Nurungukal...contd....

                                As the sun slowly dips into the Arabian Sea the dark night engulfs the surroundings . Then we children sharpen our ears to catch the night call of the Mottled Wood Owl  [kalan kozhi or kuttichoolan ] from its hide out in the nearby sacred grove [pambin kavu ]. There are two such groves in our compound very rich in bio diversity both flora and fauna. It was an abode of many species of snakes and rodents and nesting place for types of birds .Mother used to say on some particular day in a month she saw a bright light moving from one grove to the other at the dead of the night . She believed that the golden serpent carried the Manikyam stone ,hence the light. But unfortunately I have not witnessed this phenomenon in my life. Once in a year there would be a pooja to appease the snake Gods. Both the groves were left undisturbed even today, conserving a very rare echo system ,on a belief or rather fear. Now I understand that such believes and rituals are more sustainable in the aspect of conservation than  enforcement of any laws. Almost all the ancestral Tharavads maintained such a place of worship , especially in Nalukettu system and our fore fathers were more conscious about the need of conservation. Invariably there will be a pond or well  adjacent providing perennial supply of water. The age old trees facilitate to keep the water level high even in summer.

                                Birds like kalan kozhi which are nocturnal can survive only in such surroundings. It takes shelter on the high branches and feeds on the rodents . It makes a rare sound to call its mate, HU HU HUA, HU HU HUA.It can be heard from a distance creating anguish in our mind . In those days it was believed that this bird is an harbinger of death. As soon as we hear the sound my mother used to utter narayana, narayana to ward off the evil effect. I was so happy to hear the call when I made a visit to my ancestral home recently and in confirming the effectiveness of the grove to provide ideal conditions of reproduction for such threatened species and safe guarding the food chain. Let us follow such systems in preservation emulating a time tested practise.

Nurungukal...contd..........

                                In the previous post I had written about an incident related to the involvement of my uncles in India’s freedom struggle. Let me continue. The sub inspector said that the British officers did not know Malayalm and so they were insisting to search the house . At that moment my Grand mother { Ammama} told my mother { Ammukutty } to speak in English. Ammukuty was just eighteen years old at that time and she was studying in A.V. High School in eighth standard .standard............cntd....

Ammama......." Ammukuttiye you tell them in English " { nee angattu englishil paranhu kotukk Ammukuttye } “

Ammukutty......with much hesitation..........” they have gone to one of our relative’s house . If you want we can call ""

                             

Officer...............” yes please. “

Two cousins of mother Achu and Nanu were immediately sent to Kizhekethil house . Fortunately that morning the brothers had told them where they went. usually it was not their practise.

                                The sub inspector told that the officers and their men were thirsty and they wanted something to drink. My mother was for a moment perplexed , then her presence of mind  wokeup and uttered   “ Tender coco nuts “ and she said that somebody had to pluck them. Immediately  one of the men were asked to climb and he cut down one or two bunches and it was enough to satisfy the thirst of everybody. As they were enjoying the drink the brothers appeared at the gate. Immediately two men with their rifles charged and escorted the brothers to the officers. In the meanwhile a huge crowd had gathered eager to watch the proceedings. Simultaneously Shri Kelappan was also brought.

                                The brothers asked the officers why such a  drama was enacted. They would have reported at the police station bravely  on a call in a slip of paper. And why they have scared the women and children in the house. Then the officer asked my mother were they frightened  and the answer came spontaneously “ no no...” After a few minutes of discussion the brothers came and told the family that they are going to the police station and will be back soon. Much later the family came to know that the trio {Balakrishna Menon. Raman Menon and Kelappan were charged with criminal conspiracy to instigate the revolting men of Malabar Kalapam to set on fire a house on the previous day.

                                On the previous day the revolting men came to Ponani and they were persuaded to  leave in peace by the trio. The revolting men were accompanied to the banks of Bharatha Puzha  and persuaded them to cross the river without causing any damage. But some miscreants set fire to a small hut and that incident  was mis interpreted as an act of sabotage.

                                They were taken to Cannanore jail. Balakrishna Menon fell ill and he lost his young life in the jail for freeing the nation from the clutches of British rule. Others returned a few days later to continue the struggle. Such glorious acts of resistance might have happened in many villages of India which the present generation are not aware. My salute to those martyres and to their brave families . VANDEMATHARAM !!

                               

                               

        

Nurungukal..contd.....

                                The narration of the script of this episode was heard many a time from one of the performers , none other than my mother. Each scene would appear before you  from start to end , in the same sequence and clarity every time you heard it. And I am sure that any one who had met her in her life time might have heard this at least once. Shri Manmadan ,Kerala’s famous orator had in his book on Kelappan wrote a paragraph on this event , highlighting the part played by an  eighteen year old girl who was none other than my mother. The incident took place in the year 1921 when Malabar was in the grip of a revolt, which was later related to our freedom struggle. Let me try to reconstruct the narration.

                                “ Me {mother } and Meenakshi Etuthy were cutting cow pea , sitting on the back side veranda of our ancient house Karamkunnath, when we saw a column of army marching on the nearby road. We were so curios and headed to the fence to have a better look. As we were enjoying the march suddenly the column headed towards  our house. They came in quick strides and took positions in front of every exit door, ready to enter the house. It was the days of Malabar revolt and we had heard that on such occasions many unpleasant incidents had taken place. Paddy, vegetables, fruits etc were in heaps inside the house. There were only laddies and children in the house at that time.All of us came to the front door leaving other doors open. There were two British army officers and the local sub inspector of police, who was very well known to our family. In fact he was saved yesterday from the clutches of the revolting mass by my brother K.V.Balakrishna Menon , who had discontinued his medical studies from Stanley Medical College in Madras, in response to Ghandiji’s call to the youth to take part in the freedom struggle. The army had positioned two Luise Guns on the Thulasii Thara”.

                                “The sub inspector asked my mother where are my brother Balettan and cuisin, Ettan {K.V.Raman Menon }. My mother replied that they are not here ,might have gone to Congress House for party work. He murmured some thing in the ears of the British officers and told mother that they are not satisfied with the answer and will search the house. At that moment mother told the officers that if necessary  the boys can be informed and they will without fail report before them.The sub inspector told that the officers do not know Malayalam and they are insisting for the search". ......contd

                                

Nurungukal.   Contd....

                                One of my elder brothers had in my fathers words a mechanical bend !He was not good at studies . But was known for his ingenuity to solve problems connected with any machine or instrument. He was called upon by neighbours and relatives to repair a dead clock, gramophone or a cycle refusing to move etc and he obliged them without any hesitation. He used to spent hours and hours  on each case until the defect was rectified.He had set up a work shop on our attic, where he n spent most of the time. Me my younger brother or sister were to be available at his call and obey him without any delay . If there is any lapse we were sure to receive a hit with his knuckles which would make a dent on our scalp and the pain would persist for a few minutes.

                                He was adept in designing many objects , such as a stand for a time piece, letter holder. even some toys etc with plywood and tin sheets. The plywood of tea cartons and tin from face powder containers  were his favourite materials. Once he made a home projector for screening cinema films. On a wooden plank a lens and a tin slide to hold  frames of cinema negatives were fixed,.The position of the lence had to be adjusted so that the picture in the negative is clearly projected on to a wall in a dark room. A piece of mirror would be placed outside the room so that sun’s rays are falling on the slide and the image passes through the lence . The operator, either me or my brother would stand outside the room for changing the films. Inside there would be many of our friends enjoying the show. Often when the sound from the room go out of permissible limits father would admonish us. Then total silence and again a crescendo. 

                               Such creative expressions of improvisations helped us to develop a positive attitude. Many of the toys that we played with were made out of objects available free in nature. Although we craved for ready to use items purchased from the market , we knew that they lacked to provide a true sense of achievement and ownership......

Nurungukal...contd....

                                On 14^th March 1951 my sister delivered a male child, in our house in Ponani. From morning onwards a sort of tension prevailed and we guessed the reason. The midwife was summoned and two of mother’s trusted servants, Devaki and Kunhamma were already there to assist the midwife. Both of them were experienced hands and were capable of handling any emergency. One of the rooms on the ground floor {theke ara } was converted into a labour room. As usual father remained in his easy chair with out much anxiety. We were asked to take care of ourselves until required.  We were often disturbed by the screams and subdued talks from the room. At that point of time we never knew the pain and agony of an emerging new life on earth . All other activity in the house was kept in abeyance, even serving of food. Once or twice mother came out and made prayers before the God and made some offerings. She was not the one we used to know. She was subdued and  choked. The whole house was in the grip of anxiety. Yet we were joyfully waiting for the first out burst announcing the birth. Yes it was the first call that we heard no doubt from the room followed by a laughter from our mother. First Devaki came out and announced that it was a male child, healthy and fair. Father received it with a sigh and we hugged each other in extreme joy. Then came mother sweating and struggling to contain her joy for a moment then all on a sudden bursting into a loud laughter with a satisfaction of a successful mission. It took another hour or so to take a look at the new born. It was a new experience and excitement .  It took many more days to allow us to touch him . Then as days passed we watched in wonder every milestones he covered as a normal baby, boy , man and now an old young man .!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nurungukal...contd...

                                                Dr. Menon’s house was near to A.V.High School . We used to call on him when any body in the house fell ill. Very hesitantly we made the entry after ensuring that the dogs were strained at the leash. First his wife will appear at the front door. On seeing us she would make enquiries about our mother . They were good family friends. After a few minutes we would meet the Doctor and some times ,depending on the status of illness he would either prescribe the medicine or would visit the patient during his daily routine visits.

                                                The yearly shanty { Vakkalam or Vanibham } was organised in the paddy field in font of his house on Deepavali day i.e. Amavasy day in the month of Thulam. The field used to be muddy  because of the previous day’s rain. Usually after the Vakkalam there will not be much rain. Vakkalam is an agricultural expo where many items were sold .People purchased their requirements for the year since it was an annual fair. In the olden days barter system was in vogue. Direct marketing where producer and purchaser exchanged their produce without the help of a intermediary.

                                                Ponani was known for coir products, especially ropes of different size and sea fish . both  dried and fresh. Palghat and its adjacent areas were  famous for products of bamboo viz. Winnows, mats,baskets and tubers  { chembu,chena,kavuthu etc } and Palm tree products like THOPPI KUDA, KUNDANKUDA andULAKKA  and handles for axes etc . From some parts of Coimbatore , Jaggery, hot  capsicum sugar canes etc were brought. Many many other items were sold and none left the fair without fulfilling their need. 

                                                The fisher men exchanged their fish mainly with paddy and jaggory because their main food while in sea was roasted rice powder mixed with jaggory. This food enabled them to  survive for days in deep sea  even  in adverse whether conditions. Father used to purchase at least one big dried shark and it would be hung in our kitchen so that the smoke would preserve it . Our main interests were in sugar cane and pori , malar, avil etc.

                                                I understand that now the paddy field have become a residential colony and the vakkalam is arranged  on the nearby high way. I am sure that the event would have lost it’s soul and purpose and of course its legacy and ethos also..................contd.

Nurungukal  contd.....

                                My sister arrived from Culkatta to give birth to her eldest son. It was on one of my birth days in 1950s.The entire family was so excited of the reunion, although the gap was very short.As she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy mother was very particular that no physical contact was made by us  as it might be harmful. We found that  our sister was entirely a new personality, more sobre and matured. She was no more  our playmate whom we bade fare well a few moths ago. The very next day mother summoned the midwife to examine sister. This lady was an expert in our locality to attend to deliveries. She was in those days more than a gynaecologist. People held her in great esteem and they were confident in her . No mishaps were reported when she was in charge. She was popularly known as MIDWIFE. Her children were the class mates of my elder brothers. There were only very few  Christian families in Ponani in those days. Thresia teacher was another. She was a close follower of Kelappaji the Kerala Ghandi. Kochappu from Kunnamkulam was  merchant. All of them were much known in our social circle.

                                Dr, Achutha Menon was the only physician practising general medicine. He was a dignitary to all of us. His prescriptions scribbled on a piece of yellow paper can be deciphered only by the pharmacist in A.M Medical store . It used to be always a brown or maroon coloured admixture of medicines which tasted very bitter. We used to hold our nose to gulp it and to counter the bitterness a scoop of sugar was needed. It will be supplied in a  green bottle with cut edges. Such bottles are not seen now a days. We would paste a paper strip cut into equal divisions on the bottle and that used to be the measure for each dose. More than his medicines the way he tendered his care was a touch of heal. He used to make a round of visits to a few rich families every morning in his Austine car.  and if the house was not connected with a motor able road a rikshaw would take him.This routine he never broke. To others he was accessible either in his house or dispensary.   contd....