SAM ALTMAN - LISTENING TO OLD PEOPLE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE

 

SAM ALTMAN - LISTENING TO OLD PEOPLE BIGGEST MISTAKE 

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, and the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and DALL·E. As a key figure in the AI boom, he has led OpenAI toward for-profit status, secured massive investments from Microsoft, and predicted the rapid advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

Recently he has stated, “Listening to old people is the biggest mistake young people make. In the age of AI, following parental career advice (or even trusting the Open AI CEO) might be riskier than rewriting it. For a predictor of what the world is going to be like going forward, I don’t think you should trust me for having good intuition of the rate of change. Young people always figure this out the best, and the world you are all inheriting is going to be very different, and you’ll have to be very different, and you’ll have to quickly develop your own intuitions.”

The Times of India of 26 February 2026 has come up with an editorial on the statement.

Quoting excerpts from the editorial:

The explosion of Indians’ careers post 1991 liberalization took a lot of saying, “no, no, no” to the family who were scared of every new fangled choice. Parents, who have lived a “just stick to this job and you’ll own a home” life, are forever trying to rein back their children’s career adventures, even when economic reality has literally become unrecognizable from one generation to the next.

There are uglier sides to this paternalism, as when elders try to drag the next generation inside the cage in which they have lived. And living by someone else’s code, a person never gets to discover what their own, true self is.  This is a life lived incompletely. It stops society from healing its open wounds. As the critical role of mentors in Altman’s own life indicates, elders’ life experience, resilience and practical wisdom can be invaluable. The real harm is when generational authority overrides individual agency.

The real mistake is not listening to old people, it is listening uncritically.

Let me dwell on certain scenarios.

Our children are uncomfortable if we are present where they assemble along with their young friends. The elders are unwanted there. 

Even little children gravitate to little children. You find age bars you from them.

Recently when a mother  and  daughter  visited a CDC with their child, the consultant did not like conversing with the elderly woman.  The consultant appeared to be holding the view that the lady was ignorant. When she mentioned a contrasting view by a 60 year old senior Pediatrician the young consultant didn’t like it. The consultant ridiculed the view of the senior doctor with the comment, “It is a misconception.” The daughter rooted for the consultant. Similarity in age propels the branding of young as the smartest in the world.

When a young man wanted to tread an unorthodox path, the family was initially against it. The elders in the family had been brought up by conservative traditions. It was difficult for them to shake off the culture ingrained in them by their predecessors  But as the family was progressive in outlook  to a small extent, they revisited their view and extended support  to the young man. He has gone after his passion. Though overwhelming success is not apparent, the venturer toils hard to establish himself.  

The conclusion is, the elders are an invaluable asset and Sam Altman’s assertion, "Listening to old people, the biggest mistake," sounds hollow. 

Sam Altman must be 100% right in the American or European context. But he is absolutely wrong in the Indian context. While in the former regions, the young do not stay with the parents, in India, the young stay with the parents if possible. The concept of joint family thus prevails in India

There is some kind of pooling of resources there which brings in economic uplifting or upgradation for the entire family. If and when there are grandchildren they are well looked after by the grandparents. 

Shift the scenario to America or Europe. They depend on external assistance for the basics such as the raising of their kids. When the baby sitters are stepping in just for the money it generates for them, the children experience no love and affection. This love and affection is very much essential for the growth and development of the children.  It emanates from the parents alone and to a great extent from the grandparents who can never be bland like those on hire.

As the children grow up, they learn quite a lot from the elders that they inculcate. 

When the children grow up and step into the world, the elders are the steadying force when they are in a crisis. The experience elders have is on hand. It is the perfect scaffolding. 

The biggest tamasha is, when the young emigrate to foreign countries, they do not have anyone to take care of their children. 

They manage Visas for their parents to visit the land of plenty. Once the parents are there, they are not allowed the freedom to freely move around or roam the countryside. They are made to confine themselves within the four walls that is the home. Their lone assignment is to take care of the children. It is cheaper for them as the parents are not employees. Mind you, these elderly might have been leading a healthy and productive life at their own place.  They are experienced. They think. They have analytical minds.

The sojourn abroad literally kills them. What they really hope is to somhow get back to India and resume their days of happiness.

It is obvious,  casting off the elders into oblivion is going to be the biggest mistake  we would ever commit by falling in line with Sam Altman's views on 'OLD PEOPLE'

PRASANTH BALAKRISHNAN NAIR

 

PRASANTH BALAKRISHNAN NAIR 

AT  YUVAKSHETRA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, MUNDOOR

Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain, Indian Air Force was at the Yuvakshetra Institue of Management Studies, Mundoor.

Trained to participate in the Space Mission, he has been awarded KEERTHI CHAKRA by the Government of India.

He says, "Our most efficient teachers are the extreme adversities we are forced to tackle or those who act against us tacitly or otherwise. We must learn to enjoy life wherever we are. It could be conducive environments or destructive environments, but life has to be savoured.

We have to keep on learning, our entire life - in other words, we have to remain as students  forever. 

The process of learning never ceases. It's a continuous process. It's an ongoing journey. People invariably fail in life when they shut down the learning process at some point in life."

MUTATION OF PROPERTY

 

When C A Chako had passed away on  5thApril2008, he had left behind everything in order. He had infact  left his assets through the execution of a registered will to his son, Laji.

After a few months of the sad demise of his dear father, Laji presented the documents at Village Office for effecting mutation of property.

Laji's troubles began there. 

He had to visit the Village Office four times in a row to submit the documents. He had been turned away thrice.  The reason adduced had been varied. At first  he was told the Village Officer  was on leave. The second time, he was advised that the official was deputed to the Taluk Office. And the third time Laji came to know after waiting at the Village office from morning till evening that the Village officer was out on inspection duty. There was no acting Village Officer to look after the requirements of the citizens of India in place of the incumbent who was just unavailable. Laji cursed his stars as he had to travel 30km from the place of his posting - he was staying there - to reach the Village Office. At last, the Village Officer was there when he approached the Village Office, the fourth time. The esteemed official accepted the documents Laji presented.  He was advised that suitable action would be initiated after proper verification. Though Laji asked when the mutation would be effected, he was advised it could take a maximum of  three to four months  or a minimum of a week. When Laji asked how he would know, the suggestion from the ofiicial was either Laji or his representative could visit the ofice every week to  ascertain the progress. Laji told him, he was employed 30km away and he had to avail leave for each enquiry, the curt reply was, 'It is none of my business.' The unkind brushing off was akin to banishment of the grieving Laji to a pack of wolves.

Laji was a busy official in a prominent Government organisation.  It was very difficult for him to avail leave. As Laji had no one else to appear at the Village Office, his boss had granted him leave with reluctance. The boss drew the line, at the third time. Laji was told , mutation or no mutation, no further leave would be granted to him. Laji had somehow managed to obtain leave for the fourth visit after a lot of pleading and literal thumping of his chest before the superior. He was on the verge of tears.

Surendran, Laji's friend at the place, felt bad at Laji's plight. He assured he would make enquiries at the Village Office every week on behalf of Laji and the progress would be conveyed to Laji over phone.

Laji was much relieved.

But it was too soon.

Surendran made enquiries at the Village Office during the succeeding weeks. Each time he was told by the Village Officer that as he had been very busy , he had little time to waste on such trivial matters. After three months Surendran advised Laji, nothing seemed right and the Village officer was least interested in effecting the mutation of property.

The District Collector, under whose jurisdiction the Village under reference  came, was Laji's wife Elsy's classmate for the degree and PG classes. They used to meet occasionally as a family  at each other's place. Once when they met, Laji narrated the frustrating experience he had had at the Village Office and showed the official copies of the documents that had been submitted at the Village Office. The Collector scrutinised the documents and wondered why such a simple matter was kept to vegetate.  .

He advised Laji to request  Surendran to make an  enquiry at the Village Office the next day. He  further told Laji to let him know at once whatever that  transpired there.  

As advised, Surendran visited the Village Office the next day. However, the Village Officer shouted at him. The infuriated official asked him why he was coming to the Office almost  every other day to bother him. He was told plainly, the mutation of the property of Laji was not going to happen in the near furure. He asked Surendran to get out and  never be in the precincts ever again.

Surendran, quietly slipped out. He phoned Laji and appraised him of the unsavoury reception at the Village Office.

Laji did  exactly what  the District Collector had told him to do. The Collector asked Laji to tell Surendran not to leave the premises of the Village Office.

Surendran remained there at the courtyard.

Later Surendran conveyed to Laji the aftermath.

"I heard the telephone ringing in the office.  I could hear an unending series of 'Yes Sir." Once it was over, the Village Officer came out of his office and located me. He shouted at me - why did you call the Collector. I replied I knew no collector. But I had conveyed to the people who had sent me to your office a true transcript of what had happened here when I had approached you."

"The Villlage Officer told me to bring an autoriksha as he wanted to inspect the property of Mr. Laji. I complied with the demand at once. Together we reached the property that was just 2km from the Village Office."

"Once we reached the destination, the Village  Officer stepped out of the vehicle. He stood in front of the gate. for a minute. He said, "I want a glass of lime juice and a murukkan(Pan)."

"I furnihed that immediately. The Village Officer, after satisfying his thirst, boarded the autoriksha  chewing the murukkan."

"He said he watned to return to the Village Office"

"Back at his domain he went in to his own office. He called me after ten minutes and handed over a document."

"He said, "Mutation of Mr.Laji's property has now been effected. Here is the certificate. Please acknowledge in this register."

Surendran phoned Laji and conveyed  the happy news that the mission entrusted to him had been successfully completed.

Laji at once expressed his appreciation for what Surendran had done for him.

Laji, then phoned the District Collector. He told him they as a family were deeply indebted to him for making possible the impossible.

The Collector replied that if the Government was not for the people, there was no justification for that Government to exist.

He assured  that he would always stand for the people.

CSS // CONVERSATION WITHH CSS

 

 On August 18, 2025. the book  A WALK THROUGH THE RAIN

 had been released by the KUTS Publications, KUT Seminary, Kannammoola, Trivandrum in a glittering function.

On February 1, 2026 it was awarded the Njananikshepam Award for the best book - general - published in 2025, at the CSI MKD Convention at Kottayam. 

The book is available at the KUTSeminary for sale.

Whatever it generates is for the KUT Seminary

Judging it, is not for the writer.  It is left to CSS

CSS responded:

Please let us know what is the help expected.

It elicited a reply:

"As I said it is published and marketed by KUTSeminary.

And whatever it generates is for the KUTSeminary.

The initial edition is almost exhausted

The Seminary is planning to bring out  the second edition with a few corrections by the middle of March 26.

I'd be happy if you could contact the Principal,  Rev Dr. C I .David Joy  and discuss the modality for the sale of the book through CSS.

It was affirmed in the introduction to the book, "A writer will write. It's not for him to self-evaluate." 

It is the truth

I'd request you to evaluate the book and if possible arrange for its display and sale.

I may add, as the author is unknown, it'll be tough to evoke acceptance.

One thing it is certain. It'll gain acceptance if it rises up to the perception or expectation of the readers on quality publications

Reading the book, Rev Dr. C I .David Joy had commented that each article there conveyed a message.

Of course there would be quite a lot of adverse comments as well.

The request is, if possible please try and arrange for its sale through outlets of CSS, as it could assist KUTSeminary in its journey."

OUR FRIEND INTRODUCES US TO MINDFUL CDC

We were concerned when there was delay in the development of speech  in our 23 months' old grandchild 

Our friend introduced us to Mindful CDC

We wrote to the friend.

Grateful to you for sparing your precious time.

The conversation was invigorating.

It helped in assessing us from the eyes of another person who is in  no way associated with us or knows us.

As for us this is the fifth child who is growing up in front of us. Two were our own sons, three, our grandchildren.

Rearing children is a tough proposition. We look at it first from how we had been brought up. Those were difficult days - of poverty and insufficiency. Yet we have reached this far.

One thing I am certain. The experiences were never alike.

I know very well there is nothing wrong with the young child. A well known and a very senior Paediatrician had assured us there was nothing wrong with the child and we dont't have to worry till he crosses the 36th month.

But when someone, especially the mother raises concern we cannot afford to ignore it.

That makes us go along.

Thank you once again. Will get back to you for your opinion on this issue when we are at a four cross junction. 

We need to be certain the track doesn't lead us on a wild goose chase.

I reverted to my friend today:

"We kept the appointment today

The child, his mother and the grandmother:.

They said everything was good there at Mindful CDC. And they saw at least 20 children coming there. The youngest was our child.

The consultant said, the child needs immediate treatment or therapy.  And a few sessions alone would help them diagnose the extent of disability that they said was due to excessive screen time.

While they were insistent on scheduling the next appointment, the grandmother told them, they would revert after thinking over it at home.

While they revealed  the opinion of the senior Paediatrician that Consultation with CDC - he had said the CDC at SAT was very good - was required only after the child turned 3 years in age, the reply from the consultant was,"It is a misconception."

We are at a loss to assess who is right.

The Senior is at least 60 and he must have attended to a very large number of children. When both the children had severe cough related issues, the local Paediatrician at Lords with MD was treating them. But the symptoms worsned. We were at our wit's end. Suddenly,a thought crossed my mind. "Take them to the Senior doctor who had looked after our eldest grandson." I can only say God had put that into my mind because we had never thought of him for the past several years.

Sum and substance is, the children were back to normal with his treatment

When we go there we observe the presence of many children as patients.

I was reminding the people here, my friend had told me, we should start worrying after a few more months only.

Any case, I am leaving the future course of action to the parents of the child."

The friend talked to us through voice message late in the night, yesterday 

It is the sanest opinion we have ever received.

We are reminded, the child is not yet 2 years in age. Taking him for therapy is the worst thing we could do to him. Give him more room. Talk to him. Play with him. Attend to his antics. Cut the screen time to the minimum. 

They have a child like this, far elder to our child. His development of speech too was slow. They did take him for therapy when he turned three. A few sessions afterwards, they discontinued it. They are sending him to school now. The teachers tell them he is slowly picking up.

Please obtain a third or even a fourth opinion from experts before settling on therapy, she suggested.

Placing here my response today

Grateful indeed for your message. It was the most sensible message I have received ever in my life.

Sharing and brainstorming always gives you answers for the cascades of tormenting issues. You have exactly done that.

Though life has taught me so much I am still learning.

The greatest lesson I have learned is I am a nobody when I compare myself with others.

Three days ago, Tom, my cousin's husband at our native place had phoned me. He had a message to convey.

Then we went chitchatting. He enquired how the children were doing. Something we all invariably do.

But he was aware of the minor health issues that occasionally had plagued the children.

I replied they were ok now and added that the younger one is falling behind in speech development.

Though this is already long, please let me  quote his response.

Tom tells me, his younger son had started speaking only after 3 and a half years.

He says though he began speech at that age whatever he conveyed lacked clarity.

Clarity came after he turned eight 

The boy finished his engineering later as he grew up.

He's now employed at Dubai

To conclude, I can only say we - I mean us - normally worry over nothing as we wrongly think  we have  nothing to worry about. I can't ever generalise on that. It is because events always threaten to overtake us or they just dawn on us out of the blue.

The friend writes again

Thanks a lot for your kind words. It is good to share the experience we get with someone. Moreover 2 yrs is a very young age. My opinion is that more time should be given to them. All kids might not be same . As long as they are active I think nothing should be worried . Anyway thanks a lot once again for sharing your experiences too. We’ll hope for the best.

EVANA'S DISPLAY OF COLOURS

 

                                                    Evana's Display of Colours

A Thousand Years

 A Thousand Years

by Christina Perri

2011 song

Please listen to it  in youtube

https://youtu.be/rtOvBOTyX00?si=Tljr0f2d2NNLXj8O

Great song. We have been playing it for 12 years

Hear it once, you become addicted to it

............................

Lyrics

..............

Heart beats fast

Colors and promises

How to be brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath, every hour has come to this

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

J&K CRICKET TEAM SET TO CREATE HISTORY // RANJI TROPHY

J&K CRICKET TEAM SET TO CREATE HISTORY

The J&K Cricket team is in the finals of the Ranji Trophy Cricket tournament, 2026. They have reached there for the first time in the history of the tournament. The match is scheduled to begin on February 24, 2026 at Hubbali, Karnataka.

The team is a bunch of novices or non entities or unknowns. But they have stuck together. They have fought together to reach the climax. They have eclipsed several teams of high repute to reach where they stand today.

I wish them good luck and victory.

Karnataka have won the tournament 8 times in its previous editions. They are a very strong team with a large number of heavyweights turning up for them. Some of them wear the Team India Caps.

It seems the competition would be fiery as the stakes are high..

When we talk to the 61 year old Ajay Sharma, head coach of J&K cricket team, you feel like listening to a gripping film script. It has a stirring storyline, powerful performances, punch line and redemption.

He describes his journey as a rebirth. It is a sentiment rooted in experience. His playing career was once derailed by match fixing allegations. He was charged. But he was cleared by the judiciary. He had to rebuild his life and reputation from scratch. He admits that life has changed so much for him. He conveyed that it was his second birth after he had been through a lot of difficulties. He had to rebuild his life and reputation from scratch.

He began his stint as the head coach of J&K Cricket team when the team was nowhere. The first thing he had done was, he had abolished the quota system for selection to the J&K Cricket team. Hailing from Jammu or Kashmir was not the standard. Merit was.

The first year was tough.

The mindset of the players was different, it was a hit and miss or survive attitude. They were attuned for IPL alone. It took the coach sometime to understand them. He believed if they were groomed mentally, their mindset would change. It happened.  It wasn’t easy. The first year they did not warm up to the coach. Their attitude towards to him was like, “Get lost.” He was disappointed

Then he asked them to write a review at the end of the first season. 13 players wrote they didn’t like being coached by Ajay. It was an awakening. He changed himself from being a strict coach to going down to their level, communicating and understanding them. He has scripted a remarkable resurgence. He has instilled culture, belief and a winning mindset into a side that has defied expectations.

The team has stuck together since then though nobody had given them much thought

He spoke candidly on the team’s rise and their hardships as well as the hunger that fuels their campaign. It was as if he was quoting Surya Kumar Yadav, “We started thinking more about the next day, taking one step at a time. There will be pressure. If there is no pressure there won’t be any fun in playing this game. We have not been thinking too much about how we plan to start on our campaign. I never said we don’t have any fear. I only said that we are not worried about anything. For us, performance matters. Not reputation or names. It’s a hunger for success that drives the players.”

His message to the team was clear, “We play the game, not the opposition. We are going out to win. Focus on your job. The result will take care of itself.  It’s just a matter of being out there and seeing who is under pressure first.”

“A title win changes your fortunes. It could open doors. A champion team can beat a team of champions. Life always gives you a second chance. You learn the lesson. You will find a way back even after failure looms large. We don’t ever listen to whispers on the law of averages catching up”

He further reveals, “Now many friends from across the world are calling me and telling me that they are proud of my work and are rooting for the team to win the championship.”

He was of high praise for Auqib Nabi, the pace bowling sensation.  He said, “Auqib Nabi is so focused and hardworking that the selection is hardly on his mind. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in skill.  Wherever he is, his mindset remains the same. His concentration makes him one of the best. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for, in skill. Wherever he is, his mindset remains the same. His concentration makes him one of the best. He concentrates on doing the right thing and he reaps the reward.”

J&K is certainly a champion team and not a team of champions.

Good luck to the champion team

 

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JESUS FOUNDED A KINGDOM OF LOVE

 

The plot against Jesus killed him. 

Jesus never surrendered his commitment to love.

By his cross, he founded a strange kingdom of love 

that could bring everyone together.

DAY OUT WITH BOSOM FRIENDS

 

                                                    

      

                                                                   

 

                                                                            

 Look at her day out with bosom friends  at Mother's Veg Plaza

Bakery Junction

Look at her happiness when she was with them.

She was their SO at one point of time.

They address her SO always with respect,  though one of them was the Joint Registrar when she retired and the other AR.

I told her she must do it every month, instead of being closeted at home.

She was very happy when she came back. That happiness is writ large in the pictures.

Only thing is we missed the classy food.

FLOWER POTS

                                         

                                      Lila's well arranged flower pots or in other words plant pots

 

WASHING MACHINE THAT BROKE DOWN

 

We had a hefty problem, Saturday last.

The Washing Machine struck work. To add to the hickup, the waste water instead of draining through the conduit, chose to flood the room.

A real mess.

It was quite unthinkable to survive without the modern gadget. Its equivalent of ancient times, the maids, would no longer handwash the clothes. They now condescend to  just hang them  in the open. Taking them in is our job. Life altogether extends a  Hobson's Choice these days. 

The jack of all trades was called in. He sensed where the fault lay. But he had to empty the water that had accumulated in the drum. He took a mug and a bucket. It helped him manage the waste water.  

But the larger problem was to convert the dysfunctionality to functionality.

It was beyond the gentleman.

He sought the assistance of Jibu, the technician.

Jibu said he was busy but would turn up on Sarurday itself. He didn't turn up.

Our gentleman is relentless in his approach.

Yet, he couldn't get Jibu to do the job the next day either. 

But he has tenacity. 

He managed to make Jibu attend to the call, on Monday.

Jibu came in with a screwdriver. He had no other tools. He knew where the fault was.

He took the tap for draining the wastewater out. But along with that  there were three objects. One was a fragment of cloth. Another was a portion of a small paint brush and the last was its holder, an inch in length.

Mission over, he restarted the Washing Machine. It was working well.

He advised us to cut down on the liquid soap we used. He said there was so much soap left in the Machine and that the next two washes must be done without  any soap. He told us that going lean on the soap would clear off the residual soap  in the Machine.

Job over, that cost us Rs.550.00, he went out. 

As he was on his  way  he saw the lady of the house trying to soothe the 23 month old baby into sleep.

He said, "It seems Ma'm has the toughest job here."

I told him, she was not the mere homemaker he had a glance at. She had an excellent job where she did extremely well. She had been driving around in her car in 1988, when there were not many women on the road like that. Our children have become what they are today solely due to her guidance. 

And when one of our relatives had fallen ill and  became unconscious all of a sudden, she had the courage to take the person in her car to the hospital. It had brought the relative on the verge of death, back to life.

Jibu said he couldn't just believe, the meek lady was that strong.

He took off with the remark, "Ma'm indeed is a strong woman."

THE VILLAGE OFFICE AND A WILL

It was the saddest moment in the lives of the family of Robert Raj. They could see that the 73 year old head of the family had very little time left on earth. 

Robert had been a State Govt employee for 30 years till he had retired at the age of 55. He had  served conscientiously all through the career. He began his official life as a clerk in the collegiate education department at Chittoor. Transfers took him across Kerala. The final halt was the Intermediate College at Trivandrum.  Time Scale promotions had taken him to the Office superintedent's post. Then he bowed out of the service and settled into the  life of a pensioner. 

As Robert's wife, Helen, was a teacher in a private school at Tiruvallom, the husband and wife had taken a wise decision to settle the family at their ancestral home at Koliyoor. The distance was hardly 4 km from Koliyoor to Tiruvallom that Helen could easily commute by the KSRTC Bus. Helen looked after their four children - two boys and two girls - while Robert had been moved across all over Kerala on his postings.

The children grew up to fine gentlemen and beautiful ladies. As they had studied hard, they were able to secure admission at the CET,Trivandrum. The degree in engineering had secured jobs for all of them in the Central Govt. owned companies. The only hitch was, while both the girls were employed by the ONGC at Bombay, the sons were absorbed by the Bhilai Steel Plant.

Three years after Robert had retired from his job,  Helen too retired as HM of her school.

Their pensions  provided them finacial security. As both the husband and wife were not spendthrifts, they had built sufficient savings to see them through their old age. Since the children were all away, they pulled on with their lives togther. Those were the happy days. The intermittent  visits of the chidren had spiced their lives.

For a while life was placid. But nothing is permanent in  life. Sickness raised its ugly head.

Robert was stricken with a fever that refused to recede when he was 72. The visits to the doctors were a daily feature, but futile.  Finally, Robert was admitted at the General Hospital, Trivandrum.

It was diagnosed that the ailment was pneumonia. Though Robert was administered the best possible treatment, his condition deteriorated. Doctors could not stablise him. 

Later, the prognosis was given and the patient was discharged with the advice, that paliiative care alone was further required. There was no neglect at the hospital.

Despite their busy schedules, the sons and daughters of Robert Raj reached their home. They looked after their father very well. But they knew it was a lost cause.

The whole family was by his side, when Robert Raj breathed his last. The funeral took place the next day. 

Life couldnot be put at a standstill. The children had to return to their jobs. Helen was left alone at the house where the family had seen happy days together. The laughter resonated there even in that loneliness, Helen was subjected to. She took the suffering gamely.

However death brings in its wake a host of issues. There are accounts to be settled. The Will has to be mutated. The ownership of the properties left behind by the deceased has to be transferred to the successors.

Six months after the death of their  dear father, the children came together on a short leave to complete the legal formalities. 

The Village Office is the place where all such important matters are  finalised. But when they visited the Village Ofice at Tiruvallom they were made to run around in circles. They were instructed to produce several documents. When they said they had very little time on hand the staff at the office grew in indifference. They were heckled. They were ridiculed.

At last, the official agreed to listen to them. He verified all the documents they had produced. Helen and the children were there.

After the official satisfied himself that those who were present were the sole descendants of the late Robert Raj, he advised all the children to move out of the office. He said he wanted to speak to Helen alone.

Helen who had been a silent witness to everything that had been happening there suddenly raised her voice to a very high pitch

She said in Malayalam, " Ivar aarum purathu pokan pokunnilla. Avar ividethanne nilkum.

Nee enthinanu avarodu pokan paranjatum, ennodu thanne samsarikkanamennu paranajathum ennu  enikariam. Enikku veray bhartavundo ennu chodiakkanalle. Ninnepole orupadennathine njan kandittundu. Eluppam vendathu cheyyanam. Ente pllarku avarude jolisthalathu pokanullathanu.Avarku veruthe kalayan samayamilla"

Translated into Englsh, it could be read as,"None of my children are going out. They will remain here itself. I know very well why you had asked them to go out and said that you wanted to talk to me alone. Is it not for asking me whether I have another husband. I have seen many people like you. Do whatever has to done fast. My children have to proceed to their workplaces. They have no time to waste."

The exalted Govt. Official was stunned at the outburst.  Without a word, he signed all the documents and literally pushed them all out of his divine sanctuary where he had been lording over the common man for a very long time with his antics.

The next day morning, just as the children were preparing to proceed to their workplaces, the Village Officer, Tiruvallom made visit to their house. He said he was very sorry at what had  happened at the office the previous day. He was a very good gentleman hailing from Cheruthuruthy. 

He said the official who had given them  a harrowing time was a top leader of the organisation of the Govt. employees. He was corrupt. He had no hesitation in placing hurdles at  all the vistors to the  Village Office. He said, because of the political leanings of the corrupt and inconsiderate official, no one could do any thing to correct him or initiate action agaist him.

Helen and the entire family expressed happiness over the simplicity of the Village Officer. They offered appreciation for the visit and his soothing conversation. They were grateful to him for sparing his precious time on  their behalf.

BRICKBATS AND BOUQUETS OVER THE POST ON JDANIEL

 

When one steps into creative writing and its publishing, brickbats and bouquets are the natural corollaries.

 You would be flooded and floored with brickbats on your venture - the tottering steps into the domain of publishing. What you present would be critically analysed and you would have the real image on how people look at you and take you on for your faults, foibles and failures.  

Bouquets will be far and few.

A writer writes - from experiences, visualization and imagination. It could be freewheeling.  It's a natural progression from a void to a crescendo. 

He presents from the innards. There would be passion and  emotion that drive him.

He derives from an urge that prods him on. 

The product is unveiled.

Then the writer looks for the brickbats. 

They reveal what people have truly in mind.

They advise you where you have erred according to their perception. 

And you are happy the brickbats have been turned on.

It helps you to look at you from their eyes. Something you cannot activate from within.

A true revelation that alone can make you blossom.

...............................

The  earlier post on JDaniel had evoked a few excellent responses.

I present them.

The first was a phone call from Satyan J Kairana

who became the Principal of St Thomas a couple of years later.

He said the post was a true reflection of JDaniel and he was happy he could go through that.

Incidentally Satyan had won the President of India's award for the best teacher while he was in service. 

To me,  JDaniel certainly had deserved such an award. 

But I am sad no one had recognised him though he never craved for awards or recognition.

However, he remains and lives on in the minds of the countless number of his students  who have become what they are solely due to the sca he extended with love and affection. 

.................

Quoting the  second  from Sheila Paul, eldest daughter of JDaniel

"Thank you Lalachayen for this beautiful account as a tribute to Pappa. I was not aware of some of the details and have only a vague memory of some. This is precious for all of us. ❤️ I always wonder how we all lived so very happily in that house in HNR , always welcoming extended families who visited us. It was such a joy for us when we had someone like you, Saji and some of our other cousins and their children stayed with us for a longer period. Those were the lovely care free days, made so by Pappa and Ammachi’s strong faith and trust in our Lord that - Lord will provide.🙏🏻 My siblings always remember that in our childhood, our parents always made sure that we felt that we were on top of the world ! 🙏🏻 Thank you  for remembering Pappa so fondly on this day."

...........................

The third is from a brilliant and highly competent person who has made it big in the world 

"Lalachayen, 

Appreciate your post on Danichayen. He was a much loved person in the family. He also opened his house to me. 

In all this praise, I fail to understand why a paragraph with negative connotation was dedicated to my father. It is out of place and unwarranted. Also fail to understand the irony of accepting Koshi Paul as  Babychayen but having a problem with J Daniel becoming Danichayen. 

Respectfully request every one on this group to refrain from talking negatively about anyone who has already gone on ahead of us.

Sorry if I offended you, but no rejoinder or justification is warranted."

...........

I loved  the virulent reaction. It reminded me of the commands of an era long gone by.

And as I said in the post, JDaniel became 'Uncle' to us solely because he wanted it that way. We obeyed him. It was unfair if anyone wanted us to disobey him. 

As for 'Babychayan' instead of Koshy Paul, a name I had not mentioned anywhere in my script, there had been no irony. We had been structured by our parents to address him 'Babychayan'.  We were just obeying our dear parents on that when we were in an impressionable age.

......................

While I thanked Satyan J Kairana profusely over phone, I had sent a 'Thank you message' for two responses. I left the fourth alone.

.....................

There had been a fourth response as well.

 It is from an eminent person who has done extremely well in life

"Pappa felt the use of uncle had a very distant western feel to it and trained us to address all his family as Mummy, Pappa, achayen, ammama and so on... that was his love for each member of his family which he wanted us to feel and convey too. 

Danichayen loved each of us as his own,  we spent quite a few summers with him at honnavar or hubli,  wonderful times of joy  and laughter. 

Appachen and ammachi were with us in Hubli before Appachen went to be with the Lord, ammachi continued with us in Secunderabad too, much after Anish was born too, till she said she wants to go to honnavar.  She lived for a year or so thereafter under the loving care of Danichayen and Animmama. 

Truly exemplary and inspiring"

...................

I am indeed happy there have been frank responses.

That too from people of high intellect.

I am grateful for that

I look forward to more and more responses.

...........................

EMBRACE AND ACCEPT

 

Embrace and accept yourself just as you are. 

The process of acceptance  has to extend beyond appearance to how you view the physical toll of your work. 

Never feel insecure on your appearance.

 Remind yourself, the downturn in appearance when you work hard with relentless effort, is not a flaw at all.

Mammootty narrates an experience.

 

Mammootty narrates an experience. 

Once he had bought a hearing aid for someone. 

He used the gift briefly, but then discarded it. The reason was, he had never experienced sound before. 

And it had terrified him.

The veteran actor adds, "Hearing is a blessing."

MAMMOOTTY

 

MAMMOOTTY

We understand the value of our own abilities like sight, hearing and sense of taste or smell only when we lose them.

Doing good, encouraging those who do good and opposing evil - these are the greatest things we can do on earth.

RANA DAGGUBATY, ACTOR, SPEAKS

 

       RANA DAGGUBATY, ACTOR, SPEAKS

                                                                         

 You don't expect that anything would happen to you.                   

You normally think  nothing would ever go wrong with you. 

You always think you are the centre of the whole world.

I first learned I could be pushed aside when I became sick

You know what to do when a friend or a member of your family falls ill.

You know very well how to respond to that.

But when it happens to you, you don't know how to respond, or what to do

Of course, a large number of people would be   sympthetic

They  wish to know what has really happened to you

And they would be  very much shocked that your health is in jeopardy

                    

                    

When life was going ahead fast paced, the pause key was pressed. Blood pressure went up. There was calcification around the heart. Kidneys struck work.  There was 70% chance for paralysis and internal bleeding. Death was 30% closer. My films had taught me to overcome stringent hindrances and rise up in  life like the hero in the films.

When the diagnosis had been confirmed it  shocked me to the core. 

J DANIEL FORMER PRINCIPAL St THOMAS HIGH SCHOOLHONNAVAR UTTAR KANNADA KARNATAKA INDIA

 

I and we as a family have so much to pen on 

J Daniel.

The association began when he married Animmamma.

Being Mummy's younger sister I had a special relationship with her.

I still remember her walking into our house at Munnar when she had visited the place. She was a student of UCCollege Aluva. The students from the College were on a tour.

She got down from the bus  as the group was returning from Mattuppetty. There is a dam there. It was one of the wonders of Munnar at that time. It still is. I was thrilled to be with her. She had spent the night with us and left to join her group the next  morning. Our house was below the road to Mattuppetty.

Every year Mummy used to visit Niranam and Animmamma was there to take care of me.

When she was married to JDaniel we were all there. It was at the Jerusalem Church. Niranam

I was in the primary school.

They had their first night at our Kumbalathu House that no longer is ours.

The next day JDaniel came out. He made friends with me and Leela.  He was wearing a pyjama and a shirt of identical colour.  It was the first time in my life I had seen such a dress. Didn't even know  its name.

He quietly told us to address him 'Uncle.' 

He became Uncle to us. He still is. 

Though he is no more.

Babychayan, Mummy's twin brother, when he heard us addressing JDaniel as 'Uncle' showed aggressive displeasure. He had repeatedly told me to address him or to refer to him as Danichayan from my young age upto my marriage whenever we came across. Afterwards he gave up.

Uncle used to flood me with gifts whenever we were together at Niranam or when he had visited Munnar. 

He was so wedded to Honavar and St.Thomas, he preferred to remain at Honavar. It was a relationship established in concrete.

It was the time teachers of Malayali origin  were finding employment at Ethiopia.

Once Mummy in her ignorance and her deep desire to see her sister and  her brother in law well settled in life had suggested that they both ought to make a beeline for Ethiopia.

Uncle quietly told her, he had no desire to leave Honavar, but he assured her he would never make Annie starve.

Mummy never returned to the topic

Once, I completed my MA, he took me as his own son.

Whatever I am today is solely due to the invigoration he had induced.

He had no need for that. He had his own four children. Those days the income they both generated was not enough for sustenance. Yet he took me under his wings. He ensured the blossoming of a nincompoop to an individual of substance.

Well I have much and much more to write. But I very well  know that in these days of capsules, you would detest me for flooding the WhatsApp.

Today, I am happy all his children are doing well in life. I am happy they have been richly blessed by God with riches.

Uncle had firmly believed in God. His God looked after him well. God has listened to his prayers. I am happy  his dear companion Annie and all his  children  have grown from those Honavar days to what they are today.

He cared much for his father in law and mother in law. When he came to know how they were suffering in their old age, he had sent Animmamma with a single mission. He told her to bring them over to Honavar.

And he looked after them. There is more to what he did there. But I prefer to go silent on that

Of course, as time has progressed, relationships  are no longer close. Everyone is busy with their own lives. No one has the time to think of anyone else. It's the way of the world. 

Riches come, vanish 

They come again 

They vanish again

The cycle goes on

But love stays

With us

But in the far corner of my mind everything is alive. They would remain like that as long as I am around.

I thank God for the wonderful relationship I had with Uncle.

I thank God he had sent JDaniel, my uncle to earth to fulfil God's vision and mission.

And I know he is a winner there.

...............................................

This post had evoked a few excellent responses.

The first was a phone call from Satyan J Kairana

who became the Principal of St Thomas a couple of years later.

He said the post was a true reflection of JDaniel and he was happy he could go through that.

Incidentally Satyan had won the President of India's award for the best teacher while he was in service. 

.................

Quoting the  second  from Sheila Paul, eldest daughter of JDaniel

"Thank you Lalachayen for this beautiful account as a tribute to Pappa. I was not aware of some of the details and have only a vague memory of some. This is precious for all of us. ❤️ I always wonder how we all lived so very happily in that house in HNR , always welcoming extended families who visited us. It was such a joy for us when we had someone like you, Saji and some of our other cousins and their children stayed with us for a longer period. Those were the lovely care free days, made so by Pappa and Ammachi’s strong faith and trust in our Lord that - Lord will provide.🙏🏻 My siblings always remember that in our childhood, our parents always made sure that we felt that we were on top of the world ! 🙏🏻 Thank you  for remembering Pappa so fondly on this day."

...........................

The third is from a brilliant and highly competent person who has made it in the world 

"Lalachayen, 

Appreciate your post on Danichayen. He was a much loved person in the family. He also opened his house to me. 

In all this praise, I fail to understand why a paragraph with negative connotation was dedicated to my father. It is out of place and unwarranted. Also fail to understand the irony of accepting Koshi Paul as  Babychayen but having a problem with J Daniel becoming Danichayen. 

Respectfully request every one on this group to refrain from talking negatively about anyone who has already gone on ahead of us.

Sorry if I offended you, but no rejoinder or justification is warranted."

......................

While I thanked Satyan J Kairana profusely over phone, I had sent a 'Thank you message' for the other two responses.

.....................

There had been a fourth response as well.

 It is from an eminent person who has done extremely well in life

"Pappa felt the use of uncle had a very distant western feel to it and trained us to address all his family as Mummy, Pappa, achayen, ammama and so on... that was his love for each member of his family which he wanted us to feel and convey too. 

Danichayen loved each of us as his own,  we spent quite a few summers with him at honnavar or hubli,  wonderful times of joy  and laughter. 

Appachen and ammachi were with us in Hubli before Appachen went to be with the Lord, ammachi continued with us in Secunderabad too, much after Anish was born too, till she said she wants to go to honnavar.  She lived for a year or so thereafter under the loving care of Danichayen and Animmama. 

Truly exemplary and inspiring"

...................

I am indeed happy there have been frank responses.

That too from people of high intellect.

I am grateful for that

I look.forward to more and more responses.

...........................

FLOWERS STARTLE

 As I was driving out today

Flowers beckoned me
They startled me.
They were not flashy
But there was beauty 

All over them
I drove on to keep my date.
It was noon 
When I returned
They stood there
Inviting me to savour
Nature's striking gift
To mankind
Simple yet stunning

                                           Look at the contrast   
                                             Two reds
                                             Stare at  you
                                             Hiding almost
                                             Amidst plentiful
                                             Thick greens

                                             Striking indeed

                                                 

                                                    

                                                     

                   

                            The colourful patterns
                                                   
                                         Surprise
                                                                               

                                                                                   

K RAJEEVAN COMPLIMENTS THE AUTHOR

 On 1st February 2026,
the CSIMadhya Kerala Diocese  Treasury of Knowledge Literary Award  - 2025 

for the best book on Literature (General) 

was presented to ABRAHAM JACOB.

for  the book 

 A WALK THROUGH THE RAIN 

I forwarded the happy news to  K Rajeevan who had served as President of the SBI Pensioners' Association, Kerala.

"What follows is pretty long.
It's on an award.
If you are interested, if you have the time and patience, please have a look. Or just ignore. 
For me, at my age 75 onto 76 it's a big thing. Especially when you are recognised that has never happened in life ever before. That too in the presence of a mammoth assemblage of people.
It was at Kottayam.
Baker Hill
It was a great emotional moment for me and as well as for my dear ones

Rajeevan replied

"My dear Abraham Jacob. 
I am immensely happy and feel proud about you for your remarkable achievement of being the recepient of the Award for best book on literature . My hearty congratulations to you. 
Long long before I had the opportunity to feel the pulse of your most     impressive  and  eloquent expressions in our  "companion". Hence  no surprise in this value addition. However, I sincerely feel that this should have reached you much much before. 
My special compliments for the Title of the book ' A walk through the rain '. 
Wishing you more and more laudable laurels in days ahead.
Regards 
Rajeevan"

It prompted me to respond 

"Dear Rajeevan,

Thank you for the compliments and reading me much earlier.
There are events in your life where things just happen out of the blue.
When the book was published, I never thought it would catch the attention of anyone at all. 
The award was beyond even my dreams.
The presentation was spectacular. Imagine the feelings when I accepted it in front of a mammoth assemblage of 10000 plus.
Later, the next Sunday, a friend at the Church queried, "How did you become a writer, the way you were into a world of figures whole of your life."
I must say life takes inexplicable turns.
36 editions of Companion,  compilation of the minutes of 36  executive committee meetings and on the job challenges had built my prowess in editing. I am grateful to you for entrusting me with the opportunity and for believing in me.
Each and every person I have met have taught me quite a lot. I am still learning. You are placed among the top in the list.
I keep on writing. My blog grows. Quality is what I stress. I edit several times before the blogs are published. Even then apprehension is within me.
It's like the manner in which I closed  the introduction to the book - 'A writer will write. It's not for him to self-evaluate.'
The Principal of the KUTSeminary was telling me that each of the articles was conveying a message.
And Rev Dr Santy S Paul,Faculty there, conveyed to me that  through what I write, I was making people to 'walk' along with me.
As regards the title, the book has a poem with the title. The poem is a bit long.
My brother, after reading it, was sharing with me, he felt he was walking through the rain.
Well, this has gone on for long. Beg your pardon for taking away your precious time.
I don't usually go off like this.
But we knew each other well. And we were good friends.
Perhaps it must have made me unleash.
Thank you once again for your message.
Regards to you and every one at home
Abraham

Traffic and Trivandrum Roads

 Trivandrum Roads/Traffic

We don't know what to make of the traffic on Triivandrum Roads. It's a mess everywhere. 

We pay the road tax for our vehicles. Naturally, we should be reciprocated with top class roads.

Instead we have apology of roads

You are held up everywhere. It'd be a surprise if there are no road blocks.

The dust on the roads pollute the air. People turn ill.

Hospitals are overcrowded.

Road rage is the new normal.

VIPs fly on the road. People are tormented to ensure ease of their flight.

MC Road and NH are examples of the efficiency of brilliant governance.

A road trip to Kollam that took one hour, now needs two and a half hours.

While you could reach Kottayam in three to three and a half hours earlier, it now needs five and a half hours.

We do not know we can have bypasses for the towns.

We are happy all trafiic is guided through the towns itself.

When the work on Venjaramood fly over began we forgot we needed service roads to divert the traffic.

We crawl there.

Now we spent hours together to transit through each town on the way. to Kottayam and beyond.

Will we ever have good roads?

CSI CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA NEEDS NEHEMIAH

 

CSI CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA NEEDS NEHEMIAH

When Babylonians invaded Judah, they carried the people off in exile, razed the city and destroyed the temple at Jerusalem. When the people returned after many years, they rebuilt the altar in the midst of the ruined temple to worship God. People, who remembered Solomonn’s original, spectacular temple, compared it with the new, rather pathetic looking replacement. 

They wept.

Similarly, when we look at the inadequacy of our own lives compared to the wonder of Jesus, we too might respond with tears.

Nehemiah prayed, “Turn their insults back on their own heads. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults.’’

Nehemiah was challenged to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In one of the most amazing accounts of leadership, perseverance and courage Nehemiah rallies the people to rebuild the walls in just 52 days.

Obviously, rebuilding of the walls meant that the city security would be enhanced. Those who had benefitted from the rather lax security that prevailed up until this point, in that they were able to come and plunder the city any time they felt like doing so, were less than thrilled that the work was progressing swiftly.

Sanballat and Tobiah are derisive of the attempts to rebuild the walls. They are contemptuous of the Israelites’ efforts in this regard because their criminal livelihood is threatened. They respond to the threat by trying to make it as hard as possible for the work to proceed.

While we understand that CSI is fragile, we should always remember that CSI on the right track will not be celebrated by everybody. And there are even those for whom CSI on the right track will be a threat.

Opposition to CSI on the right track is real. We have our own Sanballats and Tobiahs, who come and plunder CSI any time they feel like doing so.

Nehemiah shows us the way:

Pray and leave the opponents in God’s hand. 

Continue the work.

Please do not be distracted.

When we are ridiculed or opposed, leave the issue in God’s hands.  

Leave room for God to act.

 

 

PALLIATIVE CARE THAT SHOULD NOT BE

 

Palliative Care that should not be 

This is a real story. But names are changed for privacy.

Mathew and Susan belonged to Kumbanad. They were neighbours. They were of identical age. They had attended school and college together. They were thick friends. Their families, much earlier, had decided to unite them in marriage once they found employment.

In this land where jobs were few and difficult to come by, Mathew and Susan were lucky enough to be appointed as clerks in the Postal Department   at Kottayam. A year after their appointment, the families got together and conducted their marriage as envisaged.

Everything went on well.  Mathew and Susan managed to purchase a house at Devalokam after staying in a rented house for three years. They had two sons in this period.

As time moved on Mathew's father, Alexander, became ill. He needed advanced treatment. As it was available at Kottayam alone and not at Kumbanad, they  brought both the father and the  mother to stay with them.

While the treatment was going on for his father, tragedy struck.  Mathew's mother suddenly had a heart attack. Unfortunately she succumbed to it. 

Now Mathew and Susan had a difficult time. They had to attend to their jobs. They had their children at the school. And there was Mathew's father, Alexander, who needed a male home nurse as he could not move around by himself. 

Mathew, with the help of an agency, was able to locate a male home nurse, Sabu.

Sabu said he would do the job at Rs.20000.00 per month if the family provided him food.

There was no other go. 

Mathew agreed.

Sabu came and began to look after the ailing father of Mathew.

Initially the arrangement worked out well. Alexander was happy with the service by Sabu.

Later on, Sabu became aggressive. He began ill treating  Alexander. 

Sabu would set the AC at 18 degree even as he could see Alexander was shivering. He refused to cover the poor man with a blanket. He would not provide Alexander with hot water to drink and help him withstand the extreme temperature. 

Alexander quietly suffered. He did not convey the difficulties he had faced to Mathew or Susan. As Alexander had to be carried to the bathroom, Sabu had thretened him that he would be throwing him down sharply to the bed if he had said even a word about how he was being ill treated to Mathew or Susan.

Alexander knew very well if Sabu was dismissed, it would be difficult for Mathew and Susan to locate a replacement. As Alexander was in need of constant care, he knew either Mathew or Susan would have to give up their job to look after  him. As he loved them, he did not wish to add misery to their lives.

Like every good thing coming to an end,   every bad thing will have to come to an end.

One day Susan returned from the office  a little earlier as she had a splitting head ache. At home she found a shivering Alexander and a Sabu in deep slumber with the AC temperature at the lowest. She just couldn't believe it. They had been under the impression Sabu was looking after Alexander very well. She probed. Alexander couldn't hold back any longer. 

Susan phoned Mathew. She asked him to come at once. 

Sabu was full of regret. He said he would look after Alexander well.thereafter.

Mathew made up his mind. He complained to the agency. They at once recalled Sabu and arranged a replacement. They assured the replacement won't create any mischief.

Fortunately the replacement was good. He took good care of Alexander till he breathed his last after three years.

 

This is the story two girls

 

This is the story two girls

The first one is an MSc Biochemistry, aged 38, with a 14 year old son

She is well eduacted. She had an English medium school education

Her husband is a teacher in a private school

She works as a health inspector in a Municipality in Central Kerala for which the  qualification prescribed is a pass in SSLC.  She got the job because she is  an SSLC pass. We can see that her PG degree and  her 7 years in the College were a waste. 

She became health inspector after getting through a course recognised by the Govt. Her job is to visit houses and ensure everything is clean everywhere. Her first question everywhere is, is there a dog. She steps in when the reply is negative. She enquires if  is there anyone here with fever. She conveys that dengue is prevalent everywhere. She asks  whether the house has any plants inside and whether there are little pools of water that breed mosquitoes. 

Then she advises how to carry on without contracting any infectious disease. 

Job over she leaves 

The second is an Engineer.  She is a pass out from LBS Trivandrum.  She works in a Bank.as a clerk.  She must be around 35.

Her husband, an engineering graduate is employed in another bank as a clerk.

They have a seven year old girl who attends a premium school. 

She says she joined the bank because she couldn't find a job as an engineer. 

She concludes, "You don't get a job in the field you are trained."

This is the bane of  Kerala.  Jobs are few. Your qualification does not provide you the job for which you are trained. 

 

PERMANENT SEATS

 

PERMANAENT SEATS

Christ Church on The Ridge in Shimla is the historic church known for having specifically designated, permanent seats for the Viceroy/Governor-General/ Commander in Chief during the British Raj. The name plates are stiill there. Consecrated in 1857, it served the Anglican community in the summer capital, with its prominent location highlighting its importance to colonial leadership. As the second oldest church in North India, it served as a primary place of worship for the British elite. Designed by Colonel J.T. Boileau in the Neo-Gothic style, it is known for its stained-glass windows and prominent bell tower. Situated near the town's centre (The Ridge), it was central to social life in the summer capital. 

 

The Church we attend has a large membership.

Every week Worship is conducted there in four languages - Tamil, English, Malayalam and Hindi

The English Worship is attended by a large number of people. Many of them are retired officials, who had been employed outside Kerala for the greater part of their lives. Then we have the people who have settled down in Trivandrum after their stint abroad or in other states in India . Please add to that people who have migrated to Trivandrum on the demands of their jobs or for the convenience the city offered. Another attraction is the convenient timing that enables the worshippers to proceed for their engagements after the conclusion of the Worship. 

The beauty of the worship in English is many who attend the Worship have fixed seats on the pews. You can see them occupying the very same seat, week after week, month after month, year after year. They dislike anyone else occupying their seat. They'd somehow manage to push the poacher out and regain their seat. No one would grudge their antics as they are all aged and contribute magnanimously to the projects initiated by the Church.

Once, the occupant of a permanent seat had fallen ill. He had to be admitted to a premium Hospital. His seat had fallen vacant in his absence. 

Since he had very good relations with most of the people at the Church, several of his friends had visited him at  the hospital. 

When one of his close friends had called on him, he enquired what had happened to his own seat at the Church. He wanted to know whether it had been taken over by anyone else. The friend assured him that the seat was very safe as he himself has occupied it to prevent anyone else from appropriating it. He said he was praying fervently for his friend's discharge from the hospital hale and hearty.   He assured that his friend could have his permanent seat back when he returned. 

It was a big relief for the invalid. He soon regained his health and was back at his own place in the Church.

However, the seat arrangements go haywire when the Church holds combined worships on special occasions. The permanent seat holders desist from attending the worship on those days as they know they may not be able to hold on to their own seats on those days. But as their faith is staunch, they ensure that their enforced absence does not contribute to a fall in the revenue of the Church as the Church manages its financial challenges with the help of the handsome contributions from those high end believers. They would send in their contributions through money transfers or though their friends who attend the worship. 

And once the order is restored they would be back at their own seats.

That keeps everyone happy.