INMATE OF DESTITUTE HOME BECOMES CHAMPION ‘CHENDA’ PLAYER
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| Manjula, Pathakkavu Parambil, Amalloor village, Palakkad |
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The
2nd of the 5 daughters of a poor carpenter, Manjula,
Pathakkavu Parambil, Amalloor village, Palakkad, was sent to a
destitute home at the age of 5 after her father’s death.
There she chanced to learn ‘chenda’ and later became a champion
in the State School Youth Festival. This
is a thumbnail sketch of the talent that is Manjula.
After
her father’s death she joined ‘Abhayam’, a home for mentally
handicapped and destitute at Koppam, Pulassery village, Palakkad.
There
she came to know of the ‘chenda’ class being conducted by the teacher
Aravindan. With neither
ancestral prop nor preparation, she plunged into the study of rhythms on
the instrument.
Says
Manjula: “I joined the ‘chenda’ class of my own volition, because of
my liking. And once I started
learning, I didn’t find it difficult.”
This
10th standard student of Government Higher Secondary School,
Koppam performs at musical programmes in temples of Koppam and Valancherry.
‘Abhayam’
has now taken charge of her studies and upbringing.
“My
desire is to continue ‘chenda’ practice together with my studies.
I wish to learn more of the art of playing the instrument,” she
says.
Courtesy: V.Anilal, Vanitha, October 1-14, 2000
Contributed by: Administrator
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