PINARAYI

My journey started from Pinarayi - a small village of Kannur district in Kerala state. When I started my journey the village was economically poor. But the people were very much politically committed and were very cooperative.( History_ The formation of communist party in kerala was taken place in Pinarayi.).  During my early childhood days the following persons were the most well known personalities in the area for various reasons.

• N E Balaram (Communist leader, Writer, critic and journalist-Later he became the Minister in Kerala Govt.)
• Pandyala Gopalan Master
• T V Achuthan Nair.
• T V Govindan Master.
• N Govindan Vaidyar (popularly  known as Compounder-The place 'compounder shop' is after his name.)
• Cherayi Anandan
• Nehru Shankaran Master
• Munshi Shakaran Master. 
• Kootterichi Govindan Master. 

There were two very senior retired officers. They were called one as "Collector" (He was a Rtd.Deputy Collector of that time) and the other as "Thukdi" (he was a retired R D O of that time. There was a bus stop in between Pinarayi and Mambarm as "Thukdi gate" after his name.) Their names were Kelu Nair and 'Rao Bahadoor' Kunhiraman Nair respectively.

There was an School Inspector from this place namely Govindan Nair, but he was later settled in Kadiroor. My father was a retired M S P Officer. There were only two popular persons from MSP in the area. One was my father, P C Kannan Nair and the other was one Kunhiraman who conducted a shop at olayambalam as MSP shop.

The economy of this village was depending upon agriculture, beedi making and handloom weaving. Manglore Ganesh Beedi Company was the major player in Beedi industry. Sadhoo Beedi and Wadhyar Beedi was also there. Later due to the implementation of Beedi and Cigar Act, by the Govt. the Mangalore Ganesh Beedi closed down their units overnight and the workers were left jobless. The formation of Kerala Dinesh Beedi under the sponsorship of the Government of Kerala are all the part of the history of Kerala economy. Toddy tapping for making jaggery and fishing was also the vocation of few. The fish found in this area was famous during that time.

Kizhakkumbhagam L P School was my starting point. Chadukutty Master was my first coach. The other coaches in the school were V Ramunni Master, V Kunhiraman master, N Achuthan Master, Kannan Master (elder brother of Chandu kutty master) and Balan Master. The coaches were very sincere efficient and effective. The school had the privilege of campus recruitment at that period. The students were taken by the beedi manufacturers and handloom weavers for job. Boys for beedi and girls for handloom. There was no social stigma for this during that period. Everybody promoted this also. Among the students in my class only two including me went for high school and college studies. This figure will give a picture of the the economic and social structure of the area on those days.

There were a lot of small "KAVU" in this area and Theyyam were performed in all the Kavus. In my child hood days I remember that there will be at least one fight between two rival groups in all Kavus on the day of Theyyam. Some people were keeping ready to fight on those days. But there were no political fight on those days. These fight were based upon some personal issues. Kannachankandi, Mutteryveedu, and Kaitheryputhiyedath were the important Kavus in the area.

Next phase of my journey was through the R C Amala Basic U P School, Pinarayi. Sri. T V Narayanan Master, (Popularly known as Nanu Master, Brother of T V Achuthan Nair) V Madhavi Teacher (Wife of Nehru Shankaran Master), T V Govindan Nair, T Raman Master, N Balan Master, Mukundan Master, T Mukundan (Drawing ) Andy Master were my coaches there. Phalgunan Master (Ball bat star), Raghavan Master, Janaki teacher, and Narayanan Master were in lower primary section . We had a craft teacher - Krishnam Master - Handloom weaving was the only craft work taught there.  In this School I had  very good experiences in my journey. I made my first speech during this period. I represented the school and participated in an elocution competition. I have shared the prize with U P Jayarajan the famous writer.
The training got from this great institution is ever remembering in my life!

I enjoyed a lot of love and affection from this small village.!! 

I OWE a lot to the starting point!!!