Nurungukal...contd...

                The process of diminishing the influence of feudalism in the social set up was getting established in kerala. The first communist ministry was instrumental to this trend. The land reforms initiated by the left forces gave meaning full opportunities to the tenants to own land, which in a way gave filip to the agrarian economy. It had a positive influence on the productivity and creating better job opportunities. The younger generation welcomed this change and there was a total shift to socialist and democratic values. I was also influenced to accept the trend.

                But the anomaly that I found in his social reforms was that a few in the higher strata was left purposefully free. The land reforms did not affect the plantation crops, on the other hand the law provided adequate protection to hold any extent of land. When a family raising essential crops like paddy, coconut etc was forbidden to hold more than the ceiling limits the others growing rubber, coffee,tea were free to hold any extent of land. In fact it was clear discrimination. They also should have been made  stakeholders of the social reformation. This duel approach helped to create wider disparities in the social fabric. Or I would suspect the involvement of the dirty hands of the powerful plantation lobby in law making.A similar flaw happened in the case of forest nationalisation also. Those who conserved the forest lost and those who destroyed it and converted vast area into plantations gained  by the provisions in the law.

                 My immediate concern in those days was to acquire a job. I had sent many applications. My parents wanted me to follow my brothers who were already in service. My mind also thronged for a good job. It provided security. Even in those days our society attributed a comparatively better respect to an employee with an assured income. In the marriage market he was preferred than a farmer or even a business man. This was more so among us. My consistent attempts for a job found result when I was selected to a clerical job in Southern Railways. My father was so happy as he held railways in high esteem.A helping hand from one who was a high ranking officer in Southern Railway made my entry easier. Thus I became part of the biggest net work of that time. 

Nurungukal...contd...

                The process of diminishing the influense of fuedalism in the social set up was getting established in kerala. The first communist ministry was instrumental to this trend. The land reforms initiated by the left forces gave meaning full opertunuties to the tenants to own land, which in a way gave filip to the agrarian economy. It had a positive influense on the productivity and creatung better livelyhood opportunities. The younger genaration welcomed this change and there was a total shift to socialistic  and democratic values. I was also influensed to accept the trend.

                But the anomaly that I found in th land cieling act which was in tune with the  social reforms was that a few in the higher strata was left purposefully free. This land reforms did not affect the plantation crop owners who held vast acres, on the other hand the law provided adequate protection to them to hold any extent of land. When a family raising essential crops like paddy, coconut etc was forbidden to hold more than the cieling limits the others growig rubber, coffee,tea were free to hold any extent of land. In fact it was clear discrimination. They also should have been made  stakeholders of the social reformation. This duel approach helped to create wider disparities in the social fabric. Or I would suspect the involvment of the dirty hands of the powerful plantation lobby in law making.A similar flaw happened in the case of forest nationalisation also. Those who conserved the forest lost and those who destroyed it and converted vast area into plantations gained  by the provisions in the law.

                 My immediate concern in those days was to acquire a job. I had sent many applications. My parents wanted me to follow my brothers who were already in service. My mind also thronged for a good job. It provided security. Even in those days our society attributed a comparetively better respect to an employee with an assured income. In the marriage markect he was preferred to a farmer or even a business man. This was more so among us. My consistant attempts for a job found result when I was selected to a clerical job in Southern Railways. My father was so happy as he held railways in high esteem.A helping hand from one who was a high ranking officer in Southern Railway made my entry easier. Thus I became part of the biggest net work of that time. 

Nurungukal.....contd...

                After the college day a short period of study followed before the examinations. Actually it was now I understood how much un prepared was I to face the test. I felt disapointed and desparate. Chemistry was my main subject and physics the subsidiary. As I went through the texts many portions were strange. I bought a guide book to take a short cut to cover important and most probable portions. A sense of defeat and insecurity crept in me and I cursed myself for this situation. In school I was an above average student and my strong subject was English. In fact in college I should have pursued this. But in those days [and it is so even nowadays] , the intention was to acquire a jog and my parents thought chemistry would help to find an entry in some industry. But I blame myself for the failures. If I had put in a little more effort it would have been a different story. Now I remember the advice given to me by the principal, who caught me gossiping while the class was in session, that I can be sussesful in life if only I pay little more attention to studies as I had an aptitude for sports and games also. Unfortunately it fell on deaf  ears.Ultimately I took my dgree after the second attempt.

                After graduation it was a hectic time seeking employment. I was in Ponnani during this turbulent period. A few years in Calicut, enjoying a city life had made changes in my outlook. But one positive aspect was that I became a voratious reader, both English and Malayalam books. There was  a well equipped local library in Ponnani at that time. I along with some friends made it a practice to make use of it. More than the books I loved to devour the periodicals, like Illustrated weekly, Sports and Past time, Readers Digest ,Film fair,Blitz etc and Mthubhumi weekly and many news papers. The exposure  made deep in roads into my mind set and attitude to meet situations. In fact I was hibernating to emerge after tranformation to take the flight to future. My father entrusted me to supervise the operations in our agriculture, which I loved very much. It was a learning period, not only to acquire a knowledge in farming, but also the techniques in managing human resources. This exercise gave me a confidense to face situations and to take decisions. I managed to web a social fabric in which people from different strata of the society became my stake holders. This experiment helped me to be at ease in any company rich, elite or poor. A down to earth approach.

Nurungukal.....contd...

                After the college day a short period of study followed before the examinations. Actually it was now I understood how much un prepared was I to face the test. I felt disappointed and desperate. Chemistry was my main subject and physics the subsidiary. As I went through the texts many portions were strange. I bought a guide book to take a short cut to cover important and most probable portions. A sense of defeat and insecurity crept in me and I cursed myself for this situation. In school I was an above average student and my strong subject was English. In fact in college I should have pursued this. But in those days [and it is so even nowadays] , the intention was to acquire a jog and my parents thought chemistry would help to find an entry in some industry. But I blame myself for the failures. If I had put in a little more effort it would have been a different story. Now I remember the advice given to me by the principal, who caught me gossipping while the class was in session, that I can be successful in life if only I pay little more attention to studies as I had an aptitude for sports and games also. Unfortunately it fell on deaf  ears.Ultimately I took my degree after the second attempt.

                After graduation it was a hectic time seeking employment. I was in Ponnani during this turbulent period. A few years in Calicut, enjoying a city life had made changes in my outlook. But one positive aspect was that I became a voracious reader, both English and Malayalam books. There was  a well equipped local library in Ponnani at that time. I along with some friends made it a practise to make use of it. More than the books I loved to devour the periodicals, like Illustrated weekly, Sports and Past time, Readers Digest ,Film fair,Blitz etc and Mthubhumi weekly and many news papers. The exposure  made deep in roads into my mind set and attitude to meet situations. In fact I was hibernating to emerge after transformation to take the flight to future. My father entrusted me to supervise the operations in our agriculture, which I loved very much. It was a learning period, not only to acquire a knowledge in farming, but also the techniques in managing human resources. This exercise gave me a confidence to face situations and to take decisions. I managed to web a social fabric in which people from different strata of the society became my stake holders. This experiment helped me to be at ease in any company rich, elite or poor. A down to earth approach.

Nurungukal....contd...

                The D-day to bid farewell to our college days was fast approaching. None was happy to face it. Four years had passed just like the flight of a honey bee, buzzing and carrying the pollens of love each other. It was a magic world which helped us to identify our personality. Showed us the path for correction and attain perfection. Taught us the values of friendship, togetherness and sharing of love. It was a base for future leap. Although a very short period in our life, the exposure we were subjected to in our college had a vital role to mould our character.

                Among friends many things were planned to face the last day. There was no clear idea how to give a touch of sustainability in our future life  to the leanings we attained. We tried to carry a souvenir by collecting autographs. Sentiments of love ,passion,promises etc. etc. were expressed in each book depending on the closeness to each other. A signature , a sketch, few high sounding words borrowed from the books we had read, even caricatures of teachers found place. I had also one . But now I do not know where it is. Some where in my journey to find a living I had lost that golden link.

                It is vivid in my memory the the farewell party hosted by our chemistry professor Dr, Potty in his house. It was a venue to express our feelings. Some sobbed, others sang songs, yet others spoke on the excellent teaching of the Prof. We left bidding farewell and promising to get in touch frequently, which we could not keep.

                Some of our friends were excellent singers, both vocal and instrumental. Mr. Ram mohan was good at his mouth organ. When ever we met during intervals he entertained us with some of his master pieces. There was another boy whose name has escaped my memory. who played guitar. He was a good photographer also.  Ettanunni Raja from Kottakal Kovilakam was an actor. He had represented Calicut Unniversity in an art mela. A few were public speakers, sports men etc. Notable among them was Mr. Chidanandan, who joined Indian army and represented MRC Willington. Most of the Cannanore boys were good at sports and games. Among them Ravindran stood apart not only in sports but in his impeccable style in play and attire. He was one of the handsome boys in the college.I regret to note here that a few days ago he had departed us. May his soul rest in peace. Recently a few of us are joining once in a while to refresh our friendship. The last day in the college was charged with emotions. There were some pairs who had already set a bond. To them this parting was temporary as they had already decided to be life partners. But to others the future was indefinite. In such faces traces of gloom prevailed. Many sobbed and a few took it sportively and bid good bye. The crowd staggered here and there, on the veranda, canteen, side of rocks and many such spots which they had already used to establish bliss full moments and slowly like the melting of snow vanished reluctantly in search of better pastures!!.

Nurungukal...contd...

                My uncle was at his late seventies when I was in college. He was a lawyer. Although he was not financially well of he held a respectable position in the society. A voracious reader . He might have read almost all classics and history books. I have seen him scribbling notes while he read, especially history, which was his favourite subject. During his last days he ventured to write world history in Malayalam. Perhaps it was the first attempt by any known writer of that time.Many a time I had the luck to take down the script, as during his last days his hand was not steady. This opportunity game me a golden chance to take sojourns  into many historical episodes such as. H.G.WELLS remark about Emperor Ashoka, ‘ Amidst the tens of thousands of monarchs...........’ and the devastation  inflicted  on our culture by Alexander  etc. which took deep rooting to my inquisitive mind. His language and flawless narration in chaste Malayalam would force the reader to devour the book in one sitting.Unfortunately he could not accomplish his wish to complete the book. My eldest brother took great efforts to publish a volume with much difficulty. Artist Namboodiry volunteered to draw pencil sketches in his impeccable style and Mathrubhumi press published the first volume. My uncle  K.V.Gopala Menon was a contemporary of Madhavan Nair and we were related to Nair by a marriage. Uncle became a widower much early in his life and I had heard my mother claiming her sacrifice to come down from Burma to look after the children of my uncle. I think the younger sister-in-law of uncle also had a share in that responsibility. During our family get togethers we  used to cud the memories of their involvements in staging many art performance both at home and in public. We cherished such occasions, especially in the company of my eldest brother who was an expert in cracking jokes. And very often such  meetings used to rock the neighbourhood by our loud cheers and claps !!. Now only the sweet memories linger in our hearts as the main characters are not with us. We were so lucky to lead a joint family life in our childhood, which our children miss now !!. Those were the days of togetherness, sacrifices and all around there were helping hands at your call. Now it is the story of seclusion, separation and solitude.  This monotony can be overcome only by our involvement in some kind of social activity for which there is ample scope !!!.

Nurungukal...contd.....

                Calicut had all the ingredients to claim as a city. It was a place for the fusion of many cultures, from time immemorial. It was unique to find both elite and the down trodden living side by side in harmony. As a college student I was curious to merge with both. The place I lived was known for affluence as many of the inhabitants were either advocates, doctors, traders or govt. employees. It was also a place for many like rickshaw pullers, Tonga walas, petty hawkers etc. who found a living in providing services to the elite. This locality was intertwined by many narrow footpaths setting boundaries of compounds. Many of them were not illuminated thus providing ideal venue for anti socials to pursue their nocturnal activity.

                Each day right from dawn to dusk things  happened like the movements of a well oiled machine. First the Suprabadam bajan from the nearest temple or the calls from the Mosk or the rhythmic sound of church bell, each at the set time. Then the sound from the cycles of the paper boys. Next came the milk supplier followed by the sound of hooves of the horse carts going to pick up an early passenger from the railway station. The hush hush talk from a young couple taking a morning walk. But before all these the local Goorkha might have finished his rounds in the night, announcing his petrol by a loud whistle at definite intervals. Then one by one will take over the roads and pavements in routine succession servants, students, employees etc. and lastly the lawyers, marking the end of morning session. Next is the turn of the hawkers. A sight which is exclusive for Calicut is the women in procession bringing head loads of grass [karuka pullu] to feed the horses from the nearby village [Olavanna]. Laddies prefer the after noon after finishing their routine chores. Evenings are free for all.