Thrissur with its magnificent beauty, old buildings and teak woods attracted him. He saw Thrissur as the citadel of ancient civilization, culture and education. The people were traditionally catholic. They radiated beauty and charm. It was a far bigger town than Changanassery.

As soon as he reached Thrissur, he drove to St. Thomas College and was admitted into the first year of the Pre-University. He selected Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, History and Economics. English and Malayalam were compulsory subjects. He got accommodation in Pallan's lodge, a private lodging near the college.

At the college, he saw eminent scholars and renowned professors. He took special interest in Mathematics and English. He read algebra and geometry. He read Shakespeare and Wordsworth, Eshuthachan and Cherussery. He played cards during leisure.

But Chemistry was alien to him. The equations puzzled him. He was baffled by the chemical properties of various elements. The color changes and other phenomenon in the Chemistry laboratory never interested him. He preferred to stay outside the Chemistry classes. The chemistry professor never liked him. He hated chemistry, the chemistry professor repelled him.

One afternoon he had a chemistry practical lesson. His peers were immersed in doing practical, but the professor was not there. He saw his friends moving outside and they signaled him to join them to play cards. He carried his books and sneaked out of the laboratory and then to the lodge. When the professor entered the laboratory, he easily detected Kuriakochen's vacant seat. He shouted for Kuriakose, but in vain. He fumed and roared and expelled Kuriakochen from the remaining chemistry lessons. When my father heard about it, he was shaken with fear. He tried to visit the professor in his office and plead guilty, but the professor shouted at him. Out of his helplessness, my father cried. The professor was moved with compassion, advised him and re-admitted him in the class. Thereafter he studied only chemistry, attended the classes regularly and involved in all practical lessons. Because of his apathy towards chemistry and the professor, he left the St. Thomas College at the end of his first year of pre-university. He moved to St. Joseph's college Trichy, for his second year Pre-University. St. Joseph's was a far bigger college with very high academic standards and he had done well there. His year in St. Joseph's passed peacefully with achievement. He completed pre-university with second class and left for home with joy and pride.

He never knew that fate was intervening his academic pursuit. Since he left for college, things were changing at home. He met Thommachen pale and withered, his business empire in shambles and had become a debtor to many financial institutions. Thommachen wanted Kuriakochen to bail him out from these financial obligations which he willingly agreed.

This marked the end of my father's academic education. I am sure he regretted for not having a chance to complete a university education. He perhaps because of being denied the credentials of university education, retained his appetite for knowledge. He read everything in his reach. When he found something interesting, important or someway useful he would copy it in a book. He had a stupendous memory for facts and figures, history and poetry. He never complained about anything and accepted most things as they came or went. He reconciled with the fact that it was time for him to seek a newer world.