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