maarpu veneka manishi (man behind the change)

8/9/2019 Maarpu Veneka Manishi (Man Behind the Change)

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Maarpu Veneka Manishi

(Man Behind the Change1)

Original in Telugu by: Seela Subhadra Devi

Translator: GRK Murty

1Maarpu Veneka Manishi(Man Behind the Change)


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Seela Subhadra Devi is a Telugu poetess of repute. Shereceived an award for Best Writer from TeluguUniversity in 1997. In 2001, she wrote a long poemYuddham Oka Gunde Kotha (War a Hearts Ravage) on the

aftermath of 9/11. In collaboration with late Dr. BhargaviRao, she compiled the much appreciated anthology ofone hundred women poets in Telugu titled Mudra(1997). She has published eight compilations of herpoetry, some of which include Aakali Nrutyam (Dance ofHunger), Aavishkaram (Launch), Oppula Kuppa (Beautiful

Lady), Ekanta Samuhalu (Solitary Society). She has also published twocollections of short stories: Devudibanda (Gods Stone) and Rekkala Chupu(Sight of Wings).

Amma2! Take care of your health! Nannagaru

3! You both must try to

come to us as early as possible!

Attayyagaru4! Keep writing letters! Mamayyagaru

5! We take leave of

you!

Pinky Bye-bye, ta-ta cheerio! As the son, daughter-in-law and the

two-year-old granddaughter proceed inside for check-in, they slowly

fade out.

2Amma - mother

3Nannagaru - father

4Attayyagaru mother-in-law

5Mamayyagaru father-in-law


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As they start moving inside, staring at them blankly, Srilakshmi waves

her hands mechanically. Come on, lets go! Venkatarao, putting his

hand around her shoulder, leads her outside the airport.

Even after boarding the taxi, Srilakshmi does not say anything. As

though meditating upon something, she slips into a reverie. Venkatarao

tries to strike a conversation, but realizing that she has not yet come

out of her trance, remains silent.

After reaching home, changing her sari, Srilakshmi goes straight into

the kitchen to drink water. Seeing the sweet packet lying on the table,

at once she is overtaken by sorrow and sinks down in a chair.

Setting right the things in the front room, Venkatarao, listening to the

sobs coming from the kitchen, comes to her and saying, Whats this

Lakshmi, like a kid, whats this crying? pulls her closer to him.

Srilakshmi remains silent, but her sorrow intensifies.

Saying, I was so happy that you have been brave all along, but what is

this, why this sudden cowardice? he wipes her tears.

All along we have been looking forward eagerly for the arrival of Raja

and Ramani? At last, they came, but stayed for half the period at their


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in-laws house in Delhi; then came to us, but without staying even for

four days left for Ooty and Darjeeling, and returned home just before

the departure date and flew! I havent even got the joy of taking up

sweet Pinky in my arms even for once contentedly. Nor did I have the

pleasure of listening to her sweet talk. Look, to stay in the town and the

home in which he was born and brought up for 25 years, he behaved as

though he is on a bed of thorns. Because he stayed for five years in a

foreign land, this land and parents became sore to him. All through

those years he lived drinking this very water, but today the same has

turned out to be poisonous. During all the days that he stayed here, he

bought water from the shop and drank. See how he has changed!

laments Srilakshmi.

Venkatarao does not say anything. Remaining silent for a minute,

Srilakshmi continues, As Ramanis mother and father visited them

when the younger one was born, we could not go. Except through

videocassettes, we could not see the kid contentedly. Knowing that he

loves to eat putarekulu6

and kajalu7, I bought them, but he left them

here saying luggage might exceed. All through his stay of four days, he

has been displaying irritability and vexation. And his saying at the

6Putarekulu- sugar coated foilsmade with finely ground sugar powder and rolled in fine laminated foils made

of rice. A traditional sweet of coastal Andhra Pradesh.7Kajalua traditional sweet of Andhra Pradesh, made with refined wheat flour, rice

flour, sugar and butter


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slightest opportunity, you both too come down there, has pained me

so much! sobbing, she disgorged all the sorrow in her mind.

Listening to all this, Venkatarao says, Lakshmi! You might be mistaken!

Not that he has changed, maybe our perception has changed, please

think over. Even if at all there is a change in him, it is perhaps normal to

humans. Why think of it so much, spoiling your health? They have been

speaking to us on phone for all these years! We have never felt that his

love for us has diminished, nor did we ever feel that he distanced

himself from us. Its only after meeting him in person, we are feeling

like this. Having been used to all the comforts of that land, they might

have felt some discomfort here

Oh! Come, stayed here for more than twenty-five years. After all, its

not even five years there, got so accustomed? murmuring, she gets up.

Venkatarao follows her to the front room.

Though days are rolling on, the pain in her mind pierces like a thorn.

Not being able to contain it, she calls her daughter Ravali, who is

staying in Vijayawada, on phone and pours out her agony.


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When her brother came to Hyderabad, Ravali came with her family and

had a chat with all of them. She had invited her brothers family to

Vijayawada to stay with them for two days.

Indeed, Rajas family visited them and enjoyed their hospitality. Ravali

did not notice any change either in her brother or in her sister-in-law.

Maybe due to generation-gap, or leading an independent life with

ones own family or, maybe after a particular age, its perhaps natural

for human beings to change a little. She wonders if her mother has

been misconstruing the whole thing, but fearing that if she says so she

may feel more agonized, she tries to pacify her by saying this and that.

Srilakshmi feels that her daughter too cannot understand her rightly.

Not being able to say anything further, she swallows her pain.

Three months pass by mechanically. Raju and Ramani have been calling

on phone every week and talking to them.

One day, Srilakshmis cousin, Ramanarao, a school teacher in a village in

Konaseema, drops at their house, without any advance notice, right in

the morning saying he has some work in the DSE office.

That night, after having dinner, as they sit together chatting, Srilakshmi,

not being able to contain her sorrow, shares her agony with him.


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Its quite natural for people who by virtue of staying in America for

four to five years and having got used to those comforts, to find it

difficult to adjust back home. His disposition towards both of you is as it

was in the past, right? said he.

Except to stare at Ramanarao angrily, she remains silent. Next day, as

his work was over, while leaving them, Ramanarao tells them, Its

quite long since you have come that side! Apply for a weeks leave and

both of you come and stay with us. On the return journey, you can go

to Vijayawada and visit Ravali too!

Its not possible to apply for that many days leave! says Venkatarao.

Not a big deal, look for one or two government holidays this or that

side of second Saturday and Sunday, and apply for four days leave, you

can easily manage a week or ten days. Anyway, as you dont apply for

leave that frequently, all your entitlements must be lapsing. For once,

you apply, nobody will elope your office! Ramanarao teases his

brother-in-law.


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OK! We shall make it annayya8. After my marriage, I havent gone that

side to stay except to attend your daughters marriage! Sr ilakshmi

cheerfully assures him.

Inviting them repeatedly, Ramanarao takes leave.

Ever since Ramanarao leaves them, Srilakshmi starts pestering

Venkatarao for visiting Konaseema.

All of a sudden, the opportunity arrives for the fulfillment of her wish.

Venkatarao gets an opportunity to go to Vijayawada and Rajahmundry

for fifteen days on an auditing assignment. They plan to go together to

Rajahmundry; Srilakshmi would first stay in Konaseema with her cousin

Ramanarao, and then, depending on the time required for finishing his

official assignment in Rajahmundry, she would stay in her brothers

house in Rajahmundry for a couple of days; thereafter, she would stay

in Ravalis house in Vijayawada till he finished his work there.

Srilakshmi starts making arrangements for the trip. Her mind becomes

featherlike. Suddenly, she is swamped with childhood memories.

Remembering her childhood experiences, she starts narrating them to

8Annayyabrother.


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her neighbors and Venkatarao repeatedly. She describes the beauties

of Konaseema and explains the good nature of the people there.

Srilakshmis father had been a big farmer in Konaseema. She spent her

childhood in that place. Being the only girl child after three sons,

everyone tended to her affectionately. She studied only up to high

school level. But kept herself busy doing embroidery, stitching, etc.

As none of Srilakshmis brothers was interested in agriculture, afteracquiring good education, they settled in Vizag, Rajahmundry, and

Kakinada in government jobs. After Srilakshmis marriage, her father

expired. Thereafter, her brothers, disposing of their agricultural lands

and house in the village, shifted their mother to their house. With that

she never had the chance or the need to visit that place again.

Of course, in between she did go for Ramanaraos daughters marriage,

but had not been able to stay there for long as her sons marriage was

fast approaching. Now, the very thought of going to stay there after a

lapse of so much time makes her excited.

The lush green fields on either side of the road, the fine breeze blowing

over them, the coconut trees on either side all along the road standing

like Kings servants fanning and bowing; the fragrance blowing from the


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flowers of the bommajemudu9 bushes standing here and there on the

bundseven as she recalls, Srilakshmis mind gets intoxicated.

The day for which shes been all along looking forward to finally arrives.

They start by Narsapur express and get down at Narsapuram.

Ramanarao receives them at the station. They board a boat at the

wharf and cross the Godavari. After reaching the other bank,

Ramanarao engages a taxi to their village.

Through the taxi window Srilakshmi peeps out in search of rice fields.

Looks forward to the call of the breeze blowing over the fields. But all

that she sees ahead is prawn tanks. There is no trace of rice fields. In

despair, her eyes droop. Coconut trees standing along the roadside look

as though paralyzed. She is not happy with it. In between there are

houses exhibiting modernity with dish antennas. Srilakshmis mind is

clouded with sorrow.

Ramanarao and Venkatarao start discussing how paddy fields got

convertedinto prawn tanks. None of it is entering Srilakshmis ears.

They reach the village. Kamala, Ramanaraos wife, greets her

affectionately at the gate itself and takes her inside.

9Bommajemuduprickly pear, cactus.


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Water is kept ready, will you take bath first? Or, will you have tea?

asks Kamala.

First bath and then shall have tea vadina10! Meanwhile you give

them! Saying, she walks towards the bathroom with clothes in her

hand, casting a searching glance around the backyard.

A little away, there in one corner, was the bathroom. The backyard is

full of coconut trees, mango trees, banana plants and what not.

After taking bath, while returning to the kitchen she walks carefully, yet

her feet get soiled. Before entering the house, she washes her feet

again and comes in. The folds of the neatly pressed sari get soiled.

Srilakshmi gets a little vexed at it.

Placing a wooden plank on the floor and making Srilakshmi sit on it,

Kamala serves her in a plate hot steaming upma11

seasoned with lots of

cashew nuts.

As they chit-chat, Kamala finishes cooking lunch. Since they had met

after a long gap, and got caught in a merry conversation, none of them

notice the time.

10Vadinasister-in-law.

11Upmaa breakfast food, originally from south India, made with semolina.


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Having finished her lunch, saying she had no sleep the whole night

during the journey, Srilakshmi lies down. In the meanwhile, ladies from

the villagethose who knew Srilakshmi come to greet her. Though

tired, Srilakshmi gets up with great difficulty and sits with them.

By the time they all leave, it is 4 oclock. Kamala then serves all of them

sunniundalu12

and cashew fried in oil, seasoned with salt and chilli

powder. Though they like the dishes, Srilakshmi and Venkatarao cannot

eat well because of fatigue. Finishing tea, they start for the seashore.

The sea is about two kilometers away from that village. They pass

through cashew orchards, casuarinas fields, and drains by walk. Half the

way they come across a tar road. Though it was laid for ONGC usage, it

looked like a bridge to enslave the villagers to town-habits.

All along the way, as Venkatarao and Ramanarao talk about changing

villages and diminishing wealth of the villages, Srilakshmi and Kamala

talk about their family affairs and children.

All along the coast, people are collecting prawns. As there is no

convenient place on the shore to sit, and fearing that it may be difficult

to return in the dark, they start back immediately.

12Sunniundalufamous traditional sweet dish of Andhra Pradesh, made with black gram, jaggery and ghee.


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By the time they reach home, it is time to put on the lights. Although

there is electrical power supply, due to low voltage, lights are glowing

like bed lamps.

As the body is sticky due to sea breeze and sweat, everyone first has a

bath. Although she has felt like helping Kamala in cooking, Srilakshmi

cannot do anything because of poor light.

You are not used to this Lakshmi! Doesnt take much time, I shall doit! Thus comforting her, Kamala finishes cooking swiftly.

As Srilakshmi and Venkatarao suggest, We shall all sleep in the front

yard; its long since we have slept in the open yard under the breeze of

coconut trees, after finishing dinner, camp cots were laid outside for

everybody.

While chatting with them, Ramanarao dozes off soon snoring merrily.

Kamala too, perhaps being tired, falls asleep soon.

Despite the coconut and mango trees all around, as though the air was

paralyzed, leaves were not even fluttering. Over it, mosquitoes become

another nuisance. To protect from mosquito bite, if she covers herself

with a blanket, she is drenched in sweat. To avoid sweat, if the blanket

is dropped, mosquitoes have a field day.


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Srilakshmi spent the whole night sitting on the cot fanning herself for

sometime, and whenever her back ached she reclined on bed for

sometime. The village being closer to the sea, its water tasted salty.

That was why she did not feel like drinking the water kept under the

cot. Even if she felt like drinking it out of compulsion, then the fear

the fear of going to the toilet located at the far corner of the backyard.

She tried to divert her mind to something else, but she could not. Oh

God! When would it dawn! Thus the whole night turned out to be a

nightmare.

Venkatarao too suffered similarly, but in between he managed to go

out for a walk on the field bunds till tired and then came back to sleep

for a while, but after a while he got up again to go out.

Looking at Ramanarao and Kamalas sound sleep, they both wonder.

In between, both had been enquiring of each other: Arent you getting

sleep? Before dawn, Srilakshmi tells Venkatarao, After having lunch in

the afternoon, we shall start at 3 p.m. and go to Rajahmundry. We

cannot spend another night here. Even if it is required, we can revisit

from Rajahmundry for a day before the work is finished.

Venkatarao, silently nods his head.


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Morning passes off all right. While taking lunch, Venkatarao and

Lakshmi reveal their journey plans.

How come? Going back so soon! You said you would stay for a week,

Kamala and Ramanarao gently protested. A trace of surprise and

displeasure was evident in their utterances and body language.

Before we complete our work in Rajahmundry, we shall come back

again, annayya! Rajahmundry annayya will otherwise say, we haventstayed in their house! said Srilakshmi feebly.

Kamala of course does not say anything; presenting a sari and blouse

piece, and applying vermillion on Srilakshmis forehead, she says, No

sooner you have come than youre leaving us.

If you have affection for us, do visit us again! The tenor of her tone

clearly has a streak of taunt.

However, regaining her composure immediately, she says laughingly,

Wont stop from visiting us again, because we have presented a sari!

Holding back her mind, which was melting under their affection, and

remembering the sweat, the dirt, the salt water and the mosquitoes

that didnt allow her to sleep, Srilakshmi starts reluctantly.


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She does not speak a word all along the road. Yet her mind is fully

occupied by her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Seeing the murky water, which comes on alternate days and unable to

drink it, her son buying mineral water from the shop; with the load

shedding and the resultant power offs, her granddaughter not getting

sleep in the nights and the resulting unrest of hers; not one, all those

events swarm her mind. Yet, Srilakshmi does not say a word all through

the journey.

Reaching Rajahmundry and lying down under the fan, as though she

suddenly remembers, she tells her husband, We too have become

slaves of town-habits!

Venkatarao is already fast asleep, snoring.

*****

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