In Keralam, beating of the drums in pooram festivl is done by the marar caste only. I is a must that marar should beat the drum, for the deity to be taken out. Warriar must show the lamp in front of the deity.
I am nambisan by caste and so I cannot play the drum, though I am higher than the two, as I wear janayu (the sacred thread). I stay near a marar and used to attend their classes, even as boy of three. The wife of the marar took a fancy for me and allowed me to learn it . It begins with beating on a rock, with a wooden road. It took five years for me to start beating the drum. My debut at the age of seven attracted attention and gained laurels
I would get up at three in the morning and take bath; then only I begin practicing drum beating. My guru had said:”This drum is your God. Your practice must not be interrupted even for a day” My school days were over and I shifted to Trichur after I joined college. My Guru’s daughter Saudamini, Saudu for short, said:”Now I am nobody to you. The jasmine at home has no fragrance.(Familiarity breeds contempt is the English equivalent)”.
“Oh dear, every now and then I need not repeat the frase- I love you. Our parents also know it. Now I have no time to come home; on holidays, I get invitation from various temples, to conduct thayampoka
During Trichur pooram festival, I was drumming at “elanjithara”. Many foreigners were watching it. After the melam, a white lady approached me:”I am Celeste. There are many among us who are interested in learning this unique orchestra. Coud you kindly establish an institution in California?”
“Thank you Madam; my roots are in the temples of this land. I shall wilt, if I am transplanted in foreign land, like a water plant in a desert.” She laughed. “In that case, the school can be at your native village. We shall come there. You must provide a hostel also for the students. Do not worry about money, just say yes.”
“I shall consult my guru. Where do you stay?”
“we will take you in our van right now. Have you any other commitments here?” I called Saudu and enquired about her father. I told the lady:” Tomorrow evening”. There was a good deal of commotion, when the news spread in the small village. Some said we are establishing a university here!
I told guru:”Do not worry, Sir. We need not offer any tea etc.Treat them kindly-that is all”
There many men and some ladies in the group. Celeste introduced us to them All were seated in the hall, where we used to practice. Saudu brought tender coconut juice and gave to all. “How sweet! Have you put sugar in it?”
I laughed”, God has mixed sugar in it when the fruit was on the coconut tree”. Now all laughed. Celeste explained things to my guru, who could understand English. Guru agreed and she thanked him. “It is all due to my student I have never seen a better student in my life.” They were conducted to various temples in the vicinity. “Oh, it is God’s own country, no doubt about it. Kuttan (me) is right. His roots are here. We then went to their hotel, I took Saudu also with me. It was midnight when w returned in their van, Celeste also came with us to say good bye.
“This woman is extremely beautiful. I am afraid she loves you.”she said. “Why do you worry?”. i kissed her for the fist time.
After two very busy years, the university was inaugurated by the Chief Minister. I got Padmabhooshan.
needless to say whom I married. You have rightly guessed Saudamini’s name.
“Oh dear, every now and then I need not repeat the frase- I love you. Our parents also know it. Now I have no time to come home; on holidays, I get invitation from various temples, to conduct thayampoka
During Trichur pooram festival, I was drumming at “elanjithara”. Many foreigners were watching it. After the melam, a white lady approached me:”I am Celeste. There are many among us who are interested in learning this unique orchestra. Coud you kindly establish an institution in California?”
“Thank you Madam; my roots are in the temples of this land. I shall wilt, if I am transplanted in foreign land, like a water plant in a desert.” She laughed. “In that case, the school can be at your native village. We shall come there. You must provide a hostel also for the students. Do not worry about money, just say yes.”
“I shall consult my guru. Where do you stay?”
“we will take you in our van right now. Have you any other commitments here?” I called Saudu and enquired about her father. I told the lady:” Tomorrow evening”. There was a good deal of commotion, when the news spread in the small village. Some said we are establishing a university here!
I told guru:”Do not worry, Sir. We need not offer any tea etc.Treat them kindly-that is all”
There many men and some ladies in the group. Celeste introduced us to them All were seated in the hall, where we used to practice. Saudu brought tender coconut juice and gave to all. “How sweet! Have you put sugar in it?”
I laughed”, God has mixed sugar in it when the fruit was on the coconut tree”. Now all laughed. Celeste explained things to my guru, who could understand English. Guru agreed and she thanked him. “It is all due to my student I have never seen a better student in my life.” They were conducted to various temples in the vicinity. “Oh, it is God’s own country, no doubt about it. Kuttan (me) is right. His roots are here. We then went to their hotel, I took Saudu also with me. It was midnight when w returned in their van, Celeste also came with us to say good bye.
“This woman is extremely beautiful. I am afraid she loves you.”she said. “Why do you worry?”. i kissed her for the fist time.
After two very busy years, the university was inaugurated by the Chief Minister. I got Padmabhooshan.
needless to say whom I married. You have rightly guessed Saudamini’s name.
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