Revival

Months and years passed and I finally thought of writing something. Thanks to Meera Nair, my Facebbok acquaintance, for becoming an indirect inspiration for this revival. Her excerpts from a conversation with Angad, a travel writer made me think of the city, Thiruvananthapuram and the way young people live life in this small world.

I had tried writing about the city long time before and at that time it was truly out of a young girl’s mind who found the city the best place to live in. I still believe it is the best place to live in, but have some aspirations to make it ever better.

For the last couple of years I could travel to some other cities of the country and found something very different from Trivandrum. Though, we accept every person who comes to our place, it is very glaring that the cosmopolitan place, Technopark, keeps the diverse people around the IT Park only. Other parts of the city are all the same with the same people and same way of life. In other words, nothing more than roads in the city change. Big shops started coming in, which might have started changing the dressing sense and shopping sense of the people around. Otherwise, we don’t find anything more engaging than dining out and meeting friends.  Again that’s all a family affair. KFC and CCD are new found hang out places for a part of the privileged youth. But what about the rest? Do all of the enjoy the beaches? What I found  makes other cities different is the way the whole city is altogether changing for the needs.

Thiruvananthapuram has always been a heaven for government servants. But the second generation who are more IT employees  find there is something lacking or something left to make it complete. Cultural fests like Soorya, Nishagandhi and IIFK do attract masses in large numbers, but not all.

I remember, there was a discussion in media about building cultural complexes in the city a couple of years back. People gave wide support for the idea and are longing to see one. The renovation of Tagore Theatre for one such complex has become the dream of the city dweller. Probably thus cultural centres or malls will bring a common place for the youth, the kids and the grown-ups a place to spend time and be freer.

V S meets Kunhanandan Nair against CPM’s restrictions

TVM: Communist Party is a tightly closed system where party rules over individuals. CPM is much more conservative than any other parties of the same clan. Recent years have been a threat for V S Achuthanandan as he crossed the restrictions many a times. After being severely criticized by the party during his tenure as the chief minister of Kerala, he  regained his place back by his tremdous performance in the Assembly election campaigns.

It did not take much for him to face issues of discipline as he met the veteran communist ideologist Berlin Kunhanandan Nair during his Kannur visit. CPM had strictly restricted all the members not to visit Berlin Kunhanandan Nair as he was an ideologist expelled from the party. But nothing could stop V S as it was a routine for him to meet the ideologist in every Kannur visits. But he refused to take food from his home as he had restrictions from the party.

Members of the party may have differences in their thoughts, but Berlin Kunhanandan Nair is as communist as V S or Pinarayi Vijayan. Taken account of the discipline and the closed structure of the party, V S could have opted confirming himself to the restrictions. But as an independent individual, he is known for not confirming to any of those restrictions that he thinks is against his individual freedom. The party’s stand may differ, but that should be dealt with in its walls.

And, I got Engaged!

It was a Saturday. I planned to go to office as I didn't want to waste a leave that I could save for my exams later this month. Yes, the event wasn't a big one for me till then. I met the beautician to make me look better for the day. My sister and Brother-in-law reached home Friday itself. So Amma made me take leave and be like a bride atleast for that day. We started our day by visiting the jeweler to get  the ring. The sales executive couldn't believe when I said the engagement is on the next day. That was a real risk to wait till the last day to get the ring. Fortunately there was no harthal no strike and we got it all perfect.

When I saw it, it was just another ring, though I felt it is a big one, but can't help it.Somethings you just have to leave it the traditional way.

The E day came. 10 July 2011, Sunday. We took everything packed in a bag and left for the venue. Hours passed with dressing up and photography. Something was striking in my mind, that an event is going to happen and everything in me will change. My uncle came all of a sudden and lead me to the stage.

Unbelievable! It had already started. Kiran was sitting near the lamb all set to start the show. The rest was a dream.And when I regained my mind it was all over. I saw the ring on my hand and the same on his. Thus I got Engaged!

The Window Seat

My journey to most of the routine places were always by the "Great" KSRTC. It has been more than 9 years and this city service has never let me down except for certain situations. When I joined my PG, I never thought my mode of transportation will have a drastic change. 

Driving has always been one of my passions, though some including my mom says that I am not a GOOD driver. But I never let myself down with these comments. Everytime I get a chance I make sure that my pleading as a driver is kept in from of my mom. There has been times when she said a big NO. But, later it changed that she is now almost confident with me (again exceptions are there)

By the mid of third semester, I started going to college in my car. Thus, the regular hurdles with the transport bus, sort of, came to an end.But I never thought that I will have to say good bye to those journeys. Nowadays I go with my mom in the autorikshaw as she had broken her leg.

Evenings also weren't with this big companion. Someway or other I missed those trips.

As a coincidence, It happened that I traveled to Technopark, which is quite some distance from the city, in a bus. The journey was unusually through the bypass road.The Akulam bridge and the lake seemed very attractive and new to me.Its not for the first time that I see all these places, but to contemplate all by myself watching these places was indeed a new experience.

The return was also by bus. I wasn't very happy in the beginning of the journey as the hot sun was draining me up terribly. But the window seat is something fantastic.It leads you to think about anything and everything. Entering the Buzz of the city, I dint feel tired. The bus has to take baby steps as the road was jammed with vehicles. Yet the people around me, those who were waiting at various bus stops, all gave me a new life, something which I lost in these couple of months.

Of course, the after effect of long hours under the burning sun is still horrible, but something that was lost inside me, may be the patience to think about others, the fact that its only when you get involved with them that you know how they live, all came back to me.

Things may change, but the urge for long trips at the window seat of a transport bus is one of those very small things which I wouldn't like to let off my life.

Days Ahead

It was a usual holiday. I woke up late . Now that , cooking also became part of my routine, I started thinking of what should be today's menu. Thanks to Amma, she suggested Appam and chatney. Thus went the breakfast. 


I try to take up everything possible. But the moment I start doing it, I get bored. This happened to my latest venture of translating some science workshop scripts for Discovery Channel. The deadlines are nearing and I am still struggling with the first script. Almost 4 untouched ones are looking at me with eager eyes. 


This led me to think why its so with me? Discussions on this with dear ones , warned me that this attitude will affect me if I am to work in an institution. Well, being lazy and careless is one of those very significant characters of a student.Going through the last days of my college, it always alarms me that the privilege of being careless is also leaving me.


I would like to have an extension of this life, but  life doesn't allow me to do so. Just as cooking swept into my routine, many other things which I never wanted to do will get into the routine. The only relief is there is always something out there to know, experience , and finally to get bored too.

Miscellaneous

Life takes a new turn always, especially when things happen altogether in your life!!!!

My life wasn't an eventful one these 22 years. But things changed when its about to reach 23. I sometimes wonder what has happened to me. Being a chatterbox, people liked me; at least during the first phase of any acquaintance. Things do change in course of time, but never got worse.

Its now taking drastic twists and turns and I stand in the middle of things wondering what to do! Its a roller coaster where not only you but people associated to you also get startled. I have no issues with getting thrashes in the ride. But I would never want my dear ones to get hurt. But , unfortunately everyone is getting hurt and I , the miserable one stand in betwixt alarmed and maimed.

I wonder, How nice it would be, if things happened as we wish! But it never happens. My wish wouldn't be somebody else's and theirs wont be mine. I yearn for an ideal situation and things just dont work.

A different Day

My room was in its worst condition for the past two weeks. Not because I had University EXAMS, but,because of the painting works that was going on in my house. I had made excuse to others as well as to myself that I dont have TIME for tidying up, as it will eat up all my precious preparatory time for the exams. Alas! what happened to them!!! I only know that.

As I dint have any excuses left, I started off the day enthusiastically by finding out place for my books in my almirah. That resulted in my sigh over the very old and still not fulfilled idea of having a personal library. Brushing up the dust over my old books, I found one of my old college magazines. I hadn't missed any of the magazines of all the three years at Ivanios. But, among them , one edition was really special. You may think it had my contribution. No it dint. But yes, i t had many of my dear ones' thoughts,. their spirit and revolution in it.

It was headed "LIFE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD"

When the magazine came up, it had aroused a lot of hue and cry. People had interpreted it so many ways..... like Unparliamentary words. Well, are they unparliamentary???

As always, I moved away from what I intended to share. The articles , poems, satires , screenplays, cartoons ... what not. Everything defined what it meant being a student of that prestigious institution. Those people whom I found in these leaves of the magazine dint had much direct influence upon me except for a few; but its true that more that those whom I cared, those whom I never knew all these years showed me what it was for me being there.

To be precise , They proved through their words that " life is indeed a four letter word".

With a sigh( of relief?) I moved on and put every book back in place in the almirah.