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L I F E   A N D   T I M E S   O F   Y E S U D A S A N - 2

In 1963 after I had joined 'Shankar's Weekly' from 'Janayugam', they asked for permission to continue using the cartoon column 'Kittumman'. I got the chief editor's request letter in Delhi. I gave permission to use the column 'Kittumman'.

"Use the previous blocks or negatives which I had earlier drawn. Then add a 'joke' which all had thought of jointly. I plead you not to hand over this column to any other person". This was Yesudasan's reply to 'Janayugam'. They used the same blocks of 'Kittumman' Yesudasan had earlier drawn.

I used to go to school holding the hands of Shankarapilla sir who came by the road in front of my house. We will reach the school by passing the Devi temple; which was behind the school and the Buddha statue; which was near it.

The Devi Temple and the Buddha statue near the Bharanikkavu Primary School

Aayiramkulangara: There was a little pond in front of the house at Bharanikkavu where I was born. It was called Aayiramkulangara. There was no evidence on the remaining 999 ponds. Yet we bathed and did a little fishing in this small pond. The first letters of 'Harishree…' were written on the yard of the Vaaluthara house near our ancestral house. I still remember the Aashan (master) and his betel chewing (pan loving) daughter, who taught us in the absence of the Aashan. But I can neither remember the names nor the faces of my classmates and teachers of my first standard. Sankara Pillai sir, class teacher of the first standard, Govinda Pillai Sir of the west end class… can't remember any other persons.

Birthplace: House at Aayiramkulangara at Bharanikkavu, Kerala where Yesudasan was born.
In 1942 the house was sold and he shifted to Ernakulam.

I studied standards two, three and four classes at the Edappally St George Primary School. I remember some of my classmates there. But I correctly remember only Jose with whom I shared the same bench. Later he became a Member of Parliament. Later the speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly - AC Jose.

AC Jose

There were some teachers in the primary classes who were quite masters in cane work which was used for punishing naughty students. Jose and Yesudasan had tasted the flavor of the cane of one such teacher. Fortunately he decided to go to Sabarimala for one year. Knowing this, Jose and I went to the Edappally St George church in front of our school and prayed with lighted candles. "Please help us…May this sir be attacked by tigers when he reaches Sabarimala…"

The prayer did not work. Two weeks later the sir returned from Sabari Mala with a superb yellow colored Malacca cane… freshly cut from the Sabarimala forests. Even though things were like this I cannot forget two of my teachers of my childhood. Those who provided soul and body for the childhood life. They were living in Thrikkakkara. One is PL Matthai sir. He used to take home tuition for Das and his sister Leelamma in their childhood. Matthai Sir was the one who used to prepare the speeches for the oratory training class on the last hour of every Friday. The second teacher is Gangadharan sir. He was my drawing master. He used to teach lessons at home. He used to teach lessons by using drawing as a tool. Yesudasan thinks those strong drawings of Gangadharan sir still exists as a boon for him.

Irumeyyanengilum Nammalotta...: Those days we children didn't know the popular poet Changampuzha. Though Jose and Das used to sing 'Irumeyyanengilum nammamlotta karalalelle neeyente jeevanalle...' (Though we are two in body aren't we the same in our soul; aren't you my soul…) they didn't know the poet who has written these lines. It was during the days of class five and six education at Devankulangara Government Middle School that they got an opportunity to see in person and talk to peoples' poet of Kerala - Changampuzha Krishna Pillai.

There were no count for the umpteen places where Jose and Das would venture out during the mid day intervals. Though the Christian Jose and Das couldn't see the Edappally palace they had seen it in the Hindu names of Raman and Krishnan. Similarly they frequented the St George church quite opposite to the school. If you ask why both of them didn't have any clear answer. But there isn't any clear cut answer for all this. When both of them return their pockets will have half burned candlesticks. They were taken home and their light was used for studying. Don't know what Jose did with those candles. Perhaps he has saved them even today.

Even after reaching the Edappally Devankulangara school from Edappally we were sleepy heads. We used to buy a sweet from the old women sitting under of the big banyan tree in front of the school. Then we used to put our heads in the big hole in the banyan tree's trunk. Then we could hear a high resounding 'boom, boom' sound; for many a years we thought of it as the presence of a ghost. My classmates Vijayans, Varma, Manoharan, Ummer, George, Jose Malamel, athlete Kuttan Pillai, Murali, Thampi, Jose Sebastain and all regularly waited on to do so.

From their go straight, then after some houses turn right and you will come to a gate. On the left pillar the name is written in italicized letters.

Yesudasan says: "We used to get in opening the gates. He used to sit under a tree in the orchard wearing banyan and lungi on an easy chair. He will always be writing something. That was Changampuzha. The poet who had become Malayalam's dearest poet." Seeing us he would stop writing. He asks for our news, advices to study well. He will start smoking a beedi. Then we will return to school singing and holding each others shoulders singing "Irumeyyanengilum neeyente jeevanlle…".

Changampuzha, the poet and the board in front of Changampuzha Krishnapillai's gate

When we are outside the gates I will leave Jose and will move to the board on the gatepost. I will run my index finger through the letters Cha, Mga , Phu and 'Zha'. I keep watching the way the 'Zha' sound turn and form on the board.

Jose will make the scene noisy. He will ask Das 'don't we have to go to the classes? Are you going to remove that board form there?'

The Jouney, meeting Changamapuzha and fingering on the Changampuzha name board. One day afternoon a small car (I think it was a Morris Minor) came to our school. Somebody said it was Changampuzha who was inside the car. Some students and a few teachers went near the car. Changampuzha had come to see a teacher to who was his friend.

He didn't spend much time at the school. He was not so well. The car went northwards from the Edappally temple. He waved his hand…we too.

That was the last meeting with Changampuzha. It was a great pain in my little mind when some days later I came to know about his death. I still keep in mind that Krishna Pillai Chettan (elder brother) who used to sit on an easy chair in the orchard at the Changampuzha house and the 'Zha' sound on the name board that used to curve down on.

Stomach Ache and Police Station Attack: When studying in school some days I used to show laziness in going to classes. There was a girl from the neighborhood who would come with me to the school. We had to cross a river which didn't have any railings. If one didn't care much he or she is sure to fall in to the water. After it comes the Thayenkari house where I had my mid day meals. The master of the house was Ittira Chettan. Next to the house Edappally Police Station. After the station comes St. George Primary School.

Yesudasan: I will start a small stomach pain after depositing my lunch pack at the Thayenkari house - intense pain. I used to rub my belly with my hand. I can't take a single step from the police station. The girl who comes with me becomes angry. She will walk away and mock me by saying 'that same old pain'. I will stop in front of the station for a remedy. A small cry… holding my belly. Then a police man will come from the station asking with a smile, "Son, what happened?"

When I will tell about the stomach ache he will take me to the station. Though not for interrogation he will seat me in a stool near him and introduce me to other police men. "This is the son of John sir who is the pravathiyar (administrator) at Thrikkakara." Not only the police men but also the culprits look at me with great interest. He will send some body to the near by Ayurveda pharmacy and get some arishtam (concoction) for stomach ache. "Son drink it fast, your pains will go away in a minute".

I whole heartedly will drink it. My pains will be relieved. When the pain is gone I used to go to school. There the classes will have started. The police man was my father's acquaintance. So the stomach ache news reached my home too.

I had more interest in rubbing my belly before the police station than going to school. Thinking that I am the son of the pravithiyar of Thrikkakara the police man without any hesitation used to handle the problem. Belly ache will come. It will go.

One day as usual I went to the school. When I returned from the Thayenkari house after depositing my lunch, I found a great crowd in front of the station, some were chatting secretly, I dropped the hand…which I have to rub my belly in front of the station. Ittira Chettan of Thayenkari house pulled me aside and whispered on to my ears: "Yesterday night the Communists attacked the police station and killed two police men. The police are searching each and every house. Go to your school by the adjacent road".

This incident was on February 28, 1950 night. Two police men were murdered. Velayudhan and Mathew. I was shocked hearing the second name Mathew. I turned aside and cried. The dead police man Mathew was the man who had become my friend. The same Mathew sir who used to take me to the station lovingly when I showed reluctance to go to school and who gave me the antidote to my supposed belly ache.

The pain of his murder has not yet left me. Even after fifty six years of his death I pray for his soul's eternal rest. Let me salute him with my little hand which I often used to rub my belly when acting stomach ache.

Independence Movement: When I was studying in Edappally it was during the Independence struggle. Since I was a little kid I didn't know much about it. A procession bearing the tricolor moved forward. There were people with white caps in the midst. Yet the rhythm of the slogan chants was like a song for hearts.

One day the students rushing out of the school shouting slogans. Some through the doors, yet the ones who were more adventurous jumped out through the windows. "Though every body was out of the class; I remained sitting on my bench". It was because of the early warning from my home stating that if I participated in the Independence movement my father will have to lose his job.

A little later Vijayan Menon of my class came inside and sat besides me.

"Das, are you not getting out?" Vijayan asked rather strongly. I refused to answer. Vijayan took a little pocket knife from his pocket. Almost two inches long, the length of one's little finger - used for cutting areca nut or to pedicure nails. "You, see this, are you getting out or not?" Then also I didn't answer. I continued to sit staring at the blade. Vijayan went back as there wasn't any chance of me getting out of the class.

The second incident regarding Freedom Struggle is this: We had strong relations with the Modissery household in Thrikakkara. They were from Niranam… migrated to Thrikakkara. Since we were from Mavelikara-it was able to set a Niranam-Mavelikkara tie up.

My elder brother (Joy) drew and hung up a picture of the Divan Sir CP Rama Swamy Aiyer on the verandah of the hose we were staying in Thrikkakara. It was easy to draw CP who had a turban, bulbous eyes and a long round nose (uneasy to praise).

On the day of independence Peelikuttychayan from Modissery came running to our house shouting "Bharat Mata ki Jay" (Victory to Mother India). (He was a retired Army person who later became a full time CPM activist. He came running in, jumped on to the Verandha hoisted me and my sister in the joy of getting freedom. The next look was on the picture of CP. He threw the picture to the yard.

Divan Sir CP Rama Swamy Aiyer

"Bury him" roared Peelikuttychayan. Mani Swamy slashed CP's nose. Peelikuttychayan slashed the CP picture across!

(To be continued as Yesudasan contines to write about his life and times)

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Yesudasan Email: contact@yesudasan.info Web: www.yesudasan.info