I am, just I am, filled to my brim with aspirations. To introduce myself, let me jog down my memory to keep you engaged with some milestones that I had set for myself and where I have reached today!!!
It was in the early 70s', My father was a "RAILWAYMAN", for people down south - PONMALAI is a place, that accommodated and disciplined 1000's families, where my Grand-Father, incidentally the "FIRST INDIAN RAILWAY FOREMAN" in Indain Railways, - I do not have the document proof but all those workers in (Golden Rock)PONMALAI Workshop who had migrated from our village/town would say so!!. Nevertheless, that legacy was so overwhelming, for my family having lived in that community for almost 6 decades besides me being the last of the 5 siblings in our family just say I studied 1st Standard while my eldest sister was in her 11th standard, and we were 10 years apart in age. The irony is my identity, which, I did not carry, at that time, where I was referred to as Son of... , Grandson of.... , Brother of.... The good deeds of my Grand- Father, Father and elder siblings, were overshadowing me. I was desperate to wriggle out of this legacy and wanted people to look at me as who I am.
In my first attempt to come out of this identity crisis, I wanted to get my school changed from - RAILWAY MIXED HIGH SCHOOL GOLDEN ROCK to another school, considering the economic situation, I had been prudent to choose St. Joseph's College High School- Tiruchirapalli , later became a Higher Secondary School. That was a Christain Mission school where the fees were very negligible, I was lucky enough to convince my parents. I was in my 7th standard, I was an avid football player - striker, well known for my dribbling and playing football with the tennis ball. My football-playing fame reached all over the school while I studied in 5th standard, senior class kids would take in their team to play front line..
The first milestone that I set for myself was to play football for the 'NATIONAL SUB - JUNIOR TEAM" representing Indian Railways, Mr.Baby Thomas who joined our school as P.T. master, then, was so impressed with our football game, instantly formed the team with my friend - Stephen Robert, Cedric- Rozario, R.Sekar and few others and started a rigorous training. I had the least knowledge of what was going to happen, That was the time I started learning cycling by myself. My cousins had come down, I was so excited to show off to them, I was cycling around, lost my balance, met with an accident, fell and fractured my left arm- compound fracture. It was hard to accept that I could not go to practise football and for that matter, I was banned from playing any games - neither Indoor nor Outdoor for 4 months. That was very dreadful to see my friends very ferociously training for the selections, me with the arm sling, not permitted to step out of the house, at times would cry my heart out for having been denied the opportunity to take part in the selection. The fate did not stop there, as I had my plaster removed, it was during the Dusshera my niece - Kavitha, had visited our home for, I was getting her a popsicle, while coming back, I tripped and fell and by reflex, I tried to balance myself rested my left arm, resulting of a repeat fracture at the same point. Dr. Suryaprakash Rao at the Railway Hospital Ponmalai, gave me a frightening prescription, " If you fracture your arm at the same place once again, the limb will be ampututated!!!!" This was echoing at the back of my mind, pulling the leash venturing out to play games or using my left arm. The physiotherapy by Mom and granny applying the thennamarakudi ennai - a herbal oil of naturopathy - Siddha medicine / alternative therapy gave a wonderful result. The healing was miraculous, I pursued my identity chase by joining the St. Joseph's College School - from a group of 400 kids plunging into an ocean of about 3000 students. I was just one among the 3000 with no reference to any of my legacy.
The first School Sports Day - for me at St. Joseph's School I convinced myself, that I am going to run, not hurting myself particularly, my left arm, as none knew about me, I was half relieved as for any caution or pulling me out of the race. I ran and came third which made me stand on the podium of winners. I had no practice, it was just an impromptu attempt. The first acknowledgement, as ME. it was intoxicating!!
The fractured limb, hadbeen ringing a caution alarm at the back of my mind.
We migrated to Chennai, I joined Railway Mixed Higher Secondary School- Perambur, academics with lovely teachers around and good classmates was never a challenge!! Co-Curriculum, was more compelling than doing the practicals in Physics, Biology & Chemistry sporting self rekindled my enthusiasm, I represented school in North Madras, Divisional Football Tournament, Was the highest goal scorer, with imparted ambitions from the family, wanted to become a Doctor, applied only for professional courses- B.E, B.Tech, MBBS and accidentally CATERING ( not knowing what it is!!!
The irony was with tight family budget, my elder brother enquired about this course, and got a piece of practical information stating that, even before you complete the course, you get employed.!!!! - The situation was such that both my brothers having graduated wre jobless /unemployed. Destiny was holding something else... I got the admission letter from the Catering college, whereas the other professional colleges had not even released the first list... I was quite anxious, assuming that a miracle would happen for me to make my parents proud that I will get admission to a medical college!!!
My first 3 months travelling by 23C,20. crossing the Guindy - Madras Engineering College, A.C.Tech and Madras Medical College at Central, would be praying - Yes my name will be on this list!!! the list crossed one after another, some of my classmates in Catering college would come and distribute sweets for, they getting admitted in Engineering and B.tech!!! after 6 months, I was just getting myself used to reality.. on the 5th list for medical college outside Chennai my name listed!!!!
I was made to realise, that My family cannot afford to send me to Medical college.!
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