Bred in a middle-class family where travelling; seeing the world, was considered a luxury sinful to be dreamt of, Vijayan was a sliver of hope that I clung to.
He was the chaiwallah I looked up to, because he never worked without ambition. He was never scared to do what he dreamt of, he planned for it. He was proud of what he achieved, and dared to dream bigger, plan better.
He came with no trust fund, he lived in a time where being a traveler did not mint money, nor did it promise any fame or career prospects in the near future. He did it for the love of it. He worked his way up the ladder, one cup at a time to see the world.
I am 26, I have travelled just enough to know there is so much more to see.
I do not let my present account statement stop me from putting up the picture of a shoal of fish in Tonga, the fall colors in Canada or the Tigers Nest on my bucket list. And for that, I am thankful to him.
For Kerala, a pioneer in the country’s tourism sector, Vijayan is the epitome of what it means to be a traveler. With you not around, keeping the spirit of travel alive feels a little more solitary than before.
Attaching the tribute for Vijayan Chetan by few media handles.
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