Nurungukal...contd...

                Guruvayurappan college was earlier known as Zamoodiri  Raja college, because initially it belonged the Zamoodiri Raja of kozhikode. Some of the clans of this ancient Rajas stationed at Kottakal, Mankavu and Chalapuram. I think there was a branch in Nilambur also. There were many students belonging to these clans studying with us. They can be easily identified either from their speech or from their names. The name of the boys end in Raja viz. Ettanunni Raja and that of girls in Kovilamma e.g. Rughmini Kovilamma. Most of them had some artistic talents. They stood apart from the common lot in life style also. They enjoyed some benefits because of their birth in the royal family. But they moved very freely with us.

                The students of our college mostly hailed from Palghat, Kozhikode and Cannanore districts. Much later Palghat was bifurcated into two, Malapuram and Palghat. Students from each district maintained their identity in their manners, speech and aptitudes. For example  those from Cannanore were mostly sports men, those from Palghat had flair for literature, art and agriculture and those from Kozhikode mostly belonged to families of traders, lawyers, doctors and employees. Most of the students wore traditional dress, boys in shirt and mundu and girls in pavadai davani or sari. Only those from some north Indian families came in churidhar. I wore only shirt and mundu and was on bare foot. It was after my college studies , and after attaining a job, a pair of chappal was bought from my hard earned income. Till then I was under the care of Mother Earth !!. Only few from rich families came in their own cars, others depended on college bus or covered the distance on foot. My brother used to give funds for the season ticket, but I preferred to walk from Kinassery Padam, so that the savings can be used for enjoying masala dosai of Shantha Bhavan or Ram Vilas or occasionally a biriyani of Hotel de Paris!!. Cannanore boys were very stylish. Most or them wore pants and shirts. The prevalent style was low waist pants with a very narrow belt. Bell bottom came much later. There were many very beautiful girls and they drew the attention of all. It was not a free society at that time. So to nurture any intimacy with opposite sex was quite remote. Still there were many whose charisma resulted in serious relationship which culminated into marriage. Others maintained only an infatuation deep in their heart which failed to attain expressions in future life.