Promises to keep

 Remember Frost's poem? Of the dark lovely woods, and the promise made to self one never ever breaks, come what may!

True in a way of the attempt to overcome most addictions, right? While i was regularly freelancing with "The Newstime" of the "Eenadu Group", i wrote a proper feature about the cigarette addiction. 

It was rather liked because I tried to cover both the ends of the spectrum, the cigar/cheroot smoking version of the Fidel Castro/Churchill types, and the "bidi jalai le muh ke andar me" variety of poor women workers! I presented, moreover, case studies of all possible types of smokers and their logic for not keeping the promise. 

Well, for each one of these case studies, there was a real person who would ask me how i knew the struggle so well. Well, the power of imagination!

Actually, when one promises to keep a promise, one is being highly imaginative as well because one is giving in the present an assurance about the future about which one knows nothing! Actually, keeping a promise is also being utmost true to one's real self, right?

I have made certain such promises to my parents. Once  in a very emotional moment, Aai made me promise that i would never distance myself from Raju-Sanju, whatever may happen. Her argument was that she lived for her children, for her family, and that togetherness must continue.

I try my level best to keep this promise. Tomorrow, on May 31, is Sanju's birthday. So i would try and celebrate it as she would have liked to.  

There is this fabulous story of Aai's bond with Sanju that one of her 'mavasi's (the maid who would be with Aai when I used to be away for my teaching) never failed to repeat. Apparently, one afternoon, post lunch, just before the siesta, Aai said, "Pinaki", and before her sentence could even begin, he was there at the doorstep! 

Aai, too, had such wonderful stories of her  U. S. stay with him and his family. With utmost affection and pride, she would talk of how he supported her most sensitively  then. She used to narrate many such memories. She has even written about all these in her journal. More about these reminiscences later, may be, in 2025! Yet again a promise which i hope to keep!

Pratima@"If you take an oath, keep it. If you make a promise, keep it," said Socrates.

Lost in translation?

 Often it is argued that poetry is that what is lost in translation. Yes, it indeed is so if the translator is an inferior scribbler who does  not have a perfect understanding of the source and/or the target language. Yet another possibility is that the too literal translator insists on a word to word translation.

Well, these kind of problems exist not only  in poetry  but even when it comes to daily usage. In this case, i feel that as languages are context sensitive, a literal and/or a 'spread thin' kind of translation is just not right.

Let me give you a few examples to prove my point.  'Hodgepodge', for example, cannot be 'khichdi'.  The latter is a veg preparation made of rice and different types of grams/pulses, while 'hodgepodge' is a mutton stew.

Is it indeed necessary to translate on a one-on-one basis? And can we? In a huge and complex country like ours, we cannot even translate precisely from/ into our mother tongues, right? The Marathi 'ladu' becomes 'laddoo' as we travel northwards, right? And 'kheer' and 'payasam' differ both taste and recipe wise as we go down South, right?

 Then why worry about English or the other foreign languages? Anyways, how to literally  translate 'ladu' in to English and 'cake' in to Marathi? Explanations like 'a round ball of semolina and sugar and condiments' are indeed tasteless!

In a country like ours, moreover, with its famous unity/diversity tag, even the yum, however unhealthy, street food has so many avatars and nomenclatures, right? Just try and remember the very many names of the mouth watering 'panipuri', for example. Why then worry about a literal translation?

Translation should carry the taste  of the experience/the feel across the language. The core matters more than the shell even when it comes to translation!  Anyway, what is there in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, insisted the lovelorn Juliet. For the foodie who loves its tangy, zingy taste, 'Panipuri' is as lip smacking,  tastes as wondrous even when known as 'golgappa', right? Down, down,  hence, literal translation, murdabad, murdabad!

Pratima@ This concept of 'lost in translation'  is absolutely valid when it comes to phrases and proverbs. Let us try translating these later.

How/why (not) to (mis)interpret: A 'Re-solution'!

 Well, this morning, i received a quite funny, in fact, absolutely crazy wapp message. It dealt with a Marathi poem. It is a short but rich poem entitled "Audumbar". It is written by a gifted Marathi poet, Balkawi. 

Balkawi was deeply influenced by the British Romantic poets, especially William Wordsworth. His poems hence are depictions of nature with photographic realism. The natural scenes he presents have an unmistakable symbolic aspect as well.

The poem "Audumbar", one of the best examples of ekphrastic poetry, presents a typical pastoral scene. It has been much interpreted. Some critics argue that it is a comment on life. Personally, i think that the poem is about art. In a deeply self-reflexive way, it depicts artistic detachment, shows how an artist, be a poet, be a composer, creates art, as a construct about life, but not (immersed/messed up) in life, so to say.

The interpretation sent to me this morning was dated Feb 27, 2018. It was the weirdest ever. It argued that the poem dealt with a discarded woman who was about to commit suicide as now she lacked any support, and the tree as God (poor fellow!) looked on nonchalantly!

 Well, by no stretch of imagination can the poem be thus explained. True, great literature is appealing precisely because it may mean many things to multiple readers. Yet any and every reading has to be supported by the text, and should preferably fall within the probable/possible ambit Aristotle, too, talked about!

Can anyone, for example, argue that Kalidasa's "Shakuntalam" is about a Kanva- Shakuntala affair rather than the Dushyant-Shakuntala story? Yes, a crazy creep may so argue, but neither the actual text nor its possible analysis would grant such an interpretation!

Can anyone say that Shakespeare's "King Lear" was about the Fool, the King's companion, and not about the King? True, in the play, King Lear does behave extremely foolishly. Yet some such interpretation would be more foolish than the protagonist of the play, and not half as intelligent as the soon-to-disappear-from-the-play Fool's wisecracks that show the deluded king the falsehood beneath flagrant flattery which finally is his undoing!

In other words, every interpretation is possible, but not any interpretation is probable. And, oh, yes, every interpretation reflects the interpreter and his/her personality, and intended purpose, too! Hence, the weirdest interpretation of the poor poem was quite a mystery. Or was it a revelation actually? That is the question!

Pratima@ What we say about a person or a poem reflects on us, and not on the object of our gossip! India, for example, is surely not 'Independent Nation Declared In August', right?!? Especially when the ceremony this morning would object to such a colonial interpretation, right?

Internet, ahoy!

 Is the internet a curse or a blessing? Oh, no! No, do not worry. I am NOT going to provide any academic discussion. This evening, two incidents made me acutely aware of this  conundrum inherent in the algorithm underlying the internet. Hence this blog.

Well, this evening, i attended an online meeting which was supposed to address the hurtful knee. To begin with, the trainer was suggesting generalised techniques for knee ache in a 'one size suits all' mode. Well, it is medical common sense that each case is unique. One technique/exercise can never fit all.

When it comes to the bothersome knee, each patient may have a different cause, a unique case history which would demand sensitive treatment, at least initially. A simple explanation may prove my point. Well, when the knee aches, there would inevitably be some swelling. Unless and until that swelling is under control, knee exercises cannot help nor heal. In fact, such recklessness may lead to further damage. The trainer seemed oblivious to this basic fact!

Much worse was the meet final offer. For a two hours online session for some sixty (at least) patients whom the man has never seen (the meet this evening was the first ever and one way, that is, only he was as visible as he himself repeatedly kept on saying), whose medical history he does not know from the Adam, he said, he would teach exercises, techniques, et al, that would make them fit forever. Only some regular practice would be henceforth necessary! 

Obviously, it would be downright dangerous, right? How is an online consultation/training (without any x-ray, mind you) of sixty patients possible in two hours, especially when nothing is known about their individual, unique problems? Yes, if the therapist knows the patient real well, online exercises are possible, nay, can be a great help.

Much worse was the patients' idiotic enthusiasm! Because the man said, he charges Rs.6000/- per consultation, but he is offering this two hour session for Rs. 1500/-, people immediately jumped at the discount. Within ten minutes, he was rattling off names of payees as if it were an auction. His patience, the most important quality in a medical practitioner, was spread so thin that his tone would immediately be sarcastic or angry if some 'late comer' in any sense of the term asked any doubt about the payment for the second time!

What a horrible use of the internet for telemedicine! As family doctors are very rare these days, the internet could/should be sensitively used as the medical intermediary. Here, on the contrary, was some proof of the saying, "duniya zukti hai, zukanewala chahiye"!

The second incident, much worse, literally hit my eyes like a bolt from the blue because the download was very much there on the general Google search. Otherwise, i would not touch any such yuck with a barge pole. The video showed teasingly a bridal night! An intensely personal moment was being broadcast to the whole world by the bridal pair!

 Before i could emerge out of my shock and close the reel, luckily, they  themselves chose to stop, though tantalizingly, while undressing the bride, directly staring in to the camera!!! Speechless it left me because it proved that people can go to any extent for the sake of two minutes worth fame! The couple looked rather rich. So the ugly reel cannot be for dirty money!  What horribly bad taste then!

In brief, as the technology gets finer by the minute, human beings get stupider by the second, i feel!

Pratima@The AI hopefully would indeed be truly intelligent and stop such in(s)ane misuse of the internet! Obviously, it cannot because man makes and man disposes the technology!

Dear Bro!

 Family as a concept seems appealing to the social imaginary these days. Wonderful it is as a concept even when controlled by the market forces. Are you confused about why i am making all such grand statements? Well, i realized this afternoon that May 24 was the "Brothers' Day"! 

Well, Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day are hardly a month apart, in May and June respectively. Now in between lies this yet another wonderful day though the market does not seem to have cottoned on to it in a big way or on a huge scale! That is the beauty of it actually!

Yes, brothers absolutely deserve a day.  In a way, my writerly career in a much respected Marathi magazine began because of my article on brother as an ideal man. Well, this editor, highly revered in the Marathi literary world, had dedicated an entire issue to the ideal man as seen by a woman. Parents were off the field. Father hence was not an option. Most all contributors wrote about friends, husbands. The editor liked immensely my unique article on brothers! It was much appreciated. Quite a high it was for a twenty something me!

Well, post the 9/11 terror, and all other such destructive activities, brotherhood is a bad word. Actually, George Orwell had earlier immortalised the 'big brother'. May be, reel makers galore take their inspiration from such negative "re-presentations". Hence typically brothers are bossy, bickering, et al. I know now why i find most reels simply boring, bothersome and repetitive kitsch.

Personally, i have a sneaky suspicion, strengthened via close observation of many such pairs, that sisters are awful, jealous in a mean, competitive way. I would not know for sure as i do not have a sister. 

As for brothers, i can assure you most sincerely and conscientiously that childhood onwards, brothers are treasures. They perform very many roles in one's life, and most honestly. They can be one's best friends, philosophers, guides. More aware of lived realities, they keep one grounded. They may not show off in public, but they are acutely aware of all of one's difficulties and distresses, and take care quietly.

Hence this acrostic as a tribute!

Brave n brilliant

Rare n  resilient

Outstanding n optimist

Tender n tolerant

Hardy n honest

Entertaining n enthusiast

Responsible n robust!

That is 'brother' for you, 'the' back-up you can forever rely on!

Pratima@A bro is a bro is a bro! /None like a bro, better you gotta know!!' 

Absolutely beyond any artifice!

 We are already in the AI world. The bots are every where there to guide, eh, actually to control us. The ChatGPT is already enjoying a huge acceptance. Elsa is already an old story. I can continue giving umpteen such examples. Well, the point is that the world today is absolutely artifice driven, right?

Artifice, artificiality would always be super-fine. Never, however, it is real, sensitive, emotionally charged.  It would be rational and logical. Somehow, however, the human(e) soul is not satisfied with this merely intellectual. 

My submission, in fact, is that the more we are in the AI world, the more we seem to crave for the other end of the spectrum, that is, the creative, the dreamy, the non-rational, even the senti(-n-)mental, all that is beyond the artificial!

Constantly we would have to now delicately delineate this utter contrast. I would say, however, that things are going to be difficult as human(e) bonds are withering away faster than the state in the communist vision. 

In my opinion, these bonds, absolutely beyond any artifice, are going to save us, are going to keep us from being humanoids! I suppose, the gentle and deeply caring love of our parents would have to be our lodestar. We must learn to cherish those who support us deeply, and without any ulterior motives.

 If we ignore them for the sake of empty modernity, we would be like the utter fool who threw away a priceless jewel thinking it is just a stone! Let the humane feel unite us beyond all artifice, coz otherwise we would have everything to lose!

Pratima@ When artificiality dominates, we know the value of the real, the pure! Let the 're-cognition' never be so late that everything is beyond 're-pair'!

"रक्षति रक्षितार:" (means "can protect, if protected")

 On one of the whatsapp groups,  i got to see this lovely video. Most probably, it was made/filmed somewhere in South India. Given the abundance of banana plantations, it very well could be Tamilnadu. 

The video shows this elderly man wearing a mundu. He goes to the backyard, cuts a banana leaf. He heats it on the flame . With a knife, he peels away the ridge in the back of the leaf. He spreads it on a newspaper. On the banana leaf, he puts rice, vegetable preparation, etc.

Next, he makes two pouches of the smaller portion of the banana leaf. As for the edges, he folds them triple, and presses them along the edge of the folds. Voila, perfect pouches for sambar and buttermilk are ready. The upper edges of each pouch are tied with the thread drawn-n-cut from the banana leaf itself. Finally, the newspaper is folded over, and the perfect lunch box is ready!

Very many would be the advantages of this nature friendly packaging. Surely, it would add a dash of unique taste to the food thus packed in. After the food consumption, the entire package can be fodder for the animals, and without any corrupt mismanagement! So much of plastic wastage  can be avoided as well. Homely eco-friendly measures!

In the olden days, in Maharashtra, food used to be served either on banana leaves or on perfectly made dishes of green and/or dry leaves stitched together. Economical and eco-friendly, they were beautiful exhibits of the artisans' skills. Many households used to self sufficiently make such nature friendly dishes and bowls.

Mostly made of bunyan or palash leaves, they were made simply but artistically. Given the rapid urbanisation, paper plates are now preferred to even glass or stainless steel plates and bowls. Paper plates may create waste management issues in their own way, but who cares?!?

Apparently, in Germany, such 'leaf-y' plates are now being made in a more 'system'tic and 'engineer'ed way. Thus is lost yet another 'home-made' profession, cottage industry with a unique specialisation,  to big business! Semi-educated women could have thus continued to earn a livelihood. Hope in the deafening  din of identity politics of all cast(e)s, at least women's groups would cater to/care for such options!

Pratima@ Like the "Dharma" which protects us if/when protected ("रक्षति रक्षितार:"), environment, too, can sustain us, if/when sustained!