Mahesh - Week 15: Periodic Memory

Mahesh - Week 15: Periodic Memory


    The whooshing wind above the coconut trees brought me back to consciousness after my ten-minute doze in the dappled light on the ground. Thinking about my worries fading away is always possible with a trip to Kerala, my mom’s home state in India. I usually only visit Tamil Nadu on my vacations to India. Even now, thinking about my experiences in Kerala seems like a far-off memory from a different era.


    The last time I went to the state was in third grade when my brother was just a toddler. When I try to remember the trip, all I can recall are the cruise ships and boat tours I did along winding rivers, rather than remembering the familial personalized interactions that I developed during the trip. Learning a side of my culture that I do not frequent revealed to me the large pillars with elephants carved within them in the majestic temples of Kerala. They seemed to be an architectural wonder—engulfing me in the mystery of the balance that allows for the pillar to stand upright. The small cryptic symbols engraved along the temple have a feeling like none other—a sense of awe creeps over me as I look around the timeless statues that have survived millennia.


    However much of a smile the thoughts of viewing these artifacts bring to my face, I have a twinge of sorrow, and a part of my soul lost to this location. I visited my grandparents’ house in Kerala when I was there in third grade, but the very next year, my grandfather passed away, and my grandmother moved to Tamil Nadu. Since then, I have not had the heart to visit the same family home and remember those memories in such vivid detail. One day, I will make the very same journey I made in third grade. One hidden aspect of memories is how you may want to omit some of them and remember other components. As I grow mentally, I have much more to learn about selective memory. Here is a short paper on selective memory published through MIT: https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Selective_Memory_Equilibrium-5.pdf


Source: 

https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Selective_Memory_Equilibrium-5.pdf 


Comments

  1. Liya AbilMay 1, 2024 at 8:46 AM

    Hi Mahesh. When I read the first part of your blog, I was mind blown at how similar our experiences with our homelands are. Like you, I am also from Kerala and before my trip there in 2023, my last trip was in third grade as well. From that trip, the only thing I remember is the scenery, architecture, and external elements of the trips. I remember the abundance of coconut trees, the magnificence of the churches we visited, and the beauty of the seaside resort we stayed in. Unfortunately, I do not remember the relationships and the moments I shared with my cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. I think a key factor that played into remembering the external aspects of my trip are pictures. I constantly look through old pictures as a hobby, to reminisce on my early childhood memories. From this, I was exposed to all the places that I visited in the third grade, which helped me remember the scenery more. Unfortunately, pictures cannot capture intimate moments with family and relatives from the time, so I am unable to remember those as much. I am very sorry about your Grandfather dying, but I believe that going back to Kerala would be able to bring back all the good memories you had with him.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patrick ChouMay 1, 2024 at 10:05 PM

    Hi Mahesh, your blog really stuck a chord with me, as it brough to light the commonality of our experiences. In Taipei, Taiwan, I remember the architectural beauties such as the 101, I feel like my memory from there has gradually faded from memory. It is intreating how photographs of my visit have helped me recall my experience. I am sorry to hear about you grandfathers passing. Your reflections on the importance of revisitng our roots and the memories associated with them are trully poignant. Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts in your blog,

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Daniela Marcel Week 10: The Power That Friends Hold

Image
          Recently I have noticed the amount of power my best friend holds. One day while my best friend and I were walking home, she was telling me about this one person. She told me her thoughts and opinions on that friend and I didn't think much of it when I got home. The next day I subconsciously started to distance myself from that certain friend. Whenever that friend started to become close with my best friend, I got in the way or I just didn't like the fact they were close (physically). When I realized this, I became curious about why I was starting to avoid the person. I was pretty close with the person, but I have only known them starting this year, while I have known my best friend for more than 3 years. Why was I acting like this? Was it the unwavering trust I placed in my best friend's judgment? Was it because, since I have known her for so long I unconsciously follow her? Does her influence have that much power over me to change my opinion and thoughts?      An
Read more

Daniela Marcel Week 9: What Super Powers Do Humans Have?

Image
       When I first read the topic for this week's blog, my first thought was superpowers. When you first hear the word "power", you think of superpowers, you think of the impossible, you think of characters like Spiderman or Superman. You think of the ability to run fast, become invisible or invincible, to be able to read minds and to do the unthinkable. Now that I think about superpowers, I wonder, how come humans don't have any superpowers like that? Or do we?     Everyone knows the common term, mom power. Whenever you lose something, you go to your mom and complain to her "Mom, I can't find my ___". Then she says "Just open your eyes, if I go into your room and find it-" "You won't, I have looked for hours and everywhere". Once she steps into your room she instantly spots it. Everyone has had this situation happen to them before, and I have always wondered how in the world does my mom do it? Same with cooking, the fridge could
Read more

Patrick Chou Week #9 Power of English

Image
     English is often referred to as the most used language with "a ll 100 of the world’s most influential science journals publish in English" according to an article written from Amy Chua from the New York Times . But what led to this rise of influence  and use of English globe wide ?      During the era of European colonialism, British colonization spread the language to various parts of the world. For example, India once colonized by Britain, many people worked with the British  in civil sources which rose the dependence on English during   day-to-day  life, and  by the time India became independent, English  was seen as a viable language.      English has become a language of academic standard  and international communication in  research and education. For example, much of the human body anatomy stems from Latin  and derived into English , Moreover, programing languages are done in English in order to maintain ease of access for developers. Many high-raking universities
Read more