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
