CYCLE GOPALAN

“Cycle Gopalan” alias “Press Gopalan,” was the first man to use a cycle, a Rally bicycle, on our sandy roads. He used to work in the Mathrubhoomi Press, Kaloor. Narayanan Vappan was seen either ahead or just behind him as he used to take the first ferry across to report for his duty. His appearance reminded me of “Bala Gangadhar Tilak”, whose photo-frame that adorned our ‘Pumukham’. A ‘Kara Mundu’ neatly wound around his neck, the other end flying behind him because of his rapid pace. He used to wave out to us never waiting to acknowledge our response. Jacob and I therefore began to greet him as soon as we heard his bell from a distance. This way our friendship grew till we left home for our higher studies. These friendly gestures of ours rewarded us with friends of all age groups in our village.

Through our friendly gestures we had a lot of such friends in all age groups.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com