YOGA THERAPY CENTER

 Yoga is the physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines that aim to purify or transform the elements in the body and mind to obtain vital energy. The origin of Yoga and its practices is part of the pre-Vedic heritage and Indian traditions. The contributions made for the development of Yoga by the Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism is significant. The term yoga is derived from the literal meaning of "yoking together" a span of horses or oxes, but came to be applied to the "yoking" of mind and body. The earliest accounts of yoga-practices are to be found in the Buddhist Nikayas. Parallel developments were recorded around 400 B.C. in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which combines pre–philosophical speculations and diverse ascetic practices of the first millennium B.C. with Samkhya-philosophy. By studying Samkhya, we can deepen our understanding of the Yoga Sutra. It can enrich our yoga practice with meaning, and realize how to bring yoga into our lives for greater health, happiness, and enlightenment. Hatha Yoga emerged from tantra by the turn of the first millennium.

The first Hindu teacher to actively advocate and disseminate aspects of yoga to a western audience was Swami Vivekananda. He toured Europe and the United States in the 1890s. The amazing reception which Swamy Vivekananda received built an active interest in Yoga and Vedanta on the intellectuals of those countries.  Gurus, learned experts on yoga, from India, later introduced yoga to the West in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, following the success of Swami Vivekananda. In the 1980s, yoga became popular as a system of physical exercise across the western world. Since 2001, the popularity of yoga in the USA has risen constantly. The number of people who practiced some form of yoga has grown from 4 million in 2001 to 20 million in 2011.

“Yoga promotes profound mental, physical and spiritual awareness.” Its form of stretching, and as an enhancer of breath control and of core strength is emphasized by great men. U.S. President Mr.  Barack Obama throws weight behind yoga by eloquently saying, "Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United states, crossing many lines of religion and cultures," the White House said without any reference to the ongoing controversies and lawsuit. "Every day, millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being. That's why we're encouraging everyone to take part in PALA, so show your support for yoga and answer the challenge." President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama  included a 'yoga garden' for children and their parents who attend the traditional Easter Egg Roll festivities in the White House premises at Washington.

 Yoga exercise, breathing, and meditation can be an excellent training for children and adolescents. It is both, a form of physical exercise for breathing, focus, mindfulness, and stress relief: Yoga improves concentration. Meditation in Jainism aims at realizing the self, attaining salvation, liberating the soul. Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of meditation techniques that aim at  developing mindfulness,  concentration, supra mundane powers, tranquility and insight.

Yoga-Yajnavalkya, a classical treatise on yoga is attributed to Yajnavalkya, a Vedic sage, who defined it like this; “Yoga as jivatmaparamatmasamyogah, or the union between the individual self, jivatma, and the Divine, ‘paramatma’.”  The text contains 12 chapters and its origin has been traced to the period between the second century B.C. and fourth century A.D. Many yoga texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Yoga Kundalini and the Yoga Tattva Upanishads have borrowed verses from or make frequent references to the Yoga Yajnavalkya.

Yoga as medicine: While much of the medical community views the results of yoga research to be significant. Long-term yoga users have reported reduced symptoms of asthma in asthmatics. The regular yoga practice increases and improves memory levels. The three main focuses of Hatha-yoga (exercise, breathing, and meditation) make it beneficial to those suffering from heart disease. Yoga may reduce high blood pressure, improve symptoms of heart failure, enhance cardiac rehabilitation, and lower cardiovascular risk factors. Yoga exercises decreases back pain. I understand that Yoga is used for treatment of cancer patients to decrease depression, insomnia, pain, and fatigue and increase anxiety control. It is also good to control diabetes and piles.

I attended Yoga classes with a professional yoga practitioners namely,       Prajapati Girija B. Nair at Kaloor and Babu Varghese at Desabhimani Road at Ernakulam. I learned a few of the techniques of yoga, some of the asanas, pranayama, and meditation, with their meanings and direction.

Some of the ‘asanas’ body postures I used to practice were:-

Vajrasana” Thunderbolt poses 

‘Pavanamukthasana’ Forward bent breathing out full air from lungs

‘Bhujangasana’ Cobra poses

‘Matsyasana’ Fish pose

‘Sarvangasana’ Shoulder stand

‘Ardhasalabhasana’ Half Locust pose

‘Salabhasana’ Locust pose

‘Naukasana ’Canoe pose

‘Pachimothasana’ sitting forward bend

‘Halasana’ Plough poses

‘Danurasana’ Bow poses

‘Gomukasana’ Cow faced pose

‘Padmasana’ Lotus poses

‘Savasana’ Corpse or Relaxed   pose

While performing ‘asanas’, the particular part of body gets  a natural massage through the stretching and releasing of muscles, nerve glands, skin, organs and joints. This can give a soothing effect by rectifying irregularities, if any, of that part.  Moreover, by regular practice of these different ‘asanas’ our body can be tuned to perfection. .

 I have noticed that they do not recommend certain yoga exercises for women during menstruation, for pregnant women, or for nursing mothers. However, meditation, breathing exercises, and certain postures which are safe and beneficial for women in these categories are encouraged. I would suggest that the beginners should commence their initial classes with professional instructors to avoid physical injuries.

As the demand for yoga classes has increased, many people get certified to become yoga instructors. Shri. Saburaj Tharayil hailing from Palluruthi, having six months certified course to his credit from “Yogendra Institute, Bombay.” He has been runnig an institute for Yoga Therapy for the last few years in Puthukkat House, near Siva Temple at Kumbalam. He says it is also good for Parkinson’s disease, back pain, paralysis, and for victims of accident.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

HEALTH AND HYGIEINE

My brother Jacob and I used to wake up early to behold the daybreak. It was interesting to watch the dawn in the presence of a cool breeze, coming from the east that rustled in the leaves. The gentle breeze ruffled and tousled our hair. The birds and the dogs were so vigilant that they made their presence felt. The cattle shook themselves off the ground, sniffed the air, and mooed. They too were getting ready for their morning chores. We could see pink and orange hues which slowly disappeared as the sunrise emerged on the eastern horizon. The sky then turned radiant blue. We noticed the rays scatter in different directions. It peeped through the branches and leaves of tall trees and gradually the sun shone in full splendour. We could hear the cacophony of men waking up in the neighbourhood. We noticed that the dew drops on the vegetation vanished into thin air. This spectacular sight of rising sun definitely gave me a positive energy.

It was interesting to watch our household morning chores. ‘Ammachi’ always had a few maids at her beck and call. She used to insist on cleaning the ‘Montha’, the ‘Kindis' and the brass lamps in the morning. ‘Montha’ is a small brass pot to keep water. ‘Kindis’ are brass goblets, which are water vessels with a snout. Every morning Kamalakshi, one of her helpers, cleaned them with ash from the fireplace and tamarind to make them sparkle. This was then filled with water and kept on the dwarf wall by the side of the entrance. Guests and other members of the household used this to wash the dirt off their feet before entering the ‘Mana’ when they come back from the field. Thereafter, the crockery and cutlery used on the previous night was to be rinsed spic and span. Then boiled water was kept ready in a big earthen pot. Health and hygiene were very important.

‘Kolambi’, a brass vessel with a large mouth was also one of the utensils commonly used. The old ladies who were in the habit of chewing ‘Murukkan’, a pan of betel leaves, Calcium hydroxide, a few areca nut pieces and little tobacco, and  conveniently spat out the sediments into this vessel. An attached bathroom was unheard of years ago. Toilets were bottomless, which were made out-door by the pond, a little away from the ‘Mana’. They opened into a pond where fish ate the excreta, a method of recycling waste. I have observed people at Angamali-Kalady belt in Kerala and in various places in Tamilnadu used pigs to do the same job. But these cannot be utilized for scavenging large quantities of excreta, as the population increased. This toilet made it difficult for the ladies to go out at night. The big ‘Kolambi’ with a large mouth therefore served the purpose of a urinal, which was covered after use and emptied out and cleaned in the morning. Pazhukka, Ayyappan’s mother, was entrusted with the duty of cleaning and keeping the courtyard fresh. Mariakutty used to sweep and swab inside the ‘Mana’.

I have noticed that Mariakutty used to mix the waste gruel with some coconut-cake for the cows. Some of the waste was thrown into the backyard of our kitchen for the fowls and ducks who would normally linger around there. The bio-degradable waste that was unfit for even the birds were put into a pit and covered with soil. These pits are normally dug up near the banana cultivation. Hence this natural manure generated from this provided excellent manure for the banana crop. The ‘Njalipuvan’ bunches from such banana crop were really delicious. 

Personal hygiene was also taken care of. ‘Umikkari’, a natural tooth cleaning powder obtained from burnt paddy husk mixed with little salt or a spotlessly clean  mango leaf was used to clean our teeth.  ‘Ammachi’ used to clean my teeth with these concoctions which I never relished. It was a painful experience for me. Given a chance I would slip out and run away but all to no avail as her helpers too would join in to catch me. I enjoyed the pleasure of having my morning calls in the open ground; after which I demanded a bath. I insisted that ‘Ammachi’ herself should perform that task and not leave it to any of her helpers. I used to enjoy my bath with the transparent “Pears soap”, which had a gentle fragrance that lingered on for most of the day. I have given up on that now as the present opaque “Pears soap” does not appeal to me anymore. It could be because coconut oil the main ingredient for good quality soaps has found other substitutes. “It is significant to maintain the quality, quantity and price of a product.” I remember how Jacob and I used to pluck the leaves and flowers of the shoe flower plant (Hibiscus rosiness) to make ‘Thali’ a natural shampoo for ‘Ammachi’. On Saturdays she used to have an elaborate bath with all these homemade concoctions. ‘Inja’, beaten bark of Acacia intsia, was used to scrub the dirt from her body. She too loved to take a dip in the pond and have a bath there with us.

As population increased, modern amenities like attached bath rooms, toilets, wash basins and kitchen sinks started coming to this Island in 1970s. Diesel powered motor pumps were used to fill up tanks which stored water for use in the toilets and kitchen sink.  

I have noticed that pollution of the environment is a serious problem which has to be curtailed at the source itself. All plastic wastes, as far as possible, should be reused or recycled. It is definitely the duty of the administration to find suitable ways to recycle the non-bio-degradable wastes and / or ban such items totally in the larger interest of the state to protect the environment. The government should make proper arrangements for disposal of large quantity of garbage from markets, hotel wastes and rubbish from hospitals. The local authorities are justified in charging reasonable fees and charges from such hotels, restaurants and other business places. Littering in public places should be fined heavily to deter such individuals.

I would like to appreciate the earnest efforts taken by the government to create awareness among the public. Moreover, the subsidy given by the government through local administration to erect composte pits and bio-gas plants in an effort to reduce pollution is also commendable.

The Clean City Campaign commenced in 2010 namely “Suchithwabhodhanayajnam (SBY)” undertaken by Fr. Geoerge Pittapilly, a CMI friar, Co-ordinator Suchithwabhodhanayajnam,Rajagiri College of Social Sciences at Kalamassery, has created awareness among the public. During 1^st to 15^th of January 2010 and 2011 he had conducted marches carrying placards on a particular route of Ernakulam district, held a cleaning work and in the evenings he held meetings various points on his route and addressed the gatherings. The young and old alike participated in his venture and encouraged him. As I understand he wishes to continue the clean city campaign every year, A crusade for the protection of environment is highly laudable.

The Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, stressed the significance of improving the health and sanitation of the rural poor in India. His "Clean India Campaign" is picking up. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

DRINKING WATER

For drinking water the family members of the ‘Oli Mana’ depended on the nearby Vazhavelil pond. Our family used to take a special interest in the up keep and maintenance of this pond. The pond was cleaned every year and particular care was taken not to pollute the water. The pond bund was strengthened so that dirty water would not flow into that pond. Rajamma Vazhavelil was entrusted with the duty of bringing drinking water to the ‘Mana’. There was no water supply connection on our islands.

During monsoon, we used to erect four stakes in the open area of the courtyard and a washed and cleaned brand new dhoti would be tied at a certain height. A ‘Kuttalam’, a large copper vessel, its mouth covered with a cloth was kept underneath to harness the rain water. The water collected was crystal clear and most refreshing to drink. I have never had such fine natural water. We used to get plenty of water for our domestic use during the rainy season.

The mineral and medicinal value of the River Periyar was first discovered by the Portuguese Grande Ferrare da Alva and the place thereafter called as Alva which in English became Alwaye. The drinking water supply by the government was commissioned only after I became a graduate from Sacred Heart College at Thevara in 1973.

The drinking water ponds were neglected after the commissioning of the water supply scheme in our islands. The prohibitive labour charges made it unfeasible to maintain these ponds. The construction of more and more residential houses near the ponds with bottomless sewage tanks further aggravated the situation.

At present the Islanders especially those who are residing at the northern area of Kumbalam are not getting adequate supply of potable water which the government is obliged to supply. The water supplied is contaminated with coli-form, industrial effluents, toxic wastes, pesticides, nitrates and salt to a prohibited degree. The excessive addition of chlorine makes it even worse. The sea level is rising day by day due to the high temperature and melting of ice in Polar Regions. Brine is now reaching up to Aluva where the pumping station is situated. The above facts and circumstances demand the development, erection and commissioning of a new major water supply pumping station at Edamalayar to protect the health and life of the inhabitants of Greater Cochin Area. I would also recommend a water tank and pumping station at Kumbalam to cater the needs of the railway station, big hotels and apartment complexes that are coming up in this fast developing Suburban Island.

Gone are the days when crystal clear water was available for drinking purposes.  Instead now we are supplied with mineral water manufactured by various companies. What is even more amazing is that they are dearer than cow’s milk. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

HUNTING EXPEDITIONS

The Dutch Army Captain, who was in charge of their camp in Oli ‘Kayaloram’, shore, presented the ‘Desavazhi Nambuthiri’, our great ancestor, a large-bored single barrel muzzle loading gun firing balls or slugs namely the  Blunderbuss, [an alteration of Dutch donderbus ‘thunder-gun’,] which ‘Appachan’ inherited from his ancestors. It was one of the first batch of guns given to a ‘Desavazhi’ of the erstwhile State of Cochin. When the Arms Act came into force, he obtained license for the gun from the government. As in previous centuries, hunting was more than a hobby to attain pleasure or relaxation. It was a means to tone the body, to test one’s nerves and learn the fine art of hunting. My ancestors believed that hunting of wild prey was the same as slaying enemies or killing ferocious beasts.

Jacob and I used to accompany ‘Appachan’ on his hunting expeditions. He used it mainly to preserve his agricultural yield from the birds. Occasionally after a breakfast of rice soup, we used to go to the paddy fields where Pigeon and water birds like Herone, Snake-darter, Egret, Spoonbill and Water-hen were spotted in plenty. Some of these water birds were migratory; they come from such distant places like Siberia to escape the severe winter.

Over the vast expanse of delta land, we used to hop over thorny bushes, walk through the tiny bunds; skip across small breaches on the paddy fields; and entered into the open dirt fields. We  often spotted storks  standing on one leg; Herones having long skinny legs slyly waded through the shallow canal to take cover under the shade of ‘Kaitha-Kadu,’ Thatch Screw Pine forest; a pair of ‘Eranda’, wild ducks, swiftly swirl through the wide Karithara Canal flapping their wings; two Egrets with its feet folded under their bellies flew  off noiselessly, staring into the Vendatty Canal, and they were hungry. I spotted Waterhens, (Kulakozhi), having an elongated leg, pointed long neck, wings slightly red, breast portion white in colour, and their tail flicking up, walking on floating planktons in a pond near Thaithara Palathingal’s house. They are so light and on seeing us approach, scared, ran speedily to safety. Little away, I noticed a pair of Egrets and Common Myna (Madatha) walking behind the cattle grazing on green patches on the bund of Karikkanthara paddy field and feeding on crickets and other insects that emerged out of their shelter in the blades of grass. The sun had slipped from the peak but still blazing; we too, were famished and returned for our lunch. After the days hard work we wash our sweaty, greasy faces and have a good bath  before entering the Mana. A glass of butter milk, ‘Sambharam’, before meal or a good meal with thick curd made from the milk obtained from our cows was a welcome relief after the scorching heat of the sun. Our hunting outing would have got us about a dozen or more birds from which we would be able to get about two to three kilogram of bird meat. ‘Ammachi’ and Mariakutty would cut it, skin it, and remove the digestive system, legs, head and other unwanted parts. The rest were cut into small pieces and washed properly. Sufficient quantity of pepper powder, pressed coriander and salt are smeared on it and kept aside. Later this was deep fried in our own coconut oil. This fried meat, salad and dry ‘Chapatti’ made an excellent dinner for us that night. The very thought of it makes my mouth water even now.

In the evenings we used to go to the bamboo forests in the neighbourhood, where there were trees with thick leaves and fruit trees on which we could spot not only water birds but also other varieties of birds. The meat of Koel, Cuckoo and Pigeon that we shot down here were also tasty. ‘Appachan’, at times, allowed me to fill in the gadgets. About five to ten grams or more of gun powder, a black powder, which is a mixture of Sulphur and charcoal, had to be loaded into its barrel depending on the distance of the target. This was followed by filling it with coir fibers made into small round balls. All this had to be stuffed well by using a long iron rod. Again about six to eight rounds of iron pellets were loaded and tightened as aforesaid with coir fibers. These were loaded to tighten the entire pack. Finally a little ignition powder, Potassium nitrite, was packed on the trigger-point behind the gun powder pack and after which the trigger was closed gently and carefully. The gun was made ready for firing. In spite of the gun made ready a lot of times for shoot, I was forbidden to shoot at as I was not eighteen years old. He adhered to every letter of the law. This annoyed me at that point of time. When I became a major, I made my maiden gun shot at a Woodpecker followed by a Koel and a Cuckoo and then innumerable water birds. This was the fulfillment of a long cherished dream and the entry into manhood. I mastered the art so well that I used to shoot down as many birds as my father and he applauded me for it. Jacob too was very good with the gun. We used to go on a hunting spree. The echo of our gun shots lingered in the air for some time; the wisps of white smoke emitted on firing wafted a pleasant smell of the gun powder that dissipated and vanished into thin air.

The sun was about to set. the birds were fluttering around the bamboo and other fruit trees, seeking to nest there for the night, but they saw us below; from it rose a disquieting murmur, and they took fright. They flew hither and thither, undecided, waiting for the gathering to disappear and let them return to their nests.

One day, after sunset, we returned with a lot of cranes from our hunting session. I thought all of them were dead and threw all of them on the kitchen work area to be dressed for the meal. Suddenly, I gazed at one of them raising his head, when I went near to have a closer look at the bird; he tried to poke my eyes with his long beak. I jerked back right on time. I gave him one blow on his head and made sure he fell silent.

I made use of every opportunity to improve my deftness with the gun. While I was studying in Sacred Heart College at Thevara for my pre-degree and degree courses, I was a cadet of the N.C.C. (National Cadet Corps) Army Wing. The officers in charge of NCC in our college, Lt. Col. T.C. Mathew (who was a Professor and later HOD of Zoology Department), Major Abraham Maliakkal (Physical Education) and Col. George, who was the Commandant of N.C.C. Battalion at Ernakulam, identified and recognized my talent for shooting. The military instructors gave me several tips for firing bullets on .22 and .303 Riffles at the shooting range on our college campus. While lying down straight to shoot at the target the military instructors directed me, “Spread your legs about your shoulder width to get a comfortable lying posture. Hold the rifle on top of the curved portion of your pointed finger and the thumb on the left hand. The weight of the rifle should be on your elbow resting on ground. Keep it with a tight grip on your right chest muscle just below the collarbone to ensure steadiness and accuracy. This position helps to absorb the recoil of .303 Rifles on the whole body. Insert your pointed finger on the right hand straight into the trigger guard and rest it on the guard. Adjust the barrel gently with your right hand. Relax your body, control your breath and then aim at your target. Your eyes should align with the markings, an aperture at the back and a tiny bead at the front of the barrel and with the bull, a black circle on the white background at the target which may have scoring rings. When you are ready to fire gently squeeze the trigger without bending your finger. Proper form has to be maintained to hit the target every time. When your neck and eyes are strained; relax them for some time. Do some neck exercise and look at a green pasture or running water for relaxation of the eyes. Then continue shooting. Regular practice would definitely make you a great shooter.” I followed their instructions diligently and fired my shots when I could see only the bull and nothing else, and I never missed it. My officers allowed me to inspect the reactive targets to easily identify bullet strikes. This gave me an opportunity to improve my skills by quickly being able to compare their aiming point and where the actual bullet impacted the target. For snap shooting events time is an important factor. You get only a few seconds to fire a few shots. Modern weapons are fitted with telescopes as well.

 In the Indo-Chinese war of 1962, the Indian Army used .22 Riffles and the Chinese used S.L.R., (Self Loading Rifle.)  When the regular army was equipped with .303 riffles and S.L.R (Self Loading Riffles), the .22 Riffles were given for training the NCC cadets. In 1971, my officers gave me a wonderful opportunity to attend a weapon training camp attached with a regular army battalion, the Gurkha Rifles, then stationed at Pangode in Trivandrum. I used to get training in the use of .303 Rifles, S.L.R. (Self Loading Rifle,) Bren-gun and L.M.G. (Light Machine Gun) at their Pangode military firing range. Thereafter I passed the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Certificate examinations too in NCC. I was gradually promoted as a Junior Under Officer in NCC. While in college, one of my friends, T.A. Kuriakose (now, Major T.A. Kuriakose, (son of Lt. Cdr. T.K. Alex who was then in the Indian Navy), now residing with his wife, Betsy in Heera Waters, at Chilavannur in Ernakulam, used to take me to his house at INS Venduruthy. I vividly recall his mother, Ammini aunty, who used to greet me with a smile; and offered piping hot tea and snacks. Ammini aunty and Alex uncle always encouraged me. At that time the Senior Under Officers in my college were Mr. Gopinath, Manikandath Road at Ravipuram, Mr. Martin K. Mathew, Maliakkal Thevara (later DSP of Kerala Police, Crime Branch at Ernakulam); Mr.Kuriakose Kaithakottil at Chethicode (later LIC Branch Manager) and Mr. Kuriakose Kattikaran at Ernakulam (later Manager Law in Ruby Marattululam at Changanassery); and one of my juniors, Mr. Girijan (later Lt. Col. Girijan.) They used to cheer me up and gave me confidence. I was selected for snap shooting competition with Self Loading Rifle at Avadi in Chennai. But I failed to make it to the national level due to lack of regular practice and familiarity with the SLR gun. In 1972, I was promoted as the Senior Under Officer in N.C.C. (Army Wing) of my college. My passion for shooting gave me a great deal of exposure. It also helped me make friends from all across India. Whenever my family and I went to Ooty for the holidays, we used to make it a point to meet Brigd. Bhasin and his daughter, Monica Bhasin. He was then the secretary of the Ooty Gymkhana Club. We along with Carrol King, Sally’s friend, used to meet Uncle Sam (Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw,) a seven feet tall towering personality. He was my passionate hero of 1971 Indo-Pak War; and was a very endearing person.

The British government encouraged the hunting of wild animals. They used to reward the victors with monetary awards. They saw the need for agricultural expansion and the export of agricultural products. As per an official estimate, over eighty thousand tigers, one lakh-fifty thousand leopards and two lakh wolves were slaughtered in India in fifty years from 1875 to 1925. The actual would be much more than that. The owners of coffee, cardamom, tea and rubber plantations in the Sahyadri Mountains and hills had the power to shoot not only in self-defense but also to safeguard their privately owned estates or leased plantations. I happened to read one of the thrilling classics of Colonel James Edward Corbett, “The Man Eaters of Kumaon.” In this book he has mentioned his adventurous hunting feats at Kumaon, in the foothills of the Himalayas. During these expeditions he states that he hunted down eleven man-eating tigers. I marveled at his achievement.

Due to the British policy of hunting wild animals to promote agriculture; large areas were deforested. A few animals like the aurochs (an ancestor of buffalo), the pink headed duck were extinct; the rhinoceros having single horn were killed for their horn, which is believed to have magical power and it is now an endangered animal; the pride of the jungle, the lion, too faced the threat of extinction. Now the lion is confined to the Gir hills in Gujarat alone due to the protection afforded by Navab of Junagadh. Wisdom dawned late; great men realized that the forest cover was depleting at a drastic pace causing damage to the environment; and they deplored deforestation. The government too realized their folly. They prioritized the urgent need to focus attention for the conservation of the flora and the fauna. They had to look into the preservation of forest wealth and the environment. The concern for nature and its protection thus grew out of the ethos of the hunt. Colonel J.E. Corbet drew on his considerable influence to help persuade the provincial government to create India’s first national park, namely Hailey National Park in U.P. (now Uttarkhand) in 1936, which was renamed as Jim Corbet National Park. It is significant to note that Dr. Salim Ali did a path-breaking work in natural history, cataloguing the distribution of the over thousand bird species that inhabit South Asia. At Bharatpur, which is now a bird sanctuary, one finds that during the monsoon storks and other waders breed in their confines. It was at the instance of Dr. Salim Ali and his colleagues that shooting was forbidden in Bharatpur. Thereafter, a lot of other national parks and sanctuaries were declared by the Government of India. There are six National Parks and fourteen Wild Life sanctuaries in the State of Kerala, South India. Eravikulam National Park, to protect Nilgiri Tahr, with an area of 97 km, in Idukki district, was declared in 1978. Periyar National Park, an elephant and a tiger reserve, with an area of 350 sq km of the core zone and the total reserve protected area covers 925 sq km is situated in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta, was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982. Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad district, with an area of 89.52 sq km was declared in 1984. Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district, with an area of 12.82 km was declared in 2003. Anamudi Shola National Park in Idukki district is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of 7.5 sq km was declared in 2003. Pambadum Shola National Park in Idukki district, with an area of 1.318 sq km was declared in 2003. The proposed Karimpuzha National Park has an area of 230 sq km. The Wild Life Sanctuaries in Kerala include - Periyar or Thekkady, area - 427 sq km, in Idukki district established in 1950; Neyyar in Thiruvananthapuram district -128 sq. km, altitude 80 m-1866 m, established in 1958. Reed brakes, Ibex, Lion Tailed Macaque, Indian elephant, Nilgiri Languir, Crocodile, Shola birds are the attraction. Peechi-Vazhani in  Thrissur district, area - 125 sq km, altitude 40 m-928 m, established in 1958. Muthangha in Wayanad district, area - 344.44 sq km, altitude 800 m-1158 m, established in 1973: Indian Elephant, Bengal Tiger are the attraction. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Palakkad district, area -285 sq. km, altitude 459 m-1439 m, established in 1973: Nilgiri Tahr, Lion Tailed Macaque, Gaur, Indian Elephant. Idukki in Idukki district, area -70 sq. km, altitude 600 m-1200 m, established in 1976: Indian elephant, Sambar. Pappara in Thiruvananthapuram district, area -53 sq km, altitude 60 m-1717 m, established in 1983: Lion Tailed Macaque, Indian elephant, and Shola birds. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in Idukki district, area -25.16 sq. km, altitude 30 m-620 m, established in 1983: Birds. Chimmony in Thrissur district, area - 85 sq. km, altitude 50 m-1116 m, established in 1984: Indian elephant, Bengal tiger.in Kollam district, area -171 sq. km, altitude 120 m-1785 m, established in 1984:Myristica swamps, Bengal tiger, Lion Tailed Macaque, Shola birds, lesser predators, and Gluta Travancorica trees. Chinnar in Idukki district, area -90.44 sq. km, altitude 440 m -2300m, established in 1984: sandal forests, dry habitat species of animals and birds, Nilgiri Tahr, Indian elephant. Aralam in Kannur district, area -55 sq. km, altitude 60m-1598m, established in 1984: Gaur, Sambar, Nilgiri Langur. Mangalavanam Bird sanctuary, situated behind the edifice of High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam district having 0.0274 sq. km, almost at sea level, was established in 2004. Kurijimala in Idukki district, area -32 sq. km, altitude approx. 800 m-2550 m, established in 2006: to protect Neelakurinji. Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary proposed in 2007 in Kasargod, approx. area -80 sq. km is an integral part of Brahmagiri biosphere: shola forests, Indian elephants, Indian leopards, wild dogs, various species of birds, Malabar Large Spotted Civets, slender loris, and macaque.

The Forest Acts and Rules also came into force. It is an offence to kill or capture any mammal, reptile or bird or even to disturb them within the sixty square miles of the park. The Forest Rules provided penalties for illegal trespass and poaching.

This conservation of flora and fauna in nature reversed the thinking process of many including mine. Therefore, my antique Blunderbuss donderbus (thunder-gun), which was very frequently used by my ancestors to gun down storks and pigeons, is now displayed as a show piece in my Oli Mana. 

           

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

FISHING WITH ‘APPACHAN’

Fishing, one of ‘Appachan’s popular hobbies, was something I loved. He had four round nets, a small one for ‘Naran Chemmeen’ Indian White Prawn; big ones for ‘Attu-Konchu’, Giant Fresh Water Prawn and a heavy one for the glittering and sparkling fish like ‘Karimeen’, Pearl spot and fast moving predators like ‘Aree’,  ‘Chemballi’, Red Snapper, Kanambu, Mullet, ‘Katla’, Catla, ‘Vatta’, Shrimp Scad  and other big fish. Whenever he took out the nets, Jacob, my younger brother, and I would go with him very expectantly, with a bag in hand for the big catch which would be served for a meal. When the fishing net was cast into the ‘Kayal’, backwaters; some of the scared ‘Chemmeen’, would emerge out and jump on to the shore and flap, and we would catch them immediately. We used to get lots of Prawns, ‘Naran Chemmeen’ in the net. Those days we used to get one bag full of ‘Naran Chemmeen’ worth six ‘Kasu’, which today would cost about seven hundred rupees. He had a special knack for catching the fast moving ‘Vattas’ and ‘Arees’.

I always watched Appachan’s patience, perseverance. He had the deftness with the net when a shoal of ‘Karimeen’ or ‘Vatta’ surfaces to prey on the ‘Chemmeen’ or small fish fifteen meters away. At times, with one fling of the net a good catch of about sixty to eighty ‘Vattas’, ‘Karimeens’, would be in his net. We could hear the hoarse sounds made by the ‘Vattas’ in there. Sometimes he was even able to catch a few ‘Arees’ or Catla fish. I understand that the best time to fish is during the high tide especially after sunset on a “New Moon Day.” A good fisherman should have ample patience and perseverance, which my father definitely had. He must have acquired it from his ancestors. ‘Appachan’once said, “If I teach you how to fish, it will be like feeding you for a life time.” I too had this innate desire to fish as a child which I pursued and later on in life mastered as a hobby. 

Apart from the varied shapes, sizes, fins and scales, I had noticed the difference in varied fish’s jaws too. This depended on the habits of the fish. The jaws may be long or short or wide. The upper and lower jaws are equal when the fish ate food from mid–water like Red Snapper (Chemballi) or Aree; the upper jaw is a little longer when they ate food from  the upper layer of the ‘Kayal’ like Catla.  If it’s lower jaw is a little longer like Mrigal since they ate food from the bottom of the pond. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

AN ENCOUNTER

My encounter with the male Fiddler Crab was a painful experience. This crab (Uca vocans) a small aquatic crustacean found in a mangrove area had a big pink coloured pincer or claw. Hordes of tiny fiddler crabs and red crabs ruffled the coast in the morning and evening to devour the food cast ashore; nature’s wonderful hand to clean up the delta shores. At the least meddling, they would run fast and hide in one of the numerous burrows on the banks of the ‘Kayal’. When poked with an ‘Erkile’, tiny rib of palm leaf, it moved on to the next burrow. One day I caught one of them and held it firmly in my right hand. I was really thrilled; I took it home to show it to ‘Ammachi’. When I tried to open my hand slowly, I found that the front claw of that single pincer small crab had caught hold of my thumb. It was pressing it so hard that I could not release it in spite of wringing my hand. Its clasp was very firm but my efforts succeeded finally. But the pain continued unabated. I realized that only its body fell off but the pincer leg was locked onto my finger. The pain was so excruciating that I started to scream. “Ammachiyo….”. Ammachi took out a scissor and cut off one half of its pincer. Oh! What a relief!  The bite left a deep wound on my thumb. I displayed it around especially to the younger ones in the family so that they may not suffer a similar casualty.

I was amazed to learn that the Mother Nature has provided tiny animal’s device like pincer as in crabs; sting as in varied bees and scorpion; jaws as in ants, mosquitoes, bed bugs, lices, ticks and biting flies; and the power to give electric shock as in black ants and ray-fish; to protect themselves from their enemies and other predators.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

NOSTALGIA

Nostalgic memories about my native place Kumbalam, unfurled before me. A group of four tiny islands namely Kumbalam, Panangad, Cheppanam and Chathamma and my interactions with Mother Nature all came vividly back to my memory. My idyllic ancestral ‘Oli Mana’; the picturesque sights; the spectacular portraits of nature and memorable experiences with the fauna and the flora in our compound and the neighbourhood; the beautiful creatures both domestic and wild that I marveled at; certain significant historical backgrounds; the culture and civilization of our little Islands, modern trends; the rarest of rare moments and experiences here all came surging back into my mind. It would otherwise have gone into oblivion but for this autobiography of mine. I love nature and it gives me immense joy and peace of mind. It is this same Mother Nature that answered so many of the ticklish questions that disturbed my mind. Nature was a perennial source of inspiration to me. This is a humble attempt to share with you my ecstatic childhood memories. 

One of my favourite poems that stirred up the nostalgia in me is as follows: -

     “Oru Vattam Koodi-Yen Ormakal Meyunna

      Thiru Muttathe-thuvaan Moham…

      Oru Vattam Koodiyen Ormakal Meyunna

      Thiru-Muttathe-thuvaan Moham…

Thiru-Muttath-oru-konil Nilkunnora Nelli-Maram

Onn-uluthuvaan Moham

Adarunna Kaay-Manikal Pozhiyumbol

Chenneduthu….Athilonnu Thinnuvaan Moham

Sukhamezhum Kaypum Pulippum Madhuravum….

Nukaruvaan Ippozhum Moham..

Thodiyile  Kinar-vellam Kori Kudichu

Enthu Madhuramennu-othuvaan Moham

Aa…….Aa…….

Oru Vattam-koodi-ya Puzhayude Theerathu….

Veruthe Yirikkuvaan Moham

Veruthe Yirunnoru Kuyilinte Paattu Kettu…

Ethir Paattu Patuvaan Moham

Ethir Pattu Patuvaan Moham

Athu-kelke Uchathil Kookum Kuyilinte…

Shruthi-pin Thutaruvaan Moham

Oduvil Pinangi Parannupom Pakshiyodu….

Aruthe-ennothuvaan Moham

Veruthe Yi Mohangal Ennariyumbozhum…..

Veruthe Mohikkuvaan Moham.

Veruthe Yi Mohangal Ennariyumbozhum…..

Veruthe Mohikkuvaan Moham.”

Through this brilliant poetic song the veteran lyricist recalls his childhood days.  The English translation of the poem is as follows: -

 “Once again, he cherished a keen desire to scurry around his courtyard and neighbourhood, memories of which came reeling back to him. [Once More...]\

He wished to shake the Gooseberry tree growing in on one corner of his courtyard.

He wished to gather the ripe fruits falling from fruit trees and wished to chew on one of them, and now to enjoy its bitter, sour and sweet tastes.

He wished to draw and drink the well-water from his compound and to whisper –softly, “How sweet it is!”

Aa…….Aa…….

Once more he wished to sit idling beside the backwaters.

He heard the call of a relaxing Cukoo, the Cuckoo, which was sitting idle, and he wished to reciprocate his calls.

And on reciprocating to her tune, the Cuckoo made high pitched calls; and he wished to follow suit in the same manner.

Annoyed by his teasing, the bird finally flew away; then he wished to whisper softly to her, “Don’t go away.”

 I am aware, that to wish so  is futile, but yet I continue to do so.”  [Once More...]

The amazing lyrics of this nostalgic poem, a film song, were rendered by the celebrated Malayalam poet and lyricist, Padma Shri O.N.V. Kuruppu for the 1982 Malayalam film “CHILLU,” MIRROR.  He influenced Kerala’s cultural landscape for nearly five decades. He was awarded the Indian Njanapeedam Award for the year 2007. In those few brilliant lines, he painted a picture of the sentiments of people living in a delta region that fired my imagination. I hold this poem so close to my heart, may be because I relate so much to it; the lyricist’s native Island, Chavara, with its flora and fauna and backwaters is very much like my native Island, Kumbalam. These radiant lines used as an emotive film song was sung by a great playback singer, Padma Shri. K.J. Yesudas, one of my favourite singers, and the music was composed by veteran musician Shri. M.B. Sreenivasan.

 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com