COORG NOTES 3

19h May.I and Renjith were on the way to Cheyyandane.After passing Heggala Renjith drove a kilometer or so and parked the car near an estate gate.A few feet away, Inside the estate a middle aged man and woman were cutting some dry and living branches of coffee plants.Renjith asked them what they were doing there.The man replied that they were rounding .The work of cutting some old branches for giving the plant enough space and convenience for allowing it to grow with new vigour without causing any trouble to the nearby plants is known as 'rounding'.The man and his wife were engaged in that work.We asked them what was their wage.'Rs.230 a day'The man replied.Everybody knows that the amount is just enough to pull on meeting only the basic needs. After an hour we got the chance to meet another worker of another estate .He was tipsy,no,he was really fit, but seemed to be aware of many problems related to coffee cultivation.He said, 'Look,the price of coffee varies.Our owners get only a small amount. The middle men and the companies which make coffee powder make money.The estate owners here are not cunning.They don't use pesticides and chemical manures.So the yield is less.But they don't take care.They are interested only in the studies of their chidren and some traditional festivals.With what they get from their ancestral property they can give good education to their chidren.Only that much.But one thing is sure.The coffee here is the best in the world. Oh,really good,great.'

COORG NOTES 2

Kodavas in general are proud of their unique culture.They call themselves ‘Children of Mother Kavery’.Their food habits,dress code,beliefs,rituals and ceremonies are different from those of others living in Kodagu.Outsiders may feel that the community is strong and will continue to be so for many more decades.But it is a sad fact that the number of Kodavas are fast dwindling in Kodagu.Most of the educated youths among Kodavas do not like to continue in their native place.They move to Mysore or Bangalooru for higher studies and seek jobs there itself.Some among them get employed in other cities in the country or get chances to seek their fortune in foreign countries. All of them are almost cut off from the culture nurtured by their parents and ancestors.Many observers fear that after 50 years the traits of original Kodava culture may turn to be a faint memory. Paddy cultivation in Kodagu began to give way to coffee plantations during the British rule.Coorg coffee was recognised as the best in the country .The recognition remains true even now.Coffe estates considerably raised the financial status of many Kodavas and their life rose to very high standards.But the new generation is disintersted in coffee cultivation also.They show haste in leaving Coorg with the hope that a more fashinable,eventful and enjoyable life could be realised in cities.No one can resist or blame them. They have the freedom to act according to their concept of life. But the unpleasent fact that Kodavas are shrinking to a small minority in Kodagu and their culture is slowly vanishing looms over this beautiful land and many feel sorry and helpless. 21/5/2016

COORG NOTES 1

Friends, This is the first note. Here in these notes I inted to share my ‘Coorg experiences’ and some observations based on them which I hope some of you may find interesting. Coorg,the land which enjoys the benevelonce and blessings of nature in abundance has been an irresistible thrill for me for the last four decades. My first visit to Coorg was in 1975.Though it is only 3 hours journey from Thalassery to Coorg my first impression was that I reached a far away land the beauty and attraction of which was boundless.Years passed and from 1985 onwards every year I made 3 or 4 trips to the ‘ Scotland of India’.My latest journey to Coorg was yesterday. This time I went in the company of Renjith Markos whom about 27years back I taught in degree class in Govt.Brennen College. Renjth was in the driver’s seat of his Innova.From Perumbadi, where we reached after a tiresome drive of several kilometres on the winding road ,we turned left and drove towards Heggala and proceeded to Karada and Cheyyandane and returned to Perumbadi via Virajpet.Renjith parked the car at a convenient place and we went to Dr.S.V.Narasimhan’s house. Dr.Narasimhan is a reputed medical practitioner of Virajpet.But we approached him not seeking any medical help.Dr.Narasimhan is the auther of ‘Feathered Jewels of Coorg’ the book that contains authentic descriptions of more than 300 birds in Coorg. Though I had contacted him through email before a few days when quite unexpectedly I along with my friend reached his house,it seemed to me that the doctor was thrilled.We had a matter of fact discussion for about half an hour about the Kodava culture which is unique in many respects. It was with immense pleasure I received ‘Feathered Jewels ’ from the doctor.Thus my latest trip to Coorg also became unforgettable. 20/5/2016

My impressions of the second edition of Cochi- Muziris Biennale

I was disturbed with the impression that the area alloted to painting in the contemporary art world has alarmingly shriken.After the initial shock or confusion I tried to see the exhibition from a different angle and had the impression that a welcome change was taking place as frontiers had begun to show clear signs of disappearance.Another notable change is that many reputed artists have begun to show more interest in the re- reding of history. The politics behind the globalised world had also captured the attention of many.The vision and political awareness of the artist is equally important as his/her mastery over the art,this Biennale gives such a message.Another important thing that I have noticed is that the curater has not enetertained the notion that art works are there just to see and generate aesthetic experience which does not show even the faintest shadows of history,politics and social awareness and nothing should be mentioned about their content. The final impression that the second edition of Cochi- Muziris Biennale left in my mind is that all theories are melting into the air in the world of contemporary art and artists are trnsforming themselves,most probably with much enthusiasm, to catch up with the contemporary world were everything is in a hurry to change and disappear into oblivion. 20/3/2015

Literary Sensibility

I have heard many university professors and ‘ intellectuals’ elaborating on the issue of literary sensibility using a number of high sounding words with which they may be quite familiar. They have no hesitation in repeatedly quoting Jacques Lacan , Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari and the like.But while giving their opinions about the literary works in Malayalam one can easily see that their sensibility is either false or of very low standard. I think that these people lack the feelers which is absolutely essential to know what all thoughts and feelings are there behind each and every word appearing in a genuine literary work.At the same time I have seen many ordinary village folk who with wonderful precision make exact judgement on latest poems,short stories and novels.Knowledge of literay works acquired in abundance and familiarity with nearly all the terms in literary criticism may not ensure truthful sensibility.It takes birth in a different planet. 27/1/2015

BOOK RELEASE

My latest collection of short stories titled ‘RAMESWARAM’ and a collection of articles on my writings ‘N PRABHAKARAN: KATHA KALAM DARSANAM ‘ were released at a function held at Govt Guest House, Madadayippara on January 26, 2015. N.Sasidharan presided over the function. C.V.Balakrishnan releasd the short story collection by handing over a copy to Sihabudheen Poythumkatavu. The collection of articles was released by poet P.N.Gopikrishnan and G.B.Valsan received the copy.Thaha Madayi, Damodaran Kulappuram and P.K.Bhagyalekshmi also spoke on the occasion. A.V. Pavithran welcomed the audience and P.V.Divakaran rendered vote of thanks. The programme concluded with a flute recital by Pavithran Ezhome. About 150 people attended the function. Many of them later shared their pleasure in being able to attend a simple but warm function.The programme was jointly organised by Kairali Books,Kannur and eripuram.com

Random notes

Yesterday I had an argument with one of my friends.He said that I was anti-development and orthodox. I replied "I am not so orthodox as those who feel no prick of conscience in supporting the criminal deeds of the political parties to which they are attached.To be progressive means to be free.Unless you uphold human diginity and take a strong stance in support of basic human rights there is no meaning in claiming that you are pro-development or progressive".