The poem is definitely a contrast between expectations and reality. The narrator goes to North India to do a research on making toys with husk as there is a lot of husk in Kerala because of the huge amount of paddy produced at that time. He spends 4 years and gets a doctorate. Naturally he has plans to use his knowledge and expertise to make toys from husk and thus generate employment opportunities for others. But when he comes back with his doctorate what does he see? The paddy fields have been converted to rubber plantations. No husk!
He is tired of eating chapatti day after day and he longs to eat his favourite rice when he comes home. What does he see? His younger brother brings wheat as the ration for the whole family. Now he has to continue eating chapatti!
