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brookston · 8 months ago

Text

Holidays 6.30

Holidays

Action Mesothelioma Day (UK)

AMC (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) Awareness Day

Arch 630 Day

Armed Forces Day (Guatemala)

Artichoke Day (French Republic Day)

Blink 182 Day

Burning of the Three Fires (France)

Circus Comes To Town Day

Common Rock Rose Day (A.k.a. Yellow Cistus)

Day of the Virtual Friend

Day of Youth and Children’s Public Organizations (Ukraine)

Dia del Ejercito (a.k.a. Army Day; Guatemala)

Disabled Veterans Day

Don’t Sing in the Shower Day

Do the Right Thing Day

Economist Day (Belarus)

Fandronna (Madagascar)

Federalisation Day (Abeldane Empire)

Festival of Ass-Kissing

Flag Day (Bahamas, Portugal, Tanzania)

General Prayer Day (Central African Republic)

Gone With the Wind Day

Guiding Light Day

International Aquatic Maintenance Day

International Asteroid Day (UN)

International Day of Parliamentarism

International Sailor Moon Day

International Sperm Count Decline Awareness Day

lawyer’s Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Leap Second Adjustment Day

Lovers’ Day (Azerbaijan)

Meteor Watch Day (a.k.a. National Meteor Day)

National Blink-182 Day [182nd Day of the Year]

National Corvette Day

National ESIGN Day

National Girls in Automotive Day

National OOTD Day (a.k.a. National Outfit of the Day Day)

National Safer Workplace Day

National Water Gun Fight Day

Navy Day (Israel)

NOW Day (a.k.a. National Organization for Women Day)

Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (Philippines)

Prayer Day (Central African Republic)

Pridie Kalendas July (Traditional citizen committee voting day; Ancient Rome)

Queer Youth of Faith Day

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Remna Ni (Mizoram, India)

Revolution Day (Guatemala)

Social Media Day

Teacher’s Day (Dominican Republic)

Tech Support Appreciation Day

Thomas Sowell Day

Tungaska Meteor Day

World Pneumothorax Day

youth and Students’ Day (Belarus)

Food & Drink Celebrations

California Avocado Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Mai Tai Day

Independence & Related Days

Carsica (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Concordia (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Democratic Republic of the Congo (f.k.a. Zaire; from Belgium, 1960)

Hul Divas (Santhal Rebellion Anniversary Day Jharkhand, India;1855)

Imus Cityhood Day (Philippines)

June 30th Anniversary (Coup d’Etat; Egypt; 2013)

Revolution Day (Sudan; 1989)

Tacloban Day (Philippines)

5th & Last Sunday in June

Alexanderson Day (Sweden) [Sunday closest to 7.2]

Father’s Day (Haiti) [Last Sunday]

Independence Sunday (Iowa) [Sunday before 7.4]

Bereaved Father’s Day (UK) [Last Sunday]

Descendants Day [Last Sunday]

Gay Pride Day [Last Sunday]

Log Cabin Day (Michigan) [Last Sunday]

Mother’s Day (Kenya) [Last Sunday]

National BeActive Day (Ireland) [Last Sunday]

National Ducks and Wetlands Day [Last Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 30 (Last Day before 1st Week of July)

Eye Safety Awareness Week (thru 7.6) [Begins Last Sunday]

Helen Keller — Blind Awareness Week (thru 7.6) [Begins Last Sunday]

Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance (thru 7.6)

Festivals Beginning June 30, 2024

ČeSFuR (Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic) [thru 7.5]

Paris Jazz Festival (Paris, France) [thru 9.8]

Red, White & Blueberry Festival (Hammonton, New Jersey)

Taste of Adams Avenue (San Diego, California)

Vikingland Band Festival (Alexandria, Minnesota)

Feast Days

Aizen Buddhist Festival begins (a.k.a. Aizen Matsuri, Osaka, Japan; until July 2)

Allan Houser (Artology)

Bayard (Positivist; Saint)

Bernard of Le Mans (Christian; Saint)

Blodeuwedd (Goddess of Flowers; Celtic Book of Days)

Crab Races (Pixies, Elves, and Some Fairies; Shamanism)

Cut Through Red Tape Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Czesław Miłosz (Writerism)

Day of Aestas (Corn Goddess Summer Festival; Ancient Rome)

Day Sacred to Ceres, Changing Woman, Chicomeocoatl, the Corn Mothers, Demeter, Gaia, Ge, Hestia, Iatiku, Oraea, Pachamama, Spider Woman, and Tonantzin (Everyday Wicca)

Erentrude (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Eris’s Day (Pagan)

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome (Christian; Martyrs)

Horace Vernet (Artology)

Just Another Day Day (Pastafarian)

Martial, Bishop of Limoges (Christian; Saint)

Papa Doc Duvalier Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Paul the Apostle (Christian; Saint)

Stanley Spencer (Artology)

Stephanie Chicken (Muppetism)

Theobald of Provins (Christian; Saint)

Winston Graham (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 181 [42 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (Film; 2000)

Africa Squawks (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

All About That Bass, by Meghan Trainor (Song; 2014)

America: The Motion Picture (Animated Film; 2021)

Apollo 13 (Film; 1995)

Armageddon (Film; 1998)

The BFG (Disney Film; 2016)

Blues for the Red Sun, by Kyuss (Album; 1992)

The Busy Beavers (Silly Symphonies Cartoon; 1931)

Cat-Tastrophy (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1949)

Despicable Me 3 (Animated Film; 2017)

The Devil Wears Prada (Film; 2006)

Do the Right Thing (Film; 1989)

End of the Road, by Boyz II Men (Song; 1992)

Filet Meow (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1966)

The Firm (Film; 1993)

French Rarebit (WB MM Cartoon; 1951)

Future Shock Alvin Toffler (Novel;

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Novel; 1936)

Great Balls of Fire (Film; 1989)

Guiding Light (Soap Opera; 1952)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Novel; 1997)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Film; 2023)

Johnny Carson Show (TV Series; 1955)

The Joy of Music, by Leonard Bernstein (Music Book; 1959)

KISS Marvel Comics Super Special! (Comic Book; 1977)

Love You More, by The Buzzcocks (Song; 1978)

Mad Love, by André Breton (Novel; 1937)

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (Film; 2016)

Not So Quiet (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Oliver! (Musical Play; 1960)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (Film; 1976)

Ross Poldark, by Winston Graham (Novel; 1945)

Ran (Film; 2000)

Ray Donovan (TV Series; 2014)

Silent Movie (Film; 1976)

Singles soundtrack, by various artists, including Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam & Soundgarden (Album; 1992)

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Film; 1999)

Spider-Man 2 (Film; 2004)

Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown (Children’s Book; 1947)

System of a Down, by System of a Down (Album; 1998)

Telegraph Line (Science Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)

To a Skylark, by Percy Bysshe Shelley (Poem; 1820)

True Blue, by Madonna (Album; 1986)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Well Oiled (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1947)

Why Do I Dream Those Dreams (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Film; 1971)

Zoom at the Top (WB MM Cartoon; 1962)

Today’s Name Days

Bertram, Ehrentrud, Otto (Austria)

Apostol (Bulgaria)

Adolf, Ladislav (Croatia)

Šárka(Czech Republic)

Lucina (Denmark)

Helend, Päivo, Päivu (Estonia)

Päiviö, Päivö (Finland)

Adolphe, Martial (France)

Bertram, Ehrentrud, Otto (Germany)

Apostolis, Apostolos, Meliton (Greece)

Pál (Hungary)

Primi Martiri (Italy)

Mareks, Tālis, Tālivaldis (Latvia)

Adelė, Emilija, Liucina, Novilė, Tautginas (Lithuania)

Solbjørg, Solgunn (Norway)

Alpinian, Ciechosława, Cyryl, Emilia, Lucyna, Marcjal (Poland)

Ghelasie (România)

Melánia (Slovakia)

Marcial (Spain)

Elof, Leif (Sweden)

Jaheim, Leanna, Leanne, Lia, Liana (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 182 of 2024; 184 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 26 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 25 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 24 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 2 Red; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 June 2024

Moon: 27%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 13 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Bayard]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 11 of 94)

Week: Last Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 10 of 31)

#calendar #Holidays

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brookstonalmanac · 8 months ago

Text

Holidays 6.30

Holidays

Action Mesothelioma Day (UK)

AMC (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) Awareness Day

Arch 630 Day

Armed Forces Day (Guatemala)

Artichoke Day (French Republic Day)

Blink 182 Day

Burning of the Three Fires (France)

Circus Comes To Town Day

Common Rock Rose Day (A.k.a. Yellow Cistus)

Day of the Virtual Friend

Day of Youth and Children’s Public Organizations (Ukraine)

Dia del Ejercito (a.k.a. Army Day; Guatemala)

Disabled Veterans Day

Don’t Sing in the Shower Day

Do the Right Thing Day

Economist Day (Belarus)

Fandronna (Madagascar)

Federalisation Day (Abeldane Empire)

Festival of Ass-Kissing

Flag Day (Bahamas, Portugal, Tanzania)

General Prayer Day (Central African Republic)

Gone With the Wind Day

Guiding Light Day

International Aquatic Maintenance Day

International Asteroid Day (UN)

International Day of Parliamentarism

International Sailor Moon Day

International Sperm Count Decline Awareness Day

lawyer’s Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Leap Second Adjustment Day

Lovers’ Day (Azerbaijan)

Meteor Watch Day (a.k.a. National Meteor Day)

National Blink-182 Day [182nd Day of the Year]

National Corvette Day

National ESIGN Day

National Girls in Automotive Day

National OOTD Day (a.k.a. National Outfit of the Day Day)

National Safer Workplace Day

National Water Gun Fight Day

Navy Day (Israel)

NOW Day (a.k.a. National Organization for Women Day)

Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (Philippines)

Prayer Day (Central African Republic)

Pridie Kalendas July (Traditional citizen committee voting day; Ancient Rome)

Queer Youth of Faith Day

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Remna Ni (Mizoram, India)

Revolution Day (Guatemala)

Social Media Day

Teacher’s Day (Dominican Republic)

Tech Support Appreciation Day

Thomas Sowell Day

Tungaska Meteor Day

World Pneumothorax Day

youth and Students’ Day (Belarus)

Food & Drink Celebrations

California Avocado Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Mai Tai Day

Independence & Related Days

Carsica (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Concordia (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Democratic Republic of the Congo (f.k.a. Zaire; from Belgium, 1960)

Hul Divas (Santhal Rebellion Anniversary Day Jharkhand, India;1855)

Imus Cityhood Day (Philippines)

June 30th Anniversary (Coup d’Etat; Egypt; 2013)

Revolution Day (Sudan; 1989)

Tacloban Day (Philippines)

5th & Last Sunday in June

Alexanderson Day (Sweden) [Sunday closest to 7.2]

Father’s Day (Haiti) [Last Sunday]

Independence Sunday (Iowa) [Sunday before 7.4]

Bereaved Father’s Day (UK) [Last Sunday]

Descendants Day [Last Sunday]

Gay Pride Day [Last Sunday]

Log Cabin Day (Michigan) [Last Sunday]

Mother’s Day (Kenya) [Last Sunday]

National BeActive Day (Ireland) [Last Sunday]

National Ducks and Wetlands Day [Last Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 30 (Last Day before 1st Week of July)

Eye Safety Awareness Week (thru 7.6) [Begins Last Sunday]

Helen Keller — Blind Awareness Week (thru 7.6) [Begins Last Sunday]

Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance (thru 7.6)

Festivals Beginning June 30, 2024

ČeSFuR (Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic) [thru 7.5]

Paris Jazz Festival (Paris, France) [thru 9.8]

Red, White & Blueberry Festival (Hammonton, New Jersey)

Taste of Adams Avenue (San Diego, California)

Vikingland Band Festival (Alexandria, Minnesota)

Feast Days

Aizen Buddhist Festival begins (a.k.a. Aizen Matsuri, Osaka, Japan; until July 2)

Allan Houser (Artology)

Bayard (Positivist; Saint)

Bernard of Le Mans (Christian; Saint)

Blodeuwedd (Goddess of Flowers; Celtic Book of Days)

Crab Races (Pixies, Elves, and Some Fairies; Shamanism)

Cut Through Red Tape Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Czesław Miłosz (Writerism)

Day of Aestas (Corn Goddess Summer Festival; Ancient Rome)

Day Sacred to Ceres, Changing Woman, Chicomeocoatl, the Corn Mothers, Demeter, Gaia, Ge, Hestia, Iatiku, Oraea, Pachamama, Spider Woman, and Tonantzin (Everyday Wicca)

Erentrude (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Eris’s Day (Pagan)

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome (Christian; Martyrs)

Horace Vernet (Artology)

Just Another Day Day (Pastafarian)

Martial, Bishop of Limoges (Christian; Saint)

Papa Doc Duvalier Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Paul the Apostle (Christian; Saint)

Stanley Spencer (Artology)

Stephanie Chicken (Muppetism)

Theobald of Provins (Christian; Saint)

Winston Graham (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 181 [42 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (Film; 2000)

Africa Squawks (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

All About That Bass, by Meghan Trainor (Song; 2014)

America: The Motion Picture (Animated Film; 2021)

Apollo 13 (Film; 1995)

Armageddon (Film; 1998)

The BFG (Disney Film; 2016)

Blues for the Red Sun, by Kyuss (Album; 1992)

The Busy Beavers (Silly Symphonies Cartoon; 1931)

Cat-Tastrophy (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1949)

Despicable Me 3 (Animated Film; 2017)

The Devil Wears Prada (Film; 2006)

Do the Right Thing (Film; 1989)

End of the Road, by Boyz II Men (Song; 1992)

Filet Meow (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1966)

The Firm (Film; 1993)

French Rarebit (WB MM Cartoon; 1951)

Future Shock Alvin Toffler (Novel;

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Novel; 1936)

Great Balls of Fire (Film; 1989)

Guiding Light (Soap Opera; 1952)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Novel; 1997)

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Film; 2023)

Johnny Carson Show (TV Series; 1955)

The Joy of Music, by Leonard Bernstein (Music Book; 1959)

KISS Marvel Comics Super Special! (Comic Book; 1977)

Love You More, by The Buzzcocks (Song; 1978)

Mad Love, by André Breton (Novel; 1937)

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (Film; 2016)

Not So Quiet (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Oliver! (Musical Play; 1960)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (Film; 1976)

Ross Poldark, by Winston Graham (Novel; 1945)

Ran (Film; 2000)

Ray Donovan (TV Series; 2014)

Silent Movie (Film; 1976)

Singles soundtrack, by various artists, including Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam & Soundgarden (Album; 1992)

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Film; 1999)

Spider-Man 2 (Film; 2004)

Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown (Children’s Book; 1947)

System of a Down, by System of a Down (Album; 1998)

Telegraph Line (Science Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)

To a Skylark, by Percy Bysshe Shelley (Poem; 1820)

True Blue, by Madonna (Album; 1986)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Well Oiled (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1947)

Why Do I Dream Those Dreams (WB MM Cartoon; 1934)

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Film; 1971)

Zoom at the Top (WB MM Cartoon; 1962)

Today’s Name Days

Bertram, Ehrentrud, Otto (Austria)

Apostol (Bulgaria)

Adolf, Ladislav (Croatia)

Šárka(Czech Republic)

Lucina (Denmark)

Helend, Päivo, Päivu (Estonia)

Päiviö, Päivö (Finland)

Adolphe, Martial (France)

Bertram, Ehrentrud, Otto (Germany)

Apostolis, Apostolos, Meliton (Greece)

Pál (Hungary)

Primi Martiri (Italy)

Mareks, Tālis, Tālivaldis (Latvia)

Adelė, Emilija, Liucina, Novilė, Tautginas (Lithuania)

Solbjørg, Solgunn (Norway)

Alpinian, Ciechosława, Cyryl, Emilia, Lucyna, Marcjal (Poland)

Ghelasie (România)

Melánia (Slovakia)

Marcial (Spain)

Elof, Leif (Sweden)

Jaheim, Leanna, Leanne, Lia, Liana (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 182 of 2024; 184 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 26 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 25 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 24 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 2 Red; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 June 2024

Moon: 27%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 13 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Bayard]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 11 of 94)

Week: Last Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 10 of 31)

#Holidays

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streamingwords01 · 9 months ago

Text

Bio Of Droupadi Murmu Devi And Her Work As A President Of India -

Droupadi Murmu Devi was a pioneering Indian politician and activist who served as the first female President of India. She was born on 6th January 1921 in a small village called Purnapani in the Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. She hailed from the Santhal clan, one of the biggest Adivasi people groups in India.

Devoted to the cause of tribal upliftment, Draupadi Murmu Devi spent much of her life fighting for the rights of the marginalized and underprivileged. She was a prominent member of the All India Adivasi Mahasabha and the first woman to be elected as the president of the Mahasabha. She was also instrumental in founding the Adivasi Seva Samiti, a non-governmental organization that works toward the welfare of tribal communities in India.

For More Info - https://streamingwords.com/bio-of-president-droupadi-murmu/

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theindiantribal · 2 years ago

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Essaying Different Roles Comes Easy To This Tribal Woman Achiever

From a child artiste to housewife, award-winning actress, neta and farmer, Suryamani Hansdah has had an eventful life so far. This Santhal achiever from Odisha now eagerly awaits new roles in her life’s journey. https://theindiantribal.com/2023/03/15/achievers-odisha-india-essaying-different-roles-comes-easy-to-this-tribal-woman-achiever/

#Santhal #achiever #Odisha #tribalachiever #adivasi #tribal #theindiantribal

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unmattata · 7 years ago

Photo

Untitled (Santhal Woman), Narayan Shridhar Bendre. Oil on canvas.

Source: Blouin Art Info

#Narayan Shridhar Bendre #Santhal #Santhal woman #Indian artists #oil on canvas

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papenathys · 4 years ago

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Hi !! I wanted to ask if you have any recommendation on short stories ? Specially food related . I barely read short stories tbh . Aside from Rabindranath tagore's ' Galpaguchchha ' I have zero reading experience on short stories. 🖤

I wasn't sure how to go about this ask, since I felt you were maybe asking me for Bengali reading recs. So here are some of my favourite shory story collections in Bengali:

Rajkahini by Abanindranath Tagore: to be honest, it's built like a novel comprising several chapters, each dealing with a different historical/quasi-mythical figure from Rajasthani history. But to me it reads very much like a collection of very descriptive, very immersive short folk/historical stories.

Ek Dojon Goppo and Aro Ek Dojon by Satyajit Ray: a mix of horror, SciFi, pure psychological mind games, and satire. I urge you to read the untranslated Bengali version because so much of Ray's sparkling wit is lost in translation.

Short Stories by Rabindranath Tagore: You've mentioned Galpaguchcha but if one wants a headway into the classics then I suggest his 1918 version which includes the most beloved ones like The Postmaster, The Kabuliwala etc. I have always preferred Tagore's shorter works to his novels personally.

Parashuram (Rajshekhar Basu) has written some extremely funny stories which are typically and ridiculously Bengali in their appeal. I recommend Birinchi Baba (where a group of young adults try to expose a fraud baba) and Bhusundir Math (guy with a nagging wife makes an unfortunate deal with goddess Kali). Once again, read the Bengali editions!

Stories by Ashapurna Devi typically deal with refugee crises, feminism and rural Bengal. Admittedly she is more famous for her Subarnalata trilogy but even her shorter work is so good.

other short story recommendations:

Road to the Bazaar (Ruskin Bond): charming collection of tales centred around children growing up in the Gharwal region of North India. Includes nighttime trains, beetle races, secret gardens and the typical Bond-esque desi Ghibli charm. Anything by Bond should be a good place to start actually, I believe the Best of Ruskin Bond collection has amazing short stories and travel essays, many of which include sumptuous descriptions of food.

The Interpreter of Maladies (Jhumpa Lahiri): putting this here to purposely spite the people who accuse me of "prioritising diasporic authors like Lahiri" I'm so sorry I should find comfort in the works of Bengali authors. This collection is gorgeous, stories about Bengalis in India, Bangladesh and Boston (the last being where the author grew up) and stands out for the amazing portrayal of messy, complicated relationships, cultural identity issues and an amazing cast of characters. [Food related stories: A Temporary Matter, Mrs. Sen, When Mr Pirzada Came To Dine; food and cooking is extremely important to Bengali culture and these stories are fantastic at exploring this].

The Short Stories (Guy de Maupassant): don't @ me but I think Maupassant >>>>>> O. Henry and Saki, and I'm not just saying that as he was the first short story author I ever read. His stories aren't always reliant on twist endings or sudden reversals, but it's the way he studies the ugly and beautiful sides of human nature and the way he describes horrifically tragic scenarios with a kind of beauty that I feel Henry and Saki lack. [Food related stories: Boule de Suif (rather horrifying symbolism), Two Little Soldiers, Mademoiselle Pearl (set against a feast and cake-cutting ceremony)]

Her Body and Other Parties (Carmen Maria Manchado): grotesque, brilliantly written stories that combines the feminist narrative with the surreal, the experimental and the quasi-horror. It does have a lot of triggers (Manchado's works do usually, I recommend looking them up) and not all the stories have the same impact, but it's still a great collection. [ Cooking and food figure in certain stories like The Husband Stitch and Eight Bites but the implications are not always of comfort and warmth, be cautious. ]

Friends in Small Places (Ruskin Bond): this one is basically if you read the one above and get depressed. One more Ruskin Bond!! This collection includes personal anecdotes and fictional short pieces about people who are seemingly unimportant but have impacted the writer/the narrator greatly due to a variety of reasons, a dawdling uncle, an ex schoolteacher, a vegetable vendor, a kite-maker. Often funny, and equally often poignant. [ Food related stories: Uncle Ken, Uncle Bill, Prem. Look for more in his Best of collections. ]

On my TBR:

Hungry Hearts: I feel you would really enjoy this one, as you mentioned stories of food! It's an anthology set in a fictional street called Hungry Heart Row, each story centred around food and cooking in some way. Contributing authors include Anna-Marie McLemore, Sandhya Menon and Elise Chapman among others.

Mohanaswamy (Vasudendhra): a gay man in Karnataka reminisces about his experiences after his partner marries a woman. I keep hearing mixed reviews about this short story collection, some people praise it as a nuanced portrayal of homosexuality in rural India but others say the translation (from Kannada to English) is poor and the depiction falls flat. I guess I'll let you know once I read it.

The Adivasi will Not Dance (Hansda S. Shekhar): ever since I heard of this collection I've been wanting to purchase it, and now that my exam is over I will definitely read it. It's mostly centred around the Santhal community in Jharkhand, and deals with issues like religious riots, class privilege and the treatment of Santhali women. The author also wrote the beautiful "My Father's Garden" I'm sure you've seen this novel in multiple south asian queer literature recs.

I hope these help. I have other food related fictional recommendations but most of those are novels, so this is all I can think of.

#answered ask #joysofdreams #friends tag #mimiwrites #book recommendations #book recs #books #fiction #literature #studyblr #text #india #ruskin bond #bengali literature #short stories #long post //

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tomasorban · 5 years ago

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Conception and Evolution of The Mother Goddess in India

The Devi as Mother

Devi, the Divine Female, revered by all, as is revered a mother, is better and universally known as the Mother Goddess. Reverence for 'mother' is inherent in any one born, a beast or a man, and is the first pious impulse in a child, which shapes the flesh to a human face. The first man, it seems, while contemplating the idea of the unseen Divine, looked at the face of the woman who bore him, the protective, caring and loving mother, and discovered in her the ultimate 'divinity' and the manifest form of the unseen Divine. Devi, the Goddess, thus, transformed as mother and is now since ages the Mother Goddess. The Mother Goddess is India's supreme Divinity. Myriad are her shrines and unending her boons. Centuries long tradition of worship has woven around her innumerable myths and the devotional mind has discovered in her oceans of mercy. In fury or in frown, she is always the same protective, caring, loving Mother with a benign face and a blessing hand.

Mother Goddess in the Indus Valley

This impulse seeking to combine the Divine with mother seems to have been man's earliest spiritual experience. At some point of time and perhaps for an effective performance of worship rites, which a believing or fearing mind necessitated, this perception of mind was transformed into a material medium. The Indus dweller further magnified it when, for realizing his idea of the Supreme Divinity, he elevated the Mother to the Mother Earth that blessed him with grain, water, air, fire and afforded for him a dwelling. The terracotta figurines of the Mother Goddess, recovered in excavations at various Indus sites (now mostly in Pakistan), are not only the ever known earliest manifestations of the Divine Power in any medium but are also suggestive of a well evolved Mother Goddess worship cult. As appears from the so far recovered figurines of the Goddess datable from 3000 B. C. to the 1st century B. C., this primitive manifestation of the proto Mother in terracotta idols seems to have continued to prevail till almost the beginning of the Christian era.

These figurines, being made of clay and thus defining their kinship with the earth, of which they are cast, represented the Mother Goddess as Mother Earth. As significant and suggestive is her iconography- the large breasts filled with milk, uncovered genital organs, beautifully dressed hair and a good number of bangles on her wrists.

This is the iconic perception of the Being who bears, feeds, takes all calamities on her head and covers the born one under her protective umbrella and, at the same time, defines in the modeling of her form an absolute aesthetic beauty. As suggest her bangles, the traditional emblem of marital state, besides a mother she is also a consort. Thus, in her material manifestation, She represents, with absolute motherhood, also the absolute womanhood. She causes life and sustains it, and is also the cause of life, its inspiration and aspiration, and the reason to live.

Mother Goddess in the Vedas and Other Early Texts

In its contemplation, the Rigveda, which seems to have conceded to the idea of the Divine Female, takes two different lines, one mystic and the other traditional. The traditional line was the same as prevailed amongst the primitive Indus community, which perceived the Divine Female as Mother Goddess. The Rigveda calls the Female power Mahimata (R.V. 1.164.33), a term which literally means Mother Earth. At places, the Vedic literature alludes to Her as Viraj, the universal mother, as Aditi, the mother of gods, and as Ambhrini, the one born of Primeval Ocean.

The Rigveda takes a mystic line, when it perceives the Proto Female as Vak or Vani, which, as the creative speech, manifests the cosmos and all existing things. In Vedic mysticism the cosmos and all things pre-exist but are unmanifest. The Vak, or Vani makes them manifest.

The Proto Female has been perceived also as Ushas, the glowing light of early morning. What the darkness of night makes unmanifest, Ushas makes manifest. In metaphysical theorization, which Vedic literature enunciates, 'all things exist but become manifest in Her, that is, in the Proto Female'. The Upanishadas elucidate this Vedic proposition with greater clarity. In their contemplation, the Upanishadas identify this Vedic Proto Female as Prakriti, the manifest nature, which is the material aspect of the Creation. The Upanishadas suggest that She is the all-pervasive cosmic energy inherent in all existing things.

The Vedas and Upanishadas weave around Devi a body of mysticism, but, in popular tradition, as suggests Harivansha Purana, a 4th-5th century religious treatise, when it alludes Her as the Goddess of jungle and hill tribes, She was yet the same simple unmystified puritan Mother Goddess. Her ties with the primitive man were emotional and relatively strong. However, there also emerged, in simultaneity to this worship cult, and obviously inspired by Upanishadas' mysticism, a body of metaphysics, which perceived the Divine Female as Shakti, the guided cosmic energy and the transcendental source and support of all creatures and all created things. The Mahabharata, keeping in line with the Vedic mysticism, alludes Her as the source of all things, the spiritual as well as material. The epic enunciates that all things, material and abstract, manifest and unmanifest, are only the manifestations of the Divine Female. According to the Mahabharata, this metaphysical Being, the Mother Goddess of the primitive man, is the basis, the root and the root cause of everything. She is the eternal upholder of Dharma and truth, the promoter of happiness and the giver of salvation and prosperity but also of sorrows, grief and pain. She removes obstacles and worries and renders Her devotees' path detriment free.

Devi in Puranic literature

During the period after the Mahabharata to the emergence of the Puranic era around the 4th-5th century A.D., the Devi is only the little quoted theme in literature and art of the elite. The worship of Devi was those days a wide spread phenomenon, yet till her elevation to the status of a Puranic deity, such worship was confined to only, or mostly, around the remoter corners of the primitive world of tribes. The tribes like Santhal, Bhumia and others of Bihar, Orissa and Bastar yet have a live convention of announcing their lineage at the time of wedding of their sons as well as daughters. Both sides begin with their origin, which is usually from one of the nature gods and commit themselves to Shiva, the Yogi of hills and their protector, and Mahimata, the Mother Earth, as their Dharini, the upholder. Quite interestingly, it depicts the five thousand year long continuity of the cult of worshipping Shiva, as the Mahayogi, representing the Divine Male and Mahimata, the Mother Earth or Mother Goddess, representing the Divine Female. It was only after She was accommodated into the Brahmanical pantheon, that the Mother Goddess was an object of worship in the world of elite also.

The Devi theme, once it becomes a part of the Brahmanical pantheon around the 5th century A.D., almost explodes the entire body of Puranic literature, with each Purana text coming out with one of Her aspects or the other. Here, She not only occupies the thinking mind but also its the altar. She is invoked not only as the Supreme Power reigning the cosmos and reigning above all gods, but as the cosmic energy incarnate, She is invoked also with greater thrust : "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shaktirupen sansthita, Namastasye namastasye namastasye namo namah", that is, 'O yea, the Goddess who in the entire cosmos stands for energy form, we make our salutations to Thee, over and over we salute Thee' (Markandeya Purana).

Of all texts, the Markandeya Purana is most elaborate in its Devi concept and related rites and is considered as yet the most authentic document on the cult of Devi. It contains a full book, known as the Devi Mahatmya, conceptualizing and adoring Devi. She has been identified in Markandeya Purana primarily as Durga. On the face of it, the Markandeya Purana seems to move away from the prior manifestation of Devi as Mother Goddess, or Mother Earth, but in reality it is only a continuity of the Indus valley tradition. It is, at the most, a departure from the iconic manifestation of the passive Indus Mother Goddess to the operative personified representation of the Divine Mother who abounds with myths of Her origin and exploits, but She is yet the same Mother Earth or the Divine Mother. The Devi Mahatmya part of the Markandeya Purana is narrated by sage Markandeya to king Suratha and merchant Samadhi, who, having lost respectively their kingdom and business, approach the sage for knowing from him how to regain their prior status. After having narrated the significance of the Divine Mother and Her unique power, sage Markandeya asks them to prepare an earthen image of the Divine Mother and worship it. Obviously, even during Puranic era, She best manifested as Earth and in an earthen medium.

Devi in Metaphysical Perception

In Puranic literature, religious conventions, anthropomorphic iconography and ritual practices, the Mother Goddess has been diversely conceived and variedly named. There is, however, a wondrous unanimity in Her metaphysical visualization and cosmic perception. In Her metaphysical perception, whether it occurs in myths or legends, rituals or rhetoric, classics or folk traditions, or to the eye of a worshipper, painter, sculptor or poet, She is the Adi Shakti, the proto energy including in it all forms of vitality, strength, might, power, force, proficiency, dynamism and all operative faculties. As Adi Shakti, She represents Prakriti, which operates in and on all things, the manifest or otherwise, materially present or abstract. She is the dynamic factor of the cosmos, and at the same time She is Dhatri, the holder of all things, whether static or moving, and is thus also constant and firm. She is manifest nature and is thus materially present, yet She is also the absolute Consciousness, the thinking Mind, the universal Intellect and the Controller of senses. She is thus the sleep, thirst, hunger, as also the light, brilliance, shadow and darkness. Modesty, contentment, compassion, mercy, beauty, charm, faith, patience, quietude, activity, movement as also vengeance, or even violence are Her aspects. And, above all, She is the Universal Mother.

Devi's cosmic perception is a mix of metaphysics and mythology. In India's metaphysical perception the Creation has been perceived as comprising of two factors, variedly named as Prakriti and Purusha, Matter and Self, Male and Female and the like. Mythology identifies them as Shiva and Shakti.

Prakriti or Matter, which in metaphysical equation Female represents, is the manifest aspect of Creation while Purusha or Self its unmanifest aspect. In mythological perception this equation undergoes a change. Here Shiva is Shava, the inanimate Being and Shakti, the energy incarnate, His enlivening and operative power. Without Shakti Shiva is the dead mass. Symbolically Shakti is the inherent energy of all things, whether manifest or unmanifest. This Shakti factor, a concept of metaphysics, is perceived in mythological contemplation as Devi and in primitive vision as the Divine Female.

Other Dimensions of Devi Related Mythology

The primitive concept of the Divine Female seems to be that of a non-operative boon giver votive deity who the primitive man realized iconically but did not humanize. The Puranic Devi, or the Mother Goddess, despite the related metaphysics, is more a humanized Being with an abundance of mythology woven around Her. After the Puranas vested in Her operative attributes, they conceived Her not only in various roles but also with innumerable personality aspects and in different manifestations. There grew around Her theories of Her origin, myths of Her manifest and incarnate forms, fables of Her various exploits and annals of Her acts of charity and benevolence.

As to Her origin, there prevail innumerable myths, although only two of them are more quoted and have greater relevance to the over-all Devi cult. One of them points out towards Her exploits against evil and restoring righteousness and in the other She is conceived as preceding all of the Gods-Trio (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).

In one case, She was created out of the gods' celestial powers with all their attributes vested in Her. In the other, She had always existed but appeared as and when required.

As the tradition has it, a buffalo demon Mahishasura ruled the earth. The tyrannous demon inflicted upon all creatures great atrocities and rendered life miserable. He even invaded heaven, the seat of Indra and other gods and drove them out of the holy place. Under a sanction from Brahma Mahishasura was invincible against any male, a beast or human born. After Brahma made the disclosure of his boon, gods decided to seek a female warrior for eliminating the buffalo demon. When they found none capable to accomplish their object, they decided to create such one out of themselves and by their own powers. They decided to create a female warrior, who was unique in might and unparalleled in beauty and charm, as she could be required to bewitch and beguile the demon also by them. Accordingly, her head was formed by the powers of Shiva, her hair by those of Yama and her arms, breasts, waist, feet, toe-nails, fingernails, nose, teeth, eyes, brows and ears respectively with those of Vishnu, Moon, Indra, Brahma, Sun, Vasu, Kuber, Prajapati, Agni, Twilight and Vayu. Her glittering jewels and ornaments were Ocean's gift and her necklace inlaid with celestial gems that of the great Serpent Shesh.

The Devi emerged with three eyes and eighteen hands carrying in them various celestial weapons, the instruments of war and destruction- Shiva's trident, Vishnu's disc, Varuna's conch, Vayu's bow, Agni's dart, Yama's iron rod, Surya's quiver, Indra's thunderbolt, Kuber's mace, Brahma's rosary and water pot, Kala's sword and shield, Vishwakarma's battle axe and many others. Himvana gave her a lion to ride. The enthused gods rejoiced and in gratitude prostrated before Mahadevi, as they called Her. Mahamuni Narada then narrated to Her the plight of gods, hearing which She proceeded to annihilate Mahishasura and killed him in no time.

As significant is Her other cult. The text called Devi Bhagawat was the first to propound it. After the Great Deluge Vishnu emerged as a child floating upon a fig leaf.

In dismay, he asked himself as to who he was, who created him and why he was there. Suddenly there emerged a celestial voice that announced- all that is, it is me. Me alone is eternal. Puzzled he looked around and saw a celestial female with four hands emerging before him. She carried a conch, disc, club and lotus, wore divine clothes and jewels and was attended by twenty-one powers, more important ones being Rati, the goddess of love and erotic, Bhuti, the goddess of riches and prosperity, Buddhi, the goddess of wisdom, Kirti, the goddess of credibility, Smriti, the memory, Nidra, the sleep, Daya, the compassion, Gati, the movement and pace, Tusti, the contentment, Pusti, the growth and affirmation, Kshama, the forbearance, Lajja, the grace and Tandra, the lethargy. Vishnu realized that She was the Adi Shakti Mahadevi and bowed to Her in reverence.

Devi's Symbolism

In one mythological tradition, Devi's emergence has been linked with Mahishasura. Mahishasura is not the beast in man but rather the human face taking to the face of a beast, and that too, to none else but to that of a buffalo, the most insensitive, self-contained epitome of evil. This suggests total human failure, which none of the gods, equipped only with this or that attribute or representing just this or that virtue, could repair. Only Devi, the supreme virtue equipped with all weapons and means of war, the Divine Totality, could change such state of affairs.

The other myth suggests that Devi preceded Gods Trio. She not only annihilated evil and paved the way for virtue and good to prevail but also revealed cosmic mystery. Her multi-arms suggest Her multi-fold protective umbrella and role. When Mahishasura, the male, contains energy, it leads to evil, the self-centered unguided might breeding ego, greed to acquire and possess more, an ambition to conquer and rule, but when contained in a female frame, it is only the guided power eradicating evil, perpetuating good and virtue and despite that She held arms and resorted to killing, She has attending upon Her only virtues and celestial attributes. She is multi-armed but has a single head, that is, whatever the number of operative organs, the guiding faculty that breeds determination, is just one and single.

The Manifest Forms of the Divine Female

This Devi form, irrespective of Her origin-cult and evolution, has multiple manifestations, the prime ones being three. The Markandeya Purana and almost all other Puranas perceive Devi, the Universal Mother, primarily in Her role as warrior or destroyer, sustainer and creator, three aspects of cosmic act which vest with Trinity. As warrior, She is Mahakali, the Destroyer who eradicates evil, evil doers and wrongs and restores good and righteousness. As sustainer, She is Mahalakshmi, who bestows bliss, prosperity, wealth and material happiness and yields good crop and abundant grain. And, finally, as supreme wisdom and all knowing intellect, She is Mahasaraswati, who nourishes all creative faculties, arts, music, dance and creativity. In anthropomorphic visualization Mahakali, is the Shaktirupa, the energy incarnate and is hence multi-armed, their number varying from four to eighteen or even more, and carries in each of them an instrument of destruction. She also grants abhaya and varada and thus, on one hand eradicates evil and on the other protects good ones.

The four-armed Mahalakshmi carries primarily the lotus, which rises from the earth, routes across and above the water and sprouts into the air and sky.

It pervades with its glow and fragrance all three worlds. The four-armed shubhra-vasana, Mahasaraswati, the Goddess clad in white, rides a lotus, and subsequently a swan, both symbolizing purity, chastity and detached knowledge.

The Puranas thus begin personifying Her in various aspects and initiate Her variedly conceived iconic and anthropomorphic formations. The warrior and demon slayer Mahakali is perceived also as Durga who for accomplishing Her object takes to other forms and creates for Her aid subordinate powers as Mahavidyas and Matrikas. Different from the black complexioned Mahakali, who wears a ferocious look, Durga, though still the same demon slayer, has golden complexion, a benign face and feminine softness.

The Puranas disapproved renunciation and discovered in family life itself means of salvation. They hence perceived their Divinities not as recluses or mendicants but as householders, as the Divine couples. They perceived the abstract Supreme Being of the Vedas manifest as Gods-Trio, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and associated with each of the Trio one of Devi's manifest form, Durga or Mahakali with Shiva, Mahalakshmi with Vishnu and Mahasaraswati with Brahma.

Shiva is also the proto lover and then Durga, his consort, manifests as the humble domestic Parvati. Parvati, the white complexioned daughter of Himalaya, is also Shiva's loving Gauri. While in exile from Baikuntha to hills of South, Vishnu takes to Venkatesh as his name. Here his consort Lakshmi, or Mahalakshmi emerges as Padmavati. When Vishnu incarnates as Rama his consort Lakshmi emerges as Sita and when he incarnates as Krishna, Lakshmi incarnates as Radha. Brahma's consort Mahasaraswati is better known as Sharada and most of her ancient shrines are devoted to her only in her name as Sharada. The ancient sculptures of Sharada follow Durga's iconic norms.

#mother goddess #divine feminine #religion #india #hinduism #devi #shakti

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thathri · 5 years ago

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A literary work is powerful if it moves you deeply and disturbs strongly. I finished reading a book that did the same to me, namely, "Budhini" penned by the Malayalam novelist Sara Joseph. The novel is a fictitious biography of a Santhali woman in whose name the title of the book is. Budhini's life gains prominence in the light of the concept, "development of independent india". Her life tells us the story of the other side of development and along with her emerges the shadows of lakhs of lives which were marginalised and abandoned in the building of the modern India.

Through the novel, Sara Joseph opens up a window into the unknown, yet beautiful world of Santhals. Their world is beautiful because it is a world where humans, flaura and fauna co-existed. For them, earthworms were sacred and above humans, as the land mass was created by the earthworms for humans to live and trees to grow. Their sacred groves, Jaaher, was were their divine dieties lived in the form of Sal and Mahua trees. The God of Mountains were whom they prayed with the greatest faith. The deceased ancestors of Santhals lived along with those who are alive. They watched upon, gaurded and made decisions for those who were alive. The lives of the Santhals were attacked from all directions when the monster of development crept into their villages. The forest began to move farther and farther away from them each day. The forests which lived along with them in the village crept away beyond their farmlands and further away into the top of the mountains. When the water from the reservoir of the dam entered their farmland, they wondered how the flood happened without a drop of rain. Their hope that the water was a guest of two days was proved wrong when the water began to enter the courtyard of their homes. The water that drove them away to the top of the nearby hill slowly began to gulp down the roof of the houses and left no trace of a village. Thus they parted ways to begin a journey into the land of unknown. From another direction, their lands were set ablaze by the fire to dig out the coals that lay deep beneath their homes. The coal mines chased them farther and farther away as their homes had rested on top of the treasure for a modern developed country. Marginalized outside the cities, they were neither accepted by the city dwellers nor did they accept the city. Eyes wide open they dreamt the shady groves, cool depths of the ponds, fragrant nights under the starlit sky, wetness of their farmlands in which their feet happily sunk deep.

Budhini grew up wandering the forests and swimming in the depths of the ponds. Wandering with her goats, she played "Tiriyo" to the them who understood the rhythms and tunes as her monologues. She contemplated in the deep silence of the forest and the twilight that reflected on the Damodar river. A Garland she adorned on Nehru turned her world upside down. She, after ostracized from the tribe for marrying a person outside the tribe, was chased into the darkness of life.

The novel made me to question the lessons I learnt as a student. The geography lessons that taught me that dams were the temples of Modern India. It made me believe that the dams being the pillars of development controlled floods, helped in irrigation, generated hydro electricity etc etc. But it never taught me that thousands of souls were washed away to unknown lands in a blink losing their roots. It never told me acres of forests, the rich flaura and fauna it impregnated were submerged when the concrete symbol of development towered with pride. It never taught me that a nature that co-existed beautifully was destroyed beyond repair.

History books told me the Independent struggle for India took a new turn with the revolt of 1857. But it never mentioned to me once how Baba Tilka Manjhi revolted against the colonial rulers entering the pristine forests to loot them. Birsa Munda was pushed to a corner of my History book.

Education is a big bag of lies!

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terimerisatori-blog · 5 years ago

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Teri meri satori

Stories to touch and inspire to provoke and make you rethink:

Primal passion

The primal passion of a teenage tribal servant, Shibu Santhal working in the household of the collector an IAS officer, Mr.Chatterjee. His wife, Mrs. Karuna Chatterjee was a Miss India before marriage. Mr. Devidas Chatterjee was plain, slightly dark. He was a bright young officer in the IAS cadre which is treated as the top cadre of administration, in centre and state services. His wife Karuna came from a rich status educated in best convent schools and colleges in India. Devidas came from a lower middle class, his father was a temple priest who perform religion function and ceremony for the village as well as the household of the rich in the villages around. After competing in IAS, he became a collector within five years. He attracted applications from many fathers who were rich and in high position, eager to marry their daughter to a collector without any other consideration except his position but with sizeable dowry.

Karuna came in his life in happy and harmonious marriage. She was earlier an English teacher in an elitist school but she gave up her job which didn’t match the status of a collector’s wife! Devi and Karuna loved each other but were a contrast, in personality. Devi was a plain looking, bright and beautiful, very orthodox and religious whereas Karuna was beautiful, lively and seductive. She was intelligent but pensionable, fond of parties, club and tennis.

Devidas, on the other hand was conservative with a strict moral code. And fixed ideas, how a woman should behave as a wife; a collector’s wife in family and social circles. Being bright in academics, Devi could study in good school with scholarship. After completing his masters in mathematics, he competed with a high rank in IAS and became a collector very soon. Coming from low middle class in a small town and thrown suddenly, in the elitist circle of high officers and their friends, with a round of parties were dancing with some alcohol was the norm. Though a misfit, he still had to join the mainstream of such glittering life in Bombay. But, he retained his conservative core and some religious, rituals and worship.

And he was laced with jealousy, as his wife moved in the elite and ‘liberal’ lifestyle. He couldn’t stand, his wife sipping a glass of wine or dancing in the arms of someone else!

He had secured her on the strength of his position, bright career, a reputation as a tough but effective administrative officer and collector. He was known for his integrity. He tried to impose this qualities and discipline on his staff and to some extent on his wife. He wanted her to avoid parties, drinks, dance, cards, club life and a dress code which was conservative when she appeared in public. Though, she was allowed to wear fashionable outfit, gowns, etc when she appeared get together and at home. She did try to modify her life, but only to some extent.

Her own house was a sprawling flat in Bombay and a bungalow in the district posting. His image of a woman was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. There was no child yet on the scene. Devidas accepted his wife to be pure and virginal and wanted her to be remain so, without any taint in her character and fidelity. She was faithful to him, only a little flirtatious.

On the nuptial night when Karuna didn’t scream or display any bleeding, Devi was a bit doubtful of her premarital virginity. A friendly doctor told her that presence of a hymen was no test of virginity and he should trust her. Still a sense of ambiguity persisted and this made him a bit more suspicious of her liberal and flirtatious manners. His friends joked about his conservative and possessive attitude to his wife. Sometimes, this joke stuck in his mind. He condescended to do a bit of ‘wriggling’ on the dance floor but didn’t touch cigarette or a drink. He was known as a saint among his friends.

Shibu a tribal boy of 16 was sent by his father who was a strong, dark and well-built lake a black god. He proved to be very good domestic hand and was very serviceable and functional. He soon became almost a part of the family, especially close and informal with Karuna who liked him and his skills in cooking, shopping and occasionally giving a head or foot massage. He was a man Friday, useful in all season. Devidas often came home for lunch and a bit of siesta, in the company of Karuna.

Devidas and Karuna trusted Shibu totally, in matters of money as well as discipline and good behaviour. Shibu was about to cross his teens, was changing in his physiology, looks and hormones. His primal teenage sexuality was coursing through his veins and didn’t know how to deal with it and it was disturbing him as well. Karuna use to teach him in the afternoon, manners of civilised society as well as his subject so that he could clear his ten schooling, privately. The physical and informal proximity with Karuna often sent tremors of excitement and body heat. Karuna was dressed at home mostly in a translucent gown which didn’t conceal her figure and curves. She often asked him to give her a foot and head massage. And sometime even back massage before her luxurious session of bath, in shower or in tub! She use to hum and sing while bathing lazily. She of course bolted the bathroom bus Shibu could imagine the whole provocative scene inside. She came out wrapped in bathroom gown or a big fluffy towel to do her dressing and some makeup before the bedroom life size mirror. This scene was fully visible to Shibu who watched from a corner, invisible to Karuna. This was a daily ritual in which Karuna and Shibu indulge, unknown to each other. She of course treated Shibu almost as a serviceable pet, totally ignorant of his teenage physiology and burgeoning sexuality provoked by Karuna’s beautiful and exciting presence, exposed to him in full seductive glory. Sometimes, Shibu could see through the chink in the bedroom door, carelessly closed, the hot bedroom scenes between Karuna and Devidas. This at night use to provoke so much that he took recourse to chilled shower or a couple of ice cubes in his mouth. He of course dreamed of love making with Karuna who was like a mischievous fairy playing with his body.

One day, he discovered dusty pornographic books and pictures on the top of the bathroom rack. This was further advance in Shibu’s inner amorous journey. Shibu after his pornography section could restrain himself no more and he silently climbed to the ventilator of the bathroom. And had a full view of Karuna’s luxurious bath. Karuna bath was over and she wrapped herself loosely with a bath towel and came to her bedroom before the mirror. She had not closed the door which allowed Shibu to enter in an impulse. Karuna’s towel had fallen as she stood up to face the situation. He took the naked Venus and made furious animal love soaked with primal passion. Her resistance if any was over powered by Shibu. And it is difficult to say whether it was a rape or with some degree of consent or even enjoyment from Karuna’s side.

Before the orgiastic animal mating was over, Devidas entered the room. He had come for usual lunch.

Three life were change after this event, irreversibly for the worse. The fall out of this tsunami of relationship was surprising. Devidas, full of shock and rage, pulled out Shibu from the room and handed him over to police on charges of personal assault and stealing. He didn’t want to bring sexual assault in his complaint as will create an avoidable scandal. The police promptly put him custody and then arrest. After a good thrash on, Shibu could put up no defence, police knew how to frame him up and send him to jail for two years.

The relationship between Devidas and his wife Karuna was showered and embittered, he had a gnawing suspicion that Karuna was part of the event with some consent. He could not digest this betrayal of sexual infidelity. Karuna was shocked first by the animal passion unloaded on her by Shibu which was not able to fight effectively and secondly due to high moralistic anger of Devidas who became cold and uncommunicative. Karuna was perhaps angry with herself, Devidas and Shibu. Devidas didn’t drag the matter in court for rape, adultery and divorce for fear of scandal. But the relationship froze to the extent that they were separated in body and mind, if not legally! Any attempt of Karuna to explain that it was Shibu who assaulted her and there was no question of any consent fail on deaf ears of Devidas who didn’t have very high opinion on Karuna’s fidelity, considering her liberal, friendly and flirtatious nature. Though, under the same roof, they live like a strangers with hurt and grievance against each other. Karuna slowly passed into depression and Devidas became more strict and devoted to his office work. Shibu on the other hand was racked with guilt due to outburst of his animal passion. He was serving the harsh jail term with a sense of guilt and puzzle at his predicament. He was treated often with punishment by the jail staff as per the instruction of police on behest of Devidas. Devidas took to drinking and Karuna took anti depressions and sleeping pills. When the stress of living under the same roof became intolerable, she went to her own family which was puzzled by this turn of events and Karuna’s depression. Of course, Karuna didn’t share any details of the event and the aftermath.

In this way, life lingered on for all three, for months and even years. Karuna had showed no signs of getting out of her depressive gloom. It was discovered she was pregnant. Devidas was not in touch with her, through letter, telephone, visits etc. He didn’t even come to visit her on receiving the news of her pregnancy. His forbid and wounded imagination had a suspicion that it was Shibu’s child. On his part, Devidas sank further in his drinks and loneliness with tormented by emotions of suspicion, betrayal by his wife. Due to his deteriorating performance, he was suspended. Due to a serious error on signing a contract, he became more morose, isolated. After delivery of the child, Karuna sank deeper in her depression which was now reinforced by post natal blues. Her family persuaded her to go back to Devidas with the child. Perhaps, it might heal the rift between them. But the situation worsened, Devidas didn’t take any interest in the child as he had a lurking suspicion that it might be Shibus’. The child became as miserable without any care and cuddling as its parents. A couple of months passed in this darkening situation. One day she found some divorce papers in the cupboard of Devidas. She was so hurt that she signed it for agreed divorce without going to court. A few days passed, one night when Devidas came to her room in search of the divorce paper, he found her in a dangerous condition. She had gulped a handful of sleeping pills to commit suicide. She had written a suicide note which read, “I am committing suicide on my own without aid and abatement of anyone…. I can take life, no more… Please forgive me, if you can… I was always loved you and being faithful. I love you still… that event was an accident of outburst of primal passion in which I had no part. Here is the DNA report which will show that the child is yours… goodbye dear Devi….” The last two lines were difficult to read as they were wet with tears of Karuna and now with Devi. He took her to the best hospital and got her out of danger, pumping out the poison. After a few days, she fully recovered. There was a sunshine of happiness and clearing of shadow of any misunderstanding. The child was surprised by the happiness of the parents who cuddled him.

After a month, there was a surprise visitor. Shibu with his wife and a child of a couple of month. After bowing down to Devidas and Karuna, he told his story without any grudge for being jailed, “I know…. I committed something grievously wrong… I have been rightly punished for it…. And, I pray that you both forgive me…. I got married to this girl in jail where she was imprisoned for some crime…. I don’t bother what… we got married and have this baby born in jail… we are going back to our village… we have come to seek your blessings….” It was a grand and happy reunion of the three major player, Devi, Shibu and Karuna and three addition guest, Shibu’s wife, his child and child of Devidas. The children giggled as Shibu left with his family with a wedding gift by Devidas.

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