REC / NIT Trichy, April 2005

REC/NIT Temple. We stopped by REC/NIT on our way to Kerala. I took several pictures to publish for nostalgic RECTian friends. We entered through the residential entrance (We were coming from Thanjavur), went to the Temple, Opal, Library, Shopping complex and the hostels and exited through main entrance. When I was talking to Gurpreet Singh about my trip, he suggested I go to the departments (at least our ECE) and talk to the staff; may be next time.

They did not hesitate in allowing me inside Opal to take pictures! I guess I do not look threatening anymore :(

Library. Some of us used it more regularly than others, I am not one of them :)

One of new department buildings, right behind the library.

Are we still REC?

Wester Union reaches REC at post office.

Yes, there is an ATM in REC now.

You can now Express Yourself with Airtel inside the campus and shop at the supermarket.

The old juice center is now Aavin milk depot.

Repair shop. Do RECTians ever repair their cycle???

The juice center has relocated around the corner. Check out the new menu. Lemon juice price has increased 300% in 14 years. Hmm.

Canteen.

No comments, read for yourself the menu!

One of the two new hostels, the other one is Beryl. This one is behind Ruby. The new hostels look nice, the rooms are stacked to have windows on 2 sides. I talked to the students there, the big complaint was irregular water supply, apparently bad plumbing ! As far academics, usual complaints; its more 'schoollike' than ever before and not enough days between exams to study! With tough competition from several high quality private colleges in TN, NIT has to work hard to stay in top 5 these days.

Unlike our days, Agate now has 5 per room; first year students also share part of Coral with the PGs. Second year students also share room, two to three per room! And single room only from third year! Population explosion huh?

Why are there much fewer cycles in Emerald ??? Emerald hosts the Pepsi stand.

Sapphire. Observed several rooms getting newspaper delivered. The bike says 'Definetly female'.

A view of ball court and Lapis from Sapphire.

Inside Sapphire.

Behind Sapphire.

TT Room

Every village ..errr.. hostel gets 'clean' water and a telephone connection now.

It is exam time. Couple of guys cooling off in the early morning (after a night of intense study ???)

NIT Clock tower, still does not work!

NIT Entrance, with a nice sign and landscaping.

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Pankuni Utsavam

Sri Rajagopala Swami on PanjaMugaAnumar, one of eighteen days of Pankuni Utsavam (festivity), Apr 1, 2005. I had a chance to see few days of Utsavam this year after 15 years. It is heartening to see the Utsavam is being celebrated with same fervor. The Utsavam is still a highlight of a year in Raja Mannargudi.

Karthi and Srinidhi next to .... (sorry I forgot the temple elephant's name, will ask Amma or Karthi).

Sri Rajagopal Swami on Thanga Surya Pirabai (10th day Utsavam). Apr 6, 2005.

When we were kids, Surya Pirabai used to be the best day for fireworks. We used to go hours ahead of time to get a good vantage point (such as the PWD building roof! ) or jostle for a reasonable location near one of those compound walls near Vanakkara Street. I was reliving those days looking at few thousand kids on roof tops and around Vanakkara Street.

This time around we got the best spot. Couple of years back we bought one of the prime properties in the area as an investment. It is right in front of Vanakkara Street. In fact, our terrace is often used as launching pad for the fireworks. I was overcome with emotion thinking, in a span of just 15 years, a kid, not unlike those thousands watching by the compound walls, was able to buy one such property. I thanked my parents dedication and opportunities provided by the free states of India and USA (in spite of their shortcomings). How fortunate are we to be born in a free democratic state that allowed us to flourish. How fortunate are we to be born in a generation that witnessed and participated in the best upward mobility of lower middle class in India in several generations. I was gratified to look at the crowd and know that there are many future doctors, engineers and other professionals who will achieve any thing they set their minds to and do good to their town, country and the world.

It seems the firework has grown with the age. In those days, it used to be mostly colorless and at ground level (which still was the best one hour show around). Now it is such a great colorful display on the sky (and ground). It is awesome. It is comparable to July 4th fireworks in any midsized US city. Only thing missing was proper choreography and coordination.

I must confess, I wasn’t well prepared with my camera. So I decided not the publish the lousy pictures I took of a great show. I will try better next time.

My son, who will wake up for the slightest creak of the door, slept the entire time on my shoulder impervious to even the loudest and brightest fireworks!!! He simply was too tired from a busy day of playing and had not his day nap!

Vennai Thazhi. Apr 12, 2005.

It is another highlight of the 18 days of Utsavam. Vennai Thazhi is a day time event. During Vennai Thazhi, Sri Rajagopal Swami will appear in the incarnation of Bala Krishnan with Vennai Thazhi (his favourite butter pot).

Devotees worship him and offer Vennai (Butter) in PooArasa ILai. With throng of devotees, and the Vakanam running fast in hot summer day, it has become a tradition to throw the leaves with butter towards the Lord. You can see butter all over the Lord and on people nearby and more leaves flying.

I learned Mannargudi is one of few places where the Lord is still carried on the shoulder without any mechanical help. In fact, the people who do this generation after generation, fight not to give up this Holy Right. Of course they do not wear any foot wear when carrying the Lord. You can understand why the Vakanam runs as fast as it does under the hot April sun.

During Vennai Thazhi, you can see scores of 'Neer moar panthal' all over the town offering free cold water and buttermilk from earthen pots. Many other businesses make use of the oppurtunity to distribute freebies with their tademarks.

During Vennai Thazhi, Pinnazhagu (rear decoration) is special too. People line up to see that also.

Amma And Appu. Vennai Thazhi. Apr 12, 2005.

Temple Elephant.

Thaer (Temple Car) is the final day of 18 days of festivity. The Thaer is pulled around the four Veedi's by the devotees (now a days mostly NHSS students). If you think this Thaer is magnificent, wait until you see Thirvaroor AazhiThear. As they say, 'Mannargudi Mathil Azhagu, Thiruvaroor Thaer Azhagu'. I did not get a chance to see Thiruvaroor Thaer this year...

After the 18 days of Utsavam, Lord and His Consort rest on 'Pon Oonjal' (Golden Swing) for a month of 'VidaiAatri' (I may be wrong about the duration and Pon Oonjal; it has been two decades since I attended this festivity). During which time pirasangams, classical dances, dramas, puppet shows, debates (Vazhakadu and Patti Mandrams) based on Ramayana, Mahabaratha, Harichandra Puranam, Silapathikaram etc are held. I fondly remember my dad taking me there night after night. I can clearly remember the sounds of Dr Theeran, Sri Kirubanada Variyar, Dr Selva Ganapathy and many other Tamil scholars who participated in those programs. I remember Swarnamuki's Baratham (especially Mayil Attam). I remember fervently supporing Karnan as better man than Tharman during those Vazhaku Mandrams. I remember sobbing through Harichandran drama. I remember countless morals I learned from all those. The programs usually start at 10 PM. Even though I was teen and preteen, I never felt asleep as late as 3,4 or even 5 in the morning because the programs were so absorbing. Most fascinating thing I remember is, in that big crowd, dad always knew where I was sitting and fetch me at the end (he would always stand way back, not sit). On the way back, dad will get me a special milk, bananas and my favourite sevu. Dad was not able to take my siblings same way to this festivity as when they were growing, the family was bigger and work was much harder.

Srinidhi feeding Periyappa his birthday cake. We celebrated Periyappa's 81st birthday. Apr 11, 2005.

Periyappa celebrating his 81st birthday at our home.

This time around Srinidhi was not interested in riding the bikes (eventhough he still insisted sitting on sitting on parked bikes for hours). He simply felt it too risky. His favorite ride became the Aaaautooo. It became quite a task to get him off an auto or even to distract him away from the sound of an auto passing by. When we left India, Vidya got him an auto toy. God only can help us when that toy breaks!

Srinidhi's friends.

A flock of sheep going through our street. During summer, these flocks are contracted to camp in the fields for organic fertilizer (their manure).

Srinidhi had his second mottai this year. This is 'Oor mottai'. So we didn't have to go any where. In fact, the mottai was right at our home. Seeing me getting my beard shaved by the barber, Srinidhi was at ease. He was more than happy to get his mottai. Apr 7, 2005.

Srinidhi having fun.

Vacation reading

I was going to write my review of the vacation reading, I was half way done when Srinidhi crashed my system, this was on Apr 10th, never got another chance to update the blog for rest of India trip. Oh well, I will write the review some other time. For now, pictures from the trip.