Roman Wedding?

Roman Coins with Thali

I remember observing my Amma's thali chain during my childhood days. I came to realise that one could determine many things about the wearer's background by just observing the chain that a married lady dons. It would tell us if she has recently tied the knot if it is just a bright yellow string. The actual thali would be tucked inside the upper garment. After a few days of wedded bliss, as part of the festivities and a means to flaunt to relatives, the thali would be transferred to a golden chain, and the sovereignty would scream bragging rights.

The yellow string will stay put longer than it should if finances are down. If a married lady, often seen donning a golden thali chain, is suddenly downgraded to wearing yellow string, that would indicate hard times hitting the family. The family members have every right to feel embarrassed, and the outsiders have the right to form opinions. The head of the family will feel slighted for not providing enough for his dependents.

It was amusing to me to observe my Amma donning thick chains to flaunt her jewellery to her friends and relatives but desperately trying to cover her neck with the thick drape of her saree to keep snatch thieves at bay as she walked to the bus stop.

I later discovered that the pattern of the thali indicated the region from which one came from India. A Telugu person would have a different pattern than a Malayelee or one from Tamil Nadu. Even non-Hindus in the Indian diaspora have their version of Christian or Islamic thalis.

Thali, or mangalsutra, is more generic in the northern states of India. Even though it is a form of the Hindu tradition, the emphasis is on other rituals.

I was particularly curious to see Roman coins being part of the ornaments of Amma's thali chain. How did Roman iconography come to be part of Indian jewellery? When we learnt history in school, it was fragmented, compartmentalised, and never mixed. Of course, there were huge trades between Tamil Nadu and the Roman Empire. And possessing foreign goods must have been an item to flaunt around. Hence, there is a desire to thread it into the thali chain and inadvertently let it slip out occasionally to let others see and get jealous.

* Thali (Tamil; தாலி) refers to a traditional necklace or pendant worn by married symbolising their marital status. It is typically made of gold and is an integral part of Tamil wedding customs. The groom ties the thali around the bride's neck during the wedding ceremony, signifying their union.

varieties of thali

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Breaking the yoke of ignorance!

Benzaiten, Japanese equivalent
to the diety Saraswati.

Saraswati Pooja used to be a vital feature in our household in childhood. The highlight of the whole event was placing our textbooks and getting the blessings of Goddess Saraswati. Thinking we would perform better in studies with Her blessings was naive. Amma did not fail to gently remind us that praying would not make us pass exams. We needed to put in the hours and concentration. There was no substitute for education; it was our key to happiness.

Every Saraswati Pooja reminds me of my childhood of respecting books and learned individuals, irrespective of their teaching styles or content. Then I questioned myself: Can smut be given the same recognition if presented in book form? With all the ill effects that come out of the web but nullified by all the good things it spreads, does it still qualify as a learning tool?

I soon realised that the spirit of Saraswati is the zest of reinforcing to immerse oneself into the ocean of knowledge. It is also a reminder that we are the privileged few whose journey through education is a given right. It is a prompt for us to appreciate those who reached greater despite the odds against them to acquire knowledge.

Ruby Bridges, 6, attending Elementary
School in 1960, accompanied by
US Marshals.

Offhand, I remember the people of my mother’s generation whose parents thought a child’s job was to take over the lead of feeding the family as soon as their bodies transitioned into adulthood, which can be as early as 14 for a girl and 16 for a male. My mother’s desire to continue studies and fly high was clipped prematurely after her primary Tamil school studies, and my uncle had to literally stay away from his family to earn to finance his upper secondary school studies.

Salutations also go to the first lady doctor and the first lawyer in countries where education for females was considered dangerous, tilting the patriarchal-matriarchal societal balance. They went against the grain and gripe of their communities to succeed. A family with an educated female will end illiteracy in that family.

Thought also goes to Ruby Bridges, whose parents had the courage and wisdom to enrol her as the first black girl in an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960. In 1964, Norman Rockwell immortalised the scene of Ruby marching boldly ‘like a soldier’ accompanied by US marshals in a painting. It later became an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement.

Even though specific religious iconographies have been included in celebrating Saraswati Pooja, its essence is secular. Appreciating the power of education on society does not convert students to give up their cultural beliefs. All faiths encourage their congregations to expand their knowledge and minds to the vast expanse of wisdom. Saraswati Pooja is a mere conduit to this realisation. It is also included as an Ayudha Pooja (Weapons' prayer), as books and knowledge constitute our weapons in our daily lives. It used to be swords and farming utensils. As though emphasising the role of the fairer sex in our society, this pooja is part of Navarathri, the nine-day celebration of female divinity.

So, I do not understand why a non-governmental organisation in Malaysia, Thiravidar Humanitarian Organisation, vehemently opposes the Saraswati Pooja celebrations in Tamil schools. They claim it is a religious activity; as such, it should not be held during teaching hours but to maintain the focus on education. That is precisely the point; celebrations like Saraswati Pooja would ignite true wisdom to separate the wheat from the chaff. This Malaysian NGO is an extension of Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian politics, primarily anti-Hindu. Their current aim in life is to eradicate Sanathana Dharma, just like humanity is trying to crush COVID and Dengue. The Malaysian NGO is parroting their masters across the seas, the same land their ancestors fled for a better life.

Dr Joshi graduated in 1886 from the Women's
Medical College in Pennsylvania.

Why were girls in the 19th and 20th centuries prevented from attending school? It could not be something engrained in the Indian society. Many crucial human activity departments are represented by goddesses, not male demigods. If Indian society was indeed patriarchal, why would Goddess Durga represent courage, Laxmi to wealth and Saraswati to be linked to knowledge? As though emphasising the role of the fairer sex in our society, Saraswati Pooja is part of Navarathri, the nine-day celebration of female divinity. Something must have happened in between. Could it be that the rapacious hunting of invading barbarians into India forced families to tuck their daughters far away from their invaders's lustful eyes? Over generations, they became better at being unseen and unheard, soon occupying second-class status in society. Just a thought!

 © Norman Rockwell

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Speak up!

The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity (2005)
Author: Amartya Sen

It is not good to stereotype people. Everyone is an individual with his own traits, likes and dislikes. Since the late 1990s, Indians worldwide have earned the dubious honour of being painfully argumentative. Social media has been biased in depicting a confrontational image of an Indian person. It is always an Indian arguing over his vegetarian food, demanding to know why his flight is delayed or acting like a Karen.

It is surprising that if Indians were really that cantankerous in voicing their opinions, how is it that a small battalion of British soldiers brought down repeated rebellions, looted and decimated a country which was earning 20 % of the world GDP to one which was the 13th poorest country in the world when they left. How did they subdue the argumentative Indian? I wonder if Gandhi's rhetoric of passive resistance and brotherly love for fellow mankind had anything to do with it. After all, the British made their dash out only when the Indians in the Army and Navy mutinied following the trial of INA officers/ rebellions.

This book comprises articles written by Nobel laureate for Economics and Bharat Ratna recipient Amyrtha Sen. Lately, an unabashed atheist, Sen has been chastised for his socialistic view critical of the Modi administration and his wife's link to the Rothschilds. Nevertheless, his ideas are greatly appreciated.

Adi Shankara's debate with Mandana Mishra
and Ubaya Bhāratī

Unlike many other cultures, Indians encouraged intellectual discourses and debates. In ancient India, as early as 800CE, Adi Sankaracharya is said to have spanned the four corners of India to argue out meanings of life. He had travelled to propagate his Advaita (non-dual - that the self is part of universal reality philosophy; that the Atma is part of Paraatma. The rulers of the day were keen to stage mammoth intellectual discourses. In one such instance, a travelling Adi Sankaracharya joined a debate with Mandana Mishra, a proponent of Mimamsa philosophy emphasising the ritualistic aspect of divinity. Their debate which was refereed by his Mandana's wife, Ubaya Bhāratī, lasted 15 days with a win for Adi Sankaracharya. Ubhaya continued debating on her husband's behalf. The point is that Ubhaya herself was an established debater. Ancient India did not have discriminatory policies against women appearing publicly and stating opinions.

Festivals in Tamil Nadu are never

complete without pattimandrams

This tradition continued into Akbar's inter-religious debates and the establishment of his secular religion, 'Din Illahi'. Even today, if one watches interviews with Arnab Goswami on Republic TV or the numerous pattimandrams (debates) on TV from Tamil Nadu, one can appreciate that the culture of sparring of words is very much alive. Pattimandrams viewed on Tamil TV are recordings of the numerous lively debates recorded in various towns around Tamil Nadu and overseas locations with a significant Tamil diaspora. Their practical topics involve daily dilemmas like 'who leads the family? Is it the father or mother' or 'has the nuclear family concept destroyed family bonds'. They are hugely popular; some speakers make a living from the weekly appearances. And the number of attendees is phenomenal.

An Indian debate on Arnab's Republic TV
18 fellows talking at the same time!

The argumentative nature of Indians probably spurred the desire to prove a point and crush the ignoramus.

Amazingly, there are so many versions of calendars within India. Some are solar-based, whilst others combine lunar and solar cycles. The puzzling thing is that they had corrected all the errors that modern calendars recently rectified. Its accuracy is mind-boggling.

There is a certain thinking that the time is now to reclaim their past glory. For far too long, Indians and their way of life have been sneered at. Indians have been pushovers thus far. With renewed resurgence armed with education, dedication and the zest to succeed, these argumentative Indians are returning with a bang.

(P.S. It seems that there is a Bro-Code, as an Indian Opposition MP, Rahul Gandhi of the former First Family of India, found out the hard way. An Indian can run down his country how much he wants, but only within the confines of his country. Outside his country, it is a no-no.)

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Ho, ho, ho... all the way to the bank!

We all know how much Christmas is commercialised in the modern world. Not to forget how the tunic of beard man Yuletide coincidentally shares the same colour with the most favourite drink, Coca Cola.

There is this town in Finland, in Laplands over the Arctic Circle, named Rovaniemi. Besides being the spot to view the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), it is also said the official hometown of Santa Claus. After being flattened out in World War 2, the town promoted itself as a Christmas destination after Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady, popularised it. Rovaniemi welcomes about half a million visitors annually.

If the rest of the world is contented with one stereotypical look of Santa, Slovenians can be incredibly proud of their three Santas. Each of their Santa reminds them of a different time in their country's history.

Santa, Miklavž and Mraz

First, there is the story of Saint Nicholas (or Sveti Miklavž in Slovene), a third-century bishop who is reputed to have saved a girl from prostitution by delivering a bag of coin in the dark of the night. Slovenians commemorate this day on the 6th of December by giving presents to children. Miklavž was a relic of the Hapsburg Empire when Roman Catholicism was the religion of the land. 

After the Austria-Hungario Empire crumbled after the First World War, the Slovene people became part of the authoritarian rule of Tito of Yugoslavia. Catholicism and religious holidays were banned under the communist regime. So was Saint Nicholas. But the thought of stopping giving presents to children was too much. Hence, Tito continued this tradition modelled after a Russian communist Santa named Ded Moroz. In Slovenia, he was called Dedek Mraz. 

White Christmas in Slovenia

When Slovenia became an independent nation in 1991, it was drawn to the western economic model. Naturally, Santa and consumerism ruled the roost. The more, the merrier the Slovenes thought. Now, all three Santas go on a rotation to have a month-long celebration in the month of December.

Each Santa reminds Slovenians of their ancient past - under the Empire, a Russia-controlled ruler and as an independent nation. 

It is intriguing how a celebration becomes an ideological or an economic model statement. The powers in control will tell their subjects what should be celebrated and how it should be celebrated. The rest, like lambs, will just follow the herd under the lead of the shepherd, whose sole intention in life is to fatten his flock and prepare them for the slaughterhouse!

(P.S. Meanwhile, in confused Malaysia, in the midst of trying to find her right footing in the ever-changing 21st century, after 50 years of racial and religious indoctrination, has left some of its citizens in a quandary. To wish or not to wish is the question! On the one hand, they are told the Creator created different tribes with various languages so as for people to know each other. Their idol, Zakir Naik, the foreign ultra-conservative evangelist with a bounty on his head, whom they hold in esteem, says it is haram to wish each other 'Merry Christmas'. By wishing so, he insists, that one is accepting that Jesus (or Isa in the Quran) is the Son of God. That, the fact that God (a.k.a. Allah) can have a wife and father a child is sacrilegious.)

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Just earning a living, you know...

Bait (2019)

I heard a joke many years ago. A venture capitalist was out on vacation in a remote place in Mexico, and he was fascinated at a lagoon with he saw. He saw a sombrero-donning gentleman dozing off on a fishing rod with a half-burnt cigar half-dangling off his lips. 
"Senõr," he said. "You fish here often?"
The Senõr obviously irritated being disturbed from his short siesta replied, "Si, senõr!"
"What if I change this place into a top marina with yachts that would bring in lots of money?"
"So?" he replied nonchalantly.
"So that you and your family can be rich. They would get good clothes, good education, a good life... And you can go for holidays in the Caribbeans."
"Why should I go on holidays in the Caribbeans?" the local was annoyed at the unsolicited advice.
The venture capitalist was not finished with his business pitch.
"So you enjoy the sun, laze around, go fishing and chomp on your Cuban..."
"But Senõr, I am already doing that!"

This British movie is intriguing as it was made with a vintage hand-held camera to produce a distinctive grainy film where audio was added on later, coming out with a disjointed but an expressive offering and extreme close-ups.

Seeing the famous philosopher Diogenes the 

Cynic basking under the autumn sun, Alexander 
asks him for whatever he could offer. He said,
"Stand aside to stop blocking the sun." 

A Cornish fishing village is losing its traditional appeal to the New World Order. Outsiders are swamping in to sell the attraction to the outside world. They are not there to contribute directly to the local economy but to take back their earnings to the big towns. The locals feel that their more straightforward way of life is impinged upon. Their age-old craft is lost. The newcomers are there not to spur the local industry but to set up Airbnb to showcase the town like museum artefacts.  Even the established local businesses also cater to the newcomers and their demands. The old lustre is all gone. New rules and regulations make the locals feel like they are foreigners in the land of the forefathers. The emigrè with their noses in the air and posh lifestyle is no match for the locals.

Two brothers who inherited a lodge and a fishing trawler as a family heirloom from their father had to give it all up because of economic reasons. The lodge had to be sold off to be converted into an Airbnb by out-of-towners who laze their time there during summer and rent it out during the off-season. The trawler had to be converted to a ferry to bring tourist around for a fee. One of the brothers still struggles with the family profession, hardly making ends meet fishing.

The newcomers, on the other hand, feel they are instrumental in bringing prosperity to their plebeian way of living. And they also just want to earn a living. Don't we all?

There is no panacea for these difficulties people go through. Nobody owns exclusivity to anything on this planet. We not only have to share this world with fellow human beings and other creatures.

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To tell or not to tell?

The Farewell (2019)

I first heard this story as being narrated by Lulu Wang in the podcast 'American Life'. It tells Lulu's story of how her family dealt with the news of her paternal grandmother's diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. It describes how Lulu's parents, together with her uncle's (father's brother) family in Japan, gathered in China, where the grandmother lives, to bid her farewell. The twist is that the whole family decided not to tell the patient, Nai Nai as she is affectionately referred to. The family, from three countries, descended upon Nai Nai's house under the pretext of celebrating Lulu's Japanese cousin's wedding.

Lulu's role is portrayed as an early 30s Chinese American student who goes to China in a soul-searching journey to rediscover her Chinese identity. She learns to appreciate the traditional family values. As their old values dictate that the happy mind would give a healthy body, the family thought that not telling Nai Nai of her disease and its grave prognosis. Still, instead of keeping her happy in the company of the people loves, it would go a long way in prolonging her life.

The trick seems to have worked in the case of Nai Nai. Even though she was given only three months to live by her Chinese physicians (and the diagnosis was agreed by American doctors), she went on to live another six years.

The traditional wisdom in modern medicine is that the patient has the right to know his or her disease. By understanding the extent of his illness, he is in a position to go all out to combat his ailment, especially which is chronic. This is especially so in cases where the prognosis is uncertain, like in cancers. A patient's attitude and resolve towards fighting the sickness and one-mindedness in battling cancer may actually alter the final outcome.

A person in the terminal stage of her infirmity may want to step up his preparations for the ethereal world. He may want to tick off the items in his bucket list (pun unintended). The content of his will may need alterations and many more.

In many Indian families too, I have noticed that the family would collectively decide that bad news, especially of the medical kind, would not be made known to the elder members. Are the family members worried that breaking bad news may trigger a cardiovascular and emotional meltdown that would be more devastating?

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The domination of beasts?

It is obviously innate in Man to indulge in violence and gore. Added with their past history from their time in the caves, what better way to show their domination than having an organised exhibition of Man against the beast. After all, the show of gladiators against each other had proved boring; too much of emotions involved.

Their duel with the king of the jungle proved futile too. It seems that the King of the Jungle dominates us in the arena as well. Men were dying like, err... not flies but helpless sacrificial lambs. Maybe, the slaves and the piny Christians were too docile in the Roman era.

They then ventured into bulls. The idea of raging bulls against a man provoking it with a provocative red flag suddenly became exciting. Who cares if bulls are colour blind? After all, they would be agitated by eyes glazed with paraffin and intoxications. After that, the slain meat would be sold off in the spirit of reverie.

Hence started the practice of bullfighting; a lopsided staged duel between Man and Beast. In the concrete jungle, Man is deluded to think he is superior. In the wild, however, he is naked as a newborn calf. He does not know that.

The success of the bullfight made him take the terror one step further. Why not let a few bulls run wild in the streets in the name of tradition?

This whole business of bullfighting is not all foolhardy and blatant cruelty to the hapless animals. The upside of this exercise is that it helps to identify strong bulls to mate females to produce resilient offspring and to spur the meat and possibly dairy industry. At least this is the experience in Tamil Nadu and their justification for continuing jalli kaatu.

In Spain, however, the idea of a horseman able to control a raging bull made a lot of sense to train soldiers to excel in cavalry as was the hallmark of a strong army in Europe those days. Over the years, the setting changed from that of a gentleman on a horse to that of a matador that we are familiar with. Anyway, like an opiate, it kept the masses happy whilst the royal family and the church did their work.

P.S. Looks like religious zealots are filling the gaps left by society’s reservations on the cruelty of animals with offenders of shariah law. They are looking at avenues to showcase their barbaric punishments. Though the display would not be as gory, is humiliating enough for the downtrodden, for those with holier than thou attitude, it would be satisfying.

Man tries to dominate ©FG

Plaza De Toro ©FG

©FG

Beast sometimes gets vengeance. Legend has it that the matador was all in cloud nine when he thought that the creature that he had skewered was dead. He was bowing to the applause when the dying bull pounced upon his back to gore him dead. One point for the beast.

https://asok22.wixsite.com/real-lesson 

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Tradition so rich!

Uttama Villain (உத்தம வில்லன், 2015)

Another self over glorifying movie about Kamalhaasan. Unlike Papanasam where Kamal was in a simple role telling a simple story, he is in his usual larger than life persona here.
At the same time, I pick up the vibes of it being a satire of sorts, poking fun at the film industry. An actor is expected to be immortal donning the same role as he did from the start of his career, at the same time the age of the actresses remain the same. The apparent difference in age is comparable as father and daughter's!

Manoranjan (Kamalhaasan) is a famous movie-star who has the world has his feet as he performs age defying dance moves with his heroines. In his private life, he is different. He has an intimate relationship with his doctor and has an illegitimate child from an old girlfriend. He has an disgruntled teenage son and a fast food chomping oversized wife at home. Everything takes a turn went Manoranjan is diagnosed with inoperable advanced brain tumour. At the same time, the existence of the illegitimate child comes to fore.

Villupaattu

As his end is near, he tries to make peace with all around him, his son, his wife, his daughter from his old flame and end the feud between his father-in-law and his old director, Margadarsi (late K Balachander). Not to forget his fans, he decided to make a comedy in a traditional style depicting himself as an immortal so that they can forever remember him as such.

Theyyam worship

The making of his swansong in the film forms a big part of the movie. It is actually a bold move as it may not appeal to general cinema going public as the spoken language is quite archaic and refined. This part of the dialogue, which was crafted by Kamalhaasan, was quite witty with clever word interplay to create a laughter or two. It tries to introduce the legend of the immortal young boy of Prahlada, a Vishnu devotee who escaped death repeatedly, the legend of a wicked one-eared king and his death in the hands of Narasimha. The climax of the movie is the final dance in Villupaatu tune using traditional instruments infused with philharmonic sounds and dances as done in Thayyum worship practiced in parts of Kerala and Karnataka.

The purpose of art is not just to entertain and give that 2 hour of satiety but to reflect upon our rich ancestral traditions that risk being forgotten. Villupaatu is a traditional entertainment using bow (villu) attached to bells as the main instrument with other percussions to narrate stories which carry social messages or stories. Theyyam worship used to be done by people of lower castes as their entry to temples was denied. Theyyam is their depiction of the Mother-Goddess. And by the way, villain is a Tamil word (வில்லன்) with the same meaning even dictionaries may say that it is Middle English origin! Uttaman denotes innocence, just the opposite. The title of film may hint that unlike characters in the screen who are so clear cut, people in life may end villains through their seemingly innocent actions or inactions. Just my take....