 There is magic in nature everyday. Decades ago, after finishing my lecture in a professional meet, I ventured into Mulki, a hidden gem nestled in the coastal region of Karnataka, in the company of the hugely talented birder, Ramit Singal. It was a bit chilly in the morning and as I scanned the landscape I had the first glimpse of the Eurasian Curlew. It was standing at the edge of the water on its stilt-like legs, probing the ground with its long, curved bill. It was absorbing to watch its slow, rhythmic movements as it sauntered across the land, in search of food. Though at first sight it looked ungainly, there was an unmistakable aura of majesty in the bird.
There is a curious tale of the curlew and a Christian saint, Beuno. According to legend, St Beuno, a 7th century Welsh abbot was on a journey from the Lleyn Peninsula to Anglesey. The small boat that he was travelling in, was suddenly rocked by a gust of wind and his book of sermons dropped into the sea. St Beuno was distraught as he watched it sink. It was at this point that a miracle happened. A brown bird with a long, downward curving bill wheeled out from the shore and swooped down to the water, picked up the book and returned it to the shore to dry on the rocks. Overcome with gratitude, St Beuno blessed the curlew and decreed that from that moment on, curlew nests would always be difficult to find and should be protected for ever. Indeed curlew nests are notoriously difficult to spot! 21st April, which is the feast day of Saint Beuno, the patron saint of curlews, is also celebrated as World Curlew Day. Curlews have complex pitch variations and harmonics that are often described as haunting, but can also be ecstatic. Robert Burns wrote, ‘I never heard the solitary whistle of curlew on a summer noon without feeling an elevation of soul, like the enthusiasm of devotion or poetry.’ At night, however, the same sound was believed to emanate from the dreaded Seven Whistlers. In both Welsh and English mythology, these birds of doom fly across the night sky, and to hear them is to be warned of death. But, as the traditional Welsh ballad ‘The Curlew’ mentions, they combine both joy and despair : “Your call is heard at high noon-day A wistful flute across the mere, As herdsman’s whistle far away. Your call is heard at midnight clear then hear we, as you swell your keen, Barking afar, your hounds unseen.” Mary Colwell wrote a memorable book, ‘Curlew Moon’ documenting her 500 mile journey across varied landscapes of the UK, observing and documenting the curlews. The first World Curlew Day in 2017 was her brain-child to shine a light on the plight of this unique bird. There is sheer beauty in the avian kingdom. Every time I observe a bird like the curlew it widens my perspective, and I immerse myself in the sounds, colours and patterns that I was not aware of before. It opens the door to an endless repository of wonder. “As I watch The bird spreads its wings Soars across the sky Leaving its footprints In my memory” The Curlew would love to know what you think of it and do pen your thoughts here!
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 I have an abiding interest in monuments and heritage structures. One can find an interesting ancient structure in every corner of our country.
On this International Day of Monuments and Sites, let me draw attention to the first site I visited two decades ago. It was an eye opener for me as I was totally awestruck that such beautiful structures can be built of mud. The terracotta temples at Bishnupur, West Bengal are a marvel. I had seen pictures of the terracotta warriors of China, but to find an entire complex of temples built with clay was a revelation. Built by the Malla kings between 10th and 17th centuries, these temples are dedicated to Vishu and hence the name Bishnupur. The unavailability of stone in the region probably led to the use of terracotta in building these structures. Often paucity of traditional building materials energizes the artisans to explore new mediums and the temples of Bishnupur are an enduring testimony to their innovative spirit and skills. Ahalya and myself spent an entire day visiting all the monuments. Since they are made of earth, vagaries of weather have taken a toll on many of them. But the ones that remain well preserved are a treasure to behold. The attached photo is that of Shyam Rai temple. It is the most profusely carved temple in Bishnupur. It has one main shikara on top with four on all sides and hence referred to as the Pancharatha temple. The intricate floral motifs and delicately carved scenes from the Puranas come alive as the rays of sun gently caress them. I couldn’t take my eyes off the enchanting ‘Rasamandala’, portraying Radha and Krishna surrounded by the gopis, linking their arms to form a circle . We spent several hours visiting other temples, each one distinctly beautiful. Terracotta temples are not unique to Bishnupur and there are several others in many parts of West Bengal. The temples at Bishnupur stand apart in terms of their exquisite, intricate work in terracotta. It is not just these creations in clay that set Bishnupur apart. There are a host of interesting repositories interwoven into the cultural landscape of the region. Foremost among them are the Baluchari saris.One of the unique features of these saris is that they tell stories, from the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Unlike the Banarasi saris, the Baluchari does not include zari work, and instead relies exclusively on the silk thread-work for effect. We were keen to see how they are actually made and visited a weaver. He was working on a big loom in a dark, subterranean space with only a small lamp as the source of light. Weaving a Baluchari saree is a time intensive, laborious process. The designs are first sketched and then copied on to punching cards which are used in the Jacquard loom to weave the pattern. The cards have punched holes which correspond to the design. Thousands of punched cards are required for one design. It takes almost 4-6 weeks to weave a single sari. When we had a glimpse at some of the finished products, we were wonderstruck at the stunning details and the sheer artistry. Another distinctive craft of Bishnupur are the Dashavatar cards. All the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu are drawn on these cards. The ‘Dashavatar card game’ is reportedly a highly complicated one, with numerous rules and regulations, played using 120 cards by five people. They are much like the Ganjifa cards of the Mysore region. Can music be far behind? Bishnupur Gharana is a Dhrupad style of music. It flourished among the musicians of the region and is known to have influenced many of the songs composed by Rabindra Nath Tagore. As we were leaving after an absorbing day, when I looked back, the temples were glowing in the last rays of the setting sun, an image that is deeply imprinted in my mind’s eye. Bishnupur is a repository of a rich cultural heritage which is not confined to the beautiful monuments alone, but also finds expression in various textiles and crafts. It is imperative to protect, conserve and reconnect with them and tune our ears into their timeless stories. Do pen your thoughts/reflections here!  As we advance in life, we all wither at some time either due to illness or merely because of the process of ageing, facing the unavoidable terminality of life. In its throes should we, “rage, rage against the dying of the light” or open the cage for the bird that we nursed so long and let it go? It is a delicate dance.This dilemma is the core premise in O’Henry’s story ‘The Last Leaf’.
In the story, two young artists named Sue and Johnsy live together in a small apartment in Greenwich Village struggling to make ends meet. As winter approaches, their dreams of becoming successful artists seem to be fading. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Johnsy falls ill with pneumonia and becomes convinced that she will die when the last leaf on the tree outside their window falls. Sue, being the practical and optimistic one, tries to reassure Johnsy that she will recover and that the last leaf will not fall until she is better. Despite Sue's efforts to lift Johnsy's spirits, the harsh winter weather and Johnsy's worsening condition only strengthens her conviction that the end is near. In desperation, Sue reaches out to their elderly neighbour, Mr. Behrman, a failed artist who lives downstairs. She implores him to paint a leaf on the wall outside Johnsy's window, hoping that it will provide the inspiration and hope her friend needs to fight against her illness. Mr. Behrman decides to paint one last masterpiece in order to give her hope. Despite his own failing health, he braves the harsh weather and paints a leaf on the wall, making it look like the last leaf on the tree. The next morning, Johnsy discovers that the last leaf has not fallen and her condition miraculously improves. Sue's relief and happiness is short lived as she discovers that Behrman has caught pneumonia and succumbs to it. Mr. Behrman's selfless act of painting the leaf not only saved Johnsy's life but also showed the girls the value of friendship and the strength to keep fighting even in the face of adversity. It was his final act of building ‘a bridge over troubled waters’. ‘The Last Leaf’, explores the themes of impending mortality, associated despair and the power of hope.The story emerges as an ode to life itself. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, a single act of kindness can change someone's life forever and there is always hope, even in the darkest of times.. It is also a testimony to the healing power of art. The painting eases Johnsy’s brooding preoccupations about death. Faith changes the course of our existence altogether. The flame of suffering can only be doused by a life affirming gutsy, breeze of kindness. As Henry James observed, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” “Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up, and so the door of my heart can be left open, the door of compassion”. Thich Nhat Hanh As we weave our lives in the vast tapestry of life, let us strive to embrace the power of kindness. Do pen your reflections here... |
Dr Raguram
Someone who keeps exploring beyond the boundaries of everyday life to savor and share those unforgettable moments.... Archives
May 2024
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