Maarpu Veneka Manishi

(Man Behind the Change1)

Original in Telugu by: Seela Subhadra Devi

Translator: GRK Murty

1
Maarpu Veneka Manishi (Man Behind the Change)
 Seela Subhadra Devi is a Telugu poetess of repute. She
received an award for Best Writer from Telugu
University in 1997. In 2001, she wrote a long poem
Yuddham Oka Gunde Kotha (War a Heart’s Ravage) on the
aftermath of 9/11. In collaboration with late Dr. Bhargavi
Rao, she compiled the much appreciated anthology of
one hundred women poets in Telugu titled Mudra
(1997). She has published eight compilations of her
poetry, some of which include Aakali Nrutyam (Dance of
Hunger), Aavishkaram (Launch), Oppula Kuppa (Beautiful
Lady), Ekanta Samuhalu (Solitary Society). She has also published two
collections of short stories: Devudibanda (God’s Stone) and Rekkala Chupu
(Sight of Wings).

“Amma2! Take care of your health! Nannagaru3! You both must try to
come to us as early as possible!”

“Attayyagaru4! Keep writing letters! Mamayyagaru5! We take leave of

you!”

“Pinky… Bye-bye, ta-ta… cheerio!” As the son, daughter-in-law and the

two-year-old granddaughter proceed inside for check-in, they slowly
fade out.

2
Amma - mother
3
Nannagaru - father
4
Attayyagaru – mother-in-law
5
Mamayyagaru – father-in-law
As they start moving inside, staring at them blankly, Srilakshmi waves
her hands mechanically. ‘‘Come on, let’s go!” Venkatarao, putting his
hand around her shoulder, leads her outside the airport.

Even after boarding the taxi, Srilakshmi does not say anything. As
though meditating upon something, she slips into a reverie. Venkatarao
tries to strike a conversation, but realizing that she has not yet come
out of her trance, remains silent.

After reaching home, changing her sari, Srilakshmi goes straight into
the kitchen to drink water. Seeing the sweet packet lying on the table,
at once she is overtaken by sorrow and sinks down in a chair.

Setting right the things in the front room, Venkatarao, listening to the
sobs coming from the kitchen, comes to her and saying, “What’s this
Lakshmi, like a kid, what’s this crying?” pulls her closer to him.

Srilakshmi remains silent, but her sorrow intensifies.

Saying, “I was so happy that you have been brave all along, but what is
this, why this sudden cowardice?” he wipes her tears.

“All along we have been looking forward eagerly for the arrival of Raja
and Ramani? At last, they came, but stayed for half the period at their
in-law’s house in Delhi; then came to us, but without staying even for
four days left for Ooty and Darjeeling, and returned home just before
the departure date and flew! I haven’t even got the joy of taking up
sweet Pinky in my arms even for once contentedly. Nor did I have the
pleasure of listening to her sweet talk. Look, to stay in the town and the
home in which he was born and brought up for 25 years, he behaved as
though he is on a bed of thorns. Because he stayed for five years in a
foreign land, this land and parents became sore to him. All through
those years he lived drinking this very water, but today the same has
turned out to be poisonous. During all the days that he stayed here, he
bought water from the shop and drank. See how he has changed!”
laments Srilakshmi.

Venkatarao does not say anything. Remaining silent for a minute,

Srilakshmi continues, “As Ramani’s mother and father visited them
when the younger one was born, we could not go. Except through
videocassettes, we could not see the kid contentedly. Knowing that he
loves to eat putarekulu6 and kajalu7, I bought them, but he left them
here saying luggage might exceed. All through his stay of four days, he
has been displaying irritability and vexation. And his saying at the

6
Putarekulu- “sugar coated foils”—made with finely ground sugar powder and rolled in fine laminated foils made
of rice. A traditional sweet of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
7
Kajalu—a traditional sweet of Andhra Pradesh, made with refined wheat flour, rice
flour, sugar and butter
slightest opportunity, ‘you both too come down there,’ has pained me
so much!” sobbing, she disgorged all the sorrow in her mind.

Listening to all this, Venkatarao says, “Lakshmi! You might be mistaken!

Not that he has changed, maybe our perception has changed, please
think over. Even if at all there is a change in him, it is perhaps normal to
humans. Why think of it so much, spoiling your health? They have been
speaking to us on phone for all these years! We have never felt that his
love for us has diminished, nor did we ever feel that he distanced
himself from us. It’s only after meeting him in person, we are feeling
like this. Having been used to all the comforts of that land, they might
have felt some discomfort here…”

“Oh! Come, stayed here for more than twenty-five years. After all, it’s
not even five years there, got so accustomed?” murmuring, she gets up.

Venkatarao follows her to the front room.

Though days are rolling on, the pain in her mind pierces like a thorn.
Not being able to contain it, she calls her daughter Ravali, who is
staying in Vijayawada, on phone and pours out her agony.
When her brother came to Hyderabad, Ravali came with her family and
had a chat with all of them. She had invited her brother’s family to
Vijayawada to stay with them for two days.

Indeed, Raja’s family visited them and enjoyed their hospitality. Ravali
did not notice any change either in her brother or in her sister-in-law.
Maybe due to generation-gap, or leading an independent life with
one’s own family or, maybe after a particular age, it’s perhaps natural
for human beings to change a little. She wonders if her mother has
been misconstruing the whole thing, but fearing that if she says so she
may feel more agonized, she tries to pacify her by saying this and that.

Srilakshmi feels that her daughter too cannot understand her rightly.
Not being able to say anything further, she swallows her pain.

Three months pass by mechanically. Raju and Ramani have been calling
on phone every week and talking to them.

One day, Srilakshmi’s cousin, Ramanarao, a school teacher in a village in

Konaseema, drops at their house, without any advance notice, right in
the morning saying he has some work in the DSE office.

That night, after having dinner, as they sit together chatting, Srilakshmi,
not being able to contain her sorrow, shares her agony with him.
“It’s quite natural for people who by virtue of staying in America for
four to five years and having got used to those comforts, to find it
difficult to adjust back home. His disposition towards both of you is as it
was in the past, right?” said he.

Except to stare at Ramanarao angrily, she remains silent. Next day, as

his work was over, while leaving them, Ramanarao tells them, “It’s
quite long since you have come that side! Apply for a week’s leave and
both of you come and stay with us. On the return journey, you can go
to Vijayawada and visit Ravali too!”

“It’s not possible to apply for that many days’ leave!” says Venkatarao.

“Not a big deal, look for one or two government holidays this or that
side of second Saturday and Sunday, and apply for four days leave, you
can easily manage a week or ten days. Anyway, as you don’t apply for
leave that frequently, all your entitlements must be lapsing. For once,
you apply, nobody will elope your office!” Ramanarao teases his
brother-in-law.
“OK! We shall make it annayya8. After my marriage, I haven’t gone that
side to stay except to attend your daughter’s marriage!” Srilakshmi
cheerfully assures him.

Inviting them repeatedly, Ramanarao takes leave.

Ever since Ramanarao leaves them, Srilakshmi starts pestering

Venkatarao for visiting Konaseema.

All of a sudden, the opportunity arrives for the fulfillment of her wish.

Venkatarao gets an opportunity to go to Vijayawada and Rajahmundry

for fifteen days on an auditing assignment. They plan to go together to
Rajahmundry; Srilakshmi would first stay in Konaseema with her cousin
Ramanarao, and then, depending on the time required for finishing his
official assignment in Rajahmundry, she would stay in her brother’s
house in Rajahmundry for a couple of days; thereafter, she would stay
in Ravali’s house in Vijayawada till he finished his work there.

Srilakshmi starts making arrangements for the trip. Her mind becomes
featherlike. Suddenly, she is swamped with childhood memories.
Remembering her childhood experiences, she starts narrating them to

8
Annayya—brother.
her neighbors and Venkatarao repeatedly. She describes the beauties
of Konaseema and explains the good nature of the people there.

Srilakshmi’s father had been a big farmer in Konaseema. She spent her
childhood in that place. Being the only girl child after three sons,
everyone tended to her affectionately. She studied only up to high
school level. But kept herself busy doing embroidery, stitching, etc.

As none of Srilakshmi’s brothers was interested in agriculture, after

acquiring good education, they settled in Vizag, Rajahmundry, and
Kakinada in government jobs. After Srilakshmi’s marriage, her father
expired. Thereafter, her brothers, disposing of their agricultural lands
and house in the village, shifted their mother to their house. With that
she never had the chance or the need to visit that place again.

Of course, in between she did go for Ramanarao’s daughter’s marriage,

but had not been able to stay there for long as her son’s marriage was
fast approaching. Now, the very thought of going to stay there after a
lapse of so much time makes her excited.

The lush green fields on either side of the road, the fine breeze blowing
over them, the coconut trees on either side all along the road standing
like King’s servants fanning and bowing; the fragrance blowing from the
flowers of the bommajemudu9 bushes standing here and there on the
bunds…even as she recalls, Srilakshmi’s mind gets intoxicated.
The day for which she’s been all along looking forward to finally arrives.

They start by Narsapur express and get down at Narsapuram.

Ramanarao receives them at the station. They board a boat at the
wharf and cross the Godavari. After reaching the other bank,
Ramanarao engages a taxi to their village.

Through the taxi window Srilakshmi peeps out in search of rice fields.
Looks forward to the call of the breeze blowing over the fields. But all
that she sees ahead is prawn tanks. There is no trace of rice fields. In
despair, her eyes droop. Coconut trees standing along the roadside look
as though paralyzed. She is not happy with it. In between there are
houses exhibiting modernity with dish antennas. Srilakshmi’s mind is
clouded with sorrow.

Ramanarao and Venkatarao start discussing how paddy fields got

converted into prawn tanks. None of it is entering Srilakshmi’s ears.

They reach the village. Kamala, Ramanarao’s wife, greets her

affectionately at the gate itself and takes her inside.

9
Bommajemudu—prickly pear, cactus.
“Water is kept ready, will you take bath first? Or, will you have tea?”
asks Kamala.

“First bath and then shall have tea vadina10! Meanwhile you give
them!” Saying, she walks towards the bathroom with clothes in her
hand, casting a searching glance around the backyard.

A little away, there in one corner, was the bathroom. The backyard is
full of coconut trees, mango trees, banana plants … and what not.

After taking bath, while returning to the kitchen she walks carefully, yet
her feet get soiled. Before entering the house, she washes her feet
again and comes in. The folds of the neatly pressed sari get soiled.
Srilakshmi gets a little vexed at it.

Placing a wooden plank on the floor and making Srilakshmi sit on it,
Kamala serves her in a plate hot steaming upma11 seasoned with lots of
cashew nuts.

As they chit-chat, Kamala finishes cooking lunch. Since they had met
after a long gap, and got caught in a merry conversation, none of them
notice the time.
10
Vadina—sister-in-law.
11
Upma—a breakfast food, originally from south India, made with semolina.
Having finished her lunch, saying she had no sleep the whole night
during the journey, Srilakshmi lies down. In the meanwhile, ladies from
the village—those who knew Srilakshmi— come to greet her. Though
tired, Srilakshmi gets up with great difficulty and sits with them.

By the time they all leave, it is 4 o’clock. Kamala then serves all of them
sunniundalu12 and cashew fried in oil, seasoned with salt and chilli
powder. Though they like the dishes, Srilakshmi and Venkatarao cannot
eat well because of fatigue. Finishing tea, they start for the seashore.
The sea is about two kilometers away from that village. They pass
through cashew orchards, casuarinas fields, and drains by walk. Half the
way they come across a tar road. Though it was laid for ONGC usage, it
looked like a bridge to enslave the villagers to town-habits.

All along the way, as Venkatarao and Ramanarao talk about changing
villages and diminishing wealth of the villages, Srilakshmi and Kamala
talk about their family affairs and children.

All along the coast, people are collecting prawns. As there is no

convenient place on the shore to sit, and fearing that it may be difficult
to return in the dark, they start back immediately.

12
Sunniundalu—famous traditional sweet dish of Andhra Pradesh, made with black gram, jaggery and ghee.
By the time they reach home, it is time to put on the lights. Although
there is electrical power supply, due to low voltage, lights are glowing
like bed lamps.

As the body is sticky due to sea breeze and sweat, everyone first has a
bath. Although she has felt like helping Kamala in cooking, Srilakshmi
cannot do anything because of poor light.

“You are not used to this Lakshmi! Doesn’t take much time, I shall do
it!” Thus comforting her, Kamala finishes cooking swiftly.
As Srilakshmi and Venkatarao suggest, “We shall all sleep in the front
yard; it’s long since we have slept in the open yard under the breeze of
coconut trees,” after finishing dinner, camp cots were laid outside for
everybody.

While chatting with them, Ramanarao dozes off soon snoring merrily.
Kamala too, perhaps being tired, falls asleep soon.

Despite the coconut and mango trees all around, as though the air was
paralyzed, leaves were not even fluttering. Over it, mosquitoes become
another nuisance. To protect from mosquito bite, if she covers herself
with a blanket, she is drenched in sweat. To avoid sweat, if the blanket
is dropped, mosquitoes have a field day.
Srilakshmi spent the whole night sitting on the cot fanning herself for
sometime, and whenever her back ached she reclined on bed for
sometime. The village being closer to the sea, its water tasted salty.
That was why she did not feel like drinking the water kept under the
cot. Even if she felt like drinking it out of compulsion, then the fear—
the fear of going to the toilet located at the far corner of the backyard.
She tried to divert her mind to something else, but she could not. “Oh
God! When would it dawn!” Thus the whole night turned out to be a
nightmare.

Venkatarao too suffered similarly, but in between he managed to go

out for a walk on the field bunds till tired and then came back to sleep
for a while, but after a while he got up again to go out.

Looking at Ramanarao and Kamala’s sound sleep, they both wonder.

In between, both had been enquiring of each other: “Aren’t you getting
sleep?” Before dawn, Srilakshmi tells Venkatarao, “After having lunch in
the afternoon, we shall start at 3 p.m. and go to Rajahmundry. We
cannot spend another night here. Even if it is required, we can revisit
from Rajahmundry for a day before the work is finished.”

Venkatarao, silently nods his head.

Morning passes off all right. While taking lunch, Venkatarao and
Lakshmi reveal their journey plans.

“How come? Going back so soon! You said you would stay for a week,”
Kamala and Ramanarao gently protested. A trace of surprise and
displeasure was evident in their utterances and body language.

“Before we complete our work in Rajahmundry, we shall come back

again, annayya! Rajahmundry annayya will otherwise say, we haven’t
stayed in their house!” said Srilakshmi feebly.

Kamala of course does not say anything; presenting a sari and blouse
piece, and applying vermillion on Srilakshmi’s forehead, she says, “No
sooner you have come than you’re leaving us.

If you have affection for us, do visit us again!” The tenor of her tone
clearly has a streak of taunt.

However, regaining her composure immediately, she says laughingly,

“Won’t stop from visiting us again, because we have presented a sari!”
Holding back her mind, which was melting under their affection, and
remembering the sweat, the dirt, the salt water and the mosquitoes
that didn’t allow her to sleep, Srilakshmi starts reluctantly.
She does not speak a word all along the road. Yet her mind is fully
occupied by her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Seeing the murky water, which comes on alternate days and unable to
drink it, her son buying mineral water from the shop; with the load
shedding and the resultant power offs, her granddaughter not getting
sleep in the nights and the resulting unrest of hers; not one, … all those
events swarm her mind. Yet, Srilakshmi does not say a word all through
the journey.

Reaching Rajahmundry and lying down under the fan, as though she
suddenly remembers, she tells her husband, “We too have become
slaves of town-habits!”

Venkatarao is already fast asleep, snoring.

*****

www.karpuramanjari.blogspot.com | grk.murty@gmail.com