Patriots of Pollibetta
Where may I
buy a cake, please? I asked Mohan, the polite, soft-spoken, and super-efficient
Jeeves who catered with promptness and a smile to all our needs during our
five-day family holiday at Pollibetta House, perched pretty on the tallest
hillock in Pollibetta coffee plantation estate in Kodagu, Coorg.
There is a
small bakery in the village, Sir, but they may not have a cake,’
he said.
For her
birthday celebration in the evening, our daughter had chosen to do without a
cake and candles, and hence, we had not bought it at Bengaluru before leaving
for Kodagu. Dayamma, the amazingly talented cook who served us several delectable
local dishes – nutritious and healthy – was making for dessert orange souffle which
would double up as cake to be scooped up with a spoon by the birthday girl
after dinner.
After a
bracing shower in the afternoon, the rain had stopped but the sky was overcast and
there was forecast of further rain in the evening; so, I took an umbrella with
me for an enjoyable walk inside the plantation. A few minutes’ walk from Pollibetta
House, three children were at play near the cluster of staff quarters. As I
walked past, I heard them singing the national anthem, but only the opening
line, again and again, and interestingly, the youngest girl of about four sang
it first, and the older kids repeated after her. Aug 15 was several weeks away;
maybe they are practising for their daily morning recital at school which had
just commenced after the summer vacation, I thought. But why is the little girl
leading the practice, I wondered?
(Arpi, Sanvi & Sanchit)
At the gate
of the estate, I asked the security guard, ‘How far is the village, please?’
‘Very near,
Sir. About ten minutes’ walk to the left.’
Why not
check the bakery and pick up a fresh cake, if available, to surprise the
birthday girl and the family? I did not have my wallet on me, but my phone had Pay
TM and Google Pay on it.
Pollibetta has
a few small shops catering to the needs of the villagers and plantation
workers, and the bakery stocked only bread, biscuits, cookies, and chocolates
in small packs, but no cakes. I bought a few packets of Cadbury Silk to complement
the orange souffle.
On my way
back, I spotted the three kids still at play, but they had moved on to a new
game. When I approached them, on a whim, they abruptly stopped their play and
looked askance at me. Sorry to have startled them and interrupted their game, I
asked the little girl, ‘What’s your name?’ Arpi, she said. And yours, and
yours, I asked the other kids.
Do you go to
school?
Yes, Sir,
they replied in a robust chorus.
The ice was
broken, and I was no longer a stranger.
Arpi is in
UKG, Sanvi in Class II, and Sanchit in Class IV.
Can you sing
the national anthem, I asked Arpi?
‘Yes, Sir.’
‘Will you,
please, sing it for me?’
‘Yes, Sir.’
She brought her two little feet together, stood to attention, and confidently sang
the anthem.
Can all of
you sing it for me and may I make a video of your song, I asked?
‘Yes, Sir.’
They stood
to attention and sang the anthem with zest and flair.
‘Here is a
little reward for you.’
I gave them each
a packet of chocolate, which Arpi and Sanvi accepted with thanks, and Sanchit
accepted with much reluctance. Maybe, his parents have counselled him not to
accept gifts from a stranger.
National
anthem is sung in 52 seconds, and the kids had done it almost perfect – in 55
seconds – singing impromptu!
It felt good
to see these tiny saplings of patriotism; hearing the anthem from these little Patriots
of Pollibetta was heartwarming.
***
21 July, 2023
Dr. Prafulla Kumar Tripathy's Sambalpuri poem
After reading my
blog, Dr. Prafulla Kumar Tripathy, a veteran academic, author, and leading
light of Sambalpuri and Odia literature, has written this wonderful poem in
Sambalpuri. I express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Tripathy.
ସାନ୍ ଛୁଆମାନେ ଗାଇ ଜାନ୍ଲେ'ନ
ଆମର୍ ଜାତୀୟ ସଂଗୀତ୍
କେନ୍ତି କହେମା ' ଆମର୍ ଇ ଦେଶର୍
ନାଇଁହୁଏ କେଭେଁ ହିତ୍। ' ?
ମଂତର୍ ପଢ଼୍ଲେଁ କି ଭଜନ୍ ଗାଏଲେଁ
ହେସି ପରେ ସବୁ ମଂଗଲ୍
' ଜାତୀୟ ସଂଗୀତ୍ ' ବୁଝି ଗାଏଲେଁ
ସୁଖି ହେବା ମନ୍, ଜାଂଗଲ୍
' ନର୍ 'କେ ତ ଲୁକେ ' ନାରାୟଣ୍ ' ବଲି
କରୁଛନ୍ କେତେ କୀର୍ତନ
ସତେଁ ' ନର୍ ' ସାଂଗେ ମିଶି ଚଲ୍ଲେଁ
ହେତା ବଡ଼୍ ପରିବର୍ତନ୍
***
