The Girl who wanted to be Princess

Tilottama was a pretty girl-with dimpled cheeks and wavy black hair. When teacher asked her in school what she wanted to become when she grew up she promptly said,"Princess..then I will live in a huge palace and wear a shiny tiara!"

That day when she got home she rushed to Amma and asked her,"Amma, can I become princess?" Amma was busy reading her favourite column in the paper. "Of course"she said and went right back to reading. This Tilottama didn't like one bit. She told Amma in a voice not soft to put the paper away. Now Amma could sense the tantrum coming. She put the paper away,gathered Tilu into her lap and said ,"Of course my dear,when you grow up you can become princess."

"Now!!Now!! I want to be princess now" she said escaping from Amma's lap and stamping on the ground. As she rolled on the ground screaming as only four year olds can, Amma realised it was no use talking to her and went back to reading.

Tilottama suddenly saw a fairy in front of her. A fairy with a magic wand like the one she had seen in the Cinderella story. Wow! "Fairy ,fairy can I be princess,please?"she asked with folded palms.

"Oh!yes",said the fairy and whoosh.....Tilottama was seated in front of a mirror in a beautiful gown and tiara,her maids helping her dress. One was pulling her hair into a knot and the other was tightening her waistband while a third lady was making her wear high heels higher than the ones Amma wore..

Tilottama was getting irritated. She hated tying her hair or wearing belts. "Stop! I want leave my hair loose and the waistband is too tight", she ordered. Just then a lady appeared and introduced herself as  Governess Gutsy."I am in charge of Your Excellency's  appointments" she announced in a rather self important manner. " As of today, you have a ball to attend and then call on the Queen Mother after which you have to inaugurate the Turtle Walk..", she rattled on. 
"Wait! Does that mean  there is no playing in the  swing and slide or watching cartoons!
"Oh !My!"the Governess said  in a mocking tone-"Our princess here wants to play on a slide!" 
'No Dear!Its a full time job", the lady doing her hair whispered kindly. 
JOB! Is'nt that what Papa did or said he needed to do to get her her toys....
Tilottama was suddenly missing Amma and her bear hugs.

'Comm'on get up...."
When her eyes opened she was in Amma's arms. Amma was carrying her to her bed " Time for a nap, princess", Amma said.
"No, not Princess..Tilu is fine", Tilottama smiled as she hugged Amma..relieved that it was just a dream. 

Why Maklu inspires me

Maklu Tudu is a middle aged Santhali Woman. I met her ten years ago when my husband got transferred to Dumka as its 158th Deputy Commissioner. She lived in a world very different from mine. She cycled 10 km to work as domestic help  in the Deputy Commissioner's Bunglow (DC Kothi) in Dumka. Small built and wiry, she took life in her stride. Her family's sole bread winner, she tended her less than fertile land, gathered mahua flowers, mangoes and jackfruit during the season, sent her daughters to school, college and got them trained to be Mid wives. A previous mem saab couldnt pronounce or may be didn't like her name. So she became Meenu to the residents of the bunglow. She was nanny and  housekeeper; cleaner and masseuse rolled into one.

Multifaceted personality aside, it was her cheerfulness and progressive attitude that influenced me the most. She was a willing learner and never said no to work. In the midst of patriarchal mores, she calmly went about giving her two daughters whatever opportunities came her way. She was a woman with a lot of traditional wisdom and knowledge about local herbs and plants. She once drove away a cobra but it upset her when the gardener insisted on killing it!

Every time I feel misunderstood, when my efforts are not appreciated, I think of Maklu and decide to make the best of what I have. To be cheerful and carry on.......

Pedestrians’ Progress

The year long  stay in central London gave me an opportunity to walk and discover the city on foot. The wide and accessible foot paths and zebra crossings made the experience enjoyable. As I walked across Hyde Park and enjoyed the sun in Russell square, I could imagine how walks might have inspired Darwin to think about evolution and walks around Salzburg gave Mozart’s music the edge that retains its popularity even today.

Increased awareness about impact of vehicular pollution on the environment has made it even more important to nudge people to walk and cycle more. In developed regions of the world Pedestrians are given their due and a fair share of the road. Though etymologically the word pedestrian is from Latin and meant ‘plain and not versified’ with respect to prose in comparison to poetry and ‘on foot’ as opposed to ‘on horseback’ which was considered better, pedestrians have progressed and people now take pride in calling themselves pedestrian!

 On my return I still endevour to clock at least 15000 steps on my Fitbit. I pack my walking shoes when I travel for work as well as when am on holiday. However, I have realized that  pedestrians face infrastructural as well as attitudinal challenges in cities and towns as varied as Ranchi, Delhi, Patna and Kochi.

While many roads lack proper pavements, even when they are present, our lack of civic sense converts them into roads or parking spaces. Our love for street food and fresh vegetables spills on to our pavements and we have people hawking everything from chaat to bedsheets!

Where there are zebra crossings, drivers don’t consider it important to stop before the Zebra crossing. To be a pedestrian in India therefore one has to be adventurous to a fault.

On a more serious note, one hears and reads about people run over by bikes, trucks and autorickshaws as they were ambling on the side or worse, waiting to cross the road. A report in Times of India says  how in2017 , on an average 56 pedestrians got killed every day*. The number must have only increased since that time.

There is a serious need to increase awareness and make motorists be more respectful of pedestrians. Along with better enforcement, citizens too should play their part in trying to bring about change in attitudes. This state of pedestrians exists even as the National Urban Transport Policy states that pedestrians and cyclists must have segregated pathways to ensure their safety and convenience, which would also then serve as important feeders to public transport terminals in the city.

 It also recognizes the fact that the existing footpaths in our cities fail to provide safety or encouragement for pedestrians to walk as they are badly designed, without an understanding of what pedestrians really need. The latest Smart City Mission guidelines also state that walkable localities are a key feature in the making of a smart city. Organisations like Sum Net ( Sustainable Urban Mobility Network) are trying to make India more walkable through advocacy and outreach programmes.

With the hope that one day in the not so distant future I will walk on pavements lined with Jacaranda and Coral Jasmine, I walk to office ignoring the ‘Istriwali’around the corner and her comment, “Kya hua madam, paidal chal rahi hai...gaadi kharab ho gayi hai kya?”

Journey Eastward..

22nd November 2001

It doesn't take an exceptionally bright mind to think of drought and starvation deaths when western Orissa is mentioned. I journeyed eastward not to enhance my knowledge about the objective reality of backwardness or poverty but to be at home.

After days of exams and one day of hectic shopping the 24 hours on the train were the beginning of a well deserved break.

Sambalpur is bigger than an average district headquarters but minus the trappings of a truly 'urban' area. The infrastructure is far from good. The roads, drainage, sanitation, power all remind one of a resource rich state with poor people.

Home made Golgappas apart, the highlights of the trip were the visit to Ghanteswari temple near Hirakud dam, Sambaleswari temple after whom the town is named and the scooter ride to Chichinda, Abijita's anscestral village. I hope to go back for aunty's chai...

- 13th March 2002

The Great Indian Journey I could call it I guess-a mass huddled together and moving- ....home? The last time I went to Sambalpur I never dreamed I'd take this circuitous route the next time I travelled. Thanks to the VHP and other psychopaths that Hinduism has produced in the recent years and their scheduled yatra everybody insisted I don't make the journey alone. So here I am hurtling to Cuttack from where Lipi and I will take a bus to Sambalpur. Am looking forward to seeing new places and meeting better people than the kurta clad, neta looking bloke, seated next to me.

14th March 2002.

The 2nd day of the train journey was better than I ever imagined. There was a small( well make that medium sized) explosion of emotion when Mr X - the I am oppressed person-felt that the city dwellers were walking all over him. Geetu, Vinayan and I fought back quite well and after the space issue was settled, we all maintained a stony silence....till they got down at Tata Nagar. Lipi's parents were perfect hosts-uncle came to the station and aunty made yummy breakfast. The first leg of the journey successfully over I'm going to Cuttack to take a bus to Sambalpur. Lipis is not coming because she has an exam to write. I do hope I make it in time.

15th March 2002.

I made it in time for the 8.30 bus because the driver was kind enough to stop the bus, which was leaving the bus stand, for me. With the accompaniment of "Chaka Dola" songs the luxury bus with push back seats wound its way through Denkanal and Angul to Sambalpur. People were accommodating and nice. Women travelled by themselves and not knowing Odiya didn't matter much.

'Amartya' had lights streaming down and loads of buas and mausis were already there. It was after all the first wedding in the family!!Abijita looked like herself in her brown suit. She came running down the stairs...SHE is Actually getting MARRIED!!!

The mehndi didi came by 5.00 and Abijita began her bridal metamorphosis. There was a puja where turmeric and vermillion and rice were liberally sprinkled on her.

16th March 2002

Wedding day dawned and there were lots of things to be done. Decorating the reception area ws left to the cousins. Geetu, Vinayan and I joined in. Abijita looked lovely in her green sari, every bit the beautiful bride...The wedding finally began at around 11 in the night. As in north Indian marriages, the baraat arrived , were welcomed and fed and the groom was seated in the pandaal. After rounds of puja, chanting mantras and pouring ghee into the fire by the bride and the groom individually, they both finally sat together. The main ceremony in an Odiya wedding is kanyadaan after which the palms of the bride and groom are tied with a thread( literally bound for life!!!) . All the members of the family pour water from a conch on 'the united palms' and bless the couple. I was totally unprepared for the tears and to some extent loud crying by the sisters, aunts and cousins that accompanied the 'panigrahan' ceremony. It was my first experience attending a wedding north of the Vindhyas. Never had I witnessed the" bidaai tears" either that flowed freely as the couple were leaving for the groom's home at Rourkela. Subrat seemed as concerned and helpless as I felt. I think I am going to like him and that they are going to be happy together. It was time for us to leave too. I left wishing Abijita and Subrat a life time of togetherness.

Ladies Pleej

In my five years in Jharkhand I have come across a lot of english terms used as hindi. The speaker and the listener use it in their conversation often to mean something not originally intended. I have collected a few of these gems. Here goes...

"Pleej akele Ladies hai na" is to refer to a single lady and has been frequently overheard in relation to travel.

"Bahut riks hai" . No I haven't spelled it wrong. This distorted form of risk is used for risk as if it were a hindi word.

"Acha healthy bacha hai ji". Before reach the conclusion that healthy has been incorporated into the hindi language I would like to submit that healthy means fat. Instead of saying "mota ho gaya"the polite way is to say, healthy ho gaye hai. When used in the negative, "health aaj kal kam gaya hai" means you have lost weight!!

"Harassment ho gaya".Dont confuse this with harassment by a person or regime. In Bihari terminology it is a generic term to denote fatigue. Shaadi karane mein harassment ho gaya. Dhoop me itna harassment etc. etc.

Gate. This again is used to describe doors of all kinds. The door of the house, car are all gates!!

Marketing. No, not the degree or the specialisation. The simple act of shopping is called marketing!

"Family ko nahi laye lekin bacchwa aya hai" When I heard this for the first time didn't know what the person was saying. Later I realised family in this lingo is wife!!

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How the Whale Learnt Her Lesson

Not long ago in an ocean which was very very blue,there lived a Blue Whale called Mili. Now Blue Whale is the largest living creature ever to have lived on earth.Mili weighed one lakh kilos and was thirty five metres long. That is as long as a row of cars parked in a very large parking lot and as heavy as a tiny mountain. Thank God Mili never had to walk!!

Mili knew she was BIG. She was LOUD and BOASTFUL.

Ollie Orca on the other hand was a small smart whale. He was a Killer Whale. Small whales however are bigger that the tallest Dads and Moms you know. Ollie's mom Olivia asked him to stay with the pod which is what a group of whales is called,but Ollie thought he was old enough to venture into deeper waters.

One day as he went exploring, he saw Mili. She blew a fountain as she came up to breathe. Spotting Ollie she screamed,"Get away kid!Out of my way!"Ollie was shocked and hurt at being called kid. He decided to teach Mili a lesson. Gathering all the courage he could muster he looked at her in the eye and said,"Hey ,'Miss I know it All',why don't you pick on someone your size-the biggest snake in all the world is sleeping down below",pointing in the direction of the trans-atlantic optic fibre cable. It was long long wire connecting Europe and America so that people could talk easily to each other on phone.

Mili didn't know this. She thought it was a huge monster snake. She hated the fact that it was bigger than her. She dived deep down and dug her baleen into it. Baleen is like a sieve mom uses in the kitchen to take yucky cream out of your milk and blue whales have only baleen ....no teeth.

Mili's baleen ached but nothing happened to the 'snake'. Worse still was the fact that some Humans sitting in front of computers in far away London actually sent a ship to chase Mili away from the cable.

Imagine how embarrassed Mili felt to be shooed away by Humans!

After this anytime she got anywhere close to a pod of Killer Whales they would all sing in chorus,"There goes Mili the Buddu Blue Whale..Buddhu Buddhu Buddu...." Mili had learnt her lesson and never was boastful again!