ALTER IDEM

Only sixteen, but it seems to me like I started this blog aeons ago!!! Yesterday, I read in the newspaper that Karnataka stood second in the country when it came to deforestation. From 2021-2023, we lost 460 sq km of green cover. We have no right to complain about animals and birds invading our space... My annual ' story share ' is from the Jataka tales - reiterating the fact that we humans have always been insensitive about the creatures who share the planet with us. As long as we get what we want, we do not care/ think about their needs.  The story 👇🏼 On a mango tree beside a river lived a monkey king with his subjects. During the mango season, the monkeys ensured that no fruit fell into the river - they did not want humans to know about the fruit. Humans, they feared, would destroy them and their habitat for the delicious fruit. One day, a mango fell into the river unnoticed by the monkeys. Downstream, it caught the attention of a king who was bathing in the river. He ...

Happy Fifteenth, Alter idem! Once upon a time, a man went to a monastery and spent a few days meditating. Though he felt rejuvenated, he sensed that something was missing. He asked a monk in the monastery about it.  The monk said that inner peace came from accepting everything that happened to oneself. Acceptance instead of resistance was the key to the monk's peaceful demeanour. Enlightened, the man returned home.... Hereby, I am accepting the fact that I am unable to update this space as often as I would like to...  Peace!✌🏾 ✌🏾

Alter Idem turns fourteen today! Last year, I'd said "I will post the  short story  asap".....  and, forgot about it 😞 This won't happen again! Early this year, I was on a short trip to Hampi - the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is also supposed to be Kishkindha - the kingdom of the Vanaras.  I have no words to describe the unique landscape, the awesomeness of this city in ruins. Here's a picture I took from Matanga Hill, the highest peak in Hampi.  If the stones could speak, it would be interesting to hear the stories hidden in the nooks and crevices! The Vijaya Vittala temple complex in Hampi houses the famous stone chariot found in our 50 rupee note. In addition, this complex has other buildings, stone reliefs... This particular stone relief was very fascinating, because I had not come across any story involving Hanuman and babies (other than Makaradhwaja).  And, thus starte...

Alter Idem is a teenager from this day  😊  Since I am having a hectic schedule today, I will post the short story asap!

 As Alter Idem turns twelve today, one part of me wants to quit this space.... and, another wants to trudge along!!  Well--- the year I forget to write this obligatory birthday post , I will quit... Today's short story is from Zen teachings.  Four friends, on a week's vow of silence, managed to keep it for a couple of days.  And then, on a particularly dark and scary evening, Friend 1 asked a passing servant to light a few lamps. Friend 2 instinctively reminded him about the vow.  Immediately, Friend 3 chided both of them for breaking the vow, while Friend 4 gloated that so far, he had been able to keep the vow --- a story that tells us how important it is to focus our thoughts if we want to achieve our goals.... Now, most of you would have come across this story. What you don't know, of course, is a somewhat similar story I had heard as a child. I will share it --- even though it is an improper one and quite cringy.  Dear reader, please treat the following...

Alter Idem turns 11 today... and that means, story time !   It was a very cold, wintery morning, and, Akbar and Birbal were walking by the river. On a sudden whim, Akbar announced a huge reward to anyone who would spend an entire night standing in the river, neck deep in water.  The biting cold deterred all except an extremely poor man, with a large family (let's call him 'Bechara'). Seeing his best opportunity to change his life forever, Bechara decided to take up the challenge.   After completing the challenge successfully, the winner was taken by the referees to Akbar's court to collect the reward. Jealous acquaintances thwarted the reward by telling Akbar that the lamps from the buildings nearby would have kept Bechara warm. The dejected Bechara rushed to Birbal for help....   The next day, Birbal invited Akbar and the jealous acquaintances for lunch. An hour past lunch time, the invited guests began to get restless about the lunch not being serve...

Alter Idem turns ten today! In a fit of nostalgia, I browsed through all that I have written since November 13, 2009! For the first couple of years, I have written quite a bit! With 4-7 posts an year, the mid couple of years have been not-so-bad. In the last couple of years though, I haven't written much. One thing I have not yet given up on is the blogiversary post! Keeping with my blogiversary tradition, I will be sharing a short story today. Today's story is from the Zen teachings.  I do not remember where I read this one - a newspaper, perhaps...   Two friends, walking down a path, were discussing their dreams. Friend A narrated that when he woke up, he was swimming in a pool of honey and nectar whereas Friend B was swimming in a pool of slush and filth. It was now Friend B's turn to narrate his dream. He said that he had the same dream as well! But, when he woke up, Friend A was licking his fingers and he, was licking Friend A's fingers! Zen stories alw...

You know, Alter Idem turns 9 today! How time flies! Between the last b'day and this one, I could manage only one post. There seems to be a lack of time for everything!! That's why, without further ado, I'll share the short story for this year.  First time visitors ---- it's a tradition on Alter Idem - to share a short story that I have read and liked, as the birthday post. Click on the label 'B'day' at the end of this post if you want to check out the earlier stories. I'd read this story in one the weekend editions of the Kannada daily, Udayavani. It's a story from the Middle East - author unknown. Once upon a time, the ruler of a certain kingdom wanted to know how best 'peace' could be portrayed in paintings. Several painters of the land submitted their works - of mountains, blue skies, forests and lakes - all serene and beautiful. One painting, however, was a total contrast - dark skies, lightning and heavy showers.... at first g...

This is my100th post, and today is the eighth birthday of Alter Idem !! That's an average of a post per month......1.04 to be precise!! I have always celebrated Alter Idem 's birthday by sharing a short story that comes to my mind when I begin to write the 'birthday post'. Today's story is from the Ramayana. I thought of it as I was unloading photographs from the phone a few minutes ago. The pic below was taken at Amritapura . The Amriteshwara temple, like other temples built in the Hoysala style, has carvings on the outer walls depicting episodes from our epics and mythology. And, let me tell you, it is such a pleasure to recognise the anecdotes depicted by the sculptor!! Looking for Seeta, Rama and Lakshmana reach Kishkinda and befriend Sugreeva. Sugreeva seeks Rama's help to kill his estranged brother, Vali. In return, he offers to help Rama track Seeta. However, Sugreeva is not sure if Rama could match his brother's strength. To prove ...

The year between the sixth and the seventh b'day of Alter Idem has simply flown by! I could manage only three posts in between. And, I am yet to score my century!  I have noticed that it is not ONLY me. Most of the blogs that I follow have been going through this inactive, rarely- updated phase. No doubts.... we have been charmed by the likes of Facebook, Whatsapp, etc! Speaking for myself, social media has also reduced the quality time I used to keep aside for reading - something that I'm realising now, when I have to come up with an interesting short story for the birthday post.  Thank goodness, my resolution for the anniversary post is to share a story that has stayed with me long after I have read it! This year, I'll share a lesser known story from the Indian mythology - of how a tree came into existence. I had read this story in a book called 'Brahma's Hair' by Maneka Gandhi. The book is a collection of myths and stories from all over the country -...

  Alter Idem turns six today!  I started out by sharing a short story. That's why, I mark the birthday of this blog by sharing some short story that I have read - usually, the first one that comes to my mind as I begin to write the 'Birthday Post'......... Last month, I came across an anecdote - A friend wagered Ernest Hemingway to write a short story using six words only...... and, it had to make the readers sad. Of course, EH won the bet - and, here's the short story...                                          For Sale : Baby Shoes. Never Worn. There! For the first time, I have shared an entire short story... as it is!!  I'm sure Ernest Hemingway didn't have to think very hard to come up with this one. He is a master story teller who can convey quite a ...

Alter Idem turns five today! It means, 'Story-time' .... You know, many a time, when you read a short story, you are not aware of the impact it would have made to the author's career.  I had read the story Sooryana Kudure by Sri.U.R.Anantamurthy about 5-6 years ago. But, it was only when the author passed away three months ago that I came to know - it is rated as one of the best stories in Indian fiction. Sooryana Kudure literally means 'The Sun's Mount'. In some dialects of Kannada, it means 'Grasshopper' (the insect). The story is so true- to-life that you can relate to the characters and the narrative if you have lived in the Malnad  for a considerable period! Here goes.... Anantu is on a visit to his hometown. At the market place, he runs into his school-mate and childhood friend, Venkata - the dunce of their class. Venkata is now an expert masseur - cum- astrologer and he convinces Anantu to be his client, and, thus, guest for the day. Thoug...

Yes!! Alter idem is four today! As usual, to celebrate, I'll share a short story. You know, normally, I share the first story that comes to my mind as I begin to write the 'anniversary-post'. This time, I decided to rack my brains to remember something unusual and less known.......  After some serious thinking, one of my favourite writers, Oscar Wilde, came to my rescue!  I had read this story about 5 years ago in an anthology of short stories written in the 19th century. Since I have forgotten the names of the characters, I'll call them X, Y & Z ('Maths-style'!). X, an idle aristocrat is snacking in one of Paris' street cafes when his friend Y joins him - with the complaint that he does not understand women. The sagely X tells Y that women are meant to be loved and not understood, and offers to solve Y's 'love - problem'....  At this, Y shows X a picture of Z and asks for his opinion. The expert that he is, X concludes that there i...

 As Alter Idem turns three today, I have been thinking about how it came to be...... It started out as one of the by-products of my lonely evenings, and continues to be that! The name of the blog...... I had come across the term Alter Idem (meaning - 'the same, yet different') some years ago. It must have stayed in some corner of my mind. Because, it was one of the first names that came to me when I was thinking of a suitable name for my blog. And, the picture on the header.... Travel anywhere in the Malnad between 8. a.m. & 10. a.m., and you will run into the cow/ goatherd with his wards. I have often wondered about the cowherd - have thought about how a profession that used to be represented by someone as multi-faceted as Lord Krishna has come to be represented by someone who's generally classified as 'good-for-nothing' ! Of course, they're a nuisance to other road users. But, then, there's something nice, peaceful and reassuring about the ent...

Alter Idem turns two today :) For no particular reason, I began by sharing a favourite short story. While thinking of a post to mark the first b'day, I decided to start a tradition - of sharing short stories on Alter Idem 's b'days - preferably, stories that have been with me for ages after I have read them. Here's Annayya's story....set, I think, in the 1950s-60s. Annayya, a Brahmin from Mysore, goes to the US for higher studies. He settles down well to the American way of life, food habits,..... Often, Annayya's lady-friends ask him questions about Hinduism and to be better equipped, he begins to read books on Hinduism! Soon, he develops a genuine interest and spends a lot of his free time in the library - reading books on Hinduism. One day, Annayya chances upon a newly published book by an American, on customs and rituals among Hindus. He flips through the pages - references to verses from ancient texts, photographs, detailed descriptions of the v...

Alter Idem (Second Self) turns one today :) I had begun by sharing a short story. You know, I have decided - I'll mark every year by sharing a short story. This story dates back to my high school days. Back then, summer hols meant visiting grand parents - going to native place :) One corner of the attic in my maternal grand-parents' place was (probably, still is!) reserved for dumping old books and magazines. On some afternoons, this would be my time-pass haven. If it was the jokes that lured me to the college mags, it was the articles and features in English mags like The Illustrated Weekly of India , the short stories in Kannada mags,.... I read this story in Sudha , a mag that has launched so many Kannada writers, and, a mag that is still around :) The story, then ... Here's Parvati, waiting for her husband, Shankar, a Yakshagana artiste, to come home. Now, Yakshagana is one of the few surviving folk arts of Karnataka - characterised by elaborate costumes,...

Sometime, early last year, the 'MT' set of cousins decided that a group blog was a good platform to exchange views / ideas and keep in touch. They extended their invitations to their cousins 'on the other sides', and, that was how, I came in. Of course, I knew my cousins and had heard of/ met a few of the others as well. I liked the idea and accepted the invitation. While accepting the invitation, I had half-decided that my participation would be limited to commenting on what the others wrote! Soon, e-chaavadi was born. Chaavadi , in Kannada, is an open veranda. Now seen only in large, ancient homes, chaavadi is an informal, relaxing space for the family members/ friends. Unfortunately, e-chaavadi didn't take off as expected. Only a couple of folks - folks who already had their own blogs- had contributed. The administrator finally sent a mail to the rest of us - asking us to contribute something. I do not know how many of us responded, but, I promised to wr...

Of late, I have been reading a lot of short stories. I think that most short stories have their roots in real- life incidents. Also, attend to a short story closely, and you can tell something about the author! One of the earliest short stories that I remember reading is about an old man who plays extra roles in movies.To land these roles, he has to hang around film studios everyday and roles at his age don't come by easily. One day, a famous director offers him a role - that of a retired gentleman on his way home from buying groceries. The scene requires the old man to be window shopping as the hero storms out of the shop and dashes into him, thus, upsetting his bag. All he has to say is 'Oh!' and the fee is very good. Our man agrees, happy to be in the famous director's film. While thinking about his scene at home, our man realises that 'Oh!' when said in different ways can mean different things. Much to his wife's annoyance, he spends his whole evenin...