NOTE

I know I have not done enough justice to Ponnappa in this blog as whatever reminiscences I have recorded herein are from my childhood memories, which are fading, as all these happened in the early and mid 60s, more than about 50 years back and I have only posted what I could recollect. Our visits to Aluva abruptly ended in 1970 after my grandmother Chithammai’s death, and after that although I have made a few more trips to Aluva, these were not the same except to rekindle some nostalgic memories of the past.

MANJU, MY BETTERHALF

After reading my Blog, my wife Manju and daughters Shilpa and Madhu, the three ladies who rule my life, were quite surprised by the way I have chronicled my childhood - the sights, smells and sounds and the extent of affinity I have shown for Aluva. The appreciation from my family triggered a brainwave in me and I said I will buy fifteen or twenty cents of land in a residential locality in Aluva and construct a house, replicating Ponnappa’s Bank road home in every detail. I thought this will sort of preserve some of my memories associated with Ponnappa and Chithammai and my days in Aluva. But Manju, Shilpa and Madhu were not quite enthusiastic about this and naturally so. To them, Aluva is some obscure town in some part of Kerala, a place they have no intention to visit even for a brief stopover.

SHILPA - QUEEN OF HER SPECIES

I pondered on this a good deal. Replicating Ponnappa’s Bank Road home in Aluva, seems to be a good idea to me but it's not fair to force my clichéd fascination for a hackneyed construction on my family, to relive my childhood memories. Suddenly the balloon was pricked and I realized it will never be the same.

MADHU - BEWITCHING SMILE!!!

A replicated Aluva home without Chithammai & Ponnappa, without Bhasi, Ammommai, Milkman Sankaran & Paperboy Mohideen and last but not the least an Aluva without Pankajam Cinema!!! No way!!

MOM'S BABES - SHILPA'S WEDDING

It’s impossible to recreate our childhood memories by constructing another house as revisiting one’s childhood is something money cannot buy. Further, Aluva itself has faded into further oblivion, what with Nedumbaserry airport having suddenly brought Angamali into limelight and the rapid development of Kochi on one side and Thrissur on the other with the influx of Gulf remittances in the 80s and 90s haves left Aluva in the lurch without any development to boast about except for a surge in real-estate prices.

THE TWO CHARMERS!!

I think, this Blog will remain as a standing testimony to the life of a great and unique person Ponnappa, and Chithammai our sweet grandmother and their abundant love for their grandchildren, which I was fortunate to savour in good measures that made Ponnappa’s Bank Road Home a haven of unadulterated joy for us. I think it is best to leave things as they are!!!

Kannan