Saturday, February 17, 2018

Malappuram district(2).

Was a trifle late in getting up this morning. It was because I'd got up around 5, recited my prayers and drifted off to sleep. It didn't affect my going through the chores and getting ready within time. We'd set off for the first panchayat by about 5' past 9. Today, we'd a schedule of only three panchayats but the distances between them have been quite a bit.

The panchayats with which we'd a tryst with today, were:-

    (a) Edavanna.
    (b) Areakode and
    (c) Ponmundam.

At Edavanna, the reception began after a sumptuous breakfast provided to us by the panchayat. The reception and the interaction were within the precincts of the private bus stand, below the panchayat complex. The crowd swelled up during the course of the interaction and finally, had built up to sufficient numbers resulting in the street play being executed. Riyaz, a self made milk distributor as well as Jayasree, a kudumbasree worker were honoured, by the yatra, for their perseverance and hard work.

At Areakode, the numbers were less but the interaction had a liveliness. Sumaira, the panchayat president, was honoured for the enlightened leadership that she was providing for the people under her charge. The lunch was in a hotel nearby and Shafi, took it upon himself to look after us! The distance to the next panchayat, Ponmundam was about 50 kms.

We reached our last destination by about a half past 4. The reception was organised at a maidan close to the Ponmundam panchayat complex. The day's proceedings wound up at 6 and a religious organisation had begun its conglomeration soon after. Because of the conference by Madani's PDP, there was a huge traffic snarl all through Tirur and so, we took a round about route which had an uncomfortably narrow width along its length. Manu had a tough time negotiating the road but we reached Thunchan Nagar without having to go through the traffic snarl a second time.

The eve of the panchayat celebrations, together with the bus strike, had taken its toll on the crowds in our interactions all through the day.


Tailpiece.

Malappuram, a predominantly Muslim district, is far ahead insofar as their world awareness is concerned. The ladies are a confident lot and there were many who'd made a strong case against alcoholism involving their close relatives!  

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