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About Me

I am Ratheesh, I was born and brought up in Kerala, in a town called Irinjalakuda, which is the most beautiful place in the Universe for me. I treasure the memories of my childhood, and I love my parents and sister more than anybody else in the world. I am proud to be an Indian.

My Interests

Literature

I have strong interests in Art & Literature. I read prose in Malayalam, English and Konkani. I also read translated works from Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi and many other Indian and European languages. Reading is just like breathing to me. My favorite books are Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Aadarsha Hindu Hotel and Aranyak by Bibhoothi Bhooshan Bandopadhyaya, Gana Devata and ArogyaNikethan by Tharashankar Bandopadhyaya, Paathummayude Aadu, Mathilukal, Baalyakala Sakhi, Manthrikappoochha, Anuragathinte Dinangal , PremaLekhanam and Aanavariyum Ponkurishum by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Khasakkinte Ithihasam by OV Vijayan, Yakshi, Nettoor Madom, Aaram Viral, Verukal and Ormakalude Album by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, Oru Deshathinte Katha and Oru Theruvinte Katha by SK Pottekkat, Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum and Stories by Uroob, Stories by Karoor, Daivathinte Kannu by NP Muhammad, Prathimayum Rajakumariyum by Padmarajan, Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum by Rajalakshmi, Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil, Daivathinte Vikrithikal and Keshavante Vilapangal by M.Mukundan, Jeevithappatha by Cherukad, Arangu Kanatha Nadan by Thikkodian, Pani Theeratha Veedu by Parappurathu, Balyakala Smaranakal by Madhavikkutty, Ariyappedathavar and Devli by my father V KrishnaVadhyar, Agni and Brihadaranyakam by C Radhakrishnan, Ini Njan Urangatte by PK Balakrishnan, Mohamul by JanakiRaman, Chithirappavai by Akhilan, Mrithyunjay by Shivaji Savanth, Yayathi by Vishnu Sakharam Khandekkar, Devadas by Sharachandra Chatopadhyaya, PonniyinSelvan by Kalki, Stories by Mouni, Love in Time of Cholera by Marcquez, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, The Diary of Anne Frank, MarthandaVarma and DharmaRaja by CV Raman Pillai, Toto Chan by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi to mention a few (I don't want to list down all the world classics here).

Bibhoothi Bhooshan Bandopadhyaya is my favorite Indian writer. Among Malayalam writers, I admire Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer the most. I am proud to possess a collection of all his works published by DC Books, with his autograph.

When I get some free time, I plan to compile a list of all the good books I have read along with other related information and put it down in this web site.

I don't read much of poetry. I read the the column called Sahithya Varaphalam by M Krishnan Nair and I admire him a lot.

Religion, Mythology

I have special interest in Religion, Mythology and folk tales. I like to read stories from Hindu Puranas, Upanishads and folk tales from various regions in India, Greece, Arabia, Japan , China and different other countries. I always enjoy reading Panchathanthram, Kathasarith Sagaram, Aithihyamala, Aesop Kathakal, Vikramadityan Kathakal, 1001 Nights etc. I believe that never there will be a literary work comparable to The Mahabharatha.

Languages

I can understand Konkani, English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Sanskrit, the most beautiful and greatest language according to me. I like to learn languages, and I wish to learn Bengali sometime.

History, Philosophy

I like to read philosophy, really enjoyed the book A Search in Secret India by Dr. Paul Brunton that I read recently. I always liked to read Science Fiction. Recently I have got a new interest in learning about the history of India. I am reading a book India - A History by John Keay.

Movies

I love watching movies, and I believe there will never be a movie greater than Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray. Some other movies that I liked are, Theesri Kasam, Salam Bombay, Abhiman, Anand, Cheluvi, Zubeida, Kora Kagaz, Koshish, Namkeen, Suraj Ka Satwan Ghoda, Sathya, Godhooli (Hindi), Sampathi, Post Master , Aparajito , Apur Sansar, Charulata, Mahanagar, Nayak, Jai Baba Felunath, Kapurush (Bengali), Mahanadi, Thevar Magan, Bharathi, Moonnam Pirai, Alai Payuthey (Tamil), Gandhi, Ben Hur, The Last Emperor, Saving Private Ryan, The English Patient, Les Miserables, American Beauty, Jurassic Park, AntZ, The Thin Red Line, Brave Heart, Cast Away, Fly Away Home, Cliff Hanger (English), High and Low, Hidden Fortress (Japanese), Wild Strawberries (Swedish), Life is Beautiful (Italian), Piravi, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan, Ponthan Mada, Alicinte Anweshanam, Thaniyavarthanam, Kireedam, Bharatham, Kadavu, Anubhavangal Palichakal, Swathi Thirunal, Amrutham Gamaya, Nakhakshathangal, Ennu Swantham Janakikkutty, Aaranyakam, Vadakkunokkiyanthram, Nadodikkattu, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu, Appunni, Arorumariyathe, Ulladakkom, Perunthacchan, Keli, Kariyilakkattu Pole, Charithram, The Truth, Bhoothakkannati, Aadharam, Kanmadam, RamjiRao Speaking, Aparan, Lottery Ticket, Panchavadippalam, Thingalazhcha Nalla Divasam, Peruvazhiyampalam, Vilkanundu Swapnangal, Amaram, Valsalyam, Deshatanam, Paithrukam, Sopanam, Kaliyattam, Manichitrathazhu, Daivathinte Vikruthikal (Malayalam). I have watched more than 1000 movies so far in different languages.

I am compiling a list of all my favorite movies, actors and actresses. The list is still under construction, but can be seen here.

Comics, Cartoons

I always enjoy reading comics. I was an ardent reader of the Amar Chithra Katha comics brought out by India Book House when I was a child. I have read the Bobanum Moliyum cartoons by Toms many times, and I love its initial episodes. I also like Asterix, Tin Tin and Calvin and Hobbes. Among cartoonists I like Yesudasan of Malayala Manorama. His sense of humor is matchless. I have a collection of the Kuttan Kandathum Kettathum cartoons by Krishnan that came up in Mathrubhoomi in the late 70's. I have gone through them many times.

Drawing, Painting

Every child draws. So I also used to draw and do water color paintings when I was a child. I don't get much time and convenience to do painting nowadays. But when I go home and see my old collection of Kai Ezhuthu Masikas which I used to make while in school, I feel how much pleasure I derived making those.

I am an admirer of Raja Ravivarma. I like drawings of Namboodiri a lot. The drawings of women he makes are great.

Admiring Beauty

I am an admirer of beauty. My favorite film actresses are, Vaheeda Rahman, Manisha Koirala, Simran, Sonali Bendre, Catherine Zeta Jones, Jennifer Lopez and Elizabeth Shue.

Music

I like to hear old melodious songs from Hindi and Malayalam movies. The list of songs I like is huge, but I plan to put it down here sometime. I like Indian classical music even though I am not technically literate of it.

But my favorite music is the symphony created by squirrels,sparrows,mynahs and banana leaves moving in the breeze at my home in Irinjalakuda.

Temple Art Forms

I like to watch Kathakali and Ottan Thullal even though I am not a knowledgeable person in these art forms. Sitting in the Koodalmanikyam Temple ground in moonlit nights and listening to the echoing Kathakalippadams has been a great experience. The Panchari and Chempada Melams and Sheeveli at the Koodalmanikyam temple are the things that I would never like to miss.

Sports & Games

I don't have much interests or talents in sports and am almost ignorant of technicalities of many games. I don't know the names of the batting positions and categories of bowling styles. But sometimes I watch cricket, if India is playing.

Technology

I am a fan of the Linux operating system. But I don't have interest in building up technology religions. I believe technology is for man and not the reverse.

Other Hobbies

I used to have a large number of hobbies while in school. I collected stamps, coins, etc. etc. and many other things. At some point of time I was crazy of collecting feathers of birds. Now I don't pursue any of these hobbies, but I think I still have my old collections somewhere. Now what I do during leisure time is just day dreaming. I like to do photography but it is too expensive for me to take up as a hobby.

Academics, Profession

By profession I am a software Engineer. I did my BTech in Computer Science & Engineering from Govt. Engineering College Trichur. Later, I did MTech in Computer Science & Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras.