Striking a chord!!

The last coupla months....there have been 3 sessions...that have inspired me big time....

1. Goonj Founder: Anshu Gupta's talk[Covered it in Goonjified]

2. Manoj: A wild-life photographer's talk n presentation of his work[Inspired me to get all adventurous n increased my wanting to travel n see new places]

3.Army Chief's talk on his involvement in the War[Am covering it in this post]

Something told me that it would be a session worth attending n wat was also not surprising was that the audience comprised of ppal I knew....not all that well...but knowing them....n knowing the context of the session...I knew they wud be there:)

After my audience survey...the session unfolded with our speaker giving us a talk on project management....using his experiences from the Army....

Prelude:

*I must admit that I get very senti when I watch war movies or read abt war heroes in magazines or the newspapers....

**Geography n Social Studies in School was my favourite subject...

So, when our speaker....will call him Sir henceforth....started with a slide with the map of India...showing the Valley.........It was like I connected with what was happening in the session instantly...

When he showed us pictures of the terrain...I kept remembering my treks....that were nowhere compared to the mountains...n abt how awfully frightful I was of even attempting the climb....come to think of it...they did all that rock-climbing n trekking in the night.....as the enemy was perched atop the hill....n daylight would lead them to be discovered by the enemy...

The temperatures were as high as 35 C in the daytime and as low as -5 C at night.....

Apparaently my knowledge of watever happens in a war is heavily influenced by namma Hindi Movies...n of admiring Hrithik Roshan do all that amazing rock climbing n charging on the enemy acts...

The infiltrators perched atop the Indian territory were no easy target.....I am told it took several combats with army teams leading from various directions....cutting across the enemy or getting hit....

Our chief spoke about unlikely heroes....a night blinded carpenter...who offered to carry ammunition..n when he was chided that he wud be more of a burden than a help...he replied telling that....dont worry abt me....Just dump d ammunition on me....n I will hold on to the coat of the person walking in front...n drop ammunition near the hill top....Our chief tells us that the spirit of this carpenter got the others motivated to get along...with many of them echoing that "Agar ye kar saktha hai...tho main kyo nahin"

He spoke abt the brave fights n sacrifices given by a batallion leader...who had to lead the attack from the top...doing a task that he described as "Somebody has to do it..".....He lost his life having made the 1st assault on the enemy!!

He spoke abt the doctor n his assistant who carried nearly 25kgs of medicines to set up a camp near the battle zone....n when he was asked y he didnt ask for assistance to carry the medicines...the doc told him that "All of u were carrying stuff urselves.....we didnt want to trouble u with our luggage...n quickly added that "Agar koyi mere paas zinda pachunchtha hai.....U will not go away dead...I have all of the world's best medicine out here:)"

He spoke of leaders who despite their leg injuries asked for pain-killers despite being advised rest to lead from the front....

He says he lives today to tell their untold story....All we did as a mute audience was to give him and his team a standing ovation....

3 years ago!

This piece is a small narrative of my experience at d old B'lore airport on my 1st and till date last flight alone.....

I finally made it...I had very few hopes though....on Friday at the Airport....where I had a horrible time trying to figure out what was happening and y it was happening to me:(...........

K here goes my narrative of Black Friday.......

The day in itself was a hugely confusing one.........it was only after I carried a 22 kg suitcase from my house to the bus stop...all thanks to an extremely sweet neighbour who offered me a bike ride:)...... when it struck me that i would be travelling.........Thanks to Shila and Prets..........my packing was done..........Guess what my suitcase had.......3 kgs of Pomogranate, 4 kgs of Rice, Soaps, Teabags, 4 kgs of Nedhra Banana, Jelebis, Henna Powder, Rice Powder, etc..etc..It was like I was ferrying the taste of India...

Troubled Sharath who very kindly offered to take me to a place close to office...as the prev day......I could not get Nedra Bananas .....n.....Rahitha, another pal...went hunting for Jelabis and Shils was as usual getting her BP Soaring to newer heights thanks to me:):)

DJ actually accompanied me to the Airport........He was carrying my luggage all
along..........and used to tell me Cma...Come to my right, if there were vehicles coming from the left......while crossing the road.....d good fella that he is:)

I reach the airport pretty early ...at around 8:10...and my flight was at 12.......so they did not let me in till around 9:15......so for around an hour...I stood there getting mosquito bitten:(:(:(

Once v were in........at the check-in counter.....the boarding pass issue karne wallah guy tells me that ur tickets have been cancelled yesterday......V do not have ur complete records here......please come back at 10:30 .......will put u in Waiting List........


Indian Airlines had this stooopid thing like u have to actually call the Airlines, 3 days before ur flight telling them that u want them to confirm ur tickets or else they get cancelled........Now Cma has already done the needful on the 10th itself.........and yet they were denying me tickets:((:

Also, when u r travelling alone.......and have a 22kg suitcase in a Trolley............when ur phone has not been recharged,......and ur told that the nearest phone booth is a Floor Away, accessible only via a staircase............U dont know where and how to leave ur luggage...

There was this really sweet family.....who heard me talk to one of the Airport Guys regarding my luggage....who offered to keep a watch on my luggage....while I made the phone-call.....and yes........with growing worries of whether they wud hide guns or drugs[Hindi Movie Gunaah effects] in my luggage......and have me jailed.............

Turned out that they didnt:)

After calling Bro.........who had no clue y this was happening......and who asked me to speak to the Manager........I did just that..........

The Manager apparently had a different story to tell.....He claimed that the Ticket No on my Ticket and the one in their system did not tally...........something which he himself cud not offer an explanation for.......But like namma TT of Railways .....he assured me ......Madam I will
get u on that plane............ come at 11...........thats when I realised that they did have a waiting list system in place there also...

I remember sitting in that tiny place behind the check-in counter with the manager and his staff giving me contradictory views on y I cudnt check in yet....if one was complaining abt that silly calling up part....which BTW I had already done...d other was wondering y numbers on my ticket didnt tally anywhere on their system....which kept me wondering if I had actually purchased a valid ticket...

This time, people in and around me in the Q also seemed to show a lot of emphathy......I kept explaining my situation and asking them for solutions....n not one of them told me things like u will have to go back home....strange as it sounds...they were very encouraging n reassuring....

Now people...Plane's leaving at 12.........And these people want me to do all that last min running to catch flights that they show in movies....that I am already famous for in Life:)

Just when I was wondering wat I wud do if they told me ....madam...no ticket.....no seat....I was damn sure that I wud empty my suitcase of anything edible....n wait till 6 in the morning n catch a taxi back home....

At 11:20.......D manager came to me with my boarding pass..........one of my happiest moments....n when I was finally on that plane, I felt so victorious.....wat with my fellow passengers expressing joy that I did make it finally....n giving me the thumbs up sign:)....all thanks to 5 people who had cancelled their flight............I keep wondering wat if I had to go back home had those 5 people turned up....

Story Time!!

A car stops by an old age home....n u have this inmate packing her stuff unwillingly......when quizzed by her fellow inmates...as to y she wasnt happy abt her son ...who had come to take her home to the US....She tells them that...."Hello...what makes u think...he's taking me to the US...to look after me....He is taking me to the US to look after his kids..when he n his wife go to work....n to look after the house.....simply coz its difficult to find a trustworthy maidservant.....also.....they dont want to travel all the way to India for my funeral...when I die....To avoid the costs...they would rather have me live n die with them "

An old man in an old age home is excited beyond words....He has just heard from the doctor that his sons r gonna take him home.....

The old man weaves a dream as he sleeps beside his packed bag....wherein his children are all too glad to have him back with them...n happy good times spent with his grandchildren...

Cut to reality....n when his sons do come to take their father back home...he does not sense any excitement in them.....

After landing home, he is offered food...n then asked to sign papers to hand over the property to his sons....n when he asks them..."But...where will I go?...Will u take me with u?"...he is met with replies like..." U wont like it at our place...Its far too hot...Both of us work....How will u manage alone at home..."

Finally....he is offered a ride back to the old age home....

Wat u read are 2 stories that were aired on Asianet[Mal Channel] yesterday....n s I didnt get to actually watch it...But gotto hear every minute detail of the episode....

Oldies

Now I have this crazy n strange habit of calling ppal even slightly older...Oldies...Senior Netizens.....etc.....Half the time..it is to boost their morale....in walking faster...or in reminding them that its not too late to still do stuff young n bubbly....But they never understand the true reasoning:)

After hanging out with ppal younger....strangely I dont feel any old....But Im sure they might wonder y Im still like this:)

But ultimately age doesnt matter!

Shillong...So Long!!

Imagine growing up in a hill-station in the North-East.....that has untampered beauty....with temperatures close to -3 degree Celsius....n facing constant earthquakes....n having to carry raincoats all through the year...simply coz it rains all throughout...with the monsoons being extremely heavy...

Happened to meet a pal who has done all the above..n believe me....when she told me that if you ever get a chance to go there please do....I will help you make the arrangements....I was jumping already:)

Im told that there's a 4-hour flight to Guwahati from B'lore n Shillong is 3 hours away by road from Guwahati.....yup...an uphill ride:)

Anybody listening:)

Heeeeeeeeeee

Wat am I so "heeeeeeee" abt?...BTW...the above piece of art is my creation:)

As strange as it sounds.....I think this year is gonna be the 1st year since coll[Now Coll was a long time ago]....that Im gonna be spending "Onam" at home.....

Mallus as such have very few festivals....I think the sole reason being that.... that part of the universe has its own individuality n they retain it even if they r on the moon:)

S...I have been Mallucized[Word coined today in conjunction with Vids...is meant to mean criticized as in Mal] often....largely for the accent part...n thats when I remember a cute sms forward I once received...goes on something like this...

"What did the Mallus tell the British when they finally left India?

...

...

...

U screwed our motherland for ages.....V will screw ur mothertongue forever"

Forwards apart....strangely these days..I dont receive any email forwards..n sometimes I wonder if ppal think I have outgrown it or something....Gone are the good old forwarding days.....

These days in office...my day is made if there is a chain mail of sorts running across pals.....My chief entertainment source....

Getting back to festivals.....I have had like umpteen no. of ppal ask me...if v have the Ganesha Chathruthi or Varamahalakshmi or many of the other festivals that my homeland..ya...ya...Karnataka.....boasts of.....making me feel like a BBCM....n thats ur very own...B'lore Born Confused Mallu....

I cant remember the no. of times....I have mixed up languages.....I add Mal in Kannada.....Mal in Tamil.....n luckily havent yet added it in Hindi n English....

Onam .....is 1 festival...that I've always looked forward to....simply coz the only other festival is close to six months away.....

Onam....brings back childhood memories....of we guys doing the pookalam[floral designs] with uncles....n pals...

My uncle...a wonderful artist...used to actually make floral designs of the Kathakali art form n our entire mornings used to have us outside the house making the bestest possiblest patterns...n then run off to our fellow neighbour's houses to see if they had done any better!!!!

I must admit that we were hardly disappointed...hehehhe...

Collecting flowers for the pookalam was always a wonderful ritual....our non-Mallu neighbours used to help us out with flowers from their own garden....telling us that ...oh...looks like u need a lil more of white....or red in the pattern....

N living in V.Pura...is almost like living in Kerala.....v r surrounded by Mallus..in all corners...

Onam feasts have elasheri, aviyal,sambhar,olan,yeasthu[my favourite dish cooked in coconut milk...also called stew to mere mortals...but in our part of Kerala....v call it yeasthu], kalan, papadam, pulliinji,vadagapulli,payasam...n the list is almost endless:)

Onam is abt feasts n abt family get-togethers n abt coming together for an occasion types...

I was asked today as to y I was wearing a Kerala Style sari ...n I told my friend...that its Uthradam.....1st Onam....she asked me y we celebrate Onam....I told her ...hey..the same reason as to y u celebrate Diwali.....n happily started off with the Mahabali n the Vamana story ...as to how Mahabali was pushed to Pathal...n how he happens to come to meet his subjects....To which she quickly added telling me that...v dont celebrate Diwali for the same reason...In the North...v celebrate Diwali to commemorate Ram's return from Vanvas n Lanka.....

After going through agonies of not having basic mythological knowledge......I turned to another friend...who happened to be from the South...who started off a demon killing n the Vamana- Bali connection....solving my agony issues instantly:)

Living it up!!!

Have u ever met ppal.....u truly adore...n simply cant get enuf of......or ppal...who despite trying times.....or their own disablities.....live life king size....

I did....in the past 1 week.....n that has gotten me even more determined to atleast try n be a lil less cribby:)

Goonjified

Vids got us to meet Anshu, Founder of Goonj, a NGO which works towards the collection and distribution of clothes....primarily in remote n rural India....


A 1 hour session was organized in office...n Im still thanking my stars that I made it a point to attend the session...


Anshu started Goonj in Delhi nearly 10 years ago. He was working as a journalist and once when he was in search of a story...he came across a cycle rickshaw...which had the words"Delhi Police ke liye laash utane wallah" printed behind....


After a chat with the rickshaw-driver..he gotto know that he worked for the Delhi Police...to dispose the many dead homeless and famililess destitutes who died on the streets uncared for...


Anshu was told that business was excellent during winter simply coz the number of people dying from the cold... due to lack of warm clothing was extremely high!!


The laash utane walla's job involved picking up the dead from places identified for him by the police....dressing up the dead and waiting for the crematoriums to open...


His 5 year old daughter told Anshu that whenever she feels cold at night...she hugs the dead bodies tight and sleeps ...as they keep her warm...n wudnt turn or complain or hurt her...


Anshu took the example of the earthquakes in Kashmir and reminded us that yes...ppal do require warm clothing in times of disaster....and also during winters before n after the disasters...just to prevent any further deaths!!


He tells us that we wait for disasters to happen..to donate clothes...


He asked us if you cud believe that ppal actually turn bonded labourers to buy clothes. My immediate response was a NO.


But then he told us another story to prove his point....


Picture this...a remote village in MP...where ppal get employed for 10 days a month...getting paid Rs.6 per day...their monthly income being Rs.60/- which will have to cover food, shelter and clothing requirements for families with a minimum of 6-7 people. The only time they ever invest in clothes...is when it is festival time....n the local merchants there...have an offer where in for Rs.250/-...they get clothes for all the family members ...n everytime they went in for this luxury called "clothes" ..it meant that they had to work as bonded labourers for a minimum period of 3 years till they repaid...


The next incident almost got me to faint....this was regarding the cloth requirements that women in rural India have during their periods...We were told that having no other choice...the women often reused ...shared ...or sometimes...during the monsoons...used wet ones....simply coz they cudnt afford anything better....leading to several infections....


How does Goonj make the difference...

Goonj believes in the 3 D's in life: Dignity, Discard and Disaster..
Goonj has made its presence felt in most parts of the country...but they dont just distribute clothes freely...they ensure that people getting them earn them...


Goonj gets the local villagers dig a well or build bamboo bridges or build schools or get the villagers to do works for the common good of the villages. The wells help them sort their water problems....the bridges reduced the number of accidents small school going children faced...n the schools ....well...v r told were the only buildings that survived even the earthquakes....


He told us that when their team visited the flooded Bihar areas...or the Sunderbans after Aiyla....the situation is the same....ppal in need of food, clothing n shelter.....food and shelter is somehow accounted for ..but the clothing part gets missed out!!


He told us that very often the clothes we donate are the ones that we have had enough of....but when we give them away...do we take care...of small little things....like the absence of buttons....or imagine a person sitting in a remote village...who gets to wear a chudidhar set for the very 1st time in her life...getting the pyjamas without nadas....n wondering what to do with them....Goonj is filling the gaps at present by having their volunteers do the required tailoring...n the sorting of clothes as per gender...n region...

To know more about Goonj: http://www.goonj.info/collection.php
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/video/newsvideo.php?autono=413112&part=1&con=prev

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/video/newsvideo.php?autono=413112&part=2&con=next
http://business.outlookindia.com/newolb/article.aspx?261417

Or you can read an interesting posting at http://alternativeperspective.blogspot.com/2008/01/making-difference-not-just-piece-of.html

Parked!!!!!

Atlast....it happened....n m glad it did...

Thanks to Moses....we got to accompany the inmates of Missionaries Of Charity from Yelahanka n MS Palya....for a visit to Cubbon Park...

It was simply soooper.....we had loadsa fun...we danced .....I ran:)....we sang....we served food..n were served....we got to see so many happy faces of the inmates....who were having a break from their daily routines....amazed to see open mouthed fishes....in the aquarium...n were having a lovely time....telling us...meenuuu...meeenuuu...looking at all the bright colored fish...small fish...big fish...

After ensuring that we keep our "Green" senses alive....v did feel like responsible citizens:)

Cubbon Park is actually a beautiful place...I remember how much we used to hate it as kids....coz it offered us no chance to visit any other place whenever relatives came visting...that is...no matter who came...or from where...d moment they land in B'lore...they had to see 2 places...Cubbon Park..Lalbagh .....n v had to revisit these places soo often..that we were quite fed up of the mere mention of their names....

But after visiting this place yesterday....I did feel great....it was the 1st time v took the train ride....something that the inmates enjoyed... just standing n watching them have a day out...playing jarabandi or at the swings...fills u with so much joy....

The sisters who came...were very sweet...n I remember one of them telling us....that just leave them free...I want to know what each one of them will do....how much they mingle with the others...how they have fun...what they like doing the best....

I didnt know that they had a chotta birds zoo there.....but the inmate I was with...was soo happy seeing the ducks....there....that she kept smiling at them all throughout....

All the inmates were dressed in their best suits....some in saris...some in chudidhars....n when we were perched atop a small rock....a sister who joined us a lil later...told us...that I cant really believe they are my patients from a home for the destitutes....they look like a bunch of happy ppal....

The volunteers were all in full josh....doing everything they could to ensure everybody had a good time...n kept the energy levels high ...

Some of the inmates....taught us a traditional Odissi folk dance form....which Pravs...says she will copy in anything that she choreographs next....now u know where she gets her steps from!!!

Wayanadeesss)

I've been to Wayanad before...with my colleagues in office...n I remember it being a place which had lots to offer....the place is extremely beautiful....n a lot of tribals r still supposed to inhabit the place....

Our trip preparations were as usual in full swing.....but a lot of our close pals..could not join us this time around....

We were to visit the Coffee Research Centre in Wayanad, a place known to Prav's mother. Now this place is located in Kalpetta...which is a small town in Wayanad....

V started our journey from B'lore at around 11pm and after stopping mid-way in Coffee Day...at midnight.....where the hungry souls were fed n Aztec(A new hot Coffee Drink) relished n cherished.....v made our way to Wayanad...singing....

I did manage to catch some sleep...I must admit...something which I usually dont while travelling....despite the fact that Shila who was beside me....was talking non-stop...but I did retaliate by talking in my sleep:)

After reaching the guest house at the Coffee Research Centre n after hearing a lot of Coonie...Poonie...being blurted about.....am sure the others know what I mean....v ventured out on our tour of the Centre...which had us all posy ...with the exception of Pravs n me....she was interested in the nature...n I in spoiling the others potas:)....Different matter that the others actually gave wonderful poses...n have ended up with awesome pics....hmmm..Im actually feeling a lil left out here:)

Right outside the Centre, we were surrounded by hills and tea estates. After a lovely walk through them, we made our way to Pookutu lake....

After lunch, we headed to Bana Sagara Dam, and all throughout...we were wondering as to where the actual dam was....Ok...there was this lovely road which leads u to a point...where u take a speedboat....but otherwise....we scared our fellow Wayanadees...by our dance poses, Pravs' Kal Ho Na Ho..poses n loads more....

After returning to the Centre, we ventured out to explore the place better....the place was a great break ....the perfect getaway...where u get to breathe fresh air...there is no pollution....makes u feel very close to nature....n u begin to appreciate the beauty...the tranquility....n the serenity of the place...n ur mind is at ease almost easily......as everything seems pure...n untouched.....even the cold water there:)...hehehe...

Now my mother had only 1 wishlist for me....she wanted me to get her an entire kola of nendhrepazham(An entire branch of Kerala bananas) simply coz Wayanad was famous for them...

So, we spent a major part of the next day morning...shopping for stuff...including the infamous Kattar Vazha soap...Aloe Vera soap ...that is...

The journey back...was huge fun....where v played 20 ?....n s....after stopping at Marigold n Sunflower fields....we walked into Jai Mata Ji restaurant in Mysore.....

We were told that the food there was awesome...d lassi...greatest....but only after going there ...did we realize that wat we were going to experience....we had never experienced before...

All of us were hungry...is an understatement....especially when u r sitting after ordering aloo...gobi....parathas....malai koftha..lassi...etc..etc....

The waiters there...cared nothing for our hunger....or for the fact that even after waiting there...hoping that food will come now..will come soon....nothing came....

This despite the fact that each of us even took turns asking them y it was taking this long...finally v did the right thing...

Shw....went to the place...where the Chef was working...n actually asked him to show us the stuff v had ordered....after he went around lying that he has prepared half the stuff...n will get us the remaining...v finally discovered that the Chef had done nothing....n left the place after having lassis....

I mean ....there were times when I thought...instead of sitting there n waiting for the food...all of us could atleast do the vegetable chopping to help the Chef prepare our order:)

The greatest part of d trip...I wanted to save it to the end....

Being with the gang of pppal....v went with...

V missed CJ...no doubt abt it....

But Shw...n Sharanya....were so full of life.....n wait till u hear them talk abt their favourite person...n it will have u having a sooooper doooper time:)

Harshitha....is a very bubbly gal....she called me her sis...n I was melting away to glory....a very sweet thing she is....lots of enthu....n cheer....she adds to life...

Pravs mother.....Im sorry u had to tolerate my Ale...ale..ale....aleyo:)...but Aunty took extremely good care of us...I wonder what was running in her mind...everytime v gave insane poses...or did crazy stuff....:)

Shila.....was our bank....our trip co-ordinator...n some1 who wanted the rest of us to keep her entertained all through the trip...High Hopes..Shila:)

Pravs...Loved the part where u taught us Salsa....me will seriously consider taking it up sometime atleast in life....sooooper dance form it is:)

Though we didnt actually cover a whole lot of places.....just being with the gang....made it a memorable tripppu:)

PS:

My mother claims that we left Wayanad after sprinkling some potion for rain....coz while the weather was pleasant when we were there...

Right after we left....it has been raining like crazy...n ppal travelling there...have been stranded there...due to landslides...n several other roadblocks:(

Paaassshttt!!!

Its been a really long time since I wrote anything on my blog....but the idea for this posting has been in my mind for a very long time now....

Happened to catch up with a few relatives of mine today...n I was amazed at how ignorant I was of stuff happening in and around me for the past coupla months....

Blame it on sheer laziness or an overdose of assessments or the longing to do a whole lotta other stuff(hehehe...I can almost smell the fumes out of Shila n Pravs:))....

These relatives comprise of an old couple....n a not so old couple....our topics of conversations ranged from adulteration in food..to how the times have changed from what they used to be in the past....to how expensive things r these days.....did u know that 1 kg of sona masooori rice costs close to 40 bucks or about how our children actually grow up exposed to sooo much of pollution....adulteration.....work related ailments......

I was updated on how apples were waxed or as to how the dhania powder u use to cook...could actually have crushed wood...not to forget the grapes or the other vegetables....that are loaded with pesticides...n about the amount of lead and chromium ...in the food that we eat these days...or about the use of chemicals to give the vegetables...a farm fresh look n feel.......n I was wondering....How come I was sooo ignorant of all this or was it just that I accept these things as a part of the FAST life these days...n dont really care anymore!!

Thats when my relatives told me that way back in the 60s and the 70s....things were so much better..they were always used to eating stuff...that was fresh...healthy....n naturally pure....with hardly any traces of adulteration....

When I listen to them speak....I must confess that my mind always starts off with a Black n White Movie scene....where in I am imagining them young..I must admit...I always imagine the ladies to be these beautiful elegant ppal.... do all the things that they would start talking about:)

N somehow all my scenes have cycles in the background... n all the ladies wearing kajal with those pointed leads:).... n ofcourse all of them in sarees.... n the roads deserted...rivers everywhere....very few human beings around...at any given point of time:)

They spoke about the times when a decent house in B'lore used to cost 30 bucks a month....tomato ..10paise per kg .... rice ..90 paise per kg....

They spoke of times when they used to travel long distances....as cars were a luxury ...buses rare....ferries...common....ya..ya...this story has its background in Kerala atleast for now.....

I love listening to stories that my parents narrate from their childhood.....stories of how they used to live together with all their cousins n aunts n uncles together in one single house ...truly living up to the joint family system....the wonderful times spent ....playing with cousins....the kind of bonding that they shared ......or the kind of upbringing that they had...d funtimes spent in scaling mango trees or jackfruit trees...till date....my sis n me...chide my mother to her everlasting love for these fruits...or about the amount of joy ...she takes in ripping a jackfruit apart...n making wonderful "ada"...which is a jackfruit+jaggery+rice powder n ofcourse COCONUT dish....or jackfruit jam...or jackfruit chips......

I am told when my mother was 18 months old.....being an adventurous kid that she was...had ventured into the kitchen all by herself...n had gulped the hot n spicy fish curry kept in the kitchen...n when the elders went looking for her...found her ..teary eyed...n still licking the dish:)...n till date...they tease my mother about this incident......n r shell-shocked to hear that my mother gave up on fish....nearly 15 years ago!!

Or about the times...my mother ...in yet another adventure....once went venturing onto the terrace all by herself ...when she was hardly one...n had to be rushed down....by watchful neighbours.....I was wondering.....when I was asked ..the name of my tenants by a relative....all I mouthed back was that ....I dont know!!....All this after they have been staying @ my place for over a year now....

My mother narrates stories of how they used to always bathe in the rivers...or how learning to swim....was a matter of survival.....Today that river is sooo polluted that no1 dares go anywhere close to it!!

She tells us that they used to walk close to around 25-30 kms in a day to reach the closest school...or about how they had to manage errands at home....n schoolwork ....all through their teenage years.....

To think that...in those days...there was no TV...no mobile....no mixie...no grinder...I can go on...n on...But life was simple.....Time was aplenty.....n relationships....strong.....

I am told...u just walk into anybody's kitchen...n grab what you want to eat....n for that matter...everybody in the village knew the other way too well!!

When I walk with my grandmother down the streets of Kerala..a ten minutes walk to the temple ...actually takes about half an hour....coz by the time...my grandmother is done enquiring about the welfare of everybody who crosses our path or after they are done quizzing my grandmother..if I was Vijaya's(my mother's name) daughter..n about the striking resemblance v shared....n about what I was doing...n about how my sister was finding Mumbai...there are times when I have wondered that helllloo....they know sooo much about me....n ...I fail to even recognize them.....Imagine doing this...when many a times...their very first question is.."Ariyo"...meaning"Do you know me?"!!!

After my parents moved to B'lore...as my father was offered a transfer from Allahabad to B'lore....n they were delighted ...coz it was closer home(Kerala) than Allahabad was!!

U should hear the way my Amma sums up the expenses they had to bear on a monthly basis....or about the outings they used to take....or about the times she used to spend understanding the language here...n d ways n manners of the ppal here....

Imagine an eighteen year old....who has never stepped out of Kerala.......n finds herself in namma Bengalooru.....taken to watch a Kannada movie.....n still manages to get a foothold of whats happening in the story...ya..ya..the movie was "Ondhu Kanasu"....thanks to the acting calibre n prowess of the leading pair....

She claims to have walked over fields.....which BTW is ur Mathikere area now.....to get my sister to school....n back....

Thats when she bonded with the other kid's mothers.....who used to take care of my sister....when I was born...n when my mother used to be in the hospital....

Y did I write sooo much....about the past....simply coz I made the mistake of comparing it with mine till date:)