Kannur district(1).

After punching in my thoughts and since sleep looked far away, I'd washed my clothes and recited my prayers before going to bed. Initially, I'd given up hopes about washing because the ceiling fan seemed to be on a 'go slow' policy and it was told to me that the switch was faulty. But it was not so and hence, the late activity.

Had got up by about a half past 6, went through my chores and was ready well in time. We left by a 10' to 9 and reached Dharmadom about an hour later. Breakfast of appams and egg curry was washed down with a cup of coffee. The reception was organised, at the main square of the town, followed with the street play put up by the police team. They'd given a feedback that the crowd had, indeed, picked up but felt sorry for the audience as they had to watch the play disregarding the hot sun over their heads!

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

    (a) Dharmadom.

    (b) Chirakkal.

    (c) Kolacherry.

    (d) Valapattanam and

    (e) Pappinisserry.  

It took a bit long for the Dharmadom panchayat to get their act together. But it was a lively and interactive crowd that had swelled through the period. It also had the distinction of being a part of the chief minister's Assembly constituency! The Chirakkal panchayat, too, had an interactive and lively crowd as it was the Gram Sabha, in session. The quorum was more than adequate. 

The reception at Kolacherry was at the village library. We're given a sumptuous lunch before the start of the session, which was yet another Gram Sabha that was on. The crowd was lively, inquisitive and interactive. 

The Valapattanam panchayat had a great audience as they asked their doubts. But none of us will forget Madhu, a small scale businessman, who expressed strong views against the use of smartphones that were harmful/damaging to the eyes. He just refused to hear our point of view and the interaction prolonged for a long time. It was irritating to say the least but this was the first time that we'd come across a naysayer for the case of digital literacy. The paradox was that he, himself, owned an expensive smartphone!

Our last engagement was with the Pappinisserry panchayat. The function was organised within the stalls of an 'Agri Fest' where they'd erected a huge stage. The street play looked more attractive with the arc lights and superior sound system. Karayil Sukumaran, our district co-ordinator, was with us throughout but for the street play.....the loss was his.

We'd secured by about 7 and I was really tired.

Tailpiece.

1. Damn sad to hear about cine actress Sreedevi's untimely end. Goes to show that too much of corrective surgeries, undertaken to enhance looks during advancing age, can have a negative impact on one's health. RIP!

2. The team was split between 'Sikshak Sadaan' and the KSEB guest house, at Kannur, according to the reservations done.

3. We're now half way through 'the red bastion' of Kannur!