August 2019
Among the violinists from Mulbagal (Kolar district, Karnataka), four are prominent:
Madhavayya
Ramachandracharya
Venkatappa
Sethumadhava Rao
Among these, Madhavayya was the best when it comes to his command over the instrument and proficiency in the Ragas. But Sethumadhava Rao was the most senior in terms age and experience. Hence, I shall commence by narrating about him first.
Sethumadhava Rao
Sethumadhava Rao belonged to the Vaiṣṇava...
Discharging Social Debts
Now I will narrate some social etiquette that was in practice more than seventy years ago. People did not frequent hotels or restaurants back then. In fact, one couldn’t find any hotels or restaurants in any town other than Bangalore [in the Mysore Province]. The common belief among the brāhmaṇas was that running a restaurant or eating in one was highly improper.
During those times, people who had to visit district...
As the last vestige of India’s glorious heritage of Kshatra (or valour), we see the solid resistance of the native Indian army during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. After this, we observe the same Kshatra spirit in Subash Chandra Bose’s army Azad Hind Fauj in 1944.
During the period of about ninety years from 1857—1944 the Kshatra of Indians was reflected largely through individual brilliance. Extraordinary warriors and fighters...
Read Part 1: Sri K.T. Appanna and The Hindu Coffee Club
Sri S.G. Sastri
At times, our Independent Board would carry on its business till 8 PM. On one such day, my friend from Mysore, Sri S.G. Sastri visited the Hindu Coffee Club and sat down on a bench at the edge of the wall. I didn’t notice that. Back then, Sri Sastri was still a student. He was pursuing some higher course in the Indian Institute of Science. It was summer. The whole of...
Widespread Influence
Deeply influenced by the Bhagavad-gītā, the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson kept aside much of the Christian doctrine not aligned to it and began advocating the karma-siddhānta (principle of karma-yoga) – to the extent that people began criticizing Emerson as having become anti-Christianity.
Henry David Thoreau once stayed in Emerson’s house as a guest for a few days. There, housed in a cupboard, were the...
Among the important citizens of Mysore state, based on their oratory skills and efficiency, I can say from the bottom of my heart, that Abbas Khan sahib belongs to the top echelons.
In political matters, our paths are different. I did not approve of his means of work either. But, opinions and achievements are different; ability is different. I will presently write about Abbas Khan’s strengths. His dexterity, his nature of leading from the front...
KARṆA-PARVA
After the death of Droṇa, on the fifteenth day of the Kurukṣetra war, Duryodhana retired to his camp and discussed the further course of action with his ministers. Aśvatthāma suggested that Karṇa should be made the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava forces and the war should continue.
Duryodhana was pleased with his suggestion and addressed Karṇa. He said, “Dear Karṇa! I know how talented you are and how loyal you have been to me....
ಗೆಳತಿಯರಿಂದ ಬಾವಿಗೆ ತಳ್ಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ದೇವಯಾನಿಯನ್ನು ಯಯಾತಿ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದು ಎತ್ತಿದ ಬಳಿಕ ಅವಳು ಅವನನ್ನೇ ಮದುವೆಯಾಗಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಅವನು “ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಕನ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯ ಪರಿಣಯಿಸುವುದು ವರ್ಣಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧ” ಎಂದರೆ ಇವಳು, “ಪಾಣಿಧರ್ಮದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಸರಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ” ಎಂದು ಪ್ರತಿವಾದಿಸುತ್ತಾಳೆ. “ಪಾಣಿಧರ್ಮ”ವೆಂದರೆ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದೊಡನೆಯೇ ವಿವಾಹವಾಯಿತೆಂದು ಒಪ್ಪುವುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದವಳನ್ನು ಕಡೆಯ ತನಕ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು.
ಪಾಣಿಧರ್ಮಃ (೧.೭೬.೨೦)
ನಾವು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಯಾವುದನ್ನಾದರೂ ನಿರ್ದುಷ್ಟವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಬೇಕಾದರೆ “ಬೆರಳಿಟ್ಟು ತೋರಿಸೋಕೆ ಕೂಡ ಯಾವುದೇ...
A Special Incident
A scholar used to attend all the Sahitya Parishat meetings. But, Venkatanarayanappa wouldn’t give him much attention. He would be kept isolated. Let’s say there were perhaps reasons. Let’s call him Mr. X.
When the Sahitya Parishat met in Chikkamagaluru, it looked like Mr. X pleaded with Rao. Rao said “Venkatanarayanappa, please give him a chance now at least. He wants to tell something; he will keep whining otherwise. Please...
I’ve heard that medical experts document in detail, in accordance with their working philosophy - the onset of an ailment in a patient, its progression, the effect the ingested medicine has in curing the patient, and so forth (as evidence) in their articles and books. I too have suffered some ailments in the past. I’m interested in developments in medical sciences. I intend to record a few case histories that could possibly help future editors...