This time of the year is where we all have been eagerly waiting to welcome “Mahabali”, as you all are aware much awaited COMA Onam celebrations is around the corner, behind the scenes our volunteers are working hard to make the Onam celebration a grand success. We hope all of you will get to enjoy this beautiful festival with your family and friends.

Reflections or Ramblings (Edition-2) by Hari Narayanaswami.

I won’t expect anyone to disagree with me if I say there is a world of difference between Kerala and Ohio. We are at least 7000 miles apart to start with and Ohio winter is not too far out in case you haven’t noticed!  But, usually in August as the summer starts waning and the sunny evenings leave an orange glow in the western sky, with few clouds hanging around in the sky to add a shade to the glow, Ohio does remind me of my late summer evenings in Kerala. I used to enjoy the leisurely walk in my neighborhood on those late May evenings, with the glow of setting sun still hanging in the sky, an anticipation of upcoming rains hanging somewhere silently in the breeze and the unbridled cacophony of birds sharing their day’s stories as they settle back in nests. (There weren’t these many vehicles honking away to glory and spoiling the ambiance at the time)

Undoubtedly the best time to be in Kerala is during the Onam. With the monsoons having taken a break, the nature looks like having emerged fresh from a shower and somehow everything suddenly looks positive all around. Something like a Christmas cheer settles in. Everyone appears to have forgotten the many difficulties of the scorching summer and the torrential rains of monsoon. Flowers are blooming, sky looks pristine blue and full moon nights are simply gorgeous. No wonder Keralites chose their biggest festival to be at this time. My pet peeve used to be the school quarterly tests, ‘ona pareeksha’, that were invariably scheduled right after the Onam vacation as the prime spoiler.

When did Keralites start celebrating Onam? The myths associated were interesting but the historical timeline of them  didn’t exactly make sense to me. One myth said Kerala was created when the sea withdrew for the length Parasurama threw his axe from Gokarnam.

According to Purana, this is supposed to have happened in the third of the four Yugas called Threta Yuga. Kerala’s favorite emperor Mahabali, the key legend of Onam belonged to the Krita Yuga, few millennia before Parasurama. Obviously the stories didn’t gel though I still loved both these myths. Thinking outside of this myth, one has to wonder where exactly did these key characteristics of Onam like the reminiscence of a golden past, the hope and anticipation that those days will come back once again, actually originate from? I had to dig into Kerala’s history to find a sensible answer that at least made logical sense to me.

Kerala’s trading history goes way into the past and the region is considered to be the source of spices and essences used by Egyptians, Babylonians and even King Solomon of Israel. Ptolemy in 2nd century AD refers to ‘Kerala puttar’ and famous ports in Kerala  like Musiris and Thondi. The history of spice trades with Arabs, Romans and Chinese could be traced back to late centuries of BCE. However, the first time Kerala saw a really powerful empire that unified it to a good extend was in the 8th entry CE. This was the second Chera Empire of the Kulasekharas that was established with the capital of ‘Mahodayapuram’ which is supposed to be somewhere near today’s Kochi. The first Chera empire in the early centuries of AD is mentioned in the Sangham poetry of Tamil Nadu. Their capital is known as ‘Vanchi’ is supposed to have been close to today’s Kodungalloor.

A number of famous kings including the vaishnava saint Kulasekhara Alwar as well as Sthanu Ravi Varma were part of the second Chera dynasty. Most of the Kings were scholars, people oriented and supporters of art and literature.

The glorious period of the second Chera dynasty, a flourishing period of no war and total social amity,  lasted until beginning of 11th century when the Chola kings decided to invade. Though the Chola king Kulothungan didn’t completely overthrow the Chera state, he did manage to weaken it significantly, move them out of Mahodayapuram and destroy that city.  After the dissolution of the dynasty, the land of Kerala was broken down into small chiefdoms called as ‘nadu’ and were ruled by local chieftains.

My romantic thinking leads me to believe that this is the time period when the Onam festival originated. A festival of hope for a distressed people living in difficult conditions, reminiscing on the glories of the past when there was no shortage for food, a powerful and able administrator was in charge and there were no worries of safety and security. Whether I am right or wrong about this, the Onam festival has to say something about the spirit of this ‘God’s own country’ where people come together as one in times of need, overcoming all their divisions and spreading hopes of a better tomorrow. On a lighter note, look at how many decades Keralites have voted alternatively right and left in elections and each time expected a new beginning with their Government. We, Keralites never lose hope!!

Onam greetings to each and everyone of you and looking forward to see you at this year’s COMA Onam festival!

Trip to United States of America – By Malathy Nair

COMA Onam Celebration

The wait is over! Tickets for COMA Onam Celebrations 2019 is open now. The event is on Saturday, September 14th at Westerville North High School. In addition to the sumptuous Sadya, many cultural and fun programs are planned. The venue will be open from 11:00 AM and Sadya will promptly start at 11:30 AM. Cultural programs will start at 1:30 PM.

Click below for more details and purchasing tickets: https://www.comaohio.org/onam-2019/

If you are NOT a COMA Member yet, click on the below link to become a member and receive reduced ticket prices for Onam and Christmas events.
https://www.comaohio.org/membership-account/membership-levels/

Malayalam Class:

We would like to remind you all that Malayalam class will resume on Sunday, September 22nd (Time: 11:00 AM to noon) at the same venue as last year, Lazelle Woods Community Center, 8140 Sancus Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215). We are very excited to start the adult class and are looking forward to another great year. For registration, please send an email with your/child’s detail to coma.officials@gmail.com.

Giving back to Kerala:

As communicated earlier, COMA has started an initiative to give back to Kerala. We are very happy that the idea is welcomed by our community and thankful to all of you who supported with your generous donations. If you missed the earlier communication, please see ‘Giving back to Kerala’ for more details and payment methods. Please remember that together,  we can make some real meaningful differences in people’s lives. 

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

• Jul 14 ‘2019 – Roopesh Sathyan, Sandeep Nair, Sunitha Sandeep
• Jul 18 ‘2019 – Ashish, Abhi, and Adithya Muthiraparambath
• Aug 11 ‘2019 – Valsan, Hrishi, and Niranjan Namboodhiri.
• Aug 25 ‘2019 – Mary Eapen,Keziah Uthup and Marissa Uthup
• Sep 8 ‘ 2019 – Saira Nawaz,Razvi Razack
  

North South Foundation Columbus

Here in Midwest we are now seeing the major seasons change of the year, and to every ones delight our curbside trees are turning gorgeous with those fall colors.Before its loo late you have couple of weeks to explore some of the beautiful scenic dives in and around Ohio and experience the golden light of mother nature. In this edition of the newsletter of Hari has written a beautiful poem and Manju is talking about the importance of Malayalam education but to begin with, Shraddha have written a piece about relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and his values in our lives and for the generations to come. Happy Reading!!! and Wishing you all a Happy Diwali!!!

Celebrating Gandhi – His Values and Principles by Shraddha Krishnan

Reflections or Ramblings – (edition 3) by Hari Narayanaswamy

I, too strolled up a mount
Coming upon two forking paths*
Leading away to places far
Mysteries unseen, buried very deep

One was hemmed with flowery shrubs
Jasmine and Lily, Lavender and Daisies
Opening the gate for rushing thoughts
Waking up dreams that slept in heart

Dreams of a spring bright with Sun
Sprawling meadows and shiny grass
Daffodils swaying, breeze very light
Darting birds and clear blue sky

Other was laid with fallen leaves
Glistening in colors that bring us cheer
Sun’s rays playing hide and seek
Fresh odor of cedar, oak and birch

Solemness of a winter not yet here
Traces of a summer not yet gone
Clouds that rush to homes far off
Hearts that yearn for long lost love

Down I went on my autumn path
Sparsely treaded, rarely passed
What I come upon was not my care
Breathing joy on a boundless flight

*Reference is to Robert Frost’s famous poem ‘Road not taken’

Why Malayalam ? by Manjula Nair

It is ironic that I am writing about why it is important to learn Malayalam , in English. My intent is to reach a broader audience and also those who do not know Malayalam. I read somewhere that the biggest human invention is our languages. Languages have helped humans communicate and that has led us towards civilization. I am sure there are some of us who would argue that animals and birds communicate better than humans in this day and age. And there are also people (like me) who believe that non verbal communication is way more effective. But let’s table that topic for another day.

Coming back to the importance of communication , done in the right way, it is the most powerful tool that exists today. It could be used to influence human minds, give new perspectives, forge relationships, soothe an aching heart. But since it is such a powerful tool, it can cause just as much destruction too. Communication or the lack of, has destroyed relationships, caused world wars, Hence the importance of using it carefully and mindfully.

Having said this, I need to tell you why I think it is important to learn your mother tongue.  As humans, one of our most basic needs is to belong in friendship, in romance, in a family, a community, whatever it maybe. But we need to belong. To belong to your roots, to the land where you originated, you should be able to communicate in the same language. I am not saying you cannot connect to your motherland without knowing the language, but it is definitely easier if you do. You understand the jokes, the slang, the little references that come up in conversations and voila! you are one among them..

For our children, who has grown up in another land,that we call our home, it is always harder to communicate and connect with those back in our motherland. Language plays a huge role in bridging the gap, amongst many other things. 

One of the best gifts that we can give our children is a chance to learn the language, so that they don’t feel so alien when they visit Kerala. I have seen that happen with so many children and is very sad to watch them trying to fit in and are unable to.

Our association has an ongoing Malayalam class that is run by volunteers entirely and caters to both adults and children.If you didn’t know about this offering and if you would like to learn our language, please check out our association website. 

If you are one to treasure our roots in Kerala and wishes that your children do too, give them the gift of language. That will help them belong to the Malayali community. Plus, we all know, there is no place in the entire world where you won’t find a Malayali. And lets not forget our world class literature and movies.You will be exposing them to the treasure land of books and movies and they will thank you. 

Hopefully we will see more of you in our Malayalam class..

Onam Celebrations

Please access pictures from COMA Onam celebration 2019 by clicking here. Thank you to Ashish M for capturing the moments so well.

Finance 101

COMA will be conducting a finance 101 session for youths. This session will be a great opportunity for the youths to understand the Importance of money and how to start saving and investing for future from the industry experts on Finance and Insurance. This session is geared towards children from middle school through college going.  There will be a limited number of seats available for this session and we would encourage you to sign up early by sending an email to coma.officials@gmail.com  Please mark your calendar for the session to be conducted on Nov 16th Saturday 2.00 PM to 3.00 PM.  We will send out venue and other details soon. 

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

• 09/22 – Thomas Pullumpallil, Reuben Varughese and Girish Manoharan
• 10/13 – Nish Nishant, Dhanush Kondoth and Shibu Nair
  

“GIVING BACK TO KERALA”

What is this initiative? 

Being so far away from India, all of you have probably wanted to somehow be able to give back and be connected to our birthplace, Kerala. COMA is starting an initiative called ‘Giving back to Kerala’ and has for the year 2019-2020, identified two non-profit, non-religious, non-political charitable organizations in Kerala that desperately require financial support. Both serve the elderly, destitute, battered women, abandoned children.

• Gandhi Bhavan Saranalayam, Kollam-Sustaining Need – TARGET $300 ($100 of 300  reached) per month 
  • Pay a recurring monthly amount or one-time payment through  coma.charities@gmail.com
• Sri Chitra Home, Trivandrum- One Time Need – TARGET $3000 this year  
  • Pay a one-time amount to coma.charities@gmail.com for 
• **Payment through Quick pay (coma.charities@gmail.com) or Paypal to coma.officials@gmail.com

What happens to my donation?

Separate account is set up for donations and the donations will be handed over to these organizations and accounted separately by COMA. Total donations received will be published annually for full transparency. Efforts are in place to ensure that there is complete accountability for the money received at these organizations. The utilization of the funds will be socialized with the givers so that we can rest easy that the money has reached the truly deserving people. 

As always, please send us any questions or clarifications that you might have regarding this at coma.charities@gmail.com.

Thank you all in advance for your generosity!!

COMA CHARITY TEAM

Thanksgiving has always been a time that reminds me to be grateful for God’s blessings. And if we really want to validate that with the origins of this celebration , we can see that it is in the same premise. Giving thanks to the Creator’s gifts was always the way of life for Native Americans of Wampanoag. So I am justified in saying that this holiday should remind us again to be forever grateful for what has been given to us.

If I look around, I feel that it is so important to have that constant reminder. We have become entitled society, almost to the point of being spoilt. We complain about the hardships of life, when they don’t even remotely qualify as any kind of hardship. We forget our blessings, the fact that we have people who love us, a roof above our heads, food to eat and money to spend. We tend to focus on that we think we need. We forget and we complain. We,COMA Newsletter Family would like to remind us all to reflect on our blessings for a change and be grateful. Let this Thanksgiving be , truly, a Thanksgiving….

COMA Christmas Celebrations

COMA Annual Christmas and Holiday celebration will be held on Saturday, 7th December 2019 from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM at Olentangy Liberty Middle School, 7940 Liberty Rd, Powell, OH 43065.

• Picture with Santa
• Cultural events
• Dinner with a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian authentic Kerala dishes 
• Dance floor
• Dress code: Christmas/Holiday themed casual / party wear

Register here soon as the registration will close on 12/3/2019 (or earlier when the limit is reached). Come and enjoy a splendid night with authentic Kerala food (including many Christmas specials), performances from COMA members and a lot of fun activities! Grab your tickets before its sold out.  

Translucent – by Hrishi Nair

I finally made it! I thought. After all my hard work, I finally got the job at the Gazette! I took another look at the email that I just received from the Gazette. I brimmed with pride like a cup that had been overfilled, dripping its contents everywhere. After all,I needed this
job. I lived in a crappy old apartment with off-white walls and coated with thousands of cobwebs. I owned an old green couch with a pull-out mattress. A brown tube TV stood tall on a stand only a few feet away. The kitchen had a broken oven with a stove sitting on top. Across from that was a couple cupboards with a microwave in the middle. Since I didn’t have a job, I
made money from mowing lawns.

“Congratulations Mr. Gaster! We welcome you to the Gazette,” I started to read the email aloud to myself. “We hope that you can meet the standards that we maintain here. Your first
assignment is to go find an interesting story that we can print in the next issue. Remember you must meet our standards or else your position will be terminated.” I had always wanted to be a journalist. As a little kid I would just write down things in a little notepad that I carried around everywhere. My passion for journalism is like a blazing fire,
impossible to put out no matter how hard your efforts are. Now I have to go find a story that the Gazette will like, I thought to myself.

I decided to take a walk to clear my thoughts and get inspiration.
“What about student loan debt, or global warming, or plastic in animals?” I shook my head. “That’s all too general to be in the newspaper. I have to find something unique to Texas.”I sat down at the bench in a nearby park. Another woman was already sitting watching a child play on the swings. She took a look at the pad I had in my head. “Why do you have that?” she pointed at my pad.

“Why do you have that?” she pointed at my pad.
“Oh, I’m a journalist. I work with the Gazette and I have to find a story.”
She thought for a second. “A story huh? Why not do one on that abandoned house right
across from mine? My son is always so creeped out by it. He hates going outside because of it.”I stood up suddenly. “That might work.”
“I would be careful though, because people say its haunted by the previous owners.” “I wouldn’t worry about that.” I started to jog back home. “Ghosts aren’t even real!” At home I did more research on the house and found its original listing page. Wow that’s really cheap for a house that big, I reasoned. Did something horrible happen
there?

It turns out that the old owners left abruptly. All of the comments on the original selling
page agreed with the woman in the park.
They all said something along the lines of, “This house is haunted.” Those guys are morons.
“This is the perfect story for the Gazette.” I began to talk to myself. “Me and a supposed
haunted house. What could go wrong?”
I grabbed my pad and camera. I took a look outside and saw the light outside was fading. Should I wait for morning? I questioned myself. No I need the story as soon as possible.I ate some instant noodles.

The only food cheap enough for me to afford. Then, I grabbed
a flashlight in case the house was as dark as a dead lightbulb. Giving no light, but instead complete darkness.I followed the address that was listed on the houses selling page. It led to an old, grey run down house with a “for sale” sign. It looked like no one would ever buy it.I grabbed the door knocker and rapped it against the door. BANG, BANG, BANG . “Hello?” I yelled inside. To my sudden surprise someone answered the door.It was a young boy. He didn’t look much over the age of eight. His clothes were wet and
shredded. There was one more thing about him that seemed weird, but I couldn’t put my finger on it due to the darkness outside. Considering his deplorable appearance he spoke excitedly, “Hello!” His voice made me jump. “Hello…” He gestured me in very emphatically. I had no other choice but to walk in. I was still stunned by the fact there was only a boy living in this huge house. I walked in the door.The house was painted in peach. The living room had a grey couch. The couch was like a derelict countertop, slowly gathering dust over the years. Across from the couch was a humongous flatscreen TV. The boy shut the door behind me and quickly rushed to meet me. He seemed very jumpy and excited. “Hey! Hi! How are you?” I was confused by what was going on, so I asked the obvious question, “Who are you?”

“Ahh, I should’ve told you that first. Sorry no one’s been here for the last few years. I’m Aqua.”

I nodded, “Hi.” at that time I thought he was just an orphan who lived alone. I would soon learn otherwise. “Im Jason Gaster. Call me Ghost though. That’s what my friends call me. They say that it’s because I’m too quiet and shy.”
He nodded with a faraway look in his eye. It was almost as if the word ghost reminded him of something.

I started to explore the house while he sat there. It was a gigantic house. There were six rooms upstairs. All of them looked like no one had walked inside for hundreds of years. I walked downstairs to the basement. I saw what looked like the gym. There were weights on racks. Next to them was a couple of pool and ping-pong tables. Across from that there was a door that led to the pool. Inside the pool something caught my attention.Something was floating in it. Next This freaked me out so I walked back to the kitchen, and Aqua was sitting reading a book. He had tears in his eyes. The book he was reading had no words at all. Just pictures. I saw
him next to a couple of people around his height. They all looked similar. Behind them were two adults who also looked like him. “Hey,” I said hesitantly.
Aqua quickly wiped the tears out of his eyes, “Hi.” I pointed at the pool, “What’s floating in the water?” Something was floating in it.

A dark expression passed over his face for a few seconds before it returned to normal.“Something happened,” his tone made it clear that he didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t care and kept on asking, “Like what?” “Nothing you should care about,” He snapped back quickly

“But I want to kno-.”
I suddenly realized what was weird about this boy.

His appearance was translucent… Like a ghost.“That’s where you died isn’t it.”
He turned away quickly with tears in his eyes. “I was the youngest child. My siblings loved to hurt me.” he started to quietly sob while grabbing a rusty, blood stained knife. “They cut me up with this kitchen knife and dunked me in the water. I don’t think they meant to kill me. When I woke up, they were gone. Even my parents. I ́ve been stuck here as a ghost for two years.My body never allowed me to leave. I learned you could never leave the place you died.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that. So I didn’t. I hadn’t stayed there for too long, but I decided that it was enough. I grabbed my camera and started to walk out in a daze; I was still trying to make sense of what just happened. I hadn’t taken any notes on my experience with
Aqua. I just hoped that I would forget about it all and move on with my life.
̈ ̈No don’t leave!” Aqua started to run after me. ¨I don’t want to be stuck here all alone! I don’t want to be here with no one to talk to” I didn’t care about what he said. I ran for the door.“Please don’t leave.” he started to cry, “I don’t want to make you stay.” I kept on ignoring him while struggling to open the rusty old door. It refused to move like a huge elephant, perfectly content with where it is. I heard the screech of the boy. I turned around and saw him rushing at me with the rusty, blood stained knife. I felt a sharp pain in my side.

Then I was in a daze. Everything was spinning. The boy was filled with shock by what happened. I found myself falling before everything went dark.
When I woke up the boy was at my side. My head ached. I lay there dazed and filled with pain trying to remember what happened. Aqua had a pensive look on his face. I tried to stand up
but instead stumbled back onto the floor.“There’s no use,” Aqua uttered. “I’ve already done it.” “What are you talking about?” I questioned, “What do you mean by already done it?”
He shook his head and walked away. I tried to stand back up again but the same thing happened.I gave up trying to get up and decided to lay on the ground for a while. My head still throbbed
from what I thought was a concussion. It looked like I was a baby;trying to get it’s head of the floor for the first time. I eventually got enough energy to stand up. I grabbed my pen, pad, and camera and started to head for the door.
That was so weird. I hope I can just forget about it all and just find a better stor- I stopped in my tracks. For some reason I couldn’t grab the doorknob. My body wouldn’t allow me to.I suddenly remembered what Aqua had said about him being stuck here. About his body
not allowing him to leave the place where he died. About how he couldn’t leave the house that he died in. I quickly raised my hands to my face to look at them.
They were… translucent.

Reflections or Ramblings – (edition 4) by Hari Narayanaswamy

Some of the highlights:

When we hear the word “Thanksgiving“, what comes to the mind first? Holidays, shopping, turkey, family, maybe Black Friday? Maybe we will get to the word ”gratitude” if we think really hard, no thanks to the commercialisation and consumerism that have taken over the holidays. Should it be that hard? I would say no, provided we have kept up with our culture of maintaining cherished values in everyday life instead of celebrating them once a year. That brings up the question if gratitude should be a cherished value. Does gratitude have an inherent worth to it? 

One of the key aspects of the post-industrial revolution world was the search for the eluding human happiness. Somehow the comforts, security, and luxury of material wealth in the developed world didn’t exactly translate to happiness, but in fact, had the opposite effect of creating more internal misery. We have seen the resulting fascination for eastern mystical thinking in the 20th century that later on got mired with drugs and aimless free living in the ‘60s. Most recently, we see this in the fascination with new age Gurus and mindfulness coaches. There are shelves exclusively dedicated for the topic of “happiness“ in book stores and libraries.

If we scour over all of these books and lectures offering help on finding happiness, what we will find is that the one key ingredient to all the prescriptions is the recommendation to develop the attitude of gratitude. Somehow, being grateful magically lessens the weight of the heart and fills it with positivity.

Those of you who have the tradition of saying grace as a family at the dinner table or in a prayer would certainly know this. But, here is the challenge. The benefit of being grateful is totally internal and not tangible, while opportunism and focus on transactional gain leads to “success” and “wins”. History is replete with stories of arrogance and pompousness from the latter leading to the ultimate fall while graciousness and sacrifice have inspired and endured.

Two Indian fables also come to mind. One is that of a squirrel who helps in the building of the bridge across ocean in Ramayana. While the powerful monkeys were carrying giant boulders to drop in the ocean, the squirrel was trying to do its best carrying whatever sand or pebbles it could to add to the bridge. Rama becomes so astonished by the dedication of this squirrel that he is supposed to have run three fringes of his right hand over its back in affection, and since then, all squirrels have a golden stripe on their backs! Here, the key point is, gratitude is not necessarily a measured return for the material benefit but a return of affection for the very intent and attitude itself.

Other story is from Jataka tales where a Lion one time spares the life of a mouse. The relived mouse offers his help whenever a need may arise. But, the powerful lion waves it away, saying, “What use does the meagre mouse have?” One day, the lion gets entrapped in a hunters net and lies there powerless.

The mouse shows up and snips away the net, letting the lion free itself.  The moral of the story is obviously about humility, but it also tells us that gratitude is founded on humility. It is not a mere ”thank you” said at every turn, but an acknowledgement of our limitations and how much we need voluntary help from others in our lives.

Not every culture is expressive with words about gratitude, however. Many of us have come from a culture where saying “thank you“ can actually offend our close friends and family. It somehow has a connotation of making the relationship formal and distant. I have no memory of saying “thank you” to my mother or father, but I can say confidently how much they knew of my gratefulness for their sacrifices. The silence of unsaid words are often much more powerful than ones uttered.

Have a great Thanksgiving and hope we will all strive to be thankful all the time!

PS: A very useful Fortune cookie quote to keep in mind as we shop the Thanksgiving deals – “A bargain is something you don’t need that comes at an attractive price”

Theyyam – by Valsan Palika

തെയ്യത്തിന് പ്രാദേശിക സ്വഭാവമുണ്ടെന്നു പറഞ്ഞുവല്ലോ. വടക്കേ മലബാറിൽ മിക്ക ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിലും ദേശമൂർത്തികളായ തെയ്യങ്ങൾ കണ്ടുവരുന്നു. വളരെ ചുരുക്കം തെയ്യങ്ങൾ ഗ്രാമ സീമകളെ മറികടന്ന് വിശാലമായ ഒരു പ്രദേശത്തിന്റെയും, ജനവിഭാഗത്തിന്റെയും ആരാധനാ മൂർത്തികളായി മാറിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. മുച്ചിലോട്ട് ഭഗവതി, ചാമുണ്ഡി, പൊട്ടൻ, ഗുളികൻ, വയനാട്ടു കുലവൻ, കണ്ണങ്ങാട്ട് ഭവതി, കുട്ടിച്ചാത്തൻ, കതിവനൂർ വീരൻ മുതലായ തെയ്യങ്ങൾ ഇവയിൽ ചിലതാണ്. ‘കളിയാട്ടം’ എന്ന മലയാള സിനിമയിൽ  കതിവനൂർ വീരൻ തെയ്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു പരാമർശിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. നൂറോളം കാവുകളിൽ പ്രധാന മൂർത്തിയായ മുച്ചിലോട്ട് ഭഗവതിയെക്കുറിച്ചു ചില കാര്യങ്ങൾ പറയാം 

പണ്ട് പെരിഞ്ചെല്ലൂർ എന്ന് അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന ഇന്നത്തെ തളിപ്പറമ്പിൽ (കണ്ണൂർ ജില്ല) ‘രയരമംഗലത്ത് മന’ എന്ന് പേരുള്ള പേരുകേട്ട ഒരു കുടുംബമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഒരു കാലത്ത് അവിടെ കുട്ടികളില്ലാതെ വരികയാൽ  മനയിലെ കാരണവന്മാർ കുലദേവതയായ രയരമംഗലത്ത് ഭഗവതിയെ പ്രീതിപ്പെടുത്താനായി വിശേഷാൽ പ്രാർത്ഥനകളും പൂജകളും നടത്തി. ഒരു പുത്രനെയാണ് ആഗ്രഹിച്ചതെങ്കിലും ആ കുടുംബത്തിൽ

പിറന്നത് ഒരു പെൺകുട്ടിയായിരുന്നു. ഈശ്വര കടാക്ഷത്താൽ കിട്ടിയ കുഞ്ഞായതിനാൽ അവൾക്ക് ‘ദൈവകന്യക’ എന്ന് നാമകരണവും ചെയ്തു.  പെൺകുഞ്ഞായിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും അവളെ വേണ്ട വിധത്തിൽ വിദ്യാഭാസം ചെയ്യിച്ചു. അതി സമർത്ഥയും  സർവ കലകളിലും അഗ്രഗണ്യയുമായി അവൾ വളർന്നു വന്നു. പക്ഷെ ഗ്രാമത്തിലെ മറ്റു പണ്ഡിതർക്ക് ഒരു പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ ഈ വളർച്ചയും ഖ്യാതിയും സഹിക്കാവുന്നതിലും അപ്പുറമായിരുന്നു. കിട്ടിയ അവസരങ്ങളെല്ലാം അവർ അവളെ ഇകഴ്ത്താനും പരിഹസിക്കാനും ഉപയോഗിച്ചു. ബാല്യ വിവാഹം സർവ്വസാധാരണമായിരുന്ന കാലമായിരുന്നതിനാൽ പന്ത്രണ്ടാം വയസ്സിൽ അവളുടെ വിവാഹം നടത്താൻ തീരുമാനിച്ചു. തന്നെ നേരിട്ട് ഒരു വാഗ്വാദത്തിൽ തോൽപ്പിക്കാൻ കഴിവുള്ള പണ്ഡിതനെ  മാത്രമേ താൻ വിവാഹം കഴിക്കു എന്ന് അവൾ ശഠിച്ചു. അങ്ങിനെ വാഗ്വാദത്തിന് ഒരു തിയതി നിശ്ചയിച്ചു വിളംബരം ചെയ്തു.
ധാരാളം പണ്ഡിതന്മാർ കേട്ടറിഞ്ഞെത്തിയെങ്കിലും ആർക്കും അവളെ വാഗ്വാദത്തിൽ തോൽപ്പിക്കാൻ പറ്റിയില്ല. സഹികെട്ട പണ്ഡിതന്മാർ ചേർന്ന് അവൾക്കെതിരായി ഒരു ചതിപ്രയോഗത്തിന് പദ്ധതിയിട്ടു. നവരസങ്ങളിൽ പ്രധാനം ശൃംഗാരമെന്നും ഏറ്റവും കഠിനമായ വേദന പ്രസവ വേദനയാണെന്നും ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്കുത്തരമായി അവൾ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ അവർ അവളെ പരിഹസിച്ചു. അവൾ പ്രസവ വേദനയും ശൃംഗാരവും രഹസ്യമായി അനുഭവിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടന്നും അവർ അവളെ അധിക്ഷേപിച്ചു. അവളുടെ അച്ഛന്റെ അപേക്ഷകളെല്ലാം പാടെ നിരസിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അവളെ ആ സമൂഹത്തിൽനിന്ന് ഭ്രഷ്ട് കല്പിച്ചു പുറത്താക്കി. വിഷാദവും ദേഷ്യവും നിരാശയും കലർന്ന മനോസ്സോടെ അവൾ വീടും ഗ്രാമവും ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചിറങ്ങി. തന്റെ നിരപരാധിത്വം തെളിയിക്കാൻ അഗ്നിയിൽ ചാടി ജീവിതം

അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാൻ അവൾ ഉറച്ചു. കാട്ടിൽനിന്നും വിറകും ഇലകളും ശേഖരിച്ചു അവൾ ഒരു ചിതയുണ്ടാക്കി അതിലേക്ക് ചാടി. പക്ഷെ അഗ്നി അവളെ ഒട്ടും വേദനിപ്പിച്ചില്ല! അപ്പോൾ അതുവഴി വന്ന ഒരു വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ വില്പനക്കാരന്റെ കയ്യിൽനിന്നും വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ വാങ്ങി അവൾ ചിതയിലേക്ക് ഒഴിച്ച് അഗ്നിയുടെ ശക്തികൂട്ടി. വാനോളം ഉയർന്ന അഗ്നിനാളങ്ങളിലേക്ക്  ചാടി അവൾ ജീവനൊടുക്കി. ഭയന്നുപോയ വിൽപ്പനക്കാരൻ സ്വന്തം വീട്ടിലേക്ക് പാഞ്ഞുപോയി. ‘മുച്ചിലോടൻ’ എന്ന് പേരായ അവന്റെ കൂടെ അവളുടെ ചൈതന്യം പോവുകയും ‘മുച്ചിലോട്’ വീട്ടിൽ കുടിയിരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു എന്ന് വിശ്വാസം. ഈ കഥ കേട്ടവർ അത് ഭഗവതിയുടെ അവതാരമാണെന്നു സംശയലേശമെന്യേ വിശ്വസിച്ചു, മുച്ചിലോട് ഭഗവതി എന്ന് വിളിച്ചു. ഭാഗവിതക്കു വേണ്ടി ഒരു കാവ് ഉണ്ടാക്കുകയും അവിടെ പൂജയും കെട്ടിയാടുന്ന തെയ്യവും നടത്തുകയും ചെയ്തു.
സാധാരണ കാവുകളിനൽ  ഓരോ വർഷവും, പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട ചില കാവുകളിൽ പാന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷത്തിലൊരിക്കലും  (‘പെരുങ്കളിയാട്ട’മായി) മുച്ചിലോട്ട് ഭഗവതി തെയ്യം ആഘോഷിച്ചുവരുന്നു. മതപരവും സാമൂഹികവുമായ അടിത്തറയെന്ന നിലയിൽ, പ്രദേശത്തിന്റെ സാമൂഹിക ചരിത്രത്തിൽ മുച്ചിലോട്ട് ഭഗവതിക്കും മറ്റ് തെയ്യങ്ങൾക്കും ഒരു നിർണ്ണായക സ്ഥാനമുണ്ട്. മാറി വരുന്ന സാമൂഹിക സാഹചര്യങ്ങളിലും തെയ്യങ്ങളുടെ ആനുകാലിക പ്രസക്തി നിലനിൽക്കുന്നുണ്ടെന്നത് വളരെ ആശാവഹമാണ്. സർക്കാരും സർക്കാരിതര പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളും ഈ പാരമ്പര്യ കലകൾ നിലനിർത്തുന്നതിനും കലാകാരന്മാരുടെ ജീവിത സാഹചര്യങ്ങൾ മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതിനും അനുസ്യൂതം പ്രയത്നിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഇതിനാലൊക്കെ ഇത്തരം പൈതൃക സമ്പത്തുകൾ കാലത്തിനെ അതിജീവിച്ചു നിലനിൽക്കും എന്ന് നമുക്ക് പ്രത്യാശിക്കാം.

COMA Sports League by COMA EC Team

COMA Sports league 2019 – The inaugural sports league of COMA have come to end.

It all started with COMA Badminton tournament 2019 which was held in February 2019. We made this tournament open to everyone and more than 80 players from Columbus, Cincinnati, Celeveland and Pittsburg areas participated in it. We received may rave reviews about the tournament from all around and everyone is looking forward to participating next year. We hoped to publicize ‘COMA’ to the Indian community in Columbus through this tournament and this exactly did the same. We hope this tournament will become one of the marquee events of COMA going forward.

Another exciting part of the tournament was that Men’s Doubles Champions are COMA members – Anoop Joseph and Dilin Joy.

Next event was Thuruppu Gulan 2019 – a cards and game night for Malayalees. We included the games that are loved by Malayalees all around the world – Thuruppugulan, Rummy and Carrom. This event was very well received within the community and a lot of people joined us for a fun filled evening, playing a lot of games with their dear and near ones. We conducted three outdoor leagues in Summer – Cricket, Soccer and Tennis.

Cricket tournament was won by Team Empuraans beating Thakarppan in a closely contested finals. Finals was conducted in best-of-three matches format. Thakarppan won the first match, but Empuraans came back strongly and defeated Thakarppan in the next two matches, and won the trophy!

COMA Soccer league had four teams from our community. A lot of passion and fighting spirit were shown in every match and all teams were fighting tooth and nail till the end. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the final for the soccer league due to time constraints and we decided to finish the tournament in the league format itself without the finals. Here are the final standing for the league – Columbus Blasters got the top spot in the standings.

COMA Tennis Tournament got a lot of interest from the community – eight Mens Doubles teams played in a round robin format and top four teams went onto play the semi finals. Ajish Poonthuruthiyil and Arun Chand won the tournament beating Girish Manoharan and Ravi Hariharan in the Final.

We hope all of you enjoyed the COMA Sports and Games Tournaments this year. The passion and vigor all of you showed in the field is exemplary! We hope to having these tournaments as an annual event for COMA. Thank you everyone for showing up and making these events a great success for COMA!

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

• 10/27 – Sudha Warrier,Govi Warrier,Anoop Nair
• 11/10 – Sunil Balkrishnan,Jerry Zachariah,Vipin Nair
• 11/24 – Nish Nishant,Austin Pereira,Ceby Philip

This January we are stepping in to a new decade. January is the month often related to making resolutions and new beginnings. But T.S.Elliot’s quote, “Every moment is a fresh beginning,” points that making goals and starting new things are things you can do in any month. Plus 35% of people who make a new year’s resolution break them by the end of January and only 23% of people actually carry out their resolutions for the whole year. Making a resolution every month and executing it, is much better. Are you one among that 23% ? do let us know in the comments section of the COMA newsletter.

We have some fresh faces for Malayalam classes

Veena is from Aluva, Ernakulam. She completed her Masters in Malayalam from Mahatma Gandhi university and was working as teacher in Christava Mahilalayam public school till mid 2017 before moving to Columbus. She is living in Brittonwoods Dublin with her husband Binoop and two sons Devarsh & Aaarush. She loves reading, cooking, hanging out with friends & family and watching movies.

Sophia Kurien is a Master’s degree holder in Software Engineering from TKM Institute of Technology & Science.She was working as an Assistant Professor at the department of Computer Scinece at MBITS college Kothamangalam for 4.5 years before coming to the USA .

We also have a new newsletter team

Smitha is from Trivandrum and live in Powell with her husband Sanjay , daughter Saanvi and son Saatvik. She is excited to be a part of newsletter team this year  and would  like to take this opportunity to connect with the community in creative and fun ways and hopefully provide valuable content along the way.

Nithya and Sreejith Menon landed in the US in 2011 and have since made Columbus their home. They originally hail from Palakkad and Thrissur districts. They have two kids – Shriya and Pranav. 

Sreejith

This January we are stepping in to a new decade. January is the month often related to making resolutions and new beginnings. But T.S.Elliot’s quote, “Every moment is a fresh beginning,” points that making goals and starting new things are things you can do in any month. Plus 35% of people who make a new year’s resolution break them by the end of January and only 23% of people actually carry out their resolutions for the whole year. Making a resolution every month and executing it, is much better. Are you one among that 23% ? Do let us know in the comments section of the COMA newsletter.

COMAngam 2020

We would like to take this opportunity to kick off this year’s events with a bash with our first event “COMAngam 2020”, on 29th of February.We are hoping to create some good memories on a date which comes once in 4 years. The venue of the event will be DCRC. The event will follow the popular format of having teams among us.
This time there will 2 teams each lead by 2 captains. The teams are lead by Deepa Jayabalan(deppajai81@gmail.com) & Girish Sasankasekhar(sl.girish@gmail.com) and the other by Vidya Padinjattukara Narayanan(vidya_pnn@yahoo.com) & Pramod Pudiyattil(pudhiyattil@yahoo.com) . We encourage everyone to reach any one of them to get involved .Watch out for the registration opening notification on COMA’s social handles.We are thrilled to see you all there. 

Introducing the new Newsletter team

Smitha Sasindran

She is from Trivandrum and live in Powell with her husband Sanjay , daughter Saanvi and son Saatvik. She is very excited to be a part of newsletter team this year  and would  like to take this opportunity to connect with the community in creative and fun ways and hopefully provide valuable content along the way.

Nithya & Sreejith Menon

They both landed in the US in 2011 & made Columbus their home since then. They originally hail from Palakkad and Thrissur districts. They have two kids – Shriya and Pranav.

Ravi Hariharan

He is from Cochin and has been living in Columbus since 2011. Currently lives in Powell with his wife Ramya, daughter Sahana and son Saanav. He loves listening to songs, watching movies and playing cricket, tennis and ping pong.

We have some new volunteers for Malayalam classes

Sophia Kurien

She is a Master’s degree holder in Software Engineering from TKM Institute of Technology & Science.She was working as an Assistant Professor at the department of Computer Scinece at MBITS college Kothamangalam for 4.5 years before coming to the USA .

Veena Binoop

Veena is from Aluva, Ernakulam. She completed her Masters in Malayalam from Mahatma Gandhi university and was working as teacher in Christava Mahilalayam public school till mid 2017 before moving to Columbus. She is living in Brittonwoods Dublin with her husband Binoop and two sons Devarsh & Aaarush. She loves reading, cooking, hanging out with friends & family and watching movies.

Volunteers for our Meals On Wheels

January 26,2020 Thomas Pullumpallil,Reuben Varughese,Shome Thomas

January 12,2020 Nish Nishant, Pradeesh, Anoop Nair

December 22,2019 Joseph Abraham, Nancy Joseph, Joshua Abraham, Rachael Abraham

December 8,2019 Valsan Palika, Gopi Haridass, Maya Achen

November 24,2019 Nish Nishant, Austin Pereira, Ceby Philip

November 10,2019 Sunil Balkrishnan, Jerry Zachariah, Vipin Nair

Your dedication and compassion should be well praised!

Obituary

Shantha Gopalakrishnan, 75, wife of P.G.Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of Institute of Engineers (India) died in Kochin on January 8th 2020. She belonged to the Kettidathil family, Mayyanad, Kollam. She is survived by son Vikas Gopal (Columbus Ohio), daughter-in-law Arati Krishna, and grandchildren Varun Gopal and Karun Gopal.

February was the month of love – we hope everyone got an opportunity to enjoy Valentines day with your loved ones.In this month of love and passion we would like to start of the newsletter with a cute drawing from a young talent – Shreya Girish and she loves drawing.

As a community organization COMA presented an “Oru Adipoli Night” for its families to demonstrate their passion to dance and act. And this year the planning team took the initiative to arrange “Oru Adipoli Night” in a slightly different way from previous years where members were given an opportunity to participate in teams and compete to show case their talents. The turn out and participation for this event beat all expectations. Now let’s go ahead and hear from the organizers and couple of young members about their experience.

Here’s what EC team has to say “We would like to congratulate each and every member of COMA community for making “Oru Adipoli Night” a grand success.

We received lot of positive feedback and many of you responded saying that they really enjoyed the event. As we had mentioned, the event was designed to have fun and increase the interaction among the members. Another positive note is that we were able to conduct the event in a timely manner – started on time and kept the pace going till the very end. It’s amazing to see the amount of talent we have in this community all of you came out of your comfort zone and performed the very first time in a COMA event. You all are great team players.

Event would not have been successful without a great teamwork and overwhelming support from the community. Thank you for all the volunteers for chiming in and making sure the event was conducted as per the plan.
Together, we made the name of the event meaningful ‘Oru Adipoli Night’ and it is added to our joyful memories. We are planning many such events this year and we’re looking forward to your continued support!”

“Pradeesh Puthiyattil” was one of the captains for the event who lead his team to victory in a highly spirited and competitive manner . In his own words this event was very very vibrant with the enthusiasm displayed by the entire community. He strongly believes that this was one of the best COMA events and he would like to extend his thanks to organizers , MC’s, Judges and other fellow captains.

It was a privilege and honor to be one of the judges for the ‘Oru Adipoli Night’. And it gave me an opportunity to see the performances in a different light than usual. So I thought I will share with you all what I saw.  

The first and foremost thing that hit me was the camaraderie and the eagerness of the teams to display their items. Everyone was so hyped and happy and excited and the energy hit you and filled the hall, making it a very vibrant crowd. It was impossible not to be excited. The second thing was the lack of inhibition from the participants. This needs a little bit more thought put into it to know why this is so important. We, Malayalis, as you all know are known as the most uptight people in almost any crowd. Hence, to see a crowd lose its inhibitors and be eager to perform in front of Malayalis gives me this message – no one has a fear of being judged. Which by itself is very telling of the dynamic that this association has managed to build over the past years. We should all be proud of having contributed to building that kind of dynamic in our Malayali community. Then comes the display of the talents. I had heard that the teams were hard at work for weeks in preparation, but nothing had prepared me for what I saw. Each and every item was so well thought out and executed that the performances took a level all too new for many of us. It was a feast for the eyes and ears.

Big kudos to the team captains for keeping the teams so motivated and engaged and an even bigger accolade to everyone who participant performed. Of course it made the judges’ job really challenging. It would be unfair not to mention the food, which was delicious and was served on time. I will conclude by giving a huge shoutout to our Executive committee and the MC’s for a very memorable event, for executing such a new concept in such a well managed way. You guys have raised the bar for the upcoming events and definitely for your predecessors. – Manjula Nair

Youth Corner

Now let’s hear from some of our Youth Members:

“I am very happy and proud to say that I was basically born into this community! My parents were involved with Malayalee community even before COMA was established.They helped out with events, and programs that were self run and time-consuming, so it is safe to say that COMA has grown over the years! My first stage experience was with a COMA event where I was a tiny flower girl who went around picking up the flowers that everyone had just dropped! Since that time I have participated in most of the events conducted by COMA . I am also a member COMA youth wing volunteer since its inception, through COMA I was able to develop a strong group of friends who are interested in giving back to the community.

Another opportunity I was able to get through COMA is the Malayalam class. My brother and I were in the first batch of Malayalam class back in 2011. When I went to India last year, I was very happy that I was able to communicate well in Malayalam, not just with my grandparents but also random people in the stores and other places we visited. I was also able to read billboards and Malayalam newspapers which made my grandpa very proud. I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn Malayalam here which gave me the basics that I could build on.” Being in high school comes with a busy schedule and lots of extracurricular activities, the events that COMA puts together gives me a way to de-stress and connect to my friends and family. 

The most recent COMA event “Adipoli night” was an event where I got a chance to connect with many people, I even made a new good friend! I also enjoyed working with the younger kids, I had a fun time coordinating and teaching the dance to the younger girls! My involvement in COMA has provided me with lots of opportunities to learn and meet new people, and for that, I am truly grateful!” – Divya Warrier

I woke up with a feeling that today was going to be special. As I got out of bed, I remembered that today was COMA’s special event. My mind raced with excitement. I counted down the minutes until we would get into the car and go to the rec center for the event. As we walked in, I noticed several things. People reuniting with others, and everyone having conversations full of excitement. The thing I noticed the most was the smiles, everyone was happy to finally be here. The hours flew by, and everyone did a wonderful job. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for, the awarding ceremony. The White team didn’t win many awards, but we won something greater. We won happiness, and we had the most fun.  – Diya Raj

Smash Badminton Club – The activity that brought them together

Passion. Dedication. Joy. All of which happens on a radiant Saturday morning of the Smash Badminton Club. As for me, my Saturday mornings comprise of a gourmet breakfast with some classic tunes. However, this is not the case for those who enjoy the intricate nature of badminton. Being the main sports center in the area, the Lazelle Recreation center is where they meet to attend to their nets. The tan walls become their opponent when the nets are busy. As the time unfolds, they say their goodbye to their friends and their rackets until the next Saturday of course.

You’re probably wondering why I’m explaining the popular nature of badminton. During the fall of 2018, the Smash Badminton Club threw a thanksgiving lunch to show their thanks and appreciation for the Lazelle staff members and to their own members. Not only does badminton fuel their passion, but it has brought them together as a family. So, in the end, the net of a badminton court can create a network of connections. – Aadhira Pramod

If you want to signup your children to COMA Youth Club, please send an email to coma.officials@gmail.com.

Upcoming COMA Event

COMA Badminton Tournament – This year COMA is conducting a Badminton tournament on April 6th, badminton players out there please go ahead book your spots at http://www.comaohio.org/badminton. Members get a discounted price of$8 per person.

Community Corner

EC team is working hard to stir up “Spirit of COMA ” by introducing a lot of events to its community .Yes, lot of ideas brewing inside the EC team and we will definitely do our spy work to keep you update, so stay tuned….

• Community Events
  • Meals On Wheels
    • 03/10/2019
      • Austin Pereira, Aedin Pereira, Sunil Balakrishnan
    • 03/24/2019
      
      • Valsan Pallika, Niranjan, Vijaya

Sponsor Corner

H&R Moats Inc –

For COMA Members who are new to H&R Moats, a tax prep fee of $70 good till April 6th 2019

Shilpa Gupta – Cutler Realty

Call her at 714-335-0331 for COMA Member offers

Bombay Bazaar – 58 Dillmont Dr, Columbus, OH 43235

Easter / Vishu Offer: 5% Off on groceries from April 1 to 14th

February – the shortest month of the year. Yet, this February comes with a bonus day – the Leap day also known as the Magical day. The science behind Leap day is to help keep us in sync with the seasons. There are a handful of leap day traditions around the world, such as La Bougie du Sapeur, a newspaper which only gets published every four years in France, street parades in Anthony, Texas, the self-described “leap year capital of the world,” or avoiding marriage in Greece, as it’s considered unlucky to tie the knot in a leap year. Whether you decide to adopt a leap day tradition or want to create one of your own, it is a special day worth celebrating.

So, are you ready to create a brand new Leap day tradition? Head to the Dublin Community Recreation Center on 29th and be part of the first event of the year – COMAngam! Event registration will be open between 5:00 PM and 6:00PM at the Venue.

COMA Youth Wing

Meet the newly elected President and Vice President of COMA Youth Wing!

Hello all, my name is Adit Anup. I am currently a junior at The Olentangy Orange High School. As the 2020 youth wing president, my responsibility is to engage all of the youth wing members in all of the COMA activities. This year, one of our goals for the youth wing is to organize a separate fundraising event with COMA for a good cause. We also would like to find ways to reduce COMA’s environmental footprint. I am excited to make the youth impact larger, and to start the decade strong.

Hi everybody! My name is Shraddha Krishnan and I am a freshman at Dublin coffman high school. I am very excited to be the Vice President of COMA Youth Wing! By working alongside with Adit, we will make sure that the goals of the Youth Wing this year are met with exceptional standards, and we will truly try our best to make it our best year! We have many amazing events planned, and we are glad to take you all on our journey!

Reflections or Ramblings (#5): Home – A nostalgic memory

-Hari Narayanaswamy

Please bear with me as I try to rediscover my old skills with Malayalam poetry. Here is one, penned fresh, reminiscent of the home we have left behind. Hope this poem’s ideas resonate with you, especially if you have a made a recent trip back home.

A singular solicitor at Target

– Nish Nishant

Smitha and I were shopping at Target this past weekend, and as is the norm these days I was pushing little Rohan around in his stroller while Smitha went through the aisles picking, unpicking and then re-picking various items that seized her interest. I was mostly bored and lost in my thoughts when I was brusquely interrupted by an unwarrantedly loud “Are you from India?” from a formally dressed middle-aged Indian gentleman. I nodded my head in affirmation as curiously enough I did happen to be from India, though for the life of me I cannot figure out what gave that away!

The next few minutes he proceeded to converse with me about how lots of Indians were in the US these days on H1 Visas, how a lot of them went on to get Green Cards, how he recently moved to Atlanta from Arkansas, how he’d be delighted to introduce his wife to me (apparently she was elsewhere in the store at that time) and a few other topics that I don’t remember right now. All I remember thinking was how to get out of this conversation, especially since I had a sneaking suspicion that this guy was trying to sell some Amway like pyramid scheme on me. Fortunately Smitha called for me at that moment and I used this opportunity to say goodbye to him, but before I could do so he handed me his business card and asked me for mine. I did not have one with me and when I said that to him, he quickly produced a piece of paper and a pen out of nowhere – honestly, I didn’t see where he took it out from, he was like a conjurer – conjuring pen and paper out of thin air. With heavy misgivings I wrote my first name and phone number on his magically produced piece of paper and gave it to him and we parted.

Needless to say, Smitha gave me a quick firing-down for giving my number to a stranger, but fortunately enough she was soon distracted by a shelf containing the oddest looking ladies’ purses I have seen in a while. Normally this would have worried me since I definitely didn’t want her carrying around one of those revoltingly unattractive purses, but at that point I was just relieved to get out of her firing line. Just then I noticed a middle aged Indian woman conversing with a young, pretty and trendily dressed Indian girl (looked like she was in her early 20s). Now I don’t want to come across as someone who eavesdrops when 2 strange women are conversing in front of me, but I couldn’t help catch a few odd words here and there. It didn’t take me too long to realize that this woman was basically dishing out the same stuff to this girl that the strange guy had earlier dished out to me, and in a minute or so I saw the hapless girl hand over her phone numbers to this lady (I distinctly remember her explicitly specifying her land, work and cell numbers). I was certain that this middle aged lady was the earlier gentleman’s spouse and at that point it became increasingly evident that they were soliciting phone numbers from Indian looking folks.

My suspicions were confirmed a little later when we left Target with Smitha’s shopping picks for the day. The middle aged couple were walking together towards the parking lot, and most markedly they did not have a single item with them (forget a bag). They had basically spent close to an hour inside Target seeking out potential Indian victims (who they hoped would be new enough to the country) and collecting their information. I fully expect to receive a phone call this week inviting me to a gathering of some sort where this gathering would most definitely be a sales talk for some crappy pyramid scheme. Obviously I would get out of it with a clever excuse but I really do feel sorry for the pretty young girl who did seem naïve enough to fall into this trap. Oh well, I suppose she will eventually learn that strange Indian looking people approaching you in the middle of a store and asking you if you are from India are to be treated with the deepest mistrust and skepticism possible. Oh, and we are going to Target this evening – Smitha wants to return a hand bag that she took half an hour to select, apparently she did not like it when she looked at it this morning and so wants a new one. Sigh!

Article originally written 12 years ago.

പാരിജാത സുഗന്ധമുള്ള ഓർമകൾ

-Aravind Venugopalan

Today is the last day of our home..

ഇന്ന് നമ്മുടെ മുതിയാറ വീടിന്റെ അവസാന ദിവസം.

ഞാൻ ജനിച്ചതും വളർന്നതും ഈ വീട്ടിലാണ്. എന്നെ ഞാനാക്കി മാറ്റിയ ഒരുപാട് ഘടകങ്ങളിൽ  സുപ്രധാനമായ ഒന്നാണ് ഈ കൊച്ചു വലിയ വീട്. നമ്മുടെ ചിന്താധാരയെയും സർഗവാസനയെയും  നാം വളർന്നു വരുന്ന വീടും ,അന്തരീക്ഷവും പ്രകൃതിയും ഒരുപാട് സ്വാധിനിക്കുന്ന ഘടകങ്ങൾ ആണ്. ആഴത്തിൽ വേരിറങ്ങിയ എണ്ണിയാലും തീരാത്ത ഓർമ്മകൾ ഉറങ്ങുന്ന ചുമരുകൾ ഇന്ന് കഴിയുമ്പോൾ ഇനിയില്ല . കാലപ്പഴക്കം കാരണം ചാഞ്ഞു തുടങ്ങിയ നമ്മുടെ വീട് നീ US ൽ നിന്നു വരുമ്പോൾ മിക്കവാറും ഉണ്ടാകില്ല കേട്ടോ നന്ദു എന്ന് അമ്മയും അച്ഛനും പറഞ്ഞതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ ഭൂമിയുടെ മറുവശത്തേക്ക് യാത്ര പോകുന്നതിന്റെ തലേന്ന് ഈ വീട്ടുമുറ്റത്തും തെക്കതിലും കുറച്ചധികം സമയം ചെലവഴിച്ച് ഊർജമുൾക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

അച്ഛന്റെയും അമ്മയുടേയും താരാട്ട് , അനുജൻ , എന്റെ ബന്ധുക്കൾ , ഗുരുക്കൻമാർ , എന്റെ ഗ്രാമത്തിലെ നാട്ടുകാർ , ഒരുപാട് വിശിഷ്ട വ്യക്തികൾ തുടങ്ങി എല്ലാം തന്നെ കയ്യിൽ ലഭിച്ചത് ഈ വീടിന് ഉള്ളിലാണ്.

വീടിന് തൊട്ടടുത്ത് തെക്കതും വലിയൊരു പാരിജാത മരവും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പുസ്തകങ്ങളോട് അടങ്ങാത്ത ഇഷ്ടമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഞാൻ ഒട്ടുമിക്കതും വായിച്ചു തീർക്കുന്നത് ആ പാരിജാതക്കൊമ്പിൽ ഇരുന്നിട്ട് ആയിരുന്നു. കൗമാരത്തിൽ വായിച്ചു തീർത്ത ചില പ്രണയ കഥകൾക്ക് ആ പാരിജാത പ്പൂവിന്റെ സുഗന്ധവും , വിവേകാനന്ദ ഗ്രന്ഥങ്ങൾക്ക് തെക്കതിലെ വിളക്കിന്റെ  നല്ലെണ്ണയുടെ ഗന്ധവും , രഹസ്യമായി സൂക്ഷിച്ച് വായിച്ചിരുന്ന മാജിക്ക് ബുക്കുകൾക്ക്  വീടിന്റെ മച്ചിന്റെ മാറാലയുടെ മണവും ആയിരുന്നു. എന്റെ ഉള്ളിലെ ഒരു മാജിക്കാരൻ രൂപപ്പെട്ടത് ഉറപ്പായും ഈ വീടിന്റെ അന്തരീക്ഷം കാരണം തന്നെയാണ്. യുക്തിവാദികൾക്ക് ചിരിക്കാൻ ഉള്ള വകയാണെങ്കിലും , എന്റെ ഉള്ളിൽ ഒരു മാജിക്ക്കാരനും ചിത്രകാരനും വേണ്ടുന്ന വികലമായ ഭാവനയും, നിഗൂഢതയോടുള്ള സ്റ്റേഹവും, നിദാന്ത നിശാന്ധതയും  എല്ലാം തന്നു പാകമാക്കിയതിൽ ഈ വീടും , വീടിനുള്ളിലെ വായുവും എന്തിന് മച്ചിലെ വലയിൽ തൂങ്ങിയാടുന്ന കുഞ്ഞു ചിലന്തിയും വരെ പങ്കു വഹിക്കുന്നു എന്നുള്ളത് ഒരു സത്യം മാത്രമാണ്.  

നമ്മുടെ പ്രദേശത്തെ എന്റെ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട വിദ്യാലയമായ കൃഷ്ണപുരം KPMHS  ൽ നിന്നും പഠിച്ച് ഇറങ്ങുമ്പോൾ SSLC ക്ക് ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ മാർക്ക് വാങ്ങിയതിനുള്ള പുരസ്കാരം കിട്ടിയപ്പോഴും , അതുപോലെ തന്നെ എൻട്രൻസ് പരീക്ഷയ്ക്ക് ലഭിച്ച റാങ്കിൽ മെറിറ്റിൽ അഡ്മിഷൻ ലഭിച്ചപ്പോഴും ഏകനായി വന്നു കുറച്ച് സമയം കണ്ണ് അടച്ച്  ആ വീട്ടിലോട്ട് വേരിറക്കിയ പാരിജാത മരത്തിന്റെ ചില്ലയിൽ ചാഞ്ഞ് സമയം ചിലവഴിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

പിന്നീട് പുതിയ വീട് വച്ചു. താമസം പുതിയ വീട്ടിലോട്ടായി. എൻജിനീയറിംഗ് വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ കാലം. പക്ഷേ ഒരിക്കലും പഴയതുപോലെ ഞാൻ മിടുക്ക് കാണിച്ചില്ല. പഠനവുമില്ല , പാരിജാതവും ഇല്ല.

ഇന്ന് വളർന്ന് വലുതായ നമ്മുടെ നാട്ടിലെ എല്ലാ കുട്ടികളും 18 വർഷം മുന്നേ ജാതി മത രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭേദമന്യേ  കളിച്ചും, കഴിച്ചും , ആടിയും , പാടിയും പഠിച്ചും ഒത്തു കൂടിയിരുന്നത് ഈ വീട്ടിൽ വച്ചു നടക്കുന്ന ബാലഗോകുലങ്ങളിൽ ആയിരുന്നു.. അവർ എത്ര വലുതായാലും ഏതു നിലയിൽ എവിടെ ആണെങ്കിലും ഈ വീടിനെയും നമ്മുടെ സ്നേഹത്തേയും ഓർക്കും. 

ഒന്നു കൂടി ചേർക്കുന്നു : ഞങ്ങൾ മാറിയതിനു ശേഷം ആ വീടിനെ പരിപാവനമായി സൂക്ഷിച്ച ശ്രീകണ്ട സ്വാമികളേയും കുടുംബത്തെയും നന്ദിയോടെ ഓർക്കുന്നു.

ഇപ്പോൾ ഇത് എഴുതുമ്പോൾ അവസാനത്തെ പച്ച മൺ ഇഷ്ടികയും താഴെ വീണിട്ടുണ്ടാകും. പക്ഷേ നാട്ടിൽ വന്ന് ആ സ്ഥലത്ത് ഇനി നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ കണ്ണുകൾക്ക് കാണാൻ കഴിയാത്ത ചുമരുകൾ അപ്പോഴും അവിടെ ഉണ്ടാകും. അത് വെറും മൺകട്ടയും ഇഷ്ടികയും ചേറും അല്ലായിരുന്നു എന്ന ബോധ്യവും …

Kids Corner

A Jellyfish Tale (Inspired from – The Little Mermaid)

– Gowri Nair

Upcoming Local Events

Sponsor Corner

Spring is here. But this spring is like no other we have seen. Ohio has put a “stay at home” order in place. We are at a critical moment in this fight against COVID-19. We will win this fight, but we will end sooner and with far fewer people sick if we strictly follow the guidelines being requested by medical professionals and leaders. Most of us are stuck woking from home, helping children with their online learning and doing our best to keep calm. Getting outdoors can be relaxing during these stressful times. Here are some outdoor activities you can take up now:

• Start growing your own food. Right now is the perfect time to sow seeds of crops that can tolerate spring frosts.
• Start cleaning out your shrub and flower beds. Ideally, you should wait to cut back perennials and rake leaves out of garden beds until the daytime temperatures are regularly in the 50s since many pollinators and other beneficial insects are still hibernating for the winter. 
• Prepare your containers for planting. Bring all your pots out of storage and scrub them with a 10% bleach solution, inside and out, to get rid of any lingering fungal diseases from last season. 
• Prune your woody perennials. Plants like butterfly bushes, caryopteris and Russian sage are known as woody perennials.
• Prune your roses. If you’re a rose grower, head out to the garden and trim off any winter-killed stems, crossing branches and overgrown canes.
• Edge garden beds. With all this time on our hands, make the most of it by putting a crisp, clean edge on all your garden beds. 
• Pressure wash patios, decks and porches. Early spring is also a great time to get out the pressure washer and brighten things up.

Reflections or Ramblings (# 6): ചിന്താശകലങ്ങള്‍

-Hari Narayanaswamy

മതവും മദവും

മനുഷ്യന് മനുഷ്യനെക്കൊല്ലാന്‍
‍മദമൊരു കാരണം
മതവും ഒരു കാരണം
മദംകൊണ്ടു മതിമറന്നവനേതു മതം?

വിശ്വാസവും ജ്ഞാനവും

വിശ്വാസിക്കവിശ്വാസി ദു:ഖം
അവിശ്വാസിക്കു വിശ്വാസി ദു:ഖം
അജ്ഞാനിയ്ക്ക്‌ ജ്ഞാനി മോക്ഷം
ജ്ഞാനിയ്ക്കജ്ഞാനിയും ദൈവം

ഈശ്വരന്‍

ഈശ്വരനു പേരിട്ടിട്ടാ-
പേരിൻ പേരില്‍
പോരു നടത്തീട്ടാ
പോരിന്‍ പേരില്‍
‍അധര്‍മം വാഴിച്ചീടിനവരില്‍
ആര്‍ക്കു സ്വര്‍ഗ്ഗം മാളോരേ?

ഭാഷകള്‍

ലോകകാര്യം പറവതിനെ-
നിക്കെത്രയോ ഭാഷകള്‍
‍എന്നെകുറിച്ചെന്നോടോതാന്‍
മൌനമെന്നൊരു ഭാഷമാത്രം

ലക്ഷ്യം

അര്‍ത്ഥം കളഞ്ഞിട്ടര്‍ത്ഥം തേടണം
അര്‍ത്ഥത്തിന്നപ്പുറമുള്ളത്‌ നേടണം

മാര്‍ഗ്ഗം

പാതയില്ലാത്തിടത്ത്‌*
യാത്രയുമില്ല,
വഴികാട്ടിയുമില്ല

(*Truth is a pathless land – J.Krishnmurthy)

ഞാന്‍

എന്റെയുള്ളില്‍ ഒരു നൂറു ‘ഞാന്‍’ ഉണ്ട്‌
പിന്നെ, ഞാനറിയാത്ത ഒരു ഞാനും

Coconut oil is not poison

-Sreejith Menon

The famous “saturated fats are bad for you” myth has been around for quite a few decades now. How did this myth come to be? 

The first correlation was observed before World War I,  merely through studying hospitalisation patterns. However, it became more prominent when a team led by Ancel Keys conducted the famous seven countries study. 

Come 20th century, ‘how saturated fats are full of cholesterol and vegetable oils are not’ lobbying started. This single research changed the way people died in the 20th century. This single research killed millions and is still killing millions. The vegetable oil companies cared less, because the research was in perfect alignment with what they were selling.

Coming back to vegetable oils, most of them were sold to us saying they’re low in cholesterol, the fact is they do not have cholesterol. These so called “no cholesterol” oils, can cause inflammation which is the root cause of many illnesses in humans. Ayurveda confirms this. Our bodies were never meant to process PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) or MUFAs(Mono-unsaturated fatty acids) or trans fats. 

So what do we do? What’s next? 

Discontinue the use of vegetable oils and switch back to nammude swantham coconut oil, Butter and Ghee.

Coconut oil is one of the best and safest oils for consumption and requires minimal processing. While there are no magical benefits of having coconut oil if your overall nutrition and lifestyle is bad, it’s still better than having refined oils. 

Fun Fact: Number of people having heart issues in South India where people eat coconut oil are far far far less compared to people in North India. In India, a person dies of heart attack every 4 minutes. Heart attacks lead the chart for reason of death. It’s a big scam, a money making industry, that’s what it is. Jago grahak, Jago! 

P.S – I am not a Dr, but here are some research articles you can read for your awareness. 

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5437600/pdf/12937_2017_Article_254.pdf)

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4836695/)

(http://annals.org/aim/article-abstract/1846638/association-dietary-circulating-supplement-fatty-acids-coronary-risk-systematic-review)

(https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3218385-global-coconut-oil-market-2018-by-manufacturers-regions)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil

Recipe Corner

Okra curry (Kerala style with kudampuli) 

-Deepa Vinay

Ingredients

Small Okra- 15 nos.  

Small onion (Shallot) – 4 nos. 

Ginger – 1 small piece

Green chilli – 2 nos.

Curry leaves – few 

Kudampuli (pot tamarind) – 2 pieces or ½ piece tomato

Turmeric- 1/4 tsp 

Chilli powder- 1 tsp

Cashmere chilli powder – 1 tsp (optional-it will give nice color) 

Fenugreek powder- pinch (optional)

Coconut milk – 1 cup   

Oil – 4 tsp (use coconut oil as it will give authentic Kerala curry taste)

Salt as needed     

Method  

• Wash small tender okras and dry with a paper towel.  Remove the head and base of okra and, cut it into two pieces.  
• Crush 2 small onions and ginger and, keep it aside.
• Heat 3 tsp oil in a pan and shallow fry cut okras.  
• Add crushed onion and ginger to fried okra and sauté for ½ minute or until the raw aroma of ginger disappears
• Add chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and curry leaves.  Mix well and let it cook till the raw smell is gone
• Add one cup of water and kudampuli in it.  Let it cook until gravy thickens
• Now add coconut milk & sliced green chilli to the gravy. Simmer the flame and stir occasionally.   
• When gravy thickens into semi medium consistency, add pinch of fenugreek powder on the top
• Prepare the tempering by heating 1 tsp oil, two sliced small onions and few curry leaves.  
• Pour the tempering over the curry, close the pan, switch of the flame, and let it stay for 5 minutes.
• Curry is now ready to be served with rice or chapattis

Mango curry

-Rosmi Arun

ചേരുവകൾ – 1 

1 . പച്ചമാങ്ങ (ചെറുതായി അരിഞ്ഞത്) – 1 എണ്ണം  
2 . ഇടത്തരം സവാള  (നീളത്തിൽ അരിഞ്ഞത്) – 1 എണ്ണം 
3 . ഇഞ്ചി (നീളത്തിൽ അരിഞ്ഞത്) – 1 ടേബിൾ സ്പൂൺ 
4 . പച്ചമുളക് (നീളത്തിൽ അരിഞ്ഞത്) – 2 എണ്ണം 
5 . കറി വേപ്പ് ഇല – 1 ഇതൾ 
6 . ഉപ്പ് – ആവശ്യത്തിന് 
7 . മഞ്ഞൾ പൊടി – 1/2 ടേബിൾ സ്പൂൺ 
8 . മുളക് പൊടി – 3/4 ടേബിൾ സ്പൂൺ 
9 . മല്ലി പൊടി – 2 1/2  ടേബിൾ സ്പൂൺ 
10 . വെള്ളം – 2 കപ്പ് 
11 . തേങ്ങാപാൽ – 1 ടിൻ (Chaokoh Coconut milk tin)

ചേരുവകൾ – 2 

1 . വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ – 2 ടേബിൾ സ്പൂൺ 
2 . കടുക് – 1 ടീസ്പൂൺ 
3 . ഉലുവ – 1 ടീസ്പൂൺ
4 . വറ്റൽ മുളക് – 3 എണ്ണം 
5 . കറി വേപ്പ് ഇല – 1 ഇതൾ 

പാചകം ചെയ്യേണ്ട വിധം 

1 . ഒരു ഇടത്തരം ചീനച്ചട്ടി എടുത്തു ചേരുവകൾ 1 -ൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന 1 മുതൽ 9 വരെ ഉള്ള ചേരുവകൾ ഓരോന്നായി ചേർക്കുക. നല്ല പോലെ കൈ കൊണ്ട് കൂട്ടി തിരുമ്മി 10 മിനിറ്റ് മാറ്റി വയ്ക്കുക.

2 . രണ്ട്  കപ്പ് വെള്ളം അതിലേക്ക് ഒഴിക്കുക. നല്ല പോലെ ഒരു തവി എടുത്ത് ഇളക്കുക. (നാട്ടിൽ ആണെങ്കിൽ ഒരു തേങ്ങ പിഴിഞ്ഞ് അതിൻ്റെ മൂന്നാം പാലും രണ്ടാം പാലും ചേർക്കും വെള്ളത്തിന് പകരം) 

3 . ഒരു മീഡിയം തീയിൽ 10 മിനിറ്റ് ഇതിനെ വേവിക്കാൻ വയ്ക്കുക. ചീനച്ചട്ടി മൂടി വയ്ക്കുക. ഇടക്ക് തുറന്ന് ഇളക്കി കൊടുക്കുക. 

4 . മാങ്ങ വെന്തു കഴിയുമ്പോൾ അതിലേക്ക് ഒരു ടിൻ തേങ്ങാപാൽ ഒഴിച്ച് നല്ല പോലെ ഇളക്കി ചേർക്കുക. തീ കുറച്ചു കൂട്ടി വയ്ക്കാം (നാട്ടിൽ ആണെങ്കിൽ ഒന്നാം പാൽ ഒഴിക്കുക)

5 . നല്ല പോലെ തിളച്ചു കഴിയുമ്പോൾ തീ നിറുത്തി ചീനച്ചട്ടി മാറ്റി വയ്ക്കുക.

6 . താളിച്ചെടുക്കാനായി ഒരു ചെറിയ പാൻ എടുത്തു മീഡിയം തീയിൽ വയ്ക്കുക. ചേരുവ  2 – ൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന 2 ടേബിൾ സ്‌പൂൺ വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ എടുത്ത് ചൂടാക്കുക. ചൂടായി കഴിയുമ്പോൾ അതിലേക്ക് ഉലുവ, കടുക്, വറ്റൽ മുളക് (കടുക് പൊട്ടിയതിന് ശേഷം), കറി വേപ്പ് ഇല എന്നിവ ഇട്ട് കൊടുക്കുക. തീ നിറുത്തി, മാറ്റി വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന മാങ്ങാക്കറിയിലേക്ക് ഒഴിച്ച് ഒരു മൂടിക വച്ച് അടച്ചു വയ്ക്കുക.

7 . മാങ്ങാക്കറി തയ്യാർ. ഇത് നല്ല കുത്തരി ചോറിനോടപ്പം കുറച്ചു തോരനും കുറച്ചു ബീഫ് ഉലർത്തിയതും കൂട്ടി അടിച്ചാൽ – കുശാൽ

Youth Corner

Global Warming – A colossal conundrum

-Gaurinanda Sudheesh

Climate change is a gargantuan predicament that concerns the whole world. It is also called global warming because of how it heats up the Earth. It is mainly caused by greenhouses gases being released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat. Which results in the planet warming up. Some of the greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many different people help solve climate change, including Greta Thunberg, other teen activists, and even you.

At the United Nations Climate Action Summit on Monday, September 23, 2019, there were a lot of speeches made by world leaders but there was one that stood out. It was a speech made by Greta Thunberg a 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden. She tries to reduce climate change in many different ways. In the Newsela article Greta Thunberg “a bit surprised” to be Time Person of the Year Greta Thunberg states, “Every fraction of adegree matters.” This shows that Greta Thunberg believes that even if the climate goes up by a fraction of a degree, it will add up and affect us in the end. It is inspiring how Greta Thunberg motivates lots of people, both older and younger than her.

She gives speeches to world leaders in order to convince them to make their country eco-friendly. For a 16-year- old person to talk to world leaders much, much older than her, she must have a lot of bravery and courage. Most people probably wouldn’t be able to do that when they are 16.When she travels around the world to attend marches and give speeches, she goes by boat instead of a plane in order to reduce her carbon footprint on the world. She convinces others to think of global warming as their top concern. She even convinced her own mother, who was an actress, to go by boat or train to her performances, instead of flying in a plane. She attends many marches around the world that sheds light on global warming. She also convinced other people in Europe to ride on trains instead of planes. It was so powerful, that the movement is called the Greta Effect. These are some ways Greta Thunberg helps reduce climate change, but there are many more teen climate activists.

Greta Thunberg is a really inspiring climate activist, but there are many more young people who raise awareness of climate and reduce global warming. One is Isra Hirsi, 16, who is an American climate activist who co-founded and is the co-executive director of U.S. Youth Climate Strike. Founding a company at 16 is a great accomplishment. Another young person is Autumn Peltier who is an activist who believes in clean water, she is called “water warrior”. Another teen climate activist is Bruno Rodriguez who is 19, leader of the Fridays For Future Movement in Argentina. He was also invited to a climate summit at the United Nations. Helena Gualinga another youth climate activist. She also speaks in communities in the rain forest to raise climate change awareness. Emma Lim, an 18-year-old Canadian activist, is also raising awareness on climate change. She founded the#NoFutureNoChildren program. Now that we’ve looked at what activists do to solve climate change, let’s see what we can do.

Now you may be thinking about how you can help stop climate change or at least how you can reduce climate change. One way is by reducing how much carbon you let into the atmosphere. Now you may say, I don’t let carbon into the atmosphere, factories do that. Well, you do. Things you use every day let out carbon, automobiles, home heating, cooling systems, and electricity are only four of the many. It is truly shocking once we realize how much carbon we individually let into the atmosphere. The third thing you can do is recycle and reduce your plastic. You are probably tired of hearing this again and again, but plastic takes a long time to decompose, and it makes most of the items we use. So if we reduce the plastic we throw away into landfills, it saves the planet. We can also help by composting food waste. It gets rid of the food waste that gets into landfills, and it makes fertile soil for crops. Using renewable and eco-friendly energy resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy helps the environment. Although these approaches may seem like they could never help solve this immense quandary, it actually does help reduce climate change.

As you can see many different people help solve climate change, Greta Thunberg and other teen activists help worldwide. But even you can do things that solve this colossal conundrum. There is no age limit to saving the planet, you can be old or young. In fact, most of the climate activists around the world are children or teenagers. Climate change could be reduced if everyone pitched in. Are you going to do something to save the planet today? From our community, we need more activists like Greta. This is the time to step up and save Mother Earth.

We would love for our youth members to collaborate and contribute. Please reach out to us if you would like to share any articles, join hands to support COMA’s Youth wing’s goal-Fund raising event or help educate to reduce the use of single use plastic.

This may be coming a little late, but better late than never ,isn’t it. With lot going on the current situation, excuse us for being late to put out this word.
We would like to thank one and everyone co-operated to make the COMAngam event a success. We saw all the great talents on the stage. What an evening it was. We would like to appreciate all the effort behind the curtains, that went into the making of this event. All of them played an important role in the success and organizing.
Smitha Sunil, Anju Anil Kumar, Aishwarya Arun managed the front desk. With all the time constraints we had, they did a wonderful job to make sure registration was completed by the planned time.
Janaki Nair, Arun Chand, & Manjula Nair planned, scripted and executed the compering, they spent an enormous amount of homework planning and scripting every inch of the presentation. Though we had to cut down a significant portion of it due to the time constraint, we owe our apology for that.
The duo, Dennis Thomas & Vinay Kumar handled the entire audio. Thank you very much for your effort & contributions. They were kind to accommodate both the team’s needs and demands. I am sure only they would know the limitation they had with the limited technology & equipment that we had for the night.
Biji Prakash,Saranya Anoop organized the awesome stage decoration.
We had Harı Naraynaswami, Veda Warrier, Rekha Nair, Veena Binoop on the Judge panel. We know how difficult a task was it to judge such excellent performances. We couldn’t have asked for better.
Most of the food committee members couldn’t enjoy the best of the performances that COMA ever saw, but they graciously worked to make sure we enjoyed the dinner too. Food was handled by the following
Praveen Kumar, Adit Anup, Anup Janardhanan, Ajoy Kumar, Ajayan Janardhanan, Sunil Warrier, Chris, Freneymon John, Kannan Radhakrishna Pillai, Thomas Oommen, Manoj Thomas, Gopinath Haridass, Jayakumar Madathil. We owe you one big THANK YOU for all your selfless effort.

Here is the photo link to the event COMANGAM – https://www.photosaga.photography/COMANGAM/

Password – 2020

When somebody mentions April, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? 

You would probably think, “Oh no! April Fool’s Day is coming up!”. But there is a special day dedicated to preserve and protect our Earth which comes on April 22nd every year, and it is called “Earth Day”. This year’s Earth Day is really special, not only because we’re celebrating it while we are practising social distancing but also since it is the 50th Earth Day. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, which marked the start of the modern environmental movement. This Earth Day we are already taking care of the Earth by staying at home! By staying home, we are helping to reduce carbon emissions. While April 22^nd is specifically set aside to remind us to protect our planet, we must help Mother Earth every day. 

Because of this lockdown, we have to stay at home for a long time. This could lead to stress, anxiety, and other health issues. Reading is one of the simple remedies to manage stress. It boosts cognitive skills, improves memory and focus, reduces stress and helps you gain knowledge. April 23^rd was ‘World Book Day’, so COMA challenges you to read at least 20 minutes every day!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

As you know, we are in the middle of a pandemic. But even in the darkness, light can be found. During these times that light is people donating food, money and other essential things. A BIG thank you,  to all the benevolent people who donated and supported COMA’s COVID-19 relief fund. Because of you, our community was able to donate $4,500 to Mid Ohio Food Bank, LifeCare Alliance, and YWCA Columbus. We couldn’t achieve it without you, thank you so much for your contributions and assistance.

പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കും പാരിസ്ഥിതിക പ്രശ്നങ്ങളും

– Valsan Palika

പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് നമ്മുടെ ആവാസ വ്യസ്ഥക്കുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന പ്രത്യാഘാതത്തെപ്പറ്റി നമ്മെളെല്ലാവരും വളരെ ബോധവാന്മാരണ്. മാത്രമല്ല, നമ്മളാലാവും വിധം ആത്മാർത്ഥമായി ഈ വിപത്തിനെ നേരിടാൻ റീസൈക്ലിങും മറ്റും നാം വളരെ കാര്യക്ഷമമായി ചെയ്യുന്നുമുണ്ട്. നമ്മുടെ അസോസിയേഷന്റെ ‘യൂത്ത് വിങ്’ന്റെ ഈ വർഷത്തെ ഒരു പ്രധാന ഉദ്യമവും ഒരു ‘റിക്ലയ്‌സിങ് ക്യാമ്പയിൻ’ ആണ്. എന്താണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ ലൈഫ് സൈക്കിൾ? പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് ഏതൊക്കവിധത്തിൽ നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലേക്ക് കടന്നുകയറിയിട്ടുണ്ട്? റീസൈക്ലിങ് അഥവാ പുനരുപയോഗം എത്രമാത്രം ഫലവത്താണ്? നമുക്കൊന്ന് പരിശോധിക്കാം.

‘മൃദുവായതും എളുപ്പത്തിൽ രൂപപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിയുന്നതും’ എന്നാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് എന്ന വാക്കിന്റെ അർഥം. രസതന്ത്രത്തിൽ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കുകൾ ‘പോളിമർ’  വിഭാഗത്തിൽപ്പെടുന്നു. പെട്രോളിയം സംസ്കരണത്തിന്റെ ഉപോല്പന്നങ്ങളിൽനിന്നുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന ‘സിന്തെറ്റിക് പോളിമർ’ ആണ് ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാന ഘടകം.  ഈ പോളിമർ തന്മാത്രകൾ കാർബൺ ആറ്റങ്ങളുടെ നീണ്ട ചങ്ങലകളാണ്, പ്രകൃതിദത്തമായ പോളിമറുകളെക്കാൾ വളരെ നീണ്ടത്. അതാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന് ശക്തിയും ഭാരക്കുറവും വഴക്കവും നൽകുന്നത്. ഇതേ സ്വഭാവം തന്നെയാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ വിഘടനത്തിനുള്ള പ്രധാന തടസവും!

കഴിഞ്ഞ ഒരു നൂറ്റാണ്ടിനിടയിലാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ ഉപയോഗം വളരെയധികം വർധിച്ചത്. പ്രധാനയും അഞ്ച് തരത്തിലുള്ള പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കുകളാണ് ഇപ്പോൾ ഉപയോഗത്തിലുള്ളത്. 

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് കുപ്പികൾ – പാനീയങ്ങളും പാചക എണ്ണകളും നിറച്ചു വരുന്ന പാക്കറ്റുകൾ.

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene): ഉയർന്ന താപനിലയും രാസ പദാർത്ഥങ്ങളും ചെറുത്തു നിൽക്കാൻ കഴിവുള്ളത്. ഹെൽമെറ്റ്, പെട്രോൾ ടാങ്കുകൾ, കുപ്പിയുടെയും മറ്റും മൂടികൾ, മരത്തിനു സമാനമായ ഫ്ളോറിങ് പലകകൾ മുതലായവ 

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): ഉത്പാദന ചെലവ് കുറവ്, അതിനാൽത്തന്നെ ധാരാളം നിത്യോപയോഗ സാധനങ്ങളുടെ  നിർമാണ ഘടകം

LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene): 100 ഡിഗ്രിവരെ ചൂട് താങ്ങാൻ കഴുവുള്ള പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്. പ്ലേറ്റുകളും, ട്രെയ്‌കളും, കമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ ബോർഡുകൾ, കളിപ്പാട്ടങ്ങൾ മുതാലാവയും.

PP (Polypropylene): കപ്പുകൾ, കുപ്പികൾ, പാത്രങ്ങൾ, വീട്ടുപകരണങ്ങൾ,  ഓട്ടോമോട്ടീവ് ബാറ്ററികൾ

പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കില്ലാത്ത ഒരു ചുറ്റുപാട് ചിന്തിക്കാൻ വളരെ പ്രയാസമാണ്. നമ്മൾ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന മിക്കവാറും വസ്തുക്കളും പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് ചേർന്നവയോ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് പത്രങ്ങളിലോ പൈപ്പുകളിലോ ബാഗുകളിലോ വരുന്നവയോ ആണ്. (നിങ്ങളുടെ ചുറ്റും ഒന്ന് കണ്ണോടിച്ചാൽ അറിയാം പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ അതിപ്രസരം). അതിനാൽ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മുക്തമായ ഒരു ജീവിതം പ്രായോഗികമല്ല. പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ കുഴപ്പങ്ങൾ മനസ്സിലാക്കുകയും അതിൽനിന്ന് മോചനം നേടാനുള്ള മാർഗങ്ങൾ അറിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുകയുമാണ് അഭികാമ്യം.

എന്തൊക്കെയാണ് മനുഷ്യനും പരിസ്ഥിതിക്കും ഇതുകൊണ്ടുള്ള പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ?

മുൻപ് പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ, ഇപ്പോൾ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നത് പ്രധാനമായും പെട്രോളിയത്തിൽനിന്നുമാണ്. (അത്യാവശ്യം പ്രകൃതി വാതകത്തിൽനിന്നും). പ്രകൃതിവിഭവങ്ങളുടെ ചൂഷണത്തിന് പുറമെ, പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് നിർമാണത്തിൽ പുറംതള്ളുന്ന അപകടകാരികളായ രാസ വസ്തുക്കൾ നമ്മുടെ വായു, വെള്ളം, ഭൂമി മുതലായവയെ അനിയന്ത്രിതമായി മലീമസമാക്കുന്നു. ഇത് ആവാസവ്യവസ്ഥയെത്തന്നെ അപകടത്തിലാക്കുന്നു. 

പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് നിർമാണത്തിൽ പല രാസവസ്തുക്കളും ചേർക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. അതിൽ നമുക്ക് പൊതുവെ പരിചയമുള്ളത് ‘BPA’ (Bisphenol A) ആണ്. ‘BPA Free’ എന്ന് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്ക് ബോട്ടിലുകളിലും മറ്റും നിങ്ങൾ കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടാവും. BPA ക്യാന്സറിനും മറ്റു ജനിതക രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും നിദാനമാകാമെന്ന് പല ഗവേഷകരും നിരീക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.  

ഉപയോഗശേഷം വലിച്ചെറിയുന്ന പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്ക് മാലിന്യമാണ് മറ്റൊരു വലിയ പ്രശ്നം. ഇവ വിഘടിച്ചു മണ്ണിൽ അലിഞ്ഞുചേരാൻ ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് വർഷങ്ങൾ വേണ്ടിവരും. വിഘടന പ്രക്രിയയിൽ ഇവയിൽനിന്നുണ്ടാവുന്ന ‘മൈക്രോ’ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കുകൾ (<5 mm) വായു, വെള്ളം ഇവയിൽക്കൂടി മനുഷ്യനിലും മറ്റു ജീവികളിലും എത്തി പലതരം രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും കാരണമാകുന്നു. പലവിധ വസ്ത്രങ്ങളും പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് ഉത്പന്നങ്ങൾ ചേർന്നതാണ്. ഈ വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ കഴുകുമ്പോഴെല്ലാം ദശലക്ഷക്കണക്കിന് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മൈക്രോ ഫൈബറുകൾ നമ്മുടെ വാഷിംഗ് മെഷീനുകളിൽ‌ നിന്നും മലിനജല ശുദ്ധീകരണ പ്ലാന്റുകളിലൂടെ കടലിലേക്ക് നേരിട്ട് പോകുന്നു. കടൽ മലിനീകരണത്തിന്റെ ഒരു പ്രധാന കാരണം മൈക്രോ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കാണ്. സമുദ്രജീവികൾ ഈ വിഷ നാരുകൾ ഭക്ഷിക്കുകയും അവ ഭക്ഷ്യ ശൃംഖലയിലേക്ക് കടന്നുവരികയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. നമ്മുടെ മൽസ്യ സമ്പത്തിനെ ബാധിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ഒരു വലിയ വിപത്താണ് കടലിലെ പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മാലിന്യം. കൊക്കക്കോള, നെസ്‌ലെ, പെപ്സികോ – ഈ മൂന്ന് വ്യവസായ ഭീമന്മാരാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മാലിന്യത്തിന്റെ പ്രധാന കാരണക്കാർ *. അതിന്റെ പൂർണ ഉത്തരവാദിത്തം ഏറ്റെടുക്കുന്നതിന് പകരം ‘റീസൈക്ലിങ്’ ഉപഭോക്താവിന്റെ ഉത്തരവാദമായി അടിച്ചേല്പിക്കാനാണ് ഈ മൂന്ന് കമ്പനികളും പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മാലിന്യങ്ങൾക്ക് കാരണക്കാരായ മറ്റ് കമ്പനികളും ശ്രമിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നത്. അതാണ് നാം ഇന്ന് കാണുന്ന ‘റീസൈക്ലിങ്’ന്റെ തുടക്കം. നാം റീസൈക്കിൾ ചെയ്യുന്ന പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കും മറ്റു വസ്തുക്കളും എവിടെചെന്ന്ചേരുന്നുവെന്ന് നിങ്ങൾ ചിന്തിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ?

റീസൈക്ലിങിനായി നമ്മൾ നിക്ഷേപിക്കുന്ന പല സാധനങ്ങളും നമ്മുടെ രാജ്യത്തുതന്നെയുള്ള ചെറുതും വലുതുമാണ പല വ്യവസായങ്ങളും സംസ്കരിക്കുകയും മറ്റു പല നിത്യോപയോഗ വസ്തുക്കളാക്കി മാറ്റുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. എന്നാൽ വലിയൊരു ശതമാനം ചൈനയിലേക്കു കയറ്റി അയക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ചൈനയിലെ മെഗാ ഡ്രാഗൺ ഫാക്ടറികൾക്ക് വിശപ്പടക്കാൻ ഇത്തരം ഇറക്കുമതി കൂടിയേ തീരു. ലോകമെമ്പാടുമുള്ള ദരിദ്ര രാജ്യങ്ങളിലേക്ക് പ്രതിവർഷം ലക്ഷക്കണക്കിന് ടൺ യുഎസ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മാലിന്യങ്ങൾ കയറ്റി അയയ്ക്കുന്നു.  ഇത് അതാത് രാജ്യങ്ങളിൽ പൊതുജനാരോഗ്യത്തിനും പരിസ്ഥിതിക്കും ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന പ്രത്യാഘാതങ്ങൾ ഭയാനകമാണ്.

പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ അതിപ്രസരം കുറക്കാൻ എന്താണൊരു പോംവഴി? റീസൈക്ലിങ് ഒരു പരിധിവരെ സഹായിക്കും. അതിനേക്കാൾ എത്രയോ നല്ലതാണ് പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കിന്റെ ഉപയോഗം കുറക്കുന്നത്. അതിനാവട്ടെ നമ്മുടെ പരിശ്രമം. ഒറ്റപ്രാവശ്യം ഉപയോഗിച്ച് വലിച്ചെറിയുന്ന പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് പ്ലേറ്റുകളും മറ്റും ഒഴിവാക്കുക. കടയിൽ നിന്ന് കിട്ടുന്ന പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് സഞ്ചികൾ കുറക്കാൻ ഇപ്പോഴും കയ്യിൽ ബാഗ് കരുതുക. പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് നിർമിത വസ്തുക്കൾ കഴിവതും ഒഴിവാക്കുക. 

പറയാൻ എത്ര എളുപ്പം! ഞാൻ ഈ ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്യുന്ന കീ ബോർഡും, കാണുന്ന മോണിറ്ററും കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറും ഫോണും എന്നുവേണ്ടാ, കണ്ണടയും, ചീപ്പും, ചെരുപ്പും എല്ലാം എല്ലാം പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മയം! ഇതൊന്നുമില്ലാത്ത ഒരു ജീവിതം ചിന്തിക്കാനേ വയ്യ! എങ്കിലും പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക്കുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ അറിഞ്ഞിരുന്നാൽ ഒരുപക്ഷേ, അടുത്ത തവണ നൂറു പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് പ്ലേറ്റുകൾ വാങ്ങുന്നതിന് പകരം ‘IKEA’യിലും മറ്റും കിട്ടുന്ന പ്ലേറ്റുകൾ നിങ്ങൾ വാങ്ങിയേക്കാം!

അതൊരു പ്ലാസ്റ്റിക് മുക്ത വിപ്ലവത്തിന്റെ തുടക്കമാവട്ടെ! നമ്മുടെ വരും തലമുറക്കുവേണ്ടി നമുക്ക് ചെയ്യാൻ പറ്റുന്ന ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഉപകാരമായിരിക്കും അത്.

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2019/10/29/coca-cola-named-the-worlds-most-polluting-brand-in-plastic-waste-audit/#73c0f1e774e0

വീണ്ടും ഒരു പ്രഭാതം

– Hari Narayanaswamy

ദു:ഖം മാത്രമാണുളളിൽ
ക്രൂരയാം ഘോരമാരി 
നിഷ്ഠൂരം വേട്ട തുടരവേ
സ്വച്ഛ ജീവിതങ്ങളെ 
കടപുഴക്കിയെറിയവേ
സ്വപ്നങ്ങളെ ഹ്ലാദം 
ചുട്ടുകരിക്കവേ

മരണമോടിയെത്തും 
മുമ്പേ മരിക്കുന്നു 
വിട ചൊല്ലാനാകാതെ
കാതരം ഹൃദയങ്ങൾ.
മുഖംമൂടിയിലൊളിക്കുന്നു 
വിളറിയ മുഖങ്ങൾ 
കൈയ്യുറക്കുള്ളിൽ 
വിറയ്ക്കുന്നു വിരലുകൾ 

ശവമെടുക്കാൻപോലും 
ഭയക്കുന്നു മക്കൾ.
പരസ്പരം കാണാതെ
അകലുന്ന കൂട്ടുകാർ
തമ്മിലകലം കല്പിപ്പത്
ഉള്ളിലോ പുറത്തോ?
നമുക്കു ജീവിപ്പതിന്നായിന്നു
മരിക്കേണമോ മനുഷ്യത്വം?

കരളലിയും ദുരന്തങ്ങൾ
നിശ്ശബ്ദം വീണുടയവേ
ഉള്ളിൽ, അകത്തളങ്ങളിൽ 
കരിനിഴലുകൾ പരന്നീടവേ
തേങ്ങലോടുയരുന്നിതെങ്ങോ
നോവിന്റെ ഗസലുകൾ
കൂട്ടിന്നീണം പകരുവാൻ 
രാക്കിളി, നീയും മറന്നുവോ?

മേടപ്പുലരിയിൽ വിഷു
കൊന്നയും കണിയുമായെത്തവേ
ആശതൻ കെടാവിളക്കിൽ
വീണ്ടുമൊരു തിരികൊളുത്തവേ
ദു:സ്വപ്നമെന്നപോൽ മറയുമോ
ദു:ഖം, വീണ്ടുമുണരുമോ പ്രഭാതം?

Listen to this poem being recited by Prahlad Trivikraman.

Recipe Corner

Veggie Biriyani with Paneer

– Pradip Ramachandran

Serves: 6-8

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Oven time: 20 minutes.

I made this for dinner when I had some friends over a couple of weeks ago. Actually nothing too fancy. Just added fried Paneer to a simple vegetable biriyani and most people liked the result !

Biriyani isn’t a 5 minute dish to prepare. So embark on this only when you are cooking leisurely and have some time (approx 40-50 minutes) on your busy schedule

As always, read the recipe BEFORE you start chopping and slicing and cooking. That way you get your road-map for the dish in your head to get you to your goal. Don’t hesitate to make adjustments as needed. What is the fun in cooking if you simply follow someone else’s recipe (except for the ratio of rice to water)?

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons oil or ghee (clarified butter)
• 1 onion thinly sliced
• 1 tblspn minced garlic
• tblspn minced ginger
• 1 ripe tomato diced
• 1/2-3/4 cup warm water (use as needed)
• 1/2 cup green peas
• carrot sliced into one inch pieces (thickness of french fries)
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• Salt to taste
• Dry spices (you can also use a store bought Biriyani mix like Eastern or any other brand)
• 1/4 tspn turmeric powder
• 1/4 tspn cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tspn ground black pepper
• 2 tspns Garam masala
• 1 tspn coriander powder
• 1/2 tspn Fennel powder (optional)
• 1 cup fried Paneer (fresh cheese)
• 3 tblspns chopped mint
• 4 tblspns chopped cilantro

Method:

• Add ghee or oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and  saute for 4-5 minutes, cook covered on low-med heat until most of the moisture has evaporated (6-8 minutes). Peek once in a while to ensure that the stuff isn’t burning. If too dry, sprinkle a little warm water.
• Add vegetables, spice powders and salt. Stir well, add 1/2 cup warm water and cook covered on medium heat until vegetables are tender (not over cooked).
• Add Paneer cubes, mint and cilantro. Stir well.

While the veggies are cooking, prepare the rice as follows.

For rice

2 cups washed and drained Basmati rice

3 tblspn Ghee or oil

1/2 tspn cumin seeds

1/2 tspn Shah Jeera (optional)

5-6 Cardamom pods

1 inch piece of Cinnamon stick

4-5 whole Cloves

2 bay-leaves

2 hot green chili peppers slit lengthwise (optional, for flavor)

3.5 cups of warm water

Salt to taste

Method:

Warm the Ghee or oil in a fairly deep pot warm on medium heat.

Add all the whole spices and saute for a couple of minutes. Add 3.5 cups of warm water and sufficient salt. Bring to a rolling boil.

Then add drained rice and green chili pepper. Stir occasionally until water comes back to a boil. Cook uncovered for 5-6 minutes until most of the water has evaporated. Then reduce heat to the lowest setting and cook COVERED for 15-18 minutes. Remove lid and gently fluff the rice using a fork.

Layering:

3 tblspns chopped mint (garnish)

3 tblspns chopped cilantro (garnish)

1 tspn Rose essence diluted in 2 tblspns of water or rose water

1/2 cup fried onions

A pinch of saffron soaked in 3 tablespoons of warm milk (optional)

Method:

Reserve half the fried onions, cilantro and mint for garnish.

In a flat serving dish, place alternate layers of the veggie+paneer mix, remaining cilantro, mint, fried onions and cooked rice. You should have at least two layers.

Sprinkle rose water over rice

Garnish with fried onions, cilantro and mint. Sprinkle saffron milk on top.

Cover dish with a tight fitting lid and place in 300F over for 20 minutes.

• 1 tblspn minced garlic
• tblspn minced ginger
• 1 ripe tomato diced
• 1/2-3/4 cup warm water (use as needed)
• 1/2 cup green peas
• carrot sliced into one inch pieces (thickness of french fries)
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• Salt to taste
• Dry spices (you can also use a store bought Biriyani mix like Eastern or any other brand)
• 1/4 tspn turmeric powder
• 1/4 tspn cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tspn ground black pepper
• 2 tspns Garam masala
• 1 tspn coriander powder
• 1/2 tspn Fennel powder (optional)
• 1 cup fried Paneer (fresh cheese)
• 3 tblspns chopped mint
• 4 tblspns chopped cilantro

Method:

• Add ghee or oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and  saute for 4-5 minutes, cook covered on low-med heat until most of the moisture has evaporated (6-8 minutes). Peek once in a while to ensure that the stuff isn’t burning. If too dry, sprinkle a little warm water.
• Add vegetables, spice powders and salt. Stir well, add 1/2 cup warm water and cook covered on medium heat until vegetables are tender (not over cooked).
• Add Paneer cubes, mint and cilantro. Stir well.

While the veggies are cooking, prepare the rice as follows.

For rice

2 cups washed and drained Basmati rice

3 tblspn Ghee or oil

1/2 tspn cumin seeds

1/2 tspn Shah Jeera (optional)

5-6 Cardamom pods

1 inch piece of Cinnamon stick

4-5 whole Cloves

2 bay-leaves

2 hot green chili peppers slit lengthwise (optional, for flavor)

3.5 cups of warm water

Salt to taste

Method:

Warm the Ghee or oil in a fairly deep pot warm on medium heat.

Add all the whole spices and saute for a couple of minutes. Add 3.5 cups of warm water and sufficient salt. Bring to a rolling boil.

Then add drained rice and green chili pepper. Stir occasionally until water comes back to a boil. Cook uncovered for 5-6 minutes until most of the water has evaporated. Then reduce heat to the lowest setting and cook COVERED for 15-18 minutes. Remove lid and gently fluff the rice using a fork.

Layering:

3 tblspns chopped mint (garnish)

3 tblspns chopped cilantro (garnish)

1 tspn Rose essence diluted in 2 tblspns of water or rose water

1/2 cup fried onions

A pinch of saffron soaked in 3 tablespoons of warm milk (optional)

Method:

Reserve half the fried onions, cilantro and mint for garnish.

In a flat serving dish, place alternate layers of the veggie+paneer mix, remaining cilantro, mint, fried onions and cooked rice. You should have at least two layers.

Sprinkle rose water over rice

Garnish with fried onions, cilantro and mint. Sprinkle saffron milk on top.

Cover dish with a tight fitting lid and place in 300F over for 20 minutes.

Remove, and serve hot with Raitha.

Note: Let your guests do the “mixing” of the biriyani. You don’t want to spoil the look of it, do you?

Youth Corner

Save the Earth

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world. In fact, it marks its 50^th anniversary on April 22, 2020. Earth Day celebrates the environmental movement and raises awareness about pollution and ways to maintain a clean habitat. 

Many sixth graders like me want to make a difference in the world. One time, as we were driving to the grocery store, I saw a lake. That lake had so much plastic and trash in the water. I wondered why anyone would want to throw plastic or trash in the waters when we had recycling bins and trash cans. I went home and wanted to do some research about this. It turns out 14 billion pounds of garbage was being dumped in the ocean each year. That is more than 1.5 million per hour. Some people ask why is it bad to throw trash in the ocean? Nature.com states, “When plastic finally breaks down, it causes trillions of plastic particles to float around in the ocean. This causes pollution in the oceans and has harmful effects on sea life.” This quote shows how bad trash in oceans can be. When fish eat plankton, they are ingesting the very small plastic particles in the ocean. This kills the fish and their ecosystem. Some ask, can’t we scoop it all out of the sea? Well, it is a nice idea but sadly impossible. Only 1% of litter floats and the rest sinks down to the ocean bottom. 

What does putting plastic in oceans and land do to us? Plastic releases chemicals in the surrounding soil and air. When this plastic pollutes the air, it makes it harder for humans to breathe. Also, if the soil is polluted, plants will wither down and die. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down, so the environmental damage is long-lasting.

Kids like you and I want to help the earth in any way we can. There are many strategies that can help mother earth and its habitat. We can reduce using plastic by using reusable water bottles instead of bottled water, taking reusable bags instead of using plastic bags, avoiding straws, plastic cups etc. We can also recycle plastic instead of putting them in trash cans, avoid products that contain microplastics and even support your neighborhood cleanups. These are some of the small changes that we can make to our daily lifestyle which will create a big difference. Spread the word and encourage others to do these simple things and the world will be a better place for all of us to live.  

Save Earth – Poster

– Ameya Pramod

4^th Grade, Liberty Tree Elementary School, Powell

Save the Earth – Painting

– Aanjali  Freney

4^th Grade, New Albany Plain Local School

Save the Earth – Drawings

– Neil Nair 

7^th grade, Willard Grizzell Middle School, Dublin

– Abitha Vinoyi

12^th grade , Olentangy Orange High School

Kids Corner

Save my Earth

– Tanvi Rajesh 3 years old

Made this craft with home-made dough.

Obituaries

Let us take a moment to remember all those who have lost their lives due to COVID-19.

Special Thanks to all COVID-19 frontline fighters

You are walking right into the fire to help us get through this difficult time and making this world a better place.
Thank you so much for all your hard work and support to face this adversity.

Nithya Rajagopalan

SUMMER IS NOT COMPLETELY CANCELLED.

This is not the summer we had hoped or planned for.

The calendar is littered with cancelled vacations and summer camps, shuttered pools and playgrounds, spots in our calendars meant to be spent with friends and loved ones. But wait,there really is still fun to be had. With a little bit of imagination, we can set ourselves free from that cage of coronavirus. We can play silly games. Connect with family and friends. And find ways to express gratitude for others.

We all recently celebrated Mother’s Day. From giving emotional, mental, and physical support to teaching important life skills, there are millions of reasons why moms are the best. But what about all those other motherly figures who have a special place in our lives? Let’s brighten their day as well. Give them a call and let them know that you think about them and their well-being. Let’s blanket our world with LOVE. It’s simple!

Reflections or Ramblings #6: Life in the times of Corona

Hari Narayanaswamy

It will be totally farce to start this column by saying “Hope you are doing fine”, “these are unprecedent times”, etc. Such words have slowly started to wear down and annoy us. Let’s be honest, there is plenty of anxiety and concern to deal with for everyone. Some of us have managed to do better in dealing with them, some have chosen to effectively not think about them, and some others are struggling. How in the world can one manage to keep spirits up in such times?  (I mean, without reaching for the “spirit” that comes in bottles)

Google this question and I am sure plenty of answers will be available. There may be shortages of masks, PPEs or toilet paper, but not for unsolicited advices — most of them peddled through the greatest fake news platform, WhatsApp. In looking for something that would provide a strong, practical take on the subject, I stumbled upon this sensible article, thanks to a friend who shared it: “The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic”

If you have the time, please do read the article. For now, I would like to share few thoughts that came to mind when I read it. The crux of the article’s message is that there are four factors we need to keep our chins up: Faith, Family, Friends and Work. Get these four in order and solidly in place, pandemic or no pandemic, we will be fine. Let’s look at these factors one by one.

Faith: It doesn’t matter what shape or form faith takes; the fact is we need it. Even a God-less one will do. The point is to have a framework available to deal with things that are beyond us, enable us to view things in a broader perspective, enrich us with empathy and gratitude, and most importantly anchor ourselves in life’s meaning and purpose.

Family: A family is formed when more than one person has come together to live a common life. There are definitely individual needs, aspirations, hobbies, friend circles, etc. But ultimately the love and care one gets in family is unique and irreplaceable.

Friends: There is something special we get from the company of friends that we don’t from family. Maybe it’s the opportunity to drop all internal protective shields and become vulnerable without the fear of being hurt or destroyed. It is surprising that while with family we may feel a need to watch over ourselves, with true friends we hardly ever do. We need friends to share without being judged, have the confidence that they will be there in times of need as well as happiness and finally, just to hang around with.

Work: This is not about what we do to make a living, but what we do to make ourselves useful and find meaning and purpose. True work is where we derive our self-respect, mission and purpose of life. The question is how much are we dedicated to it? How much time do we give to it?

I believe there is one more factor that the article probably implied but didn’t mention explicitly: our own personal value system that provides the bed rock on which the above are built. If that foundation is a shifting sand, we don’t stand a chance. Otherwise, we are in good shape, irrespective what the future holds for us.

ഓർമയുടെ സീക്ബാർ

Aravind Venugopalan

പ്രതേകിച്ചു ഒരു ശ്രമവും ഇല്ലാതെ എപ്പോളും നമുക്കു ലഭിക്കുന്നതിനു വില കുറയും എന്ന് പലരും പറയുന്നത് ശെരിയാണെന്നു തോന്നും ചിലപ്പോൾ ഒക്കെ. ഏതു പാട്ടും എപ്പോൾ വേണമെങ്കിലും നമ്മുടെ വിരൽ തുമ്പിൽ കിട്ടുന്ന കാലമാണ് ഇത്. മാത്രമല്ല കേട്ട ഭാഗം എത്ര വേണം എങ്കിലും വലിയ ശ്രമവും തേയ്മാനവും കൂടാതെ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും കേൾക്കാൻ നമ്മളെ സഹായിക്കുന്ന സീക് ബാറുകൾ ലഭ്യമായ കാലം. പക്ഷെ എന്നിട്ടും ഇന്റർനെറ്റ് തലമുറയ്ക് തൊട്ടു മുന്നേ ഉള്ള നമ്മളെ പോലെ ഉള്ളവർക്കു  എന്താ കൊമ്പുണ്ടോ ? ഏതു പാട്ടിനെ കുറിച്ച് ചോദിച്ചാലും ഒരു ഏകദേശ വിവരം ഒക്കെ കാണും എപ്പോളും …ആര് എഴുതി ? ആര് സംഗീതം ചെയ്തു ? വരികൾ , ചിലപ്പോൾ രാഗങ്ങൾ വരെ ….

അതിന്റെ ഗുട്ടൻസ് മനസിലാക്കണം എങ്കിൽ നമ്മൾ ഓർമയുടെ സീക് ബാർ ഒന്ന് പുറകിലോട്ട്  വലിച്ചു ഞെരക്കിയാൽ മതി. mp3 ഫയലുകൾ ഇല്ലാത്ത കാലം. നമ്മുടെ സമയം മാറ്റി വെച്ച് ആകാശവാണിക്ക് കാത് കൊടുത്തിരുന്ന കാലം. ഒട്ടു മിക്ക വീട്ടിലും കാണും ബാറ്ററിയിൽ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഫിലിപ്സ് റേഡിയോ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ , ഏതേലും ഒരു പ്രവാസി സമ്മാനിച്ച ഒരു ജപ്പാൻ നിർമിത നാഷണൽ പാനാസോണിക് ടേപ്പ് റെക്കോർഡർ.  ഇഷ്ടഗാനങ്ങൾ കേൾക്കാൻ കാത്തിരിക്കണം. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ കത്ത് എഴുതണം. അങ്ങനെ കാത്തു ഇരുന്നു  കാത്തിരുന്നു കിട്ടുന്നതിന്റെ സുഖം അനുഭവിക്കാൻ പലപ്പോഴും കട്ടിലിൽ മലർന്നു കിടന്ന് നെഞ്ചിനു മുകളിൽ റേഡിയോ വെച്ചിട്ട് ആകും പാട്ടുകൾ   ആസ്വദിക്കുക. യേശുദാസിന്റെ ശബ്ദം കർണ പുടങ്ങളിലും റേഡിയോയുടെ സ്പന്ദനം ചങ്കിലും നൽകുന്ന കമ്പനങ്ങൾ ആസ്വദിച്ച് ആയിരിക്കും മിക്കവാറും ഓർമ്മകൾ നുകരുന്നത്. അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ അതിനു മധുരം ഏറും , ആവശ്യം ഇല്ലാത്തത് കേൾക്കണ്ടല്ലോ എന്നുള്ള ചിന്ത പോലും അന്ന് ഉണ്ടാകില്ല. തുടക്കം മുതൽ ഒടുക്കം വരെ നമുക്കു ആവശ്യം ഉള്ളത് തന്നെ , ഗാനരചന , സംഗീതം തുടങ്ങിയ വിവരങ്ങളും നമ്മൾ അറിയാതെ നമ്മുടെ ഉള്ളിൽ എഴുതപ്പെടും.  നീക്കി കളയാൻ ഇന്നുള്ള സീക് ബാർ അന്ന് ഇല്ലല്ലോ.

പിന്നെ ഉള്ള വേറെ ഒരു കാര്യം , റേഡിയോവിൽ വരുന്ന ഇഷ്ട ഗാനങ്ങൾ ടേപ്പ് റെക്കോർഡറിൽ റെക്കോർഡ് ചെയുക എന്നുള്ളതാണ്. കൊതി തോന്നുമ്പോൾ ഒക്കെ വീണ്ടും ഇട്ടു കേൾക്കാൻ അതായിരുന്നു അന്നത്തെ മാർഗം. പക്ഷെ എന്നാലും , ടേപ്പ് റെക്കോർഡറിന് ഒട്ടും  വേദനിക്കരുതേ എന്നുള്ള മട്ടിൽ ആയിരുന്നു , റിവൈൻഡും , റീപ്ലേ ഉം ഒക്കെ…അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ അതിനു ഒക്കെയും മധുരം ആയിരുന്നു. ഒരിക്കലൂം മായാത്ത പാട്ടിന്റെ ഒരു വലിയ ഡാറ്റാബേസ് ഉള്ളിൽ ഇൻസ്റ്റാൾ ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ടത് അങ്ങനെ ആയിരുന്നു. അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ ആണ് അന്നത്തെ ആ വികാരത്തെ കേൾവി ജ്ഞാനം എന്ന് ഇന്ന് ഉള്ളവർ പറയുന്നത്. അത് ജ്ഞാനം ഒന്നും ആയിരിക്കില്ല, ഒരു പക്ഷെ തീക്ഷ്ണമായ ജീവിത അനുഭവങ്ങളുമായി കെട്ടി പിണഞ്ഞതു കാരണം , മായാതെ കിടക്കുന്നത് ആയിരിക്കണം.  റേഡിയോയുടെ മൂളൽ പോലും , ചാറ്റൽ മഴയുടെ ശബ്ദം പോലെ കേട്ടുകൊണ്ട് ഉറങ്ങി ശീലിച്ചത് കൊണ്ടാകണം. എന്തും അകക്കാമ്പിൽ ആലേഖനം ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നത് , അതിനു നമ്മുടെ അനുഭവങ്ങളും വികാരങ്ങളും ആയി കെട്ടി പുണരാൻ കഴിയുമ്പോൾ ആണ്. സീക് ബാറുകൾ  പെട്ടെന്ന് അടിച്ചു ഏല്പിച്ച എന്നോ വിടർന്നു  എന്നോ വാടിയ പൂവിനെകാൾ കുളിരു ഏകുന്നത് നമ്മുടെ മുന്നിൽ തന്നെ ഉള്ളിൽ  മൊട്ടിട്ട് , ഒരുനാൾ വിടർന്ന പൂവിനാണ്. അതിനു മണമേറും , നിറമേറും…

Account Books

Ravi Hariharan

The dusty wind raged, trees shook in fury
The cremation ground found life once again.
The eyes slowly opened, as it awoke;
From the long slumber, into the memory lane;
I traced the footsteps of the past, plucked;
Branches out of all the dead trees that I saw.
Fallen leaves with tainted edges on the wayside,
Turned green, as my mind took them on a ride;

A journey through my past, which captures in its palm moments of happiness, satisfaction, sorrow, sometimes pain! A journey most of us willingly take, because the journey brings hope and solace to a desperate heart and moments of ecstasy to a joyful one.

Why do we like to travel through those already treaded paths of yesterdays? Is this human ability to think and analyze the past a gift or a curse?

I have heard my grandmother say “In 1974, when my son went to my sister’s house, she didn’t offer him even a cup of coffee. Did I do anything wrong by not offering her son a cup of coffee yesterday?!” And she would give out a sarcastic smile of having scored a great moral victory over her enemy who happens to be none but her very own sister! Needless to say, people have long memories, memories that span years and many a times decades. Often, I have wondered, how a Bollywood film hero manages to keep the fire of hatred burning in his heart for 20 long years to finally take revenge on the villain who destroyed his family. Having seen myriad instances of such in my own family, now I understand how…!

“Account Books” … a strange phrase that my mother has coined to call such memories, a book with debit and credit…Debit standing for all the good and happy memories which many a times we forget to enter in the book, because we take them for granted…and credit standing for all those moments of pain, ignominy and hurt inflicted by others on us…which we never forget to enter in our Account Book and which like any normal credit has to be paid back! Every time my mother talked about the “Account Book” that many around her kept up to date, I would make a self-introspection by opening my Account book and to my disappointment always found it thick and updated!

Why do we keep this Account Book of memories? Why does a human mind like to entangle itself with the knots which it has already unknotted? What does a human mind ultimately achieve with this “Eye for an eye…a tooth for a tooth policy.”?

I remember making a visit to Myrtle beach few years back and how amazed I was to see a huge chunk of shells that covered the beach sands. As I stood tall and looked at it, they looked all white and beautiful. I knelt and gave a closer look. Suddenly I saw a shell that was all black and ugly…And then I found another one. And then as I stood up. I felt that all the shells looked that way! Similarly, many of us have this habit of thinking of happy memories of the past. Well…Sometimes our mind doesn’t stop at those. The curious that our mind is…starts analyzing…incidents and people and before one stops thinking one realizes that those memories have actually lost a bit of shine.

Needless to say those memories of bad incidents that happened, much like an evening sky would only become darker, the more one looks at it, and hurt us more. Many a times such memories give us a feeling of guilt of inability which finally ends in self-pity which is the biggest source of false consolation a human heart can receive. So many a times, our heart tends to fall into this trap.

So why do we need memories? Isn’t it possible to live on without delving too much on past memories and neither on the unknown future? Like Dr. Spencer Johnson puts it, the biggest present we have is the present itself. So why not live the present to the lees without worrying about an unchangeable past and uncertain future?

I understand that it’s easier said than done, and many a times good memories are the best source of motivation and drive and the same can be said about our dreams for our future too. But having said that, let us try to consciously keep our Account books as thin as possible, not to break up the past or present for meticulous analysis and live as uncomplicated a life as we can live…trying to keep only the good memories and propel our lives forward, so when we look back at our lives a few years from now, we will have only good memories to think about.

Events

COMA Mother’s Day Event:

This Mother’s Day, a few mothers from COMA women’s group got together and decided to start their day with a fitness challenge – a virtual plank challenge to motivate our inner self ! All the mothers lit up lamp and observed a moment of silence as a solidarity to all our front line fighters in this current pandemic.

Here are a few pictures of the event:

Virtual 5k

Achievements

Gaurinanda Sudheesh Lekshmi won 3rd price in the FIA quiz competition. Congratulations Gauri !!

Meals on wheels volunteers

May 10: Saira Nawaz, Razvi Razack

May 24 : Binoy Rappai, Arun Davis, Dhanush Kondoth

Sponsors

This pandemic has torn the the idea of how all of us visualize graduation ceremonies to be. Class of 2020, the world has changed. This moment is your opportunity to use your education to begin rebuilding, to apply the best of what you’ve learned. You all are Kings and Queens. 

COMA would like to congratulate the Class of 2020. Please join us to wish them the best.

Abitha Vinoyi, daughter of Ancey Vinoyi and Vinoyi Varughese, graduated from Olentangy Orange High School this year. She will be attending the Ohio State University, majoring in Computer Science & Engineering. In high school, she has participated in Senior Class Cabinet, Tri-M, National Arts Honors Society, Orchestra, Pioneer Ambassadors, Art Club, Interact Club, Student Council, Track & Field, Theater, Choir, and Fashion Club.

Norah Philip has graduated high school from Hilliard Davidson High school with Presidential Award and Honors Diploma. She is a member of NHS. Norah is a recipient of the thespian award. She will be attending Virginia Tech for Computer Science and engineering in the fall. Norah is the oldest daughter of Jicku Philip and Thankom Thomas Thamarappallil. 

Neelima Gopinath, daughter of Gopinath Haridass and Preethi Gopinath, graduated summa cum laude from Thomas Worthington High School. Neelima will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall as a Business major and will be part of the Politics, Law and Society Scholars program. Neelima is a recipient of the Women’s Business Scholarship from the Women’s Business Network of the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce. She was a part of Orchestra, National Honors Society, Spanish National Honors Society and Chemistry Club. She also volunteered at Riverside Hospital. She looks forward to continuing her education in the next stage of her life.

Adarsh (“Adu”) Vengal, younger son of Jacob Vengal (COMA Trustee) and Meenu Vengal graduated with a BS in Math (major) and Physics (minor) in the honors program at OSU. He will be joining the PhD program in Math at the University of California, San Diego this September. While at OSU Adu did research in Physics and Math. His Physics and Math research have been published. Jacob who’s dream in life was to become a Physics professor in SB College Changanacherry, couldn’t understand a single sentence from his physics research and said that to Adu. His response was “Appa, it is not meant for beginners”. Needless to say, Jacob didn’t make any more comments!!! Adu received first price for his Math research in a national conference. He has been a teaching assistant from his 5^th semester. Adu’s passion for Math was clear from the elementary school.

Diviya Jacob, daughter of Naduparambil and Rajani Jacob.  She recently graduated from The Ohio State University with Bachelors degree in Neuroscience.  The past four years have been an educational experience for her in more than one aspect.  Looking back, she is very grateful for the opportunities that came my way and the support she had throughout this chapter of my life.  She is looking forward to making the most of what comes next!

Rachel Varughese, daughter of Thomas Pullumpallil and Preetha Varughese. She has graduated summa cum laude from Hilliard Davidson High School with an honors diploma. She will be attending The Ohio State University in the honors program, majoring in Chemical Engineering. During high school, she was President of the Environmental Club, where she helped to establish a district-wide recycling program. She has also been a two-year National Honors Society Inductee, served as the Executive Community Service Liaison for Student Council, volunteered as an appointed board member of Key Club, and played in the Chamber A orchestra. She would like to congratulate all 2020 graduates as we embark on the next stage of our lives together.

Niranjan, son of Valsan and Vijaya, is graduating from Olentangy High School.  He will be attending Ohio State University and plans to major in Mechanical Engineering. Niranjan is a member of the National Honor Society and part of JV Tennis team

Arvind Kumar, son of Ajoy and Beena, and has graduated from Dublin Coffman High School as a valedictorian with summa cum laude, Honor’s Diploma, National Merit Commended Scholar, Presidents Award, and National AP Scholar. He will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall majoring in Computer Science and Engineering.

Nitin Gopinath, son of Preethi Gopinath & Gopinath Haridass, graduated from The Ohio State University with the Bachelors degree in Material Science & Engineering. He’s currently working in IT on campus but plans to pursue full time work in the future

Nithya Warrier graduated from Dublin Jerome High school and will be going to University  of  Cincinnati for medical sciences. She ran cross country and track for all four years, and also was the becoming president of the Mock Trial.

Achievements:
National Merit Commended Scholar,
AP Scholar with Distinction,
Presidents Education Award,
Valedictorian,
Diploma with Honors

Meals on wheels volunteers

June 14: Arun Kumar, Priya Arun, Aishwarya Arun and Adithya Arun

June 28 : Nish Nishant, Pradeesh Pudhiyattil and Anoop Nair

Please submit the form below, if interested.

https://forms.gle/2giY8CjnvsJjeAA46

It is already the end of July, and summer is halfway done. July is mostly known for Independence Day, a day to remember how America gained independence. The Declaration of Independence was a key document in declaring independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776, causing July 4th to become the day for Independence Day. But July 4th wasn’t elected a federal holiday until 1941. This year, Independence Day has been very different. Normally we would visit kith and kin, go see fireworks, and try to enjoy one of the few long weekends we get in a year. But those traditions have been thrown off track this year because of the ongoing pandemic. But do not worry, you can still have fun. You can video call your family and friends and still enjoy the time you have off. In case you do go outside don’t forget to wear a mask, social distance, and stay safe.

A history of the COMA Bike Club

-Nish Nishant

Biking, unlike other fitness and workout routines, is an easy exercise to get into – all you need is a bike. The COMA biking club currently boasting around 50 members is one of our association’s many niche groups. The first unofficial group rides began in June 2016 with just 4 members (yours truly, Pramod Pudhiyattil, Vikas Gopal, and Arun Davis). We continued to do that in a sporadic fashion till 2018 when COMA began its active initiatives focusing on outdoor events. In early 2018, Deepak Warrier reached out to me and asked me if we could formalize the club, and we started the WhatsApp group at that time. A big boost to the club was when Ashish and Sangeetha Muthiraparambath joined, and started posting about their marathon rides which tremendously inspired the group. Until then we were mostly a “10-15 miles and back home” sorta club. The Olentangy trail became the unofficial COMA trail as that was conveniently located for most folks and is also one of the better trails in the area. 

This year, the lockdown had a pretty significant impact in increasing the activity levels and participation of the club. People were stuck home and could not go to their gyms, tennis courts, and badminton leagues. Folks like Pradeesh Puthiyattil with their multi-sport background joined and encouraged folks to push themselves beyond their current limits. As a result, more bikers started joining us, many of them investing in pretty good equipment, and now it’s not unusual for the bike club to do 30/40/50 mile rides on a consistent basis. Ashish and Sangeetha Muthiraparambath have been the main drivers behind the group exploring new trails, while Pradeesh has challenged everyone to move from casual riders to serious amateurs, and Pramod in his typical fashion has become the de-facto technical guru for everyone, from bike tune up tips to gear changing skills. 

Biking is a fitting group activity in these days of social distancing, and the opportunity to meet friends and acquaintances once a week is a boon. It’s also an adventure of sorts, the trails often offering exquisite views into the scenic Ohio landscapes. Many of these trails do not have direct road access other than through the trail, so you get to see unexplored sights and lots of picture postcard photo points. After a week of hard work, a 4 hour ride can be extremely relaxing to both mind and body. I would encourage you all to give this a shot, just reach out to the EC team if you are interested. 

Reflections & Ramblings #7: On Culture

– Hari Narayanaswamy

I don’t know about you but I find the word ‘culture’ very intriguing. Just like many of you, I am also part of many ‘cultural organisations’ and attend many ‘cultural programs’ (of course on Zoom these days). I am expected to have elements of a ‘unique corporate culture’ at work, ‘Hindu culture’ based on religion, ‘Oriental or Indian culture’ based on birth, ‘Tamil Brahmin culture’ as part of heritage, ‘Malayali culture’ per my upbringing, ‘Western or American culture’ per my citizenship. I am either super-saturated with culture or totally devoid of it that I could be of any culture!

I looked up on the online dictionary and this is what it said about Culture: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time. The dictionary said few more things that was hard to make out exactly what they meant, but finally this is the simple conclusion I came to. Culture is an expected behaviour, set of values or preferences of a person based on the person’s community context. The emphasis is on the word ‘expected’ which essentially means there is a written or unwritten norms existing in the community. (I am about to pat myself on the back but that doesn’t fit the humility of my Indian culture)

How serious can the influence of cultural values could be? History is replete with many examples. The fire of the First Independence struggle of India in 1857, which the British describe as the Sepoy Rebellion, though simmering for a long time, was finally ignited when a rumour spread that the ammunition distributed to them was laced with animal fat. When Vasco Da Gamma arrived in Calicut in 1498, he showed up to Zamorin’s court with some worthless trinkets as gifts. He didn’t know that the custom was to bring in something substantial as gift. The Portuguese were promptly insulted and chased away by the displeased Zamorin and they in turn laid a siege in the sea murdering many Arab traders doing business with the Zamorin. A protracted fight between the Zamorins and Portuguese cost many lives and damage to each other’s properties.

In case you are wondering where I am going with this, I am thinking about the recent furore in some states over wearing masks to prevent the spread of Covid19. To most, this is a simple, reasonable request during such an extraordinary time to save people’s lives. But that is not how some others, steeped in a misinterpretation of personal freedom, see it. To them, it is the expression of their American identity to resist all attempts by an administration to curtail personal choice. Few others even raised a more nonsensical argument saying masks are a work of devil to interfere with God’s creation of free breathing! Could we attribute this to Culture? I don’t think so.

All of humanity is one society, irrespective of our nationality, race or religion. (If you are not sure of this, just ask the COVID19 virus, it will tell you). And in that society we have one key responsibility, to avoid doing anything that causes another fellow human being to lose his or her life. Especially when it is a minor accommodation like wearing a mask and keeping a social distance until this pandemic passes, just do it and not argue (even if you are an ‘argumentative Indian’) or try to hide behind a made up cultural identity. Please!

Please stay safe and do what you can to make others safe!

Recipe Corner

ചിക്കൻ ഗീ റോസ്സ്റ്റ് ചെട്ടിനാട് സ്റ്റൈൽ

-Presanth Krishnan

സാധാരണ ചിക്കൻ ബോൺ ഉള്ളതാണ് ഇത് ഉണ്ടാക്കാൻ നല്ലതു ഞാൻ ഇന്ന് ചിക്കൻ ബോൺലെസ്സ് ചെറുതായി കഷ്ണം ആക്കിയതാണ് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത് .

ആദ്യം എല്ലാ മസാല കൂട്ടുകളും തയ്യാറാക്കി വക്കുക. 

വറ്റൽ മുളക് (മുളക് പൊടി) – 3 സ്പൂൺ 

മല്ലി (മല്ലി പൊടി) – 1 സ്പൂൺ 

ജീരകം – 1 സ്പൂൺ

ഉലുവ – 1 സ്പൂൺ

കുരുമുളക് – 2 സ്പൂൺ

മഞ്ഞൾ പൊടി – 1 സ്പൂൺ

തൈര് – 1 കപ്പ്

പിഴു പുലി – 2 കഷ്ണം 

ഗീ / ബട്ടർ – 1 കപ്പ്

കറിവേപ്പില – 15 ഇലകൾ 

മല്ലിയില – കുറച്ചു 

ശർക്കര – 1 സ്പൂൺ 

ഉപ്പ് – 3 സ്പൂൺ

നാരങ്ങ – 1 എണ്ണം

വെളുത്തുള്ളി – 8 കഷ്ണം

ആദ്യം ചിക്കൻ കഷണങ്ങൾ  ആക്കിയത് തൈരും , ഒരു അരമുറി നാരങ്ങാ പിഴിഞ്ഞതും ,ഒരു സ്പൂൺ ഉപ്പും , ഒരു സ്പൂൺ മഞ്ഞൾ പൊടിയും ചേർത്ത് നന്നായി  ഇളക്കി ഒരു മണിക്കൂറ് മാറ്റി വക്കുക

പിഴു പുലി  ഒരു കാൽ കപ്പു ചൂട് വെള്ളത്തില് കുതിർത്തു വക്കുക 

(വറ്റൽ മുളക് (മുളക് പൊടി) ,മല്ലി (മല്ലി പൊടി) ,ജീരകം ,ഉലുവ , കുരുമുളക് ) ഇതെല്ലം നന്നായി ചൂടാക്കി ഒരു ബ്രൗൺ കളർ ആകുമ്പോ മാറ്റി വക്കണം എന്നിട്ടു അതൊന്നു തണുത്തു കഴിയുമ്പോ എല്ലാം കൂടി നന്നായി അരച്ച് എടുക്കുക കൂടെ വെളുത്തുള്ളി , പിന്നെ ആ പിഴു പുലി മാറ്റി അതിന്റെ വെള്ളം കൂടെ ചേർത്ത് അരക്കണം.

ഇനി ഒരു ഫ്രൈയിങ്ങ് പാനിൽ ആവശ്യത്തിന് 3 സ്പൂൺ ഗീ / ബട്ടർ ഒഴിച്ച് മാരിനേറ്റ് ചെയ്ത ചിക്കൻ വറുത്തെടുക്കുക.

അരച്ചെടുത്ത മസാല ഒരു പാനിൽ , 2 സ്പൂൺ ഉപ്പും കൂടി ഇട്ടു , 1 സ്പൂൺ ഗീ / ബട്ടർ ഒഴിച്ച് ചൂടാക്കി നന്നായി മസാല മണം വരുമ്പോ നമ്മൾ ആദ്യം ചിക്കൻ മാരിനേറ്റ് ചെയ്തു തൈര് മിശ്രിതവും , ചിക്കൻ വറുത്ത ഗീ എല്ലാം കൂടെ മിക്സ് ചെയ്തു ചൂടാകുമ്പോ വറുത്ത ചിക്കൻ കൂടെ ഇട്ടു നന്നായി ഇളക്കി കൊടുക്കണം. നമുക്ക് വേണ്ട അത്ര ഫ്രൈ ആകുമ്പോ തീ കുറച്ചു കറിവേപ്പില ഇട്ടു ഫ്രൈ  ആക്കി എടുക്കുക.

ഇത്തിരി മല്ലി ഇലകൂടി മുകളിൽ ഇട്ടു സെർവ് ചെയ്യാവുന്നതാണ്.

Youth Corner

The Adventures of ‘Smack-in-Cheese’

-Abel Arun Davis

Hello fellow readers! My name is Smack-in-cheese. My friends are Nap-in-cheese and Snack-in-cheese. Snack-in-cheese really likes to snack on cheese. It’s almost like a sport for him. Guess where I met him? In the college cafeteria. Well, not really. He was eating on the bus!

Nap-in-cheese really likes to nap on cheese. Why? I do not know. He says cheese is very comfy. Did you know he sleeps for 15 hours a night and eats his bed for lunch! And skips breakfast everyday! Did you know his bed is made of cheese Pizza?

Okay Okay, let us go 1000 miles to the story… Are we there yet? Oh now, we are here. Once upon a time… Wait a minute! This is not a fairytale. Or, is it? Don’t make fun of me. It’s not like I have a small brain. Or, maybe I do… Okay, well at least noodles are not smart.

Now, we go to the story. One college morning, I had the worst nightmare I had ever had. When I woke up, Nap-in-cheese was jumping on my belly. Today is the day he was yelling, “What day!”  yelled while yawning, “Getting eaten day”. He asked “and why is that good?”

“It is not” and that is why I am trying to beat you up till you look like a red pepper because I don’t want to waste time and no one will want to eat you.

Then, can’t you just eat me? Well, nap-in-cheese does not want to do that or else the bean(human bean-g) will get stuffed. Okay, well where is snack-in-cheese? Oh, he is eating the table.

Okay now, can you get out of here? 

Okay okay I will get out. 

Then do so! 

“Fine!” nap-in-cheese said with a frown 

When Nap-in-cheese went to snack-in-cheese I looked for him everywhere. When I looked in the fridge snack-in-cheese was in there and before I could say holy cheese crumbs, he jumped on me like a wild pepper right on my head. When he got off, I asked what was for breakfast? Then he turned pale as Ranch and fell sideways. One hour later snack-in-cheese wakes up. Look what you have done? You ate the table? Weeeee! Now what will we put for breakfast? 

Ahem, that is what YOU will eat for breakfast.

Well, what did you eat then?

“The Table!”, said snack-in-cheese

To be continued..

What will smack in cheese eat? Find out in Part 2

Malayalam Class 2020-2021

Hello All,

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer vacation and staying safe.

The year 2020 has taken all of us by surprise and we all are trying to learn what a “New Normal” way of living looks like. We at ‘COMA Malayalam class’ also had to learn and make changes in the way we do things and find a new normal. We were able to continue some classes online for the last few months of the 2019/2020 school year. Our current plan is to continue that format this school year with the hope of going back to in-person format when the situation permits.

We are very delighted to announce that COMA Malayalam class will resume on Sunday, 08/23/2020. Interested COMA members, please register by sending an email to coma.officials@gmail.com. The class schedule will continue to be from 11:00 AM to noon every Sunday except holiday weekends and will be conducted via online classes.
Any changes to the schedule or format will be informed in advance so that you can plan accordingly.
Please note that COMA membership is a requirement to join the class.
Looking forward to another wonderful year.

-2020 EC & Malayalam class team

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

July 12, 2020: Manoj Thomas, Julie Joseph, Unni Nair, Latha Nair
Completed Route: # V1600

July 12, 2020: Valsan Palika, Hrishi Palika, Niran Palika
Completed Route: #V1801

Ullathu kondu Onam pole – an age old saying reminding us that no matter what, we Malayalees celebrate Onam with as much or as little as we have. This year’s Onam has taken this thought to new heights with COVID taking the sheen out of Onam. For many, the high voltage festival of pookalam, puli kali, boat race, kasavu dresses and yummilicious sadya has been reduced to an indoor game. But COVID has not been able to dent the malayalee spirit. This keeps us ticking and kicking. Most of us may have a story of loss or agony to share but we are ready to welcome our erstwhile ruler KING MAHABALI

– Nithya Rajagopalan

ഓണ സദ്യ

തുമ്പ മലരിന്റെ ചന്തമുണർത്തുന്ന

ചൂടുള്ള കുത്തരി ചോറിൽ

അൻപോടെ അമ്മ വിളമ്പി, നറുമണം

എങ്ങും പരത്തും നറുനെയ്!

പൂക്കളത്തോളം മനോഹരം തന്നെ

തൂശനിലയിലെ വട്ടം

ഒക്കെ കഴിച്ചിട്ടുവേണം സുഖമായി

ഉച്ച മയക്കത്തിലാഴാൻ!

എത്രയോ കാലമായ് ഉള്ളിലൊതുക്കിയ

മോഹമാണീ ഓണ സദ്യ!

“ഇത്രയുമായാൽ ഇനിതുടങ്ങാം”, എന്ന്

മുത്തശ്ശി മെല്ലെപറഞ്ഞു

പച്ചടി, കിച്ചടി, കാളനവിയൽ, പിന്നെ

അച്ചാറുകൾ നാലു കൂട്ടം

കായ വറുത്തതും ശർക്കര ചേർത്തതും

ആകെയൊരാഘോഷമത്രെ!

നൂറ്റെട്ടുകൂട്ടം കറികൾക്ക് തുല്യമാം

ഇഞ്ചിക്കറി ചിരി തൂകി!

ഏറ്റവും വേഗത്തിലെല്ലാം കഴിക്കണം രണ്ടിനം

പായസമുണ്ട്‌ പിന്നാലേ!

അമ്മതൻ കൈപ്പുണ്യം തൊട്ടുണർത്തി,

നാവിലെന്നോ മറന്ന രുചികൾ!

എല്ലാം ഇവിടെ തൊടിയിലുണ്ടാക്കിയ

പച്ചക്കറികളാണത്രെ!

ഓർമ്മയിൽ പൂത്തുലഞ്ഞു, ബാല്യ-

കാലത്തെ ഓണ ഘോഷങ്ങൾ

കൂട്ടുകാരോടോത്തു ചെയ്ത കുസൃതികൾ,

ഏറെ രസിച്ച കളികൾ

‘ഇത്തിരിക്കൂടെകഴിക്കൂ!’, അമ്മ

വാത്സല്യമോടെപറഞ്ഞു

ഓർമ്മകൾക്കൊപ്പം മധുരമാം പായസം

ആസ്വദിച്ചേറെക്കഴിച്ചു! 

മുറ്റത്തു കുട്ടികളോടിത്തിമിർക്കുന്നു,

പൊട്ടിച്ചിരികളുയർത്തി

മൂവാണ്ടൻ മാവിന്റെ കൊമ്പിലെയൂഞ്ഞാലിൽ

ആടി രസിക്കുവാൻ മോഹം!

കുട്ടികളെയുമവളെയും ഇക്കുറി

കൊണ്ടുവരാമായിരുന്നു

നാട്ടിലെ ഓണവും സദ്യയും കൂട്ടവും

 ഒക്കെയുമിഷ്ടമായേനേ!

മാവിന്ചുവട്ടിലേക്കേറേയുത്സാഹത്തിൽ

ആടുവാനായ് ചെന്ന നേരം

കുട്ടികുസൃതികൾ, ആരോ ഒരാളെന്നെ

മെല്ലെപിറകോട്ടു തള്ളി

പിന്നെ അശരീരി പോലെയേതോ ശബ്ദ-

മെന്റെ ചെവിയിൽ പതിഞ്ഞു

‘വേഗമെഴുന്നേറ്റ് വന്നേ, നേര-

മെട്ടരയായീട്ടോ  മാഷേ!’

‘ഓണമല്ലേ, നല്ല സദ്യ വേണം,

ഒട്ടൊക്കെ വാങ്ങിവരേണം’

ശ്രീമതി തട്ടിയുണർത്തിയതോ, സ്വപ്ന-

മായിരുന്നോ കണ്ടതെല്ലാം!

മാധുര്യമൂറുന്ന സ്വപ്ന ലഹരിയിൽ

ഓടിയൊളിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കേ

ഓണമൊരുക്കുവാനുള്ള തിടുക്കത്തിൽ

വീണ്ടും അശരീരി വന്നു 

‘ഫ്രോസൺ’ ആണെങ്കിലും, ചേന വേണം,

കൂട്ടുകറിക്കത് ‘മസ്റ്റാ’

സാമ്പാറി ‘നോഥന്റീസിറ്റി’ വരുത്തുവാൻ

വേണം മുരിങ്ങക്കയൊന്ന്

കേരളപപ്പടം ഇല്ലെങ്കിലോ, ലിജ്ജത്തി-

ലാകട്ടെ ഈവര്ഷമോണം

ഉപ്പുമാങ്ങ മറക്കേണ്ട, നാരങ്ങയച്ചാർ

കുറച്ചുണ്ട് ഫ്രിഡ്ജിൽ

പായസം ബുക്കുചെയ്യാൻ വൈകി അയ്യോ! 

ഉണ്ടാക്കുവാനോ പ്രയാസം 

പാലടയാണോ എളുപ്പം? എങ്കിൽ

പഞ്ചസാര മറക്കൊല്ലേ

ഉണ്ണിക്ക് സ്വാദോടെഉണ്ണാൻ ‘പാസ്ത’

വേണം, അതിനുള്ള ‘സോസും’

മോൾക്കിന്ന്  ലഞ്ചിന്നൊരല്പം സ്വാദ്

കൂട്ടാൻ ഒരു പായ്ക്ക് ‘ലേയ്സും’

പൂക്കളും വേണം കുറച്ചു, നല്ല

പൂക്കളം മുൻപിലൊരുക്കാൻ 

വാടാത്തതായാലെളുപ്പം  പിന്നെ

‘ക്ലീനിങ്’ സൗകര്യമല്ലേ!

വേഗം പുറപ്പെടൂ, വൈകിപ്പോയാൽ

ഊണും അതുപോലെ വൈകും

പോയിവരുമ്പോഴേക്കും ‘ബ്രേക്ക്

ഫാസ്റ്റ്’ റെഡിയാക്കി വെക്കാം

ഏറെ തണുത്ത പാലിൽ കുതിർ-

ന്നാറിയ ‘കോൺ ഫ്ലെക്സി’നോർമ്മ

ഊഷ്മള സ്വപ്നങ്ങളെല്ലാം തല്ലി-

യോടിച്ചിതയ്യോ, എണീക്കാം!

ഇല്ലെങ്കിലോണവും പോകും, ഓർമയിൽ

ഒന്നും എഴുതി വെക്കാതെ!

‘ലിസ്റ്റ് റെഡിയാക്കി വെക്കൂ, ഉടൻ

ഫ്രഷായി ഞാനിതാ വന്നു’!

Onam Nostalgia

Smitha Nishant (lives in Worthington, OH with her family. She is a native of Trivandrum, India.)

Onam is one festival that I really look forward to every year. When I setup my calendar at the start of the year, it’s the date I mark down first even before I do birthdays and anniversaries. It’s the festival that I take great pride in as a Malayali as it celebrates equality, oneness, and prosperity for all.

Growing up, Onam holidays marked the end of first term at school and the dreaded Onappareeksha, and the start of a much anticipated 10-day long vacation where cousins and other family from far and near would get together at my maternal grand-mother’s (ammachy as I called her) house. Ammachy would stock up on banana chips, murukku, unniyappam, achappam, ariyunda – not just for the perpetually hungry grandkids but also to serve to the truck loads of relatives who would come visit around Onam time. My youngest uncle who was a college student at the time would put up swings for us and join us in the myriad of games we played. My mom and aunts would be busy in the kitchen with my ammachy while all of us kids would play in the grounds all day. Evenings were reserved for board games, 28, and carroms. The highlight of the avadhikkaalam was the delicious sadhyas ammachy, my aunts, and mom would prepare for Uthradam and Thiruonam, but as kids we were partial to the first Onasadhya as we would be served non-veg side dishes also, such as ammachy’s legendary mutton curry or fried chicken. She made the best tasting ada-pradhaman in the whole world (in a big uruli) that we would smash a banana into and savor with our hands from the sadhya leaf. My father being an NRI would miss most Onams but my uncles made up for his absence showering me and my sister with onakodies and other gifts.

I grew up in Trivandrum at a time when it still retained the charms of a small town despite being the capital city. I loved watching the hustle and buzzle of Onam shopping in the Chalai bazaar from my school bus as it took me back home on the last day of school before the vacation started. Onam vacations saw a lot of the immigrant residents travelling back to their native places, but it also brought in folks who descended to the capital to partake in the “Onam vaaraakhosham”. Kerala Tourism’s weeklong Onam celebrations were an integral part of my childhood. There were arts and craft fairs in the Putharikandam maithanam, and if we were lucky, the circus would come to town as well. Trees and government buildings from East Fort to Kowdiar Square would be lit up for a fortnight. I’d eagerly wait for that special evening my uncle would announce that he was going to take all of us kids to watch it – jam packed into the back of his old Ambassador, we had such fun enjoying the illuminations and festivities on both sides of the road. If we were lucky, he’d make a stop at the Kanakakunnu Palace and get us cotton candy and vanilla ice cream – special treats when we were growing up. The memories are so etched in my mind, it even brings back the scent of freshly mowed grass in the palace grounds where we would run around and play games. Uncle would then take us all to watch an Onam release movie – “My Dear Kuttichaathan” was one such unforgettable Onam release.

Trivandrum Onam celebrations culminated with a grand parade (khoshayaathra) complete with colorful floats, dancers, marching bands, roller skaters, and the Mounted Police unit of the Kerala Police. There were years I participated in the parade as part of my school’s marching band, and one year I particularly remember marching fully drenched as it rained at the start of the parade.

Growing up in the United States, I know my son Rohan has a completely different Onam experience, primarily around Malayalee association Onam celebrations and getting together with friends for Onam sadhyas. In the land of plenty, vanilla ice cream cups and cotton candy are no more desirable than pancakes or waffles. I am happy to keep it that way as I am a firm believer that your Onam experiences should be representative of your background and not artificially created to match with the stereotypes. To each, their own. 

Onam is often described as a celebration of a glorious past. That is precisely what it is to me, a reminder of a childhood full of joy, love, family get-togethers, and the simple pleasures of life. Wishing you all a very happy Onam!

പൊലിഞ്ഞുപോയ സർഗ്ഗവാസനകൾ

Unnikrishnan Nair

സുഹൃത്തേ, ഓണത്തിന് കുറച്ചെന്തെങ്കിലും Newsletter നു വേണ്ടി എഴുതാമോ എന്നുചോദിച്ചപ്പോൾ, സാധിച്ചില്ല എന്നൊറ്റവാക്കിൽ പറഞ്ഞാൽ അതു താങ്കൾക്ക് വിഷമമാകുമോ എന്നുവിചാരിച്ചു…

താങ്കളുടെ മനോമുകരത്തിൽ തെളിഞ്ഞപോലെ ഞാനൊരു നല്ല കലാ സാഹിത്യ അഭിരുചിയുള്ള വ്യക്തിയൊന്നുമല്ല എന്നറിയിക്കട്ടെ. സ്കൂൾ കോളേജ് കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ എന്തൊക്കെയോ കുത്തികുറിച്ചിരുന്നു, കൂടാതെ നാടകം/സ്കിറ്റ് എന്നൊക്കെ പറഞ്ഞു കുറച്ചു കസർത്തു കാണിച്ചു എന്നൊഴിച്ചാൽ, വെറും നാട്ടുമ്പുത്തു കാരനായ പച്ചയായ മനുഷ്യൻ. മാത്രമല്ല കലാലയ ജീവിതം അവസാനിച്ചപ്പോൾ അവയെല്ലാം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. ഒരുപക്ഷെ സഹപാഠികളുടെ ആദരവിനുവേണ്ടിയോ അതോ ഗുരുക്കൻമാരുടെ പ്രശംസ നേടാനുള്ള ചടുലവും സ്വാർഥവുമായ ആഗ്രഹംകൊണ്ടായിരുന്നോ അതെല്ലാം ചെയ്തത് എന്നോർമ്മയില്ല. ചെറുപ്പത്തിന്റെ വിവേകമില്ലായ്മയായേ ഇപ്പോൾ അതിനെ കാണുന്നുള്ളൂ.

സുന്ദരമായ കലാലയ ജീവിതം കഴിഞ്ഞു ജീവിത യാഥാർഥ്യങ്ങളെ അഭിമുഖീകരിച്ചു മുന്നോട്ടുള്ള പ്രയാണത്തിൽ കലയും സാഹിത്യവും കൂടെ കൊണ്ടുപോകാൻ സാധിക്കില്ലെന്നുള്ള യാഥാർഥ്യം നേരത്തേ മനസിലാക്കിയിരുന്നു.

ജീവിതത്തിന്റ സായം സന്ധ്യയിലെത്തിനിൽക്കുന്ന ഈ അവസരത്തിൽ ഒന്നു തിഞ്ഞുനോക്കിയാൽ, അന്ന് കൂടെയുണ്ടായിരുന്ന സർഗ്ഗവാസനകളൊക്കയും തുരുമ്പിച്ചുപോയി എന്നുപറഞ്ഞാൽ അതിശയോക്തിയാകില്ല. സത്യംപറഞ്ഞാൽ കയ്യിലുണ്ടായിരുന്നത് നഷ്ടപ്പെടുകയും, എന്തിനുവേണ്ടി ഓടിയിരുന്നുവോ അതു നേടിയതുമില്ല എന്ന യാഥാർഥ്യവും മനസിലായി. എങ്കിലും അല്ലലുമലച്ചിലും ഇല്ലാതെ ഇവിടെവരെയെത്തിച്ച ജഗദീശ്വരനോട് നന്ദി പറയാൻ മാത്രമേ ഈ അവസരത്തിൽ മനസുവരുന്നൊള്ളു.

ഓണാശംസകൾ…

Kids corner

The adventures of Smack-in-Cheese : Part 2

Hello my mysterious friends once again! If you still remember, my name is smack-n-cheese and my friends are nap-n-cheese and snack-n-cheese. 

This is our Quick Recap:

I got really hungry because snack-n-cheese ate everything in the house including the table and the fridge. Nap-n-cheese for some reason woke up really really quick jumping on me while I was trying to sleep. He told, it was ‘getting eaten day’ and he said he will jump on me until I become a red-hot-pepper.

Now let us start the story 

Snack-n-cheese said, luckily it is Christmas and I ate all the Christmas presents except for this black and white shovel which your great great great great great grandpa gave and which your grandpa found in the garage near your house. He says it is used to dig mystical things but I don’t believe him. He says, it will turn golden if it finds something mystical.

I said, great!! Now I can dig for mystical food, maybe it has a mystical flavor. 

Smack-n-cheese goes to the back garden and digs and digs and digs until the shovel turns golden. He finds a golden and green hot dog box with a dragon sign on it. He opened it and found a Hot Dog with the best Hot dog bun ever made and it came with ketchup and mustard. Smack-n-cheese said, this the best breakfast I have ever seen.

Snack-n-cheese sees the Hot Dog and tries to grab it from the box but a golden and yellow force field activated and Snack-n-Cheese bounced off and fell ten feet away. Then nap-n-cheese saw it and said, maybe to take the Hot Dog you have to sleep well. Nap-nCheese tried to grab the Hot Dog also but the force field activated again and he bounced off 15 feet away.

Smack-n-cheese said, I think you have to be the person who dug the Hot Dog out of the ground to take it. When Smack-n-cheese grabbed the Hot Dog, his hands went right through the force field and was able to grab the Hot Dog. When he ate it, Hot Dog’s rained from the sky and everyone had the best breakfast ever. The End!
P.S. The mystical box came from China and that is why it had a Dragon Sign

Drawing

Meals on Wheels volunteers

August 23, 2020: Saira Nawaz, Razvi Razack         Completed Rt 1801

August 9, 2020: Joseph Abraham, Nancy Joseph, Joshua Abraham, Rachael Abraham               Completed Rt 1600

  Huge Thanks to the volunteers!

*** Note from EC Team ***

Dear COMA Families,

With extreme happiness ,we  would like to convey our big thank you to all who joined us to kick start our Onam in Columbus .We really appreciate the effort and hard work you put  to make this event a grand success. Everyone extended their helping hand in one way or other and showed their true camaraderie and spirit.

A big shout out to all participants and their technical teams for putting together a digital frenzy ONAM!!!! We are thankful to our “Maveli thampuran” for putting an effort to show up in Columbus in the middle of this pandemic.

Let’s keep our community vibrant and active as always!!

Regards

EC 2020.

Fall is up on us and like spring and summer, we are inside most of the time wishing we were outside enjoying the beautiful fall days, not too hot but not too cold, witnessing fall colors, sipping pumpkin spice lattes, football and most of all desperately hoping for a 100% effective vaccine!

But till that happens, Corona doesn’t have to take all the fun out of everything we want to do. If the past two seasons have taught us anything it is that the pandemic is here for a while, but we can still enjoy some activities-it’s just that they will look little different, with social distancing, virtual get-togethers and masks (‘wearing is caring’!!).

As we move into October we hope you all stay safe, enjoy the outdoors, pumpkin carving, trick or treat, watching football sitting on your couches with a beverage of choice and of course the array of articles we have for you in this edition of the newsletter.

– Smitha Sasindran

Reflections & Ramblings #8: Fall 2020

The calendar said, Fall is here
But I demurred, not for me
Fall had arrived in Spring for me
Winter hastened on Summer nights

The pandemic winds blew very hard
We held our breath and hid in nests
Hunkered down behind four walls
Shivering in fear, silent in prayer

We know for sure it will pass one day
Though not sure when the day will come
Are the winds slowly dying down, Or
Taking a breather to blow more harsh?

I should be glad that Fall is here, for
Empathetic nature shall join our plight
Together shall we wait for Spring
When sky will brighten and we fly out!

Lost Innocence

The road whorled like a serpent. The curtain of dawn was falling over the day’s events. My eyes were pivoted on the huge rock on the top of the hill, the permanent milestone for all my evening walks. The cold evening breeze tottered along with me, giving me reliable company. The sky was a mosaic of colors. Grey clouds dispersed between patches of blue and red along with dapples of gold. With every step I took, the hill seemed steeper. I dragged myself on.

My mind traced the panorama of events I had walked through. Every event that flashed was unique, each adding its own color and beauty to the happenings just as the colors of this evening sky .Painted together made an even beautiful whole. Then there were the grey clouds that pierced through the colorful happenings…moments of regret??of pain? Every look at those black patches made them look bigger.  I briefly reflected on those small incidents in my life, the moments of despair, frustration and regret that had kissed my life in the yesterdays. The frustrations from those incidents reminded me of the overpowering ego that sometimes conquers and rules the invincible self. The moments of despair reflected my expectations that had transgressed beyond. Regrets evoked in me the reality that I am sometimes a helpless soul, a mere puppet in the hands of destiny.

The sky turned purple, slowly dissolving into the darkness and I lost myself in it. My mind like the dark firmament above was starting to paint itself grey. I continued my journey up the hill, The rock on top of the hill was no longer visible in the brooding darkness. The street lights cast their long shadows on the road, in the process also wetting my path with their faint yellow light.

Suddenly as I turned to my right, I found a boy running by my side. As the street light fell on his face, I saw the infectious smile that played on his lips. At the speed at which I was walking, he had to run to keep my company. But he was bustling with enthusiasm, and made me forget that my legs were tired. I gave him a smile and asked him…”You seem to be very happy…Why??”. “Why shouldn’t I be??”, his face seemed to say. I gave him a sarcastic smile as if to convey “You have just started your life, kid, You are yet to know the harsh realities that make up this life. Do you know, that life is not all that easy, and that you cannot always keep smiling like are doing now??” The smile on his face grew wider. He kept running, as though my words had hardly reached his ears. I don’t know what was happening to me in his presence, but I was starting to blurt out my mind. “You know…human Beings are by nature selfish. And many a times your self esteem and dreams are trampled over by insensitive minds that cannot see a world beyond theirs. Every person here is involved in a mad race, a race to satisfy ones ego with every step that is taken.” The wind carried my voice to every place except for the boys ears. He was singing a rhyme as he happily ran up the hill ,and the rhyme fell to my ears thus:

“Twinkle twinkle little star..How I wonder…what (ALL) u want???”!!

He was enjoying every moment without involving himself with my emotional upheavals. Once in a while he would stop to pluck a flower or two along the way, and he would say with the most innocent smile “For my friends..” Undeterred by his indifference for my words, I continued my lament. “You know one must never be emotionally attached to any person or thing…Attachment breeds expectations, expectations leads to over-expectations and finally ends in frustrations and pain.”. I continued to realize that my words were reaching deaf years and that the boy was fully absorbed in the totality of the moment. In his zig zag run, he would sometimes bump into me and flashing that naughty infectious smile, he would continue running.

“The boy smiled and smiled from his heart; Brought out an innocent smile from my part, Have I smiled similarly ever before, No trickery, no lies, All innocence to the fore ??”

The faint smile that appeared on my lips did little to wither away the storm that was brewing in my heart. However hard I tried to think of something else, my mind like a cyclone swirled and swirled and came back to the same point..my frustrations..my pains…uh… His singing of rhymes continued, and fell on my ears thus:

“Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall(of expectations ???)  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!!!”

I was starting to lose my temper…Who do u think I am talking to…these trees???” I yelled out at him. The happy go lucky boy seemed to not hear it. My legs had traversed a fair distance and though I could not see the rock in the pitch darkness, My mind told me that I was getting closer to my destination. I shook my head in frustration and cried out “Oh God, I am living this life all wrong!!!”

We were nearing the top of the hill, and the rock I had set out to reach was now slowly becoming visible in the faint street light. I slowed down my steps, but the boy kept running, and before I could realize, he was slowly dissolving himself into the darkness that lay ahead of me. I called out to him…”You dint tell me anything about yourself…What’s your name??How old are you???”A cute little voice yelled back from the dark…”Dint you realize??I am Ravi…and I am 6 years old!!!”As I started my journey down the hill, I could not help but smile to myself…”. Now I knew where I was going wrong”!!

How to mix Alcohol : Balancing Risk

-Sreejith Menon

Alcohol, mallayalis favorite word in the dictionary. I hope you will think about this article next time you say cheers.

Alcohol effects both your mind and body. Here are some of the effects it can have on your health.

Muscle Loss – Alcohol increases the chances of muscle loss if you’re in a calorie deficit diet. So, even if you manage to fit your beer calories into your diet, they still might have a more negative effect as compared to other calories consumed.

Fat Gain: When you consume alcohol, most of your cells prefer to burn it as a fuel source before they switch back to burning their usual mixture of carbs and fats. This means that your body is not burning the other calories as efficiently, and they are slightly more likely to be stored as fat. If your goal is weight loss, then alcohol is likely to slow down your progress.

Impaired Recovery: Alcohol directly reduces the rate of recovery after a training session. It means that the harder you train and the more recovery demands you make on your body, the more pronounced the harmful effects of alcohol will be. Athletes, in particular, are likely to be most affected since recovery plays such an important role in their performance.

Effect on Sleep: Sleep is the elixir of life, and plays a critical role in facilitating weight loss, muscle gain, and general wellness. Alcohol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and makes it more difficult for someone to reach levels of deep sleep.

Hydration Issues: Alcohol consumption causes dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, so be prepared to make a LOT of trips to the bathroom.

I bet, no one wants to hear alcohol is bad and just STOP drinking. So here is what you can do to reduce some of its effects on your health.

1. Drink in moderation: Don’t consume more than 2-4 drinks at a time. Also restrict the number of times you drink to may be once in two weeks.
2. Avoid “kaddies”: High-calorie snacks with alcohol are a big no-no. Stay away from them.
3. Mixers: Use a calorie-free beverage. Water and plain soda are preferable.
4. Avoid drinking too late: Maintain a sufficient gap between happy hours and bed time
5. Less is Better: An obvious one – try to limit alcohol intake as much as possible
6. The Other Liquid Of Life: Remember to stay hydrated. Drink water between drinks and after you’re done.

These are just guidelines that can reduce the adverse effect of alcohol. But keep in mind that there will likely be a trade-off with your health. Include alcohol in your lifestyle only if you are okay with that.

As always, drink responsibly!

Cheers!!

References –
1.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24748461/
2.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20575805/
3.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10840864/
4.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19079280/
5.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22254055/

Scuba Dive

I love adventure and thrill in life, so I decided to get certified in Scuba diving.
To get started we enrolled with Captain Rick who runs the dive school in Westerville. He is a US Army Veteran and was a NAVY Sea Cadet Scuba Instructor.
Getting certified with NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) was no fun, as it took me to school learning about buoyancy and air pressure. Had to clear online exam which I did great with the help of fun videos and online learning experience.
Next was to be show the stamina to the diving instructor and to achieve it, had to swim 9 laps without stopping in Westerville aquatic club, and also did many dive sessions in 10 feet pool.
I was all set and flew to Florida with my mom for getting both of us certified in Scuba diving. We did our open water dive in a huge lake and 3 dives 40-70 feet in Atlantic Ocean, this was all when I was 10 year old in 2017.
The whole process took 6 months to be called certified Scuba Diver.

Long story short the experience I am talking about here was diving in WV at Summersville Lake few weeks back. The lake is formed by a rock-fill dam (Summersville Dam) on the Gauley River, south of Summersville in Nicholas County. It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with maximum depth of 327
feet.
I did two dives here on a beautiful day going down 40 feet. The experience was different than my firstdive in Florida 3 years back. Florida was ocean with salt, yet many fishes and corals. Summersville wasrocky clear lake with beautiful views.
Planning for more dives this New Year in Florida. If you are interested, Captain Rick does discovery divesessions, to help you for the path to get certified as Scuba Diver.
Here is link to my Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA1x8UCNaZs

Sky Dive

I have a very long bucket list, and one of the things was to Skydive.
My first dive was in Sep 2016, in Columbus OH. The best part of this dive was Jay (Husband) planned to give me birthday surprise to fulfill one of the long pending bucket list. My mom who was 56 year old then, and had acute Rheumatoid also decided to dive with me. What else to ask for in life; when you have such an inspiring and motivating family.Then Sep 2020, Jay (Husband) and few of my friends decided to give me birthday gift again to Skydive in Chicago. Best part was the friends who were willing to dive with me as my birthday gift had acute Acrophobia (Fear of heights). The experience both times cannot be explained, however I will try to put few words here:
In the hangar we put on our harnesses and helmets and were given instructions. After signing a few papers we were on our way to the plane! There were few of us in a very small space, some getting certified, some like me for the adrenaline rush.
Suddenly we were 14,000 feet above the ground. Its tandem skydive, which means tied to the instructor, still has few protocols to be followed; like making sure legs are folded behind before jumping off the plane, body in arch shape during free fall etc.,

Slowly the people in plane started to jump, and then it was my turn, and here we go with free fall of 240-290 km/hr. for 60 sec (This is the thrill of the skydive; with strong wind gushing on the face, and just falling freely down from the height of 14,000 feet).And then the parachute opens and everything suddenly slows down. We floated peacefully towards
earth, leaving the beautiful clouds behind us.
This was definitely one of the chilling and most exhilarating experiences of my life. The sensation of falling from so high is amazing and the adrenaline rush is crazy every time it’s done.
The sense of achievement of being able to fulfill the bucket list, not just once but twice feels just so good.
Thanks for reading my experience and am happy to answer questions, if planning for your dive.
Here is my YouTube channel with both the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC9aga2b1eTAj4fkXeu8RLQ

Meals on Wheels volunteers

September 27, 2020: Subin, Simple Subin, Kevin Subin and Trisha Subin

Completed Route #V1801

 Huge Thanks to the volunteers!

An October day is characterized by colourful trees and a gentle breeze, a picturesque scene for photographs. Fall is a time of change, change in weather, change in the colour of leaves, and change in the behaviours of animals. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2nd of 1869. This year we celebrated the 151st anniversary of Gandhi Jayanti. Gandhiji not only was an advocate for India’s freedom but is also an idol for freedom fighters around the globe.

Like nature, we must also be ready to accept the change that COVID-19 brings along with it. In order to pull through these tough times, we must not only have a healthy body but also a healthy mind. October 10 was World Mental Health Day, which is a day that is set aside to help raise awareness for mental health. Due to COVID-19, mental health problems have increased. Everybody has different ways of handling stress and anxiety. Here are some ways you could try to reduce stress.

• Listen to music
• Read a book or poem(October 1 was National Poetry Day)
• Do some breathing exercises
• Participate in community services and activities
• Do something you enjoy

Have a Happy Halloween and don’t forget to get your flu shots!

Thanksgiving

– Ravikumar Hariharan

The strong winds gushed past my ears. The waves of the mighty ocean, as though hesitantly, kissed my feet and quickly retreated. As I walked along the beachside, even the sky made his intention clear bursting out into huge streaks of lightning. Slowly I came to rest on the beach sands, with my eyes viewing the distant horizon.

I came all this way, to see the golden sunset into the depths of the ocean. But somehow even the sun, eluded me as he hid himself behind the darkest of the clouds. Neither did the moon appear, even if he did, I wouldn’t have known, for the sky itself was turning itself into a big moon, painting itself grey. I felt a raindrop on my eyelids, slowly easing its way down through my cheeks. I dragged my eyes from the distance to view the things happening around me, the beach sands, that hugged each other to make a beautiful whole, the water that hissed and roared, but made a cool and soft impact as they touched my feet. I looked at all those sand particles that glued itself to my feet, and would never let go.

I looked at the children who jumped up and down, dancing in glee. Some were playing with the waves, and the waves like a true friend, always entertained and never let them down. Though very vague against the dull dark background, I could still see a host of birds fly across dark firmament. The waves continued to wet my feet, bringing with it sand that made a thicker layer on my skin. It was a long 14 years since I stepped onto the beach sands, and for all the craving, these sand particles will not let go of me!!! I looked at the vast ocean of life and thanked him for these humble offerings, for these moments of happiness and fortune, he had selflessly offered me. I was seated a fair distance away from him, but thanks to him, he still never forgot to let those cool waves kiss my feet, and pour in those sand particles onto my skin. This ocean of life has always been kind to me, I thought. Now was my chance to give something back to him, I got up from my place and moved closer to the waters. Bent down onto the beach sands. I wrote on them a big “Thank you”.To this big ocean of life, this is all I can give!!! And here came the waves and imbibed my message, and as if like a token of love, swept cool waves onto my feet.

 I started on my way home, dragged myself away from those waves, which every time tried to lure me into coming back by gushing in with greater strength and covering greater distances. When I was a fair distance from the shore, I slowly wiped off the dust from my feet. Thanked all the sweet and fortunate moments life had offered me and got ready to face the new world around me. The sky around was still dark, and frightening. I knew that the way ahead in life would be tough. I gave a final peep into the horizon and saw the full moon now smiling at me. The sky was slowly clearing, and the moonlight now fell on the water giving it a beautiful silvery tint. With this newfound hope, I started walking, in search of myself, in search of the newer moments life would bring. But looking back at the waters, I said to myself and to them.”Bye, I will come again to see you another day !!!”

Youth Corner

My White Water Rafting

– Niraj Rajeev

I was doing river rafting in West Virginia “This is going to be great,” I thought to myself. When we got to the registration area they said to sign a waiver. I was going with a family friend. My dad signed the form, and we got our equipment, a life jacket, a helmet, and a one-sided paddle. Then we got on a bus and went to the place that we were going to get dropped off at. We filled the raft with air, and placed it on the water and got on with five other people. When the guide said, “Give me two”, we had to paddle two times. We were off, I felt excited and scared. Then we got to the first rapid and cold water splashed into the boat and, “Oh god hold on Niraj, hold on” thought to myself. On the third rapid the guide said you can swim and I said “Yes!” When I jumped into the river, cold water grabbed me. “Have I gone mad?” I thought to myself and I swam the rapid. It was fun and the day ended. We went to the house where we were staying. It was an exciting and adventurous experience.  

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

October 11, 2020: Jayabalan Achuthan,Deepa Jayabalan and Adithya Jayabalan
Completed Route: # V1600

October 25, 2020: Sudha Warrier, Syam Ayyar and Govi Warrier
Completed Route: # V1801

Thank you, we greatly appreciate your work!

COMA’s Christmas Celebration 2020

Yes, Christmas is around the corner and we are still indoors with limitations to gatherings, but that does not restrict us from having fun & celebrations. COMA is excited to bring another virtual event to celebrate Christmas – “COMA’s Christmas with the gifted!” on Saturday, December 5th late evening.

Though we will miss the usual Christmas feast and photo with Santa, we will have some special guests to be part of our celebration. The program will be a blend of pre-recorded events and some marvellous Live Performances by renowned artists from Kerala along with gifting a charity for a noble cause.

Stay tuned for more information and do reach out to coma.officials@gmail.com for any questions.

Birds chirping and blooming flowers everywhere in a variety of colors and sizes. Whether that is not too hot or cold and light breezes. Ring a bell? Yes, spring is here and we should spend it outside with family and friends.  Like Margaret Atwood once said, “ In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ” The dull, cold winter has passed and warm, joyful spring is here. Spring is the season that withholds many festivals, some of which are Holi, Easter, and Ugadi. Most people are energetic and happy during this time of year.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to start planting plants. You could try planting your food. When you grow your food, you can make sure that your food is chemical-free and safe to eat.  You could also make a beautiful garden. Not only will these gardens look beautiful but they will also make you happy. Seeing your garden will give you a sense of accomplishment. This might also help reduce anxiety.

Along with spring comes Earth day. Now because there are not as many gardens, we cannot enjoy spring at its highest beauty. This is because global warming and pollution are destroying our world. Some solutions to these problems might be to plant more trees and recycle our waste. We could start walking or ride bikes to close places, instead of using cars. Keep in mind that by doing this, you save yourselves and help save the whole world. Enjoy this wonderful season of joy, spring.

A Zip through the sky

– Sahana Ravikumar

After two hours of waiting in the endless line to go on the zipline at Chestnut Park on a windy day, it was finally going to be my turn.

My belly grumbled; my nose twitched. At that moment, my body trembled as I saw we were pretty high up. My first thought was we were going to fall! My parents down below looked like ants! “Hi”, I whispered almost as if I thought they could hear me or even see me. I shivered. It was slightly cold on this fall day. My friend had done this before, so she rode the zip line without the slightest hesitation.

 I looked up at the tall, nimble park workers and quietly asked them if it was safe. 

They replied in unison, “Of course.” Moments later, I felt the heavy weight from my head creeping down to my two small feet. I whispered silently to myself, “Do I really want to do this?”

There was still one person ahead of me in the line. I felt so wobbly I almost tripped. After two minutes of me staring at the big zipline, I looked down to see my friend, far below from the ground below me shouting, “You can do it!” Then even with all my body saying no, I said yes. My belly rumbled once more. They strapped me up, attached the hooks to the tall zipline and…whoosh! Off I went flying into the sky.

I was so high up I felt like a bird in the big blue dreamy sky! I forgot about all my fears and flew. The ground with the trees and the people looked like tiny bushes and little ants. After ten seconds I came to a halt. As I paced down the stairs leading to the ground, with every step I took, all I could think about was how fun and exciting that ride was. I loved the zipline. It was miraculously beautiful, amazing! I wanted to go again but the line in front of me suggested otherwise. So, we went and enjoyed the other fun park rides.

All the time after that, as I was walking around the park with my mom, I kept wanting to go on the zipline again and again. “Can we go on the zipline again?” I asked my mom.

My mom grinned and exclaimed, “Tomorrow.” I smiled and continued walking throughout the park. 

COMA Recognize our Health Care Warriors & Front Line Workers.

– Presanth Krishnan

The last 12 months has been a challenge to the human endeavor , while many of us still grapple with the day to day inconveniences of Masking , social distancing and stay at home , there are those select few among us who are the frontline defense in this war on our health systems … Coma decided to give a shout out to all the health care professionals in our community who have selflessly led this fight against the coronavirus , they have stepped up and beyond so that all of us can stay healthy . COMA is very proud to recognize these individuals who have been working in the frontline healthcare systems helping and caring for those who have been infected with the virus . We also want to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the families of these healthcare professionals who have stood by them during these long and arduous times. We organized an online event in thanking all of these healthcare professionals “ Virtually “ on April 10th 7:00 PM EST, where we recognized their efforts and expressed our thanks and gratitude for their service .

We started this initiative thinking that we have a maximum of 10 to 15 Health care workers in our community but when we started collecting the names through nominations or through people surprisingly we got around 38 nominations and we could reach  29 of them in person.. We have such a big group of Doctors, nurses and other frontline workers among us and we are so proud of them. Would like to thank all EC committee & Trustee for all their support & coordination in getting this event successful.

Anjana did a wonderful job in compere & host this virtual event where we have a very informative online discussion with few of our Doctors along with Q&A. We would like to thank the Panel doctors Dr. Mathew Cherian, Dr. Jisna Paul, Dr. Binay Eapen, Dr. Niju Baby for sharing their experiences and also answering questions of our members related to the current situation, vaccination and post vaccination.

എസ്. എം. എസ്

– Rakesh Chandran

ആദ്യമേ പറയട്ടെ. ഈ കഥയിലെ നായകന്‍ ഞാന്‍ അല്ല! ഇതിലെ നായകന് എന്റെ സ്വഭാവങ്ങളുമായോ പ്രവൃര്‍ത്തികളുമായോ എന്തെങ്കിലും സാമ്യം തോന്നുന്നുണ്ടങ്കില്‍ അത് തികച്ചും യാദൃച്ഛികം മാത്രമാണ് (പിന്നെ മഞ്ഞ കണ്ണ് കൊണ്ട് നോക്കിയാല്‍ എല്ലാം മഞ്ഞ ആയിരിക്കുമല്ലോ!)

ചെന്നൈയില്‍ ജോലി ചെയ്തിരുന്ന സമയത്താണ് ഈ പോസ്റ്റില്‍ പറയുന്ന അത്യാഹിതങ്ങള്‍ എന്റെ സുഹൃത്തായ വിജയ്‌ക്ക് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത്. അവനേപ്പറ്റി പറയുകയാണങ്കില്‍, ജഗദീഷിന്റെ പുഞ്ചിരിയും സലിം കുമാറിന്റെ സൗന്ദര്യവും ഇന്ദ്രന്‍സിന്റെ ആരോഗ്യവും ദിലീപിന്റെ സ്വഭാവവും ബിജുക്കുട്ടന്റെ ശബ്ദ ഗാംഭീര്യവും ഒത്തിണങ്ങിയ വീര ശൂര പരാക്രമി. എവിടെങ്കിലും ഒരു ചുരിദാറിന്റെ ഷാള്‍ കണ്ടാല്‍ പിന്നെ ആ ഭാഗത്തേക്ക് മാത്രം നോക്കി നില്‍ക്കുന്ന സല്‍ഗുണ സമ്പന്നന്‍.

ഹച്ച് വോടാഫോണിന്റെ കരാള ഹസ്തങ്ങള്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ പെടുന്നതിനു മുന്‍പുള്ള സമയം. മാസം പതിനായിരം എസ്. എം. എസ്. ഫ്രീ എന്ന ഓഫര്‍ ഹച്ച് തന്നിരുന്നു. കൂടെ ജോലി ചെയ്തിരുന്നവര്‍ക്കൊക്കെ (പെണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ എന്ന് എടുത്തു പറയണ്ടല്ലോ അല്ലെ?) ചറ പറാ മെസ്സേജുകള്‍ അയക്കുക എന്നത് അവന്റെ ഒരു ഹോബി ആയിരുന്നു. ഗുഡ് മോര്‍ണിംഗ്, ആഫ്ടര്‍നൂണ്‍, ഈവനിംഗ്, നൈറ്റ്‌ എന്ന് വേണ്ട എന്തിനു ഏതിനും കക്ഷി മെസ്സേജ് അയച്ചിരിക്കും. ഓണം, വിഷു, ക്രിസ്മസ് മുതലായ വിശേഷ ദിവസങ്ങള്‍ വന്നാല്‍ അവനു ചാകര ആണു. ഇവന്റെ മെസ്സേജ് അയക്കല്‍ കണ്ടു ഹച്ചുകാര്‍ ഈ ഓഫര്‍ നിര്‍ത്തലാക്കുമോ എന്ന് പോലും ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് തോന്നി.

ഒരു ദിവസം രാത്രി 12 മണിക്ക് എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും ഗുഡ് നൈറ്റ്‌ ഉം സ്വീറ്റ് ഡ്രീംസ് ഉം ഒക്കെ അയച്ചു കക്ഷി ഉറങ്ങാന്‍ കിടന്നു. ‘ചക്കരെ ഫോണ്‍ എടുക്കടാ..’ എന്ന റിംഗ് ടോണ്‍ കേട്ട് പാതി മയക്കത്തില്‍ ആയിരുന്ന അവന്‍ ഞെട്ടി എഴുനേറ്റു. ഫോണ്‍ നോക്കിയപ്പോള്‍ ‘പ്രിയ കാളിംഗ്’.

പ്രിയ.. സല്‍മാന്‍ ഖാന്‍ കത്രീനയെ മനസ്സില്‍ കൊണ്ട് നടക്കുന്നത് പോലെ വിജയ്‌ യുടെ മനസ്സിലെ സ്വപ്ന സുന്ദരി. ‘ഇവള്‍ എന്തിനാണോ ഈ രാത്രിയില്‍ വിളിക്കുന്നത്?’ എന്ന ചോദ്യവുമായി വിജയ്‌ ഫോണ്‍ എടുത്തു.

‘ഹലോ പ്രിയക്കുട്ടീ.. ഉറങ്ങാറായില്ലേ?’

‘പ്രിയക്കുട്ടിയോ? നീയാരാടാ അവളുടെ അമ്മാവനോ?’. പ്രിയയുടെ സുന്ദര നാദം പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്ന അവന്‍റെ കാതിലേക്ക് ഒഴുകിയെത്തിയത് ഒരു കര്‍ണ കഠോര ശബ്ദം!

‘ഹലോ.. ഇ.. ഇ.. ഇതാരാ?’

‘ഞാന്‍ പ്രിയയുടെ അപ്പന്‍, എന്താ നിനക്ക് അഡ്രെസ്സ് കൂടി വേണോടാ?’

അടിവയറ്റില്‍ കൂടി എന്തോ ഒന്ന് പോകുന്നത് അവന്‍ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞു!

‘അവളെന്ന് മുതലാടാ നിന്‍റെ കുട്ടി ആയത്?’

‘അത് ഞാന്‍.. പിന്നെ.. ചുമ്മാ..’

‘പാതി രാത്രിക്കാനോടാ മെസ്സേജ് അയക്കുന്നത്?’

‘അത് ഇന്ന് ലേറ്റ് ആയി ഓഫീസില്‍ നിന്നും വന്നപ്പം..’

‘ഓഹോ.. അപ്പം നിനക്ക് ഈ മെസ്സേജ് അയക്കല്‍ ഒരു സ്ഥിരം പരിപാടിയാണ് അല്ലേ?’

‘അങ്ങനല്ല.. വല്ലപ്പോഴും..’

‘അവന്‍റെ ഒരു ഗുഡ് നൈറ്റ്‌ ഉം സ്വീറ്റ് ഡ്രീംസ് ഉം.. മേലാല്‍ എന്റെ മോള്‍ക്ക്‌ മെസ്സേജ് അയച്ചേക്കരുത് കേട്ടോടാ’

അയക്കും എന്ന് പറയാന്‍ അവനു പറ്റില്ലല്ലോ. മറുപടിയായി ദയനീയമായി ഒന്ന് മൂളാനെ അവനു കഴിഞ്ഞുള്ളൂ.

അന്ന് രാത്രി അവന്‍ കണ്ട സ്വപ്നങ്ങളിലെ വില്ലന്‍ പ്രിയയുടെ അപ്പന്‍ തന്നെ ആയിരിക്കണം. അതില്‍ പിന്നെ കുറച്ചു ദിവസത്തേക്ക് അവന്‍ പ്രിയയുടെ മുന്നില്‍ പെടാതെ നടന്നു, ഒരു ചമ്മല്‍ ഒഴിവാക്കാമല്ലോ. പക്ഷെ ഒരിക്കന്‍ പ്രിയയുടെ മുന്‍പില്‍ അവന്‍ അറിയാതെ ചെന്ന് പെട്ടു. കുശലം പറച്ചിലുകള്‍ക്ക് ശേഷം അവള്‍ ചോദിച്ചു.

‘എന്താ ഇപ്പം മെസ്സേജുകള്‍ ഒന്നും കാണാനില്ലല്ലോ?’

”ഉവ്വടീ, എന്നിട്ട് വേണം നിന്റെ അപ്പന്‍ ഗുണ്ടകളെ വിട്ടു എന്നെ തല്ലിക്കാന്‍..” എന്ന് പറയണം എന്ന് തോന്നിയങ്കിലും അവന്‍ കണ്ട്രോള്‍ ചെയ്തു. അത് കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോഴാണ് അവന്‍ ചിന്തിച്ചത്, ആ സംഭവത്തെ പറ്റി പ്രിയ അറിഞ്ഞു കാണില്ല, അല്ലങ്കില്‍ അവള്‍ ഇങ്ങനെ ചോദിക്കില്ലല്ലോ!

‘ആകെ തിരക്കിലാ, അതാ’.. വിജയ്‌ നൈസ് ആയിട്ടങ്ങു സ്ലിപ് ആയി!

പിന്നീട് ഒരു ദിവസം രാത്രി എല്ലാവക്കും ഒരു ഫോര്‍വേര്‍ഡ് മെസ്സേജ് അയച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്നപ്പോള്‍ അവന്റെ ഫോണ്‍ വീണ്ടും വിറച്ചു. ‘പ്രിയ കാളിംഗ്..’ അപ്പോഴാണ്‌ ആ ഞെട്ടിക്കുന്ന സത്യം അവന്‍ മനസ്സിലാക്കിയത്. മെസ്സേജ് അയച്ച ഒരു ലിസ്റ്റില്‍ അവളുടെ പേരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അപ്പോള്‍ ഇത് അവളുടെ ആ അംജദ് ഖാന്‍ അപ്പന്‍ തന്നെ! കന്നി മത്സരത്തില്‍ വഖാറിനെ നേരിടുമ്പോള്‍ സച്ചിന്‍റെ നെഞ്ച് പോലും ഇത്രയും ഇടിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടാവില്ല. അവന്‍ ഫോണ്‍ അറ്റന്‍ഡ് ചെയ്തില്ല.

പിറ്റേന്ന് കമ്പനി ബസ്സില്‍ ഓഫീസിലേക്ക് പൊയ്ക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ആണ് അവനു ഒരു പരിചയമില്ലാത്ത ഫോണില്‍ നിന്നും കാള്‍ വന്നത്. ക്രെഡിറ്റ്‌ കാര്‍ഡ് വേണോ എന്ന് ചോദിച്ചു ഏതേലും ബാങ്ക് തരുണീമണി ആയിരിക്കും, ലവളോടു പഞ്ഞാര അടിച്ചേക്കാം എന്ന് കരുതി അവന്‍ ഫോണ്‍ എടുത്ത് സ്റ്റൈലില്‍ പറഞ്ഞു ‘ഹലോ, വിജയ്‌ ഹിയര്‍’

‘അവളുടെ ഫോണില്‍ നിന്ന് വിളിച്ചാ നീ എടുക്കില്ല എന്ന് എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി’

(‘ദൈവമേ.. പ്രിയയുടെ അപ്പന്‍!) ‘അത്.. പിന്നെ.. കാള്‍ ഞാന്‍ കണ്ടില്ല’

‘വേല എന്നോട് വേണ്ടടാ.. നിന്നെക്കാള്‍ കുറേ ഓണം കൂടുതല്‍ ഉണ്ടവനാ ഞാന്‍’

(‘പിന്നെ.. ഓണം കൂടുതല്‍ ഉണ്ടാല്‍ ബുദ്ധി കൂടുമോ? എന്നാ പിന്നെ അടുത്ത കൊല്ലം മുതല്‍ ഓരോ ഓണത്തിനും അഞ്ചാറു പ്രാവശ്യം ഞാന്‍ ഉണ്ടോളാമേ’)
ഇവിടെ മൌനം..

‘നിന്നോട് മെസ്സേജ് അയക്കരുതെന്നു മലയാളത്തില്‍ പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ മനസ്സിലാകില്ലേടാ?’

(‘ഇല്ല, ഞാന്‍ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് മീടിയത്തിലാ പഠിച്ചത്’)
‘അത്.. അറിയാതെ പറ്റിയതാ’

‘പിന്നെ.. നമ്പര്‍ എന്നോട് വേണ്ടടാ.. ഇങ്ങനെ അറിയാതെ നീ ഇനിയും അയക്കും അല്ലെടാ?’

(‘ഇനി അയക്കുവാണേല്‍ അറിഞ്ഞോണ്ടേ അയക്കൂ’)
‘ഇല്ല.. ഇനി അയക്കില്ല’

‘നിനക്കെന്റെ തനി സ്വഭാവം അറിയാന്‍ മേല. ഞാന്‍ മഹാ തറയാ’

(‘അത് ഇപ്പഴേ മനസ്സിലായി’)
വീണ്ടും മൌനം

‘എന്താടാ നിന്‍റെ നാവിറങ്ങിപോയോ?

(‘ഇറങ്ങിപ്പോയാ ഇയാള്‍ പൊക്കിയെടുക്കാന്‍ വരുമോ? ഇയാള്‍ക്കെന്താ ഫയര്‍ ഫോര്‍സിലാണോ പണി?’)

‘ഇവിടെ തന്നെ ഉണ്ട്’

‘ആഹാ.. അഹങ്കാരീ.. തര്‍ക്കുത്തരം പറയുന്നോ? നിന്നെ ഞാന്‍ കാണിച്ചു തരാമെടാ’

(‘അയ്യേ, എനിക്കെങ്ങും കാണണ്ട. തന്‍റെ കെട്ടിയോളെ പോയി കാണിച്ചാ മതി’)
‘ഇനി അയക്കില്ല എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞില്ലേ?’

‘ഇത് തന്നെ അല്ലേടാ കഴിഞ്ഞ പ്രാവശ്യവും നീ പറഞ്ഞത്.. ഇനി നീ സൂക്ഷിച്ചോ.. അടുത്ത മറുപടി ഫോണില്‍ ആയിരിക്കില്ല’.

ആ ഫോണ്‍ കട്ട്‌ ചെയ്തു കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോള്‍ വിജയ്‌ ഒരു ദീര്‍ഖ ശ്വാസം വിട്ടു. ബസ്സില്‍ അടുത്തിരുന്നവര്‍ അത് മറ്റെന്തോ ആണന്നു തെറ്റിധരിച്ചന്നു മാത്രം!

ഈ രണ്ടാമത്തെ സംഭവത്തിനു ശേഷം, ശകലം മടിയോടെ ആണങ്കിലും അവന്‍ ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്കെല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് തന്നു. ആരും പ്രിയക്ക് രാത്രി മെസ്സേജ് അയക്കരുത്, അവളുടെ അപ്പന്‍ ആള് ശെരിയല്ല എന്നൊക്കെ. നടന്ന സംഭവങ്ങള്‍ അവനു തുറന്നു പറയേണ്ടി വന്നു. പാവം, ആത്മാര്‍ഥത ഉള്ളവനാ.

ഞങ്ങളുടെ പ്രോജെക്ടില്‍ നിന്നും ഒരു കൊടൈക്കനാല്‍ ട്രിപ്പ്‌ പ്ലാന്‍ ചെയ്തത് ആയിടക്കാണ്. ഒരു ട്രെയിന്‍ ട്രിപ്പ്‌, അവിടെ ചെന്നിട്ടു പിന്നെ ബസ്സില്‍. പ്രിയ ഉണ്ടന്നറിഞ്ഞു വിജയ്‌ യും ട്രിപ്പിനു റെഡിയായി. പക്ഷെ അവസാന സമയം, എന്തോ ചില കാരണങ്ങളാല്‍ അവനു വരാന്‍ പറ്റിയില്ല. അവനു പകരം അവന്‍റെ ടിക്കെറ്റില്‍ ശരത് വരാന്‍ റെഡി ആയി, ശരത്തിന് വേണ്ടി ആദ്യം ടിക്കറ്റ്‌ ബുക്ക്‌ ചെയ്തില്ലായിരുന്നു.  ചെന്നൈ എഗ് മോറില്‍ ട്രെയിന്‍ കാത്തു നിന്നപ്പോള്‍ ഞങ്ങള്‍ ഓരോരുത്തരുടെ മുന്‍പിലും വന്നു ശരത് പറഞ്ഞു.

‘എടാ, ടി. ടി. ആര്‍. വന്നു നോക്കുമ്പം നിങ്ങള്‍ എന്നെ വിജയ്‌ എന്ന് വിളിക്കണം, കേട്ടോടാ?’

‘ഞാനാണ് വിജയ്‌..’

‘ഞാനാണ് വിജയ്‌..’

‘ഞാനാണ് വിജ……………..’

അവന്‍ പകുതിക്ക് വച്ച് നിര്‍ത്തിയത് കേട്ട് ഞാന്‍ തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കി.. അവന്‍ ചെന്നു പെട്ടെത് പ്രിയയെ യാത്ര അയക്കാന്‍ വന്ന അവളുടെ അപ്പന്‍റെ മുന്‍പില്‍. അയാള്‍ ഒരു കലിപ്പിച്ച നോട്ടം അവനെ നോക്കി. ‘യോ.. യോ..’ പറഞ്ഞു നടന്നിരുന്ന അവന്‍റെ എല്ലാ ‘യോയും’ പോയി..

‘ഞാനല്ല വിജയ്‌..’ എന്ന് പറയണമെന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു അവനു, പക്ഷെ സാഹചര്യങ്ങളുടെ സമ്മര്‍ദത്തെ അതിജീവിക്കാനുള്ള ത്രാണി അവനുണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല എന്നതാണ് പരമമായ യാഥാര്‍ത്ഥ്യം!

പ്രിയയുടെ ചേച്ചിയുടെ കല്യാണത്തിനു അവള്‍ ഞങ്ങളെ ക്ഷണിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ വിജയുടെ മുഖത്തെക്കാന് ഞങ്ങള്‍ ആദ്യം നോക്കിയത്.

‘പോണോടാ, നിന്‍റെ കൊച്ചിന്റെ ചേച്ചിയുടെ കല്യാണത്തിനു?’

‘ഡാ, ഞങ്ങളുടെ പ്രേമം നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കല്ലാതെ ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് രണ്ടു പേര്‍ക്ക് മാത്രമേ അറിയൂ, വേറാരും കേള്‍ക്കണ്ട’

‘ങേ?? നീ അവളോട്‌ പറഞ്ഞോ?’

‘ഏയ്‌, ഞാന്‍ പറഞ്ഞത് എനിക്കും എന്‍റെ പഴയ കാമുകിക്കും. ഇവളുടെ പേര് പറഞ്ഞല്ലേ ഞാന്‍ മറ്റവളുമായി അടിച്ചു പിരിഞ്ഞത്’

‘ബെസ്റ്റ്’

‘എടാ, അവള് ഒന്നും കേള്‍ക്കല്ലേ.  ഇനി എനിക്കവളോട് പ്രേമമാനന്നു അവള്‍ അപ്പനോട് പോയി പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ അയാള്‍ എന്നെ തല്ലാന്‍ ഗുണ്ടകളെ വിടും’

‘അപ്പം നിനക്ക് പേടി ഉണ്ട്’

‘പോടാ, അതൊന്നുമല്ല. കാര്യം ഞാന്‍ അഹിംസാ വാദി ആണങ്കിലും ആരേലും എന്‍റെ മേത്തു തൊടുന്നത് എനിക്കിഷ്ടമല്ല. പിന്നെ അടിയാകും, രക്തചൊരിച്ചില്‍ ഉണ്ടാകും. ഞാന്‍ രണ്ടു മൂന്നെന്നത്തിനെ തട്ടിയെന്നിരിക്കും. പിന്നെ സാക്ഷി പറയാന്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ കോടതി കയറിയിറങ്ങണം. എന്തിനാടാ ഇതെല്ലാം?’

‘പോടെ പോടെ. നീ കല്യാണത്തിന് വരുന്നോ? പേടിയാണേല്‍ അത് പറ’

‘ആഹാ അത്രക്കായോ? എന്നാ അവളുടെ അപ്പനെ പോയി കണ്ടു ഞാനാണ് വിജയ്‌ എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടേ ബാക്കി കാര്യമുള്ളൂ’

‘എടാ നീ ഇപ്പം പോയി പറയാന്‍ പോകുവാണോ?’

‘ആണങ്കില്‍..’

‘ഇന്ന് ലീവ് എടുക്കാന്‍ പറ്റില്ല, നല്ല പണി ഉണ്ട്. അപ്പം നിന്‍റെ ശവാടക്ക് കൂടാന്‍ പറ്റില്ലല്ലോ’

(‘സെന്‍സേര്‍ട്’)
‘നീ നോക്കിക്കോടാ, കല്യാണത്തിന് പോകുമ്പോള്‍ അവളുടെ അപ്പനുമായി ഞാന്‍ മുട്ടിയിരിക്കും. ഒന്നുമില്ലേലും എന്‍റെ ഭാവി അമ്മായിയപ്പന്‍ ആകേണ്ട ആളല്ലേ?’

‘ഓ പിന്നെ.. നീ ഒരു ഹോട്ടെലില്‍ നിന്നും സ്ഥിരം ചായ കുടിക്കാറില്ലല്ലോ!’

(‘വീണ്ടും സെന്‍സേര്‍ട്’)

പ്രിയയുടെ ചേച്ചിയുടെ കല്യാണ ദിനം. ഹാളിനു വെളിയില്‍ എത്തിയപ്പോള്‍ അവന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു, ‘നിങ്ങളിവിടെ നിന്ന് നോക്കിക്കോ ഞാന്‍ അവളുടെ അപ്പനോട് മുട്ടുന്നത് എങ്ങനെ ആണന്നു’.

അകത്തേക്ക് പോയ കക്ഷി അത് പോലെ തന്നെ തിരിച്ചു വന്നു, വെസ്ടിന്‍ഡീസ് പര്യടനത്തിനു പോയ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ടീമിലെ ഓപ്പണര്‍മാര്‍ ഗ്രൌണ്ടിലേക്ക് ഇറങ്ങുകയും ഉണ്ടന്‍ തന്നെ തിരിച്ചു കയറുകയും ചെയ്യാറുള്ളത് പോലെ (ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ടീം അല്ല കേട്ടോ, പണ്ടത്തെ)

‘എന്ത് പറ്റിയടാ, നീ മുട്ടിയില്ലേ?’

‘എടാ, അവളുടെ അപ്പന്‍ ശെരിക്കും ഗുണ്ടകളെ വിളിച്ചു നിര്‍ത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ടന്നു തോന്നുന്നു. അവിടെ കുറേ തടിമാടന്മാര്‍’

‘അത് ഗുണ്ടകള്‍ അല്ലടാ , അവളുടെ അമ്മാവന്മാരാ’ പ്രിയയുടെ അടുത്തുള്ള വിനോദ് പറഞ്ഞു.

പാല്‍പായസ പ്രിയനായ വിജയ്‌ അന്ന് പായസം പോയിട്ട് ചോറ് പോലും നേരെ ചൊവ്വേ കഴിച്ചില്ല! തന്നെയുമല്ല പിന്നൊരിക്കലും പ്രിയാ ഹോട്ടലില്‍ നിന്നും ചായ കുടിക്കണമെന്നു തോന്നിയതുമില്ല!

ഏതായാലും പ്രിയയുടെ അപ്പന്‍ കാരണം രക്ഷപെട്ടത് ഞങ്ങളാണ്. ദിവസവും ഞങ്ങളുടെ മൊബൈല്‍ ഇന്‍ബോക്സ് നിറച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്നത് അവന്‍റെ വക കുറേ ചവറു മെസ്സേജുകള്‍ ആയിരുന്നു, ഞങ്ങള്‍ വിചാരിച്ചിട്ട് നിര്‍ത്താന്‍ പറ്റാത്തത് അങ്ങേരു സാധിച്ചു തന്നു!  ‘ഫ്രീ മെസ്സേജ് വെറുതെ പാഴാക്കി കളയുന്നത് എങ്ങനെയാടാ?’ എന്ന് പിന്നീടൊരിക്കലും അവന്‍ ഞങ്ങളോട് പറഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

April 25, 2021: Thomas Pullumpallil, Reuben Varughese, Presanth Krishnan, Rajeev Kumar Route#1801
April 11, 2021: Valsan Palika, Presanth Krishnan, Nandana Presanth Route#1600
March 28, 2021: Deepa Jayabalan, Adithya Menon, Yogalakshmi Venugopal, Chetana Kunchuvari Anand Prakash Route#1801
March 14, 2021: John Patrick, Anitha John, Stevie Rajesh, Dannie Rajesh Route#1600
February 28, 2021: Manoj Thomas, Julie Joseph, Melissa Thomas, Alison Thomas Route#1801
February 14, 2021: John Patrick, Anitha John, Stevie Rajesh, Dannie Rajesh Route#1600
January 24, 2021: Joseph Abraham, Nancy Joseph, Joshua Abraham, Rachael Abraham Route#1801
January 10, 2021: Nish Nishant, Pradeesh Puthiyattil, Anoop Nair Route#1600

Thank you, we greatly appreciate your work!

COMA upcoming events

As you all know, due to this Pandemic we were unable to organize any programs outside as of now . We keep watching the CDC guidelines to plan for our upcoming programs if possible outdoor rather than online events. After our first event of Thanking our Health Care Warriors, Executive committee is working on scheduling programs like 5K run , Picnic, ONAM celebrations etc. in the upcoming months .We will keep you all posted as soon as we have finalized the next program and dates. We expect all your support and guidance for all our upcoming events this year. Stay tuned for more information and do reach out to coma.officials@gmail.com for any questions.

നമ്മൾ വീണ്ടും ആറാടുകയാണ്

-Girish Sasankasekhar

ഏകദേശം ഒരു 2 വർഷം ആയി കാണും. കൃത്യമായി പറഞ്ഞാൽ നമ്മുടെ ഇറ്റലിയിലെ അച്ചായൻ കേരളത്തിൽ വന്ന സമയം. ഒടിയൻ’നു കഞ്ഞി കൊടുത്ത കേരളം പുച്ഛത്തോടെ പറഞ്ഞു ” ഓ..നമ്മൾ ഇതൊക്കെ എത്ര കണ്ടതാ നിപ്പ , പ്രളയം, പൾസർ….. പിന്നല്ല ! ടീച്ചറമ്മ അച്ചായനെ പൂട്ടിയാൽ പിന്നെ എന്ത് കോവിഡ്.. നാട്ടിൽ ഇറങ്ങിയ പുലിയെ പോലെ അച്ചായനെ പിടിച്ചു അങ്ങ് പൂട്ടി. ശ്വാസം മുട്ടിയ പ്രതികാരദാഹി ആയ കോവിഡ് , സടകുടഞ്ഞു പല രൂപത്തിൽ, പല ഭാവത്തിൽ ഉണർന്നു. കേരളത്തിൽ മാത്രമല്ല, ഈ ലോകം മുഴുവൻ കീഴടക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങിയ ആറാട്ട്.

പക്ഷെ നമ്മൾ എപ്പോഴെങ്കിലും ചിന്തിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ കോവിഡ് നമ്മളെ തേടി വന്നതാണോ, അതോ നമ്മൾ തന്നെ ക്ഷണിച്ചു വരുത്തിയതോ? ഒരു വശത്തു കോവിഡ് നമ്മുടെ ഉറ്റവരെ എടുക്കുമ്പോൾ , മറു വശത്തു ബെറ്റിയിട്ട ബാഴത്തണ്ടു കണ്ടു നമ്മൾ ചിരിച്ചു കൊണ്ടേ ഇരിന്നു . അതിൽ ചിലർ അഹങ്കാരത്തോടെ ചിരിച്ചു, ചിലർ പുച്ഛത്തോടെ..മറ്റു ചിലർ ഇതിൽ ഒളിച്ചിരുന്ന വ്യവസായം കണ്ടു. സിനിമകളെ വിഴുങ്ങുന്ന ഓ.ടി.ടി കച്ചവടം, മുഖസംരക്ഷണം നോക്കാതെ നടന്നവരെ അതിശയിപ്പിച്ച ത്രിവർണ മാസ്കുകൾ, , അങ്ങനെ പലതും നമ്മൾ കണ്ടു. സത്യമാണ്, നമ്മൾ അതിജീവിക്കാൻ പഠിച്ചു. പക്ഷെ , അതൊക്കെ നമുക്കു തന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവിൽ നിന്നാണോ എന്ന് എപ്പോഴെങ്കിലും ചിന്തിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ?

അമേരിക്കയിലെ മാഡം മസാല ദോശ കഴിച്ചു പുകഴ്ത്തിയ നമ്മൾ , അവർ ഇപ്പോ ഒരു ഇഡലി എങ്കിലും കഴിക്കുന്നോ എന്ന് അനേഷിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ? അതിനൊക്കെ എവിടെയാ സമയം, നാട് ഓടുമ്പോൾ നടുവേ ഓടണ്ടേ.. നമുക്കു പലപ്പോഴും ഒന്നിനും സമയം കിട്ടാറില്ല . പക്ഷെ ഒരു നിമിഷം തിരിന്നു നോക്കി ഒന്നു അനേഷിച്ചാൽ , ഈ വിലപ്പെട്ട സമയം കോവിഡ് നമുക്കു തന്ന ഒരു ഇളവ് അല്ലെ ?നമ്മൾ പണ്ട് അറിഞ്ഞോ അറിയാതേയോ ചെയ്ത ചില നല്ല കാര്യങ്ങൾ കണ്ട് , ഈശ്വരൻ ഈ ലോകത്തു ജീവിക്കാൻ നീട്ടിയ സമയം.

“ഈശ്വരൻ നിൻറ്റെ മുന്നിൽ വിളക്കായി തെളിയുമ്പോൾ അതിൻറ്റെ നേർക്കു നീ തുപ്പരുത്”. ഇത് ഞാൻ പറഞ്ഞതല്ല. പണ്ട് ഏതോ സിനിമയിൽ വിവരം ഉള്ള ഒരു കഥാകൃത്തു നമുക്കു തന്ന വിലപ്പെട്ട ഒരു സന്ദേശം. പക്ഷെ ഇതൊക്കെ കേൾക്കാൻ നമുക്കു എവിടെയാ സമയം. ഈ ഉലകം നമ്മളെ ഇന്നും പരീക്ഷിക്കുമ്പോൾ, നമ്മൾ ഇപ്പോഴും ആറാടുകയല്ലേ ? പരസ്പരം നെഞ്ചത്ത് ചവിട്ടി ആർത്തുചിരിച്ചു , നമ്മൾ വീണ്ടും ആറാടുകയാണ്. !

Welcome to 2023! I hope everyone enjoyed holiday celebrations with family and friends. As I reflect on 2022, I feel grateful for all the fun experiences COMA created for all of us. It was incredible to watch the outpouring of participation and support from our community in COMA events, and it was pure joy to observe the remarkable growth our organization has achieved in recent years.

This year’s Executive Committee is already busy at work, planning for some great things for us. Our 2023 President Shibu Nair has shared below his vision for our organization this year.

As we enter the new year with renewed hopes and plans, I am looking forward to a new year of continued community service, lasting memories, new friendships, fun celebrations, and most of all, the connection that we make with each other. Let’s make 2023 our best year yet.

Wishing everyone a happy and successful new year!

Smitha Nishant

Presidential Address – Shibu Nair

I am happy to take up this second stint in the COMA Executive Committee in 2023. I feel it is a much-needed give-back to the Malayalee community in Columbus that has been a significant part of my immigrant Malayalee life in the United States, my home away from home. I am very excited to share that my team has a myriad of events and ideas planned for this year.

In addition to bringing you cultural, sport, and entertainment events, my team would like to take the opportunity to reassess COMA as a cultural organization, the values we uphold and its relevance to the Columbus Malayalee diaspora. We have made leaps and bounds since our formative years. However, as an organization, there is room for further growth, including but not limited to better managing the upkeep of our organization’s assets, promoting youth member participation, enhanced use of our website and social media presence to better engage and communicate with our members. A lot of thought is being put on those lines and you will see some major steps being initiated on these fronts.

Coming back to the planned events this year, in addition to our annual Picnic, Onam, and Christmas events, we plan to have a Valentine’s Day event and several sporting tournaments (Cricket, Soccer, Shuttle Badminton, also involving other Indian association members). Weather permitting, we plan to have an outdoor entertainment event as well. Also in the works are the development of communities for outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.

We hope to seed initiatives that the community can take advantage of not just this year but in the coming years too. I trust that each and every one of you will support us in achieving our goals as one big family. I wish you all a happy, prosperous, and healthy 2023.

Know your EC Team

All of our Executive Committee members have been associated with COMA for the past several years and hardly need an introduction. Here is some fun trivia they shared with me that highlights how we are all in for a fun ride with them this year.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • Pilot, maybe?
• If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
  • Madagascar.
• What would your superhero power be?
  • Of course, fly!
• If you could meet anyone, who would you meet?
  • Sabu bro.
• What will people say at your funeral?
  • Eda bhayangara!
• What’s something you think everyone should try at least once?
  • Have a dog at home.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • Vice president of a malayalee samajam.
• If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
  • Kalady.
• What would your superhero power be?
  • Teleportation.
• If you could meet anyone, who would you meet?
  • Tutankhamun.
• What will people say at your funeral?
  • Nalla oru manushyan aayirunnu.
• What’s something you think everyone should try at least once?
  • Touch your nose with your tongue.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • To play for the Indian Cricket team as a batting all-rounder.
• If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
  • New Zealand.
• What would your superhero power be?
  • Power to save people on earth from evil elements.
• If you could meet anyone, who would you meet?
  • Lalettan and MS Dhoni.
• What will people say at your funeral?
  • I lost my honest and great friend.
• What’s something you think everyone should try at least once?
  • Watch World Cup Soccer live from the stadium.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • Bus-ile kili.
• If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
  • Bangalore of late 90’s.
• What would your superhero power be?
  • Swap all the healthy food to unhealthy and all unhealthy food to healthy.
• If you could meet anyone, who would you meet?
  • Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
• What will people say at your funeral?
  • Kidakkana kidappu kanda? Emathiri veruppikkalayirunnu!
• What’s something you think everyone should try at least once? 
  • Take a year’s break from work and do things for which you didn’t have time for.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
  • Pilot.
• If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
  • Kochi.
• What would your superhero power be?
  • Superman.
• If you could meet anyone, who would you meet?
  • Family and friends, but if someone famous, maybe Sashi Tharoor.
• What will people say at your funeral?
  • Kurachukoodi nerathe avaayirunnu!!!
• What’s something you think everyone should try at least once?
  • Don’t plan your vacation, just hit the road.

Save the dates

Here is a preliminary list of events being planned this year and their dates. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss any.

• Feb 11 – “Thuruppu Gulan” cards tournament and Valentine’s Day celebrations.
• Apr 22 – Shuttle Badminton tournament.
• May 20 – Cricket tournament.
• June 18 – Outdoor Gaanamela (Franco).
• July 4 – COMA Float for FIA.
• July 22 – Annual Picnic: Vinodayathra, Vallamkali, Idli eating competition, and other fun events.
• Sep 9 – Onam (with Shingari melam and onsite live cooking).
• Sep 30 / Oct 7 – Soccer tournament.
• Dec 2 – Christmas.

We have more activities where dates are not finalized so stay tuned for more information:

• Live cooking sessions (multiple, including one with chef Suresh Pillai)
• Bicycle Challenge – TBD
• Trekking Challenge – TBD

Youth club activities

The COMA Youth Club will be conducting monthly meet ups. Plans are underway for TV station visits, OSU airport tower visit, fire-station visit, and camp-outs as well as charitable events including cloth drives and blood donation drives.

Membership

January is a great time to take your COMA Membership if you haven’t already. The current membership for 2022 will be valid until June 30th, 2023.

Membership benefits include:

• Early access to event tickets
• Discounted tickets for regular COMA events

Also, certain benefits are exclusive to COMA members:

• Malayalam class for adults and kids
• Opportunity to participate in charity/volunteering events
• Access for your children to COMA Youth Wing

You can purchase Membership here: https://www.comaohio.org/membership-account/membership-levels/