POETRY KAHLIL GIBRAN

"The Prophet" is a book written by Kahlil Gibran (Jubran Kahlil Jubran) in 1923. It is composed of prose, poems about love, freedom, and redemption.

Kahlil uses a subtle but a fierce language flowering with original metaphors, and as fresh like the seasons he was describing. You can smell the sheaves of corn and see the noontide.

When I first read it, I got copies and gave them as gifts. Anyone can read it - young or old. Anyone who values life will understand it. Anyone craving for wisdom will get it.

"The Prophet" is a best seller of all times. It has been translated into more than 20 languages.

According to Claude Bragdon "The author has a power that came from some great reservoir of spiritual life else it could not have been so universal and so potent..." Kahlil Gibran is a U.S.- Arabic writer born in Lebanon (1883-1931).

II. More Words

1. Prophet - Some who foretells the future. Isaiah, Mohammed, and Nostradmus are prophets of different ages.

2. Perish - Perish means to die or disappear; perish in poverty; die in hell; expire

3. Embark is to go on board or up a vehicle; start

4. Threshold - A point of beginning like a door is a threshold; the threshold of pain; love's threshing floor

5. Archer - The archer's tools are bows and arrows. A person who is engaged in the sports of archery; the Sagittarius sign

6. Soul - You can talk about spirituality when you talk about the soul. It is also energy power of a spirit; heart

Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within your wounds, hide me
Never permit me to be separated from you
From the evil one, protect me
At the hour of death, call me
And bid me come to you
That with your Saints
I may praise you forever,
Amen.


7. Splendor - Brilliance; A classical song chants about love and splendor.

"And though of magnificence and splendor, your house shall not hold your secret nor shelter your longing." Kahlil Gibran

8. Serenity is peacefulness; tranquility; the serene water of the Pacific

9. Aggrieved - An aggrieved or troubled feeling should deem compassion from others; injured or wronged

10.Tyranny - Tyranny is cruelty of leadership. Edmund Burke says "Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny."

Rose Flores - Martinez, 01.20.2010

Onam Greetings

HAPPY ONAM.

Also see:

A missed Onam

Happy Independence Day

This photo is of the first postage stamp of free India.

The value given is 3 ½ Annas. The currency system in India at that point of time was:

1 Rupee = 16 Annas

1 Anna = 4 Pice

1 Pice = 3 Pies

It would be also interesting to see the posts

Azad Hind

Capt. Lakshmi: From stethoscope to Sten gun

JAI HIND.

Photos: Flowers from a bouquet

Click to enlarge.

Copyright reserved.



Also see:

Flowers of India: Some great photos by KO Isaac

Another bandh

Well, we have gone through another bandh. Long weekend for some, misery for many. Apart from that has the event contributed anything?

It was said by the organizers that the purpose of the bandh was to make the Government of India aware of the people’s protest against the increase in petroleum prices. One would assume that if the Government consists of sensible people, it would have known that the hike in petroleum prices would make every Indian unhappy. The loss of crores of rupees caused by the bandh was not required to get the message across.

LK Advani is reported to have mentioned that for the first time all the opposition parties came together. That would have been a happy incident if some sensible solution was put forward by them to tackle the issue. At least those among them who are ruling some of the States could have come out with a declaration that their States would forego the windfall that comes by way of Sales Tax every time the petrol prices are increased. No, that is more of unbudgeted money to spend.

Left ruled States, Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura were faced with the possibility of two bundhs on the same issue within a week. The Chief Minister of Tripura said no. One must congratulate him on that. Also to be congratulated is the Kerala Civil Supplies Minister. He has warned merchants of stern action if prices are unfairly hiked under the excuse of fuel price hike. Imagine, truck owners started off by demanding 30% increase in rates for a Rs.2 per litre diesel price mark up!

In my opinion the BJP should have a rethink on its approach. It unlikely to gain anything by aligning with the Left. There is the example of the Congress – that party moved ahead once the Left withdrew support. BJP is a party which might head the Government of India again. They should take a more objective and mature view.

It is a reality that the oil prices in the international market fluctuate. A government cannot constantly and indiscriminately absorb the increases to subsidize a price level in the home market.

Perhaps the think tanks of the major political parties should sit down together and work out a price escalation formula for future applications.

Please also see Tackling the oil crisis

Apologies for AWOL, rains in Cochin

For a few months now I have not been paying due attention to my blog. It has been a kind of absence without leave. Some of the regular readers have been kind enough to write to me about it. My apologies to them, and to those who made comments on my posts and did not receive any response.

For the last few weeks I was in Kerala. This was my first trip after the cardiac bypass operation I had in September 2009. I did not even touch a computer there. It was a time of getting together with the family and friends, visits to the club, and attending a few functions. Had a lovely time.

Chennai and Kerala are, as you know, in different weather zones – sweltering heat at one end and pelting rains at the other. Singing in the rain was not on cards. Neither was walking in the downpour without an umbrella. But it was nice being driven around. At the moment the Cochin roads have smooth surface. It is likely to be another story after the monsoon. Good while it lasts.

Olavipe, my home village is all green, just like the rest of Kerala. But it looks better on TV. Last week an interview with my younger brother Hormis Tharakan (former RAW chief) at Olavipe was on the mini screen and the place looked great.

An equally alluring spot is the beautiful riverside house of a cousin, Mathew Manipadam, at Udayanapuram near Vaikom. For the first time in my life I saw yellow hibiscus flowers there. I was really stunned by it. A couple of photos I took of them are reproduced below:

The construction activities in Cochin seem to be slow. Probably the reason is the heavy monsoon. A friend who is in real estate told me that there are not many land transactions. The rates quoted are high but very few deals are concluded. One can see a number of buildings in various stages of construction. Some have prominent “For sale” boards. It is also said that lack of clarity in the new land registration rules discourages land transactions.

Given here is a photo of a building I liked.

The structure looks beautiful, rising from the cluster of trees. Imagine it is in a city!

Cochin still has a number of coconut palms. Here is the picture of a high yielding one.

Such trees are not common in Kerala these days. Not much care is given to them. The main reasons for this are (1) it is difficult to get workmen, (2) the wages for unskilled labour is around Rs.300/day, (3) those who climb the palms to pluck the nuts are very few and charge heavily, and (4) the prices the farmer gets for the nuts are uneconomic.

The next is the picture of a special variety of coconut tree from Manipadam house. I believe that it starts yielding in 18 months! But the oil content in the kernel is low. Therefore it is not a commercially viable proposition.

Kerala is slowly changing from the land of coconut trees to a concrete jungle. It is so sad.

Well, I am back in Chennai. The weather gods here are really kinder than they were last month. I am looking forward to keeping up my blog with regular postings.

[Click on photos to enlarge.]

Of Vishwanathan Anand, chess, chathurangam and Velliappan

41 year old Padma Vibhushan Vishwanathan Anand has brought so much glory to India with his exploits in chess. Whether his historic contribution is fully appreciated by his countrymen is doubtful. Four times World Champion, in the great mind game! Bravo Anand.

Chess, in its earlier form known as Chathurangam, is believed to have been born in India in the 6^th century. Later it spread to West Asia and China. The Moors picked up the game during attacks on Persia and took it to Spain when they conquered that country. From there chess spread to other parts of Europe. Incidentally, Vishwanathan Anand lives in Madrid, Spain.

But till Anand came into the limelight, the only Indian who was internationally famous in the game was Punjab’s Mir Sultan Khan. He was the British Chess Champion in 1929, 1932 and 1933 and participated in three Chess Olympiads as the representative of Britain. Chess, which was also known as the ‘King’s Game’, was modernized in the 19c and the first tournament of the new version was held in London in 1851. But the old chathurangam mode continued at many places in India, including Olavipe, my village.

Velliappan ( my father’s elder cousin) was the patron of the game in our area. Two things he loved were Carnatic music and chess. For a long time there was a group of live in musicians in his house. The south-eastern portion of the ettukettu buildining was their domain. They would start tuning their instruments from early morning.

The south-western side of the building was chess area. An elderly Gowda Saraswath Brahmin who stayed not too far away, was in charge of that section. We used to call him Konkani. He would arrive at sunrise, make the chess pieces (I’ll come to that later), place them on the board, and wait.

This situation would continue till Velliappan decided, after breakfast, his pursuit for the day. If he hums a classic and the ‘tuk tuk’ sound of his methiadi (wooden sandals) on hard floor is heard on the eastern veranda, the Konkani could go home. Otherwise the musicians would pack up for the day.

The chess group included a man named Pylee. According to Velliappan, he was good enough for international level chess. It seems that in a Capablanca (World Champion 1921-1927) match in the 1920s the loser failed to gauge the impact that a move would have 23 turns later. When the position was laid out to Pylee, he said that there was some problem 20 moves later. Incredible. But Pylee died unknown except in our area.

I used to go to Velliappan’s house to play with his son Kuttappan who is about my age. One day Velliappan summoned me and ordered me to sit in front of the chess board. I was about ten years old then. Velliappan first explained to me chathurangam. All that I remember of it now is that most of the pieces had much less power than in chess. Then I, a not too interested student, was taught the basics of chess.

From then on I used steal into that house to escape Velliappan’s attention. But whenever he realized that I was there, it meant hours of chess. I did develop some interest in the game and learned a few of the techniques that helped me at college level games.

Velliappan and I played chess for years. I could never match his skills and he always won. Then one day, Velliappan who was quite old then, was taking much longer than usual to make a move. His face was flushed. Then a younger cousin of his walked in, studied the board and laughed. “Chetta, you have lost,” he said to Velliappan.

The old man swiped the pieces off the board angrily, got up and walked away to his room. It was then that I realized that I had, or would have, won. Velliappan and I never played chess again.

Now, about the Konkani and the chess pieces. The first thing that the man did after reaching Velliappan’s house was to cut a big leaf from a banana plant. He would shave off the green flexible part of the leaf and bring the thick middle rib into the house.

Then the ritual began. He would recite a sloka (poem) and start cutting according to it the mid rib of the leaf from the base. One by one the chess pieces would emerge. I think the first piece was the ‘white’ king and the next the ‘black’ king.

These pieces did not have colour of course. The differentiation of the two sets of chessmen was by size. The ‘white’ pieces were called vankaru (large piece) and the black cherukaru (small piece). Since cherukaru was always cut after the similar vankaru, it was always smaller.

It is a matter of regret to me that I never bothered to write down the sloka that the Konkani used for creating the chess pieces sixty years back.