justread’s blog

I have landed at Chennai for deputation for two years.The city has changed a lot , keeping it’s image of fast growing Metro in India.It will take some days for me to adjust to the new atmosphere.I am missing the men in white lungis & women in traditional langa.The new generation here now prefer Jeans over the traditional attaire.I think it is only metro (after calcutta) where people give more importance to tradion.Now slowly it is fading.The big cinema cutouts & posters of political leders are everywhere here.

On my visit to IIT-CHENNAI (Purely personal, nothing to link with academic), i was mesmerised with the huge campus & the grenery arround it.The vast area is really a breathing space for chennai. The IIT bus took me inside the campus.The bus was half filled.iItook a side seat to enjoy the ride.The beautiful gardens,landscape,some animals has given me enough to dream about.I was trying to understand the pictureque alphabets in tamil.It was like some modern /tradional art to me.

I was preparing my self to say”TAMIL ILLYA or TAMIL TIRIYADE”as it was taught to me by one friend to tackel any situation .

I was immeresed in my own world. Suddenly my dream was broken by the voice of the conductor.He was asking me something.I was unable to understand.

So came the readymade reply”TAMIL TIRIYADE”.

The conductor politely said”I know that when you have took the seat. But I am speking in english to you sir.You are seating in the ladies seat”

I loked up & understood my mistake.Few ladies standing beside were smiling .I felt little shy.Immidieately got up from the seat & told to the conductor that “i donot know Tamil”

The conductor laughed & said “No big deal sir , you have the picture of a lady near the alphabet”

Other passangers were getting amusement from our conversation.It was little awkward for me.My stopage has arrived to save me.

Now I have to learn TAMIL & have to say “TAMIL ENIKI TIRIYUM”(I know tamil)

So I have to get a TRANSLATION BOOK & should talk with more people.