Mukkam (Kozhikode): Kannan Chathan’s day begins with a visit to his farm early in the morning. Even at 93, Kannan is never tired of farm works. His children and grandchildren have to compel him to have food at right time. He spends the entire day in farm with full energy.
People fondly call him Kannettan. He grows crops like taro, yam, tapioca and vegetables on 60-cent land close to his house. He strictly follows organic method of farming. He remembered that he started doing farm works ever since the daily wage was mere 10 paise.
Paddy was the main crop during those times. Coconut and areca nut were cultivated for namesake only. The wage was later increased to 25 paise ad then 50 paise. The major food was tender coconut collected from the compound. Kannan recollected that he had consumed upto 7 tender coconut on some days.
He stopped working in farms by the time the wage rose to Rs 100. However, he could not sit idle. So, he cultivated crops on the land close to his house. After taking the produce required for household, rest of the items are sold at Mukkam.
However, Kannettan could not go out during the COVID times. He had to stay indoors for 8 months. He said that he does not go out only because his family does not let him. Farming is an inevitable part of his everyday life.
When asked about election, he recollected that he had walked on foot to a polling booth which was situated one kilometre away to cast his vote 10 years ago. As his hearing and vision impaired due to age, the party members who carried him to the booth had cast open vote for him.
This time also, he will have to cast vote. However, he has political views. “I’m a Communist. I voted for the comrade in 1957 elections,” Kannettan said smiling.
