Monday, Nov 22, 2004
Fighting Hunger
- Rani Iyer"I trained as an ecologist and worked blissfully in forests of Western Ghats. Since then I have lived in many places in North America. I currently reside in Washington State. I find nature to be eternally fascinating and resilient. Likewise, places and people constantly renew their acquintance. Deep within each of us resides a new community of thoughts that have the power to uplift or pull us down as we process our daily reactions to events. In this series, I attempt snapshots of those moments."
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Courtyard Vistas Series -Part 10
On somedays Granny and Grandpa fasted from sunrise to sunset. Granny said that her heart was full, so she was not hungry. Sashi thought that was not right. The stomach had to be filled with something....guess what it is!
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Granny and Grandpa sometimes undertake fast. They don’t even drink water from sunrise to sunset. On these days, they talk less, they work the same, but they never ask to eat or drink anything.
“Why does Granny fast?” I asked Eswari aunty when we climbed the roof that morning.
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“Look at the mangoes!” she exclaimed.
“Can we pluck them?” Mahadev asked.
“It is not our tree!” shouted Sharanamma.
“Speak low,” hissed Nagamani.
There was silence.
“Why does Granny fast?” I asked again.
“I don’t think she is hungry,” replied Eswari aunty.
“How does she choose the days?” asked Mahadev.
“I think she just waits to see if she can get hungry,” said Sharanamma.
“I am always hungry,” declared Mahadev.
“So am I,” whispered Nagamani.
“Do you guys want to share the mangoes?” whispered Eswari aunty.
For sometime only slurping could be heard.
That afternoon after serving us all lunch, granny lay on the floor for her siesta.
“Are you hungry?” I asked her.
“No,” she replied.
“How does stomach feel when you don’t eat anything?” I persisted.
Turning her face away from me, she said, “Good!”
“Do you feel no faint at all?” I asked again.
“I have been fasting since I was a little girl,” she replied.
“Why do you fast?”
“It is good for the body,” she turned towards me.
“Eyes are meant to see, tummy is meant to be full,” I replied.
“My little philosopher, what other pearls do you have?” she asked sitting up and gathering her hair into a knot at the nape of her neck.
“What do you fill your tummy with when you don’t eat?” I asked.
“When heart is full, tummy is not important,” she replied.
“What is your heart filled with Grandma?”
“Good thoughts…”
“Just that?”
“Yes…”
“What is your tummy filled with when your heart is filled with good thoughts?”
“Good thoughts…”
“That is not the right way to fast,” I declared.
“What is your idea, little one?”
“You see the tummy is empty for a reason.”
“Reason?”
“Tummy is empty so that we can fill it with laughter…”
Tears swamped Granny’s eyes. I ran out in haste. I could hear Granny laughing. It sounded strange, and rusty to my ears.
Courtyard Vistas Series 9: The Word World
Courtyard Vistas Series 8: The Mind Of A Garland
Courtyard Vistas Series 7: Pass It On
Courtyard Vistas Series 6: Top Class
Courtyard Vistas Series 5: Amrosia For Boredom
Courtyard Vistas Series 4: Questions
Courtyard Vistas Series 3: Bathing Rituals
Courtyard Vistas Series 2: Bestowed Names
Courtyard Vistas Series 1: Courtyard Vistas
Photo Credit: http://www.steigsplace.com
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