Childhood Conversations

 Overheard conversations.

Sasi and Karthik, aged 14.

Sasi, "Did you get any crackers ?"

Karthik, "No, my mother said to get clothes. Tapaas will get over in an evening, clothes will stay the whole year. Thats a good idea actually."

Sasi, "Yes, that's what I will also do."

Growing up, making terms with reality.

Dealing with what life deals out. Cheerfully.

 The children come from Paalaguttapalle to Chennai in summer ... for a summer stay. Simple home meals, and

long beach times.

At the beach at sunrise Sasi tells me, 'If there were some huge fans in the sky the waves would rise higher.'

I asked him, 'Why are there waves ?'.

Sasi - 'Because of the winds.'

i said - 'No, the moon pulls the water !'.

He looked at me wide eyed, ' ... the moon pulls up the water, and then pushes it down again.'

I let it be - I did not feel the theory of gravitation was very important compared to the magic of the dawn, the rising sun, and the sea.

Newton's laws or atomic structure are not as essential as the dreams in tne minds of children ... and if only all children could retain the magic of those dreams into adulthood, it be s happier world.

Me - 'Nandini, where are Kavya and Jayanthi ? They said they would come for Turiya to go to the yellakai tree for fruits'.

Nandini (6 years) - 'Madam, they ran away to the fields. I told them to call for Turiya akka, bhut they shook their heads at me and ran away'.

(Afternoon when Kavya comes by)

Me - 'Kavya, Nandini said you purposely ran away wven when she called out reminding you to call Turiya.'

Kavya - 'No madam, we simply forgot. Call Nandini ! We'll set her right.'

(A sheepish Nandini is walked in by Kavya)

Me - 'Nandini, did you really call out to them reminding them ?'

Nandini - 'I called out in my mind, madam'.

(Nandini gets a whack for 'lying' from Kavya. 'Undaedhi unnatta cheppe leva mei ?' (Cant you say things as they are ?))

Paalaguttapalle (Dalitwada) - some 8 years ago.

Sasi called up and asked me if I had told Reddy to take the cycle we had given him. i had to swear at Reddy, and nap his imaginations,

The wide grin is Reddy's. That glowering red T-shirt is Sasi.\

The postman brought a blue cover. Kavya ran to get it, and then asked my daughter. "Does this have a passport ?" It was some routine flier, and my daughter did not understand the question.

Kavya elaborated, "Oh, I wanted to see a passport. I have seen passports only in serials" ! So Telugu serials in the villages are also educative, and have informed Kavya about somethings called passports !

This is Rohit. In the pink shirt.

When my daughter was eating a pappu billalu today, a round fried snack, she suddenlysaw him intently observing her at the window. Our home has more windows than walls. And children are often at the windowd.

She asked him to come in and take one. He shook his head with an inscrutable expression.

She opened the door and called him in. He shook his head, but less firmly.

When she insisted he said, "Daddy has told me that when someone is eating, to never ask.". And then accepted the three she folded into his hand.

The stories from the ground are on the border of tears and laughter.

Always.

Mmaaamgym d2ttSfr2p, 2eornsor0en1ds9  · 

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There is an argument in the village now. And two groups are forming. Over some differences over the Gangamma festival process. People are in one or the other 'party' !

These dissensions happen, get resolved. It keeps us all engaged !

Our daughter was in the village school here. It's a single teacher school. From class 1 to 5. She was remembering that it was not very different in school. Two older children would have a tiff. And round up the younger children. And they has to pledge alleigence to one or the other party.

But she said there was a third option. Devudu party (Gods party) ! And then one coukd be friends with both groups !!

Life skills learning it would be called, in modern pedagogy ??

Pushwant comes home.

To discuss his attire with me.

On this day, all Veshalu or attires are worn.

Pushwant is going to dress as a girl, flowers, anklets, earrings, a gown. He loves jewelry. He has told me that I have to give him money when he comes home attired.

"what will you do with that money ? "

" I will buy more jewelry. "

Rani, his mother, always wanted a daughter. She has 3 boys. She's enjoying this as fully as he.

Paalaguttapalle(Dalitwada)

Shruthi, 13, is the youngest in the family of three daughters. Cherished. And deeply secure.

Now her eldest sister is married, and expecting. Shruthi says she will have a daughter. She says she knows ! She says that all of them in her family want a daughter. I asked, "Amma also ?". She have a resounding Yes. I asked, "Naana ?". She said "Paapaa kaavaali" ("wants a girl.")

She then informed us all in clear terms, "Girls are nice".

SJrutanSteapo c6t,nts 2o0m1omre9mid  · 

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Rohit, in a tragic voice, "Of course we have to go to the beach today. I am here only for 4 days. Tomorrow, day after. Then again tomorrow, day after. And then I go back to the village."

The joys and angst of childhood days ! When the farthest horizons of life are defined by the next 4 days.

taSJpulonce 6, miunsoog2014rsednonc  · 

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Kavya, when I asked her what gift I could send her from here (for my not being able to assist her also coming), promptly said, a basket of chocolate like what Turiya Akka once gave.

This was a small basket of some chocolates, wrapped in tissue paper, and tied with colourful ribbons that Anjali Kapoor gave me to carry for Kavya and Sasi. I took this is Delhi, wondering about the long route I needed to carefully carry the basket. Delhi to Chennai, and then the long bus ride(s) to the village. But it was so pretty, that I did take it.

And the prettiness had so much of an impression that she remembers that over many other useful and nice things i gave her over the year.

And we need to scatter beauty and colour into their lives, as much as we need to organize food and medicines and books ... These 'extras' are soul enrichening and deeply satisfying and necessary to the poor, both in their own eyes and in the largest scheme of things ... is something we learn over time spent.

Man does not live by bread alone - he needs the chocolates too

tSpotJnunndsdesoao 8r,h e20og1uadg9  · 

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Rohit is coming to check up the time every ten minutes. "We have to go out to eat."

Yesterday @Srinivas asked if he can take the kids out to eat for lunch. I replied saying I usually kept their stays simple because these spaces are out of their worlds.

Then my daughter pooh poohed, saying that they would love going out and eat, and that I was over reacting. She said she would also love to go with them !

She usually makes sensible points and so I re messaged to Srinivas saying that he could take 3+1 out.

Rohit is pure energy today. "I have never eaten in a hotel.", he repeats as he flits aroud.

Srinivas asked, "What kind of food do they like ?" I dont think they know there are different kinds of food.

But they are all set to have fun all right. Vaishnavi, Rohit and Vinay.

Srinivas is a friend who recently connected on FB, suggested we take PaalaGuttaPalleBags on Instagram. I suggested back that he do that. And the entire building presence of PaalaGuttaPalleBags on Instagram is his persistent dedicated work.

(Paalaguttapalle, Dalitwada)

Vishnu when she was in class 5, came running to me one avening, 'madam I had such a nice day the whole day'.

'What were you doing Vishnu ?'

'I was playing.'

'With whom ?'

'With myself'.

I learnt an important lesson from her that day.

This is Rohit and Vaishnavi. Today they were having an argument, pre lunch. Suddenly there was a sharp sound. Rohit had given a tight slap on Vaishnavi s cheek. There was pin drop silence for a few seconds. As Vaishnavi digested the unthinkable fact that she had been slapped. Then she went for his collar. "I'm older than you ! And you dare hit me !!" Rohit, "lm taller than you !" Vinay disturbed from his nap, cuffed both of them, and the potentially volatile situation was defused.

AulgtcmummessSpaaot 1g1oa,n so2r01id6hedh  · 

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Me - 'Rohit, Naana peru emi ?' ('Rohit, what's father's name ?')

Rohit - 'Naana peru Daady' ('Naana's name is Daddy')