Saturday, 4 April 2015

THE EFFORTS MADE BY OUR ELDER GENERATION FOR THEVARA-KUMBALAM BRIDGE



I recall that, during  the year 1960, the National Development Committee of Kumbalam (Deseeya Vikasana Samithy,) represented by its President, Joseph Thayamkeril (my father), and the other distinguished members, Raghava Panicker Thalasseril (then President, Kumbalam Panchayat), Xavier Master Chembalamsseril, N.K. Parameswaran, L.N. Gokulan Master Kannambilly, Kandoth Gopinatha Menon, S. Velayudhan Pillai Master, B. K. Krishnankutty, C. E. Ayyappan, M. C. Mohammed Sahib, K.K. Vasudevan, P. K. Kunjan, P.P John, Master Palathingal (Secretary), Sreevilasom Ramachandran Menon and Vikraman Master, took the initiative and submitted a memorandum to the state government for the construction of  Kumbalam-Thevara Bridge. Then Hon’ble Minister for P.W.D., Shri. Damodharan Potti visited the Kumbalam-Thevara ferry area to assess the feasibility of constructing a bridge to the mainland, Thevara. For that event Vikraman Master composed a ‘Vanchipatt’, which is a folk song. This was sung in the canoe while the Minister was taken to Kumbalam. This young talent was appreciated by all. The Minister congratulated him personally. However, that earnest attempt ended in a fiasco due to paucity of funds. Several other endeavors made thereafter including fasting by youngsters led by Soman Karikkanthara was of no avail.
Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

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