Impressions, Kerala Tourism

An Anglican priest, Mr. David A. Hart used to teach in Higher Secondary School for 12 years in England, followed by 15 years of teaching World Religions at the university level. He later served as a Chaplain to students and staff in the campus.

In a candid talk with us Mr. Hart recalled the first time he arrived in Kerala. It was in August, 1987, when he came to Kerala with a group of six teachers and six boys from Shrewsbury School in the UK, for a summer vacation expedition.

Mr. Hart's close acquaintance with Kerala is now twenty years old. He now has a special liking for the people of Kerala and of course he likes the climate, which according to him is "never too hot or too cold." Further, Mr. Hart feels that Kerala has a wonderful mixture of religions and castes and the place eventually turned out as his first home.

About the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Hart mentioned the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple as very beautiful, because of its history and uniqueness. He is also appreciative of other city entities like the presence of many cinemas, cultural centres, places to eat and meet, and, of course, the world famous Kovalam beach just half an hour away.

These days, Mr. Hart works as a senior faculty at the "The Centre for American Studies" in Thiruvananthapuram, where he teaches English. "I enjoy the students there and have an indefinite contract, so I hope to be able to continue to contribute to Malayalis improving their skills to work abroad or perhaps to join a call centre here in India," he says.

Coming to some of his likes with regard to food, dressing and travel, Mr. Hart said that he is learning to take the food, especially the hot stuff. He relishes having Masala Dosa and tropical fruits. When it comes to dressing, he has found wearing of dhoti a more comfortable experience than trousers. Kerala is also a good springboard for travelling elsewhere in India, now with the advent of cheaper flying, feels Mr. Hart.

Mr. David A. Hart definitely has a 'heart' for Kerala and his services here as a teacher too is becoming a rewarding experience for students of English. Because he surely knows the 'heart of the matter'.