 |
| M.K.Narayanan, Kuzhalmannam, Palakkad |
|
Download Database of featured talents. (Excel file) |
As slowly as a tree grows - but as surely too - the good deeds that one does must accumulate and bear fruit one day. M.K.Narayanan of Kuzhalmannam, Palakkad did just that. Seeing the barren landscape around the historic fort of Tipu Sultan at the heart of the town, he dreamt of seeing palmyra palms growing there. And after a decade of lone and silent work, his dream has now become a reality.
A retirement, Narayanan, a former typist at the R.T.Office, started thinking nostalgically about his childhood days and the fruits of Palmyra palms which he used to eat then. He then decided to contribute his mite to see that the palms again sway their majestic heads in the heart of Palakkad.
Without waiting for any help from anyone, from 1990 onwards he started bringing handful of palm seeds from home and planting them around the fort. This continued till 2000 when the Archeological Department put a fence around his enthusiasm. By then around 1000 palms had started growing in the place.
At first the onlookers looked at him with surprise, then pity and finally scorn. But at the end of it all, many now look at him with admiration. His first palms have already grown around 3 m height. Seeing a 1000 palms of different heights dancing in the breeze around the fort, Narayanan’s heart has already received the reward for his labour.
The fence of Archeological Department couldn’t dampen his love for the palmyra palm. He has since then planted around 500 palms along the national highway as well as the irrigation canals of Malampuzha.
Courtesy: Jomon Joseph (text), Sibu Bhuvanendran (photo), Malayala Manorama, November 7, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
