In the urban barracks of Nizam's city, one can never be quite certain what is it that its soldiers want. Maybe it is true of most metros, but Hyderabad at least, has been a baffling labyrinth of desires, dreams and the illusion of fulfillment. I've worked in Mumbai and in Chennai - both these cities are staid and content - Chennai in its fatalistic restfulness and Mumbai in its endless aspirations. But this potboiler metro is in the process of convincing itself that this is indeed life.
I managed to wrangle a chinwag with Naxal sympathizer, poet Vara Vara Rao in the Biriyani Barracks. He brims with discontent, much like that prized fraternity of journalists who are in the rat-race for sheer unblinking ideology. I was witness to his nauseating helplessness and frustration. He, too, is trying to convince himself that life is such. But he's a little more honest than most - he admits at least to his frustration and to a void of answers.
It forces one to question what kind of hope we are offering to fellow humans, especially when we understand that Naxals who are weary of life in the jungles, of the constancy of inconstancy, take up the state's offer of protection and rehabilitation. They lay down their arms and surrender to "civilisation", simply to find that civilisation is really for the uncivilised and that the honesty of the jungles is no match for the cruelty of concrete.
And crime beckons again with its golden fingers. And to the Biriyani Barracks again it is, this time, to work with the state, doing what they did before, when they worked against the state. They now belong to the IPS officers and the politicians instead of that all-consuming master, ideology.
I offered Rao an alternative. Maybe a Chavez or a Morales? He smiled in sadness. No, he said. Our country will not give its all to a Chavez or a Morales. What then is the way forward, I asked him. I received a shrug in answer.
Fright sets in when one sees the lack of energy in so spirited a man, one of the best in the midst of us laidback, armchair gripers. Uneasiness comes home to roost, when I, one of that prized fraternity referred to earlier, accept it with alacrity. We, too, are hard at work trying to convince our slipping selves that life is as it is and is as it should be. Then why blame our biriyani freaks?
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Im glad you've taken the critisism in the right spirit. Best wish's. ...Reply
if the article was written to revive memories of hydersbad %26 its past lazy splendour, then it is grossly incomplete%26 inadequately researched.people like varavara rao live in eutopic world %26 most of the times,speak of impracticalities. they live in the past, refuse to acknowledge the present in allits reality %26 then try to do some good for their fellow humans. communism of yester yars is dead %26 these people have to reinvent themselves %26 update their philosophy to the needs of present times to be able to of some value %26 help to the society ( which they can but dont ).todays hyd is vibrant %26 prospering on the shopulders of its midle class. what is missing in the whole %22thaali%22 is some civic sens, especially in the %22 neorich%22.if hyd canhave a balance between development %26 its composite culture , there will be no other place like it to live. forget other cities like chennai which are totally jingoistic about language.and i have tasted almost all veg cuisines inindia atleast. i can vouch anytime- telugu cuisine is better than most except gujarat/ rajasthani thaali.madraasi food lags far behind . ...Reply
Hi Shree... I shall certainly try to oblige you in my next post. It's just that in a blog, one has more freedom to use flowery language than in a news story. I was not trying to say I like Hyd or Chennai or Mumbai better. It was just my experience of Hyderabad and the mixture of emotions it evokes to an outsider like me. But shall certainly try to %22cut the load on the language%22! :) cheers ...Reply
Mr Catchme:Did I express my dislike for sambar in my observations? Not at all...I only said it's different from the Andhra pulusu...Sambar has its own stamp of quality and taste. No other item can replace it. After all, it's the identity item to be known as madrasi for many North Indians !! ...Reply
Hyderabad Blues!! Ms. Ravishankar, by the end of your article, I didn't understand whether you were supporting the Naxal cause or opposing it. I was just curious about what did you want to convey by this article.I feel people like Varavara Rao, Bala Gopal, etc., naxal symapthising writers, who falsely claims themselves to be human rights activists should be put behind the bars. Because, they BLINDLY support the naxalism and their criminal ideology and intentions. For every naxal encounter, they raise their voices and try to be in the news. I am sure such symapthising writers recieve some under the table remuneration and benefits from these dastardly naxals. Why don't these self claiming human rights activists raise any voice against the other sub-human species called corrupt politicians?? ...Reply
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