Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

When I first came to London and had yet to find a job, Sekar suggested I do some volunteering work. This would help me network and interact with people. One day as Narayan and I were coming back from Waitrose our local grocers, a ‘Volunteers Urgently Needed’ board caught my attention. So we walked towards it and I found a notice that said “The Oxfam Book Shop needs volunteers urgently”. So the next day without much confidence, I walked into the shop and asked to see the Manager. Martin Penny the Manager said I was welcome and gave me a form to fill. He explained I would work on replacing books in the shelves and I could do either mornings or afternoons (10 to 2) and (2-6) on weekdays or 12-5 on Sundays. I went back on Monday at 10:15 and Martin showed me and another volunteer called Naila around. He showed us the different sections in the bookstore and the basement where the books were stored and sorted. He showed us how to price the books and how they need to be organized on the book-...

Narayan came home one evening and asked me if I have heard of Mata Amrutananda Mayi, she would be visiting London and ‘The Guardian’ newspaper had a nice article about her. I told him what I knew from hearsay - that Mata Amrutananda Mayi or Amma as she is fondly called was from Kollam, she belonged to a fisher-man family and she was self-realized in her teens. The thing that was unique about her was the hug that she gave people. She had a huge following in native Kerala. I remembered Appa and Dr. Radhakrishnan had visited her in connection with the Yagam and she made them sit on the dias along with her. Appa fondly recalls how she sang “Chalanga katti odi odi va”, a Bhajan which Amma sang and he said it was just incredible. Narayan got me print-outs containing details of Amma’s visit and her program in London. She was coming on a Sunday and was staying until Wed morning. Sunday would be too crowded and I had an exam on Monday, so I decided to go on Tue, the 28th Oct. I left home around...

Kollam Mami as she is known is an inspiring lady, who is bringing about a lot of change at grass-root levels in the villages of Kerala. In particular, is her work at Madikunnu temple. Every Wednesday, Kollam Mami decided to have the chanting of Lalitha Sahasranamam, followed by a simple pooja by the participants. Initially people came in small numbers. These days, every Wednesday people in many hundreds and thousands gather to chant Lalitha Sahasranamam. It is not uncommon to see 10,000 and soemtimes 25,000 people attending this function. We have to keep in mind that this is happening in a small village like Madikunnu and not in a city! Miracles have been known to occur - a lame boy started walking after attending the Pooja. And other changes are slowly happening - participants are seeing an increase in their general well-being, giving up smoking, drinking and meat eating, children are studying well and a general increase in wealth and prosperity. The people who run the show, doing the...

As I wrote the blog on AMMA(Mata Amrutananda Mayi), I kept thinking how the best hugs have come from the babies in the family. It was August 1995. Appa and Amma went to Ayakudi to bring Vansathi Manni and my 2.5 month old niece Aparna to Trichur. Chitra, Dr.Mama, Krishanan Chitappa and I were in Trichur. I remember how we spent the whole night talking. I was so excited I could not sleep. And then I saw Aparna. It was love at first sight, my niece was a lovely bouncy baby with the best smile I knew. And I was smitten, totally smitten. She was so tender and so small, I would be scared to hold her. But in no time, I became an expert, I knew how to make her laugh loudly and she always hugged back so well. Harini arrived in June 1996. I first saw Harini when she was 10 days old for her naming ceremony. And she was so sweet and small. And it was gain love at first sight. Harith came in Aug 1996. He was born in Trichur and it was really exciting days. Amma’s 60th Birthday was celebrated in...

I was born in Trichur. Amma, Sangam Chitappa and Chithi went to the Trichur Mission Hospital for a check-up and then suddenly I was born. No preps, no pain, no fore-warning! They were not prepared and Chithi was left with the baby me while Chitappa went to Trikkur with the news. Of course, it did not help at all that it was the 1st of April and no one believed anything. Chithi took care of me and Amma. So my relationship with Chithi started right then, she was the first person to carry me. Amma recollects how among other things Chithi would rub butter over me when I was a baby so I would have good skin. Until we moved to Trikkur in 1988, I remember visiting Trikkur only about 4 times. The first time was for Kalyanam Chitappa's wedding. Then a summer vacation when I was in the 1st or 2nd standard. Amma got 6 dresses made by Babu tailor especially for the occasion. One of them was a black polka dot with leaf green butterfly sleeves, which I left behind at Trikkur and the other is the...

It was admission time for the Pre-Degree courses at St.Mary’s College. As I waited in the queue, I found Delji in the same queue. Delji was my cousin Raji’s class mate of 10 years from the Holy Family school and I had met her a few times. Glad to see at least one familiar face, we exchanged Hellos and stood together. We both noticed a couple of girls at the front of the queue – one of them was slightly plump and the other had a wonderful smile. After the admissions, the two girls came over and introduced themselves – they were Binu and Deepa Das respectively from the Sacred Hearts school. Raji my cousin had finished her admission to the 2nd group and we headed home. A few days later, the college started and I found I was allotted to the B1 section. Delji, Binu and Deepa were in the same section – a relief! I was introduced to Manju – who studied in Holy Family and knew Raji and Delji. Traditionally, students from Holy Family and Sacred Heart, both girls only schools head to St. Mary’s...

My hair is skirting about 2 inches below the shoulder; I can do a neat plait. As I comb my hair, a familiar dilemma rises in my mind – do I continue to grow it or trim it short? This dilemma started when I was a 5 years old. When I was five, the decisions were simple. Baby (Anitha) my best friend of those days had a bob. Since she was my guru, heroine, best friend and idol rolled into one that was the only way to go! So, short it was! So, it was off to Ramathilakam Aunty, the unofficial beautician of Cement Nagar. We did not have beauty parlours in those decades. Aunty had a good sense of style and really liked me, so she did it for me. As usual, Amma came to know of the deed only after it was committed. (How some things haven’t changed over the years!) But a few days/months after the hair-cut, I would want it all long, so I could put flowers in the hair. So I would decide no more cuts. The decision of course could reverse any moment! A few years later came Appa’s retirement and the m...

Sunday - 09 Nov was the 41st instance of the Vidya Sidhi Pooja at the Trikkur Kamakshi Amman temple. The Pooja was started at the instance of "Kollam Mami". Kollam Mami is a devout person who initiated the chanting of Lalitha Sahasranamam at the Madikunnu temple every Wednesday, the crowds coming for the Sahasranamam are now in thousands and miracles have known to occur. When Kollam Mami visited our Kamakshi temple, she wanted to start a Pooja that would provide educational benefits of the children of Trikkur. Thus was born the Pooja. It started as a simple affair and has grown into a grand one. I am proud to say that Krishnan Chitappa and Babulu Athai along with Ammanji Athu Ramachandran Mama and otehr Trikkur elders have been running the show very successfully. I was fortunate to attend the Pooja during my trip to India in July. About 10'o clock on a lovely monsoony rainy morning in Trikkur, along with about 50 or other kids, I sat down for the Pooja. The temple p...

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; ...Forgive them anyway! If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; ...Be kind anyway! If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; ...Succeed anyway! If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; ...Be honest and frank anyway! What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; ...Build anyway! If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; ...Be happy anyway! The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; ...Do good anyway! Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; ...Give the world the best you've got anyway! You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

Trikkur Puzhai or Manali Puzhai flows behind our house in Trikkur. It meanders its way past Anthathu Mama's house to our house and then to Porangavu Temple and flows further down past our Thopu and Paadam. We have a 'kadavu' or a bathing ghat so we can approach the puzhai from our backyard. The view from the puzhai is lovely - there are coconut trees lining the banks on either side. And since the stream meanders a bit, we have an incredible view of the donwstream and upstream. The puzhai has its own cycles - during the monsoon, the stream has muddy brown waters and there are currents, during the summer the waters are tranquil and green and quite deep until the waters are pumped out for irrigation purposes, when the waters recede from the shore and there is only water in the deepest. Cocunuts, mangoes and thenga mattais fall into the river and it is nice to catch a good one. Of course we are lucky they don't land on our heads instead! Once we descend into the tranq...

Sree Gurubyo Namaha! Appa was felicitated today by Dr. Abdul Kalaam on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Swami Ranganatha Nanda in Trikkur. Chithi, Sundari Chithi, Amma, Krishnan Chitappa, Babulu Athai, Jaya Chithi and Jayaraman were fortunate indeed to attend the occasion. Appa was honoured for his commitment and activities relating to Vedic revival. Appa started his sojourn into Vedic activities on the instructions of Maha Periyava. Appa has been active with Vedic activities right from when we were in Cement Nagar. It started with building the temples in Cement Nagar & Hagari, the two Chaturmasyams and the conduct of Yagams at Cement Nagar and Hagari, in addition to other devotional activities. Appa participated in yagams whenever he could - all as per the instructions and guidance of Maha Periyava. After retirement, Periyava told Appa to concentrate on Vedam completely. Appa had two job offers after his retirement, but Periyava's explicit instruction to Appa ...

When I was writing about Bhajanais, I was reminded of the various lovely songs that are so integral to all our get togethers. Sree Chakra Raja, Pazhani Malai Kovilele, Thechi Mandaram Seetha Kalyana at the weddings Chitra's Mamava Pattabhirama which she specially learned for her nalangu Villaya Idu Nerama (courtesy Bangalore Paatu Mami) Our Nalangu special songs: Ye Aatha Athorama varaya Yamuna Yatrile Lalaku Dol Dapima Bin Tere Sanam thithi thara thi thi thom Yerumbaya Erumbellam kudi Others: Tere Meri Beech Me, Style Style Thaan, Machane Aha (Thangam special along with Sadanam) Shantamee Rathriyil (Chitra's song n dance performance) Lakshmi used to sing a nice Asha Parek number pruposely in nasal tone, can't remember the exact song though! Raji's Rosa Poo Chinna Rosa Poo Chitra and Poorni - Sree meenakshi Thaye undan Santosh's song Innum Ennai Enna Seya Pogiray from Singara Velan Sangeetha Swarangal (Azhagan) Gali Gali Me Phirtha Hai Saathiya, My Love Meri Priyath...

I was thinking of Bangalore and our family when I suddenly was hit by memories of Bhajanais. I realized they are just so integral a part of our family. The family songs from Pazhani Malai Kovilile, Thechi Mandaram, Sree Chakra Raja, Seetha Kalyana and the Ayyappa Bhajani songs - most of us identify with it and so many occasions in our lives are linked by these special songs. Going back to bhajanais, Bhajanais in Cement Nagar would happen every Friday night in the temple and were the high point of the week. Later, when Sabari Malai became popular, the Ayyappa bhajanai used to be held in the temple on Saturdays. The nice thing about the Bhajani was about Amma and Vijayan, both of them sing very well and were asked to sing during the Bhajanais. Vijayan is especially good at imitating people and he would imitate Sesham Raju sir, so well. Appa would occasionally join in with 'Nataraja Narataraja Narthana Sundara Nataraja" or "Ashta Sidhi Nava Nidhi Ke Datha" and we would ...

The results of the historic US election 2008 are out - Barack Hussein Obama has won the Presidential Election with no doubts whatever. The time for Vote For Change and Yes We Can is definitely here. The world has been closely following this election and indeed it heaved a collective sigh of relief at the results. What is it about this election that has mesmerized people and why are other countries taking such an interest in what is a US domestic issue? The war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy and climate change have been the three main issues in this election and they are no doubt what interests the rest of the world as well. But for me it is the super hero appeal of Obama! That Senator Obama who is an African-American, has 'Hussein' as his middle name, has no political lineage like the Bush, Clinton dynasties pulled it our by sheer hard work, passion, self-belief and intelligence makes him an great hero. We can look up at him and say "Yes We Can!" . And heroes ...

Uma, thanks for putting me on the movie lane. I sat down to list some of the movies I enjoyed watching, here it goes. Enjoy! www.imdb.com is a good movie database. Roman Holiday : Audrey Hepburn My Fair Lady The Sound Of Music The Bridge on the River Kwai, A Passage to India : directed by David Lean 12 Angry Men The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) : Steve McQueen Tootsie : Dustin Hoffman The Godfather : Al Pacino, Marlon Brando Philadelphia, Termial, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Cast Away : Tom Hanks Disclosure : Micheal Douglas, Demi Moore Charlie's Angels Signs : Mel Gibson Die Hard : Bruce Willis America's Sweethearts : Julia Roberts, John Cusack, Catherine Zeta Jones Notting Hill : Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts The Wedding Date Maid In Manhattan : Jenniger Lopez Speed, While You Were Sleeping, Two Weeks Notice, Miss Congeniality : Sandra Bullock A Walk In the Clouds : Keanu Reaves: City Slickers : Billy Crystal Bridget Jones Diary & Bridget Jones: The Edge ...

I was looking at the mirror the other day and suddenly I saw something that caused me to totally freeze over. Was I seeing right? Did I need a new eye test? No, it was there right in front of me - a long gray hair that wound it ways from the front left scalp. I am only 33 I heard myself say, am I becoming totally gray? All the shampoos I could hear Appa and Amma say. I touched it tentatively and checked it. It was gray definitely. I held on to it and frantically tried searching the rest of my scalp. I twisted myself into some wierd Yogic positions to see round the back of my scalp, but really could not. And I was scared to as well. I decided I would be less stressed (wish we had a stress switch which we could turn off and on), would have regular oil baths and eat greens. I would also get some Vitamin tablets. I would exercise regularly, sleep well and eat well. I would use only Thaali and Shikai from now on, for which I would definitely need to go to the Indian area or make a trip to I...

I got some professional certifications this year. In reality, this was not one of those things that I had planned. Every time someone mentioned the certification I would think I should do it. But then the cost, the effort, the time and a small fear of failure would put me off! As it happened, when I got to work one cold January day, two of my colleagues were discussing the exam pretty seriously, one of them was doing the exam in the first week of March. Initially I was not interested but as they started discussing the dates, the syllabus, the books, I was drawn in despite myself. And I started looking at the website, at the syllabus etc and thougt why not. Before long, I had registered for the exam and sent an email to my Manager about taking the day off. Soon, we were browsing, searching for the recommended book. We searched a few book sites online, called Waterstones and finally got our copies of books. We were quite excited. And then came the study part. Since three of us were doin...