Mr. Damodadaran Naiar's (Thalanthente) Madakkada

I can bet, there will be none in Kodukulanji in the age group 30 and 80, who had not purchased at least some thing or the other from the madakkada( a portable wooden shop on four wooden legs) of Poonthura Kaleekkal Damodaran Nair, then popularly known as Thalanthente madakkada. It was a fully self sufficient stationary shop.- everything an average student wanted in those days- pin (mottu sooji) to school books and note books, Kalllu pencil to steel pen and mazhy, rubber band to keep the slate and books together. Palli muttai, crescent shaped muttai, inchi muttai, soap, cheepp, kannadi, murukkan with tobaco etc. we're also available in his shop. Plantain, banana, some very cheep biscuits and lemon juice (naranga vellam) were the eatables available in his shop. Padakkom in Xmas and New year season, and pooja items during the Pooja festival, and Sabari mala season, had also high demand in his shop. He chewed murukkan, smoked beedi and supplied it to every body who wanted.

Excuse me, I forgot to tell you about Damodaran Nair's early days. He started his business career selling vegetables in Kolla kadavu Chantha and Sasthampurathu Chantha (Chengannur market) in his younger days. But as years passed, both his legs got paralysed and a stage reached when he could not walk, bought a madakkada and started business. This portable shop was at first near the Swamy's shop and later moved to Palli mukku where it became very popular.

The attention of my readers is invited to the small plot of one and a half cents now lying vacant at Kodukulanji Pallimukku, in between Padikka Thara George's coffee shop and the Shoe mart George's two storied building. It was here where our Thalanthan's mada kada had flourished for about 40 years. As days passed by, his legs became so weak and his people had to carry him back and forth in the morning and evening. Despite his inability to move by himself, he was very smart and efficient to carry on his business. He had a wonderful memory. He knew by name every body in Kodukulanji and all those who regularly passed by Pallimukku on their way to work and back. One day, while coming home from Trivandrum, I got down at Pallimukku and was walking westward towards my home. On hearing a clapping of hands behind, I turned back and found that the clapping was from Damodaran Nair. He in his loud voice, asked me, Avaracha, Thiruvanthapurathu ninnum varika ayirikkum? Sukhamano?. I was surprised. I never thought that he could remember me by name. Yes, he had a wonderful memory.

Usually, he was very nice to all, especially to children. But he was very quick tempered, and when once got angry, only foul words (pacha therry) came to his tongue. Once, while he was having Ayurvedic massaging, the vaidyan did some strong pull on his legs which pained him badly. He got angry and shouted at the Vaidyan and blessed him with his usual therry abhishekam. Poor Vaidyan silently continued massaging for half an hour more. The next day his pain aggravated and never he could walk again.

His nephew, brother's son, Mr. Anil kumar, now auto driver of Ponnu minnu auto at Pallimukku, claims that his uncle was a great sympathiser of the Praja Socialist Party of Pattom Thanu Pilau. But he could not produce any proof for it.

As days passed by, his body below the hips became completely paralyzed and he was forced to close his shop for ever in 1984. He lived for another ten years more and breathed his last in 1994. His one and a half cents of the now precious land at Kodukulanji Junction where his madakada reigned supreme for about 40 years, is lying vacant now.

People who knew him very well, are requested to share their experiences with Thalanthente madakada of Kodukulanji Pallimukluku.

Mathew P. Abraham,
Palaekandathil

"PEEDIKAS"-Shops of KKJI before WALL MARTS

Any body remembers Thuthikkattu Paramu Kurrup's Kappy Kada? 

It was just opposite to the Thuthikkattu Prof.Philip's ( Raju) house. --a  comparatively big tiled -roof building with two or three benches inside. It was one of the very popular kappi kada's  in those days. Only people above 50 may know it. and remember it  now.  There was a chumadu thangi about 100 ft west beside a huge Anjali maram , in front of  Cheruthundy house. People going to kollakadavu chantha with heavy loads of tapioca, plantains, bananas etc.,  unload their things on the chumadu thangi, come to the kada and eat food consisting of Dossa costing ara (half) çhakram, ( Chakram- one twenty eight of a rupee ) and free chammanthy, some times plantain or banana and kattan kappy,  costing another half a chakram. In those days pal-kappy was very rare, only rich and affluent could afford it. The payment was made only when they come back from the market. After 10"clock, only parippu vada and kappy were available. Usually there was one more item, Madhura seva costing Kal (1/4) chakram or more according to the quantity. The smallest coin was chilly kasu,1/16 of a chakram.-all were copper coins mjnted in Travancore itself.  Paramu Kurup's Achi ( wife or a Nair lady) , a very fair, always smiling lady assisted her husband in the business. They had a very flourishing business in those days. Secret of their success according to the lady was itself a secret. In the evening of  every month end, she would come to our house (we, Valethu vadakkethil)  were neighbors, though on the opposite sides of the road) and would give one chakram  to my grand mother and tell her  "Pembalamma, tomorrow is first day of the month. Forget not to come and make the first purchase as usual" . She believed that  Valliammachikku kaineettam vittal, aa masam kussal aayirikkum" .

Accordingly, Valliammachy gets up early on the first day, have bath and puts on her white Mundu, chatta and Kavanj goes to Kuruppachan's kada makes the first purchase with  the chakrm Nair Achi has given her the previous evening and happily goes back home. 

Now that blessed  Vallia ammachy is gone,  Kuruppachen is gone,   his ever smiling Achi is gone,  their old tiled shop is gone. the chumadu thangi and anjali are gone  and now in its place, a modern fashion two storied building is coming up-almost complete and will be ready for occupation by the new year Chingam by a set of new generation guys  who do not know or remember Paramu kurup or his beloved Achi. Perhaps, most of   my young readers also do not know or remember Kuruppachan and his beloved Achi.  Perhaps Shibu, Johnsy and others of that age. may remember these facts.   When you next visit Kodukulanji, just go to the spot and see the wonderful new generation changes happened 

there!!!.

A true narration.

Mathew P. Abraham.