Early childhood memoir!!

This is a note about my early childhood!

I was born in a remote village (Country town) called Kadavallur, which is a local suburb in the state of Kerala, INDIA . My mother was living with her parents at that time in their home in ‘Chettiyar Madam”, Kadavallur(it's a local suburb). She had to join my father and elder brother, so she then moved to our home in North Kottol and left me with Pettamma (Grandmother) at the Chettiyar Madam in my early childhood. I stayed at the Chettiyar Madam House with my grand parents until I turned 7 years old. My early childhood remembrance is totally filled with the surrounding of this ‘Chettiyar Madam’. Chettiyar Madam was a 2+ Storey Traditional Brahmin house with Thulasitharra, Pathayapura, and Kayyala etc. When I read the novel of ‘Nallukettu’ (MT. Vasudhevan Nair), I always can feel the similarity of the character in me surrounded by this Chettiyar Madam House!

There were so many characters influenced my early childhood, which includes Saidalikka, Neeli, Laxmiamma, Mallika Teacher, Gopiyettan, Valzala, and Jaya. The prime facie character was my Pettamma, who had a long hair and beautiful face. Her name is Beevathumma and she always used to get well with her neighbours. Beefathumma was a typical but caring lady where all neighbours comes in whenever they need some advice or they get short of food or need anything to borrow from us. Our lives where influenced by the Chettiyar Madam House and neighbors, where most of our neighbours from Nair or Namburi background. The home was close to Sri Rama Swamy Temple, which is now very famous for ‘Annnoynnaym (* Puranic Vedha Competition among Hindu Religious Scholars). The neighbors get up at very early in the morning and go to take a bath at the Ambala Kulam. It was interesting for me to see this phenomenon where I see people going especially girls in a group with amazing devotion. I always could hear and make out how energetic they were while they are walking towards the Temple from the noise of their ‘Padhaswara killukkam’ and Kuppivalla’ (Bangles). Our nearest neighbour was Mallikka Teacher, who used to run private tuition at her home every morning. She will not accept students if they had not taken bath. I always felt the smell of “Chembagam Flower” whenever I got close encounter with Mallikka Teacher.

I moved to join my mother and family later in North Kottol, it was a difficult time for our family at North Kottol. I was a teenager then. The size of our family was 4 sons and 1 daughter. The environment in the home always filled with happiness. My elder Brother was the hardworking man I have ever seen my life. He was the agent for ‘Local News Paper Distribution’ who then went away to United Arab Emirates in search of better livelihood for us. The responsibility of the Newspaper Distribution assigned to my shoulder when he migrated to the United Arab Emirates. I had to get up 4 of clock in the morning to go to Kallumburam Bus station, three kilometers away to collect newspaper. Calicut Limited Stop Buses will pass through the Kallumburam Bus Stop but will not stop. The newspaper bundle will be thrown from the running bus to the Bus Stop by the Cleaner boy of the Bus. I then collect the Newspapers bundle, sort out and run around the Village Town with my bicycle to distribute the newspapers in the town. I used to comeback at 6.00 by the time my Mother will give me a simple breakfast. It will be then the time to go to the religious learning class (eg. like Sunday School) before heading to the actual school.

I still remember an incident which I would like to share. As a young boy I was walking, running and studying all together. Among other things, I also known as ‘Vinnan’ (Snobby boy) among my brothers and sister due to my nature that I always demanded more and best quantity of the food served among them. One day, when all my brothers and sister were sitting and eating, my mother went on giving me Food. When I finished eating, my brother called me privately and scolded “Rasheed do you know what was happening? You went on eating Food, and mother went on giving you. She has given all her food to you. It is difficult time. Be a responsible son and do not make your mother starve”. First time I had a shivering sensation and I could not control myself. I rushed to my mother and hugged her.

The best memory of mother is always seeing my mother in a full moon night. She performed Namaz five times and continued to be doing at this present day. She has done her pilmigrage to Mecca and now she known as Aysha Hajumma. During Namaz, my mother always looked angelic. Every time I saw her during Namaz I was inspired and moved!

This note has been dedicated to my mother who is currently living in Kerala, India with my father and extended family.