Anakatti and the Nifty

Achuettan must have been a worried man. Protocol demanded that he too invite Ratanji to God’s Own Country, but then, given the track record of industrial and labour relations in the state, he stood a good chance of being rebuffed. "Well, anyway I don’t have 1000 acres of contiguous land in any case", he consoled himself. And it was quite unlikely that the opposition would fault him for not having extended the invitation. He went back to tailoring the new “green-kerala” policy.

Given their atheistic (or is it agnostic) leanings, I wonder if the present government is comfortable labeling Kerala as “God’s own country”. It probably suits their requirements though - to thwart any attempt at industrialization of the state! After all, God gave man only Eden garden…and Kerala, has managed to retain it pretty much that way.

I have no complaints though! As a frequent visitor to “Ente Keralam”, I enjoy the verdant landscape and fresh air. Drive 30 km in any direction from a city, and you are likely to find yourself in rustic surroundings. There is beautiful coexistence of ultra-modernism with absolute Spartan austerity ' even in a small town like Cherpalachery I find electronic items ( a jabra Bluetooth, wireless keyboard and USB mouse)!!! ' something that I might have to go to a speciality electronics or computer store in Chennai. And then I go back to my grandmother's house (2.5 kilometers from this market), - and this is no easy task mind you ' I park the car on the "high" way and then have to climb down a steep (ittlu ' alley is too weak a word) and slippery path to a field where I then walk in between two rice fields, jump over a gate(kadambaya) to get home!!! No wonder, these guys do so well in athletics!!! ' to find myself in an entirely different world. The only sign of progress (if I can call it that) is the television that takes the place of honour in the small living room.

This visit was special in that respect. I got to discover, quite serendipitously, a breath-taking route from Coimbatore. Instead of the usual Walayar route, I took the route to Anakatti, and then crossed over the Ghat section into Mannarkadu and from thereon to Ottapalam and cherpalachery. If you are not in a hurry, this is an absolutely wonderful route to take. You are probably passing quite close to the silent valley forest reserve. Some child must have doodled over his cartographer-dad's road map ' which is why there are so many twists, turns and hair-pin bends on that road. I stopped several times on the way to admire the scenery and for once regretted not having carried my camera. The roads are pretty empty, so make sure your car is in good working condition and you know how to change tyres, in case of a flat!!! I definitely intend going back that way, and probably spend more time in the Ghat section before heading to mannarkadu.

The other highpoint of this visit was a complete cut away from work! With the mobile phone out of range, and no internet access, I remain oblivious of what was happening in the outside world (yes, I stayed away from the television, and did not use the landline at home either). So, I also managed to remain blissfully unaware that my net worth had eroded by over 50% in those five days! And so did not end up with ulcers watching the sensex take that plunge. Instead, the fresh air, organic food, and obstacle-race-like paths left me rejuvenated and healthier! Well, that should leave me fit enough for manual labour (financial consulting will be a high-risk job for sometime atleast)!!! And then again, maybe I'll go back to my agrarian roots at least you can be sure of a square meal every day!