| Pulluvazhi, near Perumbavoor, Ernakulam |
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At a time when the whole of Kerala has more or less resigned to being Bandh’s own land, here is an exceptional village where the call for downing the shutters has been consistently ignored for the past 20 years. Pulluvazhi, a village near Perumbavoor has the units of all registered political parties; and yet the 200 odd trader community is single-minded when it comes to responding the call for hartals – ignore it outright.
On such days, each shop owner is doubly keen to keep the establishment open, for they know that unity alone is their strength. Not only do the shops remain open, autorickshaws and taxis ply on such days and travelers coming from far would wonder whether this is a part of the confrontational Kerala.
10 years ago, there was a little skirmish during the bundh sponsored by a national party. The party even organized a protest march and meeting on the next day. But even they had to bow before the unity and determination of the trader community.
On the death of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and on the death of their local MLA and writer M.P.Narayana Pillai, Pulluvazhi observed hartal – but those decisions were unanimous. Protest is fine, but should not be an impediment to the life of others, surmises the people of Pulluvazhi, who are against destruction of public property and blockade of traffic.
Timber and cattle are the main business at Pulluvazhi.
Courtesy:
Mathrubhumi,
July 7, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
