Tribute to a car

2011 is going to be a carless year for me, my car Zen having been sold in the beginning of the year itself. I haven’t got accustomed to the feeling of car’less’ness like the many people who have recently sold their cars, despite the fact that the car had been spending major part of working hours of last 3-4 months in workshop than in my garage. The aggressive driving of autorickshaws, the inevitable rush in transport buses and the recent hike in auto charges constantly remind me of my care free car days when I used to feel profoundly lucky and proud sitting behind the wheel. The relief and happiness that comes with avoiding an auto journey is an added bonus. Well, now I am doomed, my day begins with wait for an auto or a bus; whichever come first takes me to my work place.

My car was Zen Diesel from Maruti Suzuki, 2002 full option model, snow white in color and as sturdy and handsome as Vin Diesel. He was my husband’s first car, and he became mine in 2008 February14th. He was supposed to be my Valentine’s Day gift but as a matter of fact a bribe when I was sent to stay alone with my in laws. I always had confusion in deciding the gender of cars, but my husband had no doubts regarding that. According to him all bulky, boisterous diesel cars are male and the sleek, serene petrol cars are feminine. There may be differences in opinion which I don’t want to discuss in detail here.

In the lush green of Munnar..... In Sept 2009



The car was my constant companion for 3 years, I hardly had any fellow passengers over those months. He shared my little joys and was compassionate when I told him my worries which I managed to tell during my long journeys. We traveled as much as 80 km every day. I am not quite an awesome driver still we had comfortable drives together. I got fined many times for not putting seatbelt and not having pollution certificates, which I regularly renew only after getting fined, but never for rash driving.

Do I need a mirror?, tell me...

Whenever I think of Zen the first thing I have to tell you is its fuel efficieny, he is the most fuel efficient and economical car manufactured by Maruti and was car of the year long back. No wonder he was our companion in all our long journeys. When I came back to Ernakulam, he took us every weekend to my husbands place through the picturesque highways of Aleppey with Gulmohar trees on both sides and paddyfields of Kuttanad. He was with us in all our trips including those to Munnar, Thekkady, Kodaikanal etc. Now just a handful of memories remain.

Way side views, Ernakulam...

Through the heart of Kuttanad...

Resting in the pine forests of Kodai....

We were together in all our ups and downs, the many breakdowns, flat tyres, battery downs and the one fatal accident in 2009. It was my carelessness not his that caused him to drive straight into the rear of a huge transport bus. My husband lost trust in my driving but not his and a driver was duly appointed there after. I had a small laceration in my left palm that healed in no time leaving behind a linear scar to remind myself constantly of my carelessness whenever I drive, which according to John was what I badly needed. For Zen, the repairs came around Rs 30,000 half of which was funded unwillingly by insurance people. Still for him the scars were deep, he aged fast.

I shouldnt be posting this, my secret shame.


Technically his aging was contributed by the fact that his engine was heavy for the chase. Like all the old Marutis he developed rattling, rumblings and shakes. Those were minor problems, but the accelerated wear of tyres due to mismatched alignment was irritating. We had to buy new set of tyres every 2 months as the alignment problem could not be rectified by most of the mechanics in Ernakulam. We left all the major expansive brands and started using second hand Japan tyres. Last 3-4 months he was constantly in and out of workshops and that forced us to sell him when we were offered a nice price.

We mourned for a week, what to do life has to go on. The option of a new car is distant for now due to insufficient funds and I have to wait till I finish my studies. Now that he is gone I can only sing “ I’ve grown accustomed to his face……”
Zen, we miss you so much.

My picture gallery of Malayattoor taken during my previous visits....

A lonely tree.......

In twilight... Another late climb(possible during festival season only)

Walk through the woods, beckoning trees...

Green valley...

View of sunset...

Malayattoor church

Kurisumudi is a mountain at Malayattoor that has become famous after the visit of St. Thomas one of the apostles of Jesus.
Location : The nearest towns are Kalady and Angamaly, both are around 10-15kms from Nedumbassery Airport, Kochi. It is 1269 ft above sea leavel.

St. Thomas landed in India in AD 52 at Kodungalloor, an ancient port. He spent 20 years in India for missionary work. He received hostility in many places and had to flee to this hill top for protection. In AD 72 he died a martyr’s death in Chennai.

It is believed that St. Thomas knelt on a rock here and signed a cross with his finger. He prayed for a long time and a golden cross emerged at this point. The tribal people were attracted by the splendor of the cross. They struck the spot with their rude weapons and to their surprise saw blood emitting from the cross. They ran to the valley and reported this to the locals. They went up to pray and got many miracles. Thus began the pilgrimage to Kurisumudi.

The Feast at Kurisumudy is on the first Sunday after Easter and the Octave on the following Sunday. People visit this pilgrim centre all through the year but they come in large groups during season of Lent. The number of pilgrims go up during the holy week especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. A lot of devotees come to the shrine carrying crosses and walking hundereds of Kilometers. Some of the crosses weight more than 75 Kilograms. When the piligrims climb the mountain they chant "Ponnin Kurisu Mala Muthappo Ponmalakayattam" that has almost become a manthra of those who climb.
As reparation for their sins pilgrims climb the hill with prayers on their lips. The climbing is done as a vow. They come after fasting and penance.

The first journey of the year- a pilgrimage on 2.1.11

This new year we made our first trip on 2/1/11, to St. Thomas Church, Malayatoor. You can see the details and historical importance here. The decision was spontaneous and this is our 4th visit.

It was a cool and windy day; we reached Malayatoor in the afternoon around 3 PM. It is off season now and we had expected it to be a quite climb. But when we reached there were 3 buses waiting for the return of young people who had started their uphill climb to visit the famous St Thomas shrine. They were youth from all over India who had come under some missionary organization. Well, we started off with a slow pace as I was recovering from a recent flu. The initial climb was slow and my heart was bursting with palpitation because of the sudden exertion. I had to take some extra halts occasionally to give few minutes break to my pounding heart and my only prayer at the time was to be able to reach the Church and complete the mission.

We watched the people as they went up and others who were coming done, their face puffy and most of them panting. Some were singing and praying. I too had a small pamphlet that I had purchased from below to pray at each cross. My climb was unusually slow, however we were determined to reach the top. It is quite relieving when you come to the 1st cross. Its almost half way now. There are 14 crosses in total which signifies events from the crucification of Jesus to burial.

We could increase our pace by the time we reached 4th cross, now the heart was somewhat stabilized and we could climb without feeling much strain. Now I began to enjoy the climb. The atmosphere was getting cooler and cooler towards the top. Apart from stamping of our foot, the sounds heard were mostly the song of the wind which I call the ‘Symphony of the hills’. Wind was tough, at times blowing off the candles and teasing us while we tried to lit them. Sometimes it was a delicate affair and gentle, accompanying the low hustles of falling leaves. Then it came back little more proud and fierce blowing sound through the bamboo trunk. It was not exactly the tone of flute as poets would say, definitely it appeared musical. The notes resemble the opening of a rusty door and at times the sound made by a pebble shaking in an empty wooden carton. The person who discovered flute from Bamboo has to be a genius.

The climb continued, the crosses are now closely placed.

We took the final steps and hurray we have reached the hill top. Obviously life in India was difficult for St. Thomas. We visited the old and the new churches, the golden cross and the foot impression of St. Thomas when he prayed in the hills. We prayed there breathlessly, remembering all that we wanted to ask him in the forth coming days, asking forgiveness for our mistakes made in the last year and immensely thanking Lord for all that he has done to us and all that he will be doing.
I watched in awe from the hilltop the green valley below, the winding river Periyar and the distant hills. Sun was setting gorgeously over the valleys in splashy orange, thinning in air like a candy. Now the downhill journey began. We were indeed the last people to leave the church, we rushed down without a single halt. It was twilight and we were entertained by the humming of Cicadas and hooting of owls. Thankfully there were fluorescent lights on the way to guide us. We were anxiously awaited by security staff downhill where he served us coffee and biscuits. As soon as the last person comes down they will switch off the lights so that the wild animals can have whole hill for their own. We are the intruders here. We started for home soon thanking Lord for helping us complete the journey safe and sound.

Shall post pictures soon...

Happy new year to all.

The new year is going to be tough time for me. I have exams to appear...... Lots and lots to be learned, memorized and not to be forgotten for another year or so. I will be blogging less however shall post at least once a month for a while.