The identity I have gained among the public today is,Kalyana Malai Mohan. Kalyana Malai is not a baby born in haste; it has been given birth in a healthy atmosphere only after involving me for about 30 years in all the marriages that took place in and around my hometown and later having it as a base, making the sound project of marriage contract. In all these years, the changes the society has undergone in its views and thoughts, has made me recollect the past with awe. Certain ideas which were considered conservative in those days have made us feel, they have got sophisticated by now.

Certain things which were considered cultured then are now felt, have become cheaper.

I wish to make a picturesque description of yesterday and show the proceedings of today in contrast. I am sure; you all will go along with my feelings when I share my experiences through this series.

I was just 16 then. After going round the towns around Tanjore such as Nannilam, Nagapattinam, Vazhutur and so on, we finally settled in Thiruvarur. Our house was in Kamalalayam Vadakarai. I had a friend named Narayanan in my immediate next house. When Narayanans parents sought alliance for his sister Komala, we both got thrilled. Everyday, I used to narrate all the happenings of the next house to my mother. One day, we came to know that a guy named Aanantharaman was expected in their house, to see his sister and find out whether she would be a good match for him. Our ecstasy knew no bounds. Assuming to have acquired elderliness suddenly, Narayanan and myself sat by the side of Komala and did all that she needed. We demanded the flower woman to knit the flowers so closely and make a Kadhamba mala and bought it after a good deal of bargain. Thus we were assuring ourselves a permissible place on that occasion. When Aanantharaman declared that he liked the girl, the whole family became jubilant and celebrated their joy.

A mixture of blush, shyness, a sort of serenity, silence and satisfaction was seen in Komalas face!

That day I realized how the chemistry works in a girl as soon as she is proposed by a suitable groom! I rushed to Komala and whispered in her ears whether she liked the groom. She casually replied, Those are all up to my parents to decide.

Nowadays, when I introduce the young girls in Kalyana Malai program, they offer a very clearly visioned thought and express their views and expectations about the groom frankly. They decide their partner along with their parents, among the heap of information about guys that are placed before them. Miss Sudha had about 150 choices from which her father Mr. Venkatraman chose a suitable groom for his daughter. Miss. Gayathri and her mother Mrs. Karpagam had their choice from 435 offers. Gayathri and her husband Anand are now in search of a suitable name for their offspring which is expected within 4 months. At this juncture, when girls of today enjoy their right to select their better half through Kalyana Malai, going hand in hand with our culture, Im inevitably reminded of Komala.

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