Yaana (Kannada Novel) Review - Manjunath Ajjampura

"ಅನೂಹ್ಯ ಆಯಾಮಗಳ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಯಾನ "

ಐವತ್ತು ದಾಟಿದವರು, ಅರವತ್ತು ದಾಟಿದವರು ಕಂಪ್ಯೂಟರ್ ಕಲಿಯಲಾರೆವು, ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ಫೋನಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಹತ್ತಾರು ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶ-ಸಾಧನಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸಲಾರೆವು, ಅಷ್ಟೇಕೆ ಕಿರು-ಸಂದೇಶ SMSಗಳನ್ನೂ ಓದಲಾರೆವು ಎಂದು ಮುಲುಕುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, ಎಂಬತ್ತರ ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ಖಭೌತ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನದ ವಸ್ತುವಿನ ಅತಿಕ್ಲಿಷ್ಟ ಪರಿಕಲ್ಪನೆಯ 'ಯಾನ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಂಕೀರ್ಣವಾದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ-ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಯನ್ನು ಜೀವಕೋಟಿಯು ತನ್ನ ವಿಕಾಸದ ಪಥದಲ್ಲಿ ನೂರಾರು ಕೋಟಿ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದೆ, ಮುಂದುವರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಈ ಸುದೀರ್ಘ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದು ಮಾನಸಿಕವಾದ - ದೈಹಿಕವಾದ, ಅಷ್ಟೇಕೆ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕವಾದ ಬಹು-ಆಯಾಮಗಳ ವೈಚಿತ್ರ್ಯವೂ ಆಗಿಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಮವನ್ನು ಒರೆಹಚ್ಚಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ-ಧರ್ಮ, ಪರಂಪರೆ-ಆಧುನಿಕತೆ, ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ-ಹಿಂದೂ, ಕ್ರೈಸ್ತ-ಹಿಂದೂ, ಕಲೆ-ಸಂಗೀತ, ಕಾಮ-ಪ್ರೇಮ, ಜಾತಿವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ, ಹೀಗೆ ಹಲವು ಸಂಘರ್ಷಗಳು ಅವರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳ ಕಥಾಹಂದರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖಾಮುಖಿಯಾಗುತ್ತವೆ.

“ಆತ್ಮಸಾಕ್ಷಿ-ಅಂತಃಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಸಂಘರ್ಷವು ಮನೋಪಥದಲ್ಲಿ, ಕನಸು-ನನಸುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳಮುಖವಾಗಿ ತಡಕುತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ”

ಸುದರ್ಶನ-ಇಂಗಾ, ಸುದರ್ಶನ-ಉತ್ತರೆ, ಯಾದವ-ಉತ್ತರೆ, ಮೇದಿನಿ-ಆಕಾಶ್, ಈ ಗಂಡು-ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳ ನಡುವಿನ ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳು ಎತ್ತುವ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಕೋಟಿಕೋಟಿ ಮೈಲಿಗಳ ದೀರ್ಘಯಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾನವಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಜಾಗತಿಕ-ಪರಂಪರೆಯನ್ನೇ ನಿಕಷಕ್ಕೆ ಒಡ್ಡುತ್ತವೆ. ‘ಜಲಪಾತ’ ಕೃತಿಯ ಡಾ|| ನಾಡಗೌಡರು, 'ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ'ದ ಶ್ರೋತ್ರಿಯರು-ನಾಣಿ, 'ಪರ್ವ'ದ ಕುಂತಿ-ದ್ರೌಪದಿಯರು, 'ಸಾರ್ಥ'-'ಆವರಣ'ಗಳ ನಾಯಕ-ನಾಯಕಿಯರು ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ರೂಪಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳಾಗಿ ಉತ್ತರವಿಲ್ಲದ ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆಮತ್ತೆ ಎತ್ತುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆಯೋ, ಎಂಬ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆ ಓದುಗರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾದುಹೋಗಲೂಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ, 'ಯಾನ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯು ಏಕಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂರು ಮೂರು ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಯಣಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಾಲ-ದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಮೀರಿದ ಅಂತರಿಕ್ಷದ ಯಾನ ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಅನಾವರಣಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆತ್ಮಸಾಕ್ಷಿ-ಅಂತಃಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗಳ ಸಂಘರ್ಷವು ಮನೋಪಥದಲ್ಲಿ, ಕನಸು-ನನಸುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳಮುಖವಾಗಿ ತಡಕುತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆಡೆ ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮದ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸತ್ಯದ, ಪರಮಸತ್ಯದ ಹುಡುಕಾಟವು - ಅನ್ವೇಷಣೆಯು ಮನೋಭಿತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಆವರಿಸುತ್ತ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ : ಸತ್ಯವೆಂದರೆ ಏನು? ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ - ಸಾರ್ವದೇಶಿಕ ಸತ್ಯವೆಂಬುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಕ್ರಿಯಾಕಾರಿತ್ವವೇ ಸತ್ಯದ ನಿಕಷ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮವು ಸತ್ಯದ ಅಂತಿಮ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊರಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ವಸ್ತುವಿನಿಂದ ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿ ಸತ್ಯಾನ್ವೇಷಕನ ಅಂತರಂಗವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ದೇಶಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಂತರಂಗದ ಶುದ್ಧಿಯಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ ಅಂತಃಕರಣವನ್ನು ಜಾಗ್ರತಗೊಳಿಸಿದಾಗ ಅದು ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಅದೇ ಸತ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಗ ವಸ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ಜ್ಞಾತೃಗಳ (ಅದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದ ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳ) ನಡುವಿನ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವು ಇಲ್ಲವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಡಾ||ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್.ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ 'ಯಾನ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯು, ಓದುವ ಮೊದಲು - ಅನಂತರ ಅಧ್ಯಯನದ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಓದಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಮೆಲುಕು ಹಾಕುವಾಗ ಮತ್ತು ಅನಂತರವೂ ಕಾಡುವ ಅನುಭಾವವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇತ್ತೀಚಿನ ಹತ್ತಾರು ಸಹಸ್ರ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಮಾನವವಿಕಾಸದ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂರ್ಯೋಪಾಸನೆ - ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಉಪಾಸನೆಗಳು ಸನಾತನ ಧರ್ಮದಂತಹ ಸಹಜಧರ್ಮಗಳ ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗೌರವ ಪಡೆದವು, ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮದ ಪಥನಿರ್ಮಿತಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾದವು. ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ - ಕ್ರೈಸ್ತ ಮತಗಳ ವಿನಾಶಕಾರಿ, ಪರಮತ-ದ್ವೇಷಿ ಏಕದೇವತಾವಾದದ ಅಬ್ಬರದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಸೂರ್ಯೋಪಾಸನೆ - ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಉಪಾಸನೆಗಳು 'ಅನಾಗರಿಕ'ವೆಂಬ ಹಣೆಪಟ್ಟಿ ಧರಿಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು. ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಮೆಕಾಲೆ-ಪ್ರಣೀತ ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷ್ ವಿಷವನ್ನೇ ಕಕ್ಕುವ ಕಾನ್ವೆಂಟುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ರೈಸ್ತಮತಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದುದು Cultural ಆಗುತ್ತದೆ. ದೇಶವಾಸಿಗಳ - ಮೂಲನಿವಾಸಿಗಳ ವೇಷಭೂಷಣಗಳು - ನೃತ್ಯಗಳು (ನಕಾರಾತ್ಮಕ ಭಾವದಲ್ಲಿ) Ethnic dress, Ethnic danceಗಳೆಂಬ ಅಭಿಧಾನ ಪಡೆದು ರಂಗಪ್ರವೇಶ ಮಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ, ವಸಾಹತುಗಳ 'ಮಹಾಜನತೆ'ಯ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಮಂಕು ಇನ್ನೂ ಕವಿದೇ ಇದೆ.

“ಭೌತಿಕ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಒಂದು ಬಿಂಬ. ಒಂದು ಪ್ರತೀಕ. ಅದರ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗಿನ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುವ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನೇ ಸೂರ್ಯೋಪಾಸನೆ ಅಂತ ಕರೀತೀವಿ”

ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ, ಹಬ್ಬ ಹರಿದಿನಗಳ, ಅಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮದ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಗಳು ಬಹುಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೂರ್ಯ-ಚಂದ್ರರನ್ನಾಧರಿಸಿ ಬೆಳೆದಿವೆ. ಆಣೆ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಚಂದ್ರರ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಸತ್ಯದ ಅಧಿದೇವತೆಯೇ ಸೂರ್ಯ. ಸೂರ್ಯ ಅಂದರೆ ಪೂರ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ, ನೆತ್ತಿಯ ಮೇಲೇರಿ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗುವ ಉರಿ ಉಂಡೆಯಲ್ಲ. ಪೂರ್ವ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ನೆತ್ತಿ ಅಂಗಾಲುಗಳೆನ್ನುವುದೆಲ್ಲ, ಈ ಭೂಮಿಯ ಮಧ್ಯರೇಖಾ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುವ ನಾವು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಗುರುತುಗಳು. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ಸೂರ್ಯ ಎಂದರೆ ಏನು? ಈ ಭೌತಿಕ ಸೂರ್ಯ ಒಂದು ಬಿಂಬ. ಒಂದು ಪ್ರತೀಕ. ಅದರ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮೊಳಗಿನ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುವ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನೇ ಸೂರ್ಯೋಪಾಸನೆ ಅಂತ ಕರೀತೀವಿ (ಪುಟಗಳು 178ರಿಂದ 180), ಎನ್ನುವ ಭೈರಪ್ಪನವರ ಸಾಲುಗಳು ಯುಗಾಂತರಗಳ ಈ ಸತ್ಯದ ಮೇಲಿನ ಮಿಥ್ಯೆಯ ಪೊರೆಯನ್ನು ಕಳಚಿ, ಪರಮಸತ್ಯದ ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಹಿಂದೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ಕಿರುನಕ್ಷತ್ರವು ಹೇಗೆ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪವಾದ ಸೂರ್ಯನೋ ಹಾಗೆ ಖಭೌತ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು ಅಂದಾಜಿಸಿರುವ ಬಿಲಿಯ ಬಿಲಿಯ ಬಿಲಿಯ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದೊಂದೂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪಿಯೇ, ಸತ್ಯಸ್ವರೂಪಿಯೇ ಎನ್ನುವ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಗಾಢಚಿಂತನೆಗೆ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ಗೌರವದ ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲಿದಂತಾಗಿದೆ.
`ಯಾನ'ದ ಓದು ಎಂದರೆ, ಪರಮಸತ್ಯದ ಒಂದು ಶೋಧ.

Ego Can Kill Your Stage Fear - Akshay Chaaruvaaka

The topic though seems to focus on projecting a negative shade to cover up one of the most immense and intensified emotional upsurge which can rather be termed as Stage Fear. Ego and Stage-Fear both are at their respective extremities.

Well if you observe this Perhaps then you would have actually come out of stage fear. Stage Fear is a type of Mental Block that persists midst those who are introverts when it comes to oratory and presentation skills displayed across masses containing strangers, skilled minds and those who would have intimidated you somewhere in the past. Now that we are clear about the term Stage-Fear. Let us Understand how ego can help it .

“The Emotional upsurge where in you travel in an illusion that you are a Pioneer and a Veteran with unimaginable Accuracy and Mastery”

The basic definition of EGO is the feel that you believe that you are the almighty.The GOD , the Creator who can never go wrong in any aspect. If you are the 'one' who thinks there is none called GOD, then you could modify the definition of EGO as "The Emotional upsurge where in you travel in an illusion that you are a Pioneer and a Veteran with unimaginable Accuracy and Mastery over whatever you do". Keeping either of the above, let us move one to the next step. How does Ego help drive Stage fear out? When you have ego you always think rather imagine or believe that the Persons who listen or observe your knowledge are FOOLS.When you think that you are trying to display or explain something, your confidence level boosts up the very reason behind this is that the surety that he will not question whatever you say because he according to you is an alien when it comes to the subject that you are going to share, in this case it is Theater : In Theater Ego is essential as it builds your confidence and drives out the stage fear but too much of ego will lead to overconfidence.

Naayi Neralu (Kannada Novel) by S.L.Bhyrappa

A Kannada novel by S.L.Bhyrappa riding the journey of reincarnation...

Even though he have not spent his career in strolling in any pre-defined genres(instead versatility itself is his special genre), novels of Bhyrappa usually concept with either human values or political consequences. But Naayi-Neralu stands out of this convention by dealing with supernatural beliefs and occult sciences.

The plot revolves around a 'pre-independence orthodox Indian family' where two old couple lives with their widowed niece. Their son have died two decades back which people still believes he had committed suicide in the “Holy Prayag”.

“Husband's faith in her character is the most valuable asset for an Indian woman”

Eventually, they comes to know about a 18 year old guy who recognizes them all as such there is no distrust left regarding he is the reincarnation of their dead son. They brings him to their home and their niece Venkamma(aged around 40 years old) don't accept him as her husband. But, the family consequences prompt her to accept him which results in her pregnancy. They start living as a couple, but Venkamma's first son(the only son) who is being educated under the influence of western culture in a city comes to village and have a strong contempt towards his mother. The whole family expects him to accept the new comer as his father. But he refuses and goes back to city.

But her teen husband is no more modest about Venkamma after she conceives a baby. He gets attracted towards servant's daughter and it turns into an illicit relationship. When it gets the public grasp, they eventually proceed to leave the village .

“The title, for first feels so irrelevant but it is clearly depicted that “Naayi-Neralu” meaning “Dog-Shadow”, is a symbol of karma”

Venkamma's son search for him and chooses a judicial move and manages to send him to jail for six years. Venkamma leaves the village and starts a new life with her child. After around five years an holy saint comes to her home and blesses her telling “You are the most loyal wife one can have” and goes off. Venkamma notices some similarity in him with her husband, but denies herself as still six months are remaining for his release. After six months, when she goes to find her husband getting released from jail finds out he has been released six months earlier considering his disciplined conduct. She comprehends that, it was her husband who came and blessed her. She feels deceived by her self, but feels proud that her husband still believes her as a “loyal”. Towards the end, her first son comes to take her back to village, but she refuses since once he had doubted his mother's character and the effect was irreversible. At last it is understood that she starts living her normal life but then she is more inspired than ever.

Bhyrappa concludes in a special perspective that 'husband's faith in her character is the most valuable asset for an Indian woman'. The novel have a sub-story of her husband's first incarnation and his death. That is quite breath-taking super natural experience and have to be sensed by every reader. The title, for first feels so irrelevant but it is clearly depicted that “Naayi-Neralu” meaning “Dog-Shadow”, is a symbol of karma. Both follow every person where ever he goes.

The novel can be considered as his best if semiotic(prateeka) and symbolic(chihna) representations can be observed with a special review. When dwelled into the depths of novelist's thought, there is more content for consideration. As 'Dog' and 'Shadow' both follow the person, but they differ as shadow follows only in light, but dog follows even in dark. SLB have used character of DOG as a special element through out the story.

Noted director Girish Kasaravalli made a film based on it, but story-line varies in many aspects. Unlike other novels of Bhyrappa, this gets mixed reviews even by his cult readers. Many calls it “How come Bhyrappa chose a topic of re-incarnation”. But legends don't write for their readers. If so, readers will change as generations perish and the name “Naayi-Neralu” would not have been discussed even after 45 years. Hence Aravind Adiga of debut-Booker fame writes “Bhyrappa – Kannada's best Novelist, may be even India's best”.

Chomana Dudi : Karanth's Way of Attending Casteism

Shivram Karanth stands objective in approaching both caste-system and missionary-conversions

Unlike other writers, Shivram Karanth have never lingered until a strong plot to inspire him to write a novel. His works, almost all deal with the human values and relationships. “Chomana Dudi” is a master piece from Karanth himself which depicts a story of a untouchable called Choma.

Choma, who has lived his whole life serving a landlord called Sankappayya, nurture a peculiar ambition(for his social status) to own and “till” his own land. But even though Sankappayya has kind appreciation towards Choma's commitment is so coward to let him “till” as his society may not allow this(as it is against custom). Sankappayya's mother character has represented the whole society as she believes customs cannot be neglected. Choma's wife have died five years back and he stays in an hut with his five children. He is so humiliated by society's customs, but lack ability or grit to openly oppose it. His only companion is his Dudi(a Dayereh or a tambourine without jingles). When he is mused by any deep thoughts he beats that Dudi without any manner or melody. One of his acquaintance suggest him to convert to christianity as church encourages him to accomplish his longing dream. But even though he is ill treated by Hindu society, his immense devotion for his goddess 'Panjurli' is static. Hence he never finds it as a solution which seems morally dishonest.

“His daughter rescues him from his thoughts as she was depicted as responsible person of the family”

Once, his two sons travel to a little known place to work for one's land from whom Choma is indebted. One of the two sons don't comeback as he gets converted to Christianity as he was captivated by the greed of owning a piece of land. Choma gets furious and decides that son is no more his part of life. Other son falls sick soon after his comeback and dies. To come out of this demise he starts his most enjoyed task, beating his Dudi. His daughter rescues him from his thoughts as she was depicted as responsible person of the family and tells she will work in the same land and returns with all his debts cleared. At her workplace, there will be a christian supervisor. She looses her feminine virtue and falls in affair with him. When she comes back, Choma unheard of this, feels himself free from all his debts and again starts-off his most enjoyed task.

Once, his two young sons will be swimming in a river, as one starts to drown. Seeing this, a Brahmin youngster tries to rescue him. But his people don't allow as he cannot touch an untouchable. But the youngster after some hesitation finally jumps into river neglecting other's attitude. But it will be too late as he can only get dead body of the poor guy. Choma feels so anguished about his religion and goes to meet his christian son as his mind has now leaned towards Christianity. But on the way he visits Panjurli temple. His intellect feel conflicted towards his own decision there. As he comes back home in dilemma, when he opens his hut he finds his daughter with supervisor in objectionable position. He is so terrified and thrashes her brutally. His final decision is now to get under christian culture, since all of his surroundings seem so christian for him. After some long hours his mind is still so depressed, his daughter is still sitting on the ground as she is not yet recovered from his brutality. He enters his hut and starts doing what he does best. “Beating Dudi in haphazard manner!” It gets so intense with the time. It is now beating with the uproar heard never before. When the pitch is at its pinnacle  all of a sudden it stops... His daughter gets frightened and opens the door. “The Dudi is still there, the stiffness in the hand is still not lost. But! Where is Choma?” He is no more.

The novel tries to imply that his heart was not ready to accept another religion even though his mind was suggesting it. The title “Chomana Dudi” is meant for “Choma's Dayereh” does not stop creating meaning there. “Dudi” is also meant for service. Karanth have tried to establish a sign of Choma's “commitment” through it. Choma don't have mastered any tune in beating the Dudi signifies that his life is of no culture and discipline and demands no importance from the society. The most appealing instance of novel comes when a Brahmin youth tries to rescue the drowning boy. It signifies how the new-generation's upper-caste culture was getting accessible to surpass all the past beliefs and accept the equality as a social phenomenon.

Last Note : The novel still stands out as a best master piece of Karanth, as it dwells deeply with human values. Karanth have chosen a politically strong plot, but have guided full story in a non-political way. It shows the expertise of Karanth in crafting a great ending. In contradiction to S. L. Bhyrappa, who has tried a similar type(not exactly similar) of conflict in “Dharmashree” through his political views, “Chomana Dudi” stands out as the best in this genre. Bhyrappa is not a Kannada novelist, he is an Indian novelist who happens to write in Kannada. But Karanth is an UNIVERSAL novelist who happens to write in the same elegant language.

'Uneasy Neighbours' - Manjunath Ajjampura

'Uneasy Neighbours' - A book by Ram Madhav, general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party

ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಹಡಗನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವು ನೂರು ಜನ ನಿರಂತರ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ, ರಾಶಿರಾಶಿ ಕಚ್ಚಾ ಸಾಮಗ್ರಿ ಬಿದ್ದಿದೆ; ಬಗೆಬಗೆಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳು, ಆಟಿಗೆಗಳು ಒಂದೇ ಸಮನೆ ತಯಾರಾಗುತ್ತಿವೆ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪ್ಯಾಕಿಂಗ್ ಸಹಾ ಆಗುತ್ತಿದೆ, ಹಡಗು ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದೆ, ಸುತ್ತ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ಮಹಾಸಾಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲೆಗಳು ಭೋರ್ಗರೆಯುತ್ತಿವೆ... ಇದನ್ನು ನೀವು ಹೇಗೆಹೇಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೀರಿ? ಹಾಲಿವುಡ್ ನಿರ್ಮಿತ ಯಾವುದೋ ಒಂದು ಹಳೆಯ ಭವ್ಯ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಕಣ್ಮುಂದೆ ಬಂದಿತೇ? ವಿಚಿತ್ರವೆಂದರೆ, ನಿಜ ಜೀವನದ ವಾಸ್ತವವು ಅಂತಹ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕಲ್ಪನಾಲೋಕವನ್ನು, ಅಸಂಭಾವ್ಯ ತರ್ಕವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ - ನಾಚಿಸುವಂತಿರುತ್ತದೆ.

'ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ' ಎಂದು ನಾವು ಬಹುಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸಂಬೋಧಿಸುವ 'ಯುಎಸ್ಎ', ವಿಶ್ವದ ಹಿರಿಯಣ್ಣ ತಾನೇ ಎಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿಕೊಂಡುಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಐರೋಪ್ಯ ಶ್ವೇತವರ್ಣೀಯರ ದುರಹಂಕಾರ, ಭೋಗವಸ್ತುಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ, ಪರಪೀಡನ ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿಗಳ ಮೂರ್ತೀಕೃತ ದೇಶವೇ ಈ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ. ಅನೇಕ ದಶಕಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಕಮ್ಯೂನಿಸ್ಟ್ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು ವಿಶ್ವಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಿಡದಂತೆ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮಾಡಿದ ಈ ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ, ಈಗ ಅದೇ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶದ ಗುರಿ ಆಗಿಹೋಗಿದೆ. ಅಮೆರಿಕದ ಮಾಲ್ ಗಳು, ಮನೆಗಳು, ಕಛೇರಿಗಳು ಚೀನಾ ನಿರ್ಮಿತ ವಸ್ತುಸಾಮಗ್ರಿಯಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿಹೋಗಿವೆ. ಈಗ ಅದು ಚೀನಾದೇಶದ ಬಹುದೊಡ್ಡ ಗ್ರಾಹಕ. ಅಂತಹ ವಸ್ತು ಸಾಮಗ್ರಿಗಳ ಸರಬರಾಜನ್ನು ಹಠಾತ್ತಾಗಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರೆ, ಅಮೆರಿಕಾ ತತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಹೋಗುವಂತಹ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶದ ಕುಯುಕ್ತಿ - ಕುಟಿಲೋದ್ದೇಶವೂ ಅದೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಮೇಲೆ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಹಡಗುಗಳು ನಿತ್ಯ ಚೀನಾದಿಂದ ಅಮೆರಿಕೆಗೆ ಧಾವಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಹಡಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ಶ್ರಮಿಕರ ಕೈಕಾಲುಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಡಿ ಒಂದು ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಅಷ್ಟೇ!ಸ್ವಯಂಘೋಷಿತ ಹಿರಿಯಣ್ಣ ಅಮೆರಿಕೆಯನ್ನೇ ಆಪೋಶನ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು ಹತ್ತಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ನೇಪಾಳ - ಬಾಂಗ್ಲಾದೇಶ - ಮಯನ್ಮಾರ್ - ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾ - ಮಾಲ್ಡೀವ್ಸ್‌ಗಳಂತಹ ಭಾರತದ ನೆರೆ(ಯ) ಹೊರೆ ದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನವಂತೂ ಬಿಡಿ, ಚೀನಾದ ಊಳಿಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದಿರುವ ನಾಯಿಯಾಗಿಹೋಗಿದೆ.

“ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನಕ್ಕಂತೂ ಈ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು ಬೇಹುಗಾರಿಕೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ, ಮೇಲ್ವಿಚಾರಣೆ, ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ, ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡಂತೆ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಸ್ವರೂಪದ ನೆರವು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದೆ”

ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನಾಯಕತ್ವದ ಈವರೆಗಿನ ನರಸತ್ತ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರವಂತೂ ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳನ್ನು - ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ವಿಫಲವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಐದು ದಶಕಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಸೇನಾ ಆಕ್ರಮಣದಿಂದ ಭಾರತದ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ವಶಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು, ಭಾರತವು ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯಿಂದ ಇರಲಾಗದಂತಹ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ತಂದೊಡ್ಡಿದೆ. ಈ ಪರಿಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕ ಸಂಘದ ವಕ್ತಾರರಾದ ರಾಮ ಮಾಧವ್ ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಅನೀಸೀ ನೈಬರ್ಸ್("Uneasy Neighbours") ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಹತ್ತ್ವ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು ಟಿಬೆಟ್ ದೇಶವನ್ನೇ ನುಂಗಿಹಾಕಿದ್ದು, ನೆಹರೂ ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯಾತ್ಮಕ ಕಾರ್ಯನೀತಿಗಳು, 'ಪಂಚಶೀಲ'ದ ಅವಿವೇಕ, ಮಾವೋ-ತ್ಸೆ-ತುಂಗನ ಕುಟಿಲ ನಡೆಗಳು, ವಿಶ್ವಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಈ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ದ ತಪ್ಪು ನಿರ್ಧಾರ, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ವಿವರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಆತಂಕಕಾರಿ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗತಿಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಕ್ಕೆ ಇದು ಸೂಕ್ತ ಗ್ರಂಥ. ಭಾರತದ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದೇಶಗಳಿಗೆ ಚೀನಾ ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಸರಬರಾಜು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಕ್ಸಲರಂತೂ ಭಾರತದ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಪಡೆಗಳಿಗೆ - ಅರೆಸೇನಾ ಪಡೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಅತಿ ದೊಡ್ಡ ತಲೆನೋವಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನಕ್ಕಂತೂ ಈ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶವು ಬೇಹುಗಾರಿಕೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ, ಮೇಲ್ವಿಚಾರಣೆ, ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ, ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡಂತೆ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಸ್ವರೂಪದ ನೆರವು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಸೇನೆಯ ಬಹುಪಾಲು ಯಂತ್ರಾಂಶ, ಮದ್ದು ಗುಂಡು, ಬಿಡಿಭಾಗಗಳು (70 ಶತಾಂಶ) ಚೀನಾದಿಂದಲೇ ಬರುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಮೇ 1998ರ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಅಣ್ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಪ್ರಯೋಗವು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾದುದಕ್ಕೆ, ಅಂದಿನ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ನವಾಜ್ ಷರೀಫ್ ಚೀನಾದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ವಂದನೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರು. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಆ ಅಣ್ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಪ್ರಯೋಗಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದೂ ಚೀನಾದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ತಯಾರಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಸೇನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇಸ್ಲಾಮೀ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರ ಆಡುಂಬೊಲವಾಗಿರುವ, ಭಾರತದ್ವೇಷದ ಒಂದೇ ತಂತುವಿನಿಂದ ಜನರನ್ನು ಉದ್ರೇಕಿಸಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ ಸಾಧಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳ ನಾಯಕತ್ವವಿರುವ ಮೂರ್ಖದೇಶ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಸಖ್ಯದಿಂದ ಈ ಚೀನಾ ದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗುವುದಾದರೂ ಏನು, ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಮೂಡುವುದು ಸಹಜ. ಹೆಚ್ಚೆಂದರೆ ಸಿಂಧುಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ (ಅರಬ್ಬೀ ಸಮುದ್ರ) ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಮೂಲಕ ಚೀನಾಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರದ ಸಮುದ್ರ ಮಾರ್ಗ ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ! ಅದೇನೂ ಅಂತಹ ದೊಡ್ಡಸಂಗತಿ ಎನ್ನಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಭಾರತಕ್ಕೆ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಚಿತ್ರಹಿಂಸೆ ನೀಡುವುದೇ ಅದರ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಾಗಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಸಕ್ತ ಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನೇರಾನೇರ ಯುದ್ಧಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಯುದ್ಧ, ದಿಗ್ಬಂಧನ, ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿಗಳೇ ಯುದ್ಧ ತಂತ್ರಗಳಾಗಿವೆ, ವ್ಯೂಹಯುಕ್ತಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿವೆ. ನೆರೆಯ ದೇಶಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೌಹಾರ್ದ ಸಂಬಂಧದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಆತ್ಮವಿಶ್ವಾಸದ - ಶಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾದ - ಯುಕ್ತವಾದ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಆರಂಭದ ದಿನಗಳು ಇದೀಗ ಬಂದಿವೆ.
    - Manjunath Ajjampura

Gati (Kannada Play) - 'Not-Dead Yet' but 'Alive'

A conflict should emerge between two extreme sides. If there exists more than two sides, the conflict grows weaker. A plot has to see every aspect with duality. But! what if it is not physical or external, but radially introspective. “Man against Himself” a genre which stands par in excellence in-front of other genres of conflict.

Gati , a play scripted by director S.N.Sethuram appeals to the audience by depiction of “Karma” without taking up its name. A man must pay for his mistakes. An ignorant husband, condemned daughter, abandoned wife, self-reputed bureaucrat, an womanizer and an woman of easy virtue together constitute the characters of the Kannada play which eventually have only two actors.

“A man who believes in utilitarian life is shallow from inside.”

To summarize the plot will belittle the play's intention. It's strength solely lies in its dialogues and on the grip of handling the language. An old man and his grand-daughter. The difference between their age provokes them to witness the world with different perspectives and narrate them to audience. The characters mentioned above are pictured just by story-telling and will attain a relevance more than characters physically present on stage. A plot which has three or four interconnected sub-plots tries to prove that a man who believes in utilitarian life is shallow from inside. A dialogue telling - Doctors will not promise one as “Alive” but as “Not-Dead yet” shows the writer's intent on approaching things by disrupting convention.

It rises serious questions about Motherhood crisis in workaholic lifestyle when a mother does not try to understand the 13 year old daughter trying to tell the harassment she is facing, emotional killing about which the person who have done the same for his mother, an husband wishing the death of his disloyal wife for her ignoble pregnancy, woman victimization for societal beliefs etc.

Last Note : Gati does not pledge to entertain the audience but to educate them to the core. Failing to understand it will make the play an average story-telling without any variations. One needs a special concern to identify and judge themselves to self-assess the distance(or proximity) they maintain from those imaginary characters. If one needs an entertainment and just that, there are many things in 'Market'.

Theatre as Personality Development - Akshay Chaaruvaaka

Theatre will trigger three vital partitions of the self. Mind, body and the inner energy called soul . It is by far the most safest method of channelizing one's surrealistic and realistic emotions. You cannot kiss a girl in-front of every one in reality . Well! You will have that in your mind but cannot express it. You feel like shouting your guts out on a lonely road and drain out crying loudly towards the open skies but you cannot do it in real. Can you ?? Well ,theatre gives you an opportunity to relish, wash out all your deepest, darkest and most intense emotions through the most dignified manner ever. Every attention seeker in this world, some call it 'ego', some 'empathy', some 'sympathy' but the true sense is every one needs to get noticed. Well, theatre gives you that. In this world its not the good or bad that matters, what is of primal importance is how well off are you in this world and how happy and true are you to yourself.

“Theatre and sex are the only two things that a human can enjoy, rest can be done by any other creature in this damn materialistic world.”

Theatre recovers, discovers and defines the you in you. Money can just buy you things that will give you pleasure, drugs can just give pleasure instantly, a wine will give a propel, but not in your consciousness. But theatre will make you transcend a state that cannot be bypassed by any other materialistic drug in this universe apart from music, literature and yoga. Well all the three other needs immense practice but acting needs no practice. I am damn sure that every one of you have anger, lust, greed, fear, happiness, sadness in you. All you have to do is just vomit them out ! without even thinking that someone will see hear or judge you ! After all 'who' is that some one . That some one who has no courage to come out and perform ! well atleast you are trying it ! so why hesitate ! Theatre and sex are the only two things that a human can enjoy, rest can be done by any other creature in this damn materialistic world ! Theatre does not make you special! rather it makes your more simpler. It just drills you out of fakeness and makes you to be original !!! Make you feel god !

Well, are you happy ?
As soon as you are into this planet, you are dependent on one or the other. Oxygen to breathe. Well, are you happy ? No... Then you come across a disease called hunger. Well mother earth will satisfy your need but are you happy ? of coarse not ! Why will you? You need more and more and more. Well earth can satisfy your need not your greed. Well ! then how do you satisfy it! Your mind wants you to be everything in this world doctor, engineer, sports men, star, murderer, father, mother anything and everything. As brain is like water, it takes the shape of any vessel it is poured into. In this case, the vessel is your desires. Well having desire is not bad !!!! that is the sole reason why man became god on this planet !! but that desire should not drain you !! it should not make you work hard ! so what do you do ! practice theatre !!!! You can become a doctor without spending lakhs and years. You can be anything you want. You can be the creator of your destiny. As long as it keeps you happy and people believe you in that character even for an hour on stage. Its more than enough for your mind to get saturated on that desire and then you can move on to your next desire !

Karma – A Course of Ritualism, Yet a Subject!

Iphone, Mantras , KFC, Savya, Tonsuring, Old Monk, Vapana, F***Off, Yagnopaveetam, Asthi, Mosquito Bat...
What kind of Novel can be expected when these wide range of words are glimpsed. But if one can consciously glance, these words have an orientation in themselves. Whether this or that! Every word belong to one among the two sets. When one set with Mantra, Tonsuring etc... represents 'our' Vedic Culture and other set clearly stands out with its western alignment.


Many novels are plotted with this conflict. Some are successful and others are less successful. But Karnam Pavan Prasad tries to reinvent the stands clearly. He have distorted the pattern of alignment and have rearranged them. Hard-core Ritualist Bhat travelling to Italy to commence a ceremony and an avid village lady using Mosquito bat signifies the mix-up. Author tries to clearly convey the message “Age-old image of Village is no more relevant and Culture needs a reinvention before accepting it blindly”, Yet there is a conflict. The author don't single-out the protagonist even after all the characters are introduced as per their need. Once the story takes pace, it is the context which draws out the protagonist from the rest.

“Those instances try to show that a man who is flimsy about his fundamentals cannot transform by burden.”

The plot revolves around the estranged son of a cultured family who has been shouldered the responsibility of carrying out the post-death rituals of his father with emotional constraints. His wife, who was brought up under Page3 culture finds it difficult to withstand the thrust exerted by a ritual family. Day-to-Day happenings keep on influencing the volatile mind of the Surendra(the protagonist) and his thoughts yield between dilemmas. 'Hysteria' and inferiority being the greatest earnings of his corporate life-style, he is suspicious about his wife's loyalty about him. As story progress, his inferiority develops stronger and he starts questioning his own decision of once 'happened' marriage. Her 'questionable' behavior makes his mind to distract towards his once loved but now a married cousin 'Vaani'. The circumstances try to bring back his mind back to his family culture(which was always deficient in him) but it proves to be futile when his brother sees him taking drinks in village outskirts when doing so is a taboo. Those instances(and hence the whole plot) tries to show that a man who is flimsy about his fundamentals cannot transform by burden of family members or any other peripheral aids.

Last Word : Writer K.P.Prasad have done a bold attempt in choosing the non-commercial subject in his debut. Some characters seem to overlap in their views and an ardent reader may opine that the number of characters would have been kept still low. The post-death rituals and their details are the prime factors of the novel. Writer have not tried to add it as a part of the culture, but he have lived with them for every instance of those 15 days through the story. That shows his familiarity with what he is trying to tell. He has chosen to be a participator and have pushed the protagonist to be an outsider, for that period of time. He injects his skepticism on blind beliefs without trying to be a “Progressive Writer” or an “Intellectual”. As new comer he ventures the promise to be accepted by the readers of either views.

'ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಭಾರತವೆಂಬ ಅದ್ಭುತ' - Manjunath Ajjampura

ಮೂರ್ನಾಲ್ಕು ದಶಕಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಾಗಲೀ-ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷಿನಲ್ಲಾಗಲಿ ಅಪರೂಪವೆಂಬಂತೆ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬಂದರೆ ತುಂಬ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಕುರಿತಾದ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ, ಟೀಕೆ, ಅವಲೋಕನಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಬೇರೆಬೇರೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ, ನಿಯತಕಾಲಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಡಕಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದೂ ಇತ್ತು. ಈಗ ತುಂಬ ತುಂಬ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಕಳೆದ ಏಳೆಂಟು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಬೇಕಾದ ಮತ್ತು ತುಂಬ ಮಹತ್ತ್ವದ ಹತ್ತಾರು ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳು ಪ್ರತಿವರ್ಷ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿವೆ, ಆಗುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಕವನ, ಕಥೆ, ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ವೈಚಾರಿಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವು ಮಹತ್ತ್ವ ಪಡೆದಿರುವುದು ಬಹಳ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ. ಮೂವತ್ತರ ದಶಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತರ 'ಬಾಲ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ' ಕಿರಿಯರ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶದ ಸಂಪುಟಗಳು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದಾಗ, ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳು ಮಾರಾಟವಾಗಲು ಹತ್ತುವರ್ಷಗಳಾದುವಂತೆ. ಹಾಗೆಂದು ಕಾರಂತರೇ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಗ ನೋಡಿ, ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ ಅರುಣ್ ಶೌರಿ ಅವರ 'ಮಹಾನ್ ಇತಿಹಾಸಕಾರರು' ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೂರು ಸಾವಿರ ಪ್ರತಿಗಳು ಮೂರೇ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾರಾಟವಾಗಿವೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಕಡಿಮೆಯ ಸಾಧನೆಯಲ್ಲ. ಜನರು ವೈಚಾರಿಕ-ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ-ಸಂಕೀರ್ಣ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಂಡು ಓದುವ - ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಿಸುವ ಪರ್ವಕಾಲವಿದು.

ಭಾರತ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಶಾಸ್ತ್ರದ ದೊಡ್ಡಪಂಡಿತರಾದ ಆರ್ಥರ್ ಲೆವೆಲಿನ್ ಬಾಶಂ ಅವರ ಕೃತಿ 'ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಭಾರತವೆಂಬ ಅದ್ಭುತ' ಮೂಲಕೃತಿಯು ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲೆಂಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಆರು ದಶಕಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಯಿತು. ಐಬಿಎಚ್ ಪ್ರಕಾಶನದವರು ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಬೃಹದ್ಗ್ರಂಥವನ್ನು ಹೊರತಂದರು. ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರಾದ ಧ್ರುವರಾಜ ಮಿಜರ್ಿ ಅವರು ಅಪಾರ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುವಾದಿಸಿ 800 ಪುಟಗಳ ಈ ಗ್ರಂಥವನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಹರಪ್ಪಾ - ಋಗ್ವೇದಗಳ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ಅಂತೆಯೇ ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಧ್ಯಯುಗದ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಬಹುಮೂಲ್ಯ ವಿವರಗಳಿಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಈ ಗ್ರಂಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತಧರ್ಮಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ರೀತಿನೀತಿಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ಲಲಿತಕಲೆ-ಶಿಲ್ಪಕಲೆಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ಅನೇಕ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ ತುಂಬ ತುಂಬ ವಿವರಗಳಿವೆ. ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತಪೂರ್ವ-ಇಸ್ಲಾಂಪೂರ್ವದ ಭಾರತದ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ - ಆಡಳಿತ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ವಿವರಗಳು ತುಂಬ ಸ್ವಾರಸ್ಯವಾಗಿವೆ. ಆಡಳಿತದ-ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಮೊಘಲರ-ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರ 'ಕೊಡುಗೆ' ಎನ್ನುವ ನಮ್ಮ 'ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿ'ಗಳು, ವಾಮಪಂಥೀಯರು, ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷರ 'ಔರಸಪುತ್ರ'ರು ಇಂತಹ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಓದುವುದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು.

“ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಇಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಯಾವುದನ್ನೂ ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತ ಘಟನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.”

ರಾಜನ ಶಾಸನಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟ ಜನರಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಮಾಸ್ತರುಗಳ ಒಂದು ಪಡೆಯೇ ಇತ್ತು. ತಪ್ಪಾಗದಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಗಮನಾರ್ಹ ಮುನ್ನೆಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ ಚೋಳರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜನ ಆದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಮೊದಲು ಕಾರಕೂನರು ರಾಜನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಬರೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಕರಡು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿದೆಯೇ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಪರಿಣತ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಬೇಕಾದವರಿಗೆ ಅದು ತಲಪುವ ಮೊದಲು ತುಂಬ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಇನ್ನೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಅನುದಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಡಬೇಕಾದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ, ಸವಲತ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಡಬೇಕಾದ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ರಾಜನ ಆದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಪಾಲಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆಯೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಖಚಿತಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ರಾಜನ ಆಸ್ಥಾನದಿಂದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಕಳುಹಿಸಿಕೊಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಇಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಯಾವುದನ್ನೂ ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತ ಘಟನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳನ್ನು-ಉನ್ನತ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳನ್ನು, ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಮೊದಲಿನ ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಮಹಾಮಾತ್ಯರೆಂದು ಕರೆಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಖಾತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಆಗಾಗ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣವರ್ಗದ ವೃದ್ಧರೂ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಸೈನಿಕ ಕೆಲಸ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು (ಪುಟ 144).

ಮೌರ್ಯರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಜೀವನದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಮಗ್ಗುಲ ಮೇಲೂ ಸರಕಾರದ ನಿಗಾ ಇರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು, ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿದ್ದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಇರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗಣಿಗಳು (ಆಗ ಈ ವರ್ಗೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಮುತ್ತು, ಉಪ್ಪು, ಮೀನುಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳೂ ಸೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು) ಸರಕಾರದ ಒಡೆತನದಲ್ಲಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು. ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಕೈದಿಗಳ-ದಾಸರ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಉದ್ದಿಮೆ ದಾರರಿಗೆ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವುದರ ಮೂಲಕ, ಸರಕಾರವೇ ಗಣಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಆನೆಗಳಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಉರುವಲು ಕಟ್ಟಿಗೆಯವರೆಗೆ ಅರಣ್ಯದ ಉತ್ಪನ್ನಗಳೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಸರಕಾರದ ಆಸ್ತಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಮದ್ದುಗುಂಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಸರಕಾರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮ್ಯದ ಮದ್ದುಗುಂಡುಗಳ ಕಾಖರ್ಾನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ತಯಾರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸರಕಾರೀ ಹಡಗು ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಡಗುಗಳು ನಿರ್ಮಿತವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು.... (ಪುಟ 145-146). ನಮ್ಮ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣದೇವರಾಯನ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ರಾಜಕುಮಾರರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ತರಬೇತಿಗಳ ಬಗೆಗೆ, ರಾಶಿರಾಶಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲಿದೆ. 'ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ ಭಾರತವೆಂಬ ಅದ್ಭುತ' ಗ್ರಂಥವು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದು ಅದ್ಭುತವೇ!
- ಮಂಜುನಾಥ ಅಜ್ಜಂಪುರ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು.

Why SSS? The Real Motive

I am not from active theatre, but have been meeting many theatre people over few years. I infer that the number of Enthusiasts coming into it is altogether rising in Bangalore city. Some theatre groups are well established, but many are still trying hard to replicate that success. In Bangalore, you cannot just rely on theatre as a full-time profession(clarified by a senior theatre personality). Many young actors I met who are good at their acting skills still keep searching for a good option to showcase their skills and there are some directors who are fishing for good actors to launch their short-films, Documentaries etc. My initial thought was to connect them. This started a social media account by title “SouthSocialStage”.

My first observation was many are unique about their themes and plots, but monotonous about the way of success. Many of them fail to address desired audience because they believe that audience for the previous play will remain same and relevant for this current play(play, not show). They follow the same conventions to reach out to people. Even phrases remain same. And hence it finally leads to the imitation in promotional strategy. For example, if 300 people have liked my previous comedy play(not on facebook), I presume that they will like my current science play. But they don't! and there are potential audience over there whom I did never tried to reach. Then my play was an astray to the audience expectations. Now I conclude that “people don't like the new concept”. Creativity is hence killed and I turn towards my same old plots. But hold on! Creativity was not killed by monotonous themes but by monotonous promotions.

“All of a sudden “SSS” became 'We' instead of 'I'. We together built a team of few.”

After interacting closely with some of these friends, I witnessed a similar conventions that many groups are practicing. So I ventured to start a blog which can benefit them to reach better through a strategy. But, I am not a professional writer which is evident in my style. But I certainly have something to say as i wanted to put my message out there.When discussed with some of the FB friends on the idea of a blog, I got pretty interesting inputs from the other side as we can include other categories to the blog. It was welcoming as they suggested that there are many writers who lacks visibility across the internet. All of a sudden “SSS” became 'We', instead of 'I'. We together built a team of few and included wide range of genres like Book Reviews, Parallell Cinema, Travel, Lifestyle, History.


But basically, our SSS was prompted to share the knowledge about the marketing strategies which can be implemented to make staged-events reach better to their desired audience. We expect our beloved theatre people to share their experiences through their journey.
-SSS