Ammu on Chackochayan

Chackochayan stayed with mummy and daddy at Hailey Road in Delhi when he came for an interview with the Police and stayed on for training. He and Maggiemama were probably  there with them together. Hailey Road was in Bengali Market where early malayalee settlers lived in Delhi in the early 50s.Mummy always kept in touch with everyone after they left and started their own families.
My 1st memory  of Chackochayan was when we visited them in Trivandrum after his marriage to Leelammai and when Reggie was an infant. I remember eating the top of a coconut tree that fell down in their neighbours compound in a storm.

Next I remember him when he came with Reggie to Delhi when he came for a months training.
In between Reggie lives with us and studies at St Thomas prep school and later joins his nuclear family in when Chackochayan got posted to Goa

Then Chackochayan  shifted to Delhi for several years where he retired as a director of police.
Amminikutty started studying at St Thomas which was nearly a family school because Leela. I, my paternal cousins Veena, Mary and Bessie and Reggie and Amminikutty studied.

Chackochayan used to bring Amminikutty everyday to school on his Lambretta and visit us in the morning and have coffee and a chat. Those were my Youth for Christ (YFC) days and I and Chackochayan were always talking about existential questions. I remember Chackochayan pulling me out of my crazy religious fervour and bringing down to earth.

Then in 1978 while I was working as a Lecturer  in Education  at Jamie Milliamp Islamic,  I fell out with my landlord Mr Nair who was a lawyer when I was living in a room above the garage in Niti Bagh. Mr Nair did not approve of my young Dhobi having tea at my little bed sitter and made  intrusive  comments. I was hurt and told Chackochayan who said I should come and live with them at RK Puram. So I lived with Leelammai and Chackochayan, George and Amminikutty for 3 years till I shifted to Pant Nagar to work as Assistant Professor at the Home Science College at the GB Pant university of Agriculture and Technology. Reggie was by then working in the State Bank of India in Madhya Pradesh.

I met Bengt while at Pant Nagar and visited Sweden for the 1st time before my marriage to Bengt.  I went from Chackochayan´s house where I used to come for holiday visits. I have had great dinner at their Asiana house too while I visited india from Sweden.

Now that Chackochayan is in Alwaye, I enjoy my visits to his home. We,talk 19 to the dozen about religious matters and eat at Leelammai's always full and varied table.

I have seen George and Amminikutty grow up and now they are both in Alwaye and doing well.
REGGIE I know also apart from chackochayan family.

Last time I visited Alwaye, Chackochayan had slowed down a bit, and was mostly relaxing and enjoying sleeping. He made a special effort while I was there and as always sent me to Delhi with his prayers and blessings. I hear chackochayan has picked up after his recent medical problem. I am hoping I will be meeting and enjoying Chackochayan+s company many more years still.