Kunnamkulam: An ox named Kannan was the beloved of Vellithiruthy native Satheesh and his wife Jisha. When Kannan was one-and-a-half-years-old, the family was in a dilemma. Usually, oxen are sold when they are one-and-a-half-years-old, usually to slaughter houses.
The couple could not even think of selling Kannan and they thought of ways to keep him in the family. Satheesh and Jisha then remembered about the traditional wooden oil mill driven by an ox. That idea has become reality and Kannan continues to be a part of the family driving the mill.
The idea of the wooden mill was presented by Dr. P. A. Radhakrishnan of Tirur Gandhian Prakriti Village. As there was no ox-driven wooden mills around, the construction was based on old images and videos.
The wooden mill was constructed under the leadership of Thamarayoor native Soman at a cost of Rs 4 lakh. Kannan was given training as soon as the construction started.
“Kannan is three-years-old now. Put the yoke on his shoulder and Kannan is ready to drive the mill. He needs bananas before and after working in the mill,” the couple said.
Kannan drives the wooden mill to turn 6 kilograms of copra into oil in 45 minutes. Satheesh and Jisha now have 4 cows and another ox.
