Meditations on Life

Meditations on Life (Grace Contd.) 

Those were the days of carefree play and stress-free studies. Luckily I developed a longing for studies early on. Yet in the elementary school itself I ran into major setbacks due to lackadaisical schooling or lax discipline. And on top of that we moved from a charter (sort of one room school) parochial school to a village school administered by a rich agrarian district (Zilla-Parishad). Our parents were very well organized with all the routine paper work like TC (Transfer Certificate) and other documents. But when I was taken to the village middle school, the new Head Master refused to admit me into 5th grade as per the TC! I had to take a spot evaluation test – a surprise hurdle. It was very brief; I had to take dictation of fifteen or twenty Telugu words with paper and pencil. I flunked the test. I made a common mistake – the word is “కత్తి పీట” ( త్తి not తై) (A cutting knife with attached wooden plank). I messed up the double consonant sign. I do not remember whether I took any math test. That trouble would come later towards the yearend. So, the Head Master demoted me to one class lower and I was placed in 4th grade. I had to bear this upset for three or four months, till the final (summer) exams in April (A lesson well learnt in hindsight!).

 

I was determined to make up for my deficiencies through regular homework exercises, i.e., hitting the books right after coming home. I was not bad in Telugu language but for many years I used to trip up or stumble on the nasal consonants: ఙ,ఞ. Whenever the teacher asked me to recite the whole Telugu alphabet, I would utter all the letters both vowels and consonants without any mistake. But suddenly I would get stuck at those nasal consonants – they would act as speed breakers (I got even punishment - the teacher made me stand on the bench). Yet I knew them intuitively and could read whole passages in prose and poetry without a hitch. In math, I had trouble with long divisions by hand - the long computations (iterative operations) with divisor, dividend, remainder, and quotient (ex: 10,756 ÷ 13). And then we just started learning decimal numbers (ex: 31.25 ÷ 23). India was entering the decimal (metric units) era – gone were those archaic foot, pound, and seer units. Division is nothing but repeated subtraction, now I know this elegant fact. Then, I was alone at home with no maths help. I was too timid in the new village environment with no elderly friends (brothers, friends, or uncles) and my parents never received formal education. They were proficient with mother tongue, bits of English, and basic math, enough for grocery shopping. Interest (particularly compound interest) calculations, algebra, or trigonometry was beyond them. Then in the fourth grade annual exam I again failed, this time in math. Already I was getting behind by a year and now this crisis for an innocent elementary school kid. That was when our parents (mother was the prime moving force) took charge of my studies. I was urgently put in a free remedial course (tuition) down the street a few houses away, under the wings of a smart high school senior. Within two summer months I learnt the necessary basic math – enough to secure admission into sixth grade at the local high school. That was a real miracle. Though I took many advanced math courses later I never needed any extra external help. The Mother always helps Her ward, though at times in Her own inscrutable ways. The path could be circuitous at times; but that is Her prerogative or play. May we say: "She has her own plans".

 

        This writer had numerous childhood problems and afflictions. They always came in rapid succession, giving no respite to my busy loving mother. There was no break; it could be a viral hepatitis (A), boils, stomach upsets, or prolonged fevers. Always crisis after crisis. There were no routine pediatric vaccine shots (or oral drops) back then and we were left to our own devices. Once I contracted a debilitating whopping cough. It sapped all my reserve energies and I started losing weight. Mother would make some tasty dish (like coconut chutney or cucumber dal) but I could not enjoy even few grains of it. Entire throat got irritated and nothing could soothe it. She went around looking for a cure. Finally we got some herbal medicine from a local Ayurvedic doctor. Of course, money was tight and mother did not want me admitted to any government or private hospital. Two capsules of erythromycin would cost an arm and leg in those days. Then she hit upon a potent solution: “Let me tie a talisman around this child’s neck to ward off all evil diseases.” She really took it seriously and purchased a silver coin with Pavana-putra (ఆంజనేయులు)  for me. One morning she did all her routine prayers and made me sit on a wooden pedestal. After lighting oil lamps around me she tied the talisman while chanting a sacred mantra. That did wonders for my health. For many years I had the amulet and it really boosted my spirits. I became confident about my physical prowess; sure occasionally there would be a minor cold or stomach upset but I never lost sleep over them. Her affectionate watch protected me from a distance and no evil thought/gaze could trouble me in the least. Of course, with the amulet necklace I looked a bit queer to my classmates but I just shrugged it off.

        Just through pure luck (I'd call it a benediction) I met many (more than I can count on a hand) holy persons in my life. I think it happened due to my parents' devotion; and also due to the extraordinary "penance" of my grand and great grand parents. Many times I wandered aimlessly when faced with difficult and desperate insurmountable situations. I patiently bore the burdens and waited for the "karma" to wear itself out. But once a sincere knowledgeable palmist examined my hand and commented: "Sir, why are you feeling bad? Why are you depressed? There is nothing to worry. You've bright future ahead and better prospects await you. Your current troubles are very minor. Do not lose your heart." I can never forget his soothing words. I never paid a penny for his prediction; a payment would be an affront to the affable elderly gentleman. (To be Continued) Copyright 2020 by the author