Memories still seem fresh of those days when I was a child of just 3 or 4 years old.
That day, the Saraswati Puja Day, holding my Appachan'(Dad's) fingers and walking towards the nursery,a day when I started my schooling. I was,perhaps, the shortest child in the group of about 30. My first Guru,Unni Asaan,caught my finger and made me write on the sand the letter 'Hari'. I paid him 'Guru Dakshina'- eight anna (today's 50 paise). I still feel the sweetness of the 'Palanthodan Pazham'( a variety of banana-small in size) which my Guru gave on that day. I did not cry like other small children on the first day, but I was happy. Holding again my Appachan's fingers I returned home. My Amma (mother) was waiting at the door-step and when I entered, she took me in her arms and hugged me.
Today,at the age of 62 I still feel the warmth of fingers which held my fingers to the nursery and the fingers which caught my finger and made to write on the sand the first letter and the arm which took me and hugged. I can only cherish my sweet memories.
July 24,2010
