Kallan Columbus


Purathu mazha pathiyechaarukayaannu. Rim jim, rimjim rimjim, Rim jim: aa paattu veendum mannassil paadan thudangi. Ee Idea Star Singerinte oru karyam! Annu Sarathu ee pattu padiye pinne ella mazhayillum athinte thaalam, ella mazhathullikalilum athe shabdam. Njan ivideyulla irupathiyettu divasangalil irupathiyaarillum ee mazhayaayirunnu. Deshyamaayirunnu ennikku. Entha njan varumbol mathram ingane? Ente kootukaarude vacations enthu rasama.. Ootyum, Kodaikanalum, Kanya Kumariyum, Veega Landum! Ennikko? Ee veedum, ethinodu chernulla ente appachante classroomum. Ee mazhaye njan shapichurinnu. Pakshe innu, ee irupathiyettam divasathil, ee mazha nilkaruthe enna ente prarthana. Eviduthe mazha enthu rasama! Aviduthe poleyulla oru urakamthungi mazhayalla ithu, pakaram oru paadu urjjamulla, noorayiram kadhakal parayunna, oru kalakarante nirangalekal nallavanam bhoomikku niram kodukunna ee mazha.. ha epozhum inganeyaayunenkil!

Thazhe ammachiyum appachanum varthamanam parayunna shabdam kelkaam. Innu avarude athiraavilathe characheyude subject ee njan thanneya. Thaniye engane njan ezhukadalinnapparathu pokum. Nerathe, ennode thane ee chodyam chodichapol njan chirichukondu paranjirunnu ‘pilot alle plane odikkunne, athinnu njan enthinu pedikkanam.’ Ippozhum, aa pedi ennikilla. Pakshe, ella raavilegallilum ulla ee charcha nalle enikku kelkan pattilallo. Entha dheivame ingane? Enthina njan povende? Ee peyunna mazhayilninnu, ee veedine kaadupoleyaakkunna ee maavilninnu, mazhayil kadum pachayaayi terrace-il ennikku kai tharunna ee thengilninnu, aa classroomile blackboardil njan ennum varakkunna padangalil ninnu, athu nannayirunnu ennu parayunna ente ayalkaranilninnu.. enthinu povanam?

Achen paranja kadhagalil maashinnu chaayamedikkan mathilluchaadi appurathe kadayil poya aa schoolkutti avaan enthe enikku kazhiyilla. Pacha paavadeyum, vella shirtum, mudiyil randu ribbonum, enthe enikilla? Aa shelfil nirayeyulla achachente Balajanasakhyam trophies, achachente paattukalum dancukalum orkunna, eppozhum chachanekurichu aradhanayodukoode samsaarikkunna classmatesum, teachersum, friendsum.. enthe enikilla?

Enikkullatho? American education system enthu pannalaannu ennu parayunna koore auntimaarum, unclemaarum. Ethra pravisham njan kettitunde ‘Mol naattinnu vannathu nannayi.. ho! Ee Americayil vallarunna pillerru!” Njangalude kuttamaano njangal ivide valarunnathu? Njangalude kuttamaano njangalku oru society-yudeyum bhagam aavan kazhiyaathathu? Americansinnu njangal eppozhum Indians, Indiansinnu njangal eppozhum Americans. Ithinidayil njangale ittathinnu aare kuttamparayam? Dollarinnu rupeeyekaalum, vella thwokinnu karupinnekaallum vela kodutha, oru degree kayyil kittiyaludane naadu vidan shramakunna nammude society? Evideyum enthinum societye parayam. Pakshe nammal thanneyalle ee society. Pinne? Kaashinnu vendi janichanaadinne kaivitta njangalude mathapithakalayo? Avarku vere enthu cheiyam. Ulla degreevachu kittiya joli evide aayallum avarku cheithalle pattu.. Dheivatheyo? Sorry dheivame, ninne kuttam parayan chinchathinnu thanne maapu.

Pinne? Nee, Columbus, ninne mathrame ennikku choondikaanikkan kazhiyu. Moshtichu nee, ente jeevitham. Nee kandupidicha aa rajyam ennil ninnu katteduthathu ee mazhayum, ee jeevithashayliyumaanu. Enthinayirunnu ithu? Annu nee Indiathanne kandupidichirunenkil.. they avide kudapidichu schoolil pokunnavarude koottathil njanum undayirunnenne. Ee terrace-il irrunukondu ennum ente appachanteyum ammachiyudeyum charchakal kelmaayirunnu, noorukoottem padangal chalkil varakamaayirunnu, ayalkaran moolunna paatukal kelkamaayirunnu, ee mazhayil ninnu ennum paadamaayirunnu.. Rim Jim, rimjim rimjim, Rim Jim, mazhaiye mazhaiye…

Sorry this is not in English. Sorry this is not in Malayalam. But my Malayalam writing requires serious editing for spelling and I couldn’t get it corrected because it was too “harsh.” What can I say? I have harsh thoughts and thus, am a harsh writer.. But be easy, this is the first thing I’ve ever fully written in Malayalam (or Manglish rather).