*Life in Ukkunagaram*
Today, our children are all grown up. They have children of their own, and yet, in their hearts, a very special place continues to remain unchanged — Ukkunagaram.
Both my children began their education in the township right from KG. In many ways, Ukkunagaram was not merely the place where they studied and grew up; it was the place that shaped their childhood, nurtured their talents and gave them memories that last a lifetime.
My daughter went on to pursue her B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering. Every day, she travelled from Ukkunagaram to college and back. But academics were only one part of her journey. At the skating rink in Nehru Park, she learnt roller skating and went on to make her mark at the district level.
Her marriage was another memorable occasion for all of us. With the blessings and presence of our dear friends, the celebrations were held at Gurajada Kalakshetram, behind the magnificent temple of Lord Jagannath. It was a joyous gathering that brought together so many people who had been an integral part of our lives in Ukkunagaram.
My son followed almost the same path. He too completed his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering, from BVC College of Engineering. Like his sister, he learnt roller skating at Nehru Park and took the sport much further, securing fourth place at the Nationals held in Patiala.
The Ukku Stadium opened another avenue for him. Having trained there, he also took to cricket and represented at the district level. And that was not all. Ukkunagaram, with its abundance of facilities and opportunities, encouraged him to explore music as well. He won awards for his musical talents and was affectionately described in the DAV school magazine as the “Court Singer of DAV.”
His upanayanam was also celebrated in Ukkunagaram, surrounded by the blessings and affection of our friends. Looking back, it feels as though every important milestone in his life was somehow intertwined with the township.
Indeed, my children are true natives of Ukkunagaram — a mini Bharat in itself.
And what a place it was!
Resources were never in short supply, and neither were occasions for celebration. The township came alive whenever there was a festival or community gathering. Every celebration had its own character, its own flavour and its own sense of togetherness.
Be it Guru Poornima at the Sai Temple,
the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath,
the vibrant Navratri celebrations at Kalibari,
the community lunch at the Shiva Temple during Kartik,
the Balaji Temple celebrations during Dhanurmasam,
or the warmth of Guru ka Langar in December —
every occasion brought residents together. Festivals were not merely events on a calendar; they were occasions when the entire township seemed to become one large family.
Even today, whenever my children visit India, they never miss a visit to the Steel Township. Their journey to Ukkunagaram is not just a casual outing. They return to the lanes, parks, temples, stadiums and familiar places that hold so many chapters of their lives.
And, of course, they cannot resist telling their own children stories about the Ukkunagaram of their childhood.
After all, it is their home turf!
The names of their childhood friends — Smita, Dinesh, Govind, Khaniz, Kunal, Victor, Andrews, Satwati, Sandhya, and many others — have become almost household names in our family. These are not merely names from the past; each name carries a story, an incident, a friendship and a memory.
One of my daughter's DAV classmates, Reddy, went on to become an international cricket umpire. Whenever he officiates in a Test match, news quickly travels through the old school network, and his batchmates make every effort to watch the game. It is a wonderful reminder that the bonds formed in Ukkunagaram and at DAV have survived the passage of time.
They even have their own WhatsApp groups — a modern-day extension of friendships that began many decades ago!
For my children, as for so many of us, Ukkunagaram remains the focal point of life — a place where childhood, friendships, education, culture, sport, faith and community came together.
For us, a visit to Ukkunagaram is much more than a visit to a township.
It is a pilgrimage.
It is a return to the place that gave our children their first lessons, their friendships, their passions and their dreams. It is a return to a community that once felt like one enormous extended family.
And so, from the bottom of our hearts, our prayer to the Almighty is simple:
May the shadow that has fallen upon our beloved “temple” — VSP — soon be lifted. May its glory be restored, and may Ukkunagaram once again flourish with the same spirit, pride, harmony and vibrancy that made it so special to all of us.
For no matter where life takes us, Ukkunagaram will always remain home.
