Childhood Days-3
Having got lease of life, to continue in this world, everyone looked after me as necessary. No one has told me how I fared my early months of life.
All I know is too many people were around me. My schooling was in-front of a very elderly teacher – I think by name George- who also was my mother’s teacher in her 4th class. I was entrusted to him for a couple of hours per day, just keep me away from the rest, as they all experienced trouble everywhere- caused by me.
I was not prepared to sit or stand in-front of him – (by nature I’m like that even to-day) and wanted to be free on my own. Despite my resistance, I was given fair amount of teachings in most subjects of primary schooling. Later I was asked to attend school, only during my stay in my grandparent’s house along with my mother. I was only 3 or 4 years young.
One day, it poured, and visibility was very poor and I ventured out to see everything under the rain and went to school soaking wet.
No plastic paper to wrap my slate, no umbrella above my head. There were so many children along with me leading to school. Half-way thru’ I saw a canal deep enough to wet me to my knees and we crossed it wetting ourselves. Then as we walked along the path way – made between the lands meant for cultivating rice - a foot in width, there came a large RED LOTUS pond and a flooding river of sizable magnitude.
Here, I was caught unaware and nearly drowned but saved by fellow children who were taller than me. All the children and some teachers were from our neighbor-hood. They respected my grand parents and so was my status among them – as they also considered me as their own child.
Here I had to mention one interesting incident. The house had dog named BOW BOW- or that’s how I addressed the loyal animal. He was behind me at the start and I did not see him following me.
Bowbow, was quietly following me up-to the school and then disappeared. Later upon return I saw him running to me as I approached the gate. I hated dogs especially when they come close with an intention of licking me around. But Bow bow was not like that; he will run below my knee around me many times and sit down staring me with its tail waging always.
I saw him only during two of my vacations. Later during my third one, I was told, some one had poisoned him and so Bow bow, disappeared for ever. There were new dogs in the house, but I could not interact with any of them the way I did with Bow bow.
Many days, in the early hours, my grandmother will take me (I walked with her) along with my cousins, to the neighbor’s house to fetch milk. Even though, there were cows in the house, the milk was not enough for all. Also, some times one of the cow was about to give birth to a calf and there is shortage of milk.
The neighbors were mostly Christians besides Hindus. They were very good people, most being agriculturists and few being school teachers.
Later, I wanted to go with my grandmother to a particular vendor’s house. His name is VELLAI THOMAI – meaning White colored Thomas. Mr.Thomas was the only person in the area with White skin and there were so many with name Thomas, hence was identified so.
His house had a well grown Custard apple tree. I was very fond of this fruit and Thomas often gave it to me and I wanted more to be given to my cousins.
In other places, I got Cashew nut fruits on the condition that the nut is given to the owner. Please note that the Cashew nut is more expensive than the fruit. The fruits were of different colors and I chose the red ones.
There were other places in the neighborhood. My maternal Grand father was a reputed person and his own cousins, were living in the vicinity. Many were also residing in Trichur settled in different parts of the town.
I can remember few – Mr.P.S.Neelakanta Iyer – Who owned PSN bus service, others only by their affiliation of products or service. Like: Nadavarambu Krishna Brothers, Kamala Vilas Eye care products, Buffalo Milk vendor Mr.Mani Iyer, Pathan’s café owner, Sriram Mills owner, I.G.Srinivasa Iyer, Africa Viswanathan. Many I visited were of greater importance to my Grand father’s family.
Besides these people, there lived few aunties and uncles of my mother, all within walking distance. I got instant recognition as my mother is the only female in the family and was more influential than any one else in the family.
There were few on the main road side. They include my Maternal Grand-father’s elder brother Mr.Subramani Iyer and family.
There was retired Controller of Kerala State, owner of Tile factory, and many more.
In short, all my relatives and friends in the village of my mother were of affection, love and care taking people.

In my next part, I shall tell you, of my Paternal Grand parents who lived in the town named North Parur, close to Alwaye.