Kunchan Nambiar’s birthplace in Lakkidi falls into ruins amid financial crisis

Lakkidi: Had the great poet Kunchan Nambiar been alive today, he might have penned another satirical thullal poem — this time about the state of his own birthplace. His ancestral home at Killikkurissimangalam in Kerala, known as Kalakathu Bhavanam, is now in a state of ruin.

The building suffers from water leaks, broken windows and doors, and decaying walls. With restoration work stalled due to lack of funds, the memorial now stands in neglect. Realising the structure is no longer safe, the governing committee has banned visitors from entering the premises.

A 400-year-old structure in danger

The house, over 400 years old, was originally constructed using a mix of mud and lime. The roof is damaged, and water seeps through into the walls, accelerating decay.

Renovation plan halted due to delays

Efforts to renovate the Kunchan Nambiar Memorial began nearly three years ago. Although plans seemed on track, progress was suddenly halted. After a new administrative committee took charge, they re-approached the Department of Culture and submitted a detailed proposal worth ₹1.96 crore.

Although the plan was included in the 2024 state budget, significant delays in fund disbursal have put the project in jeopardy. Administrative approval has already been granted, and the committee now awaits the release of funds. They remain hopeful that at least 20% of the amount will be sanctioned soon.

Salaries unpaid for five months

Adding to the woes, the salaries of teachers and staff have also been delayed, causing fresh unrest. Last year, a 16-month salary backlog arose due to the lack of grants — the first such incident in the memorial's history.

Classes were interrupted due to financial difficulties, and it was only after staff protests that 11 months of pending salaries were cleared. However, salaries for five months are still unpaid.

The committee says it will pay one month’s salary at a time, along with other dues, until the backlog is cleared. The memorial receives an annual government grant of ₹5 lakh, which is meant to cover all operational costs.

Teaching staff reduced, fees increased

To manage the crisis, the number of teaching staff has been reduced from eight to six. Currently, there is one teacher each for thullal and mridangam, and two each for Mohiniyattam and classical music.

From this year, the annual student fee has been increased from ₹100 to ₹500. Around 150 students are currently enrolled, of which 32 in the thullal department are exempt from paying fees.

Despite staff cuts and fee hikes, the financial situation remains challenging.

A half-century since govt takeover

It has now been nearly 50 years since the government acquired the property, which includes the Kalakathu Bhavanam, pathayappura (granary), and surrounding land totalling 56 cents.

The memorial is now facing one of the most difficult periods in history. The Department of Culture took over Kalakathu Bhavanam on 1 September 1976, and in 1981 the government also assumed responsibility for the nearby pathayappura, after it showed signs of structural damage.

Efforts were made to preserve the heritage while maintaining authenticity. In 2008, the then committee established the Kunchan Nambiar Memorial Art Centre, offering training in Ottan Thullal, mridangam, Mohiniyattam, and Carnatic music.

What was once a proud tribute to a towering figure in Malayalam literature is now in danger of falling apart — both structurally and institutionally. Without urgent financial support and restoration, the legacy of Kunchan Nambiar risks fading into neglect.