To Sita: Murukanandam didn’t even think in his mind that the life dreams he had laid out on the table in a shop during the pouring rain would come true. Even in Abhrapali, it is very unlikely that anyone would have seen a life like that of Murukan (30) who took the hand of his adoptive father and entered the Kathir Mandapam. The arrival of Murukananda, the true “Muruka” of the Angamoozhi people, brought only luck to the Mavel family and to Murukan himself.
∙ School life of childhood …
The incredible life story of Murukananda, a native of Tirunalveli Vallamkota, who had no way of escaping severe hunger, began during his school days. The family, consisting of mother Saroj and younger brother Perumal, who became a porter in Karingalmada after his father left them, starved almost every day. A childhood that also wanted to eat a sweet. Murugan’s eyes fill with memories of his childhood days when he used to skip class and go to Poonulla to look for a job and stand up.
Since his childhood, Murukan was concerned about how to study in the chaos of the house. In that child’s mind, he still wanted to find a job. During the third grade. He goes to class every Wednesday on time. Only on that day will the school receive eggs for lunch. No matter how difficult it is to eat it, Wednesday’s class will not be interrupted.
∙ The beginning of that journey …
Murugan’s friend and neighbor Bhaskaran had heard that he had found work in Kerala that day. That said, Murugan made a deal with Bhaskaran’s father, Ravi, to find him a job in Kerala. Then one day, at sunset, Ravi returned home in search of Murukan.
He was told that he had been offered a job at a hotel in Angamoozhi near Sabarimala in Kerala and that if he wanted to go, he would have to board the train that same night. Even if you study, you can live without hunger for a while. And I haven’t thought about it. During the day he went to school in his uniform consisting of a white shirt and black underwear. At night I boarded the train from Tirunalveli railway station to Chengannur. During the trip, only job dreams were in mind.
Unbearable hunger just got off at the station. Ravi bought an omelette and gave it as a gift (the first time he has eaten the omelette). The bus boarded from Chengannur to Pathanamthitta that same morning. From there straight to Angamoozhi.
∙ First job …
The work was organized in a hotel in Angamoozhi Junction. As soon as he arrived, he was relieved to see his friend Bhaskar. The owner of the hotel showed Murugan how the job was done. Taking the glass of tea, cleaning the table, serving water, just small and small tasks. After completing the training, they both slept with Bhaskaran on the table of a nearby shop. Very cold. There is no other way to cover. The only comfort is the warmth of the burlap sack lying on the table. Meanwhile he started raining and continued until dawn. Early in the morning, after taking a bath, Murugan went to the shop for work. For the moment, Murukan is not needed for the job. The boy is not tall enough or old enough. This is the reason for the job loss. The moments when I thought the trip to Kerala with high expectations was over.
∙ She changed her mind while waiting for the bus
To return to the countryside, Ravi stopped early in the morning near Shailu’s Mavel stationery in Angamoozhi Junction. Ravi recalls that shop owner Shailu asked him earlier if he could find a helper when Kattakkada was waiting for the KSRTC bus coming from Moozhiyar. Murukana immediately showed Shailu. Let it be here. I’ll take a look. Ravi got on the bus and went home.
Shailu, who returned home after closing the shop at night, was accompanied by Murukananda, who was only nine years old. Shailu’s wife Smita remembers that Murugan would return home with Shailu on the night of the Prophet’s day in 2000. Smita took Murukananda as her eldest son along with her food. He eats and sleeps at home. Shailu should go to the shop near the house for food during the day. It’s a stationery shop. Helped to do small tasks that could be done. Shailu Murugan’s adoptive father, Shailu, is Anna and Smita Murugan’s sister from that day until now.
22 long years that followed. Shailu first changed the name of the little boy Murukananda. Murugan. Murugan showed no interest even though he said he would enroll in a school near his home. Meanwhile, Shailu’s daughter Abhirami has been enrolled in the LKG class. In the evening Murugan also started learning Malayalam together with Abhirami. The teacher was Smita, the stepmother. Murugan, who has memorized writing and reading, has become the cynosic of everyone in the country and at home.
Many years have passed. All his childhood and childhood were spent in Mavel’s family. As a young man, Shailu almost completely left responsibility for the shop to Murukan. Shailu turned to contract work. Meanwhile, Murugan passed the 7th grade equivalency exam and got his driver’s license. Murugan owns all of the family vehicles in Mavel. Shailu also bought a bullet bike last year. This is the journey.
∙ Wedding …
When Murugan reached the age of 30, the Shailu-Smita couple came forward with a marriage proposal. After much reflection, nine months ago, he married Sharanya (22), a graduate of Adoor Mannadi. Last Monday, Saranya also became another member of the Mavelil family as Murugan’s life partner. Marriage was also an unprecedented innovation. Most of the wedding guests are close friends of Murugan. The groom and his group reach the underground auditorium in five tour buses. Shailu himself made all the preparations.
The marriage was according to SNDP custom. Shailu and Smitha completed all the tasks from the groom’s parents position with auspiciousness. In Mavel, the family ration card has Murugan’s name instead of that of the eldest son. Shailu’s name in place of father, Smitha in place of mother, Abhirami as second daughter and Devdarshan as third son are recorded. Murugan also holds the position of the elder brother in the family.
The eldest son Murugan and daughter-in-law Saranya will stay at home in Mavel. Shailu says she has everything in mind for their future life.
∙ Now the country is here
Murugan had informed the country of the marriage. Nobody came. Every year Mavelil returns home with her family. Murukanandan is preparing to go to Tirunalveli on a comfortable day for everyone with Saranya to show Petamma.
Summary in English: Murukanandan life story, from Tamil Nadu to Kerala
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