Pudhuyugan ponders

http://sinnakuddy1.blogspot.com/2015/04/magical-realism.html

And it has spoken loud and clear this time in Tamilnadu. Scans through monarchy and Indian mythology show that great kings have always heeded the collective consciousness of people. Call it a long-enduring sport, a slice of culture or a religious practice, Jallikattu has it all and is the reason behind the bustle. Emotions rode high and have now calmed down. So it’s time for some critical analysis. Reference in Ancient Tamil Literature A number of references can be found in the classical Tamil Sangam literature of world renown, on Jallikattu or ‘Eru Thazhuvudhal’ [Embracing the bull] which has been in vogue for thousands of years.   One of the poems depicts an interesting Jallikattu scene. The bull comes out victorious wearing the player as a victory garland. There are no references in these poems to the bull being slayed. So there have been regulations more in favour of the bull from the outset.   Interestingly it has been used as a show of valou...

Pudhumaipithan and 'Stream of conciousness' . A video speech given at a literary forum conducted by Sakitya Akademi on 23.08.2014.

Some call it a national shame, many say it’s a cultural problem and few others say it’s time to think whether it’s worth visiting India. Whatever be the form of reaction, the Delhi Gang rape episode has generated an angry wave, both nationally and internationally. On the fateful December day in 2012, the 23-year old victim was gang raped by six men in a moving bus in Delhi. She and her friend were savagely tortured and thrown out of the moving bus. For over 40 minutes the poor, wounded duo was left naked in the streets as the passers-by did not bother to offer help. To top all these, the police and hospital staff had shown absolute nonchalance, taking their own sweet time to discharge their respective duties. And Delhi streets have seen unprecedented protests since. Comments in the social media have unanimously condemned the ghastly attack and criticised the concerned authorities for their snail-paced work ethics. Conservative camps have lectured on how ladies should conduct...

It was one of those evenings when Mahatma Gandhi surprised me yet again. During the dusk of Wednesday 04 th April 2012, I had the opportunity to release my book ‘Air, Fire & Water’ on Indian independence, at the Nehru Centre in London. It was interesting to note why Gandhi’s business is still valid today and in fact more relevant. I spoke in the evening on Gandhiji’s Ahimsa or non-violence and why it can have an effect now. To extend on it, all we need to do is to look at Sri Lanka where ironically Gandhi’s statue has been vandalised recently. The 26-year-long war against terror on the island nation was rounded up in 2009 with more terror by the military, making it hard to distance the military from the terror outfit itself, given the scale of civilian causalities. While violence over violence has ripped off the gloss and shine over the victory of the Sri Lankan army in less than 3 years, Gandhi stands tall, in stark contrast. His universal appeal...

 An armed monarch,   order’d his horse to a momentary freeze   At the sight of an old man who sure had a skeleton and skin   Sitting curled, like a circle in the freezing cold and teasing breeze   He had none to cover, yet had a warm grin to wear and win The conqueror irked, tossed a shawl as alms in regal beckon   ‘None I take from beggars’ said the naked to the startled king   ‘For one who needs is the needy and I need none’   ‘You still need territory, O beggar!’ said the Solomon’s ring   Attitude galore yields altitude for sure and true majesty   Riches real are in the mind and not in the external find   Many he owns, spend he does and makes money today aplenty       Does he then stop these in the day next with a satiated mind?  Skies shower rain, air blows life and silken stars shine   The best things in life have no bill ever, for you to whine - Ram Kallapiran

Can a story be told in as short as 100 words? And what if it is made in exactly 100 words excluding the title? What follows is a succinct endeavour to enthral.                                           Lipstick strikes I stood on a bridge over a river when I discovered that I was in front of an underworld don. My boyfriend had kept me in the dark so that I deliver this dodgy package. I didn’t want to die or get raped. Smiling sweetly, I made a call. ‘Hi honey, the package was delivered to this gentleman at 67 Kimberley Avenue. But why on earth did you ask me to report him to the police?’ My mobile then fell into the river. The don swore my ex-boyfriend. And the reason I dropped my mobile is I had made this call to 999. - Ram Kallapiran