Truth and the Myths | Page 3

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Truth and the Myth, by A.R. Narayanan?(C) Copyright 2000 by A.R. Narayanan
**This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg Etext, Details Above**
This is neither prose nor verse,?nor a testament, nor tenet,?nor quotable quotes.
Quipping couplets flag off a train of thoughts,?certain are abstract philosophy;?yet few are derisive of social evils,?coated with sarcasm.
Traversing through the quips,?you will find you at both ends, alternatively, �C?the archer and the target!
You are not alone,?you will find me beside?at whichever end you are tossed to!
You and me are not the sole souls in its ambit.?it encompasses every citizen of the world!!
We mock many truths as myths?and try to realise myths as truth?mixing both mercilessly,?making it very difficult for others to discern?between:
Truth
And the
Myth
COUPLET QUIPS
By
A.R. NARAYANAN?26/480, 'Shreyas', Chakkalamuttu Road,?North Fort, Tripunithura,?Cochin 682 301. INDIA
I dedicate this book?to that entity who has granted me?all mental and physical faculties?and keeps me in the world?whom I could not meet yet,?in spite of my constant search.
FOREWORD
By Dr. D Anjaneyulu, M.A., B.L., D.Litt.?Author and Journalist, Ex. President: Madras Press Club?and?Member: Authors Guild of India.
When Mr. A.R. Narayanan rang me up to ask me for a?foreword to his book of verse, I did not know what I was?in for. Because I had not met him before, nor had I read?any of his written work. But I was instantly impressed by?the simplicity and sincerity, earnestness and anxiety in?his voice, and I readily agreed.
At the outset, I must say that I was attracted by the?title of the work "Truth and the Myth �C couplets Quips".?'Couplet' reminded me of the heroic couplets of Alexander?Pope (Dunciad and the rest) and those of John Dryden (Mac?Flecknoe and so on). 'Quips were reminiscent of the?witticisms of Bernard Shaw, the epigrams of Oscar Wilde?and the paradoxes of G.K. Chesterton. A combination of?the two should be quite spicy, I imagined. Nor was I?disappointed. For, I found them undoubtedly spicy and?readable.?The couplets in this booklet cover a wide range of?subjects of general interest �C of God and Man, of life?and death, of truth and lies, of profession and practice,?of politics and profit making and many other things. The?concept of truth and myth seemed to remain upper most in?the mind of the author, as when he says:
"In the beginning was the word;........ word was?truth;?Now word of truth has become old-fashioned myth"
He is refreshingly frank in the expression of his views,?be they traditional or modern or a happy blend of both.?This, for instance, of God and Man:
"Who created man is unsolved mystery �C?But creation of God is mans mastery"
"If everywhere the God fill?Where, on earth, do devils dwell?"
The author has no patience with man's capacity to deceive?himself and others, and man's flair for hypocrisy. And?rightly so too, as we are all sure to agree:
"Say one thing and do something else?Is the first step towards success".
"Man is prisoner of his own mind;?None else can bail him out of the bond
Sometimes, he is philosophical and unconventional, as in?the couplet:
"If our God is present everywhere,?Should one go to temple for prayer?"
Or?"Why need middlemen?Between God and man?"
At other times, he is satirical, with elements of irony?and sarcasm. But he is always effective, because he is in?right earnest.
This might be his first attempt at poetic composition,?but there is maturity of thought and depth of feeling,?which come from his variety of experience in life. I wish?more power to his elbow; and hope that this collection,?or may be selection, of couplets, will have a wide circle?of readers. The quips are thought provoking, without?being too harsh or hurting.
Dr. D. Anjaneyulu
Madras, 22nd May 1995
INTRODUCTION
Look around us, people are busily engaged in many things;?serious, silly or sincere; inducing a spurt of smile or?laughter; of fun, scorn or sympathy; on our lips. You and?me are no exception. We too contribute to others fancy.
"Of God's creations, only man can laugh �C?For, to be laughed at, he does lot enough"
Laughing at others, we should also be bold to direct the?very scorn at ourselves. But many of us simply won't or?refuse to in the belief that each one of us is an?exception. Laughter is a good medicine and, coming out of?the hermit shell, we should learn to laugh at all?laughable actions of the self and others.?Man is sincere to and concerned only about himself. In?his frenzy to own all the comforts and happiness of