Chapter 6 : Pedals and Dreams
Passion for Pedalling:
Cycling was a thrilling adventure when I was a kid. To me, those who bicycled were heroes. I saw similar 'heroes' performing daring stunts at the Gemini Circus. Their acrobatic feats on a single bicycle, with one rider stacked on top of another, left me amazed. I vowed to learn cycling someday, and it became my life's ambition. Later, I developed a similar desire to learn driving, and I even got to drive a car and a bullock cart for a while.
As a young boy, I was physically frail yet quite stubborn. However, I had an unquenchable thirst for learning new things. My desire to learn cycling grew stronger day by day. This was around 1960 in Mangalagiri, a small town with rarely any motor vehicles on the main road.
We had more 'goodu rickshaws' (a type of rickshaw with a fixed top) and later we saw 'seat rickshaws' (a type of rickshaw with a folding top) in Guntur Town.
One day, I visited a bicycle rental shop, wearing a blue-collar shirt, a half-sleeved shirt, and stood there sucking my thumb - a habit I had until I was twelve. The shop boys looked at me in wonder.
When I visited the bicycle shop, the shopkeeper asked, 'Hey boy, what do you need?' I pointed to the bicycles and said I needed one. He told me to take any one I liked, but they were all too big, like giant horses. I got frustrated with the bicycle makers, wondering why they didn't consider children's needs.
My friends came to my rescue, teaching me the 'adda thokkudu' technique to ride without getting on the seat. They also informed me that smaller bicycles for kids were available for purchase or rent. A friend from the city even told me about special bicycles designed for girls who wore langas, the traditional dress of Telugu girls, which left me amazed again.
At home, we didn't have a bicycle, and my parents either go on foot or by a rickshaw, when they had to go out. I didn’t want to ask them to buy me a small one, so I kept my desire to myself. Instead, I took a bicycle from the shop and rode it slowly onto the main road.
Near the main road, there was a hillock where we would play by rolling bicycle tyres down the slope. We also competed with bicycle rims, rolling them with a stick to see whose rim would go the farthest. At times, the rim would get stuck in the wheel, causing accidents, yet, we didn't stop playing.
In front of the rent-cycle shop, about ten bicycles were parked. Next to them was a pump to inflate the tyres, and an aluminium bucket filled with water to check for punctures. A twelve-year-old boy was working diligently, filling the tube with air, bending it skilfully, and submerging it in the water to find the puncture. He would check the tube by applying pressure with his finger, and when he found the puncture, he would mark it with a pencil or put a small matchstick in it to identify the puncture later. Then, he would apply a yellow gel-like substance to the area and stick a black rubber patch on it. After that, he would carefully insert the tube into the tyre and inflate it.
As I watched all this in amazement, a customer came to rent a bicycle. The shop owner checked the time and collected the rent. I thought to myself, 'Ah, I wish I could be like him, earning money by renting out bicycles.' I also wanted to learn how to fix punctures, so I wouldn't have to struggle if I got a flat tyre.
It all began after that. During my high school and intermediate years, I would ride a bicycle on the muddy road between Nandigama and Adivi Ravulapadu. I even learned to fix punctures myself, which gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. I felt proud, like I had developed a valuable skill that would benefit me in life.
Never mind. Let me come back to my cycling practice. I used to live in a house with a tiled roof on Mangalagiri main road. I brought a rented bicycle home, and my elders got worried, saying I'd break my legs if I rode such a big bicycle. They took it away and gave it back to the shop owner. I felt hurt.
My friends were all learning, and I didn’t want to be left behind. So I came up with a plan. I knew that if I told the elders at home, they would immediately refuse. So, without informing anyone, I went to another shop, rented a bicycle, and began practicing in the narrow alleys, far away from home.
There I was—wobbling on the pedals, circling through quiet lanes, falling now and then, getting up again, determined not to return until I had mastered the skill of cycling. Those secret evening practices became my little adventure, a memory that still brings a smile whenever I think of it.
It was tough, and I fell many times. My knees were bruised, and it took a long time to heal. But I kept dreaming of riding a bicycle.
Finally, I learnt balancing, and I could ride a bicycle even without training wheels. Even then, I'd fall sometimes and return home with scraped knees, and my family would scold me.
But now, when I look back, I realise something simple yet profound: anything we attempt for the first time feels difficult. With patience and repeated effort, even the hardest things gradually become easy. Perhaps that is what life is—falling, getting up, and learning to move forward with a little more confidence each time.
Panakala Swamy :
(A God who drinks 'Panakam' - a liquid made of water and jaggery)
The 'Panakala Swamy' temple in Mangalagiri has some unique features. The idol of Swamy has its mouth fully open. 'Panakam' is poured into that mouth. Interestingly, no matter how much 'Panakam' is poured, the idol drinks half of it and sends the rest back out for the devotees, as if to say, “I've taken my share, and here's the rest for you. And it is my prasadam.” When this happens, a gurgling sound like 'glug' can be heard, according to the priests. I remember hearing that sound during my childhood. Such is the greatness of Swamy. Another astonishing fact is that ants are never seen on the floor where 'Panakam' is prepared and offered to Swamy daily.
Hill in the shape of an elephant:
Now, I'm going to tell you about another strange thing. Above the ‘Panakala Swami’ temple, there's a temple called 'Gandala Swamy' at the top of the hill. It's amazing that this hill is shaped like a sleeping elephant. They say it's a volcano, and that's why they pour Panakam (a sweet drink) to calm it down. To reach the Gandala Swamy temple, there are no steps. There's a path like the one the shepherds take to graze their cattle and goats. Very few people go there. One day, we four kids planned to go to the Gandala Swamy temple without telling our elders. We went up the hill, scared, and reached the temple. We saw a lamp lit with oil. They say that if you see this lamp, all the obstacles in your life will disappear. This was the biggest adventure I did in my childhood. I don't know if there are any arrangements to go to this temple on the hilltop now. I'm sharing this old memory with you, and may be it's the mercy of that God. When I think about old memories, my mind wanders.
Dreams of Progress:
Two Life Principles:
In the movie 'Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam', there's a thought-provoking song that goes like this... "Matthu vadalara niddura matthu vadalaraa” ("Give up sleepy mood"). In one part of the song, it says, “Kartavyam nee vantu, kaapaduta naa vanthu, cheppadamee naa dharmam vinaka pothe new karmam “
("performing the duty is yours; protection is mine. My duty is to advise, if you don't listen, it's your karma").
The poet has conveyed a profound meaning in these two lines. We must do our work and move forward. God will give us the results. Moreover, God will also save us from the hardships that come our way while doing that work. This same principle is seen in Lord Sri Krishna's teachings to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. You have control over your actions, but not over the results. Don't stop doing your duties - this is the life principle taught by the Bhagavad Gita.
Two principles that have inspired me are:
1. Work - Speed - Result
2. Work - Victory - Happiness
Whatever work we take up, we must do it quickly and efficiently to get good results. Similarly, we may not achieve complete victory in every task. Sometimes, we may face defeat. But we shouldn't give up and stop working. The victory we achieve in our work brings us happiness and fills us with new enthusiasm. This enthusiasm also boosts our health.
Life is not always smooth. But it's not always full of hurdles either. We can move forward, searching for happiness. After completing our education, we must get a job, get married... almost everyone thinks and plans this way. But for some, achieving their goals may be like walking on a slippery road, while for others, it may be like traversing a path full of joy. It is called in Telugu like “Nalleru meeda nadaka" (walking on Nalleru plant).
Unemployment Problem:
Forty to fifty years ago, if a girl grew up, she would get married and leave her parents’ home. Similarly, if a boy grew up, he would stand on his own feet and be self-sufficient. This was the common thinking in ordinary, middle-class households back then.
I studied science subjects in Telugu language. In 1975, there were very few reference books in Telugu for science subjects. Especially, there were no Telugu books with information related to objective type questions. So, I had to work hard and prepare for such papers. I regret studying BSc in Telugu medium.
We were the first batch of BSc students in Nandigama. We faced many difficulties. Our family situation, expenses, and other fears didn't allow us to go beyond the village. Many families in our village faced similar situations. I was one of the eight or ten bright students. Yet I didn't know much about the competitive world outside. We were like frogs in a well, oblivious to the highly competitive world, whose intensity and levels were beyond our imagination.
With the establishment of a college at Nandigama, the literacy rate in the region increased. Even girls from surrounding villages joined the college. This was a revolution in education. The business people in our village, who earlier restricted their children to business, started sending their children to study degree courses. Gradually, ours became known as a village with many educated people. After graduation, I realized that I should have studied BSc in English medium, then studying MSc in English medium would have been easy. Studying in Telugu medium is one problem, and being from a village that is neither fully rural nor fully urban is another issue. In such a village, joining the first batch of the newly introduced BSc course in our college added to the challenges. But what can we do? Family circumstances, expenses, and other fears forced us to complete our education without going beyond our village. Many families in our village faced similar situations. I too, experienced the same. When I joined the BSc course at KVR College in Nandigama, it was a relief for our elders that we could complete our science degree in our own village. Along with me, many students from our village and surrounding areas joined the Science Degree course. Studying BSc in our own village was a kind of comfort for us. We had home-cooked food and the college was within walking distance. Our studies went smoothly.
After completing degree, I had to go to Bombay for MSC, in English medium. That's when I realized the importance of learning English. If I had learned English well at my degree level, my MSC studies would have been much easier. Even Hindi, which was taught up to the 10th standard, was not helpful. When I went to Bombay, I struggled to communicate with people who spoke Hindi, Marathi and English.
I'm sharing all this because life doesn't always go as planned. God has already mapped out our journey. The struggles we face today may lead to a better life tomorrow. We should learn to find happiness in our struggles. I realized this when I was in Bombay.
Another thing I realized is that setting big targets and working towards them can lead to small victories. Even if we don't achieve our big goals, we can still enjoy the small wins.
"In a Telugu movie, hero Venkatesh says, 'IAS, IPS...' and pauses for a moment, then continues, 'Even if not those, at least a small job...' While Venkatesh is speaking, Prakash Raj looks at him seriously, and the other person feels like 'Pachi velakkaya notlo addam padinattlu' (a Telugu phrase indicating a uncomfortable feeling while on speaking). Although this seems like a comedy scene on the surface, there is truth hidden in it. The philosophy of enjoying life is clearly visible. In those days, many boys like me were seen to be like this."
This philosophy of enjoying life's journey is essential. Many young people like me had big dreams, worked hard, and achieved small victories, which brought them happiness. Even at the age of 68, I set big goals and work towards them. Even if I don't achieve them, I enjoy the small victories. This habit of finding happiness in our work and achievements is essential. It's what makes life successful and fulfilling. Even if society doesn't recognize us or consider us heroes, the happiness we derive from our work and achievements is unparalleled.
No work, No food. That's the truth. To get a job, especially in a middle-class family like mine, which is a Brahmin family, is a big deal. In those days, when a son grows up, he needs to get educated and then either get a job and get married. Unemployment was a big issue back then, and many Telugu movies were made about it. One such movie is "Aakali Rajyam" starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. The movie, with lyrics by Sri Sri and Atreya , conveys the message that getting a job is not the only way to survive, and one can do any work to make a living. It also highlights the importance of having a job to live with dignity in society.
When I was young , this movie, along with Sri Sri's poetry had a big impact on me and they disturbed my thoughts.
Born in a traditional Brahmin family, I started learning the essence of the Bhagavad Gita on one hand, while on the other hand, I was influenced by Sri Sri's poetry. At first glance, these two may seem different, but both are essential for life's journey. This diversity is clearly visible in my life, and you can understand it better if you read my entire life story.
During my unemployment phase, I faced another challenge - taunting words from others. Even when asked casually, comments like:
“Hey, you still haven't got a job? You need to try harder...” felt like piercing needles. Interestingly, those who spoke such words never offered help or even a supportive ear. In such situations, when my mind was about to give up, the Bhagavad Gita came to my rescue. Not just the book, but also Ghantasala's Bhagavad Gita audio cassettes. Some Telugu movie songs from that time also brought solace to my troubled mind. One song from the Telugu film ‘ Velugu needalu (Light and Shadows) by Ghantasala that I recall is:
“Kala Kaani Dee, Viluvaainadee...
Agadhamou jalanidhi loona, Aani mutyamunnatule,
Shokaala maruguna daagi, sukhamunnadile,
Edee thanantha thaane, nee dariki raadu,
Shodhinchi saadinchaalee, adiyee dheeragunamu...
Kala Kaani Dee, Viluvaainadee...”
which says, 'Just like a pearl in the deep ocean, happiness lies hidden in sorrow. You need to search and strive for it, that's courage...' Listening to such songs filled me with new enthusiasm and hope. Even now, songs play a significant role in my life. I'm not a singer, but I love memorizing good songs. These songs have brought me comfort in many difficult situations. Perhaps that's why I could conceptualize a program called 'Manchi Paata - Manasuloni Maata' (Good Song - Heart's Voice) after crossing sixty-seven.
My story goes like this:
During those days, bank jobs were very scarce. But I was not good at math, so I couldn't get a job. Even now, I get nervous when people talk about lakhs and crores. Railway and clerk jobs were also scarce. There were no coaching centres in our town to guide us on how to prepare for competitive exams. I started searching for jobs that suited me. My first interview was for a medical representative post. My friend asked me to apply, and I got a call for an interview at Mamata Hotel in Vijayawada. I'll tell you what questions they asked and how I answered:
Question: 'What did you study?'
Answer: 'MSc.'
Question: 'Why did you apply for this job?'
Answer: 'My friend asked me to apply.'
Question: 'Is that your only answer?'
Answer: 'Yes.'
Question: 'What are your interests?'
Answer: 'I like teaching kids and doing mimicry.'
The interviewers were surprised. I continued, 'I can mimic ANR, NTR, and CSR.'
Question: 'What's the connection between your answers and the job you applied for?'
Answer: 'I don't know. If you give me the job, I'll do mimicry and increase sales.'
Question: 'Think and answer.'
Answer: 'Okay.'
Question: 'What else do you like?'
Answer: 'Acting and directing plays.'
The interviewers were surprised again. After a while, they said, 'Okay, we'll tell you later. You can go.'
Later, I realized I wasn't suitable for such a job. I made a list of jobs I could do and started applying. One was teaching, and the other was research in my science subject.
How did this guy get out of unemployment? What job did he get? How did he change his career? Let's see what happens next...
*****
Foot notes:
“Nalleru meeda nadaka -”
Is a common phrase used in rural Andhra Pradesh. “Nalleru” is a type of climber plant. The stem of this plant is like square-shaped with ridges. People remove these Nalleru creepers from open fields and place them on the muddy road, especially in areas with potholes and pits. During the rainy season, the Nalleru creepers help the bullock cart wheels to pass through the potholes smoothly without getting stuck. They provide a grip, so the wheels don't slip. When the road is filled with Nalleru creepers, the bullock cart can move easily, and the bulls don't get tired. People use this phrase “Nelleru meeda nadaka” (walks on Nalleru) when something is happening easily and smoothly. Even in newspapers, you can see this phrase used in headlines. But once, my media friend used this phrase incorrectly in a headline. If the matter is about someone working very hard, using "Nalleru Meeda Nadaka" in the headline gives the opposite meaning. Okay, such mistakes happen a lot in newspapers. I'll mention a few more examples when the context comes up.
Cassettes:
When discussing the evolution of memory storage, it's essential to mention the golden age of audio cassettes. During my youth, cassettes were all the rage. Sound was recorded onto the tape inside the cassette. In the 70s, numerous movie cassettes were widely available. At Vijayawada's Lenin Centre, superhit Telugu movie dialogue cassettes from films like "Dana Veera Shura Karna" Mutyala Muggu and "Yama Gola" were sold like hotcakes. But when I visited Lenin Centre recently (2024), audio cassettes were nowhere to be found. CDs had their moment, but they're also disappearing.
In movies, the Hindu mythological character Narada is shown moving in clouds from one place to other, and collecting information and delivering it to those who need it when required. Thinking this way, it feels like Narada might be the inventor of this cloud storage soon! Before cassettes, people used to buy gramophone records to listen to movie songs and dialogues. I've seen many households playing Ghantasala's Bhagavad Gita on gramophone records.
As a child, I was amazed when I heard voices coming from the radio, and even more so when I heard songs and dialogues from the plate-like gramophone records. I'll share more interesting facts later.
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