My Malayalam Blog

Please visit my Malayalam Blog at പൊത്തോപ്പുറം (http://pothoppuramjayanthan.blogspot.in)

Wednesday 15 February 2023

LEAVE

14 02 23


 

Characters:

Neelan – short for Neelakandan

Paru – short for Parvathi

Nandi – The bullock

 

(When the curtain rises, Neelan and Paru are laughing over some jokes.)

 

“Tak … tak … tak”

 

Paru: “Come in.”

(Nandi enters. Salutes both.)

Neelan: “Yes?”

Nandi: “Eh … eh … Want to tell you something.”

Paru: “What is that ‘something’?”

Nandi: “I understand you don’t have any journeys planned for the next few days.”

Neelan: “So what? This happens often.”

Nandi: “Yes, still …”

Paru: “Why is there a ‘still…’?”

Nandi: “Eh … eh … a week’s leave …”

Paru: “Why do you want a week’s leave?”

Nandi: “To visit Earth. Just to stroll around.”

Neelan: “Mmm. This happens every year around this time. What is so special at this time on Earth?”

Nandi: “Well, nothing special …” (Blushes)

Neelan: “Mmm. All right. But not more than a week.”

 

(Nandi departs after saluting both.)

 

Neelan: “Nandi was very upset for the past several days.”

Paru: “Yes, I had noticed it, too.”

Neelan: “How does he look now?”

Paru: “Has regained his previous happiness and enthusiasm.”

Neelan: “What do you think has happened?”

Paru: “I don’t know, what is it?”

Neelan: “A country in Earth worships the cow: Bharat.”

Paru: “Yes, that is where Kashi and Rameswaram are located.”

Neelan: “Yes. The government there issued a proclamation.”

Paru: “What proclamation?”

Neelan: “From now onwards everybody should hug cows on Valentine’s Day.”

Paru: “O yeah? Then?”

Neelan: “When it reached the media they added a little masala to it.”

Paru: “Means?”

Neelan: “Males should hug and kiss cows and females should hug and kiss bullocks.”

Paru: “That’s interesting. Then?”

Neelan: “VVVIPs booked the most beautiful cows and healthy bullocks at hefty prices and even paid advances.”

Paru: “Yeah? Then what happened?”

Neelan: “Nandi has a crush there and she is the most beautiful cow in the whole counry.”

Paru: “Then?”

Neelan: “Well, she has been booked by most of the VVVIPs.”

Paru: “Then what happens to Nandi?”

Neelan: “That is why Nandi was quite upset for the past several days. Worried sick whether his turn would come at all.”

Paru: “All right. But then how is he the previous self now?”

Neelan: “Haven’t you seen today’s newspaper?”

Paru: “O, no, I didn’t have the time. You tell me.”

Neelan: “That proclamation has been withdrawn.”

Paru: “Okay, okay. So that is why.”

Neelan: “Now no VVVIP will come in between them.”

Paru: “Yes, that is right.”

 

(Neelan and Paru look at each other and smiles.)

 

(Curtain)

Wednesday 18 January 2023

Goodbye till we meet again

[A rather lengthy adieu to colleagues at Niyogi Books, where I worked as Editor and left in 2018.] 

Convent schools or even English medium schools were unheard of in the small village where I grew up. I had, by God’s grace, good English teachers in my primary and high schools. English, therefore, became one of my favourite subjects.

I first tasted the blood proofreading and editing at CSDS, where I first worked with journals China Report and Alternatives. Mr Bejoy Bhattacharya was my Guru who initiated me into this exciting field. And my thirst for more blood remained when I left CSDS.

I indexed a number of books in TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute). I also gave a presentation to colleagues in TERI on indexing. All this gave me a good insight into the ‘what’s, the ‘why’s, and he ‘how’s of indexing. 

I should say this is also when I started serious editing. While reading the manuscript for indexing, I used to mark the mistakes I noticed. And my markings were appreciated. It prompted them to make sure that I indexed all the important publications of TERI. (Shshshsh: I smiled confidently. And patted on my back!)

Once a colleague asked me if I could prepare an index for a book written by her sister-in-law. The book was on Puri Jagannath Temple. I did. The publisher commented, ‘These were the kind of indexes I was looking for but was not getting’. These comments gave me a little more more confidence. What about freelancing on indexing?

A few months later I understood SAGE was looking for editors. I thought maybe that was the time to open up! I expressed my interest, and I was taken in as an in-house editor. Wow! The feeling was great! This, THIS, was the job I aspired for! And here it was, in my hands! This gave me an opportunity to learn first- hand about working in a publishing house. 

After seven months, I left SAGE to pursue freelancing once again. But this time I was a freelance editor more than an indexer.

And SAGE regularly gave me editing jobs. In fact I was one of the two external editors who were assigned ‘extended projects’. To be assigned an ‘extended project’ meant that right from the beginning I had to look after the project such as editing, quality checking, and corresponding with authors It was not just copy editing. I was content. Life was peaceful.

Then one day I received a call from the Vice President, Commissioning, SAGE, asking me if I would be interested to take up an assignment at NCAER who was looking for an experienced editor to bring out their Annual Report. I said, ‘Why not?’ At NCAER I continued to work much after the Annual Report was published. I edited papers and book chapters written by staff. But I found that the ‘politics’ was not to my taste. It was becoming more vicious and I decided ‘enough was enough’.

I came across an advertisement inviting applications for the posts of Editors at Niyogi Books towards the end of 2012. I mailed my CV to them and forgot about it. (Remember the Hero motorcycles advertisement, “Fill it, Forget it”?)

Then one day I received an e-mail from Papia Dey inviting me to come for an interview. I only had a vague idea about Okhla. I got a slightly clearer idea (so thought the fool in me) of the area from the Internet. But once inside Okhla, it was an unending maze. I had to enquire of several people before at last reaching D-78.

[It happened again when I came for a second interview after several days. I thought, ‘O! God! Okhla will never change!’ I forgot that it was I who had to change. So I decided to change. After joining, after having caught in the maze again, I tracked the whole route up to the main road on foot and took note of the land marks (turn left when you see the blue board pointing towards D block, turn right after the ‘lolli pop’ building [it is not actually lolli pop, but I call it thus for ease of recollecting], turn left when you notice the huge black gate on the right marked 36, turn right turn after the huge gate, where on the left you will see Seventy6).]

And when I reached, I was again slightly taken aback. I thought it was the back gate of the building, and not the front. Such big publishers (I had looked into their Web site and had been quite impressed) and such a tiny, quarter open, main gate? I asked the guard if this is the front door or the back one. That was the front gate, of course, and Papia would be available on the second floor. Having come from bright sunlight, it was difficult to climb the dark stairs which was hardly lit. It took a few minutes for me to adjust to the darkness.

On entering the second floor I saw the open cabin right in front of me. If I hadn’t, it would have been another maze with glass doors and glass walls all around. It looked like a huge glass palace! The first impression was, ‘Wow! What an impressive office!’ I went straight inside and saw this lady beside a pile of papers and a computer. I told her I was looking for Ms Papia Dey. After making sure that I had come for the interview, she requested me to wait and pointed the sofa to me.

I was later led by the lady (it was only much later that I knew that she was Papia) to a huge hall where two ladies were present. When I occupied the chair pointed out to me, the lady sitting nearer to me said, pointing to the other one, ‘This is Mrs Tultul Niyogi’. The surname was familiar, having read the name quite a few times recently. I suddenly realised I was sitting in front of the Boss! Until much later, only after joining, did I come to know that it was Nitasha who had been talking to me. I was asked a few questions, was asked to fill up a form and was told, as usual, that they would let me know in due course.

One day I received another mail from Papia asking me to come for a second interview. This time I met Mr Niyogi in the presence of Ms Niyogi and Nitasha. It was not an interview as such; he did not ask me any questions. I think we discussed general things such as working in Niyogi Books. He assured me that we are all very cool people and that I would have enough freedom to do my work without anybody looking over my shoulder every now and then.

I joined Niyogi Books on Monday, 11 February 2013 and got the first assignment the same day. This first book (Indigo) was, incidentally, released only in 2014 (‘due to reasons beyond my control’!), much after I had completed another two books.

To cut a long story short, I did a few more books during the past three years. I had very healthy and cool interactions with all my colleagues. Due to my age (‘boodha ho gaya hoon, na!) I think I got undue respect from several young colleagues. Instead of calling me Jayanthan or even Mr Jayanthan, they called me Sir. But am I that old? I don’t feel so (neither does my wife!). Somebody has said, ‘Age is only a number.’ Yes, but the problem is, when that number crosses 60, people look at you differently. Suddenly you have become old!

Even Mr Niyogi and Ms Niyogi used to address me with a Sir! Initially I used to be embarrassed. I haven’t found such humility in many people. I have heard him shouting at and reprimanding people who have worked with him for much longer than me. But till today, he has not raised his voice at me even once. It is certainly not my credit, but without doubt, his humbleness. And I whole-heartedly salute him.

I don’t remember when I first noticed all those framed certificates that smiled at you from your side when you climb up the stairs. Initially I used to feel like a VIP being accorded a warm welcome by beautiful young girls smiling from both sides with thalapoli in their hands!

Niyogi Books is the second publisher I have seen (I confess I have not known many publishers) that gives full credit to the in-house editor and designer by printing their names on the copyright page. Hats off to Niyogi Books! This indeed is a very good thing to encourage the staff.

After joining, soon I mastered a very peculiar habit of literally closing my ears to whatever happens around me. This happened because, all around me there were discussions in ‘Bongla’ of which I understood nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. Even three years after nearly drowning in such discussions every day, I still cannot understand a word of Bangla! I only know those few words (Kemon acche? Bhalo acche) that I had learned from a Bengali friend several years ago. As a result, sometimes, even when the discussion had switched over to English so that I could understand, my ears refused to hear! Initially I did try to catch the essence of some discussions. But after a few attempts I gave up.

Once a decision was taken by all of them together that any discussion, especially work related, will only be done in English or Hindi. And it was done, I think, for a day or two. One’s love for mother tongue is like the proverbial curved tail that never straightens. Soon we were back to square one. This, however, happens with everybody. I also used to enjoy talking in Malayalam to the only other Malayalee on our floor, sometimes to the amusement of other friends. I used to, however, get a little upset when discussion suddenly turns to Bangla even in official meetings! A few times I had to remind that there was a ‘foreigner’ present among them!

One regret I have is that Nitasha left a couple of months after I joined. She was an excellent guide, mentor, and friend and I could have learned many things from her had she remained a little longer. But destiny had other plans for her and she left to take up a far  more important role.

One thing I found a little disappointing is the emphasis on quantity, sometimes at the cost of quality. If the printing of a book is delayed by a few days, the hue and cry will die out soon. But if wrong or inappropriate information (or even grammar or spelling mistakes), get printed it remains for ever. This can be solved by getting a few copies printed immediately and then print bulk copies later after making all necessary changes. 

Well, that is not a big question mark. I have three things in mind. (i) I want to spend a little more time on religious matters. (I don’t hesitate, rather I am proud, to say that I am religious. I believe in that power which is called variously as God, Mother, Jesus, or Allah.) (Some of you might ask, Sanyas? Mmmm … not, exactly. But moving towards God, yes!) (ii) I have a couple of personal projects on which I wanted to spend time and was not able to till now. Now is the time I shall resume work on these. (iii) Any freelance job that comes to me will be taken up, too. But I shall actually start marketing myself as a freelancer only after a few months, when I finish a considerable part of my projects.

It has been very nice to have met, spoken, known, and worked with you all. Though not a long association to have an impact in your memories, my stay here has been very fruitful to me. I have been fortunate to have met a friendly, open, helpful, and sincere group of colleagues. During our first meeting, Mr Niyogi said, ‘We are a very cool group, and you will have complete freedom in doing your work.’ Very true! You are a cool lot and I had complete freedom (in fact, excess freedom!) in carrying out my responsibilities.

I have no words to express my gratitude to all of you for accepting and tolerating me with all my shortcomings and eccentricities. But a time comes when you think it is time to move on. And this happens with everybody at times. You feel something, somewhere, is not right. At times it passes on in due course of time. But sometimes some things linger on or recur. It, kind of, disturbs you a bit. You start thinking, may be, MAY BE, it is time to move on.

You come alone to (unless you are twins, or triplets, or quadruplets, or ... or … what do you say when 11 babies are born together?!), and go alone from, this world. Once born, we are all constantly travelling, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups. Some of us continue on the same path while a few of us may take a diversion. I think the time has come for me to take a diversion. And the decision is entirely mine, and only mine.

I am sure, however, that we shall again meet somewhere, sometime.

If I have hurt any of you by my words or actions, during the course of our journey, I request your forgiveness.

Sunday 1 January 2023

To TERIers

 I knew it had to come one day.

One always longs for one’s native place where one has spent one’s childhood. That is the most beautiful place ever.


We are returning to that beautiful place in Kerala.


Am leaving NCR on the New Year day for good.


Fifty years is not a short time. Half of this was spent in TERI.


Would have loved to have said ‘Bye’ personally to all of you, but time says, ‘no’!


Lots and lots of memories of TERI.


Shall, however, be associated with TERI Alumni Association.


Adieu, my friends and TERI family members!


See you.


To Sagarians

Early 2000s.

Lived in Sreeniketan Apartments, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi.

Owning a flat was a dream.

Internet, property dealers, nothing worked.

Sixty per cent (or more) in cash! Cash has usually a colour – black.

We didn’t have any!

We were averse to UP (Ghaziabad was notorious then).

Haryana was okay (had some relatives in Faridabad).

Delhi had first preference.

 

Enter my cousin, PKN Namboodiri.

He was member of a society under construction in NOIDA. He talked to the developer. There were two vacancies, one two- and one three-bed room flat. If interested, could pay equalization money and block.

I worked in private sector, not eligible for membership.

Wife was eligible; she became a member.

UP/Noida began tasting sweet! Wow!

 

Come mid-2003.

Proud owners of B-703.

A dream came through.

On our first visit, before becoming a member, the main gate was in the middle (no ‘gate’ as such, though, it was just a wide opening for trucks to enter).

In the centre, a huge pool for storing water for construction.

The gate later got moved to the side.

The pool became a fountain, which got demolished later. Now it is just the central park.

Difficult to build but easy to demolish, right?

 

We were one of the initial residents.

Electricity was through generator, water was hard, direct from the borewell.

Slowly more flats were occupied.

Then we evolved, slowly but steadily.

 

Together we loved, respected, joked, sang, played, cried, quarrelled, compromised, made friends with each other, and above all, lived full lives.

Made several friends, sat with them, discussed with them, made plans with them, compromised with them, …

 

2003 to 2023 – 20 years. Very beautiful, satisfying, and invaluable two decades.

 

Now, it is time to say goodbye for the time being.

We shall soon be moving to Kerala.

Sons are settled in Pune and Bangalore.

As long as B-703 remains with us, we are part of the family: Sagar family!

 

So, see you soon.

Wednesday 10 August 2022

*Nutraceuticals book release function revisited

8 August 2022

From left: Dr Vinod Kotwal, Member Secretary, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, and Ex-Director, FSSAI & MOPFI, GOI; Dr Mayurika Goel, Associate Fellow, TERI Deakin Nanotechnology Centre and Honorary Fellow, Deakin University, Australia; Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director-General, TERI; and P K Jayanthan.

TERI video conference room, 27 July 2022.

Dr Vinod Kotwal, Mayurika, Sangeeta, Anupama, Sonal, Radhika … they were all already there. Mr Rakesh Kacker should have been there, too. But Covid advised him, ‘Take rest for a week’. But he was there on the screen as were Yateen and Dr Kiran Sharma.

My first thought: where are the microphones?

Those two tiny UFOs, one on each table – are they the microphones?

Those teeny-weeny itsy-bitsy toys?

Will they catch voices from all corners of the room?

They were, and they did.

Enters Vibha.

Sharing the dais with TERI DG! It didn’t happen while in TERI.

It is happening now – 14 years after leaving it.

Post-release:

I pester Radhika. The ever-smiling, soft-spoken sweet­ little girl.

‘Please, the recording, please’ was my demand – of the book release function.

One might ask, ‘Why? You attended it!’

Well, I did. But my ears had said, ‘We are on work-to-rule’.

One ear was ill from childhood [‘a hole in the eardrum’, the doctor had said].

Got worse after radiation and chemo therapy four years ago.

So, the recording.

Radhika was very kind to pester the computer centre in turn.

And I got it today – the link. Great!

Thank you, Radhika.

I revisited the programme today.

Thank you, Vibha, for all those good words. Didn’t hear them then, but heard today. Better late than never.

The recording shows how foolish one talked or acted.

Didn’t hear Anupama urging us to untie the ribbon on the book. The others did.

It is only when she, frustrated, signalled me to untie, did I realize, ‘Oh God! How foolish of me!’

But by the time the photos had been taken. So, I ended up looking at the ribbon: ‘To untie or not to untie?’

Maybe I am older than I want everybody to believe!

Seven minutes of ‘and’s, ‘eh’s, ‘uh’s, … was really boring. Reading the prepared text would have been cleaner and faster. Could have saved three minutes. Apologies.

Would like to reiterate one point Yateen said – authors must respect editors’ work.

The book is the author’s baby, no doubt. Every word in it is dear to him/her.

The editor, however, as Yateen said, connects the author and the reader. He/she keeps both and sometimes also the publisher, in mind.

No, I am not telling editors are gods or their words are bible. They also oversee or make mistakes. Authors may have different opinion on certain points. But rejecting the editors’ views without understanding them is not good.

Overall, a day well spent!

-------------

* Nutraceuticals in Human Health, by Mayurika Goel, TERI Alumni Association, New Delhi, August 2022. 42 pp.

Monday 1 August 2022

To or not to? The ICF Meeting


13 November 2021

Saturday, 13 November 2021. An ICF (Indian Copyeditors’ Forum) offline meeting. We have had weekly webinars for more than a year during covid. Have attended only two ICF offline meetings in, maybe, seven years, both before Covid. The first was in a Connaught Place hotel. The next was at YMCA. Couldn’t attend a couple of meetings held after that. So, had to attend this one. Shree Rathnam at Kaushambi metro station. A metro station, I assume, is the mostest (No such word, did you say? Well, you got what I meant, didn’t you? Language is for communicating ideas, right?) convenient location in NCR. Thank you, Vivek.

Got ready by about 10 am. Leaving home by 10.30 would be ideal to reach the venue by 11.30. Walk for five minutes, take the Blue line metro, get down at Yamuna Bank, catch another Blue line to Kushambi. Perfect. Told Archana, daughter (in-law), “Going out for an ICF meeting, a couple of hours.”

She looked at me, went to the balcony, surveyed the surroundings, and asked, “Do you really have to go?”

She, nor my son, does not usually question me if I wanted to go anywhere. Rarely do I step out after the pandemic began. I looked out, too. The polluted air was waiting there to gobble me up. Felt disheartened. Maybe not. Shall send a message to Vivek excusing myself. Opened WhatsApp, ICF Delhi NCR group. Vivek had messaged in response to my ‘Shall try to come’ message, “Please do come”. My fingers froze.

Confusion. To or not to? Responses in the group showed it would be a small gathering. It might amount to cheating Vivek if I didn’t go. He would come, for sure. Told Archana, “Yeah, I should go. Shall take the Metro.”

She said, “No, no. No Metro, shall book a cab.”

I tried to argue how convenient it was to avail of the Metro services. She didn’t budge. I had to agree. It is said, obey parents in childhood, friends during teen age, spouse after marriage, and children in old age!

And so there I was at Shree Rathnam, by around 11.45. Vivek and Jyoti(rmoy Chaudhuri) were already there. After some time Surit (Das) joined, then Saoirse (came and asked, “ICF?” before taking the chair.) and Pawan (Garg) in that order. Six out of 129 (ICF Delhi NCR members)! Was meeting Jyoti, Saoirse and Pawan for the first time. Some very useful discussions on the future course for ICF. Surit started it by referring to his 7-year-old discussions with Vivek. All others joined and enthusiastically took part in the discussions, except yours sincerely, who preferred to listen. Even that was not easy because sounds are scared of my ears and stop a couple of feet away.

During the conversation Pawan referred to a certain office called TERI in India Habitat Centre where he worked for a year. I didn’t want to interrupt him then. Later when he concluded his point, I asked him, “When and in which division, did you work in TERI?”

He worked in TERI Press for a year. Surit

worked there for a couple of years, too. And I worked in TERI for more than 25 years. So, half of ICF (members present) were TERI alumni! Wow! What a coincidence!

We did have our food there, but certainly not to the satisfaction of the hotel management. A couple of times they came and asked whether they can give us the bill, indirectly asking, ‘Why don’t you people leave?’ Can’t blame them, though. Occupying a table for more than five hours with only a few snacks in between is certainly not to their taste. They would have wanted us either to eat continuously or to get out.

Surit stays in Greater Noida. He offered to drop me in Sector 62 on the way. He had, however, to divert because the shortest route from Kaushambi to Greater Noida does not touch Sector 62. In the car I talked about my hearing problem, he talked about his sight problem. He said he was ‘nearly blind’. And I was ‘nearly deaf”. Partners in distress!

I offered him a share of the taxi charges which he refused to accept. When I insisted, he said, “Okay, you can offer me a cup of coffee next time we meet.” And we settled at that. So, I should remember (it is likely that he would forget) to treat him to a coffee while I would have a lemon water or so. But when do we meet next?

To conclude, a day spent usefully. Had the pollution not played spoilsport, a few more could have joined and wider discussions could have taken place. Well, something is better than nothing.

Thank you Vivek,  Jyoti, Saoirse, Surit, and Pawan for the wonderful day!

Thursday 21 July 2022

The ICF web chat: 18 July 2021

 18 July 2021

Sunday. After the mandatory walking and breakfast, settled in front of the laptop. Facebook. Not regular in scanning messages but do try to respond to the personal Good Morning messages. Just started responding to such messages when Shivam, my grandson (“I am a big boy now. I am four and half years old”) shows up and directs, “Muthashaa, Chalo (Grandpa, come)!” “Kahan (where)?”, I ask. “Neeche, chalne ke liye (downstairs, for a walk)”. Before I could react, he closes the laptop and catches hold of my hand, “Chalo”. Nobody dares question him. We go downstairs (he sometime prefers to use the stairs rather than the lift) (we are on the second floor). Ruchi, my daughter (in-law) carries his tricycle. He cycles, we walk.
After an hour Ruchi goes back with the tricycle. Shivam stays back, and so do I. We go to the park, he swings for a while, and then just walk around. We come out and walk on the road around the park. Suddenly he asks, “Which way will you take (to go in)?” There are three entrances to the small park. I point at one entry. He says, “I will come in through that (the other) entry”. We both enter the park through different entries and meet in the middle. He triumphantly giggles because he reached first.
I did not see the watch, but thought it should be around 10.30. I ask, “Shivam, shall we return home?” He is disappointed. Not willing to return yet. “Nghoo, nghoo”, he whimpers. I bend down and whispers in his ear, “Muthashan ko shoo shoo karna hai (Grandpa wants to pee)”. That settles the matter. He is immediately ready to return. He again uses the stairs.
Once inside he removes the mask and straightaway goes to the wash basin. Washes both hands with soap, each finger separately, inside the palms, the wrists, and then starts counting slowly while continuing to rub the fingers, “one, two, three, … nineteen, twenty”. Kept washing for twenty seconds. Washes away soap from both hands.
It is 11 o’ clock. I settle down once again in front of the laptop with my second breakfast. This time opens WhatsApp first. Several personal and group messages. Just glance through them casually. ICF Webinars. Vivek’s message, “We are online”. Suddenly a flash of light. Oh! The Sunday webinar, this time the free-for-all one. Am already late. Another three minutes, am in. Switch off audio (don’t want to disturb the group) and video (a little shy to eat in a meeting).
Vivek assures participants that anything can be discussed. “It is not being recorded”, he asserts with a smile. It was all about he/she, you and I. ‘Nothing official about it’. Professional, personal, chats on anything under the sun. It was more of understanding each other. Each participant talked about him/herself. The ups and downs in life, professional and personal, places one liked, and so on. We talked about linked-in, clubhouse and a few other fora. Vivek regretted our inability to meet face-to-face due to the pandemic and hoped the situation would improve soon. I liked Anupam’s suggestion that the term ‘freelance editing’ should be replaced by ‘editing profession’.
Today’s web-chat (won’t call it a webinar) was like a cool breeze in the desert. Such occasional chats will help us to sit back and relax, to unbundle some of our worries, to open our minds, in front of an understanding, empathizing, and extremely helpful group. LET US DO IT MORE OFTEN. Thank you, Murugaraj for the idea and thank you, Vivek, for organizing it and thank you participants, for making it worthwhile two hours.

An unforgettable morning




02 April 2022

 

Last week of March 2022.

Sent a message: “Shall be at Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of April. Would like to meet with you, if your schedule permits.”

“Oh, yes! Come any day other than the 3rd and the 4th.”

Wow! He is at station, and has a little time to spare for me. Felt really elated.

“Shall call you on the evening of the 1st.”

“Okay.” 

So far so good.

On the 1st evening, “Can I come tomorrow?”

“All right, try to make it by 9 in the morning. Come to my residence,” He further asked where I was staying and how would I reach, and so on.

“He” is Dr V.P. Joy (also known as Joy Vazhayil), Chief Secretary of Kerala. Am fortunate to know him at Delhi through various akshara shloka sadases. Last year he had also very kindly released (online) a book that I edited.

Was at the door of his official residence a few minutes behind schedule. His wife Ms Sheeja very kindly spent some time with me, offered tea or coffee, to which I politely and thankfully responded ‘no’. We had seen twice (though not actually met) in Delhi, but she immediately recognized me. She very kindly gave me company; Dr Joy was getting ready for office.

Dr Joy is the same young, smart, polite, loving, always smiling, person. We talked for a few minutes, about ourselves, our families, our works, etc. He very generously offered me help in obtaining necessary cooperation from CMC Vellore, in writing a biography of Dr Ida Scudder that he knew I was planning to. He presented me with copies of two of his latest books of poems.

Time to leave. I discussed in my mind, ‘whether to or not to? To or not to? To or …?’. Well, let me go ahead, and I politely requested Ms Sheeja Joy to click us on my mobile. She very willingly and smilingly (well, she always smiles!) agreed to.

Then it was a little more difficult question that I asked, “Any problem in my taking a selfie of all three of us?”

Again, the same smile and willingness. And she very kindly obliged.

For me it was a morning well spent. Thank you, Joy Sir and Sheeja Madam, for making me feel extremely comfortable, pleasant and proud.


The Bouquet and the Shawl


17 March 2022

Wow! I am indeed elated. I feel I have become a VasEnite (VasEn – short for Vasundhara Enclave!) again 19 years after leaving the place; I lived in Sreeniketan during 1999 to 2003. (Am currently in Noida.) I have also once again become a Delhiite after having participated in a programme organized by Delhi Malayalee Association, VasEn. It was a real home coming on 13 March. Thank you DMA, thank you Unni (not using a Mr, nor using his full name Unnikrishnan, because then it lacks the proximity) and thank you Pradeep, for inviting me to yesterday’s edition of Aksharavedi as well as for the 2020–2021 DMA VasEn Souvenir release function.

Earlier last week Unni invited me to attend the next edition of Aksharavedi, this time physical and offline, unlike the earlier two on line editions, which also I had the opportunity to attend, thanks to Unni. I was glad to receive the invitation to attend this function, though I did not stay in VasEn or even in Delhi. I gratefully told him that I would certainly like to attend the function. And then came the bomb shell. He said that the subject for this edition was Jnjanappana and that I was expected to talk about the book. This was quite unexpected. I told him that I am a nobody and would rather not attempt any such misadventure. But he insisted. And I had to oblige.

I was aware that not many members knew me because I was never, and still am not, a part of VasEN DMA, nor did I know most of them. I expected to see and say hello to somebody from Sreeniketan, but it looked like nobody turned up. I however, was glad to see Aarav from the society receiving an award.

And here I was, talking to a very silent and attentive group of enthusiastic Malayalee devotees and DMA activists on Jnjanappana! That too after a very beautiful and devout rendering of the poem by 18 gorgeous ladies! Wow! I was doing something which I have never dared to attempt before. It was not an appreciation of the poem, which I am not qualified to do. So I explained what I felt about the poem, how it explains our daily life, and so on.

I thank from my heart the lady who offered me a bottle of water when I was having a little trouble in talking, due to a surgery I had to undergo a few years back.

I was honoured to receive a ponnada (shawl) and a bouquet presented by Shri Babu Panicker, who needs no introduction to Delhi Malayalees. Thank you, VasEn DMA and everybody connected with the programme.

A surprise gift was meeting and talking to Smt Surya, who hails from our own little village Veliyannoor, the northern-most part of Kottayam Dist. Thank you, Surya, for the initiative you took in coming and talking to me. We shall meet again, as Veliyannoorwallahs and alumni of the same school.

It was a magnificent function and I enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you Unni, Shri Raghunath, Shri Babu Panicker, Pradeep, and everybody else who made the function a grand one.

Post script: While in Sreeniketan, I was very fortunate to have been able to bring out several issues of Sreeniketan News, a quarterly newsletter on matters of interest to the members of the society. I acknowledge with gratitude the help and cooperation I received from all, especially Shri G.C. Sharma, the then President, in this venture. I remember it was while travelling to meet with an MP (or MLA?) that I presented the idea of a newsletter to Sharmaji and he readily agreed. After having gone through the newsletter while on a visit to Sreeniketan, Dr Pandey, the then President of the Senior Citizens Forum, invited me to join him in bringing out a six-monthly newsletter that he used to bring out then. I helped him with one issue, before shifting out of VasEn. Sweet memories of my association with VasEn still fill me with pride and gratitude.