Thursday, September 07, 2006

Enlightened

It seemed like a writer's block. He was not able to concentrate and zero on one idea and it was increasingly frustrating as the day progressed. He thumped his fist on the table showing his displeasure and it echoed across the silent room. He was happy that his readers would never find out that a writer of his caliber also suffered from lack of imagination put gently as writers block. But it all changed when he saw her enter the room.

She was wearing a white colored sari bordered in red. She wore bangles which matched the color of the border of her saree. The room was filled with the music of her payal which sang as she walked. The vermilion on her forehead and the big round bindi gave her a divine look. He was surprised that the bindi looked romantic when she laughed and made her appear like Durga mata when she expressed anger. But then he had never seen her angry. She was an ideal house wife who never questioned the income of her husband, had raised 3 girls, looked after the elders, and cooked fresh fish bought from the bazaar. What else could one ask for?

But today it was different. She was holding the lamp close to her face and it increased the aura around her. Instead of feeling love towards her, he felt a deep sense of respect. She was the one who ran the family and was responsible for its happiness. And who takes the credit? The outsiders simply say "Babu?Babu ka kya? He runs his family so nicely". He had never given her any credit in any of his works and she never demanded him for it as well. Infact he hardly asked her opinion in any matters. Or did she have one?

He decided that this time he was going to compensate for all his ignorance. She realized that he was looking at her as he had never seen her before. She asked "What happened?"

He "Do you mind if I write a poem in your honor?"

She smiled and didn’t reply. She thought that maybe he was flattering her for fun and left him alone in the room. He took his pen and connected his two chain of thoughts-one from his life and another in his novel.

Bankim Chandra was happy with the final result and titled his masterpiece as BANDE MATARAM. Little did he realize that 100 years later his ode to motherland will be used as a weapon to create hatred among his countrymen and gain political mileage. May his soul rest in peace in the thought that all the evil plans have been sabotaged.

30 comments:

KK said...

Wow!! very well written!!! Its very sad that this is becoming used as a wepon for hatred. Now a days people just wait to make anything into politics...and get mileage out of it. Very sad.

Aravind said...

machi kudos again.. enga arambichi enga mudicha.."oru commercial padam artistically told with a message.."

Aditi said...

Wow, nicely written.

Kavitha Jay said...

hey good one da..really didnt expect that ending...engaya poitta po :)...

S m i t h a said...

LOL! laughed really hard at that :) thanks man.

Anonymous said...

Hey, its sad that I din know this. And reading this, I wonder whatever would become of us!!

Syam said...

cinema direct panna poneengana oru Manirathnam, Shankar range ku varalam... :-)

reborn said...

I didnt know the story behind the song ....whatever , the meaning is great ..it s a shame that singing this song is considered shameful !!!!

Has to be me said...

Appa yengayo poitayga!

Unknown said...

really well written!

Yeah, what if the HIndus and Muslims who fought for our freedom, see from the heaven, the happenings below think?

Shame on us!

BUT anyway, vande mataram was not written 100 years ago. BUT 130 years ago!

s0ulasylum said...

just one word for this post.. FABULOUS! :)

Porkodi (பொற்கொடி) said...

எல்லாரும் எப்படி எப்படியோ பாராட்டறாங்க உங்கள..?! இன்னும் முழுக்க படிக்கல.. படிச்சுட்டு சொல்றேன் :)

Ramya said...

amazing!awesome!did u do any research on the story of vande mataram?
------
but now as u said its being used as a weapon by certain religious groups.watever happens they seem to enjoy the privileges from the govt. that might even extend to reservation in the future.our present situation is pathetic.then imagine the future of india.dont u think such religious/political big wigs tarnish our country's reputation?

Aravind said...

machi watch Lagey raho munnabhai da. wonderful movie . everyone will love it ...

Krithika said...

for a moment, I thought it was jus another story..but Bankim Chandra came as a plesant surpise :) fantastic!!

KC! said...

adadaa! kalakitta po, the best one!

logic said...

Awesome post dude.Vande Matram

bhadra said...

wonderful article. vande maataram

Iniyaal said...

It is nice Harish. enna oru start, enna oru end.. nallaa irukku.
Is this the real story behind Vande Mataram..?

EarthlyTraveler said...

Hi,ennavo engaeyo pogudhunu patha you ended the story so well.I've been reading your blog for the last 2 months,comment poda oru thayakkam.Enjoyed reading your blog(especially your trips to vegas and six flags).Thanks for your comment in my blog.--SKM

prithz said...

AWESOME!!! Kalakitinga Harish!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Well written. Kudos to you.

Anonymous said...

That anon was me coz cudn't find the other before.

Harish said...

@KK
Yeah KK. Good enough that it was deflated before it could been any worse.

@Arvind
Thanks Maamu :-)

@Aditi
Thanks yaar

@Mystery
Nandreengo

Harish said...

@SMITHA
Thanks Dude

@Bindu
This is just a cooked up story. So dont fell much

@Syam
Anna....erkanave irukira velai la interest kammi aagikittae varudu. Unga advice kaettu thoonga mudiyalayae......

Harish said...

@Reborn
This is just a piece of fiction and I have taken some creative liberty. Whatever..but the controversy around the cong is needless.

@HAs to be Me
Thanks nga :-)

@Karthik
Manuchikka thalaiva. Controversy kannaku paathu "Kannu Mannu" teriymaama kadhai ezhudittaen...

Harish said...

@Soulasylum
Wow....thanks a ton yaar

@Porkodi
Ippavaacudu paducheengala??

@Ramya
Reaserach.Not much.Just read about Bankim Chandra. The rest is all made up. But isnt it obvious that a person who has written about his motherland must have had a great deal of respect for his mother and wife.Yeah...as you said these big wigs tarnish ou reputation :-((

Harish said...

@Krithika
Thanks yaar

@Usha
Romba Nandreenga


@Logic
Thanks Boss

@Mavinayanasa
Welcome Sir. Thanks a lot

Harish said...

@Iniyaazh
This is just some creative liberty taken. But i guess he must have had some deep respect for his mother and wife to pen such a wonderful poem

@sandai kozhi
Comment poda thayakkama?Enga...naan enna thiveeravaadhiya :-)

@Prithz
Thanks yaar

@Priya
Thanks a ton yaar :-)

Heidi Kris said...

Awesome!