Wise, Witty, and Winsome

Pope Francis's life, as revealed through conversations, shows a man who has interesting insights about life

By Shevlin Sebastian

Pope Francis has a touch of humour. When asked whether celibacy should be abolished for priests, he says, “I once heard a priest say that, without celibacy, he would have a wife, but also a mother-in-law.”

When his mother became temporarily paralysed after giving birth to her fifth child, she would direct the children while seated on a chair in the kitchen. “Now put this in the pot and that in the pan,” she would say. As a result, Francis, the eldest child, learned to cook. So, is he good at it? “So far, no one has died,” was the impish reply.

These anecdotes are recounted in the book, ‘Pope Francis (His Life In His Own Words)' by Argentine journalists Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti. This 2010 best-seller, published in Spanish, in Argentina, is based on a series of interviews that the Pontiff gave the journalists over a period of two years. So, it was not surprising that when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, an English translation has been put out, aimed at the estimated worldwide audience of 1.2 billion Catholics.

Francis’ family migrated from Italy to Argentina in 1929 and his father, Mario José Bergoglio,began his career as an accountant. The family was reasonably well-off, so when Mario asked Francis, who was 13 then, to start working, he was shocked. Nevertheless, Francis joined a hosiery plant as a cleaner and the experience gave him a lifelong lesson on the importance of work.

“Work anoints a person with dignity,” says Francis. “Dignity is not conferred by one’s ancestry, family life or education. Dignity comes solely from work. We eat and support our families through work. We can own a fortune, but if we don’t work, our dignity plummets.”  

Francis speaks on an array on topics, including the qualities needed to be a good priest, the benefits of forgiveness, and the explosive subject of sexual abuse of children by priests.

“If a priest is a paedophile, then this perversion existed within him, before he was ordained,” says Francis. “Celibacy does not cure that perversion. They either have it or they don’t. Therefore, we must be very careful whom we admit into the priesthood.”

Francis has also been careful while refuting allegations that the Catholic Church, and Francis, who was head of the Jesuit order, did not do enough during the years of the military dictatorship, (1976-83), in Argentina, when thousands of people disappeared, and their bodies were never found.

“At the beginning, nothing was known,” says Francis. “As a priest I knew that something serious was happening, but I realised it was much more only later. Society, as a whole, became fully aware of events during the trial of the military commanders.”

But Jon Lee Anderson, a staff writer of the respected 'New Yorker' magazine, says, “The key allegation against Francis is that he pointed out left-leaning priests to the military, as dissidents, leaving them exposed, and that he did not defend two kidnapped clerics or ask for their release. He has denied this, and says that he protected priests and others, but, quietly, in secret.”

Gabriel Pasquini, an Argentine writer and editor, contends that Francis did not do enough. “He was not at the level required during those dramatic times,” he says.

Meanwhile, there are two surprises in the book. The foreword has been written by an Argentine rabbi, Abraham Skorka. “As far as I know, this has to be the first time in two thousand years that a rabbi has written the foreword for a book about the thoughts of a Catholic priest,” says Abraham. 

And he explains why he did it. “Some will disagree with Francis' assessments, but everyone will accept the humility and compassion with which he confronts every one of the topics,” says Abraham.

The second surprise was to know that, in the previous election, in April, 2005, in the second round Francis received an unprecedented 40 votes, and was tied with eventual winner Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). To avoid a protracted contest, Francis stepped aside and asked that his votes be transferred to Ratzinger. However, destiny did not step aside. Instead, it beckoned him eight years later.

Pope Francis

(His Life in His Own Words)

By Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti

Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons

Pages 265.

Price: Rs 799.

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi) 

The Butt Of Ire and Frustration

Politicians in Kerala are at the receiving end of public dissatisfaction. A look at the reasons why

Photo: The Kerala State Assembly 

By Shevlin Sebastian

Thomas George was standing on the pavement near Subhash Park, Kochi, when he saw a procession of mourners following a coffin. While going past, in a white Ambassador car, Rajesh Kurup (name changed), the local MLA, also noticed the crowd. “He immediately asked the driver to stop,” says Thomas.

Clad in his trademark white shirt and mundu, Kurup got down, made his face look suitably sad, and joined the queue as it went down the road. After ten minutes, the crowd entered Rajendra Maidan. And it was then that Kurup got a shock: it was a film shoot that was taking place and not an actual funeral.

“That’s a Kerala politician for you,” says Thomas, with a laugh. “He will attend all funerals, including mock ones, weddings, and other ceremonies, but will rarely have any time for development work, or do something for the betterment of society.”

Agrees music composer Jerry Amaldev: “The majority of the politicians talk about doing something, but they are hardly doing anything. I have met many politicians but they have not made a positive impression on me. I come away with a sense of emptiness.”

Amaldev bemoans the poor civic facilities. “When you walk on the road, there are no footpaths, no proper drainage system, and the government hospitals are dirty,” says Amaldev. “If you give this entire state to a Singapore company, they will do a better job, and with less money also.” 

One reason for the lack of performance is that there is not enough time. “There is a change in the government every five years, so there is very little opportunity for one group to do something concrete,” says businessman Deepak Aswani, a former chairman of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Plus, there are too many groups within parties, working at cross-purposes.”

There is also a lack of money. “87 per cent of the state budget goes towards salaries and other such payments,” says Aswani. “The balance 13 per cent is used for education, health and everything else. So the government has very little cash. They are dependent on central funds.”

But the biggest impediment is the polarisation of society into the Communist and Congress camps. “The public cannot think in any other terms except from the political angle,” says C. J. Chacko, the former deputy general manager of Syndicate Bank. “This has created a lot of problems for the development of the state. When one party comes to power, the other party will oppose them, because they think their role is only to oppose.”

Sometimes, this opposition comes in the form of destroying public property. “They feel that the property belongs to the ruling class,” says Chacko. “But this is not true.”

But there was a time when politicians did do something for society. “In the 1950s, the Left politicians initiated the land reform bill,” says Chacko. “Tenants became owners of the land. Then there was the Kerala Education and Kerala Agrarian Relations Bills which caused far-reaching changes.”

Art gallery owner Latha Kurien Rajeev says politicians, like the late AK Gopalan and EMS Namboodiripad, of the CPI(M), transformed Kerala society. “They made it a welfare society,” she says.

But Chacko argues that the current-day politicians also care about the people's welfare. “People like Oommen Chandy, KM Mani, and VS Achuthanandan are mass politicians and are always accessible,” he says. “They are always moving with the people.”

The good news is that when compared to politicians of other states the Kerala leaders are far better. “They are humble and approachable,” says Aswani. “In a neighbouring state, if you want to meet the chief minister you have to pay money for the privilege.”

The only problem of meeting politicians in Kerala is that there is no privacy. “They conduct everything like a sabha,” says Aswani. “All the visitors listen in to your conversation. Suppose you have a good project in mind. Obviously you will not want everybody to hear about it. But the politicians want to show that they are above corruption. What actually happens is they are not listening to you.”

Of course, there are exceptions like Finance Minister KM Mani. “Mani's grasp is amazing,” says Aswani. “And, for his age [80 plus], he is able to able to understand each and everything. He would be an ideal chief minister, but his party is small. But he could be like [former Chief Minister] Achutha Menon who belonged to a small party but ruled for a long time.”

However, one disturbing trend is the dynastic nature of politics these days: sons of leaders are groomed to become leaders. “Politics has become a lucrative profession,” says Latha. “But that should not be the case. It should be a service to the people. We have not put politicians in power so that they can make money for several generations of their family to live comfortably.”

What is adding to the problem is the absence of creditable and educated people in public life. “The intellectuals and professionals are leaving everything to the politicians, who come up through student union politics and, sometimes, from criminal backgrounds,” says Chacko. “Qualified people should come into politics and make a change.”

But that is going to be a difficult task. “Unfortunately, good people treat politics with contempt,” says Aswani. “I know of a friend of mine who was a topper in college. But the guy who was on the backbench and never came to class became a minister. The academic qualifications of most of the ministers are not good enough for them to be a MLA or a Minister.”

So, the only hope is of the young taking to politics. But when Latha tells her 15-year-old son, Mrinal, that when he grows up, he should be a politician, the boy is shocked. “Amma, are you crazy?” he says. “Who wants to be a politician?”

Latha's reply is idealistic: “Mrinal, if young people like you don't go into politics and save our country, there will be nothing left for your children.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Easy Pickings

Shops in malls constantly face the threat of theft from professional thieves and amateurs

By Shevlin Sebastian

During a crowded weekend, an employee of Graffiti Clothing at the Oberon Mall, Kochi, just about managed to see a 35-year-old woman slip in a folded silk garment into her own saree. He confronted her. She denied it. A group of salesgirls discreetly took her to the store room. On a closer inspection, it was discovered that she was wearing a pyjama under her saree. There were other items from neighbouring shops.

As they were deciding on whether to call the police, there was a call on the landline. “The associates of the thief said that a woman had come into the shop and has gone missing, so they would have to call the police,” says Aftab Kareem, the owner of Graffiti. “It was a smart move. They could easily charge us for sexual harassment. So we let the woman go.”

These are professional thieves, who go from shop to shop, in the malls, especially on weekends and festive seasons to steal goods. Most of the time they get away, and even if they are caught, the danger of the woman accusing the male staff of sexual harassment is ever present. “But now I have made it mandatory that only female employees should deal with woman thieves,” says Aftab.

The thieves are smart. “Whenever we replay the tape of the surveillance cameras, their faces cannot be seen,” says Aftab. “They know their precise location. So they stand looking away.”

Apart from these skillful robbers, there are amateur thieves, in the 18-30 year age group. “They do it because they think, ‘Why pay for it when I can get it for free?’” says Aftab. “Boys will take a couple of shirts and go inside the trial room. They will put the new shirt on and over it, they will wear their original shirt. And then they will walk out.”

But some have unlucky experiences. One young man put a new shirt, and forgot that his own shirt was a see-through. The store manager was at the billing counter. The salesman whispered to him about the hidden shirt.

The manager gestured to him, and when the youth arrived at the counter, he said, “Are you through?”

He said, “Yes.”

“I am making out a bill for you,” said the manager.

“For what?” the man said.

“For what you are wearing under your shirt,” said the manager.

The youth quietly paid the money and went away.

“Our aim was not to humiliate him in public,” says Aftab. “He was not a career thief. He was someone who was taking a chance.”

Meanwhile, what has amazed Aparna Menon, the owner of a shoe and apparel shop, was how young the thieves can be. “Rajesh was only 11 years old,” she says. “He used to come to the store regularly and pick up stuff with his parents.”

Since he lived near the mall, he would come alone sometimes. “He was very friendly with the staff,” says Aparna. “But the moment other customers came and the staff would get busy, he would put caps and balls in a bag and quietly walk away. When we tracked the movements on the close-circuit TV we understood what he was doing.”

The video was shown to the affluent parents, who were, understandably, shocked. “Rajesh's father literally cried in front of the sales staff,” says Aparna. “I think it was a thrill for Rajesh. He does not need all these things. He already has enough.”

Aparna says that most of the thefts in her shop has been done by youngsters. “We don't complain to the police, as we do not want to spoil their lives,” she says. “We will warn the boy and ask him to buy the product. Even if he does not want it, he has to take it. That is the punishment.”

Young women try a bit of thieving, also. “They tend to steal cosmetics or ladies accessories,” says MT Raghu, a store manager in a shop at a mall, near Vytilla. “They will put the products in their handbags. When the anti-theft tag gives a beep, while they are passing through the exit, we will just ask them to pay for it. Then we make them write a confession letter stating that they had taken this. All this will be done quietly.”

But the most astonishing theft in Raghu's store was when a 25-year-old youth coolly placed a 14” LCD, costing Rs 15,000, under his large jacket and walked away. “Nobody noticed anything,” says Raghu. “The theft was discovered days later when we replayed the surveillance tape.”

In most shops, there are about three to five thefts or attempted ones every month. And they can be divided into three types: internal, external and break-ins. “The last one is rare,” says Raghu. “About 80 per cent of the thefts are done by customers. But what we fear the most are internal thefts.”

That is when an employee colludes with an outsider. “He will ask the friends to come and do shopping,” says Raghu. “At the counter, he can remove the magnetic anti-theft tag, and pass the clothes without doing the billing. Or he will put a Rs 200 tag for a Rs 1500 jeans.” To avoid this, the store does a background check on the tellers, and places surveillance cameras at the cash counters.

What has made things difficult for the retailers is that thieves have found their way around the anti-theft tags. “They will use a blade to take it off,” says Aftab. “Since it is a magnetic tag, there is something called a magnetic detacher, which costs Rs 2000. The professional thieves use this.”

Most retailers in the malls accept that such thefts take place all the time. Says Aparna, “The annual industry loss is 5 per cent of the stock. It becomes worrying when it goes above that.”

As for any solutions to this menace, Aftab says, “Unless all retailers get together and ensure that the photographs of the thieves are displayed prominently outside every mall, this will not stop. A strong body, headed by a retired police officer, should ensure that the thieves are locked up for a long time.” 

(Some names have been changed)

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

'She Has no Airs'

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn 

Santhosh Menon talks about life with actress Navya Nair

By Shevlin Sebastian

When Santhosh Menon received the marriage proposal of film star, Navya Nair, he was hesitant. “I had the impression that film stars had a lot of 'head weight',” he says. Nevertheless, out of a mix of curiosity and interest, he decided to see Navya. The meeting took place in March, 2009, at Navya's house in Muthukulam, near Haripad. “She was a normal girl,” says Santhosh. “There were no airs about her.”

They had a 'getting to know each other' conversation. “Navya was worried about my busy life,” says Santhosh. At that time he was working as a CEO in a Mumbai-based multinational firm, dealing with spices, and travelled a lot. In fact, Santhosh has been to 54 countries during the course of his work.

Santhosh also asked Navya about her priorities. “I knew it would be difficult to have a film career as well as a family life,” he says. But, to his relief, Navya told him that her priority was to have a happy family.

Santhosh enjoyed talking with Navya. That evening when he returned home to Changanacherry, he asked his driver, Binesh, to collect all the CDs about Navya in the market. The next morning, he flew back to Mumbai and watched all the films.

“I liked her the best in 'Nandanam',” he says. “Mostly, she seemed to play homely characters. Her combination with Dileep in 'Ishtham' was good. She told me later that she rarely worried about the remuneration, but more about the type of role she had to play.”

Eventually, Santhosh said yes and the marriage took place on January 21, 2010, at the Christ King High School ground at Cheppad. More than 5000 people were present, including superstars Mammooty and Mohanlal, as well as Kavya Madhavan and Bhavana, and the who's who of the political establishment.

Thereafter, for their honeymoon, they flew to Dubai. While there, they went to the Global Village, which is regarded as one of the world's largest tourism, leisure and entertainment festivals. The Malayalis present there mobbed Navya. People were constantly taking photos on their mobiles. “My driver and friends had a tough time protecting us,” says Santhosh. “This was the first time I got an indication of Navya's star status.”

A few days later, they settled down in Mumbai. And Santhosh smiles as he remembers Navya's initial attempts at cooking. “Every morning, she would call her aunt, Sudha, who lives in Muthukulam, and would ask her what to make,” says Santhosh. “This talk would go on throughout the day.”

But the end result is that, today, Navya has become a good cook. “She makes a very good chicken curry as well as other non-vegetarian dishes,” says Santhosh. “Earlier, when guests would come, we would go out for dinner, but, now, thanks to Navya's skills, we are eating at home.”

Santhosh also encouraged Navya to try her hand on TV, because it is less time-consuming than a film shoot. “A month's programme can be shot in three days,” says Santhosh. Navya has been the judge of ‘Munch Dance Dance’, and is the anchor of ‘Bharthakkanmarude Sradakku’ which is shown on a private TV channel.

And her film career has not been ruled out entirely. “I told Navya that once in a while she will be able to act, because she has a dream to win a national award for acting,” says Santhosh. After her marriage, Navya has acted in one film: 'Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu', directed by Shiju Anthikad.

Santhosh is also encouraging her to develop her other talents. In their plush apartment at the exclusive Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai, Navya has just finished writing a book. “It is about her experiences in the film industry,” says Santhosh. “The book will be published in July.”

As her life moves forward, Navya is slowly changing. “Her friends tell me that, thanks to me, Navya has become softer, and more realistic and practical,” says Santhosh. “Earlier, she was tough.”

About her negative points, Santhosh says, “When she gets angry with somebody she will not talk to that person again. Sometimes, she tries to speak against them. I always tell Navya that because of certain circumstances they might have said something negative. It does not mean that they are against her for the entire life.”

Thanks to Navya's encouragement, Santhosh started a business in exporting spices and it has been doing well. “I give all my thanks to the Almighty,” says Santhosh. “He also gave me a child.” The couple have a two-and-a-half-year-old son named Sai Krishna.

Asked to give tips for a successful marriage, Santhosh says, “Stay cool and try to understand each other. All married couples fight with each other, but you should aim to solve your problems. If an argument gets too intense, go away for an hour, and come back when things have cooled down.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

The Charm Offensive

Actor Jayaram celebrates his 25th year in Mollywood

 

By Shevlin Sebastian

In the early 1980s, Jayaram was the star at the Sree Sankara College in Kalady. He was good at mimicry, mono act, and had won the best actor and best comedian awards at inter-collegiate festivals. But his throne was shaky. 

For an upcoming college festival, the top comics of the Kala Bhavan had been invited to perform. “I realised that if they came, they would completely overshadow me,” says Jayaram. So he went to Kochi and watched one of their shows intently. On the evening of the day they were supposed to perform, Jayaram played a masterstroke. He enacted their entire programme in the morning itself.   

So, when the troupe arrived, the students informed them that they had already seen the show. “They became extremely angry with me,” says Jayaram. “They returned to Kala Bhavan and told the director, Fr. Abel, that a criminal case should be initiated against me.”

But the legendary Fr. Abel had a different reaction. “Fr. Abel said that if a person, who saw our programme once, could enact it perfectly then he is a person of talent,” says Jayaram. “Instead of initiating a criminal case, we should invite him to join our troupe.”

As a result, Jayaram joined the Kala Bhavan troupe in September, 1983. He was with them for four years. “I did more than 3000 performances in Kerala, all over India and abroad,” says Jayaram.

The group would bring out videocassettes of their performances which were extremely popular and sold well.

Meanwhile, well-known director Padmarajan was searching for a new hero for his film, ‘Aparan’. His son, Anantha Padmanabhan, gave his father a video cassette and said that there was a mimicry artiste worth looking at. Immediately Padmarajan said, “Mimicry is not a good art. It is a copy of what other people do. I don't want such a person in my film.”

But Anantha finally persuaded his father to have a look. And the director liked what he saw. “Padmarajan Sir called and offered me a role,” says Jayaram. “It was a turning point in my life.” Shooting began on February 18, 1988.

Jayaram played a dual character. “The actions taken by a criminal is borne by another, who looks like him,” says Jayaram. The film was a box office hit and established Jayaram as a bright star of Mollywood. Today, Jayaram is celebrating his 25^th year in the industry, having acted in more than 250 Malayalam and Tamil films.

Asked the reasons for his enduring success and popularity, Jayaram says, “Work as sincerely as possible. Give more than 100 per cent in your job. That is probably the reason why, so far, no producer or director, who has been associated with me, has ever said they will not work with me again.”

Another reason had been the extraordinary talent in Mollywood working together at the same time during the 1980s and 90s. They included Sankaradi, Tilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Mamukoya, Innocent, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattam Pappu and Cochin Haneefa. “They were exceptional people,” says Jayaram. “When you were pitted against them, you had to perform better. So, you improved automatically.”

And the improved Jayaram is as busy as ever. His latest film is ‘Bharya Athra Pora’ (My wife is not that good). “It is one of the best roles I have played,” he says. “Women will be able to identify with the characters.” Jayaram is also busy shooting for veteran director Joshy’s film, ‘ Kashmir ’.

So, a quarter century later, the mimicry artist has become a true original.  

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

The Cut-throat Corporate World

‘The Interview’ is a play that pushes the border of realism, with witty dialogues and deft acting

By Shevlin Sebastian

'The Interview' opens with a nervous young man (Karan Pandit), clutching a resume, and sitting on a bench outside an office. A secretary (Prerna Chawla), in a tight black skirt and white top and stiletto heels sits behind a table at one side. Soon, the young man is called in. And what should have been a straight-forward interview becomes a bizarre experience for Karan, thanks to the questions posed by the boss (Kashin Shetty).

Asked what he would like to drink, Kashin induces Karan to have a glass of whisky, instead of the usual tea or coffee. “Won't you have some?” says Karan. And Kashin says, with a straight face, “Not before an interview. I need to stay sharp and precise.”

When he looks at the resume, Kashin says, “Very impressive. Born in June, excellent.” And he proceeds to say how Geminis are honest people and good for the company. “In fact, there are a lot of Twins [symbol of Gemini] in management,” says Kashin. “It looks favourable to you.”

Next, Karan is forced to sign a confidentiality agreement, regarding the interview, and made to put on headphones for a lie detector test. And a series of one-line questions are hurled at him, like his age and preferred colour. Asked about his favourite number, Karan says, “4308.” Which provokes guffaws from the audience at the JT Pac, Kochi.

To curry favour, Karan says, “This company has a lot of vision.”

Kashin says, “What kind? Myopic?”

And so it went, with many unusual twists and turns. Kashin is having an affair with his secretary, and wants Karan to ask Prerna to quit and move on, so that the relationship can come to an end. If he convinces her, assures Kashin, Karan will get the job.
But Prerna is not willing to quit. “The fear of his wife has caught up with the boss,” she says. “And he sends you to tell me the news. That's middle management for you. I could file for sexual abuse and inform his wife.”

Meanwhile, Kashin's hysterical and uptight subordinate Keith (Adhir Bhat), is called in to do some additional questioning of Karan. During the few times when nobody is present in the office, Karan calls up his girlfriend on the mobile and appraises her of the situation. Later, amazingly, a murder takes place.

The 80-minute long play has been a success since its launch three years ago. “This is our 84^th performance,” says director Akarsh Khurana, of the Mumbai-based Akvarious Productions. The group has performed in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and in Muscat, Oman.

Clearly the play has struck a chord. “Everybody can relate to the characters, because it is set in the corporate world,” says Akarsh.

Incidentally, playwright Siddharth Kumar and Akarsh have a corporate background. “We used to attend meetings at a Mumbai-based company,” says Akarsh. “The boss would not speak a word till the dictaphone was switched on. Because everything he said had to be recorded. It was put into a data base, so that people could access whatever he had said. There were a lot of strange rules and diktats.”

Siddharth then got the idea to do something with an interview. “He wanted to push the boundaries of realism,” says Akarsh. “So, a straight-forward job interview enters into a bizarre space.”

And the audience have had varied reactions. During a question and answer session, after a recent theatre festival, some members said that people in the corporate world do not use bad language. “Immediately, other audience members disagreed,” says Akarsh. “A woman said, 'You are showing a lady as an object.' Then another woman stood up, and said, 'Secretaries are objectified in work places. We should accept the truth.'”

Akarsh was not upset by the salvos and rejoinders. “If the play leads to a certain amount of argument, that means it is succeeding,” he says.
'The Interview’ is a gripping play, that deals with human emotions, and the steps, moral or otherwise, people will take to advance their careers. Following the conclusion, in the lobby, a bespectacled man told one of the organisers, “I have come to see a play, after ten long years. I am glad I came for this one.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram) 

'I know His Authentic Self'

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn 

Shoba talks about her life with the actor Jagathy Sreekumar

By Shevlin Sebastian

During a trip to America, in 2007, Shoba lost her suitcase in transit. “I just had the salwar kameez I was wearing,” she says. Shoba felt depressed. In order to show solidarity, her husband, the actor Jagathy Sreekumar did not change his clothes. For a couple of days they attended functions in the same dress. “Jagathy felt that I would get upset if he kept changing his clothes, as any performer does, during a performance,” she says.

Finally, friends of Jagathy provided clothes, and they also went to a Pakistani shop, in New York, and bought sets of traditional salwar kameez. “I do not wear jeans and T-shirts,” she says, with a smile.

The first time Shoba saw Jagathy in the flesh was when he came to see her at her home in Kanjirapally for an official marriage meeting in 1979. She was only 18 at that time, while Jagathy was 28.

Jagathy was wearing a brick-red coloured shirt. “I remember he had a moustache and a pair of sunglasses in his pocket,” says Shoba.

In a brief conversation, Jagathy told her she should put on weight, as Shoba was very thin at that time. “I liked him,” she says. And so did her parents.

The marriage took place on September 13, 1979. They did not go for a honeymoon, but in later years Jagathy did take Shoba for several trips abroad. “I have been to America, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many other places,” she says. “We have gone as a family, with [son] Ramkumar and [daughter] Parvathy, sometimes, just the two of us, and, on other occasions, along with members of the troupe, when they go to perform in different countries.”

Apart from his talent as an actor, Jagathy is a good cook. When he returns home from shooting, he will buy a packet of fish and cook it himself. “He makes a very good Naadan fish curry,” says Shoba. Apparently, Jagathy learned to cook because his mother would be ill, with asthma, during his childhood.

As for his negative qualities, Jagathy has a short-temper. “It can be triggered off by the smallest of incidents,” says Shoba. “At the same time, he cools down quickly. He can also get angry when fans approach him while he is having dinner with the family.”

Till recently, Jagathy's family used to have some regular activities. As soon as a film would be released, they, along with Jagathy, would go and see the first show at one of the theatres in Thiruvanthapuram. Later, over dinner at a restaurant nearby, they would give Jagathy a feedback. 

“If he has acted well, I will praise him,” says Shoba. “Otherwise, I will say it was not that good. My children are more direct and will sometimes say, 'Papa, there was no need for you to have acted in this film. The role was not good enough for you.'”

For Shoba, although it is a thrill to see him on screen, she is always aware of a different Jagathy at home. “I know his true self,” he says. “At home, he is a mix of being very serious and loving. But he is always in a happy mood. He is not a person who becomes tense easily. For Jagathy, it is very important that I remain happy. He does not like me to look depressed or sad. So I try to be joyous, all the time, because he is the most important person in my life.”

Interestingly, this most important person practices his art regularly at home. “He has a mirror in his office room,” says Shoba. “Jagathy will make several facial expressions and observe himself closely. There have been times when he has spoken out aloud the dialogues of an upcoming movie. Sometimes, he will get angry and shout at me. Then he will go to his room, and stare at his face, and makes the same facial expressions he made at me and repeat the same sentences.”

The end result of all this practice has been a brilliant career for three decades in which Jagathy has acted in over a thousand films. Unfortunately, that vocation has come to a shuddering and tragic halt because of the near-fatal accident Jagathy was involved in, at Panambra in Malappuram district, on March 12, 2012. “He is making a slow recovery,” says Shoba in a sombre voice.

Asked for tips for a successful marriage, Shoba says, “One must have trust. You should be frank, honest, and respect each other. It is also very important to forgive each other.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

A Green Revolution, of a Different Kind

A former industrial engineer, Shubhendu Sharma, is planting forests all over the country to combat the degradation of the environment

 

By Shevlin Sebastian

In December, 2008, Dr. Akira Miyawaki came to give a talk to the staff of the Toyota car company at Bangalore. He is famous for creating natural forests in degraded environments in numerous countries. According to estimates, the 87-year-old Miyawaki has planted 4 crore trees in his lifetime.

 

In the audience, on that fateful day, was a young industrial engineer named Shubhendu Sharma. He was inspired by what he heard. “I realised that this is something which has to be done all over our country,” he says. It took Shubhendu two-and-a-half years to take the plunge, abandoning a brilliant career at Toyota, and heading in a direction which is rare for any middle-class boy in India.

 

His company, Afforestt Environmental Conservation Services, follows the Miyawaki method, with some minor modifications, to suit the Indian environment. So when Shubhendu comes across a barren land, one of the first things he does is to take samples of the top soil and from one metre deep.

This is taken to a laboratory where tests are done to find out the nutrients which are lacking. “If the soil does not have nitrogen I will look for a nutrient which is rich in nitrogen,” says Shubhendu. “This could be chicken manure from a poultry farm.”

He also checks the electrical conductivity which is a measure of how much water the soil can hold. Thereafter, a survey will be done to identify the native trees. Then orders will be placed with nurseries nearby to grow the saplings. 

“After that we will ensure availability of water,” says Shubhendu. “There has to be a boundary, like a barbed wire fence, on all sides, to prevent the saplings being eaten by cattle or taken away by people.”

An earth-mover is used to churn up the soil, and nutrients like herbs and organic manure are added. When this is done, the soil becomes very soft. 

“Once you provide such a soft medium, the penetration becomes very easy,” says Shubhendu. Within three months the roots of saplings will reach a depth of three feet. With such rapid growth a robust forest is created within three years. Incidentally, in an acre of land, 6000 trees can sprout up.

Thus far, Afforest has put up 17 forests – a total of 36,000 trees – in places like Nainital, Indore, Pune and Bangalore. “I feel a sense of urgency,” says Shubhendu. “According to worldwide statistics, every minute, forests the size of 36 football fields are being lost.” The maximum damage is being done in Indonesia and Latin America. Incidentally, his former company, Toyota, asked his help when it wanted to green its Pune plant. “I ended up making a forest of 10,000 trees on the perimeter,” he says.

Asked the advantage of having a forest in an urban area, Shubhendu says, “It adds 30 times more greenery to the area,” he says. “There is 30 times more carbon dioxide absorption and protection against noise pollution. If we start converting our lawns into forests we can save a lot of water because forests do not require water after three years. They also retain a lot of water. Every single tree contributes 60,000 gallons of water annually to the water table.”

In forests, you can also observe how nature behaves. “Nature will decide which tree will survive and which will not,” he says. “While there is continuous harmony, among the trees, there is also a ceaseless competition. The trees which are light-loving tend to grow tall, while those which are shade-oriented will stay shorter. So, a teak will shoot up, while a mango tree will flourish in its shade.”

For Shubhendu, his most moving experience occurred when he was planting trees for an IT company in Bangalore. Most of the employees came with their families to render help. He noticed a two-and-a-half-year-old girl who was planting the saplings all by herself. “She did it better than some grown-ups,” he says. “Even this small child knew how to plant saplings. This is something which is there in our genes that we have lost track of.”

He says that each and every person has a latent love of nature within them. “I have seen people get so deeply moved when they plant saplings that they become silent,” says Shubhendu. “For the next three hours, they get their connection back with nature. Many first-timers ask for more opportunities to plant saplings.”

And so, a former Toyota engineer is trying to spearhead a green revolution, of a different kind, in India. 

(Sunday Magazine, The New Indian Express, South India and Delhi)

All about Words and Sentences

Fr. George Kurukkoor is the official translator of the Catholic Church in Kerala

By Shevlin Sebastian

Every morning, Fr. George Kurukkoor enters a first-floor room at the Pastoral Orientation Centre at Kochi and sits behind a table. There are several glass-paned bookcases on all sides. These contain books in Greek, Sanskrit, Latin, Portuguese, Urdu, Persian, Malayalam, Hindi, and Spanish. 

There are 46 dictionaries, apart from grammar books of various languages. There are works on philosophy, theology, the Bible and various religions like Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity. Then there are history books: history of the world, India , Kerala and the church.

Fr. George is the official translator of the Catholic Church in Kerala. And he dips into the books in his library when he is in search of a wood or a phrase. “The types of books that I have translated include those dealing with social justice, catechisms, the Bible, morals, and constitutions of institutions.”

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council selects the books to be translated. “According to the Council, all the documents coming from Rome must be translated into Malayalam, and given to the people to read,” says Fr. George.  

But it is not an easy task. A 300-page book in Latin can take three months. “That is because I am translating from an Indo-European language to the Dravidian language,” says Fr. George. “The two families are quite different, so the exact style cannot be retained. Generally, a play of words, old sayings, and unusual grammatical sentences are avoided. If the source language is of the same family, translation is easier. So, Latin to English is easy, while Latin to Malayalam is difficult.”

So far, Fr George has translated 100 books in 22 years of non-stop work. On any given day, he begins at 8 a.m., and works non-stop -- with breaks for lunch, tea, an evening walk and dinner -- till 11.30 p.m.

It is easy for Fr. George to work long hours because the work is a passion for him. “I am very interested in languages and the new ideas that I come across while doing this,” he says.

But you have to be a particular type of person to do this job. Apart from a love of languages, the translator should be capable of sustained concentration. “A lot of time and mental effort is needed,” says Fr. George. “I don't watch TV or listen to the radio. I read the newspaper early in the morning for 15 minutes. When I begin to translate a work, it is the only thing on my mind. Without finishing it, I cannot do anything else.”

There are two types of translations: faithful and free. For the Bible, constitutions of institutions, documents and decrees from Rome, a faithful translation is needed. “So I do not change anything,” says Fr. George. “In faithful translations we cannot avoid using the exact wording, so it is not easy to read.” As for free translations, this is used for novels, essays and poetry. “The style and rhythm of the words can be changed according to the translated language,” says Fr. George.

The priest remembers fondly the first book that he translated. It was the ‘Rerum Novarum’ written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. “The book is probably one of the earliest to talk about social justice,” says Fr. George. At that time, in Europe, employees were not given sufficient wages and remained exploited. Then the ideology of Communism arrived. “But the Pope wanted to say that Communism cannot save the people without the help of religion,” says Fr. George. “He wrote about the necessity for living wages to be given, and the need for private ownership, human rights, and freedom to practise one's religion.” Later, Fr. George translated ten such documents by various other popes.

Not surprisingly, Fr. George is getting kudos for his work. “Many people tell me they can understand the teachings of the church in a much better way because it is in Malayalam,” says Fr. George. “Earlier, they would have to read it in Latin or English. That is the feedback I have received from every bishop and diocese.”

And he has also been given a nickname because of his work. “Since I have translated so many works written by the Popes, I am called ‘The Pope of Malayalam’,” says Fr. George, with a smile.

Unfortunately, there is nobody to inherit Fr. George’s mantle. “Many young priests do not know Latin now because our seminaries are no longer teaching it,” says the 72-year-old priest. “Knowing Latin is necessary because it is the language still used by the Vatican. If the Pope has to write anything, he will do it in Latin only.”

Presently, a teacher of Sanskrit at the Major Seminary at Mangalapuzha, Aluva, Fr. George encourages his students to study Latin and Sanskrit. “These two languages will help in the proper translation of works into Malayalam,” he says. “Students should also study Syriac and Greek.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)

A Polarising Impact

TV anchor and actress Ranjini Haridas has created powerful reactions, both positive and negative, in Kerala society

By Shevlin Sebastian

Sunil Mathew was in a good mood. After a hectic period of work, in his company in Dubai, he had taken a few days off to spend time with his family in Kochi. So, on May 16, humming a tune under his breath, he waited patiently in line in front of the emigration counter at the Cochin International Airport. It was a long queue and there were a few stars present. They included TV anchor and actress Ranjini Haridas, TV actress Asha Sharath and a top Mollywood comedian.

Suddenly, a man, Joji George (name changed) began shouting, at the top of his voice, at Ranjini, telling her that she had jumped the queue. “I was just behind Ranjini and she had not done such a thing,” says Sunil. “Joji began to shower the choicest of abuses, attacking her and her parents. Throughout Ranjini kept saying, 'Please mind your language'.”

A distressed Sunil, along with a few others, alerted the policemen who were standing nearby. After some effort, they managed to stop Joji's verbal abuse. “It was an upsetting situation,” says Sunil. “In fact, the one who should have been shouted at was the comedian, who had actually jumped the queue. What was surprising was how he kept quiet even as Joji was shouting. And Joji, through his actions, revealed his inherent bias and prejudice against a smart woman.”

There is something about Ranjini that provokes a strong emotional reaction, whether negative or positive.

“Whenever I think of Ranjini, the following words come to my mind: controversial, bold, and liberal,” says freelance writer Nandini Valsan. “She is proud to be who she is.”

Nandini saw her perform live at a show at the Durbar Hall. “I realised then that she has a magnetic personality,” she says. “Ranjini has the ability to mobilise an audience. That was when I began to appreciate her.”

Another event where Ranjini made her mark was when Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan came to inaugurate a showroom in Kochi. “As a compere she could hold her own against a celebrity like Shah Rukh Khan,” says Nandini. “She was not star-struck, nor was she fumbling, and she knew her English well. Ranjini is a person you would like to have on stage, representing Kerala. I don't think we have a compere at present who has that kind of confidence.”

Anna, the wife of Ernakulam MLA, Hibi Eden, is also an admirer. “Ranjini has style and poise,” says Anna. “People say that she is arrogant and a show-off, but I have never seen that. I have observed her in public functions where she has been a spectator and at various shops in Kochi and she has always behaved well. I feel that because she is a public figure, people say many negative things about her.”

Leading the negative charge are the men. “Whatever Kerala men say about the need for women to be empowered, what he basically wants is a soft and passive woman who will obey him,” says Anna. “They are looking for a 'paavam' girl. And Ranjini is the opposite: she is strong, confident and assertive. When men see this they get irritated and angry and bad-mouth her.”

Of course, there are sociological reasons behind this. "The patriarchal values and attitudes are still very strong in Kerala society,” says Professor John Kattakayam, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Kerala. “As a result, people cannot tolerate liberated women within its fold. I do not want to judge the behavior of Ranjini, but it is time our society learnt to accept the 'liberated woman'. Otherwise, the claim that we are a 'progressive society' will be a hollow one." 

Meanwhile, the woman at the centre of the controversy remains forthright as ever. “There are many men who cannot stand the sight of a successful, self-thinking, hard-working woman,” says Ranjini. “This is not about me. I am just a representative of all the women, like me, who are out there. And we say, 'Bring it on!'”

Her bold stance has many supporters, especially among womenfolk, at all levels of society. Says Saritha Mohan, who works as a personal secretary: “I like Ranjini a lot. She lets off a lot of positive energy, charm, and happiness John

But Anna strikes a note of caution: “Many women do appreciate Ranjini, but there are some who are jealous of her success,” she says. “It is a positive sign that Ranjini is able to make people jealous of her. It means she is having an impact. The disappointing aspect is that our society still does not appreciate successful and confident women at all.” 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)

Two-way Traffic

COLUMN: Spouse's Turn
 
Mekha talks about life with film director Rajesh Pillai

Photo by Kaviyoor Santosh 

By Shevlin Sebastian

Once in a while, the Thiruvananthapuram-based film director Rajesh Pillai would drop in to see his cousin Swapna Latha at the Nair Service Society College in Haripad. Swapna's close friend, Mekha Manohar, would also be there. The trio would chat a bit. When Rajesh would call Swapna on the phone, sometimes, he would have a brief chat with Mekha also.

On September 6, 2004, Rajesh gave Swapna a call and told her he wanted to marry Mekha. “I did not know what to reply,” says Mekha. “In this situation, it is difficult to give an answer quickly.”

So Mekha asked for a week's time. She had doubts. She was not sure whether it would work out. “Rajesh is well-to-do, while I belong to a middle-class family,” says Mekha. “I was not certain whether I could adjust. I spoke to Swapna about this.”

Subsequently, Rajesh called Mekha and told her not to worry. That calmed Mekha down and she said yes to the marriage. But when she told her parents, Manoharan and Valsala Nair, they asked her to wait, since Mekha's elder sister, Milsa, was yet to get married.

But Rajesh was unwilling to wait for long. For one, his mother had died in 2002 and he was living alone with his father, Dr. K Raman Pillai, 84, a former head of the department of political science at Kerala University. Mekha fell into a dilemma: should she listen to her parents or follow her heart. In the end, she opted for love.

The couple had a registered marriage on June 1, 2005, in the presence of Rajesh's father and their relatives. Mekha did not inform her parents till after the event was over. Not surprisingly, they were upset by her decision and stopped talking to her.

In 2005, Rajesh was going through a difficult period, trying to establish his career as a director. “There was no question of a honeymoon,” says Mekha. Rajesh's film, 'Hridayathil Sookshikkan', had just been released, and did not make an impact. He was having a tough time trying to get a producer for his next film. “He met many of them, but nobody said yes,” says Mekha. “In fact, a few insulted him.”

Rajesh went into a period of depression. “I became worried and unhappy to see my husband in this situation,” says Mekha. “I have to thank scriptwriter Sanjay who befriended Rajesh, gave him self-help books and tried to boost his spirits.” Finally, producer Listin Stephen agreed to make Rajesh's next film, ‘Traffic’.

In the meanwhile, Mekha got a chance to see different facets of Rajesh's character. “He gets close to people quickly,” says Mekha. “But Rajesh also can read them very well. So, he has learnt to stay away from those who could cause problems.”

Mekha also likes his helping tendency. “This is not necessarily confined to friends,” she says. “Rajesh helps strangers also if they come and ask him for help.”

Perhaps the one drawback is that Rajesh can be short-tempered. “And he spends money easily,” says Mekha. “Sometimes, I get worried.”  

Like any creative person, Rajesh has unusual habits. On most nights, at 10 p.m., without fail, he will see films on the DVD, along with Mekha. “We see all types of films – Malayalam, English, Hindi, French and Spanish,” she says. “Sometimes, we see two films one after the other.”

Rajesh also likes to go on late night drives in and around Thiruvananthapuram. “That is the time of privacy for us,” says Mekha. “It is very romantic and we open our hearts to each other.”

Two years went past. Mekha was feeling upset that she had no contact with her parents. So, Rajesh took the initiative and she was reconciled with them, just before Milsa’s marriage to the Dubai-based Tulasidharan.  

For Mekha her happiest moment took place on January 7, 2011. That was the day when Rajesh’s path-breaking film, ‘Traffic’, was released. She watched the second show at a hall in Thiruvananthapuram, along with her father-in-law and other relatives. Rajesh was in Kochi at that time.

“The clapping in the hall made me ecstatic,” says Mekha. “I could not watch the film. Instead, I was observing the audience reaction.”

And the most moving event occurred when Rajesh’s father came out of the hall and had tears in his eyes. “For so many years, Rajesh was known as Prof. Raman Pillai’s son,” says Mekha. “After ‘Traffic’, my father-in-law is known as Rajesh’s father.”  

(The New Indian Express, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram)