“I was born and raised in Ambasamuthiram, and I remember how life was so different back then. The town was up by 5 am, and everyone used to rush to the river bank to take a shower, pay a visit to the temple, and then start their day. It was like everyone knew everyone, which is a stark contrast to the city life where we barely even know our neighbors.

The riverbank was also an excellent place for children to play with all the pebbles and sand. But I had visited the town recently and found nothing similar to what I saw in my childhood. There’s neither water, nor sand, nor pebbles. Every home had a garden with essential vegetables, and we would all share the produce with our neighbors. Unlike the mad rush for organic food just to look elite, we had embraced it as our way of life. Probably that’s why we have the immunity and strength that this generation lacks.

My uncle was the one who helped me find a job in Chennai after finishing my education from the Azgappa college in my hometown. I learned all the nuances of the business from him before switching to a private job after a few years. I loved my job and was serving them until 1996. It was an immense learning experience as I rose up ranks to become a manager eventually.

Chennai has evolved since the time I moved into the city in the year 1965. I remember walking around the streets in T Nagar, with the cycle being the only traffic there. Back then, the aroma of jasmine is what filled the roads. Today it’s just diesel and petrol! Ranganathan Street is now one of the most crowded places in the world, but back then, it was nice with just the right amount of crowd and that too only in the festival season.

While I have been living here for a long time now, I still miss the comfort and love I enjoyed in my hometown! There’s no place like a village where you are embraced in the beauty of nature.”

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