I Speak my mind

" Keralam ", my homeland, is a breeze that calms my mind and soul. She keeps whispering, "Stop, relax and take a deep breath.  You are living your life, it is not a race you must win. Come sit with me and take a look at the horizon".  Malayalis are a proud lot. You may belong to different ethnicity, race, religion or even another planet but if you speak Malayalam from your heart then you are a Malayali, period.  And what does speaking Malayalam from the heart mean? Simply this: you understand the puns, the sarcasm, and the art of self-deprecating humour. One of the strengths of Kerala is that we never sought uniformity, nor did we ever consider it necessary throughout our long history. As a costal place, we learnt to listen and evolved through syncretism. We have met and mingled with different cultures, through traders, travellers and settlers, through out our history. Our language and cultural values evolved  by coming in touch with their languages and cultures,...

  9th October. I sensed there is something wrong with my alarm, the music it’s playing is different. I cursed myself for changing the alarm music. I hit on the snooze button hardly, nothing happened. Music is still playing. What the hell, I thought. Then it came to me, it is not my alarm, it’s the phone which cut short my sleep. It was early morning and I was still in half sleep and was angry. I answered the call with obvious frustration in my speech. "Hello?" "We're planning a trip. You coming?" "Okay..." I took some time to let it sink in. I am going next week. it was my elder cousin sister.she always keeps this air of urgency in everything she proposes. She told me, her family,my other cousin sister and their kids are also coming,along with my Valyachan (elder brother of my father) and valyamma(his wife) I was searching for right words. What to say ? at last I managed to say, “okay”. I still have no idea why we are going to Kolkata , all ...

i used to think fast & busy life means how important you are. A day without being tired mentally & physically is a day you hadn't earn anything. Now when I look back, i realise how foolish i was. A laid back life is not for hardworking people, it is another verbal gimmick by the lazy lots to justify their attitude. But now i realise that it is an art, being laid back. Not thinking about the past and not worrying about what the future holds, that is how i like to live my life. A life close to nature , a life as far as possible to humans especially the so called busy people.  Over the time i noticed something that was alarming, i was always rushing but rarely arriving. Like a rushing mode switch is on. Even at home i am not feeling peaceful. Mind is in constant alert like in a war scene, but lacking awareness. i am not able to do one simple thing for a long time, suddenly some other thought comes crashing. i lost track of time when i. used to read books for hours without int...

After 25 years, our school reunion took us to a beautiful resort, turning the day into a perfect mix of relaxation and nostalgia. Old friends greeted each other with warm hugs, some instantly recognizable, others changed by time. We shared booze & meals and  laughed over school memories, and relived moments from the classroom to the playground. The resort’s calm & remote setting made conversations flow easily, while activities brought out our youthful spirit. Between swimming in pool, waterfall and endless photos, we felt like students again. It wasn’t just a trip, it was a celebration of lasting bonds and the joy of reconnecting.

As I gaze up at the stars, I can't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The universe is so vast, so mysterious... and I'm just a small part of it. It's a humbling realization, one that makes me pause and reflect on my own existence. What am I, really? A tiny speck in the grand scheme of things? A fleeting moment in the annals of time? I think about Carl Sagan's words, 'The universe is not only much stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think.' It's a reminder that there's so much more to life than what we can see and touch. As I stand here, lost in the vastness of the universe, I feel a sense of gratitude for what  I've been given. It's a reminder to live each day with intention, purpose, and appreciation for the time I have.

The Delhi Metro was once my literary escape. Crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with commuters, I would steal moments to devour books. The rhythmic rumble of the train, the murmur of conversations, the symphony of the city – it all blended into a comforting background score for my reading sessions. Each stolen page was a victory, a brief immersion into another world amidst the urban chaos. It was a simple pleasure, yet one that resonated deeply. 

There's a certain pleasure in taking a break, sipping a cup of tea, and immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of nature. The gentle breeze, the rustling leaves, the vibrant colors – it all has a calming effect that can melt away stress and leave you feeling refreshed. Spending time in nature improve your mood, and even enhance your creativity.  So next time you're feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to step outside and reconnect with the natural world. You might just be surprised at how much better you feel afterward.