The morning was very pleasant - it was neither cold nor warm. Had got up on time and was ready well in time and by a quarter to 10, we're off to the district panchayat office for the morning session.
The crowd started building up slowly, yet steadily and thankfully, after yesterday's fiasco at Kozhikode, today all the seven panchayats short listed for the e-literacy programme were represented by their presidents and the would-be-trainers. They've been told to put in their demands for the 'tablet PCs' at the earliest to facilitate us to send the Intel trainers to put their trainers through a training capsule to equip them fully with their teaching efforts after the receipt of the hardware.
The enthusiasm was palpable and they talked of the times when PN Panicker had spared no efforts in the district to attain 100% literacy during the late 80s and the early 90s. There were half a dozen people, who'd worked with him towards achieving that historical landmark and one elderly gentleman, in his 80s, had tears in his eyes while he kept clutching my hand tightly, for quite a while! Such emotional reactions shall be treasured all the way, it's a privilege to be accepted by the others without having done anything worthwhile, in the field, as yet! But beyond that, they believe that the Foundation in his name will continue to do things for them!!
The district's PNP Foundation was reconstituted and the new members were felicitated. Their task is cut out - to go to the field and monitor the progress of the programme.
And then we're off to Kannur via the Mananthavady-Thalasserry(formerly known as Tellicherry) highway. This 90 km stretch was used by the Britishers to transport the spices, all the way to Thalasserry from the hill district for further transportation, both within and outside the country! The highway had a fair number of sharp bends and had a continuous downhill slope while passing through forest environment. The area, incidentally, had seen the valiant encounters of the legendary local hero, Pazhassi Raja, with the Britishers - stories abound about his fearlessness and perseverance while bracketing British treachery with it!
We reached the government guest house at Payyambalam, Kannur by a trifle past 8. The lighthouse and the beach took me back to my days in uniform!
Tailpiece.
The journey has been a great education. And humbling too!
The crowd started building up slowly, yet steadily and thankfully, after yesterday's fiasco at Kozhikode, today all the seven panchayats short listed for the e-literacy programme were represented by their presidents and the would-be-trainers. They've been told to put in their demands for the 'tablet PCs' at the earliest to facilitate us to send the Intel trainers to put their trainers through a training capsule to equip them fully with their teaching efforts after the receipt of the hardware.
The enthusiasm was palpable and they talked of the times when PN Panicker had spared no efforts in the district to attain 100% literacy during the late 80s and the early 90s. There were half a dozen people, who'd worked with him towards achieving that historical landmark and one elderly gentleman, in his 80s, had tears in his eyes while he kept clutching my hand tightly, for quite a while! Such emotional reactions shall be treasured all the way, it's a privilege to be accepted by the others without having done anything worthwhile, in the field, as yet! But beyond that, they believe that the Foundation in his name will continue to do things for them!!
The district's PNP Foundation was reconstituted and the new members were felicitated. Their task is cut out - to go to the field and monitor the progress of the programme.
And then we're off to Kannur via the Mananthavady-Thalasserry(formerly known as Tellicherry) highway. This 90 km stretch was used by the Britishers to transport the spices, all the way to Thalasserry from the hill district for further transportation, both within and outside the country! The highway had a fair number of sharp bends and had a continuous downhill slope while passing through forest environment. The area, incidentally, had seen the valiant encounters of the legendary local hero, Pazhassi Raja, with the Britishers - stories abound about his fearlessness and perseverance while bracketing British treachery with it!
We reached the government guest house at Payyambalam, Kannur by a trifle past 8. The lighthouse and the beach took me back to my days in uniform!
Tailpiece.
The journey has been a great education. And humbling too!
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