*From To Sathish* - Thread 3 - Page 116

Jannal oram 90

The uber car they were travelling in made good speed until it came to a stop at the Teynampet signal and the family of three including the driver stared in horror and incomprehension at the traffic jam that was unfolding and then the driver muttered and cursed ' Traffic signals are working,traffic cops are present to regulate and oversee the smooth flow and yet this happens everyday and all over chennai.'

Shaktivel turning to Raman ' iyya,trichy is a small town compared to chennai and yet i feel that people there seem to follow the rules better,slightly better.'

Raman ' appa,like the driver just said that all the rules and laws are laid correctly and yet people openly flunk them and putting themselves at a risk of losing life or limb.'

The driver looked at them ' It is obvious that all three of you are well educated and so can you tell me the reason as to why these traffic jams happen.I am asking this because,i have driven a car in singapore and also in the gulf for a few years and incredibly there is never a trafic jam in those countries,even when there are no policemen around.But,here you have nearly seven to eight cops at all important junctions and yet there are traffic jams and it is something that i am not able to understand.'

Raman wondered if he had to reply but then the driver's frustration got to him and he gave his understanding about the traffic jam and the reasons behind it.

' Excuse me driver,what is your name?' and the driver told raman his name was palaniswami and raman with a smile, mr.palaniswami,the reason behind these traffic jams and also the reason behind why our country still lags behind in every aspects and every field is because of greed,selfishness and a don't care attitude of the general population and this is a disease that plagues all indians and i mean everybody,rich and poor,literate and illiterate combined.'

The driver slightly confused ' sir,i am sorry but you kind of lost me there.'

Raman looked at all of them ' i guess all of you have seen that famous film of chiyaan vikram's titled " ANNIYAN" where he explains in detail why we are no where in sports,technology,agriculture and education and that is because every indian thinks only of himself and how to further himself while stepping on others faces and lives to hoist himself up the ladder.

But simply put,all indians are like crabs in a bucket and each hold on and pull down the other which is just getting out and the motto is ' if i cant get out then you will not get out too.'

The driver in frustration ' sir,appo why state government and why central government and why are there police and army if not to take care and sort out all these issues of the common man.'


Raman patiently ' mr.palaniswami,the government is there but it is up to each and every individual to do his duty for his city and through that for his nation.The government cannot go to the help of each and every indian and it is largely left to us to manage the nitty gritties of life.The government can make rules and also enforce it only to a certain extent but then it is up to each of us to respect it and follow it and also set an example to the next person.'

The driver sarcastically ' sir,all this is good only to hear and see as punchlines in movies but it is not practical.'

Raman nearly lost his cool but then that was not his nature and calming himself down ' driver,what about you sir? It is a rule that you have to wear a seat belt when you are driving,but are you wearing it.And also,please see where you have parked the car for it is right in the middle of the pedestrian crossing.Just imagine,a vehicle behind loses control and rams into your car and what do you think will happen.Simple,you will get your face and chest smashed into the steering wheel and the windscreen.You are married and obviously are a father and most probably have an entire family depending on you and yet you take such blatant risks with your life and that of your children's future.If you die instantly is over but what if you are injured pretty badly and lose your limbs or eyes and then who will feed your family and who will pay for your medical bills.'

The weight and the full meaning of raman's words hit the driver like a heavy slap and he meekly whispered sorry and wore the seat belt ' sir,sorry sir.very sorry.i promise you that i will never drive without the seat belt on.I swear it on you sir.'

It took another twenty minutes and soon they reached spencers signal,where the uber car turned left and raman looked at his dad who noticed that the driver did not switch on his turn signal or indicators to signal the people behind him that he was turning and shook his head in frustration for only moments ago,his son had spoken so clearly and wisely about rules and why they were there and here the driver was back again,true to his nature and more importantly his training that would be simply impossible to break and remould anew again.

They got out of the car and shaktivel paid the amount which came to 260 rupees and watching the car move away,turned to Raman and valliammai ' 260 is a small amount when compared to the relief of being driven and being saved from all the tension and stress of having to drive your own car and then having to find a parking spot and that is whole load of tension once again.'

Raman looked at both of them ' appa,two questions and the first one is we are empty handed.so should i go pick up a bouquet or something and the second thing question is whose wedding is this that i have come along with you for i have no clue and am sure that i am going to embarrass myself more than once before this wedding is over.'

Valliammai,his mother ' ram,we are giving cash as a gift' and removing the brown envelope from her handbag she showed to him and then shaktivel placing a hand on his son's shoulder ' iyya,raman,we have come on behalf of the Bride's family's request who is the daughter of a distant cousin of mine and that to not via blood relations but only through some marriage alliance.I would have given this a miss but unfortunately the girl's dad is the local councilor and also part of the Trichy town planning department and so a powerful man to have as an ally.'

Raman's mother looked at her husband and raman looked at both of them ' what,what was that look for? and valliammai,her eyes shining wet and her voice choking with sentiment ' ram,your dad wanted to see you and spend some time with you and that is why we have come to chennai and not for some wedding of some councilor.'

Raman turned to his dad and hugged him tightly and shaktivel ' iyya judo champion,careful for these are old bones and not as strong as yours' and raman gently kissed his dad on both his cheeks ' i love you appa.I love you both so much and i promise that i will come and visit you more often.'

Shaktivel wiping his tears ' vendaanga,your work is very important and so we will come more often and stay with you and spare you the trouble of you coming all the way to trichy.'

Father,mother and son entered the wedding hall together and paused at the entrance as a group of young women sprinkled scented water on all three of them and then took turns to drool at raman and all three of them could clearly hear the whispers and gossip behind their backs and one girl loudly told the other one ' i think he is single and lets wait and see whose side he is on and then we can get his mobile number.'

Valliammai began to mutter ' i will have to take drishti the moment we go back home and later in the evening i will go to the temple and do a pooja in your name.'

Raman with a smile ' careful amma for it is not only me that the women are sight aduchufying but also your handsome and hero of a husband.'

Hi everyone,

Chapter 90 of Jannal oram and yes the story is coming along well although slowly.But the reason for that is that i want to tell,sing and explain every moment of the characters lives of each day they are in.So many times i have rushed through so many beautiful moments without dwelling on them in greater detail but with jannal oram it is one kiss at a time,one love at a time,one family and their bonds at a time.

I thank you all for the likes and support and i wish you all a great day.lots of love.satish.

Pollution and corruption


Pollution of air,water and earth aside,the pollution of minds and behaviour of all those addicted to television is a far more serious problem.

From social networking sites to instant and immediate gratifying apps such as Whats app and Instagram,the toll they take on today's teenage population is a clear and present danger.


Take for example,the popular fair and lovely ad for their creams where the product convinces and gaurantee's that it will change your dark complexion to white,light and bright skin in days and although the buyer has to stop and wonder how this is possible,the sales are up and high and running and the manufacturer is laughing all the way to the bank.

When did dark complexion become a liability.When did and where does it say that you have to look like this and behave like that to conform to peer and popular groups and one can imagine the damage that this must be causing those tender souls who think they are not good just because they are born dark or over weight.

It is a pity that there is no app or site that needs only a persons soul or thoughts to be a part of it for isn't it true that physical beauty is only skin deep and that the real beauty is a diamond hidden in the soul and residing in a place where only god himself resides.

Atheists,God here means a higher power that rules and governs the whole universe and so please no hard are foul feelings.

We have let the corporate world to rule,lead and brainwash us and also to conform to the latest trends,fashions and designs.

Each of us is designed and bestowed life for a specific reason and purpose and it is sad and cruel that millions waste it and throw it all away just for fashion and brands.

In the end,this herd mentality,this need to belong and to conform to rules and regulations designed by marketing wizards is null and void and i wish and want all people to wake up from this needy and scary nightmare.

Please don't give a damn of what your peers or friends want you to be or force you to be and just be yourself and live life as you want to live.

I phone or you are a nobody.

Trendy hair cut or you are a nobody and today a haircut costs upwards 500 rs or more for men and for females it is the ceiling itself.

If one looks closely,you can see the pattern in how shoppers are herded towards what the corporate's need through their ads in television and news papers.

I pray that this celebration of the body soon comes to an end and the celebration of the mind and its passions soon begin for then it will be truly heaven on earth.

Jannal oram 91

Weddings in India,at least in Tamilnadu are mostly a chaotic affair with the wedding hall a gathering,a party,a meeting place of all kinds and all sorts and they have arrived at that destination via an invitation.

It is a social must and a necessity to have a pleasant smile,a kind and practiced expression and keep your hand ready for the many handshakes with dry,wet,sweaty palms and well the women folk are excused from this foreign ritual left behind by the english rulers and in my opinion a nasty and germ filled habit for contact with another human is always a tricky and dicey one.

But Raman was truly his father's son and in general and as a rule never shook hands unless the situation needed it and like his dad just folded his hands in a very traditional Namaskaram which usually elicited the same response although many did,would and will take offence when their extended handshake is not reciprocated and there are some who look on it as a personal insult.

Raman was purely there,attending the wedding for the pleasure and company of his parents and that single factor alone made all other factors good or bad bearable.He leaned to his dad and whispered ' appa,i am kind of lost here and so i am staying one step behind you and using you as my invisibility cloak.so,please don't mind.okay appa.'

Shaktivel nodded and before he could say something else,one of the most important men of that venue,hurried towards him and greeted the whole family with warmth and a huge smile that genuinely reached his eyes.

Of the many important men in a wedding venue,the three most important men are the bridegroom,the bridegroom's dad and the brides' dad and well i guess we have to add the priest who conducts the wedding but we will not for he is just a mouth piece mouthing strange sanskrit shlokas and sweating bullets over the fire he is fanning and arousing by pouring pure ghee on the homa kundam.

The bride's father and the man who had invited shaktivel and family was Mr.Nellaiappan and he came forward with his hands folded in greeting and looking at shaktivel ' shakti sir,thank you so much for making it for my daughter's wedding' and then turning to valliammai ' amma vanakkam.'

Shaktivel turned slightly and introduced Raman to nellaiappan who immediately hugged him ' thambi,so you are shakti sir's son raman.I am so happy to finally meet you and i thank you for making time to come to my only daughter's wedding.'

Still holding raman gently by his arm,Nellaiappan looked at him ' iyya,your dad has told me so much about you and even from my first meeting with you i can see that every word and praise of your father's is hundred percent true.'

Then raman noticed a very subtle change of expression in mr.nellaiappan's face as he leaned and whispered something to his dad and then he personally led them to the front row that faced the mandapam and asked them to be seated and then raised his hand and summoned somebody and four men ran towards him and Nellaiappan ordered two of them to stand and attend to all of their needs.

Shaktivel stood up ' Nellai sir,it is okay.Please don't worry about us and carry on for you will have so much work and so many people to meet and greet.'

Nellaiappan waved his hands and gently pushed shaktivel back to his seat ' shakti sir,hundreds might come and go for this wedding but for me only you and a few others matter for you come out of pure love and genuine respect while many others come for they owe me and are indebted to me and they come out of obligation.And i am really happy today for you have brought your son along and your whole family is here to bless my daughter.That is enough and that will do for me and my family.'

Nellaiappan then took of to be at the entrance to greet the others who were arriving and raman leaned to his right while at the same time,valliammai leaned to her left and both asked shaktivel in unison ' what did the man whisper in your ears just moments ago?'

Shaktivel looked down,looked up and both his wife and son looked with him up and down and then valliammai nudging him ' mr.shakti,you are not in some exam hall where you are eyeing some bit paper for an answer.so please answer the very simple question that we have asked.'

Shaktivel clearing his throat ' the man asked a very pertinent and a necessary question and that was why we both had never spoken about an alliance between his daughter and our son.Meeting raman has only kind of increased his sadness and disappointment in me and i feel pretty bad about it.'

Raman ' dad,why should you feel bad about it when there was never an opportunity for that kind of talk between our families and more importantly i have spent most of my adult life in chennai and also have never mingled with any of our relations in a major way.'

Valliammai leaned forward and looked at raman ' ram,the point here is that your dad is much loved and respected by everyone back in trichy and the surrounding areas and an alliance with our family would automatically increase the stature of the other family and that is why mr.nellaiappan felt a bit sad and let down.But not to worry for i am sure he will not think or spend too much time on that.'

Then hearing a slight raise in the voices behind them and also the shuffling of many seats,Raman turned his head and cursed slightly and quickly turned back shaking his head in frustration.

And then as he feared,Mr.Nellaiappan came forward and introduced the new guest to shaktivel,valliammai and raman,who all stood up and greeted him.

Mr.Nellaiappan looked at shaktivel ' shakti sir,this is the great mr.krishnaswamy Iyer,the owner of Unicorn steel and he will soon be opening a huge factory outside trichy' and then turning to krishnaswmay iyer ' sir,this is mr.shaktivel,his wife and his only son Raman.'

Raman looked at the older man and with a smile and greeted him ' good morning sir.Nice meeting you.'

Yesterday,sunday morning i rose
to a sliver,a crescent of a pale moon
i rose breathing fresh and salty air
and thanked god for life which is a boon
he made me smile and he has taught me to care
and i stared at the moon and gently began to croon
a whistle,a wail and then my feet raced too soon
and i ran and danced as i ran
and the morning air was soothing as that of a fan


Yesterday,sunday morning i ran and ran
and suddenly,gasped and realised that i was now an old man
i smiled and stood up and stared at the gestating sun
buried bright in the wombs of the clouds
and i yelled in silence,i am alive,i am alive
i breathe,i see,i feel,i hear and i dance
and i thought of all my friends
and all those who i love dearly
more than my very own life
and i prayed for them and i was one with them


yesterday,sunday was a good day
i rose a mortal and i walked,ran
and became immortal under the eternal sun

unmasking the masks


Like begets like
like sees like
and so i like you like
and we are both alike

All of us have masks,wear masks and sometimes or maybe more often than not we forget to remove the masks and then we scare ourselves silly when we see our reflections not in mirrors but in the eyes and souls of others who also wear mask.But why do we require these masks is an easily answerable question and that is,it has to do with the way we function in the niche we have created for ourselves in this society where everyone else also wears these masks.So,we go around fooling each other and everyone else with these masks to maintain a semblance of peace,harmony and a life that has to be led,lived and we breathe our last too tired to remove our mask or too dependent on the mask which has seared itself into your skin.

You smile,i smile
you smile and i don't smile
then you run a mile
or attack me chasing me for a mile

I cry,you cry,we all cry
but you ask me why do you cry
and i say i am so down when i need to be high
and you go away shaking your head branding me a nut
leaving me with the words hanging ' excuse me,but,but,let me finish'


I wear a mask,you wear a mask
we all wear masks and yet
no one asks why we indulge in such tasks



I love,you love,we all love
and yet we ask how to love
how,when and what is love
and i say love is the holy cow
for there is no holy cow

I love,you love and yet so different love
we know it is love yet you feel the love
and yet you say wait this is white love
this black love and that is brown love

I feel,you feel,we all feel
under the layers of all this skin
we should peel,peel and see
that love that we all feel is
not in the skin or in the eyes
but just in the soul


I soul,you soul,we all have a soul
it is no pulsating organ,it is no flashing jewel
it is just a feeling,a thought,an emotion
a moment and yet creation itself is capable
in that single moment

Redemption 221


In a hidden bunker,deep underground,the door opened softly and the scientist dressed in a white overcoat,wearily rubbed his eyes and looked at his boss who sat watching the huge screen on which ten lights in ten columns kept blinking on and off and an array of numbers kept flashing on the screen and yet at the bottom of the screen,which was the most important sensor,seemed to be at a standstill and soon a soft beep filled the room and the man knew that the story was over for five of his creations,life that he and his group had worked so hard to bring to life and just like that,decades of engineering and painstaking lab work had been cruelly extinguished.

The man at the desk stood up and looked at the scientist ' have you come to deliver the same news that i already know and the same which is flashing on the screen.'

The scientist nodded ' I told you in the very beginning that there is only so much we can do with ancient DNA and most importantly we cannot just duplicate the original and that too not with a sample that is so many thousands of years old.And yes,i confirm the same news that is already known to you.Five of the ten are dead and the other five remain hidden and in storage.'

Pausing and choosing his words very carefully,the scientist looked at his boss ' whatever you choose to do with the remaining five,i hope you do it with caution for if they too are lost then it is another wait of 20 to 25 years.'

The man rose from the desk and opening a cupboard brought a bottle of expensive scotch and looked at the scientist who nodded and the man poured two large ones for both of them and then placing one crystal cut glass near the scientist went back to his chair across the table and took a generous sip from the glass of spirits and with that his spirits seemed to lift visibly and the scientist sighed and lost his fear and nervousness,at least for the moment.

The man behind the desk looked at his chief scientist,who was now nearly 65 years old and had been with him and his company for nearly 35 years ' where did we go wrong,doctor?,how is this possible when we replicated the same and exact DNA of the original and even the DNA and gene testing had proved beyond doubt that all ten carried the original count and the exact replica.So,what went wrong and how did he manage to kill five in a matter of a minute.'


The scientist took a sip and rolled the expensive scotch around his mouth and felt the tingle and burn of the spirit and looked down at the sparkling amber liquid in the glass and wondered how expensive it must be and then lifting his eyes to face his boss ' Mr.cholan,you know the answers to all your questions for you and your father know more about this project than even me.yet,i will answer your question as best as possible.'

Looking at the table lamp that emitted a soft glow and yet illuminated the entire room ' I am a scientist and i believe in fool proof sceince and evidence.But for a few years now,i have begun to believe that the difference and also what always goes wrong with us is because we are fighting them from then wrong side of the fence and i literally mean the wrong side of life itself.I think that however hard we try,there are greater forces at work here and lastly and most importantly,they come with the mark of The ancients.'


The man behind the desk looked at the scientist and smiled ' mr.cholan to you but to the outside world i am known by a totally different name.But it gives me joy to hear you address me by my ancient title for now i am ready once more to begin anew this war against both Rudran and Dhanashekara pandyan.'

He picked up his mobile and then looked up at the scientist ' thank you doctor and that will be all' and watching his chief scientist leave closing the door behind him,he pressed the speed dial button and spoke to his father Raja durai who was in madurai.

' My king,My father i bring you bad news and i also need to warn you to not go on the offensive and delay your attack for another time and another place.'

Raja durai felt as if somebody had shoved a stake through his lungs and he gasped in anger ' Rajendra,five of them.You mean he dispatched five of our lords.But they are meant to protect us and help us avenge our ancestors and finally bring us victory that our race has been thirsting for many thousands of years.'

Ending the call with his son,he stood wondering how he was going to deliver this news of such magnitude to the one who was now called Kaliyan and then he nearly jumped out of his skin hearing the very man's voice close to him.

Raja durai quickly bent his head in respect ' My lord,bad news from my son for Rudran has killed five of our creations and surely he will come now looking for the rest and for you.'

Kaliyan nodded ' yes,but we will not be here for we will be in chennai hidden,waiting to pounce and seize the moment and i promise you the moment will come.It just takes time and in this battle,time is of no essence and only life and who exists is paramount.'

He quickly whispered orders and Raja durai nodded and left in a hurry and Kaliyan let his mind descend into darkness as his lips whispered ' Bravo Rudran for killing five of mine.You must be truly the great warrior that i think you are.But you will fall for you will be tied down,weighed down by blood and family while i have nothing to hold me back.'



Flashback of kaliyan in chapter 198-Page 132


In a quiet farmhouse on kodai road ,Rajadurai stood behind the visitor who had flown all the way from America.

The visitor stood staring at the gigantic paintings of Rajendra cholan and many giants doing battle with the warrior from the sun,Azhagan and whistled and turned to face Raja durai.

Raja durai bent first and then went on one knee " my lord,i am here to do your bidding as my people have been done over thousands of years and like them i too offer everything,including my life into your hands and service.

The visitor smiled with great affection " Rise rajadurai and stand as an equal to me for you and your people have been the only constant in all our lives and the only friends we have had,even in our darkest hours."

The visitor stood with his hands behind his back and now as he brought them out,rajadurai saw the markings shimmer on the mans right arm and gasped and looked at the tall man in amazement " so,it is true,that you exist" and looking at the markings on the man's muscled arm " and it is also true that a warrior from the darkness carries the sacred markings,the very same markings that the warriors of the light carry.Unbelievable."

The visitor looked at rajadurai " from this moment you and the rest will address me as Kaliyan."

" as you wish my lord.Please tell me how i can be of help."

Kaliyan closed his eyes and meditated for a second and then with a smile playing on his face,opened them and looked at rajadurai " I expected the other but the unexpected one,the warrior thought lost has risen and entered our city.he will do for now and we will make an example of him in such a way that the one i seek will come to face me and then it will be over and a new age will begin."


Raja durai stood looking confused and lost and Kaliyan looked at him " Don't worry,you will understand everything as it unfolds."

rajadurai looked at his lord " i am not worried about me or my people but i am just curious as to how a warrior of the light can be defeated in a one on one battle for it has never been done before.This Rudran who we are talking about has already killed dozens of my men,expert killers and even Murky who has just returned from thailand says it is near impossible to take on that man for he seems to be blessed with even greater powers than the warriors before him."

Kaliyan looked at him " That is why we won't fight with him until we are well and truly ready but the other one is not as powerful as him and maybe we can tackle him."

Looking at rajadurai,kaliyan gave him many instructions and told him that everything has to be done as planned for even the slightest deviation could mean death for all of them.

Rajadurai looked at his new lord with great respect and yet wondered if it was possible to win for their side had not won a major victory in thousands of years and yet this warrior of darkness carried the sacred markings that only the blessed angels were born with.

Rajadurai turned to leave and then hesitatingly looked at kaliyan who with an evil smile " I know and understand your thoughts and fears.You are wondering how one warrior can be better than the other and how we can defeat him."

Turning back to look at the painting,kaliyan spoke with his hands behind his back " The blood that runs through them runs through me too and it has taken many experiments and abortions to create who i am or what i am.But as the experiments were done by my creators,our real owners,they discovered that every child had a certain gift,a mutation and it is now understood that Rudran is the pinnacle,the ultimate evolution and from him will be created even mightier warriors and there is no defeating them,plain and simply impossible."

Facing rajadurai once again " We need to take rudran alive or at least capture his woman who is carrying the next great warrior and when i say the next,it also means his powers will rival that off the legend Azhagan."

The very name sent shivers through raja durai " even mightier than pagalon,mamannan kavin."

Kaliyan smiled " yes,it scares me too but remember that as of now there are only two warriors of the light on this planet while we number in the dozens."

Rajadurai,totally lost and confused " More of you,i am sorry my lord,please forgive my ignorance.But what do those words mean."

Kaliyan smiled " you will see my dear friend.soon,you will see with your own eyes that when one of us fall,another will rise to do battle with the warriors and in the end,logic dictates that we will triumph simply because of our numbers for there are just two of them."

Placing his mighty hand on rajadurai " now go and do as i have ordered and leave the rest to me."

Diwali,Deepavali means light

Diwali in or Sanskrit dipavali means "series of lights", and is derived from dipam "light, lamp" and oli "glow of light". Diwali is also known as dipotsavam "festival of lights"


Deepavali as i know it and the way i called it growing up always meant lights,sounds,sweets and importantly new clothes and most probably a film too either the evening show or the night show.

It all seems so long ago for it has been more than 26 years since i burst any crackers or for that matter brought new clothes.Becoming an adult puts many things in new perspectives and sheds new light on many things that we hold dear and practice as sacred rituals.

The world has changed,people have changed or rather the population has changed and it is not the same earth we once walked and it is not the same air that we once breathed for along with water,everything has been polluted,destroyed and made unfit to live.

In just about 100 years or so,man who today is on top of the food chain has destroyed most of the vegetation,made extinct nearly 50 percent of the animal species and has made unfit life giving rivers and the very oceans from which life most probably evolved.

Although the effects of man are so vast and complicated,the reasons behind his actions are very simple and easy to understand and that is man has become a parasite that has begun to prey on everything that this earth has to offer.

If earth is our mother,then man who is one of her children surely must be the black sheep of the family and the evil spawn that somehow has managed to usurp and take over the land,sea and air.


But that huge and profound questions aside,let me come back to diwali or deepavali and how relevant it is today in this present 21st century as compared to the ancient times.

Diwali dates back to ancient times in India, as a festival after the summer harvest in the Hindu calendar month of Kartika. The festival is mentioned in Sanskrit texts such as the Padma Purana, the Skanda Purana both completed in second half of 1st millennium AD but believed to have been expanded from a core text from an earlier era. The diyas (lamps) are mentioned in Skanda Purana to symbolically represent parts of the sun, the cosmic giver of light and energy to all life, who seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.

Hindus in some regions of India associate Diwali with the legend of Yama and Nachiketa on Kartika amavasya (Diwali night). The Nachiketa story about right versus wrong, true wealth versus transient wealth, knowledge versus ignorance is recorded in Katha Upanishad composed in 1st millennium BC.

King Harsha in the 7th century Sanskrit play Nagananda mentions Deepavali as Deepapratipadutsava (Deepa = light, pratipada = first day, utsava = festival), where lamps were lit and newly engaged brides and grooms were given gifts. Rajasekhara referred to Deepavali as Dipamalika in his 9th century Kavyamimamsa, wherein he mentions the tradition of homes being whitewashed and oil lamps decorating homes, streets and markets in the night.The Persian traveller and historian Al Biruni, in his 11th century memoir on India, wrote of Deepavali being celebrated by Hindus on New Moon day of the month of Kartika.


Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs and Newar Buddhists to mark different historical events and stories, but they all symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.

Light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair and pray when did these sacred virtues and the laws of the universe turn into this decadent explosion of money and its power.

I will not wax and vane too much about people spending money,their hard earned money on sickening display of wealth and yes,sickening display and nothing else and will come to the topic of crackers,noise and pollution.

The world has changed and in todays world,we just cannot afford to burn money into ash and dust just to celebrate diwali.How can one with the complete knowledge that the very money he or she is going to burn,burst can put food on the table for some hungry family.

How can we go on destroying had earned cash on crackers that only pollute with their toxic chemicals and hurt our ears with their loud explosions.


Diwali or deepavali means the light of the lamp and i pray,request and beg the public to light the way by changing their ways and traditions and stepping forward boldly into a new age,a utopia and new era in mankind.


Light the lamps,light the way with your smile and generosity and light the lives of people who need food,clothes and most importantly love and motivation and a chance to live again.


The lights of your soul,the power of your pure actions are the real celebrations,the real diwali and the real sight of your inner most eye that shines on the forehead of the lord,the god i worship,Lord Shiva

I wish all of you a very happy diwali and give you all my love,blessings and prayers and hope that all of you have a safe and happy diwali and also a happy diwali.

Jannal oram 92


Krishnaswamy Iyer,owner of Unicorn steel shook hands and Raman appreciated the mans grip when their hands connected via the handshake for it exhibited no emotions that both felt for each other.In the briefest of glances and in the briefest of conctact between their hands,they looked,remembered what both stood across the fence of life and nodded to each other.

Raman with a pleasant smile introduced his dad and mum to Mr.krishnaswamy iyer and then whispered a prayer hoping that Mr.Nelliappan would not seat them besides each other and he sighed in relief as the host led Krishnaswamy iyer away to meet other people who were gathered in the front rows.

Raman looked behind and his dad Shaktiveltoo turned and then with a smile ' Thambi,i too do the same thing and sit in the rear after having met the families whose wedding i happen to attend.But sadly,that is not possible for we have already been seated here in a significant and important place and changing now would lead to all kinds of thoughts and fears for Nellaiappan.'

Raman nodded ' true dad but at least there is no harm in longing for something which is not possible.'

Shaktivel looked at valliammai and gently ' i am sorry and please forgive me for my impertinence when i ask you what that was all about between you and the gentleman we just met?'

Raman took his dad's hand ' appa,i am your son and please remember what i always tell you and i repeat it again and that is you and mum never have to apologise or excuse yourself for anything and i mean anything.'

Leaning back and taking time to look at both his parents ' well,whatever you both felt transpired between me and mr.krishnaswamy iyer is regarding a small legal issue and i am waiting and hoping against hope that it will be solved amicably for if not then i hate to think what will eventually transpire in this case.'

Then all of them heard as a roar shook the wedding hall announcing the arrival of someone very important and all three looked at each other and understood it must be some high ranking party member of which mr.nellaiappan was the councilor and it also happened to be the ruling party in the state.

The noise,cheers and greetings neared them slowly and then Mr.Nelliappan all quivering with excitement and happiness oozing from every pore of his body led the man who obviously was the chief guest to the front row and the man turned and with folded hands greeted everybody in the crowd and then raman and his parents and everybody heard the young man apologise to MR.Nellaiappan ' sir,Father could not make it for he has flown to delhi with the chief minister regarding some important issues and requested me to grace the occasion on his behalf and he also asked me to convey his blessings to your daughter and the bride groom.'

Nellaiappan folded his hands in reverence and bowed his head in total respect and thanked the young man who was Mr.vijaya bhaskar,the eldest son of Tamil nadu finance minister Mr.Durai pandi arumugam.

Vijaya bhaskar thanked everybody for their love and respect and just as he was wondering where he was going to be seated,turned casually and locked eyes with Raman who was seated in the front row and a huge smile erupted in his face and he ran towards raman with folded hands.

Jannal oram 93


When a person,an object around which everything gravitates moves,then all that is around him or that object but giving space,a bubble of privacy that comes out of respect,fear and limelight and they stay a few steps behind for getting too close would be to incur the wrath or irritation of that said person.

When Vijaya bhaskar,son of finance minister Durai paandi arumugam moved and that too filled with excitement and happiness,everybody around him from Nellaiappan and all the members of the wedding group,photographers,videographers stood for a second to watch where the VVIP was moving and that too with folded hands and total respect.

Vijaya bhaskar forgot who he was and all his eyes were filled with Raman who stood up with a smile and he too reciprocated with folded hands and said ' vanakkam.'

The cameras flashed,flashed again and again and the video cameras recorded as hundreds of mobile phones too joined in the hype and sheer excitement of the moment as is the norm when you have a VVIP and a celebrity in the midst of normal and everyday people

Vijay stood for a second and then hugged Raman tightly and hesitating just for a second,Raman hugged him back ' Raman sir,how are you? my god it has been nearly 12 to 13 years since you left college and since i last saw you.'

Then he looked at shaktivel and valliammai who stood smiling at him and Raman introduced them and Vijaya bhaskar bent low and touched both their feet and took their blessings and then his eyes filled with tears as shaktivel blessed him with the words ' Iyya,neenga nalla irukanum.Naatukku neraya nallathu seiyanuam.'

Vijaya bhaskar nodded in gratitude and thanking Raman's parents for their blessings,immediately pulled raman down and both sat down in the empty chairs and jumped straight into a deeply emotional conversation and the time flowed and flowed and the whole world watched as Vijay and raman sat drowned in old and golden memories.

Then,Nellaiappan the brides father,a party man,a councilor softly bent down and whispered ' Sir,the nichayathartham time has come and we are all waiting for you to come the stage and shower your blessings as the Thali is tied.'

Vijay looked at Raman in uncomfortable silence and raman whispered ' Ponga vijay,it is not only you that is going to preside over this ceremony but you will be doing this on behalf of your party and your parents and that is the most important thing.'

Vijay nodded and accepting the words ' Raman sir,promise me one thing and that is when i get married,you will be there with your parents to bless me and wish me the best.'

Raman smiled and threw his left arm over Vijaya bhaskar ' my wishes and my parents blessings will always be there for you and yes,i promise that i will be there for your wedding without fail.'

The ceremonial instruments,the Nadaswaram and the tabla filled the wedding hall with is ancient and glorious raagas and with the priest screaming ' Getti melam,getti melam' the bride groom tied the thali around the bride and the ceremony was over and not a second too soon for the hall began to empty as the people rushed off towards the dining hall to eat and get back home and to their lives,their normal lives that you,me live.

Vijaya bhaskar catching raman's eye from the mandapam waved to him and indicated that he wanted to eat with him and his parents and raman nodded and waited still seated with his folk.

Shaktivel gently took his son's hand and squeezed it gently in love and looking into raman's eyes ' Iyya,i must be the luckiest father alive.Thank you for being my son and for being born to me and your mother'

His voice choked in emotion ' we waited for so long to have a child and at one point didn't mind even if it was a differently abled child for both me and your mother ached so badly to have our own baby and even began to entertain thoughts about adoption.But your mother was the bold one and told me that she knew that god was late but would eventually bless us with our own baby and then you were born.'

Looking at valliammai,he turned back to raman ' i think me and your mother were born purely to give birth to you,to look after you and love you with every beat of our hearts.'

Raman sat still and quiet ' You are a thief dad and you always steal from me.And here once more you have again stolen my thoughts and feelings about you both.I cannot top what you just expressed and i only have this to say to you.You are everything to me and i am because of you.'

Taking his dads hand in one hand and gently clasping his mothers hand in the other ' i love you both,very much and i thank you for giving me life and this beautiful love.'

Unknown to the three,Krishnaswamy iyer was keenly watching them and noticing their every move and emotion and now he sat stunned for hot tears fell from his eyes and he knew that he had wronged and he realised what a great mistake he had committed and slowly getting up exited the wedding hall,nearly invisible for nobody even noticed him leaving the venue.

Unknown to raman,unicorn steel owner,Mr.krishnaswamy iyer left a new man,a changed man and he left determined to put things right and repair the damage he had nearly done.


"I may not always be with you
But when we're far apart
Remember you will be with me
Right inside my heart
Marc Wambolt, Poems from the Heart