LOCK OUT PERIOD OF THE ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIES LIMITED KUNDARA(1968)
Rajeev. K.
LOCK OUT PERIOD OF THE ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIES LIMITED KUNDARA(1968)
One day lock out was declared . Before this painful episode of breaking of our settled condition we had witnessed articulations of slogans in front of time office and the procession from time office to main gate by airing rhythmical verbalization by then leaders like Shri. Sankara Pillai, his brother Kumaraswami Pillai( my father’s colleague K.V Lawrence his brother K. V. Marshally .D. Samson. K. Karunakaran nair, A. R. Gopalan Nair N. Raghurajan, S.Shreedharan Nair,Markose, Tomas Antony,Koshy Muthalali, M.V.Johnson,Viswanathan Nair Narayana Pillai. etc…I was an adorer of muscle men in that period. When they walked in line, I did not bother about their utterances, their enthusiasms and isms. My eyes followed all along their body to watch the muscle contractions….. the best calf muscle men were A.R. Gopalan Nair. Karunakaran Nair and Samson…when they ramble these muscle went up ward and downward. I wasted hours to see these muscle expansions.
On that day we were all thrown out of the ALIND quarters… within hours we vacated. We cared to take with us necessary utensils and cloths etc. My father was a communist aspirant….i think in those periods communist party was divided but, CPM was only gaining strength…. CPI was the strong communist party in those period unlike today (aalilla party)….. Shri Sankara Pillai was its union secretary….in his late fifties, robust in health, sanguine in temperament, daring but prudent in isms and a true trade unionist ……As my father was a staunch supporter of Sankara pillai, he gave us shelter in his own house in Punukannoor area …In addition to Karpakaakal(w/o Shri Sankara Pillai-as called by my mother ) her elder son Narayana Pillai (Venu--face book buk id is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002469499179) a student and Surendran (MGD student) and a daughter named Devi or something (brain not catching up) Surendran was an expert cyclist…he could ride cycle through a line with out digressing a Decca meter….his competitor was shadevan residing near them whose father was an employee of alind reel shop… this shaddevan got employment in Spd production later… he was a singer too.(music club member-remember keralapuram vijayan’s contributions )
The house was located near Swa - Le means Swantham Leghakan means Staff Reporter …his name was Thulaseedharan Pillai….his wife was a teacher and her daughter Sheela a school student(younger than me)later became an employee of bsnl and became a relative of me through Shobana (wife of Krishnakumar. he is son of C.G. Mdhavan pillai of Wire mill…my mother is ammai(anunty of Krishnakumar.)….in .opposite house there resided another Sahadevan and Uthaman..Later shadevan became a government employee… ..Pratapan’s house was back side of sahadevan..later pratapan became my class mate in FMNC ….he was a footballer and represented FMNC in many intercollegiate tournaments ….he got employment in Metre company(United Electricals Limited ) at Pallimukke kollam… left side of our house there was a culvert and a small stream …we played in this water, often impeded by parents…The Academic year of sixth standard was nearing end .My brother jayan’s visit was occasional…he was in Fords Boarding near a kurisadi and also near mount Carmel convent school…and was a student of Infant Jesus Anglo Indian high school, Thangasserry
The place is actually a village area ….plenty of cashew trees. There were no house without cashew trees in Kundara region …. During summer season cashew trees flowered and its divine fragrance would inspire our mind and soul, an enthralling pleasing emotional sweet smell that would excite us…….its branch swept up ground….wiped the land…spread out on all sides. Me and my brother Shaji walked all this way to St: Antonys school through the constricted path strewn with dust by inhaling the breeze filled with wild fragrance of cashew flowers ….we enjoyed this walk by wandering in front of Elampaloor temple and police station. During our return trip, we watched a newly married couple…that was Ramankutty of utility department and his wife stalled in the evenings by holding each other …(they also stayed in Punukannur area ) I think they enjoyed honey moon at Kundara during lock out period
There were two sheds in front of main gate… filled with hundred or more zealots ….our slow pace was to watch the workers wonders…..those who were retrenched had high sprit and those lucky people who were out of retrenchees list in low in sprit….this was the first strike I witnessed in my life….in later years I was in front of many strikes in FMNC AT KOLLAM and MMNSSC AT KOTTIYAM ( emergency period)
Water scarcity was prevalent in kundara region especially in punukannoor area…..in quarters too during summer, water restrictions and control… our exams and water were according to time table ….
There was a deep well in Sankara Pillai’s house. …petite water at bottom … Kundara water has a peculiar taste ….luscious water …such type of water we cold not get anywhere in this world. Late Shri Rao swami of Registered office told me about this special taste of the kundara water….the taste according to swami due to the water flowing through the stones not from sand or mud ….in later years when I was stayed in a rented house in kacherri mukke… we brought water from a well which had 60 or more thodi ( not feet) and also was located a furlong away of a relative of Beabsy chechi and Thomas sir …my wife was expecting vishnu….we suffered a lot for drinking water . When we were staying near thaikkave near elampaloor we had engaged kochikka to bring water from Mami’s house( Rangan/ parasuraman house) or from somewhere else ….
Karpakakkal was very good in water resources management…. elders were only allowed to use toilet…. We children were instructed to use the vast back side area of court yard for any type of calls. In back side, an estate like land full of cashew trees….(Sankara Pillai chettan was a Janmi (land lord)there. We would climb in the tree and treated its branches as closet …. at distance we could see hut like and tiled houses and ingress and egress of males and females …busy with work. In our school there were plenty of cashew trees… most of the students were poor and coming from fishermen folk….they did not like to have cashew fruits ..when ever we offer them with beautiful fruits, they totally denied …the reason they put forwarded was made me upset and in confusion….this fruit juice cause them early digestion . …speedy digestion cause them hungry but there was nothing to eat in the house….so to avoid tragic situation, they would avoid to eat this magnificent fruit. I argued…” its juice and fiber fill your stomach” ….they retorted ...”no it will escalate our need for food ”……we were pushed by that words ……. it made us uncomfortable and felt sad
Most of the time crap happens in life. I think the brain has a special box where it keeps crappy memories. .it stays shut, but every time a new entry has to be added, it opens and you can look at what is inside.One day as the red sun began to show itself over the trees in the morning when I was under my favorite cashew tree in back side to attend the necessity , suddenly a chechi at about 25/35 came from the hut/ house to attend her urgency ….she sat before me…..she could not see me at all as I was inside and covered by branches….she went quickly after her job….…My body trembled with violent intensity. it was very difficult for me to forget this scene in those days….
After three or four months shut down company reopened……dust and dry leaf everywhere . My mother’s great effort brought back normalcy in house and compound, helped by us……
Rajagopalan PadmanabhaIyer
Lockout & 1968
Very bad time for Alinders during Lockout period.
All companies are clossed now at Kundara.When many mega factories can work at other parts of India and Keralies can consume the items produced at other states, why our people also cannot cooperate with others instead of daily strikes and making the industries clossed.
The difficulty by which we living out side Kerala for our survivel cannot be expressed.All youngsters at Kerala must reject the system of strikes and force Govt to open all clossed factories and call back experienced persons to devolop a new state where there is no bundh or close down of any organisation for any reason.
In Tamil nadu where I am now living for the last 16 years ,I have not seen any difficulty for movement due to Bandh even for a day .Movement and shopts 7 establishment will perform even if it Govt sponsered bundh ,opposion bundh or other bundh.Let Kerala also adopt this if they are very particular to have daily bandh.Others are also human being.
Keralites suffer a lot out side and at the same time some want to enjoy by not moving outside Kerala.Like other states if the facilities are provided in Kerala many will come forward and it will give direct as well as indirect employment to many.
I am sorry for expressing.Kerala is Communist and may not agree with my views and I wrote this because the difficulty that we faced during lockout.
In the year 1968 ,I had just joined for Engg and at that time elder member of families have to take lot of pain due to non availablity of liquid cash.
I have noticed that some or other way now allliving in Kerala are happy.Bundh will not affect them.People get monthy wages even they work or not.Shops are happy to close af if it is weekly holiday.
Praying God to guide our youngsters properly for a strong Kerala.
Alind,Allied,Kerala ceramic,Startch factory,TCM,Dalmia cements,Inamel unit (I could remember only these)and many other industies gave opprtunities to many are all are clossed.
Youngsters should realise and try to bring back these again at Kundara.Kundara public should take care and for about 10 years they should allow the organisation to grow by absorbing some difficulties for the benefit of others suffering at different parts of the world.
Though money may be flowing from those working at Gulf & other countries go to each individulal and listren to their words,
then one can understand and will defenitly decide to call them back to our own state to work instead of working with the mercy of others.Actualy, all outsiders, may be higher position or lower position at different parts of the world will have same views.
Please donot feel bad.I wrote because the difficulties that all elders (many are not alive now)suffered during lockout period was known to us.
Sorry again
With love,
Padhu Chettan
On Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:07:44 +0530 wrote
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Rajeev. K.
Your are right...very correct...even though you are living outside
kerala, you are well aware of keralites mind and attitudes....most of
keralites work hard outside kerala and in foreign countries...but too
lazy in kerala and militancy in behavior....militant trade unionism is
the otherside of the coin...govt policies are not at all helpful to
industrialization of kerala...naturally kerala will continue as a
consumer state....i have lot of facts to write about
alind...hindalco...tcm...lakshmi starch... Enamel...etc i shall write
something later...now i am planning go indefinite fast along with Anna
Hazzare to fight against corruption existing in walks of life ...god
bless you
with love
rajeev
On Aug 13, 7:22 pm, "Rajagopalan PadmanabhaIyer"
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