 My first friends in Coimbatore
May 1973
 In 1973 I arrived in Coimbatore to undergo my District training. It was a strange new place for me.Chandra Kanta Gariyali, IAS I did not know any one and I did not speak the local language.
After spending a few tiresome days in the Circuit House, I was allotted a house in a newly built housing colony which was situated at the back of the Collectors Bungalow at race course. I very much enjoyed staying in race course and I will always remember it very fondly, though initially I felt very lonely and depressed.
I was given a one bedroom apartment located on the first floor. It had a separate entrance and in that sense was quite isolated. I was longing to communicate with someone. The men folk were hesitating to talk to me even though I was a matter of great curiosity to all of them.
The women did not speak much English and I did not speak any Tamil. One day, I was brooding over these issues and sitting holding my head, when I heard a knock on my door.
I rushed to open the door but saw no one. Soon I heard children giggling and rushing down the landing. No sooner than I went back and sat down, they knocked again and when I opened the door they ran away. Third time, I just hid myself next to the door and as soon as they knocked, I jumped out and caught hold of them.
 I found it was ‘Tambi’ the naughty little brother and his sister, children of Mr. Kuttralingham, the Superintendent Engineer, living next door. It was the beginning of my first human contact outside the officialdom in Coimbatore. I was delighted that someone was interested in knowing me and speaking to me. Between the duo they knew a smattering of nursery level English. With that and with gesticulations, touching and signaling we could communicate beautifully. I taught them English and they taught me Tamil.
They were my first friends in Coimbatore. Not only that, they were really my nursery level teachers. They taught me the Tamil names of all the parts of the body, the flowers, the fruits, the vegetables, the birds and the animals apart from Vannakkam and Nanri (greeting and thanks). Before going to school they came every morning to my house to say good morning to me, in that sense they were also my morning alarms.
 They played with me, sang nursery rhymes and took great pleasure in sliding down my landing. I was the only one who was allowing them this dangerous sport.
Those were early days of my photography and I took pictures of them all the time. Only these two pictures have survived the vagaries of time. After leaving Coimbatore, I have lost touch with them. I do not even know where they are today. They were very bright young individuals. I am sure they will be doing very well in life. I have always prayed for their welfare. If anybody can locate them for me, I will be absolutely delighted.
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