Bhakta Hanuman Temple in Sri Lanka

This Bhakta Hanuman Temple is a unique construction on the hills of Wevendan.Exactly it located in the heart of Island country Sri Lanka.As the temple has been built on the location of 3,200 ft above to the sea level,entire area looked like a paradise with  the views of lush greenery,flowing streams,falls and birds'chirping sound.

The temple was constructed by Chinmaya Mission and named it as Rambodha.Entire view gives a feeling of being in the nature's lap.The hills and clouds together make us seeing a panoramic sight of serene beauty.Lord Rama,Ma Seeta,Lakshmana and Vinayaka idols are there in the temple.All it is in the vicinity of 10 acres of land high above on the hill. 

The Guest Obsessed (Story) ---Murthy Kvvs

The Guest Obsessed (Story) ---Murthy  Kvvs

Count down started for the monkeys.The decision to control their naughty and eccentric ways has emerged from all our staff members of the school.One has to know the prelude or would get confused about it.Well, had that rogue monkey not bitten Venkat Master on that day, the situation would not have turned grim.However, 

we are not going to kill them but determined to transport them into a dense forest of Chattisgarh.It's our border state with plenty of green cover.

You would ask that how many monkeys were there.Altogether thirty.They have been collecting the remains of mid day meals of our school children.They have never injured anyone except that one incident.So we let them go on their own as there are some kid monkeys to feed.The kid monkeys were cute and clung to the backs of mother monkeys.And often off to branches of trees to jump all over and what not.

As days go by, with increasing its number, becoming much naughtier than ever before.As a matter of fact, they maintain certain discipline even in such an unruly behavior.They would respect the cook of the mid day meals, even her helpers.The monkeys always wait until the meals preparation got ready.Patience pays, they know it well.Cooking staff is just like food givers for them.So they keep distance with them in reverence, even when they hoodwinked at times.

It's with children, different.They grow angrier by its growling upon any mischievous act of playful children.Sometimes, about pouncing over the parents who keeps visiting our school.Our village is so closed society and every news tend to spread like the wild fire.Some villagers requested the head master to drive out these rogue monkeys from the school before any unwanted thing happened, interestingly there were some fans or devotees of these creatures in our village and those warned the head master not to harm the monkeys physically.At last, upon many consultations, monkeys were decided to catch and transport them into a dense forest.Of course, expert workers have been given money as advance and they requested one week time to do this project as they were busy with the same kind of work in another village.

Meanwhile, some of the people belonging to electronic media came to our school to do a story on the revelry of monkeys.They attended with due equipment like shooting camera etc. All they kept waiting for hours.No trace of a monkey found even after the mid day meals time.

"Master ji...what's the matter?No monkeys are around here.Have they run away?"the press man asked me.

"It seems surprising to me.They should have been here by this time.Some would be hanging from the tree and some were jumping over helter-skelter across the premises.Exact time for their arrival.I am really clueless about it..."I lost in thought.

"We have waited long enough.Mid day meals time is crucial for them.It is almost two hours past after it.Perhaps the monkeys could sense our entry into the school with all these cameras and bags.And they must have communicated among them to escape from here."

"Yes.that could be the reason.Still I am wondering that even a kid monkey is nowhere to see.How they got united in the deed is a miracle.Vanished like nothing."

After a friendly chat, the press crew went out in despair.Thereupon I become a great enthusiast about the life style of monkeys.It will make a worth research indeed.I started unraveling the mystic behavior of these interesting creatures.Surprisingly the monkeys appeared in our school premises on the very next day.Exactly the mid day meals time.Strolling like old buddies.

God damns it.How clever they are.Who said animals were a novice.They could grasp things and do accordingly in great precision.They thought that today was the safest to come here.If they have ability to speak up like humans, that info can be an exciting story of struggle for existence on the earth.In fact, the humans live in a rather safe condition.

One day, I was sitting under a shade of neem tree.School children were sent out on the demand of Bharat. Bandh agitators.We the teaching staff remained in the school.Suddenly there is a rustle behind me.I looked at it.A monkey was there.First I scared a little bit.And I determined firmly to not shiver at whatever the situation.The monkey came closer to me.And seeing me with its innocent eyes.I keep calm and staring somewhere else.

After a few seconds, the monkey is still seeing towards me.I decided to make eye contact now.Perhaps it felt safety around here. That's why no sign of arrogance in its face.I never have a thought of attack this animal. My body language might have sent the indication.Some minutes went by.I wish to break the silence.

"My friend...What are you looking at? No food is prepared today.You know our school claims holiday.Go somewhere for this day," I said.The monkey glanced at me for a while.And it lowered its face calmly.As if it understood what I said.Then, face lifted to see me.There is some friendliness in its eyes.It has gone slowly towards the closed kitchen to check.Soon after, it vanished into the thickness of unruly wild greenery.

There was a bad news on the following day.That was about the biting of a monkey.An eighth class student was the victim.It was rather a sharp bite on the right leg and blood keeps running out.We the staff took him to the nearby hospital and sent him out to the home after due medical treatment.I was aghast.What makes the monkey to do so?Yesterday, It was behaved like a nice one.Who knows it could be the different monkey.

I inquired with a friend of the injured boy about the biting of the monkey.He unraveled the secret that his friend has first initiated provoking the monkey by his intimidating gestures with a stick and verbal hoodwinking.The monkey escaped at the moment and came back in the time of recession to attack him while he was rushing out alone.That means these creatures knew how to act in a strategic way.My Goodness.

"My dear boys...Don't try to harm them.They won't come to attack you unless you people provoke them.Is it, not the best example for that?" I asked the boy.He nodded as if he understood it.Though I advised so, my inner self sighed with a light tremor.

Our colleague Rameswara Rao started telling his experiences with the monkeys, during lunch time.Prior to this place, he worked in a village Narayana puram."these monkeys are very clever than we generally consider about them.In my last working place where I lived filled with a band of monkeys were always behaved like a disciplined group.They would give me the safe passage while heading to the house for the lunch, they just used to hide in the bushes of greenery for the time sake.They came out soon after I had left the house.They know how to respect a person who never meddles with their playful activities.

Some villagers got angry, and it led to electrocution to kill the monkeys.Some baby monkeys were also killed and on the incident, other enraged monkeys stirred like wild demons.They injured the people whoever were walking on the road.Both parties were at loggerheads.The entire village took it as a prestige point to get free of these creatures.All the monkeys got killed.To my surprise, the people who involved in the mayhem of the monkeys had been forced to leave the village on different causes..."Rao concluded.

"You go to any place in India, village, town or metro. No place is seen without these monkeys.Spreading like anything.What's the way out?And how to curb the menace of it?Both governments and people should think of the issue on the ground of realities.Once all these were hardly seen except the monkey tamer brought to our homes for having alms.Now it became a headache."I sighed.

"Just a couple of days back, a monkey rushed into our house,"Rao said.

"What happened then," I gasped with awe.

"We should remember one thing while dealing with them.Better not intimidate them by gestures.Just we remained calm as we were not conscious of them.They kept fumbling for eatables.After having a handful of morsels, they went out without damaging much.Thank God, they never tried to attack us, we should be so discreet with them, of course, for our own safety," Rao answered.

"O.k.sir...I too have experienced in that sort...Tell me how to get them out of our school?"I asked him.

"The foolproof way is to tranquilize them by alluring some fruits or so in order to transport to dense forest, the farther the better."

All the staff felt happy over the idea to implement.Villagers promised us to engage the best personnel to catch the monkeys.Everything is set aright.The concerned people were also provided with advance and in a few days the project has to be accomplished.

I have seen through the window of some interesting glimpses of monkeys.They were jolly as ever.The plans we're making were unknown to them.Some baby monkeys attached to their mothers.And some were jumping on the trees happily.And a monkey kept searching for lice, in his friend's hair.In turn, the latter assumed the same service.They were in the world of their own where everything seemed merriment.

All of a sudden, a baby monkey cried out of fear.Hearing it, all the remaining monkeys gathered in no time, around the bewildered baby monkey.The dog ventured against it fled away.The big monkeys were very protective about the baby monkeys.

One fine morning all the monkeys were caught and transported by a van.Everything went out as we have planned.Now our school is monkey-free and of serene ambiance.We sighed.Our Venkat master is much more happy.Do you know why particularly this master has been chosen by monkeys?He had always maintained a large stick for beating the monkeys whenever time permitted him to do so.That's a great fun for him.

He would never care the advice of other staff to be restraint and he became more vengeful upon it.One day, he remained lonely in the office room.That's the chance the monkeys used perfectly.All they stormed into the office room and injured him unto dreaded injuries.They divided into three groups with each at the strategic point to let not him be escaped.Our Venkat master thundered with the incident.

Some months passed by.Rainy season at its peak.We never have attached bath rooms in those days.And one night I came out entering into the bath room built separately a few yards away in the backyard.I heard a mild rustle at the back side of the bath room.Out of curiosity, I have gone there to have a look what the sound about.It was a monkey with its infant in her lap.It looked helpless huddling her child, there was a sign of sorrow and repentance in her eyes. I understand that they both have sneaked in to protect from the ongoing rain in the leeward of bath room wall."Have a nice stay. You are our guest" I said to them.And got back into my house.No slightest provocation.The creature got it.

On the daybreak, I checked the place where the monkey was seen with its kid.No trace of the animals.They must have gone out before the sunrise, perhaps not to bother us.In every rainy season, my conscience provokes me to check the same place whenever I got out for the bath room if there were any of them.Amazing,I have never seen them again. (the End)
-----Written by Murthy Kvvs

URI Interfaith Conference

(Dr.Abraham Karickam,Dr.C.N.N.Raju,Dr.Yogi Devaraj,Dr.Shanbhoge and others) 

Bandaragama was the place in Sri Lanka with picturesque landscape hosted the 3rd Asian assembly 2018 of URI.The event took place during 5-7 October,2018.CC members came from various countries like India,Korea,Bangladesh,Pakisthan and others.Sarvodaya movement ,the brain child of Gandhiji inspired the people in this Island country and it transformed into a substantial activity.Sarvodaya founder president Dr.A.T.Ariyaratne started the juggernaut with his team and which seemed in a great order.

(Welcoming the Chief guest Dr.Wijedasa Rajapakshe,Minister for Higher Edn&Cultural affrs,Sri Lanka)

Dr.Wijedasa Rajapakshe,Minister of Higher education and cultural affairs attended as the chief guest.Artistes of traditional dance resplendent with exotic ornaments and dresses welcomed the guest and which turned out to be an eye-feasting item for onlookers.Lamp lighting,interfaith prayer and meditation activities have taken place.Introducing participants group wise made everyone knowing others better.Dr.Abrham Karickam (URI Secretary General) delivered his address of greetings.

(Tradtional dancing Artistes)

Dr.C.N.N.Raju (Bangalore),Mr.Ravi Kandage (Sri Lanka) and Rev.Kalyan K Kishku (East India) have been elected as new Global Trustees and the URI  fraternity congratulated them on the occasion.The second day carried group discussions,plenary reports and a speech by Fr.James Channan (Regional coordinator,Pakistan) on United peace:Transcending Boundaries.

(With Global trustee Dr.C.N.N.Raju)

Dr.Jehan Perera (Director,National peace council) described the religious tension in Sri Lanka and effective practices of initiatives related to religious harmony in his address.Cultural activities were followed and in which participants excelled in joy and meaning of collective work.Dr.Shanbhoge,Dr.Biswadeb Chakraborty,Frederica Helmiere,Jinwol Lee,Subhi Dhupar and many others participated.Bandaragama declaration released on the occasion.Thank you Sri Lanka.Thank you URI.

My Berhampur trip...!

It's a long-awaited moment.At last got down at Berhampur of Odisha.The place is known for Telugu literary stalwarts like Gidugu Ramurthy,Tapi Dharma Rao and Uppala Laxmana Rao and many others.It was all about hoary past and what is going on there at present..? I know any sober mind would ask it.Going to unravel it what I felt on the visit.

Still the place is swerving with great guns. there are prominent poets,story writers,theater artists and all kinds of connoisseurs in terms of Telugu diaspora and in fact the town is a best blend of Odiya and Telugu cultures.Well,my presence seemed unexpected by the friends like Vijay Chandra as my bus drove me crazy by being late,almost more than one hour.For the last couple of years,I have been confined to bus journey for some reasons.Enjoying exotic passing landscapes in leisure and listening to common and middle class people have become my new interests.

Landed up at Lanjhi palli bypass road.An auto served me up to Railway station and where I have boarded in a hotel.Both Auto charge and Hotel charge were quite reasonable.After having a shower,came out for heading towards Prakasam hall.And that's the place where our legendary Telugu literary organisation VIKASAM was conducting a memorial lecture on Uppala Laxmana Rao garu,the great novelist and exemplary translator.(12th of August denotes 120th birth celebrations of Uppala garu)Vijay Chandra garu gave me clear cut instructions to reach the venue and which helped me a lot and avoided sweating out for my destination.

As I entered the Andhra bhashaabhivardini samajam's meeting chamber, founded that interaction session was on with Ms.KS Malleeswari garu,Awardee of TANA novel competition.And she was to deliver the key note address in the evening.Vijay Chandra garu waved me to be seated and Mandapaka Kameswara Rao Raju garu with his disarming smile welcomed me and it was the first time seeing him.Of course familiar on FB.

People who attended the meeting have also asked her several questions,related to past and present scenarios of Telugu literature.It was a great tradition eliciting thought provoking ideas of intellectuals to ponder over.Ummadisetti Ramesh garu,Setupati Adinarayana garu and others raised interesting questions.I was de-stressed of my journey.After the session,Vijay Chandra garu asked me whether I would come to his residence for boarding.I am always grateful to his kind heart.For his hospitality,right from Rayagada days to hosting a delicious dinner at his home.

Sethupati Adinarayana garu drove me to the place where I stayed.He spoke elaborately on his itinerary days of Russia.Many ground breaking issues surfaced in his talk.All this has taken place in the evening session.What I astonished about key note address was the chief guest had hardly spoken anything about the contribution of Uppala Laxmana Rao garu.She should better have touched the spectrum of translation strategies adopted by Rao garu since it was his forte.I know,she was competent enough.

New friendships made.And streets of Berhampur were walked out.Everything fresh and bright.Good bye Berhampur.

Missing of an Old Woman (Story)---Murthy K v v s

Missing of an Old Woman (Story)---Murthy K v v s

Everybody in our pilgrim town knew that old woman, but I wonder whether anyone knew her whereabouts like her name and where she has hailed from and so on.The language she speaks can hardly be understood.Sometimes people used to stop there to listen her rantings.They laugh at her.For passers by, it's one kind of entertainment.Nothing more or nothing less.

She was always in her own world.Sometimes, she was staring in the sky as if there was some message being received.Sometimes, she keeps muttering herself in a gibberish language.Sometimes, sleeping with an old blanket wrapped over her.Our townsfolk is liberal.They never dare to touch her in any aspect, by letting her live like it.

People found her that she was no way hinder to their ongoing entertainment.But there was always a long heavy bamboo stick in her hands.Just like Kali mata holding a Trishul.Keeping it in view, a safe distance is maintained by the mob.As days rolling by, people lost interest in her.She became an unannounced integral part of our town.

Even the traffic police would not go against her though she made her bed on the dividers of the road.Fortunately vehicles were not dashing, such a precision in things would come to our people when seeing heart wrenched scenes like it out of compassion.And why should not they take initiative to send her the best hospital to cure this mental ailment? No hands to work, alas.

People empowered with great fortunes, coveted positions and influence would go on the road, seeing them with callousness.What can stop them if they are really determined to help these ill-fated poor ones?These mentally sick people on the streets belonged to none.Are these bound to die like a dog or a pig one day?What society we're living in?

Gopal, a friend of mine has a xerox shop, met me on the road one day.He told me an interesting news about the old woman. "Do you know something? I interacted with the woman who always was seen by the side of dividers which is exactly opposite to our shop.She was not so chronic of mental disorder.There was a little bit of confusion in her thought process.Had she been taken care by any of her family members, she would have become a normal person?She must have been on the verge of getting delusions by now.I afraid it worsens further more.."

"Gopal, you even ventured to talk to her.That's great.People like me posing as good samaritan never dared to approach her.She was bathing, sleeping and doing everything in that makeshift tent that can be washed out by any gutsy wind.Thank God, no vehicle claimed her life though it is on the road.As per your account, she could be all right by a small initiative taken by any kind person.But who would that be anyway.."I sighed.

"Your concern about a destitute one is laudable.Let's wait for a few more days.Then, we shall contact any NGO working on the cause of it.Or let's take the issue to concerned government authorities.Hope that will suffice on our part, I think."Gopal said.

"Hmm...you're right."I admitted.

Gopal and I were busy with our routine afterwards.But she was there all the time whenever I happened to be crossing the road on any work.Be it a hotter day or a colder day?It seems no matter for her.I tempted to interact with her to test her level of sanity.On seeing someone who does know me well, I was taken aback.

After a couple of weeks, I was called for interview in Chennai.I enjoyed my trip a lot, apart from the actual purpose.I took a bus journey from Vijayawada to our pilgrim town, in return.In fact,our nearest railway station is Bhadrachalam road.Ironically it is situated at Kothagudem, almost 40k.m. away.That has a story of a thriller written by a tollywood screenplay writer.So the lesser said is better.

It was almost past midnight returning from my journey.There was no sign of that old woman on the road.Shocked to discern the reality.I have had intently observed that no trace of her rags or makeshift tent around the dividers on the road.Clueless to guess.What happened to her in the mean time?Shifted to somewhere else?This is the safest place for her to abstain from all kinds of dangers. You could understand the sense.

Oh.who am I to think all of it,my conscience moaned.You're a human being like her, the other side of it resisted.How difficult it is to have empathy though which is the salt of the earth.With all these concerns, my brain heated up all along the night, in the bed.

"Gopal...How did she get disappeared from there? What happened to her, met any accident?" I inquired him the next day.He appalled at my curious concern and shook his head.(

"I was busy with my work and little known about it.My wife who looks after our shop, once said that the poor woman had transported by a van on some day.We don't know further details about the van to whom which belonged and where she had been to."Said Gopal.

I sighed.God, what the secret of your playing.She is already out of her mind.Where should she go and do?Once, way back in her life, she could have been a lady like any other.And now became a street ridden by the family of her own.And in this holy country which valued the family system a lot.

After a few days, being that old woman vanished clueless, I went to Aalubaka...a small village where one of my friends named Naren kept working as a science teacher in a high school.He is a bibliophile.We get engaged into talking for hours and hours whenever we meet and subjects varied to infinite.He answered one of my queries related to mental ill-health.

"schizophrenia is very prevalent among the people.There are five types in it.In our country, people think of insulting to meet a concerned doctor.And it gets chronic as time passes by.A survey report says every three person out of five needed this kind of check up but hardly cared by people.What to talk of empathy?the less we talk, the better..."Said Naren.

"You're right.We would see this kind of ill-fated ones on every street and no one gives a damn for them.Perhaps they must have been in advanced stage, unconscious of dressing and cleanliness..."

"Fortunately, there is a trend of recognizing such people have begun" Naren passed a news paper to me.It carried an interesting news article.To my surprise, It was about the old woman of our town.She was getting tonsured in the photograph.Our sub collector has taken initiative to send all these people to the special hospitals.At least one officer was there with a right spirit, let this tribe increase.

I don't know how I have had missed this paper on the day.However, with a happy note, the story ended.I was desperate to see the name of the sub collector.It was Yogita Rana by name. (Written by Murthy 
Kvvs)

Rajani Kant (A Story)----Murthy K v v s

Rajani Kant ( Story)----Murthy K v v s

Rajani Kant met me yesterday, in the park.Quite unanticipated.He started telling me many things about his village where I have worked for some years.I felt the days of yore in front of me, of course, not all happier moments, though.Sometimes I was planning to flee from the village.To be in an executive post as a school head master was not an easier job.One has to withstand the politics of the staff and tussle seeking village leaders as well.

But,I would dare say now, those days were not at all toughest moments in my life.How ridiculous I was then.A naive teacher sans the knowledge of worldly ways turned into a high school head master on promotion has so much to learn how to deal with different people and which taught me new lessons.Enough of tribulations all along these years made me shrewd to face any given situation.Time gradually hardens my nerves.

Don't go away with Rajani Kant has something in common with that super star Rajani.In fact, this fellow's real name was Vikas.A student in our school once upon a time.Pursuing business administration course at present.One day, he had been sent to my chamber when he was in class ten.The complaint was simple but complex in nature.This fellow kept writing his name as Rajani Kant, not only on text books, even on the answer sheets of home exams.Teaching staff tried their level best to prevent the habit.But he never heeded to their words.So he was in front of me, with folded hands.

"What's your name?" I questioned him.

"My name is Vikas sir," He replied.

"That sounds good.Your parents gave you a beautiful name.Then, why are you writing your name as Rajani Kant all the time?Teachers complaining against you.If you do it again,I will call your parents and the last resort would be issuing the T.C. and you know one more thing, your name is not to be changed in the admission register according your fancies."

"Yes sir...I won't do it again," Vikas said.

Thereafter, no complaint received about him.Our teaching staff was also on high five about the change in that boy.However, a strange fact came to my notice.His friends, some how, learned the episode that has taken place regarding the nomenclature, wide spread over the village.Villagers too started calling him as Rajani kant in mockery.This brat was reported to be happier over the unexpected popularity.

I returned to my guest house soon after paying obeisance to the Lord Rama at the temple.My guest house was exactly in front of the park.This pilgrim town changed a lot in the recent years.On weekends and holidays,It's very difficult to get a room in the hotels.And what to talk about Sri Rama navami and Mukkoti festivals with swerving visitors.

I have taken rest in the room till evening.By seven'O clock, came out for a fresh air.Entered the park located nearby.Here, our Rajani kant, sorry Vikas the old student met me unexpectedly.He was first to identify me.He was no longer a boy now, transformed into youth.I connected to the past when he reminded me of the incident of his passion about the name Rajani kant.

"Oh...Vikas..! What a pleasant surprise...What are you doing now?"I asked him.

"I am pursuing business administration in Hyderabad sir.Came back in vacation.In fact, I have been waiting for a friend here.Really I am happy to meet you after some years."he flushed.

"I am here for having a darshan of Lord Rama.After retirement, I settled at Khammam.Seeing you like this is great.I would never forget your village where I worked and retired, my boy."

"Things changed a lot since you had exuded your services sir.A new state carved out from Andhra pradesh.Bifurcation hit our area, unlike any other place.Our village merged into Andhra, of course, along with many villages adjoining to this temple town.Students got problems with both states in terms of getting different certificates from different offices.Joining hostels became a big task.And nativity issue cropped up when attended recruitment drives."

"Yes...I am also reading in the news papers.All of a sudden, some areas cut off with old division and district administration due to the bifurcation.Adequate arrangement should have done before separation.This is what the real bunch of woes to be faced by the inhabitants living in the border areas of the states."

"Sir...nowadays, we people keep boasting of global citizens, can't we solve it all with a meaningful dialogue by sitting across the table?Whatever the states could be, we are all living in one country.Both state heads should come to amiable terms to soften the lives of the people.Am I wrong?"

"You're absolutely correct Vikas.See the further irony, Lord Rama's temple falls into Telengana.And his hundreds of acres of donated lands have gone to Andhra.Even some streets of Bhadrachalam merged into that state.If you wish to visit Parnasala,you have to cross Andhra merged villages.People of the area were never concerned when the act was perpetrated."

"They were saying it all due to Polavaram project."

"Whatever the project, people are to be preferred.Well.how about the iron gate we fixed in our school to prevent the stray animals?" I diverted the heated topic.

"That was fine sir.Hmm...I happened to meet old staff like Vasu sir and Raghu sir a couple of times.Ramesh sir was said to be passed away.I don't know the exact reason."

"Have you changed your name? In those days, you were passionate about."I smiled.

"I will never ever change my name sir.How foolish I was in those days to have such a crazy idea.That very thought drives me nuts even now."

"Vikas...It was not an act of shame or so.Childhood should be like that,fun and frolic.Well...convey my best regards to all of the village.It gave me a lot of sweet moments in my life," I said.

Moving towards the cement bench located in a corner.Godavari flows with a faint sound just behind the park, beneath the bridge which would never fail to showcase the best view of the Lord Rama's temple. (The End) ----Written by Murthy Kvvs

A Burial Ground and Memoirs (Story)----Murthy Kvvs

A Burial Ground and Memoirs (story)----Murthy Kvvs

He was nearing the house, assuming it could be the residence of that gentleman Krishna Rao.No more houses found around the place and the ambiance seemed dead calm, yet green fields covered the house just like a maze, fortunately there he discovered a small path to reach the gate of the house.He was excited that many things of the past days will be unraveled in a few minutes.The moment he meets Krishna Rao he might be of short of words in hurry.In view of that, he meticulously prepared a list of important queries to elicit key points, not to miss a trivial one from the loads of reminiscences of Krishna Rao.As a freelancer, he contributed many interesting stories to different publications.But this is somewhat special in nature.

This is all about the burials.Be not afraid.He was very much sober as much as we all do.He was going to write a story about the burials where several British people were buried before independence.It is now called as Dummugudem, a sleepy village on the surface for this generation and very few people are aware of the history how a lot of action had taken place here once upon a time.River Godavari flows at the mouth of the village and over where the locks were built to accommodate the water to paddy fields along with boat travelling by making another stream.All cargo was to arrive this way right from Rajamundry.In those days, it's the most used way for people for any communication.

Adjacent to the river, before entering Dummugudem, the hamlet was called as "Work shop", here navigation center was established by the British officers.A couple of rock laden buildings constructed by those colonial rulers were remained there as their signatures.With their high walls, slope roofs, gorgeous windows and abundant timber used inside make one transport into the past decades.And there were some colossal trees in the place must have planted by those people.Amazingly, those trees looked like what we could see in some European countries.However, the shade of trees is still the favorite place for domestic animals like cows and buffaloes.Sometimes children are playing in the cozy place.By night fall, nobody goes there since the place turned into a devils work shop.

He, our reporter, has seen all this an hour back and now got to the burial place which located at Lakshmi nagaram almost adjacent to work shop.He was approaching the lone house where Krishna Rao lives in.He stood in front of the gate.Never liked to call him loudly.Some instinct signals him the gentle man would come out on his own.He keeps examining the surroundings intently.All of a sudden,Krishna Rao came out from the foliage of his garden located at the corner of the gate.

"Are you Madhu, reporter of some magazine?" Krishna Rao asked.

"Yes.sir. I am.My friend should have informed you the matter," replied our reporter with a smile.

"Yes.very happy to meet you,I will tell you all the information that I know about the burials of that British people.."

"Oh.Great sir.I have met a right person at last."

"Please do one thing.See there, the dilapidated walls.Hardly just two furlongs.That's the burial ground.Keep watching the tombs yourself...And I will join you later soon after finishing my garden work in a while,"the old man said in a friendly tone.

The reporter started walking towards the direction mentioned by the old man.The narrow path leading to the broken gate of the burial ground is having unruly bushes.But it's not an arduous walk.A cool breeze seized to unleash from somewhere else.Is it an air of joy felt by the deceased souls on knowing the news of there was someone coming here this day? Of course not to be buried.

He entered the burial ground.Walls looked very weak and rustic, at any instance of a heavy blow they could be collapsed.Already some portion was broken into heaps of debris.The best part here is no trace of human activity around the area.Sea of serenity everywhere.Really souls rest in peace here, no doubt.

These people buried here must have been dispatched their services to move the juggernaut of the British empire, in their own capacities.What kind of dreams they had in their lives is difficult to imagine.Condemned here in eternal sleep for ever.There could be a dyer and an Arthur Cotton and many of several other characters.

Some tombs were made of polished granite.Their details ascribed on each tomb.On the first one he saw, was belonged to a young British civil servant.His name was furnished as Angus Alstair Fernandez.He served as Assistant Collector and special agent of Bhadrachalam Agency, in those days.Interestingly that ICS officer died so young at the age of 25.The maximum age limit for civil service was twenty one in those days.Maybe an epidemic caused his death, who knows.

He moved on to another tomb.In fact, these were two but constructed in close, one was Miss Sarah Claire and next was Miss Dorothy.They both were missionary teachers as per the details on the surface.And there was another tomb almost in the midst of the ground was belonged to a girl named as Charlotte Henrita.Died at the age of 15 years old.Her father was working as an inspector general of Medical and health department based at Madras.Almost the place cited here was more than 600 k.m. and how it happened to burying here?Clueless.

Most of the tombs had got a raw deal by some hooligans, maybe in search of hidden riches in the coffins or under them.Almost all burials were dug up and displaced in some extent.Sure to be vanished in a few years,if it continued.At least these are better to be preserved as historical monuments.

"Hello, "a voice was heard from behind him.He shuddered for a while.Came out from his thought process.The voice belonged to none other than Krishna Rao, the old man.They exchanged smiles.

"Oh..my goodness, In fact I am waiting for you sir," our reporter said.

"You seem to be absorbed in the past" old man smiled.

"Well said.I have been transported to the British era of ruling."

"Once upon a time, this village Lakshmi nagaram, considerably populated.I born and brought up here and at the age of twenty, left it for employment.In those days, surroundings were very busy with people."

"Then how come it turned into a desert look?"

"That's the magic of time.Dummugudem and Lakshmi nagaram were treated as twin villages.Several British families settled here in line of dispatching their services.To maintain navigation center, revenue works and survey, etc., apart from it, they established a church and hostel so on"

"Did you know any British employees personally?"

"Yes...I will tell you whatever I know.A person with enthusiasm like you is scarce anyway.You can still see the rock studded building of the hostel at the work shop area.Ms Sarah Claire and Ms Dorothy were in-charges of it.They had imparted basic education, lace knitting and carpentry to the boys and girls, mostly came from tribal and other oppressed classes.Food and accommodation free for inmates."

"Have we not exploited in colonial ruling? Apart from the facts you mentioned."

"Who said no. It was prevailed without any doubt.What here happened was happened everywhere, forms could be different.The nations first opened their eyes unleashed all over the underdeveloped nations.Apart from evil, eventually, some good also happened with their invasion.Education came down to common masses in our caste ridden society.Schools and colleges opened for girls.Superstitions like Sati were abolished.English language opened new windows among us. Even Swami Vivekananda said once 'because of you, the fetters of the age old superstitions loosen in this country,oh..British government, thanks to you'..."

"Countries like China and Japan developed with their own languages...You know."

"The soul of China and Japan is entirely different.They don't have hundreds of sub castes like us.Here diversity in languages, culture, local customs and political fabric all these are different.Everybody considers their language, and caste is superior to others.Political unity achieved by the British ruling or us could have been continued as hundreds of princely states."the old man analysed in his own way.

"I retired 20 years back.Sound health by God's grace.I have a vehicle facility to reach the nearest railway station if necessary.Commodities are available to live peacefully.Also blessed with Internet connectivity.My garden is there above all.What more should I long for? In addition, people hesitate to venture into my house because of the burial ground's proximity.Of course, except my doctor."Old man smiled.

"I don't know how to express my gratitude for your kind info about all these."

"Oh...that's my pleasure.Let's go to my residence to have more chatting over a frothy coffee.By the way, what will be the heading of your future story"

"Hmm...Probably 'A burial ground and memoirs'...how is it?"

"Just terrific..." tugged at the sleeve of his guest. (the End)