Chandra's Anecdotes

My ability to tell a story is what excites me to write about people and places. I now wish to write the story that I see in my head about dear Shanti Apa and Sri Gopal babu, friends that I know from Canada. I was happy and excited when I called and asked them whether I can write a few lines about them in social media. I can’t describe my joyous feelings when they both agreed for me to go ahead with my story.  I was excited and could not wait to get started. The first thing came to my mind that they really bring the best in people, no matter how old and where they are from. They both know the art of passing down information, knowledge and wisdom in creative ways. With their selfless work they have helped to construct and shape our Odissi dance in North America when we did not have many dancers or media like now a days.

“Odissi (Odia: ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ Oḍiśī), also referred to as Orissi in older literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha-an eastern coastal state of India”

Sri Gopal babu has often talked about how we can improve our small community and never mentions the negative side of what we did not or could not do right. I guess this is the reason why I often wish secretly that I should have been in Canada, which might have brought my creative side of wanting to act in plays and dramas. With his persistence effort we now have a yearly drama competition in North America. He started the Odissi dance in North America and the first Odisha society in Canada.

Shanti Apa is the model wife and mother every man or child can aspire. Although highly educated, she spends most of her time working behind the scene to fulfill Sri Gopal babu’s love for promoting Odia culture in North America.  Seeing Shanit apa I wish to be like her a little bit in many ways. She is proficient in all kinds of Odia and western culinary. My family had the good luck of being with them few times and I remember the food and hospitality she extended to us, although they did not know us well at that time. She is also an expert in dressing children for drama and dance. Most of the outfits were made with her direction or by her since the appropriate costumes were not available at that time (unlike now). Sri Gopal babu is a perfectionist and that makes her job twice hard but she always did it without any complain.

We are very fortunate that their daughter Niharika Mohanty (Rini) stays in USA and is the founder, Director, CEO of Guru Shradha dance Academy at California. Someday I hope to write something about our talented second generation Rini if she gives me an opportunity. Enjoy my post and know that we are blessed to have such talented and kind people among us in North America.

song he sings for her

The art of storytelling or passing down information and knowledge in creative ways helps me to construct my thoughts. It is a process of using facts and narrative to communicate something for which I am passionate about. I like to write about people (with their permission) using facts and my imagination. Sometimes if I don’t have facts I just close my eyes and think about the person. Then whatever good thoughts I feel I pen it quickly. Recently I have tried to add songs to convey more information and complement the writing. I also add photographs to my posts. They say a picture is worth thousand words which saves me when I can’t think much about the matter. For a story to work it needs for me to select, condense, and organize the facts. At the same time my imagination must embroider on them, filling in the spaces, finding what is unknown within the known, which is exactly what I seem to do by using the limited knowledge and information I have about the theme. When I was on the telephone with Dr. Purohit, whom I often address as Gaeen (brother in law), he told me not to worry about facts but write from my heart and the way I feel. So here is my scattered thoughts about him and his beautiful wife Padmini (I call her nani, which means big sister).

He lives at Kingston in Canada and was the chief Psychologist in a children’s hospital in that city. It is not an easy job to be the chief psychologist in any hospital. I have heard that they help any new Odia, Indian or immigrant people that arrive in Kingston area. Dr. Purohit is passionate about the issue of “Koshala” which is important to him and obviously he is trying to convince us with numerous posts about why it should be the way he thinks. He also practices Buddhist religion and helped me and many others when we have questions about life, love and other issues. I was proud when I saw him perform as an interracial priest at Somia’s wedding. The sermon was beautiful and the words still linger in my ears. He is licensed to be a priest. Most of all I admire and like his full moon smile. He makes me and my family as his own even though we have met him only a few times. That is the personality he has, which charms all young and old people, specially a talkative sister in law like me. Ha, ha.

On the other hand Padmini nani is very different. I can compare her beauty with the famous Bollywood actress “Madhubala”. She is very quick in what she does. Only she can handle her husband’s demand, who calls her 10 times in 15 minutes to find things. Like the girls at her time Nani married young and came to Canada with Gaeen. She put herself thru school here while having three children, just like some of us did at that time. She chose to help the elderly and became a nursing assistant, which is a demanding job physically and mentally. Take it from me (a nurse) who knows it first-hand. I believe it is the beauty, spontaneity and the sweet simplicity of Padmini nani conveyed to Dr. Purohit all he needed to know about her to make her his life partner.

Finally I thank Dr. Purohit (Gaeen) to give me the opportunity to pen my thoughts. Enjoy my post and know that we are blessed to have such people among us in North America. Ty Somia for supplying the photograph from yr wedding where Dr. Purohit was the priest.

• As I promised I took Nina to bank this morning so she can finish some work. She just needed me to drive her but did all the talking and decision how to invest her money where by herself. I was in awe seeing her poise, knowledge and the way she handled her conversation with the bank manager. Nobody will know that she never went beyond primary school that to in Poland. While coming back we discussed what is the meaning her name and my name. I also let her listen to the song and told her the story how I chopped up my name to Chandra after I listen to this song. Here is a post for U all today and few lines from our conversation.
• I told her that Nina is a Hindi name meaning “pretty eyes.” …and the name of a Babylonian goddess. …and a nickname for names ending in -nina, like Antonina and Penina.My original name Chandramani generally means Moonstone or Jewel, is of Sanskrit, Indian origin, Name Chandramani is a Feminine (or Girl) name. Person with name Chandramani are mainly Hindu by religion.
• We both laughed and said that now of course “I am simply Chandra!!!!!” I read her the translation of the poem from Odia to English which a kind friend did for me. Enjoy it as we both did while driving back to her nursing home.

Nadira nama alasakanyA..

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A river named shy Damsel…

nadira nama alasakanya
tirara nama tandra
gramara nama swapnapuri
priyara nama chandra
priyara nama chandra…
nadira nama alasakanya…

********
By a river named shy damsel

(Flowing) with sides of swooning beauty

living in the riparian village of Dreamland

Beloved named Chandra…

********
aakhira nama shaamuka tara
luhara nama muktaa
premara nama padmamadhu
biraha nama riktaa
tara irsha nama prabhanjana
anurage se bhadra
gramara nama swapnapuri
priyara nama chandra…

********
Her eyes are like shelled mollusk

which flows the tears like pearl

Her love is like honey from lotus 

and bereft of that feels like emptiness all around

Her jealousy is fleeting (like wind)

In affection she is a blessing

********

prathama chuaan kadamba phula
kathara nama bansi
bepathu nama patrajhara
mana ta banahansi
tara lajara nama krushnachuda
chumbana ta nidra
gramara nama swapnapuri
priyara nama chandra…

********
Her Maiden touch is like that of Kadamba (flower)

Her words feel like the melody from the flute

Her throbbing lips greet like fluttering leaves

with a mind of untethered swan

She blushes like KrushnachudA (flower)

and her kiss puts into blissful repose

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Good friends help you to find important things when you have lost them…your smile, your hope, and your courage.”

Yesterday I opted to spend some time around a nursing home where my friend Nina lives now. Nina is a 95-year-old beautiful lady who is a war victim during the world war ll. She was from Poland. Some 30 years back I met Nina at YMCA where I was taking exercise class. Her outgoing nature and full moon smile made me to become her friend immediately and we started talking about life, family and other small things during our exercise. I came to know that she had no children but she loved little children. I had my son Sanjay at that time and Nina just loved him a lot. Since then she has come to my home for Thanks Giving dinners and attended my daughter’s wedding and Sanjay’s birthday party. I have taken her to stores, doctor’s office grocery shopping when she needed. If my mother was alive she would have same age as Nina but I consider each other as friends rather than making her my aunt like most Indian people do when they meet someone older than them. As per her, the kindest thing I have done is to call upon her monthly and we spend some time together either talking, walking or shopping. She often waits for me eagerly

I have seen many changes with her within last 30 years. She has down sized her home and moved to a nursing home. I would say that although she has no formal education she is a smart lady. She takes care of her health, finance and drove till she was 90-years-old. Her place is always very organized and clean. I have learnt from her to take risks, explore the world, develop mind and do a job which we like. Physical appearance is important to her and she exercise daily and takes good care of her body and mind. She has perfect straight teeth at her age which is amazing.

I always return home with lot of happiness when I visit her. She reminds me to cherish my body and soul which can sail us through the adventure which is life. As per her if the ship is broken we are not going anywhere. Keeping to maintain good health, I signed up for my Zumba class (form of dance ) hoping to enjoy and get pleasure. Please see the caption and get a glimpse of her life thru today’s post.