People have often gaped in wonder at the huge well built in the shape of a ‘kindi’ (a quaint bronze jug in Kerala to keep water) in front of MJ Wilson’s house in Kuthiathode. Like many other places in Kerala, Kuthiathode too was inundated in the recent floods.
Thousands of people were shifted to the relief camps as the houses and wells were all submerged in the flood waters. However, the 10 feet high and 6 feet wide well at Wilson’s house survived the floods and became the ‘lifeline’ of the entire locality.
Though the well too was submerged up to 9 feet in water, people had depended on this huge well to draw water for drinking and other purposes. Many came in boats to collect water to the various relief camps.
Around 50 people from the nearby houses had sought refuge at Wilson’s three storey house. During floods, people drew water from the huge well from the first floor of the house.
Wilson says that he had decided to build the outer wall of the well in the shape of a kindi, to honor memories of his father. His father used to enter the house only after washing his hands and face from the water kept in a kindi on the verandah.
The decorative structure was built around the well around 5 years ago when he constructed the house. Wilson recalls that many had tried to discourage him by saying that such a huge structure in front of the house would ruin the look of the house.
However, Wilson is happy that his 'kindi' well has quenched the thirst of many people during floods. This well has since become the star on many troll pages on social media as well.