Punnyakoti -Saga of Love, Truth and Trust


Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print
By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Abudhabi, 09 Nov 2014: I was in just grade two then, studying in St. John’s Primary School at Shankerpura.  It was our class teacher taking kannada  class and reciting poem GovinaHadu and all of a sudden tears rolled down my eyes  fell on the slate erasing first letters I wrote.

 

I was nothing  sort of but  a  Punyakoti’s  son, having  lost my mother in my birth and it was my grandmother who brought me up. My class teacher noticed my tears, rushed to me,  hugged and said, Story of Punyakoti  is not real one, it’s just an imagination of a poet.  I sobbed and went home with a hope thatPunyakoti  lived with her loving mother happily ever after for centuries.

 

Satyave Bhagavanta Nemba Punyakotiya khatiidhu

My childhood memories surfaced again here in Abu Dhabi on Friday ….. November 2014,   as I witnessed a ballet based on this beautiful folk poem.   I still do not know about the original author of this poem. But I remember GollaKalinga, Punyakoti and off course the cruel tiger. It was the tiger I was most hated in the story then, but today I feel sorry for him.

 

The presentation by a Bangalore Team  at India Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi during the Karnataka Rajyostava when I was clicking the photographs for reporting, literarily amused me. I have no words to express my appreciation for the team from Bangalore comprising of St. Ann’s School, Venkat International School and Venus International School, Bangalore.

 

When a well known compeer of the day Mr. Manohar Prasad (UdayavaniBureau Chief, Mangalore) announced that this special performance of the day is choreographed by him and will be presented by the above team.  I was ready with my camera to capture the most beautiful and meaningful presentation of the auspicious day i.e. a story of truth, trust and love.

 

A humble and truthful cowPunyakotifalls in the trap of a hungry tiger that is ready to pounce on his precious meal.  However, the trembling cow makes an request to the Tiger to spare her for few minutes to milk her baby calf and return to be savored by the tiger.  The tiger initially doesn’t believe but on repeated pleas from the cow finally agrees and leaves the cow for few minutes with a condition to return back.

 

To itsutter surprise and shock the cow returns to the tigerafter  feeding its baby and pleading  fellow cows to take care of its orphan baby.   The tiger just can’t believe and refuses to eat her and says If I eat this poor trustworthyand truthfulCow God will punish me and I am not worthy to live in this world. The tiger  jumps from the hills and dies.

 

Per Say , the story looks  simple but it has a great values of  TRUTH, HONESTY AND TRUST. The presentation by Bangalore school girls wasjust  outstanding, the emotional bond between a mother cow Punyakoti and her calf was presented so beautifully and brought the audience into tears offcourse without my knowledge tears rolled down my eyes.  When I was in grade Two it was slate to hold my tears and today as I am on the verge of retirement, my camera did the job of holding my tears.

 

 

In today’s vicious world where people say, Satya Helidava SatteHoda, or Sothaak VaatNaa… neither Punyakoti nor the tiger seems to be so  relevant.  On one side there is rampant cattle theft , on the  other side  riots are generated and people lose their lives only because of cow. Though we won the battle of  freedom using truth and non violence as major weapons,  today  violence and lies are the business of the day.

 

Today, instead of cow tiger is gaining sympathy. Cow can eat grass but a tiger can’t. Animal meat is the  food provided  to him by the creator.  In this context,even if a tiger allows Punyakoti  to live by committing suicide, tiger is the real martyr.

 

Anyhow I am grateful to Karnataka Sangha  and Bangalore team for making my day, here in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.Thank You organizers and Performers.Special thanks goes to my dear friend Mr. Sarvotham Shetty and Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty for organizing this troupe from Bangalore to visit Abu Dhabi and perform various dance performances including Punyakoti and Krishana. Both performances were mind blowing.  Special thanks to Ms. Nagalaxmi Rao and Manohar Prasad who choreographed these performances. Hats Off!

 

Thanks also to my partner in Bellevision.com Ms. Fenella for all the pics she captured yesterday which are published in the main report.

 

I also take this opportunity to add one more album below of all the pics I captured during the Karnataka Rajyostava which may have some missing pics in the main report.

 


(PHOTO ALBUM - 399 PICS)

 

 

Also Read

 

 

Comments on this Article
William Robert Da Silva, Parpale-Karkala/ Mangalore Sun, November-16-2014, 9:09
The folklore, folksong with a folktale, is called gollara haaDu and it is also called puNyakooTi. The concluding verse is as follows: "satyavembudu taayitande, satyavembudu bandubaLagavu atyavaakyake tappinaDedare mechchanaa jagadiishanu." This folksong or giite could not have been composed in Kanara, because Kanara is a land of buffalo-he and she. In Konkani mhos ani reDo, in TuLu eru bokka erme. In Kannada kooNa mattu emme. In spite of having cows in the region, in spite of having a street in Mangalore called gollara keeri there wasn t cow-milch economy here. Cow milk was an antidote to children and the sick. It was generally not used for making butter, buttermilk or ghee. An exception could have been some biraNer (tuLu) of the coast. The coast had two other folktales with enactment: piliveeso and dana huli (aaTa) In the ghat and bayalu region of Karnataka there are golla, cowherds, and they with their cattle. The story is a transformation of man, cattle and wild carnivore struggle. Why should it become an emotional point of view, I can not understand. It is natural for a tiger to feed on mammals, but it is not natural for human kind to hunt them down.
Eleanora, Ex-Abu Dhabi/France Sat, November-15-2014, 6:45
Dear Alphonse - it was awesome reading the entire write up. Bravo to the organisers for getting the troupe from Bangalore to perform - colourful costumes and professional photography. Thank you for sharing loads of pictures on the site. Excellent performance successful event. Keep up the good work. God bless.
Philip Mudartha, Navi Mumbai Fri, November-14-2014, 10:15
Well timed pictures of performance. Your personalized narration of the folklore that all of us as kids shed tears and your contrasting it to present day realities stir emotions, which I hope are not fleeting., reserved for anniversaries such as this one being commemorated.
Cyril Martis, Pangla/Ottawa/Canada Thu, November-13-2014, 9:50
Dear Alphonse, such an heart wrenching emotional story. I have witnessed the tragedy of your child hood being your neighbour. You have not only survived and endured the emotional pain but also excelled in your life. God bless you and keep you happy always. Continue writing, you have a God given gift.
Muhasin, Abu Dhabi Thu, November-13-2014, 2:21
Good narration and good clicks. Your narration and photos made me feel enjoying the session on the live stage. The expressions were captured magnanimously. Expressions of the girl who acted as tiger is worth mentioning. I went through your narration and pictures couple of times, each time it is giving me more insight. Keep on with your good work.
Ajith Peter Dsouza, Udupi/Dubai Thu, November-13-2014, 9:27
Dear Alphonse Sir, the depiction is nothing less than a true feeling of someone who really feels the pulse of the story. This report has been unique while presenting the event you have made us to peep into our childhood memories. The depiction given by you and the irony comparing the present world is really wonderful. Keep it up Sir.
Rima DSouza, Abu Dhabi Wed, November-12-2014, 6:21

Wow Alphonse, just no words to express my feelings.. what a narration! I have not seen this presentation but just by your article the act came into my eyes and really appreciable the way you have written above. The amazing pics shows the quality of the program. God bless you and give you more chance to write in future. May be in your retirement I hope you will get to see more like this so that you get your childhood days back to cherish again.... well done keep it up. Wish you all the best. It’s a wonderful article with great great professional photography to be cherished forever. Thanks for sharing Alphonse in Bellevision readers.

Priyanka Dsouza, Pangla/ Bangalore Tue, November-11-2014, 11:02
Heart touching story. Lovely coverage.
Prabhakar Devadiga, Mangaluru Tue, November-11-2014, 12:51
Dear Alphonse, Its just superb.
Rony Lobo, Belthangady/Abudhabi Mon, November-10-2014, 11:21
Beautiful article Alphonse. Heart touching. We can have lot of learning from your article. Please keep writing such writeup.
chikka pangla, pangla/kuwait Mon, November-10-2014, 9:48

ತುಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಕಾಳ್ಜಾಚ್ಯಾ ಭೊಗ್ಣಾ೦ಚೊ ಉಮಾಳೊ ಅಪುರ್ಭಾಯೆಚ್ಯಾ ಉತ್ರಾ೦ನಿ ತುಮಿ ಗು೦ತ್ಲಾ. ಪುಣ್ಯಕೋಟಿ ಕಾಲ್ಪನಿಕ್ ಕಾಣ್ಯೆ೦ತ್ ವಾಚು೦ಕ್ ಮೆಳ್ಚ್ಯಾ ವಾಗಾಚ್ಯಾ ಜಾಗ್ಯಾರ್ ಸಬಾರ್ ಪಾವ್ಟಿ೦ ದೆವಾಕ್ ಉಬೊ ಕರುನ್ ಹಾ೦ವೆ೦ಯ್ ಪಳೆಯ್ಲಾ೦. ಆವಯ್ಚೆ೦ ರುಪ್ಣೆ೦ ತಸ್ವಿರೆ೦ತ್ ಪಳೆವ್ನ್ ಬಾವ್ಡ್ಯಾ ಕಾಳ್ಜಾಕ್ ಹಾ೦ವೆ೦ಯ್ ಫುಸ್ಲಾಯ್ಲಾ೦. ಮೊಜಿ೦ ಅವ್ಯಕ್ತ್ ಕಾಳ್ಜಾಚಿ೦ ಭೊಗ್ಣಾ೦ ತುಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಲೇಖನಾ೦ತ್ ದಿಸೊನ್ ಆಯ್ಲಿ೦. ತುಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಉತ್ರಾ೦ಚ್ಯಾ ಗು೦ಡಾಯೆಚಿ ಹೊಗ್ಳಿಕ್ ವಾ ಲೇಖನಾ ವಯ್ರ್ ವಿಮರ್ಸೊ ದಿ೦ವ್ಚಿ ತಾ೦ಕ್ ಮ್ಹಾಕಾ ನಾ ತರೀ ತುಮಿ ಉಚಾರ್ಲೆಲಿ೦ ಹರ್ಯೆಕ್ ಭೊಗ್ಣಾ೦ ಮೊಜ್ಯಾ ಕಾಳ್ಜಾ೦ತ್ ರೊ೦ಬ್ಲ್ಯಾ೦ತ್. ದೂಖಾಚ್ಯಾ ಲ್ಹಾರಾ೦ನಿ ಮೊಜ್ಯಾ ಆವಯ್ಚಿ ತಸ್ವೀರ್ ಭಿಜಾ೦ವ್ಕ್ ಪಾವ್ಲ್ಯಾ೦ತ್.

Venkatesha Nayak, Managaluru Mon, November-10-2014, 7:18
nice coverage, beautiful presentation. great work Alphonse sir .
Andrew L D Cunha, Mangalore Mon, November-10-2014, 6:34
Beautiful photos and story...Alphonse Dattu thanks for sharing..
Raphael Dsouza, Pernal/Muscat Mon, November-10-2014, 5:33
Superbb Article Liked it and nice clicks too.Great performance by all the artists.Keep Writing More Mr Alphonse Mendonsa.
Ronald Sabi, Moodubelle Mon, November-10-2014, 12:55
Dear Alphonse, Fantastic coverage. Now you are taking readers and viewers on emotional curve!! Keep it up!
Sudhir Shetty, Kundapura/Abu Dhabi Mon, November-10-2014, 10:49
Great performance by all the artists and lovely photographs Mr. Alphonse.
Joyel, Abu Dhabi Mon, November-10-2014, 9:09
Very touching story and write-up!! Great work on capturing the photos!
H M Pernal, Mangalore Mon, November-10-2014, 8:46
Heart touching story, Nice Presentation with professionally clicked pictures. Great Alphonse Sir. Thank You BV for an exclusive of refreshing read.
Benedict Noronha, Udupi / India Mon, November-10-2014, 8:25
it is really an EPIC of the times depicted in a dance drama and presented here by Mr Alphonse Mendonca. The photos were speaking louder than the commentary and hence I call it a master piece of the times. Thanks to Mr mendonca for a nice piece on Belle vision.
Ismail M Kutty Shivamogga, Shivamogga Mon, November-10-2014, 12:08
Dear Alphonse Mendonsa " What shall i write what can it be only Two words God is Great "
Write your Comments on this Article
Your Name
Native Place / Place of Residence
Your E-mail
Your Comment   You have characters left.
Security Validation
Enter the characters in the image above
    
Disclaimer: Kindly do not post any abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful material or SPAM. BelleVision.com reserves the right to block/ remove without notice any content received from users.
GTI MarigoldGTI Marigold
Anil Studio
Badminton Sports AcademyBadminton Sports Academy

Now open at Al Qusais

Veez Konkani IllustratedVEEZ Konkani

Weekly e-Magazine

New State Bank of India, Customer Service Point
Cool House ConstructionCool House Construction
Uzvaad FortnightlyUzvaad Fortnightly

Call : 91 9482810148

Your ad Here
Power Care
Ryan Intl Mangaluru
Ryan International
pearl printing
https://samuelsequeira.substack.com/publish
Omintec
Kittall.ComKittall.Com

Konkani Literature World

Konkanipoetry.com
Bluechem