Neeru Dosa

The Paradox of Neeru Dosa

When I heard of neeru dosa for the first time, I was flabbergasted. How can any one convert neeru or water into dosa? May be it is reality and hence the key to Dakshina Kannada’s prosperity!

Science attempts to define the nature of reality. Reality however presents itself in variety of forms; physical, mental, psychological, linguistic, and mathematical reality and now digital reality. But science is yet to conclusively define physical reality-hence the quest continues.

I went in search of reality of neeru dosa. I walked into a restaurant near the Kadri Park and asked for neeru dosa. Presto- the dosa arrived, soft to touch slightly slippery. I put a morsel into my mouth; I realized it was akki (rice) dosa. I called the boy who served me.

I said, “I asked for neeru dosa and you have given me akki dosa where is neeru in it and hence how is it neeru dosa and not akki dosa.” The boy said, “Ankke gottuji induve neeru dosa, bodanda dhani-da- kenle.”(Idon’t know, this only is neeru dosa, if you want ask the owner.) I got up and walked to the counter, there sat a young fellow in dark blue shirt with a gold chain around his rather thick neck. I told him; I asked for neeru dosa I was given akki dosa so how is it neeru dosa? He said, “ Induve neeru dosa.” I said, “But where is neeru in it, it is all akki and so it should be akki dosa and not neeru dosa. He was visibly irritated. He said, “ Eer olterdu battar maraya, enna tare tinnoduchi.”(Where, have you come from don’t eat my head). I said, “How can I eat your head, am I to eat it raw or boiled. He said, “Tare tinoduchi panda tare tinpinnathe!”(Don’t eat my head doesn’t really mean eat my head). He added-Aye eer pole erna kaasla bodchi. (He said “you just go I don’t want your money”) I realized that he was Bhant of the Nair kind so I did the vanishing trick.

But the thought still bothered me why is neeru dosa neeru dosa and not akki dosa? With in the seed of this question I realized I was asking myself as to who I am, for that matter who we all are? In fact we are nothing but a collection of identities collected over the years. I am indeed a different person to you, you and you on your perception of me.

Then who am I? Am I the neeru of the akki dosa or akki of the neeru dosa? In the Kathopanishad Nachiketa requests Jamaraja “please give me knowledge of the self.” I am sure neeru dosa itself will be asking why am I neeru dosa? The paradox continues.

 

K.V.RADHAKRISHNAN