Death and Life

Death and Life

“Egg and sperm meet and life is formed”; it is not an accurate statement, because, life is always not formed. Egg and sperm meet and form a cell and it starts to multiply. Only when it forms a beating heart, life is formed. There are times when even though cells multiply, there isn’t a heartbeat. That won’t be called a zygote, it won’t be celebrated; instead it is considered a loss, a lifeless mass, and it is removed from its mother’s uterus. So, is there something else along with egg and sperm that make a baby? If there is, what is that something?

Medical science has made such advances that our expectations have increased. 100 years ago, a preterm baby in breach position with umbilical cord around his neck may not have survived. There is a chance that the mother may not have survived that delivery either. This incident would have been accepted as reality. There would have been a period of mourning, sadness but people would have moved on. The “why” question would have been answered with “God’s will” or “karma” or “fate” or something to that account and mostly that would have been enough. Today, it is not the case.
Today, babies are delivered at 5 months gestation, delivery is postponed, and 500 grams babies are kept alive and taken care off. Today, death can be postponed, can be averted and can be played with.

But even today, death is ultimate, and that reality has not changed. A person, walks into a hospital for a checkup and comes back home in an icebox. A functioning body, with ailing liver and kidneys, gives up beating, breathing and is considered dead. Medical science fails to restore the functionality of these body parts and gives into the pressure of death. Even with oxygen support, lungs fail to take in the needed oxygen. Even with dialysis, toxins are left out in the body. Even on ventilator enough oxygen fails to reach the brain. Even with bold transfusion hemoglobin and platelet count does not stabilize. Medication does not help a failing liver. Efforts put by the medical science fraternity are not considered enough and there are no answers to the question “why”.

I lost someone close to me. He was a father figure to me. He was a loving, caring, kind person, knowledgeable man, a humble human being, a loving father, a friend, and an amazing human being. Whatever he was, everything went away with his death. His sense of humor, intelligence, empathy and wisdom vanished the minute his heart stopped beating. His body was kept in an icebox, it was kept intact, but his beating heart, his active brain, and all that that made him “him”, was gone. Where did it go? I don’t know how to react to devastation like this.

Medical science cannot reverse death. Sometimes, they cannot even postpone it. At times do they advance death, I wonder. He walked into a hospital for check up. He was admitted, was taken care of for 10 days but he passed away. I would have considered that the efforts paid off if he had lived. How do I account for his death? In the game of life and death, effort does not count, right? Did the doctors do all that they could; I wonder if anyone can ever be sure of that.

I wonder what happened when his heart stopped, when his brain went to pre coma stage. The element that makes a heart beat from a mass of cells went away from his body is it? Is that what the spirituals call as “atman”? If yes, where did it go, if no, what happened then?

The question of birth and death has existed forever and it continues to puzzle us. Is there a definitive answer? If there is, what is it?

ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ - Women are not humans

ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ
ಯೋನಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಒಂದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ
ಬದುಕು ಪಂಜರವಾಗಿ
ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರವೇ ಹಾಡಾಗಿ
ದಿನಾ ಸಾಯುವ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ

ಮನೆಯ ಗೌರವ, ಜಾತಿಯ ಗೌರವ
ಹೆಚ್ಚಾದರೆ ಹಳ್ಳಿ, ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕು, ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯದ್ದೂ
ಎಲ್ಲ ಗೌರವವ ಅವಳ ಯೋನಿಯಲಿಟ್ಟು
ಹೆದರುತ್ತಲೇ ಓಡಾಡಬೇಕಾಗಿರುವ
ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ

ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಪ್ರ‍ಾಣಿಯೂ ಅಲ್ಲ
ಕುರಿ, ಕೋಳಿ ಕಡಿಯುವಾಗ
ಅದರ ಲಿಂಗ ನೋಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ಯೋನಿಗೆ ಕಬ್ಬಿಣ ತುರುಕುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ದಿನಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಬಂಧಿಸಿ ಅತ್ಯಾಚಾರ ಮಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ಹಸುವಿನ ಮಾತಂತೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟೇಬಿಡಿ
ಕೊಂದರೆ ಸಾವು ಕಾದಿದ್ದೇ
ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ, ಕೊಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ
"ಗೋ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ"ಯಿದೆ, ಸ್ತ್ರೀಗಿಲ್ಲ
ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ

ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮರ, ಗಿಡವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ
ಕಾಡು ಕಡಿದರೆ ಜೈಲು
ಲಿಂಗ ತಾರತಮ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ
ಗ್ಲೊಬಲ್ ವಾರ್ಮಿಂಗ್
ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಸತ್ಯ
ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ
ಪ್ರಾಣಿಯೂ, ಮರ ಗಿಡವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ

ಗಂಡಿನ ಶಿಶ್ನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆದರುತ್ತಾ
ಯೋನಿಯ ಇರುವಿಕೆಗೆ ಬೆದರುತ್ತಾ
ಹುಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದ ಸಾಯುವವರೆಗೆ
ತನ್ನ ಇರುವನ್ನೇ ಮುಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟು ಬದುಕುತ್ತಾ
ಸುಲಭಕ್ಕೆ "ಮರ್ಯಾದೆ" ತೆಗೆಯಬಹುದಾದ
ಸುಲಭಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಯಬಹುದಾದ
ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮನುಷ್ಯಳಲ್ಲ

ಅವಳು ವಸ್ತುವಾ? ಆಯುಧವಾ? ಅಥವಾ ಏನೂ ಅಲ್ಲವಾ?

ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಈ ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇಳಿಸಿರುವ
ಮತ್ತೆಲ್ಲರೂ, ಈ ಸಮಾಜಕೂಡ
ಮನುಷ್ಯರದಲ್ಲ
ಅದ್ಯಾರದ್ದೋ, ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ

ಭಾಶೇ

Women, not human
Cursed with a vagina
Life is prison
Abuse, our song
Crushed everyday to death
Women are not humans

Respect of the family, caste,
At times, village, taluk, districts too
Is hidden in our vaginas
We walk with fear
Women are not humans

Women are not animals either
Before you butcher a chicken or goat
Gender is not looked at
No iron rod is inserted into the vagina
Neither are they raped everyday
Forget about cows
Death is imminent if you kill one
At times even if you don’t
Cows are protected, women are not
Women are not humans

Women are not plants and trees either
Permits and jail, process involved
No gender to look at
Global warming
Inevitable truth
Women are not humans
Not animals, not plants or trees

Terrified of a man’s penis
Terrified of having a vagina
Hiding her existence
From birth to death
Loses “respect” easily
Loses life easily
Women are not humans

Is she an object? A weapon? Or “nothing”?

The society and everyone else who
Have brought women to this level
Are also not humans
I don’t know what they are!

BhaShe

I want to fix my country for the next generation

There was a time when I was in my own bubble and did not care about the world. I did my work, got paid, paid my taxes and that is all that mattered. I had money in my account and I was happy.
Today, I am a freelancer, taking a break, not working full time or earning like I used to, but I am aware of some of what is happening around me and I am bothered. I am frustrated, angry and concerned. And I do not want to keep quiet about it.

There was a time when our politicians looted our country. They have taken away crores and crores of tax payers’ money and we have done nothing about it. Black money, white money, foreign currency, gold, in many forms they have stored all our resources away in their lockers and we have done nothing about it. Scandal after scandal we Indians and the country has been looted and we have done nothing about it.

Now, it looks like the time for corporate giants to do so. Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, - I don’t know how big this list will go - are looting our country, our banks. Though, I do not have a clear understanding of how tax payers will be affected by this loot, I don’t find anyone else but tax payers who have to bear the burden.
Why is this happening in my country, why? And why are we keeping quiet about it? And more importantly do we know what we can do and what we should do? How do we work towards fixing this? How to get the money back and restoring some form of justice? I don’t know. This is one side to the problem.

The other side is, not letting such cases happen in the future. How do we do that? The other day, in a conversation with my father in law, he mentioned something about the loss of sense of pride. I understand it better today, looking at the number of people who have sold their souls for money. If we were to have a culture of pride in self, maybe we could turn out to be incorruptible?

This brings me to my idea of a sense of equality. Whether I am rich or not, educated or not, well to do or not, employed or not, if I have a sense of equality that I do not consider myself above or below anyone for whatever they may or may not have, then too, I can be incorruptible, right?

I believe in the idea of making money, creating jobs, growing economy and all that along with saving the environment and not exploiting any form of resources. I believe in working hard and not copying, growing and not pulling someone down, and being hopeful and not a cynic. I believe in the idea of having a sense of equality and the desire to work my way up the ladder the right way. Having a sense of pride whether I go up or not, whether I achieve what I aimed for or not. I believe in the idea of having a sense of contentment, using the term “enough” in life and applying it more often than not. I believe in having a sense of purpose that is bigger than self and bigger than my personal gain. I believe in feeling part of community and therefore having an identity that is not just me. I believe these could lead to a generation of solid and incorruptible souls.

I want to fix my country today, right now! I feel the need, I feel the urgency and I feel the desire. I want to leave a better society for the coming generations. I want the next generation to inherit a just, caring and trust worthy society which looks after everyone. I want to leave behind a society, a world with no corruption, no hate and no bitterness. I hope for a society with a sense of hope, trust, a sense of community with full of souls who are incorruptible.

Am I dreaming for something impossible? Please say “no”. I want to believe this is possible and I can work towards making this happen.

A concerned citizen.

ಪರ್ವತದಲ್ಲಿ ಪವಾಡ - ಪುಸ್ತಕ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ

ಸಂಯುಕ್ತಾ ಪುಲಿಗಲ್ ರ ಪರ್ವತದಲ್ಲಿ ಪವಾಡ ಓದಿ ಕೆಳಗಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ನೆನ್ನೆಗೆ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು. ಇಂದು ಏನೋ ಖಾಲಿತನ. ಎರೆಡು ದಿನ ಎಡೆಬಿಡದೆ, ಬಿಡುವಾದಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಓದಿದರ ಪರಿಣಾಮ.

ಆಂಡೀಸ್ ಶ್ರ‍ೇಣಿಯ ಮೌನಕ್ಕೆ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಹಾತೊರೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಬದುಕಿರದಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಹಾಗಾಗಿ, ನ್ಯಾಂಡೋ ಬದುಕಿದರು ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂದರಿಯುವ ಕುತೂಹಲದಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟೂ ಬಿಡದೆ ಓದಿಸಿದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಈಗ ಕೈಬಿಟ್ಟು ಮೇಜು ಸೇರಿದೆ. ಮನಸು ಖಾಲಿ ಖಾಲಿ.

ತಾನು ಓದಲು ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ ಕೈಬಿಡಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದಳು ಸಂ. ಪು. ಹಾಗೇ ಭಟ್ಟಿ ಇಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾಳೆ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ. ಅದು ಹೇಗೆ ಅನುವಾದಿಸಿದಳೂ, ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ!

ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ಹಿಡಿತ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಕಡೆಯವರೆಗೂ ಒಂದೂ ಶಬ್ದವನ್ನು, ಅನುಚಿತವಾಗಿ, ಅನಾವಶ್ಯಕವಾಗಿ ಬರೆಯಲಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಗಟ್ಟಿಯಾದ ಕಥೆ, ಬೇಸರಕ್ಕೆ ಆಸ್ಪದ ಕೊಡದೆ ಓದಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಅನುವಾದ, ಒಂದು ಭಾಷೆಗೆ ಹೊಚ್ಚ ಹೊಸ ಯೋಚನೆಗಳನ್ನು ತರುವ ಸಾಧನ. ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರದರೂ ಆಂಡೀಸ್ ಪರ್ವತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದು ಹೋಗುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ, ಬಹಳ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಹಾಗಂತ ಆ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲಾಗದು/ಓದಬಾರದು ಎಂತೇನೂ ಇಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ?

ಅನುವಾದ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ, ಬರೆಯುವ ವಿಧಾನ, ಭಾಷೆಯ ಬಳಕೆ, ಉಪಯೋಗಕ್ಕೂ ನವೀನತೆಯನ್ನು ತರುತ್ತದೆ. ಭಾವನೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆಯುವ, ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸುವ ರೀತಿ ಭಾಷ್ಯಾನುಸಾರ ಬದಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅನುವಾದ, ಈ ಹೊಸ ರೀತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅರಿಯಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿರುವ ನ್ಯಾಂಡೋರವರ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಅವರ ಸಾಹಸ, ಬದುಕು ಸಾವಿನ ನಡುವಿನ ಹೋರಾಟ ಮತ್ತು ಛಲವನ್ನಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ಅವರ ಭಾವನೆಗಳ ಹರಿವು, ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಬಳಸುವ ವಿಧಾನ, ಮತ್ತು ಯೋಚನಾಲಹರಿಯನ್ನೂ ಅರಿಯಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಅನುವಾದದ ಉದ್ದೇಶವನ್ನು ಅನುವಾದಕರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಓದುಗರಿಗೆ ಆ ಸವಿಯನ್ನು ಸವಿಯಲು ಮಾತ್ರ ಅವಕಾಶ.

ಉತ್ತಮ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ತಂದಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ, ಗೆಳತಿ ಸಂಯುಕ್ತಾಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.

ಭಾಶೆ

Where are we headed?

Today, I read in the news papers, a bus conductor was physically abused for stopping a boy from harassing a girl in the bus. A thoughtful, noble act rewarded with abuse, hurt and thrashing? Why? Why do our youngsters think it is okay to hurt someone? What have we done wrong? Where have we gone wrong in their upbringing?

Abuse of freedom of speech – “whatever you say is valued” is this the impression created by parents/society today. Is this over importance encouraging the kids to abuse?

You deserve everything – whether it is an expensive mobile phone or a girl who is not interested in you. The mentality of 'deserving', is that the problem?

Whatever you do, I will save you – parents taking responsibility for their children's action and saving them. Is that the problem?

Shortsightedness – this instant gratification generation is looking for only that, instant gratification. In such a case, who thinks about consequences?

Societal apathy – our general attitude of “it is none of my business” leading to creation unsafe spaces?

No sense of right or wrong – Have ideas like right and wrong gone missing? Are we in a time and space where over extension of the being nonjudgmental philosophy leading to this loss?

I am worried reading this. I wonder what we can do to change this. How can we look at today’s youth and help them have a healthy attitude. How???

Sowmyashree Gonibeedu

Penance

I deserve
So, you forgive

It slipped my hand
I broke your heart
I now understand
What I’ve hurt
I see my deeds
My heart is shrunk
I beg, I plead
Wash my stink

I know, I know, I know
The pain is hard to let go
But please know, know, know
I won’t ever let you go
I love you, love you, love you
From the bottom of my heart
No matter what you do
Our life wont tear apart
I will wait and wait and wait
For you to take me as I am
It’s in my fate and my fate
I know that day isn’t far

My mistake
Being careless
That doesn’t make
Me reckless
I was wrong
I acknowledge
Pain was long
But now I pledge

I know, I know, I know
The pain is hard to let go
But please know, know, know
I won’t ever let you go
I love you, love you, love you
From the bottom of my heart
No matter what you do
Our life wont tear apart
I will wait and wait and wait
For you to take me as I am
It’s in my fate and my fate
I know that day isn’t far

I will be careful
Won’t cause hurt
More thankful
Forget the dirt
Don’t I deserve
One more chance
So you forgive
My time to penance

BhaShe

ಮುಗಿಯದ ಮಾತು

ಭೇಟಿ, ಒಳತೋಟಿ ತೆರೆದು
ಗುಡ್ಡೆ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದ ನೆನಪುಗಳ ಹರಡಿ
ಎಷ್ಟು ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಮುಗಿಯದೆ
ಮುಂದಿನ ಭೇಟಿಗಷ್ಟು ಉಳಿಸಿ
ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು

ತೀರ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯವಾದರೊಂದು ದೂರವಾಣಿ ಕರೆ
ಅಷ್ಟು ಮಾತು, ಮತ್ತೆ ತೆರೆ
ಹೇಳದೆ ಉಳಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳಿದ್ದವು
ಅದಕಷ್ಟು ಬೆಲೆಯಿತ್ತು
ಮಾತು ಉಳಿದರೂ ಮಾತು ಮುಗಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು

ಚಾಟ್ ರೂಮಿನ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಹಿಂದೆ
ಬೇರೆಯದೇ ವಿಶ್ವ ತೆರೆದರೂ
ಅದಕೂ ಇತಿ ಮಿತಿ ಇತ್ತು
ಬಾಗಿಲಾಚೆ ಬೇರೆ ಲೋಕವಿತ್ತು
ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು

ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಡಿದು
ಸಮಯ, ದೂರಗಳ ಎಲ್ಲೆ ಮೀರಿ
ಬೇಕು ಬೇಡದವರೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬದುಕಿಗಿಣಕುವಾಗ
ಸಂಬಂದಗಳ ಗೆರೆ ಮಸುಕಾದಾಗ
ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ

ಇಂದು ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ಎರೆಡರ ಮಧ್ಯರಾತ್ರಿಯಲಿ ಗಿಣಿಗುಟ್ಟುವ ಫೋನು
ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪು, ಫೇಸ್ಬುಕ್ಕಿನಲಿ ಬರುವ ಮಾತು
ದಿನ, ವಾರ, ವರ್ಷಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಆಡಿದರೂ
ಇಂದು ಮಾತುಗಳು ಮುಗಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ

ಭಾಶೇ

Unasked Apology

He didn’t apologize
I HAVE to forgive

Walked on my broken heart
Did it pierce his feet?
Shattering sounds of my dreams
Broke his ear drums?

I know my suffering
He moved on without trying?
Something inside still hurts
Is he married, does he flirts?

Does he know my feelings?
Am I still a weakling?
Pull myself together
Realize, he doesn’t bother!

He won’t ever say sorry
And why is that my worry?
Whom and what to forgive!
Will my efforts ever be effective?

BhaShe

Tr(i)ump(h)

“Build a wall”, he said
I tried
To save my heart from thunder and storms
To hide the source of light in my eyes from getting robbed
To revive the fountain of my feelings, not let it run dry
To lick my wounds in safety
I tried to build a wall

“Lock her up”, he said
I tried
Locking her up in a corner of my mind, my heart
So I know she is there
To figure
So I can know what is happening
To plan
“Keep your friends close, enemies closer”,

“Drain the swamp” he said
I tried
I brush, wash my mouth and scrub my tongue
I write to rid myself off the bitter taste
I pack suitcases of memories
Call them “luggage”
Try and throw at these dump yards:
Therapy, counselor, paint, clay, talk, hypnotize, dance
Drain the swamp in my mind

BhaShe

Disclaimer:
I don’t support the man who said these
I just picked the lines
Stitched it to my poem

Looking through the wrong side

Looking through the wrong side

I acquired binoculars
To sort my issues
It wasn’t helpful
I looked through the wrong side

Problems were bigger
Solutions farther
Caused damage to hope
Distress and pain

I put them down
Took a break
Walked around
Gave a thorough look

Picked it again
The right way
When I looked through
Oh! What a view!

Smaller problems
Closer solutions
Life seemed easy
When my view is right

BhaShe

To be there

When I offer to share
But you are not there
Then the moment is gone

Then my story was new
But pink turned to blue
Feelings can’t be undone

Its choices we make
Split second it takes
Leads to pain or fun

But the choices we make
A life long it takes
To know what’s to be done

I open my heart
Wanna give you a part
My way to connect

If you keep it at bay
And ask me to stay
It has its effect

When I call out for you
Tell you I need you
It’s a moment of truth

If you don’t want to be
Then tell me so please
I can’t take your ruth

I want to share
Coz I think you care
Isn’t it true?

If I have to wait
And that’s your trait
Then it’s not cool!

When I offer to share
But you are not there
Then the moment is gone

When I offer to share
But you are not there
Then the moment is gone

BhsShe

Centre for Community Dialogue and Change brings to India Workshops in Theatre for Living by David Diamond

(Scroll down for English Version)

ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಟಿ ಡೈಲಾಗ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಚೇಂಜ್ (CCDC)
ಎ 6, ಗ್ರಾಸ್ಮಿಯರ್ ಅಪಾರ್ಟ್ಮೆಂಟ್ಸ್,
ಒಸ್ಬೊರ್ನ್ ರೋಡ್, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
ದೂರವಾಣಿ: 080 23692168 
contact@ccdc.in 

ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಟಿ ಡೈಲಾಗ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಚೇಂಜ್ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲಬಾರಿಗೆ ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡರ "ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್" ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದೆ.

ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಟಿ ಡೈಲಾಗ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಚೇಂಜ್ ಈ ಹೊಸವರ್ಷವನ್ನು ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಪ್ರಶಂಸೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿರುವ ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್ ಮತ್ತು ಅವರ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ ಅನ್ನು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ತರುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. 2014ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ "ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಆಫ್ ದಿ ಒಪ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ಡ್" (TO) ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನ "ಡೈವರ್ಸಿಟಿ ಡೈಲಾಗ್" ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ ನಂತರ, CCDC, ಜನವರಿ 2 ರಿಂದ ಜನವರಿ 17, 2017 ರ ವರೆಗೆ ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡರ ಮೂರು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರುನೋಡುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಟಿ ಡೈಲಾಗ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಚೇಂಜ್
CCDC ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತವಾದ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅದು "ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಆಫ್ ದಿ ಒಪ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ಡ್" ಅನ್ನು ಪ್ರಚಾರಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಸೃಜನಾತ್ಮಕ ಸಾಧನವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಬಳಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ "ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಆಫ್ ದಿ ಒಪ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ಡ್", ಬ್ರೆಜಿಲಿಯನ್ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಆಗಸ್ಟೊ ಬೊಆಲ್ ರವರಿಂದ ರಚಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಪೌಲೊ ಪ್ರೈಯರಿಯವರ "ಪೆಡಗೊಜಿ ಆಫ್ ದಿ ಒಪ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ಡ್" ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿತಗೊಂಡ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಯ ಆಟಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳ ಗುಂಪು ಇದಾಗಿದೆ. TO ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರಗಳು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರರನ್ನು ರೂಪಾಂತರಗೊಳಿಸಲು ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುವ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ನೀವು www.ccdc.in. ನಲ್ಲಿ CCDC ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಓದಬಹುದು.

ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್ ಮತ್ತು ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್

ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್, ವ್ಯಾಂಕುವಾರ್ ನ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ (TfL) (ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೆಡ್ಲೈನ್ಸ್ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್), ನ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ಮತ್ತು ಕಲಾತ್ಮಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಲು ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ (TfL) ಸಹಾಯಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. TfL ಆಗಸ್ಟೊ ಬೊಆಲ್ ರ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಆಫ್ ದಿ ಒಪ್ಪ್ರೆಸ್ಡ್ ಇಂದ ವಿಕಾಸಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. "ಪೀಡಕ / ತುಳಿತಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾದವರು" ಎಂಬ ಬೈನರಿ / ದ್ವಿಮುಖ ಭಾಷೆಯಿಂದ ದೂರಹೋಗಿ ಇದು ಕಲಾತ್ಮಕ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ತಡೆ ಹಾಕಿದಾಗ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಿವಾರಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಒದಗಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ದೈನಂದಿನ ಶಬ್ದಕೋಶವನ್ನು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಪುನಃ ಬಳಸಲಾರಂಬಿಸಿದರೆ - ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಾಮೂಹಿಕ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಹೇಳಲು ಬಳಸುವ ಒಂದು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಭಾಷೆ - ನಾವು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸಮತೋಲನದತ್ತ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಂತೆ.

ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಮೂಲನಿವಾಸಿಗಳು, ನಿರಾಶ್ರಿತರು, ಮಹಿಳಾ ಗುಂಪುಗಳು, ಪರಿಸರವಾದಿಗಳು, ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಯುವಜನ, ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ವೃತ್ತಿಗಾರರು ಮತ್ತು ನಿರಾಶ್ರಿತರು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ವಿಶ್ವದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಹಲವಾರು ಗುಂಪುಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಅವರು ಕೆನಡಾ, USA ಮತ್ತು ಯುರೋಪ್, ನಮೀಬಿಯಾ, ನ್ಯೂಜಿಲ್ಯಾಂಡ್, ಆಸ್ಟ್ರೇಲಿಯಾ, ಬ್ರೆಜಿಲ್, ರುವಾಂಡಾ, ಪ್ಯಾಲೆಸ್ಟೈನ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಂಗಾಪುರಗಳ ಉದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ಮತ್ತು ನೇರ, ಪರಸ್ಪರ ವೇದಿಕೆ, ದೂರದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ವೆಬ್ ಪ್ರಸಾರದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಸಿಟಿ ವ್ಯಾಂಕೋವರ್ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಹಾರ್ಮನಿ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ, ಜೆಸ್ಸಿ ರಿಚರ್ಡ್ಸನ್ ರವರ ಇನ್ನೊವೇಷನ್ ಇನ್ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ, ಫ಼್ರೇಸರ್ ವ್ಯಾಲಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಿಂದ ಗೌರವ ಡಾಕ್ಟರೇಟ್, ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ರಂಗಕಲೆಗೆ ಒಟ್ಟೊ ರೆನೆ ಕ್ಯಾಸ್ಟಿಲ್ಲೊ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವಾರು ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಆಸ್ಟ್ರಿಯಾದ ಯೂನಿವರ್ಸಿಟಿ ಆಫ್ ಇನ್ಸ್ಬ್ರಕ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಯುನೆಸ್ಕೋ ದ ಶಾಂತಿ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಗಳ ಸ್ನಾತಕೋತ್ತರ ಕಲಾ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಂತಿ, ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ, ಭದ್ರತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕಾನ್ಫ್ಲಿಕ್ಟ್ ಟ್ರ್ಯಾನ್ಸ್ಫರ್ಮೇಷನ್ ಭೋದಿಸುವ ಅತಿಥಿ ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಆಲ್ಬರ್ಟಾ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೆಡಿಸಿನ್ ಮತ್ತು ಡೆಂಟಿಸ್ಟ್ರಿ ಯ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡ ಅಥಿತಿ ರಂಗನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

TfL ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಾಹಿತಿಗಾಗಿ theatreforliving.com ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ (TfL) ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ
CCDC ಮತ್ತು ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್ ಜನವರಿ 2 ಮತ್ತು ಜನವರಿ 17, 2017 ರ ನಡುವೆ ಒಟ್ಟು 15 ದಿನಗಳ ಮೂರು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಡಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ:

Ø TfL ಒದಗಿಸುವ ತರಬೇತುದಾರ ತರಬೇತಿ, ಜನವರಿ 2 ರಿಂದ ಜನವರಿ 7, 2017: ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ವಾರಾವಧಿಯ ತರಬೇತಿ. 30 ಭಾರತೀಯ ಹಾಗೂ ವಿದೇಶೀ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

Ø 2 ಡಿಗ್ರೀಯ ಭಯ ಮತ್ತು ಬಯಕೆ, ಜನವರಿ 10, 2017: ಕಾಪ್ ಇನ್ ದ ಹೆಡ್ ತಂತ್ರ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಜಾಗತಿಕ ತಾಪಮಾನ ಏರಿಕೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ 1 ದಿನದ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ.

Ø ಅಂಡರ್ ದಿ ಸ್ಪಾಟ್ಲೈಟ್ - ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಪರಿಶೋಧನೆ, ಜನವರಿ 12-17: ಡಾ ಆರ್.ಎನ್. ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್ NIMHANSನ ಬೆಂಬಲದೊಂದಿಗೆ NIMHANSನ ಕ್ಲಿನಿಕಲ್ ಸೈಕಾಲಜಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಜೊತೆ CCDC ಸಹ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣದ ಮೂಲಕ ಮಾತ್ರ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಬಹುದು. 6 ದಿನದ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಗಾರ ಜನವರಿ 17, 2017 ರಂದು ಒಂದು ಸಂವಾದಾತ್ಮಕ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಫೋರಮ್ ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೊನೆಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ. ಈ ಫೋರಮ್ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಆಹ್ವಾನವಿದೆ.

ನೋಂದಣಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿವರಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಲಾಗ್ ಆನ್ ಮಾಡಿ http://www.ccdc.in/theatre-for-living-workshops

"ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಲಿವಿಂಗ್ ನ ಭಾಷೆ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಜನರು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಮಾಡಿದಾಗ ಆಗಬಹುದಾದ ರೂಪಾಂತರಕ್ಕೆ" ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್ ಎದುರುನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. "ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆಯ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಉತ್ತೇಜಿಸುವ ಯಾವ ರೀತಿಯ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಾವು ಒಂದು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕೇಳಬಹುದು? "

CCDC ಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ಟ್ರಸ್ಟಿ ರಾಧಾ ರಾಮಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ, "ಮುಂದಿನ 15 ದಿನಗಳು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾದ ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ಅವಕಾಶವಾಗಿದೆ. ಭಾರತ ಹಾಗೂ ವಿದೇಶದ 30 ಜನರು ಡೇವಿಡ್ ಡೈಮಂಡ್ ರಿಂದಲೇ TfLನ ಭಾಷೆ ಕಲಿಯಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. CCDC ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಆರೋಗ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅರ್ಥಪೂರ್ಣ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ನಡೆಸುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಅದು TfL ಈ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ಕಲಿಯಲು ಕಾತುರವಾಗಿದೆ.

Centre for Community Dialogue and Change
A 6, Grasmere Apartments,
Osborne Road, Bangalore 560042
India
Tel: 080 23692168
contact@ccdc.in

Centre for Community Dialogue and Change brings to India
Workshops in Theatre for Living by David Diamond.

Centre for Community Dialogue and Change (CCDC), Bangalore, ushers in the New Year with yet another powerful theatre extravaganza, bringing the internationally acclaimed theatre facilitator David Diamond and his Theatre for Living to Bangalore. After hosting a highly successful national level Theatre of the Oppressed conference, Diversity Dialogues, in 2014, CCDC is back with a set of three workshops facilitated by David Diamond, from January 2 to January 17, 2017.

Centre for Community Dialogue and Change

CCDC is a Bangalore,India based organization promoting Theatre of the Oppressed. Used the world over as a creative tool for personal and social transformation, Theatre of the Oppressed was created by Brazilian theatre director Augusto Boal. It is a set of theatre games and exercises inspired by the ideas of the educationist, Paulo Freire, as articulated in his book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed. TO workshops create a space where individuals and communities come together to realise their potential to transform themselves and others.

You can read more about CCDC at www.ccdc.in

David Diamond and Theatre for Living

David Diamond is the founder and artistic director of Vancouver's Theatre for Living (formerly Headlines Theatre), which uses theatre to help communities tell their stories. Theatre for Living (Tfl) has evolved from Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed - moving away from the binary language and model of "oppressor/oppressed", it approaches community-based cultural work from a systems-based perspective. If we can reclaim cultural expression as part of our everyday vocabulary – a common language that we use to tell our own collective stories – we are one step closer to being balanced as individuals and as communities.

David has worked with many groups around the world including First Nations, refugees, women's groups, environmentalists, street youth, health practitioners, and people who are homeless. He has worked throughout Canada, the USA and Europe, besides Namibia, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Rwanda, Palestine and Singapore, and has pioneered the development of live, interactive Forum television and web casting.

David is the recipient of numerous awards, including the City of Vancouver's Cultural Harmony
Award, the Jessie Richardson Award for Innovation in Theatre, an Honorary Doctorate from the
University of the Fraser Valley and the Otto René Castillo Award for Political Theatre.

David is a Visiting Faculty Member at the Master of Arts Program in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation at the UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, University of Innsbruck, Austria, and Visiting Theatre Director at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta.

For more on Tfl please visit theatreforliving.com

The Theatre for Living (TfL) workshops in Bangalore, India.

CCDC and David Diamond will come together for 15 days between January 2 and January 17, 2017 with three programmes:

 The TfL Facilitator Training, January 2 to January 7, 2017 : a weeklong training in Theatre for Living for 30 participants from across India and abroad.

 2 Degrees of Fear and Desire, January 10, 2017 : a 1-day workshop on global warming using the Cop in the Head theatrical exercise.

 Under the Spotlight - An Exploration of Mental Health Issues, January 12-17 : co-organised by CCDC with the Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, with support from Dr RN Moorthy Foundation, NIMHANS. Participation in this workshop is by invitation only. The intensive 6-day workshop will culminate in an interactive public Forum Theatre performance by the participants on January 17, 2017.

For details regarding registration please log on to: http://www.ccdc.in/theatre-for-living-workshops

David Diamond is "Looking forward to seeing how the language of Theatre for Living transforms as it encounters the people and culture in Bangalore. What kind of questions can we ask together that stimulate a transformational dialogue? "

“The next 15 days offer exciting learning opportunities" says Radha Ramaswamy, Founder Trustee of CCDC, “30 people from across India will learn the language of TfL from David Diamond himself. We are also looking forward to learning how TfL can help create meaningful dialogues around mental health, an area that CCDC is strongly committed to.”

ಕಮಲ

ಮೊಗ್ಗಾಗಿದ್ದೆ
ಅರಳುವವಳಿದ್ದೆ
ನೀವು ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ ಬಲಿತಿದ್ದೆ

ಅರಳುವ ಮೊದಲೇ
ತಾಯಿ ಬೇರಿಂದ
ಹೂಗಾರನ ಬುಟ್ಟಿಸೇರಿದ್ದೆ

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪೂಜೆ
ನಿಮ್ಮ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿ
ನನ್ನ ಖಂಡಾಂತರ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ

ದೊಡ್ಡ ಪೂಜಾರಿಯ
ಒರಟು ಕೈಗಳಲ್ಲಿ
ನನ್ನ ಕನಸುಗಳ ಅವಸಾನ

ಹೊರ ಪಕಳೆಗಳ ಕಿತ್ತು
ಒಳಗಿನದನ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ
ಬಲವಂತದಿ ನನ್ನ ಹೂವಾಗಿಸಿ

ಮಂತ್ರಘೋಷ
ಭಕ್ತಿ ಭಾವದಿಂದ
ಹಿಡಿದೆನ್ನ ದೇವರ ಮೇಲೇರಿಸಿ

ಮರುದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ನಾನು
ಕಸವಾಗುವ ನಿರ್ಮಾಲ್ಯ
ನಿಮಗಿನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಚಿಂತೆಯಿಲ್ಲ

ನಾ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದಾ ಕೆರೆಗೇ
ನಾನೀಗ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ
ಒಳಗುಳಿದ ಬದುಕಿನ್ನೂ ಸತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ

ಭಾಶೆ

Karma’s ways to bite

He cheated and moved
I was sad and bruised
I missed his company
But life got its symphony

Came back with request
On social media to connect
At my level, Manager
Grown, it looked meager

I took a step, went up
He again had to catch up
Maybe he took a turn
Devious plans he did churn

Karma has its ways to bite
In a “name” it showed its might
Is his memory his foe?
Karma, I take a bow

BhaShe

Molehill

While I sit and make a mountain out of a molehill
Over friends who haven’t called and checked on me
There are girls who are sold by their dads
To pimps, to be trafficked to Mumbai’s sex districts

Who was there to take care of her anyway?
The women her father slept with hated her
The men her mother slept with have lusted her
Other elders in the society have groped her

It’s just another way of life, a job, an income
Just go, stay, earn and send the money back
Some hungry mouths here have food in their plates
You stay there, do what you do, don’t come back

Who knows, she might find a family there too
A sister who shares the pain of being sold
A mother who has aborted many a times, cold
A friend, to confess, to cry, to talk and to hold

Will I ever grow enough to see a molehill as a molehill?
And enough to see what is and how big a mountain is
Or will I stay listening to all of it as if it is a story
And believe, I live in a universe far away from all that is

BhaShe

Flower

I brew nectar at odd hours of nights
You would have a message when the day breaks
A bowl of peace handed to you with a smile

I breathe the fullest at odd hours of nights
You would have my strong scent when the day breaks
Filling you up with a fresh mood for the rest of the day

I make colors and paint myself at odd hours of nights
You would see the best of me when the day breaks
Still carrying sparkle from countless stars I watched

I make my world a little better at odd hours of nights
Every morning when you wake up, you get to see
How me being 'me' is one step closer to serenity

BhaShe

Shishila – The Destination

The Desire:
About 4 or 5 years ago, I, appa, amma and Ankith went to a place called Nanya Bhairaveshwar. The ride was beautiful. It is about 25 kms away from my home and is a beautiful place. We had been there in the evening and we looked around. That is when I first saw the peak of Shishila. What a sight it was! As soon as I saw that peak, I wanted to climb to the top of it. I started suggesting that we should go there. Amma and appa tried convincing me that it was a bad idea to start at that hour. When I started making a fuss about it, appa made it very clear that it is not a viable idea. It was getting late and we had to walk in the wild to go to the top and without a guide there is a high possibility that we could be lost. I had to succumb, I had no power over this argument and we returned. For a minute I had the thought of wanting to get married on that hill top.



The Revival:
Last September when I was home, I spoke about my long lasting desire to climb the Shishila hilltop and Chetu helped me with Raju’s number. Raju is a villager in Bhairapura village (which is the nearest) and also acts as a guide to visitors. He spoke about leaches and other problems and suggested that we should plan to go there in November or December.

The Journey:
27th December 2015, me, appa and ankith left home at 12:00 noon. A junction near Agriculture College, before Mudigere, we took a left to go towards Bhairapura. At every junction we asked for directions and we were misguided once. We travelled extra for about 2 kms in the wrong direction and because we asked for directions all the way, we got back to the right road soon. After a while, in the next junction, where we asked for directions yet again, we could look at the Shishila hill top. Ankith noticed the excitement on my face and mentioned it was so much, as though I had already climbed up to the top.

We reached Nanya Bhairaveshwara temple and called up Raju. Oh! You will be lucky if you find any mobile network there, and we were lucky for a while.

The Disappointment:
Raju mentioned that wild elephants had been there at 10:30 in the morning. As we were only 3, he suggested it is better we go back now and come again in a group, instead of the planned adventure. We strolled for a few minutes, saw the way to the hilltop which goes inside the forest, and decided to go back. We could see elephant dump and the havoc they had created that morning, some broken trees, broken twigs and smashed bushes. It was enough proof for us to vouch our decision. We came back to the place where we had parked our bikes and started eating watermelon we carried.

Angels Arrived:
A toofan arrived with 17 people in it. Yes, you read it right, 17, aged between 10 and 45. 13 of them said they are going to climb Shishila. We all jumped out of joy and joined them. It did not take much time for us to get friendly. Together we started walking towards our common destination.
The path in the forest was well made but there were places where we had to walk up on dusty, stone filled roads. It was very slippery and very tiring. Once we crossed the forest it was again an uphill climb and it was extremely exhausting. Ankith held my hand and encouraged me to climb up, “a little more and we will be on flat land”, he would say.




I was breathless by the time I reached the flatland. It indeed was flatland and I rested for a while. Then, the next step was to climb to the peak. Appa said he won’t go up and suggested that I too stay back. I did not want to give up, after going so close. The kids started climbing fast and I took my time to go up. This time appa was with me, asking me to be careful and helping me climb. This was not tiring but very risky. It’s a steep climb and one miss step could lead to a disaster.

I did reach the top successfully along with appa. Ankith had already reached and had clicked some photos too. It took an hour to climb and what a view it was! We could see South Canara border from the top. This day and all its efforts were all worth it. Though not clear, we could still see range of mountains. We could see a river and a water falls at a distant location and we could see beauty in all directions.



It took lesser time to climb down, a small break and step two, and we had reached the gateway to the forest. We all gathered together and walked together as that was our best chance of survival in case wild elephants paid a visit. Four people who had stayed back had watched us climb the hill top and were waiting for us. We said a ton load of thanks to all of them and bid goodbye.

Known Turf:
You might have noticed I said very little about food, because we had very little. On our way back we ate some biscuits and drank some water. It was almost 5:30 and we were in a hurry to get back.

Our way back, we found new connecting roads. From Bhairapura we went towards Devavrunda circle, from there to Jannapura and finally to Gonibeedu. We followed the same protocol of asking for directions all the way till we reached the Devavrunda circle. Dad geared up, “no need to ask anyone for directions” he speeded up. We reached back home, tired, content and me, a dream fulfilled.

PS: Photo credit Ankith H S

Missing Periods

No! I haven’t missed one
I am not pregnant
It takes a month to come
And I am missing it

I dream of periods
Blood on my hands
Blood between my thighs
To feel “fresh again”

Unbearable pain
My only desire is to rest
It is uncomfortable
An excuse, at its best

But when it comes
It comes with peace
Hormones working
Settling mood swings

I miss my periods
It’s so much fun
It’s such a roller-coaster
Also, it’s a stress buster

BhaShe

High on Cheese

Unfit pumping machine
Clogged passages
A vicious circle
Loop, repeat
I get high on cheese

Hundred rules
More complications
Heart, mind fights
Pinches at wrong places
I get high on cheese

Know the pitfalls
Nature’s calls
Going large from small
Forgetting the stroll
I get high on cheese

Not a relief or medicine
Neither a solution
Harmful than known
But compulsion driven
I get high on cheese

BhaShe

The Light will come

In the middle of the night
When it’s dark and sleepy
I sit up and make my living

No, it’s not the need
It’s not even the money
It’s only the desire

Satisfaction, silly thing
It’s a desert mirage
Almost there, but never

No enlightenment
Middle of the nights
Serve only the strivers

As every night passes
Am close to the end
But I remain there

The light I seek
Will come to me
When I am about to sleep

BhaShe