My days....

These days I just concentrating mainly on three things-my family, work and mental health.
Family comes first since that made me what I am today. Without the support of my dad and brother I would not have been reached here. A family where children were nourished to become Engineers and doctors or government officials, it was impossible for a child like me to even think of becoming a journalist. From childhood onward except my parents other elders in the family had told us to opt for engineering or government service. Most of my siblings in the family are engineers, a few are in management sector and myself and one of my cousin opted for journalism. Since he is a very creative person he opted for advertisement and now placed in one of the topmost ad agency in the world. Me ended up in Indian Express.
But we children are lucky. My parents never imposed their aspirations on us. So forgetting them while taking even a single decision was not there in memory. But still once I hurt my dad deeply without understating his care and genuine affection for me. I was, is and will always having regret for that for not listening to him. Still he didn't hurt me with words and never kept me away. He always whitewashed the wounds I gifted to him with his smile and care. Thank you dad for that. Love you always.
My brother is a person who always instilled dreams in me about unborn tomorrows. A pillar and life support system who always stood my side in ups and downs. I am not sad for loosing my mother and sister as I always having and will be having two people in my life who never keep me away no matter how bitter my days will be ahead. They makes me to live.

My work is something makes me to live. A place where I finds solace and a reason that makes me to smile and live encountering all odds in life. These days I started to hear an inner voice within telling me do something useful for the society. I fed up of writing biline stories that gives me just fame and familiarity among readers or the fellow journos.

To avoid the hunting of past I engulfed myself busy in my world of reading, cooking and painting. These days I feel i am bending towards spirituality started reading Bhagavath Gita and Bible. Both the books i felt interesting and help to keep calmness. Cooking is something helps to me keep away tensions at bay. I stopped thinking of future the moment I start I started to fear of it. My friend Arun told don't fear of uncertainty in life. He is right. So engaged myself in varied activities:)

Tearful adieu uncrowned prince

When I went to cover a press conference at Hotel Grant on the other day one of my friend in Mathrubhumi daily told the condition of Girish Puthanchery , the gifted Malayalam film lyricist and script writer is very critical and the chances for his survival is very bleak. He said we can expect the sad news in a day or two since he was suffering from brain hemorrhage.

Same thing happened the very next day at 9.30 pm, the 48-year-old Puthenchery, who had penned lyrics for around 400 films passed away at a private hospital in Kozhikode.

The news brought disbelief in me and made me sad since I am one of his admirer. He played magic with words which often made us to reminisce the beauty of it while listening to his songs. The uncrowned prince of the Malayalam lyrics left behind a legacy that would be difficult for others to fill.
The magical bond he shared with music directors including late Raveendran master , Vidhyasagar , Ilayaraja and others always ended up in gifting some of the best romantic songs in Malayalam.

For 48-year Puthenchery, penning down a song or poem is like having a cup of tea. Some of his songs including `Ethrayo Janmam Nine Njaan Thedunu …, Pinnayum Pinnayum Aaro Kinavinte…, Kalbham Tharam Bhagavane…, Innale Ente Nenjile… and Moovanthi Tazhvarayil… are the greatest hits of the times.

Awards and recognition adorned his path for his contributions into the Malayalam film industry. He was the seven time recipient of Kerala state awards and many other awards. He is also a good script writer. He had penned scripts for films like Vadakkumnathan, Kinnaripuzhaoram, Palavoor Devanarayanan, Meleparambil Aanveedu etc.

The sudden demise of Puthenchery who was at the peak of his career has created a vast void in Malayalam film industry. He was , is and will always be the uncrowned prince of words in the minds of people of lovers. His lost wont be able to compensate with a substitute.

Thousands paid homage to their beloved poet when his body was kept at the Town hall to allow the public to pay last respects. Girish we love you always ....May his soul rest in peace...

Changing face of Bekal

Bekal Fort, which has stood the test of time, is all set to become the top tourist spot for globetrotters and travelers. The Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC) with its muti-crore projects is geared up to develop the exotic locales of Bekal to meet the growing number of international tourist who visit its walls and waters.
Tourists’ visit the fort, which is located 16 Kms from Kasaragod, to get a glimpse of the architecture, lush greenery and beaches lined by coconut trees. It is among the biggest fort in Kerala, spread across forty acres. You could view all the important places from here like Kanhangad, Kottikulam, Uduma. It is among the most popular tourist destinations of Kerala, today, courtesy Mani Ratnam’s movie Bombay, which was shot at its beautiful locales here. It is estimated that a total of 3.5 lakh tourists visit the fort every year.
In 1992, the Indian Government included Bekal under the ‘Special Tourism Area’ for integrated resort development. With the support of Central Government, a panel was appointed to prepare blue print of the development plan following which the Indian Government set up Bekal Tourism Authority (BTA) for implementation of the project. Government of Kerala constituted BRDC as a public sector company in 1995, for speedy implementation of the Bekal Project.
Lying between Kasaragod in the north and Kanhangad in the south, the project spans over four panchayat's of Kasaragod district (Chemnad, Uduma, Pallikere and Ajanoor) covering an area of 134 sq km. The company has acquired 220 acres in the four panchayats to develop state-of-the-art beach resorts. The master plan was prepared by M/s N.M. Salim & Associates, kozhikode and consultants from India, Australia and the Philippines. The mega resort projects, worth more than Rs.500 crore, are progressing at a rapid pace in the four Panchayats.
"Bekal will attain the status of one of the finest international tourist destination with the completion of multi-crore development projects. The construction works of the resorts at three sites are progressing in full swing and all the works will be completed by 2012,’’ said Shaji Madhavan, Managing Director of BRDC.
Beautification work under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Scheme has been completed with funds received from Department of Tourism for recreation facility in about 23 acres.
People from the Panchayats are happy with the plethora of job opportunities generated during the course of construction and after the realization of the Bekal project.
``The construction of new roads would fuel the hopes of development,’’ said A Balakrishnan, president of the Pallikkara panchayat.
The roads leading to the site like Palakunnu-Kappil, Uduma-Beyoori, Palakkunnu-Malakunnu, Melparamba-Chembarika and Kanhangad-Kolayal will be developed as major district roads under the Malabar package. As part of developing infrastructure required for promoting tourism, 33 roads have been developed in four Panchayats for an approximate length of about 30 to 35 Km, 7 mld(million litres per day) water supply scheme to cater to the need of water scarce area of the four Panchayats along the pipe line route and the water demand of six Resort Sites.
Locals are happy over the new avenues of opportunities opened up for them at the site. The home stay facility at the surrounding area has received a major boost. The tourists who visit the fort along with their family prefers for home stay than the resorts.
``The demand for home stay has been increasing day by day. Foreigners are keen to learn our culture especially the British and French tourist, who come during December to April when the Theyyam and temple festival are held,’’ said C Jagannath, at Panayal near Bekal, who is running a home stay for the past four years.
Under the Rural Tourism Development project the BRDC is planning to develop Valiaparambu Back water resort. If developed this 40 Km back water area will cover from Nileshram to payyannur and parashinikadavu. At present four out boat services are operating at Valiaparambu.
How can one forget drinking water? A water supply scheme is another ambitious project under the BRDA. The source for the water supply is Karicheri River, a tributary of Chandragiri River. The construction of nine elevated water tanks to distribute water to Panchayats has already been completed with an estimated sum of Rs.15 crore.A pilot scheme to treat solid waste generated in the Panchayat was implemented in association with Ajanoor Panchayat. The scheme proposes treating 500 Kg. of solid waste per day using vermi compost bio technology at an estimated sum of Rs.50 lakh for the scheme.
Future plans:
Parking area for the vehicles is limited and during peak seasons, Bekal Fort gets congested causing inconvenience to the tourists. To overcome this, the BRDC acquired land near Bekal Fort for a Parking Bay and work will be completed within three months. An amount of Rs.45 lakh has been sanctioned from Department of Tourism.
The renovation of the Rest House has been completed except for furnishing. BRDC had also held discussion to set up a heritage museum at the site. BRDC has already begun the development work of Valiyaparamba backwaters area with provision for parking, boating, facility and recreation centres.
A Cultural Centre at Bekal with an estimated sum of Rs.200 lakh to cater the need of tourist as well as for the historians is also planned. One acre has been identified at Thachangad, 4 kms from Bekal Fort in Panayal Village for this purpose.
Five tents have been erected at Bekal Fort beach for the stay of tourists and is run by a private investor in the land leased out by BRDC.Thanal Facility CentreA Facility Centre with information counter, toilet facilities, parking has been formed. Now the Globlink Hotels (P) ltd, Jameshdpur have started accommodation facility "Nirvana" and Restaurant "Kiora". A mini house boat terminal has been set up at Kottappuram. It is the only houseboat terminal in North Malabar. Four house boats and speed Boats are operated from this centre
If the entire project is successfully marketed, then we will soon see the map of Bekal in every globetrotter’s hand and Government’s dream of making it the leading beach tourist destination will be realized.

A memorable day in my life

How fast days pass. I turned 27 on January 27. Well, this time I was wished by a mother of my friend. Wow, it was a great feeling as I got birth day wish from a mother after 13-years. I missed my mom on all my birth days. But I feel great this year . It seems God has planned only better days and happiness for me. May be the almighty is returning happiness in life in return of the tears I shed out of haplessness last year for silently tolerating and burying pain deep inside my heart.

The first birthday gift I received is from my uncle in Bangalore on the day before the birthday. I met him for the first time. I know him only through the phone calls he makes and through my dad. He had been to our home when I was a small kid, he told. But I don’t remember that meeting. A sign of surprise spurt on his face seeing me. I was told I look same like my grandma (dad's mother). He handed over the packet of chocolates my brother in London send for me. Then he handed over the green and pink colour silk saree to me. Though wont wears saree I already have a good collection of sarees . Most of the sarees were gifted by dad on different occasions. He is good in making selection. I still remember everybody used to ask my mama from where she purchased saree. She used to give proud reply sree’s father bought it for her. I never heard my mama uttering dad's name. When others ask about dad she used to say sree's father. I still couldn't able to find the logic behind it.
At exact 12’ am I got b’day wish from a friend. That was followed by continuous calls from friends. In short they not allowed me to sleep. Morning my brother wished me `macri many many happy returns of the day’. He further said at least wake up early on your birthday :). I replied ` hmmm ' then wrapped myself again under the thick blanket and glued into the dream world. Then dad entered into my room with a cup of tea and shaking my hands greeted `Rajkumari wake up, many many happy returns of the day'. I woke up, switched off the air conditioner and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast after taking bath. To my utter my surprise my dad and brother had already prepared breakfast :) . I just dreamed my Amma and Biju could have been there with me. Then I received a call from my friend ‘s mother. I can’t express the joy on words. I was on cloud nine.

Then wishes poured in from my sister in abroad, friends, my MCJ juniors and seniors and the friends circle in the professional field. Frankly speaking, my fingers ached by sending thanking messages to them. I waited for dad gift. Each year dad greeted birth days with gifts. This year he didn’t. My brother told dad has planned something big for me this year and will soon get that gift. Well, I am eagerly waiting for his gift. Bit curious too thinking what he will be gifting for me!