Paradoxically Yours

So it happens.

You are admitted in a Chennai Ayurvedic Vaidyashala, hugely hungry, ready to pounce on your paathya aahara - a diet that is healthy for the mind & the body.

One spoon in, you realise more salt is needed. On the intercom you dial 2031, and - in your AI learnt Tamil - say, “Uppu”, salt.

In less than a minute, Simson - the person in charge of the kitchen- is in your room. He is carrying the salt in a bowl.

Now in maha-desperation to pounce on your paathya, in a gesture of gimme-quiklee, you extend your hand …

Then. Suddenly.

Simson gets fully animated, his eyes popping out and you feel as if you are about to commit some maha paapa, sin.

“Naaaa. Naaaa……” He goes on in chaste Tamil. Your brain is confused and then to add to it from across the room comes your mothers voice, saying, “Yes, Yesss, yes yess“

Now, mother knows 2.5 words of Tamil. But you find her totally agreeing with Simson!

Your Left Brain, fuses.

Naaa Naaa Naaa Naaa, goes Simson

Yesss Yesss Yesss Yesss, goes Mum

Staring at the gestures and the sounds, your right brain gets into the gear, it takes over and you … finally figure.

It’s the same story across India. Beyond region and, in this case, religion.

You are NOT to take salt or green chillies in your hand from another person! You can take it in the plate, but NOT in the HAND. Else. You will have a big fight with him.

Why? How come? What logic? Who cares?!

Across generations, across regions, across languages - same to same tradition. Bas.

Mum and me from the Himalayas in the North. Here in the peninsular South. Completely at home. Different, different, yet, same, same. One of the many paradoxes of India!

#SliceOfLife #chennaidiaries 

#ayurveda #tamilnadu #kumaon

#india #paradox