Late Sri S.Kesavan`s house. F/o Late Sri V.K.Thankappan and his 6 brothers and one Late sister, Smt.V.K.Thankamma of Variampallilpadeettethil House (Chennithala)

Comments

• 
  Binu Thankappan (guest)

  My grandfather, Late Sri S.Kesavan was an army man and then retired after Independance to start his own copra and other coir-products` business. This was a flourishing one as part of which he had to take his products to Alapuzha town and other places by boat through the network of the backwaters. What was then a chore is today seen as an exotic past-time ! He was amongst the most wealthiest of business-men around this place of Chennithala and was quite popular till his death at the ripe old age of 90+ in the year June 9, 2004. He was also known by most people by the nick name of 'Panampilly' and also by 'S.K.' His son, and my dear father, Late Sri V.K.Thankappan was also a very well-known football player in his times and had won several awards. Soem of the awards were the special British coins then known as 'Chakrams'. Football made him popular as the was the un-crowned king of 'panthu-kalli' as football was then called as in Kerala. The ball was made of coir and was slightly smaller then the present day ball, yet weighed more than double ! After his matriculation, my father had learnt type-writing and had passed an examination which was conducted world-wide by the British and the results of which were collated at London and announced. His teacher too had taken the same exam that year and what was surprising was that my father not only had scored more than his teacher but had scored a distinction ! The results were also announced in The Statesman newspaper in Kolkata. Thereafter, at the tender age of 19 years, my father had left Kerala for Calcutta in search of a job as his father`s business had collapsed owing to typhoid amongst all members of the family for a month ! In the year 1960, my father had come to stay in a place in Park Circus with the Khattar family in Jannagar Road. Thereafter, he had moved into our last residence at 8/B, Ahripukur 2nd Lane, Kolkata-700019 in Beck Bagan sometime in 1971.

  15 years ago | reply | hide comment