P. K. John (Puthenpurakkal Koshy John) Vakil, My Valiammachy’s Uncle, had 5 sons, Joseph John Sr. an Electrical Engineer, who did his higher studies in England; he was Chief Engineer in the Electricity Department for Thiruvithancore and Cochin (older version of KSEB). He went to Burma on deputation and when he returned to Kerala, he settled down in Kollam.
We all called him Burma Cottage Appachen and I called him very fondly Thaadi (beard) Appachen. He had the most amazing beard which was snow white in color. He walked more and talked less.
One important lesson I learnt from him as a tiny tot, was never try to force clean, the wasp (Vettavaliyan’s koodu.) in a power plug with anything that can conduct electricity, a metal-metal.
He gave me a thin wooden pencil without graphite, which he pointed at the end with his Swiss Army Knife (Victorinox) from England. It’s cool to possess a Victorinox all in one tool. Absolute pleasure to pull out this magic wand, wherever you are and especially when you travel.
After coming back home I added strong eerkil (broomstick from coconut palm) to my kitty of life saving hacks, for cleaning any electrical device.
Please note: Make sure you switch off the power, unplug live wires and use a tester to determine there is no supply before you touch any electrical device.
Second in line was George John, He was the Chief Engineer in Indian Rare Earth, Chavara, Kollam. He had no children. He was our Kuttypappen. His wife a real darling and extremely talented Thankamma, called Thankochamma (Thankam is pure form of Gold).
My Amma was one of their favorite nieces and she spent her holidays there as a child and I remember she cherished her first lessons in sewing and baking from Thankochamma.
Those days’ elders made sure they passed their knowledge and fine talents to younger generation and it was followed religiously. It was by stories of wisdom or by thorough training.
Incidentally I still have Amma’s first cross stitched cushion covers, 4 of them, where she learnt the basics. Green in color, I am sure Thankochamma made her start with a darker color to prevent dirt marks, until she perfected and got the knack of stitching. The pattern is very basic and geometric. But it is simply beautiful, one of the many pieces that had the fortune to travel all continents. a real piece of antique.
I can never forget Thankochamma’s brinjal pickle, Amma continued to make until she passed away. Mango, lime, fish, prawns are common and later in my house anything and everything was pickled. Brinjal was a delicacy and it was simply yummy.
I am sure Amma practiced her baking at Thankochamma’s home, she had an electrical oven to bake, Kuttypappen’s acquaintance with Engineers from “foreign”, facilitated many house hold gadgets others had never seen before.
My Amma was a fast learner and was keen on continuously improving whatever she learnt, She kept relationships with every one she met, and one person she respected and kept in high regard was veteran politician and trade union leader Mr. Baby John, whom she met as a kid, a frequent visitor at Kuttypappens house in Chavara, he started his political career there as a young hero. Both Kuttypappen and Thankochamma were very fond of him, and vice versa.
The other three sons of P. K. John were Thomas John, Koshy John and Annipappen as we called him, another Engineer who lived in Salem. I have visited all of them in Pallickal, and had the good fortune to travel to Salem and stay with Annipappen’s family once, later after his retirement he settled in Kollam.
We have to take responsibility in continuing to train and mould the next and coming generations, home making, house keeping, protecting themselves and nature, and respecting fellow humans, not just subjects and scores.
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