This Is The Time

Image courtesy: The family REMEMBERING A DOCTOR The hospital was unassuming. It was on the way to Brodipeta from the center of Palakol, a town in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Palakol is famous as a pacharama kshetra. We have an age old temple dedicated to Lord Ksheera Ramalingeswara. Our place is called Ksheerarama, one of the famous pancharamas which are important Hindu temples. Here lived and practiced our good doctor, giving his invaluable suggestions to his patients. To him, the interest of the patient always came first. It didn't matter whether the patient is rich or poor. Of course, most of his patients are poor peasants. They belonged to a nearby village by name Ullamparru. The name the hospital Sri Satyanarayana Nursing Home was depicted on a faded tin board. The doctor's hospital was called as potti (meaning short in Telugu) doctor's hospital. Because the present doctor's father was short and he is also a doctor. The name stuck, even to the son, as he ...

Palakol, where I live Sacred River Godavari flows nearby my place. My place is flush with green paddy fields, winding canals, dotted with ageless coconut grooves. Palakol in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh of India is where I live. Our district is considered to be the rice bowl of our state. Lord Siva, as Ramalingeswara is the presiding deity of our town. We have an ancient temple to the lord well known as one of the pancharamas (five temples depicted in purans). Our town is around the sacred temple, where pilgrims from all over south India gather to worship the Lord. Palakol is full of rice mills, in which paddy is converted as edible rice, husk and bran oil. Our farmers are hard working and are only next to Punjabi farmers in per capita food production. We have sugar cane fields, beetle leave gardens, and aquaculture also. Our place is internationally famed as the seat of handmade lace production. Laces are made out of cotton thread, knitted by hand usi...

The rainy evening  Busy buying puja material Rain is not a hindrance Can he sell his wares before nightfall Slowly gathering builds up Elephant God likes leaves Feel and bargain Garlands lined up Idol Shop Arranging leaves Busily shopping Makeshift stalls Palavellulu Protecting the Protector Rain is nothing Fruit stalls looking for buyers Ready to buy The road comes to life Showcasing wares A view of the market People are busy Speeding away Waiting for customers Hectic activity Three friends To home before it is too late Unloading What would you like to buy

My father - My God My Father -  Lives  Ever He is short. He is stout. He is powerful. He is simple. He loves nice things of life. He adores his juniors. He often fights with high-ups for the sake of his protégées. He fights hierarchy; he gets transferred to ‘Agency Area’. He serves his department without prejudice. Most of his service has been in very backward regions.  Basically, he loves his birthplace, the Godavari Delta very much. He strives to get transferred to his native district all his working life. It never happens. But, he is never discouraged. He believes in the government sponsored education system so much that he admits me, his only son, a son he sired after an agonizingly long wait, in a newly conceived residential system of education ( a la gurukul), a model school, far away from home. By the time his son finishes the high school; he falls ill and becomes helpless. My father with his B.Ed Classmates He suffers from diabetes. The unde...

At Canal Road, near Foot Bridge At Canal Road, near Water Works At Ramalayam, near Electric Sub-station At 4th Street, Brodipet At Gold market, Main Road At Gorrela vari street, near Yedla Bazaar At Lorry Stand At Canal Road near Veerahanuman theater  road At Daily vegetable market At Yedla Bazaar, Main Road

Come on lazy fellow. Let us perform Puja for Vinayaka Ah, we got our own Vinayaka Idol Call everyone, it is getting late Get down you idiot, come here Om gum Ganapati ye na maha