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Authors: Jamuna Rangachari
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I continued working with Life Positive magazine. At this time I was planning to go to a wedding in Chennai. I made up my mind to go and interview Dr Muthukumar and see if he was worth writing about.
When I reached Chennai the doctor examined me and said there would surely be improvement or at least stalling of any deterioration in my condition if I regularly took treatment in acupuncture. During our meeting he briefly explained the process of acupuncture to me and also cited the example of Anton Jayasurya’s book The A to Z of Acupuncture . 1 But more about acupuncture later.
After meeting the doctor, I went for the wedding.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Indian weddings usually go on for two days and involve a good deal of activity.
This time, however much I tried to mingle in the crowd I could not. People were able to figure out that something was wrong with my sense of balance, the way I was walking, etc. Earlier, I would always be among the first ones who would help around and do all that was necessary, invite people, get chairs for everyone and ask the waiters to attend to all of them, etc.
This time, I could hardly be of much help. I used to waddle quite a bit. The moment I saw a chair, I would sit down, sometimes not even seeing if others, even the elderly were nearby. Now, I was more in need of others’ help and really felt I should stop going for weddings if I was really of no use to anyone anymore. Even when it came to the various rituals, or my favourite, the sangeet ceremony, I did not take part.
Though some relatives did extend help, many of them started giving me sermons on the temples I should go to, the gods I should pray to and the routine I should follow every day. More than enjoying myself at the wedding, these kinds of sermons left me feeling quite low.
As far as Dr Muthukumar was concerned, I went to him in the midst of attending the wedding and understood the technique more deeply and got treated by him for a short while till I was in Chennai.
Afterwards, when I was taking leave of him saying it would be my last session, he said, ‘Your brother lives in Chennai. Why don’t you consider staying here for a while with him or in a hotel?’
At that time, I really did not want to take such a step but did keep this in mind and like Ayurveda, thought I would explore it when the children had become older and independent.
When I left Chennai, my sisters-in-law, Ahalya and Lakshmi, told me to come anytime I wished to and asked me to even bring the children to stay with them. Now, who in today’s times is so fortunate to have so many people who would be ready to do anything for them? This is why in my list of people I can always count on, my aunt, uncle, their sons and their wives are always there.
From Chennai, I had to go to another wedding in Bengaluru. The wedding took place in a typical Indian locale with my cousin, Anusha, my maternal uncle Krishnakumar’s daughter marrying a Frenchman. There were wonderful events and people attended from all over India and the world.
My aunt, Bhanu had purchased a wonderful sari for me and had even fixed a schedule with a beautician for everyone who came for the wedding. I made several excuses and did not take part in any of the pre-wedding events, including the session with the beautician. This was primarily because I did not wish to make my challenges too obvious.
Whenever there was any photograph being taken, I would just try to shy away as I felt perhaps I would not have the right pose and not be able to stand properly or perhaps the photo session would take too long. Still, my aunt and uncle ensured I was there in most, if not all the photographs. At the wedding, there were dance sessions, a henna session and lots of eating and drinking involved. In the henna sessions, I was fine as we just had to sit. However, buying bangles at the stalls was a huge challenge. I just slipped away saying I was really not interested in bangles.
I love meeting old friends and
When I reached Chennai the doctor examined me and said there would surely be improvement or at least stalling of any deterioration in my condition if I regularly took treatment in acupuncture. During our meeting he briefly explained the process of acupuncture to me and also cited the example of Anton Jayasurya’s book The A to Z of Acupuncture . 1 But more about acupuncture later.
After meeting the doctor, I went for the wedding.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Indian weddings usually go on for two days and involve a good deal of activity.
This time, however much I tried to mingle in the crowd I could not. People were able to figure out that something was wrong with my sense of balance, the way I was walking, etc. Earlier, I would always be among the first ones who would help around and do all that was necessary, invite people, get chairs for everyone and ask the waiters to attend to all of them, etc.
This time, I could hardly be of much help. I used to waddle quite a bit. The moment I saw a chair, I would sit down, sometimes not even seeing if others, even the elderly were nearby. Now, I was more in need of others’ help and really felt I should stop going for weddings if I was really of no use to anyone anymore. Even when it came to the various rituals, or my favourite, the sangeet ceremony, I did not take part.
Though some relatives did extend help, many of them started giving me sermons on the temples I should go to, the gods I should pray to and the routine I should follow every day. More than enjoying myself at the wedding, these kinds of sermons left me feeling quite low.
As far as Dr Muthukumar was concerned, I went to him in the midst of attending the wedding and understood the technique more deeply and got treated by him for a short while till I was in Chennai.
Afterwards, when I was taking leave of him saying it would be my last session, he said, ‘Your brother lives in Chennai. Why don’t you consider staying here for a while with him or in a hotel?’
At that time, I really did not want to take such a step but did keep this in mind and like Ayurveda, thought I would explore it when the children had become older and independent.
When I left Chennai, my sisters-in-law, Ahalya and Lakshmi, told me to come anytime I wished to and asked me to even bring the children to stay with them. Now, who in today’s times is so fortunate to have so many people who would be ready to do anything for them? This is why in my list of people I can always count on, my aunt, uncle, their sons and their wives are always there.
From Chennai, I had to go to another wedding in Bengaluru. The wedding took place in a typical Indian locale with my cousin, Anusha, my maternal uncle Krishnakumar’s daughter marrying a Frenchman. There were wonderful events and people attended from all over India and the world.
My aunt, Bhanu had purchased a wonderful sari for me and had even fixed a schedule with a beautician for everyone who came for the wedding. I made several excuses and did not take part in any of the pre-wedding events, including the session with the beautician. This was primarily because I did not wish to make my challenges too obvious.
Whenever there was any photograph being taken, I would just try to shy away as I felt perhaps I would not have the right pose and not be able to stand properly or perhaps the photo session would take too long. Still, my aunt and uncle ensured I was there in most, if not all the photographs. At the wedding, there were dance sessions, a henna session and lots of eating and drinking involved. In the henna sessions, I was fine as we just had to sit. However, buying bangles at the stalls was a huge challenge. I just slipped away saying I was really not interested in bangles.
I love meeting old friends and
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