Had got up at a half past 6 and went about my chores. Being a Sunday, the nearby tea shop had its shutters down, from where Sankarettan had bought us tea yesterday. He was genuinely sad that he was unable to get it today. So, I'd taken Manu and the car and gone a few kilometers up into Aluva town - we'd tea there and bought two cups for Maman and Chambu.
Our team, who were housed in the Chengamanadu panchayat's premises, did have a torrid time in the night because electricity had played truant and the mosquitoes had a ball at their expense! But true to their involvement, they didn't crib about it and we'd come to know about it by chance. The organisers were conveyed our displeasure without holding back the punches.
The first place of reception was at the Kunnukara panchayat, ably run by its President, Francis Tharayil a differently abled individual, himself. His bubbling enthusiasm and the will to take on additional responsibility were evident. We'd honoured him by Maman draping a shawl over his shoulders and he'd accepted it with humility. Incidentally, our honouring of individuals like the best auto rickshaw driver, best milkman, best head load worker, best nurse and many other categories from the most common people has been a great hit and has grabbed the headlines.
The panchayats with which we'd our trysts with today, were:-
(a) Kunnukara.
(b) Nedumbasserry and
(c) Karukutty.
Despite being a Sunday, there was a swell of people in Kunnukara (The breakfast that was on offer was sumptuous), a lovely lunch at Nedumbasserry where it took time for the crowd to form up and Karukutty, where the panchayat's leadership were both, the organisers and the audience!
We're put up in Cochin Gate, a hotel on the highway. We could secure earlier than usual, bought Maman his medicines for sore throat that were prescribed by Dr. Pankaj Srivastava, our friend and cardiologist at Lucknow.
Tailpiece.
1. At midway through the yatra, having completed seven districts.
2. Our co-ordinator in Thrissur, Sitharaman, was gracious to give us his car for the move during the next couple of days within the district. Our car should reach us on Thursday, after repairs.
3. Poised to begin our move through Thrissur tomorrow!
Our team, who were housed in the Chengamanadu panchayat's premises, did have a torrid time in the night because electricity had played truant and the mosquitoes had a ball at their expense! But true to their involvement, they didn't crib about it and we'd come to know about it by chance. The organisers were conveyed our displeasure without holding back the punches.
The first place of reception was at the Kunnukara panchayat, ably run by its President, Francis Tharayil a differently abled individual, himself. His bubbling enthusiasm and the will to take on additional responsibility were evident. We'd honoured him by Maman draping a shawl over his shoulders and he'd accepted it with humility. Incidentally, our honouring of individuals like the best auto rickshaw driver, best milkman, best head load worker, best nurse and many other categories from the most common people has been a great hit and has grabbed the headlines.
The panchayats with which we'd our trysts with today, were:-
(a) Kunnukara.
(b) Nedumbasserry and
(c) Karukutty.
Despite being a Sunday, there was a swell of people in Kunnukara (The breakfast that was on offer was sumptuous), a lovely lunch at Nedumbasserry where it took time for the crowd to form up and Karukutty, where the panchayat's leadership were both, the organisers and the audience!
We're put up in Cochin Gate, a hotel on the highway. We could secure earlier than usual, bought Maman his medicines for sore throat that were prescribed by Dr. Pankaj Srivastava, our friend and cardiologist at Lucknow.
Tailpiece.
1. At midway through the yatra, having completed seven districts.
2. Our co-ordinator in Thrissur, Sitharaman, was gracious to give us his car for the move during the next couple of days within the district. Our car should reach us on Thursday, after repairs.
3. Poised to begin our move through Thrissur tomorrow!
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