Walking in the footsteps of mighty kings

Our social life in గుంతకల్లు (Guntakallu or Guntakal) was busier and fun filled compared to when we lived in villages. We had several relatives in గుంతకల్లు (Guntakallu). If you thought  the carrot juice health fad is a new phenomenon, think again. A relative of ours used

Kupasta Mandukam finds an ocean

గుంతకల్లు (Guntakallu or Guntakal), one of the major railway junctions in Andhra Pradesh was home to a large number of people who worked for the Indian Railways. Railway employees lived in Railway Colony housing provided by their employer. It was a large colony that spanned several streets and

Veranda Tales-పిసినారి సోమయ్య (Pisinari Somayya)

పిసినారి సోమయ్య (Pisinari Somayya and Thief) - Once upon a time, there lived a man, సోమయ్య (Somayya). He made his home in a small village where he tended to his farms. He lived a humble life in his small cottage.

Two moves, two schools, and three houses later

After leaving the farm by the train tracks, we were adrift for a while. The new place నాన్న (Nanna is father in Telugu) was transferred to was a very small village. We couldn’t find a house to rent for several months. నాన్న (Nanna) started working

She lives on in my memory

She came into my life when she married బాబయ్య(Babayya), my father’s younger brother. బాబయ్య(Babayya) is father’s younger brother or mother’s younger sister’s husband in Telugu. I traveled in a bus to the wedding with బాబయ్య(Babayya), తాతయ్

Life on a farm by the train tracks

నాన్న (Nanna is dad in Telugu) worked for the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a veterinary doctor. His work took us to the Block Development Officers Training Center in Bapatla. It is called AMR-Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development Training Center now. The Development Officers Training Centers were

Veranda Tales-Life is challenging

సీత బాధలు సీతవి, పీత బాధలు పీతవి  (Sita badhalu Sitavi, Pita badhalu Pitavi) - Challenges and hardships are a human condition. We can safely say all humans have some problem or the other. We can’t grasp the problems others are facing unless we walk in their shoes.

Veranda Tales-Precious jewels from ancestors

చచ్చినోడి కళ్ళు చారెడేసి (Chacchinodi kallu charedesi) Dead person’s eyes are big) - When somebody passes away, people feel uncomfortable saying anything negative about them. Furthermore, they talk the person up.

Nanna races against time

నాన్న (Nanna is dad in Telugu) worked for the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a veterinary doctor. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and other states in India provide free medical care for the livestock in villages and free medical care for pets in larger cities. His job took

Feasting on Pootharekulu to lifelong friendship

My earliest memories go back to living in a small village, Khajipalem in a large farm house when I was 4 years of age. Khajipalem is about 18 Kilometers from Bapatla where my నానమ్మా (Nanamma is paternal grandmother in Telugu) used to live. Khajipalem is still a small

Floating down the Bay of Bengal to the Karimandalam

Many people are curious about their origins and where their ancestors came from. A few of us are fortunate to be able to name great great grandparents from both sides of our family trees. Even fewer have access to their family trees. Family origin stories and lore are passed down

Veranda Tales-Nothing to see folks

సింగినాదం జీలకర్ర (singinadam jeelakarra) - నాన్న (Nanna is father in Telugu) would say “అదంతా సింగినాదమే  (adanta singinadame) when he was talking about an event or incident that he thought was made a big deal out of for no good reason and didn’t deserve that much attention.

Veranda Tales-Buttermilk for the masses

మంది ఎక్కువైతే మజ్జిగ పలుచన (Mandi yekkuva ayithe majjiga paluchana) - We at one time or the other were troubled by life’s hard questions such as how much to cook for a large party or how much food to take to a potluck.

Mutton Pulav before and Rava dosa after

నాన్న (Nanna is dad in Telugu) worked for the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a veterinary doctor. His job took us to many places around the state. We moved once every one and a half to two years like clockwork from one village to another. These were small

Alpha male monkey triumphs over Nani mama

నాని మామ (Nani mama) was my mother’s younger brother. మామ or మామయ్య  (mama or mamayya) is mother’s brother or paternal aunt’s husband in Telugu. అమ్మ (Amma) and నాని మామ (Nani mama) were very close as children. They were three

Veranda Tales-Arbitrating Monkey

కోతి తీర్పు (kothi theerpu) Once upon a time, there lived two kittens, named Ramu and Shyamu, in a forest. They were playful and always on the go. They played, hunted, and found a safe place to sleep at night. They often shared food with each other.

Veranda Tales-Don’t upset the applecart

పానకంలో పుడక (Paanakamlo pudaka) - We all know at least one person who loves to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. They interfere in a situation or conversation that has nothing to do with them.

Nanamma’s magical basket of treasures

I was very close to my నానమ్మ (Nanamma is paternal grandmother in Telugu). Nanamma is my Naanna’s (dad in Telugu) mother. Telugu language has logical names for grandmothers. Nanna’s mother is Nanamma and Amma’s mother is అమ్ముమ్మ (Ammumma). Nanamma was quick witted

Veranda Tales-Sattu is delicious

सत्तू मन भट्टू (Sattu mana bhattu) - Once upon a time two men from a village, Veeru and Jai embarked on a long journey. They didn’t own bullocks or bullock carts. They set out on foot with food for the road, a few clothes, and a stick to ward off wild animals.

A mother’s ambitious plans

Veena is sipping coffee thinking about her strange dream from the night before. She is listlessly nibbling on a delicious pastry sitting in front of her, half paying attention to bird chirping sounds from her backyard. She usually enjoys the flaky layers of her pastry savoring every last crumb while

Veranda Tales-What happens during a sunshower?

ఎండ వాన, కుక్కల నక్కల పెళ్లి (Dogs and Foxes marry during a sunshower) - I stepped out to run an errand into a sunshower. It was hot and sunny just a few minutes ago and now wind was blowing hard and raindrops were glowing brilliantly ...

Veranda Tales-Familiarity breeds contempt - does it really?

Us humans are full of contradictions like the world around us. We say “Don’t judge the book by its cover” which means try to get to know somebody or something better before forming an opinion, either good or bad.

Veranda Tales-Looking through rose-colored glasses

కాకి పిల్ల కాకికి ముద్దు (Crow finds its offspring adorable) - We all know that parents find their children adorable and precious. This is a global phenomenon across all species on this planet. Crows find their offspring adorable. Monkeys, walruses, and all other species feel the same way.

My long lost best friend Govindu

I was tutored at home during the early years. Our teacher would come to our house 6 days a week to teach my sister and I. He taught us all subjects. He was also the one that performed my అక్షరాభ్యాసం (Aksharabhyasamu). Majority of Telugu children start

Veranda Tales-The Merchant’s Belly button

బొడ్డుకు మసి రాసుకుని కూర్చున్నాడు (Bodduku Masi Rasukuni Kurchunadu) - We all know at least one person who loves to pick a fight. I am not talking about somebody in a bad mood once in a while becoming argumentative or quarrelsome.