Found this in one of my various old notebooks, decided to upload & keep record so I can use the notebook for other more practical purposes such as making grocery lists.....so here it goes
My roots in Munnar dont run very deep, speaking in conventional terms.My grand father lived there for more than a decade, running the tea estates for the British.Then in 19-- he retired & came to Kottayam with his wife & six children, two girls & four boys. My father was the fifth child.
He spent about 10 years of his life in Munnar.The first 10 years of his life.The lucky boy that he was he did not go to school for these ten odd years.His brothers, older than him, went to boarding schools.Munnar back then was quite a jungle with no schools or hospitals, People had to keep their own cows for milk.Big cats from the forest occassionally visited cow sheds for a more domesticated meal.
It was after those 10 free years in Munnar that he directly joined 6th standard in CMS boy's school in kottayam.Those early years with lots of time on his hands left a great impact on him.His love for cold hilly places stem from them.His interest in all things British probably stem from there too.
Munnar showcases samples of British engineering marvel typical of the era.They build roads & put up ropeways & bridges in Munnar Of these the Thookkupalam or the hanging bridge still stands or rather hangs till today fully operational.It is said that the bridge was made in England, as they did not find the right infrastructure to build it in India and got it all the way to Munnar to put it up there.
My roots in Munnar dont run very deep, speaking in conventional terms.My grand father lived there for more than a decade, running the tea estates for the British.Then in 19-- he retired & came to Kottayam with his wife & six children, two girls & four boys. My father was the fifth child.
He spent about 10 years of his life in Munnar.The first 10 years of his life.The lucky boy that he was he did not go to school for these ten odd years.His brothers, older than him, went to boarding schools.Munnar back then was quite a jungle with no schools or hospitals, People had to keep their own cows for milk.Big cats from the forest occassionally visited cow sheds for a more domesticated meal.
It was after those 10 free years in Munnar that he directly joined 6th standard in CMS boy's school in kottayam.Those early years with lots of time on his hands left a great impact on him.His love for cold hilly places stem from them.His interest in all things British probably stem from there too.
Munnar showcases samples of British engineering marvel typical of the era.They build roads & put up ropeways & bridges in Munnar Of these the Thookkupalam or the hanging bridge still stands or rather hangs till today fully operational.It is said that the bridge was made in England, as they did not find the right infrastructure to build it in India and got it all the way to Munnar to put it up there.
