HYSTERIA

I do not think it is a new disease. Now, all are suffering from this mysterious illness.
Religious hysteria is no less than war hysteria or any flimsy cause like the death of a cinema hero, causing suicide by a number of fans!
I forget whether I had switched off the stove, after locking the door. They say, this to is a type of hysteria!
A maid in our ancestral home, used to see Lord Guruvayoorappan. Kuttichathan used to throw dirty things in cooked rice, avers those affected by its mischief. In Ceylon, people see the ghosts of dead elephants.
Hallucination may be a type of hysteria.
Is it allied to schizophrenia? I may have both.
Once, I had returned from evening walk. Where we were staying, I saw three elephants with drum beating etc. It was usual during pooram festival season. When I came close, lo!; there is only one elephant.
Where have the other two disappeared?

ARE YOU TROUBLED WITH “GAS”?=’text/javascript’ src=

Several people complain about gas.
Those who fart frequently irritate others; they are not uncomfortable. They even enjoy it!
The movement of food, down the intestines, causes gas produced during digestion, to push ahead of other stuff, escaping through the anus. There is nothing wron about it.
When it is unable to escape, it is highly painful.
Allopathy does not have a solution to digestive complaints. Ayurveda prescribes thriphala which is excellent for the system, as also for the eye.

“Triphala is an Ayurvedic[1] herbal rasayana formula consisting of equal parts of three myrobalans, taken without seed: Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).[2] The word triphala (better triphalā, from Hindi/Sanskrit: त्रिफला [trɪˈpʰɐlaː], widely pronounced /triːˈfɑːlə/ or /triːˈfælə/ by English speakers) means literally “three fruits”.[2]” – wikipedia

Our system recommends cow’s ghee, before starting regular meal in the morning. For this purpose, a handful of rice is mixed with a tablespoonful of ghee and eaten as the first course. This is compulsory for namboodiries. Now this practice is reduced to a farce, with a small strip of plantain leaf dipped in a spoonful ghee and shaken ove the rice, hoping that some molecules will get dropped there!
In the North, chapaties are smeared with ghee.

The colour of the faeces gives an indication of the health of the digestive system. It should be that of straw and must not be too loose or too hard.
If the movement inside the intestine becomes sluggish, fermentation takes place due to bacterial action, producing methane gas. The movement can be enhanced by taking plenty of water, regular use of green leafy vegetables and exercise.
Do not eat when you are not hungry. Avoid fast food.
Eat slowly, in a calm atmosphere- this will improve digestion.d with ghee.

HARASSED HOUSE WIFE ‘text/javascript’

Udad dhal is an essential item for making the South Indian special dish called masala dosa. Three parts rice is mixed with one part dhal and soaked in water overnight, for grinding and making the dough, to make delicious, mouth watering dosa, which is liked by all. Irrespective of nationality.
When I had to shell out Rs. 92 for a KG of dhal, I felt wounded!
I gave strict instructions to manage the whole month, with this ration.
I shall give you a tip. Methi seeds (uluva) can be substituted for udad. Only a small quantity will be sufficient, as it is bitter to taste. I like the taste and it is definitely more healthy, as it helps in reducing blood sugar of diabetic patients.

HOW AYURVEDA DEVELOPED

We do not know how we started growing food. Some how we learned that several types of grass seeds (rice is one such seed) can be eaten.

In the same way, after generations of observation, we learned about the medicinal properties of several plants.

So there is nothing wrong in accepting the findings incorporated in Ayurvedic texts, especially for those diseases, for which a proper treatment is still not available in modern medicine.

Many doctors have understood this simple truth.

Tribal people know many plants with wonderful properties; but they keep it secret.

MALABAR STILL RETAINS TRADITIONS OF RURAL KERALAM

When I returned from a short visit to northern areas of Malabar, I am very much excited about the unspoilt rural charm   and the vibrant enthusiasm of the people.

After seeing “theyyam”, a semi tribal ritual, in which the Goddess enters the dancer’s form and speaks to the devotees, who believe evry word spoken and gain the same feeling, as if they have actually seen the Goddess, I am overwhelmed by the simplicity of the village folk. They kept awake throughout the night!

The open space and the landscape full of hills and valleys, where rice is grown is an invitation for even lazy folks, to come out and walk in the wilderness. A woman who could not believe that a person will walk, without any aim, asked me where I am going; and showed me the proper direction to the house where I was staying!

I shall write in detail about my experience.

ROBINSON CRUSOE (NAME OF A NOVEL)ISLAND NEAR OUR HOME

Some hundred years ago, many of my uncles have actually seen the construction of the Shoranur- Cochin railway line as a deposit work by the company owning the South Indian Railways.

The company never did anything in a Princely State like Cochin, unless the money for building it, is given to the company. Malabar was under British rule; so they built the line from Madras to Calicut, by 1862 and further extended it up to Mangalore.

The Raja of Cochin State must be a farsighted person, to realize the important link to the Queen of the Arabian sea, as Kochi was called. Rice for the state came from Burma by ship and it could be transported by rail to the northern districts. He had no hesitation in selling gold ornaments of Goddess Mahalaksmi (Ammathiruvadi) of Oorakam The line connecting Ernakulam to Quilon (Kollam), came up much later, in the fifties, first as MG and was  converted into Broad Guage afterwards.

At Eravakad, on the south bank of the R. Manalipuzha, is a small patch of fertile land owned by Akarakatil family. It was completely cut off from the land by the railway line, the embankment being very high and surrounded by rice fields on all sides and the river in the north. Up to Pudukad railway station, some two miles away, one has to walk. Now too it is in the same state. The railway bridge had only sleepers, and one has to stretch his legs , with only a trolley refuge to escape from running trains.

How a family called Akarakatil lived there, surrounded by water during the monsoon from June to August, and again during October-November (retreating monsoon), without electricity and any conveyance, with the sound of creatures like the frog and grasshopper, for company, is a frightening mystery.  In floods which were common before the construction of Peechi dam, water flowed across the family orchard!

When I was a young boy, a namboodiri of Kuroor mana was crossing the bridge. He saw Cochin Express, the fastest train at that time, and moved to the cage for trolleys. Seeing him move away from the track, the driver, who had seen him, went ahead in full speed. At that point, somehow, the namboodiri came out on to the track, to walk quickly over a few sleepers still left. He missed it by a second and was hit by the engine. He died on the spot.

At that time I was young and there were only a few trains. Now, the number of trains has gone up very high. Though the steel sheets over the sleepers have made it easy to cross the bridge, I feel nervous when I think of going over it.

Now there is a barrage at Muttikal which falls on the way from our village. So I crossed it and walked along a good pathway along the side of the river for some ten minutes. I could see the rail very near and took a narrow path which took me to the railway embankment. A flight of steps and then the house could be seen some hundred metres away.

The inmates must have been surprised to see a stranger in pants and shirt, approaching them. So I told them my name and address and the fact that I just wanted to meet them, without any purpose.

I was well received and we talked about Madhavan, a close friend of my uncle Vasudevapphan, both ardent communists and contemporary of E.M.S. Namboodiripad, the first communist in the world, to be elected democratically.

They eagerly bought my book and I was glad of the opportunity to wax eloquent about my pet topics!

We departed as close friends. Dr. A. Ramachandran who accompanied me up to the rail line , offered to take me across the bridge; but I preferred to walk back the way I came.

On my way back, I was surprised by a bright green, thin snake which crossed my path within a few inchess !

FINANCE MINISTER HAS BECOME A DICTATOR

When the common man is being sqeezed by merchants (HOW CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT RICE AND SALT?), the Finance Minister has decided to finish him off. How else can we explain the increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel?

The plea that there is no other alternative is baseless. I suggest some measures to save money:

1) Cut defence spending by postponing all procurements for one year. Nothing will happen in one year.

2) Shelve the moon mission Chandrayan. It is like a middle class baboo buying a helicoptor. We learn nothing new about the moon.

3) Withdraw from Commonwealth Games.

All parties, including Congress allies like Trinamool congress, RJD, DMK etc have opposed the move to increse the cost of oil. Please see the writing on the wall and withdrw this antipeople move.

SHORTAGE OF MILK IN KERALAM

MILK

When I read about the shortage of milk in Keralam, I could not believe it.

Today I found that milk was not available at the collection centre of Milma, the Government controlled dairy, where people who have cows, give milk at a fixed rate. The rate is only Rs. 15 whereas we buy it at Rs. 22. The purchase price is too low, while fodder is becoming short and costly. Bottled water is sold at Rs.12. How can people afford to maintain a cow ?

So Cowma milk produced in Tamilnadu is sold here in plenty. It is the same story as rice. Our fields remain fallow and rice is imported from elsewhere.

Farmers’ cooperative dairy seems to be the only answer. Most middle class families like to have cows, as a family can survive on one or two cows. The number will multiply quickly.

1) Good quality cows should be provided by the cooperative.

2) Fodder be given at reasonable price.

3) Milk must be bought at higher prices. Cooperatives formed at village level, can cut overhead charges and difference between purchase price and sale price narrowed considerably.

I HOPE MY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE WELCOMED

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW

My wife had three brothers, or four, to be exact.
Krishnan, her anujan (younger brother) died early, while still a brahmachary (ovinichunni), at the age of seven or so. It was a big shock to her.
Her immediate ettan (elder brother) named Vasudevan was dull in studies and left school after a few years. He was at home and the two, brother and sister, were very close to each other.
He used to do pooja at the family temple of Narasimhamoorthy. The naivedyam (cooked rice has to be prepared in the kitchen, after taking bath in the family pond, without changing the wet cloths, and then carry it to the temple sanctum).
So he would keep it there and tell the deity in pure Malayalam (normally all mantras are said in Samskrutham): I have taken all this trouble; eat, if you like.
And he would come out and smoke his beedi. He would make something or other for the sister to eat. Hcooked food well.
Both, brother and sister, were married on the same day.
He was always doing something or other for getting money, like selling paddy or trees etc.
Soon it was decided to divide property between brothers.

He accepted a rice fields and nearby plot with a mud house, a little away frm the main campus.
He was a good farmer and hard worker. It was a pleasure to meet the family. Sitting in the front veranda, facing the fields and the cool breeze, coming from the Bharathapuzha, we enjoyed simple refreshments of small plantains, or tender coconut water or banana chips in the season.
He got work in an ayurvedic pharmacy making drugs and was well settled.
When He wants to destroy a person, He makes him mad. This simple man started pilfering medicines and was caught. Soomehow he got pardon through the efforts of a lawyer, Parakunnath Narayanan Namboodiri, my mousi’s husband who was very influential and equally humanitarian.

When they became financially better, his son now working in a school (all youngsters in muthukurssi mana are teachers, they can run their own school), his wife decided to build a terrace house. This was opposed by the farmer husband.
One day Vasudevan came to see us at CS puram gramam. The brother and sister were very happy and went on talking incessantly as if they are still children. He stayed there for two days and went away happy.

 
Soon we were informed that he hanged himself in the old mud house, from where he never shifted to the terrace building.

VANTHU – MY COUSIN

 His name is Vasudevan; we call him Vanthu.

He is the richest among the kk clan, but lives by serving sanyasis, till recently.

 He wears simple dhoti and big necklace of rudraksha beads (actually dried fruit of the tree which are available at Hardwar), traveling by bus only when necessary. He prefers to walk “small” distances up to five miles.

 Now he is ill and tied to his house, which is part of our ancestral home, being the house attached to the pond for use of men folk. He has made only the minimum alterations.

He is fair, fat and handsome. He owns several plots of land. He has a collection of gold coins of different nations of the world, costing at least a few lacs of rupees, in addition to stocks and shares.

 No one knows his bank balance. He is notoriously miserly. While working in Rourkela Steel plant, where all Ramaphan brothers have worked, he used to carry tea in a thermos flask, along with his tiffin box. All his salary and plenty of overtime allowance, were deposited in the bank, surviving on frugal rice and dhal

His wife Parvathy too worked there. Once he was admitted in a hospital at Trichur. When his wife came to see him, he scolded her: Why did you waste the bus fare? Here the doctors and nurses are paid for looking after me.

Quite a few cents of the land had been washed away by the river. He reclaimed it by providing granite embankment right through the river and filling it with soil brought from a hill. The money spent is productive and so he does not mind it.

He paved the bathing ghat with granite, for the convenience of devotees at aaratu of Bhagavaty, of Kadalassery and Oorakath Ammatiruvadi, as both have it in our home.

 He is diabetic, but takes liberal quantities of rice and sweet things like appam, if offered free. I don’t want to live forever, he would say.

 He has no issues; he is seventy five.