Media Monitor Introducing Indian Journalists

Freelancer from Sharqiya Oman - Columnist KM

Mr. Maleth Madhusoodanan Nambiar, known as Madhu Nambiar was born to Shri. Kakkopravan Kunhambu Nambiar and Smt. Maleth Janaki Amma on 01st August 1958, in Kannur District of Kerala State, India. After a break in education, he successfully completed B.A. Degree, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Journalism from School of Communications And Management Studies, Kochi, India; Diploma in Business English, and Diploma in Business Management & Trading.

He started his career in 1978 from Bhiwani, Haryana. He moved to Chandigarh in 1980 where he remained up to 1983 when he left for Oman where he is continuing. He worked as a Part time Correspondent for a California (USA)-based Cultural Explorer, and Special Correspondents for "E-Net" fortnightly published from Chennai and for "www.ShilpiMagazine.com"

He is the winner of National Award in Freelance Journalism, instituted by All India Freelance Journalist Association (Regd.), Chennai, in 1999. He is the winner of First Prize in an essay contest conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary Celebration Committee of Focus India, a socio-cultural-public interest society of Kollam, Kerala.

He was a member of The Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators, Jersey, Britain, and a member of All India Freelance Journalists Association (Regd.), Chennai, India.

He was one of the founder members of Bhiwani Malayalee Association (Haryana) and member of Kerala Arts & Sports Club (Regd.), Chandigarh. His available time is used for social work.

"A tale of a tail" - collection of articles - is his forthcoming book.

Komalavally is wife and Indian School Sur students Abhilash and Athulya are his children. His son Abhilash also writes poems, which are published in www.poetry.com

* * *

A Tale of a Tail

His full name with prefix and suffix was almost taller than him. The advantage was that it could easily be broken into pieces or folded like a transistor aerial.

Among the pieces of his name, the two that he regularly used was stuck on him well before he made his own address.

Youth of his age those days were not using the cast name, which was of ten sarcastically called 'tail'. His tail remained stuck on him because he was with his maternal grandfather, who was respected by the villagers, until the grandfather's demise.

In the second half of the seventies when he reached a north Indian City, he was almost tail-less. He was employed in a reputed manufacturing company. His present prefix was mentioned in his certificates as abbreviated suffix, under the cover of the term 'initial after name.'

This initial is used after or before name, according to convenience, without change in name, without change in meaning, without change in identity.

Peons in the office used his name with reverence and he felt proud. Soon he realised that they were not referring to him. A few days later a peon told him that the Saab was calling him.

The Saab was the sales and development manager, a key figure in the organisational set-up. The Saab's name was his name. His name was the Saab's name. Their names were pronounced almost in the same way, but there were slight changes in the spellings. While he was from Kerala, the Saab was from Karnataka. When he entered the Saab's cabin, the Saab was holding an inland letter. It was for him, sent by one of his friends in Madras, written in 'Maglish' but received and opened by the Saab!

Neither the peons nor any staff in the general office heard of him, the new recruit in the Plant Office where the time was different from that of the general office. Those who heard of his appointment did not know the intricacies of initials.

At the end of the meeting, the Saab advised him to use some specific mention in his address so that there were no confusions. Accordingly, he shifted the abbreviated initial from after name to before name and hoisted his folded tail at the end of his name and also added 'Plant Office' in his address. Even after the Saab was transferred, his name remained the same, although there were pressure on him from his well wishers and friends to cut off the tail of conservatism.

 

He was confused. For a moment he thought of remaining him. Then he feared that would ultimately lengthen his name by using alias, alias. For him, name in full or part, including the tail was innocent. They were not decorations. They were almost lifeless. He got all these without his knowledge. He felt it was his identity and he didn't like to hide his identity by suppressing the facts.

When he shifted to another city, he once again abandoned his tail. In the new office there were some female staff for whom his short name was funny and feminine. Besides, the manager lengthened his name further by adding vowels in his name.

His present prefix and suffix formally stuck with his name when he applied for the passport. His prefix was of his mother's surname and his suffix was his father's caste name, both his parents belonged to the same caste though. "If you want to get a visa to any Middle East country, you need three names in your passport", his friends told him. So he formally fixed the prefix and suffix with his name.

After all, Shakespeare is right: what is in a name?

Published in Times of Oman
on 04.07.1996.

Today between yesterday and tomorrow

Yesterday is a standing army. Today is marching parade. Today is short. Giving too much importance today without giving much importance to tomorrow is like making today shorter. This ultimately leads us to ruin.

Today is a bridge between yesterday and tomorrow. It is a narrow bridge. It is an elevator. One cannot step on it firmly without looking ahead carefully. It is the continuation of yesterday. A polished and refined version of yesterday. Not many people get their needs fulfilled today particularly physical, safety and actualisation. As these are like a spiral, the people are in search of these needs.

Today is the time for us to do our homework. The result depends on how well we do it. We work today. Reward for our work is received only tomorrow. When we ask for our dues we are told 'tomorrow'. And we live in the hope of tomorrow making little adjustments.

There are not many threats from yesterday. It is known. It is a path that has already been trodden.

Of course, tomorrow is unclear. We look forward apprehensively, wondering what vistas will be revealed. We have reasons to be apprehensive because tomorrow is indeed unknown. But, modern science has fortunately provided us tools with which we can make good guesses. Very good guesses.

Too much concern for only today is the result of rapid advancement of technology which causes mal-adjustments and tensions in life. The value system is undergoing a change under the compulsion of a situation emerged from the life style, which has resulted from this excessive pre-occupation with speed, with mechanisation or with automation having little correlation with human satisfaction or with the happiness of the individual. The tensions can be reduced by discouraging ostentatious living.

Concern for tomorrow distinguishes man from animals and other creatures. If we give less importance tomorrow, it would be disastrous for the coming generations. We do not live today for the sake of them. To live ourselves tomorrow and to enliven tomorrow we deliberately forget to live today. Unfortunately, we often think of tomorrow only when the day nears to set. Concern for tomorrow has its own handicaps which we bear for the sake of tomorrow.

Concern for today or tomorrow vary from person to person. It is one of the different attitudes of people toward life. Attitude is a compound of an individual's emotion, belief and information. Cultural background, racial and religious beliefs, customs and habits are proved to be affected attitudes and subsequently to opinions of individuals.

---

Published in Times of Oman
on 15.09.1994.