God's Own Country!!!

Veluthaattu Vadakkan Chovva Bhagavathy Temple

2025-12-29T14:22:00.000+05:30

Veluthaattu Vadakkan Chovva Bhagavathy Temple

The planet Mars, or Chovva, is astrologically famed for its ability to negatively influence a person’s life, especially marriage prospects. This planet can delay a marriage uncertainly and generally bring about a lot of difficulties. Chovva forms part of the nine planetary deities or Navagrahas, which holds their own distinct position in a lot of temples in Kerala. They are worshipped diligently and appeased through poojas and mantras, to ward off negative influences leading to troublesome situations.

It was by chance, during a conversation with a friend that I got to know about the Veluthaattu Vadakkan Chovva Bhagavathy Temple. Situated in a small town called Kedamangalam at North Paravur in Ernakulam District of Kerala, this ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess or Bhagavathi, has been in existence since more than eight centuries! The powerful Chovva Bhagavathi takes in manifold forms here and is worshipped as Goddess Saraswathy, Parvathy, Durga, Lakshmi, as well as the fierce Bhadrakali.

There is a very interesting legend behind this temple which dates back to more than 800 years. The illustrious family of Veluthaattu Mana were renowned spiritual healers of the land, who followed strict and rigorous traditional rituals meticulously. The then Veluthattu Namboothiri had a pious and faithful assistant by name of Kummipilly Nair, who accompanied him everywhere and was well versed in all the rituals and traditions followed by Brahmins.

At that time, it so happened that a young girl in that land got severely possessed. Things took a terrible turn with her getting extremely violent and viciously attacking any healer who approached her with the intent of curing her. Ultimately, her family approached the Veluthaattu Mana Namboothiri with the problem. The wise Namboothiri, in turn, sent Kummippilly Nair to get rid of the possession and cure the girl. Kummippilly Nair identified the powerful spirit to be that of the Chovva Bhagavathi, which supposedly had two conflicting natures; one of which was extremely benevolent and peaceful, and the other that was fearful, destructive and troublesome. He got rid of the destructive part and carried the benevolent spirit with him back to Veluthaattu Mana, where it was accorded a place of prominence with the other gods and goddesses, to be worshipped regularly.

Over time, a period of intense internal strife forced the Veluthaattu Mana family to flee the land and establish their base at Tirur in Malappuram. The Namboothiri handed over the Mana along with all its Divine spirits and possessions to Kummippilly Nair. Subsequently, Chovva Bhagavathy became the ‘Upasana Moorthy’ of the family. Her benevolence and divinity very soon spread across the land, and people started thronging the temple to seek her divine grace.

What’s happened to my Democratic India?

2015-10-08T17:00:00.001+05:30

I am a Hindu. I follow Hinduism because I was born into a family which has been practicing Hinduism since generations. I don’t think I had any say in the matter. I grew up with a whole lot of friends at school and college… and I never ever thought of them as Christian or Muslim friends. They were all just plain ‘friends’. Our names or surnames hardly made any difference. Neither did we classify teachers as Hindus or Muslims or Christians. They were either good or bad, stern or lenient, friendly or tough. I have good neighbors and colleagues at workplace, and the only time where I selfishly make sure that I remind them of their religion, is during festival times when I ensure my share of delicious Biryani or Christmas cake.

I love watching movies. But the religion of the actor hardly matters to me. It never bothers me that Salman Rushdie, Ruskin Bond, Agatha Christie, or Charles Dickens were not Hindus. Do any of us ascertain the religion of our plumber, electrician, or carpenter when there is an urgent work at home? Or that of the doctor when faced with pain? I know of Hindus who have married Muslims and Christians and are living happily in love. So why do we allow this monstrous attitude of regression to creep in stealthily and destroy our unity at a time when we are well into the 68^th year of Independence and surging ahead with development in all sectors? We have a lot of things to be proud of, and this current intolerant attitude is certainly not doing us any good either nationally or internationally.

Like a vast majority of Indians, I do not subscribe to any of the ‘bans’ that are forced down our throat...whether it be the beef ban or porn ban or the more recent issue concerning garba dance in Gujarat. Infact, these days, I cringe inwardly when I read ‘jokes’ on the beef ban that is so widely circulated through social media. It’s no longer a laughing matter ever since the slaughter of Mohammed Akhlaq. Love for the bovine population cannot be justified in any manner to develop hatred towards mankind. And for those supporters of this heinous act, who call themselves as messiahs of Hinduism, let me remind you that the majority of us Hindus are living our lives peacefully without any prejudice whatsoever based on religion, caste, or language. So why don’t you direct your energy towards more productive factors like banning dumping of garbage in public places, banning destruction of natural water bodies, banning deforestation, banning rape, banning the dowry system, banning hartals, banning corrupt politicians, and a whole lot of other social evils?

I may be a Hindu, but I consider myself an Indian foremost. My faith, my principles, my eating habits, my attire, my personal or social attributes are my own and does not depend on the unwritten dictum of any extremist group or school of thought. We are the largest democracy in the whole world and I am proud of that. Currently, what we, as a society are facing, is an infringement into our basic constitutional rights, triggered by a few unholy mindsets who are out to bully us and jeopardize the social harmony in India for political gains. Let us stand together and weed off this cankerous mindset from our midst. We certainly owe it to the coming generations…

A Memorable Trip to Kanyakumari

2015-09-19T15:08:00.000+05:30

“Kanyakumari of all places!!! Can’t you think of a better place?” Sheesh!! It’s so dirty. And moreover, the food is terrible. There is a risk of food poisoning…”

These were reactions that I had to encounter from various quarters when I announced my intention to journey down to the Southernmost tip of India. But I was adamant. Kanyakumari it was, and very soon, I boarded the Kanyakumari Express, the train which would take me to my dream destination.

The Kanyakumari Express which I boarded from Palakkad, in the wee hours of the morning.

The Kanyakumari railway station is quite small . It’s amazing how the lengthy expense of the railway track that majestically started from the northernmost part of our country, ends meekly at one end of the platform of this small station. Excitedly, I placed my first step on this spiritual land blessed by Swami Vivekananda.

A magnificent view of the pier, and the historical monuments

The view from the 4^th floor of my room was fabulous! It was my very first sighting of the majestic

Thiruvalluvar statue and the Vivekananda rock that I had only seen in pictures before. All I could do was silently drink in the beauty of the scene before me and thank God for having made me visit this place.

The beach was close by, and I decided to embark on a late evening stroll. Kanyakumari, being a tourist spot, is basically filled with tourists from various parts of the country. There is a steady crowd, even well into the night. I passed a couple of Punjabi Dhaabas on the way, and mentally made a note to try out their delicacies the next day.

The Busy Car Street in Kanyakumari

The Beach in Kanyakumari filled with tourists

A makeshift shop in the beach

A vendor with shells

The main beach was as expected, crowded. Vendors were busy selling their wares, consisting of a lot of curios and jewellery made out of shells. Small eateries were also many, with most of them selling fried snacks, peanuts, tender coconut, etc.I couldn’t resist the sight of steamed peanuts mixed with finely chopped raw mangoes, onions, green chillies and coriander leaves, sprinkled with a dash of chilly powder. I must say that it tasted even better than I thought. I could see a white horse galloping across the sand with a few kids mounted on it. An old man approached me with an array of bead necklaces in his arms, and I brought a white one for my little niece.


The Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Night

Sitting down on the sandy concrete steps that led to the waters, I could see the lighted up Vivekananda rock as well as the huge statue of Thiruvalluvar, not far off. In my heart, I saluted the thousands of laborers who would have painstakingly carried out the construction of these majestic monuments. I really looked forward to visiting these places the next morning.

Sunrise at Kanyakumari

I woke up well before 6 Am and rushed to the terrace of the hotel from where I could witness the amazing sunrise. A small crowd had already assembled there with the same purpose. I could hear the Holy Mass from the nearby church as well as the chants of the priests from the Kumari Amman temple too. After a short wait, the Sun slowly made its appearance from among the clouds that threatened to engulf it. I must say, it was an awesome experience! A blissful sensation of peace and awe filled up my mind as i silently drank in the amazing beauty of the surroundings for a long time. Mother Nature certainly has a way of healing our minds!

After a yummy breakfast of hot and fresh Aalu Parathas, curd, fried green chilies and pickle from a nearby Punjabi dhaba, I set out enthusiastically to spend the day exploring Kanyakumari. My first stop was the 3000 year old Kumari Amman temple, situated on one end of a busy street, adjoining the sea. Small shops selling various curios, clothes and accessories lined either side of the congested street.

The Kumari Amman Temple is situated at the far end of this street

Vendors with their wares to attract tourists

A variety of conches and shells on display

At the entrance of the temple, several 'priests' approached me with the 'offer' of a quick and easy darshan of the Goddess for a fee. I declined their offer and after paying obeiscence to the divine Goddess, proceeded to the Thriveni Sangamam, the sacred confluence of the three mighty Seas – The Arabian Sea, The Indian Ocean, and The Bay of Bengal. I could actually make out the three different hues of the waters, which refused to give up their individual identity.

The Thriveni Sangamam where the three seas meet

The Sun was shining bright and hot by the time i proceeded to the next stop in my agenda. Excitedly, I walked all the way towards the ferry that would transport me to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a place that I had been longing to visit since long.

One of the ferries which transports tourists to the Vivekanda Rock

The seats in the ferry filled up in no time, and it revved up its engine to make its way to the Vivekananda Rock... the very place where Swami Vivekananda had swam to from the shore to spend three days contemplating about his country and countrymen.

Inside the Ferry

The hot sun shone mercilessly on the huge rock that jutted out of the sea, upon which was built the magnificent Vivekananda Memorial. The ticket counter was at the lower level and after purchasing the ticket for entry, we had to leave our footwear at the designated counter. I was scared that I was going to have a rough time walking on the hot rock, but to my surprise, there were walkways which were painted white on which we could walk without feeling the heat. Amazing… the way they think of every single detail!

The Ticket counter at the Vivekananda Rock

Walkways Painted White

The majestic Mandapam which housed the statue of Swami Vivekananda, stood tall and proud on top of the rock. I alighted the steps that led to the entrance of the massive pillared hall, which was totally bare, save for the majestic statue of Swami Vivekananda on one end.. Huge windows on either side of the hall, ensured the passage of the sea breeze which made the hall very cool and appealing. I stood looking at the statue in utter awe, thinking about this great man who played a huge role in awakening the Indian masses, especially the youth, from their slumber of ignorance.

The Mandapam which houses a statue of Swami Vivekananda

The Statue of Swami Vivekananda inside the Mandapam

Adjoining this hall, on a lower level, was the meditation room, a peaceful, dark hall where the chant of 'om' reverberated constantly. Mats were spread out on the floor on which people could sit and meditate silently to their heart's content. I sat there for a long while, enjoying a blissful serenity that overpowered my mind. It was with much reluctance that I forced myself to leave the hall.

The rock on which the Thiruvalluvar statue was constructed, stood tall and proud, adjacent to the Vivekananda Rock. Unfortunately, a low tide prevented the ferry from taking people there, and we had to be contented seeing it from far. This imposing structure is certainly something which one has to see at least once in their lifetime.

The Massive Thiruvalluvar Statue at Kanyakumari

A smaller hall, at the opposite side of the Mandapam, housed a small rock upon which was a natural imprint of a feet. The general belief supposes it to be that of the Goddess. But skeptical that i am, I prefer to see it more of a gimmick. But the enclosed area was filled with coins and currency notes that were offered by staunch devotees. Wonder if Swami Vivekananda would have approved of it!

The smaller hall at the Vivekananda Rock which has a sacred rock upon which there is an imprint of a feet

After spending a couple of fruitful hours on the impressive Vivekananda Rock, I decided to get back to the mainland. It was well past noon, and as I walked through the hot sun towards my room, I passed another impressive structure, The Gandhi Mandapam, on the way. Gandhiji’s ashes were kept here in an urn for public view before being immersed in the Thriveni Sangamam. It seems that on 2^nd October, the sun’s rays falls on the exact spot where the urn was displayed.

Gandhi Mandapam

Later, that evening, I decided to take a leisurely stroll along the beach side. I came across a small park overlooking the beach on which people could sit peacefully. This was a perfect place for me, and I occupied one of the seats and sat watching the waves, my mind totally at rest, happy and contented. I actually wished the day would never end...

A view of the sea, and the watch tower

The next day, I decided to visit the Suchindram Sthanumalayam Temple, which is situated about 13 kms from Kanyakumari. This particular temple is dedicated to the Gods, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. But more than the religious aspect,I thoroughly enjoyed the architecture and rustic surroundings of the temple.

The ornate entrance with statues and carvings

The huge temple pond at Suchindram

A Mandapam adjoining the temple at Suchindram

Suchindram Temple - Typical Tamilnadu architecture


A random scene at Suchindram. The Ambassador car and the general surroundings gave it an old world charm

A colorful poster that caught my eye.

A decorated stone given a touch of divinity. I guess PK would have called it a 'wrong number'.

Another click from Suchindram

I boarded a bus back to Kanyakumari, and after a sumptuous and tasty 'thali' meals, decided to take a small nap for a while. This was my final evening at Kanyakumari, and I still had one more place to visit in my agenda. The Sunrise view point - which was a long strip of land that jutted out kilometers into the sea. I had seen it from the terrace of my hotel and I just had to go there.


The Sunrise view point which jutted out kilometers into the sea.

That evening saw me walk towards my destination, with much gusto. As I went around a church that the locals frequented, I found myself in a beach which was primarily used by fisherfolk. Boats painted with bright colours were docked neatly on one side, while children played around merrily all around. It was another world altogether from the noisy, crowded, busy streets that I had left behind. I guess pictures would speak better than words. So here goes...

The Local church that i passed on my way.


A view of the Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock. Fishing boats are docked on this beach


Brightly painted fishing boats on the beach


Children playing along the beach side. On the left side, is the way to the Sunrise view point

Divine intervention is certainly required for these fisherfolk

A distant view of Our Lady of Ransom Church.

The ruins of a fishing boat which had seen better days

The start of a long walk to my destination that was well into the sea

The end of nowhere... A long walk through huge boulders had brought me to this amazing spot which was truly awesome. I could have sat there for hours, hearing the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, and feeling the gentle coolness of the sea breeze.

The view of the Kanyakumari mainland from the sunset view point

As I was sitting on one of the huge boulders, enjoying the sunset sky, the lights of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial were suddenly switched on. I must say, the sight was truly spectacular!

My holiday had ended and I had to come back to reality. But I knew that this was a trip which would always remain dear to me due to the unforgettable memories it had etched on my mind forever. Although sad to pack up my bags, I knew for certain that this was only a beginning. Another place and another time awaits me, the lure of which I cannot resist.

The Kanyakumari- Mumbai Express that would take me back home

Another Journey begins... This time, I am heading back home with mind richer with experiences and filled with gratitude and contentment for the wonderful time spent in a absolutely awesome place!
Adieu, Kanyakumari, till we meet again!

Nightmare Nights!

2015-09-10T13:49:00.001+05:30

I have been stabbed multiple times with a sharp knife by an unknown assailant, I have hopelessly lost my way in strange and lonely places without any idea of where I was or how to return home, I have missed a step and have fallen into deep bottomless chasms, I have been trapped inside burning buildings without any route to escape, I have driven speeding cars whose brakes had given away, and I have had to face intruders who had broken into my house in the dead of the night, all alone…

I experienced all this at different periods of my life, but the one common incident that followed it was that I used to wake up in cold sweat in the middle of the night, sometimes sobbing, and terrified to death and feeling scared even of my own breath. My heart beat rapidly causing all logic to fly out of the open window into the dark night. I thought I might have let out a blood curdling scream, but on second thoughts, I guess, it was just a whimper of an incoherent sound that barely managed to get past my dry throat.

The first few seconds upon waking up from a nightmare is really tough. Frightened out of my wits, I am strongly convinced that there is a dangerous monster of an intruder in my room, lurking behind the dark curtains or hiding below my cot, ready to pounce on me any minute. While a tiny part of my mind keeps nudging me to flick on the light switch and to have a drink of water, my limbs refuse to move, as though stuck by the ‘Petrificus Totalus’ curse straight from Harry Potter’s world. All I am able do at such times, is to hug my sweat drenched pillow tightly and huddle under the blanket with tightly shut eyes, till my runaway logic returns sheepishly, saying ‘all is well’…

Nightmares can certainly be horrifying!

Cycling across Continents - Hernani Cardoso, A man with a mission

2015-09-05T23:26:00.001+05:30

Hernani Cardoso

"An adventurous life does not necessarily mean climbing mountains, swimming with sharks, or jumping off cliffs. It means risking yourself by leaving a little piece of you behind in all those you meet along the way." -Shawna Grapentin

Wonder if this is what Hernani Cardoso had in mind when he decided to embark on a solo bicycle ride from Portugal to China, and back.

I do not know Hernani Cardoso personally. It was a friend of mine who told me the story of this retired Portuguese soldier who was on a very different mission – that of returning a stolen bicycle to its owner. It could have been just another news except for the fact that the bicycle was stolen and subsequently retrieved from Portugal, while its owner, Eric Feng, lived in China.

In this era where anything can be shipped to just about any place easily and within a short span of time, this 54 year old adventurer chose to cycle all the way from Portugal to China to return the property to its owner. But apart from that, he also had an additional agenda… that of visiting all the countries that are connected historically with his homeland, and to meet fellow countrymen who have settled in other places in the world. That has made the journey rather long and filled with deviations, but looks like this amazing veteran is in no big hurry, and prefers to travel at his own pace, enjoying every single moment that life is unfolding before him.

I have come across people bitten by the travel bug, doing solo drives and bike rides spanning countries and continents. But for a man to pedal halfway across the globe alone, braving all the hardships involved in such a journey, is no mean feat, and I salute his enthusiastic spirit and sense of adventure that has urged him to undertake this trip.

I firmly believe in the fact that it is the journey that matters and not the destination. Like most passionate travelers who embark on specific journeys, perhaps Cardoso too would have had this wild, innate desire to breathe in the air of distant lands, to live among strangers, to feel the thrill of being on the road, and to understand the world through a better perspective than what Google has to offer…

Good bye, Dr Kalam

2015-07-28T00:11:00.000+05:30

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is no more. His demise is certainly going to be a great loss to the entire nation, especially the millions of youth who looked up to him for inspiration. He has passed away, leaving behind a huge void… an empty space which is hard to fill.

I feel a deep sense of loss when realization hits that his smiling face and bright eyes will no longer be part of our world. But more than that, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to this great man who not just dreamt of a developed India, but also instilled that dream into a great many young hearts.

Thank you, Dr. Kalam for having ignited the minds of millions of youth through your inspirational speeches to dream big and achieve the impossible. We live in an age where people, especially the younger generation gets easily disillusioned over failures of any sort, often giving up their dreams and resigning themselves to fate. But I am truly grateful to you for the fact that you tirelessly strove to ignite these young minds with a steady and powerful antidote of hope, stressing the necessity of dreaming big in life. Thank you for constantly stressing on the fact that we need to dream… dream with our eyes open.

Thank you, Dr. Kalam, for helping us to understand that failure and success are very much part of life; but facing difficulties in life bravely is a sure shot definition to success. This is something that we all forget sometime or the other, when we face adversities in life. I am so grateful to you for having instilled the courage to single mindedly pursue our goals so as to succeed in our mission.

Thank you, Dr Kalam for the constant motivation you gave our young minds, to think and act differently, to have the courage to tread the various paths that are left unexplored, to have a focused goal in life and to conquer whatever problems that come their way so that ultimately they succeed in their mission. India needs more such people like you, who can really reach down to these young hearts and convince them that they have all that it takes to succeed, within them.

Thank you, Dr Kalam for proving to the world that humility is a very endearing quality. What matters most in life is the necessity to have integrity, values, and principles in life which need to be adhered to. I am truly grateful for the strong example that you have set through your own life… the tireless journey filled with vision and passion, from Rameshwaram to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan and beyond…

Thank you, Dr. Kalam for having given us the courage to dream big, to achieve whatever we set our minds on to, to commit ourselves to serving our nation with dedication, to be exemplary visionaries, leaders, teachers, parents, guides, and mentors, and most of all, to have faith in ourselves.

You will undoubtedly be missed, but your words will forever remain etched in our hearts.

Goodbye, Dr Kalam. We love you very much.

Memories of another day - A village called Manjalur

2015-06-05T13:29:00.000+05:30

There is something magical about happy, childhood memories. It remains etched in our hearts, and as one grows older, these memories grow stronger, evoking a special attachment for the people and places that were an integral part of our bygone days.

One such place which holds a special place in my heart is my ancestral village, Manjalur, a quaint and sleepy hamlet in Palakkad. A lot of my happy memories are built around this place and that certainly could be the reason for the special bond that I share with a lot of my cousins and other relatives who were an integral part of my childhood days at Manjalur.

Although our family house no longer exists, the strong bonding with my maternal homeland continues, and we try make a few trips in a year with the main intention of visiting the few temples that has been an integral part of our lives, as well stopping over to see a couple of relatives who live there. Most of the traditional houses of the yesteryears have now been pulled down, or have given way to modern homes with concrete roofs. I guess we all need to keep pace with changing times.

Last week my sister and I along with our children, visited Manjalur. The early morning drive itself was certainly worth it and we were rewarded with the awesome sight of lush greenery and a fresh earthy fragrance that was the result of the previous night’s rainfall. The sense of peace and tranquility that I get over here is amazing. I guess our roots certainly matter…

Our first stop was the Cherathura Bhagavathy temple or the Cherorakkavu as we call it. The deity of this temple, Cheroramuthi, is a powerful goddess who protects all the inhabitants of this land. Yearly festivals are held in Her honour and we make it a point to visit this temple whenever possible. It is not just the temple or the deity which attracts; it is also the bountiful scenic surroundings that contribute a lot to the remarkable peace that I find over here. The serenity that is to be found in the vicinity of this temple is seldom experienced anywhere else. For me, it is like a homecoming…

The Cherathura Bhagavathy Temple, Manjallur

The lush, green, surroundings of the temple.

This is the Mananchira… the pride of Manjalur. A lot of my happy memories are connected with this huge pond. Our house was situated adjacent to this pond and this was where I spent a lot of fun times with cousins. I learnt to swim in the Mananchira under the watchful eyes of my mother and aunts. As children, an elderly uncle of ours would entertain us with stories of how he bravely captured a huge crocodile from the pond, which used to terrify people. My young mind had believed every word of it… Some memories are forever imprinted in our minds and the sight of a long water snake gliding smoothly over its calm waters during a hot afternoon is something I still remember.

The Magnificent Mananchira , Manjalur

This is the Ayyappankaavu… the temple dedicated to Lord Aiyyappa. Situated on the banks of the Mananchira, this temple holds a special place in my heart. The lamp that was lit in the temple could be seen from our house and as children, it was mandatory that we visit the temple every single day. During dusk, the lighted stone lamps would reflect in the waters of the Mananchira… a sight which was very beautiful and soothing. I also used to enjoy listening to the ‘Aiyyappan pattu’ or bhajans sung in praise of Lord Aiyyappa, in the temple.


The Aiyyapa Temple, Manjalur

This is the small Ganapathy temple that is situated under the huge Banyan tree, adjacent to the Aiyyapankavu. The visit to the Aiyyappa temple is incomplete without praying before Lord Ganapathy and lighting camphor and incense sticks here.

The Ganapathy Temple near the Aiyyappankavu, Manjalur

Childhood memories are indeed precious. As a child, the adult world was very fascinating for me and i just couldn't wait to grow up. But how i wish i could relive those carefree days of childhood, where the biggest issue i faced would probably have been not being allowed to go out and play with friends as i hadn't finished my homework...

I guess life goes on.. we grow up...meet various people... stray off to far off lands... perhaps never to return again. But no matter what, some special childhood memories can never ever fade. They become an integral part of our lives, bringing about a refreshing sweetness now and then. I only pray that i am able to pass on this legacy to my children.

I am so grateful for the life and times that I spent in this lovely land called Manjalur.

I Salute You, Arun...

2015-05-07T13:18:00.000+05:30

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”

This is what comes to my mind when I think of Arun, the 16 year old, with a diehard optimism in life that will put most of us to shame. He could have been any other teenage boy with a head bursting with ideas and a heart filled with dreams, but for the fact that he suffers from blood cancer.

I first came to know of him through my friend, Bindu, who runs Aroh, a Coimbatore based charitable trust which works towards the welfare of children afflicted with cancer. Arun, is a brilliant boy with an unbeatable zest for life. Adverse financial and family circumstances or his life threatening disease never ever succeeded in defeating the enthusiasm of this youngster as he struggled with his illness, education, and a part time job which ensured money to help out his aged grandmother and sister with whom he lives. I will not mention the long list of misfortunes that gripped him since his birth, because here is a child who never let any of it bother him. All I say is that many of us may not have survived such ordeals in life.

Aroh funded his treatment and education, and its dedicated volunteers very often played mentor to this enthusiastic boy. I was fortunate enough to have been a facilitator to a small part of his educational requirements, through some of my Facebook friends who donated funds to this cause, and I always praythat he recover from his illness and lives a normal life.

It was touching to see Bindu write about Arun yesterday, in the Facebook page of Aroh. Here is what she had to say:

“We have seen a lot of children in the past two years and we have lost quite a few also. Everyone is special and everyone has touched us but some more than others.

Arun has been special from the beginning..highly intelligent, smart, witty and extremely affectionate. Volunteers make sure that they read the newspaper before they go visit him because he invariably talks about current affairs. It always brings a smile to us to see him surrounded by pretty nursing students. He entertains us by telling stories about his girlfriends, imaginary and real.

He complains if we don't hug him or hold his hands. At 16, he is writing his autobiography! Life has given him enough to fill a book. When his Blood Cancer came back, he never complained or asked "why me". But he asked us about how it is going to end, how much time he has left. He talked to the Doctor also. And he chose to write his Std IX exam over chemo. His condition has worsened since then and he is back in the hospital today.

So we were there in the morning and he could hardly speak. Voice has become very feeble and he is in considerable pain. Then he asks me to bend my head and he says when it's all over, he wants to donate his organs! He says he will fill up the forms, turn his Patti around to agree, but I should promise him that when it happens, Patti, in her grief, shouldn't forget!

I am speechless........”

I am also speechless, Bindu... and in tears. We have a lot to learn from this young boy. All I can do is to pray that Arun survives this illness and comes out of it to lead a life of his dreams…

God bless you, son!!!

Sleepless Nights and Random Thoughts

2015-04-16T10:49:00.001+05:30

It is way past midnight. The whole world around me is silent. All is calm and quiet and here I am, standing beside the window of my room, looking out into the darkness ahead. Sleep seems to have eluded me tonight.

Lights are out. The neighborhood is asleep. And there is absolute silence all around me. I can see the silhouette of the huge mango tree, its leaves casting eerie shadows in the adjoining wall. I can see my neighbor’s house devoid of any light, standing aloof in the darkness. I can breathe in the cool, still air as I stand looking out of the window. The night seems to be wholly mine, and I am aware of a deep sense of solitude as I stand there in my room, looking out into the all-enveloping darkness…

A lone speck of silvery dot in the sky catches my attention… a tiny star, all alone, twinkling away merrily without a care in the world. I have always found pleasure in watching stars, and for a long time I gaze at it, as various thoughts keep entering my mind… some happy, some sad. Gradually, in tune with my breath, I am aware of a deep stillness within me and ultimately I realize that it is just me and that far away star at this specific point in time. I keep staring at its steady flicker for a very long time, and slowly, I am filled with a deep level of peace and contentment… a feeling that I am complete. Being alone can also be about enjoying loneliness.

Some childhood mythological stories are permanently etched in my mind and the lone, twinkling star brought to me vivid memories about Prince Dhruva who meditated upon Lord Vishnu after he and his mother were ignored and cast aside by his father at the insistence of his stepmother, Suruchi. My sensitive childhood heart had profusely grieved for prince Dhruva while reading the particular story in Amar Chitra Katha. It just seemed so unfair for a small boy to be treated so by his father. But Lord Vishnu heard his prayers, granted him a boon and he was made a star after his death… the pole star or the Dhruva Nakshathram. That was when I used to think if I too would become a star after my death. But then, as a child, death was too terrible and scary a thing to think of…

The night sky has rewarded me for giving it company this night, by revealing a flock of white, migratory birds flying in their typical formation. What a beautiful sight! Never knew birds migrated in the darkness. Wish I too could fly freely like them.. to wherever my desires beckoned.

There could be something absolutely magical about a lonely, sleepless night. I am reminded of the countless Enid Blyton books I read as a child. Books filled with fantasies, fairies, magical elves and pixies who danced and partied in gardens, sitting on tiny toadstools, invisible to older human eyes. Growing up has certainly taken a whole lot of magic from my life. But I am glad that tonight I got a chance to relive a bit of those wonderful moments to realize the mysticism of a lovely, alluring night.

My eyelids are growing heavy and with a deep sense of happiness and gratitude, I bid goodbye to the little star which is still twinkling away in the lone night sky. I know my dreams are going to be happy tonight.

The Green Eyed Monster!!!

2015-03-24T22:34:00.000+05:30

It creeps unawares from deep down someplace within you, rapidly moving up to give you a sharp stab right in the middle of your heart. You can actually feel its ascend… the way it slithers fast, like a hissing, poisonous snake, whose forked tongue keeps pricking your mind, filling it with an intense darkness where you can only see a totally magnified version of whatever is bothering you. Your vision narrows down along with your mind and you are bombarded with a multitude of petty thoughts that keeps nagging you at every step.

Like a bloodthirsty vampire, it sucks the happiness

out of your heart, replacing it with unnecessary, illogical doubts which only intensifies the darkest of the dark emotions that envelop your mind. One after the other, needless thoughts of an evil and suspicious nature starts sneaking into your overactive mind which has been clouded with the shroud of dark delusions, causing it to fill with a great deal of anger and misery born out of insecurity.

Beware of the green eyed monster. It is more fatal than a virus that attacks your whole system and more dangerous than the deadliest of all weapons that are intended to kill. What it does is to attack from within, filling up your mind with the most irrational of thoughts combined with a blind fury that often leads to a deluge of tears. All this happens within a fraction of a second, leading often, to disastrous consequences, depending on the shade of green that you have become. I doubt if any human being in this world has ever bypassed this emotion.

Welcome to the world of pure jealousy!

Love is in the Air

2015-02-13T23:15:00.000+05:30

Its that time of the year again, when the whole world is red in color, and love seems to be in the air… well, literally.

Hey! Wait a minute. When I say, ‘Love is in the air’, I am not talking about the air being sprinkled with magical ‘love dust’ that is responsible for an overdose of endorphins and dopamines to ecstatic couples in love. This is certainly not about the impish Cupid or our very own Kamadeva who goes haywire with flower decked arrows, totally sabotaging the lives of unsuspecting Homo sapiens either. Neither am I referring to the clandestine meetings between loving hearts who seem oblivious to the rest of the world, or the lovelorn singles who take advantage of the various cellular network signals and Smarphones to catch up with their beloved(s) in other parts of the world…

My statement is specifically targeted towards the ‘hearts’ that are seen strewed all over the place in this season of Love. Come February, and various types of ‘hearts’ hits the market. Hanging hearts, giant hearts, little hearts, diamond hearts, platinum hearts, golden hearts, velvet hearts, glittering hearts, hearts held by fluffy teddy bears, heart shaped boxes filled with yummy, melt in the mouth heart shaped chocolates, hearts printed onto perfume bottles, pen sets, make-up kits, books, greeting cards, handkerchiefs and what not... all very obviously, red in colour.

There is just no escaping these hearts… They glare at you from display windows of bookstores, garment shops, stationary shops, shops selling electronic goods, sports shops, lifestyle shops, florists, bakeries, supermarkets, and even the local grocery outlet for that matter. Yesterday, when I went to the small shop across the street where I normally buy my vegetables and provisions, I actually bumped my head onto a bunch of cheap, red, velvet heart shaped cushion-like stuff, that was seen hanging from hooks fixed on to the cobwebbed ceiling! Love certainly has come a long, dusty way…

Speaking of Valentine’s day, I cant help sympathize with the woes of a young male friend of mine who is struggling with ‘economics’ when it came to maintaining his love life. As per this Romeo, the birthday of his mother and brother, as well as his sister’s wedding anniversary, all fell on the second month of the year, with decent gifts required to be brought for all the three occasions. The recent trend of ‘gifting’ for Valentine’s day only added to his financial burden.

After breaking his head over how to tackle the situation, he promptly landed with an idea. He brought one of those inexpensive heart shaped paper boxes of the smallest size, that literally fit into his pocket. After artistically gift wrapping the box, he placed it onto the waiting hands of his expectant girlfriend, who possibly assumed that the pretty box would contain something of value… perhaps a diamond ring or gold pendant… The only thing that saved his life was the gift of the gab that he was sufficiently endowed with. Looking deeply into her eyes, he said soulfully, “This is my empty heart. Please fill it up your everlasting love”. Well.. this happened during last year’s Valentine’s day. I hope he has come up with a better lifesaver of an excuse this time or else, he is into serious trouble…

Anyways, the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. And sometimes, the best things in life are not things at all… but the people who make you feel loved and cared for. So cheers to all those who are in love… with their partners, parents, friends, siblings, children, pets, books, life.. Whatever…

Happy Valentine’s day!!!

Good bye, Mr. R.K.Laxman...

2015-01-27T00:18:00.001+05:30

A legend passes away… leaving a veritable treasure trove of immortal cartoons which has been representing the expectations, desires, dilemmas, and perhaps even shortcomings of the hapless Indian man since decades. And the best part of it was that he was greatly successful in bringing smiles to people’s daily lives without being spiteful, malicious, or offensive in any way. That, I guess, is the true mark of a genius cartoonist. The sad demise of ‘The Common Man’ will certainly leave an inconsolable void in the minds of his followers.

Reminded of my early college days, when inspired by his caricatures, I aspired to become a cartoonist. Disregarding my mother’s raised eyebrows, I enrolled in an correspondence course in cartooning from an Bombay based institution called ICS, after paying a princely sum of Rs.800. The first lot of study materials arrived by post to my excitement, and it called for hours of practice drawing lines and curves. I had to submit weekly assignments, and generally do a lot of hard work observing my surroundings, drawing objects and figures, and a whole lot of stuff that I found hard to stay focused on. Gradually, as my interest waned, my assignment submissions too started being erratic, and ultimately, stopped altogether.

That was when I realized that being a cartoonist didn't require much of study material or classroom tactics or Rs.800. All that was necessary was a humorous mindset, the ability to visualize and to capture imagination in paper, and most importantly, an inborn talent that I guess, I severely lacked. By the way, my mother still doesn't let me forget the fact that I wasted her 800 Rupees, especially when I start talking about any new venture which I plan to take up…

I choose to pay my tribute to this immortal legend by posting a few of his cartoons that invariably reflect his delightful wit and satirical humor in every possible way. These had appeared in the Times of India, and feel so very relevant to our times...

RIP, R.K.Laxman. We will miss you.

PK Hai Kya?

2015-01-06T16:07:00.000+05:30

Watched the Rajkumar Hirani – Aamir Khan movie, PK.

I used to wonder how a movie which has been given the green by the censor board can get so very controversial. Now I understand why a particular sect of our intellectual society considers it mortally dangerous enough to call for a total ban. I totally sympathize with these legal guardians of spirituality. PK, the movie, should be banned.

For one, PK deals with a major issue of our times… the institutionalization of religion. We have self-proclaimed God men, some of whom are highly successful in managing multi crore business enterprises in a very organized manner. They are not restricted to any particular religion or sect, and their success depends on how effectively they are able to touch the emotional quotient of the gullible common man, who are often neck deep in turmoil and look up to them for instant solutions to their problems. PK attacks such spiritual managers with a healthy dose of sarcastic humor. Just think about it.. if someone threatens to ruin your business, wouldn’t you get on the defensive? Wouldn’t you go to any lengths to protect it? So why blame those conditioned souls who are only ensuring their means of survival? Nope. No way. PK should be banned.

Sometimes truth gets very uncomfortable. The fact that the picture of Mahatma Gandhi has value only on a particular type of paper (currency note), is something which hits you right on the face. Again, PK deals with the necessity of having a relationship with God based on love, and not fear. But I guess, if that be the case, most of God’s so called ‘managers’ would run out of business because all they do is capitalize on the fear of the gullible common man who spend fortunes trying to appease God. Well.. it’s a fact, but who is Rajkumar Hirani or Aamir Khan to rub it on us? The larger population of our great country manages problems effectively by pretending they don’t exist. If this is hypocrisy, so be it, but PK should be banned.

We are the population of a great country that upholds cultural values and ethos. Morality plays a big part in shaping our life and lifestyles. Anything that threatens the foundation of this frail culture is a big no. In a country where it is pretty much easy to rape, eve tease, molest, pinch bottoms, grope, and generally get away even with murder, any act that is suggestive of expressing love or physical intimacy between a man and a woman is not acceptable. How on earth do we permit a lip to lip kiss between the protagonists of the movie? (Let us ignore the fact that we belong to an ancient civilization that among others, has witnessed the birth of great Hindu men like Vatsyayana and Jayadeva who had penned amazing treatises). It is bad enough that PK features love (love jihad?) between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman, but nothing could get more sacrilegious than the fact that the man happens to be a Pakistani. A Pakistani!!! God! PK should be banned without doubt.

Hey! Those of you who haven’t watched the movie yet, and are not convinced that PK disrespects Hinduism and everything connected with it, that PK ridicules our culture and tradition, that PK is a blot to our social views and a threat to our innate logical mindsets, why don’t you go watch the movie? After that, let us all stand up and call for a ban against anything remotely sensible in society. Let us all get together to curb the creative freedom of people, let us encourage our children to discriminate one another on the basis of caste, and more importantly, let us proudly admit the fact that we have enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

Inevitable New Year Resolutions

2014-12-31T18:11:00.001+05:30

My resolutions for 2015 are to accomplish the resolutions of 2014 which I should have done in 2013 because I promised them in 2012 and planned them in 2011….

Well… the years could certainly go backwards as I count the umpteen new years that passed me by, where I had diligently prepared exhaustive lists of do’s and don’ts, should do’s and could do’s that filled crisp, white pages of diaries that I invariably managed to misplace. Just the other day, as I was cleaning out my book shelf, out came a blue hard bound diary with gilt edged pages, of 2010, that was stashed away with some of my ‘should-read-again’ favorite books. I opened it excitedly and guess what! There was this list of my resolution for the year 2010 listed out on the first page itself, in my best handwriting. It went something like this…

1. Lose weight
2. Enroll in the gym
3. Start yoga
4. Snack on salads and fruits.
5. Cut out sweets from diet.
6. Go for a walk daily.
7. Tidy up my cupboard often.
8. Get more organized.
9. Spend time gardening.
10. Find a new hobby.

Ha! Looks like some resolutions never change! If I were to create a list today, I am certain that it would contain more or less similar goals with the weight loss goal being foremost among them.

For one, the ‘weighty issue’ that I have had to confront since God knows when, has never been solved till now. My ideal weight is still eons away, very much beyond sight, but hopeful and optimistic that I am, I still ponder diligently over ways and means of losing my stubborn flab. Was it King Solomon who said, “Try, try, try again”?

Every child of this generation knows that diminishing the blubber requires a strong control over the diet. That is exactly when the sensible mind in me listed out the goal of cutting out off sweets from my diet. Each year, the first two weeks of January sees me as a totally controlled person, careful about each morsel that enters my mouth. I stock up my fridge with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and all the good stuff which promises a stomach full of healthy calories. Then comes a Sunday, where someone walks in with a box full of black forest pastries and forces me to take a teeny weeny bite. That’s it. Then it is a long wait till the coming January 1^st, where I restart my no-sweet resolution.

Looking back at the year 2010, I think I really deserved a pat on my back because true to my list of goals created, I remember having enrolled both in a gym and the yoga class. Every single day, for about 6 months, as the clock struck 6 in the morning, I would drive down to the yoga class, sleepy eyed, but filled with enthusiasm, and do bouts of surya namaskars, yoga mudras’, vipareethakaranis’, and a whole lot of other asanas under the watchful eye of the zero-sized instructor who would be comfortably sitting on the pedestal, blurting out instructions. I must say that the only thing that I lost in those six months was an extra hour of sleep that I would have otherwise enjoyed. True to my Gemini blood, I gave it up in about 6 months’ time… The gym was another story altogether, where a bunch of like-figured, not-so-petite ladies soon formed a ‘bum chum’ association and very soon, someone or the other would always be bringing some homemade goodies to eat, just so that we didn’t get too bored on the treadmill or elliptical trainer. In about 3 months time, I was ready to give that up too, and my gain this time was quite a bit of valuable bonds of friendship that is still going strong, along with a few inevitable kilos.

The other things in my list had more or less the same fate and will be a subject for another day. But I must say one thing about myself. Being a diehard optimist and a stubborn one at that, I never give up on creating resolutions.

Today, I am sitting in front of an open brand new diary, listing out my resolution for 2015. Inevitably, the first in the list is a goal to ‘lose weight’.

Thank you, Sunitha

2014-11-13T14:00:00.000+05:30

My first interaction with Sunitha was through the phone, when she called me for a stall space at the exhibition that I organize with a view to empower women and encourage entrepreneurship skills among them. There was this hesitant voice on the other side, very timid, apologetic and unsure, and I could barely make out what she was trying to convey. A member of the Kudumbasree unit in Palakkad, she wanted a space at our event to display and sell her plants.

In between a hectic schedule of running around distributing invites and posters, coordinating with the decorator and printer, answering umpteen calls from participants regarding the event, injecting more enthusiasm into the team, and solving a lot other unscheduled challenges, I actually found this particular call a bit unwelcome, especially since the event was scheduled to be held the followin

g day… barely 18 hours away! For one, all the stalls had already been let out. Space being a severe constraint, I couldn’t accommodate more. Secondly, I had already given away a couple of stalls to Kudumbasree groups to display their wares, at no cost, and I felt that my social responsibility factor towards trying to empower women of the lower income strata had been met with. I politely, but firmly conveyed my inability to accommodate her, and let the matter go.

Little did I know of her persuasive skills! The next day, just before the inauguration of the exhibition, there was this frail, young woman in a maroon saree, who identified herself as Sunitha, pleading for a small space to keep her plants. I didn’t have the heart to refuse her, and somehow managed to provide a space outside the hall, along with the food stalls. I noticed that she had brought in a variety of Gerbera plants along with packets of seeds that she arranged with expertise on the table.

Each time I passed her stall, I noticed the smiling and persuasive manner in which she was interacting with potential customers. Not surprisingly, the load on the table lessened considerably within two days of the event, and I could see the happiness in her eyes as she packed up her remaining plants on the closing day of the sale.

But what surprised me was the fact that before she left, she came up to me with a huge smile and thanking me for providing her a space, she handed me a big bunch of Gerbera plants wrapped in a few sheets of newspaper. My attempts to pay for them were futile, and all I could do was stand watching this thin, fair woman walk away, head held high, happy and contented.

It’s been nearly a month since I met Sunitha. As I stepped out into the courtyard this morning, there was this beautiful Gerbera flower standing all proud and tall, blooming away happily for the whole world to admire.

Wonder why I keep seeing Sunitha’s smiling face in this delicate flower…

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu

2014-09-18T14:00:00.001+05:30

Hope and faith comes into our lives at all times, unawares…

A few months back, I had the opportunity to visit my almamater, along with a few friends. Our main motive was to regain a sense of ‘belonging’ that would arise out of meeting familiar faces of the yesteryears…

We chanced to meet the current principal of the college, a pious nun with a smiling and sociable attitude. Sitting on comfortable chairs in her office, I must say that her extremely positive attitude and unassuming personality really impressed me. While taking leave, she handed us each a string of beads, like a small bracelet, saying “Carry this with you at all times. This will protect you from all problems and challenges in life.”

It was just a simple bracelet comprised of some cheap plastic beads with a small cross, on which there was a picture of Jesus Christ. I may not even have given it a second glance, but the manner in which it was gifted to us made all the difference. The way her eyes sparkled, the way she truly believed in the power of these beads, the genuine blessings which came out of her mind, the smile which radiated in her bright eyes, and the joy she experienced while giving us this ‘protective charm’, made a huge difference.

I do not believe even for an instant that the beads contain any power within itself to safeguard anyone. But power there was… in her positive words and thoughts, in her strong belief, and in her genuine desire of wanting us to stay protected. That is when I realized that genuine thoughts and words are indeed powerful.

I do not carry that charm with me. I don’t find the need to. That now adorns a small globe on my office table, where I see it every morning, and it is a reminder to pass on a silent prayer to protect my family, friends, and all living souls of this world. I pray that they stay safe and sound wherever they are and that they experience a lot of happiness and contentment in their lives…

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu!

Mannarashala Sree Nagaraja Temple...The divine abode of snakes

2014-09-16T09:50:00.000+05:30

I have always found my peace in the midst of nature.

As a small girl, i was extremely fascinated by the various serpent deities which existed in the midst of wild growing trees and shrubs in a corner of the compound of the house in our small village. With a great sense of curiosity and awe, I often used to follow an aunt of mine who religiously lit a lamp in front of these deities during dusk.

The sacred groves of Mannarashala temple

Sacred groves were very much a part of Kerala till not so long ago. Today, it is a fact that modernization and disintegration of the joint family system has spelt the death knell for such sprawling sacred woods filled with wild growing plants and trees that used to house a wide variety of flora and fauna. Out of the handful of such groves which exists today, the Sree Nagaraja Temple at Mannarashala is certainly one of the most well known and well maintained temples in Kerala devoted to serpent worship.

The backwaters of Alappuzha

It had been quite some time since the desire to visit the Mannarashala temple had taken root in my mind. After several unsuccessful attempts, my dream finally materialized and i found myself traveling to Mannarashala by road.. a trip which revealed the magnitude of the beauty of God's own Country! The intermittent rains which lashed heavily at times, only served to accentuate the pleasure of the drive. I am truly blessed to be living in one of the most beautiful parts of the world...

The Mannarashala Sree Nagaraja temple

Huge creepers supported by ropes

I am truly grateful that I could visit this historic temple of Mannarashala which still retains its old world charm and divinity. Although quite a bit of modernization has made its presence felt through improved facilities for the devotees who throng here, a good part of this holy abode of serpents still retain its original beauty thanks to the typical Kerala style architecture, wild growing trees and creepers growing undisturbed in sprawling

acres of land since centuries! Not a root or branch or twig is allowed to be cut and if at all they cross across walk ways, they are given proper support so as to aid them to grow

undisturbed.

The powerful serpent deity, Sree Nagaraja is worshiped in the main temple along with Sree Sarpayakshi Amma. Smaller temples in the vicinity is dedicated to deities like Sree Naga Chamundi and Sree Nagayakshi.

Serpent deities in granite found on the small boundary walls of the sacred woods

tortoises basking away lazily in the pond

The walk through the temple grounds through small pathways, either side of which exists thick, wild growing woods, was certainly fascinating. Small ponds were to be seen at certain places and in one such pond, we could find a lot of tortoises basking away in the sunlight which peeped in after a spate of heavy rain.

The temple pond

The sacred groves where trees and plants grow wild and undisturbed

A temple of a smaller serpent deity within the compound

A tree trunk that has fallen over the walkway, kept on supports

The temple pond surrounded by trees.. another view

A small shop within the temple compound which caters to tourists

The 'Mana' within the temple compound where the Valliya Amma lives.

What predominantly differentiates this temple from others is the presence of a women priestess (called 'Valliya amma')who heads it and who leads the various poojas and rituals in the temple. The eldest daughter in law of the family inherits this revered position.

The legend behind this can be found at the website of the temple.

The 'prasadam' counter

'Navoru pattu' in progress

Devotees throng the the temple to seek the blessings of the Serpent lord

The huge tree within the temple which has been existing there since centuries

The 'vazhipadu' counter outside the temple

The temple pond as seen from outside. It was filled with crores of fishes!

The bower which has acquired its shape through the ages

The Sree Nagaraja temple, Mannarashala

The Nagalinga tree with its fruits shaped like clay balls.

I wish i could have stayed there the whole day, drinking in the raw and rustic beauty of the quaint temple steeped in mythological tales, and its wild natural premises... but return I must, to the lap of civilization, where I need to go through the cycle of Karma that is assigned to me in this lifetime. But it is with renewed vigour and a peace filled mind that I retrace my steps, and my heart reverberates with an unspoken promise that I will be back again some other day... some other time...

Wanderlust strikes again - A Drive to Silent Valley and Kanjirappuzha

2014-09-08T23:02:00.000+05:30

I am reminded of a quote that i read somewhere...

"The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life".

This morning, as i got out of bed, it was this very impulse which dominated my thoughts. I wanted nothing else than to go for a long drive into the lap of nature, drinking in an abundance of greenery. My son, Varun, suggested a drive to Silent Valley, which was about 60 plus km from Palakkad. Packing a quick picnic lunch, we set off enthusiastically for a day of absolute relaxation...

In my opinion, a travelogue is better expressed through pictures,.. so here goes...

The route from Palakkad town to Kalladikode, where we broke journey to pick up Varun's friend, Bimal, was in itself very green and picturesque. Tall and shady trees lined the 'could-have-been-better' roads and majestic mountains stood tall and proud, with silvery waterfalls cascading from among its sloping greens. It was a perfect day by all means and i certainly looked forward to a fulfilling day ahead...

Palakkad Town

Twists and turns through winding, narrow roads brought us very soon to a world of lush greenery filled with trees, shrubs, rocks, waterfalls, creepers, monkeys, butterflies, and a whole lot of beauty. It was as though each hairpin bend elevated us to a greener paradise...

A view from the road towards Silent Valley

A small creek, the water of which flows across the road

A steep cliff which revealed itself suddenly after a hairpin bend

The picturesque road towards Silent Valley

Lush greenery on either side of the winding road

A signboard erected on the side of the road

Silvery streaks of water cascading down a cliff

A small creek flowing in between the lush trees, shrubs, and rocks

waterfalls are always exciting...

We had to end our journey at Mukkali, which has a forest office where one needs to obtain permission to proceed further to Silent Valley national park, a good 25 plus km more upward. Being an off-road journey, one can only go there by means of Jeeps which ply frequently within a stipulated time. It was something we had anticipated and hence there was no disappointment. Instead, we turned back and found a picturesque spot where we wolfed down our sandwich lunch in an absolutely relaxed manner.

Being a bit too early to head back home, or perhaps hungry for more beauty, we decided to drive to Kanjirapuzha reservoir area, which was actually very close to Bimal's house. It was a pucca off road adventure as the car went through bumpy, non-existent roads, but i must say it was certainly worth all the effort, because the journey revealed a lot more of the raw beauty of 'God's own country',

Check out these pics taken on the way to Kanjirapuzha dam area.

The narrow road to Kanjirapuzha dam area. This area abounds in acres of Rubber plantations.

A splendid view of the tall, majestic mountains covered in greenery and touching the clouds.

The steadily flowing stream which finds its way to the huge Kanjirapuzha dam reservoir

A view of the Kanjirapuzha reservoir

Driving further across, we came to a small path which led down to the water.

This is where the path led us to... It was like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

I was left speechless at this awesome scene in front of me... I am grateful that i was able to be part of this beautiful place for some time. The peace and quiet of the whole area, the blue-green mountains surrounding it, and the relaxing calmness of the wide expanse of water, certainly filled my heart to the brim and i felt truly one with nature!

A house of prayer constructed in a place abounding with divinity!

The gravel and sand filled river bed seen through the crystal clear water. I liked the way light reflects on the water and gives it a special glow.

Learning Lessons, the Hard way!

2014-07-31T17:25:00.001+05:30

Pain, I feel, is the greatest teacher in life. There is nothing to beat that fact.

As a kid, the fear of physical punishment got me learning my lessons. As an adult, I realize that that it does take a painful incident in life to actually learn a lesson!

Lessons in life, to me, come in all sorts of forms, shapes, sizes and colors. Every day brings in its own set of lessons. Some are quite easy, while others are really challenging and tough. The tough ones are more or less like the dreaded surprise tests which came as a bolt from the blue during student days, especially when you are the least bit prepared. You never know what hit you until you find yourself painfully flat on the hard, cold, rocky ground, with every inch of your heart and soul badly bruised and broken. If you made the mistake of thinking that this is the most painful part, you are wrong. This is only the prelude to the actual process of learning of the particular chapter life has doled out to you.

The remarkable part of life's umpteen lessons is that they come with a choice… an option of grateful acceptance or being miserable about them. The former option is obviously more sensible, but fallible, puny mortals that we are, we seldom realize it and go with the second one. Anyway, the intensity of the pain gradually diminishes with passage of time which could be anything from a few hours to long years. In the course of this learning process, your mind is made to evaluate your actions which led you to this messy situation in the first place. Believe me, this is the toughest part in learning and you are made to go through a period of internal conflict filled with fault finding, self pity, hatred, anger, low self esteem and a variety of add on emotions that are nowhere near being positive. The duration of this phase again depends on your ability to become aware of your mistakes and rectify it. Fortunately, most of us emerge stronger and better from this process. This signifies the end of the particular chapter and you may be given a fresh lease of life by your spiritual masters…

But the interesting part (I can’t help being amused) is that there are some unlucky souls who keep on repeating the same mistakes and end up in a very sorry state time and again. They never learn a lesson from the first experience and keep on stumbling and falling time and again, going through the same painful learning process over and out. Like those ‘repeaters’ in entrance coaching classes (pardon the comparison), they are made to repeat the process of going through the same session till the subject matter gets ingrained within their thick skulls. And mind you, until and unless they get the lesson right, there is no escape. In case you fear monotony in this learning procedure, let me remind you that the intensity of the pain is never the same. It varies according to your age, attitude, experience, circumstance, and most importantly, the toughness of the lesson itself.

Considering the fact that each of life’s valuable lessons is learnt in this hard, painful manner, I really wonder why they say that ‘learning is a pleasant experience’…

Elusive Questions

2014-06-20T14:05:00.000+05:30

I really don’t know what my friend, Preetha had in mind when she gifted me a note book. Neatly wrapped in a pretty blue wrapper, she had sent it across as a no-occasion gift. But why did she select a note book as a gift? She could have sent across just about anything else… a purse, a perfume or any other thing which gets conventionally passed between friends as gifts. Why a note book?

I know Preetha is a voracious reader. She reads a lot of books authored by empowered international writers, most of whom I haven’t even heard of. Unlike her, I just act intelligent and pretend to be well-read, while all the while I am stuck with the remnants of knowledge assimilated from my bygone days where I had been a passionate reader. Like another likeminded friend had remarked, being a true blue Gemini, I am blessed with the ability to handle any subject under the sun confidently. But coming back to our topic, why was it that a well read Preetha, who enjoys a good book anytime, and who ponders over its various unwritten messages, decide to gift me a note book?

As far as I know, my friend Preetha loves listening to TED talks on Youtube by various acclaimed writers. Infact, she had sent me a couple of links which I found to be truly inspirational, one of which was by an African author who spoke on the racial discrimination issue in a very positive way. I had even shared it on Facebook, a medium which I use extensively to communicate to the world. Speaking of communication, I have noticed another of those Geminian traits which I am rather despising these days. Somehow, there is this inherent urge in me to communicate constantly. My mind thrives on stimulating conversation with people and I really enjoy listening to their various experiences. But life has placed me in a situation where I have learnt to be pally with my own thoughts and utilize my power of imagination to conjure up any situation or possibility to the fullest. But that is another line of thought altogether, while right now I keep wondering as to why exactly did Preetha gift me this beautiful note book?

I have known Preetha since a very long time. But it is only recently that we realized the existence of some common vibes. We may not communicate regularly, but we connect instantly. I feel that is the beauty of any good friendship. She thinks that I am a very positive and cheerful soul who has not allowed myself to be bogged down by any of life’s unexpected twists and turns. To be very frank, I don’t think so. Sometimes, playing a part for a very long time can cause actors to start living the particular role in their real life too. But why on earth am I thinking of all these when the question in my mind is what made Preetha gift me a note book…

Being someone who perfectly understands the power of words, I must confess that I didn’t dare touch the note book for more than a month. The pretty, spiral bound book lay undisturbed in a corner of my shelf. It is only today that I found the courage to open it, feel the immaculately white, ruled pages, and enjoy the heady fragrance emanating from within it, all the time wondering deeply as to why did my friend Preetha decide to gift me a note book.

I would be meeting Preetha very soon. The logical part of my mind is cajoling me to get an answer from her directly. But my heart pleads to remain patient. A simple explanation might cause the magic in the note book to be lost forever. Perhaps one of these days, as I fill in the pages of this note book one by one, I might stumble upon the answer I seek on my own… perhaps I might also get answers to the various other questions that are in my mind too…

The Shrinking World

2014-06-10T14:10:00.000+05:30

“Breaking the shackles, breaking the tangles, finding a brother, a friend in the other;
Finding a home in this wide, wide, world.

Then the miles fly by.. .the walls dissolve… and the creeds recede… In a single human bond!”

Adventure stories have always fascinated me. Having lived a good part of my childhood in boarding schools, my world and its inhabitants mainly consisted of fictional characters from Enid Blyton books, which I used to devour hungrily page by page. Needless to say, l became extremely familiar with the picturesque English landscapes, Scottish castles, quaint little Sussex villages, ham and cheese sandwiches, ginger beer, muffins, and a lot of other things that were described vividly in these books and somehow, like most other children my age, who grew up on a steady diet of books from this wonderful author, I too imagined myself in such exotic locales, sampling the many delicacies which my fertile mind conjured up. I still hold dear, the dream of visiting the United Kingdom, taking a tour of all the places which I have known and imagined from childhood, getting to eat a couple of authentic macaroons, and of course, getting into a few thrilling adventures too…

Speaking of adventures, breaking all the restraints that bind us in life and setting out on a rugged road trip to explore unknown territories to quench the inquisitive mind’s wanderlust is about the greatest exciting activity I could think of. I have neither had the courage nor the circumstance to embark on such a drive till today, and have satisfied myself by reading about the great escapades of passionate travelers and living their lives through my ever fertile imagination. Come to think of it, there must be something different about such people which make them stand apart from conditioned souls like us who are content leading lifestyles equivalent to that of stagnant water in shallow ditches…

A trip from Kerala to the United Kingdom is not extraordinary. People fly on a regular basis to the UK and it is seriously no big deal. But for three Malayalee men to travel from Kochi to London by road, across 27 countries in 75 days, in a Ford Endeavour is not something commonplace. More than financial back up, It takes a great deal of guts, a thirsting spirit for adventure, a passionate desire to explore unseen and unheard of territories, a mind ready to face challenges of every kind, and a heart to leave behind all that is near and dear, which not just involves family and friends, but also includes comforts one is used to, habits, and conveniences of daily life which we take for granted.

I got to know of this incredible journey a few months back through a friend of mine, Baiju N Nair, a seasoned globetrotter, author, and an automobile journalist of repute, who incidentally happens to be one among the three men who are embarking on this fantastic drive. Frankly speaking, the very first emotion that tugged my heart was acute jealousy. I would have given my left arm and right leg for this opportunity. I guess I am not the only person experiencing this sentiment.

Since then, I also got the chance to get acquainted with the second traveler, Suresh Joseph, an ex- railway man, a veteran roadie, and the team leader of this expedition, whose passion for road trips has earned him an enviable position in the Limca book of records. The third adventurer in this trip is none other than the famous Malayalam movie director, Lal Jose, whose burning enthusiasm for this trip, I hear, knows no bounds.

Promoting Kerala tourism, endorsing World Peace, Stressing on Road Safety, etc. has been laid down as their prescribed motto during this historical drive that they plan to complete within 75 days. But the benefits on a larger scale, which I personally feel, that this Record Drive would accomplish, might be the diminishing of geographical boundaries to a great extent and setting the trend for more such adventurous journeys in the near future. Distances get shorter as they are conquered, differences melt away as cultures meet, and ultimately, as three enterprising men push their limits to realize their dreams, it may serve to enhance a deep rooted sense of brotherhood and love among people, which is eventually the greatest need of the hour in this world.

My jealousy has given way to a pleasurable excitement as I take satisfaction in eagerly following their preparations for the journey that is to be flagged off on the 16^th June, 2014 from Kochi. Being blessed naturally with a mind which thrives on imagination, my senses have started working overtime as I eagerly lap up every single input regarding this incredible car journey toLondon. I am the imaginary fourth traveler aboard their vehicle and I plan to experience all the thrills of the expedition through their frequent updates which they plan to record online and which I would be waiting for with bated breath.

Good luck, my dear friends. I wish you a safe and eventful journey!

Bitten by the travel bug... An escapade to Nelliyampathy hills

2014-06-08T20:57:00.000+05:30

"I thank you God for this amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky, and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." - E.E.Cummings

These days I find myself longing to travel more and more, to explore places unseen, and to lose myself in the lap of nature without a care in the world. I want to take a break from my normal, uneventful days and the mundane role that I play in life.

Wise people are of the opinion that we one should never disregard opportunities. And when opportunity came in the form of a simple thought while reading the Sunday newspaper and sipping a hot cup of morning coffee, I didn’t think twice. I grabbed the thought with my entire mind and decided to head straight to Nelliampathy, a quaint little hill station which is barely about 60 Km from Palakkad. Referred to as ‘The poor man’s Ooty’, it certainly sounded like a great escapade for the day. I wasn't wrong.

It is said that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Hence i choose to record my journey through pictures.

It was a bright, sunny day as we started off on our journey to Nelliyampathy hills, which is about 60 km from Palakkad town.

The road to Nemmara, a small town situated on the base of the Nelliyampathy hills. It was as though we entered another world altogether. The roads were bordered on either side by a thick clump of trees that exuded a magical feel. Perhaps the magic was in our minds.... Nature does have that power on man.

The sleepy town of Vallengi, which we passed enroute. Being a Sunday, the roads were less occupied and the only crowd we saw was in front of the beverages corporation. Guess that is only to be expected in God's own country :)

The Pothundy dam reservoir. A 19th century creation of the British era, this dam was built unconventionally with a mixture of jaggery and quick lime, and it still withstands the test of time.

A view of the dam and the valley below. Love the clouds above which seem to be having a life of their own.

Why do i get this feeling that they are used to posing for the umpteen cameras which pass this way? It just seemed like a part of life for them.

Another breathtaking view of the Pothundy reservoir below. Wish i could have stood there, being part of this awesome landscape, till eternity...

Need i say more?

A lovely cottage in the midst of all this greenery in the Poabs estate in Nelliyampathy. I kept thinking as to what life would be for the people who stay here.

The Poabs organic shop selling tea, coffee, cardamom, pepper, ghee, honey, squashes, etc. I did buy some tea and honey. And that's my son, Varun, posing for the camera :)

Just fell head over heels in love with this picture perfect view. This is a place enroute to Seetharkundu, and seemed to be simply out of this world.

Our destination was Seetharkundu a place which offers an amazing view of the valley down below. Tourists throng this spot where one can get a breathtaking view of the valley down below. But personally, i enjoyed the drive to Seetharkundu better. After all, as some wise person has said, 'It is the journey which matters and not the destination.'

Looking forward to more such amazing journeys in this lifetime where i get a chance to become one with nature...

Flight of Freedom

2014-02-20T06:01:00.002+05:30

Like all other trees in the neighborhood, the big mango tree standing proud and erect in front of my house too had started shedding its leaves. The fresh green leaves that had been the epitome of life a few months back, had gradually started acquiring a yellow hue and finally one by one, they started to wither and fall off to the hard earth below, under the contemptuous gaze of the young, green leaves basking in the sunlight.

Well… dead leaves need to be cleared away and just the other day, I had embarked upon the particular task. A few swishes with the broom and suddenly it was as though I stumbled upon pure magic! I had inevitably disturbed a whole cluster of ‘appuppan thadis’ (known as Pappus in English which is nowhere as romantic as its Malayalam name). They were till then securely lying under the protective cover of the dry leaves. Thrilled by the first taste of freedom and spurred by the gentle breeze that was on, these charming winged seeds which resemble the long, white beard of a grandfather, started their individual journey towards unfamiliar places…

As I wistfully stood and watched them soar away to invisibility, somewhere I realized my innate desire to fly free like these winged beauties... to travel to lands unknown, to places unseen, to mountains and lakes and forests and valleys… to be one with nature and to drink in its splendor… to embark on a journey to discover myself…to a place called freedom!

Escape into the wild - A travel narrative through the eyes of an 18-year old

2014-01-12T22:03:00.002+05:30

College life is often referred to as one of the most enjoyable days in our life. This is what i get to hear from most people and i think today, on 10^th January 2014, I exactly got to know why…

Let me introduce you to two of my friends who are going to be the other characters in this narration.. Meet Bimal, one of the most mature and well behaved characters I have ever seen in my 18 years. My other buddy is Jason about whom I am at a loss of words. He is just one of a kind... totally unique.

It all started a week ago when Bimal invited us to his home at Mannarkad for the weekend, since it was the occasion of their yearly church fete. It didn’t take more than a moment for us to voice our assent, much to his surprise. Definitely, it seemed like a welcome deviation from our usual routine on a weekend, which was primarily to stay put on the couch, watching movies.

The wait for Friday seemed endless and finally, the three of us boarded the bus to Palakkad – the pit stop being my home, for refreshments and a change into my Jeans. (ain’t it comfy)! Late in the evening, mom dropped us in the bus stand where we eagerly squeezed into a crowded bus to Mannarkad, to reach our destination an hour later.

To be very frank, upon reaching Bimal’s home, which was a 5 minute walk from the bus stop, we were dumbfounded. It was huge and really very beautiful and fascinating as well. I just fell for the beautiful garden filled with birds. I also got to speak to a parrot… an arrogant one at that because it never bothered to reply to my questions!

We were accorded a warm welcome by his father, mother and sister and very soon, we found ourselves in front of a royal feast prepared specially for us. Bimal’s mother’s yummy tandoori chicken, chicken biriyani and various other delicacies, not to mention the delicious homemade pudding... my mouth waters just thinking of it. I still have a guilty feeling about the manner in which Jason and I shamelessly ate everything they offered us! A late night movie and long past 1 am, we finally made it to bed! It was an early morning start for us the next day and the idea of driving through the area, and seeing the rubber plantation bimal’s family owns sounded fabulous. Without any second thoughts, we set out on a journey into the wild…

The three of us got into a classic Mahendra jeep with Bimal at the wheel. Mannarkad is basically a hilly area, and very soon, we were going uphill and winding roads and felt more like a high range drive. The road actually would have taken us to picturesque Siruvani dam, but since it was a little too far, we opted to visit the outskirts of the Kanjirapuzha dam about 7 to 8 kilometers away.

Nothing prepared me for the awesome sight ahead! Bimal took us to the catchment area behind the reservoir which was a really beautiful, undisturbed habitat. Totally wonderstruck by the incredible treasure trove that Mother Nature offered us, both Jason and I lavishly feasted on it. The beautiful mountains.., the majestic lake, the tall and imposing thickly growing trees with the sunlight filtering through the leaves producing what is known as the ‘Tyndal effect’, the carpet of dried leaves on the rocky ground, the birds and their melodious birdcalls…it was a sight worth dying for and we made the most of it, clicking away like mad and having a whale of a time!

As we explored further, Jason managed to convince me to climb down the steep, dense incline that would take us to the water. I was like ‘there isn’t any path! How am I going to climb up.. And more importantly, will I be able to climb back? I was actually a bit scared and frankly wished I were more athletic and a little braver. One only knows in such situations as to how brave they are. Nevertheless, I took the leap of faith to a world unknown to me. Believe me, it felt as though we were in a forest. For the first time I understood the reason why it was important to go on adventures in groups. We were holding hands at certain places, pulling each other up, and supporting one another. After all, what are friends for!

After a steep downhill we got to the reservoir’s water area. It was truly unbelievable. I understood what peace is. It was so very quiet that you could literally hear your own hearbeat! We didn’t attempt getting in the water since both Jason and Bimal didn’t know swimming but it was wholesome fun the whole time and we had an awesome time. I truly understood the meaning of ‘feeling one with nature’.

Reluctantly, we left the place sometime later and Bimal took us to their rubber plantation which was situated in a place called Payapullu, about a few kilometers from Palakkayam. The sight of hundreds of trees planted in a hill looked breathtaking and lots of questions popped up in my mind… stupid ones, silly ones, perhaps, but then I realized that there is a lot more in life which I have to experience and see.

We never knew how time flew... The three of us had to leave the serene environment where we had landed and had to head back to civilization because we could smell something burning... our stomachs! Moreover we knew that our delicious breakfast of aapam and egg curry was waiting for us. ;). Moreover, I had to head back to my home since a few other friends of mine were waiting for me at Palakkad. It was perhaps that thought which motivated us to climb up the hill to reach our Jeep that was parked somewhere far away… I think we reached Bimal’s home faster than we expected. Or perhaps it was the sadness in our hearts at having had to leave this paradise that we discovered, so soon…

In about an hour, after a sumptuous breakfast, we bid Bimal and his family goodbye. Although I felt sad at leaving the serenity of the place, I was happy that I was taking with me innumerable memories and a few pictures, to share with my friends and family, and with these thoughts, we boarded a bus back to Palakkad.

I guess it’s only memories that last forever. I was thinking about it in the bus journey back home. I realize that any journey is a destination in itself. Each one may be different and all the plans we make before, and all the pre determined decisions are all pointless. Is it we who take the trip or is it trip that takes us…? I don’t know.

Anyway, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I think I have taken my first step and I certainly look forward to more adventurous trips that will bring me closer to nature… in touch with myself.

One of those experiences...

2014-01-09T20:36:00.000+05:30

My decade and a half old, dog eared, falling apart booklet of a driving license needed an urgent lease of life that would transform it into a swanky laminated card and well… the beginning of the year seemed just perfect to implement that much put off task! Predictably, I was besieged by advices from all quarters. Someone suggested approaching a local driving school to get the job done painlessly. Another friend swore by online services which could save me a whole lot of time, which I thought was an excellent idea. But once I logged on to the Motor Vehicles Department website I was stopped at the payment gateway which recognized only SBI or SBT cards, both of which I didn’t possess. There ended my online sojourn.

Finally, I decided to go personally to the RTO office and apply for the same directly. RTO offices in Kerala are generally places which are flooded by bored-to-death driving school agents, prospective student drivers with scared faces and timid voices, irritated and articulate vehicle owners who have been waiting to get their documents authorized, important looking men who have nothing better to do than check available fancy numbers of vehicles, and a lot of other people like me who are unsure of whom to approach for getting information. As luck would have it, I foun

d myself in front of the Motor Vehicle Inspector himself, who to me at that time was nothing short of God incarnate!

You know what… he actually asked me to take a seat (unbelievable courtesy in a Govt. office unless you know the officer personally), helped me in making out an application, wrote a note in red ink on the corner of the application directing the person at the counter to give it a ‘fast track’ status, and directed me to the payment counter outside his office in an extremely pleasant manner. Well…with my head held high and with all the rightful attitude of a proud Indian citizen, I walked to the counter and handed out my papers cheerfully to the clerk. There ends the good part of my story.

One nonchalant glance at my papers, (The eyes were focused on the computer in front of her) and she scornfully says that there is no ‘fast track’ facility for this. Being assured of a preferential treatment due to my application being endorsed by her superior, I am a little taken aback and I wonder if she has seen the instructions written in ‘red’. I gingerly mention that I have been directed by the Inspector himself and she emotionlessly asks me to come the next day since payment won’t be accepted after 1:30 PM. (The time was 3:45 pm). Fair enough.

The next day, very determined, I walk into the RTO office with my application onto which my old driving license along with a photo and a copy of my ration card is stapled and goes to the same

counter where another lady clerk is sitting. Yesterday’s lady was nowhere in sight and after waiting for my turn which was easily about 20 minutes later, I have to satisfy her blank stare by explaining matters once again. This time, the lady explains that they don’t accept cash payments and that payment need to be made via Akshaya e-kendra and the payment receipt needs to be attached along with t
he application. So now where can I find an Akshaya e-kendra ? And why on earth didn’t someone mention the fact yesterday???

The Akshaya e-kendra which was about a kilometer away is manned by two ladies, who are beleaguered by questions from impatient people waiting for their turn. But I must say that inspite of the hectic work schedule the lady who attended to me was extremely helpful and when she learnt that I required an address change in the new license as well, she opined that I need apply only for the same by paying a fee of Rs. 250 instead of the Rs.550 that was prescribed for a duplicate license. It made sense to me and I obtained the receipt. I got back hurriedly to stand behind a long queue and when my turn came, I triumphantly handed over the documents to the lady behind the counter. She scans through it again and tells me that I have to pay Rs. 550 and not the reduced amount. She is not ready to listen to my logic and dismisses me with a vacant expression. So I am back to the helpful lady of the Akshaya e-kendra who has learnt something new through my experience. So have I.

The next day finds me again at the RTO’s office, predictably facing another clerk, this time a physically challenged middle aged man with a pleasant smile. When my turn comes, he glances through the papers and finds out that the copy of my ration card which is attached to the application requires an attestation and directs me to the employment office nearby. I have no other option as I rush to the savior who is going to decorate the copy of my ration card with his green signature. A wait of 15 minutes outside the director’s office (he is on the phone) and I am informed curtly that he is too busy to attest in the mornings. If I want, I could come in the afternoon. But nonetheless,

the obliging person directs me to the agricultural office on the first floor where he claimed sarcastically that there were about 4 to 5 practically jobless officers who could help me out. I thank him for his guidance and not bothering with the agricultural office, I take my chance with the nearby economic and statistical department whose accommodating director helped me out without any qualms. (Bless him)!

Thankfully the RTO clerk had no other ways to torment me and the rest of the procedure was speedy. I don’t know why, but surprisingly instead of feeling angry and irritated at the time consuming process where in I had to forego my three days of productivity, I am left with a greater feeling that I have achieved something great on my own!!!