[4/4] Poetry, imagery, collagerie and menagerie: some rational approximations to ....

Hari Krishna Tadepalli (harit@co.intel.com)
Wed, 30 Oct 96 16:00:14 PST 

I have dealt primarily with the "deprivation" theme so far. There are a few
others as proposed by the commentators,such as

	"to not only show that they are capable of beating the upper class 
         guys but also to show how they were CHEATED

	 dEvuDi koDukulamani cheppukuni aadhipatyam chelaayinchaalanukunE 
         vaaLLa meeda O visuroo..."			      [Kanneganti]

Since I have set myself to the task of rationalizing this masterpiece with
the help of these commentaries, it is not clear to me as to how it domonstrates
capability of the the deprived class. Not that it really matters much in this 
context, but my primary concern is with the merit of the mapping function, 
which seems to betray us here. The second statement above of Sri Kanneganti 
testifies to the existence of a class who try to rule in the name of God; is he 
perhaps referring to the various political parties and their respective militias
that rule India from the smallest level in villages to the highest in 
parliament etc? 


And finally, the title of the masterpiece is worhty of a discussion. Reading 
at the title, one is inclined to say that this might be the fifth important 
rubric to Indian people. Assuming this to be true, what should be the content of
a rubric: a resentment against social deprivation, or an assertion of a reform
to eliminate such deprivation ? Perhaps that will be the sixth rubric, but did
not another eminent nettor state that the significance of a volume of Vedas
deteriorates with its order function? Or, the title is meant to be a sarcasm of
Mahabharata, which is metaphorically called the panchamavedam in traditional 
literature. But that is not the theme of the masterpiece. It is no sarcasm 
about bhArata, but a statement of resentment about deprivation. In this respect
too, the title fails to match the content. Or alternatively, could it mean that
it is a rubric composed specifically for panchamas ? I personally expect to see
such a rubric be an assertion of optimism and action rather than mere resentment
about history (of course, I realize my limitations in dictating terms to the 
masterpiece, especially when it is supposed to be a voice for resentment against
deprivation). As suggested by the other nettor, the title is perhaps a short 
form for "#panchama vEdana#" - this way the title seems to mean something. 


But then why not entertain other obsessions with this number five e.g., 
panchanAmA (against social deprivation), panachmahApAtakas (of promoting
deprivation), panchAngam (a masterpiece consisting of five verses), 
pancAnana (who should punish the previleged classes), panchaSaruDu (of social 
oppression being burnt away), panchbhUtAlu (essential elements), panchAgnulu 
(the five essential fires) - just to stay in tune with Dr.Suess.


- T. Hari Krishna