವಿವಾದಾತ್ಮಕ ಸಾಹಿತಿ. ಲೋಕಸಭೆಗೆ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸಿ ಸೋತು ನಂತರ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯಸಭೆಗೆ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸಿ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳ ಮುಂದೆ ಮತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕೈಚಾಚಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಗೌರವ ಹಾಗೂ “ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಯ ಘನತೆಯನ್ನು ಮಣ್ಣುಪಾಲು ಮಾಡಿದ ಟೀಕೆಗೆ ಗುರಿಯಾದ ಅಪಖ್ಯಾತಿ ಇವರದ್ದು. ಒಬ್ಬ ಮೇಧಾವಿ, ಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧ ಲೇಖಕ, “ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ವಿಜೇತ ಅಂದು ವಿಧಾನ ಸೌಧದ ಮೊಗಸಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳ (ಯಾರು ಇವರ ಜೀವನದ ಸಾಧನೆಗಾಗಿ ತಲೆಬಾಗಿ ಇವರಿಗೆ ವಂದಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿತ್ತೊ ಅಂತಹವರ) ಮುಂದೆ ಕೈಜೋಡಿಸಿ ಅವರ ಮತಭಿಕ್ಷೆ ಬೇಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಶೋಚನೀಯ ದೃಶ್ಯ ಜನರಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಸರ ಮೂಡಿಸಿತ್ತು. “ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಗೆ ಭಾಜನರಾಗಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಲೋಕದ ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೂ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರದಾಹವನ್ನು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿಕ್ಕಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ಜಿಗುಪ್ಸೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಪ್ರಿಯರ ಮನನಾಡಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಿತ್ತು. ಆಸ್ತಿವಂತ ಜಮೀನ್ದಾರರ ವಂಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಅನುಕೂಲಸ್ತರಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ಎಡಪಂಥೀಯ ತತ್ತ್ವ-ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಒಲವು, ಸಮಜವಾದದ ನಿಲುವು ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ೨೦೦೨ರಲ್ಲಿ ತುಮಕೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ೭೦ನೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಕೇರಳದ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯದ ಉಪಕುಲಪತಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಸೇವೆಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರಕಾರ ನೀಡುವ ಗೌರವಾನ್ವಿತ “ಪದ್ಮಭೂಶಣ” ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಯನ್ನು (೧೯೯೮) ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕಾದ್ದು “ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ” ಮತ್ತು “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ” ಎರಡೂ ಸಮಕಾಲೀನ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳು ಎಂಬ ಮುಖ್ಯಾಂಶವನ್ನು. ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದೇ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿರಬಹುದಾದ (ಕಾಲ್ಪನಿಕ) ಘಟನೆಗಳ ನಿರೂಪಣೆ ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು. ಎರಡೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಗೊಂಡವು ಹಾಗೂ ಎರಡೂ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಮಟ್ಟದ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ದೊರೆತ ವಿಶೇಷತೆ. ಎರಡೂ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಿರೀಶ್ ಕಾರ್ನಾಡ್ ಪಾತ್ರವಹಿಸಿದ್ದು ಹಾಗೂ ಎರಡೂ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ನಿತ್ಯಜೀವನ, ರೀತಿ-ನೀತಿ, ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ-ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯ, ಮಡಿವಂತಿಕೆ, ಆಚಾರ-ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿರುವಂತಹದ್ದು, ಆದರೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ಅವಹೇಳನ, ವಿಡಂಬನೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ದೋಷಾರೋಪ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಕೇಳಿಬಂತು.

“ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತು “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳು. ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಪಂಡಿತರು, ವೇದ-ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಪಾರಂಗತರು, ಸಾತ್ವಿಕರು, ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು, ವೈದಿಕ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಸ್ತ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ಮನೆತನದವರು. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ, ವೇದ, ಉಪನಿಷತ್ತು, ಮೀಮಾಂಸೆ, ಪುರಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಬಲ್ಲವರು. ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ಮನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪೌರೋಹಿತ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿಸುವುದು, ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳ ವಿವರಣೆ, ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನ ನೀಡುವುದು, ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಅಥವ ಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕ ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಭವಿಸುವ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ-ಸಂಶಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ-ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಗಳ ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿನೊಳಗೆ ಸಮಂಜಸ ಪರಿಹಾರ ತಿಳಿಸಿ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವುಳ್ಳವರು. ನೈತಿಕ ಬದುಕೇ ಜೀವನದ ಸರ್ವಶ್ರೇಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿಯೆಂದು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ನಂಬಿ ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಸನ್ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಳುವವರು. ದೈವದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಪಾರ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯುಳ್ಳವರು. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿಯ ಧರ್ಮಪತ್ನಿಯ ಹೆಸರು ಭಾಗೀರತಮ್ಮ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಹೆಂಡತಿಯ ಹೆಸರೂ ಭಾಗೀರಥಿ. ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸಾಮರಸ್ಯ, ಸಮನ್ವಯತೆಗಳಿದ್ದರೂ ಎರಡೂ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಲೇಖಕರು ಭಿನ್ನ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಸಿ, ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

“ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಇಹಲೋಕದ ಕಾಮ-ವ್ಯಾಮೋಹಗಳನ್ನು ಜೀವನದ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟ-ತೊಳಲಾಟದ ನಡುವೆ ಎದುರಿಸಿ ಗೆದ್ದು ನಿಂತು ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಮುಗಿದಂತೆ ಕಂಡಾಗ ಸಂನ್ಯಾಸಿಯಾಗಲು ಹಿಮಾಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪರಿಶುದ್ಧರಾಗಿಯೇ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ, “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯ ಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಡವಿ ಸೋಲುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಹತಾಶರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಪಾಪಗೈದ ಭಾವನೆಯಿಂದ ಅಗ್ರಹಾರವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ಹೊರಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು “ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರಧಾರಿಯ ಸಾತ್ವಿಕತೆ, ಸಹನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಕಲ್ಪಗಳಿಗೆ ಚ್ಯುತಿಯಾಗದಂತೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ||ಯು.ಆರ್.ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರು ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರನ್ನು ಮೊದಲು ಆದರ್ಶ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ಮೆರೆಸಿದರೂ ನಡುವೆ ವೇಶ್ಯೆ ಚಂದ್ರಿಯ ಮೈಸೋಕಿದಾಗ ಕಾಮತೃಷೆಯನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಲಾರದೆ ಅವರ ಜೀವನದ ತಪಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಭಂಗಗೊಳಿಸಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ದುರ್ಬಲ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನವರಂತೆ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಾವು ಮಾಡಿದುದು ಅನ್ಯಾಯವೆಂಬ ಪಾಪಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರನ್ನು ಕಡೆಯವರೆಗೂ ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಎರಡೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಿದಾಗ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಈ ದ್ವಂದ್ವ ಓದುಗರ ಮುಂದೆ ಭೂತದಂತೆ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತದೆ.

“ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ, ಅವರ ಪತ್ನಿ ಭಾಗೀರತಮ್ಮ ಮತ್ತು ಅವರ ಮನೆಯ ಕೆಲಸದಾಳು ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಹಾಗೂ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯ, ಅವರ ಧರ್ಮಪತ್ನಿ ಭಾಗೀರಥಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಾರಣಪ್ಪನ ವೇಶ್ಯೆ ಚಂದ್ರಿಯರ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದಾಗ ಲೇಖಕರ ಚಿಂತನೆ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಪಕ್ವತೆ, ಅಂತಃಸತ್ವದ ಹದ ಗೋಚರವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಈ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ವರ್ತನೆ, ಅವು ನಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ರೀತಿ, ಅವುಗಳ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಭವವಾಗುವ ಯೋಚನೆಗಳು, ಉದ್ವೇಗಗಳು, ಸಂದಿಗ್ಧ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸುವಾಗ ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ದಾರಿಗಳು, ಸರಿ-ತಪ್ಪುಗಳ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ, ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿನ ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತ ತಿರುವುಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಲೇಖಕರ ಅಂತರಾಳದ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಗಳ ಕಾರಂಜಿಗಳೆಂದರೆ ಅತಿಶಯೋಕ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲ.

ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಗೃಹಸ್ಥಾಶ್ರಮದ ಒಳಗಿದ್ದುಕೊಂಡು ಮುಕ್ತಿಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನರಸುತ್ತ “ಕಮಲದೆಲೆಯ ಮೇಲಿನ ಮಂಜಿನ ಹನಿಯಂತೆ” ಗೃಹಸ್ಥಾಶ್ರಮವನ್ನನುಸರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಗೃಹಸ್ಥ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತ ವಂಶೋದ್ಧಾರಕ (ನಂಜುಂಡ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ) ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯದ ಪಾಲನೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆ ಮೇಲೆರಗಿ ಬಂದಾಗ ಅವರ ಮಾನಸಿಕ ತಳಮಳ, ದೈಹಿಕ ಅವಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಚಿತ್ರಣವನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸೋಣ. ಮೊದಲ ಮಗುವಾದ ನಂತರ ಭಾಗೀರತಮ್ಮ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಮಗುವಿಗೆ ಜನ್ಮ ನೀಡಬಾರದೆಂದು ವೈದ್ಯರು ಸಲಹೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಮೇಲೆ, ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಸಹಜವಾದ ದೈಹಿಕ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳಿಂದ ವಂಚಿತರಾದ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಸೊರಗಿಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರ ದೈಹಿಕ-ಮಾನಸಿಕ ತಿಣುಕಾಟವನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವಾಗಿ ಗ್ರಹಿಸುವ ಭಾಗೀರತಮ್ಮ, ಮನೆಯ ಕೆಲಸದಾಕೆ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿಯನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪಿಸಿ ಆಕೆ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿಯನ್ನು ದೈಹಿಕವಾಗಿ ಕೂಡುವ, ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ತನ್ನ ಗಂಡನನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿಯ ಮಾಗಿದ ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಶಿಷ್ಟಾಚಾರಗಳು ಮೇಲುಗೈ ಸಾಧಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಆತನ ಅಂತಃಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯ ಮತ್ತು ದೈಹಿಕತೃಷೆಯ ನಡುವಿನ ಸಮರದ ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು ಆರು ಪುಟಗಳಷ್ಟು ಧೀರ್ಘವಾದ ವಿವರಣೆ ಓದುಗರನ್ನು ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಕಾಮದ ಸೆಳೆತವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿ ನಿಂತ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ನಂತರ ಮೊದಲಿನಂತಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಯೋಗಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನಿರ್ಮಲಮನಸ್ಕರಾಗಿ ಜೀವನ್ಮುಖಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ.

“ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರು (ಅ)ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ನಾರಣಪ್ಪನ ಅಂತ್ಯಕ್ರಿಯೆಯ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎದ್ದ ಗೊಂದಲಗಳಿಗೆ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಸಮ್ಮತವಾದ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಕಾಣಸಿಗದೆ, ಆಂಜನೇಯನ ಮೇಲಿನ ಅಪಾರ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಅಗ್ರಹಾರದ ಹೊರಗಿನ ಕಾಡಿನ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಗುಡಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸ್ಥಿರಚಿತ್ತರಾಗಿ ಮಾರುತಿಯ ಧ್ಯಾನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತ ತಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಪೆಡಂಭೂತವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತ ನಾರಣಪ್ಪನ ಅಪರಕರ್ಮದ ಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗೆ ಆಂಜನೇಯನ ಉತ್ತರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮೊರೆಯಿಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಂತೆ ಮಾರುತಿಯ ಆಶಿರ್ವಾದ ದೊರಕದೆ ಕಂಗಾಲಾಗಿ ಕಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದು ಬರುವಾಗ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮರದಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಚಂದ್ರಿ ಅವರ ಕಾಲಿಗೆರಗಿ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಉಪವಾಸದಿಂದ ಬಸವಳಿದ ದೇಹ, ಅವರ ಭಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಒಲಿಯದ ಆಂಜನೇಯ, ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದ ನಾರಣಪ್ಪನ ಸಾವು ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರನ್ನು ದುರ್ಬಲಗೊಳಿಸಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಚಂದ್ರಿಯ ದೇಹಸ್ಪರ್ಶದಿಂದ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂಚಿನಸಂಚಾರವಾಗಿ ಕಾಮ ಜಾಗೃತವಾಗಿ ಅವರ ಜೀವನದ ತಪಸ್ಸೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕರಗಿ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಗೃಹಸ್ಥರಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ರೋಗಿಷ್ಠ ಧರ್ಮಪತ್ನಿಯ ಸೇವೆಮಾಡುತ್ತ ಸ್ವಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದಲೇ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯದ ಪಾಲನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರಿಗರಿವಿಲ್ಲದಂತೆಯೇ ಕಾಮೋನ್ಮತ್ತರಾಗಿ ವೇಶ್ಯೆ ಚಂದ್ರಿಯೊಡನೆ ಸೇರಿ ದೇಹದ ದಾಹವನ್ನು ನೀಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಏನೋ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೋಗಿ ಮತ್ತೇನೋ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದ ನಂತರ ತಮ್ಮ ತಪ್ಪಿನ (?) ಅರಿವಾಗಿ ಪಾಪಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಗಾಧವಾದ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಅಗ್ರಹಾರದವರ ಮುಂದೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಲಾರದೆ ಪಲಾಯನವಾದಕ್ಕೆ ಶರಣಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರನ್ನು ಆದರ್ಶ ಪುರುಷನನ್ನಾಗಿ, ನೀತಿವಂತರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಬಿಂಬಿಸಿದ ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರು ಕ್ಷಣಾರ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ಛಿದ್ರಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಿಲ್ಪಿ ಉತ್ಕೃಷ್ಟವಾದ ಕಾಲಾಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೆತ್ತಿ ಉದ್ದೇಶಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿಯೇ ಆ ಸುಂದರ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಭಗ್ನಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಅಚಾತುರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತೇವೆ.

ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವಗಳು ಆತನ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ, ತತ್ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಆತನ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ಕಥೆಯ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ, ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಛಾಪು ಮೂಡಿಸುವುದು ಸಹಜವೆ. ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಕವಿ ಹಾಗೂ ವಿಮರ್ಶಕರಾದ ಡಾ||ಎನ್.ಎಸ್. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಾಯಣ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಕವಿಯ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕೃತಿಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಆತನ/ಆಕೆಯ ಜೀವನದ ತಿರುಳು ಅಡಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ತಿಳಿದೊ ತಿಳಿಯದೆಯೋ ತನ್ನ ಕೃತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಅನುಭವಗಳನ್ನು, ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು, ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕವಿ ಸೇರಿಸಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ತನ್ನ ಕವಿತೆಯನ್ನೊ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನೊ ನಂತರ ಯಾವಾಗಲಾದರೊಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಹಿಂದೆ ಆ ಕೃತಿಯ ರಚನೆಗೆ ಒದಗಿಬಂದ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ, ತನ್ನ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಘಟಿಸಿಹೋದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳ, ಕಷ್ಟಗಳ, ಸಂದಿಗ್ಧ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳ, ಸವಾಲುಗಳ ನೆನಪು ಕವಿಗೆ ಮೂಡಿಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ / ಕವಿತೆ ಆತನ ಜೀವನದ ಒಂದು ಅಂಶವಾಗಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುತ್ತದೆ, ಇನ್ನೂ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಡಾ||ಎನ್.ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್ ರವರು ಒಬ್ಬ ಕವಿ ತನ್ನ ರಚನೆಯನ್ನು ಓದಿದಾಗ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯ ಮುಂದೆ ನಿಂತು ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದ ಹಾಗಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ಸಂದರ್ಶನವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅಂತೆಯೇ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆತನ ಜೀವನದ ರಸಪಾಕ ಸೇರಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ, ಕವಿಯ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೂ ಆತನ (ಭಾವನಾಲೋಕದ) ರಚನೆಗೂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿಲ್ಲದ್ದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಹತ್ತಿರದ ಭಾವನಾತ್ಮಕವಾದ ಕೊಂಡಿ ಇದ್ದೇ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಂದರೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರ ತನ್ನ ಕಥೆಯ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ, ಶಾರೀರಿಕ-ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಗುಣಲಕ್ಷಣ, ನಡೆವಳಿಕೆ, ಮಾತುಗಳು, ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು, ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳು, ಘಟನೆಗಳು ಸಂಭವಿಸುವ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳು, ಪರಿಸರ ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ತನ್ನ ನಿಜಜೀವನದಿಂದ ಎರವಲು ಪಡೆದಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರ ತನ್ನ ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ತಿಳಿವಳಿಕೆಯ ಅಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ತನ್ನ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು, ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹರಿದುಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಆತ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳು ನಡೆದುಕೋಳ್ಳುವ ರೀತಿ, ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ, ವಿಸ್ತರಣೆ, ಆಡುವ ಮಾತುಗಳು, ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳು ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಕವಿಯ ಅಂತರಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿರುವ ಅನುಭವಗಳ, ಭಾವನೆಗಳ ಚಿತ್ರಣವೆಂದರೆ ತಪ್ಪಾಗಲಾರದು. ಹಾಗೆಂದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳೂ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ನಿಜಜೀವನದ ಸ್ಪಂದನೆಯಿಂದ ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿರಬೇಕೆಂದೇನಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಂದೆರಡು ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪಾತ್ರ-ಪ್ರಸಂಗಗಳ ಬೀಜದಿಂದ ಬೃಹತ್ ವೃಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಬೆಳೆದಿರಬಹುದು. ಎಲ್ಲೋ ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಕವಿಯ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವಗಳ ಎಳೆ ಆತನ ರಚನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರಿರಬೇಕು ಹಾಗೂ ಕವಿಯ ಆ ಸೆಳೆತ ಅವರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ.

ಕೆಲವು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರರ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವಗಳಿಗೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ವಸ್ತು, ಕಥೆ, ಪಾತ್ರಗಳು, ಮಾತುಗಳು, ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳಿಗೂ ನಿಕಟ ಸಂಬಂಧವಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ, ಇದ್ದರೂ ಅದು ಕಾಕತಾಳೀಯವಷ್ಟೆ. ನಿಜಜೀವನದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ-ಪ್ರಸಂಗಗಳನ್ನು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸುವಂತಾದರೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ಕಲ್ಪನಾಶಕ್ತಿ, ಸೃಜನಶೀಲತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೆಲಸವಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿನ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಾಡುವ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ಕರ್ತೃವಿನದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಘಟನೆಗಳು, ಮಾತುಗಳು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ಕಥಾವಸ್ತುವಿನ ಆಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಂದರ್ಭೋಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಮೂಡಿಬರುತ್ತವೆ. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗೂ ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗೂ ಬಹಳ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖಕನ ಕಲ್ಪನಾಲಹರಿ ಎಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಕಾದರೂ ತೇಲಾಡಬಹುದು, ಭಾವನಾಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಹರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಕಥಾವಸ್ತುವಿಗೆ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಹಜತೆಯ, ನೈಜತೆಯ ಲೇಪವಿದ್ದರೆ ಸಾಕು!

ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ಮೇಲಿನ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆಯನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪುತ್ತಾರೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೊ ಆದರೆ ಅವರ ಭಿತ್ತಿ ಆತ್ಮಕಥನದ ಮೊದಲಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರೇ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ – “(ನನ್ನ) ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನದ ಒಳಸತ್ತ್ವವು ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿಲ್ಲವೆ? ಅಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗದ ಯಾವ ಗಹನಭಾವ ಇಲ್ಲಿ (ಅಂದರೆ ಭಿತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ) ಬರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ?”. ಸತ್ಯಶೋಧನೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಾನ್ವೇಷೆಣೆಯ ಗುರಿ ಎಂದು ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡ ಸತ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅವರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಂಬಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆಂದರೆ ತಪ್ಪಾಗಲಾರದು. “ಗೃಹಭಂಗ” ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಪಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಜಜೀವನದ ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿಯಾದರೆ ಅಥವಾ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಅದು ಕಾಲ್ಪನಿಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವೆ ಎಂದು ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರೇ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಕಾಲ್ಪನಿಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿನ ನಂಬಲಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರಧಾರಿಯ ಧಿಡೀರ್ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಅಸಹಜವೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ, ಅನಾವಶ್ಯಕವೆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಥೆಯ ತಿರುಳನ್ನೇ ತಿರುಚುವ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರನ ಮನಃಸ್ಥಿತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬೇಸರವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಈ ಹಿನ್ನಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ “ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ”ದ ಧೃಡಮನಸ್ಕ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ದ ಭ್ರಮನಿರಸನಗೊಂಡ ಪ್ರಾಣೇಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಅವಲೋಕಿಸಿದಾಗ ಕಂಡುಬರುವುದು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ್ನೊಳಗಿನ ತುಡಿತಗಳು, ತುಮುಲಗಳು, ತೊಳಲಾಟಗಳು, ಸಂಘರ್ಷಗಳು, ಸತ್ಯಗಳು! ಇದು ಅವರವರ ಜೀವನಗಳ, ಮನಸ್ಸುಗಳ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ, ಪಕ್ವತೆಗೆ ಹಿಡಿದ ಕನ್ನಡಿಯೆ? ಡಾ||ಡಿ.ವಿ.ಜಿಯವರ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಟ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಗುರಿ ಓದುಗರ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲಾಸ ಹರಡುವುದು, ಕಷ್ಟಗಳಿಂದ ಆವೃತರಾದವರ ಎದೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಧೈರ್ಯ ತುಂಬುವುದು, ಉನ್ನತ ಜೀವನಾದರ್ಶಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಗೊಳಿಸಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವುದು. ಉತ್ತಮ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಈ ಸರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ಮೂರು ಗುಣಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳ ಪರಿಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ “ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ”ವನ್ನು ಓದಾಗ ಅದರ ಔನತ್ಯ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ!

Communists are out to destroy democracy in India.

2011-02-06T17:08:00.001+05:30

Democracy, whatever be it’s draw-backs and deficiencies, still remains an effective and representative form of government where people’s will reigns supreme. The rich, powerful and deep-rooted politicians are also thrown out despite their cunning manipulations to win elections and remain in power to loot the country. The bedrock of our existence is democracy till we can find a better system with its built-in checks and balances to prevent misuse, abuse and undermining of people’s will by vested interests.

Deepak Bellur, an excellent and prolific blogger (http://deepakbellur.blogspot.com) with varied interests, who has known me from childhood, was astonished at my violent dislike for communists as he could glean from my blogs. To him I came out as a dual-personality. According to him, face-to-face, I am docile and discreet whereas my blogs portray a different me when I say communists should be shot or naxalites should be eliminated in the same manner that they annihilate innocent people.

It was hard to convince Deepak Bellur that my writings espoused a tit-for tat approach only. If communists (and naxalites) practiced violence and used butchery (or bloody revolution as they call it) to overthrow democratically elected governments to install communist form of government, then they should be prepared to face the same repression and extermination. Or else, democracy would fail. The fig-leaf of land reforms, women empowerment, labour / worker welfare, equal wealth distribution etc., is a thin viel with which these communists cover their atrocious anti-national agenda.

Communism can actually survive only in a capitalist or democratic environment! Once the revolution against the bourgeois succeeds in establishing a communist government there would be a classless society with state-controlled investments and industries and farms. Life would be all hunky-dory (for the ruling despots and not the toiling masses as can be seen in China). Long live the proletariat!

Communism is a totalitarian, dictatorial, autocratic, unipolar political system where different viewpoints are viciously suppressed and differences of opinion are ruthlessly discouraged. Dissent is the first casualty. Power is concentrated in the hands of privileged tyrants. We have seen all these happenings in erstwhile Soviet Russia, Czechoslovakia, Romania, East Germany, Poland and in several other failed communist states which collapsed due to the explosive contradictions and fissures. China and Cuba manage to hang on to the obsolete system of governance by use of sheer force and brutality. In fact, China has given up Communism and embraced laissez-faire market economy wherein the (dreaded) capitalists have been given privileged status in Special Economic Zones where the ideals of communism have been thrown to the winds! Sweat shops which exploit labour and flout labour laws are allowed free run in these SEZs. But you find the communist zombies in India opposing any progress and development in the form of industrialisation. Can these hypocrites say how so many industries in China are manufacturing such cheap products and whether these factories are operating from the sky if not from acquired farmlands?

My earlier blog entry has exposed the treachery of communists during the British rule in India and the freedom struggle. Their anti-national activities during the war with China are well chronicled. Their tacit support to and understanding with the naxalites are well known. The communist manifesto speaks of a bloody revolution to overthrow the democratically elected Indian government and re-write the Indian Constitution.

Now, tell me which patriotic Indian and firm believer in democracy would not hate these communists?

Democracy - A beacon of hope.

2011-01-27T22:44:00.001+05:30

An article titled “The American Century” appeared in LIFE (magazine) on 17th Feb, 1941and was penned by Mr. Henry R. Luce, the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine.

This oft-quoted, prophetic article was written before U.S.A entered Second World War and when the so-called isolationists in America were vehemently opposing such an entry. Mr. Henry Luce predicted that U.S.A would be forced to enter the war and sought to set at rest the confusion in the minds of Americans on this issue.

The following passage from the article, albeit written in a totally different context, reflects the reality of the current Indian political scene and if read in conjunction with the prevailing uncertainty gives the reader a clearer idea of the causes for the decline in public morality, the erosion of social values and the steady deterioration in the quality of political leadership.

“But, even beyond this necessity for living with our own misdeeds, there is another reason why there is no peace in our hearts. It is that we have not been honest with ourselves.

In this whole matter of War and Peace especially, we have been at various times and in various ways false to ourselves, false to each other, false to the facts of history and false to the future.

In this self-deceit our political leaders of all shades of opinion are deeply implicated. Yet we cannot shove the blame off on them. If our leaders have deceived us it is mainly because we ourselves have insisted on being deceived. Their deceitfulness has resulted from our own moral and intellectual confusion. In this confusion, our educators and churchmen and scientists are deeply implicated.

Journalists, too, of course, are implicated. But if Americans (read Indians) are confused it is not for lack of accurate and pertinent information. The American people are by far the best informed people in the history of the world.

The trouble is not with facts. The trouble is that clear and honest inferences have not been drawn from the facts, The day-to-day present is clear. The issues of tomorrow are befogged.”

How much of the blame the Indian public must share for the present situation is a moot point. The people of India are not the best informed people in the history of the world. The point is that when the most well-informed people could be misled by their leaders (the WMD hoax is a point to ponder upon) then not much can be expected of ill-informed people who continue to languish below the poverty line and whose lack of education and health the State refuses to acknowledge and address. Even the day-to-day present, let alone the issues of tomorrow, is befogged.

But there is hope! The greatest hope of Democracy. Power in the hands of people to throw the mighty and the powerful out of power. This power to change, the will to change and the need to change will change the life of the Indian people and deliver them from the morass they have sunk into. It is said that one has to know what is bad to understand what is good. We have seen what is bad and worse - the political chicanery, the thuggery, the bandits who are looting our nation of its natural wealth, the corrupt, the unscrupulous and the criminals masquerading as gentlemen...... When the good comes we will be able to understand, appreciate and enjoy it better.

Mankuthimmana Kagga transformed my life!

2011-01-25T14:32:00.001+05:30

Recently, my friend Dr.S.Raghunath, a professor in BMSCE, said that he planned to spend the next two or three years in studying Dr.DVG’s “Mankuthimmana Kagga”. I could only appreciate Raghu’s interest in this literary master-piece acclaimed as “the modern Bhagavad Geeta” penned by the great Kannada poet “the Kannada Geetacharya”, Dr.D.V.Gundappa (17/03/1887 to 7/10/1975). Dr.DVG’s Kagga has mesmerized, humbled and inspired millions over the decades of it’s benevolent existence.
Mankuthimmana Kagga is a collection of 945 four-liner verses of profound intellectual content written by Dr.DVG. Kagga was written in verse form over a period of several years and finally published in 1943. Kagga has seen numerous re-prints, the maximum for any literary work in Kannada! There are numerous commentaries (in writing and as lecture series) on Kagga by learned men. Some scholarly commentaries include the ones by Shataavadhaani Dr.R.Ganesh, Chinmaya Mission, Prof.H.S. Lakshminarayana Bhatta, Dr.Gururaj Karajagi and many more. Prof.H.S. Lakshminarayana Bhatta has written a unique treatise titled “Thimmaguru Darshana” (or Gundopanishat). Srikanth has written a well researched reference manual called “Mankuthimmana Kagga - Thaatparya” with foreword by Sri.Nittur Srinivas Rao. Interestingly, Dr.DVG has dedicated Kagga to his close friends – Sri.T.S.Venkannaiah (01/10/1885 to 24/02/1939) and Sri.Mokshagundam Krishna Murthy (04/06/1884 to 02/03/1940).

I asked Dr.DVG’s pupil, Sri.S.R.Ramaswamy (who is now managing the functioning of Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs which was set up by Dr.DVG himself) as to why Kagga contained only 945 verses – neither more nor less. Sri.Ramaswamy stated that the number had no significance. It just so happened that out of the numerous verses that Dr.DVG had penned, these 945 stanzas were selected by Dr.DVG for publication. The charm of these four-lined verses lies in the vastness of insight and understanding of the God, universe, world, life, humans and their materialistic compulsions, morality etc. The simplicity of the last line in each verse carrying an intrinsic moral message while enshrining the essence of the whole verse makes every verse a treasure-trove of wisdom. The most-quoted verses (apart from those of Sarvajna and Basavanna) by everybody in any speech or writing are from Mankuthimmana Kagga! Kagga has also been translated into English, a stupendous task considering the complicated hybrid words coined by Dr.DVG. My favorite translation of Kagga has been “THUS SANG MANKUTHIMMA” by Sri.A.Narasimha Bhat of Kasargod. This work has retained the lyrical quality, the ingrained message and the character of the original Kannada version although some compromises are inevitable in a complicated translation of this nature.

DVG himself was a great thinker and a multi-faceted personality. He is described as a poet, philosopher, social worker, journalist, politician and a philanthropist. His writings show him as a man of immense knowledge and wisdom gained through hard work, dedication, determination and conviction. On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary (1987) of this great literary icon, the Department of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka brought out a 11 volume compilation of all of Dr.DVG’s published works called “DVG Kriti Shreni” which is surely a collector’s item! Unfortunately, only some of these volumes are available.

Mankuthimmana Kagga (and Dr.S.L Bhyrappa’s autobiography “Bhitti”) changed my thinking, outlook and my view of life and has made me a better human being!

namma makkalu.....

2011-01-19T15:43:00.001+05:30

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NOVEMBER KANNADIGAS!!!!

2011-01-06T22:18:00.001+05:30

Is there something in the blood of Kannadigas that they remember "Kannada" and "Karnataka" only as November closes in and the "Kannadiga" pride swells up and overflows?
Can we be 24x7 Kannadigas ever?

Its no great surprise that Kannadigas are outnumbered in their own land...... just go to City Market, SJP Road, SP Road and you will feel as if you are in an alien land...... you can manage even if u don't know Kannada...but you need to necessarily know Hindi, Tamil or Urdu!!!!
And same is the case with all Central Govt offices. The Trilingual formula exists only on paper.... it is only Tamil or Malayalam or Hindi that moves the paper mountains here.... I went to a Public Sector Bank in a remote rural area and all the challans, banners, notices were in Hindi and English. Oh....God save the poor ignorant illiterate Karnataka villagers!

And Hindi is accorded top priority despite the rule making it mandatory that the local language (Kannada) should be given primary status. And no wonder that when you enter a central government office you will feel like an outsider... and the way they treat you..if you are a localite turns the knife in your gut.

Less said the better about IT companies. They just want to enjoy the government-sponsored largesse of subsidised lands, tax holidays, incentives but do not care to employ local Kannadigas. These companies that the lands originally belonged to poor farmers. But, when these localites seek jobs, merit comes to the forefront to deny them jobs. The pious protestations and bland justifications of IT companies fall flat when you analyse that merit can be the criteria for middle level and top level positions. At lower levels....localites should be given priority. This is not charity... the benefits and incentives these IT companies enjoy should be reciprocated and this is a social obligation. These companies are legally bound by a clause in their land allotment agreement on this issue of employing localites.

I have wondered why things have come to such a pass in Karnataka...and more so in Bangalore. The sole reason is that Kannadigas have no self respect.... they allow anybody and everybody to trample on them.....they crawl when they are required to just bow..... I am ashamed to say this... but Kannadigas are lazy.... lethargic.... and the "adjust madkolli" attitude is deeply ingrained in them.... they avoid risk taking and would let somebody hold the dirty end of the stick!

Fortunately, we had Dr. Raj, an icon who was an inspiration for the cause of Kannada! Now, Vatal Nagaraj or a Sa Ra Govindu or Karnataka Rakshana Vedike or Muthappa Rai dictate the Kannada agenda... but do these so called leaders and organisations have their own axes to grind?

And the less said the better about the Kannada Development Authority.....Kannada Sahitya Parishat.....etc.

Kannadigas need a mighty jolt to invigorate them...to drive some sense.... a re-awakening like what happened during the Gokak agitation.....

Will it ever come????

Living in apartments - compromising lifestyle for convenience?

2010-12-02T15:40:00.000+05:30

In the early eighties, Bangaloreans were aghast when the apartment culture made an entry into Namma Bengaluru. They wondered how people could live in such clusters giving up their freedom and lead a zombie life dominated by the Owners’ Associations! Original Bangaloreans had their nice independent houses with good open spaces all around. The city was not yet so over-crowded and travelling to and from offices/workplaces was still a pleasure. Traffic snarls were unknown, although the (then BTS) public transport system left much to be satisfied with. New layouts were being formed by BDA as well as private housing societies and sites were available at much cheaper prices. People did not have so much loose money in their pockets and loans were difficult to obtain for real estate investments. The interest rates too were high. The few who bought their sites kept them vacant waiting for “development” and happily lived in rented houses closer to city center. The influx of IT yuppies was yet to begin. Money was still precious! Maruti cars were competing with Ambassadors and Premier Padminis. Bangalore enjoyed the envious sobriquets - “pensioners’ paradise” and air-conditioned city” and “city of gardens”. There were many lakes still filled with water. Heavy rains never submerged Bangalore! Life in Bangalore was uncomplicated, quite free and to an extent conservative.
The first non-congress government of Ramakrishna Hegde brought in good administration. Peace and calm prevailed in Karnataka. The nationalist image of Hegde made others open their eyes to the existence of Bangalore and renewed their interest in the ‘garden city’. The SAARC summit in 1996 firmly put Bangalore on the international map. Investments started pouring in. Industrialization was put on fast track. Computers were surprising people. ISRO and BEL were making headlines. The first-of-it’s-kind “electronics city” on Hosur Road was fast becoming a dream destination for entrepreneurs. The influx of outsiders commenced. Locals blamed RK Hegde for making Bangalore “outsider friendly”. Bangalore’s so-called salubrious climate was an added attraction. Thus began the onerous journey of Bangalore towards what some termed as ‘cosmopolitanism’ but in real terms was ‘degradation’ and crass commercialization. The genie had come out of the bottle!
Tenanted houses were in great demand. Rents soared. People started commuting in their own vehicles which meant they could stay on outskirts. The hitherto wide roads started appearing narrower. Unable to meet the rapidly increasing demand, power and water supply infrastructure started crumbling. The massive housing society scams dashed many hopes. Lakes were filled up to make residential layouts. Independent sites became costly. To overcome the housing shortage, the government also provided sops for “group housing” and “multi-storeyed residential clusters”. Builders diversified into ‘Apartments’. The ‘yuppies’ were at ease living in apartments. Privacy and secure environment provided by apartment complexes was a solace, especially when one had to work late hours. They had good, well-paying jobs. Housing loans became easier to obtain. Property prices were appreciating. Real estate was seen as a safe investment. The apartment boom just happened!
What it means to live in an apartment complex?
“Compromise” on lifestyle would well describe the life in an apartment and has it’s own benefits and disadvantages. Community living means living by the common rules and bye-laws framed by the Owners’ Association. “Independence” in terms of a totally free life is curtailed to some extent. But the advantages score over the perceived “oppressive” life. The social networking that is possible in an apartment complex and the variety of people one can meet and become friends with is amazing. The spirit of co-operation for cohabitation is of paramount importance.
One cannot play loud music or dance since that would disturb the adjoining flat resident. Late night rave parties cannot be held. Arranging family functions becomes difficult due to lack of common space. Visitors may have to park their vehicles outside the complex. Having domestic pets is disallowed by some Associations and some others impose strict curbs on walking pets and littering. Many builders include a clause in the agreement of sale prohibiting pet-keeping! Some apartments may be so cramped that one balcony opens onto another window! Privacy could be a casualty. Nowadays, apartments with just one common wall are becoming popular. But then, there is also a feeling that neighbors in apartments rarely know each other and care little about what happens outside their cozy nest. Social life is thought to be uninteresting and colorless. Then again social life is a function of how gregarious the residents are how much they wish to take on the responsibility of organizing social events and meetings. The Association on it’s part takes a lead in organizing social gatherings and entertainment events to bring all members together. Occasions like Independence Day, Republic Day, Ganesha Chaturthi, Navaratri, Holi, Onam, Karnataka Rajyothsava, New Year’s Eve etc., are celebrated with fun and gaiety in most of the apartment complexes in Bangalore.
THE UNAVOIDABLE RESTRICTIONS :
An apartment owner has less of a say in many issues outside of his/her own unit. No structural modifications or alterations are permitted once the building is handed over by the builder. In fact, no construction materials or workmen are allowed into the apartment complex. Owners may need to obtain special permission from the Association to replace floor tiles or wall tiles or such other minor works. There again workmen will be allowed to work for limited hours so as not to inconvenience other flat owners. The building exteriors are painted and maintained by the Association. The choice of colorful painting is limited to interiors only. Any internal repairs of plumbing lines may involve requests to close the common water supply line much to the chagrin of other residents. Some Associations may insist that only the authorized service personnel may attend even to internal repair works. The owner may have no choice in employing outside workmen even if he is dissatisfied with the cost factor and workmanship of authorized service personnel.
Water leakage problems are the bane of apartment complexes. They cause much agony and acrimony. Roof is treated as common area and has to be taken care of by the Association. If there is roof leakage the resident immediately below the exposed roof suffers worst. It is natural for that owner to demand immediate relief by way of roof water proofing without delay. Until a corpus is built up by the Association, executing costly works like roof water proofing becomes impossible. Sometimes, the residents may themselves get such roof water proofing works done at their cost and thereafter claim a right to restrict the movement of other residents over the terrace which is indeed a tricky situation. Similarly, if a toilet leaks, the resident below such leaky toilet is the sufferer (For example, the leakage through the roof of a toilet in II Floor will be visible in the I Floor toilet below). The repair work has to be undertaken in the toilet above the one where the leakage is noticed. The cost of repair is to be borne by the owner of that toilet above and for the period of repair, the toilet remains unusable. Many such problems remain unresolved. The building condition deteriorates.
THE OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION :
The Owners’ Association or the Residents Welfare Association or Society is a formal legal entity formed by majority of the flat owners and all the flat owners have to become members of such Association. They have their own bye laws and rules of occupation and are vested with powers to enforce such rules and bye laws as long as they are not against the law of the land. Some frame rigid bye-laws and rules of occupation while many just copy the standard format given in the Karnataka Apartment Owners Act. The system is akin to a local self-government at a micro level. Most of the Associations assume responsibility for the external common area facilities and infrastructure. The maintenance expenses are equitably distributed based on the super built-up area of individual flat. Maintenance charges are collected in advance annually or quarterly. Non-payment of the maintenance charges may lead to withdrawal of the services provided by the Association. Where the bye-laws permit, the Association may also be empowered to disconnect the power supply to the concerned defaulting flat even though such occupant may have made the payments to the service provider (electricity company). Collection of maintenance charges is by far the biggest and most cumbersome burden for the Association. More so in cases where the flat remains unoccupied. Until the defaulter clears the dues pertaining to a flat, the other flat owners will be cross-subsidizing the activities of the Association. In several apartment complexes, such maintenance charges may lead to ugly fights among members. The office bearers need lots of patience, maturity and wisdom to maneuver through all the tribulations they come to face in the course of managing the affairs of the Association. Running the Association successfully in terms of financial management, estate maintenance management and interactions with external agencies (both private and governmental) is a Herculean task. More arduous will be the jobs of operation and maintenance of swimming pool, gymnasium, club, reading rooms etc., where such facilities are under the charge of the Association.
The office bearers of the Association are usually owners themselves elected by the general body of the Association. They will be working in an honorary capacity. This is a thankless job. The time and effort contributed by these volunteers is rarely appreciated. The different functions of the Association may be delegated to Sub-committees (Security, Gardening, Electrical Maintenance, Civil Maintenance, STP, Lifts, Social Activities etc.) constituted for the purpose. Most of the services (cleaning, garbage clearance, security, gardening, lift maintenance, electrical, plumbing and sanitary services, STP etc.) are outsourced. Sometimes office staff may be hired to assist the office bearers to discharge their duties and responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.
OVER-CAUTIOUS SECURITY:
Security is the most important aspect which is taken care of by the Association. Private security guards, CCTV cameras, intercoms and restricted access all add to the safety of people within residential the complex. Visitors are allowed inside only after the owner confirms their visit over the intercom. Some high-end apartments have video access to the entry gate wherein they can view their guests before permitting them to be let in. The credentials of domestic servants are screened and entry is upon production of a identity card issued by the Association. Even vehicles will be given identification stickers. In these days of rising crime and criminals, such precautions by the Association seem necessary. Many Associations insist that an owner who wishes to let out his flat provide the details of a tenant before allowing such tenant to occupy the flat. The flat culture provides an easy way for criminals to go into hiding and remain faceless by renting an apartment and remaining indoors. They can escape from the long arm of the law by staying indoors in an apartment.
Street lights and other common area lighting are maintained by the Association. Payments in this regard to the service providers are also made by the Association on behalf of all members from the maintenance charges collected by the Association. Water supply (if borewell-dependent) may be restricted and water deficiency is a common problem (which is also the case in the whole of Bengaluru). In case of tanker water supply, the costs are exorbitant and an added burden on the occupants. No individual dwelling unit has metered water supply and therefore the expenditure is equitably distributed irrespective of the consumption of water. This leads to heartburn and bitterness when a two member family has to pay the same amount as a ten member family for water consumption.
Gardening in common areas is also taken care of by the Association. Private gardens are limited to some potted plants in the balcony. Even here watering the plants leads to hostility as the muddy water spills over to the lower balconies. High rise apartments have escalators which add to convenience. Most of the apartment complexes have back-up power supply in common areas. Some have also provided limited back-up power supply inside individual tenements. The Association is also responsible for Operation and maintenance of common installations (lighting, water pumps, lifts, CCTV, water lines, UG sewerage system, STP etc.). Interactions with outside agencies (milk vendor, gas suppliers, vegetable vendor, newspaper agent, grocery trader, etc.) are controlled and monitored by the Association only for purposes of ensuring safety and security.
STP, GENERATORS, PUMPS, ELEVATORS etc :
Managing an apartment complex is equivalent to administering a small township. The infrastructure consists of roads, borewells, water tanks, UG sewerage lines, plumbing installations, pumps, generators, elevators, sewage treatment plant etc. Some newer apartments have bulk (cooking) gas storage and supply facilities with metered supply to individual apartments eliminating the risky need of having gas cylinders. Operating and maintaining all these diverse utilities requires engineering knowledge and skilled manpower. Although the operation and maintenance of these services are outsourced, the Association needs technical support and guidance if the plant and machinery are to run without hitches in a cost effective manner. In fact, any development that the Association plans or implements has to have technical inputs at various stages. Usually, there will be some in-house expertise among members (presuming that such members are willing to spare their time for such voluntary activities) of the Association in managing such issues. Otherwise, the Association has to depend on outside ‘consultants’ which involves consultancy charges. All these add up to a substantial expenditure which again is borne by members.
Most of the Apartments have rain water harvesting facilities. Many have adopted recycling wherein treated water is used for gardening, toilet flushing etc. Children’s Play Area is available in majority of the colonies. Members’ Club, gymnasium, swimming pool, shuttle courts, reading rooms, jogging tracks, skating rinks, cycling tracks and some such relaxing facilities are also provided in some apartment complexes. Some apartment complexes have an auditorium or conference hall for organizing any functions.
PARTICIPATORY INVOLVEMENT – A MUST FOR SUCCESS:
The functioning of an Association will be vibrant and satisfactory only if there is active participation and involvement by all members in the affairs of the Association. Members hesitate to come out of their apartments and would rather leave the burden to some ‘volunteers’. But, they also crib about the mismanagement and deficiencies or lacunae in the services provided by the Association. Sometimes, the General Body Meetings have to be adjourned for lack of quorum. In most of the apartment complexes vacant flats bear testimony to the speculative tendencies of flat owners. Many a times, it is difficult to get in touch with such owners who may default on their maintenance charges. There are websites available for instant communication between apartment owners on the internet. Notices and circulars can be shared through e-mails. Even electronic money transfer is possible which helps owners pay their maintenance charges through e-banking facility.
It is the primary responsibility of all members to take part in the activities of the Association and express their concerns, criticism or appreciation in appropriate fora in a civilized manner. All members should strive to maintain cordiality, co-operative spirit and unity among all residents. Personal preferences & priorities will take a second position while the interests of the whole apartment complex shall prevail and be safeguarded. Members should not do or cause to be done what he / she would require other residents to do or not to do in the overall interest & for the benefit of all residents. All members must follow & encourage / inspire others also to follow the Bye-laws and Rules of Occupation framed by the Association. Transparency is the key. All is not as hunky-dory as it appears. Many conflicts may be solved through discussions and negotiations. Inflated egos and fight-hungry members may disrupt the functioning of an Association leading to the collapse of the system. It is natural for differences of opinion, varied inputs and arguments within any group, especially when everyone has a vested interest in the development and improvement of the estate. Some members may have genuine interests while some may have hidden motives and alternative agenda. But such diversities should be viewed as availability of larger matrix of choices for refined decision making. But then, even a small group of like-minded visionaries can make a huge difference. They can be the backbone of a well knit society.
Ultimately, life is what one makes out of it whether in an independent house or in an apartment complex. It is all a matter of give and take. A little flexibility and respect for others’ sensitivities can work wonders. The community is more than the sum total of individuals. Absolute freedom to do what one wants must give way to harmonious co-existence. On the whole, life in an apartment complex is interesting there can never be a dull moment.