Nurungukal....contd...

                                Although his real name was Mr. Achutha Menon, we all new him as Achumman.He was very popular and a much sought after person  mainly at  death ceremonies.He hailed from a feudal family which once upon a time was very rich and powerful in the locality.They were holding large extend of paddy field and coconut groves. As in the case of many such families they, in course of time lost their wealth , due  to extravagance. Our father bought our present house from him, when we decided to settle down in Ponnani.Achumman still owned  about two acres of paddy field and one acre of coconut garden. He was a good farmer. Unlike others he worked with the labourers and it was a sight to see him plough, singing some couplets in loud pitch.

                                I had never seen him wearing a shirt.He was of medium size , stout and  tan in colour. He walked in brisk strides , bubbling his pot belly. Always he would  be chewing betel nut and , would keep his mouth red. He had a harsh voice. Very often he spit the red sputum between his two fingers throwing it far like a stream. Always in his waist there would be betel leaves nuts lime tobacco etc bundled in an arecanut front { pala }. Occasionally he smoked  a beedi . Without his presence no ceremonies took place . When there  was a death he would take charge of the whole situation and would conduct the event in military precision. During marriage functions he takes the part of an entertainer.  He was an expert in cracking jokes and narrating his adventures, especially about some hunting. He was a chronic bachelor. But maintained some relation ships here and there.

                                After sun set he was a different personality.  In those days  toddy was prohibited . But for preparing jugglery coconut tapping was allowed. Our neighbour Chozh was a tapper. He illicitly supplied toddy to a selected customers. Achumman was one among them. After gulping a few bottles of toddy Achumman would start his performance on the way to his home. There was a narrow path in which he would walk swaying from one side to other as if he was measuring it and showering abuses to all and sundry. None dared to stop him or react. Some evenings we used to hear him singing loudly couplets of vanch pattu. Usually his performance synchronised with the call of the mottled wood owl { kalan kozhi }  On one or two such occasions he was bitten by snakes, but he survived them either because of the grace of God or due to the alcohol contend in his blood.  He was known for his charity and sense of humour. I had always seen him as a helping hand never picking up quarrel.He was a happy go lucky man and lived his life in full.