THE ETERNAL SWIRL

Fifty years spanning three generations whizzed past at an amazing speed. Ammumma (Moothedath Lakshmi amma), Achan (Pallath Balakrishna Menon), Devucheriamma (Devaki) are all memories. This picture gallery captures some fleeting moments in time, Ammumma to Pranav.

Each half century of future will slide to history at even faster speed. while making the family chart, Appu (Anand) was asked to create a background for the slide. Unconsciously he made a churning swirl -does that symbolize the eternal swirl as generations go into oblivion, newer generations emerge to a faster better world.

Most of these pictures are scanned images from post card photographs. Digital camera came into vogue only few years ago. Technologies will leapfrog to incredible levels . Save this disc somewhere safe, antiquated though it may offer a link into the past if someone intercede before it’s obsolescence.

Madhavan (re published from the original written in 2004)

MOOTHEDATH CLAN LIST ORIGINALLY FROM AMMA

 

Achutty Chettan’s 70^th birthday, 03/01/2021

 

March 1^st 2021, was Achutty Chettan’s 70^th birthday. In the middle of  Covid pandemic we celebrated this special day of Achutty Chettan best way we can. We are wishing him all the best and many many more happy birthdays, here are some memories.

This link is a beautiful movie developed and edited  by Sandhya. What a wonderful idea and very well executed, thank you.

https://youtu.be/4nikbCZwrDM

This one is the family zoom meeting we had on Sunday, February 28^th, 2021 evening. Thank you very much to all the participants and special thanks to Surendran for setting up the meeting.

https://youtu.be/tJ_DgP_sf-o

 Preetha received Golden Apple Award on February 11, 2021 from her School District. The Principal and Staff kept this as a surprise for her. They informed Pranav and me about this and gave us special permission to attend because of Covid restrictions. Pranav could not attend as he got class at that time. Sharing some pictures and video with family through our family web site.

 Golden Apple Function February 2021 photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZBCrLomWcgWdqATu7

Golden Apple Function Video

https://www.wevideo.com/view/2047623894

Golden Apply Function written comments

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2kp3AFpo7BHcoRmP8

60th BIRTHDAY (SHASHTI POORTHI) OF VIJAYAM AND KUTTAN, JANUARY 27, 2021 - Google Photos

Vijayam and Kuttan celebrated their 60th (Shastipoorthi) this year in the midst of Covid pandemic during the week of January 25th, 2021.

January 25th, Monday, we celebrated our piranall by traditional Kerala sadya.

January 27th, Wednesday, official birthday with cake,

January 30th, Saturday, zoom meeting with all the family and got their wishes and blessing.

Here, we are sharing some pictures from memory lane.

Thank you all for your love, care and wishes.

Vijayam and Kuttan

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y2hRiGEozRDGb2Ss8

Deepthi’s published book - Revisiting Margins and Rewriting Gender

 

 

This book is a monograph...

 

It is based on Smt. Devaki Nilayamgode’s memoirs. Smt Nilayamgode is an old Namboodiri woman who started writing after her 70s.... and her writings are considered to be relevant documents that throw light into an age of social political changes in Kerala history. 

 

Deepthi used this when she did her PhD in English literature and with God’s grace she was able to publish it.

 

 

 

Pictures from the trip

India Trip 2019

Pranav’s Graduation

http://pranavgraduation.blogspot.com/

Dear Family ..

This is a little story  I wrote reminiscing an anecdote in our Engineering class of 1960s ....  meant for our 50th passing out anniversary souvenir , a few months away .  ..click

A real story but adding some allure of satire and self deprecation for readability and effect ... and a tongue in cheek reference to the deficient curriculum , back then ..  .. 

This group is an eclectic mix of teens to septuagenarians .  If you get time please read . Will be glad to hear thoughts if any  to make the story  better readable ... little tech jargon unavoidable . ..I have time to finally edit and send . 

 me 

 From Machettan - April 9, 2018

 

 

All about a Tooth

https://docs.google.com/docume nt/d/1_om57cvgtVO9utFgO7hmHXBN Qs4g7PVvecfen-T8mxE/edit 

From Machettan March 15th, 2017

Achan Remembered

https://youtu.be/RPYcdcaTlTk

All in the family .. 

glad you took time to view chuttuvilakku  video ( predominantly an Indira effort ).. ..

Rolo .. frankly , it is the  technology levels of gadgets that has and is making rapid strides .. Human skills are the same and nothing to boast of .. ...yes it will help to know some of the new  video / audio editing tools 

Our  Sony point and shoot Cybershot  is a low end $150  basic camera.. Yet the  lens , sensor and audio capture significantly  advanced  from five years ago .. .. 

I pulled some of these photos  from my archives on a trip to the bygone times .. 

 

Look at the framing  of Picture 1 and Pict 4 .. they are as good as any today or anytime to come in future .. 

Look at how smartly unnichettan is dressed .. tie length , sleeve length et al ..... as good or better than one today ..   

Slipping more on the memory slopes , I recall Unnichettan  his head and camera covered in black cloth , shooting his objects while we stood wide eyed  in awe .. He will then hide in his makeshift dark room with his chemicals , tray etc  at the edge of Moothedath house verandah  ......  keeping us waiting expectantly for  long before emerging as a magician with his priced creations ....... 

And  ..." To Sir with love " or " Mera nam joker  " of  60s  can  stand up to any  modern day movie  barring the technical advances .

Love to all

Me ..

From Machettan published on August 3^rd, 2014.

 

 

 

March 30th, Amma's birthday

  30 Mar 2013 ... today , another birthday of amma..

 

 

 

The scrap of paper below must be close to 20 years old .. ( can see the list ends with Arun ..)...

On a visit home , one of those happy days of yore, asked Amma for a list of birthdays of all ... which I could save for future .....in less than half hour , I get this paper scripted in that unmistakable neat dwriting  only a very caring mind can,.... recalled from her memory , the best of today's flash drives not match .. .

note the Malayalam almanac dates , months .. ....

The brightest mind goes obscure the fastest .. .. like the Sun , brightest of all , fades in less than 12 hours ..

Spoke to amma yesterday to remind her of birthday today ....She instantly corrected me that her birthday is on 6 Apr (.. as per Malayalam calender )..... adding to my amazement , inquired of my knee swelling ..( casually told to her about two months ago ..)

Perhaps like the Sun or the proverbial Phoenix , this enigmatic mind defies death ........and is only dormant .........

 

**from Machettan 03/30/13**





The lines below are composed by Achan's friends about him.

Death is not an end

I have only left the world we used to share
We still are what we always were for each other.
Keep on addressing me in your old familiar way
With no emphasis on sorrow:
Mourning is for the dead and I am not
Since I am still present in your heart and thoughts.
Keep on laughing at what used to make us laugh,
Share with others what we shared together.
The more you will rejoice in life,
The more you will keep me alive.
Love goes on being what it always was,
Nothing, not even death can dilute its strength.
Don't give way to sadness;
We are only physically apart.
I am still by your side, not far,
Just around the corner of our memories.
Trust me, all is well.