I, Me and Myself

The United States of America, Cincinnati, Ohio,the third chapter in my essentially non-essential existence . I have got to thank, by default, my parents for bearing with me and shaping me up.They have influenced me in more than one way not realizing it- or so have I realized.

But there is someone else, rather something else that I am deeply indebted to- my lifelong friends and partners- books, fiction and non fiction. I cried reading them, jumped up in euphoria and felt the bitter after effects of the end of a good book. I buried my troubles and tensions in them and they haven't failed me in return. They are the surrogate affectors of what is the conglomerate of "The Selfish Genes" called Srikara Viswanath.

Whatever form of art you prefer, there is an all pervading element inherent that holds the bits and pieces together: completing the picture and imbibing a beauty; imparting the work a wholesome aura, a rich realization, the sense of fullness. The joy and wholeness can be realized only by the artist and the synchronous similitude of audience. Somehow I realized the fullness of the art that is my life through books.

Too many books to read and too little time. In addition I have the bad habit of traling off. I have a big list of books that I need to read, not only fiction but generic.

As long as I remember I have been reading books. The first book I remember reading is, to my fortune, the great storie-Panchatantram. I never got around to reading the "Panchatantram-Labda Nasanam". Enjoyed all the other four-can't remember the names exactly. (SAndhi, Vairam etc I think). HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON should have read them. In case u don't know what they are about here is a glimpse:(correct me if I am wrong, these are my childhood memoirs)
They are all by VISHNU SARMA, a brahmin(in those days everything is according to the chaturvarnas as in BHAVADGITA) employed by a king to teach his sons, 4 in all. The problem was they are stupid and are unable to understand a thing. So, Vishnu sarma, employed animals as the main characters and taught the human nature and wisdom through those characters.

It has 5 distinct parts each with one theme, hence the name Panchatantram.

Also I used to read the Great epics or histories (relativity to rescue) Ramayanam,MAHABHARATAM and BHAGAVATAM. I am looking forward to reading them in Sanskrit(I am not bad in Sanskrit by the way, courtesy VVRS). I remember reading five different publications. I don't think they need any introduction or explanation.

Then there are the regular issues, monthly, of Balamitra, Bommarillu, Chandamama, Bujjai and BalaBharati. There used to be Novellas which had different genres, I still recount the ranconteur part I used to play in leisure periods of my school. I was famous for my horror stories. I think only Chandamama is in circulation now. They had an assortment of stories that incorporated all kinds of morals and values that were once called "INDIAN". They were introduced to me by my parents;Invaluables presenting me with valuables. Also there were many other novellas of Kings, ghost and wars, not unlike The Lord of the Rings, that captured my childhood imagination. "Pilla deyyam-Tella gurram", "Dasi Putra Sarvabhouma" "Guddi raju Gooni mantri" to name a few. There was no market for them, so the publishers stopped publishing, even as I was in my 5th grade. So by 5 th I was without my childhood friends.

more to come............