The Eye Story - Last Chapter

I had my surgery yesterday. I was asked to report at 8 a.m., after a breakfast. Pre-operative preparations were begun on me and the others who were also scheduled for a surgery, some for the Laser (FEMTO) and some for the regular procedure of phacoemulcification. They checked my BP and it was 147/83! Was I nervous? Totally! They gave me a mild anti-anxiety tablet - "Will this make me drowsy", I asked. The sister smiled and said, "Ma'am, it's only 25 mg!" Once I was being prepared I knew that there was no way of me changing my mind now and that the only option I had before me was to get this over and done with, praying, of course, for a successful surgery. Once I had accepted my situation as a fait accompli, I was more at ease. We were then segregated into groups, depending on the procedure we were to be treated with, and administered the drops for dilatation, antibiotic drops etc. There were about 8 of us who were opted for the laser procedure and I was the youngest until a young girl in her very early twenties was ushered into the room. I wondered what her problem might have been. 

The air in the lounge was filled with M.S.Subbalakshmi's 'Bhaja Govindam...' and I soon found everyone around me fast asleep, some even snoring! I felt relaxed. But, even at this stage, the lens that would be implanted remained undecided for me, since I had decided on a monofocal, against the doctor's suggestion of a trifocal. The doctor came in at around 9:30 am, "a little later than usual since he flew back into the city quite late in the night", I was told. He saw each one of us, checking if our pupil was dilated well. I was the third in line for the procedure and I mentioned that my lens was as yet undecided. He looked at the chart as I told him I wanted "the best monofocal". He simply said, "Tecnis" and instructed the attendants accordingly. There was no scope for any further discussion!
Now, while I was going through the process of Counselling, where I was taken through the procedure and the IOL was discussed, the lady mentioned 'packages' that they had - a simple monofocal lens, monofocal toric lens (for astigmatism correction), premium lenses and premium toric lenses. Insurance companies do not pay for, or reimburse, costs of laser procedure and choice of premium lenses, both of which aren't considered a medical necessity, rather a luxury. It is a different matter that, in my case, the laser procedure was a necessity. I realised that the lens I wanted didn't fit into any of their 'packages'! I was told that I could not avail of my cashless insurance if I did not go with one of the basic packages that they had MoUs with the agencies. I told the lady that I want the best monofocal, even if did not fall into any insurance related package, and would either apply for a reimbursement of the basic costs, incurring the rest myself, or simply forego the insurance facility! I simply did not want to compromise on the lens.
Cut to the waiting lounge: once my pupil was dilated and I was administered all other necessary drops, I was taken into the laser room where the Catalys machine scanned my eye, marked the Capsulohexis (the cut on anterior the lens capsule through which the natural lens is removed and the new IOL rests against; this cut is important because the size and exactness of the shape influence how the lens rests), the cataract was softened, the incisions on the cornea (called side ports)through which the doctor would have access into the lens capsule, were all done. This took about 40-44 seconds.
I was then taken into the ante-room of the OT. I was number three in the queue. Only one 'attender' was permitted to accompany me outside this room to maintain the necessary sanitisation/sterile requirements. Dhananjay waited here, while Riddhi was downstairs, kept company by two of her favourite aunts, Ashwini and Veena, who were kind enough to have dropped by despite their busy schedules. (We had this very abrupt and dramatic separation when Riddhi wasn't permitted to go upstairs with me and I was in the elevator, as the doors closed, and both of us began to cry at this unprepared-for/unanticipated separation!).
As I waited inside, No.1 one went in and was out in 5 minutes, lead by the nursing attendant ; No.2 went in and was out in 5 minutes, also lead outside by a nursing attendant. Dhananjay, then, expected me to be out in the next 5-7 minutes but that wasn't to happen. I, too, was awaiting my turn inside, but was more aware of the situation that caused the delay in my being taken in, so wasn't perturbed; it wasn't the same for Dhananjay, though, who was apparently pacing up and down, nervously, even as 45 minutes elapsed after No.2 had walked out, and there was no sight of me. Poor man! I learnt that an emergency had taken away the doctor who was to do my procedure and hence the delay.
When I was finally taken in, I started talking to the doctor, who was as warm inside the OT as he was cordial outside. We talked about the lens he had chosen, addressing my concerns of good vision in mesopic conditions: " I attend music concerts so will I be able to see well in low light?" etc. "Incidentally, my grandmother and father, too, had undergone the procedure with you. I am the third generation, doctor!" "That goes to show my how old I am", he said. There was a wonderful camaraderie with a few laughs, too. It was all done in 3 1/2 minutes. I thanked the doctor and bade hm goodbye, only after asking him if there was a PCR, to which he responded in the negative.
And then, as was the practise, I was guided out, despite my protests, and I saw Dhananjay there, worried as hell. I waved happily as he came running to me and asked if all was okay and why I was in so long. "Had a nice chat with the doc", I said with a twinkle in my 'new' eye, which escaped his notice, being hidden behind the most horrendous black glasses. "Can't I wear a good RayBan", I had asked. "No, ma'am", was the stern response I got. Serve me right!
I went for my follow up this morning and all was well. Today, Day 1 of my 'recupacation' and I am already bored.:)

The name of the hospital : Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital , Jayanagar, Bangalore.
The doctor: Dr. Sri Ganesh.

Today, my father sang the beautiful ' Kripaya Palaya' by Swati Thirunal in Raga Charukeshi. Somehow, the divinity in my father's voice simply overwhelms me. This one, by Yesudas,  is for the man like none other I know:

It's a Long Story!

About 6 years ago, during a routine check up at the optometrist for some trouble with reading, a cataract in my right eye was discovered. I found it strange, since, though I had a history of diabetes in the family, I was not diabetic (I still am not). After what the optometrist discovered, I decided to see an Ophthalmologist, Dr.1, who confirmed that I had what is called a Posterior Polar Cataract (PPC). And then began my journey into the world of sight and ethics in the field of healthcare. 

I spent a majority of the first year in denial - after all I was not diabetic, or aged and was the only one in the family who had perfect eyesight for the longest time. I decided to take a second opinion: Dr.2 who has an eye hospital in the J.P. Nagar area of Bangalore. Now, he was a former neighbour and I assumed that I would have a good experience in his hospital. But right from the moment I entered the hospital the only question I was asked was if I had health insurance, not once, but by every single assistant there. I finally snapped and told the people there that I was there only for a consultation which did not necessitate health insurance and that they were being presumptuous that I would be having my surgery there, in the event that I would need one. The doctor saw me, confirmed what I already knew, decided on the lens that I should have, told me that since the lens was imported it would be expensive and that the insurance would be "managed". I was sent off for measurements required for the IOL (Intra Ocular Lens) implant. I left the place with the memory of distasteful experience.
I had asked both the doctors the reason for my having a PPC. Both said that it was hard to say and that there could be many factors - trauma, extended use of steroids- or that it could be congenital. Not one to accept any explanation without myself confirming it, I spent the intervening years, from then up until now, reading up on medical-research with respect to PPCs. I was so disheartened that at one point I even asked my mom what she did while she was expecting me!
After a year of seeing Dr. 2, I went back to Dr. 1 to evaluate the stage of the cataract. He told me that it had increased in size and that I could have the corrective surgery in his soon-to-open eye hospital. All this while he was a consultant at another hospital where I had gone to see him and which hospital also had the facility for the required surgery. I was terribly disappointed at the demonstration of the lack of ethics and had lost respect for the doctor.
In the meanwhile, I managed my visual needs with a pair of progressive spectacles provided by my very good optometrist and continued my research into PPCs. I saw Dr.3 a year later to evaluate the progress of the cataract and ensure if I had more time before I underwent the surgery. He was a kind doctor and even gave me a CD with photographs of the cataract. He was the first doctor to explain the risks that a PPC had as compared to a regular, age related cataract. Yet, something in me lacked the confidence to have him conduct the surgery. This may be no reflection on the abilities of the doctor, rather my own fear based on incomplete information and understanding of my problem.

My reading about this over the past 6 years has lead me to understand the problem and the risks that I face. I am sharing some of it here:
Posterior Polar Cataracts are cataracts that develop on the posterior part of the natural crystalline lens due to the clumping of proteins (as in any cataract)that the natural lens is made of, but is in the axis of vision. This results in insufficient light passing through the lens to be able to form an image on the retina, resulting in blurred image and poor visual acuity. My reading also validated what the doctors told me with respect to the cause/s for such a cataract. Interestingly, I also found out that it could be caused by a dominant autosomal mutation, the gene PITX3. I do not know if anyone in my extended family suffers the same problem as I, but I know that my siblings do not. What makes this a bit risky is that during the removal of the cataract (which is done through a process called phacoemulcification, or with the help of laser, wherein the cataract is broken into pieces and removed from the capsular bag), there is a high chance of a Posterior Capsular Rupture (PCR). When this happens, the new IOL can still be placed in the anterior portion of the capsular bag or, if the nucleus itself falls into the vitreous cavity and the capsular bag is damaged and unable to host the new IOL, it is placed in the sulcus. Avoiding this requires expertise, and with advanced laser equipment available (at a high cost, of course), the chances of a PCR and associated complications can be reduced. In the event of a PCR and the nucleus falling into the vitreous cavity, a vitreo-retinal specialist is called upon and a cataract procedure which takes about 10 minutes results in a more complicated procedure taking upto 45 minutes.
By this time I had come to terms with my PPC and was happy with my progressives glasses. But I knew that I could not escape surgery and went to Dr. 4 about a month back to make sure that I wasn't too late! In my case, the bigger and harder the cataract, the risk would magnify, and my vision itself would diminish! Dr. 4 runs a huge hospital in Bangalore. Since by now I had understood that my cataract isn't a simple one, I specifically called the hospital and requested that the senior doctor see me. Here, too, I was asked if I had health insurance cover, but it was only once so I brushed it aside. I was a bit shocked by the lack of hygiene when just anyone administered the drops for dilatation of the pupil and, very strangely, sanitised their hands AFTER doing so and not prior to. Finicky that I am, it bothered me greatly but I consoled myself as I awaited my turn with the senior most doctor. Once my name was called, I was given all of two minutes - first, the doctor expressed surprise at my having a cataract at "such a young age" and then took a very cursory look and asked me to see a cataract specialist in the hospital. Now, with his experience he ought to have known that youngsters could also be affected by cataracts. Anyway, I then met Dr. 5 in the hospital who was a cataract specialist. As a patient, if I have the capacity to understand my health situation, the doctor ought to answer my questions and ally my apprehensions. Well, this doctor told me not to ask too many questions. I was taken aback by his response and told him that it was my right to know about my own health and associated risks. I was told that there's a high risk of an event of a PCR. I thanked him and left.
A week back, on the recommendation of my sister-in-law and my father, I knocked on the door of yet another famous eye hospital. I got a good feel from the place - it was clean and did not look like an eye factory. The senior doctor , Dr. 6, saw me, answered my queries and made me feel at ease. I shall be undergoing my surgery here.
After exploring the types of IOLs, I have decided to go for a simple monofocal for distance vision, that gives me crisp images at a distance beyond 100 cms and preserves contrast. The premium lenses compromise on the visual acuity and contrast sensitivity as also causing greater photic phenomena since the light that enters the eye is split across three or more foci. I will need to correct my vision with glasses or even state of the art contact lenses available today.
Through my journey over the last 6 years, I have experienced the not-so-pleasant side of healthcare in India. This isn't at all to allege that all doctors are unethical or inefficient; I have the greatest respect for most of them. Having a family full of doctors, and a close friend who is one, does not necessarily give rise to that sentiment - it is inspite of them all! They say that having faith in the doctor is important. Mine was lost and found!
Yet, I cannot help wondering how people who do not have the kind of access to information, resources and education that I have had, find themselves placed in this system...


Based on the beautiful Raga Bhimpalasi:

The Circus of Democracy

In less than 24 hours from now, we will know, for sure, who will form the next government at the Centre. The canvassing, as a run up to the elections, has been the most vitriolic I have ever witnessed in all of my adult life. The election discourse has been far from the promises on policies laid out in the party manifestos and more on personality tarnishing, at times not sparing even those who are long dead and not present to defend themselves. I do not know if I was the only one tired from the disappointment - may be the long drawn schedule, though unavoidable given that we are the largest democracy in the world, also played a part in contributing to the fatigue! 

Politics isn’t a very clean game, which is why it keeps some of the best minds at bay. One candidate’s solution to the monkey menace in her constituency was to feed them fruits not ‘Frooti’ and biscuits; another candidate was clueless about some violence in her constituency because she wasn’t woken up in time with her bed-tea; one believes that a cloud cover cannot be penetrated by a RADAR and yet another is such a misogynist that he dreaded the time when women would get their (rightful) reservation in the Parliament…the list of inadequacies on the part of the candidates is endless.

Political parties choose candidates who are popular and can ensure the winning of a seat. As a consequence, the experience of the candidate in public service is overlooked. This dilutes the constitution of the House and the quality of debates that take place within the sacred walls of the Parliament. This time we will have to brace ourselves for quite a bit of drama, given the number of actors that have run the race; our Cabinet may well have a ‘Basanti’ as the Minister for Women and Child Development, or a ‘Govind’ as the Law Minister!

According to the principles of Parliamentary democracy, the party that wins the largest number of seats - the first-past-the-post system - elects their leader, who becomes the Prime Minister. The very act of projecting a candidate for the post of P.M. contradicts this fundamental tenant that defines our system of democracy. Worse still is seeking votes on the premise that they 'go into the account of the P.M. candidate’, undermining the the position of every candidate from the party. 

An important factor in contributing towards the making of a healthy political space is the role of the opposition, a fact which cannot be overemphasised. The opposition parties had five long years to get their act together, put together their strategy and an efficient promotional and brand building exercise. In wasting away precious time in slumber, the opposition parties have failed in their responsibility and let the people down by not providing a strong and effective alternative to the voter. 

For those of us who have been observing the transformation of the BJP, it is quite apparent that its form today is a far cry from that when it was led by Vajpayee-Advani-Joshi. Recently there was a post in a WhatsApp group, that I have no choice in not being a part of, that I took exception to since it seemed more like a communal propaganda message than anything to o with the affairs of the group. I was joined by a few others, but was saddened by the fact that while many chose to turn a blind eye to what lay on their phone-screens, a few actually countered me in support of the post. It made me realise that these were topics that had made their way into casual conversations among people, something that wasn’t the case a few years ago. 

As citizens we must be wary not to become pawns in the game of politics and its associated propaganda. As a society, we must stand up to our duty of creating a safe and inclusive space for our peoples and as our elected representatives, the Parliamentarians and law makers, must play their part of upholding the letter and spirit of the Constitution of our Motherland.

It is said that we get the government that we deserve. I hope that we do not feel, in hindsight, that we deserved better. If we are disappointed by the quality of debates in the Parliament, we have only ourselves to blame - either since we abstained from exercising our right to vote or by voting in a candidate with credentials that fell way short of requirements. To quote John Greenleaf Whittier, “ For all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been’.”

[ The one very important factor in singing is ‘bhaava’, or expression. A musician has at her disposal many tools to highlight flavours of the 'rasa' and 'bhaava' to her rendition - the use of her voice in meandering through meends, aalaaps, nyasa, layakari, etc. while improvising on the raga. I have heard artistes who show exceptional technical prowess that prompts a gasp of wonder from a listener, but I love those whose rendition of a raga balances the technical and aesthetics so exquisitely that it gives me goosebumps! I recall attending a live concert of Smt. Arati Ankalekar at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, a few years ago, where she simply held the audience spellbound by her performance- it was one of those occasions when I had goosebumps! ]

Raga Nand, by Smt. Vidushi Arati Ankalekar:

The Intellectual Politician

On Friday last, I was among the select few who were invited to a conversation with Shri. Jairam Ramesh on the release of his latest book, Intertwined Lives. What was meant to be a 120 minute event ended beyond the allotted time, yet, leaving many in the audience wanting more! As I stood in the queue to get his autograph on a copy of the book I had bought for a young girl in the family who, I knew, would devour the contents of the book, I couldn’t but wonder at the bankruptcy of such erudition among the politicians across the spectrum today. 

The book that explores the relationship between P.N. Haksar  and Indira Gandhi, relies extensively on the documents available at the Nehru Memorial Museum and the Indian Archives, and provides an engaging insight into the political canvas that prevailed in the period between the mid 60s and the early 80s of the previous century in Indian political history. 

While in conversation, the author noted that during that period the higher echelons of the Indian Administrative Services were occupied by the Nairs of Kerala, the Tam-Brams (Tamil Brahmins) and the Pandits from Kashmir. 

Meandering through facets from the book, it was the snippets and anecdotes shared with candour in the course of the conversation, that left many of us fascinated - the constraints, challenges and insecurities that illustrate the relationship between the politician and power and also between the powerful and power, herself. He also did lament the absence of academic research in these areas among the young scholars today.

As I left the event, I was trying to count the number of intellectuals that remain among the political class today. If we observe, ruefully, the abysmally low quality of the political discourse today, it is because there is a lack of intellectual caliber and erudition. It is the nature and quality of political debates that define the path of a Nation and Her people. We must be wary if the title to my post seems like an oxymoron!

As I end this post with a piece of music, as is the custom I follow, I would urge you to read the book…

Celebrating the monsoon, Raga Desh style:

Defining Discretion

About a month ago I was on a flight to the national capital -New Delhi. I was settled in very comfortably in my seat with Shashi Tharoor’s ‘Why I am a Hindu’ for company. (Now, whether you agree, entirely, in part, or otherwise, with his opinion/s doesn’t matter; what does is that his language makes reading such a delight!). After some 70 minutes of  being airborne the pilot made an announcement that we would be turning back since they had encountered a problem with the air conditioning system. As I began to quickly chalk out alternative plans due this sudden change in my situation, I heard a commotion among the other passengers – “why return?”, “why not Hyderabad or Mumbai?”, “ we’ve flown this long anyway and it’s just a matter of another hour or so”, “why must we turn back for a few who complain”, and the suggestion that almost shook me off my chair – “let’s decide by a show of hands whether we should turn back or not”! Duh!

I really admired the cabin crew for handling the situation with such aplomb (and made it a point to compliment them later): “Sir, we cannot risk someone facing a health emergency”, she said, plainly, but tersely enough to indicate that the subject wasn’t open to discussion, certainly not midair! All this while I had a Plan B ready in my head; after all, it was the pilot who was the best judge of the situation and we had to simply trust his discretion and it became obvious, from the way the airlines had made alternate arrangements, that the pilot had taken the decision to return to Bengaluru after ensuring a plan was in place. It was a seamless process and though we had a setback of a few hours in our schedule, we were all safe.

Cut to the elections in my home State of Karnataka. The entire campaign was so personality centric; which doesn’t surprise me anymore, really. Developmental issues and governance take a back seat in such narratives and Caste and personal barbs become the pivotal points in noisy campaigns. Of course, being an upper caste (read Brahmin), pseudo intellectual (read educated-opinionated),  pseudo liberal (read liberal Nationalist ), I don’t figure in the Caste matrix drawn by the parties.  Thankfully, the Constitution of my country has protected my privilege to be a part of the system through the Universal Adult Franchise.

Much of what happened is now history. But history must never be dismissed; it must be carefully documented. For, hidden within the edifices of its construct, are invaluable lessons for us to learn, remember and recall at the appropriate time. The results threw up a hung verdict, which many of us had expected anyway. The Shah – Modi campaign in Hindi, albeit fervent, didn’t strike a chord with the people of this South Indian State that had quite vociferously rejected signboards in Hindi. Neither did Yogiji’s presence create an impact – what works in U.P. will not work in any of the States this side of the Vindhyas, least of all in Karnataka which contributes a huge chunk to the Central kitty, and, along with the other Southern States, ranks among the best with regard to HDI. The truth of the ‘Gujarat Story’ was accepted as merely being a great marketing campaign, neatly packaged and delivered by the combined minds of Piyush Pandey and Prasoon Joshi and an ever willing media that simply looks out more for a story for the masses than unravelling the truth.

On a subject of political principles, a deliberate oxymoron, I’m not sure if the Prime Minister should continue to be the electoral mascot in all assembly elections. Aside from the fact that governance suffers – remember the Attorney General, K.K.Venugopal, telling the Honourable SC that the government had no time to draft the Cauvery water sharing scheme (which in itself was a poll issue), as directed by the SC,  “since the P.M. and other senior ministers were busy campaigning in the poll bound State of Karnataka” – it remains a pertinent point to be debated and deliberated upon as to whether the P.M. must be so actively involved in campaigning, at the cost of undermining local leadership. The P.M. has, in the context of pushing the One Nation One Election reform,  admitted that being in a continuous ‘state of elections’ due to various Assembly election schedules that our Federal system throws up, does take away from governance. This matter, though, remains in the realms of legal, political and public debate. Until such time, we shall have to contend with the B.J.P. depending on its ‘most charismatic leader’ to garner votes even if it is at the cost of the popularity of local leaders. Case in point: Yediyurappa was barely allowed to campaign in his own constituency, the party depending heavily on the Hindi speaking Shah-Modi duo. Shah is a strategist. But this time around, the Congress beat him at his own game.

The Governor became the protagonist in the drama revolving around the formation of the government, in the backdrop of the hung verdict. The B.J.P.’s script was carefully written, keeping in mind all the previous roles played by the protagonist and his co-actors in all such. Yet, the Governor fell short in delivering a success.
The Governor enjoys immunity against judicial proceedings and enjoys the power of discretion to carry out his/her duties. This does not imply that his/her decisions aren’t subject to judicial reviews.
In this case, in carrying out his duties, the Governor had to ensure that, a) a stable government can be put in place and b) in ensuring (a), he does not trigger the defection of MLAs -elect against the 10th schedule of the Constitution.

In inviting the B.J.P., the single largest party with 103 MLAs, to form the government, and allowing a period of 15 days before a floor test, the Governor made a gross miscalculation in exercising his discretion. The Congress was quick to react and the Honourable SC just in allowing a hearing in the wee hours of the morning, to uphold the tenants of the Constitution. What followed was a desperate attempt on the part of the B.J.P. to have MLAs-elect jump the fence, taking advantage of the grey areas surrounding the application of the anti-defection laws to members who aren’t sworn in.
I am not sure if the coalition government sworn in will last its term. Politics is a tough game to predict outcomes. The Governor’s exercise of his ‘discretion’ is going to be a topic for discussion among the many other things that are going to be argued within the sacrosanct walls of the Honourable SC.

Defying discretion seems easier than defining it! For now, suffice to remember that discretion, they say, is the better part of valour.


If reports are to be believed, the B.J.P. left no stone unturned in trying to entice the newly elected members of the legislature from the rival political parties to switch allegiance - tales of 'abduction' and 'confinement' were spun around generously. All this left the members of the Congress and the JD(S) quite anxious!

Designing the Perfect Beauty

A few months back a friend had told me that she noticed that I rarely ever 

comment on a persons physical appearance but never fail to compliment a person on their ideas, thoughts, intelligence, actions or attitude. I did think about what she said and realised that she was right because I never ever comment on how my nieces look, but I do compliment them on an intelligent thought, or a kind gesture.

In these times when social media influences the life-choices we make, and our own self-image, our impression of people, unfortunately, remains merely shallow, being restricted to its two-dimensions. Studies reveal that it is this trend that has lead to an unhealthy quest for being that ‘perfect’ beauty to garner ‘likes’ to a picture posted on social media platforms. And when our youngsters are falling prey to this trend, facing psychological issues, body shaming and suffering from diseases such as anorexia to have that ‘perfect’ body, we have only ourselves to blame and hold responsible. 

Sridevi’s untimely demise has opened a pandoras box on the stress that public personalities face in keeping up with an image that the public demands. Or is it they who are to blame for setting unrealistic standards of beauty, for themselves, and the public who begin to emulate them? Interestingly, Sridevi’s niece, Sonam Kapoor, had written a wonderful article on what it takes to be that ‘perfect’ beauty. More recently, Camila Medes’s confession on the reason she’s done with dieting is such a welcome point of view for our young girls who starve themselves to attain that body that isn’t naturally meant to be. 

Recently, Shobhaa De and Hema Malini had talked at length on how lovely it is being 70. Sure it is! The one objection I took to what Hema Malini had said at that interview is - “When I was young I thought, if I live to be 80, I’d be wrinkled and shrivelled. But I don’t feel like that woman from my nightmare!” My mother is 74 now; she is grey and has those lovely wrinkles that come with age. She is a grandmother, too. And she is the most beautiful woman I’ve seen! 

Celebrities making such irresponsible statements create, in the minds of people, unrealistic images of ageing. Which brings me to the life that the ethereal Suchitra Sen had wanted to live post retiring from cinema. She refused to be in the limelight, probably understanding that she wouldn’t pander to the demands of the public that don’t seem to accept a grey, wrinkled actress as pretty. When she died, her family ensured that her wish to stay away from the public glare was respected. 

Many Indian, and foreign, celebrities are believed to have gone under the knife to attain the perfect look - a nose job, botox jabs to smooth the wrinkles, enhancements to have that sensuous pout and breasts…the list is endless. But in this process of playing God, there is a huge price to pay: of the toxins that the body is taking in internally so as to appear pretty externally. Who is to blame for all this, then - the celebrities, the public or the huge cosmetic and beauty industry that defines the characteristics of beauty? 

The sad part is that we are surrendering to someone else’s idea of beauty that comes with a huge ulterior motive. Just imagine where the industry might be if we didn’t care about developing those lovely crow’s feet, smile lines and greys or  having that full body! 

As a society, we need to be more responsible in the choices we make and in our expectations of ourselves and others. It’s okay to not have your hair pulled in place with brushes and a blow of hot air, it’s okay to have those greys peek from behind a a mop of hair, it’s perfect to have those fine lines give away your age. Lets not push our children to believing in misplaced ideas of beauty. We need to tell our children that it’s the mind and heart that matters and that doesn’t get displayed in a two-dimensional picture. Most importantly, we need to let them know that it’s important to be healthy in mind, spirit and body and not get taken in by anyone else’s idea of beauty.

The Blooming of Another Lotus

Born into a Tamizh Brahmin family and named Parthasarathy, he later came to be called Kamala Haasan. A self-proclaimed atheist and an actor par excellence, Kamala Haasan his lived his life on his own terms. 

Kamala Haasan’s separation and divorce from Vani Ganapathy, and the circumstances that triggered it, was great fodder for the print media then. But that is history now. No one talks of his relationships, maybe because he himself treated them in such a natural and matter-of-fact manner, treating them with the respect and dignity that they deserved.

( Many years ago, while I was dining with friends and family at The Oberoi in Bengaluru (then Bangalore), the graceful Vani Ganapathy was seated just a few tables away. I couldn’t help being taken in with her grace and wondered why on Earth would any man leave her! Incidentally, that wasn’t the only time I shared the same ‘space’ with the lady: In April, 2003, I had visited Drapes Avenue to select furnishings for my new home and I happened to notice her at the store, again drawn by her sheer grace and beauty. )

I have been a fan of Kamala Haasan and have watched many of his movies in Tamizh, Telugu and Hindi. I have always believed that some of the most socially progressive movies, with strong female characterisations, have emerged from the southern States of the country. Why, even the recent Bahubali stood strong because of the female characters! Kamala Haasan has contributed greatly to this aspect of cinema down south and the list of his filmography is long and impressive - Apoorva Raagangal, Maro Charithra, Moondram Pirai, Sagara Sangamam, Swathi Muthyam.  And who could forget his comic timing in the laugh riot, Michael, Madhana, Kamarajan, which exploits the various dialects of Tamizh with such well balanced humour. Of course, not to forget Nayakan and Apoorva Sagodharargal  (which seems to have inspired the character played by Shah Rukh Khan in one of his upcoming movies). Winning awards had almost become a habit for him and in an attempt to break away from it, he excused himself from such recognitions.

In his new role as a politician, Kamala Haasan is careful to project himself as being of Centrist ideology, a liberal nationalist. This, at a time when the BJP is working hard to colour the entire Nation saffron! It is pertinent to note that the BJP doesn’t have much of a stronghold in the southern States; Karnataka may well prove that in the upcoming Assembly elections. Our P.M.,Shri.Modi, and Shri.Shah are working overtime here, campaigning hard and visiting temples, which is a new strategy at playing the Hindutva card. But there is a complete disconnect with the local people, who do not understand the language they campaign in or their vision for the people. Fundamentally, what worked in the Hindi belt cannot be replicated in the southern States. Just think about it: the people here are opposed to the Centre’s idea of imposing Hindi. Even recently, the graduating students at IIM-B opposed the proposal to have their certificates in bilingual format - English and Hindi. I wonder what sense it makes that in the midst of such a sentiment towards the imposition of the language, the leaders come and campaign in that very language, even preferring not to have their speeches interpreted into Kannada! 

The other moot point that I have tried to make in earlier posts is that the BJP has not been able to cultivate local leaders; probably, Yogi Adityanath is the only exception with some factions of the party even seeing him as a future Prime Ministerial candidate. Why else would the PM be the face of every campaign? Siddaramaiah of the Congress, and the current CM of Karnataka, has a strong presence in the State as a leader and as a politician representing the Congress. The Congress, therefore, does not need to rely on its National leaders, which may be a great advantage to the party in Karnataka, given that the party President is yet to be seen as a seasoned politician. 

In this background, Kamala Haasan’s foray into politics is significant - it is an assertion of the presence of people who could steer the local political narrative. The State of Tamil Nadu loves its actors as politicians; they have proved this before and this gives actors hope of a future as politicians! With the AIADMK and the DMK losing there favour with the local people, Kamala Haasan’s move seems to be well timed. His attempt at unifying the southern States to counter the strong North Indian hegemony in Indian politics and his stand on issues such as the Jallikatu and  the Cauvery water dispute have been carefully thought out to display a strong cultural identity in the backdrop of a larger Nationalist canvass. 

The leaders of the BJP seem to have already got into ‘election mode’ for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Local parties such as the Shiv Sena and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, both part of the NDA that has formed the government at the Centre, have already expressed their displeasure with the BJP, their ally in the NDA. This may be a reason for worry for the BJP, given that there is talk of the formation of a Third Front, a coming together of local political parties, to counter the BJP. Kamala Haasan could well play a significant role in the scripting of such a political outfit. Time will tell how this lotus will bloom in the political waters of (the South of) India.

This might well be the duet between the BJP and Kamala Haasan’s MNM (Makkal Needhi Maiam)!

Entangled in the Twirls!

The ‘Ghoomar’ dance picturised as a part of the much controversial, yet-to-be released movie, Padmavati, has the actress swirl in a lehenga weighing 30 kgs. But what’s that in comparison to the (rumoured) budget of Rs. 200 crores for the film, on the one hand, and all the Rajput sentiments that are running high, on the other? A tough balancing act for the CBFC, indeed. 

There is no undermining the importance of history; it, after all, does define ‘where we come from’. Much of the history, as we know it, is from historical chronicles, archeological studies and excavations, and scientific dating methods. These instruments have helped us learn that the Indus Valley Civilisation might be the oldest civilisation that we know of in the world. The knowledge of the destruction of the  Roman town of Pompeii caused by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was from one of the 247 surviving letters by Pliny the Younger, who witnessed the destruction of the town. This supported the work of archeologists, who have been able to give us the knowledge of how life in a bustling town saw its own grave in molten lava and ash. 

How was history recorded?

Kings would have royal chroniclers and historiographers, who wrote of the heroism of the Kings, the beauty of the Queens, their way of life, the marriages, political alliances, the births, deaths, conquests, victories and vanquishes. In addition, court bards sang the praises of the rulers and weaved poetic descriptions of the lives and times, often adding an element of romanticism and imagination. And, then, ofcourse, the tales were also passed on by word of mouth from one person to another, through the generations, which came to be known as folklore. Much like the game of Chinese Whispers, the story we know today may be quite different from what had actually occurred, since a lot on how the story took form and shape depended on the comprehension of the listener, the story-telling capacity of the narrator and the dramatic embellishments that got added in the process, from narrator to the listener, who in turn became a narrator in this chain. Imagine this process happen over centuries and scores of generations! In the absence of other proof of history, folklore come to be accepted as the truth, guarded with pride and fervour, as an identity of the people. But one must remember that it wasn’t without the many colours, hues and tones that shaped these subjective narrations. 

As the debate on Padmavati (Padmini) takes on emotional, and hysterical, tones on protecting an identity and a heritage, and political hues to appease and please the people, reason seems to have lost its place. While historians do admit that Amir Khusrau, from the Court of Allauddin Khilji, did chronicle the siege of Chittorgarh and the jauhar, they also point out the absence of the mention of the queen by the name. Unfortunately, there is no known, historically authenticated chronicle that could challenge this, leaving us to place our knowledge on folklore and on the first poetic account, Padmavat, by the Sufi poet Jayasi, written in Awadhi, a few centuries after the event is known to have occurred. Now, stories travel far and wide, so the place of origin and language of the literature doesn’t come up for argument. But how did Jayasi know of the story? Did he have access to an authentic chronicle of the time or did he also rely on folklore? By the time he heard of the story, it had travelled many generations, and distance, through many people, taking along a bit more of exaggeration and romanticism each time it was narrated; and then, he added a bit of his own imagination to it. With no certainty regarding the origins of the story of Padmavati we, then, enter the realms of beliefs and sentiments, that become sensitive issues taking away from the grasps of reason and logic. There are many such perceptions of the queen, who we love to believe existed and died as a symbol of Rajput courage and honour.

One of the many reservations the people of the community have with respect to Bhansali’s own imagination and portrayal of the queen is that given that ladies observed purdah, and the royalty were placed higher than the subjects out of respect for their stature, they did not indulge in what was thought of as the prerogative of the commoners. One might, therefore, accept that it is quite natural for the decedents of the erstwhile royal family to take objection to the depiction of the Queen dancing with the women-folk. But, then, it again brings us to the idea of creative liberties, freedom of expression etc., which even the royal bards, the people who narrated the stories and the likes of Jayasi have practiced in creating the very folklore that brings to life such historical figures. 

Indian history is replete with stories that speak of Her rich history - valour and sacrifice - and culture. And Indian cinema has been quite fascinated by these, maybe naturally so. There have been many movies made on historical characters, some relying on authentic sources and some adding a touch of cinematic license. These have never been contested as being a distortion of history and neither have they been relied upon as a source of history. K. Asif’s movie, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ was restored a few years back for the benefit of the young viewer. The story of Anarkali as depicted in the movie is believed to be garnished with large doses of imagination. But no student of history would cite the movie as a source to her/his knowledge, and thankfully so! If this were to happen, all our schools might as well shut down and we could simply turn to our film industry for our education.

Freedom of speech and expression is never absolute. It comes with this wonderful rider - ‘with reasonable restrictions’. From the perspective of the film maker, the movie is his narration of what he has learnt of what transpired. Since that leaves room for a lot of uncertainties and subjectivity, are we to take it seriously? One can argue about the distortion of history if there is an authentic, verifiable reference point. Otherwise, it’s pitting one narration against the beliefs and sentiments of the people, which could be dangerous for a democracy. The worrying aspect is that some of the States have already declared a ban on the movie, jumping the gun, even before it has received a certification from the CBFC, the statutory body that certifies the ‘viewablity’ of a movie, for the Indian population. And the actress's home State, governed by the major opposition party of the Centre, was quick to react to the issue by condemning a gag on creativity and threats to actress. Ofcourse, the very existence of some such nanny (read, CBFC) who controls what the people should watch, is in itself a very regressive practise! But doesn’t the proof of the pudding lie in its eating?

The power of banning vests with the Supreme Court, if it believes, in its wisdom, that the release of the movie could lead to a law and order situation. Given that a lot rides on the release of the movie, might it be a better idea to have a ‘ Central Board of Script Certification’? 

A Meera bhajan from the movie 'Meerabai', the story of another Rajput queen who resided within the walls of the Chittorgarh fort:

History or His Story?

In continuation to my earlier post…

As I lay on the ergonomically designed-for the-purpose bed, watching my blood gush into the pouch, I recollected the scene from Amar Akbar Antony where the three estranged brothers donate blood to their (also) estranged mother. The movie showed the blood being collected in a bottle fixed high on a drip-stand (!!) and then flowing down, simultaneously, to fill a bottle fixed onto another drip stand that was transfusing blood to the mother. I wonder why no doctor objected to this gross misrepresentation and scientific impossibility.

picture taken from the internet

Thankfully, there has been no report since of any case of blood transfusion done similarly! But the symbolism of that scene was probably a one-of-a-kind in the history of Indian cinema, taking creative liberties to an unbelievable extent.

Movies are to be viewed as entertainment, not as an educational campaign or even as a documentation of knowledge or an authority on a subject. This allows the makers creative liberties and cinematic licenses, and we accept that as being a part of entertainment, not as gospel truth. (Though, I must admit, I did take objection to A.R. Rehman and Prasoon Joshi being wrongly credited for the song from Delhi 6 - Bhor bhayi tori vaaT takata piya, a bandish in Raga Gurjari Todi sung by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan saab.). 

While I was driving back home a few days back, I happened to listen to the ‘Ghoomar’ song from the much publicised, soon to be released movie, Padmavati. The song is based, predominantly, on Raga Brindavani Sarang and also has glimpses of another lovely raga of the Sarang family - Madhmad Sarang. Once home, I searched for Gana Saraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar’s rendition of Raga Madhmad Sarang and found myself lost in the splendour of the ragas of the family. I then stumbled upon her rendition in Raga Noor Sarang, a Raga I had never heard of before. Sometimes, movies could trigger that quest for more knowledge!

It’s a different matter that the people of Rajasthan are on an uprising against the release of the movie, claiming a distortion of historical facts. Since the story is based on Rani Padmini, also known as Padmavati, the high decibel, emotional debates even challenge the very existence of a queen by the name. Many historians accept that the practice of jauhar has been documented but not so the existence of a queen by the name. Some believe that she is a character of imagination. But the people of the State of Rajasthan (predominently) feel let down with respect to the history they take pride in, alleging that the movie has taken creative liberties to an extent beyond acceptable in inaccurate depictions of the attire worn by the royal ladies, the traditional groomar dance and the way the royalty conducted themselves.

When I visited Chittorgarh many years ago, I was taken around by a well spoken guide. He claimed that the ASI had found many skeletons at the site of the jauhar. Curious, I did find some report of the ASI pertaining to Chittorgarh but did nothing more than bookmark it at that time. The guide also took me to Rani Padmini’s chambers and showed me the place where she is supposed to have shown Khilji a reflection of herself in a mirror. A point that the guide did make was that the event was supposed to have occurred in the 13th century, a time when  silvered-glass mirrors weren’t yet invented and so they must have used a large metal sheet of some kind. He went on to tell me that the two queens who were known for their beauty were Rani Padmini and Rani Roopmati (of Malwa, who apparently poisoned herself when Mandu fell into the hands of the Mughals). 

Folklore has it that such was their beauty that when Rani Padmini ate paan (beetle-nut), the stain would be visible making its way down her slender throat and when Rani Roopmati drank water, one could see the water meander similarly! Unbelievable, alright, but surely a very romantic (albeit exaggerated) expression of beauty! I was left smiling at both, the description, as well as the straight-faced manner in which it was narrated to me. But as I had shared in one of my posts about my visit to the place, there was something about Chittorgarh that moved me greatly, as if I had shared a part of the rich history held within those walls of the fort. 

Art has often faced criticism and whether rightly so is the moot point. One could argue on the lines of creative license and freedom of speech and expression, but the sensitivities of people often win this battle. During the renaissance period in Italy, the Roman Catholic Council of Trent ruled that nudity in images of religious symbolism be avoided. Many statues had the fig leaf cover the genitals depicted in the nude statutes. This also gave rise to the use of ‘fig leaf’ as a metaphor in the English language! Art and creativity are a reflection of the times; though it may rely on history, it is often remodelled to suit the sensitivities of the time and allow for some room for creative expression.

Personally, history fascinates me. I often choose the places I visit based on the richness of the history the place has to offer. While I find it very intellectually stimulating and imaginatively fascinating, I also like to relate the past to the present, for much of what we are, they way are, has to do with how we were and what we faced. History influences the view of a society - the way they think, behave as a people, their life practices. But should we hold back in the name of history? Or should we respect the needs of the current times and its consequent adaptation of history? It’s hard for a society to comprehend and accept this when emotions run high. And, especially in this regard, movies are hardly an authentic chronicle of history - it’s just the narration of a story, inspired by history. For knowledge, we read and/or watch documentaries, which rely on more accepted and authentic sources for their bases.

Two Men in a Lotus

I wonder why Shri. Modi is called upon to campaign for his party during every assembly election. Have the positions of the local leaders been undermined so much that they remain mere puppets? 

If one were to draw a comparison, Shri. Modi is to the BJP what Smt. Indira Gandhi was to the Congress. Sure, she marked the beginning of dynastic politics in the Congress, but she was also the one who held complete control of the party, with few other leaders being able to come out of her shadows into their own. There was a strong allegiance that party members owed to her, probably even greater than what they owed to the party itself. It wouldn't be wrong to say that she became larger than the party, much like the status Shri. Modi is being accorded by his followers and party cadres. Is he really the man with the Midas touch? Does he hold the panacea to all of the country’s problems?
Film stars, another section of our society that is 'popular', often suffer the brunt of audience fatigue due to 'over exposure' - the kind where they are too much in the limelight (not what you were thinking!). I wonder if the same applies to politicians; after all, too much of anything ain't good for health, isn't it? Matching the appropriate amount of attention sought, with that which is needed, involves a tough balancing act.

Many argue that Shri. Modi, as he is today, is a creation of circumstances; circumstances brought about by a weak, tired and lost opposition. Had long years of being in power, and fighting the charges of corruption that came along, caused fatigue within the ranks of the Congress, the major opposition party?

When I was to cast my vote, I read in great detail Gujarat’s so called success story which was marketed as Shri. Modi’s own personal success as an administrator, ideologist and politician. The fact is that Gujarat, being the kind of State that it is, was on its path to growth and development and this would have happened irrespective of who was at the helm of affairs. Though I would not like to take away the credit entirely from Shri. Modi, it was more a case of being at the right place at the right time. But most leaders are made that way - they are more a creation of circumstance (may be that’s the reason many resort to astrological guidance!).

The success of Shri. Modi, and, consequently, the BJP is a function of a tardy opposition, good marketing and a let down citizenry. (May I remind you that the man behind their successful campaign has been rewarded suitably by being made the chief of the Censor Board of India. Not that he does not possess the credentials for the job, but one can’t but overlook the ‘coincidence’ of the relationship! But with due credit to him, he proved his individuality by  clearing the Tamizh movie Mersal without the cuts that created a furore among some members of the party). Now, add a master electoral strategist to that and you have a sure win! 

Shri. Shah has been trying to spread the BJP word. Case in point: His recent visit to Kerala with another much saffronised party leader. It so happens that Kerala isn’t a State that is too inclined towards the Hindutva ideology that the BJP subtly propagates. It is a State that is predominantly communist, with other left wing parties (the LDF and the UDF) adding to the political milieu. Tamil Nadu, too, despite the political logjam, would prefer their film-stars to the BJP! One of my friends had once said that the answer to India's political needs is a "Congress without corruption" - seemed like an oxymoron to me, given their unfortunate history with corruption!

The reports of the PAC indicating the Public Affairs Index in governance in States places Kerala at the top spot and Tamil Nadu at the second; both are non-BJP ruled States. Karnataka, another non-BJP ruled State, was at the fourth position, albeit, slipping from the third that it held last year. Among the top five were three Southern States, all non-BJP. In the category of infrastructure, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh grabbed the top three slots; again, all non-BJP ruled States. I’m not sure if this can really be used to argue a case against the BJP but it surely cannot be ignored. And if it cannot be ignored, it reflects the weak local political leadership in the BJP ruled States. The overpowering duo are, maybe inadvertently, subjugating all the local leaders of the party and trying to walk them by holding their little fingers.

The forthcoming assembly elections in the States of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat will be interesting to watch. It will, once again, bring the two most powerful men from the BJP in a direct conflict against the now-not-so-reluctant Gandhi scion. The Congress, on its part, is scratching its head in search of new ideas, getting overactive on social media - the new age weapon to win a (political) battle - and providing a script for the scion to act by. As in most Indian elections, caste is already a big factor in the game. It now remains to see whether Gujarat will choose to sing a new RaGa (I hate this reference to the Gandhi scion because the reference goes against my understanding of the beauty and structure of a Raga, but I use it here anyway) or whether it will choose to sail along with two men in a lotus!


(The title to this post is inspired by Jerome K. Jerome's book by name Three Men in a Boat)

This beautifully rendered Madhmad Sarang:

The Bangalore (E)Lit(ist) Fest

I happened to visit the Bangalore Literature Festival, referred to more commonly as the Bangalore Lit Fest or simply BLF, on Sunday. The weather was lovely, the thing Bengaluru is famous for, apart from being the IT capital of India. But that aside, I found everything else rather misplaced for a literature festival. 

For starters, the venue was a wrong choice. Not that I have anything against a 5 star hotel providing some food for thought, for a change! But the location proved quite a hurdle in terms of parking space and traffic management. Of course, the same happens when such events are held at the Palace grounds, too, but for a minute I wondered if I had landed in some derby by mistake! I’m drifting from the point I am trying to make but I shall get back to that in a bit. 

My companion and I managed to enter the place only to be told that they’d ran out of parking space and that we would need to make an exit. The gentleman in charge suggested to my companion, who happened to be at the wheel, that he could “drop off madam and leave”! My companion politely responded that, in fact, he too had come to attend the festival. So we ignored the suggestion of the parking in charge (PiC) and made our way to the portico of the large building hoping to utilise the valet parking facility. There was none! Just as we were making our way out, as was suggested by the PiC, the hotel staff saw me and created space for our vehicle right opposite the entrance to the hotel. I really don’t know what they were thinking, but who cares! (I am sometimes mistaken for a celebrity and sometimes for a law-breaker!)

So, we made our way inside the grounds along the poolside that played host to the festival. I was just in time to hear Shri. Girish Karnad and counted myself lucky. And then we settled down for a discussion on ‘India and Pakistan at 70’. What started off well, seemed to veer off track with the panelists dwelling more on the partition than on where the two countries are today. None the less, it was an interesting discussion but had very little to do with literature! 

By then my watch indicated that it was time for lunch and we moved towards the food. It was crowded and the queues were long. That’s nothing unusual in our country. Now, I am a self-confessed snob - I hate long queues and/or jostling for my order. The one thing we all work hard for is that meal and I like that experience to be a dignified one. I insisted on walking into the hotel to enjoy their sumptuous Sunday brunch (this place is one of my favourite places for a Sunday). We had a choice of a good spread and comfortable seating, some quiet for a nice conversation and soon managed to be a part of the audience to the discussion on Aadhaar. This space happened to attract a large crowd, probably as proof of the citizen interest in the security and privacy of their data. Again though, this had nothing to do with literature! And then came in the lovely Twinkle Khanna. She won an award but also a bouquet of hearts from the Garden City! Though her humour seemed rehearsed and blasé at times, she did manage to hold her own with the crowding applauding and whistling intermittently. There was a lot of substance in what she said, sitting pretty on the dais, only proving that she is indeed a woman of great mettle and intellect. In many ways she has broken the mould of the ‘Bollywood actress/daughter/wife’ and kudos to her for that! 

Sadly, the display of books at the lit fest was relegated to a small space in a basement, clearly indicating that it wasn’t the centre of attention at the literature festival. 

I had to leave thereafter for another engagement and was lamenting having to give up on a strategic parking slot! But the short experience I had made me wonder if the festival had inadvertently turned out to be an elitist one. Though, according to some reports, it has attracted the maximum number of people thus far, one of the awardees had opined that it proved to be exclusive in some ways. Was the choice of venue to blame? Or was it the basis of the festival that had faced a tectonic shift over the years of its existence, becoming more political than literary (this is not to take away from some of the highly accomplished and intellectual speakers)? Was it a Bangalore Literature Festival - English Edition?

I left a bit disappointed, but not without Shri. Shiv Visvanathan’s Theatres of Democracy in hand.