Tambaram chalo
I have been planning a visit to MCC campus for quite sometime now.It is a sure sign of middle age to want to go back to one's college and to revisit your childhood home. If they happen to be one and the same, then the nostalgia is really powerful.It is precisely what is happening to me. Christian college campus is where I spent my childhood/college days and I also graduated from the same college.
Jay and shyama joined up with me on this trip. It is more than twenty years since we left the campus after appa retired from there. I have visited the college on a few occasions but they were business trips. This was a leisurely one with only one agenda; trip down memory lane. And it was perfect. The weather was mild and actually chilly with pleasant breeze blowing.Thick dark clouds were looming perfectly over the cricket field and the view from the stadium was just what the doctor ordered. We sat there and gazed and gazed. The world seemed to stand still and the only sound was the rewinding of the mental tape!There were no students or any activity at this time, perhaps study holidays really mean the students are holed up in their rooms and busy with their books on that wonderful mid morning time.But we had no complaints.We remembered the few cricket matches we had seen and the small round rocks painted white which appeared just the same as they did so long ago.But this time there were lots of deer dotting the horizon and nibbling at the grass. We were surprised at this new addition to the campus. Saha asked us if we had deer during our time to which I said, no. But were there any other animals she wanted to know. I said yes, kulla nari, keeri pillai, lots of onan, and of course snakes. Wont you feel scared to live here was her other pertinent question. I felt quite a hero first and then a guide on a wild life safari!
Our next halt was of course 20, staff quarters. We went there as if it was still our house. thankfully the place was locked and we went around taking a roll call of all the trees and plants which formed part of our landscape and defined my childhood/early adulthood. Naaga pazha maram was not visible amidst the invasion of the bush right up to the edge of the house. Mundiri marams were also absent. But the tamarind tree was well and alive and kicking as also the illupai tree and the neem tree in the front yard. Somehow the frontyard appeared to have shrunk. The concept of size seems to have made a definite shift. Some of the lilies lining the front porch were still there, but not the malli chedis which used to be amma's favourite. We would be asked to remove the leaves meticulously just after rains and predictably tiny buds will cover the entire plant soon enough.Amma will go ecstatic with each jasmine flower and so would we.
The car shed is covered now; no more roasting of cashew there i guess.The study sitout is also covered.The washing stone was still being used and i remembered quickly climbing up on that when i spotted a snake. It is hardly a foot high and how i felt safe there, i cannot comprehend now. But then it does not matter.
We went around and spotted all the 'tourist spots', miller statue, water tanks, cafeteria, coop stores, ladies lounge and snake room."You have really studied in a very good college mommie" was the perfect end to a wonderful time spent on the campus.
Jay and shyama joined up with me on this trip. It is more than twenty years since we left the campus after appa retired from there. I have visited the college on a few occasions but they were business trips. This was a leisurely one with only one agenda; trip down memory lane. And it was perfect. The weather was mild and actually chilly with pleasant breeze blowing.Thick dark clouds were looming perfectly over the cricket field and the view from the stadium was just what the doctor ordered. We sat there and gazed and gazed. The world seemed to stand still and the only sound was the rewinding of the mental tape!There were no students or any activity at this time, perhaps study holidays really mean the students are holed up in their rooms and busy with their books on that wonderful mid morning time.But we had no complaints.We remembered the few cricket matches we had seen and the small round rocks painted white which appeared just the same as they did so long ago.But this time there were lots of deer dotting the horizon and nibbling at the grass. We were surprised at this new addition to the campus. Saha asked us if we had deer during our time to which I said, no. But were there any other animals she wanted to know. I said yes, kulla nari, keeri pillai, lots of onan, and of course snakes. Wont you feel scared to live here was her other pertinent question. I felt quite a hero first and then a guide on a wild life safari!
Our next halt was of course 20, staff quarters. We went there as if it was still our house. thankfully the place was locked and we went around taking a roll call of all the trees and plants which formed part of our landscape and defined my childhood/early adulthood. Naaga pazha maram was not visible amidst the invasion of the bush right up to the edge of the house. Mundiri marams were also absent. But the tamarind tree was well and alive and kicking as also the illupai tree and the neem tree in the front yard. Somehow the frontyard appeared to have shrunk. The concept of size seems to have made a definite shift. Some of the lilies lining the front porch were still there, but not the malli chedis which used to be amma's favourite. We would be asked to remove the leaves meticulously just after rains and predictably tiny buds will cover the entire plant soon enough.Amma will go ecstatic with each jasmine flower and so would we.
The car shed is covered now; no more roasting of cashew there i guess.The study sitout is also covered.The washing stone was still being used and i remembered quickly climbing up on that when i spotted a snake. It is hardly a foot high and how i felt safe there, i cannot comprehend now. But then it does not matter.
We went around and spotted all the 'tourist spots', miller statue, water tanks, cafeteria, coop stores, ladies lounge and snake room."You have really studied in a very good college mommie" was the perfect end to a wonderful time spent on the campus.
posted by vasukumar @ 6:48 PM
1 Comments:
what a coincidence. We also went down the memory lane just after vinu's wedding and we went to Palghat and Coimbatore after the wedding. The point is the house where we lived in Palghat appeared very shrunk and we all felt the same. There must be some scientific reason behind it. Will blog about my trip down the memory lane .
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