Tamilnadu Part 3, Final.....

Hello folks

Here I come with final series of Tamilandu part 3 …

It was nice experience to be in Tamilnadu for one and half year. When I come here I was told that just only for 3month and then project is over and you will get transferred to some other location but 3 months extended to 15 months.

 Its strange place to realize the things, some strange thing I remember now is

 1) When someone died, people drunk   and dance on funeral.

 2) Women shave their head when they go some God/Goddesses temple. I never saw bald women     except Buddhist nuns but here lay women also

 3) LTTE’s former chief Prabhakaran is Hero. Every political party used his poster to get support from Tamil people, well I m not against it everyone has their perspective of thinking/behave.

4) Every year one temple built than school or hospital..

5) once I was sitting on beach and some people performing rituals, 2-3 mens/womens wearing flower garland and one man singing or reciting(don’t know its tamil) and after 10min 1by one start dancing and became wild others were trying to stop them but they were out of control then one was singing put hands on their head and slowly they became silent.

 6) Obliviously nobody understand Hindi except those who previously work outside/north

Oh I missed to write about the Pondicherry its very good place indeed. In fact my colleague used to tease me and say “Pondicherry Guy”… I used to go to Pondicherry on Sunday to explore the city. When I went to pondy; I liked to go to “Le café Restaurant” to have COLD Coffee with the breeze of sea. That restaurant is on rocky beach, and I don’t know why; but I felt relaxed to sit there and have cold coffee.  Near to that restaurant there is Ambedkar Mandapam which is good place actually, it has small library having very good books and collection of photographs which flashes the life of that great man .

                                  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar MiniMandapam

Le Cafe at Pondy Beach Aurobindo Ashram

Apart from that, I wanted to explore the nearby area of AuroBindo Ashram so I preferred to walk;  I went inside that Aurobindo ashram; it’s nothing but his “Samadhi/cemetery” inside. I liked to walk on that Market area its nice market for shopping.  There are very good French architect buildings. And you will find the one museum very small but it has one valuable MAP which I never saw in any Museum.  The map contains the origination of any country or u can say start of world as it noted in history even 500BC/100BC.

Well  talk about  everyone attraction Auroville, I must say those who come in Pondicherry they should stay in Auroville at any guest house the guest houses are cheap there … once I went to attain the bonfire in MatriMandir area which is organized on the occasion of Aurobindo  B’day i.e 15^th August.  I stayed one night in youth camp guest house (250rs/day) on 14^th august on the same night there was Independence day celebration in WELL’s Café and theme was   Arabian night. That night, first time I saw a Belly dance performance, played by beautiful ladies (might be French). I felt like I m king of Arabian countries and these celestial nymph are dancing in my Castle ;). After belly dance over , It was very nice to dance with those dancers and others. Now back to bonfire, Bonfire organized in MatriMandir area in early morning at 4.30am and I think one more time they do bone fire but I don’t remember the day. To attain the bonfire you have to be there at 4.30-5am and meditate till bonfire starts. It’s nice to meditate under the sky/stars and its amazing. Ahh I wished to go inside Matrimandir and meditate but I failed to made it.

Nachooo ;) Belly Dance @ Wells Cafe

Me

 Once I was in Verite guest house to do 2-day Vipassana self course and that is one of the best guest house in Auroville, what I like in that guest house is the sound of hollow metallic rod and Pirhana in pool which eat your dead cells of feet. It was wonderful experience with Pirhana ;). During self course the food they served is of western style because all were westerner and its awesome food I felt that I can adjust with western food but not with south Indian J.  There is one more café above the solar kitchen named “La terrace” I went there with my German friend Nicki, it was nice to have lunch with nicki because she taught me how to eat with spoons, fork & knife J.  After lot of try on pizza she said,”Sud its India you should with your hand ;)”. While having lunch I met some people or u can say Nicki’s friends, the interesting women name Shanti from U.S. who has Guest house “JOY” in Auroville.  She is around 60-70 years old, she share some experiences in regard with different topics, it was nice chit chat with her, one important thing she said that,” she done everything she wish and she is happy that there is no backlogs to complete”. And when I look my life I wanted to do many things but most of them are incomplete but good part is God/Dhamma blessed me with some which is best for me :D. Near to visitor center there is Buddha Garden there is guy name Pierre, he is very nice guy and also Vipassana meditator, sometimes he organized the 10days courses for Aurovilian. 

Nicki and Me

                                                      Nicki and Shanti

One more attraction of Pondicherry is Sadhana Forest community which basically aims to, grow forest and allow people to do volunteer service. The lodging is free but you have to pay for food only. There is interesting story to visit Sadhana forest.. I met one Israel family (Boris & Yelena) in Goa at internet cum travel agent shop. They want to go to Pondy and agent did not know where that place is so I help them and after returned from Goa I booked the ticket for them to pondy. And to get the ticket money from them I went to Auroville and from there to sadhana forest because they were living there. And when I went at sadhana I was surprised some people wanted to meet me because that couple already told to some people that we met one guy who help us a lot without any relation he booked the ticket and guided us how to go to sadhana and so on….. well that’s enough publicity I got J. Sadhana forest is very nice community to protect and grow forest, well managed, hygienic, and even they used different kind of toilets, not modern. i felt like I m in 18^th century, but it was very natural to reuse everything even shit and pee. In meantime I played with their kids they are so cuuuuute that I still miss them. In the evening I went with their family to see Tantra Dance festival and it was terrible. Me and the little girl of Boris got scared so much by the expression of Dancer. But it was great to see the traditional south Indian dance.

Zohar

Main Hall of Sadhana Forest

Bajao ;)

Lets Dance

Scary

 There are 2good beaches in pondicherry one is Auroville beach and other is Paradise beach. Auroville beach is on ECR road and Paradise is 8-10km from pondy at Ariyankuppam village, one has to take boat to go to paradise beach which has different rates private/general etc. that beach is nice. And Auroville beach, when I went to first time i.e. in Dec. 2011 it was clean and good and then it was dirty for whole year people shit on beach but recently in Feb. I visited and it was clean and well maintained by Aurovilin’s .

There is one more interesting place know as Pichavaram. It has mangroves trees forest it looks like caves when you go inside, it’s nice indeed.. and worth to see. Its 10km from Chidambaram. And 50km from pondy. Its better if to book private taxi to go there.

Restaurent at Auroville Beach

Above :- Auroville beach,

Below:- Paradise beach

Huts on paradise beach

Looking sexy :)

 When I got transferred to Mumbai in end of March; & I got transfer letter and I have to go immediately. My situation was like “hey wait I want to stay 2more days want to go to inside Matrimandir meet some friend in auroville and say goodbye to them and so on” it’s like, old people says “hey god give me death I fed up now with old age” and when God say, “Come Oh My Child”. Then he/she said, “wait I was joking, I want see my loved one this and that :D” but soon I realize everything is annica and I left Tamilnadu next day i.e on 22th march 2013…

At the end of this series I am grateful to those who helped when I was in TamilNadu.

1)     Shankar:- a traveler (Tamil) whom I met in train from Nagpur to Chennai(it was my first time to Chennai). He helped a lot. like he took me to bus stop and come with me at Koyembadu bus stop. Board me to the Chidambaram bus. And then again in evening he called me whether I safely reached or not in Chidambaram. Like him one more traveler from Thanjavur helped me like this in my second journey

2)   Froncoise/Shivani:- Belgian friend who live in Chennai from 3-4years. She is friend since college days. I met her in global pagoda when she  visited Mumbai. It was good support from her because I did not know anyone in Tamilnadu except her.

3)    Pierre :- French guy from Buddha Garden. It was great help when I almost need vipassana group nearby and while searching Dhamma works and he organized 10days course and allow me to come when I have free time.

4)      Vijayalakshmi Mam:- Vipassana teacher who organized Vipassana course in gypsy camps. And always allow me to come in my free time to attain n serve in the course.

5)   And all other my colleague and seniors who were always supportive to me

Thank you All   

Next time I will come with Mumbai news till then cheers

Sud

Below i post some pics of Catholic Nun IDYA Ashram where vipassana Gypsy camp organised

Jusu Under Bodhi tree

Accomodation

Meditation Hall

My Room when i went

Dhamma Hall

French Co-meditator

A SHORT GLIMPLSE OF HISTORY OF DALITS ELEVATION

I would like to constrain this topic to Maharashtra. There were various social reformers in different part of the country; their work is a guiding spirit for the oppressed people. Sant Kabir, Sant Ravidas, Narayan Gur, Periyar E V Ramaswamy Naykar, sant Ghasidas, Sikh Gurus etc. 

Maharashtra, the first thing came into every one mind is state of Shivaji Maharaj and the Marathas. The origin of word Mahsrashtra spilit in many ways, some say Mahars form the largest group of people, so it is mahar+rashtra, some split it as maratha+rashtra, sompe split it as mahan+rashtra. 

Mahars were considered as untouchables in maharashtra. The first chance given to them by the Shivaji Maharaj to come into the mainstream of the society. Although not one of the traditional warrior castes in Maharashtra, the Mahars were recruited by the Maratha king Shivaji as scouts and fort guards in his army. Not only mahars but mangs too. This was the reason for shivaji success, as people of his small empire unitedly fight (expert in gurella tactics) with foreigners. After successfully establish his empire, the brahmins of maharashtre refused to perform his coronation. Bramhins called him a shudra. At last shivaji was coronate by Gagabhat , a kashi bramhin by using puranokto mantra and “tilak” him with toe of his legs. For supporting his stand, he wrote the book gagabhati which explain why he had done this.

Sad part was that those who played a major role in establishing Hindavi swaraj, mahars and mang conditions become worst in the peshwa (Bramhin) rule with their royal maratha sardar. Mahars were also heavily recruited by the British East India Company, at one part forming one-sixth of the Company's Bombay Army. The Bombay Army especially favoured the Mahar troops for their bravery and loyalty to the Colours, and also because they could be relied upon during the Maratha Wars. They achieved many successes, most notably on the 1st of January 1818, when 500 men of the 2nd Battalion 1st Regiment of the Bombay Native Light Infantry along with 250 cavalrymen and 24 cannon defeated 20,000 horsemen and 8,000 footsoldiers of the Maratha Army in what would be called the Battle of Koregaon. This battle was commemorated by an obelisk, known as the Koregaon pillar, which featured on the Mahar Regiment crest until Indian Independence. 

Mahatama Jyotiba Phule, the father of social reform, champion of women education and rights as well as shudras and untouchables. An incident in 1848 made him aware of the iniquities of the caste system, the predominant position of the Brahmin in the social setup. He was invited to attend a wedding of one of his Brahmin friends. As the bridegroom was taken in a procession, Jotirao accompanied him along with the relatives of his Brahmin friends. Knowing that Jotirao belonged to the Mil caste which was considered to be inferior by the Brahmins, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted and abused him. Jotirao left the procession and retuned home. With tears in his eyes, he narrated his experience to his father who tried to pacify him. After this incident Jotirao made up his mind to defy the caste-system and serve the Shudras and women who were deprived of all their rights as human beings under the caste-system.

Education of women and the lower castes, he believed, deserved priority, Hence he began educating his wife Savitribai and opened a girls' school in August 1848. The orthodox opponents of Jotirao were furious and they started a vicious campaign against him. He refused to be unnerved by their malicious propaganda. As no teacher dared to work in which untouchable were admitted as students, Jotirao asked his wife to teach the girls in his school. Stones and brickbats were thrown at her when she was on her way to the school. The reactionaries threatened Jotirao's father with dire consequences if he did not dissociate himself Yielding to the pressure, Jotirao's father asked his son and the daughter in-law to leave his house as both of them refused to give up their noble endeavor. 
Though the school had to be closed for sometime due to lack of funds, Jotirao re-opened it with the help of his Brahmin friends Govande and Valvekar. On 3 July 1851, he founded a girls' school in which eight girls were admittedon the first day. Steadily the number of student increased. Savitribai taught in this school also and had to suffer a lot because of hostility of the orthodox people. Jotirao opened two more girl's schools during 1851-52 in a memorial addressed to the Education Commission (popularly known as the Hunter Commission ) in 1882, he described his activities in the field of education. A year after the institution of the female school also established and indigenous mixed school for the lower classes, especially the Mahars and Mangs. Two more school for these classes were subsequently added and continued to work in them for nearly nine to ten years.

Widow remarriages were banned and child-marriage was very common among the Brahmin and other upper castes in the then Hindu society. Many widows were young and not all of them could live in a manner in which the orthodox people expected them to live. Some of the delinquent widows resorted to abortion or left their illegitimate children to their fate by leaving them on the streets. Out of pity for the orphans, jotirao Phule established an orphanage, possible the first such institution founded by a Hindu. Jotirao gave protection to pregnant widows and assured them that the orphanage would take care of their children. It was in this orphanage run by Jotirao that a Brahmin widow gave birth to a boy in 1873 and Jotirao adopted him as his son. 
In his book Shetcaryacha Asud : He wrote

Without education wisdom was lost; without wisdom morals were lost; without morals development was lost; without development wealth was lost; without wealth the Shudras were ruined; so much has happened through lack of education.

-Mahatama Jyotiba Phule

He rejected the religious book of bramhins. He wrote:-

“I hereby strongly condemn all those religious book of the bramhins which declares us to be their vassals, and also those articles to be found in some other book written byhtem to the same effect, or any other similar religious books propounding a similar obnoxious theory. I venerate those book which propound that all human beings are entiteled to enjoy human rights in equal measure. 

Secondly, there are people in India who treat their own countrymen as mean, inferior, and inhumane, on the arrogant authority of their misconceived notion of religious bigotry, forced unilaterally on others. I shall not allow them freedom so to behave towards others. Where I to accept their authority in this behalf I shall be guilty of the crime of violating the sacred rights by our creator and conferred in equal measure on us all.”

Mahatma Phule occupies a unique position among the social reformers of Maharashtra in the nineteenth century. While other reformers concentrated more on reforming the social institutions of amily and marriage with special emphasis on the status and right of women, Jotirao Phule revolted against the unjust caste system under which millions of people had suffered for centuries. In particular, he courageously upheld the cause of the untouchables and look up the cudgels for the poorer peasants. He was a militant advocate of their right. The story of his stormy life is an inspiring saga of a continuous struggle which he waged relentlessly against the forces of reaction. Though some keen observers of the social scene in Maharashtra like Narayan Mahadeo Parmananda did acknowledge his greatness in his lifetime, it is only in is only in recent decades that there is increasing appreciation of his service and sacrifice in uplifting the masses.

-Dr. Y. D. Phadke


Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj, maharaja of Kolhapur Kingdom was champion of social and economic equality. He reserved 50% seats in state services for the backward class vide Gazzet notification of July 26, 1902. The notification said :

“In all offices in which the prpoportion of officers of the backward classes is at present less than 50%, the next appointed shall be given to the members of these classes.”

He was the first man to give a tangible shape to the dreams of Jyotirao Phule. He oppose the very existence of caste system. He fought for the abolition of untouchability.

He declared: -

“It is shameless on the part of a person to be a leader, if he consider his countrymen brethren to be worse than cow dung and beasts. Some say what connection is there between politics and untouchability and if there is any they try to promise to remove it; but I ask how will politics fare well unless the untouchables are treated like human being. Those who take part in politics must treat men as men; that is, as they are treated in other countries. The country will not be otherwise well served. He will be said to have served his country who treats men in this manner and none else.” 
Shahu maharaj helped Dr. Ambedkar financially as well as morally to start a journal Mooknayak and other activities for the emancipation of untouchables. 

The man with no introduction required and his work, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, champion of social reforms, women’s rights, father of Indian Constitution. 

Nearly 58 years came to an end after the nirvana of Dr Ambedkar on December 6, 1956. Those who take the benefit of reservation and those who are in urban areas are now in some extent elite one, whereas those who are in rural areas are not advanced too much. But still the old age oppression continues. The condition may vary from place to place, density of people, awareness among people for their rights. For them who still face the oppressed condition: Educate, Agitate and Organise is a best tool given if it convey properly by giving the example of Dr Ambedkar work and various revolutionary.

The condition of urban Bahujans in India by Food Insecurity Atlas of Urban India by M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation & World Food Programme is , “ there is a disproportionate representation of the schedule caste (SCs) in the poorest section of the urban population. In urban lower income classes, SCs outnumbered other social groups. For urban India as a whole, 47.5 per cent of the urban SC population is in the fourth lowest monthly expenditurre classes. For urban Schedule Tribe (STs) population, the proportion was 36.9 per cent . In comparision for sections of society other than SCs & STs and OBCs , only 20 per cent belongs to the fourth lowest group . ”

What urban Bahujans do is followed by rural Bahujans. Urban Bahujans are mostly educated, well aware of their problem but confused. To disparage the Bahujans, silent conspiracy takes place by a dominant class, attack is on social, mental or intellectual, educational progress which directy effect on the economic emancipation of masses, so that they are not able to challenge the supremacy of a dominants. 

Thyer in his biography of Theodore Roosevelt when he say about social forces is now completely fit for Bahujan Samaj, some may be the abberations: “There comes a time in every sect, party, institution when it stop growing, its arteries harden, its young men see no visions, its old men dream no dreams; it lives on the past and desperately tries to perpetuate the past.”

The answer lies in Dr Ambedkar words (Ranade Gandhi and Ginnah): “The other kind of situation is not one of decay but of destruction. The possiblities of it are always present whenever there is a crisis. The old ways, old habits and old thoughts fails to lift society and lead it on. Unless newness are found there is no possibility of survival. No society has a smooth sailing. There are periods of decay and possibolities of destruction through which every society has to pass some survive, some are destroyed, and some undergo stagnation and decay.” 

Some survive what is the reason that some survive? Carlyle has furnished an answer. He put in his characteristic way: “No time need have gone to ruin, could it have found a great enough, a man wise and good enough; wisdom to discern truly what the Time Wanted, Valour to lead it on to the right road thither, these are the solvation of any Time.”

Summary: This article focused on the opportunity and oppersion of Dalits in Maharashtra. I try to put some assemblage of points, to cover the four centuries history of Dalits upliftment. From these four centuries of struggle, we as a second generations take the benefits of reservation in real sense. It took another four, five centuries to develop a culture which Mahatama Phule, Dr. Ambedkar dream. Cultural development is the solution of our problem with the support of self governance.

SOUTH GOA (palolem, Agonda, etc)

Hello

My previous writing was about north and old GOA with college mate. And now here I came with adventure in south GOA.  Well I went to goa before few times but this time it’s special and memorable; Because  my journey from Mumbai to pune was like a bollywood movie stories and there is something  different which I discovered in South Goa.

 I had train to GoA from Pune. I went to Mumbai and from there I was thinking to catch bus to Pune. After finished my work in college I moved to Dadar to catch bus to pune but I got late I reached Dadar at 12noon and I had train from pune at 4.30pm. So I preferred to go to pune by cool cab, but it was wrong choice. Before 60km from pune, car got breakdown on highway and it was horrible to ask help when it again got breakdown in tunnel, because all vehicles speed were above 80km/hr and nobody stopped. Somehow after 20min car starts, but i already got late it was 4.pm. we moved further and halt at food counter where driver tried to cool down the engine by adding water.  But after that engine doesn't start and I had to catch bus which dropped me at bypass road of pune. I called many of my friends so that somebody will pickup me and drop me at station to reach before 4.30pm but nobody was available that time, I was so helpless.  When I reached bypass road it was already 4.30pm and I thought I had to cancel this tour. Then I called my friend who was already waiting for me at station, he said train is also late by 1hr so come before 5.30pm. Then I feel AHHAA. God help me .

 I prefer private car to reach pune up-to 3pm so that I can meet some friends, and like Bollywood movie. I managed to catch train exactly before 5min.

                                            VALENTINE DAY NIGHT AT PALOLEM :)

After reaching GOA; one of my  friend from Palolem(south goa) came to receive me on Canacona bus stop and booked room for me. As room is on beach I thought rent would be 700-800rs but I was wrong.

 That day was Valentine day 14^th Feb. It was nothing special for me as I don’t have GF. But yes it was valentine day; so little excitement was thereJ.  My day starts from Dolphin Safari I went to see dolphin with my friend Nikhil

Dinner. i need to learn European way to eat with knife n spoon 

On Beach Restaurent 

 On the ferry there was one girl from Paris named Maria. It was nice chitchat with her. She said when she was in Mumbai for some time; she wanted to act in Bollywood movies perhaps as background dancer but sad nobody hired her ;).

                                                        Maria And Me

On that day we just did swimming whole day and we had dinner on the beach restaurant. Waiter already informed us that service charge is 10%. Don’t know whether it’s only for Indian or also for foreigners because Indian get everything expensive than foreigners. After dinner we were walking on beach and I met one Spanish girl and while talking with her doesn’t know when time passed from 9pm to 2am. While I was talking with her one Russian girl approached Nikhil and ask him if he want Charas(drug)he simply said he is happy with cigarette after sometime she gone but Nikhil was so much angered on that Russian girl; because he is not charssi(later on he said to me charas is very bad drug) .  While chatting with Angel (Spanish)  I came to know that  she rented room 200-300/day for single room and  same thing with Maria. She has room on beach with sea view; is only for 300rs/day. So I thought I m only fool who paid more, every time I go there. Well I don’t bother much about price but it shows we have to have skills to negotiate.

                                                  Angeles n me

On Saturday we rented a bike and went to see other beaches such as Agonda, Patnam, Rajbaugh, and the beautiful Lalit Hotel/golf ground where many bollywood film shooted. Patnam and Agonda are not so much crowded and its nice that these are peaceful. Every Saturday there is silent noise party organized on palolem beach @Neptune point. And I was waiting for that since I got on palolem.

@ Shacks on Agonda Beach

Lalit Golf International. famous place for Bollywod movies to shoot

 I went alone that party because Nikhil refuse to join me. Party begins at 11pm you can say this was my first Disco party in outside (except college DJ nights). First time I got stamp of party on handJ. I think that party was Big party. I didn’t get joy from inside becoz I used to yell while dancing but here everybody wearing headphone and dancing alone in their theme but I enjoyed as some people joined me later.

AND PARTY BEGINS

CROWED

Marina (Germany) i like the way she dance ;)

                                                          Nobody danced like her.


Some peoples I mean blonde dance really good not just shaking heads, As I don’t know how to dance on English music so I just shake my headsJ. Some girls whistling it was just sexy n awesome., I don’t know whistle L.  Everything was crazy there ;), I can’t explain here, u should go and then u’ll know.  When I remove headphone I felt everybody is dancing like stupid no music outside after wearing headphone oh everything is okJ. One performer perform very nicely on various themes, her performance was awesome.

                                                            WOW!!!

                                                     
                                                      SIMPLY GREAT


 Party ends at 4am then I was sitting alone and one guy from Holand joined me and after some time his friend joined me she was nice and it was nice to know about Holand culture. I never met people from Holand. Funnily they said Gemany and Holand are like India and Pakistan J, We have our bicycles in germany which was taken away by Hitler J and one day w’ll take those back.

                                                                 party stamp

On Sunday we (Nikhil &me) went to Mallikarjuna Temple which is very famous in south goa. From there to turtle beach hoping to see big turtle on beach but we found none. one person said turtle came in night near about 10pm/in early morning. So if anybody goes there they advised to stay one night to see turtle. We ride Kayak @palolem. It was nice experience.

Nikhil on turtle beach

Mallikarjuna Temple

In Palolem at the restaurant/pub which is on beach, some people sung just for fun with their instruments, it was nice to hear them, such live concert J with the rhythm of sound of waves, sitting on cold sand, chitchat with stranger and I felt this is life to Enjoy and Relax.

Here are the some places where party organized

- Benaulim Aqua - The disco below the lobby at The Leela,

 Mobor - Cavelossim GATSBY’S - Colva Alvoc - Colva Beach Ziggy’s - Colva Beach Johnny Cool’s - Colva Beach Gravity Pool - Inside Radisson White Sands Resort, Varca Holiday Inn Resort - Goa, Mobor - Cavelossim Kenilworth Resort - Utorda Beach

And also Pool party @ Lalit International golf on Wednesday don’t know whether  its organized on every Wednesday u have to check. I did not went all above. Only I went to “silent noise A Big one”

If anybody knows more abt party organised in south go just post in comment

Until then Cheers & enjoy