Life as Naveen Manomohanan

Kids Are Kids. They Will Never Lose Their Innocence.

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:02:00 +0000

Yesterday was the much awaited installation of our Lions District Cabinet and being the Secretary of my club I was privileged to hold the banner of my club and attend the installation. As its said man proposes and God disposes I fell ill with a terrible flue. As my co members were leaving for the programme I was thinking why God at this time you put me in bed and that too when one of my favourite actresses was attending the show

Poor mom because she had to baby sit her YOUNG son she also could not go. Anyways I slept through and got up today a lot back to normal. So still on rest I was relaxing on one of those bean bags which keep you as cosy as you love to be watching one of my favourite shows on tv. Anyone passing by would get to see me lying in the passage. Suddenly I hear this shrill voice " Naveen Uncle how is your fever ? ”I looked out and there stands Adi my club presidents son who is my neighbour. So I waved at him and said "Monu am doing well" the conversation didn't end there and there comes the cutest sentence I heard in a few weeks. “Uncle ennikkum ennale paripadikku pokkan patteella athukondu ningal vishamikkanda" which means I too couldn't make it to the function yesterday so you don't worry.

I was so touched . A young boy of his age taking the trouble to stop at my gate and call out to me to console me for the bad feeling I had about missing the function was actually so soothing to the mind. I really could feel the concern in his voice when he said it.

We say kids are new generation and they are more caring about their electronic devices....... No it is not. It is about the way the kids are brought up. When the kids in our times asked for time to our parents they gave it in abundance and we were always happy with them. today we as parents don’t have time and we give our kids all the gadgets instead of the time they ask for and we complain about the change in their attitudes.

What all my parents said I did as a child I see my son and nephew doing then why are we cribbing about the lost New generation when we are the cause for losing them.

My Dreams...... As I Walk the Aisles.....

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 02:51:00 +0000

As a young boy, I often found myself gazing at the sky, entranced by the sight of small flying objects dropping foreign sweets from their wings. Those moments filled me with wonder and excitement. Over the years, that youthful fascination slowly transformed into a deep desire to work in the airline industry.

At the age of 20, in the early 2000s, I took my first steps toward that dream. I stumbled upon a newspaper clipping advertising a position as a Flight Steward. With minimal exposure but a heart full of determination, I decided to give it a shot. In May 2001, I embarked on the biggest trip of my life at that time, traveling to Cochin alone to attend the interview.

As I stood before the interview panel, I was a 20-year-old with a youthful charm, and they saw the potential in me. "Yes, you are in," they said, but there was a catch - I needed a consent form from my parents. In a world where I was technically an adult, it was the early 2000s, and my family's firm stance prevailed. No matter how hard I tried, their decision was unyielding, and my dream of becoming a Flight Steward was dashed.

Yet, the flame of that desire never truly died within me. Life took me on different paths, much like how dormant cells in the body can awaken at unexpected times. I moved forward, but the dream still lingered beneath the surface.

Fast forward 20 years, and I found myself at the age of 41 on a visit to Singapore. A paper advertisement caught my eye, and it was for Singapore Airlines, seeking Flight Stewards once again. My dormant desire began to sprout back to life.

I applied, went through a series of online tests, and finally made it to the Singapore Airlines office for their few final rounds of selection. I dressed impeccably, and I spoke with confidence, believing that this was my chance to finally chase my dream. However, the outcome was not what I had hoped for - I got eliminated. It was a crushing blow, and I felt a deep sense of disappointment as I walked out of the office.

But as I sat on the train, headed back from the interview, I had a moment of clarity. I looked within and told myself, "Naveen, you did give yourself a second chance." The dream of walking the aisles of an airline as a Flight Captain had always been there, but now I saw that I was already living it in my own way.

I had my own trolley bag, filled with all my training equipment. Whether I walked into training halls or railway stations, I embraced every step, telling myself, "Naveen Manomohanan, Flight Captain, you are walking into the aisles of the airline that's en route to a new destination every day."

Life, I realized, was simple when you kept it that way. And on April 1, 2023, as I stood there, I looked back on my journey. I had walked a thousand aisles in my own unique way, and I knew there were still many more miles to fly before I would finally rest. My dream was alive, and it was my daily reality, reminding me that it's never too late to chase your passion.

Lock Down Diary Day 14

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 10:06:00 +0000

Lock Down Diary Day 14

It was my sons birthday... For me birthday is a lovely memory... Achan and Amma blows a few balloons hangs it up.... A cake was the luxury then with lovely homemade food.... A few guests..... A camera man ooooooohhhh it was awesome..... I have to thank my mom and dad for making those lovely surprises..... And teaching me small happiness made life much more happening and fine.....

Today Achan insisted I had a shot with him... Amma sat with us and got a free kick..... Achan was talking about his father and his mother and after a long while all three of us had a hearty laugh...... Lovely feel....

Everyone made unniyappam I made mango appam.... It's nice though... Love my cooking.... Self Praise hahaha...

Work was indeed lovely a lovely comment from a family we helped... 6 children in the family and they said Kerala is great.....

Vishu is here.... The dark clouds have a silver lining.... We have to remember today is ours let's celebrate that we are alive.... Now will never come a 2nd time.... Enjoy your being.... Enjoy every min.... Yes I am.... I am waiting like a small boy for the kaineettam from Dad and Mom... I told I am the youngest at home now... Old times... But miss Nisha Sandeep....

HAPPY VISHU....

Happiness@lways

13.04.2020

Lock Down Diary Day 13

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 09:28:00 +0000

Lock Down Diary Day 13

Today was hectic..... I did not know time flying.... Extension of the lock down created a little unrest in all those Guest workers in our district... Can't blame them..... But it's for our good......

I just started feeling that yes everyone has a pain.... Met someone who started telling me abt himself and. I was deep down thinking I am alot better.... I know all of us have issues some deleberately created and some coincidental.... We just have to move on.... BUT MIND YOU NEVER TO FORGET.....

Today I polished my house and our heaven looks soo heavenly..... I felt free doing it cos I had no one telling me not to do... The bhajans in the morning and the evening and the cleaning and the lovely times spent together has brought back a feeling of love and trust.... All those gaps created seems to have flattened up....

I pray and hope our beloved Prime Minister and our great Chief Minister and our honorable health Minister have good health to continue the lovely work....

Also pray that all those relentless service providers and volunteers have a healthy safe time tooo...

Love you all

Happiness@lways

12.04.2020

Lock Down Diary Day 12

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 09:24:00 +0000

Lock Down Diary Day 12

The lock down is going to be extended..... Life has come to its rudimentary stage... People have gone back to food from the gardens.... Everyone r reconciled to the fact of being at home and life seems slow but cool....

I felt I missed being formally informal so today I went to office dressed... My dear friends it did make a difference..... I felt good sitting in office today....

My Toastmasters meeting happened and I miss those energy doses of the live toastmaster meetings.... But still meeting all of them is fun....

I get to work on all days as the lock down gets extended..... I am not sure how the food aspect of all the people from other states will be met.... I am stressed but I am sure things will work....

I love u all and above all I started loving myself..... I am into alot of self improvement and I feel happy am on a lovely route.... A route realising myself what is my potential.... A long lost friend of mine Rakesh Vanamali once told me I have alot in me untapped...... I am searching for that untapped energies of mine.....

Let's all join together and work on our untapped potential and grow

Good night to all of us

Happiness@lways

11.04.2020

Lock Down Day 11

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 09:15:00 +0000

Lock Down Day 11

After a long while I ate tamerind straight from the tree..... Oh my God I really went down memory lane.... I missed by Raji moothamma, my Dad's sis.... Sooooo much.... She used to allow us to do all this when we were young.... I love her and her fond memories will always remain...

Chopped another huge banana bunch from our little garden.... The compound is a little away from our house.... So took amma for a long drive to the next compound..... Sure she enjoyed the trip hahaha....

Spoke to some old friends who really meant alot.... And I feel I am back to my normal self.... People in my neighbourhood say I look calm....

Anyways I have been doing alot of work today.... Dealing with people with varied issues from food to stay..... I am being socially useful and I feel good......

I love my colleagues and the way we work is really nice.... Anyone who is not scared of Corona who wants to volunteer on field please let me know.....

Love u all... Let's take a minute and pray for all of us before we say good night...

Happiness@lways...

10.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:04:00 +0000

Lock Down Day 10

Just realise that life is yours enjoy it to the fullest..... 91000 people have gone and at death of theirs no one even wanted to touch them.... Suddenly we realise that we are one dot in that great universe which could be blown off any time.....

So decided to enjoy it this way.... Being yourself and doing what you want to do is very important...... Be yourself....

Dedication is a word I have heard with job..... I have seen many people dedicated to their work like the Armed services say JAAN JAAYE VACHAN NA JAYE and I have also seen people who make lame excuses not to work.... Proud of those who show integrity in what they do.....

I salute all those who support willfully our administration to succeed....

I made a small video on stay home stay safe with a dozen of languages accross India... This was in association with the work I do... Realised we speak somany languages but when there comes a call we stand as one The Stong Indian.....

I have had valuable time with my parents and relive being the pampered again.... I miss my son yes Rishabh is missed... But being the son of a mom and a dad who has a larger perspective about life makes me stronger... I have over come so much in life and this too shall pass....

As I go to bed today I hope and pray that all of you have a great day tomorrow and a rested sleep today....

From now my life would be on a different ball game altogether.....

A new ME in the ME will be with the ME controlling the ME to..... Hahaha suffrening from fatigue.... Sleep guys....

Happiness@lways

09.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 08:56:00 +0000

Lock Down Day 9

Lovely lovely lovely... I planted a Jamba Tree 18 months back and yes she gave me the first lovely bunch of fruits..... It was such a lovely feeling when Mom plucked the first fruit and kept it at our alter.... The tree too has an achievement quotient.... We say what ever we do do it for God.... So her first fruit for God.....

I cooked something which was nice.... A sweet mango chutney..... Recipe could be shared... Chef Naveens's special mix... Also rolled the pooris out.... My dough was loose but the pooris were lovely.... Self Praise...

I felt Doctors are God's....Suchitra Sudhir aunt's today's post of a lady at her door step middle of the night.... The lady was bleeding and Auntie took the little one alive and happy...... Many hospitals rejected but Dr Suchithra Sudir did it... She said she forgot abt corona and all and did wat she had to.... We should either make the Dr that stand in front of a doctors name as DEAR or we should tag a H H in front of their names as His or Her Holiness Dr So and so...

I agree now ICU is I SEE YOU OH God..... Only God in the form of Doctors and Nurses....

Work front am meeting a set of government employees who are sooooo dedicated and working for a single objective...... GO CORONA....

Lovely day folks....

It's time for me to say good night....

Hope tomorrow will be absolutely nice for all of us.....

Happiness@lways...

08.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:47:00 +0000

Day 8

After years I carry a tiffin box and a water bottle and a towel.... Wife is in her place so my mom and dad and I are at home... The feeling of being the small boy at home brings back soo much of good old memories... I know that tiffin is filled with love and good wishes.... I enjoy the feel and that love.... My son shouldn't go to the open to eat.....

Its been retrospection through these days as to wer am I as a person moving.... WHO WILL CRY WHEN I DIE..... not the book but yes who will genuinely feel my loss.... Cos over a period of time we have become so self oriented that we have forgotten to remember faces we met everyday.... Yet we have time...

Work wise, I got a call from my Toastmaster friend Bhanu Prakash of a guest labourer who has been in trauma..... He has gone out of his head because he can't work... Poor guy is now being counselled....

We have somewhere forgotten work is just part of life.... And not the other way....

As I tuck into my bed let me wish all my beautiful loved ones a wonderful night and a fantastic day tomorrow...

Happiness@lways...

07.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 08:40:00 +0000

Lock Down Day 7

Today was a less packed day... Seems like the food from government agencies are hitting the destinations...

Oh today I had to call a contractor and he had given his wife's number as his official number..
. My call went in I said I am from the Labour Department and the matter is serious, the lady kept me on call and went off on a verbal diarrhea.... .. Poor guy I am sure the verbal Corona would have lasted the whole evening.....

Feels a little relaxed that the number of cases are decreasing.... Our brothers who work outside to see their family is safe are the ones who have been tested positive on Corona...

Kerala survives by the PRAVASI Contributions.... Please do not degrade them... Please support our brothers and sisters from the middle east who r suffering who r back here....

Together we can and we will be victorious....

06.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 08:35:00 +0000

Lock Down Day 6

I never felt it was a Sunday...... A community lunch with flavors from every part of Kannur from my lovely colleagues and over and above I feel deeply touched by the love everyone shares.....

Work wise I learnt not everyone is same..... Just because one person lied everyone else will not lie.... We were able to clear calls which came into the centre....

Above all we malayalees proved that we will never allow anyone in our locality to go hungry.... No politics , no religion, no male female.... But just one human being for another human being.....

AHAM BRAHMASMI!!!!!

THATWAMSY!!!!!

We again proved we see the God in every one around us.....

The Labour Dept has gone to the extend of setting up television sets with cable connections for our guest employees..... Dinesh V Dinesh of the Labour Department seen in the picture after installing the television at the guest labour camps....

Proud to be part of all this....

05.04.2020.

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 08:08:00 +0000

Lock down Day 5

Awesome learning.....

If we did not have a stomach what would we have done..
Maslows need hierarchy really works..... Wen food is done the next comes up.... However bad the situation.....

From time immemorial we have been taught ADHITHI DEVO BHAVAH....
Our state is so good to our guest workers... Food provided, recreation with television sets.... It's actually the best we can do....

Proving that we have learnt what we were taught....

I am enjoying every minute of it..... Lovely team to work with.... Feel so comfortable and feels like I have been a part of the team for a long time....

Happiness@lways

04.04.2020

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 07:50:00 +0000

Lock Down Diary Day 4

As I go to bed today I feel soo nice... A few stomachs are full due to my direct or indirect involvement..... A thanq call for the food received made me feel sooo nice... We have such luxurious meals my friends.... For them some rice and a Dal makes it.....

We need to thank our Government for being soo prompt and for the rapid action and over and above the local administration which is soo strong...

Our safety is their main aim....
..
Enjoyed my day 4 with the immigrant no the guest workers.....

Stay home, our government will be there, stay safe....

03.04.2020

A Cold Winter Morning in South Africa.

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Here today I will share an experience from my childhood far from Singapore, in South Africa

I have firsthand experience of a traditional African belief -- if a relative of pregnant woman kills the child of a fortunate family, her child receives all the good luck. I learned all about this when my dad was the principal of a school in this beautiful southern tip of Africa.

Imagine a lovely little country side, full of flowers, deep colours, fruit trees and fresh air, silent except for the ting, ting sounds of cattle bells carried to you by gusts of wind. Lovely white winter’s snows - summer days long enough for a beautiful jog up and down the mountains. This was once my home.

My safe and secure world of toys and friends was bliss for a boy of 3. And a school Principal was like a chief of the village and responsible for many aspects of school administration, such as collecting and depositing revenues. To reduce the chance of theft, all fees collected were banked the very same day. something strange happened on this particular day. The cash my Dad sent a member of his staff to deposit was returned to him at home, apparently due to some fault with the bank account. My Mom, always careful, divided up the cash and hid it in various places around the house.

Later, my parents hosted a party for the teachers of the school at our home. It was a very cold winter night, and the guests were happy to chat in the sitting area. Suddenly an interruption by a “knock knock” on the kitchen door. Knock! Knock! Knock! My mother saw 3 boys standing at the door. She asked what they wanted. “Oh Madam A student of the school has met with an accident and we want to meet Intate.” Intate means a man in good standing. My father went out to meet them, as it was customary for the principal to sign to certify deaths in the village

As Dad was trying to get details, curious little me went out to say hello and socialise. One guy in the group carried me - my parents may have seen this as a very genuine touch. But the next thing my parents saw was a gun at my head. Mom said “Ayyo kallammarane, Mon avarudey Kayyil aanu.” - They are thieves and our son is in their hands. And my dad whispered to my mom “They know today’s banking didn’t happen.” They wanted the money in the house.

“Don’t waste our time .... open your locker and we don’t want anyone else in this house to move or else this kid will be dead.” The guests were frozen, and I was perplexed, I felt the toy on my head was a gift for me... and my mom and dad and all the others at home must have known that one wrong move and the bullet in it was for me.

As soon as the 3 reached the locker in the bedroom and saw part of the cash, they lost interest in me and mom quickly locked me up in the bathroom. But these guys not only knew the deposit had not been completed also knew the exact amount that should be in the house. “Give us the money! don’t play games.” My father stood his ground. The guys started walking out holding the gun to my father, forcing him out of the bedroom through the dining area to the kitchen.

My mother ran behind my dad trying to pull him and get him away from them. Two guys went out of the door while one remained inside trying to force my father through the door, when mom literally pounced on my father and gave him one final pull - my father flew into the dining area, while she stood in the kitchen face to face with this 6 feet 2 inch guy. Mom focused all her energy to give the guy a push, and the guy flew out of the door and she banged the door closed. The would-be robbers retreated. The battle was won.

Life is so momentary. The next minute is unknown and we have to still be at our best. The way we react to a situation can make or break lives. If my mother had not pounced on that guy at that time my sister mom and I might have had a totally different life. As Mrs Clinton said “to all the little girls, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and to achieve your own dreams." Please remember that nothing can stop a woman or a man who has courage, conviction and love from facing down opposition and improving their society.

My Name is Naveen and I am 34 years old....

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 16:22:00 +0000

After my stint of being stateless in a country I thought I belonged (India) and hanging state of affairs with my country of Birth (Singapore), I was given the choice to accept my citizenship in Singapore with a National Service obligation. For those of you who don't know Singapore National Service is compulsory for boys after 18 to be full fledged citizens... it's a 2 year process and really exciting.

I was 34 at that time. I celebrated my 34th birthday in India and I had told everyone around I was going 18 and my cake had an 18 year old candle.....

On the 3rd of Feb I joined the National Service camp. The volunteer who came near our car as we got off told me that family can move to the viewing area. I told him I was a recruit as it is called and the poor boy was stuck. I was ushered in to the waiting area.

I was seated with boys who looked absolutely innocent by the age. There I am sitting a corrupted 18 year old man. I did not look naive I am sure but yes I acted naive.

We had to fall suit for the oath. And that’s when I lost a few heart beats of mine. A captain with a bass voice walks in and says to stand in attention. Probably after school that was the first time I stood in attention. Never mind but I did. The next sentence I hope I had not heard it as my pulse rate went at 144.. “I WANT ALL OF YOU TO BEHAVE WELL AND SING ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WHEN IT IS PLAYED DURING YOUR OATH TAKING." Also included was I will check your mouth movements? I am not joking I thought Life as Naveen Manomohanan ends there as at that point I had not even heard my National Anthem fully, except for my mother humming it at times.

The introduction went passed and then played the National Anthem "Majula Singapura" it was lovely and I was desperately trying to move my lips to at least get somewhere near to the language. OMG, I realised I could be a good actor.

We were marched into a room were I realised I was in a battalion which was called Bravo... I was listening to the introduction I am Muhammed Imran 20 years old. I am Avinash and I am 21 and there is came in I am Naveen Manomohanan and I am 34 years old .... Perfect Silence and I said I was married and I am going to have a baby soon. My platoon called me POPS. ... and I became a premature dad to 46 and before I could know the 47th my own son joined the team....

Am I Back .........

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 13:25:00 +0000

A warm welcome back to me and all of you who read my blog..... I am sure many of you must have been thinking were I was. Yes I was in hiding from the world cocooned for my transformation. The transformation to be stronger bolder and ready for the leap. The launch pad is ready. Before I go about the big leap I thought I should pen down Life as Naveen Manomohanan. ... the hidden years.�

From somewhere to nowhere and rehabilitated back to face everything. Indeed Life as Naveen Manomohanan has been really eventful with steep ups and steeper downs. Happy, the unexpected, the lovely people, the tears, the family who stood by, the friends, the so on and so fourh.

I hope all of you would enjoy the little I would pen here.... I did not enjoy it real time but looking back at each day gives me a sense of great accomplishments... Happy Blogging and season’s greetings to all...

Life as a Kite .... Flying all alone .....

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:53:00 +0000

A lonely kite through life.. flew from place to place. Saw many kites flying higher than me and they looked awesome. It never took too much of my attention… but as I came closer one kite caught my attention…. It was not colorful it was not anything but that kite at the very first moment took my mind off. I got entangled and we flew together miles. The time the space and the love we shared had no barriers, i gave in my self and was so comfortable in the arms of this beautiful flying machine. We together conquered many new worlds. Discovered the beauty of the hidden and the beauty of life.

Suddenly a gust of wind gushed in and it was like a thud. My new kite mate’s strings loosened out but still we flew and conquered the whole sky which was our place. But now I see that the distance of those strings have gone soo far and my new kite mate is flying high and high above leaving me far behind back were we met. It hurts to think that the kites we meet up soon fly past us and we still keep flying without a destination. Love is the strings which keep us flying high but some strings entangle us so close just to loosen out in a short while. Kites which flew together as close as possible gets pulled out and we can just look up above and say that it all evens out in love and war.

Thank you.... the most paying word...

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:05:00 +0000

I went to a wedding two days ago. It was raining and parking my car was a big issue. I somehow managed to get my car into the basement of the wedding hall and was desperately trying to park it when I find this nice man in a security guards attire run upto my vehicle to direct me.

I combed my hair and got of my car and as I was walking up I saw the security guard standing at the entrance. I said “Chetta, Thank You!” which means brother, thank you. Caught unawares by my impromptu gesture of thanks and sporting a rather weird look on his face, this gentleman, came forward, patted my shoulder and said “It’s a pleasure, mone!” And mone means son in Malayalam. I was so touched. He was so happy.

Why is it that all of us being from the country known for love and benevolence forget that by being a little considerate to the next man who helps us, we make a big difference in their lives. We are happy and they are happy too. Friends why don’t we start saying a thank you with a smile to all those who make a difference in our lives …. no matter however small that maybe

A Mind to Give.....

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:02:00 +0000

Onam is a state festival of Kerala. Every Keralite across the globe celebrates Onam in great spirit and zealous enthusiasm. Onam is an occasion celebrated in honour of Mahabali the erstwhile king of Kerala. He was an asura king but very just and honest. Power and politics are not limited to human being and also find place among Gods…. It so happened that the Gods became jealous of King Mahabali and approachede lord Vishnu asking him for help… which is how Lord Vishnu assumed his fifit avatar from among his ten called the Vamana.. Vamana avatar was that of a tiny man. Having assumed the guise, Vamaa then goes to King Mahabali in his priestly form and asks for three measures of his land, each to be measured by a step he would take. The benevolent king being as good as he is gives the right to the little Vamana to take the three steps. He takes his first step and covers the earth and with the second he covers the sky and for the third he asked the king where and the king bows down and shows his head. Vamana puts his feet on the king and pushes him into the earth. Just before pushing him in he gives his a boon to come and meet his people once every year. We Keralites celebrate Onam in memory of this great king.

Onam is a festival of harvest as well and new clothes don the occasion during which the elders give gifts and money to the younger ones and vice versa.

I was home for Onam this year. My sister delivered a baby boy and I am acting the big uncle very well. There was this old lady, named Shanthamma, who was good at the postnatal care.. A very chirpy and vibrant lady, laughing always - one would be much energized on seeing her. But tke a look at her household and it wouldn’t take long to realize that her life was in misery. This poor 65 year old lady needs to earn to feed her daughter, son-in-law and 2 children. As if that wasn’t aleady enough, she is ill treated.

So this Onam we decided to give her some extra money so that she could have some nice food with it. My mom and sister gave her some money. I felt that it was a great gesture to give her that extra bit for all the help she was for my little nephew and sister. Deciding impromptu, I went down with some money to give her… when she walked upto me and told me “Aviii (she calls me Avi instead of Naveen) ninakku enikku ithraye tharaaan pattooo….” Which means “I can only afford to give you this token for Onam...” She squeezed a 100 rupees note into my hand.. God it was such a touching moment… I could have cried. A poor lady like her wanted me to be happy and she was forgoing her happiness only for me which I couldn’t imagine.

Yet my dear friend you should have seen how happy she was… we have all the luxuries of life and do we ever think about another person..? I felt ashamed of myself.. I was trying to add and subtract in my mind of what to give her but she was far beyond in her thoughts.

Happy Days!

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:27:00 +0000

I was watching a Malayalam movie yesterday and the story ran around college and the fun, love, teachers, friends and the great feeling of being in a vibrant campus. I felt as if I was reliving it all. I was so touched by the feel of love and care and was all that was there in those days.

I was taken down memory lane, where I found myself running around the campus in school, getting wet in the rains to get a holiday, bunking classes and sitting near the phone so that the teachers don’t call and inform Dad, he being the retd. principal of the same college. It used to be fun. When it came to the PG days the quantum of fun went a little high up in standards. It was fun and only fun.

The friendships, the fights, the making ups, the love failures, the love letters, I presume all of us remember the first love letter we wrote and how embarrassed we were and what not. I don’t think today’s kids would have the same kind of fun of writing a love letter because the information age of today has done away with the good old pen and paper. I remember the first one I tried my hand at. I wrote it so well that I myself had a doubt if I was the author, given that my grammar and handwriting were so nearly perfect. The canteen, the round sitting areas, the lawns and all were our loved spots. The summer camps and the work we did -there were just so nice.

When I was watching that movie I was thinking all the generations go through it the same way we did. There were some fights in the movie which I could associate very well with. I was wondering was it required to fight then. Why did we fight for stupid reasons? There were no good reasons for any fights whatsoever. But we still fought. Perhaps we came back to bond better and deeper after those altercations.

All I was thinking was if we did not have all those misunderstandings and fights would we have been closer? No, never, perhaps. I feel we still cherish all those good days as good days because we had a mixture of all these incidents – both good and the not so good ones. Likewise, life is also so beautiful. And my dear friends, I just realized, if I was only happy always I wouldn’t have ever felt this way. I would never have been able to appreciate the value of happiness and good. A good life is like a curry which has a lot of ‘masalas’ mixed and it also has a bit of sugar which acts as the base of the curry and yet we enjoy it with all the hot and sour and sweet mixed in it.

Life gives happiness to all. But what happens is that when we go forward we end up feeling sad and miserable for small things. It is high time we realize that we have been created to enjoy life and to enjoy life we have to go through both good and the not so good parts in life. Only then does the better part of us emerge. I am sure; most of us realize that we should take good and bad in its stride. It will help us be happier and certainly better.

A walk back in Time

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:18:00 +0000

I went on a trip down memory lane to Pallakkad, a district in Kerala, sometime last week. This is the city where I spent 2 great years doing a post-graduation course. I did my MBA in Coimbatore and stayed at Palakkad. This was in the year 2001. With the exception of mobile numbers, anything to do with numbers, even today, makes me go crazy. Understandably so, Mathematics and Operations Research drove me nuts no end. Helpless and beaten down, I found refuge in well-taken tuitions at a sweet place called Tharekkattu Gramam by an even sweeter teacher. A group of us friends, we used to go for tuition classes after our full day classes back in college, and despite the drained out feeling at the end of the day, we religiously attended out tuitions primarily because our teacher was very caring and his classes were filled with endless portions of positive energy.

A staggering 11 years went by unnoticed until I called this teacher of mine. He answered the call and I introduced myself and requested to meet him. His voice boomed “you are most welcome, I am waiting here.” I went to his house along with my cousin to find no change at all. A decade had made no difference and I found myself transported to a magical time, when learning combined with youth and adventure ruled paramount in life. I knocked the door and his wife answered and invited us inside. 40 odd pairs of slippers greeted the entrance the house with no change of the interior.

And then entered our Guru. Time had not dared to scar him with the vagaries of age and he bore the same styles and mannerisms as before. Nothing had changed, not the warmth, nor the demeanour. I was certain he would not recognize me. He looked at me and then said “yes, I remember, back then you were thinner and clean shaven.” I thought the easiest way of showing familiarity was that. I was moved beyond words when he effortlessly recalled even the minutest details of those times.

We spoke for a while and I got to know that he still tutors a thousand kids during the season and he does not collect any fee from half of his lot. He says the energy he takes on 10 and 50 is the same and so believes he is serving the society his way. I marveled at the simplicity. He has been tutoring young minds from 1981 and now has a remarkable three decades to his credit. I owe my foundations of knowledge and value system to Srinivasan Sir, our dear teacher.

He recalled, with pride, about various students who were doing well and also of a student who was not doing well. He tried calling him twice when we were there but in vain. He wanted me to talk to him and help him settle into a good opportunity. I could see the parent in him at work. As we rose to leave he brought a handful of sweets and gave it to both of us blessing us and praying that our friendship lasts forever. I had tears in my eyes.

I was overjoyed when the student he wanted me to talk called me. Only a teacher with devotion and dedication can be so kind and prompt.

Even today I remember very well as we would go for our exams he, in his typical regional accent would say“Onnu Kondum Pedikkanda Ketolin” assuring us that all would be well and urging us to be courageous. It used to be so soothing to the mind to hear that from him.

Rarely does one find a blessed soul who is many a man rolled into one, from teacher, to parent to a citizen par excellence working tirelessly to see the fruit of his labour better the lives of his protégé!

I salute him and pay my respects humbly, as would all of my friends who have, like me, been in his tutelage and become better as a result.

How true are our beliefs?

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:13:00 +0000

I was attending a marriage back at my home town in Kerala a few days ago. At the venue I saw a very peculiar type of a flower. It was pink and it had a shape like an animal in the centre. Usually I don’t pluck flowers but that day I plucked a flower from that tree. The minute I plucked the flower somebody from my family ran up to me and told me “throw it away. Why do you want ill luck to come home through the curse of a snake?!!!” Apparently this particular flower is associated with the snakes and the flower attracts snakes to it and in the process all ill luck comes to the family. I am not joking I almost froze. I thought it’s all gone and now it’s going to be bad and worse was to come.

Frantic me, I went and left the flower near the tree I plucked it from and came back to my aunt who was telling me how bad it is and the amount of ill luck I carry because of this. I asked her what I could do and I was advised to go to a very famous temple here in Kannur, my home town called Peralasserri temple where predominantly snakes are worshiped.

I came home took my mother and proceeded to the temple. I was praying all way for forgiveness. I did not want any more bad to come our way because of this. I completed my prayers at the temple and my mom said let’s find out from the priest what to do so that we are out of the ill luck. We found one of the priests who looked knowledgeable and narrated it all. This was what the priest asked me “My dear son God is no one’s enemy then why do you fear of him for trivial things like this. Now if you still feel uneasy just put a small prayer and leave.”

I would only like to bring to our notice how much we stress ourselves with religion, a concept which was originally made to de-stress the human race. Why do we like taking small things to heart thereby putting us through more agony? Why is it that we associate all bad with such small mistakes we do in life?

God was probably created as a mechanism to unite people and make them oriented towards purpose and direction. The same Gods who were conceptualized to protect us now punish us and we are so scared of them. I believe that any thing we fear cannot be loved to the fullest. So do you think I really love God if I were to fear him?

A Year Remembered

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:28:00 +0000

One more page in the book of my life, the page of 2011, is being turned over. It has been a year of mixed feelings. If I say it was a page all written in golden letters I would be fooling myself. The page had a lot of black patches too. The page, as it turns by, takes me through a summary of what I learnt.

The learnings I have had have been tremendous and I believe the creator made this year or at least waited all these years to give me a learning of a life time. As per mythology Arjuna learnt so many things from The Lord in a very crucial part of his life. So I am sure HE has destined me to learn all what I learnt in the 2011 chapter this year only. Many have come in this life of mine and many have left. The ones who came to stay are with me supporting me through thick and thin and the ones who decided to leave me and go have surely left a deep imprint on my life and gone. As it is said, life moves on and I still feel all this will bring the better out of me.

This post is a thanksgiving to my parents, my sister, my brother in law, aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues and above all my good dear friends who stood by me through thick and thin telling me and mentoring me in the best and the right direction. I know the learning of 2011 will be taken with me to the later parts of my life.

The best learning I got this year was that not everything which glitters is gold. Though we learnt it long long ago, we never get it to seep down in us and we tend to believe that calm waters are safe but, calm waters can also be very rough below. People who have been known for years seem to fade away by character and you really feel that it’s your fault but later on in your solitude you realize that they were always that way and we only saw the better of them, thanks to the good in us.

Another important learning I had this year was not to take anything and everything as it comes. Check it and if it doesn’t match you and if it is unbecoming throw it back at the people who flung it at you. I am a person who does not react much, chip of the old block my Dad. But this year has taught me that where a word has to rule a word rules and where silence speaks volumes silence speaks it all.

My dear friends it’s been a pleasure and a great time we had together this year called 2011. Let’s all join together to welcome 2012. May all our hopes, aspirations and dreams be fulfilled. May the poor and the rich, the unhealthy and the healthy, the down trodden, the animals and all of us have a very beautiful 2012 which brings love, joy and peace to the world and to mankind.

Tribute to Our Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:01:00 +0000

A year has passed since I went to the temple festival in my hometown, Kannur in Kerala. The festival happens every year on the last weekend. The temple is called Poothatta Tharavad Kavu. This happens to be my paternal great grandfather’s Tharavad (Ancestral House.) The basic art form performed in the Kavu (Temple) is called as Theyyam or Theyyattam.

Theyyam is a Hindu folk dance ritual of worship exclusive to Northern Malabar region, i.e., Kannur, Kasargod, Kozhikode (formerly Calicut), and Wynad belts. People in the olden times believed that any obstacle that nature brought in front of them was caused by a certain power, which human intelligence could not comprehend. Thus, man started idolizing the various entities in nature like wind, air, water and so on. One person among the group was made to empower himself with these unseen powers and was considered to be a form of God. The word Theyyam is derived the Sanskrit word Daivam which means God. The origin of this ritual is unknown or rather it is better to say that there is no one theory that explains the birth of Theyyam.

The ritual dance is exclusively performed by male members of certain caste communities namely Vannan, Malayan, Velan, Mavilan, Pulayan and Koppalan. Most of these communities are indigenous tribes of Kerala and this tradition of folk dance has been kept alive by them. During the Theyyam season (which spans from November till April), these dancers transcend into Gods. They paint themselves with sandalwood paste, turmeric paste, red sandalwood paste and wear very large crowns all with prominence to red.

Each Theyyam has a character of his own and they bless the members who go to meet them. At our Tharavad Kavu we had Theyyams by the name of Karanavar Theyyam, Gulikan Theyyam, Wayanad Kulavan Theyyam, Bhagavathy Theyyam, Vellattom Theyyam, etc. to mention a few. I was asked to meet the Wayanad Kulavan Theyyam and he looked into my eyes and began telling me about things which were in my mind. I was standing in front of him with all due respect and he tells me “you told someone what’s the point of praying because God does not heed to all what we plead to him.” My eyes widened in surprise. A few weeks ago I was telling my flat mate the same thing. I said a big NO to him but he held on to it. I don’t know how he knew it. Men and women who came there, some of them were seen crying and he was consoling them too.

It is indeed a worth watch. Leave alone the religious aspect of it, but the general dress up and the vigor of the dance and the traditions followed are unique in all respects. Forgot to tell you these Theyyams usually drink the local toddy tapped from coconut trees. That is the offering there. For anyone who really wants to come to see this, January to April of every year is the best time to do this.

Some Information taken from the Wikipedia Link on Google.

Picture of Wayanad Kulavan Theyyam

Innocence Lost

noreply@blogger.com (Naveen Manomohanan) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0000

A teacher in my mother’s school narrated this. One day she saw a rat in the house and she ran behind it and killed it. The 4 year old son was terribly taken aback that the mother did such a cruel thing. He went up to the mother and said “Mom you are so cruel you killed the rat. Now wait and see God is going to punish you. “The 4 year old was so sad and he went on around the place talking about this cruelty and how God would punish her for the act.

The rat was thrown out of the compound and the little boy was looking at it from the top of his compound wall. He thought it should be given a ceremonial burial. He took some sand and stooped on the boundary wall and with a lot of respect began putting it on the dead rat. The poor little boy fell off the fence and was bruised very badly. The little boy after all the crying and sobbing late in the night asks his mom. “Mom you killed the rat but why is it that God punished me?” What answer would you give the little child?

What made me think was all of us in our childhood were innocent and uncorrupted, compassionate and friendly. We knew that being bad was wrong. But gradually we changed and today we have become so corrupted. Today, for many of us to be bad is no problem at all. Is it education that makes us too aware of the world that makes us what we are today, or something else? Why do we lose that love, compassion, true belief in God and unbiased love to every living being over a period of time?

It’s a very serious question we really need to answer because if we could find an answer to this may be we could have very polished, compassionate , loving and giving, citizens for tomorrow.