A day in the life of a tribal warrior princess

 

Where technology rules our lives from the moment we rise, till the moment we call it a day, there are some places pure and pristine where Nature is the sole and most dependable companion of humans. Technology is used just as an alternative than a need. There are stories of real warriors and unsung heroes in these untouched and unheard pockets of paradise.

In the deep jungles in one of the remote areas in north Kerala, you will see the beauty of nature reflected through the people residing there. I was lucky enough to get to spend a day in the village, located on a hill adjacent to the dam. The trail up the hill was not easy yet Seema made it very enjoyable. She had a tempo traveler with her husband like a pro in driving uphill, so I was not to worry at all. I had met Seema in one of the camps that were set a few years back to help those affected by the floods and I was part of the relief team. Our friendship continued and as they say, there is no caste, creed, or age to make friends, we kept in touch. They had just a few mobile phones back then so landline was the dependable source.

Seema, a 28-year-old, mother of two, is one of her kind, I can say. Her story of grit always gives me goose pimples. She hailed from a tribal community where money was always scarce yet always sufficient to feed every member of a family. She was the only girl in the family and her elder brother was a special child. She was determined to study and through some grants, she was able to get the basic education that would help her get some clerical job in the village panchayat.  She was always vocal about women’s rights and now she was all set to start a new venture, as an entrepreneur, as a dealer of spices. This was a phenomenal feat and that too for a woman. She wanted me to help her with setting it up online. My time with her changed my perception of life in a tribal setup.

Seema had a very interesting routine. She woke up as early as 3 am when the rest of the world is in deep slumber. She would go to the pond nearby, all alone, to take a bath, and once back, she would complete her prayer rituals and even meditate in the open garden of her house. She was brave, I told her, she said, when we treat Nature as our mother, we are always protected. She then completed her kitchen chores, leaving tiny things to be done by her mother. Also, she was to take care of her brother, since her father was away at work, so once he woke up, her husband bathed him and helped him with the basic cleanliness regime. She then helped feed her brother. After which , she cleaned the house and washed the utensils by the well just next to her kitchen. She never got tired fetching some 20-plus bucket full of water. This was equal to hitting straight for a workout at a gym, which we do in the city. Her children, aged 10 and 5 years, were best-taken care of by her mother. She wore a simple sari and a red bindi in the middle of her eyebrows, hair neatly tied up in a bun and a few black glass bangles adorned her wrists. She would stand out tall and confident compared to any other woman in a corporate suit and loathed with make-up. His husband dropped us at their paddy field as she had to check on the daily attendance and attend to any concerns of the workers. There were some 5-6 tribal men and women there, all above her age for sure. She was a likable person for sure and they treated her as their daughter and with gratitude that she was helping them earn a living.

People in the tribal areas take up any job that comes by so here, Seema would ensure that these set of people were always with a job. In the afternoon some of them could be seen in the small factory nearby where the spices were packaged to be sent to the retailers in the city. She was always on the go, sparing no time to rest, except for the 15 minutes during lunchtime. She would teach others in the most humble way treating all with respect and also maintaining her dignity. I helped her with solutions and contacts for her business and it was great understanding the process there. The spices, some raw and others powdered were from the forests surrounding the village. I even got a chance to see how the men collected the spices in their respective forms, from the deep jungle. From pepper to cinnamon barks to cardamom, the aroma of these spices filled the air. No wonder the village was more famous for the pure air than our pollution-jaded atmosphere back in the suburbs.

I was fascinated by the simplicity of the food that was prepared with a royal flavor of the spices. My breakfast comprised of idli and sambar and a health drink made of different millets. The lunch was grand with vegetables, curries, and the brown rice that was all cooked on a brick stove and not gas. Everything was so delicious and she had prepared these many varieties, all by herself. She was very kind to say that it gives immense pleasure to have someone home because they are regarded as God, in their custom, and to be treated with love always. Seema never complained of anything as such, she was a solution finder rather. Her family was very amicable and soft-spoken.

As I took leave and she came all the way to see me off, in her vehicle, her husband stayed back to take care of all at home. Seema knew to drive the mini-truck, piercing through the dark road, fearlessly like a warrior princess.

You are 'Special'

 The beauty of certain words brings in a feeling of the highest form of respect, shades of pure love and the magic of positive vibes as such.

'You are Special' is a powerful expression of accepting the soulful qualities that you reflect.

What you reflect, cascades the qualities to the receiver with sheer joy.

The joy of enjoying every moment that is gifted by the special through simplicity and innocent gestures.

Because what matters most is to create a world where the pearls of 'special' that aligns the virtuous humans.

Humans who give generously to enable others to become the best versions in life as and for ' being special'.

Ambber se blessings!

 Jab dur amber se kai leheren uthhthi hai,

Ek umang si chehre ka noor bann jaati hai.

The step taken upon breaking the regular pattern,

Leads you to witness a soulful surprise.

Harr waqt humae kuch anokha sikhlaata hai,

Harr thehraav humae zindagi se roobaru karati hai.

Rise and shine echoed the the mountains.

The face lit up, and eyes decided to go with the flow.

Jab ek kadam uss naye aamaan ki taraf badhti hai,

Saari kaaynaat milkae apka hauslawzai karti hai.

The wings that were frail danced to the swirling hope clouds,

Her smile of faith brightened up the sky as breezy showers.

The Good Constant

 This was one of the phases, when I was going through what people bluntly call 'the writer's block'. The funniest part is people assume that in this phase, one cannot write a word or weave thoughts into action at all. It is not so.

One can just write professionally perfect but we can sense the unseen traffic block in the mind.

I love poetry and journaling about Nature, children and gratitude. I was not able to feel the joy. My friends did try their best with cues, but I had probably slipped inside my self-created shell. I went through videos, listened to podcasts and read extensively to figure out how to help myself.

I took a sabbatical from my personal writing routine, for nearly weeks or more, apart from the regular work at office. I accepted that there is a way out yet I was wandering aimlessly and trying.

The void was there yet I was focusing on music and Reiki. I read the Bhagwat Gita again. I did make notes, not that I abandoned my pen and notepad.

Finally, call it a divine intervention or as though the Universe heard my wish, I received guidance in a way that was magical and unusual. Why magical because I never realized how effortlessly I unlocked my mind to resume my journey in pursuit of writing my heart out, just the way I like it.

A blissful connect as I call, certain souls come by, probably because they are meant to guide us through, in that phase. They are focused and clear about their role even if we are unable to understand the intention. Change isn't easy. It definitely makes sense once we review that phase and we emerge as a winner.

Candid communication is the only solution. Imagine a FM Radio where you very well know that you get to enjoy different kinds of music or talks when you tune in to 'hear' different frequencies. You also 'listen' to one frequently because it resonates with your happiness journey.

Similar is our mind, it seeks for answers and in my case I definitely basked in a lot of knowledge through positive imagery, opening up the happy memories and cherishing each day as a good learning as part of the purest unrecorded thread of sharing virtues. I polished the zeal to express and realized my story writing skills.

I am thankful to almighty for their brief interaction and learnings that'll remain for a lifetime. Brief yet abundant in terms of sharing the right direction, prompt solution , the powerful tips on self improvement, the acceptance of differences, unconditional support and the power of silence.

The angelic Alchemist gave a broader perspective about happiness, self worth, mutual trust, than just writing!

Sharing some of the qualities:

1. Write anything, consistently.

2. Go with the flow of thoughts, be yourself.

3. Do a thing surely daily.
4. Detach from the result, trust the process.
5. Read books from different authors .
6. Value time and promise.
7. Be calm, respectful and grateful always.

Trek up, smart, to reach the top

 

Any impromptu unique trekking expedition, does elevate your confidence to win a challenge in harmony with Nature.

Once upon a time, in Bangalore, we plan a trip nearby, near Shivasamudra. Our driver suggested that we should stop by a temple on the way, which is on a hill top. We stopped by the Shiva temple, recommended by him. This seemed to have evolved by itself and it was a forest earlier. Now with well paved road so reaching there was easy.

It was a weekday, so there was no rush as such. We were early so maybe that could be the reason. I could see a steep path leading up a higher hill and this added to my curiosity bubble. We were told that, up there, one could get a panoramic view of this temple, the nearby hills and the valleys around. My cousin and I were enthusiastic but then there was one challenge. We looked down at our feet.

The Sun had started blazing its warmth a little too aggressively, when it was just 7.30 am. Only my cousin and I wanted to check out the view. The challenge was to trek uphill, barefoot, on the stony steps and then the rugged rocky path. Going back to the car to get the shoes would mean shelving the enthusiasm. While the rest of the family waited patiently, sitting under the shade of a peepal tree, we both wasted no time and began on our adventure.

The steps were nicely baked in the Sun rays, so we had to take quick steps. It was steep so it was not easy as it seemed initially. We actually thought that it was better to give up, but we pushed each other to keep moving. Reverse counting was a technique we tried for the sprite of motivation.

What if there is no next time to this place?

We paused to rest for a while after about 250 steps, it seems an equal number was welcoming us up. My feet were reddish already yet I didn’t want to give up. I looked up the sky, into the Sun.  There were these huge cirrus cottony white clouds that forced the majestic ball of fire play hide and seek. That was a perfect timing when the shadow of the clouds covered the steps with a cooling effect. That's it, we decided to play along and when the Sun hid, we paced faster. The clouds were our true angel friends.

After 20 minutes, we finally made it to the top and while I was gasping for breath, I sat on the rock to celebrate our achievement. The scenic beauty was picturesque and there was an echo point too. This was a surprise gift that awaited us here for coming this far and high. The hill top was muddy and rocky yet the mud was soothing to our feet. We were there for 10 minutes and then walking downhill. It took us just 15 minutes.

Later, the blisters that blessed my feet did relate my adventure., that healed in a day or two, easily. Trekking barefoot when it is very hot, is not recommended. Always go well-prepared. Ensure that you are well hydrated. Carry water and a cap always. Well given an unplanned situation, trust your instincts and follow the signs shown by Nature.

The Kullad Story

 

Probably being born and brought up in the North comes with a unique fondness towards certain things that you miss down south. The list might run to pages but then this one is really special.

I was on my trip to Benaras, few years back in October when winter just struck in. It was supposedly my first trip after a decade and a half to the north. I was excited. I had made the to-do list and my sister's best friend, was extra loving to help me tick most of them.

We toured places, ate the best of Street foods, some mouth watering banarasi sweets and sailing on the Ganges for divine blessings. On the list was the ' kullad chai'. We would see many places that did sell this but then the catch was to spot them in the wee hours than broad daylight.

Didi said that the joy of savoring this was when it was still misty so early morning or late in the evening would be ideal. She had it on her mind when I had somehow given up the wish of having the banarasi kullad chai. I said to myself, it's ok, it will manifest someday!

My return flight was in the morning and we started early so that we reach on time. I somehow have this strange thing of boarding most of the flights at the N th hour, despite planning. That's another interesting one, some other time.

We were at the entrance of the airport and did have sometime to breathe and the driver just went somewhere. I was checking the time and wanted to go and didi was like you have time. Still I was ticking the clock in my mind.

Out from the blue, the driver returned with a kettle and kullads. I was speechless. In his typical Bihari accent, he said - ee liyo tumhaar chaai ( here take your chai). I thanked him for this kind gesture.

I looked at Didi in wonder and she was like, have it fast now. It was a good masala tea with just the right measure of milk and sugar. Since the tea was quite freshly made, I had the privilege of holding two kullads to help bring the tea to normal temperature. Some quick flashlights for a memory, we had the kullad chai. It was so refreshing and I didn't want to part with the kullad. The earthy finish reflected the flawless masterpiece and fine curves by some unsung mud potter. This was definitely made on the traditional wheel unlike the machine made versions available these days.

Didi was happy to see the cherubic shine in my eyes and the smile. She said , Hamesha khush raho ( always be happy).

☕ When you wish for something,ask, believe and be calm. Good things take time
☕ Trust that the people around radiate happiness just as you do.
☕ Always be grateful each day for the wonderful people you meet and greet daily.
☕ Travel is a highly positive as it connects you with little joys of life, quite fulfilling and refreshing.
☕ People are kind irrespective of their caste, creed or profession. What matters is the respect you bestow them with.

☕ Appreciate life as it happens not as you perceive it to happen. Miracles have perfect timings.

Soulful Connections

It was soon after the 2004 Tsunami, when I landed in Chennai to try my luck, in the most determined way, to flourish as a writer. It was a time when mobile phone was a far-fetched luxury still and was not yet qualified in the necessity category in India. So the local PCO/STD booths made lots of money and they could be spotted in almost every corner of the street.

I used to have this small telephone diary, gifted by my father. The list kept increasing as I started skimming through the Yellow Pages Directory for possible leads. I used to go to a particular telephone booth run by an elderly man. Our first interaction was interesting too. Way back then, I did manage speaking in Tamil, though not fluently unlike today, but he was pretty smart to guess I was not from the South. I said I was from Kerala. With a shine in his eyes, he shot the next obvious question, where in Kerala. He hailed from a place that was just 30 minutes away from my maternal home. He was very helpful and caring all the time. I had given the PCO number for reference where the agencies used the popularly unfriendly phrase ‘Leave your number, we will get back to you.’ While nobody really called back, he would insist that I keep trying, at least I follow up with a call to know if there is hope or full-stop. Mostly it was the latter and I would just smile because we knew I will make it someday.

When I got a job, with my desired role, uncle was among the select few I shared the news with a box of sweets. When I got my first salary, I had bought my first mobile phone and my visits to his shop became numbered. Nevertheless, would go to check on him as long as I stayed in that locality. His business was not doing well because of the advent of the mobile phones companies so he did convert it into a juice corner keeping the PCO going as long as he could.
Even though I left the locality, I had his number so I would call him during all festive occasions to wish him but then somewhere down the journey, this connect got disconnected when it said ‘ the number you are calling does not exist’.

After many years I happened to pass by that area, and the cloud of nostalgia encircled me. Everything in that street had changed, , I recalled uncle’s shop’s location, but then, I could not find it. I stopped the vehicle and inquired around. Nobody knew such a person. I gave up hope until I went to a textile shop, where the owner welcomed me with a smile. I hardly knew him. He then broke my suspense bubble and happened to be the boy who worked in uncle’s shop for some time. I asked about uncle and I came to know that he had moved back to Kerala selling his shop. He did have some contact number. I dialed the number. It was ringing but no response. I resumed my journey.

Weeks went by, I received a call. The‘Hello’ struck a magical re-connect, I was laughing with joy. He was the same soulful well-wisher.