Sphoorthi Theatre

Purandara Dasa (1484–1564) was a Haridasa (a devotee – servant of Lord Hari (Vishnu)), great devotee of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama (an incarnation of Sriman Narayana-Maha Vishnu) and a saint. He was a disciple of the celebrated Madhwacharyar philosopher-saint Vysasaraja Thirtharu, and a contemporary of yet another great Haridasa Sri Kanakadasa. One of his noble and well known keertana on "Puppets" "Bombeyata vaiya, Brahmandave Aa Devanadauva Bombeyata Vaiya" Here, he says-the whole universe is a Puppet play.. The Almighty is playing it. So was the words of the William Shakespeare "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse's arms". All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their...

Telanagna is a rich state in India with diverse folk arts and oral narratives. One such being the "MANDAHECHCHU"-oral form of storytelling of Shepard hero "KATAMRAJU", for "YADAVA COMMUNITY".   Yadavas   are the "Gollas"  basically cattle and sheep breeders. They narrate the story of their ancestors and also about the origin of their community-as part of oral history. They are called by different synonymy names like "Mandapichollu" or " Mandichulu" and even "Bommalata   vallu ". By and large they are mendicants belong to a Yadava-Golla community, but are known by different names across the region of Andhra Pradesh. Mandhechuor Mandahechchu again a sub sect or community of Buduga Jangama Community of artists. They narrate the story of "KATAMRAJU" known as "YADAVA PURANA" and receive alms/ donations from Golla community members. For narration of the story they use different  "CLAY TOYS...

August 15, Independence Day-This is the 66th Independence day India would celebrate on August15, 2012 My speech for Independence Day Celebrations in the school would begin like this "On 15 August 1947, India attained freedom from the British Rule. Every year, August 15 is celebrated as the Independence Day in India. This national festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country"...... All the students dressed in sparkling white uniforms, with no bags and books would stand in a row class wise. One side would be NCC Cadets in best of their uniforms and caps up (we had boys NCC in our school). National Cadet Corp-NCC a part of defense wing training school and college students. I had mistaken them as Police wing and tease my brothers who were in NCC too. Then, our school principal would hoist the Tri-colour flag, and we all would salute the Flag and sing the song "Janda Unccha RAhe Hamara".. Then of course usual speeches on the importance ...

I often recollected famous "Geethe syllabus- one of the lyrics by TThe Great Sri Purandardasa-- goes like this" Kereya neranu Kerege Chali" in Mayamalava Goula Raaga (I think I am right!!!???). "Kere' in Kannada Language means Pond or a lake. I also wonder, why should we throw the pond water back in the pond- as the meaning of the first line goes. I think, the pond water should be reaching the people who are thirsty for this water. Not that giving water or wasting water. Well, this is how I interrupt the meaning. I may be wrong and may be Sri Purandara Dasa  means it differently.  I infact like his compositions very much.  I always wanted to reach to the needy in whatever way. May be that was one of the reasons for my Puppet Presentation. Addressing essential common issues of commoners from Indian Society.  One such being Practice of Early Girl Child Marriage in Indian Society. I could see this practice more prevalent among po...

I started my career after my Post Graduation in Social Work at Rotary School for Slow Learners, Hubli, Dharwad District, karnataka State India.This school is functioning under the guidance of Smt. Vaishali Gore. I was introduced to the school by one of my friends Smt Sahana Hombali, a great lady, I admire her for her guts and tough stands that she takes. I use to give tuition to her children Aditi and Anuj till class VII. Now Anuj is working with an IT firm and Aditi is now a Neuro Physiotherapist and Trainer at Bangalore. Eventually we both became so close. Of course she also use to take care of me like a second mother.  Well,  back to Slow learners school.... Yeah! I started it in the year 1995 and was with the school fro one year as a School Social Worker/ I was paid Rs 100/- pm. Well, the day I joined there were two new admissions onto this school -One Arihant Gogi and one more student ) I am not sure about the name). Arihant was ...