Re-christening

Very many people, in the course of their lives, acquire or are given names very different from the ones they have been given at birth.  So often these names stick, much more than the original names. 

I remember very well one of my students while I was doing my first year practical training in Kondadaba.  My Telugu was not at all good then and the students English was not any better! So at times I used to explain concepts and lessons using some Telugu.  Often I'd get stuck but they'd help me out with words and we fared well together.  On one such occasion I was using the analogy of horses and carriages, but got stuck for want of knowing the Telugu word for 'blinders'.  I tried my best and showed the class using my open palms besides my eyes.  Mariadas, sitting right at the first desk, in his enthusiasm shouted, "kommulu" (horns, in Telugu)!  We all burst out laughing - horns on horses?!  Ever since he was called 'kommulu' Mariadas.  Today he is a priest in the archdiocese of Visakhapatnam and his companions still refer to him as 'kommulu' Mariadas!

Fr Michael was narrating of times when he was a boy and those entering the aspirantate would change their names to avoid confusion.  If a boy named James entered the aspirantate and there'd already be someone with that name, he'd be asked to choose a closest alternative. Say he'd choose 'George'.  And next year there'd join a boy named 'George' and the poor guy would have to change his name! 

Another boy at school was called 'Armpit'.  Of course, that was not his name.  But that's what he was called all his school time.  It so happened that on the first day at school when asked by the teacher for his name, he announced, 'Am Peter'.  However to others it sounded 'Am-pit' and that was it! 

Then there was this boy in another school who was called Archie by all at school.  Even his parents called him Archie. But that was not his name at all.  Neither did anyone, not even his parents, know why at all he was called Archie!  But that was how he was called by everyone all his life. 

Hay fever

One of the many pleasant memories I have of my 5 years of stay in Kondadaba was the continued learning of the local language.  Well it was Telugu, but not the same Telugu as elsewhere.  Most of all, it was a constant 'upgrade' trying to understand what Apparao our gardener spoke.  (I was better; Fr KT Jose who was there for 12 years still could not follow most of what Apparao spoke and neither did Apparao understand what Fr KT spoke!).  Anyway, the adventure was always enriching and entertaining.

Being here in the UK, one gets to pick up typical phrases and sayings of English particular to the British.  'Hay fever' is one that I learnt today.  In my usual existing vocabulary it would be 'pollen allergy'.  There are some who struggle much or little, especially the following morning, after a couple of hours of work in the garden.  Here in UK it is referred to as 'hay fever'.  Those allergic to pollen end up sneezing, blowing their noses, struggling for breath, eyes turning red or struggling to keep them open or close them...

Lenten joy

Every year when we come round to this time of the year when we have to plan for the community Lenten penance, and discussion is most often around giving up food, I invariably remember my second year at Kondadaba as Dean and administrator.  That was the year when we did not receive the annual subsidy from Rome.  We were in a tight fix.  We were scraping on the savings of the previous years.  Not that we were desperate, but we really had to tighten our belts.

Now for a group of 70 young men, who were used to having good food and quite a bit of luxury to suddenly feel the pinch of it was not easy.  However, during one house assembly I presented them the financial difficulty we were going through and asked the Brothers to bear up.  Honestly I did expect some repercussions.  However, I was surprised at the way the Brothers rose up to the occasion.  Not only did they not complain or grudge but came forward with suggestions and actually carried out most of them, even without telling me, as to how to cut expenses.  What really touched me was the joy with which they bore up with the inconveniences.  It was not tolerated. They were happy to be part of a community.

So towards the end of the year, when we had the community meeting to decide on the Lenten penance, there was again suggestions of what to give up and abstain and all.  After some time I got up and sincerely acknowledged the sacrifices made by the community all through the year, that too joyfully.  And hence, I said, you need not do more than what we have already been doing.  Let's just continue with greater joy!  There was a huge round of applause.

In all my years of handling money/administration, that was the happiest year - not just for me but for the whole community!

Most of those in that academic year...

Cooking

Yesterday morning when I returned from the Parish Mass, I was all by myself in the house and I said to myself, perhaps I could try my hand at some cooking.  I didn't try much of an adventure and settled to make some noodles.  I did 'cook' noodles ultimately - of course, those who really cook can always contend that noodles doesn't qualify under cooked-items. Anyway, it was good - why wouldn't it be!

The only time I ever cooked was during my first year of Practical training, in 2000 while at Kondadaba.  It was the Christmas holidays and I was the only staff member in the house and I generously granted all the domestic helpers some holidays.  Only after this act of generosity, was I told that a handful of boys would come and stay for a sort of vocation camp!  Rather than send word for the cooks, I tried the first day.  I started with something in mind, but it turned out to be a brand new dish!  The boys didn't know who the cook was and since I was the only 'authority' in the house, they asked me what was the dish they had for supper.  We all survived the day.  However, I did not want to experiment on the boys and called back the cooks for the next few days.  

Pilgrim centre vs tourist centre

What's the difference between a pilgrim centre and a tourist centre?  I agree with Fr Maliekal when he says there isn't much in today's world. But in truth there is a very subtle difference.  The former is where visitors or guests are led to a spiritual experience; some place where the focus of energy, resources and enterprises is on offering those who come there a divine encounter.  The tourist centre, on the other hand, limits itself to offering an aesthetically enriching experience.

This struck me when I look at the Kondadaba hill and more especially this morning when we were inaugurating the Assissi garden in the Seminary itself.  In the name of beautification of the place, we sacrifice the spiritual dimension.  Nature itself is beautiful but to add more and more cosmetics to it, kills the natural beauty and what remains is something of a 'concrete jungle' with every bit artificially erected. Nothing natural! How then can one expect to encounter a 'living' God??

The joke of the Assissi garden was when a branch of a big tree under which the statue was being installed was thought to be dangerous for 'St Francis', I mean the statue!  As it is, there is enough cement and colour painted for the pedestal and the basement!  So the branch was also a threat!  Luckily the still is breathing above St Francis!

Making every feast afresh

At the end of a hectic day and a very long but intense and meaningful preparation and celebration of our community day and the jubilee celebration of two of our confreres on November 25, Fr Maliekal (one of the Jubilarians) concluded the day stating thus:  We Salesians of Don Bosco have a way of making every feastday special and vibrant.  We build every feast anew. Not merely repeat the same old things but do things from the start all afresh and new.  Therefore there is no boredom or redundancy in our celebration, we start every preparation and celebration from the scratch.

I firmly agree with him.  This was also one of the reasons for the bigger crowd of audience this year. Most of them congratulated me and explicitly mentioned that they love the novelty and creativity that they get to see here in the programmes put up by the Seminarians.  It is primarily for that they come to the Seminary.  And this time they certainly were not disappointed... neither were any of us!

I certainly enjoyed this year, though it was tough managing and coordinating alone, but the Brothers did very well and each did their role to the best of their abilities. They too are very happy with the effort they put in and the consequent result that was there for all to see. 

Sunshine!

After seven full days of rain not a bit of sunshine we had our first rays of sunshine in eight days this morning.  The past week was all rain and clouds, not one ray of sunshine we had.  Well for some parts of the world this may not seem anything odd or strange, but this has never been in Andhra Pradesh.

Rain has been pouring rather steadily all week long.  That was the only saving grace. If only it was torrential, then it would have been catastrophic.  As of today, there is water everywhere.  The ground is all wet and unable to soak in any more water.  Neither can it flow anywhere because all low lying areas are already under water.  Some parts of the Seminary which never got drenched by flowing water, are now submerged!  Our open well is so full that we can draw water with our hands!  The well is almost 80 feet deep.

Confusion, Drama, Devotion

This year's Parish feast, held yesterday and today, was more peaceful than the earlier couple of years that I was a witness to.  As opposed to the past two years, I did manage to steal an hour of sleep at night yesterday - something I thought would only be a dream! Though there were some trouble-makers it was not a big nuisance.  I was happy to note that quite a few of the youngsters who gave us a lot of trouble last year were sober last night and surprisingly did recognise me too.  Practically all of those young people came by to wish and speak to me for sometime at least.

However, as ever this sort of mega-celebration is more of a confusion, drama and tension than devotion and spirituality.  Perhaps I'm being a dualist - dissecting the secular and the spiritual... perhaps, all the confusion and noise and tension and fights and drinking and what not, is part of the whole spiritual exercise - if not for us, at least for the pilgrims.

Anyway, God bless them all!

Picnic group

A group of children accompanied by a couple of their teachers and the Sisters Community (of the Mary Mediatrix congregation) were with us for the past two days as their picnic. The group are students from a school in Karimnagar and they joined us mostly for their supper, since during the day they were out visiting some picnic spots in and around Vizag.

I was pleasantly surprised by their smartness. They were all of the 10th standard students and supposedly from a rural area.  Given all these facts, I certainly did not expect them to be frank and forthcoming in their interactions.  I was proved totally wrong as they spoke good English (some of them spoke even better than our Brothers!), were free and at home interacting with us all, quite sportive and very reverent too.  Though they did not get to see the Seminary during the daylight, they were keen to take a round of the same at least in the night.  Some of them were so taken up with what they saw, that they wanted to stay back for some time.  And I told them, those inside long to get out and those outside love to get in!  

Staff outing

I accompanied five of our seven staff members for a day out.  They were asking for a picnic since long and I gladly obliged since they work really hard and are sincere about their responsibilities.  We visited Kailasgiri, Vuda Park (though the were expecting to see it in its glorious past) and respecting their desire I took them for a movie to INOX at the Beach Road.  They were quite happy with that new addition to their list of things seen!  We also had our lunch in the multiplex itself, but I'm sure they did not enjoy it - neither did I.

The last lap was a long walk along the beach.  Besides the walk, it was also an occasion for them to talk freely, laugh and pull one another's leg, imitate some mannerisms of staff and students and recall some of the past experiences.  All in all, they were happy. 

Our regular guest and friend

This is our famous Chiranjeevi. His real name is Appalnaidu. Unfortunately he is slightly imbalanced in his mind but certainly not in his heart. He is a regular figure in the Seminary and the 'chief guest' of every function in the campus.  He has his routine carefully chalked out for the day (any day) based on requirements of his stomach!  Though aged, he appears like a kid. His talk is all mumble and anything but sensible.  His clothing is always a gift from someone, mostly Brothers old clothes. I should say that for the past few months he has been very tidy and neat.  He takes bath everyday at the gate - a full-fledged one at that - keeps his clothes tidy (though one does not get to see him wear the same shirt again!) and has his secret place for hiding his soap!

Whenever he is hungry he seeks me out and asks for food.  If I permit him, he'd go towards the kitchen with a big smile; if not, he'll wait for me at the far end of the gate (near the kitchen) - no matter how long it takes for me to  reach that part of the house.  Not once has he approached the cooks by himself asking for food - though he could very well do that, for he is from their own village and know to them all!

Once in a way he asks for money. But if I tell him to 'next time', he will happily go away.  Never does he pester anyone for money.  He gets a lift wherever he wants to, simply because everyone around here knows him to be a simple guy with absolute nothing more than mere humanity! If none offer him a lift he is happy to walk all the way, singing away! He has an interesting hobby: collecting bits of newspaper with ladies photos, mostly movie actresses.

At times I wonder, how fortunate I am in comparison with Chiranjeevi and at times I feel humbled that he is more human than I. I suppose, these are all God's own ways to remind us of the blessings He bestows on us and which we most often take for granted. 

Youth Day 2012

On Sunday we had about 120 young people from the neighbouring villages and Parishes participating in an animation programme based on Trust /  Faith.  I was asked to animate the whole day but I declined for I wanted to guide the Brothers themselves (those who normally organise the day) to graduate from performing 'something' to animating the young with due and diligent preparation.  So I suggested that they have three sessions, one of which the Brothers animate, for which I would certainly help and guide.

I really found it much harder to get them do what they were supposed to do than doing it myself. However, today looking back on the day, I am more than happy.  The Brothers who slogged it out are much more happier than I.  All in all, I spent nearly 4 hours (collectively) with the two Brothers who were animating a 60 minute session. For a start it was great.  The two later came to share their rich experience going through the grind of it.  One of them, towards the end added, "I usually give a sermon every alternative week in my ministry place and I never found it very difficult or different.  But preparing for this programme was very very different, for I did not want to take chances with you!" Of course, he was really grateful and very elated.  

Gladiator Mary!

Two days ago we had the Marian Nite, organised and prepared by Br Anil, our Assistant / Regent.  It was short and quick. One of the many things the Brothers had to do was to dress up one among the team as Our Lady with just newspaper and cellotape.   Here are a couple of the creations.  The best was the one titled by one Brother in jest: Gladiator Mary!

Here's the one of the whole group calling themselves the 'Knights of Mary'... 

and a couple more Mother Marys...

Independence day special

Our Independence day special at Kondadaba: Longer hours of power cut!  We normally have 8 to 10 hours of power cut everyday.  Today seems no different!

Anyway, we were blessed with the heaviest showers of the season so far, yesterday evening.  Hope we get a few more of that intensity before the season ends.  Our lake and well are both dry.  We are just surviving on a single submersible bore.  

To hell!

We spent some quality time together as the staff today.  One stayed back due to ill health and the remaining five of us went up to the Simhachalam temple (it has become more complicated now than when I first visited it about 11 years ago), the Rushikonda beach (just to wet my feet), Kailasgiri (in spite of the dry spell, I should say that the place is kept rather neat and well) and finally to Ross hill (where the MSFS community treated us very kindly and happily).

Fr T.V. Jose (Professor), Fr Balaswamy (Spiritual Director), Fr Maliekal (Rector) and Br Anil (Regent)

We had ample time in the jeep to share and talk all sorts of things - even pull each others legs!  The best joke of the day was one shared by Fr Maliekal.  

A Priest celebrating Mass was offered some money to pray for the repose of the soul of a lady who passed away sometime ago.  Though the Priest prayed during the Mass, he did not make a public announcement of it to the congregation.  The man who offered the Mass was not at all happy. He kept nagging the Priest as to why he did not announce it, to the point where the Priest all desperate reached into his pocket, pulled out the Rs 7/- (that's all was given to him) and handing it back to the man said, "Here, take back your money and let your wife go to hell!"

Shifting base & focus

I shifted to the Administrator's room sometime just before the Brothers arrived after their summer vacation.  Till last year, I was in the Dean's room/office and would be present in the administrator's office only after meals for any financial transactions.  The rest of the time, whenever not involved in class or assisting the Brothers in the study hall or library, I would be in the Dean's office.

For all practical purposes, it seems all fine.  However, I've very well noticed that this shift of location and base had indeed shifted also my focus.  Given the fact that there have been enough and more events that have occupied my mind and space in the past one month, I cannot deny the fact that I'm now more functioning as the administrator than the dean.  Castilino, the administrator is superseding, Castilino the dean!  For some it may not make any sense but for me, I find it odd.  I certainly desist this administration role and would anytime prefer to be with the Brothers for all their activities than be the PR for all and sundry (that's another role I've to play, with my room being the closest to the main gate). 

Horses' horns

While talking to the young priest who visited the Seminary today, I was reminded of an incident in class concerning this Priest, years ago when he was a student here and I was the Assistant and professor. For something I was giving the example of blinders put on the horses.  Trying to enable the students to understand the word 'blinders', I put my hand beside my eyes and explained to them that it is something the horse have in order to keep their vision straight ahead and not get distracted by all that goes on around it.  Even before the class could hear my last word, this particular Brother blurted out, "Horns!"  The ensuing laughter lasted that whole morning! From then on it was very easy to refer to that Brother, especially given the fact that there were a couple of Brothers with the same name - he was known as 'Kommula Bhaskar' (name changed); meaning, Bhaskar with horns!

Brothers arrive at Kondadaba

The Brothers arrived yesterday evening and soon after Mass I conducted a short interaction for the whole community to facilitate knowing one another.  It turned out well.  In all this year we would be 70 in all (64 Brothers and 6 staff members). I think this is perhaps the least number so far in the history of this seminary for a three year cycle batch.  The last I remember was that there were 60 for the last two year cycle of this Seminary in 2000, when I was the Assistant here.

I've not really got into the dynamics of the community and the Brothers as I had my exam today.  I was least prepared for this day's Social and Political Philosophy. Luckily for me, I got the same questions that were asked for the assignment which I wrote just a couple of hours prior to the exam.  Except for one question, of which I had absolutely no hint about the answer, the rest were a roller-coaster.  However, I did attempt the 'impossible' one too.  

Last day together

The last two batches of the Brothers left today morning.  We are now just the staff and a couple of the Brothers to help out during the summer.  To have the seminary all empty without the Brothers is quite a strange feeling.  No wonder, it is always people that make a house a home.  

Fallen but not broken...

Fallen but not broken... heart-shaped mango from our garden!