By:  John Jacob, COO and Associate Provost

Call of the Heart

            It was a “Call of the Heart” to come back to my roots, when I decided to leave Mumbai in 2013, the so called “Happening Place” and “Business Capital of India” , that also leaving a growing career in Corporate World with the “World’s Largest Tower Company” called “ Indus Towers”. A call, I have taken to come back to Kerala where I have spent my time as a child till 12^thstandard. It does happen, sometimes in our lives that,in spite of all the logic our brain / others give, the call of the heart takes on and we succumb to that, to have a serene peace in our mind by reaching that natural equilibrium which only that individual can understand.

Childhood Memories

As I studied in Kerala till 12^th standard (that time Pre-Degree), at Mavelikara in Alleppey District, the culture and traditions of Kerala was deep rooted in my heart, behavior and attitude. Puthiyakavu Orthodox Church Perunnal, Chettikulangara Kumbhabharani Festival, Onam Celebrations (Kaduva / Puli Kali, Thiruvathira, Vadamvalietc), Deepavali Vedikettu (Fire Crackers) ,VishuKaineettam and Christmas Celebrations were a part of growing up till the age of seventeen. Playing KuttiyumKolum and KuzhiyanaPidikkalwerealways part of spending holidays.

Life in Kuttanad (Rice Bowl of Kerala)

            My father, though an Engineer in the Government, belonged to an agricultural family from Veeyapuram, Melpadom. During every summer vacation in Apr – May, it was imperative for us to be there in the paddy fields for harvesting. I still remember, walking through acres and acres of green paddy which seems never ending and direction less, many times at night carrying food for those relatives/ workers there, almost 04 to 05 Kms from the nearest road. Many times, the stories told to us by others about theBhooth / Chekuthan / Madan (Ghost), made me literally fear my own shadow at times, not to mention missing a heartbeatwhen a Frog / Polavan (nonpoisonous water snake) jumpedin front of me hearing my footsteps. One had to walk along the bunds and had to cross canals / water channels, most of the times without any sense of direction and only by observing a weak light source which was far away. Traveling in my Grand Fathers family boat and swimming with my siblings and cousins are some of my treasured memories of Kuttanad.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

            The thrilling and exhilarating memories of going to “Nehru Trophy Boat Race” at Alleppey along with the local neighborhood friends, by making my way through the huge crowd, to the boat race water channel,withthe high voltage song of “Kuttanadan Punchayile – ThithaiThakaThaithaitho”echoing in the back groundis still fresh in my mind.

Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani

            My maternal Grandfather being from Chettikulangara, “Chettikulangara Bharani Festival” was in my blood right from my childhood days. The place where my maternal Grandfather used to stay had many ponds, coconut trees, huge Mango/ Cashew/Jack Fruit trees, Valan Puli tree (Tamarind Tree),Berry Tree, Guava tree etc etc. It was a real pleasure getting up in the morning and collecting all those fallen mangoes and cashew fruits – nuts. It was a great feeling to watch the Kettukazhcha at the courtyard of Chettukulangara temple during Kumbha Bharani which comprised of Theru (Chariot), Kuthira (Temple Cars with a height of 70 to 75 feet), Bheeman, Hanuman and Panchali, which were brought by people of different Karayogam (Area) by pulling with ropes, with so much reverence, which deepened the unity and bonding among the families in the locality.Every member of the family ensured his presence in the “Tharavadu” during the festival.

Loving Teachers

            As schooling from fifth to tenth was done in St John’s High School Mattom,Mavelikara where my mother used to teach, she was a constant companion through these years along with my three brothers who also studied in the same school. Mother used this period effectively to inculcate in us the values, virtues by discussing different wrong doings / incidents happening in the society, so that we imbibe the right values. The love and affection of the teachers in the school even now when we meet them is heartwarming. I still remember those days in school, when I got a poor score in Mathematics in fifth standard and was crying over it. Anyway, through sheer grit and determination, I overcame my shortcomings and bagged a seat in NIT (REC) Nagpur to become a Civil Engineer.

Life Away from Kerala

Though, I was happy to join NIT Nagpur, I missed Kerala and yearned to be in Kerala with my relatives, attending marriages, festivities, get-together and funerals. It was impossible to be there for the occasion, unlike today, as traveling option was only train, which takes at least forty-eight hours one way. To compensate for this loss, we had a “Mallu Gang” in the NIT Campus sharing the same loss, ethics, traditions and upbringing and we felt at home in each other’s company.

Choice of Profession / Job makes the Difference

            Life is the result of series of decisions we take in our lives.  A decision to join NIT Nagpur (though I had an option later to join CET Trivandrum / NIT Calicut)had taken me to a different region and culture. Though, I came back to Kerala after engineering and started a company called “Classic Constructions”, life had once again taken a turn, by me getting selected into Armed Forces and I moved across the length and breadth of India.

Loosing Something to Gain Something

            Though I again lost the continuity of living in Kerala, my tenure with Army had taught me and reinforced many valuable lessons / takeaways for life like ‘The concept of India as a nation”, Unity & Integrity of our nation, coexisting with different cultures / religions/ people / terrains and still living in oneness. “The Officer and Gentleman” concept, indoctrinated by the systems and processes of the Armed Forces will remain as part of me till my last breath. However, notwithstanding all these, to reduce the pain of missing the roots – Kerala, we had Malayali Associations, Church Malayali Groupsetc which reinforced the principle that “Birds of the same feather flock together”. Even when you meet a Malayali resident, at remote places of Jammu & Kashmir or in North East, the emotions and warmth suddenly build in the hearts and minds of both sides. “A Keralite who is born and brought up in Kerala will always remain a Keralite at heart”, whether he/she happens to be later staying anywhere in the world because of his/her circumstances. After completing 22 years in The Army, I decided to come out of Defence Services with the intention of settling down back in Kerala, my roots.However, while doing Executive Business Management from IIM Bangalore, before finally leaving service, I got selected and placed at “Indus Towers” (World/s largest Mobile Tower Company) at Gurgaon. Thus, my desire to come back to my roots has been short lived, and after serving at Gurgaon, I moved to Mumbai in the same company.

Heart Wins Over Brain and Logic

            A realization that I need to come back to Kerala dawned on me, as all those relatives so close to my heart were departing one by one for the heavenly abode (for those who believe so), and I hardly got much time to spend with them, though they had immensely loved me and contributed to my growth. Now, whatever be the risk involved / losses which will be incurred, I had to be back, otherwise, it would be too late and I will be lonely in Kerala later, where I may not find many familiar faces, which otherwise I would have cherished to spend time with. Without a second thought I took the decision.

Oh! My Kerala

            I was very happy to take the hard call to resign from a growing corporate life in Feb 2013 and returned to my own apartment at Ernakulum. My heart was at peace, though the friends, relatives and well-wishers around me questioned my decision.

Nothing to Beat Kerala

            Our Kerala is really a “Gods Own Country”, though many “Projects in the garb of Progress”are trying to destroy our greenery by filling paddy fields, polluting rivers / water and unsustainable developmental plans which are not environmentally friendly. Thanks to trade union strikes in the past and anti – Industrial climate, Kerala is still green, otherwise the whole of Kerala would have been another concrete Jungle by now, like other Metropolitan Cities(the way Bangalore is weeping on the state of “Garden City” today – the lined up Gulmohar trees adorning the city is a thing of the past), where you will struggle to find greenery with pollution levels reaching to such an extent that schools and offices have been forced to declare holidays.

Back waters,Boat Houses, Hills, Beaches, Wild Sanctuaries and Ayurveda

            Every place in Kerala is filled with its own beauty and uniqueness, and need to be developed in such a way, without damaging the natural state of things,bestowed by God.Back Waters of Alleppeyand travel in Kettuvallam (Boat House), Hills of Munnar, Wild Sanctuary of Thekkady and Beaches of Kovalamare all “Germs” in the “Crown” called “Kerala”. Kerala is blessed to have Back waters, Hill Stations, Beaches in the midst of wholesome greenery, within 02 to 03 hours of travel. This land is unique, with ancient rejuvenating secrets of Ayurveda and Naturopathy. I still remember, the Papanasham Beach at Varkala,which I visited in1988, where one can have a breath-taking view from the hill top, and the beautiful beach below.

 I remember seeing a recent Malayalam cartoon which says “Oh! My God the temperature in this summer is very high, better I cut the Mango tree & Jack Fruit tree at the back yard and buy an AC with that money”. What a contradictory statement, without realizing the fact, though we know the fact(Bible says “People have ears but they cannot hear, have eyes but cannot see”.) that we ourselves have created this mess by cutting trees, doing environmental damage and making water level in the soil to recede.

Custodian

We need to remember that we all came empty handedand will leave this earth empty handed, and whatever we have today, is what God (Super Power which controls this Universe,  has entrusted to us as a “Custodian” to look after, make it further grow in a positive manner and hand it back to our creator to whom we are answerable.

Let us shelve our selfishness and be thankful to our forefathers, who gave us such a wonderful land to enjoy and do not forget our responsibility and accountability to hand it over in a better state, to our younger / future generations.

Every Individual / Family / Organization / Region, has some core strengths / values / assets and in case it loses the same, that individual / family / organization / region will lose its significance and relevance,in an irreversible / irrecoverable manner. 

Pledge for Kerala

Let us take a vow,“to safeguard the greenery and not to do anything which is not environmental friendly”, otherwise Kerala will be no better than a grave yard of concrete jungles and our children and grandchildren will be forced to cry over the pathetic condition of “Kerala”.

Let,each one of us be the brave warriors of this “Gods Own Country”.

(About the Author : Lt Col John Jacob (Retd), is a Graduate in Civil Engineering from NIT Nagpur who was trained in Indian Military Academy at Dehradun before joining Corps of Engineers and served for 22 years in different capacities. During his service in the Army, he served in 09 organizations which were located at geographically distant places across India. He also posses a “Masters in Personnel Management”, “Masters in Applied Psychology” and “Post Graduate Diploma in Quality Management”. He also did an”Executive Program (Regular) in Business Management from IIM Bangalore”. After working with “Indus Towers”, the “World’s largest Telecom Tower Company” at Delhi and Mumbai in different capacities, he currently works as the “Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Associate Provost” of SAINTGITS Group of Institutions, since 01 Jul 13.)