My tharavadu, or the ancestral home on my mother’s side, was built roughly 100 years ago on the outskirts of Ramanattukara in Kerala. Staying there during holidays was like discovering the wonders in a time warp. One day I had to go to Calicut, the nearest big town, an hour’s journey away. This was the …
Our African adventure jogged a few memories. Stories about my grandfather heard in my childhood in bits and pieces. Some narrated by his sons, some gleaned from his diaries I stumbled upon. I heard these tales between the ages of 10 and 18. Most of it is true, for everything else I uphold the term …
Mund. Munde. Mundu. All one and the same thing. In some cases a bit of a rag! In other cases, a delightful piece of attire that keeps the stuffing in! After a long gap I got the chance to wear that ‘delightfully easy to wear’ length of cloth – mundu. The occasion was a kathakali …
Man may be incomplete until he is married. And then, he is finished!
The flu virus! Physically not yet. The quandary began with the onset of the flu season and advertisements that flustered even the most resolute. This constant bombarding triggered the fear factor which I had, over decades, hidden under layers of positive thoughts. Early in the fall season, my family doc encouraged me to take the …
I feel good today. Hopefully, my contribution of $100 towards the research of a deadly disease will save someone’s life. That’s the best part. On the other side, research into my lottery buying habits has begun. If an electronic tracker got hold of my life record and played it back, she/he can trace the origins …
I opened my eyes and saw nothing. First the sounds of rain reached me, then the spray from a water drop. Lightning made the room bright for a blink of an eye. I reached down and pulled the blanket over my head ready for the sound. The deafening thunder made me still shudder. It began …
Chitra is mean. It all started with that stupid carrom board*. One fine evening Chitra and I had the urge to go and eat at Gerrard St. [Indian street downtown]. So, with Parvathiammal [our Tamilian friend who has a strong opinion about everything and everyone] in tow, we eased into our 1996 Ford Taurus and …
Dosa is another heavenly food item from India – the land of mystery and more recently, outsourcing! The humble dosa originated in Kerala (South India). Dosas are very thin and crisp and is usually the size of a plate. There are bigger chattis which can produce dosas that hang from either side of the plate …
I like going home. If possible once every year. My home is far away. Roughly 8,500 miles away, across the Atlantic, past the gulf countries, across the Arabian sea, in a tiny state called Kerala at the southernmost tip of India. Going home is always a memorable event. It looks different now. Concrete buildings have …
Celestial Dances I – For Arun, the weekend started with Kathakali, followed by nature’s dance in tornado alley, and dancing on the streets in Little India celebrating India’s cricket win. All in one weekend. Kathakali. Arun’s first memory of this story-play from Kerala was when he was five years old. It was raining heavily that …
At the bottom of the bridge over Welland Canal, the overhead sign flashed once. ’30 minutes to 1 hour wait at the Peace Bridge Crossing.’ On cue, butterflies in Arun’s stomach emerged from their cocoons. The first time, Arun and his family crossed the border to the US of A with their friend and family. …
I broke the ice in my first speech. Many of us do not see or connect with the iceberg beneath. I am talking about our inner feelings, our subconscious, who we are, and how we become the people we become. These are thoughts that continue to haunt us for most of our lives. Some of …
This year, the concept of Vishukainettam has changed slightly. What was a token amount for Vishu given by karnavars to the younger folks is now the rolling trophy for the best Vishu sadya. The race is on for 2003. Who will win the cup? The contest begins on 15th april. Due to some complexity in …