Flame of the Forest during the off season

 

This is a picture of  "Modugu Chettu"(Butea), a small one considerably. Taken it while being on the wayside of nearby Turubaka village. With the on set of spring season, these trees burst with magnificent bright orange red flowers and that's why, keeping in view of it's dominant colorful presence, called as flame of the forest. This tree is commonly seen across many places of our area. Modugu chettu is the common Telugu name. Before the plastic plates introduced, these leaves were used as portable green plates to take any kind of small quantity of food whatever. Locals were using it for multiple purposes.

Nowadays, only the cattle are eating the leaves. Must be sumptuous for them since the leaves are soft, smooth and leathery. However, rainy season brought tender green shine to the leaves. We can't see any bright green leaves during the spring season. There were only orange red flowers all over. The tree resembles as if it's of only with red flowers sans the leaves. A dramatic change or transformation. Modugu leaves have had  age old references in Sukla Yajurveda to have used in the times of rituals, especially to pour ghee in fire related rituals.

These trees generally now used for timber, resin and medicinal value. We can also see the trees in the parts of tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian sub-continent and southeast Asia. Grow almost 49 ft tall. Leaves are pinnate, with 8-13 cm. Mostly cleared off for agricultural purpose. Very few are nowadays to be seen. Once, the trees were aplenty on both sides of road. The scenario has been changed with times, at least there were some of them to witness. 

Tippa Teega : A Medicinal Plant

 I am hereafter keep writing about the plants and trees we have in our area. We simply do neglect many green entities which are outside our compound. In reality, every plant has its own importance. Be it in Ayurveda or in herbal medicine , these are key players. And of course many other plants are there we know nothing about.  And all these are gifted by Almighty for us for  many purposes including environmental balance. 

                                                                    (TIPPA TEEGA)

Here, above I have given a picture that was taken in front of our residence. It's name in general is Tippa Teega in Telugu. A climbing sort plant. It takes walls, trees and any thing to creep ahead. Commonly Seen in almost everyplace. Not only in forests and thickets, It is seen around public habitations also. How it was existed here..? First, questioned myself. Around our place, there are several neem trees, bamboos and other trees. One must hear the chirping sounds of birds from the heights of all these branches. Perhaps, they could have brought the seeds of this Tippa Teega, from nearby forests. No body intentionally planted these climbing plant. I know it for sure.

Any Medicinal Uses: Tippa Teega is very much known for its traditional medicinal value. These leaves have been used in Ayurveda for centuries. Juice of the leaves prevents swine flu and improves the resistance power of the body. And it cures many other health problems.

Family: Menispermaceae,  Genus: Tinospora

Letter featured in a daily

 Today, after so many days... no so many years, my letter has been printed in a daily. The daily's name is Telengana Today and it is published simultaneously from 8 district units apart from Hyderabad. In fact, my letter writing habit is much older. During my college days, I used to write number of letters to both vernacular and English publications. With that unflinching habit, my name became a household one. After that gradually, started writing poems,essays and other items. And on  that promotion to writing serious stuff, I stopped letter writing. No big reasons at all.

Now I have almost 7 books to my credit. I should thank my initial days of letter writing, with which only came to understand the power and joy of being printed something in a magazine. That habit evolved me a lot more in terms of reading and writing, of course blogging too. Just for a fun, yesterday, I wrote my response on Angela Merkel's statement on apology expression. And the letter carried out today itself. Here is the image of it sharing with you all. Feeling turned back to the past. 

 

Colonial Tombs

Way that leads to the burial ground

 Back to our colonial story. As I entered the place where zombies,spirits and ghosts are expected, by the grace of Almighty nothing of the sort encountered us. Well, let me present my collected facts. Last time I have posted some pics and info about the residential blocks of British officers and employees. As you already knew that the place is nearby Dummugudem, to be exact work shop location. Bygone days are always enchanting and packed with some mystery. And this time I am here with posting multiple pics and interesting details.

Details engraved on the tombs

This is all about a burial ground. Yes, you heard it right. There we can find tombs of British people. Some were of missionary teachers like Ms. Sarah Cain, Ms. Dorothy and others. And Mr.Angus alstair Fernandez was died young at 29. Interestingly he was an ICS officer. All they were buried during 1917 to 1921. And there was a tomb of an young girl named by Charlotte Henritta. Her father worked as a superintendent of medical department, Madras. But it's clueless how come she buried at this interior corner. 

A View from Outside

There was also a tomb belonged to one George Henry Walter Shelverton, served as a superintendent of .G.T. Survey and he buried on 26th January 1871. This is the oldest tomb according the details noted by me. In fact, almost 15 years back I visited this place on the tip off provided by some friend. I found that a clear difference now. Most of the tombs are collapsed, dug out and dilapidated. Really in a bad condition.

Maybe, they were from other nation but these tombs are signatures of a valuable history. Very few people knew the importance of this burial ground. We don't know where these souls were born and grew but they had served the colossal machine of imperial government as nuts and bolts and slept here in this corner. A place of solitude. In this age of information explosion, who knows, it could attract  a couple of readers to come over and to have a glance.

                                             -----Murthy Kvvs

A Colonial House

 

(Towering trees welcomed us)

Recently, I have visited two unique places along with our friend B.Sudhakar garu. The two were quite opposite to each other in nature but there was a link between them. First one was a building which was almost on the verge of its last phase and started ruining in parts. Yes, It was the place where some British officers lived in the part of their duties to be discharged. Constructed before the freedom ,yet got face lifts in course of time but gave in to the onslaught of odd conditions. Be it climatic or hooliganism or something else.

(Inside...)

It's situated in the vicinity of Dummugudem, particularly work shop area. Once this place housed the office of navigation works. River Godavari  just flows via this place and in those days, steamers and launches busy travelling this way loaded with people and commodities. Some buildings had been constructed for the purpose of running office, work shop and to provide accommodation for living. And with passing years, most of the constructions ruined except our present one to which we visited.

(Upstairs way...)

Detective Conan in us got active. We have had number of photographs in and outside of such old building. Here I am giving you all of them and feel the ambience with your intuition. No names engraved was available but hardly one or two families were residing in the vicinity. They have given us info to get into it. Well, are you guessing about the second spot apart from it..? That's really a bit frightening one. Yes, it was a burial ground. Have found some tombs with real English names engraved,  just keep fingers crossed. Let's have more of it in our next post.   

----Murthy Kvvs

Blooming Time

Here I would like to share an enchanting spectacle that I have ever received in the recent past and it's all about growing a garden in the school. It happened to me by seeing on whatsapp status. And a beautiful sight of colorful flowers made me write this piece. All these flower plants got from Kadiyam nursery with the initiative of its head mistress Mrs.BPRL Kumari. I was really elated to see the elegant  ambience with fresh greenery and of course added exquisite premises. Yes, Nannapaneni Mohan ZP high school is one of the best equipped schools in our district and which deserved all appreciation.

I should say one more thing, of course it could sound a bit nostalgic but worth remembering on the occasion. Mrs.BPRL Kumari, HM of the school was my class mate during the graduation days and she is there in my mind as a devoted Christian soul besides a compassionate human being. Right now, turned an hard working and able executioner of the good deeds for the renowned school. It made me happy and I expressed my desire to share this wonderful thing in my blog. Thanks for the bonhomie and congrats to the entire staff.

Animals do feel Cold

 I don't have any particular idea about how the cattle feel during the season of winter until I have seen this picture. Just it was taken a couple of days back by a friend. And the place is nearby our town, i.e., at the village of Charla, in the vicinity of bus stop. Some good human being helped out a fire for warming the cattle. Very carefully gathered around the fire and warming themselves. Just like the humans as well.

This village is around 50k.m. away from the temple town. And of course, usually our winters are not that bone chilling but this year a little bit real winter that we are going through. So that animals do feel as we are. On some days, temperatures dip below 10-15 degree celcius. So, what could they do..? quite naturally warming up themselves like this. it seems calves needed more heat as they forwarded a bit towards the fire.