Kochakan Asan Road, Aratupuzha, Thrissur. What's in the name of a road?

Roads. We come across hundreds and thousands of them, across the the lengths and breadths of our cities and villages in our country. Every city has a Mahatma Gandhi Road, a Jawaharlal Nehru Street, a Sardar Patel Road but we take it for granted whenever we see a name as Dr.Nair Road or a place such as Dr. Seethapathy Nagar. What if there was something interesting behind the name of that road? The story behind one such road is worth mentioning.

Kochakan Asan Road is located in the small village of Aratupuzha, a beautiful green village located by the side of the Aratupuzha river in Thrissur, Kerala. The road was laid about 5 years ago and it was named to honour a music teacher from the village.

So what was special about Kochakan Asan? Our story dates back to the 1950's and 1960's almost more than half a century ago. Kochakan Asan had only one goal in his life - impart his deep knowledge of music to at least "one" worthy student of his to take his legacy forward. So tenacious was he of this goal that he lived his life a bachelor and fully dedicated himself to teaching music.

Kochakan Asan used the "Chavuttu Harmonium" to teach music. This instrument is almost extinct now. A small description of the "Chavuttu Harmonium" will suffice.  It is also called "Pedal Harmonium". It is similar to a normal Harmonium but it is played with both hands instead of one and it sits on a table. So you basically sit on a stool or bench beside the Pedal Harmonium like you would sit at a Piano and move the bellows (rhythmic contracting apparatus that helps in making the sound on a Harmonium) by rhythmically stepping on a pedal with your foot, something like the pedal of the older sewing machines. If you are curious do a search on YouTube for "Pedal Harmonium". I am sure I did find a video.

The most noble part of Kochakan Asan's teaching was that he was teaching music for free. Anyone could join his classes. And because it was free most students took his teachings only lightly. Many would lose interest after a few initial classes and many would also skip classes knowing that Asan would always cover those classes in a later class. And because of this Asan was always on the quest for that "dream pupil". He was seeking just one worthy student who could take his music legacy forward.

Then finally he had four students who seemed to show a lot of promise. In the batch were two girls and two boys. One of the boys in particular was Kochakan Asan's "apple of the eye". According to sources I know, it is said that the student could never made a false beat. For the other three interest gradually waned and very soon even they started boycotting classes. Now here comes the best part. To make sure the batch came to his classes without fail, Kochakan Asan used to make the traditional "Kerala Puttu and Pazham" thinking that at least to taste them the pupils would come and then eventually attend class. Can you believe such dedication from a teacher?

Kochakan Asan's dream was finally fulfilled. The "bright pupil" from that batch of four, became that elusive student Asan was looking for and eventually took over his master's legacy. He is none other than Vidhyadharan, a music director of repute in Kerala. Coincidentally today, Vidhyadharan lives on Kochakan Asan road.

So how do I know this story? Among the girls in that batch of four and one who would sneak out from her home to learn music from Kochakan Asan was a girl called Lakshmi, who today, is my mother.

P.S - Though learning music was a big "no-no" for girls in those days, grandfather finally came to know of Amma's music classes and got her a regular Harmonium. But then came another problem. How do you play "Pedal Harmonium" style on a regular Harmonium. That's another interesting story I'll post some other time.

Kerala, the good, bad (no ugly)

My holiday destination for years. Here is what is good and bad for the tourist in Kerala.

First the good things:

1. Water - Probably the no.1 reason why good health and life are supported in the state. I have a friend who did a project in Switzerland who told me that water in public fountains in Switzerland were tested and treated before they are allowed to circulate in the fountains because even if a child were to accidentally consume it, that child shouldn't fall sick. In Chalakudy and in Aratupuzha and in most places in Kerala people, young, adult or old consume water from wells. This water is directly consumed without any treatments such as reverse osmosis, or adding electrolytes or even basic filtering. The reason for jet black long hair of the girls and women, their healthy glowing skin and the longevity of life is enough testimony of the quality of water. Malayalees are known to take multiple baths and I can see the reason why. The irony is that there is water shortages in parts of the state but they are easily tackled as the state is abundant in rivers, lakes, ponds and backwaters (though all backwaters aren't good sources of potable water) providing a good source of drinking water.

And here's something you may not know of the minerals in the state. Remember the periodic table we studied in Chemistry way back in School and remember the Lanthanides and Actinides. I was told by a person whose work is related to soil and research that all the Lanthanides and Actinides of the periodic table exist in the soils of Kerala. Wonder if that is adding to the quality of the water as Iron does to the water in Orissa.

Water in rivers, waterfalls, ponds, lakes and backwaters feed the healthy flora and fauna in the state and adds to its natural beauty. I remember drinking a tender coconut in Aratupuzha and I had to pause and take turns to finish drinking all the water in it. There was so much sweet water in it that it could easily serve and satisfy two adults.

2. Civic Sense - Don't know if it is the by-product of more literacy in the state but there seems to be a sense of "let's-do-things-better" all over the place. It is only getting better each time I visit Kerala. Having traveled a bit this time I was surprised that I couldn't notice even a single pothole on the roads.

3. Great Auto fares - After being ripped off in Chennai (it is even worse in the temple city of Chidambaram) it is such a pleasant thing in Kerala to travel by Auto.

4. Politeness - If you want to hear "Annae" or brother in Chennai forget it. You will have to go far beyond the outskirts to hear the word. I could easily hear "Cheta, Chechi" in most places in Kerala although this wasn't the case in the past where I have had some unfriendly experiences.

5. General congeniality of the girls and ladies - I have always felt this every time I visit Kerala. I am reminded of the words of Nair, played by the late Muthuraman in KB's "Ethirneechal", "Edo Ningalude naatil one Pennine Moonu per premikkum. Njangalude naatil moonu pennugal oru aale premikkum". Translated - "In your place three guys fall in love with one girl but in our place three girls fall in love with a guy." I will not accept the more ladies to men ratio in Kerala, as the reason for this.

Bad -

1. Businesses starting late and closing early - You wonder, don't these guys want Business? I walk into an internet cafe at 8:30 PM in Chalakudy and the guy tells me politely that they are closing in 10 minutes. In the mornings be prepared for shops and businesses to open at 9.00, 9.30 or even 10.00 A.M. Compare that to the idly shops in Madurai where you can get tasty idlis even at 1.00 A.M. But surprisingly second shows in the cinemas in Kerala are full with entire families bringing even children and babies. In "Gods own country" only the temples open early.

2. Food at Restaurants - One major problem for people from Chennai who are used to the smaller and polished "ponni" or parboiled rice is with the fat rice grain served in Kerala which is in fact the more healthier. Although I don't have a problem this is a deterrent for many outside Kerala at meals. Though I didn't visit any restaurants this time, the overall taste in many restaurants also needs to improve.

3. Taxi - Just the opposite of Auto fares is unjustifiably exorbitant. Let us say you are making a one way trip from Chalakudy to Ernakulam. The taxi charge varies from Rs.450 to Rs.500 for an air conditioned Ambassador car but you will have to pay Rs.900 or Rs.1000 i.e double the fare. Why? Because the driver claims that he "may" have to come back to Chalakudy without a rental trip. So the trick is to retain the taxi for your entire trip. However you may not be making round trips all the time. Check out the pre-paid taxi and Auto options at stations like Thrisoor.

4. Milk - In our old Tharavadu we used to have cows and Grandfather used to personally look after them. But those were things of the past. Having used to milk direct from the cow for all my life tea and coffee don't taste the way they do in Chennai. I am not sure if Milma can be compared to Aavin too.

These are my immediate observations. Add to my lists if you feel like.