Communicative Art at Chennai Airport

This art work done in brass is a recent addition in the departure hall of the new terminal at Chennai air port. 

The Chennai city is well known for its beaches, the Marina being the longest. What is characteristic of these beaches is the fishing hamlets where fishermen still use catamarans and non mechanised boats for fishing. Although such conventional fishing is on the decline, the tourists and traditionalists would still search to sight the catamarans and if possible wait for one to return from the sea with a catch.

People of Chennai feel nostalgic at the sight of the traditional fishing boats. No wonder the air port authorities felt to depict a historical scene of Chennai in the new terminal.

The craftsmanship of  this boat is most impressive. Each person distinguishes with a facial expression and a body posture depicting the role he plays in pushing the boat to the water.  The hull is empty with no net. The sight is typical of what we see even now in the marina or Pondicherry beaches, where the fishermen set the boat to sail with one or two fishermen on board. This is their way of sending them into the sea with their blessings.  They are welcomed back to the beach after the fishing in a similar way by other fisher men. Their solidarity with each other for this risky profession is a sign of bonding that exists between them. Often we can overhear the narration of their experiences at sea while they clean and mend  the net at the shore.   

As I watched this art work, all these memories flashed in my mind. Going to the marina beach was one of our favourite family outings when we lived in Chennai for fifteen years. 

I felt immensely pleased that someone  in the airport authority cared to commission this art work at the air port. It stays there as a reminder of the aspirations and struggles of the traditional fishermen's community, who live at the mercy  of nature's bounty for each day. I hope many would stop to watch this art work which itself is one form of paying tribute to fishermen for their bravery to launch into the sea day and night. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)      

Monsoon visitors

The meteorology department has discovered that it is after about twenty five years we have had so much rain in June and July, 2013  in the state of Kerala, where we live.

It has been raining almost continuously for at least three weeks now. For the last three days, there is some respite. 

Anna and I noticed that whenever there is a respite, we can spot butterflies and Magpie in our lawn. In fact when we spot them, we know that a day or two of dry spell would follow.

A recnt addition to the visitor's list was a pair of Racket-tailed Drongo. It is not a common to see them in this habitat.  

Anna and I realize that life in a village is often ordinary and routine most of the times. When  we have sights like this in our lawn or in the foliage, we take time to watch, listen and recall our stories about them. 

During my childhood in this cottage where I grew up, I remember seeing Parrots, Robins, Pigeons, Sparrows, Mynas, etc. Now we may occasionally see parrots.

We are often looking for any nests of birds in the foliage. We have plans to hang some nesting houses in the foliage. We will have to wait till the winter to do it.

One of the interesting things about bird watching is that it can make you more observant, inquisitive and mindful about the environment. When we came to live here in September 2012, we cut down the branches of two trees which were hanging over the garden to get more light. From then on we noticed that the birds declined in number in the garden. 

Most birds are environment sensitive and any minor change would keep them away. 

It is an object lesson about life itself- most of what we do affect others. Some of the things we do or say or write can keep them away from us. Life is best lived in harmony with others.

M.C.Mathew(text an photo) 

A gift that multiplied

I was able to catch up with Dr. Jacob Chacko, a paediatric surgeon, recently retired from CMC Vellore, during my recent visit to a hospital where he spends most of his time consulting.

Jacob gave me a handful of lawn grass, in 1997, to plant in our garden in the CMC hospital campus, when Anna and I moved to Vellore from Chennai. He preserved a small portion of the grass in a pot when he lost his lawn, when the place was dug up for a new construction. It is from this, he gave me a portion. 

That grass grew well and made a good lawn around the house and the cuttings were used to create about sixty patches of lawn in the college and hospital campuses at Vellore in the next few years. When we moved to Pondicherry in 2008, we used the cuttings from our lawn to make  large lawn in the PIMS campus. When we relocated in my mother's cottage in Kerala in 2012, we brought the cuttings to make a lawn along the walkway. 

Fifteen years later, the grass is still extending its presence. I asked Jacob in my recent meeting, 'how is that you thought of giving me the grass without me asking for it'. He said, 'you had many plants in the garden and I thought you would like to have a lawn'.

I am grateful to Jacob for making me an ardent advocate of making a lawn, where ever there is vacant  space.

Jacob has interest in gardening and grows vegetables, fruits and cereals in his farm at Vellore. He finds it as his hobby that enhances his inner resources. 

What inspires me even now as I think of the gift of lawn grass, is that he trusted me to make good use of it. The grass became several lawns in three places. 

Giving with a large heart shall bring good returns. It is in giving we add joy to the life of others!  That is what, I heard an eight year child saying to his sister, when she was upset to share her toys with a neighbour Shirley, 'you will provide a lot of fun if you let Shirley play with your toys'. This boy had discovered larger meaning in giving and sharing. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)     

Language of peace

I visited a couple in their home last week, in a town in one of the north eastern states, who have been involved in initiating peace dialogues in stressful and traumatic situations globally. They continue this peace dialogue with an encouraging outcome even now, which is diffusing tension between tribal communities where they live. I was encouraged by three things, he said.

Whenever any person is comfortable to say, 'I am sorry', it melts all counter arguments or justifications. He had many stories to illustrate this, including a recent one, when, he noticed two motorists quarrelling over the right of way and becoming angrier. He turned to them and said, 'I am sorry that the traffic light at this junction can be sometimes erratic. So go your way. Both of you and your vehicles are safe'. May be his sober voice, its content or his towering personhood or nobility, both the motorists said, sorry to each other and drove away. 

Another valuable facilitating process is to seek truth and insist on being truthful. He personally knows Bishop Desmond Tutu and shared his experiences of conversations with him, about the logic behind the 'Truth and Reconciliation' commission, Bishop Tutu  undertook with the blessing of the then president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. It is 'truth that shall set you free' according to Jesus of Nazareth. In a meeting held to decide on the extent of punishment to a doctor, who did not turn up to attend a patient, but called up someone's to attend, was honest to admit his fault.  He was known to be diligent in his work. The meeting concluded with a decision to give him an exhortation, rather than take severe action which they had initially thought of doing.  There is healing, renewal and restoration when truth is confessed and revealed.

The third means for peace process is desire for change. A mother shared in a consultation that, she was not able to accommodate  the erratic social behaviour of her teenage daughter. When all the counselling at home failed to make her aware of the consequences of her at risk behaviour, the parents sought professional help. Over a three week period, their daughter expressed her desire to change because, she felt supported through the professional help, to face the change process. That resolved the stress at home for parents and their daughter. 

I felt most encouraged by what I heard of a life time commitment for peace and settling disputes. That gave me yet another inspiration to consider this vocation for myself. I have formal qualifications and some experience in dispute resolution. 

M.C.Mathew(text an photo)        

Children in adult's world

While I waited for Anna to come, my attention  was drawn by this child  climbing the stairs to a restaurant ahead of his parents. The steps were too tall for him to reach. Even after holding on to the railings, he was struggling. I was glad that the railings  gave him protection and support.

That is when I became even more conscious how the environment children live in is created for adults. I do occasionally see in wash rooms basins placed at a lower height to let children use them or high chairs in the restaurants for them to be seated. This is a welcome sight.

Let me suggest that whether it is a shopping mall, pedestrian paths, public gardens, restaurants or even the schools, the facilities are adult centric in orientation. 

It is uncommon to see a children's corner in our homes, where they have tables and chairs designated for their use, a toy or book shelf to which they have full access or have place for exploring their hobbies or creative interests. One seven year child told me recently that his parents do not have space for a small aquarium  that he is fond of.

Many young children trespass into adults space such as dad's table or mummy's cupboard and they get reprimanded for this. The adolescent children by force, threats or insistence get their privacy in their homes, which I am afraid is sometimes misused for unacceptable practices such as misuse of internet.

It is necessary to offer space and place for our children in our homes that they grow up valued, honoured and recognised for who they are. As adults we need a  mindset of preferential attitude towards children.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)   

Becoming present

Anna and I recently visited a village in the Coorg district in Karnataka, where there is a Budhist monastery, and an introduction to the Tibetan way of life. 

While at a restaurant, I was taken back by the time the monks take to eat food or drink a glass of tea. I noticed that most monks take even up to half hour to drink a glass of tea. They are  often silent in between the sips of tea. Even their conversations are well paused and there is no sense of hurry.

The Budhist tradition is one of 'mindfullness'- being fully present to whatever one is doing. This is intended to enhance inner attention, awareness and sense of nearness. 

There is a message of hurry I often convey, while walking,  talking, eating, shopping etc. It can be a hurry to move from the present to the next. 

The monks seemed to relish what they do because the present engagement seemed to give them fulfilment, meaning and purpose. They do not have to 'escape' from the present into the future to draw meaning purpose. The present is already fulfilling.

There is a price we pay for our hurry. In fact we may even eat more if we eat hurriedly as we can miss the feeling of satiety the apetite centre may convey. So one can eat more unconsciously, which is a sure trap  to become obese. 

Although, we need to account for the way we spend our time, it is also necessary to convert our times to be fulfilling and uplifting. This calls for paying attention to what we do, and do what we do attentively.

I saw a child of six years complete his drawing, while the rest of the class waited for forty five minutes for the teacher to come. He said, 'I was immersed in my drawing. I found it good enough for me'. What an affirming way of being in charge! 

Jesus of Nazareth demonstrated an unusual sense of presence. That is why he was able to recognise the unspoken needs of Zacheaus, who was waiting for Jesus on the top of a sycamore tree.  

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)         

One year of blogging

On my birthday this year, I completed one year, since I started posting my random thoughts on this blog. It was Anna, who prompted me in to this habit  on my birth day in 2012. I am glad for this experience for three reasons.  

It gave me a discipline to gather my thoughts at a time when I have been in transition and relocation. The habit of  sharing from my life experiences helped me to exercise the practice of recall and recollections. It is helping me to be more attentive to happenings within me and outside. 

On this birthday, I noticed this spider weaving its web in the porch between pots of plants. This spider has grown bigger since then and  changes its position often. It survived the rain and strong wind thus far. I thought initially that the web was too delicate to escape the wind and rain. But the web proved to be resilient and stable. 

This came to me as a message for my transition to another year. The circumstances can be pleasant or unpleasant, but life  can go on. It would involve an inner motivation and purpose. 

On the same day, I watched the a pair of Mac pie in the garden in romantic play, in the drizzle. It was another message that to 'live is to be free and present'. 

Amy and Arpit and Aswathy and Anandit made a special effort to be present on the occasion. That completed my joy. Anna mentioned to me that 'you are younger at heart'.   

During the nine months since our relocation, each day has had its blessings and challenges. Sometimes it made the journey demanding, but worthwhile. 

As I look forward to another year, I want to live fully and restfully.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)