Growing up in Puthur

May 20, 2014 01:21 pm | Updated 01:21 pm IST - tiruchirapalli

Whenever we are asked which is our native place, all of us invariably mention the native place of our Dads. After much thought on this subject, I have concluded that irrespective where one is born, wherever one grows up ought to be the native place of that person. For the simple reason that that town/city as a society has the impact and influence on one’s outlook and habits and dialect, which is carried along for the rest of one’s life.

That way, Tiruchi is my native where I was born and bred, though my parents were from elsewhere. Tiruchi made me what I am today.

Yes, I am big and popular after coming to Chennai, but it was only due to what I carried from home, in my native town, where I grew up.

During the few trips I made to Chennai, while living in Tiruchi, I use to be astonished at the bigness of the metro and I always felt that it could never be my place. But, after turning a resident of Chennai, whenever I go to Tiruchi, I cherish on the innocence there, which is unavailable in this metro.

After spending almost 20 years of rat race life in Chennai, my heart yearns for the life of slowness and tranquillity that Tiruchi offers. Though we drive around the broad roads on swanky cars in Chennai, the joy that you derive walking along the narrow and crowded Singarathope streets equals nothing.

I was born in the Tiruchi government hospital, Puthur and the next 25 years of my life were spent around the nooks and corners of Puthur, except for the few years when we lived in the BHEL township, where my dad was the Inspector of Police. We lived in a house called ‘Ambrosia’, right behind Mysore Mutton Stall, opposite to Bishop Heber School in Puthur.

My school was Bishop Heber Higher Secondary School, Teppakulam, as the Puthur branch had no English medium. For higher studies, I went to Bishop Heber and Jamal Mohammed colleges.

I remember the school days, when my mom gives me 30 paise for the 2-way bus fare. I would take the bus in the morning and come back by my friend’s bicycle and we’d share those 15 paise.

Only we knew how precious that money was to us. Once we fell down from the cycle and the axis of the wheel pierced into my calf muscle, and I still carry that deep scar as a sweet memory.

My life was centered on All Saints’ Church, Puthur. Puthur ‘Naal Road’ was the HQ for our friends’ gang and the teashop in the corner has hundreds of stories to tell. I even use to take the cycle rickshaw from that stand and ride around, as they were all known to me.

I remember the days when my mom used to take me in the ‘Kudhirai vandi’ from the ‘Vandi stand’ by how it was known then. I wonder if these carts are still around!

Evenings were fun because we used to eat in those night stalls (‘Parotta Kadai’) every day. That was one salient feature of Tiruchi, which no other city could boast of, those days. Only later it slowly spread to Madurai, Salem etc.

If only The Hindu dedicates a whole issue to write my nostalgic stories about Tiruchi, I would share a few hundreds. So much to share… so much to reminisce…!

I am a celebrity today in one of the biggest metros of this country in the most-glittery industry. But, my heart lies in my hometown – Tiruchi.

Tiruchi, I love you.

James Vasanthan is a noted film music composer and TV anchor.

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