I look back - Episode 6

Who is this G? You people might wonder. I told you previously that there was a new joinee in our class. She was that new joinee, as she was introduced to me by one of my teacher. At first I didn’t like G. But later I was amused by her talent and interest in studies. I always had a soft corner for her. But I pretended as if I had a lot hatred for her. I was always expecting a chance to be with her. I had a lot too. My class teacher wanted someone to teach her English grammar. But no one was very confident to volunteer for that. But my excellence in “Fun with grammar” offered me that chance. Thanks to “Fun with grammar”. I always liked her presence near me. That’s why I didn’t feel sad for getting second rank. Even in the mark list she was near me.

Near my house in Sivagangai, there was a person, who was friendly with me and my brother. His name is Durai I guess. I used to take his bicycle, just for a ride. Since it was a very tall cycle, it was very difficult for riding it. One day when I took the cycle for a ride I fell down and got injured badly. On seeing this dad brought me a new cycle. It was a BSA Champ.

There was a guy named A in my class, who lives near the railway station. With his help I found that G was living near his place. We used to have study groups in our class, where one bright student has to teach other people in the group. As obvious, I am the leader of my group and this A was in my group. So I made a deal with A that he has to show me G’s house and I shall leave him free during study hours. So one Sunday after lunch I asked him to come to school, so that A can show me G’s house. And we started…

To be continued…

I look back - episode 5

Most of the girls in my class won’t study well. They always got scolded by the teacher. Because of this I came to a conclusion that girls basically bad at studies. They are not fit for a healthy competition in studies with the boys, at least in my class. So this made me to give the girl in my class, a less importance. I was very partial and playing a lot of politics against girls. This made some of the girls frustrated. They were seeking a messiah for them. But whatever it may be, the big support for me is the teachers. They are very fond of me and supported me very well.

I heard there was a new comer for our class. Since I also heard it was a girl, I was not much interested. The girls didn’t notice that I was noticing them, making small meetings with her and discussing a lot of stuffs. “Ah that’s all usual girls stuff. Don’t care about ‘em”, I gentled one of my friend who got irritated on seeing all these.

In my school they organized Karate classes for the students. I was very interested in learning Karate and to become a Karate kid. But my dad was not allowing me, since he thought I will become very rude after learning. But I insisted mom to make me join the Karate class. After a lot of advices my dad admitted me. I learn theoretical classes in the school and practice them with my brother. Most of the time I will beat him up and he’ll complain to mom. I think mom might have regretted for her recommendation.

I never expected that this would happen. All my dreams were shattered. I don’t know how to face my mom and dad, even my friends. For the very first time I felt very ashamed. It was like a scary nightmare. My heart was not ready to touch the second rank batch. I now realized how bad S felt on getting third rank batch that day, when I got first rank. It was a pain to lose I realized then. But still I was happy to have a competition at least, that too from the other gender. Yes, the new comer got the first rank and beaten me. Her name is G.

to be continued...

I look Back - Episode 4

Thanks to “Fun with Grammar”, which made me score few marks more than him, to secure the first rank. And voila, it also made me the class leader. Hmm that’s impressive. My mom was very happy to see that I got first rank. Every one was very surprised to see that I got first rank being a new comer to the school. I became very famous in the school. You can see no teacher, who doesn’t know Dheena.

My mom and dad are very much interested in visiting temples. I think that is mostly because of devotion. But for me, after going to a lot of temples with them it induced a taste for architecture. I really love to visit the ancient temples and monuments. I admire the artistic quality of the people at the ancient time. One of such favorite places we visited when we are in Sivagangai is Nattarasankottai.

Nattarasankottai is situated 9 km from Sivagangai. Nattarasankottai is ancient village. The fame and popularity came to this place mainly due to Sree Kannudaya Nayaki Amman Temple. On realizing the displeasure of Kannatha, the village people constructed a separate temple for Kannathal facing North with a water tank in the front. This temple mahamandapam is known for its magnificent structure and aesthetically carved pillars. My mom used to call the amman as Ayiram Kannudaiyal. She also told a story for that name, but I can’t remember it. I also heard that one of the Maruthu brothers was hanged to death here, because his final wish was that he should be watching the temple while his soul leaves his body.

Some of the students in our class and other classes really liked me as class leader and a good friend. But for some people I looked very atrocious. They really didn’t like me. They were thinking that I was very pride that I am studying well. I was able to hear them saying,”he who can diminish and destroy dheena’s hubris, will come”. I was expecting him. But at that time I didn’t know it was not ‘he’, its ‘she’.

To be continued…

I look back - episode 3

I heard there was a practice in the school that for the students who are getting first three ranks, they give badges, which the student can wear it for two or three days. In the badge the rank of the student will be imprinted. I heard that the students will be very proud to wear those badges as every one in the school will come to know about their performance. For the first three ranks class teacher will give the badges to the respective students in the class room itself while issuing rank sheets to the class.

That day class teacher entered our class and told that she will be distributing the rank sheets to the students. I was very eager to know my marks. Usually that’s my behavior; I will not be scared of getting mark sheets as most people do. Our class teacher was distributing the mark sheets from the lowest rank (or is that the highest rank). Till 10th rank I was sitting happily seeing others getting mark sheets. But when it neared rank 10, I was concerned to know when teacher will call my name and what rank I got. Till 5th rank she didn’t called my name. I was hoping for the 4th rank. But teacher called some other name for 4th rank. Teacher breathed heavily after this breath taking task. I was very happy that I got with in first three ranks and that I am going to get the badge. Teacher called the name “S”, who has got the third rank. Teacher gave her the badge. But she started crying after receiving the badge. I asked my neighbor why. He replied me that previously she was getting second rank badge. There was a huge silence after that.

“dheenadhayalan”, Teacher called my name. Though I was little bit disappointed, I was happy that at least I got second rank. I went near her and she clipped the batch near my shirt pocket. “Very good dheenu, you proved you are a potential student in the first exam itself”, she told. “I make dheenu the leader of the class”, she added. I looked at the badge near my pocket. It was written 1^st rank.

.. to be continued

I look back - Episode 2

This is my first day in the school. Everything is very different for me. The campus, the class rooms, the teachers, the students, the black board, the chalk and every thing is completely different. I thought I was entering into a completely new world. The main reason is that in my previous school, the teacher is my aunt, the students are my neighbors with whom I would play in the evenings and the head master is my relative. The school is very nearby, for every period break I visit my home. At that my only happiness is that my bro is also studying in the same school. I can see him when ever I want.

I entered the class room, the first class was English. I was very good in grammar in my previous classes. I opened the book “Fun with Grammar”. “Come on bring it on”, I whispered. The guy near me, “aaw, its time to sleep”, yawned. I tried to tell him that this subject will be very useful sometime later. But he seems to have very less interest in the subject and ignored my recommendation. I continued listening the class keenly. I heard from my neighbor guy that one guy named E was here who used get first rank all the time. No one has beaten him in past 2 years. He showed me who that guy is. He also seemed to have less interest in the class. “What? I am the only one who’s having ‘Fun with Grammar’!!!”, I wondered. Rest of the day went smoothly, other than my short introduction each and every teacher who comes to my class. You may notice that “the class” has become “my class” in one day.

Here comes the first term examination, to prove who am I? The exams are like jujupi for me. I was quite confident that I can get at least 10^th rank. This is what I told my mom also. But…

(To be continued)

I look back

I was 8 years old. My dad got transferred to Sivagangai. It was a district head in the south of TamilNadu. At first when I heard this name I thought gangai is flowing through this place, though somehow I know that gangai is a river.

There are different versions told regarding the orgin of the name ‘SIVAGANGAI.’Firstly, according to one version sivagangai was the battle field for many rulers shedding blood and hence the ‘SEV VENGA’ which in course of time became sivaganga

Secondly, there was a tank (Theppakulam) near the sivaganga area which was very similar to the sivagangai tank of Natarajar temple of Thillai Chidambaram. So, that the region was named as sivagangai.

In resemblance of the Ganges river being on the head of the Lord Siva as Ganga Devi a palace with a Siva temple was built from which the name ‘sivagangai’ was derived.

Fourthly, in memory of Sasivarna Thevar killing a ‘SHEV VENGA’ or red-tiger at the tanjore raja’s court, the palace was name as Sev-Vengai later gradually changed into sivagangai. Sasivarna Periya Udaya Thevar bathed in a spring which was called by the people as ‘sivagangai’. A place was built near the spring and a town was formed and named after the spring as ‘SIVAGANGAI’.

The temple is built by some king who ruled the We didn’t have much package that tempo was enough to hold all the things. We also travelled in the same vehicle to Sivagangai. It was a 6 hours journey. It was the first time I was coming out of our native at least to my knowledge. I think it’s a human tendency to get scared of new place, at least me. Everything is going to be new for me. New house, new school, new teachers, new classmates and new neighbors. If something is new we all will be happy. But for the first time I am scared of new things. I showed aversion to go with new things.

After two days my dad finalized the school where we are going to study, though he did this research before reaching Sivagangai. I and my bro are taken to the head mistress of the school for “Entrance test”. At least I was studying 3^rd but my bro was just UKG, don’t know why he also required to write a test. She gave me some mathematical problems. Not from trigonometric but some 2+2, 5+7 kind of questions. All went well, she told my dad that my mathematical knowledge is very good and she was happy to admit us to the school. At that moment I was thinking cha “எப்படி இருந்த நான் இப்படி ஆயிட்டேன்”. That time I don’t know that in this place and school I am going to have great time in my life.

.........................to be continued

(Thanks to http://www.sivagangaiseemai.com)

மழை

நனைந்துவிட்டேன்,

மழை விட்ட பிறகுதான் கிளம்பினேன்

மேகத்துக்குதான் என் மீது எவ்வளவு பாசம்

மழை நீரை மரத்திடம் கொடுத்து என் மீது பொழிய செய்தது.

Dheena