During the 34 hour drive from Birmingham to Mackinac Island and back, Amma (my mother) told us many family stories. Some of them I knew, and some of them were new. I will keep them brief, leaving the details to the reader's perception.
My Mother's Dog Tom
My mother had a dog Tom. He was a brave and a faithful dog, and routinely chased away foxes and other menacing beasts that appeared in the village. One night as the family slept, the cows in the neighborhood sensed a tiger and Tom asked to be unleashed. My mother cursed him for waking her up, and let him go outside.
He never came back.
Since then, my mother hasn't had a dog.
Related Links:
• When the Tiger was Hunted
• My Pet TinTin
My Father's Job Interview
Upon his return to India (from USA, where he obtained a Ph.D.), my father applied for a job in the department of sericulture. The chairman of the selection committee asked only one question to the candidate.
"Are you a Lingayat?"
Lingayat is the name a prominent caste in the state of Karnataka.
The interviewee, of course didn't get the job and later started Kamat.com.
The interviewer went on to become a close associate of Indira Gandhi, and the Chief Minister of the the state, and built an administration known for favoritism, inefficiency and corruption.
Related Links:
• Lingayats and the Vachana Literature
• What I Really Think About Indira Gandhi
Kamat-Joshi Nexus
I once blogged about the contributions of Kamat-Joshi team to India.
Happens that Bhimsen Joshi, one of the prominent Hindustani classical musician is a nephew of G.B.Joshi, who has published many of Kamat's works. He is known as 'Bhimya' to close friends and family.
Bhimsen Joshi's biography by Mohan Nadakarni is dedicated to my grandmother.
Related Links:
• Portrait of G.B. Joshi
• Link to Bhimsen Joshi's Biography
• Ramakant Joshi's tribute to Father
• My mother's tribute to G.B.Joshi
