A WORD OF APPRECIATION

I must appreciate the vision of the then ‘Diwan’, ’Thottekkat Govinda Menon (1879-1889), who was instrumental in reclaiming land from the adjoining backwaters. This was then   developed and called the “Foreshore Road” in Ernakulam. Later R.K. Shanmugham Shetty (1935-1941) made further reclamation and constructed granite embankments to protect the reclaimed land for park also. Kumari.   Janaki Amma, the then Municipal Chair Person, also needs to be remembered here as she had played a vital role in the beautification of this new Foreshore Road. She planted several shade trees, watered and nurtured them. This has made the road a green drive for us today. She was later elevated as a judge of the High Court of Kerala. After her death the old rain trees too started to wither away. These trees are now a threat to the pedestrians. Every monsoon witnesses an uprooted rain tree or two creating a road blockade. It is time to replace them with new, indigenous and useful shade trees like Arya Vep, Neem tree, and also exotic flowering plants like Gulmohur. The park and the amenities provided by it are the efforts of the Ernakulam Municipality and its officials. Their vision has given children an opportunity to utilize and enjoy the facilities of the park. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com