Keraladigest2013 01 by Kerala Association of Greater Washington

KAGW Activities Mid Year Reflection 15 Raghu Nambiath Visit to Baghlan 18 Vijay Kumar IT Staffing Businesses & the new....... 25 wwVinson Xavier Palathingal Swathi Thirunal 28 M.G Menon

Beypore

Zenobia Khaleel 33

Karate Sensei Senbag 37 Rajamani

s\t¯men sNdnb ao\Ã 46 Sini Panickar IqSp-amäw 49 Shaju Joseph Iq«p-Imcn 57

Shaju Sivabalan

HmW-¯nsâ HmÀ½ 61 Madhuram sivarajan Women’s Club - Empowering Women 65 Sherli Nambiar

Options Trading: Combinations 69 Saju Thomas It’s Not as Easy as You Think 73 Durga Mounika Chilukuri

This hurt and but Still 75 Shweta Kochi

Ime-¯n-s\m¸w ae-bmfw 79 K Jayakumar IAS

The Wizard has gone mad 81 Parvathy Haridas For Malayalee Americans...... 88 Benoy Thomas

Wanderer’s Dreams 95

Sivadasan Madhavan Channar

The Wealth of Education 98 Achamma Chandersekaran The Importance of Extracurriculars 103 Stacy Mathew A springtime jog in the Autumn of my life 107 Mohan Viswanathan

Ferocious Deepak 111 Menon

The Magic Land 117 Melissa Thomas Time for Kerala Model 2.0 Interview.. 121 SoumyaPadmanabhan

Zriy hn-kv-a-b-am-bv A-ta-cn-¡³ {Uow-kv 124

16 Conformity Competition and Conflict Dinesh Menon

Dt¸cn 23 iÀ¡c Rajani Vijayan earning to Fly 27 L Philip Ipe KERALA ASSOCIATIONS 31 Transforming Rejive Joseph Watching on Facebook 35 People Vidya Sukumaran 41 bm{X

Babu Thekkekara

47 Hcn-¡Â

Bhaskaran Nair

53 ss]XrIw Prakash Padmanabhan 59 ]cn-hÀ¯\w Jijun Mundur

63 {]nb-apÅ KwKbv¡v Antony Kalikka

67 hnI-k\ kz]v\-§Ä Bijo Jose Chemmanthara

71 The Box in the garden Justin Jose

74 The Danger in telling the truth Claudia Thomas

76 Onam Shanta Nair 80 When I saw my parents hiding on top of a tree Alan Saji

& The Labyrinth of my Roots 86 Riots Dr. Smitha Padmanabhan Malayali community in..... 91 Sports Nirar Basheer 96 Tech Corner

Ravi Saraswathi and Jaswant Singh

101 The good old NRI Charm Jiju Nair

104 Hcp {]Wb hnNmcw Venu Gopal kokodan

Terrace that Beckons 109 The Lin Thomas

kwL-S\, Hcp hÀjw, klm-..... 113 Hcp Scaria Meledam Kitchen 2013 119 DC K Krishnakumar 122 Drawings Lakshmi Thampi Time 2013 126 Talent Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

OOMMEN CHANDY Chief Minister Government Of Kerala

I am glad to know that the Kerala Association of Greater Washington (KAGW) would be releasing a magazine during Onam 2013. It is indeed a laudable initiative on the part of KAGW to celebrate this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Onam festivities in a manner befitting the spirit of the festival; that is Oneness. Let this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Onam bring happiness, prosperity and peace to all associated with KAGW.

OOMMEN CHANDY

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs VAYALAR RAVI

Government of India Akbar Bhawan, Chanakyapuri New Delhi- 110021 18th July, 2013

I am happy to know that Kerala Association of Greater Washinton(KAGW), is publishing its Annual magazine on the occasion of Onam Celebrations in Washington, on 21st September, 2013. Onam, the traditional and harvest Festival of Kerala is the significant occasion for the entire Malayalee community, transcending all barriers, spreading peace and harmony. I am sure the celebrations would bring together all the Malayalees in the region and helps to carry forward our sacred traditions to the younger generations, especially living abroad. I hope KAGW would continue to foster friendship, goodwill and cooperation amongst various communities. I wish you all a joyous and memorable Onam.

VAYALAR RAVI

Shri. Manoj Sreenilayam President,

Kerala Association of Greater Washington. Washington.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Binu Koshy Cherian

Editorial Committee Member

nam brings a strong spell of nostalgia into the minds of Keralites worldwide. It is an occasion that renews our harmonious coexistence with nature, a season for get-togethers, homecoming and feasting. As an Onam gift to the Malayalees of Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, with immense joy and honor, KAGW present the 39th edition of its magazine“Kerala Digest”. As an organization we have chosen the theme for 2013 as “UNITY”. Together with Kairali of Baltimore, we held this year’s Sports Day. Staying true to our selected theme for this year, KAGW join hands with KCSMW to bring a unified Onam celebration. The year-round programs organized by KAGW are designed to cater towards all aspects of a Malayali’s life in Washington DC area, starting with exhibiting talent (Arts and literary), participating in Sports, Stage/Cultural events and identify needs to give back to the community. This approach is replicated in our Magazine, “Kerala Digest” that contains articles covering wide range of subjects written in both English and Malayalam by Malayalee writers ranging from younger generation to older generation. On behalf of Editorial team and readers, I thank all our contributors andadvertisers. It is my privilege to give a final word of thanks to our editorial team led by Priya Nair and all the committee and non committee members of KAGW for their effortsthat made it possible to release this issue of Kerala Digest. Wish you all a Happy Onam!

Binu Koshy Cherian

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Manoj Sreenilayam

KAGW 2013 President

hen I was told that this year’s magazine has a theme laced with the concept of Unity, I was petrified. The topic of unity has been pondered, reflected, and pursued since time immemorial—how to bring unity within this diverse world? What is there that has not been said so far? The concept of Unity is relevant whenever and wherever there is conflict. There are so many diversified characteristics between living beings. Everyone has their own conception of their identity, and this creates a natural conflict amongst those who look different, think different, or act different. There have always been distinctions and conflicts between nationalities, between races, between religions, between generations, between sexes, and between philosophers. On practically every level of the world, there is reason for conflict. As long as everyone has their separate, independent interests, there will be conflicts. And there are always new conflicts that catch the attention of the world which necessitates a fresh perspective on the unity. So, the concept of Unity needs to be updated continuously and kept current. The biggest conflict of our generation in my mind is the class conflict. In US, the conflict between rich and poor now eclipses racial strain and friction between immigrants and the native-born as the greatest source of tension in American society, according to some new surveys. It is not any different in India. Both US and India rank high in terms of income inequality. In this disappointing landscape, if there is one thing that can provide us with some hope, it is our tiny southern state of Kerala. Kerala provides an empirical example to show how it is possible to achieve both growth and improved income distribution through human development, a United Nations working paper has said. The document also estimates substantial losses in human development due to inequality in different dimensions across Indian States and found out that Kerala has the lowest loss due to inequality with respect to all parameters – education, health and income.Kerala is the only State in the country which remains in the ‘very high human development index (HDI)’ with respect to all the three dimensions, both with and without adjustment for inequality. Remember the word “Kerala Model” which refers to a model of equitable growth. Kerala's unusual socioeconomic and demographic situation was summarized by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. He authored - Kerala, a state in India, is a bizarre anomaly among developing nations, a place that offers real hope for the future of the Third World. Though not much larger than Maryland, Kerala has a population as big as California's and a per capita annual income of less than $300. But its infant mortality rate is very low, its literacy rate among the highest on Earth, and its birthrate below America's and falling faster. Kerala's residents live nearly as long as Americans or Europeans. Though mostly a land of paddy-covered plains, statistically Kerala stands out as the Mount Everest of social development; there's truly no place like it. Indeed, if you travel around Kerala, you may hardly ever see the kind of poverty that is seen in the northern states. Tourists often return with a feeling that this is a state that has been able to rein in on poverty. Seemingly, there is wealth and abundance all around - both in the countryside and in the markets. Because the communist and other left-of-center governments have ruled Kerala for the better part of its postIndependence history, analysts routinely attribute its superior achievements in health and education to the high priority these governments have allegedly assigned to equity and related social goals over time. This view has gained so much currency that, while its advocates feel little obligation to offer supporting evidence, detractors remain ill at ease to insist upon it. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

KAGW Activities

Mid Year REFLECTION:

Raghu Nambiath Secretary KAGW

As we are celebrating Onam event with Malayalees in Washington DC area, I would like to take this opportunity to share midyear reflection of KAGW activities. In summary KAGW had an evenful year with at least one major event every month during 2013. KAGW started the support of dedicated team of a record 84 committee members. It has been a humble experience for me toto witness their dedication and commitments especially from the new members. Team is fully committed to serving Malayalee community within Washington DC metro area. The Year started with a DC soup Kitchen event under the leadership of Mr. Krishna Kumar and Social Service Committee. The Kitchen administration appreciated effort of large number of volunteers who attended the event. Malayalee community in Washington DC area contributed generously with record fund raising during the event. Multiple organizations including NSGW, SNMC, Immanuel Marthoma Church of Sterling, St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church of Sliver Spring and Manrunadan Malayalee Muslims came together to showcase unity in this charitable cause while also actively supporting the event. KAGW Women’s club under the leadership of Lekhsmy Shekhar organized Women’s self defense class during March. Event catered to women’s of all age groups and fitness levels within the community Primary focus of the event has been to develop some of the essential skills including assertiveness, verbal confrontation, safety and physical techniques. Event was well attended generating positive reviews and excellent interest within community. KAGW continued hosting Talent Time event during April 2013. Kinds across different age categories participated enthusiastically during two day event. Multiple competitions

were conducted in parallel. This year KAGW had also introduced multiple new competitions including Spelling Bee, Lets be Craft Tee and Reel Deal. All competitions witnessed extraordinary talents. Multiple judges had expressed deep appreciation for the wide talent pool while also expressing challenges during grading. We are deeply fortunate to have the opportunity to host and serve little talents. Stronger collaboration and wider outreach had been an important goal during year 2013. KAGW and Kairali came together yet another time to organize Malayalee sports day during June. the evnt was organized by the energetic sports committee under the leadership of Johnson Kadamkulathil and Nirar Basheer. Multiple new competitions including badminton and kids soccer were introduced this year. In addition competitions such as track and field, Volleyball, Basketball, Throwball, Tennis etc were continued from previous years. Event was very well attended by malayalees across tristate area: DC, MD and VA. In continuation of broader goal of unity and community outreach, KAGW and KCS are coming together for first time to organize combined Onam and musical program during 2013. Multiple subcommittees had been formed to handle the planning and logistics for this much awaited event. While we are just reaching mid year we are very excited about rest of the events during year 2013. This would include hosting India Village with the partnership of global organizations including from Thailand, Philippines,China and Korea. In addition we are also looking forward to hosting Eid and Christmas events during later 2013. All these events would help bringing together malayalees across different faiths to come together under one KAGW umbrella and foster greater networking opportunity for the community. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Conformity Competition and Conflict Dinesh Menon

On the occasion of Onam, a secular event, that is at the same timesteeped so much in Hindu religious tradition, our society enthusiastically celebrates it both for the nostalgia as well as true appreciation of its cultural significance. We seek to imbibe our children born in this country with some of the secular values of toleration and acceptance that are so important in a modern society that istrying to break through the limiting boundaries of exclusive and arcane religious practices. Since a lot has already been said and written about this topic in terms of religiosity and spirituality, that I am not particularly qualified to expand upon, here I will discuss some of the key underlying behavioral tendencies that influence our interactions and are sometimes a cause of discord. I will address these as a non-expert, but a keen follower and observer of social patterns. Human kind has constantly resorted to crutches to overcome insecurities and feel accepted into a larger society. This has lead to the establishment of religious traditions, and the underlying emphasis has been on conformity. Religion, by definition, is a formalization of spiritual values. To a certain extent it has contributed to the advancement of civilization through the establishment of cultural norms and standards. However, such an enthusiastic embrace and acceptance of these traditions has also led to the creation of, and blind adherence to dogma, resulting in a breakup of our society into exclusive groups based on superficial differences such as, class, creed and status. Such un-objective divisions continue to persist and are unacceptable in an age when technology is enabling a coming together of societies spread out across the globe, driven more by the possibilities to exchange ideas and share resources in order tomake a better life. The new generation must be able to look past these divisions, and should therefore be exposed to a broad range of cultural experiences to prevent insular thinking that leads to the kinds of social upheavals we continue to see in modern societies. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that kids do not completely disregard some of the essential moral and ethical standards that have evolved over generations. The intention is not to diminish the value of conformity, but to encourage ways to look beyond and absorb positive values from other traditions, while it serves as a scaffolding for development of a person's character and sense of identity. One can take inspiration from the teachings of the well-known philosopher and thinker, JidduKrishnamurti, who has been a 16

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powerful advocate of developing self-awareness. Two of his quotes point to the folly of strict conformity to tradition and the practice of religion. He noted, perhaps a little too harshly that "tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay". But the point he is trying to make is that this feeling of security can impair the thought process that could otherwise conjure up a better vision for the future. He also aptly pointed out that "it is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." The history of civilization is littered with the diabolic and wickedly discriminatory practices of the past generations in the name of religion and tradition, but a lot of thesehave been thankfully discarded by most right-thinking people over time. Competition is another matterthat has been widely discussed, but has continued to challenge educators as it pertains to institutions of learning. We have seen strong and opposing views on the merits of competition, but it is a farcical debate. There is no question that a competitive mind seeks a better and higher level of achievement in any particular field, be it learning, sports or business. But the role of competition in developing personality unfortunately continues to be exaggerated by our larger society. In the strictest sense of the word, competition conjures up the image of a battle to outsmart your opponent. It is only a relative measure of success, and winning by itself does not reflect true achievement. Participation should be the key, and contests should be structured to identify and recognize what kids tend to do best. We are all guilty to some extent of crowd thinking, and unfortunately there is a tendency for us to go along or conform to our cultural kin in most matters. Ironically, competition can breed conformity to certain pre-conceived standards and notions of achievement and prevent the kind of outside-the-box thinking that leads to innovation. However, parental attitudes have evolved, and there is aslow but deliberate trend in India away from the ranking system in schools. Such measures of academic prowess do not adequately consider the creativity and other personality skills of children, such as a positive attitude, maturity and leadership that contribute a lot more to success in life. The preparation and the efforts put in by the children to exercise their logical thinking and creative faculties at different venues contribute to their overall development, not the act of winning. I would

like to use the analogy of the game of golf. The very nature and format of the game can help develop some incredibly useful values of healthy competition in the younger generation, quite unlike other more physical sports activities. It is a unique sport in the sense that your performance is a pure measure of your skills and discipline, and in no way impeded or influenced by other participants. Each player strives to achieve their personal best when pitched against the natural elements, and let the chips fall where they may. Thus competition should be with oneself, to seek to advance and make a unique contribution in your chosen field. I believe that kids from the Indian diaspora generally tend to do well in education and careers mostly due to the superlative parenting efforts that emphasize hard work and application. To borrow from the field of game theory, a zero-sum game is one in which there is a winner and a loser. However, the progress of civilization has only come about with nonzero sum games that lead to win-win situations. Robert Wright discusses this process of cultural evolution in a fascinating thesis titled "Non Zero". Conflicts are zero-sum competitions that have historically resulted in senseless acts of emotional and physical violence, and a general stalling or even reversal of progress. The wrong kind of competition, without concern for the consequences to the lives of other fellow members of society can cause varying degrees of disharmony leading to conflict. Also, when people try to conform to some of the irrational tenets of any particular social communion and internalize these beliefs, they can display uncontrolled passions and intolerance of alternate viewpoints. Thankfully, there are enough examples of how societies and cultures have evolved over time and managed to temper their practices, and be more accommodative and understanding of each other's belief systems. This kind of cooperative behavior developed over time through a process of reciprocity, learning from generations of repeated interactions among peoples, and we can be confident in our collective wisdom to mold the new generation to absorb and continue to promote some of the betteraspects of our cultural heritage, while eschewing some of the insidious vestiges of the past. As the well-known poet and thinker, Kahlil Gibran has written, “Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.” Kerala Association of Greater Washington

While deployed in Afghanistan, I had several unforgettable moments. I tried to capture most of them. Some of them vividly stuck in mind. This is one of them where I scribbled some notes. Not quite as a travel report, but just some memories. The purpose of this trip was to in-process new Afghan Local Police (ALP) recruits that have been validated by the local Shura. (Shura is the local Legal Authority) - involves vital data, drug testing, biometrics and photography which are all entered in a central database. An Afghan team collects the data with NATO Security Forces oversight. Two sites were processed on this trip.

Vijay Kumar

Mr. Vijay Kumar is a member of KAGW since 1987. Mr. Kumar is an Electronic Engineer, working for Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) under the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and has recently returned from Kabul, Afghanistan, after completion of one year assignment under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) Combined Security Transition Command -Afghanistan (CSTC-A). He served as a Senior Advisor for Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP). While deployed, Kumar's mission was to advise and guide the Afghan National Security Forces on the management of their communication networks supporting the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and National Directorate of information technology (NDIT). We flew from Kabul to Bagram to Kunduz via a Beechcraft Twin-engine. Bagram Air Base, officially named as Bagram Airfield is one of the largest U.S. military bases in Afghanistan. It is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, in the Parwan Province. The airfield comes with a dual-runway capable of handling

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any size military aircraft. The base is mainly occupied by the U.S. Armed Forces, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and minimally by the military of Afghanistan. One of Bagramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runways is 9,852 ft long and the other is 11,500 ft long, which was built and completed by the U.S. in late 2006. There are a number of large hangars, a control tower, numerous support buildings, and various housing areas. There are also more than 32 acres of ramp space and five aircraft dispersal areas. Many support buildings and base housing built by the Soviet Armed Forces during their occupation were destroyed by years of fighting between various warring Afghan factions after the Soviets left. New barracks and office buildings are being constructed at the present time, and the base is slowly expanding. The Kabul International Airport is about 25 miles (40 km) south of Bagram, connected by two separate roads. Also, the Parwan Detention Facility is located somewhere around the base at Bagram. Well, we were heading to Kunduz, a place I never been and was excited. Kunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. The city is located in the historical region of Bactria. It is linked by highways with Mazar-e-Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north. Currently Kunduz have a population over 250,000. Kunduz is the site of the ancient city of Drapsaka. It was a great center of Buddhist learning and very prosperous during the 3rd century AD. In the early 20th century, under the governance of Sher Khan Nasher, Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company, which continues to exist in post-war Afghanistan. This was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed Afghan Northern Alliance forces on November 26, 2001. Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces wheat, rice, millet, and other products. Kunduz is the centre for the north east provinces, and was the stronghold

HINDU-KUSH Mountain Range- Approx 500 miles

of the Taliban during its regime. The city is strategically important because it is the only way connecting Takhar province and Badakhshan provinces, which play a critical role in the existing government. We crossed the Hindu Kush on our way to Kunduz. Hindu Kush was an amazing sight to fly over. Rocky crags, lakes and snow fields were the main attractions to see. Huge peaks and deep valleys were common. In the bottom of those valleys were small isolated villages. The Hindu Kush is a 500 mile long mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The highest point in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir - 25,289 ft in Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We stayed overnight at a nearby Forward Operating Base, usually in military terms called as FOB, Camp Prosser. The next day we traveled via Blackhawk to a small village about 15 minutes away. We landed in a plowed field and lived with dust for the rest of the trip. We loaded up MRAP*s and convoyed to a small austere FOB, Camp Mills. We stayed overnight there and convoyed again to Pul-e-Khumri the next morning. We in processed recruits all day and convoyed back to Camp Mills that evening. We transferred to another set of vehicles upon arrival and convoyed into the evening to a small FOB near Mangal. It was hot dusty hour of evening travel. We stayed overnight and in processed 101 recruits the next day. During that day, a dust storm kicked up and put our flight the next day in jeopardy. It broke overnight and we

* Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a family of armored fighting vehicles used by the US armed forces, among others. The purpose of the design is surviving improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes. The first developments in armored vehicles designed specifically to counter the land mine threat took place during the 1972â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1980 Rhodesian Bush War and the technology was subsequently matured in South Africa

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due to force protection so your headlamp or flashlight is a necessity. Also, everything is plywood so expect to get splinters in your body. Also, pack light you have to hump everything yourself. I remember the writing on inside railway coaches in India when I was little “ Less luggage, more comfort, make travel a pleasure”

flew via Blackhawk again to Kunduz. We transferred to the Beechcraft again and flew directly to Kabul. Baghlan area: This is an area of extremes and contrast. As we flew the final 30-40 miles, we saw the foothills of the Hindu Kush. They are dry, brown and rocky. There are some oaks on the landscape. As we approach the valley floor, there is a sharp change to lush green growth and tall trees. The key is water. They raise a wide variety of produce in this valley: watermelon, squash, wheat and even rice. I spotted a faded USAID sign IDing a diversion dam that filled a canal providing water to fields miles away. You could see these canals from the air and they go for miles. I saw a jingle truck being loaded up with watermelons … they were being stacked up 6 feet high. The temperature in Kunduz was 105 so the heat promotes rapid growth supporting a wide range of flora. FOB life: COB Panther was a bit better than what I saw on this trip. Camp Mills was the most austere as it was situated on a dry, dusty ridgeline with limited water and no AC. This is where your hand wipes come in handy. Water was limited and a sign on the door to the latrines said to preserve water and take a shower every 5-6 days. So, I had mine and was glad I did. If you travel to FOBs, you should also take your head lamp. I also had my flashlight as a backup. I had to unpack and lay out my bed using my headlamp. Lights are limited at some sites

BAGRAM to BAGHLAN

Convoy Travel: Well, I looked in my first HMMWV and there are no seat belts and the seat is not connected to the vehicle. These vehicles are for operations first and foremost. I crammed myself in and did the best I could. By the way, I was glad of one safety measure though. There was an oxygen bottle available in case we ran off the road into the river or a rice paddy. These things are heavy and expect to be underwater quickly. Take a good look at the bottle and directions in case you need it. Night convoy was a bit unnerving and they were on full alert for the whole trip. We stopped at one point while the lead vehicle evaluated something in the distance. Did I think back to our training? You bet! Socio-Cultural Insights: I appreciated our cultural exposure. I had direct contact with the local ALP recruits and officials. I asked our lead interpreter to introduce me and we talked. The first in processing site was a large tent with carpets all over floor and all locals took off

Note: The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), commonly known as the Humvee, is a fourwheel drive military automobile.Primarily used by the United States military, it is also used by numerous other countries and organizations and even in civilian adaptations. The Humvee's widespread use in the Persian Gulf War helped inspire the civilian Hummer. 20

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their shoes/sandals and lounged on the floor talking and drinking chai. I was introduced to one ALP Commander who had just the night before engaged Taliban. His troops killed several and successfully pushed them off. I appreciated the engagements we had in Indiana; I would not want to have said the wrong thing to him. He seemed very unemotional about it all … however he was literally in combat just hours before. Food Safety: Gastric distress can happen even when it seems safe. I thought chai and watermelon … ah, no sweat. Well, I had another reason to appreciate my handiwipes. The water probably wasn’t boiled long enough and the knife probably wasn’t the cleanest. I suggest you bring Imodium, if you ever come here. I did not take it with me, but was glad someone else had some for me. Physical Safety: I was glad I made the personal choice to carry a weapon. I was in red condition most of the time and so were the troops. During in processing, multiple ALP members came in and out of the tent with their AK47s (yes and loaded). I noticed that they noticed I was armed too. Was it a deterrent? Can’t say, but I felt just a bit better with it. Stay alert and aware … I watched details of people’s faces and postures … thank you Brian Williams. As we convoyed through the villages, the reactions were mixed. Most of them waved but I spotted a couple that made motions like they were holding an invisible rifle and pretending to shoot at us.

ALP Observations: There were bright spots and some very rough spots. One site had local support and preliminary work was done before we arrived. The second site there was no preparations done at all. The district and provincial representatives are not necessarily supportive. Overall it was an excellent experience to go and see places where I have never been and also to meet and talk to local tribal folks of interior Afghan. Some experiences can never be forgotten. One of those were being in a vehicle with wheels up for about 2 minutes. This was of course during our Training period, and fortunately we did not have such real time experience. I felt those two minutes like 2 hours. Since we all had helmet and body armor that was not too bad. We said Good bye to all when we left. I received few awards and medals and certificates for the service over there, but those will not come close to the memories and life threatening situations we all faced.

Our Camp in Kaul- A bird’s eye view

Just thought of sharing this with you all, just that we all know there are people living in a part of that world, in extremely danger situations. Thashakor- Thank you in Dari language.

Note: Brian Williams was our Situational Awareness Instructor , who trained our team in Camp Atterbury, prior to deployment

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

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Hcp ]nSn Dt¸cn hmbnÂ C«v BZyw D¸p ckw H¶v \pWªp Cd-¡-Ww, Dw... ]ns¶ hdp¯ Imb Ij-W-§Ä Idp-apsd ISn¨p Xn¶-Ww. NqSv Nmb Ds≠-¦nÂ _lp-tI-aw. iÀ¡c Dt¸cn D≠m-¡m³ \Ã hiw thWw AXn-\mbn Imb c≠mbn ]nfÀ¶v Ipd¨p I\-¯nÂ Acn-bWw C¶s¯ Imes¯ t]mse dqfÀ h¨v 1/2 C©v F¶ t]\ sIm≠p AS-bm-f-s¸-Sp¯n \qÂ sI«n Acn-bp-¶-Xp-t]m-se-bÃ Ah-cpsS a\-¡-W-¡nÂ FÃmw Htc I\-¯n-em-bn-cn¡pw. iÀ¡c Dt¸cn Imb hdp-¡p-t¼mÄ Xs¶ ASp¯v thsd Dcp-fn-bnÂ iÀ¡c ]mhv Im¨m³ shbv¡p-I. IrXy kab¯p Xs¶ ap¯-Ñ³ DuWp apdn-bnÂ F¯n iÀ¡-c-bpsS ]mIw t\m¡n (\qÂ ]mIw) Cd-¡n-sh-bv¡m³ ]dbpw. F¶n«v CSXpImÂ aS¡n, heXp ImÂ \nhÀ¯n Xmsg Ccn¡pw.-R-§Ä Ip«n ]«m-fhpw Npäpw \nc¶v Øm\w ]nSn¨v Ccn¡pw ap¯-Ñsâ ]cn-IÀ½n-bmbn iÀ¡c Dcp-¡n-b-Xpw, Imb hdp-¯-Xpw, Np¡v/PocIw s]mSn-¨Xpw Xmsg h¨p amdn \nÂ¡pw. C\n ap¯-Ñsâ IchncpXmWv Hcp ssIsIm≠v iÀ¡c Cf-¡pw, F¶n«v Imb hdp¯v CSm³ ]d-bpw, IqsS Xs¶ asä ssIsIm≠v Dcpfn Xncn¡pw iÀ¡c apgp-h\ pw Dt¸-cn-bnÂ ]nSn-¡p-¶-Xp-hsc Cf-¡-Ww, H¶v ]mIamIpt¼mÄ Np¡v/PocIw s]mSn-¨Xv tNÀ¡pw.... NqSv iÀ¡c-bnÂ AXv hogp-t¼mÄ hcp¶ aWw... slm..., hmbnÂ shÅw \nd-bpw.. AXv Adn-ªp-sIm≠v Xs¶ ap¯-Ñ³ ] dbpw; ""sImXn ]ä-cpXv ]qPn-¡m-\p-ÅXm''.. R§Ä BsI [À½ k¦-S-¯n-emhpw hmbnse shÅw F´v sN¿pw? Htcm XhW Dcpfn Xncnªv aWw hcp-t¼mÄ ]ns¶bpw shÅw \ndbpw At¸mÄ ap¯-Ñsâ apJ¯v Hcp IpkrXn Nncn D≠mIpw Ah-km\w Hmtcm IjWw R§Ä¡v Xcpw. AXnsâ Hcp cpNn... BZyw a[p-chpw Fcnhpw tNÀ¶ hmbnÂ ]pfIw sImÅp-t¼mÄ hdp¯ Imb-bpsS Xmb¼I. Hmtcm IjWw Dt¸cn hmbnÂ CSp-t¼mgpw ]qcw Ignª {]Xo-Xn. tafhpw shSn-I-«n³sc IqsS t]mcn-N-Ãpw FÃmw tNÀ¶ Hcp cpNn-]qcw F¶pw In«p¶ Imbbpw shfn-s¨-®bpw iÀ¡-cbpw D≠mbn«pw HmW-¯n-\mbn Im¯n-cp-¶Xv Cu a[p-c-¯n-\mWv. C¶pw HmÀ½-bpsS a©m-Sn-s¨¸v Xpd-¡p-t¼mÄ \mhnÂ Xp¼¯v shÅw hcp-¯m³ ap¯-Ñsâ iÀ¡c Dt¸-cn¡v am{Xsa Ign-bp-Åq....

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

IT Staffing Businesses & the new US Immigration Bill

If your IT business has H-1B employees or if your business (irrespective of the field) routinely relies on services of H-1B contractors, you need to pay attention to this, because the IT consulting landscape will change Vinson Xavier Palathingal for the worse with the new immigration reform passage, and could impact your business, UNLESS you act NOW. off-shore companies for the same purpose. If the new As part of the comprehensive immigration reform immigration reform tries to control IT outsourcing within proposed in the Senate, the new bill contains restrictive USA, then the pace of external outsourcing will increase, provisions on outsourcing of H-1B workers, which would meaning more US IT jobs shipped to India and other essentially prohibit companies that are “H-1B dependent” countries as a result of US lawmakers’ action and lack to contract for the services or placement of their H-1B of vision. We need to wake them up to these facts now, employees to another company’s worksite. Because a before it is too late. Else, more jobs will go abroad and significant number of IT staff augmentation companies less tax dollars will benefit our country. are considered “H-1B dependent,” they will no longer be able to provide support to other US businesses by contracting for IT and other services that provide critical assistance to small and medium US businesses, which cannot to afford in-house IT or other specialized staff. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has been advancing the interests of the high tech community and trying to improve the bill’s H-1B provisions in general; however, he has been faced with significant resistance from other interests. Senators who are championing the interests of H-1B employers need your support NOW. Outsourcing is an after effect of Globalization that America championed for years. It is going to happen one way or the other but it is better to have US companies (whose employees pay federal and state taxes) providing outsourcing support to US businesses, than to rely on

IT work is the business of US IT companies, not dealing with immigration laws and government. They need the support of intermediary IT staff augmentation companies whose job is to make sure the necessary work force is available for the IT jobs to be done in US itself. If the government tries to cut that life source for the IT business here, they will either die or go abroad where these IT employees can he hired without having to worry about visas. It would also be less practical for small and medium US businesses to deal with offshore companies than with US businesses that are usually within their time zone and can provide them with IT support within the United States. Controlling outsourcing may result in a prohibitive increase of the salaries of IT workers here, which will hurt small and medium US business that are consumers of Kerala Association of Greater Washington

those services. This is the very basic supply and demand theory. IT salaries are already way too prohibitive for small companies to hire such employees. The government should not be in the business of inflating those salaries by controlling local IT outsourcing. Without your voice being heard and without someone showing them how these restrictions will hurt US companies, Congress will vote and make it our law. IT workers are mostly required for short time periods. The client companies cannot afford to hire them and keep them forever. The consulting companies can bring them here, and make sure they are employed, by sending them to assignments that may be short term but that are vital for US client companies. That way companies can focus on their business, and the IT employees will have constant work, supporting a variety of small and medium US businesses.

The IT boom of the late 1990s was a result of easy access to IT workers at relatively affordable costs of such services. That was facilitated by the IT staffing companies, without whom the outsourcing to India might have started 10 years ago. We need to create a scenario like that where more IT workers will come into USA, so that more IT jobs will remain here. IT staffing companies are so critical in this mission, if you want to see any meaningful use of the H-1B quota increase.

On April 17, 2013, Senate negotiators (the socalled “Gang of Eight”) have introduced a bipartisan immigration bill (S.744) called the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.” This 844-page bill would significantly overhaul U.S. immigration laws, covering a wide range of issues, including border security, temporary visas (such as H-1Bs and others), legalization of undocumented The basic premise of the reform is we need more IT aliens, mandatory use of E-Verify by all employers, and workers here, so we are increasing the H-1B quota the immigrant visa process. On May 22, 2013, the bill (allowing more visas to be issued). That is commendable had already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, even and we support the increase of the quota, which removes though 300 amendments have been introduced during the the uncertainty for all businesses that want to employ committee process. Therefore, this bill appears to be on H-1B workers. A recent random drawing/lottery that was a “fast track” and full Senate action is expected before conducted in early April by the US Government to select the end of June. Further amendments can be introduced which H-1B cases will be selected for processing are during floor debate so it is important to take action and try detrimental for any serious business planning and make a to influence the decision before it is final. Once it passes mockery of our highly-skilled visa system. However, if the Senate the only avenue we will have to modify the bill you study the use pattern of H-1Bs, a significant percent is will be in the Congress. However, we need to employ used by IT staff augmentation consulting companies now, people to lobby the Congress/Senate for us, and that costs not the end customers. If we increase the quota numbers money. Even before the bill passes the Senate, further but then discourage staff augmentation companies to do work will be needed in the House of Representatives to H-1B filings (by restricting their ability to contract for the ensure that our interests are protected when the House work of their employees), the H-1B visa numbers will not starts to consider the immigration reform effort. Let’s be used enough so we are not solving the problem of IT come together create a fund that can help us to do this worker shortage. Then why are we increasing the number for us. in the first place. It is like increasing the catchment area If you think this matter is important for you and would for a hydroelectric power plant, and then decreasing the like to participate in an effort to influence the process, I number of generators that really produces electricity. The would like to hear from you. You can reach me via email production will go down not up. We need to show them at vinson@amaram.com or via phone at 703-568-8070. these facts now, else it will be too late.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Learning to

Fly

I was very shy as a child. While most kids fought one another to be closest to the teacher during reading time, I purposefully sat at the back of the class. I only talked to older people when I was talked to, and they thought I was being polite, but really I did not know how to make “small talk” with them. I did not know what to say or how to say it, or whether or not I could speak to an adult the same way I would speak to someone my age. I envied those who already knew what they wanted to be when they grow up, be it an astronaut or a football player. What if I got hurt playing in the NFL, I thought, or my spaceship crashes before it gets to Mars? Of these many things I feared, one of them was reading. I feared I would not be able to read as quickly or as well as my brother, who was only a year older than me. I was in my mom’s lap, when I tried to face my fears. The living room we sat in was always well lit, and the white couches provided great comfort for anyone in the room. The room was connected to an empty room, this one somewhat smaller, which my parents promised would soon be filled with large dining table. The living room itself did not have any lights installed on the ceiling, so reading was always done before dark. I always made sure I was comfortable, even if it meant making my mom uncomfortable, and listened intently. Soon I knew all the words in our Winnie the Pooh books, the order in which I heard them, and why they were placed next to a particular picture in each story. I understood Pooh bear was happy when he had his honey, and sad when he didn’t. I understood Tiger liked to bounce, and Eyesore was sad no matter what the circumstances happened to be. I understood Kanga and Roo were always together, and I knew that when their names were together, it made kangaroo. I thought this was a mere coincidence at the time. Back in my mother’s lap, my brother comes along. It pained me to know that he did not have to memorize the words, that he could place it all together. I didn’t blame him, nor did I dislike him for it, I just disliked myself.

Philip Ipe

So every now and then, I’d pick up a book I had not memorized, this time it was Are You My Mother?, and I would give reading a try. I thought I could get it on the first try, that I would somehow improved so much that I would be able to put together the intricate puzzle that was a book. I stared hard at the words that seemed to make less sense as a look at them, trying to find something familiar. It seemed to make no sense, and my mind slowly began to give up. As I regained my confidence, I tried to relate the words to the picture. The baby chick was asking a dog if she was his mother. I wondered why he was asking an animal that looked so much different than he did, but I kept trying to read anyway. I tried to imagine what the words would be, but after a few minutes I put the book down in defeat. And in these cycles of defeat, I was a bird learning to fly, and time after time my mom would hope I would spread my wings, and time after time I would disappoint both her and myself. But like all birds, I eventually flew, and thankfully not much longer than when my brother did. Reading was a large part of my elementary school life; I was excited to explore unreal worlds and to be introduced to new people within the comfort of my living room couch or my bed. I would use any free time to read, mostly fiction though. I had a screening process for my books as well, I would only read anything that captured my attention in the first fifteen minutes and at least two people I knew had read and enjoyed it. Anything that did not make the cut was quickly handed over to my brother. There were many times where I tried to stop myself from finishing a book too fast, and scolded myself when I did. As I read, I was able to live up to the expectations set by my brother, and I was able to escape my world and enter a new one, for up to hours at a time. And sometimes, all people need is to escape. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

SWATHI HIRUNAL A King among the musicians and Musician among The kings.

By M.G.Menon

devotional content. Whereas Deekshitar and Syama Sastrikal also enriched this style, it was Swathi Tthirunal who spread the wings of Karnatic Music in various languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, in a large range of creative style krithis, from Upakhyanams, Padavarnams to Thillanas, Javalis to Sthothras, and composed Hindustani Style Bhajans in Drupads, Khayals and tappas. His Highness Rama Varma Swathi Thirunal Kulasekhara Perumal Maharaja was born on 16th of April, 1813 as the second child of Raja Raja Varma Koyi Thampuran of Changanassery and Rani Gouri Lakshmi Bai Thampuratti. Born on Chothi (Swathi) Star, he was named “Swathi India’s musical tradition goes back to more than 3000 Thirunal” Rama Varma as per the royal family tradition. years. But researchers have unearthed compositions in His mother passed away at the very young age of 24 Karnatic style and identified their authors only for the when the boy was 2 years old and her sister, who was last 600 years. The number of known composers run well versed in music, brought him up. Swathi Thirunal in hundreds and among them only few composers are exhibited his extraordinary talents singing with intensive popular and their compositions are sung everyday for devotion to Padmanabha Swamy and composing some occasion or the other. Among these four composers devotional songs at a very early age. His father gave him are considered to be outstanding in quality and number of early lessons in Sanskrit and, seeing the talents and the compositions and they are Purandara Dasa, Thyagaraja, intellectual exuberance of the young prince, facilitated Muthswami Dikshitar, Syama Sasthri and Swathi Thirunal. his education at a very young age, Swathi Thirunal gained Purandara Dasa is considered as the grandfather of today’s scholarship in 11 languages: Sanskrit, English, Persian, Karnatic Music and he is credited with the establishment Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, of a systematized teaching method. It is Thagaraja who Oriya and Persian. In literature, he mastered Vyakarana, combined all that was best before his times and brought Tharka, Alankara, and Kavyanatakas and in music, the out the style of composition and rendering with deep two styles, Karnatic and Hindustani. The year of 2013 marks the 200th birth anniversary of Swathi Thirunal. His birth anniversary is being celebrated and songs written and composed by this great ‘Vaggeyakara” are being sung and dances based on his compositions are being performed at various centers in Kerala, other locations in India and abroad and music lovers flock together to get enlightened and spiritually elevated. Swathi Thirunal lived only 33 years,1813 to 1846, but ruled the State of Travancore standing against the domination by the British. He wrote and composed over 400 songs in classical music, authored over seven books of devotional poetry, , learned 18 languages and was proficient in 11 of them.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

of 9 songs and 23 slokas. The episode is contained in the first three chapters in the sixth skandha of Bhagavata. Utsavavarnana Prabhandham: 42 verses and 12 songs in Malayalam Anyapadesa Sathaka Avatharika:in Sanskrit Moohanaprasadi Vyavastha: Rules on Sabdalankara in composing music in Sanskrit. Yayati Charitram: Musical Drama on the story of Yayati His court was adorned by great composers and noted poets like Erayimman Thamp., Bharatanatyam exponents from Tanjore, Vadivelu, Cinnayya, Ponnayya, Hindustani music exponent Allaudin of Mysore, famous Swarabath player Syed Sulaiman,the great Sarangi player Chintamony of Tanjore and the Mrdangam player Sivananda. Shatkaala Govinda Marar, whose name is synonymous with his capacity to sing in six kaalaas also spent several years in Swathi Thirunal’s court. It may not Swathi Thirunal left the legacy as a king dearly loved be out of place to mention here that it was in recognition by his subjects and as a brilliant and multifaceted of Marar’s astonishing performance by singing Jaya Vaggeyakara who contributed immensely to the world of Deva’s “Chandana Charchita” in Panthuvarali, starting music will live forever. Swathi Thirunal’s compositions from aadi aadi vilambitha kala acending upto aadi Drutha in Karnatic classical music alone are more than 450 in kala (6th degree of speed) that Thagaraja instantaneously composed ‘Entharo Mahanubhavulu’ and sang in the number. They can be categorized as follows: presence of his guests. Karnatic style Hindustani style Even though he is known for his contribution to music, Padavarnam 58 Javali 9 Drupad 12 as a king also Swathi Thirunal’s contributions are many. Stavavarnam 8 Thillana 6 Khyal 3 He founded a charity hospital at Thiruvananthapuram Thanavarnam 5 Bhajana 19 Tappa 3 for the Allopathic system of medical treatment in Swarajathi 7 Keertanam 3 4 3 Travancore. In 1836 he abolished duty on one hundred and sixty five articles of daily use by the common man Ragamalika 5 Total 460 Total 18 as the first step in his program to abolish poverty. He is Swathi Thirunal’s contributions to music literature credited with establishing the first public library and the zoo in Thiruvananthapuram. He was highly interested include the following: Bhaktimanjari: 1001 Verses in Sanskrit. Divided in Astronomy and established the observatory which is into ten parts or Sataks. The latter part is devoted to still functioning in Trivandrum. Knowing the benefits an elaborate treatise on Bhakti (Devotion). The only of English education he established English schools in copy available is in the author’s handwriting, says various locations. Mahamahopadhaya T. Ganapati Sastri Veena player S. Balachander (1924-1990), who was Padmanabha Sathakam: 100 Slokas on Lord famous for creating controversies, once tried to have a Padmanabha-Listen and enjoy on YouTube! feud with Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer on the latter’s Syanandura Pura Varnana Prabhandam: 203 verses book on Swathi Thirunal and tried to prove that Swathi A legend on Padmanabha Temple. Thirunal never existed. Later it became known that the Kuchelopakhyanam: 40 songs with Raga and Thala basis for creating such a story was not his knowledge Ajamilopakhyanam; The Ajamilopakhyana consists in history or any research but his disgruntlement for not At the age of sixteen, Swathi Thirunal became the king of Travancore, Kerala. The next 17 years of his life was unimaginably eventful. He was a visionary and he implemented several reforms to relieve the subjects of their sufferings in spite of the unwelcome interference from the British. He was farsighted and established an educational system which included the English language in schools. But His Highness’s passion was music. As Narada Muni for Thyagaraja, Chidambaranatha Yogi for Dikshitar, and Sangeetha Swamy for Syama Sastri, Swathi Thirunal adopted the highly devotional and scholarly Meruswamy as his guru. He set his mind in Lord Padmanabha, realized the ultimate through Nadayoga, and produced brilliant music compositions of exquisite quality which he used to sing in the presence of his court musicians and scholars. He is the only composer who has tried all musical forms under Karnatic as well as Hindustani styles. He is noted for introducing swarakshara in krithis.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

getting a chance to play at the Navartathri Mandapam, an annual nine day festival of music in Thiruvanathapuram, in which only the top artists give performances. He also felt slighted when, on a visit to the Maharaja’s palace, the queen compared his note on Veena to a church bell. The queen was a great Veena player herself and had great sense of humor which probably was lacking in the palace visitor.The day after when he returned to Chennai, he started his ill fated propaganda against Swathi Thirunal ran with it for 8 years and finally ended to his own discredit. It was unfortunate that, Swathi Thirunal, because of his status as Maharaja, did not build up a lineage of disciples as great composers like Thagaraja, Dikshitar or Syama Sastri did. He did not live long enough to get as much popularity as his works deserve. Music lovers earnestly hope that Prince Rama Varma, who has recently risen to fame for his pure unique style of rendering very popular Krithis and Hindi Bhajans of Swathi Thirunal will do justice to the Swathi Thirunal’s tradition. In fact one gets thrilled with the writings by very famous personalities in Karnatic music and other fields about Swathi Thirunal’s contribution to the world of music, like those given below: “As a composer, Maharaja Swathi Thirunal was singularly great in the infinite variety and versatility of his compositions….His Swarajati-s,Tanavarnam’s, and Padavarnam’s are among the best known to us. His scholarship ... His researches… have enabled him to compose in apurvaragas like Gopikavasantam, Desakshi, Dvijavanti, Gauri, Navarasam, and such other ragas not commonly handled by other great composers…… I would say that Maharaja Swati Tirunal’s Kirtanam, ‘Sarasijanabha’ in a Todi,Varnam ‘Chalamela’in Sankarabharanam, Padam ‘Kanta tava” in Athana, Javali ‘Itu Sahasamulu’ in Saindhavi, and Kalakshepam ‘Kucelopakhyanam, form a quintuple triumph won by 30

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

no other musical composers in south India. Some of his Hindi songs compare very favourably with the best of North India”. Musiri Subramonya Iyer “The one Adathala Varnam of Sri Swathi Thirunal Sarasijanabha is the last word in Khamboji. Likewise, each of his composition is a perfect piece of artistic creation. He is the one composer who has touched the entire range of structural composition in Karnataka music. This is an exclusive greatness of this Vaggeyekara.” Mysore Vasudevacharyar “….Many similarities can be observed between the music of Thyagaraja, Dikshitar and Syama Sastri and the music of Swathi Thirunal… all these great composers have their own Keerthanavalis; Thagaraja’s Pancharatnam, Dikshitar’s Navagraha Krithis, Syama Sastri’s Meenakshi Navaratnamalika, and Swathi thirunal’s Navarathri keerthanas and Navabhakthi Malika. Swathi Thirunal used pure Hindustani ragas like Hamir Kanu, Bibhas, Kapi, Kakubh for his music and also created Hindustani songs in Desadi, Bilandi, Chou which are used only by the North Indian composers. Over forty songs in Hindustani are known to be composed by Swathi Thirunal. He is South India’s only composer/singer who has done such a rich and brilliant contributions to Hindustani Music. Besides in his two works , Kuchelopakhyanam and Ajamila moksham he has used Marathi styles of music such as Saki, Ovi, Dindi and Abhang. As a composer of Varnams Swathi Thirunal occupies a position second to none……His Chalamela in Sankarabharanam, Sarasijanabha in Kamboji, Sumasayaka in Kapi are very famous.” Dr. S.Venkitasubrahmania Iyer (From his essay, “Swathi Thirunal and the Musical Trinity – a Comparative Study) “Eminent scholars and musicologists have evaluated his compositions and have rated them among the highest languages in India….. Apart from his profound Sanskritic erudition, apart from his scholarship in his own home tongue Malayalam, he also became a master of Telugu, which all of us in the South know is the language of Karnatak Sangeeth. He mastered Telugu and went beyond the barriers of geography because he acquired proficiency in Kannada, in Marathi and in Hindustani. “ Sir C. P. ramaswamy Iyer, Divan of Travancore.

rejive Joseph

Keralites are the one of the foremost ethnic groups that demonstrates a “migratory” behavior. They are willing to go anyplace which offers an opportunity to work hard and prosper. Inspite of this migratory spirit the expatriate Keralite population have always tried to stay close to their home land and their culture. This has created hundreds of “Kerala Associations” all over the globe. When the first Kerala Association was established in the Greater Washington, there were very few Keralites in this region. There was a great need to keep the community connected and make them feel at home. It helped the Kerala community in the region to celebrate festivals together; share the sorrows, happiness and success and stay in close touch, mentally and emotionally, to the mother land on a continuing basis. Now the Keralite population in the region and in America has grown substantially. The demography of the Kerala community has changed significantly. Third generation Keralite children are active in the community. The second and third generations consider America as their homeland. Beyond the memories from the short vacations they have very little to relate to Kerala. The time has come for Kerala Associations to rethink on the mission and develop a renewed vision for the organization. The challenge is to find a viable media platform that is appealing to three generations – each generation with different aspirations and choices. The first generation still maintains the nostalgic memories of their “good old” days in Kerala. They want to celebrate Onam, watch Malayalam movies and star shows, provide opportunities for the children to nurture their talents and want to pass their heritage to the next generation. They expect Kerala Associationsto organize Onam sadya, cultural activities, Malayalam class and anything that can be related to Kerala. The second generation adolescents are trying to discover their identity. They are torn between the Kerala culture enforced by the parents and the American culture they experience outside their home. Adolescents have high sensitivity on how others view them. When they are amongst people of their generation to race this may be restricted to their appearance. But when they are among a culturally and physically diverse group this takes a different dimension. Some of them are concerned at the color of their skin Kerala Association of Greater Washington

or the awkward accent of their “Some of them are concerned at the color of their skin or the awkward accent of their parents or the Indian attire” . They care less about the “Malayalam thingy” and want to do cool stuff. By cool stuff they mean activities that are American, the kind of activities their friends do. They want to be accepted as part of their friends group. To keep this generation attached to the Kerala Associations they need to organize cool activities. At the same time the activities should help their personality development. The activities should generate an awareness of their ethnicity and the positive and negative impact it can have on their personality and career. The programs targeted at this group should be to enhance their confidence, build their leadership skills and prepare them to take on the world with a punch. The third generation is less confused and more confident about their American identity. To attract this generation, Kerala Associations should provide better talent development avenues than what is available elsewhere. To garner their interest they should see focused efforts to develop leaders. They also would like to see Kerala Associations as part of the main stream and as organizations that influence the American society. We already have Governors of Indian origin in two states. Leaders who can lead this country andentrepreneurs who can shape the future should emerge from the Kerala community also. Kerala Associations can be the driving force in that effort. The biggest fear of any community is the “fear of the unknown”. The Native Americans experienced that when the early European settlers came here. The early settlers lived through it when immigrants from Africa, Asia and South American countries joined. As the community becomes familiar with the new culture the fear factor fades away and they start to be influenced by the new culture. When European settlers came to America they brought a piece of their home land also. The US culture and the festivities are shaped by the early Europeans who came here. As the ethnic diversity increased the other cultures slowly started influencing the community. Being a relatively new addition to the American society the Indian community has to exert more influence to make our contribution to the American culture. Kerala Associations have to play a better role in removing the “fear of the unknown” about Kerala and Indian culture. The Associations should organize events to take our culture to the local community. Kathakali should get the same level of acceptance as Ballet or Onam should get the same level of attention as St. Patrick’s Day. Kerala Associations have to come out of their cocoons. They have to transform from an ethnic fraternity that assuage the nostalgic emotions of the Kerala community into a service organization that make future leaders and influence the American culture. The change required to achieve this is painful and elaborate. However this transformation is essential to retain the relevance of the associations and to make them colorful butterflies.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Beypore T

o an undiscerning tourist, Beypore, a nondescript sea port just south of Calicut, may feel like another speck of beach on the boundless coastal strip of Kerala. But once you set foot on these sandy shores, centuries of historic significance and maritime heritage pervading in the atmosphere of this seaside town takes you back to a bygone era.Long before the Portuguese and the English began to chart the most defining course of India’s history, Beypore was one of the pivotal ports that opened the gateway for the spice route to Indian bazaars. The Beypore port has been bringing in ships from the Mesopotamian and Sumerian seas way back from the first century, and this accounts for the presence of Tellicherry pepper and Malabar spices in the global markets even today. My quest today is to unravel the mysteries of the unique & time tested, dhow building industry indigenous toBeypore. Call it the Dhow, Uru, Machchua or the Jalbooth– these wooden ships have been plying over the Arabian seas& beyondsince time immemorial. They have been instrumental in the silk routes, the foreign inquisitions and before air travel became cheap and popular, ferrying fortune seeking Malayalees to the Golden Gulf. The narrow lanes that lead toBeyporeare lined with souvenir shops filled with miniature ships of all shapes& thisfeels like a teaser for the bigger picture to follow. The omnipresent sea makes its presence felt by its distinct smell throughout the town. The blink- and -you

Zenobia Khaleel

-miss boat Jetty on the banks of the Chaliyarriver; with its banks bursting on the seams with coconut palms and flocks of white crane hovering over the water, looks like a picturesque postcard, and I’m lost in poetic reverie. My thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the shrill foghorn of the Jhangaar ferry. The Jhangaar ;the most common means of conveyance in the Beypore backwaters , is best described as a couple of boats appended together at the waist with a wooden plank .While I patiently wait on the rickety wooden pier, the Jhangaar offloads its varied cargo of school children,villagers, cattle, bikes and a few Toyota Innovas! Soon my ride arrives, a local canoe fitted with an engine, to ferry me to the Dhow building facility of MessrsHaji P.I.AhamedKoya. These entrepreneurs have been building dhows since 1919, and their clientele includes Qatar Sheikhs, Arab Billionaires and French hotel chains. These second generation shipbuilders have won awards on both State and National levels for keeping the art and Kerala Association of Greater Washington

commerce of Dhow building alive. The traditional art of Dhow building is revered and uncompromised here&to this day the Dhow is intricately and painstakingly crafted into shape by hand & the main tools used aremuscle and metal. A five minute boat ride takes me to the dhow building site on the Chaliyar river banks, where I am greeted by a local legend, one of the master craftsmen of old school Dhow building,Narayan Maestry.Maestry takes me to the building platform which belies all my expectations; an inconspicuous thatched roof shack that houses a gigantic skeletal framework of the Dhow.Manouvering a 20 foot rickety ladder,stacked against the wobbly skeletal ship, on high heels, is by no means an easy task but I achieved it bones and dignity intact, and gained access into the belly of the great wooden beast!Down here, I feelsubmerged in the ribcage of a giganticwhale,this is where Narayan Maestry proceeds to share the art and science of dhow building with me. These skilled craftsmen do not follow any blueprints or manuscripts, but all the scientific and structural formulae of building dhowsarehanded down generations through folksy ditties. Earlier, the timber for the ships was logged from the Nilambur forests and floated down the river and hauled inland, now it is offloaded in trucks. The workforce is busily hammering and carving the wooden beams to shape and the clangings resonate across the huge Gothic Skeleton of the Dhow. The entire framework of the Dhow is manually built in this shed, only the engine and the anchor is fitted elsewhere with the interiors custom built to the patron’s whims and fancies. ‘Look out for those nails’, says the Maestry nonchalantly as though he werereferring to a few pintacks strewn about

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

, I look around to see foot long iron spikes, protruding out of the planks at regular intervals, which could easily sever my toe from my foot! An average sized Dhow takes around a year for completion. Upon completion, the Dhow is rolled on logs from the docks into the river bed using a giant pulley- wheel mechanism. Around 20 men take turns rotating the wheel & the whole process of hauling the colossal vessel for about 20 feet, takes up to half day’s work . From here the dhow is towed along the estuary till it meets the waters of the Arabian sea. Currently the Dhows are largely used for recreational purposes, as floating restaurants or heritage yachts. From its humble thatched roof beginnings, the Dhow now stands tall gracing international shorelines, giving a whimsical feel to cosmopolitan marinas or the private harborsof billionaires. The dhow having set sail on its course, I set of on mine, to savor another major highlight of Beypore - the Pulimoodu beach.The entrance to the beach bustles with a multitude of food carts selling all kinds of delicacies of the sea and the shore. From local dishes like Mussels fry and crab roast toeternal south Indian favorities likeonion pakoras and chilly bajjis; the hot spicy food complements the bracing sea winds perfectly. An aesthetically designed stone pierextends from the beach a kilometer into the seaand offers a unique evening stroll experience. At the edge of the pierI feel like the Arabian sea has embraced me from all sides.The setting sunplays a fiery havoc on the horizon, and the sky looks resplendent in pink and orange glory.The occasional sighting of dolphins gliding in the waters against this exquisite backdrop provides the perfect finale to a memorable day.

eople Watching on b

Face ook Disclosure: I’m a Facebook addict and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Ever wonder why people like me spend a major chunk of their time on Facebook? Ok, it is an addiction but what makes us go back for more? The people! People watching is always fun whether it is at the mall or train station or even social media. Knowingly or unknowingly all of us Facebook users become objects of interest or amusement to others. In all those hours spent browsing, checking/posting updates, lurking, and commenting on Facebook I’ve come across a myriad range of characters that can be clubbed into the following groups; The Busy Bee – These are people who are very active on Facebook and have so much going on in their lives that they have to share every little bit of it with the world. I actually like this set because they are the ones that keep this whole endeavor entertaining.With all that practice i.e. 4-5 status updates in a day, they have mastered the art and have become very skillful at posting updates that are funny and entertaining.

Vidya Sukumaran

The Lurker – At least half of the Facebook users fall into this category. They never post updates on their wall nor do they comment on others’. Yet they make it a point to read and follow other people’s updates religiously.I never hear from you on Facebook or otherwise and then I run into you at the grocery store and you tell me how you read about something in my life on Facebook; downright creepy. The Corn Ball – Constant updates like, “I woke up this morning, brushed my teeth, had cereal for breakfast…..” are just not cool. If you want people to read your mundane updates then at least put in some effort to make them funny.

The Gamer – Spends time tending to virtual farms, animals, solves virtual crimes etc. and bombards you with game requests. I’m extremely happy and at the same time The Bragger – I get that some amount of bragging is part jealous that you have so much free time. Good for ya! and parcel of social media. If someone in your family won Frankly, these updates are so annoying that I block all of an award or if you made a big purchase like a new home them the first time I see them. or a new car, I’m happy that you thought me worthy of The Attention Seeker – Posts ambiguous updates sharing that news with. As a friend I’m genuinely happy expecting to get concerned comments and questions for you but when all a person does is toot their horn, you without actually revealing what exactly the issue is. know….photos of vacation trips, parties etc. every week Watch out for those ‘two words’ or smiley updates. then it is plain old boring. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

The Prankster –Oooohhh….these folks are way too much fun. They work and look like the attention seekers. They post a ‘bait’ status update and wait for innocent folks to jump in. How do I know about it? I walked straight into that trap once but that was lesson enough! Now, it is fun to sit by the sidelines and see all those hyper concerned comments from the gullible folks. The Sentimentalist – Personally my tolerance level for drama is very minimal, hence my preference for funny or sarcastic status updates. Every update you post need not be padded in sentiments or requests to share it “if you are a true friend” or “if you love your mother” or “if you have a brother”! My friends, mom, and bro all know how much I love them. I do not need to show Facebook posts as proof of my love for my family. Period. The Exhibitionist – Updates about something you could have just told your partner when he/she came home that night or even better on the phone or a personal message on a public forum look fake. If you miss your spouse just pick up the phone and tell him/her, don’t post it on Facebook! The Fanatic – I think both religion and politics are very personal and shouldn’t be forced down on someone else’s throat. If you like to wear your religion on your sleeve, again I’m glad you feel so strongly about it but I’m not interested. Political views on the other hand can be a fun read as long as they are not extreme. I actually look forward to election season when Facebook is like an on demand ‘The Daily Show’ episode.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

The Whiner – They complain about everything and everyone. All their updates center on how pathetic it is to be them. Too bad life sucks for you but hearing about it 24/7takes the life out of mine. I’ve seen quite a few of these folks go on a Facebook hiatus and come back as the Inspirational Speaker. The Inspirational Speaker – Always posts upbeat messages and shares posts along the same lines. It can get annoying but as long as it is not whining, I can take it. At least they are spreading cheer not doom. The Spammer –Shares every Photoshoped update there is in this world, especially the ones that say “if you do not share this in the next 5 secs bad luck will follow you.” The Privacy Freak – All hell breaks loose with every spammy looking Facebook privacy alert. Please do the rest of us a favor and just Google the perceived ‘privacy threat’ and share it only if it is genuine. The Over Sharer-Nothing is off limits for these folks. Luckily I don’t have many of these in my friends list. Take them off your feed the moment they make you uncomfortable. Wasn’t that fun? Like your real life actions your social media persona says a lot more about you than you might want others to know. So, think twice…thrice before you post those ladies/guys night out pictures every weekend or brag about your latest buy. All of us have our eyes on you. Vidya is a DIY/ Home Decor blogger who blogs at www. whatsurhomestory.com.

Sensei Senbag rajamani

Sensei Rajamani has been practicing Shotokan Karate-Do since 1985. Senbag took over the Dojo when his Sensei left the town on 1986 in India. Since then, he has been teaching Shotokan Karate-Do to multitude of students in many countries including India, UAE and USA. He has conducted many seminars and organized several massive rallies to support World Peace, National Integration, Environmental Protection and Women Empowerment with support of International Organizations such as Lions Club, Rotary Club, and Sierra Club. He is a CPR and Sports Injury prevention certified instructor. Sensei has been advocating Martial Arts training to the women of all ages since he started teaching Martial Arts. He conducted several Martial Arts program for Women, including free workshops on Rape Prevention techniques and strategies, Street Aware and You in You. He came to USA for his higher education in 1997 and landed in South Dakota State University, Brookings SD. He taught Karate to the university students, family. He moved to Maryland in 1999 to pursue his career as Senior Software Engineer, and started teaching Shotokan Karate to kids and adults. Currently, Sensei Rajamani is holding 5th Dan Black Belt. Sensei Senbag is affiliated with Japan Shotokan Karate Association (JSKA). JSKA is internationally headed by Shihan Keigo Abe, 9th Dan Black Belt and nationally (USA) headed by Sensei. Thomas Casale, 6th Dan Black Belt. He participated and won several national, regional tournaments and awarded as a Best Instructor many times in his endeavor. He is a PMI Certified Project Manager and President of IT Program Management consultant firm, InTerms LLC. He lives with his wife and two children who were karateka also.

KARATE T

he Japanese word, Karate means Empty (Kara) Hand (Te) which itself implies the principle of Karate. It emphasizes the use of our own body as a weapon. Against the common belief, martial arts are prevalent in around the globe in some form since the mankind. However, most modern martial arts have some unique history. The evolution of Asian martial arts as they are known today is thought to have originated around 500 A.D., when a South Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhi Dharma arrived in China. Legend has it that he taught South Indian fighting exercises “Kalari Payittu” in order to improve shaolin monks’ physical condition. All kungfu is thought to have evolved from this beginning, and from kung-fu came karate. Modern martial Arts originated in Okinawa when use of weapons was banned. Many warriors practiced martial arts using farm tools which became a style of Martial Arts Kerala Association of Greater Washington

weapons called Kobudo. Okinawa was the birth place of Master Gichin Funakoshi, a father of Modern Karate and also a founder of Shotokan Karate (one of four major Japanese Karate styles). Shotokan Karate-do is widely practiced around the world. Master Funakoshi summarizes the philosophy behind Shotokan training in his Training Hall Code of Ethics (Dojo Kun): "seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, refrain from violent behavior". Training involves body and spirit and most importantly, one should treat his opponent courteously and with the proper etiquette. The first purpose in pursuing Shotokan is to develop a spirit of humility (Nakayama, 1978a, p. 11). Shotokan Karate does not train individuals to solve problems through fighting (Oyama, 1979, p. 119). On the contrary, the highest achievement in Shotokan is to learn to resolve conflicts without violence. In Shotokan Karate, as well as other styles of karate, practicing kata (a formal exercise consisting of a logical sequence of blocking, punching, striking and kicking techniques) and Kumite (a method of training in which a student engages in practical application of the offensive and defensive techniques learned in kata) are the method of formal training. Shotokan Karate does not discriminate on age or gender as factors in deciding who is capable of training. Anyone, young or old, strong or weak, male or female, may practice in Shotokan. Practicing traditional martial arts such as Japanese Karate provides many benefits to us physically as well as mentally. Especially school going kids will benefit most in the very optimum level of physiological and psychological development. In Long Island University, upon conducting

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

six years of medical research with Okazaki Sensei and Dr. Stricevic Sensei, M.D., confirmed the positive effects of Shotokan training on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Dr. Stricevic exhibited increases in vital lung capacity of participants and more efficient blood circulation in the heart. Shotokan teaches students to realize, not ignore, their weaknesses. Self-study and understanding are prerequisites for effectiveness against any opponent. If students do not have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, then the appraisal of another's strengths and weaknesses is meaningless. The following are the key benefits for everyone practicing Shotokan Karate including school going children: Concentration and Focus Concentration has to be taught. The concentration skills that are developed through the training drills and the practice of kata - a serious of movements, much like a dance choreography with the use of karate techniques. Balance Balance is a physical, and mental attribute is acquired by performing Karate drills that make you aware of what your body is doing while in motion. Balance as a mental characteristic is developed as you use karate as a mental stimulant. Control Control is a result of focus, concentration, and confidence. Through the efforts of repetitive karate training, by Kata and kumite, kids learn their limitations. Respect, Discipline, and Humility People associate karate with discipline. In karate, ranking

readily available, and that the costs are in line with other schools (or hopefully less!). All costs (including uniform, any organizational fees, examination fees, any texts or manuals, etc.) should be clearly delineated. Also, if you like you should be able to buy uniforms and other supplies from a third party supplier, not just from the school you are evaluating.

system lets people know where they stand. The Respect, discipline and humility is instilled in its all training. Most difficult people can be taught humility simply by being in an environment where it is prominent. Goal Orientation The realization of reaching that goal can be overwhelming without proper direction. For example, instead of thinking about a black belt that may be five or more years down the road, we focus on our ranking system which breaks it down to a few months at a time. At each level the student knows in advance what is expected of them to reach the next level. Students learn to make realistic goals for themselves when there isn't someone there to do it for them. Self Confidence You have to feel good about yourself and you have to trust in your abilities to be confident. Karate teaches you how to handle pressure by applying a little bit at a time. You can start to expand or push those limits and feel good about trying something you never imagined you could before. Karate is an endless learning experience that provides constant challenge keeping you alert and to let your confidence grow.

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Instructors and students treat each other courteously and respectfully: If the instructor is abusive or overly militaristic (e.g. shouting at students in a denigrating or derisive manner, or demanding tortuous exercises from students) they are attempting to prey on your insecurities. Just politely (but firmly) leave the premises.

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Training and exams open to all observers: You should be able to observe all classes and exams without having to join up first.

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You can speak freely to any of the instructors or students: If not, they are trying to hide something.

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Instructor does not cop an attitude towards newcomers: If the instructor acts evasively, strangely or mystically, they are a phony or head case, attempting to prey on your insecurities or ignorance. You should be able to interact with them off the training floor in a normal and friendly manner.

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Look out for conmen and cults: If the instructor(s) or school attempts to assert that their school goes way beyond teaching karate techniques and philosophy or if there is an attempt to dominate one's social life (so that they control your life outside of the karate school) politely but firmly leave. Karate-do should enhance one's life, not become an obsessive end all. You should have a fulfilling life outside of karate.

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They should answer all your questions: If they don't answer all of your questions in a concise and clear manner, you won't understand their instruction if you sign up to train there either.

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Free lesson with no strings attached: Many reputable schools will allow you to take a class or lesson so you can evaluate further whether this is the school for you. DO NOT make any commitment long term when starting out!

Karate is Fun! Not only do you benefit from learning the techniques and routines that karate provides, you do it with other people that share a common interest. Any extracurricular activity you involve yourself with should be a release from the stress or anxiety that is built up in our daily routines. People involved in karate can established friendships for life How do you pick a Good Karate school for you and your children? These are some thumb rules for your considerations and thoughts: •

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No contracts: Payment should be on a month to month basis, with no long term contract or payment such that you may quit at any time if you desire. If they ask you to sign a contract, run (do not walk) to the nearest exit! Costs should be reasonable: Be sure that the dues structure is straight forward, easily understood and

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

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Kerala Association of Greater Washington

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bm{X-¡pÅ Hcp-¡-§Ä Bcw-`n-¨-t¸mÄ AÑ³ ]dªp; ""BZyw ZnÃn. ]ns¶ lcn-ZzmÀ. Z£-{]-Pm-]-Xn-bpsS \K-c-¯nÂ \n¶p-am-Is« \½psS ]pWy bm{X.''

Zqc-§-fnÂ \n¶pw kmbm-Ó-¯nsâ Cfw NqSp-ambn \\p ¯ Imäv Pme-I-¯n-eqsS IS-s¶¯n AÑsâ Ae-kambn tImXn-h¨ apSn-bn-g-Isf C¡nfn Iq«n. P\-e-gn-I-fnÂ AÑsâ hnc-ep-IÄ apdp-Ip-¶Xv Ah³ I≠p. KmV-amb thZ-\-bpsS asämcp Xnc-¯-Å-enÂ AÑsâ apJw henªp apdp-Ip-¶Xv Ah ImWm-Xn-cn-¡m³ Ah³ apJw Xncn-¨p.

GXm\pw Nne ASp¯ kplr-¯p-¡-tfm-SpÅ am{Xw bm{X ] d-ªp. AÑ\pw aI\pw ]pd-s¸-Sp-t¼mÄ bm{X B¡p-hm³ Bcp-ap-≠m-bn-cp-¶n-Ã. s]«nbpw Xq¡n AÑ\p ]n¶mse \S-¡p-t¼mÄ F´n-s\-¶-dn-bmsX a\Êp hn§n. A©p hbÊp apXÂ Hcp \ngÂ t]mse AÑs\ ]n´p-S-cm³ XpS§n-b-Xm-Wp. cà-_-Ô-t¯-¡m-fp-]cn Hcp Bß-_Ôw Ahsc H¶n-¸n-¨n-cp-¶p. hÀj-§Ä¡p ap¼v _me-\m-bn-cp¶ Xs¶ AÑsâ I¿nte-ev¸n¨v aªp-s]-¿p¶ Hcp kÔybv¡v A½ ]gb ImapI-s\m¸w ]Sn-bn-d-§p-t¼mÄ AÑ\v aI\pw \nÀÆn-Im-c-\p-ambn-cp-¶p. B Zn\-§-fpsS HmÀ½ Ip«n-¡m-e-¯nsâ ambm¯ thZ-\-bmbn C¶pw a\-ÊnÂ sXfnªp \nev¡p-¶p. ssiXyIm-e-¯nsâ hc-h-dn-bn-¨p-sIm≠v \K-c-¯n\p aosX ioX¡mäv Bª-Sn-¡p-hm³ XpS-§nb Imew. NqSnsâ ImTn\yw Ipd-bp-Ibpw sXfnª ]I-ep-IÄ Npcp-§p-Ibpw cmhnsâ ssZÀLyw hÀ[n-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. au\w \ndª \o≠ cm{Xn-I-fnÂ shfn-bnÂ aªp s]¿p-hm³ XpS-§n. \nc¯p-IÄ hnP-\-am-bn. ssiXyw aqÀÑn-¡p-I-bmbncp¶p, H¸w AÑ\pw A½bpw X½n-epÅ AIÂ¨bpw. Hcp kmbm-Ó¯nÂ hoSp-hn-«n-d-§nb A½-bpsS Ime-Sn-¸m-Sp-IÄ aªneqsS AI¶p t]mbXv thZ-\-tbmsS D®n Pme-I-¯n-eqsS t\m¡n-¡-≠p. ]n¶oSv hoin-b-Sn¨ ioX-¡mäv B Imev¸m-SpIsf aªnÂ \n¶p ambv¡p-t¼mÄ A½ D®n-bpsS a\ÊnÂ \n¶pw sasÃ amªp t]mhp-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. F{X t\cw A§s\ Ccp¶p F¶-dn-bn-Ã. Ft¸mtgm AÑ³ D®n-bpsS aqÀ[m-hnÂ XtemSn DWÀ¯n-b-Xp-t]mse Ah\p tXm¶n. AÑsâ kuay-amb hnfn: ""D®o, FWo¡p tams\''. Ipä-t_m-[-t¯msS D®n I«n-enÂ \n¶pw NmSn FWo-äp. Xpd¶p-In-S¶ Pme-I-¯n\p shfn-bnÂ Cc-¼n-bmÀ¡p¶ \K-c¯n\p aosX t]m¡p-sh-bnÂ kphÀ® km{µ-X-tbmsS \n d-ªp. taL-¨p-cp-f-IÄ¡p Iosg GXm\pw ]£n-IÄ Aek-X-tbmsS ]d¶p \S-¶n-cp-¶p. Znh-k-§Ä¡p tijw AÑsâ apJ¯v ]pXn-sbmcp Xnf¡w ImW-s¸-«p. \mfp-I-fm-bpÅ tcmK-¯n-sâbpw ZoÀL-bm-{X-bpsSbpw XfÀ¨ ad¶v AÑ³ DÄ¡-\-§Ä \o§n Nncn-¨p. Nncn-

lcn-Zzm-dn-te-¡pÅ cm{Xn-h-≠n-bnse ioXo-I-cn¨ H¶mw ¢mkv apdn-bnÂ Dd§msX ]pd¯v Ccp-«nÂ HmSn-b-I-ep¶ a§nb hgn-hn-f-¡p-I-fn-epw, Hä-s¸« ac-§-fnepw t\m¡n AhÀ shdpsX Ccp-¶p. Ccp-h-i¯pw t\ms¡¯m Zqc¯v ]c¶p InS-¡p¶ hb-ep-IÄ¡v aosX t\À¯ Ccp«pw t\À¯ shfn-¨hpw ]nW-ªp-In-S-¶p. a§nb BIm-i¯v ]c-iXw \£-{X-§fpw sNdp-ta-L-§fpw h≠n-s¡m¸w ]mªp. AIse Ccp≠ N{I-hm-f-¯n-\-¸p-d¯v tIm«-t]mse ae-\n-cIÄ Ccp-«nÂ Ahy-à-Nn-{X-§Ä hc-¨p. Ah¡p apI-fnÂ an¶-ensâ Ccp≠ {]Xn-^-e-\-§Ä Xma-kn-s¨-¯p¶ CSnbpsS t\cnb a±-f-Øm-bn-IÄ¡mbn D®n ImtXmÀ¯p. s]s«¶v AÑ³ tNmZn¨p; ""D®o, lcn-Zzm-dnsâ AÀYw \n\¡dnbptam?'' AÑsâ A{]-Xo-£-X-amb tNmZy-¯nÂ A¼-c¶ D®n CsÃ¶v Xe-bm-«n. ""ssZh-¯n-te-¡pÅ hgn. B hgn-bn-te¡v Fs¶ \bn-¡p¶ Hcp AZriyiàn-bp-≠v. B iàn-tbmSv Rm³ ]Xps¡ ASp¯p sIm≠n-cn-¡p-¶p.'' AÑsâ hm¡p-I-fpsS s]mcpÄ Ah\p a\-Ên-em-bn-Ã. bm{XI-fn-se¶pw AÑ³ {]`m-j-I\pw D®n Ahsb DÄ¡m-Xp-IfnÂ Bhm-ln-¡p¶ shdp-samcp t{kmXm-hp-am-bn-cp-¶p. AÑsâ ssI ]nSn¨v lcn-Zzm-dnÂ h≠n Cd-§p-t¼mÄ Zqsc inhm-en-¡p-¶p-IÄ¡v aosX aªnsâ ]S-e-¯n-eqsS hnScp¶ ]pe-cn-bpsS sN³¨m-bw. iX-tImSn dm´ÂZo-]-ambn BZn-Xy³ kmh-[m\w sXfn-bm³ XpS-§n. BImiw Nph¶p XpSp-¯p. Cfw-sh-bn-enÂ Ip¶p-I-fnÂ kqcy-Im-´-§Ä sh«n-¯n-f-§n. hnP-\-amb Lm«-I-fn-eqsS, A h n - S - h ns S X ] w sN¿p¶ Iu]o\w [cn¨ tbmKn-IÄ¡n-S-bn-eq-sS, k{X-§-fnse ]mN-I-im-e-I-fnÂ \n¶p-b-cp¶ F®-bp-sSbpw k_vPn-bp-sSbpw KÔ-taäv {i²m-Ú-en-tbmsS AhÀ \S¶p. k]vX-[m-c-§Ä¡-¸pdw KwK `oI-c-amb apg-¡-t¯msS

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

BÀ¯n-I-¼p¶ {]hm-l-ambn Xmtg-s¡m-gp-Ip-¶p. AÑ³ ]dªp : ""F\n¡p Ipfn-¡-Ww. KwK-bnÂ ap§n Fsâ ]m]-§-fnÂ \n¶pw Rm³ tamNn-X-\m-I-s«.'' XWp¯ ac-hn¨ shÅ-¯nÂ GXm\pw `à-À Ah-cpsS ]m]-§Ä Igp-In-¡-f-bp-¶p-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. F®bpw ]pjv]§fpw Agp-In-¡n-S¶ ]S-hp-I-fn-eqsS AÑ³ \Zn-bn-en-d-§n ap§n. shbnÂ I\-¡p-thmfw AÑ³ ]nXr-¡Ä¡v XÀ¸Ww sNbvXp. FÃm ]m]-§fpw Gäp hm§p¶ KwK £oWn-X \mb D]m-k-Isâ {]mÀY\ kzoI-cn¨v Ah-cpsS IÀ½-_Ô-§-fnÂ \n¶pw tamNn-¸n-¡p-¶Xv XÀ¸-W-¯nsâ ]pg¡-c-bnse ]S-hp-IÄ¡v apI-fn-en-cp¶v D®n t\m¡n-¡-≠p. AÑ³ Ipfn¨p Ib-dp-t¼m-tgbv¡pw Lm«p-I-fnÂ Xnc-t¡-dnXp-S-§n. IÀ½-]m-]-§Ä KwK-bn-sem-gpIn apàn t\Sp-hm³ XoÀYm-S-IÀ Iq«-ambn hs¶¯n XpS-§n. AhÀ¡n-S-bn-eqsS `à-cpsS FÃm Bh-iy-§fpw \nd-th-äp¶ am\-Êm-tZho t£{X-¯n-tebv¡v AhÀ \S-¶p. BIm-i-¯n-te¡p Xebp-bÀ¯n \nÂ¡p¶ ae¡p apIfnse tZho-k-¶n-[n-bnÂ F¯m³ F®-aä ]S-hp-IÄ Ib-d-Ww. shbnÂ Xe¡p apI-fnÂ Xo{h-am-bn. s]mSn-]-d-¡p¶ \nc-¯p-I-fnÂ Bfp¶ shbn-ensâ {apK-{XpjvW h«-an-«p-s]m-§n. ]S-hp-IÄ Ib-dn-¯p-S-§nb AÑ³ InX-¡p-Ibpw hnbÀ¡pIbpw sNbvXp. ]e-t¸mgpw izmkw Ign-¡m³ AÑ³ hnj-an-¡p-¶Xv D®n I≠p. Ahsâ lrZbw hn§n. Ahsâ hnjaw I≠v AÑ³ ]d-ªp; ""kmc-anÃ Ip«o, CsXsâ {]m b-Ýn-¯-am-Wv. IÀ½-§-fpsS ]qÀ¯n-I-c-W-¯n-\mbn ssZh¯n-te-¡pÅ Fsâ hgn-bnÂ Rm³ sN¿p¶ Fsâ tbmKw''. CS-bv¡nsS ]Sn-IÄ¡-cn-InÂ ]q¯p \nÂ¡p¶ tZhXmcp¡-fpsS ioX-f-Ñm-b-bnen-cp¶v AhÀ XfÀ¨ amän. tZhn-¡pÅ ImgvN-{Z-hy-§-fp-ambn ]c-iXw `à-·mÀ Ahsc IS-¶p-ap-I-fn-te¡p {]h-ln¨p sIm≠n-cp-¶p. Ah-km\w inhm-en-Ip-¶p-IÄ¡v ]n¶nÂ kqcy³ Xmgp-hm³ XpS-§p-t¼mÄ AhÀ Idp¯ ine-bnÂ sIm¯n-bp-≠m-¡nb tZhn-bpsS ap¶n-se-¯n. XfÀ¶v hnd-bv¡p¶ ssIIÄ Iq¸n, I®p-I-f-S¨v tZhn¡p ap¼nÂ [ym\-\n-c-X-\mbn \n¶p. AÑ\p ]n¶n-embn tZhn¡p t\sc ssIIÄ Iq¸n lrZbw s\m´v D®n {]mÀ°n-¨p; ""hÂk-c-§Ä¡v Adp-Xn-bn-Ãm-¯-hfmb Fsâ tZho, Bbp-Ênsâ a[y-¯nÂ h¨v Fsâ AÑsâ Pohs\Sp¡cptX F¶v \nt¶mSv Rm³ At]-£n-¡p-¶p.'' tZhn-bpsS A\p-{K-l-\n-izmkw t]mse inhm-en-Ip-¶p-I-fnÂ \n¶p ]d¶p h¶ Imäv Ahsc XgpIn IS¶p t]mbn. sXmgp-Xn-d-§nb AÑ³ XoÀ¯pw £oWn-X-\mbn ImW-s¸«p. t£{X-¯n\p ap¶nse Hcp Iev_-©nÂ D®n AÑs\

Ccp-¯n. ASp-¯n-cp¶v tXmfn-eqsS ssIbn«v AÑs\ tZlt¯¡v Nmcn Ccp-¯n. am\-Êm-tZ-hnsb t\m¡n \nd-I-®pI-tfmsS AÑ\v {]mÀ°n-¡p-¶Xp I≠p. lrZbw XpSn-¨p. kabw IS-¶p-t]m-bn. ""D®o F\n-s¡m¶v InS-¡Ww'' hnd-bmÀ¶ kzc-¯nÂ AÑ³ ]d-ªp. s_©nÂ AÑs\ InS-¯n, Xe Ahsâ aSn-bnÂ h¨p. D®n-bpsS hnc-ep-IÄ AÑsâ \c¨ apSn-bnepw Ipän¯m-Sn-bnepw bm{´n-I-ambn Xtem-Sn-s¡m-≠n-cp-¶p. kmbmÓ-¯nsâ Cfw NqSnÂ AÑ³ \nÀhrXn sIm≠p. Ip¶n³ sNcn-hp-I-fnÂ tZh-Xm-cp-¡-fnÂ Imäp ]nSn-¨p. ImänÂ sR«ä Ce-IÄ hÀjn-¨p. B Ze-hr-jvSn-bpsS ]pf-I-¯nÂ inhm-en¡p-¶p-IÄ {XÊn-¨p. Imänsâ {ipXnt`Z-§-fnÂ tZh-a-{´§-fpsS s]mcpÄ XpSn-¨p. XfÀ¨ tZhm-\-p-`-h-ambn knc-I-fneqsS ]SÀ¶p. kqcy³ AkvX-an¨p XpS-§n. \ndw a§nb N{I-hm-f-¯nÂ \n¶pw ae-a-S-¡p-I-fn-eqsS kÔy-bpsS Nph¸v Hen-¨n-d-§n. Zqsc KwKm-Xo-c¯v lÀIn ]pcn-bnÂ AkwJyw Zo]-§Ä sXfn-ªp. hÀ®-{]-]-©-§Ä XoÀ¯p-sIm≠v F§pw Bc-Xn-IÄ \ndªp I¯n. aWn-\m-Z-§fpw iwsJm-en-Ifpw Iev¸m-c-h-t¯msS Ahsc aqSn. BIm-i-¯n-te¡p DbÀ¯n¸n-Sn¨ Zo]-in-J-IÄ {]]-©-¯nsâ im´n-a-{´-§Ä cNn-¨p. Ah AkvX-a-b-¯nse Imb-I-ev¸-am-bn, sshcm-Kn-bpsS B\-µ-ambn AÑs\ ]pÂIn. ZpxJ-¨-hn-bpÅ AÑsâ I®pI-fnÂ AÚ-X-amb Xnf¡w \nd-ªp. ]c-iXw Bc-Xn-IÄ KwK-bn-eqsS Hgp-In ad-ªp. t£{X-¯nse Zo]-§Ä Hs¶m¶mbn AWªp XpS-§n. Zqsc {]mte-b-Kn-cn¡p apI-fnÂ N{µ³ DZn-¨p-b-cp-¶p. Bß-ssN-X\yw ]q≠ AÑsâ I®p-IÄ ]Xps¡ AS-bp¶Xv D®n DÄ¡n-Sn-Ã-t¯msS t\m¡n-¡-≠p. ASª I®pI-fneqsS GXm\pw XpÅn I®p-\oÀ Hen-¨n-d-§n. AÑsâ lrZ-b-an-Sn¸v kmh-[m\w aµ-K-Xn-bn-em-bn. apJw A\p-\n-anjw hnf-dn-h-¶p. Ahsâ ssII-fnÂ Cdp-¡n-¸n-Sn-¨n-cp¶ AÑsâ ssIIÄ Ab-ªp. D®n XWp¯ XpS-§nb AÑsâ ssII-sf-Sp¯v amdnÂ hne-§s\ aS¡n h¨p. ]n¶nÂ inhm-en-Ip-¶p-Isf aqSÂaªv Bh-cWw sN¿m³ XpS-§n. Ah kmh-[m\w Xmgvhmc-§-fnÂ \nd-ªp. ImW¡msW kÀÆhpw aªnÂ ap§n. Ahsâ ap¼nÂ {]mte-b¯nsâ cXv\-KÀ`w {]]-©-kvX-en-I-fpsS A]m-c-X-I-fn-te¡v Xpd¶p InS-¶p. AXnsâ a[y-¯nÂ sXfnª cYy-¯n-eqsS Xsâ CcpÄ¯-c-IÄ Nhn«n Hcp \nÀ²q-c-Xsâ thZ-\-tbmsS Ah³ apt¶m«v \S-¶p. ]n¶nÂ IÀ½-_-Ô-\-§-fnÂ \n ¶p tamN\w t\Snb a×-dª ]nXr-¡-fpsS Hcp \o≠ \nc Ahs\ \nkz\w ]n´p-SÀ¶p.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

\t¯men Hcp sNdnb ao\Ã!

Ipg-¸-ambn! alm-Ip-g¸w! kn\n ]-Wn¡À

ssZh-¯nsâ kz´w \m«nÂ kz´-ambn AÂ¸w a®p-≠m-bn-t¸mbn! AsXmcp henb sXäm-Wv. Imc-Ww, ap¸-¯n-ap-t¡mSn ssZh§fpw AXn-tesd ssZh-¯nsâ a¡fpw Xma-kn-¡p¶ \m«nÂ NXp-c{i ASn IW-¡p-{]-Imcw HcmÄ¡v C¡m-e¯v BdSn a®n-\p-t]mepw Ah-Im-ia- nÃ GXm-bmepw \½psS a®v AXnepw Ipd¨p IqSn-t¸mbn! am{X-aÃ - , H¶mw-Xcw ¹mhpw Bªn-enbpw FÃmw hÀj-§f- mbn B a®nÂ ]q¯pw Imbv¨pw hncm-Pn¨v A§s\ Pohn-¡p-Ib - m-Wv. _m¡n-bpÅ s]mXp-P\ - ¯ - n\v I≠mÂ kln-bv¡ptam? Atacn¡³ _qÀjzbv¡v Fń-\mWv tl ¹mhpw Bªnenbpw? Hcp {]mhiyw \m«nÂ sN¶-t¸mÄ ac-§s- fms¡ \n Â¡p¶ GXm≠v Ac-tb-¡d- n-e[ - nIw `qan Btcm I¿me sI«n ssIh-is- ¸-Sp-¯n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. B[mcw FSp¯v ]cn-tim-[n-¡m-sa¶p Icp-Xn. ¹mhpw Bªnenbpw a®pw \½psS Xs¶-bm-bn-cpt¶m F¶-dn-bW - a- tÃm! hmZns¨-Sp-¡m³ C{Xbpw ]Wn-s¸-«n-«nÃ! Cu B[m-c§ - s- fms¡ GXp `mj-bn-em-Wmthm Fgp-Xn-bn-«p-ÅXv? ""B[mÀ ImÀUv' F¶p ]d-bp-¶X - p-t]mse ""B[mÀ ae-bmfw'' Fs¶mcp {]tXyI `mj D≠m-bn-cp-¶n-cn-¡Ww! ASp-¯pÅ Hc-½m-h\v Hcp Ip¸n hntZ-inbpw asämcp Ip¸n \m S\pw Z£nW sImSp¯v B[mcw ""CâÀs{]«v' (interpret) sN¿n¨p. Øew \½p-tSXp Xs¶! tkm ^mÀ tkm KpUv! (So far so good) Xmeq-¡m-ô-knÂ t]mI-Ww. KqKnÄam¸pw Pn.- ]n.-Fkpw klm-bn-¡n-ÃtÃm! AXp-sIm≠v Hcp \Ã ae-bm-fn-bmbn ""hgn tNmZn¨p tNmZn¨v' t]mbn. I≠p ]nSn¨p! Ipd-¨p-hÀj-§Ä¡p ap³]v I≠ emepw PK-Xnbpw A`n-\b - n¨ Hcp kn\n-ab - nÂ B[mcw Xcn-In-SI - s- fms¡ ImWn-¨Xv HmÀ½-bn-ep-≠m-bXp \¶mbn. Imc-Ww, Xmeq-¡m-ô-knse "Xcn-InS' s]s«¶p ]nSn-In-«n. AhnsS \n¶pw klm-bs- am¶pw {]Xo-£n-t¡-s≠¶pw a\-Ên-embn. Imc-Ww, Øe-¯nsâ icn-bmb DS-aØ - ³ Hcp Nmb-¡S- ¡m-c³ Zmap-hm-Wt{X! kmln-Xy-`m-jb - nÂ ]d-ªmÂ ""HmÀ½-If- psS ]n¶m-dp-¼d- § - f- nÂ H¶p NnIªp ]cn-tim-[n-¨t- ¸mÄ Ime-¯n-\¸ - pdw \n¶p Hcp

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

apJw !'' \t¯men! \t¯men Zmap! A¼S! \otbm Fsâ ]p Xnb ]mc! tIm¬shâv kvIqfp-If- n-tebv¡v Rm³ tNt¡-dp-¶X - n\p ap¼v "kmZm' ]©m-b¯v ss{]a-dn kvIqfnse Fsâ kl-]m Tn! Imsem-Snª _©nÂ Ncn-ªn-cn¶v Fs¶ t\m¡n kZm Nncn-¡m-dp-≠m-bn-cp¶ \t¯men! A¶s¯ hmbvt\m«w ]n¶oSv H^n-jy-em-bn«v sN¿m³ ]mI¯nÂ Ih-eb - nÂ Ah-s\mcp Nmb¡S C«-sXms¡ Rm\-dn-ªn-cp-¶p. Nmb-¡S \nÀ½m-W^ - ≠ - ntebv¡v Hcp DZm-ck - w-`m-h\ - bpw \ÂIn F¶m-sWsâ HmÀ½. Adn-bmsX t]mb-sXm-t¶-bp-Åq. \t¯men Hcp sNdnb ao\Ã F¶ kbân-^nIv ^mIvSv! ImcWw Ah-\n-t¸mÄ ]mÀ«n PnÃmsk-{I-«d- nbpw Øe-s¯ BØm\ Kp≠m{]kn-Uâpw BIp¶p. Ah³ hnNm-cn-¨mÂ Fsâ ¹mhv AhtâXmImw. Bbn¡gnªp-htÃm! BZyw hnNm-cn-¨p. t]mIs«! sIm≠p-s]mbvt¡ms«! \t¯m-enbsÃ! ]t£ DÅnÂ InS-¡p¶ Hdn-Pn-\Â ae-bmfn ]Xps¡ DWÀ¶ph¶p! Fsâ apXp-ap-Xp-ap-¯Ñ - ³ sFkIv \yq«¬ ae-bm-fnIÄ¡mbn Xe ]pI-ªp-≠m-¡nb aq¶mw \nbaw Rm\m-bn«v sXän-¡m³ ]mSpt≠m? ""GsXmcp ]mcbv¡pw AtX iàntbmsS FXnÀZn-ib - nÂ {]hÀ¯n-¡p¶ adp-]mc D≠m-bn-cn¡pw'' F¶ \nbaw \n§Ä HmÀ½n-¡p-¶p-≠m-hp-atÃm! A§s\ \t¯m-ensb Xn¶p¶ henb ao\n-s\-t¯Sn Rm³ bm{X XpS-§n-¡g- nªp! C\n c≠p Imcy-§Ä 1. "\t¯men Hcp sNdnb ao\Ã' F¶ kn\na Rm³ I≠n-«n-Ã. AXp-sIm≠v B IYbpw Cu IYbpw X½nÂ hÃ _Ô-apt≠m F¶pw Adn-bn-Ã. Fsâ \t¯m-enbv¡v ^l-Zv^m-kn-ep-ambn Hcp kmay-hp-anÃ! IjvSw!! 2. IY XpS-cp-¶p.............. tijw kv{Io\nÂ! AÃ £an-¡W - w, ASp¯ hÀjs¯ HmW-¸X - n-¸nÂ! Im¯n-cn-¡pI!

Hcn-¡Â _mv-k-I-c³ \mbÀ

A¨p-th.......-A-¨q.......-H-t¶m-Sn-hm-Sm........-ag hcp-sa¶m tXm¶p-¶-Xv. sNdp-¡-s\-hn-sS-t¸m-b-Xm-tWm.... A½-bm-Wv. Rm\§p sImf-¯n-sâ-hntS \n¡p-hm-cp-¶p........ BZyw hnfn¨-sXm¶pw tI«p-an-Ã. F´mtWm hnfn-¡p-¶Xv? FSm.. ag Cs¸m hogpw. ]Sn-ªmdp tImfp sImÅp-¶Xp It≠m? Ffp¸w HW-§m-\n-«n-cn-¡p¶ s\Ãp hmcn-h-¡-Ww. B aWn-bt\w hnfn-t¨m..... ho«n-em-sW-¦nÂ Hcp aWn Acnbn-Ã. s]«n Xqs¯-Sp¯m C¶v Acn ASp-¸-¯n-«Xv. A©mdp-Zn-h-k-ambn XpS-§nb ag-bm-Wv. hÃ-t¸m-gp-sam¶v sXfn-bpw. At¸mÄ s\Ãp-W-§m-\n-Sm-sa¶v h¨mÂ.... Is¿m-gn-ªn-«ptht≠ AsXms¡ sN¿m³....... Bbncw Iq«w tPmen-bm.... s\Ãp-hmcn h¨t½. ]mbpw sXd-p¯v Gcp-¯n-ensâ ap¼nse Igp-t¡m-enÂ Xq¡n-bn-«p. F¶m, \o t]mbn Ipfn-t¨m... shÅ-¯nÂ A[nIw NmS≠ ]\n ]nSn-¡pw. s\Ãp ]pgp§n shbn-e-¯n-Sm³ XpS-§n-bn«v \me©p Znh-kam-bn.. tXt¡se \mWn tN¨nbpw A½bpw IqSm F¸gpw s\Ãp ]pgp-§p-¶-Xv. hÃy IpSp-I-¯nÂ.. ASp-¸nse Xo t\m¡m³ A½ Nne-t¸mÄ Ft¶mSpw ]d-bpw. AsÃ-¦nÂ \m WntN¨n t\m¡n-t¡m-fpw. A½ h¶v ]pgp-§p¶ s\Ãnsâ ]cphw t\m¡n-bmÂ ]ns¶ shÅw Duän-bn«v shbn-e-¯n-Spw. ]pgp-§nb s\Ãn\v Hcp aW-ap-≠v. F\n¡v hey CjvSam. Nn¡p-hmbv \qÀ¯n«v \mWn-tN¨n s\Ãv Nn¡n-¯-cpw. Im¡sb HmSn-¡m-\n-cp-¯pw. AXn\pw Rm³ Xs¶ thWw. tN¨ow sIm¨m«\pw ]nÅm-cpsS IqsS Ifn-¡m³ t]mbn-cn-

¡p-hm-cn-¡pw.... hnfn-¨m-sem¶pw hc-¯n-Ã. A½ ]d-bpw. tamt\, A¨q...... Ahsc t\m¡n-bn-cp-¶mÂ s\Ãv shbn-e¯n-Sm-\pw, AXp-W¡n Ip¯n-¡m³ sImSp-¯-b-bv¡m\pw ] ä-¯n-Ã. s\Ãp Ip¯n-¡m³ N´-bv¡-Sp-¯pÅ ao\-t¯-Xnse anÃnemWv sIm≠p-t]m-Ip-¶-Xv. an¡-hmdpw i\n-bm-gvN-bmWv ]Xnhv. kvIqf-S-¨mÂ GXp Znh-k-am-sW-¦nepw sIm≠p-t]m-Ww. Rm\pw aWn-b-\p-am-bn-cn¡pw s\Ãp Ip¯m³ t]mhp-¶-Xv. t]mIp-¼tg A½ ]d-ª-b-bv¡pw... tamt\, A¨q... Acn Ipd-bmsX t\m¡-Ww. Acn ]cp-h-¯n\v shfp-¡-Ww. Hcp -]mSv shfp-¸n-¡m³ t]mbmÂ Acn s]mSn-ªp-t]m-Ipw. Adnbm-a-tÃm... B tIminamÊ, ]d-bmsN H¶pw icn-bm¡n XcptI-e... XhnSpw If-bmsX sIm≠p-h-c-Ww. ]ip-hn\v ImSn-bnen«p sImSp-¡m³ Xhn-sSm-«p-an-Ã. tImin-amÊ anÃnÂ sNÃp-t¼mtg hÀ¯-am\w XpS-§pw. s\Ãv icn¡v HW-§n-bn-sÃ¶m tXm¶p-¶-Xv. A½ DW¡v t\m¡nbn«m X¶p hn«-sX¶v ]d-ªmte tImin-am-Êbv¡v hnizm-kam-h-s¯m-Åq. Bsfm-¶p-an-sÃ-¦nÂ ]ns¶ ]Ån-¡q-S-¯nse hnti-j-a......................... A¨p-tam\v IW-¡ns\ amÀt¡m In«n-bXv ?... sXm®q-än-bm-dv..... Rm³ ]d-bpw. `mjbvt¡m?... Fgp-]-s¯-«v.. ¢mknÂ H¶m-a-\m-cn-¡pw.... AtÃy..? AsX.....

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

hey ]co£ F¶m XpS-§p-¶Xv ? kvIqf-h-[n-bm-Ips¼ hey ]co-£bv¡v Fgp-Xn-b-Xns\¸än tNmZn-¡pw. Rm³ CSbv¡v Acn shfp-¯Xv aXn-tbm¶v t\m¡m³ tIminam-Ê-tbmSv ]d-bpw. Cs¸m... icn-bm-hpw.... XhnSv hmcn-t¡m... Nm¡nÂ c≠m-bn«v Acn Xmsgbpw apI-fnÂ XhnSpw sI«n Xncn-¨p-h-cpw. AsXÃmw aWn-b³ IrXy-ambn sNbvtXm-fpw. ho«nÂ Xncn-s¨-¯p-t¼mÄ aWn-b\v Blmcw sdUn-bm¡n h¨n«v A½ t\m¡m-bn-cn-¡p-hm-cn-¡pw. AXmWv ]Xn-hv. aWn-b\v \memw ¢mkv hsctb ]Tn-¡m³ ]än-sbm-fq. ]n¶oSv Ah-sâ-Ñ³ ]Tn-¡m³ k½-Xn-¨n-Ã. ]Tn-¡m³ a≠\m........ \o t]mI-≠..... ]mS-t¯m, abv¡mSv ]Wnt¡m t]mbmÂ \Ã Imip-In-«pw.. AXp-a-Xn. Ct¸m-g-§n-s\-bm-Wv. XWp¯ Imäv hoim³ XpS-§n.......... ag-bv¡pÅ `mh-amWv. ]Sn-ªmdv Idp-¯n-cp≠v InS-¡p-Im..... aq¶m-ep-Zn-hkw Igntª ag tXmcq¶m tXm¶p-¶-Xv. C\n-bn-t¸m....... X¦-a-Wn-t¨-¨n-tbmSv Acn ISw taSn-t¨m≠v hcm³ ]d-bpw. s\Ãp Ip¯n-t¨m≠p hcp¼w Xncn¨p sImSp¡m-sa¶v A½ ]d-ªp-hn-Spw. Ime-s¯, t\cs¯ t]mbn«p hc-Ww. Im¯p ]co£ F§ns\ Fgp-Xn-sb¶v tNmZn-¡-Ww. Im¯p-hns\ I≠n«v Insd-\m-fm-bn. tN¨ow, sIm¨m-«\pw t\cw sshIo«pw ho«n-se-¯n-bn-«n-Ã. H¶p-InÂ AÑ³ Hm^o-knÂ \n¶v Xncn-s¨-¯-Ww. AsÃ¦nÂ hbv¡p¶ t\c-am-I-Ww. GXm-Zy-sa-¶-XmWv IW-¡v. ssI¿pw Imepw IgpIn t\sc \maw P]n-¡m-\n-cp-t¶m-fpw. Hcp Hcp Iqk-ep-an-Ã. Xma-kn¨p h¶mÂ hÃt¸mgpw A½bpsS ssI¿nÂ \n¶v \Ã Ing¡pw c≠p-t]À¡pw In«pw.... F\n-¡Xp ImWp-t¼mÄ Nncn hcpw... \o t]mSm, IWn-bm-t\... \n\¡pw Xco-¡p-s¶m-s≠¶v ] d-bpw. \maw P]n-¡m³ XpS-§n-bmÂ A½-bpsS hnfn hcpw. s\esh-f-t¡Â Ifn-¡-cpXv.. ASn-In-«pw. A½q½ cma-\maw P]n¨v Rm³ tI«n-«n-Ã. \a inhmb \a.... \a inhmb \a.... Ft¶ P]n-¡q. tNmZn-¨mÂ \o t]mbn cma-\maw P]n¡v .... F\n-¡nXm CjvSsa¶v ]d-bpw. Imew..... ho≠p-sa-{Xtbm Ign-ªp.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

C¶v hbepw sImbvXp-sa-Xn-bpw, s\Ã-d-bpw, s\Ãp-Ip-¯saÃmw KX-Im-e-kva-c-W-bm-bn. ]mbv¡-äntem Nm¡ntem Acn IS-I-fnÂ In«pw. Hc-Ã-ep-an-Ã. Ipd-¨p-hÀjw ap¼v Rm³ aWn-bs\ ImWm³ t]mbn-cp-¶p. kwkm-c-ti-jn-bn-Ãm-sX, Xosc Ah-i-\mbn InS-¸m-bn-cp-¶p. X½nÂ I≠-t¸mÄ B I®p-I-fnÂ Xnf-¡w... ANyp-X³ tN«s\ ImW-W-sa¶v Ft¸mgpw ]d-bp-am-bn-cp¶p. h¶p-I-≠-tÃm.. kt´m-j-am-bn-¡m-Wpw. Ipª½ ] d-ªp. aWn-bsâ `mcy-bm-Wv. aWn-bsâ a¡Ä tPmen-bnÂ shfn-\m-«n-em-Wv. ASp¯v Ipª-½-b-ÃmsX Bcp-an-Ã. a¡Ä sIm¨p-a-¡-fp-sam-s¡-bmbn hÃ-t¸mgpw hcpw. Pohn-X-¯nÂ Xm§mbn Xnf§n \n¶ A½bpw AÑ\pw C¶n-Ã. kl-]mTn aWn-b\pw Ipd-¨p-\mÄ ap¼v bm{X-bm-bn. sIm¨m-«³ a¡-tfmsSm¸w a²y-{]-tZ-in-epw, tN¨n aI-t\m-sSm¸w tImgn-t¡m«pw Pohn-¡p-¶p. CubnsS ho≠pw \m«nÂ ]pd¯v t]mIm-\n-S-h-¶p. Hcp _Ôphnsâ aI-fpsS hnhm-l-¯nÂ kw_-Ôn-¡m-s\-¯n-b-Xm-Wv. hcsâ ]mÀ«n-s¡m¸w Xncn¨v _ÊnÂ F¯n-s¡m-Åm-sa¶v Ah-tcmSv ]d-ª-b-¨p. ]gbkplr-¯p-Isf ImWp-I-bm-bncp¶p Dt±-iw. cmL-h-\pw, tKm]m-e³ tN«-\pw, tiJ-c-\p-saÃmw sN¶pI-≠-XnÂ kt´m-j-am-bn. kwkm-cn-¨n-cp¶v kabw t]mbX-dn-ªn-Ã. C\n aS-§-Ww. IpSpw-_-ho-«nÂ Ct¸m-gmcpw Xma-k-an-Ã. hoSnsâ ap³h-i-¯p-≠m-bn-cp¶ hb-seÃmw \nI¯n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. FÃm-bn-S¯pw sI«n-S-§-fm-Wv. \m«p-am-hpw, t]c-bpw, ]p¶-bpw, ]d-¦n-am-hpw, IS-em-h-W-¡n³ sNSn-Ifpw hgn-tbm-cs¯ cmP-a-Ãn-bpw, sN¼-c-¯n-bpw, tImfm-¼n-¸q-¡fp-saÃmw amªp adªp-t]m-bn. Ipäow, tImepw, Xe-¸´pw Ifn-¨n-cp¶ \m«p-hgn Xmdn« tdmUm-bn. Ahn-S-hnsS Xnf§p¶ hgn-hn-f-¡p-I-fm-bn. F§pw Ipªp-§-fpsS Bc-han-Ã. \ma-P] - ¯ - nsâ H¨-bn-Ã. kÔym-t\-c¯v Nµ-\¯ - n-cn-bpsS kpK-Ôa- n-Ã. FÃmcpw Cu t\c¯v Snhn-bpsS ap¶n-em-bn-cn-¡pw. Ime-sa-{Xtbm amdn-t¸m-bn. {Kma-Po-hn-X¯ - nÂ bm{´n-IX - bpsS kv]Àiw. AkvXa- b - a- m-bn-cn-¡p-¶p... ]Sn-ªm-d³ am\w Nph¶v XpSp-¯n-«p-≠v. XWp¯ Imäv ... ag ht¶-¡pw. IpS \nhÀ¯n \S-¡m³ XpS-§n-b-t¸mÄ NmäÂ ag hoWpI-gn-ªp. X\nsb, \S¯w XpS-cp-t¼mÄ, \S-h-gn-bnÂ ]≠p-Iq-«p-Im-tcm-sSm¸w tKmen-bpw, Xe-¸-´p-sams¡ Ifn¨v Bc-h-§-tfmsS BtLm-jn-ambn¡gnª Imew ho≠pw tX³Xp-Ån-bmbn kvac-W-bnÂ. _kvtÌm-¸n-te¡v A[nIw Zqc-an-Ã. ag IqSn-bn-sÃ-¦nÂ Cs¸m-sg-¯mw.... Gdn-bmÂ A©p-an-\n-«v.........

IqSp-amäw

jmPp tPmk^v

F¦nepw B\n ]dªp a½n anÊv Fan-en-tbmSp tNmZn-¡s«m Ahsâ apJw sXfnªp \n¶p.

gvkn§v tlmansâ NnÃp Pme-I-¯n-eqsS ]pd-t¯¡p t\m¡n \n¶-t¸mÄ, F´p-sIm-t≠m, hÀj-§Ä¡p ap³t] at\m-Pns\ BZy-Zn-hkw InâÀKmÀU-\nÂ sIm≠v sN¶m-¡n-b-XmWv B\n-b-½bv¡v HmÀ½ h¶-Xv.

A¶pw BImiw aqSn-sI-«n-¯s¶ InS-¶p. c≠p aq¶mgvN ap³s] kvIqfn\v Imcy-§-sfÃmw ]dªp N«w sI«n-bn-cp-¶-XmWv. tamsâ IqsS Ifn-¡m³ [mcmfw ]pXnb Iq«p-Imsc In«pw. anÊv ¢mknÂ sFkv {Iow Xcpw, Xncn¨p hcpt¼m UmUn tSmbv hm§n-Xcpw Fs¶ms¡ FÃmw Xe Ipep¡n k½-Xn-¨n-cp-¶-Xpam-Wv. F¶n«pw cmhnse FWo-ä-Xp-ap-XÂ apJw I\-¯n-cp-¶p. CjvS-s]-«p-hm-§nb ]pÅn-I-fpÅ ]pXnb jÀ«n-Sp-t¼mgpw, ssS sI«p-t¼mgpw, HcpÂkm-lhpw I≠n-Ã. ""a½n C¶p sImd¨p t\cw Fsâ IqsS ¢mkn-en-cn-¡mthm?'' HSp-hnÂ ]pXnb _mKv I¿n-se-Sp¯v Cd-§m³ t\cw at\mPv ] Xps¡ tNmZn-¨p. DÅnÂ \Ã t]Sn-bp-≠v. AXm cmhnse apX-epÅ au\w B\n H¶p ]p©n-cn¨p sIm≠v a\-Ên-temÀ¯p. anÊv Fan-enbpw {]n³kn-¸epw ]e {]mhiyw ]d-ªn«p≠v. InâÀKmÀsS\nÂ BZy Znhkw ]e Ip«n-Ifpw Ic-bpw. amXm-]n-Xm-¡sf I≠mÂ Ic-¨nÂ IqSp-Ibpw sN¿pw. AXpsIm≠v Ip«n-Isf ¢mknÂ hn«v F{Xbpw thKw amdn-\n-ev¡-Ww.

kvIqfnÂ ]pXnb hÀj¯nsâ tImem-l-e-am-bn-cp-¶p. ]p¯\p-Sp-¸p-Ifpw hnSÀ¶ I®p-I-fnÂ \ndsb IuXp-I-§-fp-ambn Cfw Ipcp-¶p-IÄ at\mPv ssI hnSmsX \n¶-tX-bp-Åq. anÊv Fanen ¢mÊv dqanÂ Hmtcm sUkvInepw AXmXv Ip«n-I-fpsS t] sc-gpXn h¨n-cp-¶p. at\m-Pn\v _mKpw kv\m¡v t_mIvkpw B\n Ahsâ sUkvInÂ h¨p. tams\ Ahsâ koän-en-cp¯n B\n So¨-dpsS ASp-t¯¡p sN¶p. ""anÊv, tam³ hÃm¯ t]Sn-¡m-c-\m. R§sf ]ncn-ªn-cp-¶n-t«bn-Ã, CXm-Zy-am-bm-Wv. H¶p {]tXyIw t\m¡-Ww.'' ""B\n-¡mWp IqSp-XÂ t]Sn-sb¶p tXm¶p¶p.'' Fanen ] d-ªp. ""tUmâv hdn. Ipd¨p Ic-bp-am-bn-cn-¡pw. AXp Xt¶ amdpw.'' ]ns¶ Ahcp Ip«n-If- psS t\tc Xncnªp ]d-ªp. " FÃmcpw a½n-tbmSpw UmUn-tbmSpw ss_ ss_ ]d-tªmfq'' B\n at\m-Pnsâ ASp-t¯¡p sN¶p, tXmf¯p ssI h¨p ] d-ªp. ""a½n Ct¸m t]mbn«p DSs\ Xs¶ hcm-s«m, \Ã Ip«n-bm-bn«p So¨À ]d-bW FÃmw tI«n-cn-¡-Ww.'' Ip«n B\nsb h«w sI«n]n-Sn-¨p. AXp hsc ]nSn¨p sI«n \nÀ¯n-bn-cp-¶-sXÃmw AW s]m«n-sbm-gp-Im³ XpS-§n. I®p-I-fnÂ \n¶p, I®p-\oÀ HgpIn \ne-t¯¡p hoWp. B\n Ahs\ tNÀ¯p \nÀ¯n. at\mPnsâ G§-eSn B\n-bpsS a\-ÊnÂ sNdnb s\m¼-c-ap-WÀ¯n. tam\v ]Tn¨v henb Bfm-tht≠? F¶n«p tht≠ a½nt\w

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

UmUot\w t\m¡m³? B\n tNmZn-¨p. Ip«n-bpsS Ic-¨nÂ IqSn IqSn h¶-tX-bp-Åq. ""B\n s]mbvs¡m-Åq... Ipd¨p Ign-bp-t¼mÄ Ic-¨nÂ Xms\ \ns¶mfpw'' anÊv Fanen Dd¨ kzc-¯nÂ ]d-ªp. B\n a\-knÃm a\-tÊmsS Ipªns\ hn«v ¢mÊn\p ]pd-t¯¡n-d§n CS-\m-gn-bnÂ Aev]w amdn \n¶p. anÊv Fanen h¶p ¢mkv dqansâ hmXn-e-S-¨p. AS-¨n« hmXn-ensâ hnS-hp-I-fn-eqsS AaÀ¯nb Ic-¨n-ep-IÄ HgpIn h¶p XpS-§n-t¸mÄ A½-amtcm-cp-¯cpw thh-emXn ]q≠ apJ-§-tfmsS Ahn-S-hnsS Xs¶ Npän-¸än \n¶p. B\n Ipd-¨p-t\cw A§s\ Xs¶ \n¶p. ]ns¶ BImw£ AS-¡m-\m-bn-Ã. B\n NnÃp Pme-I-¯n-eqsS F¯n-t\m¡n. at\mPv AS-¨n« hmXnÂ¡-te¡p Xs¶ t\m¡n \nÀ¯msX IcªpsImt≠-bn-cn-¡p-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Fanen Biz-kn-¸n-¡m³ t\m¡p-¶p-≠v. B\n NnÃp Pme-I-¯n-eqsS ssI s]m¡n hoin ImWn-¨p. hfsctbsd hÀj-§Ä¡p ap³]p CXp-t]mse Xs¶, I\ymkv{Xo-IÄ \S-¯p¶ tIm¬shâv kvIqfnÂ ]pXnb t{^m¡p apgp-h³ I®p-\ocp-sam-en-¸n¨p A½sb ImWmsX \n¶p Icªn B\n HmÀ¯p. Hcp \nanjw at\mPv P\-e-¡-te¡v Xncnªp t\m¡n Xs¶ ImWp-sa¶pw I≠v Ic-¨nÂ \nÀ¯p-sa¶pw B\n B{K-ln-¨p. Ipd¨p Znh-k-§-fmbn C§-s\-sbmcp amä-¯n-\pÅ Btem-N-\Ifpw AWn-b-d-\o-¡-§fpw \S-¡p-¶p. {InXy-ambn ]d-ªmÂ B\n Ipfn-ap-dn-bn-sem¶p Imep-sXän hoW A¶p apX-em-Wv. Imcy-ambn H¶pw ]än-bn-sÃ-¦nepw Iptd Znh-k-t¯bv¡v Akly-amb thZ-\-bm-bn-cp-¶p. \me©p Znhkw ]c-k-lm-b-an-ÃmsX \S-¡m³ ]äm¯ Ah-Ø. kzXth {]mªn {]mªn \S¶p IqSn h¿m-Xm-bn. sUbvkn c≠p Znhkw tPmen Ifªp ho«nÂ \n¶p. at\mPpw c≠p Znhkw eosh-Sp-¯p. HcmgvN Ign-ª-t¸mtg¡pw ]Xps¡ ]gb a«m-bn. Ip«n-IÄ¡v kvIqÄ Ah-[n-bm-bXn-\mÂ GXm-bmepw ho«nÂ Bfp-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. Cs¸m ]nÅm-cpÅ ImcWw \¶m-bn. Ahcp t]mbn Ignªm]n s¶, FhnsSsb¦nepw hoWm Bcp-≠mhpw ImWm³? sUbvkn tNmZn-¨p. AXm Ipd¨p \mfmbn Rm\pw Btem-Nn-¡sW at\mPv ]d-ªp. ""\ap-s¡mcp tlmw \gvkns\ B¡n-bmtem'' ""at\m-Pv, tlmw \gvkn\v F´p sNehp hcp-sa-t¶mÀ¯m'' sUbvkn kzc-ap-bÀ¯n. B\n tIÄ¡m¯ a«nÂ AIs¯ apdnbn-te¡p \S-¶p. ]ns¶bpw HcmgvN Ignªp Rmb-dmgvN ]Xn-hn-ÃmsX h¶ ]Ånbnse A¨-\mWv henb apJ-hp-c-I-fp-ambn B\nsb sR«n-¨-Xv. "B\n-b-t½, at\m-Pn\v t\cn«v ]d-bm³ aSn-bp-Å-Xp-sIm-≠mWv

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

C¡mcyw ]d-bm³ Fs¶ Gev]n-¨-Xv. A¨³ ]d-ªp.' B\n-b½ Ah-cpsS hnj-a-§Ä IqSn a\-Ên-em-¡-Ww. AhÀ¡v tPmen¡v t]mt≠? B\n-bs½ ChnsS C§s\ Hä-bv¡m¡n Ahcv F§s\ a\-k-am-[-\-t¯msS t]mhpw? AXp-sIm≠v R§fv Hcp Øew I≠p h¨n-«p-≠v. GI-tZiw Bdp aWn-¡q-d-I-se-bm-bn-cp-¶p. AÑ\v ]cn-N-b-apÅ \gvkn§v tlmw. "B\n-b-½bv¡pw Hcp hyXym-k-am-bn-cn-¡pw an≠n ]d-bm\pw Ft¸mgpw Bsc-¦nepw ImWpw.' AÑ³ B\n-tbmSp C§s\ Hcp {Iao-I-c-W-¯nsâ KpW-§Ä ]dªp ^en-¸n-¡m³ {ian¨p. B\n adp-s¯m¶pw ]d-ªn-Ã. Ah³ Zqc-t¯¡p t\m¡n-bn-cp¶p. Ipd¨p Znh-k-§-fmbn Xsâ Imcy-¯nÂ Fs´-¦nepw Hcp Xocp-am\w th≠n hcp-sa¶v AhÄ¡v tXm¶n-Xp-S§nbncp-¶p. AÑ³ t]mbn-¡-gn-ª-t¸mÄ B\n I«n-enÂ Nmcn InS-¶p-tX§n. Xs¶ X\n-¨m¡n t\cs¯ t]mb `À¯m-hns\ HmÀ¯p AhÄ s\Sp-hoÀs¸-«p. c≠p aq¶p Znh-k-t¯bv¡v sUbvknbpw at\m-Pp-am-bpÅ B\nb-½-bpsS kw`m-j-W-§Ä XnI¨pw Hu]-Nm-cn-I-Xbn-te-s¡m-Xp§n. AÑ-\p-am-bpÅ NÀ¨sb ]än Ccp Iq«cpw H¶pw an≠n-bn-Ã. F¶mepw kw`-hn-t¡-≠-Xmb Hc-\n-hm-cy-X-bv¡mbn B\n Im¯p InS-¶p. X¿m-sd-Sp-¸p-I-sfÃmw {[pX-K-Xn-bnem-bn-cp-¶p. A¨\v ] cn-N-b-apÅXpsIm≠v C{Xbpw s]s«¶p koäv Xc-s¸-«-sX¶v at\mPv ]d-ªp. AXp-sIm≠p Xs¶ B\n-b-½sb sIm≠p sN¶m-¡m³ AÑ³ IqSn hcm-sa-t¶-än-cp-¶p. Ip«n-IÄ¡v kvIqÄ Xpd-¡m³ H¶p c≠p Znhkw IqSntbbpÅq. AhÀ¡p Hcp ]mSp km[-\-§Ä hm§m-\pÅXpsIm≠v sUbvkn IqsS hcp-¶nÃ F¶p Xocp-am-\n-¨p. at\m-Pn\v cmhnse apXÂ Xnc-¡m-bn-cp-¶p. Ah³ Xs¶ FÃmw ]mbv¡v sNbvXp Imdn\v {S¦n-em-¡n. sUbvkn bm{X-bnÂ Ign¡m-dpÅ `£Ww Hcp¡n ss{Uh-dpsS I¿nÂ sImSp-¯p. Hcp ^vemIvknÂ Nmb-bpw, B\n-b½ Ip«n-I-tfmSpw sUbvkn-tbmSpw bm{X ]dªp AÑ-t\m-sSm¸w ]pd-Inse koän-te¡p Ibdn. Imdnse I\¯ au\-¯nÂ AÑ\pw at\mPpw Zqc-t¯¡v t\m¡n-bn-cp-¶-tX-bp-Åq. B\n Ah-km-\-ambn H¶p Xncnªp t\m¡n. Xd-hm-sSÃmw hnäv at\m-Pnsâ IqsS Xma-k-am-¡n-bn«v Gsg«p hÀjta Bbp-Åq-sh-¦nepw, Cu hoSpw ]cn-k-chpw hn«p Hc-dn-bm¯ \m«n-te¡v t]mIp¶ Imcyw Hcn-¡epw Icp-Xn-bX-Ã. Xsâ ssI ]nSn¨p apä¯p \S-¡m³ ]Tn¨ Ipªp-§Ä, ]pdsI \n¶p ssIhoin ImWn-¡p-¶Xv Imdn\v a§nb NnÃneqsS B\n I≠p. B\nbpw Imdn\v ]pd-s¯-¡n«v ssI hoin ImWn-¨p. tKäv IS-¡p¶ hsc Ahcpw Imdn\v ]n¶mse HmSn h¶p. ImÀ hfhp Xncnªp thKX IqSp-t¼m-tg-¡pw. Ipªp-

§-fpsS cq]-§Ä ]pdsI ]pdsI Hcp s]m«p-t]mse CÃm-Xmbn-s¡m-≠n-cp-¶p. B\n-b-½-¡pÅ apdn-sbÃmw sdUn-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Ibdn sNÃp¶ CS-\m-gn-bnÂ Xs¶ Hcp tImWnÂ Cfw \oe Nph-cp-I-tfmSp IqSn Hcp sIm¨p apdn. Nph-cnÂ ]Ãn-Ãm¯ tamW Im«n Nncn¡p¶ Ipªnsâ Nn{Xw. CS-\m-gn-bn-eqsS \S-¡p-t¼mÄ, shÅnbng sI«nb apSnbpw Iqªn-Iq-Snb ico-c-hp-ambn ]ecpw B\nb-½sb ]cn-N-b-`m-h-¯nÂ t\m¡n Nncn-¨p. "A½-¡n-hnsS H¶n\pw Hcp Ipdhpw hcq-Ã. FÃmw ]d-tªÂ¸n¨n-«p-≠v. at\mPv A½sb tNÀ¯p \nÀ¯n ]d-ªp. B\n-b½ hm¡p-IÄ¡p-th≠n ]cXn. "Rm\nhnsSsbm¶p FÃmw t\m¡n-bn«p hcmw' sIm≠p h¶ km[-\-§-sfÃmw Hc-cp-InÂ ASp¡n h¨p. at\mPv B\n-b-½tbmSpw AÑ-t\mSpw ]dªp ]pd-t¯-¡n-d-§n. B\n-b½ I«n-en-en-cp-¶p. ""Ah-t\mSv hÃ-t¸m-gp-saÃmw hcm³ ]d-btW AÑm'', at\mPv ]pd-t¯-¡n-d-§n-b-t¸mÄ B\n-b½ A¨sâ ssI]n-Sn¨p ]d-ªp. Ah-cpsS hm¡p-IÄ ]Ip-Xn¡p h¨p apdn-ªp. Ic-bm-Xn-cn-¡m³ B\n BhXpw {ian-s¨-¦nepw hnXp¼n t]mbn. A¨³ B\n-b-½-bpsS Xe-bnÂ ssIh¨p Hcp \nanjw I®-S¨p {]mÀ°n-¨p. Aev]w Ignªv at\mPv Xncn¨p h¶p. ""Hm^o-knse Imcy-§-

sfÃmw ]dªp XoÀ¯n-«p-≠v. F¶m ]ns¶ a\p-¡n-d-§n-bmtem A¨m? ]mXn-cm¡p ap¼v As§¯m-tem.'' ]pd¯v Ccp-fp-ho-gm³ XpS-§n-bn-cp-¶p. A¨\pw at\mPpw bm{X ]d-ªn-d§ - n. t]mIm³ t\cw at\mPv A½-bpsS ssI]n-Sn-¨a- À¯n. F´p-]d- b - Ww F¶-dnbmsX Ccp-hcpw Aev]t- \cw A§s\ \n¶p. B\n-b½ ASªp InS¶ NnÃp Pme-I¯ - nsâ Acn-In-te¡v \n¶p. ChnsS \n¶mÂ at\mPpw A¨\pw apä¯p ac-¯nsâ XW-en-te¡p amän-bn-«n-cp¶ Imdn-te¡p t]mIp¶ ImWmw. Hcp \nanjw at\mPv Xncnªp t\m¡n, Pme-I-¯n-\-cnsI Xs¶ ImWp-sa¶pw Ahsâ I®p-I-fnÂ Hcp \\hv ]S-cp-sa¶pw B\n-b½ B{K-ln-¨p. AtX \nanjw Xs¶ Ft´m Hcm-´-cnI t{]c-W-bmÂ Imdnsâ ASp-s¯-¯nb at\mPv Adn-bmsX Pme-I-¯n-te-s¡m¶p Xncnªp t\m¡n. B[p-\nI coXn-bnÂ ]WnX \gvkn§v tlmansâ P\-ep-IÄs¡mcp {]tXy-I-X-bp-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. AXna-t\m-l-c-sa-¦nepw ]pdsa \n¶pw kpXm-cy-a-Ãm-Xn-cp¶ Ah, ImgvN-Isf {]Xn-^-en-¸n-¡p¶ Hcp I®mSn t]mse-bm-bn-cp-¶p. AXp sIm≠p Xs¶, Xncnªp t\m¡nb at\mPv, Pme-I-¯nÂ I≠Xv A½-bpsS I®o-cnsâ \\-h-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p, adn¨v, Xsâ Xs¶ Hcp {]Xn-^-e-\-am-bn-cp¶p!

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

ss]-XrIw {]Im-iv ]-ß-\m`³ tÌj-\nÂ h≠n-bnÂ\n-¶n-d§n Hmt«m-dn-£-bnÂ bm{X sN¿th ]≠p s]«nbpw t]dn shbn-e¯v ho«n-te¡p \S-¡mdpÅ Imcyw HmÀ¯p. Ct¸mÄ Ing-t¡-¡fw hsc Hmt«m-dn-£IÄ¡v IS-¼-Ifn-ÃmsX hcm-\mIpw F¶-dn-ªn«pw sIm«q¼p-d-s¯-¯n-b-t¸mÄ hnP-b³ Hmt«m-dn-£-bnÂ \n¶n-d-§n.

g-Ifpw ae-bn-Sp-¡p-Ifpw IS¶v h≠n hS-t¡m-«pÅ {]bmWw XpSÀ¶p. ]mf-§-fnÂ N{I-§Ä Hcp-¡nb Xmf-hn-\ym-k-§Ä {i²n¨p hnP-b³ BIm-w£-tbmsS ImgvNIÄ t\m¡n-bn-cp-¶p. hnP-b\v At¸mgpw hnizm-kn-¡m-\m-bnÃ -þ C¶v, Hcp hymg-h-«-¯n-\p-ti-jw, AÑsâ ho«n-te-s¡mcp bm{X! Hcp Ime¯v \K-c-¯nse hnZym-ebw AS-¡m³ Däpt\m¡nbncp-¶Xv \nKq-V-X-tb-dnb B Xd-hm-Sp-ho-«nÂ Ifn¨p-Ã-kn¨ Zn\-cm-{X-§Ä¡v th≠n-bm-bn-cp-¶p. C¶n-t¸mÄ {] hm-kPo-hn-X-¯nÂ hÃ-t¸mgpw hoWp-In-«p¶ ]cy-S-\-§-fnÂ hÃ-t¸mgpw hoWp-In-«p¶ ]cy-S-\-§-fnÂ DÄs¡m-Ån-¡m-\mImsX t]mIp¶ bm{X-I-fnÂ H¶mbn Npcp-§n-bn-cn-¡p-¶p.

Bsfmgnª hnim-e-amb A¼-e-¸-d¼v. Zqsc-sb-hn-sStbm sN≠-I-f-psS Aesbmen tI«Xv t]mse tXm¶n. ImgvN-bnÂ sNdn-sbmcp Imhv BsW-¦nepw F{X Kw`o-c-amb DÕ-h-amWv aq¶v hÀj-¯n-sem-cn-¡Â ChnsS Ac-t§dmdpÅXv! X«pw sh-Åm«ws¯-¿-¯nsâ cu{Z-`mhw a\-ÊnÂ an¶n-a-dªp. hnP-b³ Npäpw It®m-Sn¨p þ Ft´m Hcp Ipdhv. A¼-e-apäw apgp-h³ XWÂ hncn¨p AXn-s\mcp ]ucm-Wn-I-X-tb-Inbncp¶ Ac-bm-se-hnsS? sXt¡m«p \o§p¶ IÂ¸m-X-bn-eqsS \S¶p A¼-e-¯n\p kao-]-apÅ ]Sn-¸p-c-bnse-¯n-b-t¸mÄ hnP-b³ he-t¯m«v Xncnªp t\m¡n. Hcn-¡Â "Ccp-\nesI-«nSw' F¶p Rm³ hnti-jn-¸n¨ hoSnXm ]g-b-{]-Xm]w tNmcmsX Xe-bpbÀ¯n \nÂ¡p-¶p. Hcp Imcy-¯n\p XoÀ¨-bmbpw Cf-b-½-tbmSp \ µn-]-d-b-Ww þ Cu hoSv X¨p-S¨p AXn-\p-ap-I-fn-Â hen-sbmcp

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

aWn-amfnI ]Wn-Xp-bÀ¯n-bn-Ã-tÃm. AXn\v Ign-hp-≠m-bn-«pw. ]≠v ]Sn-¸pc IS¶p Ing-s¡-h-f-¸nÂ \n¶p ho«n-te¡p t\m¡n-bmÂ tImem-bnÂ B henb Itk-c-bnÂ R§-fpsS hchpw {]Xo-£n-¨n-cn-¡p¶ hen-b-½m-hsâ cq]w Hcp {] XnjvT t]mse ImWm³ Ign-bp-am-bn-cp¶p. hnP-b³ hoSpapäw hsc \S-¶p. hcm-´-bnÂ hen-b-½m-hsâ Itkc Hgn-ªp-Xs¶ InS-¡p¶p. hchv {]Xo-£n-¨m-h-Ww, ImÂs]cp-am-äw, tI«-bp-S³ Cfb½ hmXnÂ Xpd-¶p. {]k-¶-amb B apJw I≠ \nanjw Imew Ccp-]Xv hÀjw ]nt¶m«p t]mb-Xmbn tXm¶n. "hnIknX' cmPy-§-fnÂ D¶-X-\n-e-bn-epÅ a¡-f-psS £Ww \n cm-I-cn-¨p. HmÀ½-Ifp-d-§p¶ Cu ho«nÂ X\ntb hnjphpw HmWhpw XÅn-\o-¡p¶ Cf-b½ F{X F®-aä A½-am-cpsS {]Xo-I-amWv! Xe-ap-d-I-fmbn ChnsS Pohn-¨p-t]m¶ IpSpw-_hr-£-¯nÂ Imew Icp-Xn-h¨ Ah-km-\s¯ I®n. hÀ¯-am-\-§Ä¡p-tijw kar-²-amb D¨-`-£Ww. henb tai-bnÂ Hä-¡n-cp¶p D®p-t¼mÄ ho≠pw HmÀ½-IÄ HmSnsb-¯p-¶p. Hcp \o≠ s_©pw, AXn-s\m¯ \of-hp-apÅ hoXn Ipdª tai-bn-em-bn-cp¶p ]≠v `£Ww. FÃmhÀ¡pw Ccn-¡m³ Hcp Øm\ap≠m-bn-cp-¶p. hen-b-½m-h³, (A-Ñsâ A½m-hs\ R§fpw hen-b-½m-h³ F¶mWp hnfn-¨Xv) AÑ³, Cf-b-¸³. ]ns¶ ASp-¯pÅ Ipªn-tai-bnÂ R§Ä Ip«n-I-fpw. IrXyw cm{Xn F«v aWn¡v FÃmhcpw Ccn-¡pw. {]ta-l-apÅ Cf-b-¸-\p-am{Xw tKmX¼v tZmi. R§Ä¡p tZmi-tbmSv sImXn-bm-bn-cp-s¶-¦nepw Cf-b-¸\p AsXmcp in£-t]m-se-bm-bn-cp¶p þ F®n-t\m-¡n-bnt« Ign¡m³ XpS-§p-I-bp-Åp. \Ã \À½-t_m-[-am-bn-cp¶p Cf-b-¸\v. Hcn-¡Â Cf-b-¸sâ Hmt«m-am-änIv hm¨ns\ Ipdn¨p tNmZn¨-t¸mÄ C§s\ ]d-ªpþ "AsX, AXp Hmt«mamän¡m-bn«v \nÂIp-Ibpw sN¿pw'. acp-a-¡-¯mbw aSn-tbmsS hgn-am-dn-XpS-§nb B Ime-¯v `mcyho«nÂ Ign-bp¶ Cf-b-¸s\ Btcm AXp ]d-ªp-I-fn-bm-¡n-b-t¸mÄ AXpw \À½w sIm≠mWv t\cn-«Xv þ ""Fsâ`mcy ho«n-en-ÃmsX aäm-cp-sS-sb-¦nepw `mcyho-«nÂ F\n¡v Xma-kn-¡m³ ]ä-ptam''? `£-W-¯n-\p-tijw R§sf Ipfn (b-£n) IY-IÄ ] d-ªp-t]-Sn-¸n-¡pI hen-b-½m-hsâ Hcp hnt\m-Z-am-bn-cp-¶p. Hcn-¡Â hen-b½mh³ ho«n-te¡v hcm³ t\cw sshIn Ccp-«m-bXpw, hgn-bnÂ Hcp ivamim\w IS-t¡-≠-Xmbn h¶Xpw, At¸mÄ Hcp Ipfn þ dmthm≠v tImWw sI«n, ]tÃm≠v hSnbpw Ip¯n-sbmcp Ipfn' þ hoSp-hsc ]n´p-SÀ¶Xpw DtZzK-`-cn-X-cmbn R§Ä tI«n-cp-¶p. hoSnsâ hnemkw a\-Ên-em-

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

¡nb Iqfn - - Ccp«v \ndª apdnI-fn-sem-¶nÂ h¨v R§sf ]nSn-Iq-Sptam F¶ Nn´ R§-fnÂ DÄIn-Sn-e-ap-≠m-¡n. A¼-e-¯nÂ \n¶v D¨]q-P-¡p-bÀ¶ sN≠sIm«v Nn´-IfpsS KXn amän. ]≠v sIm«p-¼p-d¯v \n¶pÅ sN≠-tafw ImXnÂ ]Sn-ªmÂ R§Ä DSs\ Ahn-sS-sb-¯m-\pÅ sh{]mfw XpS-§pw. F´p-sImt≠m hen-b-½m-h³ sX¿w ImWm³ R§sf A\p-h-Zn-¨n-cp-¶n-Ã. ]s£ hen-b-½mhsâ Zn\-N-cybpw imco-cn-I-]-cn-an-Xn-Ifpw hi-ap-≠m-bn-cp¶ R§Ä hS-t¡-h-f-¸n-eqsS HmSn aXnÂ NmSn sI«p-¼p-ds¯-¯pw. X«pw shÅm-«-hpw, hnjvWp-aqÀ¯n-bpw, hen-bap-Sn-s¯-¿-hp-saÃmw A§ns\ I≠--XmWv. sX¿-§-fpsS kw{`-a-ap-f-hm-¡p¶ cu{Z-Zr-jvSn-bnÂ Iqfn-IÄ \njv{]-`-cm-bn. DÕ-h-¯nsâ ]cn-k-am-]vXn-bn-epÅ sX¿-¯n\v R§sf AÛp-X-s¸-Sp-¯n-s¡m≠v hen-b-½m-h\pw ]¦p-tNÀ¶p. Bfp-IÄ Xn§nb A¼-ea- p-ä¯ - nsâ hi¯v ip{`-h-kv{X-[mcn-bmbn D]-hn-jvT-\mb hen-b-½m-h³ {Xnk-Ôy-bnÂ Zo]-{]`-bnÂ Pzen-¨p-\nÂ¡p¶ {iotIm-hn-Â. XnanÀ¯p s]¿p¶ sN≠-hm-Zy-¯nsâ ]mc-ay-¯nÂ hmfpw ]cn-N-bpta´n Nne¦ Nne-t¼msS Ddªp XpÅp¶ cà-Nm-ap-Þn. hen-b-½m-hsâ AcnsI sX¿w h¶p-\n¶v "Fsâ ]mem-«-Sn-tbmSn' F¶v A`nkw-t_m-[\ sNbvX-t¸mÄ imco-I-t¢iw Ah-K-Wn¨p Fgpt¶-äp-\n¶ hen-b-½m-a-t\mSv sX¿-¯nsâ kwhmZw "KpWw ctW, KpWw hctW' F¶v FÃm-htcbpw A\p-{K-ln-¨p-sIm≠pÅ hnS-hm-§Â FÃmw F{X Zo]vX-amb kvac-W-IÄ! ""\o Ipd¨vt\cw InS-¡pt¶m?'' Cf-b½ tNmZn-¨p. ""Cf-b½ InS-t¶m-fp, Rm³ Npäpw H¶p \S-¶n-«p-h-cmw. hnP-b³ ]-d-ªp Cf-b½ ]m{X-§Ä FSp-¯p-h-¨p. {ZpX-K-Xn-bnÂ \S-¶p-\o§m-dpÅ Cf-b-½-bpsS \S¯w ]Xp-s¡-bm-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. hnP-b³ GWn-¸-Sn-IÄ Ibdn apdn-I-fn-tem-tcm-¶nepw F¯nt\m-¡n. kp]-cn-Nn-X-am-bn-cp¶ Zriy-§Ä {]Xn-I-c-W-tijn \ jvS-s¸« kvamc-I-§-sf-t¸mse \ne-sIm-≠p. s]mSn-]n-Sn¨p \n¶ A´-co-£-¯nÂ A[n-I-t\cw \nÂ¡m³ Ign-bmsX hnP-b³ Xmsg-¡n-d-§n. hoSnsâ ]pd¯v IS¶v hnP-\-amb ]d-¼nÂ \S-¶p. ]≠v D¨-Xn-cn-ªp-I-gn-ªmÂ Ip«n-I-fpsS Hcp ]S ChnsS F¯pw þ Zmap, ]¸³, X¼m³, Ia-e... FÃm-hcpw F¯pw. ]m{X-§-fnÂ sN≠-sIm-«nbpw, I®nam§ IsÃ-dnªp hogv-Xnbpw, \new ]Xn-¨- ]-¨-am§ s]m «n¨p D¸p-tNÀ¯p Ign¨pw, acw Ib-dnbpw, Duªm-em-Snbpw ]´v Ifn¨pw aXn-a-d¶ Imew Cu A¦Ww HmÀ¡p-¶pt≠m? hnP-b³ B ]gb Hf-am-hnsâ IognÂ H¶p Xe-Nmbv¨v InS¶p.

Cf-b-½-bpsS hnfn tI«mWp DWÀ¶-Xv. ""CXm, \ns¶ ImWm³ Bcm h¶sX¶v t\m¡v'' hnPbs\ I≠-t¸mÄ Bizm-k-t¯msS Cf-b½ ]d-ªp. ]p©n-cn¨p sIm≠n-cp¶ sNdp-¸-¡m-cs\ Xncn-¨-dn-ª-t¸mÄ hm¡p-IÄ Xmt\ DXnÀ¶p þ ""CXv \½psS Zmap-htÃ?!'' kt´mjt¯msS Zmap Xe-bm-«n. ""Ignª sNmÆ-hn-f-¡n\v Zmap-am-cm-dnsâ Xmb-¼I \o ImtW≠-Xm-bn-cp¶p AXnKw`ocw'' Cf-b½ ]d-ª-t¸mÄ hnP-b\v A`n-am\w tXm¶n. Cf-b-½-tbmSv hnS ]d-ªn-d-§p-t¼mÄ shbnÂ Xmgv¶v XpS§n-bn-cp-¶p. Zmap hnP-bs\ A\p-K-an-¨p. ]Sn-¸p-c-bnÂ \n ¶v Xncn-ªp-t\m-¡p-t¼mgpw Cf-b½ ho«p-ap-ä¯p R§sf t\m¡n \nÂ¡p-¶p-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. A¼ew IS-¶vIÂ]-S-hp-IÄ Cd§n CS-h-g-n-bn-eqsS \S-¶mÂ hnim-e-amb hb-enÂ F¯pw. AXp Ignsªmcp Ibäw Ibdn he-t¯m«v Xncn-ªmÂ ]pXn-b-Ipfw ImWmw. Rm³ \o´m³ ]Tn¨ Ipfw. CS-t¯m«v Xncnªp ]ns¶bpw \S-¶mÂ hmb-\-im-e-¡-cn-InÂ _Êv \nÀ¯p¶ Ih-e-bn-se¯pw. "X¼m³ Ct¸mÄ Fhn-sS-bmWv? hnP-b³ tNmZn-¨p. Zmaphnsâ tN«-\mWv X¼m³. Ah-\m-bn-cp¶p sN≠bnÂ IqSpXÂ I¼w. "anen-«-dn-bn-em-Wv, ImÀ¯n-Ibv¡v ChnsS D≠m-bn-cp-¶p. Zmap ]dªp Ipd-¨p-t\cw \S-¶n«pw hb-ep-I-sfm¶pw ImWp-¶n-Ã. GtXm A]-cn-Nn-X-Ø-e-s¯-¯n-b-Xp-t]mse hnP-b\v tXm¶n. "hb-seÃmw t]mbn, Chn-sS-sbÃmw Cs¸m hoSm-bn. Cu hg-n bnÂ Xs¶ \S-¶mÂ aXn Zmap ]dªp.

"]pXn-b-Ipfw H¶p t]mbn t\m¡n-bmtem?' hnP-b³ tNmZn-¨p. At§m-s«m¶pw Cs¸m Bcpw t]m¡nÃ' Zmap \ncp-Õm-l-s¸Sp¯n. ]pXn-bI - p-f¯ - n-\S- p-¯mWv Ia-eb - psS hoSv. _mey-Im-ek - J - n F¶ hm¡v tIÄ¡p-t¼mÄ hnP-b\v Ia-et- b-bmWv HmÀ½ hcp-I. F´v sImt≠m kv¡qfnÂ IrXy-ambn t]mIm-dn-sÃ-¦nepw AhÄ anSp-¡n-bm-bn-cp-¶p. GXv Ifn¡pw Imcy-¯n\pw ap¼n-ep≠m-hpw. hiy-Xb - mÀ¶ apJw AhÄs¡mcp apXÂ Ip«m-bn-cp¶p. ]n¶oSv Iuam-c¯ - nsâ hmXn-ense¯n \n¶ Ime-§f- nÂ I≠v Znhm-kz-]v\§ - f- nÂ \mbn-Ib - mbn Rm³ I≠Xv Ia-eb - m-bncp-¶pthm? sFXn-ly-§sf t]mse HmÀa-IÄ¡pw ¢mhv ]nSn¨p XpS-§nbn-cn-¡p-¶p. ""Iae Ct¸mÄ F´p-sN-¿p¶p, Chn-sS-X-s¶-bmtWm?'' hnP-b³ tNmZn-¨p. ""Iaetbm?'' Zmap-hnsâ apJ¯v Nncn ]SÀ¶p. Rm³ Ct¸mgpw t]tcmÀ¯n-cn-¡p-¶Xv Zmap-hns\ AÛp-X-s¸-Sp-¯nbn-cn¡ptam? ""Ah-fn-t¸mÄ ChnsS Bh-iy-¡mÀ Gsd-bpÅ Hcp _nkn\-Ên-emWv''. Zmap I®n-dp¡n Nncn¨p sIm≠p XpSÀ¶p. ""] pXnb hosSÃmw h¨p''. AXnsâ AÀ°w a\-Ên-em-¡m³ hnP-b\v AÂ]-t\cw th≠n-h-¶p. ]≠v sXt¡-h-f-¸nÂ Hf-am-hnÂ sI«nb Duªm-e-bnÂ BSp¶ sIm¨p-Ip-«n-bpsS apJw ac-¨n-Ã-bn-Sbn-eqsS hnP-b³ At¸mgpw hyà-ambn I≠p. hnP-b³ H¶pw an≠msX \S-¶p. DW-§nb Ce-IÄ ImÂ]m-Z¯n-\S-nb - nÂ {]Xn-tj-[i-_vZt- ¯msS XIÀ¶p. A\-´cw B Ien-bp-K-k-Ôy-bnÂ hnP-b³ Ih-e-bnÂ _ Êpw Im¯p \n¶p.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Iq«p-Imcn ""Nmµv ssPtk apJvsS s] _nµnb knXm-c......'' koänÂ Xe-NmbvNv AbmÄ _Ênse kwKo-¯nÂ ebn-¨p. Dd¡w Iq«p-sI-«nb I®p-IÄ ]Xps¡ AS-ªp-Xp-S-§n-b-t¸mÄ Ah-fpsS apJw ap¶nÂ sXfn-ªp-h-¶p. I®v Xpd¶v ssIbn-en-cp¶ BgvN-¸-Xn¸v hmbn-¡m³ {ian-s¨¦nepw ] Xnsb AbmÄ Dd-¡-¯n-te¡v ho≠pw hgn-s¸-«p. H¸w AhfpsS \pW-¡p-gn-I-fnÂ hncn-bp¶ sNdp ]p©n-cn-¡pw. Imew sXän h¶ ag-bnÂ Hcp kÔybv¡v apc-fn-am-a-bpsS I¿pw ]nSn¨v BZy-ambn ho«n-te¡v h¶ D≠-¡p-«nsb t\m¡n \nÂ¡m³ Hcp IuXpIw tXm¶n. H¶v IqSn {i²n-¨s¸m \ pW¡pgn-I-fnÂ hncnª Nncn¡v Ft´m Hcp {]tXy-IX tXm¶n. Kuc-h-t¯msS Ahsf t\m¡n-\nÂ¡p-t¼mÄ apc-fn-ama ] dªp: ""hn\q.... \msf-sXm«v Ch-sfbpw Iq«-W-t«m... kvIqfn-te¡v''. AXv tI«s¸m kt´m-j-sam¶pw tXm¶n-bn-Ã, kzmX-{´y-¯nemWv hnf-§p-ho-Wn-cp-¡p-¶-Xv. F§s\ CsXm-gn-hm¡pw F¶p Nn´n-¨p-\nÂ¡p-t¼m-tgbv¡pw A½ ]d-ªp. ""AXn-s\´m kvIqfp-hsc Ch-s\mcp Iq«m-Iq-tem..'' A½-tbmSv ]n`hw tXm¶n-sb-¦nepw Hcp ]pXnb Npa-Xe Gsä-Sp-¡p-¶-Xnsâ DÕmlw Ahsâ apJ¯v \nd-ªp-\n¶p.

jmPp in-h-_me³ ]ntä¶v kvIqfn-te¡v bm{X-bm-b-t¸mÄ Ahfpw IqsS Cd§n. hgn-bnÂ I≠-hÀs¡Ãmw Ah³ Ahs\ ]cn-N-b-s¸-Sp¯n-sIm-Sp-¯p. AXp-sIm≠v sshIn-bmWv ¢mÊn-se-¯n-bXv. D®n¡v hey ]cn-`hw; Ahs\ I≠n«pw ImWmsX t] msb-¶v. ]pXnb Iq«p-Im-cnsb In«n-b-s¸m Ah\v ths≠-¶v. kXy-¯nÂ Ah-t\m-sSm¸w amhn-se-dn-b-W-sa¶pw Nq≠ CSW-sa¶pw ]¼cw Fdn-b-W-sa-¶p-sams¡ B{K-l-ap-≠m-bn-cps¶-¦nepw henb Npa-Xe Gsä-Sp-¯-Xn-\m-emWv ImWm-¯Xp-t]mse t]mb-Xv. ]t£ aqk-¡-mbmsS amhn-se-dn-bm\pw, tXm«nse ]cÂao³ ]nSn-¡m\pw hmXvsh¨v tKm«n Ifn-¡m\ pw FÃmw AhÄ AhÀs¡m¸w IqSn. Imew FIvkv{]Êv _Ên-s\-t]mse ]mªp. Ime-¯n-s\m¸w Ahcpw hfÀ¶p. Item-Õh - t- h-Zn-If- nÂ, Iem-eb ka-c§ - fnÂ F¶n-§s\ FÃm-¯n\pw Ah-fp-≠m-bn-cp¶p Ah-sâsbm-¸w. Iem-eb PohnXw Ignªp F¶Xv DÄs¡m-Åm³ Ah-\m-bn-Ã. Ah-km\ hnjb ]co£ Ignªv s\m¼-c-

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

t¯msS Iq«p-ImÀ ]e hgnbv¡v ]ncn-ªp. B Znh-k§ - f- nÂ sse{_-dn-bnÂ t]mIm\pw tPmen-¡pÅ At]£ ]qcn-¸n¡m\pw aäp-ambn Ah-fh - sâ ASp-¯p-hc- p-am-bn-cp-¶p. Hcp Znhkw Ahfpw A½bpw ho«nÂ h¶p. ""]co-£-sbms¡ \¶m-sb-gp-Xntbm hn\q.... C\n-sb´m ]cn-]m-Sn....?'' F¶-hfpsS A½ tNmZn-¨p. ""C\nbpw ]Sn-¡-W-sa-¶p-≠v, amÀ¡v hct«, F¶n«v t\m¡mw'' F¶p ]d-ª-t¸mÄ \¶mbn ]cq£ Fgp-Xn-b-Xnsâ kt´mjw apJ-¯p-sX-fn-ªp. ""hn\qsâ Iq«p-Im-cnsb sIm≠p-t]m-Im³ h¶Xm Rm³....., \msf R§Ä t]mIpw...'' CXp-tI-«-t¸mÄ kt´mjw amsª-¦nepw apJ¯v {]I-Sn-¸n¡m-Xn-cn-¡m³ hfsc {i²n-¨p. ""Ip«o-S-Ñ\v XoscCjvSboey.....-C-hnsS \nÀ¯m³. ]ns¶ tamsf Hä hmin-sIm≠m C{Xbpw Imew \nÀ¯n-b-Xv.'' ]nt¶w Fs´m-s¡tbm AhÀ ]d-bp-¶p-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. AsXm¶pw {i²n-¡msX \n¶n-cp¶ Fsâ ASp-t¯¡v h¶v AhÄ ]d-ªp. ""]pg-¡-c-bnse A¼-e-¯nÂ \msf H¶p-t]m-bm-tem..?'' ""t]mImw'' thsd H¶pw ]d-bm-\m-hmsX \nÂ¡p¶ R§-fpsS ASpt¯¡v Ah-fpsS A½ h¶n«v ]d-ªp. ""FS-bvs¡ms¡ A§vSv hc-Ww..-t«m...-hn-\q.....'' ""tamfv R§-sfms¡ ad-t¡m...? CS-¡n-§«pw hc-W-t«m...'' F¶p ]dªv A½ Ahsc tdmUp-hsc \S¶v bm{X-bm-¡n. ASp¯ Znhkw shdpsX Ipf-¡-S-hnÂ Ccn-¡p-t¼m-gmWv A½ hnfn-¨-Xv. ""hn\q B Ip«n h¶n-cn-¡-Wq........'' D½-d-s¯-¯n-b-t¸mÄ Nph¶ ]«p-]m-hm-S-b-Wn-ªv kpµcn-bmbn AhÄ \nev¡p-¶p. BZy-ambn A¶mWv Ah-fpsS kuµcyw Ah³ {i²n-¨-Xv. t£{X-¯n-te¡v \S-¡p-t¼mÄ ]Xn-hn\v hn]-co-X-ambn AhÀ X½nÂ kwkm-cn-¨n-Ã. Fs´ms¡tbm ]d-bm³ B{K-ln-¨n«pw hm¡p-IÄ ]pd-¯p-h-¶n-Ã. {]mÀ°\mka-b¯v Ah-fpsS I®p-I-fnÂ \nd-sªm-gp-InbXv Ah³ I≠nÃ F¶p-\-Sn-¨p. CcpÄ hoWp XpS-§nb t\c¯v thZ-\-bpsS I\w Xq§nb a\-Êp-ambn AhÀ ho«nte¡p XncnsI h¶p. AhÄ Fs´m-s¡tbm ]d-ªp-sIm≠n-cp-¶p. Ah³ shdpsX aqfpI am{Xw sNbvXp. bm{Xmsam-gn-bmbn ASÀ¶p-hoW I®p-\o-cnÂ Ah-fpsS kvt\lw apgp-h³ Dcp-≠p-Iq-Sn-bXv Ah³ Xncn-¨-dn-ªp. Xncn-ªp-\-S-

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

¡p-t¼mÄ Ahsâ I®p-Ifpw Cud-\-Wn-ªn-cp-¶p. A{]-Xo-£n-X-am-bmWv Ah\v hntZ-i¯v tPmen In«n-b-Xv. Ahsf H¶p I≠v bm{X ]d-b-Ww F¶v Icp-Xn-sb-¦nepw AXn-\m-hmsX Ah³ hntZ-i-t¯bv¡v bm{X-bm-bn. Ahsâ kzIm-cy-\n-an-j-§-fnÂ Ahsf Ipdn-¨pÅ HmÀ½-IÄ IS¶p hcm-dp-s≠-¦nepw A½ Ah-sf-¡p-dn¨v ]d-bp-t¼mÄ AXnÂ XmXv]-cy-an-Ã-sb¶p \Sn-¡pw. ]ns¶ ]ns¶ A½ H¶pw ] d-bm-sX-bm-bn. ]e XhW Ahsf H¶p-hn-fn-¡-W-sa¶p IcpXn-sb-¦nepw a\kv A\p-h-Zn-¨n-Ã. \m«nÂ Xncn-s¨-¯n-b-t¸mÄ \m«p-Im-cy-§Ä ]d-bp-¶-Xn-\n-S-bnÂ A½ ]d-ªp. ""B Iq«osS Imcym IjvSw... F{X F{X Btem-N-\-Ifm ht¶... H¶pw icn-bm-bn-Ã..'' ""Ah-fn-t¸m....?'' Rm\-dn-bmsX tNmZn-¨p-t]m-bn. ""F{X ]Tn¨ Ip«ym... Cs¸m hoSpw A¼-tem-ambn Ign-b-Wp..'' ""sXt¡ \S....-sXt¡ \S......'' F¶v Infn hnfn¨p ]d-bp¶-Xp-tI-«mWv HmÀa-I-fnÂ \n¶v DWÀ¶-Xv. _Ênse bm{X¡mÀ A[n-Ihpw Cd-§n-bn-cp-¶p. _mKp-sam¯v temUvPnse e£y-am¡n \S-¶p. apdn-bn-se-¯n-b-t¸mÄ t£{X-¯nÂ \n¶v A¯m-g-]q-P-bpsS tafw-tI-«p. bm{Xm-£o-W-¯mepw InS-¶t¸mÄ Xs¶ Dd-§n-t¸m-bn. cmhnse Hcp I¿nÂ sh®bpw adp-I-¿nÂ HmS-¡p-g-ep-ambn \nÂ¡p¶ D®n-¡-®s\ ZÀin¨-tijw Ahsâ I®p-IÄ Ahsf Xnc-bp-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. ioth-en-bmbn F¶p Adn-bn¸p h¶-t¸mÄ Ip¯-¼-e-¯n-t\ mSv tNÀ¶v \n¶p. B\-¸p-d¯v `K-hms\ Fgp-¶-Åp-¶-Xn\p ]pdsI `K-hÂIoÀ¯-\-§-tfmsS `à-P-\-§Ä {]Z-£nWw hbv¡p-¶p. `K-hÂIoÀ¯-\-¯nÂ apgpIn `K-hms\ A\pK-an-¡p¶ Hcp `à-bpsS cq]-¯nÂ Ahsf I≠-t¸mÄ lrZbw s]cpw-¼d sIm«n. Xnc-s¡m-gn-ª-t¸mÄ ]Xps¡ Ah-fpsS ASp-t¯¡v \o§n. Hcp ]mSv ]cn-`-h-hpw, ]nW¡hpw {]Xo-£n¨p \n¶v Ahs\ t\m¡n \nk-¤-X-tbmsS \ n¶ Ah-tfmSv H¶pw ]d-bm³ AhÄ¡m-bn-Ã. Ah-km\w Ah³ ]dªp ""C¶se h¶p..'' ""ho«n-te¡v hcm-bn-cp-¶n-tÃ...'' F¶-hÄ tNmZn-¨-t¸mÄ ""F\n¡p ImtW-≠Xv kmhn-{Xntb am{Xm...'' F¶v Ah-fpsS I®p-I-fn-Â t\m¡n ]d-ª-t¸mÄ Ah-fpsS I®pIÄ \nd-ªp-Xp-fp-¼n. s]¿m³ hnap-J-X Im«n-\nÂ¡p¶ s] cp-a-g-t]m-se-bm-bn-cp¶p Ah-cpsS a\Êp-IÄ. s]bvXp XpS§nbt¸mÄ Ah-km-\-XpÅn hsc s]bvXp tXmÀ¶p. Ahtfm-sSm¸w ho«n-te¡v \S-¡p-t¼mÄ Ahsâ I®p-I-fnÂ Ft´m ZrV-\n-Ýbw Xnf-§n-bn-cp-¶p. AXnsâ {]Xn-^-e\w Ah-fpsS I®p-I-fnepw D≠m-bn-cp-¶p.

]cn-hÀ¯\w

PnPn³ ap-≠qÀ

{Kma-¯nsâ

t\À¯-a-W-apÅ BImäv Imdnsâ AIwXWp¸n-s\-t]mepw Ipfn-c-Wnbn Nncn¡pw ]qgn-a-®nÂ \n ¶pw Db-cp¶ s]mSn-bnÂt]mepw kuµ-cy-¯nsâ Awi-§Ä ImWm³-F-´p-c-k-am-bn-cn-¡p¶p Iq«w sXänb Nne Häbm·msct]mse ]¨-]«p hncn¨ B `qan-bpsS Nne-S-§-fnÂ Idp-¸nsâ DbÀ¯p \nÂ¸p-ImWmw! BI-cn-¼-\-bpsS ]«IÄ¡p IqSn B i_vZw tIÄ¡pw hn[-amWv tXmÀ¯pap≠v tXmfnÂ C«v apjnª Hcp ap≠p-an«v AbmÄ ] d-bp-¶-Xv.þC¶-t¯m-sS-Xo-cWw AtÃÂ \nÀ¯n-s]m-¿vt¡mfn³ \n§-sfm-s¡... ISn-¸n-¨-i-_vZ-¯nÂ \c-¨-ap-Snbpw ] c-p]-cp¯ s]mgn-bm-dmb Ce-I-tfm-t]mÂ-D-W-§nb apJhpw B a\p-jysâ hm¡p-Isf Ae-«n-bn-cp-¶nÃ ]ebnS§-fnembn ]q¯p-\n Â¡p-t¼mÄ t]mepw Abm-fpsS apJ¯v Hcp hm«hpw X«n-bn-«n-Ã. hmkp-tb-« CXn-s\m¶pw ap¸n-Ã... F¶v B Ingt¡- sX-§nÂ \n¶pw hmkp-tb-«³ ]d-bp-¶Xv Hcpt\À¯-i-_vZ-¯nÂ tIÄ¡p-am-bn-cp-¶p. shbnÂ hoW Ba-®nÂ \n¶pw hmkp-tb-«³ ]d-bp-¶Xv sX§nsâ apIfnÂ \n¶pw sX§p-tI-cp¶ ]an-¡m-c-\-tIÄ¡m³ _p²n-ap«n-Ãn-b-cp¶p.þ aq¯-Xp- t\m-¡n-bn-Um... ]e-sX-§p-I-fn-epw ]ecpw tIdn-bn-«p≠v. then-b-Xn-scm¶pw CÃm¯ henb tXm«hpw Cu]m-S-t¯m-Sp-tNÀ¶v InS-¡p¶Xv ]Wn-¡mÀ¡v Adnbmw F¶mepw BWv AhÀ amdn-amdn sX§pw IapIpw Hs¡ tIdp-¶Xv shbnÂXn¶p¶ anYp\ NqSnÂ C{Xbpw Bi-¦-s¸m-ss«z-kp-th-«³ ]Wn-sbSp¸n¡p¶Xv F´n\v F¶v BÀ¡pw Adn-bn-Ã. ap´n-b-IÂ¡Ä¡n-

S-bn-eqsS hbn-e-Hcp ImÀh-cp¶p F¶v sX§nsâ a≠bnÂ \n¶v Btcm-]-d-bp-¶Xv {Kma-¯sâ ae-ap-I-fnÂ \n¶pw CeIÄ s]mgnªp hogp-¶-ap-Y\ImänÂ \n¶pw hmkp-tb-«³ tI«oetXm¶p-¶p. a¬]p-c≠v B I-Ãn-«-tdm-Un-eqsS hcp-¶-ImÀ I≠Ip-«n-IÄ ]d-bp-¶p-≠m-bn-cp-¶p. "t\m¡v ämap-km..' aämtcm ]d-bp¶p "amcpXn' aämtcm ]d-bp¶p "Hfn_nIvkv' BZy-ambv h≠n-IÄ ImWp¶ B \m-«nÂ]pd-s¯Ip«n-IÄ h≠nbpsS ]pd-InÂ HmSp-¶Xv sX§nsâ apI-fnÂ \n¶v AhÀ¡v ImWm-am-bncp-¶p. B hgn-bpsS Ah-km\w F¯p-¶Xv henb BHcp F«p-sI-«n-te-bv¡m-Wv. BÄXm-akw CÃm¯ hoSmWv F¶v tXm¶p¶p AXv. sX§n³tXm-¸nÂ \n¶pw hmep-tb-«³ HmSn h¶v ]d-bp¶Xv sbfn-a-tbm-sS-F¶p BÝcys¸«p-t]mbn' C®o-t\-cs¯ F¯n-tbm...? tXmÀ¯p-ap≠v ssII-fn-te¡v ]nSn-¨p-hm-kp-tb-«³ Xe-Ip-\n-¡p-¶Xv I≠vt¸mÄ sX§nsâ a≠bnÂ \n¶p Imap¶ ]Wn-¡m-cpsS DÅnse Cfw NncnbnÂ \n¶p Db-cp¶ Imän\p XWp-¸m-bn-cp-¶p. buÆ\w hn«p amdm¯ Hcp sNdp-¸-¡m-c³ Kuc-h-ambn Ft´m-]-d-bp-¶p-≠v. Cu ImgvN-Im-Wp-t¼mÄ Dd-¸mWv hmkpth-«sâ aI-\Ã F¶-Xv. "Fhn-sS-Imiv dºdpw tX§bpw AS¡bpw hnä-Im-ip-X-cq.. Cu hm¡p-IÄ B Hcp-th-\Â¡mäp-t]mse hmkp-th-«sâ DÅnÂ ]SÀ¶v Ib-dp-¶Xv ImWm³ shbnÂ hnX-dp¶ B {]-Imi_nµp-¡Ä¡p am{Xta ImWm\m-hq. ap≠p aS¡n h¨ B CSp-¸nÂ \n¶pw Npcn-«n-aS§nb

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Hcp-sI-«p-]Ww B sNdp-¸-Im-csâ ssIbnÂ sImSp-¯p-hmkp-th-«³ ]cp-§p-¶Xv ImWm³ a®n\pw s]mgnªp InS¡p¶ Ce-IÄ¡pw ImWm-am-bn-cp¶p _m¡n-tbm....? au\-ambn Xe-Xmgv¯n hmkpth-«³ \n¶t¸mÄ AbmÄ Ft´m-]-d-bp-¶Xv Bcpw tI«n-Ã. 'A½-sb-Im-Wm³ t]mbn«v Rm³ t]mIpw Ct¸mÄ Icp-Wm-{i-a-¯nÂXs¶ -A-tÃm...? hmkp-th-«³ ]d-bp-¶Xv hyà-am-bn-tIÄ¡m-am-bn-cp-¶p. D®n-h-¶n«v Bdp-amkw Ign-ªntÃ Ct¸mÄ Ahn-sS-\n¶p amän icn B{i-a-¯n-em-Wv... "CXn\p adp-]-Sn-sb-t¶mfw B sNdp-¸-Im-c³ ]dªp' F¦nÂhmkp-tb-«³ Cu XpI B{i-¯nÂ sImSp-t¯mfp C¶v F\n¡v t]mIWw A\phpw tamfpw tÌävknÂ Häbv¡mWv Rm³ Hcp I¼\n tIm¬{^³Ên\ph¶-XmWv "H¶pw ]d-bm-Xn-cn-¡m³ BhmsX hmkp-tb-«³ Hcp ag¡m-äp-t]mse ]dªp' A½bv¡v ImWWsa¶p≠v D®nsb AhÀ¡v D®n-am-{X-a-tÃ-bp-Åq... "B hm¡p-I-sf-{i-²n-¡m¯-t¸mse AbmÄ Xsâ t^mWnÂ ssIsIm≠v Ft´m sN¿p-¶p-≠v. hmkp-tb-«³ Hcn-¡Â IqSn ]dªp " Pm\n-tb-S-

¯n-Im-WWw ]dªp D®n. aI-\mbpw tbI {]Xo-£-bmbpw D®n-am-{X-a-tÃ.. "shbnÂhogp¶ B hoSnsâ apä¯p\n¶p AbmÄ]dªp" Fs¶ {]Xo-£n¨v aIfpw `mcybpw Im¯ncn-¡p¶p. A½bv¡v th≠n Ct¸m hr²-k-Z-\-¯nÂ ]Ww sImSp¡q Imcy-Ø³ B ]Wn-sN-bvXmÂ aXn Fs¶ ]Tn-¸nt¡-≠m... "B hm¡p-IÄ tIÄ¡m-Xn-cn-¡m³ hmkp-th-«sâ \ngÂ t]mepw FhnsStbm Hfn-¨ncp¶Xv AbmÄ I≠n-Ã. au\-ambn\n¶ hmkp-th-«-t\mSp H¶pw ]d-bmsX B ImdnÂ Ib-dn-t]m-Ip-t¼mÄ Abm-fpsS t^mWnte¡v HcpsabnÂ h¶n-cn-¡p-¶Xv AbmÄ XWp¯ Imdnsâ au\-X-bnÂ \n ¶pw hmbn-¨p."-A½ tPmÀÖv A¦n-tfm-t\m-sSm¸w t]mbn; Rm³ sska-≠nsâ IqsS t]mIp-¶p. _mbn... kn.-bq.. ..-UmUv...' Cusa-bnÂ hmbn¨v AbmÄ bm{X-bm-Ip-t¼mÄ BImi¯v \ng-ep-IÄ ]q¯p \nÂ¡m³ {ian-¡p-¶p-≠m-bn-cp¶p. i_-cn-B-{i-a-¯nsâ Xoc-§-fn-te¡v Bbn-cn¡mw AbmÄ t]mbXv F¶v Abm-fpsS au\-§-fnÂ \n¶pw hgp-Xn-sXdn¨p hosWz-bn-en-am-{Xta Adn-ªp-Im-Wq. B ]Snªmd³ N{I-hm-f-XbnÂ Ccp«v AS-bn-cn-¡m³ sh¼Â sIm≠Xv AbmÄ¡v ImWm-Xn-cn-¡p-¶-Xn\v Ign-bn-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p.....

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

HmW-¯nsâ HmÀ½

a[p-cw inh-cmP³

HmWw

F¯n-b-t¸mÄ sIm¶ am{X-aÃ FÃm sNSn-Ifpw ac-§fpw ]qh-Wn-ªp. PqWnepw Pqsse-bnepw Hs¡ XnanÀ¯p s]bvX ag-bnÂ Xfn-cn« sNSn-IÄ Hs¡bpw ]q¯p-eªv Rm\mWv Gsd kpµcn F¶ a«nÂ Nncn-¨p-\n¶pw DÃm-k-`-cn-X-cmb Ip«n-IÄ Fhn-sSbpw HmSn-\-S-¶p. Bß-hn-izmkw Gsd ssIap-Xembn D≠m-bn-cp¶ R§Ä ]m«p-]m-Snbpw Iq«p-Iq-Snbpw `bw Fs´-¶-dn-bmsX HmW Ah-[n-¡mew BtLm-j-am¡n amän. R§-fpsS {Kma-amb s]cp-\m-«nÂ \n¶pw Ipsd Zqc¯p h\{]-tZ-i-amWv C©-s]m-bvI. AhnsS Xma-k-am-¡nb hey-Ñsâ ho«n-em-bn-cp¶p B hÀjs¯ HmWw R§Ä sIm≠m-Sn-b-Xv. {]Ir-Xn-`wKn Gdn-b-Ø-e-amWv C©-s¸m-bvI. h≠n-t]m-IpI F¶-Xp-t]m-bn«v tdmUp-Xs¶ IjvSn¨v ImWmw Fs¶-bpÅq. h\-{]-tZ-i-¯p-IqSn aWn-¡q-dp-IÄ \S-¶mte AhnsS F¯m³ Ign-bp-I-bp-Å-q. B\bpw ISp-hbpw Hs¡ DÅ h\-am-Wv. Ipc-§-·mÀ ac-¯nepw \ne¯pw HmSn-\-S-¡p-¶Xv Hcp km[m-cW ImgvNbmWv. kv{XoIÄ X\ntb t]mI-cp-sX¶pw, B¬Ip-«n-Isf I≠mÂ Ipc-§-·mÀ Cd-§n-h¶v D]-{Zhn-¡p-I-bn-sÃ¶pw Hs¡ A¶p ]dªp tI«n-cp-¶p.

ho«nÂ klm-b-¯n\pw \nev¡p¶ tN«³ Hcp sIm« \ndsb km[-\-§-fp-ambn Gähpw ap¶nÂ \S-¶p. R§Ä aq¶p-t] À ]pd-In-epw, hey½bpsS aIÄ B tN¨n-bpsS Xmsg DÅ sImt¨-«³, ]ns¶ AhÀs¡mcp¡q«n-\mbn sNdnb Ip«nbmb Rm\pw CXmWp bm{Xm-kwLw slkv¡q-fnÂ ] Tn-¡p¶ tN¨n-bpsS ]«p-]m-hm-S¯v ]p¯-sâbpw HmW-¯nsâbpw aWw. tN¨n-bpsS A½ t\cs¯ acn-¨-Xn-\mÂ Fsâ A½ tN¨nsb kz´w aI-sf-t]mse kvt\ln¨p hfÀ¯n. Hcp kn\na \Snsb HmÀ½n-¸n¡pw hn[w kpµ-cn-bm-bn-cp¶p tN¨nsb F¶pw Bcm-[-\-tbmsS am{X-am-Wv F-\n-¡v ImWm-³ I-gnªXv. R§-fpsS {Kma-¯nÂ \n¶pw C©-s¸mbvI-bnÂ t]mIpw hgn AÄXm-a-k-apÅ Øe-amWv aWn-bmÀ. aWn-bm-sd-¯nbt¸mÄ ]IpXn Zqc-am-sb¶pw hn{i-an-¨-Xn-\pti-j-amImw _m¡n \S¸v F¶pw Xocp-am-\n-¨p. Ahn-sS-bpÅ Xq¡p-]m-e-¯nÂ Ib-dn-b-t¸mÄ a\Êp\ndsb t]Sn-tXm¶n F¦nepw ]pd-t¯bv¡p Im«n-bn-Ã. kzXth Dbcw t]Sn-bpÅ Rm³ Ib-dn-b-]mew apI-fn-te¡pw Xmtg¡pw BSp-I-bm-bncp-¶p. Hcp hn[-¯nÂ ss[cyw kw`-cn¨v A¡sc F¯n. hfsc Db-c-¯n-epÅ B ]mew C¶pw kµÀiÀ¡p IuXpI-ta-In-s¡m≠v AhnsS ØnXn-sN-¿p¶p CSbv¡p ac-¯-

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

W-enÂ Ccp¶v A½ X¶b¨ ]g-§fpw \qÂ]p«pw Hs¡ Ign¨v R§Ä hni-¸-S-¡n, alm-¡hn N§-¼p-g-bpsS IhnX-bn-eqsS I≠ XSn-\n-bpw, Xma-c-s¸m-bvI-Ifpw Hs¡ A¶p t\cnÂ ImWp-I-bm-bn-cp-¶p. Im«nÂ ]e-Ø-e-§-fnepw ioXf-Pew \ndª Dd-h-IÄ kpe-`-am-bn-cp-¶p. AXp IpSn¨v Zmlw ian-¨-t¸mÄ ""lm! a[pcw '' F¶p tXm¶n-b-t¸mbn C©-s¸m-bvI-bnÂ Xma-k-am¡pw apt¼ \mbm-«nÂ¡-¼-apÅ Bfm-bn-cp¶p hey-Ñ³, \Ã-hoSpw tPmen-¡mcpw N§m-XnIfpw {Kma-t^m¬ kwKo-Xhpw FÃmw-IqSn hey-Ñ-\pÅt¸mÄ hoSv i_vZ-ap-J-cn-X-am-bn-cp-¶p. C¶n-t¸mÄXnI¨pw i¿m-hew_n Bbn-Xn-¶n-cn-¡p¶p At±Mw. h\y-ar-K-§sft]Sn¨v C©-s¸m-bvI-bnÂ km[m-cW PohnXw \bn-¡m-s\m¡m¯ AhØ Ct¸mÄ Nnä-½-t]mepw tXm¡v D]-tbm-Kn-¡p-hm³ ioen-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p. ho«nÂ hfÀ¯p¶ ]ip-¡sf Xncªv hcp¶ ISp-hsb Xpc¯m³ Nnä½ ss[cy-ambn \nd Hg-n¡pa-t{X. \me-©p aWn-¡q-dn-\p-tijw R§Ä C©-s¸m-bvI-bnÂ F¯n. kwL-¯nÂ Gähpw sNdnb Bbn-cp-¶-Xn-\mÂ FÃm-hÀ¡pw Fs¶ {]-tXy-Iw {i-²n-¨p. \S-¶p £o-Wn-¨Imcyw Ahsc Adn-bmsX Rm³ A`n-\-bn¨p \n¶p. h\¯nsâ \Sp-hnÂ \sÃmcp hoSv. Nnä-½-bpsS a¡-fmb c≠p anSp-¡-·msc ¡qSmsX tN¨n-bpsS Ipª-\n-b-¯nbpw AhnsS D≠m-bn-cp-¶pb aq¶p hb-kpÅ B kpµ-cn-¡p«n Nncn¨pw sIm©nbpw R§-fpsS {]tXy-In¨pw Fsâ lrZbw IhÀ¶p.. Nnä-½-bpsS kvt\lhpw klm-b-¯n-\p-≠m-bn-cp¶p kv{XobpsS ssI... Hs¡ tNÀ¶v A¶s¯ HmWw ad-¡m-\mIm-¯-Xm-bn. kzZn-jvS-amb kZy-bv¡p-tijw R§Ä sXmSn-bnseÃmw Nn{X-i-e-`-§-tfm-sSm¸w HmSn-¡-fn-¨p. Inep¡mws]«nsb-t¸mse kwkm-cn¨ Ipª-\n-b-¯n-tbm-sSm¯v sXmSn-bnÂ ]SÀ¶p-In-S¶ hÅn-bnse ]q¡-sfÃmw Cdp¯v ]q¡qS \ nd-¨p.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Nnä-½-bpsS _Ôp-hnsâ a¡Ä Fâ-{X-Xs¶ {]mb-apÅ Ip«nbpw F¯n-b-t¸mÄ F\n¡v Fs´-¶n-Ãm¯ kt´mjw F{X \qäm-≠m-bn-¡m-«nÂ hf-cp¶ ac-§-fm-sW-¶-dn-bn-Ã, ] Sp-Iq-ä³ ac-§-fn-seÃmw DuªmÂ hÅn-IÄ hfÀ¶p InS¶n-cp-¶p. c≠p-h-i-¯p-\n¶pw hÅn apdn¨p In«n-b-t¸mÄ R§Ä B hÅn-I-fnÂ ]nSn¨v hfsc Zqc-¯p-hsc Bbn Xncn¨p h¶p. GXp \nan-jhpw Zqtc¡p hoWp-t]m-Ip-hp¶ A]-ISw ]nSn-s¨mcp [oc-I-rXy-am-bn-cp¶p AXv Ft¶mÀ¡pt¼mÄ Ct¸mÄ t]Sn-tXm-¶p--¶p. ]IÂt]mepw shfn¨w IS¶p hcm-¯{X \n_n-U-amb Im«nÂ Ipbn-ensâ IqhÂ CS-X-S-hn--ÃmsX tI«p. ^e-`p-bn-jvS-amb h\-¯nÂ ]g-hÀ¤-§Ä Gsd D≠m-bn-cp-¶p. IeymW kuKÔnIw tXSn-t¸mb `oa-tk-\³ F¯n-bXv C©-s¸m-bvI-bn-embn-cpt¶m F¶p tXm¶pw-hn[w `q{]-IrXn I\n-ª-\p-{K-ln¨ {]tZ-i-am-bn-cp¶p AXv. C©-s¸mbvIbnÂ Fs¶ AÛp-X-s¸-Sp-¯nb thsdm-cp¡mcyw cm{Xn-bnÂ Dd-§m³ ]Wn-¡-gn-¸n¨ Gdp-amSw Bbn-cp¶p. Im«m-\-I-fpsS iey-¯nÂ \n¶pw c£-s¸-Sm³ a\p-jy³ I≠p-]n-Sn¨ Hcp amÀ¤w. cm{Xn- BbmÂ tKmthWn Gdp-am-S¯nÂ kq£n-¨n« {]`m-X-¯nÂ Cd§n hcm³ D]-tbm-Kn-¨n-cp¶p. B\-IÄ¡v ac-¯nÂ Ib-dm-\m-Im-¯-Xn-\mÂ Gd-pam-S¯nÂ DÅ Dd¡w kpc-£n-X-am-Wv. R§sf Xncn-¨p-sIm-≠p-t]m-Im-\mbn aWnbmdnÂ Iymw]v sNbvX sImt¨-«\pw klm-bnbmb tN«\pw F¯n. Ipª\n-b-¯n-tbbpw AÑ-t\bpw Hs¡ ]ncn-bp¶ k¦-S-¯nÂ tN¨n-bpsS I®nÂ \n¶pw I®p-\oÀ apXvIp-IÄ t]mse Xmtg¡p hoWp. AXp-I≠v F\n¡pw Ic-¨nÂ AS-¡m-\mbn-Ã. \sÃmcp HmW-¯n-sâbpw Ipª-\n-b-¯n-bpsS ]p©ncn-bp-sSbpw Hs¡ HmÀ½-bp-ambn R§Ä a\-kn-Ãm-a-\-tÊmsS s]mcp-\m-«n-te¡p bm{X Xncn-¨p.

{]n-b-ap-Å Kw-K-bv¡v,

BâWn Im-fn¡ {]n-b- KwtK, Xm-¦Ä-¡v Rm-s\-gp-Xn-b-Xpw, ]n-¶o-Sv {]-kn-²o-I-cn-¡-s¸-«-Xpam-b B-Zy-I-¯n-sâ C-cp-]-¯©mw hmÀ-jn-I-am-Wn¶v. C¶-Xv ho-≠pw hm-bn-¨-t¸m-tÄ D-Å-S-¡-¯n-\v a-§Â h-¶n-«n-sÃ-¶v am-{X-aÃ hÀ-j-§Ä I-gnªn«pw A-Xn-sâ {]k-àn G-dp-¶-Xm-bn Im-Wp¶p. AÀ-°-¯nepw hym-]v-Xn-bnepw. F-Sp-¯p-I-f-bm-\p-Å-h Ip-d-hm-sW-¦nepw F-gpXn--t¨À-¡m³- ]p-¯³ h-cn-I-tf-sd-bp-≠n¶v. ]-t£ F-gp-Xm³ k-a-b Zm-cn-{Z-ap-≠v. F-¶mepw B B-Zy I-¯nsâ Akm-[m-c-W-am-b c≠mw ]-Xn¸n-sâ Z-imw-i-¯nÂ Np-cp¡n-b H-cp I-c-Sp-cq-]w F-gp-Xp-I-bmWv. B-Zy-]-Ip-Xn-bnÂ B-hÀ-¯-\ hnc-kX tXm-¶n-tb-¡m-sa-¦nepw Xm-¦-fn-Xv {i-²m-]qÀ-Æw hm-bn-¡p-sa-¶v I-cp-Xp¶p. \-½p-sS a-l¯ - m-b C-´ym-cmPyw `m-cX - \ - mSv, `-cX - a- p-\n-bp-sS \m-S,v Sm-tKm-dn-sâ \mSv, a-lm-ßP - n-bp-sS \mSv, hn-{I-am-Zn-Xy-sâ \mSv, AÀ-°i - m-kv{- X-sa-gpXn-b Nm-WI - y-sâ \mSv, A-timI-sâ \mSv, Xm-PvalÂ \ n À-½n-¨ jm-Pl - m-sâ \mSv, Im-iva- oÀ jm-fn-sâ \m-Sv, Im-©o-]p-cw ]-«nsâ \mSv, tIm-ln-¶qÀ c-Xv\ - ¯ - nsâ \mSv, KWn-X im-kv{- X-¯n-sâ \m-Sv, kn.hn, cma-sâ \mSv, cm-PmcmP tNmf-sâ \mSv, Xn-cp-hÅ - p- hcp-sS \m-Sv, I-f-cn-¸-b-än-sâ \mSv, HtX\-sâ \mSv, cm-Pm-c-hn-hÀ-½-bp-sS \mSv, kzm-Xn-Xn-cp-\m-fnsâ \mSv, in-h-Pn-bp-sS \mSv, Z-´-tKm-]p-c-§-fp-sS \mSv, kp-hÀ-®t- £-{X-¯n-sâ \mSv, Iminbpw tI-Zm-chpw i-_c- o-\mYpw t_m-[vK - b - bpw D-Å \mSv, Xn-cp-¸X - nbpw i-_c- o-ae - bpw aq-Imw-_n-Ibpw Kp-cp-hm-bqcpw th-fm-¦W - nbpw a-eb - m-äqcpw D-Å- \mSv, P-am-ak - vP - nXpw ^-t¯-^qÀ kn-{Inbpw Ip¯-_va- o-\mdpw NmÀ-an-\mdp Å \mSv, i-¦c- m-Nm-cy-cp-tSbpw kzm-an hn-th-Im-\µ - t- âbpw \mSv, B-bqÀ th-Z¯ - n-sâ \m-S,v hm-Õymb-sâ \mSv, Im-ai - m-k{-v X-¯n-sâ \mSv, {In-kvX - p-hn-\v ap-¼v D-dp-¼p-If- p-sS ssIIm-ep-IÄ sIm-≠v C-¶s- ¯ kq-£Z- À-in-\n i-kv{- X-{Inb-sb shÃpw hn-[w i-co-c`- m-K§ - Ä Xp-¶nt¨À-¯n-cp-¶ `n-jK - z-c· - m-cp-≠m-bn-cp-¶ \mSv, I-cp-¸«- nbpw tIm-gn-ap-«b - p-sS sh-Å¡ - c- phpw tNÀ-¯v Nm-en-¨ em-b\n-sIm-≠v \nÀ-½n-¨ X-db - nÂ t\m-¡p-t¼mÄ ap-Jw Im-Wp-hm³ I-gn-bp¶ sIm-«m-c§ - fp-sS \mSv, hn-tÎm-dn-bm cm-Ún-¡v \-áX - a-db - v¡ - m³ i-co-c¯ - nÂ \q-dp {]m-hi - y-¯n-te-sd Np-tä-≠n h-¶ AXn- t\À-½t- bdn-b tN-e Xp¶nb s\-bv-¯p-Im-cp-sS \mSv,

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

hntizm-¯-c kwv-k-Im-c-¯n-sâ Kp-W-\n-e-hm-c-¯n-sâ ss]Xr-I-¯n-sâ ]n³-Km-an-I-fp-sS \m-«n-s\-´p-]-än..........? hn-h-c k-t¦Xn-I hn-Zy \nÀ-½n-¡p-hm-\pw, k-ar-²am-bn ssI-Imcyw sN¿p-hm\pw ti-jn-bpÅ k-ar-²cm-b bp-h-X-e-apd-sb kr-ãn-¨p Ip-Xn-¡p-¶ \m-Sn-\v C-¶v F-´p kw-`-hn-¡p-¶p....? G-sd kw-kv-Im-chpw kmw-kv-Imcn-I `-c-W cm-{ão-b \m-b-I-·mcpw, [o-c-tbm-²m-¡fpw Bßo-b Kp-cp-¡-·m-cpw, B-cm-[-\m-eb-§fpw D≠m-b \m«-n-sâ C¶-s¯ -ØnXn F-´m-Wv..? km-¼¯n-I t\-«-¯n-\pw, kzmÀ-°-em-`-§Ä¡pw th-≠n Ip-Xn¡p-¶ \m-«nÂ Iq-Sp-¶-sX-´m-Wv...? PmX-n-a-X-t`-Z-§Ä, A-gn-a-Xn-bp-sS A-gn-ap-J§Ä, hy-`n-Nm-c-¡pä§Ä, _m-em-kw-K§Ä, s]¬-hm-Wn-`-§Ä, Ip-`-tIm-W-§Ä, a-cp¶v, a-WÂ s]¬ a¬ `q-an cm-{ão-b a-X hy-hkm-b am-^nbIÄ, a-\p-jy-¡-S-¯pIÄ, Ip-ä-Ir-Xy-§Ä, {^q-W-l-XyIÄ, _m-e-th-e-IÄ, kv-{Xo-[-\ tI-kpIÄ, hnhml tam-N-\ tI-kpIÄ XoÀ-¸m-¡m-sX sI-«n-¡n-S-¡p-¶ hy-h-lm-c-§Ä, Z-fnX-sâ ]-cm-[o-\-XIÄ......... kv{Xo-bp-sS tcm-Z-\-§Ä, `o-I-c-X-bp-sS a-c-W a-WnIÄ, Xo-{hhm-Z-¯n-sâ a-Wn-ap-g-¡§Ä, t_m-_p-kv-t]m-S-\§fpsS tXtcm-«-§Ä, A]-I-S a-c-W-§-fp-sS A-]-lm-ky-X-IÄ, {]-Ir-Xnbp-sS Zmcp-W hn-f-bm-«-§Ä...! A-gn-aX - n-¡v F-Xn-tc-h¶ A-¶mlk-ms- cbpw tbm-Kn-hc- y\pw h-¶t- ]m-se t]m-b h-gnIÄ, hn-izmky-X \-ãs- ¸-«v kÀ-¡m-cpIÄ, am\y-X \-ãs- ¸-Sp-¶ P-\{- ]-Xn-\n-[nIÄ, a-{´n-]p-¦h - · - mÀ, A-hcp-sS in-¦n-Sn-IÄ, \-ãs- ¸-« {]-XnOm-b am-äm³ \n-ba- ] - m-eI - À sN-¿p-¶ \n-ba- [zw-k\ - § - Ä, I-fn-¡mcpw I-fn-\S- ¯ - p-¶h - cpw I-fc- n-¡v ]pd-¯v \-S¯ - p¶ I-fnIÄ, {]hm-kn-IÄ sNm-cn-bp-¶ ]-W¯ - nepw h-f-cp-¶ hn-h-c km-t¦Xn-I hn-Zy kr-ãn-¡p-¶ ] p-¯³ ASn-a th-e-I-fnepw, I-b-äpa-Xn em-`-§-fn-epw, hÀ-²n¡p-¶ `qþ`-h-\ k-ap-¨-bhn-e hÀ-²-\-I-fnepw hy-\y-kn-¨v hn-e-k-n-hym-]-cn-¡p-¶ \m-«n\pw \m-«mÀ¡pw C³-t^m-kn-kv \m-cm-b-W-kz-an F-{X hn-Nm-cn-¨mepw h-cm-¯ tImÀ-¸-td-äv \m-cmWo-b-Xbpw \Â-`-c-W-hpw hcp-tam....? Xm-¦Ä C-cp-]¯ - © - v hÀ-j§ - Ä-¡v ap-¼v ]-dª D-]t- `m-K h-kvXp-¡f- p-sS Kp-W\ - n-eh - m-c¯ - I - À-¨ C-¶v Ip-db - p¶p. ]p-¯³ im-k{v- Xkm-t¦Xn-I hn-Zy-Ifpw A-hI - f- p-sS a-Õc- § - fpw A-hb - p-

≠m-¡p-¶ em-`s- ¡m-b¯ v- p-Ifpw kp-Jt- em-ep-]X - I - fpw A-`n-cp-NnIfpw B-thm-fw B-kz-Zn-¡p-¶ A-`n-\h - `m-cX - P-\X-¡v D-]t- `m-Kh-kX v- p-¡f- p-sS Kp-W\ - n-eh - m-c¯ - nÂ Xn-I¨ - pw XoÀ-¸p≠v. ]-t£ Xm-¦Ä tNm-Zn-¨ {]Xn-Úm_-²X - \-ãs- ¸«Xv ]-gb - `m-cX - km{am-Py-¯n-sâ Imen-b {]-PI - Ä-¡v X-s¶-bmWv. C-hÀ-¡v tZ-ihpw A-Xn-sâ DXv{- K-^\ - hpw C-¶v A-\y-amWv. {]m-tZ-in-I-Xzhpw hÀ-¤o-b-Xbpw Pm-Xnbpw a-Xhpw hÀ-¤-t`Zhpw Iq-Sp-¶-XÃm-sX Ip-d-bp-¶pt≠m C-¶v ...? ]m-c¼-cy ^yqUÂ hy-h-Øn-Xn-bp-sS ]-cym-b-sa-t¶m-Ww P-\m-[n-]-Xy-s¯ e-Ön-¸n-¡p-¶ X-e-ap-d-IÄ \o-fp-¶ s\-lv-dp-hw-iw `-cn-¡p-¶ \m-«nÂ C¶pw H-cp `m-j-¡mcpw H-cp {]-hn-iym-¡mcpw am{Xw \n-Ýbn-¨mÂ `-cn-¡m³ th-≠p-¶ `q-cn-]-£w D-≠m-Ipw. kv-{Xo-[-\ \n-tcm[-\w \n-b-a-am-¡n-bn-«v C¶pw hn-hm-l-¡t¼m-fw I-cn-©-´-sb-¡mfpw \m-dp-¶ km-aq-ly-hr-W-am-¡p-¶, BÀ`m-S hn-hm-l N-S-§-p-IÄ \-S-¯p-¶ hnZym k-¼-¶-·m-À(?) Po-hn-¡p-¶ \m-«nÂ enw-K \nÀ-®-b-¯n-\p-Å B-[p\n-I ]-cnÚm-\w {`q-W-l-Xy-¡v D-]-tbm-Kn-¡m³ Xp-S-§n-bn-«v ]-Xn-äm≠p-IÄ I-gn-bp¶ntÃ...? kzm-X-{´y-¯n-\p th-≠n s]m-cp-Xn-b-t¸mÄ \-½p-sS ]qÀ-ÆoIÀ¡pw am-Xm]n-Xm-¡Ä¡pw H-cp s]m-Xp \n-Ý-b ZmÀVyw D-≠m-bn-cp¶p. {]-Xn-Úm _-²-X, Xm-¦Ä tNm-Zn-¨ Ian-äv-saâv ]t£ A-Xn-sâ {]k-àn C-¶v Gsd Ip-d-ªn-cn-¡p¶p. ImcWw `m-c-X P-\-X-¡n-¶v A-{]m-]y-am-bn-s«m¶pw CÃ. F´pw t\-Smw. A-Xn-\v h-gn-I-fp-≠v. D-≠m-bn-sÃ-¦nÂ D-≠m-¡m-\-hÀ¡-dn-bmw. \½Ä P-\n-¨p h-fÀ-¶ \m-«nÂ, \mw C¶pw Hm-Ww B-tLm-jn¡-p¶ \m-Sv DÄ-s¡m-Åp-¶ cm-a-cm-Py-¯v a-\p-jy-cp-sS Kp-W\n-e-hm-c-¯n\v, A-Xv \n-b-{´n-¡p-¶ k-t¦-X-§Ä¡v, A-h-bpsS B-Nm-cy-·mÀ¡v, P-\-{]-Xn-\n-[n-IÄ¡v, `-c-W Iq-S-§Ä-¡v hn-e-bn-Sn-ªp t]mbn. tKm-fm-´-c{]Xn-`m-k-¯n-sâ `m-K-am-bncn¡mw CXv. F-¶mepw KwtK, `-cX-sâ \m-«nÂ i-¦-cm-Nm-cy-sâ \m-«nÂ hn-th-I-\µ-sâ \m-«nÂ a-lm-ßm-hn-sâ \m-«nÂ C-\n bpw H-cp cm-at\m Ir-jv-Wt\m P-\n-¡Ww. C\n-sbm-cp tXm-amÇo-lm-h-cWw, hm-¦p-hn-fn-I-fp-sS kw-ip-²n ho≠pw tIÄ-¡pam-dm-tIWw. Xm-¦Ä-s¡-sâ ]qÀ-®am-b c≠mw ]-Xn-¸v ssh-Im-sX {]-Xo£n¡mw k-kv-t\lw

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

KAGW Women’s Club –Empowering Women Sherli Nambiar The ﬁrst event organized by KAGW women’s club this year was the self-defense class. It was conducted in March at the Executive Oﬃce Building, in Rockville, MD. It focused on practical ideas around self defense, assertiveness, verbal confrontation, and simple physical techniques for safety. The greatest take away from the class was awareness. These days where women are doing so much and juggling numerous activities simultaneously, it makes it even more important to stay informed and prepared to keep ourselves safe as well

Secondly, the KAGW Women’s Club started sports league with teams formed for Throwball. Regular practices were held at the Champions Field House in Rockville, Maryland. The team successfully participated in the KAGW Sports Daycompetitions in June and won the runners-up Indira Gandhi memorial trophy.

Women’s Club planned lots of exciting activities for the remainder of this year including • Seminar on entrepreneurship • Dressing for Success • Women’s Health Series • Hiking and more… Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

lcn-X-hÀ®w shSn-bp¶ hnI-k\ kz]v\-§Ä

_ntPm tPmkv sN½m{´ (Bijochemmanthara@gmail.com)

tIc-f-¯nÂ C¶v s]mXp-k-aqlw IqSp-XÂ NÀ¨ sN¿p-¶Xpw am[y-a-§Ä sIm«n-tLm-jn-¡p-¶Xpw hnI-k-\hpw AXn-t\mSv _Ô-s¸« hnj-b-§-fm-Wv. kz]v\ ]²-Xn-IÄ Ip¶p-Iq-Sp¶ Cu Imew hnI-k\-¯nsâ kphÀ® Ime-L-«-ambn hsc NneÀ hntijn-¸n-¡p-¶p. kÀ¡mÀ \nt£-]-Isc BIÀjn¡m³ Hcp-¡n-bn-cn-¡p¶ ]e ]c-ky-hm-N-I-§fpw ImWp-t¼mÄ Hcp D]-t`màr kwØm-\-sa¶ \nebnÂ Adn-b-s¸-Sm³ kwØm\w sImXn-¡p-¶-Xmbn tXm¶m-dp-≠v. hfsc henb In\m-hp-I-fmWv FÃmhcpw ImWp-¶-Xv. kzÀ® ap«-I-fn-Sp-sa¶p tamln¸n¨p Igp-I-s\-t¸mse hnI-k\ ]£n-IÄ tIc-f¯n\v apI-fnÂ h«-an«p ]d-¡p-¶p. tIc-f-¯nÂ \S-¸nÂ hcp-¯m³ Dt±-in-¡p¶ ] e hnI-k\ ]²-Xn-Ifpw dnbÂ FtÌ-änsâ hn\ntbm-K-ambn _Ô-s¸-«n-«p-Å-XmWv F¶-XmWv IuXp-I-I-cw. `qan ssIamäw kpK-a-am-¡m³ `qhn-\ n-tbm-K-¯nÂ amä-§Ä \nÀt±-in-¨p-sIm-≠pÅ _nÃpIfpw AWn-b-d-bnÂ X¿m-dm-¡n-s¡m-≠n-cn-¡p¶p. BtKmf km¼-¯nI {]hÀ¯-\-¯nsâ kncm-tI{µ-ambn sIm¨p-tI-cfw amdp-sa¶ {]N-cn-¸n-¨p-sIm≠mWv Bkq-{Xn-X-amb Cu \o¡-§Ä. Xcn-imbn InS-¡p¶ s\Â¸m-S-§-fnÂ kz]v\w hnX-bv¡ms\-¯p-¶-h-cpsS \nc \ofp-I-bm-Wv. tIc-f-¯nÂ F´n-\m-Wn\n Irjn F¶v tNmZn-¡p¶ DtZym-K-Ø-

hr-µ-§Ä tIc-f-s¯-¸än ImWp¶ In\m-hp-IÄ¡v tImSn-I-fpsS Inep-¡-am-Wv. lcn-X-hÀ®w ad-bp¶ tIc-f-s¯-¡p-dn¨v BIp-e-cm-Ip¶htcmSv AXn-\ n\n ]n. Ipªp-cm-a³ \mb-cpsS ]gb Ihn-X-Itfm atäm hmbn-¨mÂ t]mtc F¶v \msf GsX-¦nepw `c-W-IÀ¯m-¡tfm DtZym-K-Øtcm tNmZn-¨mÂ AÛpX-s¸-tS-≠-Xn-Ã. D¯-a-hn-I-k-\-am-Xr-I-IÄ F´m-sW-¶-Xn-s\-¡pdn¨v hfsc hnI-e-amb k¦Â¸-amWv ]eÀ¡p-apÅ-Xv. A¼c Npw_n-I-fmb sI«n-S-§fpw hntZi \nÀ½nX Imdp-Ifpw \nd-bp¶ Xnc-¡mÀ¶ \Kcw a\-Ên-se-hn-sStbm hnI-k-\-Nn-Ó-ambn amdn-bn-cn-¡p¶p. ]cn-Øn-Xn-bn-e-[n-jvSn-X-amb hnI-k\ k¦Â]§Ä¡v ]Icw hntZ-i-§-fnse I®©n¸n¡p¶ \K-c-Im-gvN-IÄ AÔ-ambn A\p-I-cn-¡m-\pÅ {] h-W-X-bmWv C¶v s]mXpsh \mw ImWp-¶-Xv. FÃm taJ-e-I-fnepw kwØm-\¯v hnI-k-\hpw ]ptcm-K-Xnbpw D≠m-IW-sa¶v GXv tIcfo-b\pw B{K-ln-¡p-¶p. AXn-s\-Xn-cmb Hcp A`n-{]mbw BÀs¡-¦n-ep-ap-s≠¶p tXm¶p-¶n-Ã. hnI-k\w cq]-s¸-tS-≠Xv B cmPy-¯nse ]uc-·m-cpsS kz] v\-§-fnÂ \n¶pw Ah-cpsS Bh-iy-§-fnÂ \n¶pKerala Association of Greater Washington

am-Wv. AsXm-cn-¡epw ASn-t¨Â¸n-t¡-≠-X-Ã. amäw A\n-hm-cy-am-Ip-t¼mgpw AXv \½psS Pohn-X-km-lN-cy-§Ä¡pw ]cn-Øn-Xn¡pw CW-§p¶ coXnbnÂ Bbn-cn-¡-W-sa¶v iTn-¡p-¶-XnÂ F´mWv sXäv? ]cn-Øn-Xnsb ad-¶p-sIm-≠pÅ hnI-k\w \mSn\v B]-¯m-sW¶v HmÀ½n-¸n-¡p-¶-hsc hnI-k\ hntcm-[n-I-fm-bmWv ]e-t¸mgpw `c-W-IqSw Nn{Xo-Icn-¡p-¶-Xv. tIcfw ASn-Øm-\-]-c-ambn Hcp ImÀjnI kwØm\-am-Wv. Bh-iy-¯n-\pÅ s\Ãnsâ A©n-sem¶v t]mepw C¶v tIc-f-¯nÂ DÂ¸m-Zn-¸n-¡p-¶n-Ã. -Irjn DS-a-IÄ¡v \jvS-ap-≠m-Ip-¶Xpw Irjn-bn-d¡m³ Bfp-Isf In«m-¯Xpw ImÀjnI taJ-e-bnÂ \n¶pw P\-§Ä AI-ep-hm³ Imc-W-am-bn. tIc-f¯nse ImÀjnI cwK¯v B[p-\nI kmt¦-XnI hnZybpw ]pXnb- ImÀjnI Adn-hp-Ifpw ^e-{]-Zambn D]-tbm-Kn-¡m³ C\nbpw km[n-¨n-«n-Ã. IrjnbpsS hfÀ¨-tbm-sSm¸w Irjn-¡mcpw sXmgn-em-fnIfpw ta·-bp-≠m-Ip¶ ØnXn kwPm-X-am-tI-≠-Xp-≠v. AXn-\mbn kÀ¡mcpw A\p-_Ô Øm]-\-§fpw I¨-ap-dp¡n Cd-t§≠ Imew AXn-{I-an-¨n-cn-¡p-¶p. \mÂ¸-Xn-e-[nIw \Zn-I-fpÅ tIc-f-an¶p IpSn-shÅ e`yX Xosc Ipd-hmb kwØm-\ambn amdn-bn-cn-¡p¶p. Pe-kar-²-amb tIc-f-¯nÂ C¶v hntZi I¼\n-IÄ Ip¸n-bn-em-¡nb shÅ-¯n-\mbn IS-I-fnse NnÃn« sFkp s]«n-I-fn-te¡v ae-bmfn ssI\o-«p¶p. hnI-k-t\m-·pJ ImgvN-¸mSv GXp Imcy-¯nepw kzoI-cn-¡-W-sa¶v k½-Xn-¡p-t¼mgpw ASn-Øm\ kuIcyw hÀ²n-¸n-¡msX F§-s\-bmWv hnI-k\w km[y-amIpw? ip²-Pe e`y-X, sa¨-s¸« KXm-K-Xku-I-cyw, Btcm-Ky-]-cn-c-£, ka-{K-amb amen\y \ nÀamÀÖ-\w, apS-§m¯ sshZypXn hnX-cWw XpS§n-bh Ct¸mgpw ]cym-]vX-am-sW¶v Ah-Im-is¸-Sm-\m-Iptam? sIm¨n t]mep-Å \K-c-§-fnse KXm-K-X-Ip-cp-¡n\v Adp-Xn-h-cp-¯p-hm³ klm-bI-amb sat{Sm DÄs¸-sS-bpÅ AXym-hiy hnI-k\ ]²-Xn-IÄ Hmtcm \qemame-I-fnÂ s]«v bYm-k-abw Bcw-`n-¡m³ km[n-¨n-Ã. ]cn-l-cn-¡m³ DX-Ip¶ Ip≠pw Ipgn-bp-an-Ãm¯ \nc-¯p-IÄ, \K-c-¯nÂ Bh-iy-¯n\v ]mÀ¡n-§n-\pÅ CS-§Ä XpS-§nbh F{Xtbm kuI-cy-§Ä tIc-f-¯nÂ C\nbpw hnI-kn-t¡-≠-Xm-bp-≠v. 68

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IqSp-XÂ sNdp-InS hyh-km-b-§fpw ssIs¯mgn-ep-Ifpw XpS-§p-hm³ t{]mÕm-ln-¸n-¡p-Ibpw Ah kzbw ]cym-]vXX ssIh-cn-¡m³ klm-bn¡p-Ibpw sN¿p¶ \ho-\-amb Hcp hyh-kmb \ bw tIc-f-¯nÂ D≠m-tI-≠-Xp-≠v. Ct¸mÄ s]mXpta-J-e-I-fnse ]e kwc-`-§fpw sISp-Im-cy-Ø-Xaqew \jvS-¯n-emWv {]hÀ¯n-¡p-¶-Xv. s]mXp-taJem kwhn-[m-\-¯nse A]m-I-X-IÄ ]cn-l-cn¨p AXv ià-am-t¡-≠-Xn\p {]tXyI ]cn-K-W\ \ ÂtI-≠-Xm-Wv. {]Ir-Xn-bnÂ \n¶v kpe`w In«p¶ hkvXp-¡Ä D]-tbm-Kn¨v F´pÂ¸-¶-§-fmWv \ mw D≠p-¡p-¶Xv? tIc-f-¯nsâ IÂ¸I hr£-ambn sX§nÂ \n¶v Fs´Ãmw DÂ¸-¶-§Ä \ap¡v hn]-W\w sN¿m³ km[n¡pw. Be-¸pg PnÃ-bnse Ipsd Ibdp ^mIvS-dn-Isf am{Xw Nq≠n-¡m«n F§s\-bmWv \ap¡v Biz-kn-¡m³ Ign-bpI? ChnsS hnI-k-\-s¯-¡p-dn¨v hfsc hyà-amb Hcp [mc-W-bpt≠m F¶p-t]mepw kwi-b-am-Wv. \mSnsâ km¼-¯nI Ah-Øbpw kmaq-ln-I-þ-hm-WnPy Ncn{Xhpw Adn-bp¶ km¼-¯nI hnZ-Kv[-cmWv hnI-k\ apt¶-ä-¯n\v t\XrXzw sImSp-t¡-≠-Xv. ]pXnb ]²Xn {]hÀ¯-\-§Ä kpXm-cy-am-sW¶v Ah-Imi-s¸-Sp-t¼mgpw sImÀ¸-td-äp-I-fpsS ZÃm-f-·mÀ¡pw cmjv{So-b-þ-D-tZym-K-Ø CS-\n-e-¡mÀ¡pw Ioi-\n-dbv¡m-\pÅ kml-N-cy-an-sÃ¶v Dd¸v hcp-t¯-≠-Xp≠v. FÃm hnI-k\ ]²-Xn-I-fp-sSbpw bYmÀ° ZpW-t`m-àm-¡Ä km[m-cW P\-§Ä Xs¶-bm-hWw. kao] Ime-§-fnÂ Xo{h-hmZ hnI-k\ \ne-] m-Sm-sS-Sp-¡m³ aSn-¡p-¶hsc hnI-k\ hncp-²-cmbn ap{Z-Ip-¯p-hm³ A`n-\h hnI-k\hmZn-IÄ {ian¡p-¶-Xmbn ImWmw. tIc-f-¯nse k¼p-jvS-amb {]IrXnk¼-¯ns\ Aan-X-ambn NqjWw sN¿p-¶Xpw ]cn-ØnXn \mi¯n\p Imc-W-am-Ip-¶-Xp-amb P\-hn-cp² ]²-Xn-Isf, Ah F{X s]m¶p hnf-bn-¡p-¶-Xm-sW-¦nepw \ap¡v th≠. C¶v \jvS-am-bn-s¡m-≠n-cn-¡p¶ \· \ndª lcn-Xm-`-amb \mSpw, CS-XqÀ¶ h\-hpw, sXfn-\o-scm-gp-Ip¶ ]pg-bpw, ]¨¸p \ndª hbep-sams¡ ASp¯ Xe-ap-dbv¡pw IqSn Ah-Im-is¸-«-Xm-Wv. Cu Xncn¨dnhv \½psS `mhn hnI-k\ kz]v\-§-fnepw \ng-en-¡-s«......

Options Trading: Combinations. Saju Thomas ACA, CISA, CPA

Last year, I covered the basic aspects of option trading. This year I would like to cover some combinations of option trading. Before going into the Option Combinations, let us re-cap the definition of option.

hat is an “Option?”

An option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price (Strike Price) on or before a certain date (Maturity date). The underlying asset can be shares, foreign exchange or any commodity like gold, silver etc. An option, just like a stock or bond, is a security with strictly defined terms and properties. There are two types of options, “Call” an option to buy & “Put” an option to sell. Buyers of calls hope that the price of underlying asset will increase substantially before the option expires. Buyers of puts hope that the price of the underlying asset will decrease before the option expires.

and sold covered call option on those shares at astrike price of $28 for a premium of $1.50 per share, with three months maturity period.

Now we will look into different types of options. There are many types and combinations of options. They basically vary in risk and return aspects. The following are some commonly used option combinations.

The option will expire, if the share price is below $28 on date of maturity. In this case the profit or loss will be as follows:

Covered call Investor buys the underlying assets at price, he believes reasonable and then sells a call option at a strike price above the purchase price. The return depends on the price movement of the underlying assets on date maturity of the option contract. Let us consider one example. Mr. Anand bought 1000 shares of XYZ inc @ $25 per share

So Anand’s total investment will be $25000 (1000*$25) and he received $1500(1000*$1.5) as premium from call option. Following are the possible outcomes. The shares will be called away, if share price is above $28 on date of maturity. In this case the profit will be $3000 (difference between sale price & cost) plus $1500 the premium received, so the total profit will be $4500 on an investment of $25000 for three months.

If Share price is below $28 but above $25 the cost price. The profit will be $1500 the premium received and there will an unrealized profit which is equal to the difference between the market price and cost of the shares. If the share price is below $25, then the profit will be $1500 the premium received and also there will be an unrealized loss equal to the difference between cost of shares and market price of the shares. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Naked Call & Put Options

Bear Put Spread

These types of options are riskier than covered calls. Therefore most of the traders will approve this trade facility, only after through investigations of the financial stability of the investor. Under this method the investor sell or buy the call or put options without ownership of the underlying assets. Generally the investor keeps sufficient funds in money market to cover the obligation from the naked options. Let us consider Mr.Anand’s case above. Instead of buying the 1000 shares of XYZ Inc, he sells a put option at a strike price of $23 with three months maturity for a premium of $2 per share. He will receive $2000 (1000*$2) as premium upfront, for an obligation to buy 1000 shares @$23 after within 3 months. Following are the possible outcomes.

It is a combination buying one put and selling another put, with lower strike price. The premium received will offset the premium paid of buying the put. This combination will result in profit when the share price moves lower because the sold option will expire and the bought option can be exercised.

XYZ share price is above $23 on date of maturity. The put option will expire and the profit will be $2000, the premium received. XYZ share price is below $23. Mr.Anand is under obligation to buy the shares @23. His cost will be $21 net of $2 premium received. So if market price of the shares falls below $21, there will be an unrealized loss equal to difference between market price and cost price. If the Share price is above $21 but below $23 there will be an unrealized profit.

Bear Spread Spread It is combination of above two. This combination can be structured such way to offset the cost of put spread from premium received from call spread. This strategy is used to hedge, without cost, the risk of decrease in portfolio value due to rapid downward movement. Bull call Spread This strategy consists of buying one call option and selling another at a higher strike price. This will result in profit, if the share price moves higher. Bull Put Spread Similar to Bear Call Option this is also a “limited-risk & limited-reward” method, it is combination of short put option and a long put option at a lower strike price. It will generally results in profit when share price movement is steady or moderate increase. Bull Spread Spread

Bear Call Spread

It is a combination of above two, generally used to hedge the risk of steep decrease in value of the portfolio.

This consists of one short call option and one long call option and it is a “limited-risk & limited-reward” method. This method will result in profits if the share price movement is steady or decline. The premium received will generally be the return. It will result in loss if share price rallies, but the long call will cap the loss.

While designing the above option combinations, we have to analyze other factors like the financial stability of the shares, ex dividend date, potential changes in the industry etc. Trading in these types of option combinations, without proper study, will risk the portfolio and the funds earmarked in case of naked options.

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stin

Ju J e Talent Time 2013 Cat 1 Story Writing 1st prize winner

Once upon a time there were two boys whose names were Matt and George who lived in the city of Kingstone. Kingstone wasn’t just any ordinary city. You can imagine it has the cleanest city ever existed. Were people live in harmony, has orderly streets and houses, has a good system of rules and a good education. Matt and George were two educated boys who lived on strict rules recycling and reducing air pollution. One day the two boys decided to camp at Matt’s backyard. As the sun was setting in the distance George saw a were box near the trunk of the tree while gathering twinges in the garden. He gently picked it up like a squirrel and brought it back to the camp to show Matt. They were curious to see what was inside the box in an instance after the opened the box it magically sucked them inside. It began spinning round and round, faster and faster until it stopped in a strange place. They walked around the strange city and saw litter every where, rodents stamping through the streets, the smell of the stinky garbage and saw people who were very ignorant and cared only about them selves. The two boys went to sleep with all these things in the mind. In the depth of their sleep the boys had a vision saying that they had to bring older to and neatness to Hartford just like their fecund home town. They woke up from their dream and came up with a plan. Matt and gathered a small group of children and adult who were willing to help with their plan. First they made flier and used a helicopter to drop the flier to every house in the city. The boys taught the people that people about the importance of recycling and bad effects of littering. In the beginning the boys collected trash from every neighbors door step but soon with the money raised they were able to supply people with recycle bins and arrange a garbage truck to collect trash every Wednesday. People came every day to help with the project of planting gardens, grass and vegetables in vacant plots around Hartford. Hartford had experienced a dramatic change compared to its past times like new freshened air, recycling of materials, new clean places, strict rules of no littering, more generous people and more chances for people to have a good Matt and George taught the people that “even if you are small you can do great things that will bring big changes to others lives”. It was time to go back home, saying best wishes to the people the box whisked the boys back home. Matt and George slept by the camp fire with good feeling in their heart, I an going to end my short story with a famous saying by Robert Red ford, “What we are living with is the result of human choice and it can be changed by making better wiser choice”. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

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nika

It’s Not as Easy as You Think

Dur M u Ch lu ur , Talent Time 2013 Cat 2 Poetry Writing 1st prize winner

In a world with a million Life races by like a stallion Like streaks of paint on a canvass Sometimes leaving us in complete blankess Life is a journey a continuous quest With plenty of pleasures and full of unrest The path of first is smooth and paved No hurdles or storms are needed to be braved. Sooner or later though, we come across a rive Raging and ferocious, the colour of silver With no bridge in sight, a path we must create Choosing if if is zigzagged or completely straight Stone by stone the path is built Across the treacherous water and silt Troubles we will face both big and small No matter what we will conquet them all Soon victory will be ours and we shall celebrate We are in controlm, no need to hesitate One obstacle down our quest we shall continue And at every river start agrun, fresh and new Life is full of both gentle and ferocious rivers Embrace your problems and don’t ever quiver Open your eyes to all different possibilities Don’t limit or hide your proud abilities Life is journey, a quest, an adventure Don’t ever hold back and dare to venture In a world with a million Life races by like a stallion.

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ClAuDIA ThOMAS Talent Time 2013 Cat 3 Story Writing 1st prize winner

The Danger in telling the truth

y Truth

Over …………….. of my thirty-two years it haven always strived to till the truth. This is why it never got married; men are at loss when faced with my brutal honesty it had my last boy friend when it was twentyseven years, and he dumped me after it told him he was too sensitive to hear about his faults. He proved my point. But despite, my single status, it still wanted children, especially a daughter adoption seemed like the most logical namely for my maternal longings, and after a few stressful and expensive years, of brought home Margi Margi was an 18 month told her from Kerala, India and her exotic beauty contracted sharply with milky complexion. Cradling her small, plump body in my arms, it studied her face. Her little upturned nose was needled between two little puddles of chordate it could almost drawn in those I eyes. Little gurgles escaped from her open lips, as I learn in to ……her forehead. I would are for Margi like a daughter, but it dreaded the day when I would have to tell her the wasn’t really mine. It was after Margi started kindergarten when she first noticed that she didn’t look like her mother all the other lids were the same color as their parents, but Margi realigned it was white and she was brown. One night at bedtime, Margi ……….. me about it “Mommy why aren’t we the same color? Did god forger to paint you so

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you could …………… with me?” I sighed as iy tried to answer the long- feared question. “Sweetie, you know how babies come out of their mommy’s tummy right?” Margi modded. I continued. “ well, you come out another mommy’s tummy but she couldn’t take are of you because she died.” I paused, and glared at Margi faced. Her eyes were round, but she was silent it proceeded with my explanation. “I wanted a daughter sp badly, I decided to late are if you instead. By now, my eyes were filled with tears now, as it tried to say the ultimate truth; “ … not really your mommy. It was the truth the bare and painful; truth. I had to say it. But before it could speak, Margi put her chubby arms around my neck and pressed her soft head against mine., “Oh Mommy! It doesn’t matter where it came from Don’t cry!” My heart slipped a beat, wheat speak, said was true, it didn’t matter where she came from, just that it loved her it …….. Margi before saying. “You Margi, you’re right. You’re my daughter because it love you like my daughter”. Happing my daughter to my cheat, it acknowledged the truth. The truth would be whatever it believed to be as, and the only danger was not staying time to m y corrections. Margi had always my daughter, I just realigned the truth my…….

ShWeTA KOChI Talent Time 2013 Cat 3 Poetry Writing 1st prize winner

This hurt and but Still

The loud boom of thunder I stop my art from shock. On the top; A horrible blunder The pain I feel has been blocked This hurts; the pain you have caused me… I try and try Keep my emotions in check You see nothing, not even that fly Crying alone, tears threatening to fall, you can bet but still I manage to avoid you and flee… Me and you, you and me. Isn’t that what you said? Liar ! can’t you see? I am in pain and my eyes have bled! This hurts; this pain I look back down at my painting, the one thing that keeps me free art and art itself keep my heart beating You can’t take my art away from me! But still I want you, I want you to see Pain is my best friend now and because of that I understand what peace truly is. Nothing is born out of vengeance, remember that That is all I have to say about this This hurts me to say Good bye, But still… I have made a choice and I will stick to it. I regret nothing So good bye…

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HmWw aIÄ hcm-dp-t≠m, AsÃ-¦nÂ A\n-b¯n F¶p hcpw Cu hI Ipiem-t\z-j-W-§-fnÂ HmW-¯n\v hcpw AYhm HmW-¯n\v h¶n-cp¶p F¶pw Cu kmcn Ignª HmW-¯n\v FSp-¯-XmWv Fs¶ms¡ HmWt¯ tI{µo-I-cn¨v \½Ä hnti-j-§Ä ]d-bp-am-bn-cp-¶p. ap³s] ms¡ HmWm-h[n kabw Hcp amk-¡m-e-am-bn-cp-¶p. Cu kabw ]c-kv] cw IqSn-Im-gvNbv¡pw kt´m-j-§Ä ]¦p-h-bv¡p-¶-Xn\pw \mw D]-tbmK-s¸-Sp¯nbncp-¶p.

im´m \mbÀ

IÀ¡n-SIs¡Sp-Xnbv¡pw tijw HmW shbnepw HmW-\n-emhpw t]dn s]m¶n³ Nn§w BK-X-amIpt¼mÄ {]Ir-Xnbpw a\p-jycpw Hcp t]mse Dt·-j-`-cn-X-cm-Ip-¶p. Adn-hnsâ hnh[ t{kmX-Êp-I-fnÂ IqSnbpw \½Ä HmWt¯ Adn-bp¶Xv alm-_-en-sb¶ Akpc N{I-hÀ¯n-tbbpw hma-\m-h-Xm-c-t¯-bpam-Wv. _en N{I-hÀ¯n \mSp-hm-Wn-cp¶ Ime-t¯-¸än \mw tI«n-cp¶ ]m«p-I-fnÂ H¶p t]mse a\p-jycpw, IÅhpw NXn-bp-an-Ãm¯ Ime-hpam-bn-cp¶p. ]ns¶t´ B _entb \mSp-I-S-¯p-hm³ hnjvWp-`-K-hm\v Hc-h-Xmcw Xs¶ FSp-t¡-≠-Xmbn h¶p? AXnÂ \n¶pw H¶p a\-Ênem-¡mw. cmjv{Sobw A¶pw C¶pw F¶pw H¶p Xs¶. alm-_-en-bpsS `c-W-¯nÂ {]P-IÄ¡v kt´mjw Xs¶ Bbn-cp-¶p. ]t£ AXpsIm≠p am{Xw Imcyw icn-bm-In-sÃ-tÃm. Ipg-¸-§Ä H¶p-an-Ãm-sX-bpÅ B `cWw A¶pw ]e-cp-tSbpw Dd¡w sISp-¯n-bn-cp-¶p. ^e-tam-þ-alm-_-enbv¡v `cWw am{X-aÃ \mSn-t\bpw \m«m-tcbpw Dt]-£n-bvt¡-≠Xmbn h¶p. NXn ]än-sb¶pw a\-Ên-em-sb-¦nepw kXy-¯nsâ c£bv¡p apJy {] m[m\yw \evInb Xsâ hm¡nÂ Dd¨p \n¶p. ]mXm-f-¯n-te¡v Nhn-«nXmgv¯pw ap³]v Xsâ Hcp B{Klw hma-\\p ap¼msI h¨p. \Ã-h-\ mb _en-bpsS B{K-lt¯ Ah-K-Wn-bv¡m³ hma-\\pw Ign-ªn-Ã. A§ns\ _enbpw {]P-Ifpw H¸w hma-\\pw kt´m-jn-¨p. A¶p-ap-XÂ Nn§-am-k-¯nse Xncp-thm-W-\m-fnÂ alm-_en Xsâ {] P-Itf ImWp-hm³ `qtem-I-¯n-te¡v Fgp-s¶-Åp-¶p. Hcp Ime¯v th≠p-thmfw kvt\lw X¶v kwc-£n¨ N{I-hÀ¯nbv¡p th≠n P\w BÀ`m-S-]-c-ambn Xs¶ kzoI-cWw \evIp-¶p.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Imew hf-sc-b-[nIw apt¼m«p t]mbn. F¦nepw \mw C¶pw B ]pcm-W-I-Y-bpsS hnizm-k-¯ntem AYhm aäp-Im-c-W-§-fmtem C¶pw B BNm-c-§Ä A\p-jvTn¨p t]mcp-¶p. A¯w apXÂ Xs¶ HmWm-tLm-j-§Ä Bcw-`n-bv¡p-I-bm-bn. ]q¡-fhpw DuªmÂ sI«pw ]pen-¡-fnbpw Xncp-hm-Xn-cbpw AS-§p¶ am\-kntImÃmk-ta-Ip¶ ]e-Xcw tIfn-Ifpw DS-se-Sp-¯p. H¸w ]pXnb hkv{X-§fpw hnh[ `£-W-]-ZmÀ°-§fpw sIm≠v hoSp-IÄ kar-²-am-Ip-¶p. \mSpw \m«mcpw kar-²n-bpsS \nd-hnÂ B\-µ-`-cnXcmhp-¶p. ka-b-¯nsâ ]cn-hÀ¯-\-¯n-\-\p-k-cn¨v HmW-¸-cn-]m-Sn-I-fnepw amä-§-fp-≠m-bn. ]≠-t¯-t¸mse C¶v BÄ¡mÀ¡v ka-b-an-Ã. FÃm-hcpw Ft¸mgpw tPmen-¯n-c-¡nÂ. Cu ka-b-¡p-dhv HmWm-L-Hm-j-§fpsS Imcy-¯nepw D≠m-bn. A¯w apXÂ D¯r-«mXn hsc-bpÅ BtLm-j-§Ä Ht¶m ct≠m Znh-k§-fn-embn Npcp§n. HmW-k-Zy-bnepw amä-§Ä h¶p. \mS³ kky-t`m-P\ kZy-I-fpsS Øm\¯v ktkyXc hn`-h-§Ä Øm\w ]nSn-¨p. BtLm-j-§Ä hyXyØ§fm-bn. Ct¸mÄ HmWmtLm-j-§Ä¡p tijw tIÄ¡p¶ hmÀ¯-IÄ-þ-hn-j aZyw Ign¨v acn-¨-hÀ, hntZ-i-aZyw Ign-¨-h-cp-≠m-¡nb hml-\m-]I-S-§-fnÂ Poh³ \jvS-s¸-«-hÀ-þ-hm¡p XÀ¡-§Ä It¿-ä-§-fm¡n PohnXw \jvS-s¸-Sp-¯n-b-hÀþ CsXm-s¡-bm-Wv. HmWm-tLm-j-¯nsâ kt´m-j-t¯msSm¸w Cu hn[-¯n-epÅ Zpc´§fpw \½psS kam-[m-\t¯ \jvS-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶p. DÕ-h-§-fp-tSbpw BtLm-j-§-fp-tSbpw Hs¡ Dt±iw \·tb kzmb-¯-am-¡m-\p-Å-Xm-Wv. Hcp hÀj¯n-\n-S-bnÂ ]c-kv]cw D≠m-bn-«pÅ sNdnb sNdnb ]nW-¡-§fpw shdp¸pw sshcm-Ky-hp-sams¡ Cu BtLm-j-§Ä h¶p t]mbv¡-gn-bp-t¼mÄ \½psS a\-ÊnÂ \n¶pw t]mbn-cn-¡-Ww. ho≠psamcp \h-tN-X-\-bp-ambn PohnXw XpS-c-Ww. PohnX bmYmÀ°y-§-tfmSv aÃ-Sn-¡p¶ C¶t¯ a\p-jy-cnÂ IpSpw-_-¯nsâ `{Z-Xbv¡p th≠n `mcybnÂ \n¶pw a¡-fnÂ \n¶pw AI¶p Ign-bp-¶-hÀ, amXm-]n-Xm-¡-fp-ambn tIhew ktµiw ssIamdn _Ôw ]peÀ¯p-¶-hÀ, Ch-scÃmw hÃ-t¸m-gp-sam¶v IpSpw-_hpw _Ôp-¡fpw Bbn H¯p tNcm³ XpS-§n-sX-bpÅ Ah-k-c-§Ä Xnc-sª-Sp-¡p-¶p. {]nb-s¸-«-hÀ hcp-atÃm F¶v HmÀ¯pÅ kt´m-j-¯nsâ Im¯n-cn¸v h¶p Ign-ªmÂ In«p¶ sNdnb ka-b-¯n-\p-ÅnÂ Df-hm-Ip¶ A\p-`qXn CsXm-s¡-s¡m-≠p-am{Xw PohnXw apt¶m«v \bn-¡p¶p. Ikhpw ap≠pw skäp-km-cnbpw tlm«-enÂ ]mIw sNbvX HmW-Ê-Zy-bpsS ]IÀ¨bpw sSen-hn-j-\ nte HmWm-tLm-j-Im-gvN-Ifpw AS-§nb HmWw. AsXmcp Can-tä-j³ HmWw AÃm-sX´v? ]gb IpSpw_-¯nte HmW-hp-ambn AXn\v hÃ _Ô-apt≠m? F´p sN¿mw Cu ]cn-hÀ¯-\-¯nsâ IqsS \S-¡m-\tÃ \ap¡v km[n¡q F¦nepw t]mbv adª ]g-a-bpsS \·-Itf kvacn-¡p-hm\pw Bcm-[n-¡p-hm\pw \½psS Hmtcmcp¯cp-sSbpw a\Êv B{K-ln¡p-I-bm-Wv. B HmÀ½IfnÂ \mw Pohn-¡p-¶p. HmÀ½-I-tf \n§Ä¡v iX-tImSn {]Wm-aw.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Tessa Joseph Talent Time 2013 Cat 1 Poetry Writing 1st prize winner

Music Music spread smile That goes a smile

The notes sharper than a knife Music adds colour life

Music bring joy Much more than any toy

Music is sure to replace A frown with a on any face

A lovely from of art That soothes my heart

Can fill the soul with passion And keep up with every fashion

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the language of angels For them to sing the carols

Borders are not a barrier When music is a carrier In the world of tringer Music is a heater

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Ime-¯n-s\m¸w ae-bmfw sI. Pb-Ip-amÀ IAS Xnc-¡p-]n-Sn¨ Pohn-X-¯nsâ injvS-amb \nan-j-§-fnÂ F¦nepw kz´w amXr-`m-j-bv¡mbn AÂ¸kabw t]mepw _m¡nsh¡m³ Ign-bm-¯-h-cmbn ae-bm-fn-IÄ Xs¶ amdp-t¼mÄ, Ata-cn-¡-bnse tIcf Atk-Ên-tb-j³ Hm^v ss{Kävhmjnw-KvS¬ kwL-S-\-bpsS hmjnw-KvS¬ hnj³ F¶ ]cn-]m-Sn-bnÂ aebm-f-`m-j-bpsS hfÀ¨-bnÂ Kuc-h-amb Øm\w IÂ¸n-¨p-sIm≠v BZys¯ ae-bmfw sshkv Nm³kn-eÀ ]cn-]m-Sn-bnÂ ae-bmf `mj-bpsS hfÀ¨-bnÂ Kuc-h-amb Øm\w IÂ¸n-¨p-sIm≠v BZys¯ ae-bmfw sshkv Nm³kn-eÀ sI. Pb-Ip-amÀ sF.F Fkp-ambn \S-¯nb A`n-apJ kw`m-j-W-¯nÂ \n¶pw hyà-am-Ip-¶-Xv. B[p-\nIhXvI-c-W-¯nsâ CSp-§nb PohnX§fn-te¡v HXp-§n-Iq-Sp¶ Ata-cn¡³ {]hm-kn-I-fn-epw, kz´w \mSnsâ aWhpw, cpNn-bp-apÅ `mj-kvt\-l-¨nsâ hyà-amb Znim-t_m-[-am-bncp¶p sXfn-ªp-Im-Wp-¶-Xv. imkv{X]ptcm-K-Xn-bpsS AXyp-¶-X-bn-te¡v ]d¶p Ib-dm³ sh¼p¶ a\-Êp-ambn e£y-§Ä tXSp¶ ae-bm-fn¡v ]e-t¸mgpw ae-bmf `mj-am{Xw Adn-bp-¶-hsc ]mÀiz-XvI-cn-¡-s¸-Sp-¶-Xmbn tXm¶p-¶-Xn¶ym-b-amb kwi-b-§Ä t]mepw DbÀ¶p h¶-t¸mÄ kÀ¤m-ß-I-gn-hp-IÄ P\n-¡p-¶Xpw kzXz-¯n-te¡v Adnhv kzoI-cn-¡p-¶-Xv Xsâ {Kma-¯nsâ \njvI-f-¦-amb ae-bmfw `mj-bn-eqsSXs¶ Bbn-cn-¡pw. F¶o hkvXpX sI. Pb-Ip-amÀ hyà-am-¡p¶p. kz´w kz]v\-§-fmb a¡sf tIm¬shâp-I-fnepw kn._n.-F.-kn. ]Tn-¸n-¡p-t¼mÄ ae-bmf `mjbv¡p ]Icw {^©v Npw**½\pw kv]m\njpw FÃmw ] Tn-¡p-¶p. kz´w \mSnsâ kv]µ-\-§Ä t]mepw hyà-ambn {]I-Sn-¸n-¡m³ Ign-bm¯ Hcp Xe-ap-d-bnte¡v AhÄ HgpIn AI-ep-t¼mÄ Cu Imew ad-¶p-X-Åp-¶Xv ae-bmf `mjsb BWv F¶Xp IqSn hyà-am-¡p-¶p. `mj-Xo-{h-hm-Z-¯nsâ ]cn-WnX ^e-ambn ae-bmfw ]Tn¡pI ae-bmfw am{Xw kwkm-cn-¡pI F¶ Hcp k{¼-Zmbw kPo-h-am-Ipt¶m F¶ tNmZy-¯n\p \ÂI-]¶ adp-]Sn hyàhpw hkvX-Xp-]-c-hp-ambn ImWm-hp-¶-Xp-am-Wv. ae-bmf `mj Adnªp F¦nÂ temI-km-ln-Xys¯ \½psS Adn-hn-te¡v ]I-cp¶-Xn\p Ign-bn-Ãm-bn-cn-¡pw. Adnhv F¶ henb kwÚ-bnÂ Cw¥o-jns\ Hgp-hm-¡m\Xn\p Ign-bn-Ã. ae-bm-fs¯ \ne-\nÀ¯n Cw¥o-jns\ kzoI-cn-¡m³ X¿m-dm-hWw F¶ Kuc-h-apÅ hnjbw At±lw A`n-{]m-b-s¸-Sp-¶p. C¶-esb Adn-bp-¶-Xn\pw C¶ns\ ]Tn-¡p-¶-Xn\pw \mtf-¡mbn IcpXnsh¡p¶-Xn\pw A½ae-bm-fs¯ a\-ÊnÂ kq£n-¯p-¶-Xn\p Ign-bWw F¶ ktµ-i-hp-ambn At±lw Ahkm-\n-¸n-¡p-¶p. BtKmfhXvI-c-W-¯nsâ s]mXp-`m-j-bmbn Cw¥ojv amdp-t¼mÄ Ime-¯nsâ Ips¯m-gp-¡nÂs¸«p A\y-ambn Adn-bmsX s]men-bp¶ ]e `mj-I-fp-tSbpw Iq«-¯nÂ Nne-t¸m-sg-¦nepw ae-bm-fhpw hs¶¯ptam F¶ Bi-¦¡v hncmaw C«p-sIm≠v hmjnw-KvS¬ kwL-Sn-¸n¨ Cu A`n-apJw \msf-bpsS tijn-¸p-I-fn-te¡v apXÂ Iq«m-h-s«...

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

AlAN SAJI Talent Time 2013 Cat 1 Essay Writing English 1st prize winner

esterday was a strange day. My mom generally picks me up form Kiss and Ride every day after school. Yesterday she told me to take the bus home. I love taking the bus home, as one of my best friend take the same bus game as me. We draw comics and chat on the bus. It’s a bonus time for me. When I got to the bus stop I didn’t see my mom anywhere. The bus stop is just around the corner from my house so I Walked home. The front door was locked but the garage was open. In entered my home through the garage entrance which was luckily unlooked. Surprise again my mom was not inside the house. I could see some disturbance outside when I picked out of the window I was surprised to see both my parents on top of a tree. My mom suddenly crimpled down and started measuring the circumstance of the free trunk. My dad too climbed down the tree. This was very surprising. They did not seem aware of me. I announced myself. My parent were surprised to see me, they told me they had lost truck of time. We want inside. I kept asking them what they were up to with that tree. Dad said it was a dying tree and they wanted to cut it down. So I let it go. Later in the evening I speed them on top of the tree. This time they made a lot move measurements and even made some drawings. I never threw cutting down a tree was so much work. The weather was warm school would close for summer soon. I wondered what our summer plans my parent haven’t said anything about summer yet. They’ve been engrossed in cutting down the dead tree. I the evening my parents announced they had a surprise; they said we would talk more after dinner. I road through my dinner in my enthuse to know the surprise. After dinner they told the fun thing this summer would be building a tree house. Now I was really excited about the prospect of summer. What could be better that building your own tree house in your own backyard, I discovered my parents had done quite some research on the types of tree houses and based on the measurements my parent had take we had almost all the types we could build. I can’t wait to tell my friends at school about this. I sure all I will dream about is about tree houses.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Parvathy Haridas Talent Time 2013 Cat 2 Story Writing English 1st prize winner

The Wizard has Gone Mad My Friend, Ashwini and I went to magic villa to meet the wizard yesterday. Ashwini had a very high fever so she needed to buy a potion from the wizard’s potion shop. The wizard was a lenient and kind person. He never get angry except when someone says something bad about his potion. Ashwini and I were very good friends of the wizard, only until today. On the night of February 11th , we were at the wizard’s potion shop, looking for a fever potion. There were all kind of medicines over there. We had to find the correct one. when I spotted the potion, a man was speaking over the loudspeaker. This man was not the wizard, it was someone else. He said, “I bought two medicines from the store yesterday to cure my rash and influenza. I used both of them, and guess what I did? It my rash and flu get worse! I don’t care if the wizard get mad or not, but I will never by potion from here again! This is the worst place ever and none of the potions work. At the sound of this message, everybody in the shop left, except for Ashwini and I because we knew that the wizard would become super angry. We stayed to confront him. We did not know why the potion didn’t work for that man. All of the wizard’s potion were flawless. None of them could fail someone. The wizard was turning bright red with anger. He pointed his last two fingers at the clock in the store and he said, “Zeemla Zamla rooch !” after three seconds the clock became a pencil sharpener. He pointed his thumb and ring finger at the chair and said, “Hokra moly sood!” Immediately, the chair become a flower. “What happened to you, wizard? ” Ashwini asked. “I am extremely frustrated! I hate everything in this world! I don’t like you, either!” He started at Ashwini’s eyes and said, “Fleeber quana june!” Ashwini abruptly become frozen. She could not talk, she could not breathe either! But, Ashwini could hear. I yelled, “The wizard has gone mad! Please wizard, unfreeze my best friend. If you do, I will tell you why the man’s potion did not work. “The wizard really wanted to know why the medicine didn’t cure him. He quickly unfroze Ashwini and demanded to know why. “If you don’t tell me know, I will have to freeze both of you death!” The wizard said. “The man actually bought the potions for the cold and bug bites instead of what he rally needed.” I said with a smile. Ashwini was also smiling, then her smile became laughter. The wizard slowly morphed his straight mouth in to a smile. soon, he was also laughing. Everyone in the whole store was laughing. It was a very happy and pleasant night. Kerala Association of Greater Washington

Ashwini, the wizard, and I spent the whole night at the wizard place. Even though someone goes out of their mind, there are still many possibilities to help them become nice, just the wizard. Last Night, I well to sleep and the next morning opened the front door and everything was the opposite of normal. I had expected to experience the powerful rays of the sun, but instead the sky was pitch black, resembling a barren and deserted alleyway. confused . I went up tot eh calendar to confirm the date. It read april 18the , 2013 which was a Monday. Flabbergasted. I tried to comprehend this bizarree sense of logic. Yesterday, I had gone to sleep on a Fridya, anticipating for the weekened with a gurdging sense of acceptacne, I rushed downstairs to discover that I was home alone. with an aunce of fear creepting in, I commenced to get ready for school. There was orange juice in the milk carton, the yogurt was in the freezer, the bathrooms were locked and the fridge was not woring. Today, by far, was very far from normal. U sprinted to my bus stop, and for once, without looking back. Nearly, ten minutes had passed and the bus still hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t arrived. With dread killing my hopes, I heard the screeching sound of my school bus. As U looked up, something was borribly wrong. Instead of seeing the mechanic yellow lump, my eyes met with a crimson massive vehicle. I hopped on thid peculiar bus to see myself surrouded by strangers. They bore their steely eyes into me like U was an alien from outer space. all the seats were occupied, except for one. So I slumbled to take that. As I replayed the events of the day. I wondered where normal was. where my parents, friends were. At last the bus lumbered on a hill, and I expected to see the usual tannish building. To my awe, I saw a fort enveloped in fog and mist. Cobwebs were plastered everywhere and the fort creaked as studnets, including myself rushed in the hallways were filled with green goop. and teachers were now here to be seen. On a normal day, the teachers would be guarding the halls and us students would be in class. Exactly twenty minutes had passed and the first bell had not yet ** which was very strange. I longed for normal and yearned to know where it was I mustered up some courage and set out to visit the front office, determined to get back normal. The office was desolated and the usual I business was not present. For a second, I Wished to have someone to help me someone that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a stranger. AS I bit back my trembling lip , I trudged further into the office. tHere were two doors to my right and two doors to my left. As I pondered onwhich door to open, I fell someone push me. Appalled, I closed my eyes to brace myself. After a minute or two, I adjusted to my current surroundings, which was a barren green space. There were scattered books all over the room, and I searched for a trap door if possible, anything to get out of here. Suddenly I heared to hollow screeching sound which almost deafened me. I looked back and shrieked. Normal, Where are you, when I really need you? Standing before me was a ghost. Yeas, A real live a host.SO NOT NORMAL. The ghost shrieked once again and grabbed a hold of my shoulders. I tensed and my vision was blurry. My math teachers was holidng out my latest assignment. Yes, normal was back, or so we hope.

Kerala Association of Greater Washington