Kula Deivam and the Act of Returning

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Kunnathur, rebuilt — familiar, and not. When I was growing up, I spent most summers with my grandparents and extended family. My maternal side was based in Pudukkottai, my paternal side in Gobichettipalayam—Gobi, for short—in Tamil Nadu. Like most families, ours has since scattered, pulled toward larger cities and better livelihoods. The structure is new. The pull is old. Back then, our visits were unremarkable in the best way. We stayed home. Visitors came and went through the day. When we were in Gobi, there was one outing we never missed: a visit to our kula deivam at Kunnathur, about twenty-five kilometers away. We would pile into a van or a bus, pack food, and set out like an informal family pilgrimage—grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, all together. My paati would make sweet pongal and offer it to Goddess Angala Parameswari, an avatar of Parvati. There were no restaurant...
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Water with "noise"

The pronunciation of words seriously has a telling effect on the listener. It is easy to mistake a word for something else, thanks to the sensitivity of the ear. Atleast, I have got caught on many occasions trying to figure out what the other end is trying to convey. Many times I have been at a loss giving a slight nod of the head, so that the other person has no idea that I have no idea of what he is talking about. It also depends on the person whether you can ask him for an explanation or not. Depending on the outcome of the explanation, and placing it in context, you realise how out of place it is with respect to the actual word. That doesn't mean that the listener is always wrong. Maybe the teller is not uttering the word in a right way.

My latest tryst with "being in the dark" as far as words are concerned happened as recently as a couple of days back. I was in a restaurant with a friend, and as the bearer came to pick the order asking us what we would like to drink, my friend blurted out ", Water with noise". Now, I was perplexed. I frantically searched the menu card for what that is. I stared at the bearer, and he gave me one of those "What's wrong with that?" looks. Now, I was totally blank. I had no idea what that was. I looked at my friend, who with the same cool expression replied back, "Yeah! Water with noise". I again was looking for that elusive drink which I had never tasted before. So, I looked at the bearer and putting on a confident expression said "Water with noise". The best or the worst part was that he nodded his head and went back to get us water with noise. I was at a loss. I had come to this restaurant many times in the past and I had no idea of this drink, while my friend who was coming here for the first time knew so much about this noisy water. I had to get this clarified. So, I asked her, "Now, what in the world is Water with noise? I have never heard of this before. Is it some new brand?" She replied back, "Come on! It is water with noise." I was like "Oh! But I have never heard of it before. Ok! So why do they call water with noise here?" Now, she was confused, and after some thought replied "It is Water with NO ICE". You should have seen the expression on my face as the actual explanation came forth. I was relieved to no end!!! No wonder they were mesmerised when I said I had no idea of water with "noise".

When he came to me later and asked me whether we wanted more water, I coolly retored, "Yes, Water with noise please!!".

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 29, 2006 at 5:02 AM

    Just a friend GK??;)

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  2. SuchitraNovember 29, 2006 at 5:38 AM

    and just water? ;-)

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  3. Praveen KrishnanNovember 29, 2006 at 7:02 AM

    Take a poll on both the questions and you won't be surprised with the answers :-)

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  4. AnonymousNovember 29, 2006 at 6:32 PM

    dude!!! Water with noise is fine.. I m sure it is WATER!! But 'Friend'.. I m kinda skeptical!! ;)

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  5. AnonymousNovember 29, 2006 at 9:23 PM

    I am sure many commenters here will be interested in knowing Praveen's analysis and explanation of noise and very good time he had with his friend. Am I the only one who knows this?!!!!

    -Yadu

    PS: Praveen, I am not trying to pull your leg.

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  6. VyasNovember 30, 2006 at 8:57 PM

    will try that next time :-) when I am with a 'she'

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  7. AnonymousDecember 1, 2006 at 4:56 PM

    whenever i come across kallas, all i do is just nod my head.

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  8. ChaituDecember 22, 2006 at 1:03 PM

    well all of us come across these stuff in life, but none of remember these instances and write about it. A fine effort GK. but one clarification- are you making fun of this friend of yours? or are u saying you are partially deaf?

    ReplyDelete

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