4.Public Service Koya in our campus

 


This  elderly person , whom  every one  calls by the  name ;Koya’  was known  to  us from the  first day I reached  REC Campus  after   our wedding in 1969. He was  ready  to offer any type  of help to any one  or family in the campus and hence  called  public service  koya.  He was  willing  to help anyone, rich or poor, Keralite  or non-keralite,   any type  of help for a reasonable  charge. When  he is entrusted  with  buying  any item   from the  nearby   township or city, he was  meticulous  in keeping the  accounts without  any slip and at the  end of the  job collects  his labour charges and leaves  happily  for him and the  person who entrusted  the work with him.

He was staying about 5 kMs away from  our campus and everyday he   must have  been walking at least  20 KMs  up and down . He used  to work till he was  80 or beyond and we have  never seen  him taking any medicine  or being  sick even with a cold  or fever all these  years. His wife and one or two elderly children have  left him  to the  other world , but he used  to be  available in the  campus every day without fail.

He had a unique  capacity to keep secrets  within himself. I used  to say he can even conceal an elephant  in his  head  or mind whatever. He was a regular visitor  in most of the  houses every day but never  used  to share  news  from one house  to another, irrespective of whether any one has been  kind to him or even  misbehaved with  him.  I have  never seen  him talking ill  of any one  in the  campus. He had only good  words  on anyone  whom he met. Even  if some  one has quarrelled with him , he will  never reveal the reason to another person  or talk ill  of the  person. In fact he was a secure  store of all  information, never  revealing to  any body.

His  jobs included  purchasing  grocery  from the shops nearby, getting   chicken, mutton or beef  from  township 8 KMs from our campus, getting ration card  or kerosene  permit from the supply office etc. He used  to visit almost all houses on Saturday after noon and prepare a list of  persons and their requirements of chicken mutton or beef,  quarter ,  half  or full kilo  and used  to collect it from the  butcher  in Mukkam . No one  had any complaint of the weight being less or quality being poor. When  he has  to go to the  Taluk Supply Office for ration card  or  kerosene  permit, application together with the required  documents could be entrusted with  him and the  things will be brought within a week or so. Of course charges  will  be a little  higher  but never exorbitant. A few  extra  benefits  from the residents will be to collect  the unused  ration  rice  wheat  etc from anyone not using it. He used to buy these and take home or give to his   married daughter staying nearby. During Bakrid,  our Koya  used  to bring us excellent  mutton to each house. He knew  that no one will take  it from free  of cost  and even if some one does  not pay him on that  day  he  never complained.

He was  politically  conscious  but no one  knew  which party he supports. During  the election days, he was very particular  to see   that all the  ladies  including those  from other states  not interested  in casting their votes  were  forced  to cast their votes  without fail. He will never  ask anyone to vote  for any party or a candidate  of his choice.

Suddenly when he  heard  that  he died  in his  85th year, everyone in the campus felt that one of the  members of our  family have  left  us as he was such a  helpful and useful for person for everyone, hardworking , trustworthy and above all lovable excellent  human being.

 

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