| Trivandrum is a little city in the south of | | | | prince and was raised in the luxury of the |
| India. It faces the sea and, though | | | | ruling classes. A philosopher as well as a |
| sweltering during the day, is cooled in the | | | | warrior, he grew into a wonderful young man |
| evening by the gentle on-shore breezes that | | | | who spent much of his time helping the poor |
| circle the tip of the sub-continent. It was | | | | people of his land. Then one day, an evil |
| years since I had visited that small city | | | | half-brother who coveted the throne |
| with Pandayji, but I vividly recall the | | | | assassinated his father. The young prince was |
| spontaneous, gregarious nature of its | | | | captured and held prisoner in the dungeon by |
| population. There were fishermen and farmers, | | | | the new king. He subsequently escaped with |
| soldiers and sailors; merchants hawking their | | | | the help of some loyal warriors,crossing the |
| wares, strangely dressed figures riding | | | | Vindya hills to set up camp in a remote |
| horses, shouting at the top of their voices. | | | | refuge. |
| Yes, Trivandrum was a time warp from another | | | | |
| place and time. Effortlessly with | | | | As time went by, he began helping others who |
| adaptability and grace, it spanned the | | | | had been wronged by those wielding power. He |
| centuries from long before the British Raj to | | | | took from the rich and gave to the poor. He |
| this very day. | | | | and his band of rebels championed the cause |
| | | | of the underdog. In many ways, he was the |
| Walk down any street in Trivandrum and you'll | | | | RobinHood of the territory. Many years |
| quickly find that you're in a time machine, | | | | passed, but he never returned as a prince to |
| jockeying among many eons. Lovely little | | | | the kingdom of his father, preferring to |
| restaurants and shops are haphazardly quilted | | | | spend the rest of his life fighting evil and |
| along narrow alleys. While nearby in a | | | | injustice. No one seemed to remember his real |
| tavern, rowdy rebels direct from the journals | | | | name and, in time, he came to be known as the |
| of Kipling or Clive sit quaffing the king's | | | | Terror of Trivandrum. Some say that he never |
| grog. Listen carefully and you may hear them | | | | died and is hundreds of years old. Others say |
| whisper the name that strikes fear in the | | | | the gods rewarded him with immortality |
| hearts of those who delight in injustice, | | | | because of his good deeds. Still others claim |
| those who prey on the less fortunate. I | | | | it is his great grandson who has continued |
| remember Pandayji in a hushed voice | | | | the tradition of a modern day Zorro. Whatever |
| mentioning the legend of the Terror of | | | | the case may be, the legend of the Terror of |
| Trivandrum. | | | | Trivandrum continues in that ancient city and |
| | | | has traveled far beyond its borders. |
| Centuries ago the story goes, he was born a | | | | |