Nurungukal....contd.....

                Other than humans we used to get many others who visited us at regular intervals. Some were seasonal viz. Parrots, monkeys. Sparrows. Onakkili etc. In large numbers they came in search of food and breeding. But onakkili in bright golden yellow appeared in pairs. Their presence , immediately after karkitakam indicated that Onam is nearing. Five sisters used to be always present to chatter and chirp aloud. As the paddy ripens in our fields a batch of parrots fill the air with their squeaks and fluttering. They make their nests in the holes of old and decayed coconut trees to breed. In flocks they would descend in paddy fields and each bird would carry in their beaks a ripe panicle. After eating one or two grains  it would be discarded to pick up another. This process would go on and on until they were scared either by a cracker or loud sound made by beating on a tin or a catapult. When the mangoes ripens it is the turn of a batch of black faced monkeys. Usually they appear at noon when all were enjoying a siesta. But an alert from stray dogs would invite our attention and then the operation to drive them out of our compound is on. They are not an easy lot to be scared. Often they would threaten you by showing their sharp teeth or by throwing whatever was in their hand. Drum sticks and its leaves are their favourite food.  After their marauding  all the fruit bearing trees would be in shambles.

                A pack of fox was the next interesting link in our food chain. Although they were considered as predators their role in maintaining a control on the population of stray dogs, wild bores etc. can not be underestimated. I have seen how cunningly a pair of fox used to steal the puppies. There was a stray bitch in our house who gave birth to a number of offspring now and then in our backyard firewood store.By dusk a pair of fox will sneak nearby. The bitch will be in guard of the litter of puppies. The male fox would come and provoke the bitch. When the bitch chase the fox leaving the litter, female fox would snatch one or two puppies to enjoy a tasty dinner. Another cunning trick they applied was when a fox was isolated and attacked by dogs. The fox would run as fast as it could, the dogs chasing it and when the dogs reach close , they returned all on a sudden with out completing their mission. I used to wonder why it was so!!. Then mother told me that fox has an in built rescue mechanism. When the dogs are about to catch,it would emit an obnoxious gas which no one can stand with !!. Their howling in chorus at dusk is no more heard in our premises. They are at the verge of extinction from villages because of human interventions to their habitats. But I heard that they have adapted to the comforts of city gutters . Thanks to the throw away culture of our city dwellers. A fine example of adaptation!!!. [to be cntd]

Nurungukal.......contd....

                When I was in 9^th standard a new batch of young graduate teachers, fresh from college joined our school. They were a different lot,both in teaching and approach. Because of it students liked them. Among them was Gopettan. He was a distant relative of us. His favourite subject was history. His narration about Emperor Asoka, quoting H.G.Wells and other historians was not only informative but interesting also. We  heard him in pin drop silence. Apart from his teaching ability he was a social worker also. Although in the initial days he had a limited circle of activities, later he became an ardent follower of communism. As he was a good orator, gradually he was accepted in the high echelons of  the Left movements in Kerala. He used to keep the audience spell bound for hours during his public speeches and his counters to the opponents, with penchant remarks were received with loud applause. But some of his opponents with in the party did not allow him to climb up the ladder. Many allegations were framed and finally he had to quit from the Left movement unceremoniously.

                He was of the age of my elder brother. Mother depended on him in many of her social activities. When ever there was a problem which could not be settled she sought his help and in no time he found out a solution. I remember two such occasions. The first was when she was the acting president of  a co-operative milk society. The sales man without her knowledge was adulterating the milk. One day he was caught by the food inspector and was booked. It was a criminal offence and if punished mother being the president had to go to jail. Mother approached Gopettan to find a solution. And even now we do not know how mother was freed out of the harassment , only he does.  Another incident was related to when mother was the president of a Mahila Samajam. As we know in our society there are always some opposition to any good initiative. Because of her concerted efforts this Samajam was able to provide a livelihood to some down trodden women by way of running a tailoring venture. But to some ,it was not acceptable. From some where on a fine morning a mad women who was in an acute stage of a malignant disease was housed on the veranda. Nobody even went near her. It was altogether a bad situation. Mother was in a fix.Even police did not come to her help. Finally the issue was placed by mother before her saviour, and to the surprise of all next morning it was solved . But even now we do not know how??.

                        The third occasion in which he showed his cleverness to handle a difficult situation happened in his own house. His uncle Chathettan, about whom i had mentioned in a previous post, expired all on a sudden. He was a good farmer and had stored a huge  quantity of paddy in his wooden granary [pathayam]. Chathettan was a bachelor and he was looked after by his sister Janaki etuthi who was the mother of Gopettan. But when Chathettan died other sisters raised a claim on his properties. They also planned to take away the paddy stock by force. Some how Gopettan came to know about it. When the paddy dealer came next morning to cart the paddy, to the surprise of all, even the wooden pathayam was missing !!. Gopeetan was standing at the end of the veranda throwing a sarcastic smile and the dealer vacated the premises in dismay.

                He was loved by all and he loved all. A man who forgot to make a living of his own while taking care of others,!!

Nurugukal....contd...

        Let me continue with the Andi oottu. The old Andi would rise up when his trance is over. After giving prasadam to every one he would go to the cattle shed to bless the cattle.

The first part of the event would be over as mother gave him a few measures of rice, pappadams etc. and father a cash gift. Then it is time for dinner. Mother used to serve kalan,olan, aviyal,mizhukkuperatti, kadumanga, pappadams.upperi with farm fresh hand pounded rice and to top up payasam and sweets. After dinner we used to assemble at the poomugam to watch the puppet performance of the old Andi. He was a good puppeteer. In his pokkanam [cloth bundle] there used to be two to three puppets of Kathakali veshams { patcha, kathi and female vesham]. Our father was a connoisseur of kathakali. He used to hum or whistle kathakali padams while taking an evening walk in our court yard.

                The old Andi would slowly take out the puppets one by one from his bundle. Holding one in his right hand he would gradually show its face while giving an introduction and reciting a couplet of  kathakali padam melodiously. It would be repeated by his son and daughter-in-law in turn. I still vividly remember the picture of the daughter-in law. She wore a check sari of bright colour with the frills dangling on her firm posterior in a typical Tamil way. She was black in colour. Her eyes were large and dazzling . Always there would be a kunkuma pottu on her fore head and kunkumam smear between the hair partition. A bunch of jasmine or kanakambaram mala tucked in her plait added her grace. Her movements were elegant. She would sit behind the old Andi and swayed left to right in rhythm tapping the tiny elathalam between her slender fingers. Andi would perform one or two scenes from kathakali. The facial and hand movements of the puppets controlled by his fingers would give the effect of watching a live performance. Some times father would request to show one of his favourite scenes which the Andi would readily oblige.

After the show every one  would retire for the day nurturing sweet memories of the veshams. Before we wake up the Andi family might have left for the next destination. I do not know that whether their tribe exists now to provide the rare experience !!. Let us hope that some day in future another such curtain will raise !!.

Nurungukal........contd.....

                Andi oottu was an annual pooja which was conducted in the end of the Malayalam month Dhanu. Father was very particular that this event took place without fail. Actually the Andi came from Pazhani in Tamil Nadu. They spoke an admixture of tamil and malayalam  words. They came in batches to the interior places of the then Valluvanadu villages. After conducting the annual pooja they had to reach Palani before Thai Puyam, the famous festival in Tamil nadu, connected with Shri Subramanyam Swamy. The Pooja was intended to ward off evil and welcome prosperity and a good paddy harvest.

                 Each team consisted of three or four.  Andi would fix an auspicious date. Usually the Pooja would be at lunch or dinner time. In our house it would be mostly for dinner. Oottu means offering a good feast consisting of Kerala’s traditional items including Payasam and sweets like Karolappam etc.

                A Kavadi , decorated beautifully with lot of pea cock feathers on both sides, tiny bells, colour and gilt paper on the arch would be placed facing west. There would be smaller ones also. A big bunch of pea cock feathers  and an iron thrisoolam were also  placed on both side of the main Kavadi. They were the essential items to be worshipped as the favourite symbols of Lord Muruga.

                 To our house an old andi, his son and daughter-in-law used to come. The old man sporting a long grey beard with long hair knotted at the back of his neck, in his kavi clothes  resembled almost like our local oracles. His forehead, arms and chest would be smeared with vibhoothi and kunkumam  which inspired the beholder a divinity in him.  The pooja accompanied by a drum and elathalam would take a long time to end. We would be eagerly waiting for the end , keeping our eyes set on the sweet prasadams. As it culminates andi would suddenly jump from his seat with the thrisoolam in one hand and the pea cock feather bunch in the other. Then he would take the bunch from head to foot on each one of us to ward off the evil.  While doing this he would be shivering and swaying in a rhythm. The drum beats and the sound of elathalam would be at their peak. Then he would hold the thrisoolam  with both his hands parallel to the ground and while moving it vigorously forward and backward would utter words  [ kalpana }which we children never understood. But mother would say that what he meant was that the Lord Muruga was satisfied with our offerings  and the Lord wanted us to conduct such poojas every year with out fail !!. After handing over the prasadams, slowly andi would come to normal........cntd

Nurungukal...contd...

                   I reached 9^th standard. I knew that I was growing. The signs of adolescence were slowly establishing in me. Both physically and mentally. I felt new expressions in my behaviour, tastes  and relationships. A shift towards the finer aspects of the objects I came across. My dreams became more realistic and  close to what I craved for. That forced me to go in search of myths and fantasy.  There was a change in the games  we selected . I found a place in the school badminton and football teams. Kho kho was my another favourite.They helped to keep my body more agile and robust. When I managed to win a running race I reached new heights of joy. There was a cumulative effect in such achievements which I felt in the glances from others.

                   The social barriers almost prohibited us to mingle very closely with the opposite sex. But that did not deter us from making unintentional passes. We created many such occasions.  Under the cover of bushes or in the dark corridors we found expressions of our infatuation.

                   Father started delegating me responsible jobs in agriculture. Direct  involvement  in paddy cultivation operations was my passion. Along with the labourers I used to plough, rake etc. We had a cow . I learn ed the basics of dairying  which I now practise as President of a co-op. Milk society.  I am sure that such valuable exposure with nature has enriched my sense of conservation. But unfortunately I could not pass on this experience to my children. Now I believe that this shift in bringing up is one of  the main causes for a dwindling agrarian economy and biodiversity. Let us try to rectify it from now on. 

Nurungukal....contd...

                                Although his real name was Mr. Achutha Menon, we all new him as Achumman.He was very popular and a much sought after person  mainly at  death ceremonies.He hailed from a feudal family which once upon a time was very rich and powerful in the locality.They were holding large extend of paddy field and coconut groves. As in the case of many such families they, in course of time lost their wealth , due  to extravagance. Our father bought our present house from him, when we decided to settle down in Ponnani.Achumman still owned  about two acres of paddy field and one acre of coconut garden. He was a good farmer. Unlike others he worked with the labourers and it was a sight to see him plough, singing some couplets in loud pitch.

                                I had never seen him wearing a shirt.He was of medium size , stout and  tan in colour. He walked in brisk strides , bubbling his pot belly. Always he would  be chewing betel nut and , would keep his mouth red. He had a harsh voice. Very often he spit the red sputum between his two fingers throwing it far like a stream. Always in his waist there would be betel leaves nuts lime tobacco etc bundled in an arecanut front { pala }. Occasionally he smoked  a beedi . Without his presence no ceremonies took place . When there  was a death he would take charge of the whole situation and would conduct the event in military precision. During marriage functions he takes the part of an entertainer.  He was an expert in cracking jokes and narrating his adventures, especially about some hunting. He was a chronic bachelor. But maintained some relation ships here and there.

                                After sun set he was a different personality.  In those days  toddy was prohibited . But for preparing jugglery coconut tapping was allowed. Our neighbour Chozh was a tapper. He illicitly supplied toddy to a selected customers. Achumman was one among them. After gulping a few bottles of toddy Achumman would start his performance on the way to his home. There was a narrow path in which he would walk swaying from one side to other as if he was measuring it and showering abuses to all and sundry. None dared to stop him or react. Some evenings we used to hear him singing loudly couplets of vanch pattu. Usually his performance synchronised with the call of the mottled wood owl { kalan kozhi }  On one or two such occasions he was bitten by snakes, but he survived them either because of the grace of God or due to the alcohol contend in his blood.  He was known for his charity and sense of humour. I had always seen him as a helping hand never picking up quarrel.He was a happy go lucky man and lived his life in full. 

Nurungukal...contd......

                                Adjacent to Kuttan’s barber shop Ali was managing an ironing facility. In other words he facilitated  others to walk in style.There were not many like him. He was a step ahead of the traditional washer man. He was not washing cloths . But would iron. The heavy iron box filled with burned coconut shells which wold keep the box always hot will be ready to provide instant service.Those days no charcoal was used . It was very eco friendly without depleting natural deposits. He reminds me about another pair of my village. Pangunni and Malu hailed from washer men community. Once in a month they used to collect dirty cloths from selected houses for washing . Those days clothes were cleaned  to remove dirt by hitting hard on granite slabs kept on the banks of rivers or ponds. Then a hot steaming mixed with  ash  of burned coconut tree parts for whitening and dipping in boiled rice water to stiffen and ironing was the traditional process. This way it was assured that any type of contamination was avoided. Here also we find that the materials used were devoid of chemicals. In exceptional cases only soda ash was used.

                                Pangunni  was very handsome, fair, tall and sturdy. On his  fully shaved  head a bunch of long hair knotted in a peculiar style ( KUDUMA ) unidentified his  personality. Often he would unlock the knot and comb the hair with his hands just the way women did . Although above 70 years  with bare gums  he was so charming when he smiled. He was very talkative and would carry news  from house to house . Always his daughter-in -law Malu would accompany to support him  to carry the huge bundles of clothes. She was a beautiful village damsel. Her long and jet black hair falling well below on her back side like a water fall, swaying as she made each step would have made the onlooker’s heart throb.It reminds me a  description  narrated by Kannadasn the Tamil poet about a scene in Kamba Ramayanam , how Seetha moved towards Rama to garland him. Seetha was bending slightly forward because of the weight of her breasts  and the garland . It looked  as if her waist  which was so narrow and flat wold break !! And Malu almost resembled Seetha !!.

                                                Now let me come back to Ali. He was not only doing ironing but was a well known snake charmer. People depended on him to get rid of poisonous snakes which were abundant in our neighbourhood. Many  deaths out of snake bites  occurred yearly.  When ever such threats surfaced he would get rid of it by tactfully catching the snake and letting it off in a distant place. But before the release he used to play with it in public. On one such occasions  a venomous cobra bit him. He some how managed to push the animal into a pot . With in a few minutes  he showed symptoms of poisoning and was rushed to a traditional healer. He was a Namboodiry of Pakaravoor Mansa. The news spread very fast and a big crowd  gathered in front of his shop  anxiously waiting to know the result. The incident took place in the morning and he was brought back by evening. By the grace of God he managed to escape death. Then onwards he refrained from playing with  the snakes in open , respecting the advice of the Nambhoodiripad. It took several days to restore his health, and  the public lost a few gasping moments of entertainment there after.. !!