Tales from god's own country
Monday, 27 March 2023
THE BIRD
Thursday, 27 October 2022
Schrodinger's cat and my dog. NOBEL PRIZE FOR HUSKY
" I must admit that there is a sudden improvement in news maker status of cats. Surprisingly a single cat is behind the entire change. No one knows his name. known only as Schrodinger's cat, he has made his mark in every scientist's mind, be an astrophysicist or a microbiologist.
'From philosopher to pupil, from priest to policeman, every one is really perplexed at the cat who is alive and dead at the same time. No one has ever seen him. If any one tries to see him the cat at once becomes dead. Otherwise it continues to live for ever".
Very complicated?"
It was a early morning in December, but it was not at all chilling as it aught to be in normal case. I was at Husky's door to open and let him out to his morning freedom.
"Why don't you open it yourself ?". I teased him as usual.
He did not bother to answer me or run out to look up the places where the cats hide.
"Why are you not looking for the cats, are you not well?". My little dog has no grudge against cats as long as they don't violate the rules but likes to see them run away acknowledging his supremacy.
'The Schrodinger's cat' he replied.
His words and body signs were enough to explain what he had in his mind. I was surprised, though I am well aware of his language skills and general knowledge I never expected him to know about Schrodinger's cat.
"When ever your smartphone reads out from net about the cat, I listen". He explained.
It was true, for quite some time I was following the developments in quantum Mechanics. I know he can overhear it from any distance. But to what extent he can understand the principles which even very brilliant scientists are unable to decipher in full?.
"You see it is very high level physics. I am yet to understand it". I wanted to escape from his questions.
He was not ready to leave me that easily
"I am not asking you about principles of physics. But you see what I do also can be interpreted using quantum theory". He said. Forcing me to look back to see.
The number of chicken pieces he got yesterday and the day before were the same but sizes differed. (we always give him five pieces of chicken) . But he says he gets more from me than from Alice, the maid.
Number by itself is not sufficient to give the idea of quantity involved. Now I got an idea why he said it has something to do with quantum mechanics.
Yes the numbers by itself have no meaning unless all the counted have of the same attributes. But how to get such a homogenous group?
"If you have a large quantity of food first divide it based on size of pieces. Then into groups of equal size depending the number of days it is to last.Ta. So that every day equal quantity is available" Said Husky
But quantum mechanics?. I silently left, thinking about it. He did not bother to burden me further.
To me our number system always appeared with out head and/ or even tail. And in the case of negative numbers they do not have any sense in most cases, like age or volume. But numbers are meant for giving a measure.
So it was Husky's argument that one must have a count of total quantity available. Before numbering. If not possible due to differences, regroup the entire quantity taking equal ones.
Negative numbers and infinity actually limit the Genuineness of the present number system. If more the accuracy in equality is required more the numbers can be created. But we have to limit all the numbers between 0 and 1. The total quantity available being 1. Say. 01, . 02, . 03.......if you divide the total quantity into 100.The equality depends only on the accuracy you want in Measuring. Or in other words as far as we are concerned all the pieces will have same size.
I think the disagreement between general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics can be due to this. And they may become more....Of course my dog and I, we both do not have any knowledge of the high level mathematical tools they use now a days to study it.
I told husky the position we are in. He is very much aware of it. He is still hopeful of getting some recognition for the merit of his theory.
He said in case someone offers us any prize we have to ask them to send it in two equal haves. If it is big we would like the prize to be send to the people of Ukraine.
I told him dogs are not usually eligible for such prizes
Husky said he has no objections he just wants to ascertain the supremacy of dogs over cats.
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
THE TRIP THROUGH THE NIGHT
THE TRIP THROUGH THE NIGHT
The afternoon was rather cold for the season. The winds, which heralded the change of season, though not strong, made howling sounds while passing through the tips of tall silver oaks. It could become stronger towards the nightfall rattling the tin sheets roofs of houses and chilling the people inside.
The roads and fields were deserted. Saturdays were half working days. In the afternoon most of the estate workers choose to remain at home attending to their personal needs or sleeping.
We had planned the trip for earlier - before noon. But my father came late from the office and was not in a good mood. Something my mother said in the morning did not go well with him. So we started out on our motorcycle without taking lunch. We knew it was late, but the urge to complete the work we planned dragged us to Vattavada some 10 miles away.
On the way my father stopped the motorcycle and drank water from a stream not far from home. I felt bad. I could have run home and got good water for him. But he said it was ok.
Our intention was to meet a Government official at Vattavada. We were able to meet him. But our business took longer than we thought and delayed our return. There was a lot of persuasion from my father's friends to stay back for the night. The danger from wild elephants was too high in those days. According to them few herds and loners were camping in the nearby forests. It included the dreaded loner, "Kolli" the lightning. The loner was notorious for his speed and destructive power, still we decided to return home with out delay. The resolve in us was so strong that we started out immediately.
We had hardly covered some five miles, the motorcycle broke down. It stopped all of a sudden and refused to start. It was tough to make a choice between the two alternatives we had, to go back or go ahead. Both were equally risky.We decided to go forward taking the shortest route which involved climbing the hill we avoided while coming by the motorcycle.
The climb took more time than we thought. Near the summit we came across some dry twigs on smothered grass.To me they looked as if some large animal was resting over them. The thought of Kolli sent a chill down my spine. But my father pointed out the possibility of someone taking rest, putting down the firewood he collected. Anyway we abandoned our plan to gather the twigs. We had a match box with half full of sticks with us. We knew the matchsticks were not of much use unless we had something like dry twigs. But there was little time to lose. By the time we reached the summit, from where the tea plantation started, it was almost dark.
We hurried down the hill, to make use of the light available, but soon it was dark. We could hardly see the road in front. Our talks became less frequent and less loud. We could hear the noises of the forest clearly. In forest everything that is silent during the day makes a lot of sound in darkness. I lighted a matchstick, it was of no use. It only blinded me for a few seconds. Again a chill ran down my spine. I could feel the shivering in my voice.
My father took off his coat and put it over my shoulder. I handed it back whispering that I am wearing a sweater beneath my shirt. He did not reply, giving me a feeling that he is listening to some thing.
Then the wind direction changed. It blew full blast on our faces. With the wind came there stench of animals and shouting of people and the sound of beating tins. There was no need to guess. The elephant. "Oh my God Not Kolli" I prayed.
We stopped walking and listened. Suddenly, it was all silent . But the smell remained strong. I felt my father's hand on my shoulder, strong and restraining. We stood still for a while, I had lost all the sense of time. Then I felt my father's hand clenching. Suddenly I became aware of the vibration of earth. He pushed me down the slope on the side of the road into the tea plants. The tea plants were pruned recently. The sharp ends of the branches scratched my body, tearing my clothes. I felt no pain. But. I could feel the urgency in the pressure of the hands on my shoulders. We went down the slope fast till we reached a large rock. We went around it and stooped behind it.
The noise on the road stopped suddenly. Then it became hell broke loose. He was attacking something, in between there were breaks accompanied with trumpets. He was celebrating his victory over his adversary. It continued for a while.We had no idea how long it was. Then the sounds became less frequent and then stopped. But the heavy breathing told he is still not far from us. After one more trumpet of victory he moved on. We still waited for a long time. The stench and his footsteps became faint and died out. Still we did not dare to talk. Stooping we moved through the tea just like small animals on their fours till we saw the electric lights of the factory and a faint light we knew was our house. It seemed it took a long time to reach the road leading to the factory.
As soon as we reached our house, we had a short hot shower and went to bed. We did not tell anybody about the motorcycle or the attack. We had decided to go early in the morning to get the motorcycle.
We got up early before anyone and retraced our night's route. We reached the place of attack soon. We could easily recognise the spot. My father's coat was shredded into strips. Hanging on the tea plants the strips told us the intensity of last night's violance. We collected the strips and rolled it into a bundle and hurried to the motorcycle. It started without difficulty."The matches were of no use, the light of it only blinded us" I said. He did not reply.
Walking back to the motorcycle I felt his hand on my shoulder again. I think he was telling me "You are correct unless it falls on things around you the light in hand will only blind you".
Sunday, 14 November 2021
The Lone Tree
Surely the scribe was unaware of the stories behind the name of the estate, otherwise how could one call the Lone Tree estate laundry Estate?
Lone Tree estate's story always made me think of the people who emotionaly equate trees to human beings .
The mount and the grass land around had no trees, though the surrounding hills were thickly forested in those days. The hill tribes who worshipped nature had a small temple made of uncut stones on the mount. There were no regular poojaa or prayers. The deity, a goddess, was said to be the mentor of trees and birds of the forest.
During summer rains the grass land got flooded but remained green rest of the year. The mount usually became dry during winter when nights were cold and days were hot. It led to the wild fires in summer.
The ascetic who planted two trees of a very rare variety, on the mount (said to be male and female) was hopeful of large flocks of birds nesting on them. He cared for them much, watering in summer and clearing the dry grass around to protect the young trees from wild fire. The trees grew fast accompanied with bushes and shrubs. They continued to be the only trees on the Mount.
The talking trees flowered. Their first fruits attracted many birds. That year the tribals celebrated fastival of the godess after a long time. They cleared the bushes around and danced around the trees at night.
Lone Tree grew taller, but with lesser branches and leaves and was silent in the winds. May be there was none to hear. The flowers also became scarce as no one was there to offer to. With no shade the bushes withered only grass returned in rains. No birds came because of no fruits.
Th estates opened. Many joined as labour from the plains. They brought their own gods and goddesses with them. Slowly the tribals too joined them.
The tribal people believed the lone tree is waiting for O'Hara to return with his mate. They say at night of the festival of the mount, which they stopped celebrating, they could hear the tree whistling the old melody.
Sunday, 19 April 2020
The social distance between Chuppan and me
No one, now a days, identifies the sharp turn of the road before Munnar Market by its given name - Subbans. May be the place is too small to have a name. But website of the town administration says it's office is at Subbans.
Recently I went to the office to get a certificate. It was 8 in morning, most of the estate workers had left for their work and the shops were yet to open. So I asked one on the road for directions to Subbans. The cleaning worker seemed to hear it for the first time. I did not want to bother him futher, so asked for the local body office. He gave me a precise direction and added that the office was yet to open, but as usual, Ayya, the official incharge, is very much there.My cousin, while asking, me to collect a certificate on his behalf, from the office had told me that the official who was to issue it, was about to retire and had promised to issue the certificate before he retired. But I never imagined it was his last day at work. I felt guilty when I saw the large number of files waiting on the table in front of him. I told him I am sorry to bother him futher when so many files are there to deal with and offered to collect the certificate later.
'It is ok. It is ready. Let me finish this one' He said looking back into the file infront of him. And I looked around to do something that may not disturb him.
It was then I found the photo on the wall. Yes, it was Chuppan!
Mr Shanmugham the officer was very much in mood to talk about the man in the photo.
"Do you know him ?" He said inviting me to the chair in front of him with his hand
" Please don't come near" He used to caution me as soon as I reached ' the social distance'. Yes, he was very particular about the social distance to be kept between us. I had to keep the distance even if he is not working. I remember the nearest I reached was at the tea ceremony that was performed at the unbarred window of the kitchen every day. After his work he used to clean himself and present at the window, but a few feet away. The maid servant brought the pot full of tea and kept on the window cill. It was my turn then to bring the jar of 'chakkarai' (jagari) and select one or two pieces of Chakkarai as directed by Chuppen and keep on a piece of paper I had ready with me. I used to ask why not mix it with tea. According to him the sweetness drowns the taste of tea. If present, my mother used to offer more tea. Any quantity of tea was welcome.
"Oh Ayya was in Ellapetti estate in those days"(referring to my father). Shanmugham's words brought me back to present.
I told him about my meeting Chuppan years afterwards at the market. It was a long time after my father retired from the estate and settled at our native town .
I heared the salam from a distance which took me back to my younger days. I returned the salute. He was in deep bluish black pants and shirt. His black gumboots were clean and shining. He had not changed- only his uniform. He looked taller in pants and gum boots. He inquired about the well being of my parents and about my brothers. I was amazed, he remembered even their names correctly.
"Why not, where?" I was eager to learn more about Chuppen.
In the evening we met at room behind the office that served as his residence,. The room had all the looks of a hotel room about to be vacated. Mr. Shanmugam was all set to leave Munnar. He was very vocal about Munnar and the days Ellapetty Subbaiah kept the town spec and tidy. My friend Chuppen was Subbaiya to him as inscribed in the brass plate below the photo. The name of the estate Ellapetty where he worked prior to joining Munnar town was added to distinguish him from many others of the same name in the town.
The house was converted to office of the local body. Subsequently a new office building was constructed there.
Thursday, 27 December 2018
The day of the "We Too"
It was only a few minutes back we parted after the long train journey. Being past midnight the railway station was almost deserted. Thirumeni had a bundle of files with him and me a small briefcase. He wanted to eat something before going home as he did not want to disturb his old mother and I wanted to get home without much delay. So we parted though we had to go by the same route.
There were no cabs or autos at the porch, so after a few minutes I decided to walk towards the market junction nearby. It was then I heard Thirumeni.
“Thirumeni is not married. His stars are still searching for a match” I told the driver. He looked back smiling. “They will soon find a good Thamburatty (damsel) for him’. He assured us in a light vain.
So this 'we too' story.