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