April 23, 2025

T For Tribal Museum

 Here I am sharing two pics of Tribal museum established at Bhadrachalam. It showcases the utensils, arms, indigenous tools and everything belonged to the life of Tribal people like Koya, Konda Reddy and Nayak podu and these are pre-dominant tribal communities in the division. ITDA and Dist. Collector took initiative to establish the museum and there are eateries to provide delicacies of local tribal people. Amusement park for children has also established.



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April 22, 2025

S For Squirrel

 


Can we pet a squirrel in our country? I don't know much about it but some friends said it's not legal to do so as the squirrel is the wild animal. I used to see at least one squirrel when I went to our local park. They looked timid, yet, they observed humans keenly. Sometimes, I remain still or motionless whenever they are lingering near me. They tried to come nearer and nearer, perhaps, on the perception of safe vibrations. If we keep moving around, the tiny animal would run away and it never stops observing from a safe distance.

The shining little black eyes have a strange beauty like baby's and the swift movement leaves us helpless when we ever try to near them. Perhaps they love shade compared to sunshine. Strips on its back remind us of a tale from the Ramayanam. Squirrel was said to have helped in the mission of Rama Sethu, of course, in its capacity. It was a touching part of the classic and showcased saint-poet Valmiki's great imagination about the little animals doing their bit.  


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April 21, 2025

R For Review

 


How I Write, is a book carried with the experiences of writers, journalists, and poets. It unraveled many secrets which are very useful for budding writers. Almost 20 people were interviewed to elicit their candid opinions and how the agent system in the western part of the world keeps playing to get printed any book. The same work here was done by the editor. Everyone accepted that how the first draft to be evolved through various phases. Their starting troubles would open doors for struggling writers to hone their skills in different aspects.

Pankaj Mishra explained how his distraction-free environment led him to write. How he transitioned later with the places he moved can be an interesting read. Mayukh Sen, a Bengali immigrant food writer recalled how he got passionate about Merle Oberon's book. Manjushree Thapa, of Nepalese origin, talked about her years of struggling as a writer. How her foreign upbringing created chaotic conditions in selecting themes with authenticity. Many other voices were having a heartfelt conversation about the creative community. The book was edited by Sonia Faleiro and brought out from South Asia Speaks. Price: 699/-, available on Amazon platform.  

----- Murthy Kvvs


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April 19, 2025

Q For Quotations

 In our daily lives, we come across numerous quotations. However, we do not recall everything. Yet, some will get touched our hearts. They will remain unforgettable all through our lives. They give occasional comfort. Occasionally boosts morale. Quotes are taken from different works and presented to readers promptly. Posting good quotes on your WhatsApp profile tends to receive positive feedback.

When the writer expresses himself sincerely in refined language, it becomes artful. It provides entertainment to others as well. The power lies within it. Quotes from philosophers, religious texts, and the works of great authors are just a few examples of meaningful sayings.


Here is one quotation from Ernest Hemingway that I like.


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April 18, 2025

P For Parnasala

 


Parnasala is a pilgrim place, 30 km away from Bhadrachalam and it's not separable from Bhadrachalam due to its extraordinary mythology. Every devotee who visited the temple at Bhadrachalam should visit Parnasala also. It's a thumb rule. People said that Sri Rama was living here during the 14 years of his exile. He and his consort Seeta Ma and Lakshmana lived in the place by making Parnasala ( a hut made with leaves and forest material). The guide shows the visitors rocky places where Seeta Ma dried her sarees. 

In the temple, we can see a makeshift hut built with bamboo and leaves to remind the life they spent here. Compared to Bhadrachalam temple, here the temple is modest but the ambiance of River Godavari and hillocks seen on the opposite banks is eye feasting. Usually visitors would come here by their vehicles and autos are also available from Bhadrachalam. Journey seems not tedious due to the lush green fields are both sides of the road. 


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April 17, 2025

O For Owls


Owl is nowhere to be seen these days. In my childhood, they were often seen in the holes of banyan trees and on the branches of other giant trees. They looked scary with their big eyes but they have never tried to intimidate us even once. Some people used to say that owls are messengers of spiritual realms. They would bring good luck, especially monetary gain when we encounter them unexpectedly. There are many negative opinions about these nocturnal creatures. I was doubting why didn't they build nests like other birds instead of being in tree holes.

Perhaps due to changing eco-balance, now, owls are hardly seen. Their voice is distinct from other birds. In our childhood, along with my friends, while being roamed in nearby thickets, many sounds were heard in different frequencies. Surprisingly no bird made its presence but once we left the place, they would run away with fluttering their wings. Apart from all, owls are very clever like humans. They preserve extra food in their holes. I keep looking for owls wherever huge trees appear but my anticipation fails every time.

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April 16, 2025

N For Novelist

Gudipati Venkatachalam was a great novelist in Telugu. He was a pioneer in taking up issues of women in modern Telugu literature and his influence is palpable still today in the form of collective consciousness of present writers in varied hues. By raising groundbreaking questions on behalf of women, he was ahead of his times and revolutionized his contemporary society with his novels. Chalam fought against male chauvinism, equal rights for women, and shackleless relationship between men and women. His novels brazenly portrayed his philosophy and they have been banned sometimes for the reason of explicit descriptions. As a writer, his active period was 1920 - 1972. Mostly Telugu society was laden with feudal and orthodox elements, so it was natural to face backlash from all quarters.

Chalam penned innumerable short stories, essays and translations also. His style of writing is hypnotic. By using simple words, he pours out some elfin charm over the reader. Many a writer kept trying the magic afterwards but the very few pulled it off. Original is original whatsoever. Books Chalam is getting republished over and over and this hardly happens with any other writer. Maidaanam, Sasirekha, Daivamichina bhaarya, and many other novels are prominent among his novels. The short stories list can be of hundred or so. "Musings" are the narrative that he created to vent out his inner world in a languid way. 


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April 15, 2025

M For Manoj Das

Manoj Das the name, first happened to see it on a library book when I was studying my degree and the book he authored was a sketch of Aravinda Maha yogi. After having some pages flipped through, the essence appealed to me in a lighter vein and there was a poetic expression in his writing flow. A profound tapestry of spirituality and yogic experiences unfolded throughout the book. I have no idea who the writer was what state he belonged to and all the concerned details. I searched about them in the book which was published by Kendriya Sahitya Academy. It all happened during 1984-87.

But I wanted to meet him once in my lifetime. Have never expressed my inner thoughts to anybody and forgotten as we have no source of the internet to search further in those days. Life made me busier with my travels and profession. My passion for blogging played a crucial role in making friends from many states. Unimaginable, One Samir Ranjan Das arrived into my digital life that way. He was, then, working in Hyderabad for the Overseas Bank of India. His native place was Bhubaneswar. Once he told me about the legendary writer Manoj Das as his favorite one and I connected with him instantly.

We met each other when he arrived at Kothagudem for the branch inspection and visited the temple at Bhadrachalam. We discussed a lot about various kinds of happenings in literature and other realms. I understood that he was running a website on the works of Manoj Das. His bondage and devotion toward the writer was unparalleled. Over time, I grabbed the books of Manoj Das and went through them with myriad hues. I found that he was a great bilingual author. He displayed the same ease and deft in both Oriya and English. Samir Ranjan Das used to cite examples regarding his versions from both languages.

I at last visited the home of Manoj Das at Pondicherry on 27 September 2019. After almost three decades, my wish was fulfilled through Samir Ranjan Das for which he must have been sent in my life. Manoj Das was not only a legendary writer but also an exceptional spiritual person. He presented me with his book  "The Bridge in the Moonlit Night and Other Stories". Our meeting surpassed the appointment time that I made with him. It was purely behest of his deeply moving words. Padma Vibhushan Dr. Manoj Das passed away on 27 Apr 2021. This is my small tribute to the noble soul. 


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April 14, 2025

L For Lakshmipuram


( Some press persons on the Britsh era bridge at Lakshmipuram)

 Lakshimipuram is the place in the sub-division of Bhadrachalam. Though which is looked like a non-descript village like any of countless villages in our country. During the era of Britishers, It has experienced its luxury with plenty of action like being staged colonial constructions, canal and navigation office and human signatures. Now all they are in fading state. I have first recognized historical importance of the place, almost 40 years back, when I got an old English dictionary from a Siddha Doctor. It has had a stamp on it with the village name and the year mentioned some 1890s. I got shocked and intrigued and on the spur asked the person who was an old fashioned Siddha and herbal doctor. He was in his 80's then. He explained that that the dictionary was given by a British national to his ancestors. 

( My recent Telugu novella )

It was dampen and dried during the floods. Pages were almost soiled. But it has been preserved as an antique in their house. Fortunately it came to me to understand the history of the locality. All my research turned into a hundred page novella in Telugu (Title : Niranthara Yaatrikudu). It received good recognition and some readers called me to visit the place. For wider reach, I should translate it into English. I can't say that when it will get done with the burden of many other translation works. One of them is to translate Mamang Dai's award winning novel "The Black hills". Well, the Siddha doctor is no more now and his children shifted to Hyderabad and Switzerland. 


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April 12, 2025

K For Karakatta


 Beside the banks of river Godavari at Bhadrachalam, Karakatta or a high rise road is seen and from where different scenic phenomena is evident. Flooding and feeble in both forms of river is an eye feasting in different seasons. Some people come here to have a morning walk and the green grass is used as a mat for visitors especially on busy festival days. Small shrines over there beside the steps lead to upper side are renovated when new constructions have taken place.

Western horizon looks serene and colorful in the morning and evening. Sitting in the sand and lost in the nature is something unforgettable. Many visitors gather in special days to take a dip. But one has to go ahead southern side to experience a unparalleled spectacle. Soothing devotional songs smoothly flow with the currents of air. Sometimes, saffron clad sanyasis are used to appear here in course of wandering mission. Usually nobody tries to talk to them.


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April 11, 2025

J For Journalism

 Journalism is a profession with a touch of glamor and a unique presence in the society. I don't know much about the counterparts in other states or countries. Except for some leading newspapers, most vernacular publications pay peanuts for journos, especially in Telugu. But the social position is high and local politicians and other government officers are always there to get publicity in the form of news. Telugu journalism is not lagging when it is considered to exploit the opportunities in possible ways. That's why, many journos appear to lead luxury life, irrespective of their low salaries. In any profession, a talkative attitude and, survival techniques play key roles, without those skills being in journalism is not that paying however capacity one has.


I have been in the profession for some time. It was a leading newspaper and everybody displayed a unique respect and meeting ministers on their arrival was a cakewalk. Developing connections for business or other works is something a real shrewd journo does with foresight. That's why nobody cares how much they would get as a salary. Some honest journos expect nothing from others. And they would remain penniless at their last stage. Some other advantage is being in the press. If you have good writing skills, you will get more publicity by getting published your articles. Connections in the desk do wonders and most of the award winning writers, if you look carefully, are journos in different positions. Or they are skilled enough to maintain rapport with inside people of the press.   


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April 10, 2025

I For ITC PSPD Unit

 
I For ITC PSPD Unit at Sarapaka. Sarapaka village is almost 5 km from Bhadrachalam. We can also see a well-known paper board unit owned by the ITC group. This is the second-largest paper manufacturing factory in Asia. Here, a diverse range of specialty papers and boards are in making day in and day out. 1800 people directly and 3000 people indirectly employed. With the inception of this unit, there have been many changes happened. It procures 15 lakh tonnes of pulpwood from 8000 farmers belonging to both Telugu states. A considerable chunk of youth got employed from surrounding villages. People generally call it with the name of BPL (Bhadrachalam Paperboards Limited). Formerly the unit's name was ITC BPL but it was changed to ITC PSPD over time.


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April 9, 2025

H For Hamsa vahanam for Teppotsavam


Hamsa vahanam which denotes a Swan-like vehicle. On the occasion of the Mukkoti Festival, the deities would take a recreational ride on the waves of river Godavari at Bhadrachalam. I can't say exactly when this had started but it's a reason to congregate devotees and other visitors to throng on the banks of the river. Crackers would be blasting on a large scale and a real eye-feasting for children and grown-ups. District and state-level officers, politicians, and ministers also partake in the event. The ambiance keeps bustling with the exodus of people and vendors. Classical dance and vocal programs will be held on the Hamsa vahanam. Nowadays, a special stage is seen for cultural events.

Why Hamsa vahanam for God ? In my view, the idols of Lord Rama and others are treated as Royal supreme for all the devotees and the Hamsa vahanam would carry them on a jolly ride by having three rounds on the waves of river Godavari. So that, all the people assembled on the banks hail the king of the kings and have darshanam. At present trends, photos and YouTuber's hullaballoo can be witnessed. Anyhow, one thing is certain. At the time of twilight, such Hamsa vahanam events mesmerize the onlookers, as the cool breeze sways over the atmosphere. A human being with an ounce of aesthetic sense would be spellbinding, watching the celestial happening.


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April 8, 2025

G For Godavari


 River Godavari is an inseparable phenomenon when we think of the pilgrim town of Bhadrachalam. Almost every Hindu holy place is near some river or water facility. It has been happening since immemorial as our ancestors recognized the importance of water. For bathing and other rituals like Pitrukarmas, the source of water plays a vital role. Godavari River is the second longest one in our country and it enters at Kandakurtha of Nizamabad district in Telangana state. The river flows 1465 km from its place of origin i.e., Traimbakeswar of Nasik, Maharashtra. Early in the morning, the banks of Godavari at Bhadrachalam seem bustling with devotees. Taking holy dips and performing rituals are a common spectacle.

On some festivals, we can witness more rush all along the day. Devotees come from not only Telugu states but from far-off states also. Many languages and dialects are heard at the place. It's also one kind of national integration given spirituality. In the monsoon season, the river becomes torrential and one should be very careful. The rest of the days, it's okay with swimming, however taking care is of utmost importance since casualties are heard every year. Evenings and mornings at the river are worth being and the serenity we feel by watching the sun on the horizon is the best moment ever have. 


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April 7, 2025

F For Flame of the Forest



 I was wishing to have clicked the splashing orange colored flowers whenever being on the journey of Parnasala.To be precise,these trees are aplenty right when we enter the outskirts of Turubaka which is just a ten k.m. Away from Bhadrachalam.At the outset of the spring season, the bright bunch of orange flowers start blooming to entice the onlookers. 

These trees are well known as Modugu chetlu and the flowers are Modugu pulu.Its botanical name is Butea Monosperma.Quiet a natural phenomenon around this locality.Bhadrachalam is so notorious for its mercury levels during the summer season,yet the trees of its kind look retro with eye feasting orange flowers, leaving leaves without a trace.

These flowers were appreciated in ancient Ayurvedic medicine. 

People also use them to make colors for use on the festival of Holi. Vedic rituals are associated with the flowers. Another name for these is Flowers of Fire. Richly attributed to the literary traditions of many states of India. Mainly we see these in the southeast and Southwest parts of Asia.

In the process of transforming nature into Spring ,the woods seem ablaze with the shoots of flowers. Sooner the bursting of brimming colors arrest the gaze of beholders.At last,fortunate to showcase the scenes today for our blog viewers.

The backdrop here in this picture keeps negating though the tree stood with adequate flowers. Oblivious to our surroundings when taking these pictures. But amazing nature added its hues as a paramour. Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour  


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April 5, 2025

E For Ending days

I got disheartened when I read the news, recently. I had never imagined reading such news in my lifetime. The British-era building at Dummugudem has to be dismantled, sooner or later. The news came from none other than concerned authorities, and that too, a decision taken at the request of their people. So no second thoughts from any of the onlookers. Yes, the building is ancient and at the same time, there is some regal outlook even in the ending days. Furniture, walls, and decorative crafting got severely damaged. For the last decade, it has been used as a bank branch, and before it was used as a library also. After things get worse, they have been shifted to somewhere else.

The building was built by a Zamindar in the British era. He constructed it to live here whenever he came here to supervise tax collection. The year of the construction is exactly not known but some old-generation people said that it is almost more than a hundred years old. With every passing natural calamity, the building was getting ruined partially. Concerned heirs have gone far-off places on their other avocations. Neighbors of the building started their voices to dismantle the construction to avoid untimely accidents when it fell. With the opinion of locals, heirs also seemed to accept to erase the sign of the old construction.


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April 4, 2025

D For Divine Singer KJ Yesu Das at Dhyana Mandiram

Dhyana Mandiram was built in 1956 on a small hillock, nearby the main temple of Bhadrachalam. The foundation stone was laid by the Late Dr. Sarvepalli Radha Krishnan (President of India). The driving force behind it was Dr. Neelamraju Venkata Seshayya. He was the editor of Andhra Prabha in those days. Through its very name, we can understand that the building is for Dhyana or Meditation. Devotees used to come here after having Darshanam in the main temple of Lord Rama. Bhadrachalam is considered as the South Ayodhya, that's why devotees come here from far and wide.

                           Way to Dhyana Mandiram

Dhyana Mandiram usually looks very serene and the walls inside are adorned with the Keertanas by Saint Ramadasa. There is a large hall in the building where traditional music recitals would take place and music lovers will be visiting without fail. Particularly on auspicious days like Sri Rama Navami, Mukkoti Ekadasi and other ones, many prominent musical wizards like K.J. Yesudas, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhim sen Joshi, S.P. Balasubrhamanyam, Dr. Mangalampalli etc. used to perform in the hall and in course of time, the venue shifted to Kalyana Mandapam and Chitra kuta mandapam.

And it has become a past glory. Almost three decades back, we have had the luxury of seeing and listening to such stalwarts. I am clueless as to why such programs are not being performed nowadays. Musicians and dancers are coming now for every important festival for giving performances but there is no sign of such great legends to witness. For the first time, I closely watched  KJ Yesudas, the legendary singer, in my life here in the musical recital. He was very kind to the people, when a person was trying to enter the VIP gallery, intercepted by a security guard, on seeing it KJ Yesu Das waved his hand toward the guard to let him come in. That was a great memory.

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April 3, 2025

C For Chinna high school


Chinna High School is known to all people without any difference between children and adults. It is located in the heart of Bhadrachalam. In the first place, it's not a high school. Just upper primary school. But the public calls it Chinna, which means small in Telugu. Small high school, in their view, it's smaller than high school. Don't think that people are not aware of the difference. Somebody could have coined the word and it has been followed by people. And the nomenclature reigned in its way. We can't reason out for every name and order the public to call correctly. Sometimes no one prepares the general names in an organized way. They get generated on their own. We just have to follow it with chuckles. That's it.

The real irony is that, recently, this upper primary school has turned into a primary school. And the name is being carried on as it said above. See, nothing can alternate once it is established to bedrock. In addition to this, there is a post office in front of it. Everybody calls it as Pedda post office. Pedda means big. It's been called so since the entity is a head post office at the division level. It's somewhat reasonable, isn't it? However both the entities are some decades old and their glory is going on unflinchingly. If you go further distance, you will come across Thatha Gudi (Grand father's temple). Let's discuss it later. It will be an enthusiastic anecdote that you can't imagine for sure.


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April 2, 2025

BRIDGE for B alphabet

 

 The bridge built over the river Godavari at Bhadrachalam is the backbone of every mode of communication with the outside world. One can not imagine how the situation was before its construction. Of course, then it was the time of boats and steamers and they have served the needs of travelling of people. The bridge was constructed in 1965 by the Patel and Company. Still, it's going strong in every aspect though which has completed 60 years. The builders have given 50 years of guarantee but thankfully it's sturdy enough to last more years than what they had said.

Every day the bridge withstands heavy traffic like lorries, buses, and other vehicles. It's the gateway for three states. Andhra, Odisha, and Chattisgarh. Moreover, the influx of pilgrims enters the temple town almost every day from other districts and states as well. As you know already, Bhadrachalam is a well-known pilgrim town that draws visitors on a large scale, especially during festival seasons. Now the second bridge has also been constructed and it is sharing the traffic successfully. One bridge is for incoming and the other for outgoing. Just like two oxen for a bullock cart.


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April 1, 2025

A For Andhra border

The Andhra border has emerged as a new feature in the north and south directions of Bhadrachalam. With bifurcation done on 2 June 2014, a new state, Telangana, was created, for which a long struggle in different forms has taken place. Apart from all other things, what it made specifically for the temple town and the pilgrims is a matter worth pondering. And it does relate to surrounding villages too. Well, let's think of its north side. Within less than a few meters distance, ASR District of Andhra Pradesh welcomes you. It's almost the intertwining borders of both states to behold. If you want to go to Parnasala by bus or any other vehicle, which has to travel almost 15 to 16 km in the Andhra region and later it reappears in Telangana, the same to be continued in the return journey also.

It made all commuters feel uncomfortable, and many employees from far-off places in AP have been transferred here at the newly created posts. The journey became tedious with two different policies and taxes of states. Either side looks not happy. Some would say it could have been much better if the entire temple town merged in Andhra state since it has been an entity up to 1956. Now and then overtures get surfaced to get back the lost 5 panchayats into Telangana to facilitate the lives of residents. Firm decision and execution is the need of the hour. Let's hope it is done at the possible earliest. However, the classic example of crossing another state at every instance can be seen here.


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March 24, 2025

Theme Reveal #BlogchatterA2Z


Renowned Lord Rama's temple at Bhadrachalam

 This is second time taking part in #BlogchatterA2Z and very exciting if I can do it successfully. Deep down somewhere in my mind, there was something that says shed all your unnecessary doubts, you can do it as you have did it earlier.

 My theme , this time is, all about a small pilgrim town Bhadrachalam and a couple of surrounding villages. I have a special intention in choosing these places. Because all these places impacted me in several ways in my early life. 

The streets, people, festivals, socio cultural issues, and what not everything that belonged to the above places would be part of my upcoming # Blogchatter A2Z posts.

I know that it's not a smooth sailing to have an alphabet for desired concept but let me take it as a challenge to do a little home work. India's real diversity can be seen in small towns and villages.

  I am not saying it as an arm chair intellectual. I have travelled almost all states in India and some Asian countries, with exception of some North Eastern states.

 The more I travelled , the more I loved my country. India looks diverse on its surface but you go deeper, there is some unity in everything. 

Everyone has to gauge it personally. This is what I understand in my life. Best wishes for all my co- travellers of #BlogchatterA2Z.


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March 17, 2025

Balamela News


FLN Balamela Activities enhance creativity and knowledge among the school children and in addition to that, it's a source of developing fun based environment in learning process, said SNM ZP high school Complex head master P. Rama krishna. He also congratulated the head master of MPUPS, Jagadeesh colony, Raja Srinivasa Rao and other staff members to keep their school in the first place in the Bhadrachalam mandal level FLN Balamela competitions.

 Mandal educational officer T. Rama visited the school and congratulated the children and the school staff members. Teacher union leaders Rama krishna and Ramesh chand and others participated in the meeting.

February 23, 2025

Pani Puri also has a history

Who doesn't know pani puri? This roadside recipe is loved mostly by youngsters. Many people know where this pani puri was born, and not exactly in the south. Yes, it originated in the surrounding areas of Uttar Pradesh. The local people have given place to Kunti Devi and Draupadi of Maha Bharat in its preparation which means that this pani puri is being prepared since a few hundred years.


One day,  Kunti devi gave her daughter-in-law Draupadi some wheat flour, lentils, coriander, and some spices, and asked her to make a dish that would please all the Pandavas. There is a story in Uttar Pradesh that the daughter-in-law made this pani puri and everyone liked it so much that Kunti Devi gave her blessings that this dish of yours will remain in the world forever.

Pani puri has travelled to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, etc. If you use clean water, fresh potatoes, wheat flour, tamarind, as well as coriander and onion, it is very good to eat pani puri. Apart from this, if you use a cheaper variety, it will make a difference in taste. Not only this, it can also cause stomach ache. It contains 51 calories. It contains 58.3 per cent carbohydrates and 9.3 per cent protein.

In many states, it is also sold by the roadside eateries. In some areas, it is called gol gappa. It is known as Phulki in Madhya Pradesh, Puska in Assam and Puchuka in West Bengal. In Bihar, it is known as Jal Puri. Round balls made of wheat flour, boiled and mashed potatoes, small legumes, chopped coriander, onion and other ingredients used in it .

There have been many experiments in this regard. Many people, irrespective of small and big, poor and rich, like to eat this pani puri. This is expected to cause a good digestion. This dish is served to guests at weddings in the northern states. Many  businessmen have flourished by getting  such contracts.

Kashinath Vaman Rao Gali is one such businessman from Jalna, Maharashtra. He has been in this business for the past 18 years. Initially, his profit was Rs 250. Gradually, he impressed the customers by using quality materials. Apart from this, wherever there is a wedding in the vicinity, he takes the pani puri contract. Now he is a rich one on par with a CEO of any successful software company.

Many national newspapers have reported about it. 

Written for #WRITEAPAGEADAY                                                                                                                                                                                                              Words : 407

February 21, 2025

Koraput and Other stories



 It is no exaggeration to say that reading this English story collection 'Koraput and Other Stories' remains an unforgettable experience. Gourahari Das ji's stories in Oriya have been translated into English by Saroj Mishra and Gopa Nayak. There has been a book before. Its name is "The Little Monk and Other Stories." As a newspaper editor, storyteller, playwright and columnist, Gourahari Das was well known to Oriya readers and had his own unique style in every process.

On hearing the name of Koraput, the natural scenery stands in front of our eyes. I also remember the workers there. The book contains 15 stories. All of them have different themes. The first story is related to Koraput. Let's talk about some stories. There is a magic in the stories of Gourahari Das ji. No story is like another story. In every little thing, something new is presented to us that we cannot see.

The story strategy also does not let the reader stay. Go to the end. When you think that the story is going to happen in a short time, then it seems as if the 'ending' has been known. But when we come to the last sentence, it gives us an unexpected twist and brings a smile on our lips. Such an craftmanship comes with a lot of practice and thinking power. While describing some important scenes and psychological situations, we are introduced to those characters.

Let's talk about the first story. The girl, identified as Purnima, was coming to Koraput from Bhubaneswar by Hirakud Express. She is soon to marry a man named Prashant, who works as a high official there. The train leaves from Koraput and takes a taxi to Jaipur, where the government offices are located. She is kidnapped by the Naxals. It is located in a village inside. She doesn't know how to escape. Conditions there are terrible. Even after so many years of independence, it is understandable how some people still live.
She is shocked to know that her fiancé Prashant is also one of the corrupt officials. Even after getting money and some benefits from him, the terrorists  left her. In this story, the situation and life of the tribals of the Oriya and Andhra border will be seen. Koraput showcased its beauty.

'Once the Sky Was Blue 'is another unique story. It depicts the search for a Bangladeshi refugee family in the state of Orissa. Shiraz and Tutul have been friends since childhood. Tutul goes to another state for higher studies. Shiraz spends his time at the roadside shop, helping his father. A big mall will be built there. They also collect overtake shops nearby with their monetary and political strength. In fact, even if it is a government place, the owners of small shops cannot do anything. Then Tutul sees it and asks his father to help him. He's the man around.

How can you tolerate if there are such small shops in front of such a big mall? owners asked, If you want a job, join us as a salesman in our shop. At the end, the children will be given masks to wear. It explains how once the cheapest vegetables and groceries were sold at inflated prices, and how they were given different English names to create hype. We know for a fact that the market economy involves the big fish swallowing small fish.

The story titled "The Mirage" depicted the lives of goons who survive by taking shelter of politicians. Tax is a huddle of 12 villages in the vicinity. A goon carefully mauling his opponents, he takes a young woman's small test as a challenge, descends into a serpentine pond, cuts white lily flowers, and becomes a victim of poisonous snakes. The entire story unfolds in front of us. Gourahari Das ji has described the mindset of gangsters in detail. The tax lifeline is painted very close to reality.

In the story "Handwriting," a teacher marvels at the lives of two students studying with him. A child who studies well in school and is his favorite student, grows up and becomes a high official in the Secretariat. When the master needs his service, he tells him to go and give bribe to him, and then he does not care. Another student who always scolded in school that your hand is bad becomes a bus conductor. But when teacher's purse is gone, he reminds himself from a humanitarian point of view that he is an old student. So teacher realizes that it is wrong to imagine that all those who read well as children will have a great heart.

The story titled 'Where Has Sudam Jena Gone "narrates how foreign investors invest in domestic companies and take control of the system. Garuda traces the process of how a TV company earns foreign funds, expands its operations, and ultimately mercilessly lays off employees. Why should Sudam, who works as a peon in that company ponder over taking foreign funds, we have got independence now, can't we do business without the need of foreigners, he doubted.

When all this is known, Sudam is fired from his job. There is a twist at the end. The name of globalization has been well described how even big corporates are flirting with very simple scenes. The rest of the story is unique. We can find out many changes taking place in the contemporary Oriya literature through this story.

 Written for #WRITEAPAGEADAY                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Words : 905

February 20, 2025

To Kill a Mocking bird (A Novel)


 To learn about Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" is to travel to the small town of Maycomb in the state of Alabama in the United States and learn about the discriminatory incidents against black people there. It is also a reminder that a white lawyer faced opposition from fellow whites for fighting for a black man, not his contemporary methods. Although the town of Maycomb's name is fictional, events there were common in the United States, especially in the South.

The novel was published in 1960. The story takes place between 1933-35. The novel was written by Harper Lee and is based on several events that took place in the Monroeville, Alabama, area where she was born. All the characters present us with the realities of contemporary American society. In this novel, you can find out how bad black discrimination was in the society of that time. However, along with compassion, the author has provided humor and reformation in this work in a beautiful style.
The original Mockingbird was so named by the author because the bird was known in the southern Alabama region as a very gentle, innocent singing and entertaining bird. 

Everyone sees it with love. But there are people in this world who kill even such a good creature. Tom Robinson is a young black man. And why such a young man was killed... and how a white lawyer named Atticus tried to save him.

The whole novel is a memory. That's when Scout Finch tells us what it was like living in the typical town of Maycomb as a child. It's a small town called Maycomb, always sleepy. There aren't any great things. But it's as good as it gets. A nice house, a good school and a nice place to play. This girl named Scout belongs to the Finch family. There are many names for them. Then Scout was six years old and her brother, Jeremy, was called Jem. He's ten years... At school,  enjoy reading and playing games.
her dad's name is Atticus. His wife died and he never remarried. He is a lawyer by profession. It is a small family. The Great Depression also affected the region.

 However, the train continues to move. Meanwhile, when a boy named Dill arrives at their cousin's house in the town, Scout and Jem form a friendship. The three of them play together and plan to go to Boo Radley's house at some point. Because this Boo Radley spends time at home without ever going out. All three of them are interested in what his character is. There are also many rumors that Boo Radley is a ghost.

Father Atticus tells his children that there are many things in other people's lives that cannot be understood from their point of view. When Dill comes to town again in the summer, the three children try to get into Boo Radley's house and run away when they hear a whistling sound. Gem's clothes will be torn off in time to escape! Even after that, when these children come out of the house, they see some gifts kept in the trunk of the tree. Again, this happens a few times. But they seem to be good. Once in a fire accident, he puts a blanket over himself as protection... Scout thinks it's Boo Radley.

Atticus, defends Tom Robinson in a criminal case against him. He is accused of raping a young woman. Atticus thinks that Tom Robinson has been accused of being a white man. Atticus is abused by fellow whites, asking if he would be a white man and support the Negro. Atticus says that truth is more important to him than race. Even at school, the kids are raving about it. And yet, they are courageous.

The trial of Tom Robinson begins. All the white people come together to Atticus' house. Though Scout is a child, she convinces them all with her argument and sends them back. Atticus proves in court that the alleged rape victim, Mayella Ewell, lied and that her father, Bob Ewell, was also involved. The court tells him that the young black man is not at fault, and that he should be put in jail for a while. Judges are discriminated against for being all white. A young Negro boy, Tom Robinson, tries to escape and is shot by the police.

So far, the Finch family has been a firm believer in the justice system that justice is different for white people and different for black people. Even kids like Scout and Jem get angry. Bob Avell goes on a rampage and attacks Atticus's offspring on their way to a Halloween party, while Boo Radley arrives just in time to kill Bob. The town sheriff lies and protects Boo Radley from the law. He says that Evel fell on his sword near the beginning of the tree and died.

After talking to Scout and the others, Boo Radley goes back into his house. Scout says I didn't see him when he came out again. And that's how the story ends. As her father said, she no longer wants anyone to have an opinion about them.

The novel tells the story of how the American courts also treated Negroes in those days. The lifestyle of the southern states and the day-to-day affairs of the people were told from a child's point of view. Author Harper Lee is said to have included many events of her life in this novel. Her father was also a lawyer who, like Atticus, worked for the rights of blacks. Monroeville, where she was born, was also one of the sites of conflict between the two communities. The novel won an Academy Award when it was adapted into a film in 1962. The British Library describes it as one of the books everyone should read. The work was introduced as a modern American classic in high school and middle school. It also won the Pulitzer Prize. Harper Lee has lived without hope of any publicity since 1964 and died in 2016.
 
Written for ##WRITEAPAGEADAY                                                                                    Words : 1012