Middle Age Upgraded : K Achuthan

I  read last week that a survey in UK has reclassified 'middle age' to be starting from 53 years & not from 35 etc. This was an endorsement of what I have always thought, except that I thought middle age starts only when you are ready. Symptoms of middle age are interesting. Your dentist is younger than what she used to be, you cant handle a TV remote without help, you refrain from upgrading your mobile phone because you find it a nuisance to cope with the options, you are aware & guilty about the extra drink that you had, etc. 

I am at that stage in life where my mind yearns to be un-middle-aged. I coloured my hair when I attented Sruti's registration wedding. "He was so graceful when he did not do this", Sruti tells David's parents. "A pink shirt?", Neena exclaimed when I wore one for a friends son's reception. "Not another one Sir for you", said my 32 year old factory manager when I was competing with him in a drinking session. "Great job done, but time for you to put your legs up", said an old friend. World around me is in a haste to retire me, blank me out.

I am suddenly conscious that I go for evening walks with people who are retired. That people who not retired dismiss me with a "hi". That when I get stopped for drunken driving, they just wave me away. That when I stand in  Q they say "after you".  That people greet me with an opening remark, "how is your health".

I sit home as I write this. Monday morning. How many less-than-middle-aged can do this? The middle age has arrived prematurely. When I look at the mirror every morning, I debate with a happy dilema as to what I should select to preserve? My mirror would snarl back," preserve your personality". 

"Uncle, I need some money to buy books". Anjali is the daughter of a construction worker. She sat next to me as I drove her to a bookshop. Middle age is that stage in our lives when we are poised to help, with our wisdom & our resources. Thank God that I am middle-aged.

'The joy of gifting' week comes soon. Age is only a number, but middle age is magic. Let us handle it in style & make it count.

I am 56 and proud of it.

Gladys Isaac, Principal Malabar Christian College, Retires

Aumray's Tribute
Gladys and 'The Class of 74' we take pride in knowing you first

' Moving On.', I think was an old English song that fits this attachment.

It does'nt men an end, just a shift of status, maybe for greater accolades to follow.

Gladys was always the mother hen of her brood of girlfrends' at school, and moving on to teaching was a natural progression of a very warm person who loved to protect, inspire and guide. 

This little tribute in addition to what the newspaper is to a spontaneous friend, a teacher both at home and at school and a leader wherever she went. I had the pleasure of watching from afar not only her achievements at Malabar Christian College, but also through the various inter Christian faith functions both musical and others.

A significant day for her move on - The Resurrection - A new dawn.

All Joy and Happiness in morrow.

Achuthan's Tribute

Gladys,

You finally retire as a teacher. My dad did so and I know how much more he could contribute to the community as a teacher after his retirement. You are only retiring from MCC. You are now accessile to a wider community. All the best. We have not heard the last from you just because you retired. 

Tom Cheriyan's Tribute

Dear Gladys,

Aumray's words ring true. In school you were like the confidante, advisor for your group of friends! You became that person on a wider scale when you took the role of college administration diligently. You have gained the respect of the wider community for the services rendered. As Achu said, the community will have now better access to your skills and experience.

Wishing you years more of productive, healthy and content time to come!

Love and best wishes 

Madhav Das's Tribute

Hi Gladys,

It is a rare fortune for someone to grow up in a town as wonderful as Kozhikode, find a satisfying vocation and career largely around community service and be respected as an icon by two generations and more. The news clip obviously is constrained by space but I think it captures Gladys, her work and spirit of service in a nutshell.

During the last years of school, many of us had begun to visualize our careers ahead, and many of us had already seen Gladys in the role of a community leader, teacher and mentor. That you were able to manifest this vision is remarkable, Gladys.

Interestingly, you have indicated to the reporter that this is only a brief pause before you begin fulfilling some larger social commitments. All the best, good luck and God Speed.

In the meanwhile, I am putting this up in the Class website (hope you all remember we have one, please visit http://centralschool1974.blogspot.in/, you will find this one and the earlier tribute to Krishnan, who retired a few months ago).

I echo Aumray's suggestion- time we meet once more, this time in Calicut. If a few of you nod in agreement, we will do the legwork to make it happen.

Jyoti Nayar's Tribute

Well done Gladys!! Wow both of us joined collegiate education in 1981!!

We are really proud of you. Walking past MCC when we were in KVK, we never dreamt that one of us would be a principal there. Congratualtion for all the changes you brought about in the college. Remember the project you wanted to set up after you retired - dont loose sight of it.

Good Luck and God Bless

PK Krishnan's Tribute

Hi Gladys,
very glad note that u were the principal of the college where  achu ,nandakumar , haris and myself studied after passing out from kv and u have really done ur job well by bringing in  lot of changes and innovations to the great institution and have taken to greater heights. 'congratulations for the great achievement and wish all the best in the new ventures  u intend to get involved after retirement.
                          hope to meet all our  old friends in the next get together.i have met nandakumar menon  twice during my official visit to malppuram and then madhavdas,achu and narendran in bangalore.though i thought of dropping in to mcc while u were the principal,it was very unfortunate that i couldn't make it
                              once again all our best wishes

PK Krishnan : Tributes on the eve of his retirement as Additional DPI, Govt of Kerala

PK Krishnan, Additional DPI, Govt of Kerala, retires today.


If you recall, he was the silent player and "executioner", with a smirk and smile very nuanced and subtle, often keeping others gusessing on his motives. He was a friend to all and found time to share his smart-alecky anecdotes during the classes when it got too boring. How many of you know he was one of the favorites of the teachers, largely because he did not break rules and was a regular Mon-sat, 9 to 5 student.


We wish him well.

Snaps from 1974-Tom Cheriyan, Vidya and Pradeep N

In Memoriam Rajesh Khanna : P Rajashekhar

Bhuj gaya woh chirag bhi,

Joh rahe hum sub ke dilomme,

Ab rahe bhi tho kuch baakhi,

Fakath inn ki yaaden hi yaaden.

Little Bit Of Everything : K Achuthan

Little did I know what life had in store

But little did I believe that there would be any less than more

 

Little did I imagine where I would be today

For little did my yesterday tell me where I would be this day

 

Little do I know what awaits me tomorrow

Life is about how much you give than you borrow

 

Little will I carry when I depart

I have given more than what I should part

 

Little of all that have added to a sum

Life has been so good that I will keep mum

Petless in (Ferns) Paradise : K Achuthan

We are pet less today and we live amongst a community that did not dissuade grooming of pets. In fact we have some pet lovers who encourage pets to be groomed.

To understand what it means to have a pet, you must realise what it means not to have one. In the few days that I lost both my pets, I realise that coming home is just 'coming home'. It would be sometimes better to walk through a 'welcoming' hotel reception than coming home to a petless house. After 25 years of our marriage, I must confess that Neena and I have gone through most of the drama that we realise the importance of giving 'space' to each other. When I come home, Neena is busy teaching yoga somewhere. If Robin & Ferro were to be there, they would have greeted me in such that I would feel as though I was coming home first time as a bridegroom.

The mornings begin as though I have been a lost a found item. The way they would lick me, I would not need a razor to shave. The joy of taking them out for their first walk and to see them do their jobs, you would be so relieved that even if you have a constipation, you would thank them that they did it on your behalf. On mornings that you wake up with a hangover, taking a pet out for a walk is like having a head massage. Pet less guys will never understand this.

And then there is the ocassional fight with Neena that sometimes grows so loud that our dogs would vanish under the cots and sofas. They know when to broker peace, for when they feel that the intensity is over, they would come up to us and cosy up. All tensions vanish and the topic of dispute changes to topic of affection, their affection.

The pain of having a pet is when they fall ill. The symptoms start with them ignoring food. From then on, it is trips to the Vet. When they recover, it is although you have lost and found your Rolex watch.

We had Robin, a Dalmation, and Ferro, a Dashhund. Both left in a space of two weeks.

To have a pet is like to have a child who will never grow up rationally but will multiply emotionally. If you are not strong hearted to accept that his life span is very small and no matter how close he is to you, you must let him go, please keep a pet. Please dont keep a pet if you are not ready to accept him as your family member. He will give you joy and he will give you pains too. He would chew into your leather sofa, bite your best friend, shit in your poojs room, and will not cuddle up to you when you really want him to. Count on him to give unconditional love.

Bow, bow,
Achu