My pet chronicles -Part 1

I have had pets ever since I can remember.My first pet (& first gift) was a kitten.I remember my dad telling me that he has a gift for me,while driving me back from school to home.I was 3 or 4 at that time & the greatest gifts I could think of was bread(which I was very fond of) and tooth paste(colgate had launched a new red tooth paste at that time).But the gift was sitting on a chair in the verandah & it was a kitten (white & yellow with blue eyes).I remember seeing a big wound in its neck,from a tom cats' attack,& from whom my dad kindly rescued it.Being a child,I was not allowed to touch it.However,I used to gaze at it for long periods.Sadly,I don't remember what happened to it afterwards.

2 or 3 years since the kitten episode,we shifted to our new house.My dad had promised that he would buy me a puppy & discussing which breed to buy, was one of my favourite timepass.As it happened,one fine evening my dad asked me to get dressed.In the car,he told me that he was taking me to buy a puppy.But on reaching there,we understood that pet owner had sold the puppy to some one else.I was very sad & cried.Meanwhile,my dad & his friend went to another pet shop. That was how,fate brought Tinku ,the spitz, into our lives.Tinku was named by my mom (although she claims it was me) and was only 3 months old (at that time) & pure white in colour.

All of us had a really good relationship with her.On her first night,she was put in the dressing room,while we we slept in the bedroom. Continously for 3/4 hrs she whined,after which my dad let her into the bedroom.She immedietly went under the bed & it became her favourite place for sleeping afterwards.

She had a special bond with me.I remember her waiting for me anxiously in the evenings,when I got back home from school & of her trying to fetch anyone,if I cried/ acted like crying.She,obviously,became very upset,if I cried.My mom is not very fond of pets,but Tinku still holds a special place in her heart.Even now,after 7 years of Tinku's demise,mom still compares my current dog with her & starts a sentence by saying "athu tinku".Apparently,Tinku used to get up with her early in the mornings and used to provide her company in the kitchen,while she cooked.My dad was her favourite of all,n she used to stand in 2 legs,when he said "Tinku,namukku,dance cheyyam",a rare privilege only allowed for him.

I used to play quite a lot as teacher & Tinku was perhaps,my only student.I used to make her sit on a stool & teach her for hours on end.A special memory,I have of her is her reluctance to take bath.
Sundays,were her bathing days and I had to practcally drag her out from underneath the sofa,her favourite hiding place.After the bath,I hd this routine of dressing her up.I used to put "pottu" & that too a bright red one,on her head,& sometimes a red clip as well,which,she thoroughly enjoyed.

She liked travelling (or rather sitting) in the car alot & perhaps,she is the only dog ever,to have travelled to all relatives' houses.

She was firecely loyal also.She couldn't resist the temptation of food from others.But only daddy,mummy & me were allowed to touch & cuddle her.If anyone attempted to touch her,they were trying to earn themselves a bite.

She had this motherly approach to whatever pets,I had at that time.There were other dogs,mostly stray,cats,rabbits,hens & a pigeon.She looked after them & also showed her affection by thorughly licking all of their bodies.

She was jealous of my mother's affection to me & all of us were astonished ,once when she tried to sit in my mother's lap after I jumped off from her lap.

she was treated as one of a family & every summer dad used to shorten both my hair as well as Tinku's.She liked veggie dishes a lot & her favourite fruits were banana & tender coconut.

She lived 12 years with us & I still remember the day she died as if,it was yesterday.It was the day before my 12th board examinations & I was so distraught that,I still wonder,how I managed to pass the exam.

I have this hope of meeting her after my death,for,they say that even animals have life after death.


to be continued........

K.V.Surendranath

My Asan Maman
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Personally,K.V.Surendranath,was "Asan maman" to me.Being my dad's uncle and staying with us,he actually was my role model of a grandpa.I remember teaching him (he being my only student) while playing as a teacher.He was very fond of me and ironically,he was the reason,I got my first beating.Once,while playing,I called his name while taking attendance,but,he didn't respond because he was busy reading the newspaper.I had a stick with me,at that time,using which,I gave him a beating, & that too a strong one .I remember him crying out loud,hearing which my dad came out & needless to say,I got the taste of my first beating.

I remember seeing his astonished face,while hearing me reciting poems at the age of 3 (thanks to my mom) , turning into delight.I also remember sitting in his lap and seeing him pacify many people,who came to see him.He was a great philanthropist & humanitarian.

I remember his pride,when I got good marks for my board examinations (10th) and later,him asking my mom not to scold me,when I got only enough marks for passing the 12th examinations.He took great joy in explaining to everyone that I'm studying Biotechnology.He used to say "avalu BIOTECHNOLOGY ya padikkunnathu".I remember some of my relatives' faces when he didn't feel that studying Engg is not a great thing,but studying Biotechnology is.

I used to get thrilled at his sucess in the elections and also sad,at his failures.But it astonished me that he was the bravest of his gang,even when he failed terribly ,albeit due to the foul play,while competing with Mr.K. Karunakaran.The foul play was later acknowledged & accepted by Mr.Murali,at the memorial meeting which took place at Victoria Hall,TVM.But by the time,it was too late ,because he was no more.


My good memories of him are many,but I feel very sad,when I remember his last days.Fragile,old & vulnerable to his own relatives' foul play,his only source of solace were my parents.I give my sincerest thanks to god,that,I had the chance to meet and interact with this great personality during my life time.


Asan to his fellow beings
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Surendranath or “Asan” to everyone who knew him, was an epitome of probity and a man with deep understanding of Indian philosophy and Marxism-Leninism. He can be rightly called as “Gandhian Communist”.

A scholar and intellectual, Surendranath was known for his spartan lifestyle and unblemished public life full of personal sacrifices for the causes he stood for.

Surendranath was an astute environmental campaigner joining force with greens in the state on issues like conservation of Silent Valley forests.

He was a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly for three consecutive terms starting in 1980, and also served 2 years as a member of parliament, during which time, he was given the “Best Parliamentarian Award”.

He entered politics while he was a student and had founded the Thiruvananthapuram Students Organisation (TSO). After his studies, he worked for a brief while, as reporter for a newspaper of the time `Indian Thinker', but had to leave the job when it was revealed that he was a Communist sympathiser. He returned to journalism much later in life as editor of `Marxist Veekshanam', an ideological journal. `Lokathinte Mukalthattil', a travelogue written after a journey to Manasarovar, is a widely acclaimed work in its genre. It is now a text book stipulated by Kerala University.Surendranath became a member of the Communist Party in 1945 and played a major role in building the party in Thiruvananthapuram district. Police repression forced him to go underground for a year during 1946-'47 and later during 1948-'52. Branded a `Chinese spy' along with hundreds of Communist leaders during the Indo-China war, he was in jail for six months during 1963. An efficient trade union leader, Surendranath was in the forefront of the efforts to organise transport workers and the moving spirit, along with T. V. Thomas, behind the 1954 transport workers' strike. He was also one of the first to organise workers of Travancore Titanium Products Limited, Travancore Rubber Works Limited and the Metropolitan Company. He was the Thiruvananthapuram district secretary of the CPI and member of the party State executive and national councilThough a disciplined communist and keen trade unionist, Surendranath was reputed as liberal Marxist opposed to doctrinaire approach to issues.

He passed away on September 9,2005.