MINI STORIES MANY -- 02

SHADOWS OF PLEASURE

(By Subbaram Danda)



Pratima was a brilliant student doing her final semester M.B.A. at a reputed institution in Jamshedpur.  She had just been selected at the campus interview by a renowned multinational corporation for a plum job.   She was sorry that after her examinations she would have to leave all that she loved there -- the sylvan surroundings, broad avenues and classic-style buildings.   Her great consolation was that her job was in her native city of Chennai. 

She heard that her office was in a posh new complex with all modern facilities on the outskirts of the city.   She would have a well-furnished cabin exclusively for herself.   A car would pick her up in the morning and drop her back in the evening.  Her perks, increments and all-paid vacations were the best in the industry.  

Back in Chennai, Pratima joined duty immediately.  Her boss was a decent man and talented too.  An interesting feature was that more than half of the employees were women.  Quickly she made friends with several of them, though she was not against men.    In the first week itself, she completed a task given to her exceedingly well and received a “well-done” note from her boss.  She felt she was in the right place and wanted to enjoy the carefree life of a single as long as possible.

Marriage proposal

She was taken aback one evening when her parents raised the subject of her marriage.   “We are becoming old and it is our responsibility to place you in the hands of a gentleman as early as possible.  Our broker has brought some horoscopes and we have sent them to our family astrologer for matching with yours,” they said.

Pratima had her own ideas about marriage.  It was fraught with problems from the beginning.  She could not totally go by what her horoscope would suggest.  But her parents always swore by it.  How could she join hands with a totally strange man, even if her horoscope talked of compatibility with him?   At the same time, she shuddered at the idea of dates.   

In one shot she replied, “No, let us wait for some years.   I am young and not in a hurry to have on my shoulders the burden of a family.”  For her parents her terse reply came as a bolt from the blue.  She had never retorted like that.   Was there any background to this curt response?  “No, there cannot be any.  We have brought her up in a disciplined way.  She is naïve and she wants to enjoy for a while the freedom of being a single,” they consoled themselves.

The next day she was off-colour.  In the office too, she confined herself to her cabin.  “What is the matter?  You can confide with me,” her close colleague Madhu enquired.   She narrated the whole development to her.

Thrills and frills

“Oh, that’s all!  Remain firm but polite.  Remember this is the best time of your life to enjoy what the world is going to offer – all the thrills and their frills.  If you miss them now, you will never ever get another splendid opportunity like this.   You have the best of age, looks, money and time.   In the past, we were brainwashed into accepting whatever the elders said.   But things have changed.  You can now decide what you want for yourself,” Madhu made a mini presentation.

Pratima was somewhat confused.  Madhu was only a year older than her and she also belonged to her own conservative community.  Yet, she was very daring, unlike her.   After all, there appeared to be some truth in what she said.   

A couple of years passed.  One day during lunch time, Madhu entered Pratima’s cabin and sought to know whether she would be willing to attend a party on the upcoming Friday evening.  It would be fantastic. 

“I am not a party-goer.  Basically, I don’t like such events.  Moreover, my parents would tear me to pieces.   Leave me alone,” she replied.

Credible excuse

“Look, my dear.  I will be with you.  I have participated in such programmes in the past.   You will have exotic thrills.  It will be fun.  You should shake off your reservations.  What is life without some kicks?  We can manage your parents with a credible excuse,” Madhu prodded her.

“What happens there?”

Madhu took a deep breath and said, “My contacts organize four types of parties—cocktail, rave, pheromone and bachelorette.  Each one has its own flavour.  I don’t like cocktails for the simple reason I hate the taste of liquor.  In such events, men and women gather in the evening, smoke and drink, talking rubbish openly.  Sometimes things turn violent.”

“Similarly,” she continued, “I am not for rave parties.  Here in addition to drinks, delirious drugs go round freely.  Under their influence, men and women get hallucinations and their ‘dreams’ get multiplied manifold.  They will have no control over what they do.  Once out of the ‘high,’ their castles in the air collapse.   Sooner than later they become addicts.”

Madhu went on, “The pheromone party is new to our area.  It is a pre-dating ‘smelly’ event.  Eligible girls select their likely partners by sniffing at the garments of boys made available to them.   If a girl likes the scent of a particular boy she will invite him for a date.”

Bachelorette party

“What I like and enjoy most is the bachelorette party – the local version.  All the guests are young women, selected carefully on the basis of information furnished by regulars.  Offering sheer entertainment, it is held once in three months on the eve of a week-end. The organizers add a new feature every time.  You will have to pay a fee to participate.”

Pratima kept quiet.   Madhu wanted to leave her to herself for a day.  Pratima’s mind worked feverishly on her way back home.   Her life had already become monotonous.  By attending a party nothing would happen if she was careful.  Let her take some risk and savour the flavours of life.

At home after dinner Pratima’s mother came to her bed room and said: “My dear, listen to me carefully.  We are your well-wishers.  Wedding should not be postponed.   We have been keeping an alliance pending for a while.    This is the one selected by our astrologer.  The lad Ram Kumar is a computer engineer working in Hyderabad.   We have made enquiries and he has a decent track record.  His office colleagues and relatives are all praise for him.  Here is his photograph and as you can see he looks handsome too.  Don’t reject it.”

Pratima became furious.  “No, let us not discuss my marriage.  I have told you many times.”   Her mother left the room with tears in her eyes.  

On Friday evening, Madhu came to Pratima’s house in her car and told her parents, “We are attending a birthday party of our General Manager’s wife.  We would be back by around 11:00 p.m.  Don’t worry about your daughter.   I will take care of her.”

Majestic mansion

It was a very big mansion, standing majestically at the far end of a large garden.   Parking the car as directed by a security guy, they walked on the beautifully-paved tree-lined way to the main door of the building.   They showed a card to an usher and moved inside.

Pratima was awe-struck. A large hall with a romantic ambience beckoned them.  Pink niches in purple walls displayed white statues of lovers from historic times.  The lighting with a dash of pale orange was enchanting.  A pleasing aroma emanating from the air-conditioned vents lent a dreamy touch to the place.  A circular platform at the centre had around it golden brown tables with red upholstered chairs for about 100 people. 

The two youngsters found their seats near the central stage.  Soft drinks and packets of spicy chips were there on the table.  The hall filled fast.  At exactly 7:00 p.m. the lights dimmed and psychedelic strobes started flashing all over.  A husky feminine voice on the public address system announced, “Welcome ladies.  The fun begins now.”

Extravaganza

Steamy songs by a group of young women kicked off the evening agenda.  The musical score was followed by mystifying magic, crazy comic skits, quirky mimicry and hi-octane debates.  Then raunchy dances set the stage afire.     About two hours passed.

“It is now time for the high-point of our programme,” the voice came back on the loud speaker.  The next second all the lights went off plunging the hall in total darkness.   In a moment blue spotlights focused on the stage.   A six foot handsome man with well-tended glistening muscles appeared with his hands held high in a gesture of greeting the audience.  

The spotlights dipped.  The strobes took over drenching the audience in fast-moving kaleidoscopic patterns.   Recorded high-pitched metallic music reverberated in the hall.  The man in bare necessities started grinding and gyrating.  The guests too joined thumping and clapping.  The hero moved from one number to another non-stop, cheered by the audience.   An hour rolled by fast.

It was a strange experience for Pratima.  She had never seen anything like this before.  She felt her system was getting tensed up.  Her heart was beating fast.  A peculiar fear gripped her. 

“Now is the time for the climax,” the husky voice thundered.

Ultimate thrill

Pratima clutched the hand of Madhu next to her and asked her in a hush, “What is going to happen now?”  “Watch and enjoy it,” was her derisive reply.   This scared Pratima.

The music gained tempo.  The beats grew faster and louder.  The strobe lights flashed with lightning speed.  A whiff of new intoxicating fragrance threw the guests into a near trance.  They stood up shouting “come on, come on.”  Synchronized clapping followed.   Pratima sensed that the man was going to perform something terrible.   Instantly she turned her head away from the stage and closed her eyes.  She tightened the clasp over her colleague’s hand.  Thunderous applause ensued.  Then whispers and murmurs filled the air.  Gradually the excitement subsided.

The speaker was on again.  “Now is the time for our new parting punch.  We invite dashing damsels from the audience to come and shake hands with our special performer tonight.  Each one will get a gift of Rs.5,000.”

Uneasy silence prevailed.  None got up for a while.  Madhu was the first to raise her hand, followed by five others.  They went to the stage and shook hands with the man standing like Michelangelo’s celebrated “Statue of David.”   Pratima watched this in disbelief through the corner of her half-opened left eye.

After the event, the two returned to their homes without talking much.  Pratima did not sleep that night.   “I am not made for such thrills.  I don’t want them, I don’t want them,” she kept on brooding within herself.

Turning point

Saturday was eventless.   On Sunday morning when Pratima’s mother approached her with a cup of coffee the youngster moved close to her and whispered, “Mom, you were talking about a young computer guy, you remember.  If you and father have taken a decision about the alliance, I won’t stand in the way.”  Her mother was stunned.  

Her father immediately called the broker to convey their willingness to go ahead with the alliance.  But, he nearly collapsed when he heard that Ram Kumar had just a day earlier finalized his alliance with somebody else.  Pratima felt she had lost a fortune.   

On Monday at her office she took a decision to keep Madhu at an arm’s length.   Quite unexpectedly, she barged into her cabin with a beaming face.  What she said froze Pratima. “My marriage has been finalized,” she crooned.   “The groom is a computer professional called Ram Kumar based in Hyderabad.”   

 (1,965 words)

 July 21, 2012

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MINI STORIES MANY -- 01

I have pleasure to launch a new series on this blog – MINI STORIES MANY.  Appearing periodically, each little tale will reflect an unusual problem that the society faces and the methods the people adopt to tackle it -- some bold and some queer.   Or, the fiction flick will unearth the secret games that men, women and teens play now-a-days.   Every imaginary yarn will end in a totally unexpected way.   Here comes the first mini story!  Happy reading!!

AGONY, ECSTASY AND SURPRISE

(By Subbaram Danda)

The wedding of Ramya and Prem was a grand affair.  Dainty decorations, traditional rituals, lively entertainment and exotic feasts marked the two-day event. High-flyers of Chennai from every walk of life graced the occasion lavishing on the couple pleasantries and presents.

Ramya’s designer bridal costumes at the reception lent charm to her ravishing beauty.  She was an MBA employed in a multinational corporation.  Prem’s handsome features stood out in the elegant brocade sherwani he wore.   He was an M. Tech in Information Technology from the elite Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, heading a large team in an international software company in the city.  “Made for each other,” was the comment almost everyone made.

Blessed by gurus and elders, they began their journey of blissful married life with a honeymoon in Shimla.  The resort where they stayed offered all comforts.  The mountain range around and the various tourist attractions appeared mesmerizing.  They felt they were on top of the world! 

A few days passed and an unexpected development shook the couple.  Prem went on a short trekking expedition to a hillock nearby with a group of holidayers.  He hit a rock, slipped, fell, rolled a few feet down but quickly managed to hold the ground.  He was hospitalized for two days.  After treatment for pain in the groin region he was discharged. 

A vacuum

On returning home, the couple wanted to treat the mishap as a bad dream and went about their routines as usual.  The wheel of time moved fast.  Suddenly, they realized that a strange vacuum was building up between them.   Yes, their efforts to have a child eluded them.   However, their love for each other remained undiminished. 

Their relatives and friends started making enquiries why they were postponing having a child.  Day by day the pressure mounted.  Finally, they decided to check with a leading doctor without the knowledge of their elders.  They underwent tests and more tests.  Ultimately, the medical report came and it shattered their dreams.   Prem would not be able to beget a child, on account of the fall he had while trekking in Shimla.     

That night Prem was in tears.   He pleaded guilty before his wife.   But Ramya was courage and confidence personified.  She consoled and comforted him.  “Never mind.  It is not your fault.  We can adopt a child,” she tried to pacify him.  “I promise my love for you will remain the same,” she assured him.   He took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. 

Expert advice

Quietly they both got a transfer to Bangalore and set up their family there.  Days and weeks passed.   One fine morning Prem bunked his office without the knowledge of his wife and went to a famous fertility clinic.  The chief andrologist went through his medical reports, examined him thoroughly and advised him: “Yes, you cannot become a father.  But, there is nothing to despair.   You can adopt a child.   Better still, your wife can receive donor sperms and conceive as in the normal course.   What is important is that you should first make up your mind and then convince your wife.  It should not be impossible.  Think it over carefully.”

That night he was totally distraught.  He did not like his dinner.  Ramya sensed his odd behaviour and asked him inquiringly, “Tell me honestly what happened today.  Whatever it is, I have the capacity to take it.”

As they went to bed, Prem opened up and disclosed what transpired at the fertility clinic.  After a short pause he added, “I feel you should consider the doctor’s suggestion.”   Her reaction was violent.  She threw a pillow at him and shouted, “What do you mean?  I cannot accept artificial insemination.  Let your doctor go to hell.   Though my outlook in life is modern, I immensely value our traditions and practices.   I cannot receive somebody else in my womb. You and only you are for me.  Remember the vows we have taken at our wedding invoking the divinity.  We have to remain loyal to each other through thick and thin.”

The next day they did not speak to each other and went to their respective offices mechanically.  Surprisingly, in the evening when Ramya returned home she appeared somewhat mellowed.  She had a discreet talk with her best friend in the office and also managed to meet a religious guru. What they told her had an impact on her attitude.

Changing mood

She was crying when Prem came back.  Controlling herself she hugged him and said, “More than me you seem to be highly distressed.   I don’t like to see you that way.   You are very important to me.   I have decided to agree to the procedure suggested by your doctor.”   Prem’s face reflected a strange glow. 

The couple had a session with the clinic’s psychologist.  He counselled them:  “Gone are the days when people had reservations about the new treatment.   Our regulations do not allow you to know whose sperms you are going to receive and similarly the donor cannot find out who the recipient is.”

The andrologist joined them:  “We store hundreds of specimens in a process called cryo-preservation at temperatures of minus 196 degrees Centigrade, having collected them from men in the age group of 18 to 40 after vigorous screening for ailments and defects.  The procedure of implantation called “Donor Insemination” is simple in the hands of an experienced specialist and not expensive either.   Specimens received even 28 years ago are being used now with highly successful results.”

He went on: “We can make available to you anonymous profiles of donors listed on the basis of their height, weight, colour, educational background, achievements, blood type, ethnicity and religion.  You can make your own choice.”

Final selection

Ramya and Prem spent a week going through the profiles online and finally selected the specimen of an Information Technology-studied Indian youngster for the simple reason that his attributes matched those of Prem. 

At the fertility clinic on a day suggested by the physician, Ramya underwent the procedure.  “It is a great success.  All the best,” the doctor wished her.  True to his words, she conceived without any complication.

The joy of the couple’s parents and relatives knew no bounds.  They were under the impression that her conception was in the normal course.   A function to celebrate the baby shower saw the likes of the wedding of Ramya and Prem. 

On the predicted day, to the delight of everyone, Ramya delivered a baby boy with chubby cheeks and rosy lips.  “He looks exactly like his father,” many visitors praised the new-born.   The husband and wife received the remarks with a smile but were amused.

Affection unlimited

Ramya and Prem took care of the boy extra-ordinarily well.   They loved the little new member of the family without any reservation.  She resigned her job to be with the child round the clock.  Toys, garments and fancy items of every kind were purchased to pamper the baby.

The boy, named Teja, grew up enjoying the love and affection of his parents in abundance.  From school to college he moved.   An intelligent lad, his academic achievements brought further sunshine into the family.

The boy had an uncle in Chennai.  There was a function in the latter’s house and the entire family of Teja attended it.   After the ceremony the uncle called the boy to his room and told him, “I don’t know whether you are aware of a secret about you.  Prem is not your biological father.  You were born to your mother through donor insemination.  I am the only person knowing this fact other than your parents.   Your mother had confided it with me, as she and I are very close to each other.”

Teja felt he was being lashed and tossed by a storm.  He wanted to cry out loud but controlled himself.  He maintained an eerie silence. 

Search for truth

On returning home, he confronted his parents head-on.  “Is it true?  Tell me the truth,” he cried, as tears rolled out of his reddish eyes.   Ramya took him into her arms, wiped his tears and nodded.   As she opened her mouth to narrate how it all happened, a thunder of grief struck her.  The next moment she swooned. She regained her consciousness after a while and made an effort to disclose everything but Prem did not allow her to strain herself.

The next few days Teja’s mind was a devil’s workshop.   He wondered whether at least Ramya was his real mother.  Or was he their adopted son?  He was in no mood to trust them anymore.  He wanted scientific proof.

He sought DNA tests to ascertain whether there was any biological link between him and the two.  They reluctantly agreed. 

Wonder of wonders

The DNA report startled them.  It stated clearly that Ramya and Prem were both his biological parents!   For Teja, it was like a delightful shower on a sizzling summer day.   His joy knew no bounds.  He swore to finish off his uncle for all the lies he had uttered.  But Ramya and Prem were aghast.   “How could it be,” they wondered in silence.

That night Prem’s mind raced back in time.   It was his final year M.Tech. at IIT.  There was an advertisement in a magazine asking for donor sperms from senior students.   He was one among many who donated.  Could it be his own sperms that fertilized his wife?  But something puzzled him.  His donation was in Chennai and his wife underwent insemination in Bangalore.

The next day, he made enquiries at the fertility clinic citing the terrible havoc that the insemination had caused in his family.   On great persuasion the andrologist, who was still in service, checked old records and disclosed that the clinic had at that time received some samples from Chennai and the specimen used to impregnate Ramya was indeed Prem’s.

At dinner time Prem narrated to Teja, as Ramya listened intently, the story of his college adventures and his subsequent marital voyage with all its turns and twists.   A pall of uneasy quiet enveloped them and then a burst of laughter splintered the silence. 

(1,700 words)

June 23, 2012.

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MARVELS OF THE WORLD -- 22 : KONARAK SUN TEMPLE, INDIA

KONARAK SUN TEMPLE : EVER RESPLENDENT

(By Subbaram Danda)

It is the rarest and most distinctive edifice of its kind in the world – the Sun Temple in the coastal town of Konarak in the state of Odisha, India.  In both primary concept and style of execution, it stands out as a masterpiece.  It is designed as a huge chariot with 12 pairs of exquisitely-carved massive wheels pulled by seven galloping horses, driven by the Sun God himself as charioteer from the sanctum.  The scheme symbolizes passage of time as commandeered by Sun with the wheels representing hours of the day and horses days of the week.

As visitors drive under a canopy of dense greenery formed by huge avenue trees heading for the monument, it comes into their view almost suddenly stunning them.  And soon the vast complex appears before them standing majestically in a well tended garden with pleasing lawns and trimmed bushes.  What they first see in front is a set of two huge exotic sculptures, each depicting a fierce lion pouncing on a crouching war elephant, which in turn holds a lying man.  They flank a short flight of steps leading to a highly ornate roofless multi-pillared dance hall.   Behind it stands a stately porch with a soaring pyramid-like covering.  At the rear is the main sanctum without any tower.  The porch is the entrance hall for the sanctum.  Though all the three structures are in the same line one behind the other, the dance hall remains on its own, detached.   In sculpting, ornamentation and elegance, one vies with another in astonishing the people.



The porch (left) with a pyramid-like tower, roofless dance hall (centre) and

exotic lion-on-elephant sculptures (extreme right)

Fashioned by 1200 artists

The Konarak Sun Temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 13^th century AD ostensibly on fulfillment of his prayer for a healthy son, whom he named Bhanudeva after Sun God.  It could also be a measure of thanksgiving for the Sun God following his recovery from an ailment.  Some scholars say that it commemorated his successful campaign against the Muslims.   Whatever the motivation was, a workforce of 12 hundred artists and workers put in their best efforts for over 12 years to fashion the temple.

Yet, according to a legend, Lord Krishna’s son Samba became the victim of a curse through trickery and consequently got afflicted with leprosy.  To ward it off, he did penance worshipping Sun God and got cured.  In gratitude, he constructed the Sun Temple.  Even today, especially on a particular day in a year people bathe in the sea off Konarak and pray to Sun God to rid themselves of skin ailments.

Filigree of etchings

While sculptures, an astonishing variety of them, pervade the entire temple scene, the pride of place goes to the 12 pairs of huge wheels – ten feet in diameter.   Nowhere else in temple architecture in the world wheels enjoy such prominence.   They are strikingly chiseled on the sides of the 13-foot high platform on which the sanctum and the porch stand and on the sides of the porch stairs.  Each wheel has eight major and eight minor spokes, a rim and a hub, each artistically designed and fully carved.   Displaying amazing figures of deities, amorous couples, animals and flowers in a filigree of etchings, the wheels appear to exhort the people to move cheerfully with times taking life in its stride.  

Next stealing the hearts of the onlookers are horses and elephants with life-like features.  Out of the original seven stallions drawing the chariot, only one remains now.  It can be seen in all its strident splendour on the south side of the flight of steps in front of the porch. A pair of war steeds and a couple of enraged elephants, all life-size, stand on separate pedestals to the south and north of the porch respectively distinctly away from the main structure.   The tense expression on their face, the contours of their taut muscles and the posture of their legs make a lasting impression on the visitors.   Around the base of the main temple alone about 2,000 lively elephants march in different styles.  Among the notable sculptures near the sanctum is a charming panel depicting an elephant carrying men on its back facing a giraffe under a forest canopy.

Carnival of life

An insanely great carnival of earthly life and a pageant of heavenly beings unfold themselves in stone everywhere in the temple complex – on the walls, niches, pillars, pedestals and plinths.  There are friezes depicting dancers and musicians, courtesans and sages, celebrities and commoners, celestial nymphs and divinities, and hunters and animals.  Strikingly attractive damsels can be seen in a variety of postures – wringing water from wet hair, caressing a bird, arms raised over the head, playing musical instruments, fondling a child and exhibiting their body sensuously.   There is no dearth of mythological figures, including human-headed serpents and demons.  The king and facets of his daily life including royal hunts, processions, victories and religious activities are writ large everywhere.  

On the porch tower, which is the cynosure of all eyes today, master sculptors have lavished their skills in shaping and giving life to large-sized nymphs.   With gay abandon, they play cymbals, beat drums and play wind instruments.  In their midst stands multi-headed Bhairava, the fierce manifestation of God Shiva associated with annihilation.    

Erotic extravaganza

Blatantly erotic sculptures almost everywhere, large in size and conspicuous in detail, do not fail to attract and stun the visitors.  There are couples locked in exotic and ingenious amorous postures.  Celebrities, nobles, warriors, merchants, commoners and even sages participate in this sensuous extravagance.   It is explained that amorous adventures and frank display of the rhythm of life were never a taboo in ancient Indian literature and temple art.   Erotica has always been treated as a prominent aspect of temple decoration, it is said.   Konarak is no exception.

The sculptural exuberance on the exterior of the temple found its reflection in a greater measure in the creation of the sanctum.  A lofty tower, more than 200 feet in height, adorned it with striking imagery and decorative floral motifs.  Inside, on a richly embellished pedestal, a highly decorated lofty statue of Sun God stood in serene profundity.  But, unfortunately today the tower and the presiding deity are not there anymore.  

Super specimens

Fortunately, there remain on the exterior of the sanctum three similar statues of Sun standing tall in niches on the southern, western and northern sides.  Regarded as “super specimens of the iconographic art” the sculptures more than 11 feet in height mesmerize the visitors in no small measure.  Their benign and poised bearing, elaborate ornamentation and finely carved drapery linger in their minds for long.  

At the feet of the southern statue, whose two arms have been mutilated by invaders, are King Narasimhadeva kneeling and his bearded guru standing.  At the top, celestial divinities adorn the tri-lobed arch, which frames the statue. The western image is similar in essentials.  However, the northern statue is different – it rides an energetic horse.  

The dance hall in the front, despite its missing roof, is a treasure-house of sculptures.  It exudes the joy and rhythm of life with musicians and dancers coming out alive all over the plinth, platform, walls, pilasters and large-girthed columns.  The very layout of this pavilion is artistically attractive. 

Desecration and decay

For more than 300 years the temple was in full worship.  “Desecration” of the temple by Muslims, the shifting of the enshrined deity’s image to the nearby town of Puri to pre-empt moves to ransack the temple, subsequent lack of prayers, further attempts at pillage, and the merciless play of natural elements led to gradual decay of the temple.  At one stage, the sanctum had been reduced to “an enormous mass of stones with vegetation grown all over.”  However, the porch seems to have escaped total destruction.

British rulers and later Indian authorities took interest in restoring and conserving the temple.  These efforts have largely borne fruit, despite enormous constraints.   Once again, in a way the edifice looks resplendent.   In 1984, UNESCO accorded the World Heritage Site status to the monument.  According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the temple is “one of the most sublime monuments of India.”  A couple of years ago, a poll conducted by the television channel NDTV in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry of the Government of India, gave Konarak a place among the Seven Wonders of India.  Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore once wrote:  “Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.”   No wonder, thousands of visitors from all over the world visit Konarak temple every year to savour its delights.

March 3, 2012 (1440 words)

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MARVELS OF THE WORLD -- 21 : ABU SIMBEL TEMPLES, EGYPT

ABU SIMBEL : AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT

(By Subbaram Danda)

Two large ancient Egyptian temples ingeniously carved out of solid rock inside two adjacent hillocks on the western bank of river Nile have been cynosure of world travellers for generations.  Called Abu Simbel temples, they exhibit several distinctively rare features of design and execution.   Created at the behest of celebrated pharaoh Ramses II, the main shrine is dedicated to three Gods and to the king himself.   The other abode venerates a Goddess and the pharaoh’s principal and favourite wife Nefertari.  The shrines are more than 3,250 years old. 

The pharaoh, known as Ramses the Great, is believed to have been born in 1303 BC and lived for about 90 years.    He ruled for 66 years and was buried ceremoniously in an elaborately got up vault in the Valley of the Kings near present-day Luxor.   His mummified body is now on display at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo.  He deified himself as God and utilized every opportunity to glorify himself.   He built several temples and many colossal statues of himself throughout Egypt.  He is also reputed to have fathered more than 100 offspring from a number of wives.  Nefertari was his “Great Royal Wife.” 



Facade of Temple of Ramses II

An outstanding highlight of the twin monuments is that the primary temple, facing east, has been constructed and oriented in such a way that twice a year on February 22 and October 22 the rays of the morning sun pass through the entire depth of the temple and illuminate the sanctuary at the farthest end in a desired fashion.   The two days, 61 days after and 61 days before the Winter Solstice, when the sun is at its southern most point, are said to be the pharaoh’s birth day and coronation day.

Astounding engineering feat

In recent times a new jewel to the crown of the temples was added.  By an astounding engineering feat, they were saved from inundation by the rising waters of a high dam on the Nile at Aswan, thanks to an international campaign launched by the Egyptian government and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.   Under a $40 million project, the temples were relocated to a higher ground further interior in a mammoth five-year operation from 1964.   The carved structures, pillars and walls of the temples were skillfully cut into more than 1,000 segments, documented, moved and reassembled to match the original shape and size.   Artificial hills were raised around them to recreate the original splendour.

Ramses II built the twin temples for 20 years until 1244 BC to orchestrate his piety towards the Gods, overtly present himself as a God and impress his southern neighbourly countries with his capabilities.    With the fall of the ancient Egyptian empire, the temples slipped into obscurity aided by their remote location in southern Egypt.   For centuries they lay buried under sand until they were re-discovered in 1813 AD by a Swiss explorer.  The shrines were called Abu Simbel after the name of a local boy who assisted in their re-discovery. 

Fabulous facade

Today, as visitors approach the main temple, they are struck by four colossal statues of Ramses II in full regal splendour carved on the side of the hillock.   An artificial beard hanging from the chin as traditionally worn by the kings and a double crown on the head representing the pharaoh’s reign over the Upper and Lower Egypt have been prominently featured.   The 65-foot tall seated sculptures--as high as a modern six storey building--are part of an elaborately prepared façade, 125 feet wide and 100 feet high, with an entrance in the centre at the ground level.   Small figures of the members of the royal family stand between and by the side of the legs.  Above the entrance there is a figure of an aspect of Sun God Ra-Horakthy.   Over the top frame of the façade, there is a broken panel of baboons with their forelegs raised in a gesture of greeting the Sun.

The ravages of time and the fury of the elements over the centuries have had their impact on the façade.  While the first statue of Ramses II appears nearly intact, the second is without its torso.   The third has lost the top of its double crown and the last has also suffered a similar fate.  In addition, the famous artificial beard of the fourth remains knocked off.

As people step inside with a feeling of anticipation, what they first see surprises them most -- sculptures of Ramses II again.   In a spacious hall marked by an ambience of antiquity eight gigantic statues of the pharaoh in a standing posture beckon them.  They are thirty feet in height in two rows facing each other on either side of a wide aisle at the centre.  They depict the pharaoh in the style of God of Eternal Life Osiris signifying that he wields everlasting divine authority.   The statues are attached to massive square columns, which support the high-roofed hall.  The ceiling displays colourful paintings.   Further down there is another hall, smaller in size, having huge columns with painted carvings on them.   

Play of sunlight

Moving ahead and passing through a transverse chamber, visitors reach the sanctuary containing the statues of the three Gods and the king in a sitting posture on a bench-like long seat.   On the extreme left is the God of Darkness Ptah.   Then come Sun God Amun Ra, Ramses II and another aspect of Sun God Ra Horakhty.   On February 22 and October 22 bright light bathes the last three statues -- Ramses flanked by the two Sun Gods -- skipping the God of Darkness.   This image always stays in darkness!

On the walls of the halls and several chambers inside, there are numerous coloured carvings, not all in good shape, projecting the pharaoh’s victories and his devotion to deities.   One work of art depicts Ramses storming a fortress, while another shows the king shooting arrows at his enemies from a chariot.   Several hieroglyphs narrate the expeditions of the king and extol his achievements.

For Goddess of Love

About 400 feet north of the Ramses temple stands the twin shrine with a façade 90 feet in length and 40 feet in height.  It is equally awesome.  Six gigantic statues – four of Ramses II and two of his wife Nefertari – accompanied by smaller figures of their children adore the frontage.  The statues of the king and the queen are of the same height, an unusual manifestation to proclaim the high esteem Ramses had for his principal wife.  Though the temple is devoted primarily to Goddess of Love, Beauty and Motherhood Hathor, it glorifies the queen in no small measure and is popularly known as the Nefertari temple.   This has been amply made clear in the carvings on the buttresses of the façade, which speak of the pharaoh building the temple -- “a great and mighty monument” -- in honour of his royal wife Nefertari.   

An entrance at the centre leads to a square hall, supported by six ornate pillars bearing the head of Goddess Hathor.  Further inside, a transverse hall opens to the sanctuary, where a niche in the rear wall presents a statue of the Goddess in the form of a cow protecting the pharaoh.  The temple displays many carvings and paintings depicting the king and the queen making offerings to different Gods and receiving their blessings.   The temple abounds in scenes, where Nefertari is seen expressing her devotion to deities and discharging her royal duties.

With a “world heritage site” tag from UNESCO, the twin shrines shine as “the greatest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned by Ramses II.”   Millions of visitors from all over the world visit them every year and go back with long-lasting memories. 

February 25, 2012 (1300 words)

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HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 23

HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 23

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

Laughter is a human being's

natural music of life.

What a feast!

The husband and wife were delighted to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal with a few of their close relatives and friends.  In an environment of mirth and gaiety they went through the traditional rituals, indulged in cheerful banter for a while and finally moved to the dining table for brunch.   The husband told the invitees with a touch of pride that the food for the feast had been prepared single-handedly by his wife.

After the dining, when they were relaxing, the calling bell rang and the husband went out to check.   He came back and told his wife, “There is a beggar outside. An adamant fellow, he does not want to leave the place without getting something from us to eat.  Give him whatever is possible and be done with him.”

Out of consideration, the wife handed the beggar every item she had prepared, which he started eating there itself.   At the end he stared at the woman and remarked: “You call this food?  Who will eat this especially on a special occasion like today?  Even a dog would not touch it.”

The woman got wild and shouted at him:  “What non-sense are you talking?  You ate everything and still have the guts to utter rubbish.  Even my husband paid a tribute to me today.  Next time you come this side, I will shoe you out.”

The beggar:  “Don’t get angry with me, madam.  I relished every bit you gave me.   It is only your husband who asked me to say so.  Believe me I am innocent.  In fact, I had to rehearse the comment several times.”

He went on:  “Your husband gave me ten bucks as advance for my service.  Convey my thanks to him for his generosity and tell him I am waiting to collect the balance of five bucks which he promised to pay after the job is over.” 

The wife rushed inside screaming in high pitch, “I’m in Kolaveri da.”

Bargain most pleasing

A middle-aged woman went to a dentist, who had set up practice a few months ago near her house, to enquire how much she had to shell out for extraction of a molar tooth.

Dentist:  “I am a foreign-returned specialist.  I use the most modern imported equipment.  I employ new techniques of tooth removal using anesthesia and the procedure will be totally painless.  My charges will be Rs.3,000.”

Woman totally stunned:  “Oh God.  It is too much for me.  I cannot afford.”

Dentist: “OK, I will reduce my fees.  I will use traditional tools and there will be no anesthesia.  You pay me only Rs.1,500.”

Woman:  “Still it is on the high side.  Give me another option.”

Dentist:  “Then, I will ask my assistant to do the extraction.  The fee will only be Rs.500.”  He pointed to a burly figure sitting in a corner flexing his muscles.

Woman:  “You will have to reduce it further.  It is yet beyond my reach.” 

Dentist:  “Right.  I will leave the job to my apprentice who joined my clinic only last week.  You cannot question how he goes about his work.  Is that fine with you?  You pay only Rs.250.”

Woman:  “That sounds excellent, doctor.  I will send my mother-in-law for the tooth extraction at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.”

Matter of worry

One evening a girl returning from her college received a phone call from a friend and immediately rushed to her uncle’s house.  Gasping for breath, she told him:  “Uncle, my parents have been scouting for an alliance for me despite my protests.  Just now I heard that they have almost finalized a groom.  This is atrocious.”

Uncle:  “Cool down, my dear.  What is your problem?”

Girl:  “How can they do it without my consent?  You should stop this.  I am worried, really worried.”

Uncle:  “Don’t get worked up.  Remember, your father and mother are your well-wishers.  I know your parents well and I know you too.  My reckoning is that it is the groom, who should now be really worried, not you!”

January 14, 2012 (700 words)

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