Act of kindness: Retired CBI officer from Kerala donates home, land to Gandhi Bhavan

Alappuzha: In a generous gesture, N. Surendran, a retired Additional SP from the CBI, has donated his family home and land in Muthukulam, Alappuzha, to the non-profit charity organization Gandhi Bhavan in Pathanapuram.

Surendran, who had long nurtured the idea of giving back to the community, has bequeathed his house, ‘Puthiya Veedu,’ along with 47 cents of land, to the organisation.The foundation stone for the new Gandhi Bhavan building, which will be constructed on this land, is scheduled to be laid on Friday morning.

Surendran, the son of K. Nanu and K. Pankajakshi, both farmers, explained that the decision to donate the property was driven by his desire to ensure that the land and home would be put to good use after his family is gone. "What is the point of leaving the place like this? When you leave this world, you take nothing with you," he said. "There is only me, my wife, and my mother. Let more mothers and fathers join us," Surendran added.

While Surendran and his wife live in a separate house nearby, Surendran's mother, who remains in the family home, will continue to stay there as it is the place where Surendran's father was cremated. Surendran said that the original family home will be maintained, and his mother will continue to live there along with another elderly woman from Gandhi Bhavan who has been residing with her for the past few months.

Surendran’s connection with Gandhi Bhavan dates back to 10 years ago, when he first met Punalur Somarajan, the Secretary of Gandhi Bhavan. Before joining the CBI, Surendran had served in the Indian Air Force for 15 years. His investigative career in the CBI was marked by numerous high-profile cases, and he was even awarded a gold medal for being the best investigating officer.

Surendran retired from the CBI as an Additional SP, and his wife, Sathiyamma Kollakal is a retired headmistress. She was the head of SNV UPS, Kollakal in Alappuzha.