Brave New Rice

A photograph of The System of Rice Intensification, in Karanjo, Jharkhand (in North India) clicked by my blog and FB friend Bhavana Nissima, of Chennai, on her recent nationwide travels.

Known to increase rice yields significantly merely by following a few simple rules, the Rice Intensification System  is spreading throughout Bihar.  It needs less fertilizers, seeds, insecticides, labour and most importantly, much less water than is needed in normal modes of cultivation. The water needed is only about one-third of what is used in the traditional system of growing paddy. 

This picture of paddy plants, standing tough and tall, all together, braving it all, good and bad in nature,  just reminded me of something that happened recently, where so many women came together.... 

(photo by Bhavana Nissima)

Sometimes
they struggle to stand
in a soil
devoid of cohesion,
cracking in despair,
but still trying.

Sometimes,
they imbibe
from a rich coastal plate
in the shadow
of some big mountain,
but still
hold on,
on their own.

And sometimes,
they revel
in the
all encompassing monsoon
of high emotion
and dedication,
and stand,
shoulder to shoulder,
facing the water,
shrugging it off,
to grow,
more tall,
more mature,
and more powerful
all standing in a line,
together,
to change the
granaries of thought...

The Mynah Chronicles

What do you say when a blogger called Sukanya Datta comes across an injured Mynah chick, decides to protect her, and takes her to the house of her friend, Sangeeta Khanna ?

And what do you say when they rig up an impromptu "ward bed" made of baskets,soft cloths and more and make the bird comfortable, and treat it with lots of rest, care, food, and boosts of confidence ?

 And what do you say, when the baby bird, enjoys,  thanks to Sangeeta, amazing meals of soft wet dates, moist bread and a dessert of mango, golden enough to match its beak ?

 And what do you say, when  "Doctor Sangeeta" simply scares off all the free loading crows, cats and shikras, circling in for the kill, gives the little bird a bath, and readies it with encouraging words to face another day, in this Big Bad World ?

An absolutely true story, that calls for a million bravos !

(All photos by Sangeeta Khanna)

Destiny-bai,
officially in-charge,
lifted her shoulders,
and
simply shrugged;
those who do not listen
must bear with the consequences....

A so
the Mynah Chick
lay helpless on
the path
much trodden
by a Sukanya,
who stopped
and scooped her up
to see what she could do.

A trip to the Music Lady's
and an hour later
the little bird
lay,
fatigued
yet hopeful,
in a makeshift ICU for birds;

A hanging covered
basket incubator
and the chick rested
and recouped,
energised by
soaked dates and bread
and
little mango pieces
fed carefully ,
day after day,
by the lady.

A short bath,
a shrugging of the droplets
and the mynah chick
relaxed,
drying itself
in the warmth of human kindness.

Shameless Molester crows
and the hissing cat,
not to mention
Raptor shikras
powerfully eyeing
and contemplating
a blatant visit,
all now held
under IPC section 144
to keep them away
under
the strict glare
of the Music Lady..

Unlike
how it works for
victims
in a human biped world,
the Mynah
now sleeps well,
secure and strong,
stretching back, eyes closed
and possibly dreaming
of its next mango meal
lovingly fed
by the Music lady
who speaks words of reassurance.

Destiny-bai,
who is used to taking credit
for everything
and never any blame,
hopefully has learnt a lesson....

Where looks can kill.....

Blogger friend Joshi Daniel, has a very versatile, widely applauded photo blog, Joshi Daniel Photography , where he posts his creations in a very diverse range of categories. As he says , "People photography is where my passion is because faces and stories behind them, life styles, various cultures and traditions fascinates me......".


Winner of numerous awards, such as Nat Geo Moment Awards 2011, 2010 Photoblog Awards, Smithsonian magazine’s 7th annual photo contest, Nikon-Better Photography Photographer of the Year 2009 Awards, Vodafone presents India 9-5 Contest, he has also exhibited some of his work, at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2011, held in Mumbai under the theme ‘Faces’.

He recently posted this photo. Of a practitioner of the Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest fighting systems , a martial art practiced in and native to, Kerala, India.

Mr Joshi Daniel has kindly permitted me to display it here.

He calls it "Back from the Dead". Shudder .

That piercing gaze had these words tumbling out.....

(photo : Joshi Daniel photography)

Drenched
in the showers
of power,
drunk
on the perceived
inevitability
of his victory,
fueled by a raging anger,
he smashed the door,
expecting
to see her cower
in a corner….

And then,
(unlike
the Mumbai storm water drains),
the bravado
drained him,
spiralling
down into his ankles,
weak in fear.

Facing him,
was
The big
glistening
eye of God,
in the middle
of
two piercing slits
powered by their own
pupils,
preparing for a strike.

Climbing minds

It stands
Erect at the peak
supreme in its simplicity,
Holding out its arms
in welcome
A refuge from a troubled world,
A troubled mind.


The paths are many,
Through dappled meadows,
Arched palms,
And dark woods.
But the two climbers,
see different things,
In the evening gloom.



He, of the mind full-of-worms,
Striding across creeping plants,
Snapping branches like
One day he would his mind,
Hitting his stick on the stones
pretending it was her,
Ensuring that she would get lost,
And he rushed ahead,
Missing the path to the peak

She could barely stand,
Trembling with more than fear,
She dissolved onto the floor,
And tapped around for support;
A small clearing with trembling hands,
shows a covered step,
So a bit closer to the top,
Somewhere, a lopsided smile,
The trees are charmed,
The branches bend to escort
As she struggles across the
clearing steps,
A short breath,
she spies a bud
Face up to the sun,
waiting for a new day,
On its own.

The slow trudge to he top,
Limbs tired , so too the mind,
But the mixups in the brain
have cleared, like the air
after the first monsoon rain.....

Nature has its own court,
For offenders of the mind,
They are lost in the woods
Worms all over their mind,
Parasite is as parasite does.

Excruciatingly tired,
She sighs as the house nears,
A door swings open,
Friendly faces at the window,
beckoning her to a new life,
Where a troubled mind
Is patted asleep,
Comfortably fed,
And she nods off,
To wake up to a new day,
Amidst her new friends
The mind in smiles.....