Nurungukal…..

   When Baletten’s  photo appeared on my mobile screen I was virtually taken aback to grasp the speed at which twelve years have passed by.

    Mother might have named him Balakrishnan in memory of her brother who offered his young life at the altar of India’s independence struggle in 1921, the year which has once again been referred to in recent hot debates, in the name of a movie which is yet to be conceived.

     If I roll back the memory tape about him, the first clip would be about the hectic preparations mother used to make, to see him off to Madras to join a bachelor course in Madras Christian College, Thambaram. That unusually sized trunk box, stuffed with clothes, pickles, records etc. still remain fresh in me. Then his return during the two vacations, Christmas and annual for which we looked forward eagerly expecting petty gifts like a fountain pen, magnifying glass etc.

    He would be in his peak when all of us get together during Onam celebrations. The house would be in seized   frenzy in his company, with jokes, counters, laughter, while our father would be enjoying the drama gracefully relaxing on an easy chair. My mother like a busy bee would be wandering from room to room as a co- artist to Balettan, occasionally raising her finger to subdue the crescendo of the chorus.

    While in college many a time me and my kid brother had followed him to Manachira surreptitiously and persuaded him to buy tickets for us too, to witness football matches in Sait Nagji Football tournament. Each time he obliged us, though with a noisy reprimand. Similarly we had enjoyed many second shows with him and Thampyettan and Padmanabhettan. But he seldom had the patience to remain in the seat and enjoy the film. In those days, roasted potatoes and dhall vadai were the delicacies in Crown and Radha theatres and of course the Masala dosa in Rama Vilasam and Shanta Bhavan hotels. Whenever I visit Calicut even now those moments creep in unknowingly.

      It was much later in my life I came to know about his yeomen service in organizing the co-operative movement in Malabar, especially in the dairy sector. His ardent contribution was a prelude in forming the Malabar cooperative Milk Union.

       His pet hobby was chess. He was an addict and gave his heart and soul in promoting it. He was the pioneer in initiating and practicing the correspondence (now online ) chess. Each day at least a dozen post cards indicating the moves of a distant player were received, to be answered and in a few cases I had the privilege of assisting him.  I even now remember how much effort he took to organize the first ever chess tournament at Zamorin’s School in Calicut. Later his perseverance culminated in a Kerala State level event in the memory of our Father who incidentally was a lover of Chathurangam. I had seen them on several occasions playing this ancient version, by carving out the pieces from the bark of a single banana leaf. It was he who showed me the move in …unthun thund, thund thund,  ale  undhu  …..Many a time I had the chance to play with some of his veteran chess mates, M/s  Prabhu, Lancelot Thomas and Krishnan Nair.

      Late in his life he even tied to give expressions to his humor sense by caricaturing some cartoon characters. I think he had written about his eventful life, right from the Burma days, which is still to be published. A dream unfulfilled. I fervently hope that this can be accomplished by his illustrious daughter.

     He was conspicuous in any company by his light hearted jokes and innocent loud laughter. He was a class apart in acquiring relationships and even now many of his friends, especially in the YMCA circle cherish his memory,.
     I always feel his presence where there is joy and happiness........