In Wayanad, crumbling memorials push Pazhassi Raja into oblivion

Pulpally, Wayanad: The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), the district panchayat, and the Veera Pazhassi Raja Remembrance Committee will organise a remembrance programme in memory of the warrior-king on Thursday even as Mavilamthodu, the place where the British killed him, stands desolate.

The work on setting up a memorial has been apparently abandoned. Projects like the Pazhassi Raja Library and Research Center and Pazhassi Raja Museum point to a lack of coordination between the agencies concerned.

The yet-to-be opened building for the library and research center, which was completed five years ago using the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), is moving to disuse. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had handed over the work to a subcontractor, who, despite completing the work, is delaying the submission of the report to the DTPC demanding a revision of the original estimate.

The work on the museum remains incomplete as there is no approach road to the land purchased by the panchayat. The fate of other projects, budgeted at Rs 1.19 crore, is no different. Turf, lights, butterfly park etc were planned to attract tourists. As no contractors showed interest in the tender, the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra (KESNIK) took over the work a month ago but nothing much is moving on the ground.

For people who visit Mavilamthodu to pay homage to the war hero, the trip will be an unforgettable one for the wrong reasons. There are no signages on the road leading to Mavilamthodu from Prabhat Junction, most of the visitors lose way after crossing Parakkadavu or Sasimala.

Though Wayanad Tourism has a web page, it doesn't have proper route map or program schedules.

Local residents and those who value the sacrifice and valor of Pazhassi Raja and his troopers, including Edachena Kunkan, Thalakkal Chandu, and Kurichya warriors, want a fitting memorial instead of an annual ritual of remembrance.