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My Father Baliah
The extraordinary story of a Dalit family in southern India
Poised to inherit a huge tract of land gifted by the nizam to his father, twenty-one-year-old Narsiah loses it to a feudal lord. This triggers his migration from Vangapalli, his ancestral village in the Karimnagar district of Telangana - the single most important event that would free his family and future generations from caste oppression. Years later, it saves his son Baliah from the fate that was his forefathers': a life of humiliation and bonded labour.
A book written with the desire to make known the inhumanity of untouchability and the acquiescence and internalization of this condition by the Dalits themselves, Y.B. Satyanarayana chronicles the relentless struggle of three generations of his family in this biography of his father. A narrative that derives its strength from the simplicity with which it is told, My Father Baliah is a story of great hardship and greater resilience.
Poised to inherit a huge tract of land gifted by the nizam to his father, twenty-one-year-old Narsiah loses it to a feudal lord. This triggers his migration from Vangapalli, his ancestral village in the Karimnagar district of Telangana - the single most important event that would free his family and future generations from caste oppression. Years later, it saves his son Baliah from the fate that was his forefathers': a life of humiliation and bonded labour.
A book written with the desire to make known the inhumanity of untouchability and the acquiescence and internalization of this condition by the Dalits themselves, Y.B. Satyanarayana chronicles the relentless struggle of three generations of his family in this biography of his father. A narrative that derives its strength from the simplicity with which it is told, My Father Baliah is a story of great hardship and greater resilience.
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 23, 2016
Thanks to Pa. Ranjith for introducing this book to me through KABALI.
September 28, 2016
Wonderful book! A must read for all the people who are against reservation! It shows the atrocities done by some people in the name of caste pollution and how the right to wisdom has been kept away from many people.
This book is about a man called Baliah, a Dalit, who took education as a weapon to fight against social discrimination. The way he brought up his children, his sacrifice, his pride, his never die attitude, etc., really shows how much he wants to show to the world! Education came as a saving grace to many! If it had been made available to everyone instead only to a particular sect of people, India would have been in a much much better place now!
This book is about a man called Baliah, a Dalit, who took education as a weapon to fight against social discrimination. The way he brought up his children, his sacrifice, his pride, his never die attitude, etc., really shows how much he wants to show to the world! Education came as a saving grace to many! If it had been made available to everyone instead only to a particular sect of people, India would have been in a much much better place now!
August 14, 2020
'My father Baliah' is an ode to a father by his son i.e., our author Y B Satynarayana who belongs to Madiga caste of Telangana region. Here, the author narrates the history of his family by introducing us to its legacy pacing back to the times of his great grand father. We get acquainted with his grand father Narasiah's & father Baliah's struggle to build a strong bedrock of the 'Yelukati' ( surname of the family) lineage.
✏️
Though Narasaih couldn't provide his son proper education , he himself being a railway pointsman somehow manages to find a small job in the railways thanks to the then British officers who were indifferent to the scheduled castes unlike caste Hindus. After experiencing many wayward discriminations & humiliations in the personal & professional fronts from his childhood, Baliah believes in a sole weapon i.e., EDUCATION which is capable of fighting the social stigma thereby emerging out of many constraints strangledd him & his ilk in the name of caste.
✏️
Baliah & his wife Narasamma with a strong desire to send their children to school half starve most of the days. Having eight children at their tow with a meagre income,they reside in a small room with quivering kerosene lamps & less ambiance to study- for which their children too never complained. Baliah is not an agriculturist infact, but he has sown seeds of education in the garden of Yelukati family; toiled & watered with his dreams & desires ; nursed & nurtured them with discipline & perserverance, yet expecting nothing in return.
✏️
The author on the sidelines of his family saga, tells us a few incidents about untouchability practiced by the caste Hindus; how their caste was deprived of many privileges like - going to temples & read Epics & Upanishads. Little did I know that the Madiga caste once is not a part of caste Hindu, brahmincal priests are prevented from performing their weddings & their gods are considered as evil gods.
He tells various cultures & customs followed by the caste. Though constitution was in force by the time the author has started his schooling, its execution was not at the disposal which made many students like him to conceal their castes.
The prose is simple & there is so much intimacy & warmth in narration. I must say that the story fells flat here and there in the first half of the book but it could be well avoided.
✏️
The evolution of the caste discrimination from once recognising a caste from their attire & name to the present scenario of unable to know one's until & unless asked could be very well discerned.
Born in an untouchable family for whom education is something far reachable & years to come , the same family producing four academicians makes Baliah immensely proud of. The seeds which he had planted long ago now has grown into thick foliage of intelligence & succes sheltering shade of education to many.
✏️
Though Narasaih couldn't provide his son proper education , he himself being a railway pointsman somehow manages to find a small job in the railways thanks to the then British officers who were indifferent to the scheduled castes unlike caste Hindus. After experiencing many wayward discriminations & humiliations in the personal & professional fronts from his childhood, Baliah believes in a sole weapon i.e., EDUCATION which is capable of fighting the social stigma thereby emerging out of many constraints strangledd him & his ilk in the name of caste.
✏️
Baliah & his wife Narasamma with a strong desire to send their children to school half starve most of the days. Having eight children at their tow with a meagre income,they reside in a small room with quivering kerosene lamps & less ambiance to study- for which their children too never complained. Baliah is not an agriculturist infact, but he has sown seeds of education in the garden of Yelukati family; toiled & watered with his dreams & desires ; nursed & nurtured them with discipline & perserverance, yet expecting nothing in return.
✏️
The author on the sidelines of his family saga, tells us a few incidents about untouchability practiced by the caste Hindus; how their caste was deprived of many privileges like - going to temples & read Epics & Upanishads. Little did I know that the Madiga caste once is not a part of caste Hindu, brahmincal priests are prevented from performing their weddings & their gods are considered as evil gods.
He tells various cultures & customs followed by the caste. Though constitution was in force by the time the author has started his schooling, its execution was not at the disposal which made many students like him to conceal their castes.
The prose is simple & there is so much intimacy & warmth in narration. I must say that the story fells flat here and there in the first half of the book but it could be well avoided.
✏️
The evolution of the caste discrimination from once recognising a caste from their attire & name to the present scenario of unable to know one's until & unless asked could be very well discerned.
Born in an untouchable family for whom education is something far reachable & years to come , the same family producing four academicians makes Baliah immensely proud of. The seeds which he had planted long ago now has grown into thick foliage of intelligence & succes sheltering shade of education to many.
May 30, 2022
I saw Rajinikanth reading this book in the intro scene of Kabali, and I wanted to read it ever since. The author narrates his family’s uphill battle of overcoming poverty and social discrimination through three generations. As his family attained more education and improved economic mobility, the author describes a slow cultural transformation towards ‘Sanskritization’. This phenomenon highlights how an oppressive hegemony can impose its culture on to the oppressed people, but the opposite (so-called ‘upper caste’ taking up aspects of Dalit culture) isn’t possible.
The major issue for me was the shallow writing that detailed some events repetitively but overlooked many important events. Even though the author was writing about his own family, it somehow felt impersonal at times. I also wished to read more about the women in the family and his mother's side of the family.
The major issue for me was the shallow writing that detailed some events repetitively but overlooked many important events. Even though the author was writing about his own family, it somehow felt impersonal at times. I also wished to read more about the women in the family and his mother's side of the family.
January 29, 2022
చాలా మంచి పుస్తకం . అస్పృశ్యత వలన ప్రజలు 19వ మరియు 20 వ శతాబ్దం లో ఎటువంటి కష్టాలు అనుభవించారు, వారు కాస్తో కూస్తో ఆ బీద బ్రతుకుల నుంచి ఏ విధంగా బయటపడ్డారో, ఆత్మన్యూనత నుంచి కొద్ది కొద్దిగా ఎలా తేరుకోగలిగారో తెలియజేసే కథ ఇది.
పుస్తకం మొత్తం కూడా ఒక వాక్యంలో చెప్పాలంటే - "చదువు అనేది ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ అత్యవసరం, కేవలం దాని వలనే ఎంతటి స్థాయికయినా చేరుకోవచ్చు"
ఈ పుస్తకం లో ప్రతి పాత్ర చాలా ముఖ్యమైనది. ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ కూడా తమ కుటుంబం కోసం వారి ఇష్టాలను వదులుకున్న వైనాలే కనిపిస్తాయి. ఈ కథలో నుంచి మనం ఎంతో నేర్చుకోవచ్చు. ముఖ్యంగా ప్రస్తుతానికి, ఒక సగటు మనిషికి బ్రతకడానికి, నేర్చుకోవడానికి తగిన వనరులు లభ్యంగా ఉన్నాయి. ఏ పనినైనా ఎంత పని అయినా ఎంతటి ఆటుపోట్లు ఎదురైనా వెనుకడగు వేయకపోవటం, ఎల్లప్పుడూ దృక్పథం తో ఉండడం.
ఇందులో పాత్రలను గురించి ఎంత చెప్పినా తక్కువే.
కేవలం బాలయ్య మాత్రమే కాదు, చిన్న నరసయ్య, బాలయ్య పెళ్ళాం నర్సమ్మ కూడా మహానుభావులు.
తెలుగు అనువాదం చాలా చక్కగా చేశారు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని. ఎక్కడో ఒకటి అరా వాక్యాల్లో తప్పించి అంతా కూడా చాలా సరళంగా అర్ధమయ్యే విధంగా ఉంది.
చిన్న నరసయ్య తన కొడుకుతో పాటు, శవాన్ని మోసుకొని, ఊరు వదిలి వెళ్ళే దృశ్యం నా బుర్రలో ముద్ర పడిపోయింది
పుస్తకం మొత్తం కూడా ఒక వాక్యంలో చెప్పాలంటే - "చదువు అనేది ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ అత్యవసరం, కేవలం దాని వలనే ఎంతటి స్థాయికయినా చేరుకోవచ్చు"
ఈ పుస్తకం లో ప్రతి పాత్ర చాలా ముఖ్యమైనది. ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ కూడా తమ కుటుంబం కోసం వారి ఇష్టాలను వదులుకున్న వైనాలే కనిపిస్తాయి. ఈ కథలో నుంచి మనం ఎంతో నేర్చుకోవచ్చు. ముఖ్యంగా ప్రస్తుతానికి, ఒక సగటు మనిషికి బ్రతకడానికి, నేర్చుకోవడానికి తగిన వనరులు లభ్యంగా ఉన్నాయి. ఏ పనినైనా ఎంత పని అయినా ఎంతటి ఆటుపోట్లు ఎదురైనా వెనుకడగు వేయకపోవటం, ఎల్లప్పుడూ దృక్పథం తో ఉండడం.
ఇందులో పాత్రలను గురించి ఎంత చెప్పినా తక్కువే.
కేవలం బాలయ్య మాత్రమే కాదు, చిన్న నరసయ్య, బాలయ్య పెళ్ళాం నర్సమ్మ కూడా మహానుభావులు.
తెలుగు అనువాదం చాలా చక్కగా చేశారు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని. ఎక్కడో ఒకటి అరా వాక్యాల్లో తప్పించి అంతా కూడా చాలా సరళంగా అర్ధమయ్యే విధంగా ఉంది.
చిన్న నరసయ్య తన కొడుకుతో పాటు, శవాన్ని మోసుకొని, ఊరు వదిలి వెళ్ళే దృశ్యం నా బుర్రలో ముద్ర పడిపోయింది
August 3, 2020
An amazing, eye opening and vivid story, felt like an Indian Pachinko. Also didn’t realize the significance of how the Railways was at times a powerful equalizing force in Indian society...
Couldn’t help but contrast this with Sujatha Gidla’s Ants among Elephants, similar stories but with different hooks
Couldn’t help but contrast this with Sujatha Gidla’s Ants among Elephants, similar stories but with different hooks
July 23, 2016
This book presents inspiring story of a authors family in Telangana from state of oppressed to independent, self confidence family through sheer determination to pursue education. More than a narrative, it presents an ethnographic account of changes that were happening in the country like the changes in railways, the changing urban landscape of hyderabad, the food habits of the family, the sanskritization process, the change in fortunes of the family across 3 generations.
As the author says in foreword, this piece of work is intended to preserve their history to be read by future generations to understand the situations endured and sacrifices made by the the previous generations to give present generation their life.
Trivia: This is the book being read by Rajini in Kabali introduction scene :)
As the author says in foreword, this piece of work is intended to preserve their history to be read by future generations to understand the situations endured and sacrifices made by the the previous generations to give present generation their life.
Trivia: This is the book being read by Rajini in Kabali introduction scene :)
June 3, 2018
Below image brought me here and Introduced me to this amazing family biography.
Well-written book, depicts the social injustice prevailed during earlier days in Indian society and struggles faced by an underprivileged father, whose only aim is to provide education to his children, against all odds. A must read for anyone who are willing to debate on the caste system in India.
Well-written book, depicts the social injustice prevailed during earlier days in Indian society and struggles faced by an underprivileged father, whose only aim is to provide education to his children, against all odds. A must read for anyone who are willing to debate on the caste system in India.
January 23, 2017
చదువు విలువ, చదువుకుంటే జరిగే మంచి పరిణామాల గురించి వివరించే 3 తరాల గురించి వివరించే పుస్తకం.
September 16, 2022
An absolutely inspiring story of a family that put all its trust in education. Of a dalit boy who learnt letters from a mullah, despite his own people telling him that Dalits shouldn't read. Of the dalit boy, who when he was a father himself, repeatedly said that he will skip meals but will educate all his children to the highest level they could learn.
The book talks of the gross inequities of the caste system, but doesn't dwell on it. The family accepted their position and instead of fighting it, strove to rise over it though education.
As a resident of Hyderabad, I also enjoyed the references to places that are quite different now.
I wish I could give the book 5 stars, but I really cannot. Though the story is fascinating and you learn and understand so much by reading it, the editing could have been tighter. The same lines keep appearing, almost like a leitmotif, though clearly not one. Sometimes, the narration gets dry- the emotion one would expect is missing.
But, a must read. An absolute must read.
A more detailed review here- https://nuts2406.medium.com/book-revi...
The book talks of the gross inequities of the caste system, but doesn't dwell on it. The family accepted their position and instead of fighting it, strove to rise over it though education.
As a resident of Hyderabad, I also enjoyed the references to places that are quite different now.
I wish I could give the book 5 stars, but I really cannot. Though the story is fascinating and you learn and understand so much by reading it, the editing could have been tighter. The same lines keep appearing, almost like a leitmotif, though clearly not one. Sometimes, the narration gets dry- the emotion one would expect is missing.
But, a must read. An absolute must read.
A more detailed review here- https://nuts2406.medium.com/book-revi...
March 30, 2018
'கபாலி'யில் ரஞ்சித் இந்த புத்தகத்தை ரஜினியின் கையில் கொடுத்திருப்பார். அப்போது என் reading listல் சேர்ந்த புத்தகம் இது. இந்த புத்தக கண்காட்சியில் வாங்கினேன்.
இட ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு எதிரான ஒரு மனநிலையை நடுத்தர வர்க்கம் ஒரு fashion ஆக கொண்டிருக்கும் இந்ந���ட்களில் இது ஒரு தேவையான புத்தகம். ஒரு குடும்பம் பொருளாதார கீழ் நிலையில் இருந்து ஓரளவு மேலே வர என்ன வேண்டி இருக்கிறது என்பது இந்த புத்���கத்தின் ஒரு பாடம்.
தீண்டத்தகாத சாதியை சேர்ந்த பாலய்யாவின் தந்தை ஒரு வேகத்தில் தன் கிராமத்தில் இருந்து வெளியேறி அன்றைய பிரிட்டிஷ் ரயில் சேவையில் சேர்கிறார். பாலையாவை சிறிது படிக்க வைக்கிறார். பாலையாவும் ரயில்வேயில் சேர்கிறார். படிப்பின் அவசியத்தை அவருக்கு உணர்த்துவதாக இது தோன்றுகிறது. எனவே தனது மகன்கள்/மகள்கள் என அனைவரையும் படிக்க வைக்க முடிவு செய்கிறார். 1940களின் பிற்ப���ுதியில் இருந்து 1960களின் இறுதி வரையிலான இந்த போராட்டமே இந்த புத்தகம். அவ்வாறு படிக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட சத்திய நாராயணவே இதன் ஆசிரியர்.
கிராமங்களின் சாதி கட்டமைப்பு பெரும்பாலும் இப்போது உடைக்க பட்டு விட்டதாக நாம் எண்ணிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். ஆனால் முன்னிலும் அதிகமாக இன்று சாதி படித்தவர்களின் இடையே ஒரு பெரிய தீமையாக வளர்ந்து நிற்கிறது. இன்றைய கீழ் நிலை சாதிகளின் போராட்டம் பாலையா போன்றவர்களின் போராட்டமாக மட்டும் அல்லாது ஒரு சமூகத்தின் போராட்டமாக மாறி விட்டிருக்கிறது.
இந்த புத்தகத்தின் சாரமே , கல்வி மட்டுமே சாதி கட்டுமானத்தை உடைக்க வல்லது என்பது மட்டுமே. அந்த ஒரு காரணத்தினினாலே மட்டுமே கல்வி , முதலில் , இடைநிலை சாதிகளுக்கும் , பின்னர் , சூத்திர, தீண்டத்தகாத சாதிகளுக்கும் கிடைப்பதில் எவ்வளவு சிக்கல் ஏற்படுத்த முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு இன்றளவும் ஏற்படுத்த படுகிறது.
பாலய்யாவின் தந்தை கிராமத்தின் கட்டை உடைத்து வெளியேறுகிறார். அதன் பின் இரண்டு தலைமுறைகள் - படிபடியாக கல்வி மூலமாக தங்கள் பொருளாதார நிலையை முன்னேற்றுகிறார்கள். ஆனால் அவர்களால் அதன் பின்னும் அந்த தீண்டத்தகாத சாதி அடையாளத்தை துறக்க இயலவில்லையே. சத்தியநாராயணா ஒரு கல்லூரியின் முதல்வரான பிறகு ஒரு துணை நூலகரால் அவமானபடுத்த படுகிறார். சாதி அவரை விடவில்லை. அவரின் பேரப் பிள்ளைகள் இன்று அமெரிக்கா குடிமக்களாக இருக்கிறார்கள். சாதி அங்கும் அவர்களை துரத்துகிறதா என்று தெரியவில்லை.
ஆக, ஒரு குடும்பம் சாதீய தளையை பிரித்து வெளி வர கிட்டத்தட்ட நான்கு தலைமுறைகள் ஆகிறது. அதுவும், கல்வி கொடுத்தே தீர வேண்டும் என்று ஒரு தந்தை உறுதியாக இருந்த ஒரே காரணத்தால். இன்றைய இடை நிலை சாதி, சூத்திர, தீண்டத்தகாத சாதிகளில் இத்தகைய அப்பாக்கள் எத்துணை பிள்ளைகளுக்கு இருக்கிறார்கள் என்பது கேள்விக்குறியே. இதனாலேயே இட ஒதுக்கீடும், சலுகைகளும் இன்றும் மிக அவசிய தேவைகளாக இருக்கின்றன.
என்னுடைய கல்வி என்பது என் அம்மாஉறுதியாக இருந்ததால் மட்டுமே சாத்தியப்பட்டது. அதுவே, என்னையும், பின் என் தம்பியையும். உழலும் பொருளாதார சிக்கல்களில் இருந்து ஓரளவிற்கு வெளிக்கொணர்ந்தது. இன்னமும் 1/2 தலைமுறைகளில் இந்த சிக்கல்கள் முழுவதுமாக தீரும் என்று சொல்லலாம். அதற்க்கு இன்னமும் இரு தலைமுறைகள் கல்வி கற்று - இதை விடாது செய்ய வேண்டும்.
ஒரு நூறு தலைமுறைகளாக இதை சாதித்து வந்திருக்கும் ஒரு கூட்டம் இன்று இந்த 3/4 தலைமுறைக்கு கொடுக்கும் சலுகைகளை எதிர்ப்பது என்னை பொறுத்த வரை அயோக்கியத்தனமானது. இதற்க்கு முட்டு கொடுக்கும் முதல்/இரண்டாம் தலைமுறை இடை சாதி பட்டதாரிகளை பார்த்து பச்சாதாபம் மட்டுமே பட முடிகிறது.
பொருளாதார நியாயம் ஒருபுறம் எனில், சாதீய அடுக்கு தரும் அவமானங்களை இன்னொரு தலைமுறை புரிந்து கொள்ளாமலே, அதை எதோ பெருமையாக பேசுவது இன்னொரு அயோக்கியத்தனம். நான் கல்லூரியில் படித்த நாட்களில் பல முறை, இடை சாதி மாண���ர்கள், பட்டியல் சாதி மாணவர்களை தரக்குறைவாக பேசுவதை கேட்டிருக்கிறேன். கேரளாவில் சந்தனத்தை கோவில் பிராமணர் கையில் படாது தூக்கி எறிந்த போது உணர்ந்த அவமானம் , அங்கு கோவில்களில் எதையும் வாங்குவதை நிறுத்த வைத்தது. ஒரு மனிதனை அவனது தனிப்பட்ட குணங்களுக்கும் , மதிப்பீடுகளுக்கும் கொண்டு அளவிடாது, அவனது பிறப்பை கொண்டு அளவீடுவது எப்படிபட்ட நியாயத்தின் கீழ் வரும் என்று இன்றும் புரிந்ததில்லை.
'என் தந்தை பாலய்யா' - இது போன்ற கொஞ்சம் துணுக்குற வைக்கும் கேள்விகளை முன் வைக்கிறது. அதன் ஆசிரியர் இதை வெறும் கதையாக முன் வைக்காது , தன கோபத்தை பதிவு செய்து கொண்டே இருக்கிறார். அந்த கோபத்தையும் , அதன் தார்மீக நியாயத்தையும் நீங்கள் உணராவிடில் . இந்த புத்தகம் உங்களுக்கானதல்ல.
இட ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு எதிரான ஒரு மனநிலையை நடுத்தர வர்க்கம் ஒரு fashion ஆக கொண்டிருக்கும் இந்ந���ட்களில் இது ஒரு தேவையான புத்தகம். ஒரு குடும்பம் பொருளாதார கீழ் நிலையில் இருந்து ஓரளவு மேலே வர என்ன வேண்டி இருக்கிறது என்பது இந்த புத்���கத்தின் ஒரு பாடம்.
தீண்டத்தகாத சாதியை சேர்ந்த பாலய்யாவின் தந்தை ஒரு வேகத்தில் தன் கிராமத்தில் இருந்து வெளியேறி அன்றைய பிரிட்டிஷ் ரயில் சேவையில் சேர்கிறார். பாலையாவை சிறிது படிக்க வைக்கிறார். பாலையாவும் ரயில்வேயில் சேர்கிறார். படிப்பின் அவசியத்தை அவருக்கு உணர்த்துவதாக இது தோன்றுகிறது. எனவே தனது மகன்கள்/மகள்கள் என அனைவரையும் படிக்க வைக்க முடிவு செய்கிறார். 1940களின் பிற்ப���ுதியில் இருந்து 1960களின் இறுதி வரையிலான இந்த போராட்டமே இந்த புத்தகம். அவ்வாறு படிக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட சத்திய நாராயணவே இதன் ஆசிரியர்.
கிராமங்களின் சாதி கட்டமைப்பு பெரும்பாலும் இப்போது உடைக்க பட்டு விட்டதாக நாம் எண்ணிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். ஆனால் முன்னிலும் அதிகமாக இன்று சாதி படித்தவர்களின் இடையே ஒரு பெரிய தீமையாக வளர்ந்து நிற்கிறது. இன்றைய கீழ் நிலை சாதிகளின் போராட்டம் பாலையா போன்றவர்களின் போராட்டமாக மட்டும் அல்லாது ஒரு சமூகத்தின் போராட்டமாக மாறி விட்டிருக்கிறது.
இந்த புத்தகத்தின் சாரமே , கல்வி மட்டுமே சாதி கட்டுமானத்தை உடைக்க வல்லது என்பது மட்டுமே. அந்த ஒரு காரணத்தினினாலே மட்டுமே கல்வி , முதலில் , இடைநிலை சாதிகளுக்கும் , பின்னர் , சூத்திர, தீண்டத்தகாத சாதிகளுக்கும் கிடைப்பதில் எவ்வளவு சிக்கல் ஏற்படுத்த முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு இன்றளவும் ஏற்படுத்த படுகிறது.
பாலய்யாவின் தந்தை கிராமத்தின் கட்டை உடைத்து வெளியேறுகிறார். அதன் பின் இரண்டு தலைமுறைகள் - படிபடியாக கல்வி மூலமாக தங்கள் பொருளாதார நிலையை முன்னேற்றுகிறார்கள். ஆனால் அவர்களால் அதன் பின்னும் அந்த தீண்டத்தகாத சாதி அடையாளத்தை துறக்க இயலவில்லையே. சத்தியநாராயணா ஒரு கல்லூரியின் முதல்வரான பிறகு ஒரு துணை நூலகரால் அவமானபடுத்த படுகிறார். சாதி அவரை விடவில்லை. அவரின் பேரப் பிள்ளைகள் இன்று அமெரிக்கா குடிமக்களாக இருக்கிறார்கள். சாதி அங்கும் அவர்களை துரத்துகிறதா என்று தெரியவில்லை.
ஆக, ஒரு குடும்பம் சாதீய தளையை பிரித்து வெளி வர கிட்டத்தட்ட நான்கு தலைமுறைகள் ஆகிறது. அதுவும், கல்வி கொடுத்தே தீர வேண்டும் என்று ஒரு தந்தை உறுதியாக இருந்த ஒரே காரணத்தால். இன்றைய இடை நிலை சாதி, சூத்திர, தீண்டத்தகாத சாதிகளில் இத்தகைய அப்பாக்கள் எத்துணை பிள்ளைகளுக்கு இருக்கிறார்கள் என்பது கேள்விக்குறியே. இதனாலேயே இட ஒதுக்கீடும், சலுகைகளும் இன்றும் மிக அவசிய தேவைகளாக இருக்கின்றன.
என்னுடைய கல்வி என்பது என் அம்மாஉறுதியாக இருந்ததால் மட்டுமே சாத்தியப்பட்டது. அதுவே, என்னையும், பின் என் தம்பியையும். உழலும் பொருளாதார சிக்கல்களில் இருந்து ஓரளவிற்கு வெளிக்கொணர்ந்தது. இன்னமும் 1/2 தலைமுறைகளில் இந்த சிக்கல்கள் முழுவதுமாக தீரும் என்று சொல்லலாம். அதற்க்கு இன்னமும் இரு தலைமுறைகள் கல்வி கற்று - இதை விடாது செய்ய வேண்டும்.
ஒரு நூறு தலைமுறைகளாக இதை சாதித்து வந்திருக்கும் ஒரு கூட்டம் இன்று இந்த 3/4 தலைமுறைக்கு கொடுக்கும் சலுகைகளை எதிர்ப்பது என்னை பொறுத்த வரை அயோக்கியத்தனமானது. இதற்க்கு முட்டு கொடுக்கும் முதல்/இரண்டாம் தலைமுறை இடை சாதி பட்டதாரிகளை பார்த்து பச்சாதாபம் மட்டுமே பட முடிகிறது.
பொருளாதார நியாயம் ஒருபுறம் எனில், சாதீய அடுக்கு தரும் அவமானங்களை இன்னொரு தலைமுறை புரிந்து கொள்ளாமலே, அதை எதோ பெருமையாக பேசுவது இன்னொரு அயோக்கியத்தனம். நான் கல்லூரியில் படித்த நாட்களில் பல முறை, இடை சாதி மாண���ர்கள், பட்டியல் சாதி மாணவர்களை தரக்குறைவாக பேசுவதை கேட்டிருக்கிறேன். கேரளாவில் சந்தனத்தை கோவில் பிராமணர் கையில் படாது தூக்கி எறிந்த போது உணர்ந்த அவமானம் , அங்கு கோவில்களில் எதையும் வாங்குவதை நிறுத்த வைத்தது. ஒரு மனிதனை அவனது தனிப்பட்ட குணங்களுக்கும் , மதிப்பீடுகளுக்கும் கொண்டு அளவிடாது, அவனது பிறப்பை கொண்டு அளவீடுவது எப்படிபட்ட நியாயத்தின் கீழ் வரும் என்று இன்றும் புரிந்ததில்லை.
'என் தந்தை பாலய்யா' - இது போன்ற கொஞ்சம் துணுக்குற வைக்கும் கேள்விகளை முன் வைக்கிறது. அதன் ஆசிரியர் இதை வெறும் கதையாக முன் வைக்காது , தன கோபத்தை பதிவு செய்து கொண்டே இருக்கிறார். அந்த கோபத்தையும் , அதன் தார்மீக நியாயத்தையும் நீங்கள் உணராவிடில் . இந்த புத்தகம் உங்களுக்கானதல்ல.
September 13, 2023
"என் தந்தை பாலய்யா "
ஆசிரியர் : ஒய் .பி . சத்தியாநாராயணா
தமிழில் : ஜெனி டாலி அந்தோணி
காலச்சுவடு பதிப்பகம்
292 பக்கங்கள்
மனிதன் தன் வாழ்வில் தான் கடந்து வந்த கடினமான பாதைகளை சற்று இளைப்பாறிய பின் திரும்பி பார்த்து அங்கு தேங்கி கிடக்கும் அவனுடைய நினைவுகளை தன் சமகால புரிதலோடு இந்த உலகத்துக்கு பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள வேண்டியவற்றை மட்டும் தொகுத்து ஒரு சுயசரிதையாக வழங்குவான் . அந்த சுயசரிதை புத்தக வடிவில் மட்டுமே இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எந்தவித கட்டாயமும் இல்லை, சில நேரங்களில் அது நினைவுகளாகவும் , புலம்பல்களாகவும் , அடுத்த தலைமுறையினரின் மேல் திணிக்கப்படும் தன் நிராசைகளாகவும் இருக்கலாம் . அந்த வகையில் இது ஒரு தன் வரலாற்று நூல் தான் ஆனால் , இதனை எழுதிய ஆசிரியரின் வரலாறு அல்ல , அவருடைய தந்தையின் வரலாறு . தீண்டாமையும், அடக்குமுறைகளும் மேலோங்கி இருந்த காலகட்டத்தில் தன் குடும்பம் வழியே ஒரு புரட்சியை அமைதியாய் யாருக்கும் தெரியாமல் நிகழ்த்திய ஒரு மாமனிதனின் வாழ்கை பயணத்தை கூறும் ஒரு கதை சொல்லியாக மட்டுமே ஆசிரியர் தன்னை முன்னிறுத்துகிறார் .
ராமசாமியாக - நரசய்யாவிற்கு ஆந்திரா மாநிலம் வங்கப்பல்லி என்ற கிராமத்தில் மாதிக என்ற தீண்டத்தகாத தலித் இனத்தில் பிறந்தவர் பாலய்யா . தீண்டாமை கொடுமையால் இறந்த தாயின் உடலை முதுகில் சுமந்து கொண்டும் ,தன் மகன் ராமசாமியை ஒரு கையில் பிடித்துக்கொண்டு தான் பிறந்து வளர்ந்த ஊரை விட்டு விலகி சென்று , தன் மனைவியை புதைக்க தானே ஒரு குழியை தோண்டி மழை நீராடு மறைந்து வழிந்த கண்ணீரோடு புலம் பெயர்ந்த நரசய்யா-விற்கு ஒரே குறிக்கோள் தன் மகன் கல்வி கற்க வேண்டும் . ரயில்வே துறையில் நான்காம் நிலை பணியாளராக வேலைக்கு சேர்ந்து , எவ்வளவு முயன்றும் தன் மகன் தலித் என்ற காரணத்தால் அவனை முறையாக பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்பி கல்வி கொடுக்க முடியவில்லை . ஆனாலும். ராமசாமியின் கல்விக்கான வேட்கை அவனை தன் தந்தை பணியாற்றும் ரயில் நிலைய ஆங்கில அதிகாரிகளிடம் இருந்து புத்தகம் படிக்கும் அளவு கல்வி அறிவு வளர்த்து கொண்டான் . ராமசாமிக்கும் ரயில்வே -இல் 4 ஆம் நிலை பணியாளர் வேலை கிடைத்தது . தன் இளமை பருவத்தில் தடம் மாறிய ராமசாமி ஒரு பெரும் சிக்கலுக்குள் அகப்பட்டு தன் தந்தையின் உதவியால் பாலய்யா என்று தன் பெயரை மாற்றி ஒரு புது வாழ்க்கையை தொடங்குகிறான் . தனக்கு பிறந்த 11 குழந்தைகளையும் எப்படியாவது பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்பி கல்வி பயில வேண்டும் என்பதே அவருடைய ஒரே லட்சியம் .
அவர் நினைத்தது போலவே அவருடைய பெரும்பான்மையான பிள்ளைகள் கல்வி கற்றனர் . பின் நாளில் அனைவரும் முனைவர் பட்டம் பெரும் அளவிற்கு பெரிய பதவியை அடைந்தனர் .ஒரு நான்காம் நிலை பாய்ண்ட்ஸ்மானாக இருந்த பாலய்யா-வின் பிள்ளைகள் பல கல்லூரிகளின் முதல்வர்களாக உயர்ந்தனர் . இந்த மாபெரும் புரட்சியை செய்த பாலய்யா-விற்கு அம்பேத்கரையும் தெரியாது , மார்க்ஸ்-யம் தெரியாது , அவர்களுடைய புத்தகத்தையும் தெரியாது . ஆனால் , அவர் அடிக்கடி தன் பிள்ளைகளிடம் கூறுவது " நாம் எந்த சூழ்நிலையிலும் யாருக்கு கீழேயும் ,யாரை சார்ந்தும் வாழ்ந்து விடக்கூடாது , நாம் நம் சொந்த முயற்சியால் மட்டுமே முன்னேற வேண்டும் " . தன் பிள்ளைகளின் படிப்பிற்காக அவர் தன் உணவையும் , உறக்கத்தையும் , ஆசைகளையும் துறந்தார் . தன் பிள்ளைகள் கல்வியில் சிறந்து விளங்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக ஒரு கண��டிப்பான தந்தையாக இருந்தார் - உதாரணமாக அதிகாலை நான்கு மணிக்கு எழுந்து வாசிக்க வேண்டும் , அனைவரும் வாய் விட்டு சத்தம் போட்டு வாசிக்க வேண்டும் , அவர்கள் வாசிக்கும் பொழுது இவரும் உடன் அமர்வது ,அவர்களுடைய தேர்வு சமயத்தில் இவர் விடுப்பு எடுத்து உடன் அமர்வது . அவர்களுக்கு இருந்த சூழலில் கல்வி பயில்வது மிக கடினம் - தலித் மாணவர்கள் பள்ளியில் தனியே தான் அமர வேண்டும் , யாரும் அவர்களை தொடவோ , நட்பு பாராட்டவோ கூடாது , குழாயில் மற்றவர்கள் தண்ணீர் அருந்திய பின் தான் இவர்கள் அருந்த வேண்டும் , ஆசிரியர்கள் இவர்களை கண்டுகொள்ள மாட்டார்கள் , வீட்டில் மின்சாரம் கிடையாது - ஒரே ஒரு லாந்தர் விளக்கை வைத்து சுற்றி அமர்ந்து எல்லோரும் பயில வேண்டும் , அரசாங்க வீடு என்பதால் சிறிய அளவுதான் , இவர்கள் படிப்பதற்காக தற்காலிக கூடாரம் அமைத்து தருவார் பாலய்யா . இப்படி எண்ணற்ற இன்னல்களுக்கு இடையே அவர்களுக்கு இருந்த ஒரே உந்து சக்தி அவர்களுடைய தந்தை பாலய்யா மட்டுமே . தன் காலம் முழுக்க தன் பிள்ளைகளுக்காக ஓடிய அந்த கால்கள் இறுதி மூச்சு வரை நிற்கவே இல்லை , தன் தந்தைக்கு நிகழ்ந்த தீண்டாமை கொடுமையால் தான் இழந்த நிலத்தை மீட்டெடுக்க அந்த கால்கள் கிளம்பின .தன் வாழ்வின் தொடக்கம் முதல் இறுதி வரை யாருக்காகவும் எதற்காகவும் தன்னுடைய சாதிய காரணம் கொண்டு தன்னை யாரும் இழிவு படுத்துவதை அனுமதிக்க கூடாது என்று உறுதியில் இருந்தார் .தன் வாழ்வில் தான் சந்தித்த அனுபவங்களை வைத்து கல்வி அறிவும் - உயர் பதவியும் தான் சாதியை தாண்டி ஒருவனுக்காக மதிப்பும் , மரியாதையையும் தேடி கொடுக்கும் என்பதில் தெளிவாக இருந்தார் பாலய்யா .
வெள்ளை வேட்டி , வெள்ளை சட்டை , நீல நிற உருமாலை கட்டு , குஸ்தி வீரனுக்கு ஏற்ற உடல் , சவரம் செய்த முகம் , ஒட்ட வெட்டிய சிகை , கம்பீரமான நடை , திடமான நேர்கொண்ட பார்வை என்று பாலய்ய -வின் உருவம் ஒவ்வொரு வாசகனின் உள்ளத்திலும் நிச்சயம் பதிந்து விடும். இந்த புத்தகத்தை வாசிக்கும் பலருக்கு அவர்களுடைய தந்தையின் தேங்கி நின்ற நினைவுகள் தெளிந்த நீரோடை போல பசுமையாக , மீண்டும் நம் இதயத்திற்குள் ஓடத்துவங்கிவிடும் . தந்தைகளை பற்றி எழுதிய எழுத்தாளர்களும் , இலக்கியமும் இந்த உலகத்தில் குறைவாகவே காணப்படுகிறது . தந்தைகளின் உணர்வுகள் நம் இலக்கியத்தில் பதிவு செய்யப்படாமலே போய் விட்டது . தந்தைகள் தங்கள் குடும்பத்திற்காக எத்தனை தியாகங்களையும் . இன்னல்களையும் சந்தித்தாலும் அவை அனைத்தையும் தனக்குள் மட்டுமே வைத்து புதைத்து கொண்டு ஒரு சரா சரி மனிதனாக இந்த உலகத்தில் உலவி வருகின்றனர் . ஒரு வகையில் தந்தையின் உனர்வுகளை புரிந்து கொள்வது கடினம் . ஏனெனில் , தன் தந்தையை புரிந்து கொள்ள முயற்சிக்கும் மகனோ , மகளோ அந்த பயணத்தின் நீட்சியில் தாங்களும் ஒரு தந்தையாய் மாறும�� தருணமே வந்து விடுகிறது . என் பார்வையில் இந்த உலகில் இன்னும் எழுதப்படாத கவிதையும் , இசைக்கப்படாத இசையும் , தீட்டப்படாத ஓவியமும் நிறைந்த ஒரு பொக்கிஷம் உண்டென்றால் அது தந்தைகளே . என் தந்தையை நான் புரிந்து கொண்ட தருணம் என் கைகளில் என் மகன் இருந்தான் . தந்தை சொல் மிக்க மந்திரமில்லை - மந்திரங்கள் பொய்த்து போகலாம் ஆனால் என்றைக்கும் பொய்த்துப்போகாத ஒன்று தந்தை என்ற மனித உறவு ஒன்று மட்டுமே.
-இர.மௌலிதரன்
13-9-23
ஆசிரியர் : ஒய் .பி . சத்தியாநாராயணா
தமிழில் : ஜெனி டாலி அந்தோணி
காலச்சுவடு பதிப்பகம்
292 பக்கங்கள்
மனிதன் தன் வாழ்வில் தான் கடந்து வந்த கடினமான பாதைகளை சற்று இளைப்பாறிய பின் திரும்பி பார்த்து அங்கு தேங்கி கிடக்கும் அவனுடைய நினைவுகளை தன் சமகால புரிதலோடு இந்த உலகத்துக்கு பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள வேண்டியவற்றை மட்டும் தொகுத்து ஒரு சுயசரிதையாக வழங்குவான் . அந்த சுயசரிதை புத்தக வடிவில் மட்டுமே இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எந்தவித கட்டாயமும் இல்லை, சில நேரங்களில் அது நினைவுகளாகவும் , புலம்பல்களாகவும் , அடுத்த தலைமுறையினரின் மேல் திணிக்கப்படும் தன் நிராசைகளாகவும் இருக்கலாம் . அந்த வகையில் இது ஒரு தன் வரலாற்று நூல் தான் ஆனால் , இதனை எழுதிய ஆசிரியரின் வரலாறு அல்ல , அவருடைய தந்தையின் வரலாறு . தீண்டாமையும், அடக்குமுறைகளும் மேலோங்கி இருந்த காலகட்டத்தில் தன் குடும்பம் வழியே ஒரு புரட்சியை அமைதியாய் யாருக்கும் தெரியாமல் நிகழ்த்திய ஒரு மாமனிதனின் வாழ்கை பயணத்தை கூறும் ஒரு கதை சொல்லியாக மட்டுமே ஆசிரியர் தன்னை முன்னிறுத்துகிறார் .
ராமசாமியாக - நரசய்யாவிற்கு ஆந்திரா மாநிலம் வங்கப்பல்லி என்ற கிராமத்தில் மாதிக என்ற தீண்டத்தகாத தலித் இனத்தில் பிறந்தவர் பாலய்யா . தீண்டாமை கொடுமையால் இறந்த தாயின் உடலை முதுகில் சுமந்து கொண்டும் ,தன் மகன் ராமசாமியை ஒரு கையில் பிடித்துக்கொண்டு தான் பிறந்து வளர்ந்த ஊரை விட்டு விலகி சென்று , தன் மனைவியை புதைக்க தானே ஒரு குழியை தோண்டி மழை நீராடு மறைந்து வழிந்த கண்ணீரோடு புலம் பெயர்ந்த நரசய்யா-விற்கு ஒரே குறிக்கோள் தன் மகன் கல்வி கற்க வேண்டும் . ரயில்வே துறையில் நான்காம் நிலை பணியாளராக வேலைக்கு சேர்ந்து , எவ்வளவு முயன்றும் தன் மகன் தலித் என்ற காரணத்தால் அவனை முறையாக பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்பி கல்வி கொடுக்க முடியவில்லை . ஆனாலும். ராமசாமியின் கல்விக்கான வேட்கை அவனை தன் தந்தை பணியாற்றும் ரயில் நிலைய ஆங்கில அதிகாரிகளிடம் இருந்து புத்தகம் படிக்கும் அளவு கல்வி அறிவு வளர்த்து கொண்டான் . ராமசாமிக்கும் ரயில்வே -இல் 4 ஆம் நிலை பணியாளர் வேலை கிடைத்தது . தன் இளமை பருவத்தில் தடம் மாறிய ராமசாமி ஒரு பெரும் சிக்கலுக்குள் அகப்பட்டு தன் தந்தையின் உதவியால் பாலய்யா என்று தன் பெயரை மாற்றி ஒரு புது வாழ்க்கையை தொடங்குகிறான் . தனக்கு பிறந்த 11 குழந்தைகளையும் எப்படியாவது பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்பி கல்வி பயில வேண்டும் என்பதே அவருடைய ஒரே லட்சியம் .
அவர் நினைத்தது போலவே அவருடைய பெரும்பான்மையான பிள்ளைகள் கல்வி கற்றனர் . பின் நாளில் அனைவரும் முனைவர் பட்டம் பெரும் அளவிற்கு பெரிய பதவியை அடைந்தனர் .ஒரு நான்காம் நிலை பாய்ண்ட்ஸ்மானாக இருந்த பாலய்யா-வின் பிள்ளைகள் பல கல்லூரிகளின் முதல்வர்களாக உயர்ந்தனர் . இந்த மாபெரும் புரட்சியை செய்த பாலய்யா-விற்கு அம்பேத்கரையும் தெரியாது , மார்க்ஸ்-யம் தெரியாது , அவர்களுடைய புத்தகத்தையும் தெரியாது . ஆனால் , அவர் அடிக்கடி தன் பிள்ளைகளிடம் கூறுவது " நாம் எந்த சூழ்நிலையிலும் யாருக்கு கீழேயும் ,யாரை சார்ந்தும் வாழ்ந்து விடக்கூடாது , நாம் நம் சொந்த முயற்சியால் மட்டுமே முன்னேற வேண்டும் " . தன் பிள்ளைகளின் படிப்பிற்காக அவர் தன் உணவையும் , உறக்கத்தையும் , ஆசைகளையும் துறந்தார் . தன் பிள்ளைகள் கல்வியில் சிறந்து விளங்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக ஒரு கண��டிப்பான தந்தையாக இருந்தார் - உதாரணமாக அதிகாலை நான்கு மணிக்கு எழுந்து வாசிக்க வேண்டும் , அனைவரும் வாய் விட்டு சத்தம் போட்டு வாசிக்க வேண்டும் , அவர்கள் வாசிக்கும் பொழுது இவரும் உடன் அமர்வது ,அவர்களுடைய தேர்வு சமயத்தில் இவர் விடுப்பு எடுத்து உடன் அமர்வது . அவர்களுக்கு இருந்த சூழலில் கல்வி பயில்வது மிக கடினம் - தலித் மாணவர்கள் பள்ளியில் தனியே தான் அமர வேண்டும் , யாரும் அவர்களை தொடவோ , நட்பு பாராட்டவோ கூடாது , குழாயில் மற்றவர்கள் தண்ணீர் அருந்திய பின் தான் இவர்கள் அருந்த வேண்டும் , ஆசிரியர்கள் இவர்களை கண்டுகொள்ள மாட்டார்கள் , வீட்டில் மின்சாரம் கிடையாது - ஒரே ஒரு லாந்தர் விளக்கை வைத்து சுற்றி அமர்ந்து எல்லோரும் பயில வேண்டும் , அரசாங்க வீடு என்பதால் சிறிய அளவுதான் , இவர்கள் படிப்பதற்காக தற்காலிக கூடாரம் அமைத்து தருவார் பாலய்யா . இப்படி எண்ணற்ற இன்னல்களுக்கு இடையே அவர்களுக்கு இருந்த ஒரே உந்து சக்தி அவர்களுடைய தந்தை பாலய்யா மட்டுமே . தன் காலம் முழுக்க தன் பிள்ளைகளுக்காக ஓடிய அந்த கால்கள் இறுதி மூச்சு வரை நிற்கவே இல்லை , தன் தந்தைக்கு நிகழ்ந்த தீண்டாமை கொடுமையால் தான் இழந்த நிலத்தை மீட்டெடுக்க அந்த கால்கள் கிளம்பின .தன் வாழ்வின் தொடக்கம் முதல் இறுதி வரை யாருக்காகவும் எதற்காகவும் தன்னுடைய சாதிய காரணம் கொண்டு தன்னை யாரும் இழிவு படுத்துவதை அனுமதிக்க கூடாது என்று உறுதியில் இருந்தார் .தன் வாழ்வில் தான் சந்தித்த அனுபவங்களை வைத்து கல்வி அறிவும் - உயர் பதவியும் தான் சாதியை தாண்டி ஒருவனுக்காக மதிப்பும் , மரியாதையையும் தேடி கொடுக்கும் என்பதில் தெளிவாக இருந்தார் பாலய்யா .
வெள்ளை வேட்டி , வெள்ளை சட்டை , நீல நிற உருமாலை கட்டு , குஸ்தி வீரனுக்கு ஏற்ற உடல் , சவரம் செய்த முகம் , ஒட்ட வெட்டிய சிகை , கம்பீரமான நடை , திடமான நேர்கொண்ட பார்வை என்று பாலய்ய -வின் உருவம் ஒவ்வொரு வாசகனின் உள்ளத்திலும் நிச்சயம் பதிந்து விடும். இந்த புத்தகத்தை வாசிக்கும் பலருக்கு அவர்களுடைய தந்தையின் தேங்கி நின்ற நினைவுகள் தெளிந்த நீரோடை போல பசுமையாக , மீண்டும் நம் இதயத்திற்குள் ஓடத்துவங்கிவிடும் . தந்தைகளை பற்றி எழுதிய எழுத்தாளர்களும் , இலக்கியமும் இந்த உலகத்தில் குறைவாகவே காணப்படுகிறது . தந்தைகளின் உணர்வுகள் நம் இலக்கியத்தில் பதிவு செய்யப்படாமலே போய் விட்டது . தந்தைகள் தங்கள் குடும்பத்திற்காக எத்தனை தியாகங்களையும் . இன்னல்களையும் சந்தித்தாலும் அவை அனைத்தையும் தனக்குள் மட்டுமே வைத்து புதைத்து கொண்டு ஒரு சரா சரி மனிதனாக இந்த உலகத்தில் உலவி வருகின்றனர் . ஒரு வகையில் தந்தையின் உனர்வுகளை புரிந்து கொள்வது கடினம் . ஏனெனில் , தன் தந்தையை புரிந்து கொள்ள முயற்சிக்கும் மகனோ , மகளோ அந்த பயணத்தின் நீட்சியில் தாங்களும் ஒரு தந்தையாய் மாறும�� தருணமே வந்து விடுகிறது . என் பார்வையில் இந்த உலகில் இன்னும் எழுதப்படாத கவிதையும் , இசைக்கப்படாத இசையும் , தீட்டப்படாத ஓவியமும் நிறைந்த ஒரு பொக்கிஷம் உண்டென்றால் அது தந்தைகளே . என் தந்தையை நான் புரிந்து கொண்ட தருணம் என் கைகளில் என் மகன் இருந்தான் . தந்தை சொல் மிக்க மந்திரமில்லை - மந்திரங்கள் பொய்த்து போகலாம் ஆனால் என்றைக்கும் பொய்த்துப்போகாத ஒன்று தந்தை என்ற மனித உறவு ஒன்று மட்டுமே.
-இர.மௌலிதரன்
13-9-23
September 2, 2016
A really good book on what education and government institutions like Railways can have an impact on a generation of down trodden or oppressed family. This may not be the best written book but it is definitely worth a read for this content than the style of writing.
April 10, 2022
చాలా మంచి పుస్తకం . అస్పృశ్యత వలన ప్రజలు 19వ మరియు 20 వ శతాబ్దం లో ఎటువంటి కష్టాలు అనుభవించారు, వారు కాస్తో కూస్తో ఆ బీద బ్రతుకుల నుంచి ఏ విధంగా బయటపడ్డారో, ఆత్మన్యూనత నుంచి కొద్ది కొద్దిగా ఎలా తేరుకోగలిగారో తెలియజేసే కథ ఇది.
పుస్తకం మొత్తం కూడా ఒక వాక్యంలో చెప్పాలంటే - "చదువు అనేది ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ అత్యవసరం, కేవలం దాని వలనే ఎంతటి స్థాయికయినా చేరుకోవచ్చు"
ఈ పుస్తకం లో ప్రతి పాత్ర చాలా ముఖ్యమైనది. ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ కూడా తమ కుటుంబం కోసం వారి ఇష్టాలను వదులుకున్న వైనాలే కనిపిస్తాయి. ఈ కథలో నుంచి మనం ఎంతో నేర్చుకోవచ్చు. ముఖ్యంగా ప్రస్తుతానికి, ఒక సగటు మనిషికి బ్రతకడానికి, నేర్చుకోవడానికి తగిన వనరులు లభ్యంగా ఉన్నాయి. ఏ పనినైనా ఎంత పని అయినా ఎంతటి ఆటుపోట్లు ఎదురైనా వెనుకడగు వేయకపోవటం, ఎల్లప్పుడూ దృక్పథం తో ఉండడం.
ఇందులో పాత్రలను గురించి ఎంత చెప్పినా తక్కువే.
కేవలం బాలయ్య మాత్రమే కాదు, చిన్న నరసయ్య, బాలయ్య పెళ్ళాం నర్సమ్మ కూడా మహానుభావులు.
తెలుగు అనువాదం చాలా చక్కగా చేశారు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని. ఎక్కడో ఒకటి అరా వాక్యాల్లో తప్పించి అంతా కూడా చాలా సరళంగా అర్ధమయ్యే విధంగా ఉంది.
చిన్న నరసయ్య తన కొడుకుతో పాటు, శవాన్ని మోసుకొని, ఊరు వదిలి వెళ్ళే దృశ్యం నా బుర్రలో ముద్ర పడిపోయింది
పుస్తకం మొత్తం కూడా ఒక వాక్యంలో చెప్పాలంటే - "చదువు అనేది ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ అత్యవసరం, కేవలం దాని వలనే ఎంతటి స్థాయికయినా చేరుకోవచ్చు"
ఈ పుస్తకం లో ప్రతి పాత్ర చాలా ముఖ్యమైనది. ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ కూడా తమ కుటుంబం కోసం వారి ఇష్టాలను వదులుకున్న వైనాలే కనిపిస్తాయి. ఈ కథలో నుంచి మనం ఎంతో నేర్చుకోవచ్చు. ముఖ్యంగా ప్రస్తుతానికి, ఒక సగటు మనిషికి బ్రతకడానికి, నేర్చుకోవడానికి తగిన వనరులు లభ్యంగా ఉన్నాయి. ఏ పనినైనా ఎంత పని అయినా ఎంతటి ఆటుపోట్లు ఎదురైనా వెనుకడగు వేయకపోవటం, ఎల్లప్పుడూ దృక్పథం తో ఉండడం.
ఇందులో పాత్రలను గురించి ఎంత చెప్పినా తక్కువే.
కేవలం బాలయ్య మాత్రమే కాదు, చిన్న నరసయ్య, బాలయ్య పెళ్ళాం నర్సమ్మ కూడా మహానుభావులు.
తెలుగు అనువాదం చాలా చక్కగా చేశారు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని. ఎక్కడో ఒకటి అరా వాక్యాల్లో తప్పించి అంతా కూడా చాలా సరళంగా అర్ధమయ్యే విధంగా ఉంది.
చిన్న నరసయ్య తన కొడుకుతో పాటు, శవాన్ని మోసుకొని, ఊరు వదిలి వెళ్ళే దృశ్యం నా బుర్రలో ముద్ర పడిపోయింది
September 10, 2023
“Quietly brave” is an apt description of this book. The simple style of storytelling, matter-of-fact and unembellished, adds immensely to the extraordinary story of this Dalit family. It is truly heartfelt. And greatly relevant for those of us who grew up with all kinds of privileges and will never truly know the lived experiences of a family like Satyam’s. The very least we can do is read their stories.
May 16, 2021
I really missed the character baliah and his son satyanarayana from this book u don't need to read this as a rebellious book
This is a book of a tribute to a man who made his children study even when whole society was against him that he belonged to a low caste
This is a book of a tribute to a man who made his children study even when whole society was against him that he belonged to a low caste
October 4, 2021
A very personal account about the difficulties and problems of being a dalit in India. The narrative brings into focus what generational efforts to uplift oneself can do, and the utter and incomprehensible indiffererence that they have to face in order to reach what caste Hindus would consider 'normal'.
It also is very nuanced and detailed, bringing our attention to the changes that happen with rising income, increasing family disparity and changing social status and customs.
It also is very nuanced and detailed, bringing our attention to the changes that happen with rising income, increasing family disparity and changing social status and customs.
September 7, 2017
feeling nostalgic reading the foreward and preface.... i am remembering my grandfather with each lines.. coming from a dalit family.. joining army and insisting on education to all his five children two os whom were girls .. and then graining the idea of good education and insisting on self employment to his grandchildrens. looks like a great story is in store
February 28, 2017
Perfect, poweful & poignant description of how the British rule & education, played a significant role in the upliftment of the so-called dalit people.Really enjoyed reading it.
January 30, 2022
ఈ పుస్తకం మూడు తరాల వ్యక్తులను ఉద్దేశించి ఉన్నది. రచయిత , రచయిత తండ్రి బాలయ్య , బాలయ్య తండ్రి చిన్న నర్సయ్య.
ఇందులో ముఖ్యంగా అస్పృశ్యత వలన దిగువ కుల ప్రజలు ఎదుర్కున్న సమస్యలను ఉద్దేశించి చాలా ప్రేరణాత్మకంగా రచించబడినది.
మన దేశానికీ స్వతంత్రం వచ్చే ముందు వచ్చిన తర్వాత కూడా దళితుల పట్ల అస్పృశ్యత , వివక్షత, అవమానం ఎలా నిలిచి ఉన్నాయో తెలుస్తుంది.
చిన్న నర్సయ్య ఒక అస్పృశయునిగా (దళితునిగా ) ఎన్నో కష్టాలను ఎదుర్కొని , తన సొంత ఊరు ని విడిచి , బ్రిటిషు ప్రభుత్వం అప్పుడే ప్రారంభించిన రైలు శాఖ ని మాధ్యమంగా తీసుకొని ఒక కొత్త శఖానికి పునాది రాయి వేసాడు.
నర్సయ్య బిడ్డ బాలయ్య కూడా సమాజం లో పైకులం వారి వద్దనుండి ఎన్నో అవమానాలు ఎదురైనా వాటిని ఎదురుక��ని దృడంగా నిలబడి, తన పిల్లలకు మంచి చదువు చెప్పిస్తే వారికీ సమాజం లో మంచి గౌరవం మరియు ఉన్నత స్థాయికి చేరుకుంటారు అని నమ్మిన వ్యక్తి.
ఆర్ధికంగా , సామాజికంగా ఎన్ని అడ్డంకులను ఎదురు వచ్చిన, పిల్లలను చదువుకు దూరం కనివ్వలేదు.
తండ్రి కలను నిజం చేసిన పిల్లలు, తోడుగా నిలిచినా బాలరాజు , అబ్బాసాయిలు , బాలయ్యకి తోడుగా నిలిచినా తన భార్య నర్సమ్మ , అందరి పాత్రలు స్ఫూర్తిదాయకమైనవే .
దృఢసంకల్పం కు క్రమశిక్షణ తోడైతే సాధించలేనిది ఏది లేదు అని బాలయ్య తన పిల్లల్ని తీర్చిదిద్దిన శైలి తెలియచేస్తుంది.
మన దేశం వాణిజ్య పరంగా ఎదగడం సమాజంలో అస్పృస్యత నెమ్మదిగా ఎలా తగ్గుముఖం పట్టిందో స్పష్టంగా కనిపిస్తుంది(పూర్తిగా ఇంకా తొలగి పోలేదు ). దానికి కారణం ఒక్క విద్య విధానం తోనే సాధ్యం అవుతుంది.
ప్రత్యక్షంగా విపిల్వత్మకంగా కనపడకపోయినా ఈ పుస్తకం పరోక్షంగా చాలా ప్రభావితం చేస్తుంది.
మనుషులను ముందుకు నడిపించే సాధనం కులమో మతమో కాదు.... సంకల్పం, క్రమశిక్షణ , విద్య , ఆత్మగౌరవం.
ఇది రచయిత జీవిత కథ మాత్రమే కాదు, తన తండ్రి బాలయ్యకు ఇచ్చిన గొప్ప నివాళి.
ఈ తరం లో పుట్టినవారికి మన దేశం లో ఉన్న వివక్షత గురించి తెలుసుకునేందుకు ఈ పుస్తకం తప్పక చదవాలి.
ఇందులో ముఖ్యంగా అస్పృశ్యత వలన దిగువ కుల ప్రజలు ఎదుర్కున్న సమస్యలను ఉద్దేశించి చాలా ప్రేరణాత్మకంగా రచించబడినది.
మన దేశానికీ స్వతంత్రం వచ్చే ముందు వచ్చిన తర్వాత కూడా దళితుల పట్ల అస్పృశ్యత , వివక్షత, అవమానం ఎలా నిలిచి ఉన్నాయో తెలుస్తుంది.
చిన్న నర్సయ్య ఒక అస్పృశయునిగా (దళితునిగా ) ఎన్నో కష్టాలను ఎదుర్కొని , తన సొంత ఊరు ని విడిచి , బ్రిటిషు ప్రభుత్వం అప్పుడే ప్రారంభించిన రైలు శాఖ ని మాధ్యమంగా తీసుకొని ఒక కొత్త శఖానికి పునాది రాయి వేసాడు.
నర్సయ్య బిడ్డ బాలయ్య కూడా సమాజం లో పైకులం వారి వద్దనుండి ఎన్నో అవమానాలు ఎదురైనా వాటిని ఎదురుక��ని దృడంగా నిలబడి, తన పిల్లలకు మంచి చదువు చెప్పిస్తే వారికీ సమాజం లో మంచి గౌరవం మరియు ఉన్నత స్థాయికి చేరుకుంటారు అని నమ్మిన వ్యక్తి.
ఆర్ధికంగా , సామాజికంగా ఎన్ని అడ్డంకులను ఎదురు వచ్చిన, పిల్లలను చదువుకు దూరం కనివ్వలేదు.
తండ్రి కలను నిజం చేసిన పిల్లలు, తోడుగా నిలిచినా బాలరాజు , అబ్బాసాయిలు , బాలయ్యకి తోడుగా నిలిచినా తన భార్య నర్సమ్మ , అందరి పాత్రలు స్ఫూర్తిదాయకమైనవే .
దృఢసంకల్పం కు క్రమశిక్షణ తోడైతే సాధించలేనిది ఏది లేదు అని బాలయ్య తన పిల్లల్ని తీర్చిదిద్దిన శైలి తెలియచేస్తుంది.
మన దేశం వాణిజ్య పరంగా ఎదగడం సమాజంలో అస్పృస్యత నెమ్మదిగా ఎలా తగ్గుముఖం పట్టిందో స్పష్టంగా కనిపిస్తుంది(పూర్తిగా ఇంకా తొలగి పోలేదు ). దానికి కారణం ఒక్క విద్య విధానం తోనే సాధ్యం అవుతుంది.
ప్రత్యక్షంగా విపిల్వత్మకంగా కనపడకపోయినా ఈ పుస్తకం పరోక్షంగా చాలా ప్రభావితం చేస్తుంది.
మనుషులను ముందుకు నడిపించే సాధనం కులమో మతమో కాదు.... సంకల్పం, క్రమశిక్షణ , విద్య , ఆత్మగౌరవం.
ఇది రచయిత జీవిత కథ మాత్రమే కాదు, తన తండ్రి బాలయ్యకు ఇచ్చిన గొప్ప నివాళి.
ఈ తరం లో పుట్టినవారికి మన దేశం లో ఉన్న వివక్షత గురించి తెలుసుకునేందుకు ఈ పుస్తకం తప్పక చదవాలి.
August 13, 2019
The book chronicles the social hardships along with the labored and deserving rise of the Yelukati family - the madigas aka the untouchables. The only ladder to climb away from a racially exploitative society was education and the Yelukati family used this ladder to a great extent. The belief that only education can take you ahead has catapulted many families to unbelievable distances.
The author doesn't thump his chest after overcoming the social stigma but rather paints it pretty plainly how hard life was and what exactly the madigas needed to overcome their apologetic conditions.
To father a dozen children and raise more than half of it to become graduates is just not heard of everyday and especially when one was not allowed to build a home on the upstream side of the wind which, the upper castes believed, would have 'polluted' the Brahmin households.
Facing social evils and building a very educated future generation, Mr. Baliah is no short of a legend. Huge Respect.
The author doesn't thump his chest after overcoming the social stigma but rather paints it pretty plainly how hard life was and what exactly the madigas needed to overcome their apologetic conditions.
To father a dozen children and raise more than half of it to become graduates is just not heard of everyday and especially when one was not allowed to build a home on the upstream side of the wind which, the upper castes believed, would have 'polluted' the Brahmin households.
Facing social evils and building a very educated future generation, Mr. Baliah is no short of a legend. Huge Respect.
July 26, 2020
My Father Balliah- Its a life !
My hearty thanks to the author of this book Y.B.Satyanarayana for presenting us this wonderful work. As Dr.Ambedkar said India has two history.One is the freedom struggle with British and another history which is 1000 years old, getting social independence. This book takes part in the social independence history. I really admire and inspired by the hero of the novel Baliah. This man is teaching us the self respect , desire to hard work even in his tough times. Realized the importance of education for an untouchable, he made his children educated inspite of all the social struggles. A perfect role model for a family head. I like mother narsamma, the family is too lucky, they got her. If you ask me why i would like to promote this book, I would say that I have 1000 reasons. Long live yelukati family. My respects to Father Baliah, Mother Narsamma and grandfather Narsiah.
Thank you
My hearty thanks to the author of this book Y.B.Satyanarayana for presenting us this wonderful work. As Dr.Ambedkar said India has two history.One is the freedom struggle with British and another history which is 1000 years old, getting social independence. This book takes part in the social independence history. I really admire and inspired by the hero of the novel Baliah. This man is teaching us the self respect , desire to hard work even in his tough times. Realized the importance of education for an untouchable, he made his children educated inspite of all the social struggles. A perfect role model for a family head. I like mother narsamma, the family is too lucky, they got her. If you ask me why i would like to promote this book, I would say that I have 1000 reasons. Long live yelukati family. My respects to Father Baliah, Mother Narsamma and grandfather Narsiah.
Thank you
July 16, 2018
I was bit reluctant about the author at first. Most of the time we spend lot of time researching about the book, author and the genre. However I didn't take much time for this book especially, when it comes to the fact that this book is about casteism and the importance of education.
Some mentions about this book. This book has given me a greater understanding about how upper society people have dominated (I am not justifying the reservations), dalit community, and how education and railways has drastically improved the life of them. I think we should have left British rule our nation for another 50 years. There would be a huge noise about my opinion from most of the people but the truth needs to be told. Why wouldn't we let British rule this nation for another 50 years? Was it because they were looting our resources and they treated us slaves? What do our politicians do right now?
Some mentions about this book. This book has given me a greater understanding about how upper society people have dominated (I am not justifying the reservations), dalit community, and how education and railways has drastically improved the life of them. I think we should have left British rule our nation for another 50 years. There would be a huge noise about my opinion from most of the people but the truth needs to be told. Why wouldn't we let British rule this nation for another 50 years? Was it because they were looting our resources and they treated us slaves? What do our politicians do right now?
June 13, 2021
Really a great book. I can relate this to my grandfather raising my dad.
This book portraits the way a untouchable man came out his village and how he himself and his next two generations got posted in railways and the how Baliah's life was and how worked hard to educated his children and how they was the first in family to complete matriculation, graduation and postgraduation . This book greatly portraits how untouchables had to face the atrocities and even has great taste of telangana from late 19th century-now and Railways undergoing changes from Britsh and Nizam controlled to becoming Indian Railways.
This book portraits the way a untouchable man came out his village and how he himself and his next two generations got posted in railways and the how Baliah's life was and how worked hard to educated his children and how they was the first in family to complete matriculation, graduation and postgraduation . This book greatly portraits how untouchables had to face the atrocities and even has great taste of telangana from late 19th century-now and Railways undergoing changes from Britsh and Nizam controlled to becoming Indian Railways.
July 3, 2021
#196
Obviously known about the book through 'Kabali' movie.
Like many have written about it as 'ode' to the father, it is. Moreover, it's a remarkable history lesson to future generations. I read in Telugu, the mother tongue of the author. It's an incredible story of three generations how they have traveled along with progressive India through decades.
There was no much mention of India's independence in the book but there is a whole history of Indian railways. And how Indian railways played an important role in discounting the caste system.
This also gives an aging feeling by the end of the book along with the characters. Incredible book and the writing
Obviously known about the book through 'Kabali' movie.
Like many have written about it as 'ode' to the father, it is. Moreover, it's a remarkable history lesson to future generations. I read in Telugu, the mother tongue of the author. It's an incredible story of three generations how they have traveled along with progressive India through decades.
There was no much mention of India's independence in the book but there is a whole history of Indian railways. And how Indian railways played an important role in discounting the caste system.
This also gives an aging feeling by the end of the book along with the characters. Incredible book and the writing
July 15, 2021
I learned about this book after reading an article on “The News Minute” website. It’s a great read not just for people from Dalit communities but also for people from upper castes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an inspirational and path-breaking story. Being a Telugu it’s unfortunate to see this book getting referred to in one of the Tamil movies but not in Telugu movies.
September 20, 2019
Many people in this country either dont know or ignorant about the hardships faced by dalit bahujans Adivasis socially and economically. This is a not your regular story of triumph but an extraordinary story breaking all the barriers that was imposed by brahminical hegemony structurally and socially. This is a book for everyone.
December 25, 2019
Okay I confess: Kabali brought me here. But I'm very thankful it did!
The book was very refreshing in that it gave a very intimate insider's perspective on a Dalit household from the 50s through the 80s. All of the author's personal meditations were extremely apt and made for a very smooth read. Highly recommended to all Indians!
The book was very refreshing in that it gave a very intimate insider's perspective on a Dalit household from the 50s through the 80s. All of the author's personal meditations were extremely apt and made for a very smooth read. Highly recommended to all Indians!
April 9, 2023
Such an insightful view into the lives of an unspoken group, tortured by casteism in India. The generational struggle is so clearly visible and the momentous efforts of the early generations to break their families from the bonds of oppression is a beautiful story. One that should be read to learn and better ourselves to break free of such inhumane and unnecessary restrictions such as casteism.
June 4, 2017
very well writtem book. Neither too fast, nor slow. just apt speed of events. I liked the way book has been written in a matter-of-fact way. You get to know the struggles of a dalit family, and how they came to the upper strata of the society. A very nice read.
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