from Puducherry

A girl born and brought up in Kerala leaving for pondicherry after marriage evoked all sorts of fear about Tamil Nadu, language and its people.

We are residing in the heart of Puducherry amid its din and bustle. Here the custon is that the windows and doors are always closed unlike in mahe. Day time, I was left alone with a maid-servant , dialogue between us always ended in confusion as our languages were different.

I have noted that coastline of bay of bengal is not so beautiful as the arabian sea . But all along without the natural rocks blocking the view of beautiful sea, one can get a full length view of puducherry beach.

The tiny state of Puducherry has many statues of Mahtma Gandhi, Duplex , Joan of Arc , Jawaharlal Nehru and many more. Auroville bears the testimony of the revolutionary-turned spiritualist Aurobindo Gosh and his French disciple 'mother'.

The union territory has 4 medical colleges, 6 engineering colleges, a law college and many other arts and science colleges.

As in Kerala , politics doesn't show its ugly tooth in schools and colleges, not a single academic day is wasted due to that. The people around here never named me as an outsider ,but gave me a chance to show my talents . The girls HSS ,where I worked is so condusive to train young girls. The girls even got prizes in the extra-curricular activities and youth festivals.

Kerala Samajam of pondicherry is doing yeoman, service during festivals like 'onam', 'christmas' and 'new year'. They arrange family get-together where we get an opportunity to meet our classmates and relatives of kerala.

How can one forget their own native land? who said "East or West ,home is the best". I'm longing for my place ,when puducherry is boiling in "Chitirai". I remind sweet welcom summer showers of Mahe and the very wet-rather soaked june-july rainy season.

Childhood memories always be attached with the feasts and festivals . Mahe has its own "St.Theresa festival","Onam festival" of "Avani" month . Mathapu season like vishu,Oh! all give enchanting sight to my mind's eye.

Yes! my dream come true as I visit Mahe during January, as I have holidays. The tamilmakkal celebrate Pongal . I can meet my mother, a healing touch from her acts like a balm, a magic which will keep my energy high for the whole year.