T he Sarayu carried more tears than water. Ayodhya was a sad kingdom. Dasaratha was a good king. He upheld dharma – justice and morality – as best as he could. The citizens were apparently happy. Then, one day, it all changed. One person is enough to change the destiny of a whole kingdom. Who was that one person? Some say it was Kaikeyi, one of the three official wives of Dasaratha. Some others say it was Manthara, Kaikeyi’s chief maid. Manthara was a hunchback. She was the caretaker of Kaikeyi right from the latter’s childhood; foster mother, so to say, because Kaikeyi had no mother. The absence of maternal influence can distort a girl child’s personality. With a foster mother like Manthara, the distortion can be really bad. Manthara was cunning, selfish, and morally ambiguous. A severe physical deformity can make one worse than all that. Manthara was as devious and manipulative as a woman could be in a men’s world. Add to that all the jealousy and ambition that insecure peo...
Cerebrate and Celebrate
Sir, Clicking Chillies is easier/better than eating them :)
ReplyDeleteHad you visited during Christmas? I was there at Kerala this Christmas & enjoyed my visit :)
I was there just for a couple of days this week, Anita. An emergency.
DeletePoet Thomas Gray wrote about the destiny of certain flowers to be born in deserts where their fragrance is wasted. I found these chillies too in a similar place where their spiciness is wasted.
from the place known for spices !
ReplyDeleteYeah, so spices grow just anywhere without any need for human attention.
DeleteEven the 'red' chillies stand out in Kerala!
ReplyDeleteTrue. But red is loosing its sheen in Kerala. A friend of mine said, "Pinarayi Vijayan and Umman Chandi are partners in the capitalist business policies."
DeleteNice Click
ReplyDeleteThanks, gowtham.
DeleteThe variety of chillies seeds that are from Kerala is amazing. Most of the Kerala gardeners who are on our network post such pretty pictures making us "burn" :-)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Pattu, the particular variety that is peculiar to Kerala and burns down to one's bottom seems to be the only species that is surviving in God's own country.
DeleteAh! Chillies... my favourite ingredient .. and the vibrant red one stands out as if asking for attention :D
ReplyDeleteChillies always demand attention, Namrota. And red is the best colour for that.
DeleteYes :)
DeleteSo sweet - hmm photo not chillies.
ReplyDeleteThe chillies are bombs, dear.
DeleteNice click..and I love red chillies :-P..Bengalis like hot and spicy food you know..
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've noticed quite a common features between Bongs and Mallus :) Fish, for example.
DeleteNice one. :) Love chili. Have to contact Pattu and find out more about Kerala seed varieties.
ReplyDeleteKantari is the variety unique to Kerala, Subhorup. A very small chilly which acts like an atom bomb in your mouth.
Deletewhat a beautiful red of chillies.....
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it beautiful.
DeleteHow did it grow on unexpected place?
ReplyDeleteIt was thriving in a place where no one bothered about it. Like a wild plant.
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