Reading Day (6).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a 20' to 7, went through the chores and was ready well in time. We were off to the Foundation by a 5' past 9.

PJ Kurien had signed on the letter for supplementary allocations from the budget for Muthachchan's monument. I, somehow, feel that it's all a drama to throw us off their backs. And the story goes on!

Worked on my lap top.

Lunch and I'd asked Vasantha to go it easy on the quantity of food being given to me every afternoon.

This evening, my going to Poojappura was delayed by 45' as our tempo had come late from the two errands given to it.

Today's topic was "Anyamaakunna Malayalam" by Vilakkudi Rajendran which was great information and interestingly put across and the audience reaction was simply good. Had asked Johnson Roche to do the summing up.

Was a bit late by the last few days' standards! 

Reading Day (5).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half past 7, went down to have the morning cuppa and had then gone through the chores. Was ready by 9.

Off to the Foundation. Worked on my laptop.

Off to the All Saints' College, met the college principal, Smt Rasmiye and the Malayalam professor, Udayakala to fix up the district-level reading program to be presided by CP John, the transport minister at 0930 hrs on 03 Jul.

Lunch and a very short siesta.

Off to Poojappura for the Sarga saayaahnam to listen to Venpakal Ganesh sir on "Kalayiloode saahithyathinte valarcha" which was enthralling in its content. 

A trip to the Foundation to pick up Maman's cellphone which he'd forgotten!

A late evening!

Reading Day (4).

Got up at a half past 2 to reduce water levels and found that sleep was hard to come by. Recited my prayers partially and turned off to sleep yet again.

Got up at 5, sent the messages, went through my chores and was ready before 9.

At the Foundation by a half past 9. Worked on my laptop.

Lunch; Vasantha was off key compared with her previous performances. Wonder whether Anish had spoken to her about my unsuccessful attempt to make her permanent at the Foundation after my word with Maman!

A bit of rest.

Off to Poojappura for the Sarga saayaahnam. It was Mr Suresan on the topic, "Chiriyum chinthayum". He'd suggested that we increase by another session on laughter in our itinerary!

Dropped Suma kunjamma at Kawadiar. Got flak over it.

A quiet evening thereafter. 

Reading Day (3).

Got up at 5, sent the messages and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a quarter past 7, went through the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9.

Had breakfast of puttum pazhavum pappadavum.

Worked on my laptop.

Took a short nap; had lunch.

A short siesta and we were off to the late Narayana Kurup sir's residence to offer our condolences. He was a lecturer in Malayalam at the University College, years back and was an admirer of PN Panicker. His body had been taken to the "Santhi kavaadam" by the time we reached there; spoke to Mrs Narayana Kurup and the family. He'd passed away last evening due to old age related illness; he was 92. Om Shanti! Sadgati.

We, then, went across to minister CP John's residence at Xanadu. He will interact with the students of Carmel Convent School, Thiruvananthapuram on 03 Jul at a half past 9 in the morning.

The next venue was at the Maanaveeyam Road where, on the occasion of the World Yoga Day, World Music Day and the Reading Month, we'd a an hour and a half's program by Isha Foundation's Sidharth Babu, a paralympian himself! Smt Anu Kumari, the Thiruvananthapuram District Collector had inaugurated the function!

And from there, we'd gone across to be part of the Sarga Saayaahnam program for the evening - a conglomeration of poets which was nice and cute.

Was back home by 8.

A quiet evening and dinner.    

Reading Day (2).

Got up at 5, sent the messages, went through my chores and was ready by a 10' to 9. We left for the Foundation at 9, dropped Maman there and an hour later, had gone along with Rajannan to drop Aniyan at the Railway station. He was returning to Kidangoor.

A quiet day to begin with.

Had got the caretaker going on plucking the coconuts for the three of us - Mini, Rema and Lekha. Mini had collected about 20 of them for her use in Bangalore! She, Ammu and Mithun had spent time with Rema and Padmakumar.

Lunch was handled by Vasantha, who'd given us rice, sambar and lime pickle.

Rested awhile.

Off to the Poojappura traffic circle for the "Sarga saayaahnam"; today's was ex-chief secretary VP Joy's talk on "Samakaalika samoohathil kavithakalude prasakthi". It was very interesting; I marvel at his elephantine memory as he recited poems that he'd studied during his childhood! I gave a brief 'Vote of Thanks' and assured the audience that "Reading shall never die".

A few from the audience congratulated me for articulating Muthachchan's idea on reading!

Secured from the Foundation by 8.

A quiet evening thereafter!

The 31st Reading Day.

The beginning of Reading Month 2026!

Got up at a half past 4, went through the chores and was ready by a half past 7. The announcement of the Reading Day and highlights of PN Panicker had come on the Akashvani and the FM Radio.

We were beside Muthachchan's statue by a 10' past 8. The floral tribute by the family and the cultural bigwigs went off smoothly. 

Mini, Ammu, Lekha and Letha came in from Kottarakkara, on time, in our car. Had breakfast at Abbas' teashop. Suma kunjamma footed the bill!

At Kanakakkunnu Palace by 11. It gradually got packed with students and elders.

The program started 45' late as the chief minister - he's also the Finance Minister - had presented the budget in the Assembly. He was accompanied by Shamsuddin, the Education Minister, PC Vishnunath, the Cultural Minister and Roji John, the Technical Education minister.  

The program went off fine with the audience being served both refreshments (Frooti and a piece of cake) and lunch (Vegetable Biriyani and peas curry). The CM has exhorted the children to make 'reading' a habit from today! He seemed to be excited while being with the children.

The outstation guests left, after lunch, by 2.

The evening program by Dr Manakkaala was nice on the topic, "Sangeethavum samoohavum)". The audience was less in strength at a paltry 32!

Returned home by a quarter to 8; dinner was lunch, heated up.

Brought up the diary and the blog online!

At Thiruvananthapuram.

Got up late, wonder why? It's, probably, because of the additional medicines that I'm taking for my sore throat. Made up for the delay and sent all the messages. Opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the television.

Morning cuppa with Lekha. It was nice being back at Raj Nivas.

Walked within the house, recited my prayers.

Bath and breakfast of idiyappams and eggs masala.

Monish had come on the dot; we cast off at about a quarter past 9. Dropped Lekha at Letha's place and headed for Thiruvananthapuram. Bought a belt from Bata, short of Kesavadasapuram.

Reached the Foundation by 12 and weren't people happy to see me back amid them?

Went to the Kanakakkunnu Palace to review the work being undertaken.

Had a simple lunch of rice, thiyyal and injikkari - the last two provided by Shekhar. Girija has been replaced by Vasantha who's very caring. Missed Girija, though, who'd looked after me during the last Reading Month celebrations!

Worked like a postman, cut and pasted addresses.

Went through the MC's - Soorya - dialogue delivery rehearsal. 

Made a trip to the Kanakakkunnu Palace but there wasn't any progress and the gates were locked!

Returned to have a quiet dinner of gruel, pulses, mango pickle and pappadam.

Spoke to Lekha and slept off around my usual time.