After a wonderful stay and work in Thrissur, My stay in Calicut
was pleasant and fruitful. I reached Malaparamba Junction, the place suggested
by Abhishek Shankar on Saturday (29 November 2014) afternoon and gave him a
call on his cell phone. He was going to take care of my lodging at his office,
which earlier used to be his house. Just after a few minutes of unbinding my
luggage and settling down, Abhishek, a professional Architect with vivid social concern, handed over a well designed map/chart of the city to me. Explaining
the map he told me about all the important places, landmarks and institutions.
In the evening he escorted me with his Enfield mobike to the city.
First we stopped at Calicut Press Club. There we met the Secretary Mr. A. V.
Sherine. Sherine is a nice human being. He heard about my ride and its
objective. Appreciated and suggested to see an article on Acid Attacks written
by the Social Welfare Minister Mr. Muneer in the recent issue of Matribhumi, a
malyalam weekly. He also suggested to meet Mr. Muneer as he could understand
the mission of the ride and might support. Next he offered a press conference
in the press club on Monday. That was a kind of big moral support.
After that Abhishek took me to Talai area (Daryaganj of Delhi). There
is huge pond in the locality. That might be one reason for naming the area
Talai. Mr. Kris Sreekandath, now my very dear Kris Bhai and Sebastian uncle
waiting there for us. Kris Bhai, originally from Kochi has spent most of his
time in Oxford and now settled in Calicut for the last few years. Sebastian
Uncle, a cyclist for the last 62 years is a very nice and enthusiastic human
being. Later we all went to nearby Vinayaka restaurant, there Abhishek and Kris
Bhai interviewed me with nice coffee. Kris bhai always keeps Sony camera in his
pocket and never leave any chance to click. He has taken some photographs in
front of a very old temple.
On the way to Vinayaka restaurant we met with a cycle shop owner,
Kris bhai introduced me to him and said that he met to Abhishek only because of
him. This wonderful human being offered me to repair my cycle if
required.
Later I followed Abhishek and went to the office of Social Welfare
Minister of Kerela Mr. Muneer. But by the time we reached there, he had left
for some other work.
Once again I followed Abhishek’s Enfield till a whole sale market.
From there Abhishek left for his home and I decided to take a round of the
city. But before that I got some batteries for my cycle lights and a tooth
paste. K. P. NAMBOODIRI'S an Ayurvadic for the first time. The shopkeeper
gifted me a packet of Good day, my all time favourite biscuit. There met many
shopkeepers and salespersons encircled the GENDER BENDER and started asking
about the Ride. Why the ride? From where I started? My native place? (these
were the questions. In fact, these are the questions, I usually reply. Everyday
at least 50 times! I Always enjoy answering except when someone stops in the
sun and started asking questions one after other or a mo bike passerby starts
asking during the ride only.)
After that, I started for Malaparamba, my local place of stay. On
the way to I had my dinner in SANGAMAM hotel. During my Calicut stay I had my
many meals in Sangamam. Now the hotel owner and staff are my good friends.
Every night I used to take two bottles of boiled water from Sangamam.
This was the end of the first day in Calicut. By the time I
unfolded my mat, it was 1.00 hours. But I could sleep only after 3.30 hours.
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