Summer of 67

The year was 1967 ... a very good year ..as , it was the year of romance..

..We had come back ,from taking part in the Republic day parade, in Delhi..and before that we were lucky to go through , the preparatory camp at Munnar..at least I was lucky ..as I met my Girl friend Vatsala ...there..

.. I became , a very ardent devotee , of Srikandeswara Temple in Vanchiyoor.. her house was next to this temple..

....I think, I picked up the rudiments of writing ..from this period... in shortest number of words , I had to tell her ..how much she meant to me ..

..after a year , of frenetic letter writings , and risky visits to the alleys , behind the temple .. to meet her ..the romance petered out ..her parents caught her with my letters ..and .. laughed at her for romancing a School boy ..when she was already in college ..

.. final straw ..was the caste factor.. how can a brahmin girl .even think of marrying a Nair boy ....that too a school going boy..

...There was nothing else, to look forward to..except NDA results..Then came a breather.. A trek to Courtallam falls...John Pendred , our British volunteer , cum football coach , cum , maths teacher, cum Director , of all Shakespearean plays ... like Comedy of Errors..... and his friend Smith , were willing to take us for a trek , to Courtallam Falls , in Tamil Nadu...


...we were to be ..dropped at a place called TENMALA .. then had to walk on foot.. Fifty kilometers ..towards Tamil Nadu border ..Aryankavu..cross over to Shenkottai.. in Tamil Nadu ..make a base at Courtallam Falls 5 Kilometers away.. and then .. be brought back to SSKZM by bus..

..We trekked with our Haversacks .. with a cheerful forest stream ..keeping us company ....and at odd times ..old ladies used to peek out from their shanties ..on the side of the road ..and berate us ..why can't you be a little more patient ..there is a bus every Three hours to Shencottai..
...Our BritiSh Volunteers..tried to make our hike ...a little more interesting ..They made us , sing aloud ..a British Marching Song ..

..." Roll me over, on the clover .. Roll me over on the Clover .. ..Roll me over.. lay me down ..and do it once again.. Please ,Do it once ..again..."

... at that time ...at least I did not know ..the connection between the song and unabashed procreative activity ..in the open english country side..

....at Aryankavu we crossed over to Tamil nadu ..passed through Shencottai..and reached courtallam falls..

... a refreshing bath at the water fall ..spirits soaring.. we all were singing..

... " Hurray , Hurrah ..we sing so happily..Hurrah ,Hurrah ..the place that makes us free.and so we sang the chorus ,from Trivandrum to the sea..
.....as we were marching ..from Pangode "

..Back in the school ..with memories of a grand ..Summer of '67

Happy school days

Article written by my senior school mate Mr. VM Rajan

My First Day in Army (By VM Rajan)

The train was approaching Jammu .. there was a knot of fear and nervousness in the guts .. I checked my uniform in the mirror .. felt pride , despite the lone star on the shoulders ..like an island in a sea of Olive green..

.. smartly turned out in my officer cap.. and regimental cane tucked under my left arm.. I stepped on the paltform ..to be received by the orderly..

.. He led me to the vehicle ..to proceed to the battalion.

.. after standing five minutes next to a 1 Ton water truck .. I asked the orderly " Hamara Jonga Kidhar Hai"

.. . by this time , the driver of the truck ,had taken my luggage .. and placed them on the co drivers seat..

..feeling morose at the type of transport being provided for Officer conveyance.. I was about to step into the co drivers seat .. when the driver told me ..I was to travel in the body of the truck..

... I stared at him and barked " Bewakoof ..How can anyone travel ..standind neckdeep in water "

.. he told me with soldierly finality .." Saab ..hukm hai "

..cars slowed down ..and locals on both sides of the rosd , stared in puzzlement at the sight of a man ..getting sloshed by water .. standing in a speeding military water truck..

.. at the mess ..I quickly changed into drier clothes and presented myself in front of the Adjutant..

... He welcomed me to the battalion.. and told me to report to ALPHA COMPANY ..

..as i walked away .. I had a sneaking suspicion , that the adjutant had too much of a resemblane , to the driver of water truck..

.. the alpha company commander ..had a moustache very similar to the orderly..spoke in the same voice ..except now it was in english..

.. at the mess.. we all had a hearty laugh at the brilliant impersonation of orderly and driver..

.. the C.O asked me if I could do a hand stand..eager to impress..I held the upside down position with ease..

.. until I felt something like ..extremely cold ice cubes.. moving down my trousers .. and collecting dangerously near the family jewels..and then wetting my shirt.. I looked through a film of water at the upside down faces of grinning officers..

..A fine welcoming speech.. and I was part ..of an honourable profession...a tradition ... a way of life..

Happy Army Days

This article is written by my school mate. Mr. Vishwanath Madhav Rajan, he can be contacted at rajan154@rediffmail.com

Metro Train Ride