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.
