The programmes connected with the 'Vaayana vaaram' are on in full swing all over the state. Since the people of Kerala are remembering PN Panicker during the occasion, it would only be appropriate to revisit a few anecdotes that highlight his personality.
On leaving the Kerala Grandhasala Sanghom in '78, he'd started a new outfit called the KANFED - an acronym for Kerala Association for Non Formal Education and Development with the aim to achieve cent percent literacy in the state.Within no time the organisation had proved its mettle, so much so that the central government set up the State Resource Center and had appointed PNP as its Director, with a salary of Rs. 10,000/- pm. It was to ensure that the funds released for the purpose was used correctly. PNP took the directive in letter and spirit but refused to take his salary saying that the government was already paying him a pension after his retirement as a primary school teacher. Upon the insistence of his friends and well wishers, he'd changed his stance and began to draw a token salary of Re.1/-! That the state was declared cent percent literate in '91 is testimony to the untiring efforts of PN Panicker's KANFED and other associated agencies.
Our house at Thiruvananthapuram was always full of people thanks to the robust joint family system that was popular then. Over and above the members of the family, there used to be a steady stream of visitors and my grandparents ensured that they never went back without being attended to. My ammachi, Mrs Chempakakutty Amma managed the household affairs without bothering muthachan ever with the household problems. It was in these circumstances that we're privileged to meet people from all walks of life and receive their acts of kindness, in the bargain.
My grandparents never had a house of their own but never seemed to fret about it!
Tailpiece.
1. KANFED disintegrated a couple of years after PNP's passing away due to infighting and factionalism. Sad.
2. Wonder whether recounting the saying, "Fools build houses and wise men live in them" would be appropriate here?.....I wonder!
Our house at Thiruvananthapuram was always full of people thanks to the robust joint family system that was popular then. Over and above the members of the family, there used to be a steady stream of visitors and my grandparents ensured that they never went back without being attended to. My ammachi, Mrs Chempakakutty Amma managed the household affairs without bothering muthachan ever with the household problems. It was in these circumstances that we're privileged to meet people from all walks of life and receive their acts of kindness, in the bargain.
My grandparents never had a house of their own but never seemed to fret about it!
Tailpiece.
1. KANFED disintegrated a couple of years after PNP's passing away due to infighting and factionalism. Sad.
2. Wonder whether recounting the saying, "Fools build houses and wise men live in them" would be appropriate here?.....I wonder!
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