HBD IS!

Many happy returns of the day.

art by Sudha.

wishes from SLN SGR

maadhav in kavali

Maadhav,Vidya's fiance was invited and was in Kavali on 19th feb, along with his parents. Here are some photos.

Foodaholics Famous (as opposed to Alcoholics Anonymous, of course)

Or even Junkaholics Notorious. I have joined this elite club of Singampallis recently and find myself unable to curb food cravings despite an expanding waistline. This never used to happen to me before- I always used to feel good about my diet control. Can the voice of experience in the family speak and suggest ways, techniques etc that can help reign in these impulses?

Also, 'On the beach'

Also managed to lay my hands on 'On the beach' by Nevil Shute. The storyline is interesting: a war in the Northern hemisphere turns nuclear and snowballs into a full blown nuclear holocaust, wiping out the whole of the populace of the Northern Hemisphere. The winds are carrying the nuclear dust down South and it is only a manner of months before the last few folks in Melbourne also die an inevitable death. The book is set in Melbourne and tracks those last few months. The book was written at the height of the cold war when the scenario proposed by the book may have sounded too close to potential fulfilment for comfort.

The style is still the same distinctive one that you would encounter in 'A town like Alice' but overall, I thought the book was average. The best part of the book was that it introduced me to an interesting poem by T S Eliot called 'The hollow men'. The book starts with a quote from the poem (which can be read here: http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/784/). The poem is also a dark judgement on the 'hollow' intellects of the architects of the cold war. The ending (which is the bit quoted in this novel) goes like this:

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

...which is the essential theme of this book by Shute. It is worth reading just for the matter-of-fact starkness of the narrative.

Remains of the day

Recently completed this book by Kazuo Ishiguro, a Japanese-English author. An elderly butler takes a road trip through a part of England and simultaneously reminisces about his past, his thirst to be the ideal butler and finally confronts the cost he paid to achieve that nebulous standard: in effect, he contemplates the remains of the day. The book is thoroughly enjoyable for its excellent prose and its lovable and well crafted central character. Definitely worth a read- a modern classic!

The book won a Booker prize and was later made into a movie by the same name with Anthony Hopkins cast as the butler.

A lot of folk seem to have missed the beauty of the poem, so here goes the poem again.

"పూర్ణిమ" "సుధా" "మధురిమ " సంతులితం మా గేహం
సాక్షాత్ 'ఆనందనిలయమౌ" "శ్రీనివాసమాధవం"
"దశ"దిశలా వెల్లివిరియు తరగని ఈ వైభవం
ఆ "రామక్రుప" కటాక్షవీక్షణ అంతరంగ తరంగం.

It has two meanings
First---
The sweetness of the moonlight of the full moon is embellishing (decorating) our house. (poornima=pournami, sudha= vennela and madhurima =sweetness geham = house, gruham)
In fact our house being called "sreenivasamadhavam" is full of joy. (anandanilayam)
This unending glory spreads to the ten disas ( N, E, W, S, NE, NW, SE, SW, ABOVE AND BELOW)
And is an unceasing wave of Lord SriRama's merciful, soulful look bestowed on the family.
Second----
The three DILs (Poonam=Poornima, Sudha and Madhurima-in the order of appearance) are the decorations of our house.
The two SILs (IS and Madhavan--SreenivasaMadhavam) are making the house like Lord Venkateswara's Garbhagudi (it is topped by what is called a Vimanam called AnandaNilayam).
The ten(dasa) Singampalli kids are spreading this glory ( with their partners of course) unendingly and all this is due to the merciful and soulful Looks of My FIL and MIL
(Ramamoorthy, Krupavathamma----SriRamaKrupa) which are the unceasing waves lapping on our shores.
PS: DIL = daughter in law
SIL = son in law
FIL = father in law and
MIL = mother in law

HBD Sarada

By Dates.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday kanthanna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sasi's Marriage

Grand and well Organised.
Bhargavi the evermoving and restless,
Krups and Vijaya the organisers par excellence,
Poonam the silent bee (no buzzing you see!)
Arundhati the MVP (most valued professional)who is lively and untiring,
"we the people" --(rest of the singampallies and Dharmapurams) providing all these people with opportunities to serve us and making fun of everyone around,
The kids( Kanth, mruduls, Manas, Summi and Lavy)providing liveliness and fun, (we missed it during the Gruhapravesam and vratham)
Sasi and Madhu the stars stealing the show,
Varamma working away in the background.
Vasantha the helping hand in need,
The US gang making inaudible calls at inappropriate moments ( they could have used the Landline on the night of 15th and on 16th)
Gouri participating from a distance and missing the fun,
and the vepakommas( and Biradavolus etc) who contributed their might,
The bride's party who joined us in all events and even served our batch food on the vratham day when we were short handed,

Well! what else do you need for a successful and happy marriage, this is the stuff happy functions are made of.

May be a couple of hiccups, but don't you get hiccups when you are enjoying a good dinner?
So, all in all a very happy grand marriage.
Let us reenact all the happy scenes with increased participation in Tirupati in April

"పూర్ణిమ" "సుధా" "మధురిమ " సంతులితం మా గేహం
సాక్షాత్ 'ఆనందనిలయమౌ" "శ్రీనివాసమాధవం"
"దశ"దిశలా వెల్లివిరియు తరగని ఈ వైభవం
ఆ "రామక్రుప" కటాక్షవీక్షణ అంతరంగ తరంగం.
not commenting about the obvious. or maybe I should.
poornima denotes poonam. anadanilayam is the garbha gruham of Lord venkateswara and the SILs are his namesakes. dasa refers to the ten singampalli kids( swathi not included as she is Dharmapuram but always there in our midst.) ramakrupa shoud be obvious--my FIL MIL. or may mean the mercy and blessings of Lord Rama.

ముక్కుసూటి
మొగమాటి
భావుకత్వం
అమాయకత్వం
మీ అందరికి ఎక్కువ
అందుకే మక్కువ
ఇది నా మనస్సు సంకేతం
అందరికి ఇవన్ని అంకితం ................................!

జాగ్రత్త - జాగృతి

పెడితే
జనానికంతా భోజనం
పడతాం
జన్మానికంతా నీరాజనం
అవదంటే
సవ్యం , సర్వంసమానం
మీదంటాం
భవ్యం , పర్వంమహాప్రస్థానం
నానుడి
రాజ్యం వీర(రి)భోజ్యం
పండించకనే పంట
నా నుడి
త్యాజ్యం అగ్నికి ఆజ్యం
తాటాకులదే మంట

ద్వంద్వం

ఖననం జననం
హననం జీవనం
ద్రోహం స్నేహం
అహం సోహం
కాఠిన్యం లాలిత్యం
కార్పణ్యం లావణ్యం
దైత్యం దైవత్వం
పశుతత్వం మ్రుదులత్వం
ఎండమావి గున్నమావి
కరువుచెరువు నిండుబావి
పన్నీరు అత్తరు
కన్నీరు కస్తూరి నెత్తురు
సన్నజాజి సిరిమల్లి
చచ్చిన జవ్వాజి పిల్లి
కథలన్నీ కంచికే
కడకన్ని మంచికే
వైరుధ్యాలు వైవిధ్యాలు
ఇవే శాశ్వతం
ఇదే జీవితం

INT(N)ERVIEW

మీ మతం :సర్వసమ్మతం
ప్రజాభిమతం
ప్రజాహితం

మీ కులం : సేవకులం
కార్మికులం
యువకులం

మీ గతం: సుస్వాగతం
ఆపాదమస్తకం
తెరచినపుస్తకం

మీ వర్తమానం : రత్నసమానం
వజ్రసంకల్పం
మసిపూయనిమాణిక్యం

మీ భవిత : అవశ్యసంభవిత
శాంతిప్రభావిత
సౌఖ్యప్రదాత

మీ జెండా : పేదలఎజెండా
బీదలకడుపునిండా
అందరికీఅండ

మీ స్లోగన్ : వందేమాతరం
ముందేమాతరం
వ్రుద్ధినిరంతరం

మీ గమ్యం : బహురమ్యం
సమసమాజం
శ్రమసహజం

మీ ఇజం ? కమ్యునిస్టా ? నక్సలైటా ? : పచ్చి(హ్యూమ) నిజం
పర్ఫెక్షనిస్టు
సెర్చిలైటు

శిధిల శిల్పం - (Mutatis Mutandis)

సంఘటించితిని నేనొకనాడు ,
బహుదూరపు బాటసారిని ,
నిరంతర సంచారిని
పాన్థపిపాసిని .

ఆతడనినాడు : " నే కంటిని ఎడారిన ఖండిత మహా పాదద్వయము
వైకల్య శిల్పము , నిలుచున్నది నిర్జీవము
దాపుననే పడిఉన్నది ఖండ ఖండిత శిరము .
వదనంబు వదలదే భ్రుకుటి ముడత
పెదవి మడత
స్వోత్కర్షజనిత క్రూర రాజసపు ఠీవితో
మంద హసిత .

ఆహో! మహాశిల్పి
కనిపెట్టి
నిల్పినాడా పట్టి
అంతరంగ భావతరంగ వీచికలను
నేటికీ నిలిచిన జీవరహిత సూచికలను .
కరముతో ,కళతో స్పృశించె ,
పరిహసించె
భావముల కాణాచి ఆ హృదిని .
సమాధి పేటిక
లిఖియించబడిన పీఠిక

"నా పేరు సర్వం సహా చక్రవర్తి ,
అధికులారా , అహంకారులారా !
మద్విజయాలను చూసి పరితపించండి
నా ఆధిక్యత జపించండి ."

ఔరా!
కాల మహిమ
కాలుని మహిమ
తనకు శూన్యమే మిగిలినది
మహత్తర శిల్పము పగిలినది .
జీర్ణమై ఏకాంతముగా , ఏకాకిగా
సుదూరాలకు విస్తరించిన ఎడారి పక్షిగా
సైకత శిఖరాగాధాల సాక్షిగా .

Gopal babai's latest exploits

Mrudula told me that Gopal babai won an interbank poetry competition recently, for two of his poems. One was a translation of Ozymandias into Telugu, and another was his own creation called 'Interview'. She also promised me that she will post them on the SH. So Mrudula, when do we get to see the poems? And when are you going to post your book review?

HBD Mrudula And a Translation

Here is wishing a Happy B'day to Mrudula and Belated wishes to Sasi.

As far as the translation goes, here it is--
First the Background-- this poem is by Bammera Pothana in his Bhagavatham.
The context is a dialogue between Sukracharya (the guru for rakshasas) and Bali. Vamana comes and begs for alms and Sukra, knowing that he is none other than Vishnu, advises Bali against giving him what he wants. He even advises him that he can go back on his words ie lie. But Bali stays adamant and tells him that Danagunam is something that IS in him and he will not back out. Even if he is going to lose everything, it will not matter to him as all these things like riches, rajyam etc are only temporary and ephemeral. Only Keerthi is eternal and lasting.
" o Bhargava ( Sukra)! Weren't there many kings before me (kaare rajulu) and weren't there many kingdoms before mine(rajyamul kalgave)? Weren't they proud of their achievements (Garvonnathin pondare)? And where are they now (vaarerI?) Could they carry their riches to the hereafter (Siri mutagattukoni povan chalire)? Are they remembered anywhere, by anyone on this earth ( bhoomipai perainan kalade)? But didn't great people like Sibi, with a wish for Keerthi, give several Danams and fulfil the wishes of those who approached them ( Sibi pramukhul Yasah kamulai eere korkelu)? Are they forgotten even now, today (vaaralan marachire ikkalamun)?

Hence I will go ahead was his refrain and he even continues saying " such a great hand as Vishnu's comes under mine and my hand becomes superior as in donating something. ( you have to pour water into the reciepient's hand as a dhara to seal the bargain or deed) it is great opportunity that is not given to everyone ( giving alms to GOD). He goes ahead and grants Vamana's wish and you know the rest of the story.

Amma -Operation

After a successful knee replacement, amma is back in Kavali.

Happy Birthday Sasi!

Many happy returns of the day. Hope you have a good day.