| Nainam Valappu, Kozhikode |
Nainam Valappu, a small village in the outskirts of Kozhikode is unusually active during days when enforced hartal paralyses the rest of the places. It is a land that has proactively banished the imposed ban on business and movement during hartal days. People from neighbouring places come here for food and other services on such days.
How come the people of this place have guarded their freedom? Long ago, a group of pro-bandh activists tried to forcibly close a tea shop. In the ensuing melee, there appeared the elder brother of the leader of the pro-bandh agitators. With a whack on the cheek, he gave a clear message to his younger brother. After that the people had a round of tea in that shop together. By the end of the tea break, the historical decision had been made: no more bandh or hartal in Nainam Valappu.
The reason was purely economic and practical. Most of the inhabitants of the place were daily wage earners. Loss of employment even for a day was akin to enforced hunger to them. No wonder they took the practical and bold step.
However, there were attempt to break the will of the people. In 1992, for some reason, there was a call for hartal. On the day in question, the pro-hartal activists came in a procession with flags tied to long poles held in their hands. Getting the cue, the anti-hartal volunteers took up fuel wood and stood guard around hotels. Seeing the armed opposition, the hartal supporters decided that discretion was the better part of valour.
Since then no one has dared to bring bandh or hartal to this land.
Courtesy: Prasad Ramachandran (text), Mathrubhumi, April 22, 2012
