Friends

In 1987… I entered my classroom

as a timid and meek 10-year-old

newcomer to the school,

very unsure of myself.

Made friends with three other girls

of the same kind

and we grew up together,

fighting and frolicking

and relishing every moment.

In a while, we were the notorious four in the class.

Unforgettable and lovely days they were.

 

Two of them left the school in a couple o’ years.

One left no address behind,

while I hung on to the other thru letters

which also weaned off with time!

The third and I were parted to different sections

and soon she also left the school.

We four were lost to each other!

 

Life took us in different directions

Love, career, kids and what not,

intense with the lives we were living.

Though we hardly even thought about each other

we lay in a corner of each other’s minds.

 

In 2004… I was in the beach,

my husband and I, playing with our 2-year old.

I noticed two cute kids running about

and their mom trailing behind.

She looked familiar; I tried to place her.

Oh! It’s my good old friend.

Unabated joy of finding a lost beloved!

We hugged and were swept by the memories

of two decades that rested between us.

We quickly got in touch with the third and

all met in between our busy schedules.

We parted again to different countries,

thanks to Facebook and Whatsapp, to keep us linked.

 

This week, they came and stayed with me.

Sitting in the foothills of the misty mountains,

we spent two days chatting and recollecting

and sharing about our beloved families and friends

and our ways of living.

We got back to our very own selves

…and frolicked and confessed.

Two more memorable days to count on.

Thanks to the two angels for being in my life!

A Trip to Black Thunder

5 June 2015

The fun continued unabated on the fifth day after the school reopened when all the middle school students and teachers embarked on a trip to the one and only mega water theme park in Coimbatore – ‘BLACK THUNDER’. After ever-lasting traffic jams, waits and a two-hour long drive, we finally reached the park close to noon. We got our clothes changed and plunged into the water.  

Among the many rides I went in, the deadliest was the one which had a high vertical fall. I don’t know what the park called it, but left to me, I’d aptly name it ‘Death Fall’. It was a giant water slide whose topmost point would be at the 6^th storey of a building. Before the slide reaches the ground, there were two sharp bends in it, each about two storeys high! I was supposed to climb to the top where we were given a thick rubber sheet to lie belly down on. The merciless part was that we were supposed to slide head down first. I was asked by the ride operator to bend my knees while lying down on the sheet and fold and clasp the other end of the sheet at my head. 

Even though I decided to take this ride, I was very nervous after reaching the top. The moment I lay down on the sheet, there were not just butterflies in my stomach, but giant tarantulas all over! I hesitated… mumbled to myself… but decided to go on it anyway! I could hear my own heartbeat. The ride operator said one or two encouraging words and was almost going to give me that physical push to begin the ride. I was seized with a monstrous terror. Then, I slid vertically down into the empty space. I could hear the swish of the air around me as I raced up the first bend… then down again… and then the second bend. I couldn’t hold on to the massive adrenalin gush in me. Those few seconds seemed like the longest stretch in my life and I was literally dying for it to end when I dropped down the last leg of my journey through the steep slide. With a humongous splash, I tumbled into the pool at the end of this ride. Water found its way through my nose and ears and into my lungs. The entire thing would’ve lasted close to 30 seconds but I couldn’t believe I had done it! 

Other attractions were the thunderous waterfall, wave pool, pendulum ride and many different snaky slides. Though I enjoyed all of it, none can compare to the ‘Death Fall’. Our trip ended with a scrumptious dinner in town. All in all, it was an unforgettable day!

Experience of a tremor

1:30am on 25 Apr 2015

Travelling with six of my family members, Gangtok was the second leg of our vacation. Unmindful of the drizzling, we strolled on the huge MG Marg enjoying the sight of cute little children on the road chattering in their native tongue that was gibberish to me.  

I decided to buy a statue of Buddha as a souvenir to take back home. That was when I noticed this small shop full of bells, chimes, statues and the like heaped and hung all around it. I entered the shop and looked around when I noticed a beautiful bronze Buddha sculpted to perfection. I fell in love with it instantly. I picked it up and enquired its cost with the shopkeeper. It was exactly 11.30am on the 25^th of April 2015. As he was answering me, I felt a certain giddiness and my head swirled. My stomach felt slightly uneasy as if I was dropping down a roller coaster ride. I recounted on my health and regretted that it was deteriorating with age. I even reminded myself I should henceforth have a heavy breakfast. The next second, my sister asked, “Did you feel like something in your belly now? … mmm… somewhat squeezy?” I was just taken aback. “Yes… but, how come you know it? Did you feel as well?” Immediately, all of us around said they had the same sensation.  

That’s when someone uttered the word ‘TREMOR’!  

Oh my God! Are we safe? What to do now? – a zillion thoughts flooded my mind. I was happy and excited about the new experience, but at the same time, anxious about our safety. In a minute’s lapse, there was another tremor and the same feeling returned – squeezy stomach and swirling head. But now, we noticed that the hangings in the shop shook rapidly, sending shudders through my bones. All of the customers and the salesmen rushed headlong out of the tiny shop and into the wide open road outside. The entire MG Marg was full of people that an aerial view would show only hats and umbrellas! Suddenly coming from nowhere were many police cars that passed by patrolling the situation. 

In a few minutes, the throng dispersed and I went into the shop, bought the Buddha and joined the others. We walked for a while and entered a restaurant to lunch. We decided to occupy the table closest to the door so that we can sprint outside in case of another emergency. I went through the menu card and I was about to summon the waiter to give the order…. Once again the same feeling returned! … only this time the table shook. OH MY! All of us ran outside again.  

Later in the day, I learnt that the earthquake had its epicentre in Kathmandu, Nepal and these tremors in Gangtok were just its aftermath. Soon we continued with the third leg of our vacation and returned home safely the next week. Even though this experience of tremor is unforgettable and will stay evergreen in my mind, the most important lesson was that nature can get the better of us anytime… and it’s not in our hands!

 

Chitra Festival, Madurai

Although brought up in Chennai, I had the privilege to visit my mom’s hometown of Madurai during the holidays every year of my childhood. During those summers, not only did I enjoy with cousins at home, but also witnessed the festivities of the month-long Chitra festival – the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi. But, those were decades ago!

Having studied my post grad in Madurai and having married a Maduraiite made be to get closely associated with this temple city. Nowadays, summers in Madurai meant keeping myself to home. Generally, I don’t dare to go out in the scorching heat for any reason, leave alone Chitra festival. However, this summer I grabbed the opportunity to witness the procession of Lord Vishnu or Azhagar, as he is called, during one of those festive days. As I waded through the maddened crowd, it was noon and the sun was at its peak, sending down its ghastly waves. Unmindful of this, there were all types of vendors and prasad distributors and to my astonishment, even a mahout with his elephant on which he took little children for short rides within the swarm of people. To add to the hullabaloo, there were these men and women fully decked up with their made-up faces and wearing the costume of Gods while asking for alms. Some of them even carried burning logs and offered to apply the ash from it on our foreheads. And oooooh, how can I forget this blood-dripping man who kept whipping his torso and cutting his arm with a sharp knife. It came as a bolt from the blue, when he laid his toddler in front of him and started to slaughter the child! I just couldn’t stand the look of it. Apparently, they were techniques to get alms from the public.

 

 

The multitude of people that had come to witness the event consisted of old and young from all classes of the society. They were dressed in their best with some carrying just-born infants, others having offerings for the Lord. There was barely any space to even stand, but the yelling mob just moved me forward with only the slightest effort from my side. As I looked at the throng, I was debating within myself… is it sheer craziness… or is it enthusiasm… or, is this called devotion? I kept waiting for a long time, when many hundials [donation boxes] passed by. Then, came a green flag with a picture of Lord Hanuman in it which, I learnt later, meant Lord Azhagar was to appear shortly. Finally after much ado, the deity was visible when He took a turn into the street we were on. Exquisitely dressed and garlanded, He sat in a gorgeous golden vehicle resembling a palanquin.  When I took one closer look at His face, I had a stir within me and my eyes got wet! No wonder he’s called Azhagar… he is truly the epitome of beauty!

 

Kolkata

The entire city of Kolkata looked like an antiquity – very old but invaluable at the same time. It’s very disheartening to say that some exotic places like Dakshineshwar and Kali Ghat have become more of commercial establishments than places of worship. Built on the banks of Hooghly river, Belur Math was serene and had an indescribable beauty to it. The Samadhi of Shri Ramakrishna was so vibrant. Entirely built with marble, Birla Mandir stole the heart of anyone who entered it. The splendour of the main deity was inexpressible in words – Radha and Krishna were the cynosure to everyone’s eyes. On the first look of the mesmerising Krishna, I stood enthralled!

Kolkata zoo, Indian Museum and the Science City were on our itinerary the next day. Exceptionally built, each one was massive and would certainly demand an entire day to go around. Owing to our time limit, we could spend only a few hours in these places, nevertheless enjoyed them thoroughly. 

Last but not the least is the impressive tram ride of Kolkata which speaks of the tradition of the city. It’s indeed remarkable that Kolkata has still retained the trams when all of the other Indian cities have given up.

 

MG Marg, Gangtok

Extensively wide road

with concrete floor

no vehicles plying,

just pedestrians

intermittent fountains to gaze at

equally spaced benches to sit on

small and big shops

selling petty to exquisite clothing,

from antiques to eatables

… this is MG Marg, Gangtok.

 

Tiger Hill, Darjeeling

To go to the highest point in Darjeeling, Tiger hill, we started from our hotel at 3.30am to reach its summit and watch the sunrise on top of Mt. Kanchenjunga. It was spine-chilling when we reached atop the hill since our jackets and mufflers didn’t seem to help at all. Although the mountains were fully mist-covered, we were able to watch the spectacular sunrise! In a few seconds after the first streak of its light, the entire sun was out.

Mirik, Darjeeling

Around 50km from Darjeeling, the hill town of Mirik is a heaven on earth. Cordoned off by magnificent mountains was pristine water in the lake where we enjoyed a pleasant pedal boating ride. Apart from Bengali, the localities spoke a language called Gorkha and I must say, almost all of the women we saw had such pretty straight hair. The lady that accompanied us in the boat shared something very interesting: a few years ago, the lake had frozen in winter and some drove motorbikes across the frozen water! We had a relaxed walk along the promenade around the lake and shot lots of scenic photos. A scrumptious lunch in a local restaurant concluded our Mirik visit – momos, chowmein, thupka and of course, finger-licking parathas.

Simana Point

The road is in India.

The road side shops are in Nepal.

In between is the Indo Nepal border.

Can you believe it?

We devoured delicious mouth-watering momos at Nepal. YUMMMMM!!

Ensured a lot of shopping in Pashupathi Market, also in Nepal.

… and all this was on the day before the earthquake!

Jhorpokri

This is Jhorpokri. On the way to Jhorpokri, a 2 hour drive from Darjeeling, we could hardly see a few feet ahead of us, such was the fog! But, our driver could manoeuvre well along the hairpin bends and steep curves just by instinct. We were initially paranoid, but got used to it after a while! There was a picturesque pond in Jhorpokri with a flock of geese which we fed with puffed rice. The place was stunningly beautiful and extremely cold! We adored the location.

 

Darjeeling

Dumbfounding terrain

Astounding vegetation

Rejuvenating weather

Jolting pathways

Ever-winding hairpin bends

Eternal snow-capped peaks

Lovely flowers

Intermittent rains

Never-ending beauty

Gracious people

 

Turtle Walk, Chennai

Most of the chennaites must be familiar with the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles. SSTCN [Students of Sea Turtles Conservation Network] does a phenomenal job of walking along the shore from Neelangarai to Besant Nagar every night between 11pm and 5am during the nesting season of January to March looking for turtle nests. Since there are many threats, the eggs are carefully dug out of the nest and incubated in the man-made hatchery where the natural conditions are simulated. Once they hatch in around 45 days, the hatchlings are let into the sea.

 

This is the second time I’m taking this walk. During my earlier walk a few years ago, we were fortunate enough to find a nest with 220 eggs. In my second walk last week, we couldn’t find any nests… but we spotted three dead turtles which were apparently drowned by fishing nets and washed ashore. Our walk started just past midnight at Neelangarai and when we reached Besant Nagar, it was past 4am. The volunteers let some hatchlings into the sea and we were privileged to be a part of that. Walking along the shore in the moonlit night with the waves washing the feet had an unparalleled beauty of its own. No words can bring out the spectacular experience we had!

 

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

Serene, it is

Heritage

Of India, for sure.

Resonates the

Enchanting beauty of

Temple Architecture.

Encapsulates shrines of Gods.

Monument, it is unquestionably.

Permeates the mind with

Love and Awe for the

Entrancing Pallavas.

 

Krishna's Butter Ball

It’s a humongous rock

that stands on its tippy toe.

A hundred can sit under its shade.

But, it does not roll

neither does it fall.

That’s Krishna’s Butter Ball

at MAHABALIPURAM!

 

Bamboo

I didn’t know much about this plant

until I visited Bamboo Centre, Auroville.

Bamboo has more than a thousand varieties.

Does it grow four feet in a day?

Its rice is rich in calcium and minerals

You can make toys and jewellery,

chairs and tables,

houses and interiors!

Since it grows tall and has leaves

you may think it’s a tree…

But, did you know BAMBOO is actually a grass?

 

Auroville

As I strolled the streets,

the passers-by smiled at me.

Those I met

are passionate about their vocation.

This is not a conservative city,

but an inclusive society.

They are eco-friendly,

they minimise plastic

and recycle waste.

They’ve converted a barren land

into a woodland.

They eat in a community kitchen

that's solar powered.

If there’s a place I want to be in

other than where I’m right now,

it’s none, but AUROVILLE!

Pebble Garden, Auroville

Acres and acres of pebbles and parched land

one may wonder if it’s the land’s destiny.

Nah! Comes the answer.

A garden… no a forest is right there now.

The fate of this land rewritten,

now we have fruits, flowers and vegetables aplenty!

Thanks to this wonderful soul and his passion.

He brought in the Acacia plant to

create the mulch for making soil.

Dear Bernard, you are truly an inspiration!

 

Mangroves of Pichavaram

Bushy trees with a lot of green shoots

submerged in water are its thick roots

home to many species of birds and insects

intertwined by shady canals,

which add beauty to the existing wonder.

A boat ride would be incomplete

without traversing these exquisite canals.

The forest keeps the Tsunami at bay,

Pichavaram Mangroves simply left me flummoxed!

 

Pongalo Pongal 2015

Drinking her mother’s milk, a cute cuddly calf

Decorating the ground are geometrical patterns

Puffing up in the pot, rice and water

Dancing their way, children and adults alike

Echoing in the air – folk songs and drums

Offering to sun god, a line-up on the banana leaf

Relishing every bite of the sugarcane

Devouring the yummy chakkarai pongal

We celebrated PONGAL-O-PONGAL

 

Where I Live - Madurai

Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai is a city of ancient culture. Since this land has been inhabited for more than two millennia, it is considered one of the oldest cities of Tamil nadu.

Situated in the heart of the city, Meenakshi temple is the epitome of beauty and architecture. It is so ancient that nobody knows when exactly it was built, but is believed to have been erected at least before the 6^th century. The temple houses 14 towers out of which the tallest four almost touch the sky. It is fascinating to see the stunning paintings and sculptures all over the temple premises. The yearly Chitra festival in April-May which happens with a fanfare of events is an enjoyable month-long celebration to mark the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.

Another attraction in Madurai is the Thirumalai Nayak Palace which is an architectural feat of everlasting wonder. Showcasing Italian architecture, this palace was constructed three centuries ago. Children love the mammoth pillars here since 6 to 7 children need to hold hands and form a circle to embrace one pillar!

A visit to Madurai isn’t complete without tasting the heavenly Jigarthanda, an icy beverage that has originated in the city. It holds a lot of cooling properties that can come in handy to fight the city’s scorching climate during summer. Other things that are synonymous with Madurai are closely-stringed jubilant jasmine flowers and the ever attractive Chungudi cotton sarees to entice the ladies. The latest kids’ attraction is a new multi-storey shopping mall that has sprung up here, called the Vishal De Mall.

Madurai is a place of rich tradition and truly a heaven on earth. Whether you are a traveller or a pilgrim or a historian or a mere lounger, the city has something to offer.

The Akashmalli Classroom

Stunning shades of aquamarine decorate the Akashmalli classroom. As you enter,

the big emerald green chalk board on the wall attracts your attention with its breath-taking coloured writings. A proverb there, an idiom here, the schedule and agenda for the day are woven into one on this board. Just below this, sit two wooden chairs with their glistening copper coloured cushions.

To the left is the teacher’s space that has a long table with a soft beige table cloth. The teacher’s materials are organized on this table with utmost perfection. Just between this table and the wall is a long thick sandy straw mat for the teacher to sit on.

Three computers relax in their respective corners neatly arranged and covered with turquoise blue cloth. Amidst these computers, a majestic 32” Samsung LCD colour television sits on a higher plane like a king in his court room. Two tall shelves next to it have the encyclopaedias and other reference books enveloped in them. Opposite to it stands another tall hollow cupboard for storing students’ charts. Next to it is a long low shelf, the most used one. It has art materials, markers, colours and other stationery.

On facing south, one can see rows of book shelves to the left, dedicated to each of the subjects – English, Math, Science and Social studies. A glamorous globe and a wonderful wooden book stand adorn the top of these shelves. The term books, story books and poetry books of ex-students of Akashmalli are elegantly arranged here. Just above these shelves are long soft boards on the wall, with sapphire blue draped on them. Further above, hugging the wall are exquisite artworks neatly glass framed and hung.

To the right are chests of drawers for students. A huge mural painting of three dazzling checkered golden fish swim on the southern wall of the classroom. Different hues of blue and purple dash along with the fish.

The floor tiles are smooth and coloured creamish yellow. Seven colourful square student tables squat on the floor as if waiting to be written on. Like the tiny droplets of colour splashed from a painter’s brush, miniature student desks are sprinkled in the room. There are two broad entrances to the classroom. Cream striped curtains boastfully blow in the wind from the six sets of east-facing windows. Rows of 14 milky tube lights and fans hang on the ceiling. Overall, it’s a spectacular display that would invite any learner to come and dissolve inside her. The aroma of freshness here is indescribable.

But, the classroom would never be complete without the gurgles and murmurs of nineteen naughty children that she nourishes here!