Had got up at a 10' to 4. Since sleep was taking its time, I'd said my prayers and turned off to sleep yet again. I'd finally got up at a half past 6 when Jabbar brought in the morning cuppa. The wait for the hot water was longer - the geyser wasn't working - as the manager was caught up with his boss from the PWD who was the guest in room no.1.
The immediate task in the morning was to fuel four vehicles of the yatra. The sequencing of the bills along with the vehicle numbers was a laborious process.
The panchayats/municipality with whom we'd our trysts today were:-
(a) Paambaadumpaara.
(b) Kattappana municipality and
(c) Vaazhathoppu.
The reception at Paambaadumpaara was rousing and the subsequent interaction was good. There are two things that are noteworthy - as I observe - after 10 days of the yatra:-
(a) The average Malayalee woman is sufficiently empowered.
(b) Women are on the centre stage insofar as the panchayats are concerned.
And it gives me tremendous happiness! The Kattappana municipality gave us a good lunch but the public felicitation was a tame affair. It was during this period that Raju - the honey expert and a part of our yatra - took us to his house to show the bee keeping industry that he has developed. The aroma was therapeutic and nice. He has become a good friend and so has his mom, all of 91 years!
Elias kept the programme on a taut frequency as he cajoled, spoke and brought the panchayat hierarchy to toe his requirement. His childlike innocence, so evident in people who live up the hills, is an endearing quality.
I'd travelled in the Science Exploratory, this afternoon, to give company to Aji and get it fuelled at an appropriate pump. We, eventually, reached Cheruthoni(The Vaazhathoppu panchayat) where the last felicitation was carried out. Unfortunately, the street play couldn't be completed thanks to the rain. After fueling the Science Exploratory, we're at our night halt - a decent hotel in Manjappaara. It was a late evening as usual.
Tailpiece.
1. The hotel was a grand affair. Jalaluddin, a member of the Vaazhathoppu panchayat, was more than a help in settling us for the evening.
2. The Book Mark vehicle seems to be having a problem. It will be taken to the workshop tomorrow.
The immediate task in the morning was to fuel four vehicles of the yatra. The sequencing of the bills along with the vehicle numbers was a laborious process.
The panchayats/municipality with whom we'd our trysts today were:-
(a) Paambaadumpaara.
(b) Kattappana municipality and
(c) Vaazhathoppu.
The reception at Paambaadumpaara was rousing and the subsequent interaction was good. There are two things that are noteworthy - as I observe - after 10 days of the yatra:-
(a) The average Malayalee woman is sufficiently empowered.
(b) Women are on the centre stage insofar as the panchayats are concerned.
And it gives me tremendous happiness! The Kattappana municipality gave us a good lunch but the public felicitation was a tame affair. It was during this period that Raju - the honey expert and a part of our yatra - took us to his house to show the bee keeping industry that he has developed. The aroma was therapeutic and nice. He has become a good friend and so has his mom, all of 91 years!
Elias kept the programme on a taut frequency as he cajoled, spoke and brought the panchayat hierarchy to toe his requirement. His childlike innocence, so evident in people who live up the hills, is an endearing quality.
I'd travelled in the Science Exploratory, this afternoon, to give company to Aji and get it fuelled at an appropriate pump. We, eventually, reached Cheruthoni(The Vaazhathoppu panchayat) where the last felicitation was carried out. Unfortunately, the street play couldn't be completed thanks to the rain. After fueling the Science Exploratory, we're at our night halt - a decent hotel in Manjappaara. It was a late evening as usual.
Tailpiece.
1. The hotel was a grand affair. Jalaluddin, a member of the Vaazhathoppu panchayat, was more than a help in settling us for the evening.
2. The Book Mark vehicle seems to be having a problem. It will be taken to the workshop tomorrow.
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