DEAR LADIES, GENTLEMEN AND MY SWEET CHILDREN,
I AM NAZER AND YOUR ULYSSES HERE.
THERE SHALL FOLLOW MORE STORIES, POEMS, MY VIEWS, FACTS AND FICTION SOON.
I WISH TO DEDICATE MY FIRST STORY FOR THE WHOLE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD.
HERE I PEEP TO MY SWEET CHILDHOOD DAYS STANDING WITH MY DAUGHTER UNDER THIS HUGE MANGOTREE. MY DAUGHTER,TINU PERSUADED ME TO TAKE HER TO THIS WONDERFUL LAND. WE WALKED ALL THE WAY AS SHE INSISTED ME TO HAVE OUR TRIP AS I USED TO HAVE MY JOURNEY ON THOSE DAYS. OUR THARAVAD IS FEW MILES AWAY FROM HERE AND DURING THOSE DAYS A BEAUTIFUL LANE LED US TO THE FARMLAND. AT NIGHTFALL MANY REPTILES AND INSECTS ALSO SHARED THIS AREA. TODAY ALL THIS PLACES ARE CONNECTED BY ROADS AND THE NARROW LANES ARE NEVER SEEN. THE STORIES TOLD BY MY WIFE MADE TINU EAT MORE AND LONGER. I RECITED HER MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND INCIDENTS OF CHILDHOOD DAYS. THE STORIES PLAYED AS A CATALYST TO HER IMAGINATION. SHE PERSUADED ME TO CARRY HER TO THIS GOLDEN LAND TO VIEW THE RAINBOW, SWIM IN THE SHALLOW POOLS, MEET THE SKY TOUCHING THE LAND AND ENJOY THE SUNSET TOO. BUT DECADES HAS GONE AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF THIS AREA HAS CHANGED TRMENDOUSLY. THE OLD FARMLAND IS NO MORE WITH ITS BEAUTY AND TRANQUILITY.THE WHOLE FARMLAND IS NOW INHABITED BY SO MANY UNFAMILIAR FAMILIES WITH UNFRIENDLY FACES. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN HOMES FENCED WITH BIG WALLS. BUT I DID CARRY MY DAUGHTER TO THIS PLACE WHRE MY MEMORIES ARE HER DREAMS NOW.
THIS IS THE SAME TREE WHICH ONCE SHED COUNTLESS MANGOES FOR ME AND PROVIDED SHADE IN THE SUN. THIS HAS FED AND SHELTERED MANY BIRDS AND SQIURRELS OF THOSE DAYS UNCONDITIONALLY.THIS MANGOTREE STAYS GUARDING THE WHOLE LAND WAITING FOR HER NEVER BACK MASTER (MARAKKAR KUTTY) ,WHO HAS GONE VOYAGE TO THE WORLD OF ETERNITY. THIS PLOT OF MARAKKAR KUTTY ALONE LAY UNWALLED, UNTILLED AND UNEXPLOITED BUT CARED BY NATURE FOR ALL THOSE WILD TREES AND SHRUBS WHICH IS HOME FOR COUNTLESS BIRDS AND CREATURES STILL.MY FATHER WISHED TO PRESERVE THE SAME TREE AS IT WAS PLANTED BY HIS GRANDPA IN HIS EARLY DAYS.
THE FARMLAND SPREAD AND LOOKED SO WIDE AS IT DID NOT HAVE PERSONAL WALLS BUT ONLY A RUDE BOUNDARY WALL. IT WAS OF SHAPELESS STONES COVERED IN MUD AND PLASTERED WITH MOSS PLANTS .THE WILD CREEPERS WITH THEIR COLOURFUL FLOWERS LEANED TO THIS WALL. THE 8 SIBLIGS OF MY FATHER HAD THEIR OWN SHARE EQUAL TO MY FATHER.THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY BOUNDARY WAS MARKED BY RIDGES. THE ONSET OF MONSOON MADE MY FAYHER MORE ACTIVE WITH PADDY CROPPING. I REMEMBER 4 FARMERS WITH THEIR 4 PAIRS OF BULLOCKS TILLED OUR LAND FOR 4 CONSECUTIVE DAYS TO PREPARE OUR PLOT FOR SOWING THE SEEDS. THE WHOLE FARMERS WITH THEIR BULLOCKS OF OUR LOCALITY WILL BE IN PARADE AT OUR FARMLAND DURING THESE DAYS. I COULD FEEL THE SMELL OF EARTH WHILE THEY BRING THE INNER SOIL TO ABOVE GROUND.WE HAD 4 STRONG WHITE BULLS TO HELP IN FARMING.THEY WERE LOOKED AFTER BY KARIKUTTY WHO FED THEM SPECIAL FEED MIX WHICH MADE THEM STRONGER AND STOUTER. HE COULD BE SEEN
RIDING A PAIR DURING FARMING AND ALWAYS APPEARED WITH A SONG IN HIS LIPS. HE ALWAYS WORE A COLOURFUL LUNGI AND HAD VERY LONG AND COMBED HAIRS.EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY INCLUDING KIDS GATHERED HERE TO TREAT THE SEASON. MY FATHER HELPED IN SOWING THE SEEDS WHERE HE COULD DROP THEM LIKE A SPRAYER TO THE GROUND. MY MOTHER ALONG WITH OTHER LADY MEMEBERS KEPT BUSY IN PREPARING FOOD. THE FOOD WAS PREPARED IN LARGE GALVANISED COPPER VESSELS OVER OVENS MADE USING THREE LARGE BLOCKS OF STONES AND BURNT LOT OF FIREWOODS. THE WHOLE FAMILY AND ALL THE WORKERES ATE THE SAME FOOD AT THE SAME TIME.THE WATER FOR COOKING AND DRINKING WERE BROUGHT IN LARGE MUD POTS COLLECTED FROM NERABY WELL. THE MONSOON ARRIVES WITH SHOWER AND SOON THE SEEDLINGS START SPROUTING. IT WAS INDEED A SPECTACULAR VISION TO SEE THE GREEN BED LYING SO LONG AND WIDE.
WE, THE CHILDREN COULD FIND ENOUGH TIME TO WANDER THROUGH THE FARMLAND. WE RAN LIKE DEERS, COLLECTED NUTS AND WILD FRUITS TO EAT AND SWAM LIKE FISHES IN SHALLOW DITCHES OF WATER. THE BIRDS CAME SINGING FROM FAR OF PLACES AND COLOURFUL BUTTERFLIES WERE SEEN EVERYWHERE. THE DRAGONFLIES FLEW LOW ALLOWING US TO CATCH THEM EASILY.THE GRASSHOPPERS WERE SEEN DANCING AROUND AND BEAUTIFUL BEETLES CAME TO VISIT US.THE DARK WILD ANTS ALSO ROAMED HITHER AND THITHER.THE STINGS OF THESE ANTS WERE TRULY VERY PAINFUL BUT LASTS SHORT. THE BACKYARD OF OUR FARMLAND WAS ABUNDANT IN BUSHES AND MANY WILD HERBS FLURISHED HERE. WE COULD COME ACROSS SNAKES TOO AT MANY A TIMES. NO ONE HAD STORIES OF SNAKES KILLING MEN ON THOSE DAYS. I SUPPOSE THE SNAKES WERE FRIENDLY WITH US AS WE NEVER DESTROYED THEIR HABITAT. WE WERE ALWAYS IN A MAGICAL WORLD OF HAPPINESS AND ENJOYED THE WONDERS OF NATURE.
I WAS VERY MUCH ATTRACTED BY A SOLITARY HUT IN THAT BIG FARM. IT STOOD AT A CORNER NEAR TO THE PLOT OF MARAKKAR KUTTY. IT WAS AN OLD HUT WITH MUD WALLS, BAMBOO ROOFINGS THACHED WITH GRASS AND COCONUT LEAVES. IT HAD ONLY ONE DOOR AS ENTRANCE AND NEVER HAD WINDOWS.THERE
LIVED OUR TENANT, AN OLD LADY CALLED PATHOONDA WITH HER TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON. IN DAYTIME THE INTERIOR OF THE HUT REMAINED DARK BUT FOR THE LIGHT RAYS THAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE HOLES. I ENJOYED THE DUST PARTICLES DANCING IN THE DAZZLING LIGHT. IT WAS ALWAYS COOL INSIDE AND HAD THE SMELL OF MUD.THE UPPER CRUST OF THE HUT TWISTED AND CREAKED IN HIGH WINDS. DURING RAINS IT COULD SPRINKLE WATER ON US.THE HUMMING WASPS AT TIMES DASHED INSIDE IN THE AIR..THE CICADA INSECTS QUITE OFTEN BROKE THE SILENCE OF THE DARK CHAMBERS. THE OLD LADY WAS IN GREY HAIRS WITH A LONG NOSE AND HAD CRUMPLED HANDS. SHE ALWAYS APPEARED WHITE CLAD AND BUSY WITH WEAVING COCONUT LEAVES. THE OUTSIDE OF HER HUT WERE THE LODGINGS FOR NUMEROUS LION ANTS .I ENJOYED TRACING THEM IN MUD POOLS. SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME STORIES OF FAIRIES AND NEVER ALLOWED ME TO WANDER IN THE HOT SUN. TO HER DURING MID DAY THE POTTI WILL DIVERT US TO UNKNOWN DIRECTIONS. SHE PREVENTED ME FROM GOING TO THE MUNDANCHIRA ALONE UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY ELDERS.
MUNDANCHIRA WAS A VERY BIG POND OF THAT LOCALITY. THE PREVAILING STORIES OF THOSE DAYS FILLED EVERY ONE WITH FEAR AND WORRIES. INSPITE OF THE DREADFUL STORIES THE FARMERS TOOK BATH HERE AFTER THEIR WORK AND BROUGHT THEIR CATTLE FOR WASHING TOO. SOMETIMES THE TRAVELLERS PASSING ALONG THE VILLAGE ROAD TOO STOPPED HERE FOR REFRESHING THEMSELVES. IT WAS A BIG AND DEEP POND WITH AN IRREGULAR SHAPE SHARING BOUNDARIES OF THREE DIFFERENT FAMILY PLOTS. IN PATHOONDA’S WORDS THE WHOLE POND WAS CREATED BY A JINN IN A DAY. IT WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE SWALLOWED 40 MEN WITH THEIR 40 PAIRS OF BULLOCKS LONG AGO. A FISH MONGER’S BODY WAS FOUND FLOATING ALONG WITH HIS FISH BASKET. MORE THAN THREE FARMERS WERE TOLD TO HAVE BEEN DROWNED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE THEY STOPPED HERE TO PLUNGE THEIR BETEL LEAVES BUNDLE IN WATER WHILE ON THEIR WAY TO THE MARKET. IT WAS SO DEEP THAT IT COULD DIP ABOUT 8 TO 10 MEN AT A STRETCH. IT REMAINED FLOODED DURING RAINY SEASON AND APPEARED GREEN COLOURED DURING MID SUMMER TIME. IT DID NEVER EXPOSE THE BOTTOM AS IT DID NOT DRY UP EVEN IN HOTTEST TIME OF THE SEASON. I SUPPOSE THE IMMATURES WERE MORE HAUNTED BY THE RETOLD STORIES AS THEY DID NEVER DARE TO DIVE AND SWIM HERE.
TO THE LEFT PART OF OUR FARMLAND WAS A FLAT LANE THAT LED TO A RUDE MUDDY ROAD. THIS ROAD COULD LEAD TO A NEAR BY VILLAGE WHERE OUR NEAREST RURAL DISPENSARY WAS SITUATED. A BUS CONDUCTED TWO SERVICES DAILY ON THIS MUDDY TRACK. ALONG THIS LANE WAS SEEN THE HUT OF AN OLD CARPENTER. HE WAS VERY OLD WITH A WRINKLED FACE AND HAD LEAN AND WEAK APPENTAGES. HIS WIFE WAS CALLED CHERONE AND SHE OFTEN APPEARED CARRYING A BIG MUD POT IN HER ARMS. THEY HAD TO SHARE THE WELL OF PATHOONDA FOR WATER. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW HOUSES NEAR TO OUR FARMLAND ON THODE DAYS. THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR FARMLAND WAS VERY DENSE WITH TREES. IT HAD THE APPEARNCE OF A FOREST AND WAS AN ASYLUM TO FOXES.
HERE I CAN STILL WATCH THE PLOT IN FRONT WHICH ONCE SPREAD SO LONG AND WIDE. IT WAS OWNED BY MY OWN GRANDPA'S BROTHER BUT I DID NEVER SEE HIM HERE. HE LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY FAR AWAY IN A VALLEY. THIS PLOT HAD FEW VEGETATION EXCEPT FOR THE WILD GRASSES AND THORNY SHRUBS. IT WAS RATHER A ROCKY AREA WITH SPARCE DISTRIBUTION OF MUD SOIL. DURING RAINY SEAON IT BECAME LARGE RESERVOIRS OF WATER. IT FORMED GREAT MANY BEAUTIFUL SHALLOW POOLS WHICH ENABLED US TO SWIM FEARLESSLY. I LEARNED THE ART OF SWIMMING HERE IN MY YOUNGER DAYS WITHOUT A GUIDE. THE KIDS AND GROWN UPS CAME HERE TO FLY KITES IN THE VAST SKY TOO. SOMETIMES THE STRONG WINDS CARRIED AWAY THEIR LITTLE KITES TO FAR OF PLACES. NATURE PRESENTED MANY FANTASIES HERE IN THIS WONDERLAND. HERE I ENJOYED THE MOST MAGNIFICIENT LIGHT SHOWS OBSERVED ON EARTH. I STILL REMEMBER THAT SPECTACULAR VISION OF THE RAINBOW IN ITS SPLENDID COLOURS. THE VAST ATMOSPHERE COULD DISPLAY THE COLOUR SPECTRUM WITH ALL ITS BEAUTY.THIS RARE VISION ALWAYS FILLED MY MIND WITH JOY. HERE I COULD VISUALIZE THE SKY TOUCHING THE LAND AT THE EDGE OF THIS PLOT STANDING AT ONE END OF OUR FARMLAND. TO MY SURPRISE AND CURIOSITY I SET TO FIND THE SKY MEETING THE LAND BUT MY JOURNRY CONTINUED ON AND ON. AT LAST I HAD TO TROT A LONG WAY TO GET BACK TO MY FARMLAND. BUT I ENJOYED THE ILLUSION AND FOUND THE SKY STILL BECKONING ME TO HER SMILING. THE SIGHT OF THE RETIRING SUN WAS IMMENSELY ATTRACTIVE TOO.THE SIGHT OF THE CRIMSON RED SKY BROUGHT ME COMFORT AND PEACE. ALL THESE NATURAL PHENOMENA COULD BE PERCEIVED HERE ON THIS ATMOSPHERE. THIS PLACE TURNED A FAIRYLAND TO ME .
THE LAST SIBLING OF MY FATHER, MARAKKAR KUTTY WAS A RARE SIGHT IN THOSE DAYS. HE DID NOT BOTHER TO CULTIVATE CROPS AS HE DID NOT HAVE A PROGENY OF HIS OWN. HE WAS NEVER INTERESTED IN WORLDLY PLEASURES AND WENT ON PILGRIMAGE ALWAYS. HE DID NOT BOTHER TO PRESERVE OR PROPAGATE HIS GENE TO THE GENERATION EVEN THOUGH HE WAS YOUNG AND HEALTHY. THE CROPS ROTATED AS THE SEASON CHANGED. MY FATHER NEVER FINSHED FARMING LIKE HIS SIBLINGS WITH ONE CROP ALONE. THE PADDY WAS THE CROP OF MONSOON . HE THEN CULTIVATED PEANUTS, GARDEN PEA, SWEET POTATOES AND KOORKA FOR THE NEXT SEASON. THE RAIN ALWAYS BROUGHT THE NECESSARY WATER FOR THE CROPS.
THERE FOLLOWED A DAY WHEN THE LOVELY PANTHOONDA FINISHED HER LIFE HANGING ON POLES OVER THE WELL. NO ONE COULD REALIZE THE REASON OF HER FAREWELL LEAVING HER 3 CHILDREN BACK. WHAT MISFORTUNE SHATTERED HER DREAMS! I AM STILL HAUNTED BY THE MYSTERY WHICH LED TO END UP HER LIFE!!! IT WAS A DREADFUL INCIDENT WHICH IMMOBILIZED MY THOUGHTS AND IMAGINATION AND LEFT A DEVIL'S DAY FOR ME.
BUT TODAY I LOST THE CHARM OF THE RAINBOW WHICH FILLED COLOURS TO MY LIFE AND THOUGHTS. I COULD ONCE HEAR THE SOUND OF STEAM ENGINES RUNNING MILES AND MILES AWAY FROM HERE. IS IT THE TALL VEGETATIONS OR THE HUGE BULDINGS OR THE FLOODED POPULATION HINDERING THE PROPAGATION OF SOUND NOW?! IT COULD BE THE NEW GENERATION VEHICLES WITH REDUCED SOUND TO MINIMIZE SOUND POLLUTION! I DO MISS ALL THOSE MUSICS AND CHARMS OF NATURE A LOT AND LOT. THE SHALLOW POOLS HAVE DISAPPEARED AND ON THAT BIG PLOT A LENGHTY AND WIDE QUARRY WITH MANY DRILLERS PRODUCING DEAFENING SOUND AND EXPELLING DUST AND DARK SMOKES TO THE ATMOSPHERE IS POLLUTING NATURE.. LARGE BLOCKS OF STONES ARE HEAPED UP LIKE A MOUNTAIN NERABY .THE SOILS ARE EXCAVATED AND TRASPORTED TO FAR OF PLACES. LARGE WAGONS PILED UP WITH MUD ARE SEEN IN ASSEMBLY LINE FOR THEIR JOURNEY. WILL OUR MOTHER EARTH LOSE ITS EQUILUBRIUM DUE TO THE MERCILESS AND INDISCRIMINATE EXPLOITATION OF MAN ?!! I SUPPOSE AND WISH FOR THE FORMATION OF ANOTHER HILL AT SOMEWHERE TO BALANCE THE THIRD LAW OF NEWTON. THE DECADES HAS TRANSFORMED THIS LAND BEYOND OUR DREAMS AND HERE I FAIL TO CONVINCE MY TINU OF THE SWEET PAST OF THIS LAND.
TODAY I AM A STRANGER HERE WHO LAMENT OVER THE LOST GLORY OF THIS GOLDEN LAND! WHY DID OUR PARENTS GIVE UP THE FARMLAND ? IT MAY BE THEN WHEN THEY TURN THEMSELVES TO BUSINESS OR DID PROSPERITY MADE THEM LAZY?!! MAY BE THEY TOO HAD TO SHARE THEIR LAND FOR SUPPORTING THE SWARMING POPULATION !!!
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I HAVE ONE AND ONLY ONE PRESENT FOR MY TINU OF ALL THOSE GOLDEN DAYS WHICH ALONE STILL EXISTS. THIS CAN BE THE LAST PRESENT FROM THE CHARMING NATURE WHICH I CAN HAVE FOR HER NOW. WE STILL STAND HERE IN THE PLOT OF MARAKKAR KUTTY AND LOOKING THROUGH THE COARSE WILD GRASSES LET THE BLAZE OF THE TIRELESS RETIRING SUN SCATTER LIGHT ON OUR DREAMS. I SHOWER MY GRATITUDE FOR HER WHO SPREAD WINGS TO MY DREAMS AND MAGNIFIED MY IMAGINATIONS. LET THIS GOLDENLAND ALWAYS REMAIN A DREAMLAND FOREVER.
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GOLDEN LAND : FARMING OR CULTIVATION FOR PROSPERITY (TO EXPLORE HIDDEN TREASURES OF NATURE BY AGRICULTURE)
PATHOONDA : REPRESENT AN OLD MUSLIM LADY (A NAME VERY COMMON ON THOSE DAYS)
CICADA : A NOISY INSECT
LION ANTS : SMALL CREATURE FOUND IN MUDPOOLS (FAMOUS USAGE OF VAIKKOM MUHAMED BASHEER) IN MALAYALAM - KUZHIYANA
POTTI : A MALAYLAM WORD FOR WITCH
JINN : DEMON HAVING SUPERNATURAL POWERS (USAGE IN MUSLIM FOLKLORE)
KOORKA : AN UNDERGROUND VEGETABLE KNOWN AS MALABAR CATMINT
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