A Premonition on Ugadi Eve!
Episode - 8
Part - 1
I was to conduct the 'Ugadi' (Telugu New Year) celebrations at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad in the presence of Chief Minister Dr.M.Channa Reddy that year. I was fully aware of Dr.Channa Reddy's great respect for traditions and his unusual ire if something were to go wrong with the function. Although I was all set to leave for Hyderabad, I happened to remain at Tirupati without any valid reason. Sitting in my Tirupati camp office, I kept on asking the camp clerk whether the flight had landed and whether it was time for my departure. But I did not have the inclination to leave for the airport and board the flight. Finally, I did not. The result?
Part - 1
I was to conduct the 'Ugadi' (Telugu New Year) celebrations at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad in the presence of Chief Minister Dr.M.Channa Reddy that year. I was fully aware of Dr.Channa Reddy's great respect for traditions and his unusual ire if something were to go wrong with the function. Although I was all set to leave for Hyderabad, I happened to remain at Tirupati without any valid reason. Sitting in my Tirupati camp office, I kept on asking the camp clerk whether the flight had landed and whether it was time for my departure. But I did not have the inclination to leave for the airport and board the flight. Finally, I did not. The result?
'Ugadi' is the most significant of festivals in Telugu people's lives. It immediately reminds one of "Panchanga sravanam","Ugadi pachchadi", (chutney prasadam) "kavi sammelans" and cultural programmes mirroring Telugu culture. The TTD had initiated celebration of the Telugu New Year as per tradition at Ravindra Bharati only the previous year. I had meticulously planned and conducted the function. Vedic chanting and recital, "Panchanga sravanam", "kavi sammelans" and felicitations to pundits formed part of the programme. Renowned scholar Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastri came forward to do the "Panchanga sravanam". As the 1979 celebration was a great success, Dr.Channa Reddy wanted that TTD conduct the 1980 programme on a grander scale.
The TTD did not have a full-fledged board those days. It had only three official Persons-in-Charge - Revenue Principal Secretary ,Dr.Ramesan, Chairman - Endowments Commissioner Chandramouli Reddy - Member and me, the TTD Executive Officer - Member Secretary. The TTD management rested with these three-member committee.
All arrangements had been made for the 'Ugadi' celebrations at Ravindra Bharati auditorium. I myself drew up the programme after personally selecting the participant Vedic scholars, poets and musicians. The Chief Minister was to be the chief guest and honour some pundits and distinguished persons. We had invited Ministers, judges and prominent people from many walks of life for the function. We paid great attention to every minute details since the Chief Minister wanted the celebrations to be magnificent. We were aware of the Chief Minister's mood swings if something went awry. As the Master of Ceremonies, I had planned to leave for Hyderabad a day in advance to supervise the arrangements.
Ugadi flower decoration Tirumala
A flight(arriving from Hyderabad) used to leave Tirupati for Hyderabad at 11:00 a.m. every day. If I were to leave by that flight, I could land in Hyderabad in the afternoon itself and ensure that everything was going on as planned. The flight ticket had been booked. I had early lunch. And the suitcase had been packed and placed in the car. Asking the camp clerk to monitor the flight landing at Renigunta airport , I was looking into files.
It was past 10 a.m . The camp clerk came in to tell me that the flight from Hyderabad would land soon and that I should leave for the airport immediately. I looked at him and said, "Alert me when the flight lands". The camp clerk was surprised, as I was given to arriving at the airport or any function on time. But that day, for some strange reason, I was lethargic or disinterested or might have been depressed. A short while later the camp clerk dropped in to announce the landing of the flight. I remained silent and apathetic. The camp clerk would not leave. He was worried.
"Sir, the Airport Manager wants to know whether you have left residence or not". I mumbled "yes" and was again lost in nothingness. Meanwhile , my wife Gopika came in. She thought I had already left for the airport. Surprised to see me , she asked , "How is it you are still here? It is already nearing 11 a.m. - the takeoff time". Indifferently , I said, "It is time I left. I have to leave. But , I do not know why, I am in no mood to leave". She reminded me of the function and my role in it and suggested that I hurry to catch the flight.I mumbled something vaguely. Still, once she turned her back, I continued to remain seated, fiddling with the files.
I was fully aware that I should get up and leave. But at the same time some inexplicable inertia gripped me. A short while later, the camp clerk turned up again. "Sir, the Airport Manager says the flight is ready for takeoff. If you have already started he says, he will detain the flight for some time". I said "okay" and got lost in my confused state. My mind would not permit me to give him a categorical reply. I was at my wit's end. Responsibility dictated that I leave. But the urge to leave was absent. The camp clerk was visibly anxious. He seemed to be indicating that he should not be blamed if I missed the flight. A few moments later, the camp clerk hesitantly came in to say the flight had taken off - without me -- having a confirmed ticket and the baggage in the boot of the car. Why did I not leave???
I was fully aware that I should get up and leave. But at the same time some inexplicable inertia gripped me. A short while later, the camp clerk turned up again. "Sir, the Airport Manager says the flight is ready for takeoff. If you have already started he says, he will detain the flight for some time". I said "okay" and got lost in my confused state. My mind would not permit me to give him a categorical reply. I was at my wit's end. Responsibility dictated that I leave. But the urge to leave was absent. The camp clerk was visibly anxious. He seemed to be indicating that he should not be blamed if I missed the flight. A few moments later, the camp clerk hesitantly came in to say the flight had taken off - without me -- having a confirmed ticket and the baggage in the boot of the car. Why did I not leave???
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Read more details about why Sri.Prasad dint leave for the airport and what stopped him , in the upcoming episode 9, "A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 2" to be published on 21st Jan 2017.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
Read more details about why Sri.Prasad dint leave for the airport and what stopped him , in the upcoming episode 9, "A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 2" to be published on 21st Jan 2017.
9. A Premonition on Ugadi Eve! Part 2
21 Jan 2017