From Kerala to Islamabad (A Journey of Nine Decades)

#2 Posted by ballukhan on July 31, 2006 1:50:52 am

``About twelve years ago one of those old ordnance colleagues from Calcutta told me with some pride that he was responsible for bringing Daddy to Pakistan. ``

I would suggest that you let them go back to the country of gods than letting them live painfully each day ruing the day when they were seduced by the lure of a pure land........

#3 Posted by Ally on July 31, 2006 4:28:54 am

your parents should go back to see Kerala!

#4 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on July 31, 2006 4:36:44 am

Tariq

As others have suggested, make a visit to Kerala with your parents. Enjoy a link up with your past with your parents.

As I understand, very few South Indians migrated.

nhk

#5 Posted by guarana on July 31, 2006 6:56:08 am

``Home is where the heart is`` and very often the heart resides in the place where one spent one`s childhood. I know a couple of Keralites very well. He grew up there but left after school and never lived there, thereafter. He wants to retire and live there for the rest of his life. She grew up in cities all over India and is proud and appreciative of ``God`s own country`` and all its natural beauties, but cannot imagine living there for the rest of her life. So they compromised by settling in a totally different state but resolved to visit Kerala whenever the urge took them to recharge their batteries; and this is working out very well. Visits are precious and open windows to the world especially the past world of nostalgia and childhood with remembered faces, traditions, familiar tastes and smells.

#6 Posted by ch0wkidar on July 31, 2006 8:58:47 am

The writting style is pakka malayalee!!!!

The family story is in line with any other family`s from Kerala.

It is unfortunate that you are not elligible for an Indian ``dual citizenship`` as you are not a Pravasi Bharatiya unlike score of Keralites worldwide, and can return to ``Gods own country``.

#7 Posted by delhiwala on July 31, 2006 9:08:50 am

Nice Article kuttu(as we like to call all Malloos fondly).

Why dont you take your daddy to Trivandrum?
Of all the places in India, Kerala is probably the most tolerant and friendly places to Muslims. I used to know one Moplah Taj Mohammad, who hated Muslims from N India and moved back to Kerala after living 4 yrs in Delhi.

Keep writing.

#8 Posted by harimau on July 31, 2006 3:24:59 pm

Ref nazarhayatkhan #4

[As I understand, very few South Indians migrated.]

A few months back, there was a story in Indian newspapers about Pak citizens of Kerala origin (numbering less than 100) who had come on a visit to Kerala who were trying to get back Indian citizenship.

I have met the grandson of a Tamil Muslim who had migrated from Trichy to Karachi. He told me that he grew up in the so-called Tamil Colony in Karachi where his grandfather had settled with other Tamil speaking immigrants.

#9 Posted by CheGuevara on July 31, 2006 3:59:06 pm

Re: # 8

Harimau, My grandparents immigrated to Karachi from Madras and I have never in my life heard of Tamil Colony. Most of the Tamil Muslim immigrants from what my grandfather told me were government officers who came to Pakistan because they were getting better positions. Whats the situation of Muslims in Tamil Nadu these days? Have they been bitten by the islamo-fascist bug, it would be a shame because I heard things were pretty good as far as the communal situation goes.

#10 Posted by bjkumar on July 31, 2006 5:10:57 pm

These are some nice reminiscences, especially for people who those are close to. But from a reader’s point of view, it probably would have been more interesting if you had instead focused on the experiences that your grandparents underwent in arriving at and settling down in and meeting the challenges of a new place. Good effort, though!

#11 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on July 31, 2006 8:35:37 pm

Dehliwala # 7

(Of all the places in India, Kerala is probably the most tolerant and friendly places to Muslims)

The Pakistani Embassy in Dehli has requested the West Bengal (I think) state to provide them technical assisstance with regard to the Madressa curriculum and syllabus. In order to carry out reforms in Pakistani Madressas which have a tunnel vision & preach hatred towards other faiths.

It is believed that students from different faiths attend these madressas & and there has never been any communal tension in these states.

nhk

#12 Posted by sadna on July 31, 2006 11:55:07 pm

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#13 Posted by sadna on July 31, 2006 11:58:42 pm

Sorry for the typos/grammer and size of the pics, which are all cut and pastes.

#14 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on August 1, 2006 12:08:38 am

Sadna # 13

Sadna. Thanks for this quick orientation.

nhk

#15 Posted by ch0wkidar on August 1, 2006 4:14:55 am

reg.#9 by CheGuevara

President Abdul Kalam is muslim from Tamilnadu, just like A.R.Rahaman

#16 Posted by puyu on August 1, 2006 1:50:01 pm

#8 Harimau

A flm is being made in Malayalam on the plight of the Pakistani passport holders living under the threat of extradition. Titled `paradeshi`, its being directed by P.T Kunhi Mohammed, who has been elected to the Kerala legislative assembly twice with CPI(M) support .
http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/07/stories/2006060705380200.htm