Kannur: When Sarada and Narayanan Nambiar met each other finally, it ended the 72-year long separation between them. 86-year-old Sarada and 90-year-old Narayanan Nambiar were once married, but their marriage was broken before reaching the first anniversary. When some of their relatives happened to know that both are still alive, they planned a reunion.
However, it took a while for both to break the silence. Narayanan Nambiar and Sarada had got married in 1946. Sarada was only 14 years old when they got married. She was Narayanan’s cousin. But Narayanan Nambiar was imprisoned the same year for taking part in the Kavumbayi farmers protest. He was awarded a life sentence and Sarada’s family married her off to someone else. After this, they never met each other.
The meeting, after 72 years, was held at Sarada’s son K K Bhargavan’s residence at Kodallur in Parassinikkadavu. Bhargavan is an organic farmer. He happened to meet writer Santha Kavumbayi and architect T V Madhukumar, who are the niece and nephew of Narayanan Nambiar. Thus he came to know that his mother’s first husband was still alive and decided to give them a chance to meet.
"His mother took care of me as if I were her daughter. One night, a shooting occurred atop Kavumbayi hills. I have never met him afterwards. Though police came to attack me, his mother protected me from them. They also set the house on fire. His mother sent me back to my house later. Police used to come there also," Sarada recollected.
Narayanan was imprisoned in Salem prison along with his father Thaliyan Raman Nambiar for taking part in farmers’ protest. His father was shot dead in the jail. Narayanan also was injured in the shooting. He still lives with a bullet in his body. After being released in 1954, he got married again and had seven children.
Narayanan Nambiar arrived with his sister-in-law T V Lakshmi Amma and her children to meet his first wife. Sarada’s family had prepared special traditional food to welcome him. While returning, Narayanan invited Sarada for a visit to his house as his cousin. They bid farewell to each other reminding that they were separated not because of their fault.
