COLLECTION OF RARE STAMPS AND COINS BY A FARMER
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| Ramachandran, Thadukkassery, Keralassery, Panchayat, Palakkad |
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Collection
of rare stamps and coins by a city-dweller would not be much to write
about. But when it is done by
a lowly farmer from a nondescript village of Keralassery, where one has to
walk kilometers to board a bus, it certainly deserves mention.
Ramachandran,
who hails from Thadukkassery in Keralassery Panchayat of Palakkad
District has in his kitty coins dating back to 1286 A.D. and more than 72
stamps relating the British period.
How
did Ramachandran, who has no other occupation other than farming,
cultivate such a hobby? “My
uncles, Ramankutty Nair and Sankarankutty Niar, were teachers at the
Pathripala High School and stamp and coin collection were their hobbies.
They passed on some of their collections to me and asked me to
continue the tradition. I got
the inspiration from them. I
too have collected many,” says Ramachandran. Then why doesn’t he exhibit them at important venues?
“I
am scared,” he says. “The
collections date back to more than 100 years and its value in monetary
terms runs into lakhs of rupees. Transporting
it is not safe. Anything can
happen. My life could be in
danger. That is why I keep
them away.”
His
prized possession is a half-anna coin dating back to 1335 during the
period of Sivaji Rao of Gwalior.
Ramachandran with his collection
Courtesy: A. Satish, New Indian Express
Contributed by: Administrator
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