Travel down the memory lane with 90+ youngsters

It’s been a great one and half months for Indu, my sister and me, meeting a few special individuals in the age group of ninety plus, in ottapalam ( near plaghat, kerala), Chennai and Trivandrum. They are our parent’s friends, uncle and aunty for us. Their children, younger than us, may not know each other, we were their mutual friends. The growing up were in the, fifties and sixties, thats a long time.

A little puppy feeling when you grow up in front of them and in the job front, you interact with them, they change to Sirs from uncles, though we never allowed an occasion to rise to misuse our relationship to influence any out of the way favours. One among the reasons for my life long love and respect for them is their integrity, in addition to their simplicity, dedication, commitment and respect for others, irrespective of their strata, which made them my role models.

And then came a period, we all parted ways and our life journey went on different paths, ŵith no communication

The social media has helped to reconnect to our past and our favourites.

Last month, we drove to ottapalam to meet Janardhan uncle and aunty. He was working with MECON, as a civil engineer. Our association began in Ranchi, where I did finalthree years of my schooling. Both of them are living in a wonderful house, designed by him, their two sons , Anand and Mohan, away in Bangalore and Sydney.

I recall an incident, though a little vague, my mother gave a ɓroken necklace to get it fixed by a jeweler in pattambi known to them . On their way to kerala for vacation, their suitcase got stolen in Calcutta which was upsetting. On their return, they came with a replacement, taking the responsibility for the loss. I remember a few no,no, yes,yes, it’s OK, not sure how it ended,our bond strengthened. He is 92

The next visit was to Chennai, to meet Mohan Uncle and Aunty. Our connection started from Rourkela, later we moved to Ranchi. He was the MD of MECON. I don’t know whether he will object to my revelation of his reason to leave MECON. I will give an outline, not the details. He was asked to do something improper by the steel ministry. He resigned, putting his family life and future in jeopardy. I have never heard of a greater example of honesty and integrity. Of course his good Karma rewarded him and his family with a lucrative future, a healthy and happy life, God read his resignation news in the papers and acted.

Their eldest son, Vijay, advocate general of Tamil Nadu,near him, Bali ( Balakrishnan), organic farmist at kodai kanal and daughter Gauri at Seatle , Mr. Mohan was actively involved with Banyan until recently, an NGO that provides services for those who are homeless and poor living with mental issues. He is 97.

This week we went to Trivandrum, to meet Mathew uncle, a plan delayed to an extent that aunty could not wait for us to meet. She left two years ago. He was a civil Engineer in the construction department of Rourkela steel plant. We as kids started our life at Rourkela, me at 7 years and my sis at 5 years, and that’s when our association began with the Mathew family.He is with his daughters, Premila and Marina, His youngest daughter, Anita is in the US He is 97.

His son in law , Jugu Abraham, is a famous Film reviewer of international movies. https://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com

In the above meetings, the recalls were overwhelming for all. Although their age has placed a physical limitations, their memory with details are young. Their respect for my parents, which was mutual, has been a blessing as an everlasting relationship for us and we are greatful for the happening of the meetings

My brother-in-law, Dr. Gopalakrishnan ( Gopi), my Sister, Indu Menon and Self were present in the meetings, my spouse Prema was missing, she had to be with her, nearing 99 years, mother.