In 2016, among the mist and tea of Wayanad, the goal was simple: promote a spray oil to curb red spider mite infestations. The mission was technical, backed by UPASI and Tocklai, but the experience became something deeper. The science opened doors; the language opened hearts.
The Practical Work
Institutional approvals carried weight, so estate managers were willing to listen. The spray oil addressed a real agronomic problem, influencing yield, leaf quality, and livelihoods. Yet every report and field demo ultimately faced the same human question: did they trust me enough to try it.
The Language of Trust
As a Tamil in Kerala, it became clear that effort mattered more than fluency. Five simple Malayalam words turned into a compass: entha (what), evide (where), engane (how), eppol (when), ethu (which). Everyday phrases came from being a Mohanlal fan and from the estates themselves: sugamaano (how are you), valare (very much), adippoli (awesome), vellam (water), kshamikkanum (sorry), kurachi ariyum (I know a little), kittumo (can I get it). Directions and emotion followed: avade poi chovichaal parayulle etta (if you go there and ask, they’ll tell you, brother), and ivade njan kanda pol soundaryam evadayum kandilla (the beauty I’ve seen here, I haven’t seen anywhere else).
These were not just translation tools. They were gestures of respect for the land and its people. Spoken even imperfectly, they turned clients into hosts and strangers into allies.
The Era Shift
That season belonged to an era before AI, when everything depended on physical presence, patience, and human networks. Today, there is instant data, instant translation, and powerful models. But the warmth that earned hospitality in Wayanad remains irreplaceable. The methods have changed; the essence has not.
Turning Inward in 2026
In 2026, the journey arrives at a new landscape—the inner one. The same five words now guide this exploration. What defines me now. Where do I want my energy to flow. How will I grow and learn. When will I move and when will I pause. Which choices align with the life I want to build. Some answers will be cloudy and uncomfortable. Others will be soft and affirming. Each one will refine me.
From field demos and institutional approvals to broken Malayalam and Lalettan dialogues, from building rapport with people to listening within, the thread has been continuous. The outer work taught me to listen. The inner work now asks me to answer.
My Manifest for 2026
I manifest a year of honest questions and steady practice. I will use these five words to probe, to pause, and to choose. I will treat the turbid answers as lessons and the cushy answers as anchors. I will carry forward the same humility that once opened doors in Wayanad and now opens doors within.
This is my compass. This is my manifest for 2026.
Cheers and a Happy new year 2026 !!
