Goddess of the Essence of the Star ***

The local papers have been giving wide coverage for the story of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno who has been sentenced to be whipped for drinking beer. Her news has gone international too.

Apparently Kartika Sari Dewi in Indonesian means the “goddess of the essence of the star”. She has been playing her cards right. Although she is actually a lowly hospital staff, she told the papers she was a part time model (in order not to jeopardise her job, she says. And we believe her).

The judge has passed judgment. But the authorities are wringing their hands.
“How to do it?”
“She is not in jail.”
“We’ll do it after the fasting month.”
They seem to be vacillating and procrastinating .

In the meantime Kartika was quite decided. “I want to be whipped.”

In Malaysia only the prison department and no one else may cane a prisoner. As Kartika wasn’t sentenced to jail, she is not a prisoner, thus she needn't go to prison. Therefore how is the authority going to cane her?
Some said: “Kartika should go to the Syariah High Court and file an appeal..”
But Kartika wouldn’t. She wanted to be caned.
Then somebody warned that the whipping, if carried out will be ultra vires and open the authorities to a legal suit. He advised: “Kartika can sue. This is because her detention, and subsequently the whipping, is illegal.”

Now we are also told that this caning will be using a miniature cane, and more of a symbolic tap than painful lashing.

So on the balance of it, Kartika is well advised to insist on being caned. And once it is over, she has two roads to the bank.

She could sue and make some money.

Or, and this is the lucrative one: she could become a world celebrity. The part time model could become a real Star. Book and movie deals would be on the horizon. For Kartika, that is turning out to be a lucky beer......

Drugs ***

“Kamini is so lucky. She has landed Giri as her husband. Giri’s family is loaded. Its a family business, and Giri is involved in it too. Did you know they go to Hawaii for weekend vacations ?”
“Yeah, so lucky. And I heard Giri’s uncle takes his private jet to Auckland for Golf every Saturday.”
“What business are they in ?”
“Drugs. They manufacture and distribute. Its so lucrative.”

Baskaran listened, shocked. These ladies were talking of a drug dealer and actually envying him! Baskaran decided to confront Giri. He had found out where Giri lived. He moved away quickly, heading for Giri’s house.

The two ladies continued their conversation.
“They own Cavendish Pharmaceuticals. They are big into generic drugs, and cater mainly for the export market.”

The Newcomer ****

Jasleen happened to glance up, and the small signboard caught her eye. A Sai Baba Centre ! Jasleen was a student in this strange big city, and being away from her family for the first time, she had been feeling an emptiness recently. Maybe Sai Baba can help her. She had heard about Sai Baba from her aunt, a devout follower.

***

As Jasleen walked into the Sai Centre, it was still quite empty. Just a few people making preparations for the bhajans. Jasleen stood hesitantly near the door, taking in the details. The altar was beautiful, a large photograph of Sai Baba, hands raised in blessing. Jasleen felt an indescribable sense of homecoming. Then she saw the other pictures. Several of Hindu God forms, which Jasleen always found difficult to tell one from the other. To her, they all had similar poses, with numerous hands and some animal or other. Then she saw the pictures of Jesus, Kuan Imm and Guru Nanak. She was taken aback by the unlikely images. Just like the Hindu God forms, Jesus and Guru Nanak too had bright red dots on their foreheads. A kumkum pottu, in the style of Hindus. And there were jasmine garlands around the pictures.

“Hello, welcome.” the middle aged Uncle was greeting Jasleen.
“Hi.”
Uncle Visu went on with some small talk, and showed her where she could sit. As they spoke, a lady appeared, and she too smiled at Jasleen. Soon other devotees started trickling in. Most did a double take on seeing Jasleen. She was obviously a newcomer. But the overwhelming first impression she had was that these people are disorientingly friendly. Very few were aloof. Smiles were everywhere.

Soon the bhajans started. What a blissful experience. Jasleen was in ecstasy. In an hour, the bhajans were over. A man went up and read Sai Baba’s message : “ Go within. Don’t focus on the external things.” Jasleen could not figure out what that meant. The man also mentioned the Nine Codes of Conduct. Jasleen made a mental note to look it up later. Then the man went on for about 15 minutes, making announcements and talking.

***

Jasleen had been coming for a few weeks to the Centre. She had a few friends now. But the rest of the devotees did not go beyond just smiling at her. Nowadays she lingered for a while after the bhajans, chatting with her new-found friends. She could see the discrete groups of men, women, and youths chatting and laughing among themselves. Sometimes they glanced her way. As she got to know more of the devotees, she started sensing the undercurrents. Below the surface of smiles and friendliness was bitter clique rivalry.

***

A year had passed. Jasleen had taken up a Centre position by then. And this had really opened up the Pandora's box. The Centre politics became glaringly apparent. She found that she had to drag herself to the Centre every week. There was so much ill-feeling, and talking behind backs. The Sai Centre was no longer the oasis of bliss it had been when she first came. She was badly disillusioned.

***

One day she spoke to Uncle Visu. “Uncle, I feel so discouraged,. I don’t know if it is because I am emotional or immature or inexperienced......” she went on and on... pouring out her heart. Uncle Visu listened patiently until she had finished. Then he smiled and patted her on her shoulder.
“Jasleen, we must remember that Swami works in peculiar ways. Through all manner of people and situations. The Centre is not made up of perfect people. These are ordinary folks. All at their own levels of spiritual development. This is a miniature world. Take them for what they are. It is your attitude, how you take things, how you benefit and move up the spiritual path: that’s what matters at the end of the day....”

***

In spite of Uncle Visu’s advice, Jasleen stayed away from the Centre for several weeks. Then she had the Dream.

Swami had come in Jasleen’s dream. He had spoken in Uncle Visu’s voice, while Jasleen was reading a page that said "Face the devil". The scene started with a dramatic instruction from Swami: “Get back to your senses la! You can do it!" ...and the next moment he was walking out of the room...then He popped his head through the door again and said, “I missed you”...and walked away.

Jasleen woke up the next morning, the dream vivid in her mind. The following Thursday, Jasleen was waiting to go back to the Centre. She knew that doing work for Him actually meant doing work for herself. She knew what going within meant.

Kg Buah Pala – bullshit all the way! ***

The cows and bulls once grazed this land,
making it, with their daily droppings, fertile.
Much later came the others in a band,
with their heady slogans and ready guile.

In hordes and swarms the new false prophets came,
misleading the hapless residents by their game.
Turning their innocent hope to pure greed,
with utter bullshit on race and creed

Now the people run from pillar to post,
in their desperation even turning to those-
the very ones who started the whole mess,
aiming to make many many millions, no less.

Freedom ***

Elvin had another new toy today– an Apple I Phone. Vivek was speechless. Elvin’s parents were rich - filthy rich. And they lavished their all on Elvin. He had everything ! And flaunted everything he had.

Vivek sighed. He had spoken to his dad that morning about a phone. Vivek had expected it, and it came. A long litany of the merits of thrift, followed by the oft repeated story of the spartan life his father had led as a child. “Be contented with what you have,” he was told. Vivek resigned himself to his fate. He knew he would never have a phone. Unless he did something about it.

***

Vivek looked at the bound and gagged child. She was sobbing incessantly. He locked the tiny storeroom and headed for the pay-phone. Vivek covered the mouthpiece with a tissue paper as he spoke. He used a gruff low voice. “Listen carefully. We have your child. I want ten thousand. Get it.”

He went back to the storeroom. As he unlocked and pushed the door open, she saw him. The blindfold had come off. The child’s eyes widened in recognition. Vivek rushed over and tied the dirty cloth around her eyes again, wrapping it in a bundle around her face. He sat back. The girl looked like a mummy. But Vivek realised it was no good. She had seen him. She knew who it was. Vivek was in a daze. His thoughts raced. What to do now ? He looked at her again. Suddenly he realised she was slumped over. And very still. No! He rushed over and pulled the cloth away. He pulled the gag off. But it was too late. She had suffocated. The little girl was dead. Vivek sat down, his head in his hands. “God. Somehow help me.” Vivek screamed. And he sat up. He looked around, groggy for a while. He was in his bedroom. Could it be ? Yes. It had been a dream. More a nightmare actually. But what a relief ! He lay awake for a long time before he fell asleep again.


***

Elvin was flaunting the I-Phone again. A group of boys were hungrily pawing the sleek thing. But Vivek somehow felt a strange distaste. He looked for a while, and then moved away.

The H1N1 solution ****

Arunasalam was worried. The H1N1 problem seemed to be getting out of hand. His managers had got an earful at that morning’s management meeting. “I want you to research it and get me the answer. Yesterday.” Arunasalam had screamed. Now he sat, looking out of his office window, out at the city. He could imagine the deadly virus wreaking havoc among the people down there. It was a tragedy like never before. And his company, United Health had to do something about it.

***

Devendran sat at his desk, poring over volumes of literature. He had been doing this for hours, and had developed a splitting headache from reading the fine text. Suddenly he saw it. The words jumped at him. He shook his head, and looked up. For a moment he thought his eyes were playing tricks. Then he looked again. Yes. It was there. He had done it! The H1N1 problem was solved. “I found it,” Devendran shouted.

***

Arunasalam was smiling again. Devendran had found the solution. “Great job, Dev. I thought United will sink with this H1N1. But now we have a way. Issue a circular immediately to all our clients.”

***

UNITED HEALTHCARE ASSURANCE

To all HMOs,

Coverage for Influenza A - H1N1

Greetings from United.

I would like to refer to the numerous medical insurance claims relating directly or indirectly to Influenza A – H1N1. I am pleased to draw your attention to Volume XIV, Chapter 24, Clause 5.4.5.2, sub clause (s), bullet 8 of our agreement.

It is clearly stated in the abovementioned clause that United Healthcare’s coverage does not include for any hospitalization, surgery or charges caused directly or indirectly, wholly or partly for Communicable disease requiring quarantine by law. In this case, Influenza A – H1N1 has been declared by the Government of Malaysia as a communicable disease requiring quarantine by law, vide Circular KKM12/23/09(Jld3) dated 30th Feb 2009.

Thank you.
UNITED HEALTHCARE ASSURANCE

“We strive to meet your needs”

A.R.M.R.Arunasalam
GROUP CEO

***

As Arunasalam was about to sign the circular, he looked again. Inexplicably, the “y” in the tag line was almost invisible.

Conversion and Confusion ***

Came across an interesting, although confusing article in the STAR recently: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/18/focus/4540535&sec=focus
It was by one Dr Wan Azhar of IKIM (Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia). It was entitled “Religious conversion, children and confusion”.

He said:
The long existing misunderstanding over the religious status of minors resurfaced when an ill-informed Cabinet minister announced that the religion of minors from non-Muslim parents, upon the conversion of any of the parents to Islam, remains in the religion under which the marriage was solemnised. Such a statement contradicts the Federal Constitution and some religious positions. It worsens the confusion among the people and draws criticisms from both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Then he quoted several Islamic scholars and authorities. In effect he said:
In Islam, if a child was born from Muslim parents, jurists unanimously agreed that he or she is a Muslim. Similarly, if the child was born from a Muslim father and a non-Muslim mother, he or she is a Muslim. The principle applied by jurists here is in terms of religion, the child follows the best religion of his parent. Since Islam is deemed the best religion, the child follows the religion of his or her Muslim parent, either father or mother.

He went on:
What is the status of a child’s religion if both parents renounce Islam and become apostates? Jurists from all legal schools maintain that the child remains a Muslim.
If only one parent embrace Islam, their underage child becomes Muslim too. Between the two parents, the position of the one who embraces Islam is ‘stronger’ compared to the non-converting spouse. Therefore, a child follows the religion of the ‘stronger’ party.

After all this, he says, inexplicably:
When a marriage breaks down due to conversion to Islam, the best solution must be sought from the religion under which the marriage was solemnised or the law under which the marriage was registered. All disputes pertaining to property, custody of minors and other ancillary rights must be resolved under that religious or legal system.

Mitran ****

Ashok held Seema’s hand. He tried not to be emotional in front of his wife. But Seema was inconsolable. “Why? Why? Why?” she kept whispering. Ashok had no answer. “Its so unfair!” Seema sobbed.

Their expectations of a beautiful baby to complement their idyllic life had been rudely disrupted. Nothing had prepared them for this. The baby was retarded.

After the initial shock, they were in denial. It could not be true. Such a beautiful thing had to be perfect. But it WAS true. Their beautiful child was mentally deficient. The anger lasted a while, followed by depression and a deep despair. And then Baby Mitran looked at them. Seema melted.

***

Mitran was an angelic child. He smiled at everyone. His eyes were dark and deep, and his look was piercing. He seldom cried. But laughed often. It was easy to forget his deficiency. Seema enjoyed looking at him. She used to shed silent tears. But now, she realised that this was a precious gift from God. She would hover over his crib, and listen to Mitran’s gurgles. And whenever she was there, Baby Mitran would gurgle even more and make all kinds of noises.

But Ashok never looked at Mitran. He just could not accept him.

***
Mitran, now six years old, was making shapeless crayon markings on the paper. He looked up, his eyes as piercing as ever. "Dhadhy,"
Ashok was going through rough patch. He had taken a pay cut. His job was at risk. He answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother.

"Me painting," Mitran persisted.

"I see that. What is it?"

"Ghappiness." Mitran smiled at Ashok.

Ashok was startled.

"Dhadhy, why you sad? "

Mitran’s perceptiveness surprised Ashok. "I took a pay cut," explained Ashok. “I may lose my job.” The next moment, he thought, my God, why was he saying this to a little child?

"Oh," Mitran looked concerned, "then this bad day."

"Yes." Ashok looked at his son.

***

Seema was sitting on the chair near Mitran’s cot, her hand on the child’s head. She looked forlorn. She had no more tears. She had lost her son. Mitran had died peacefully. Ashok felt a strange sense of sadness, tinged with relief. He quickly went over and hugged Seema.

***

Seema handed Ashok a smeared envelope, with DHADHY printed in bold, childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow patch in the corner, a sea of blue , and brown doodles. Underneath was carefully printed: HAPINESS FOR DHADHY.

Tears welled up in Ashok’s eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide. He sobbed uncontrollably.

Facebook Lingo ****

Suman is sore he cant go home yet.
Vinny: Lol !! Grrr :P
Suman: cidfhvcnbfjldvkcnrdkjfbckrjfkjdgljf v annoyed
Kala: Whooooooooop :)
Sumi: YAYAYAYAY (:
Suman: Its the willingness to give man....
Ram: hey tis's so true........
Sumi: ermmm well mayb :p
Suman: Needs some hugs...
Kala: haha lol
Sumi: what ? thats all ? nvm. i gone dy... haha
Babu has taken the quiz
What does your day of birth say about you? and he was born on a Thursday. Personality Traits- Exuberant and cheerful. - Deep thinker. - Good sense of humor.
Suman: gahhhhhhhhhhhh ............
Sumi: soooooooooooooo cute
Kala: AWW!!!!
Suman: yeah dude party this year right. pretty excited
Kala is boredd out of her mind
Kala watching shows... like the office gahhhhh
Sumi: WOOO
Kala: office is pretty b.a.
Babu is watching the rain....
Kala: gr8..... ;)
Suman has 2 days to go... to ?????
Kala: hey, cooool.. :P
Sumi likes that.

Axxo returns... ***

Ranger: Halt. Referee here.
Vinothan: It was a heartfelt statement.
Chung: Ah?
Dinakaran: This is very good news for me because I’m a student. Here we are anti crime. The whole campus is involved in this campaign.
Paul: bleahhhhhhhhh
Vinothan: umm..ok...
Chung : Ah?
Ranger : Halt. Are you alright ?
Mukmin: He has a really funny face. He doesn’t realise it.
Chung: Ah ?
Vinothan: Im serious!!
Chung: Ah?
Paul: bleahhhhhhhhh
Keshab: I think he's a little weird
Chung: Ah?
Vimal: He is heavily influenced by Confucius.
Carmen : From your own experience, how should leaders manage failure?
Keshab: If we recruit those Koreans ? Would that help?
Vimal : I am worried about the rivalry and suspicion.
Chung: Ah?
Carmen: It would be a bonus. And to remedy the gender bias, we adopt an equal opportunity policy, where we alternate females hourly with male staff recruited from Africa.
Mukmin: Those blokes have made me …….. develop an inferiority complex.

Carmen: Amazing.
Ranger: Halt. Who goes there ?
Dinakaran: A formidable but still attainable target.
All (except Chung, Paul and the Ranger): Lets do it
Chung: Ah?
Ranger: Halt.
Paul: Bleahhhhhhhhhh

Aging **

First you forget names,
Then you forget faces..
Then you forget to pull up your zipper.
It's worse when
You forget to pull it down.

Varna and the decadent Indian society ***

Recently, a friend had quoted Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who in a lecture series had said that Indians are not used to competition. They were used to hereditary occupations, which automatically excludes competition to get a job. Hence when faced with today's overpowering reality, they tend to panic and need to fix odds by bribery or such unfair means.

Did the Varna system which gave rise to the hereditary occupational grouping lead to this chaotic society where bribery and corruption is an accepted part of life in Indian society?

The ancient Varna and caste systems categorize Hindu society into four "varnas" or social classes and prescribe specific duties for each. These are the brahmins (priests and teachers), kshatriyas (taking care of administration, battle, and law enforcement), vaisyas (customarily in agriculture, commerce, and cow-protection), and shudras (who provide service to members of the other three varnas). Brahmins enjoyed the highest social stature, the khastriyas command the highest political power while the vaishyas enjoy highest economic prosperity.

The system of four varnas was said to have been created by Sri Krishna as stated in the Bhagavad-Gita 4.13:

catur-varnyaam mayaa srstam guna-karma-vibhaagasaha
tasya kartaaram api maam viddhy akartaaram avyayam

"The four orders of society were created by Me classifying them according to the mode of Prakriti predominant in each and apportioning corresponding duties to them; though the author of this creation, know Me, the immortal Lord, to be a non-doer."

And the Purusha Suktam says:

braamhaNoO asya mukham-aasiit

baahuu raajanyaH kRitaHa

uuruu tadAsya yad-vaishyaHa

padbhyaa(gm) shuudro ajaayata

"The Brahmana was the mouth of the purusha, his two arms were made into the Rajanya, his two thighs were the Vaishya, and from his two feet the Shudra was born."

So what went wrong ?

While Hindus generally followed their prescribed duties for the greater good of the entire society, there apparently was fluidity of castes or occupation groups. The system seemes to have been accepted as natural, existing to maintain an harmonious and functional society based on spiritual ideals. The family / community based occupational groups were self sustaining, and the system propagated itself within this fluid arrangement.

The varnas were also organized according to progressively greater predominance of desirable qualities or gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas). Brahmins were required to cultivate predominantly sattvic attributes and have minimal rajasic or tamasic qualities. Kshatriyas were required to have greater rajasic qualities albeit tempered by some sattvic qualities, vaishyas would have more tamasic and rajasic qualities but still sattvic qualities, while shudras were allowed to have predominantly tamasic and rajasic qualities. Looks like this is where the problem lies. Failure to cultivate the appropriate gunas.

Styrofoam Suren ****

Suren was fiercely passionate about this issue. He preached it wherever he went. He practiced it religiously too. “Styrofoams are evil”. Suren led a campaign through his Centre. First he ensured no Styrofoam was brought into the Centre. Next, he targeted events organised by his Centre, and later widened it to all events organised by the Organisation. The awareness created was so great that many devotees at the Centre came up with their own strategies to eliminate this evil product. In a faintly ironic twist, Suren became known as Styrofoam Suren.

In the meantime, the abominations caused by this evil product became common knowledge among people, as Styrofoam became the target of numerous “green” campaigns.

***
Several devotees were visiting the poor family as part of the Centre’s seva activity. The devotees sat in the tiny home – on the floor, on the threadbare sofa, and on stools, and listened to the lady relate her troubles.

“My husband is in jail. He has not even seen my youngest,” everyone glanced at the year old girl she was carrying. The girl looked sweet and innocent. She was skinny, had tousled hair, and a runny nose. The other four children scampered about the sparsely furnished house. Suren had one of the boys on his lap.

The lady continued. “After he was jailed, I started working as a operator in a factory. They had a place to leave my children at the factory. There were people to take care of the children. Many of the single mothers here worked in this factory. Then suddenly the factory shut down, about 2 months ago. Now I am unable to find work. Even if I get a job, how can I leave the children at home?” She sounded desolate.

“What factory were you working in ?”

“They make packaging material. Now it seems the Government has banned this product suddenly. That is why we are all affected. They used to make Styrofoam products.”

Everyone looked at Styrofoam Suren.

On the way back, Suren was silent and thoughtful. But he could see the triumph of the higher dharma. He also marveled at the spider web theory in action: this family was indirectly affected by their anti-Styrofoam campaign, and now Swami had sent them to help the family !

Child labour ***

The black van stopped in front of the factory. Several men alighted, and went into the office. Thiagarajan looked up with dismay. They were from the Labour Department.

Thiagarajan operated the small plastic moulding factory. Many from the surrounding areas were employed at his factory. But several of the workers at his factory were children.

His factory was closed down while the investigations continued. The welfare department officials swung into action to save the children.

***

Simbu and Karthi sat at the corner of the sparse living room of their house as the lady from the welfare department talked to their mother. “This man is exploiting your children. It is important to send your boys to school. Otherwise what future can they have? How can you be so irresponsible? You are ruining their lives.”

Kamala sat silently, her infant daughter asleep on her lap. She was tired and exhausted. Since the factory closed the previous day, they had not eaten.

Kamala was a single mother. Her husband had abandoned her months ago. She was also sick. And worse, she had no papers. Her children had no papers too.

“Can you help us? We have nothing to eat? Can you get my children into school? Can you get me a job?” Kamala wanted to ask. But she did not. She had gone through this many times. Nothing moved without papers.

***

Thiagarajan came out of the courthouse. He had just paid the hefty fine. But it would be a while before he could reopen the factory. He got into the car, and headed for the village.

***

Thiagarajan walked in with several parcels of food. Kamala greeted him with tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry akka. The factory will open in a few days. Everything will be ok.” He handed her some money. “I have to see the other children’s families.” As Thiagarajan left, he glanced at the two boys. Simbu and Karthi sat side by side, eating hungrily.

Sinnappan ****

Sinnappan was an ardent devotee. He knew that he had to serve the poor and needy and help the less fortunate. He was constantly thinking about how he could do this. That weekend they would visit the Old Folks Home. The devotees planned to cook a grand lunch, and serve the devotees.

On the morning, Sinnappan was excited. He coaxed his wife and daughter to come along too. “Imagine the joy we would be bringing to these poor old folks. It is a golden opportunity to help them.”

The meal was cooked lovingly. The ladies chanted the Gayatri mantra as they cut the vegetables and cooked the delicious meal. The men and children helped lay out the banana leaves, and pandered to the inmates’ every demand.

The seva was over, and the devotees had finished cleaning up. They were ready to go back.

Sinnappan sat near an old man. “Uncle, how was the meal ? Did you enjoy it ?”

Pandirajan looked at Sinnappan sadly. He nodded. Then he touched Sinnappan’s arm. He spoke in fluent
English. “Thambi. It is very good of all of you to spare your time for us. But today was supposed to have been our chicken day. The day we get chicken with our lunch. But since you came, we had to forgo it. If anyone benefited, it was the catering contractor. He will get paid by the management even though he supplied no food today.”

Sinnappan was stunned.

***

That night, Pandirajan slept soundly. He dreamt of his wife. She was serving him lunch. When Pandirajan woke up the next morning, the dream was still vivid in his mind. He missed his wife. He missed her love and affection. He missed her cooking and caring. Pandirajan’s wife had died more than 20 years ago.

***

Sinnappan lay awake for a long while that night. It had been a seva of convenience. The inmates of the home had been looking forward to the chicken lunch. Without realising what they wanted, Sinnappan and his group had served them a vegetarian lunch. Sinnappan resolved to visit the home again soon. He would talk to the inmates. He would find out their needs. Then he would serve them.

***

Sinnappan sat with Pandirajan. For a while no words were spoken. Then Pandirajan spoke. “I was hasty when I blamed you for making us miss the chicken meal. I realised later that what you gave us was far more precious. Your love and care.”

Sinnappan was taken aback at these words.

Pandirajan’s eyes were moist. “That night I dreamt of my wife. I remembered the simple meals she had served me. With her love, even the simplest meal was a delight. When you and your friends came, you served us with love. No chicken can come anywhere near.”

The meek shall inherit …… ****

Vaithy came from a large family in Palakkad. He migrated to Malaya to find a new life. He worked hard, and supported his parents and siblings in Palakkad. He lived in Malaya in a small rented house with his wife and children. Vaithy saved money and bought a piece of farm land in Palakkad. A lease farmer worked the farm and the produce was shared among the lease farmer and Vaithy’s extended family in Palakkad.

In Malaya, Vaithy’s family continued to live in the rented house. Vaithy hoped to move his family to Palakkad one day. They would live on the farm, off the fat of the land.

***

Illangovan had migrated to Malaya to escape the grinding poverty in his village. He had befriended Kandasamy, a cowherd in Malaya, who allowed him to build a hut near his house. They reared cows, goats and chickens , and grew vegetables and fruits in the fringes of the jungle. It was no-man’s land, and they paid no rent. Life was peaceful.

***

Vaithy read the disturbing news in the newspaper. The communists had taken over in Kerala. It was bad news. Vaithy knew that something bad would come out of this. Sure enough, the communists soon passed a new land law. Vaithy’s land was seized. He was termed an absentee landlord. A capitalist. His lease farmer was given the land for a nominal sum. Vaithy got a pittance.

***

Illangovan had passed on, and his sons were living on the land now. There were a large number of houses in the area, built by the family members of Kandasamy and Illangovan and several others who had arrived there since. It was now a small colony. A few still reared cattle and goats, and grew fruits and vegetables. Many had moved on and were wealthy and had businesses in the city as well.

***

Vaithy struggled to support his family, while he continued to help out his siblings. The loss of his land had been a big setback. But through sheer grit and hard work, he managed. Vaithy’s children studied well and soon they started off on their own lives. All that Vaithy could give them was a basic education. When Vaithy died several years later, there was no property to distribute. He had lived his life from day to day. But his children expected nothing. Their parents had given them a good start in life. Now it was up to them to go on and make the best of it.

***

Karthikeyan was Illangovan’s grandson. Karthikeyan himself was a reasonably successful businessman in the city. But he maintained his house here in the colony. He had been persuaded to lead the campaign. Their village was a “heritage”, they claimed. At first he had had to explain to the villagers what this meant. He had to tell them they had rights. And they could demand compensation from the Government.

***

The Government finally gave in. The pressure was too great. The villagers were compensated handsomely. The total cost was in millions. The tab was picked up by the tax payers. Including Vaithy’s children.