Nurungukal.......contd.....

        I proceeded on leave in the middle of October 1970. 3^rd September was my marriage day. When I reached home my mother and brothers were busy with the most difficult task in a marriage viz. to ensure that the invitations reached every body and none is left behind. But  it is my experience that one or two very intimate friends or relatives might have been left. It would be known only after the marriage and we had to cut a sorry face. Things were being moved smoothly, but I felt that the absence of father was felt in the planning process. Although he never would involve directly in the execution his influence in the procedure was very important as he would foresee each and every aspect of the event. One of my elder brothers who was actually the force behind my marriage had expressed his inability to attend due to some unavoidable reason. All others were there to make the event lively.

          I found that my absence from the home ,since the attaining of the job had created a gap in my contacts with the local friendships. Many of my childhood comrades had left the village in search of better pastures like me. I could locate none of my school mates to become the best man and I had to depend some one who was a regular visitor to our house to assist my mother.

            Due to her age mother was not in her best, while comparing her performance during my sister’s marriage. Still she was the centre of attraction, by her in born ability of hospitality. From dawn to dusk she was like a busy bee, moving around, exchanging pleasantries, while unbundled  her past.

          Some of the relatives of the bride paid visits once or twice to fine tune the procedures. They insisted to adopt some of their customs, which I knew, later were of a tradition borrowed from Palghat area, from where her father hailed. Even now I feel that the Nair families of Wayanad  can not claim a tradition of their own as they are migrants.

          During that period Kerala politics was in a turmoil. The ruling and opposition parties were involved in mud slinging each other. As a mole to the mountain a minister was alleged of a corruption charge in which unfortunately my bride’s family was also alleged to have involved. But after a hectic battle in the court of law the cloud was cleard. Anyway after marriage I heard very interesting  versions of the episode which I feel now, can be moulded into a TV serial !!. But I do not venture to do it as it can rupture a hard earned harmony and stimulate a family feud.

           The upheaval of a movement against the atrocities inflicted by some of the feudal barons was another issue to be tackled. Their activities were creating a horror in the social life of the state and it made ripples in the political circles. There was a resistance in the minds of the public against such blood sheds as it was clear violation of the accepted principles of democracy and law of the land to settle a social issue. Soon the movement lost momentum and fizzled out. But it was an eye opener and found results later, although there are vibrant issues still to be resolved.......contd....