On being in the news.

The month of June has been hectic. The first fortnight encompassed our visit to Pune in pursuit of renewing old relationships and go on a nostalgic trip through the portals of my alma mater, the National Defence Academy. The experience was fantastic and on a very personal level, I could cement existing relationships further but I must hasten to add that the intensity or rather, the cooling down of the ones that I thought were everlasting was another lesson learnt in life!

The third week saw me driving a few hundred miles between Kochi, Kottarakkara and Thiruvananthapuram in connection with my grandfather's remembrance day and the alumni day of my school. It was again about interaction with people and the beginning of new partnerships! In between, my organisation had to go through the paces of an administrative inspection by a superior which of course, went off well.

It was towards the end of the 'Vaayana Vaaram', that Roy - a youngster from school and an admirer of your's truly- put his friend, the resident editor of a national daily to collect reminiscences that I've about my grandfather and consequently, I figured in the columns of the newspaper for the whole of last week through the district-wise editions of the daily. Roy'd, further, uploaded the interview on the school website and my phone has been ringing ever since with calls from friends and well wishers.

So much so, that I was the most sought after guy at a wedding reception this evening and had people trying to get more, about my grandfather, from me. I was quite amused with this newfound, yet surely shortlived celebrity status of mine and must admit, felt thoroughly uncomfortable with all the attention.

I still believe in what I told almost all of them that they're congratulating 'the accident of my birth' in being related to a legend who'd become great by his deeds. I've done nothing as yet but yes, would like to be known for my deeds too and then have people say, "It's only in the fitness of things that he's been pursuing what he is because he's his grandfather's grandson"! 

And yes, I'm proud to be the legendary PN Panicker's grandson!!

Disturbing news!

The CPM's cup of woes seem to be overflowing. The arrest of another local leader, P Mohanan, of their Kozhikode district committee by the special investigation team probing the TP Chandrasekharan murder has rattled the party. The party's cadre was up in arms against the police and the judiciary, consequent to the arrest of their colleague.


From the information coming out, in bits and pieces, from the interrogation thus far, this person had attested the killing of TP soon after the party congress which was held a few months ago. He was the middle level leader in charge of the Onchiyam area and had come to the conclusion that TP's continued presence would not be in the interest of his party's future and hence his elimination was the only way out! It's also of interest to note that Mohanan's wife is an MLA of the CPM in the current legislative assembly.


The noose seems to be tightening as the investigation team is trying to ascertain as to whether the top leadership had indeed given the instruction for TP's killing. 


What a fall for a party that had begun on principled ideology and noble intentions! The only positive thought that comes to me, at this juncture, is that the 'manthan' would purify the party off its extreme elements and bring it to the disciplined, cadre based party as of the days of old!

Inefficiency cannot be tolerated...

This morning, a couple of men from the local office of the electricity board came into my office to change the meter. In fact, as I was entering my office they're leaving the premises after completing their work.

There was a sudden flow of excess energy and due to the high voltage, many of the electrical/electronic equipment went 'kaput'. Work had come to a standstill. I was incensed and had the electricity board workers recalled and gave them a piece of my mind for not waiting a while to confirm that their work was right. I'd read in the newspapers, in the past, about meters of incompatible impedance having created havoc in domestic houses courtesy some ignorant workers of the organisation. And mind you, these guys are always quick to raise slogans and strike work if they've a grievance and can be vicious if the consumer is at the receiving end!

The two linemen, along with their foreman, were an apologetic lot and cowering in front of my belligerence. They agreed that the fault was their's in that the wires were plugged in wrongly, creating the erratic flow of energy. Their request was that I should not report the matter to their higher ups and the quid pro quo was that, they'd defray the complete expenses towards the repairs/restoring of the incapacitated equipment.

Much against my grain, I'd almost agreed to their request when one of them had the gumption to say that I must help them further by shelling out a part of the expenses from the official funds as all the equipment were government owned. That statement rattled me and I rung up his superior and briefed him about the incident. I added that they'd admitted their fault and had promised to defray the expenses for the repairs. The superior, then, replied that based on my complaint, disciplinary action would also be slapped on the defaulters.

So much about the callous attitude, that many of us have, towards government items!



Tailpiece. 

And guys, on a lookout for government jobs, would go to any extent, for getting one and after achieving their end, take all sorts of liberty to shirk work. 

It can never be tolerated!

59 years later.......

This evening, I was lucky to be a witness to a unique reunion between Kurup kochachan and Kamalamma aunty(they're cousins and their roots are in south Paravoor and I address her as 'amma'. Her eldest daughter, Prabha Ramakrishnan is a lawyer, practicing at the High Court), at the latter's house.

They'd last met at Paravoor in 1953 - yours truly was yet to inherit this earth, then! - when she and her family were off to Singapore due to her husband's professional requirements. She recalled my kochachan's 'youth and glamour' and the way he used to tease her then. He was, however, very protective about her and had kept the other boys at bay and ensured that none among them took liberties with his kid sister! I could also feel their sadness at the way time had taken its toll on their personal being!!

Names, places and events came and went, during their two and a half hours' conversation, giving me an insight about our family tree from Paravoor. For them, traversing through 59 years and catching up with the present, was an exciting experience. Had it not been for the paucity of time, I reckon, they'd have gone on.
Many important people in their lives have passed into the mist of time, the latest among them being Leela kunjamma, last October and one could feel the pain they're trying to live down, with little success.

Amma has problems in moving around as both her knees have been badly affected by arthritis and Kochachan has a problem about his right knee, but as he says, he is on the go despite the discomfort.

For Lekha and me, the whole experience was educative and we felt happy that such a meeting was taking place! 

With trepidation and in grief.

1. With trepidation.

News, in bits and pieces about a recruitment racket at the National Defence Academy, have been trickling down over the past few days. It revolved around the intake of the non clerical staff like the orderlies, the safaiwalas and others, as I understand. Colonel Kulbir Singh, the Staff Officer to the Commandant, has been arrested as unaccounted money has been recovered from his house and also from the houses of his civilian friends living outside, in the city. He seems to have been the mastermind behind the misdemeanour and I'm sure that more gory details of the scam are gonna tumble out over the coming days. He'd interacted with me and many others during our recent visit to the Academy about a fortnight back. Little did one realise that he was stewing his on juice in the meanwhile. A sum of Rs. 96 lakhs have been recovered thus far.

I only hope that Lt Gen Jatinder Singh, the Commandant and my school fellow comes out of this unscathed. I   still remember the affable sardar, dancing amidst us in typical Punjabi style with outstretched hands and index fingers pointing skyward on the makeshift dance floor, erected in front of the Cadets' Mess for the occasion. A great guy with an even greater school spirit than all of ours put together! Knowing him I'm sure that he must be extremely sad that a subordinate had gone astray right under his nose!!



2. A tragic end.

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news of the death of Shibu K John (Roll no. 666 of Sainik School, Kazhakootam) thanks to a tragic road accident at Kollam. I didn't know that he's a bachelor since I'd never seen him after I'd left school and he's survived by his mother, a brother and a sister. I've offered my condolences to the family though I'm sure that they'd not have placed me among the many faces that they've gone past.

Shibu was in class VI and in the no.5 dormitory of the school in which I was one of his two Prefects, during 1969-'70. Shibu was short, dark complexioned and quiet and kept away from the limelight, to the extent feasible. I recall his propensity to burst into tears when he was caught by anyone of us for his pranks, so much so, that our House Master - the late Mr. CV Sankaranarayanan sir - used to say and I quote, "Enthanu Shibu, karayaathe karyathilekku kadakku". I reckon he was initially overawed by the environment, as he'd a rural background, but got over it immediately after. And I also remember his slow smile, whenever he was given a pat on the back, which is vividly etched in my memory like a frozen snapshot from a long lost family album.

His tragic and untimely end on the same road (I'd passed through it last Sunday) just doesn't seem to be fair on the young man.

RIP Shibu. May god give your family the strength to withstand your loss.   

Munshi is with me.

After what seemed to be ages, Kurup kochachan has finally come calling. He'd gone to Thrissur, on the 20th, to attend the first meeting of the newly constituted committee of the Kerala Sangeetha Naataka Academy, of which he is a member. After his wife's (Leela Kunjamma) death last November, he has been staying with his eldest son at Thiruvananthapuram and has a serial or two on Malayalam television as well as being part of a commercial advertisement.

His transformation has been tremendous. From a fun loving, ever smiling, gregarious person that I'd always known him to be, he's become quieter and unsure of himself, lapsing into long periods of silence. The passing away of a spouse has lasting effects and I must admit that I too miss my ma'asi, when I'm with him and can very well appreciate his predicament. But being media savvy, he's been penning his thoughts on current issues that grate him and he's given me one such effort of his for perusal, before sending it to the press.

In an unguarded moment, he said that while he's glad to be with us it would have been a lot better had my ma'asi also been there with him and I saw his eyes brimming with tears.

And yes, Leela kunjamma had promised to come to our place, last November, to celebrate my birthday but death had other plans for her.

At 84, he's kept himself fit and has just finished a treatment session, of a fortnight, at an ayurvedic spa at Thiruvananthapuram. Except for a lingering pain on his right knee, for which external application of oils are resorted to, he doesn't take any medicine unlike some of his counterparts!

I hope that his mental agony and loneliness are reduced further - however small in measure - during his stay with us.

The 'Vaayana Vaaram' - 19 to 25 Jun.

Though I've been one among the backroom boys, as part of the PNP Foundation, I must admit that my contribution has been less thanks to my professional commitments. Consequently, I've been flitting in and out of Thiruvananthapuram over the last week as can be surmised from my previous posts. Having said that, as reiterated earlier, my maman, Balagopal and his team have given the logical thread to the string of activities. They deserve the kudos!

Today's seminar on e-governance and its advantages had a packed, attentive audience. And there was the quiz competition between select teams, comprising of smart young boys and girls, from each of the 14 districts of the state along with a painting competition for children of all ages - from kindergarten to class X! The exalted portals of the Kanakakkunnu Palace wore a festive look and the huge gathering confirmed the fact that the people didn't mind spending a 'Sunday' out of their homes. Muthachan would have been really glad, I'm sure!!

My mom has been quite active at my father's place. I'm glad that she's ventured out of the house despite her aches and pains, my niece Ammu being her 'live' walking stick and interlocutor!

There have been numerous events all over Kerala in connection with the 'Vaayana Vaaram' and judging by the feedback received thus far, the response from the people has been fantastic.