Back to Nature, My Future - Day 3

Our rally started from Gandhi Mango Tree compound in Payyannur @ around 8:45 am on April 7th - 3rd day of the rally. From morning I was not feeling well with partially due to lack of sleep and slight rise in temperature as well. We stopped and travelled through Ezhilode @ around 9 am, Pilatthara @ 9:30 am, Pazhayangadi @ 10 am and reached our reception centre Cherukunnu @ 11 am, where the District Committee had organized the reception.

From there the rally stopped and crossed through Puthiyatheru, Kannur town, Chakkarakal and reached Mayyil @ 6 pm.

Since I was completely down with fever, I haven't got down in any of these places and was taking rest inside the tempo traveller.  But I don't know, after reaching the interior villages of Kayaralam - Keezhalamvayal some kind of energy boosted me up, I just came out of the vehicle and helped the guys to put up the posters and display items. Even though it was getting darker, people have poured in like some kind of village festival is about to begin. In fact that was the case to be. The reception there was organized by some village associations like Kayaralam Kizhakkevayal Paatasekhara Samithi (Polder Association), Keezhaalamvayal Paatasekhara Samithi, Kanivu Swayam Sahaya Sangham (Self Help Initiative), Sevanam Swaashraya Sangham (Self Reliant Initiative) and Orappadi Kalakoottaayma (Cultural Club).

After the brief introduction session and speeches it was completely a village carnival atmosphere and people were eagerly waiting for the main event of the night. First it was nellu kuthu malsaram (paddy grain pounding competition). There were 8 ladies (including Geetha chechi from our team who couldn't complete it though due to hand pain!!!) ready with their ural and ulakka (mortar and pestle) and they were given the paddy grain to pound. Hand pounding requires specific skill and patience to separate the skin from the grain that too without any breakages of grain. Pounding the paddy induces upward and downward forces on grain against grain that removes the husk and bran layers. The final cleaning is by winnowing in a woven bamboo tray called muram. The winnowing process to separate unmilled paddy grain is again an art. The one who completes all these processes in the minimum time will be the winner. As predicted by me, the oldest woman has won the competition. Soon after she had finished I have interviewed her and gave live commentary of the competition in English on Harshil's mobile phone on his request. On questioning on the secret of finishing it faster, all she had to say was it's her life. How these villagers can really be so simple and down to earth.

Next competition was Ola Medayal (thatching of coconut palm leaves) for ladies. Ramakrishnettan participated in this event representing our team and got special appreciation from the organizers for the technique he used in weaving the leaves. However the first prize went to another village lady. Inspired by these, Shanil (who is doing farming all alone in Coorg on a leased out land) learnt the trick just by carefully watching it and he too completed weaving the palm leaves. What a commendable job Shanil!!!

Finally the quiz competition and the questions were based on the traditional farming proverbs, techniques and methods used by our ancestors. Interesting fact to note here was the participation of two kids along with the oldies of the village. With highest points scored by the audience, we all became winners of this event. In between there were couple of old ladies sang folk songs to entertain the crowd. Since April 8th was Harthal day, tomorrow's our scheduled programme in Vadakara was cancelled and we were off to Valayam in Kozhikode district for the night stay. It was a primary school building where we spent our night.