The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : The State forgot these brave souls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

The State forgot these brave souls

Staff Reporter

Quit India Day celebration was held on Tuesday

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sitting in his time-ravaged, box-like tailoring shop at Medamukku in Manacaud, 89-year-old K. Chellappan, or Chellappan Maistry, as he is popularly known in the locality, points to one of the many black-and-white photographs adorning the walls, and says: "This group photo was taken in 1957 when I was the Manacaud Mandalam president of the Congress."

Identifying himself among the group as a lanky man with a Gandhi cap, he continues ruefully: "In those days, the post of mandalam president was quite powerful; he could decide the candidate for the corporation council. But today, we are unable to get even some of our basic needs fulfilled."

Mr. Chellappan was speaking in connection with the Quit India Day celebration organised in the city on Tuesday.

He is one among the several freedom fighters in the State who feel let down by the treatment accorded to them by the two ruling fronts.

According to Mr. Chellappan, who is the secretary of the Kerala State Freedom Fighters' Association, some of the long-pending demands of the association are yet to be fulfilled by the Government.

The demands include five cents of land to landless freedom fighters and at least two per cent reservation in Government jobs for their children.

"It is sad that freedom fighters have become showpieces to be paraded during days of national significance, such as Quit India Day and Independence Day," Mr. Chellappan says. "Maybe we need to conduct another freedom struggle to get our needs fulfilled."

The association, the membership of which has been dwindling, now has 3,000 on the rolls. The office-bearers are elected every two years.

"Since most of the members are unable to undertake long journeys, the turnout at the meetings remains relatively low. Last year, we had a turnout of 1,000 members."

But then active office-bearers, including Mr. Chellappan, make it a point to keep in touch with their friends rendered infirm by time.

"We conduct periodic house visits, learn about their personal problems and try to provide what little help we could."

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