Payyanur Local News

PAYYANUR: The life of Smt. Lakshmi, the ‘watchwoman’ of Thuruthy isle, one among the several islands on the Kavvayi river near Ezhimala, is turning into a nightmare. She is left all alone but for her pet dog ‘Kuttan’ on this islet ever since her husband Chaladan Damodaran committed suicide four months ago. However, at the time of Lakshmi’s struggle to cope with loneliness, poverty and old age, she has been served with a notice by the bank for repayment of loan which was availed by her late husband for constructing the small house on the six cents of land donated to them by the owner of the isle Shri S A P Mammoonji Haji.

‘‘Left alone and with my poor eye sight I do not know how I will repay the loan,’’ says Lakshmi who had undergone an operation for cataract in her left eye. The right eye also is in trouble and the doctors have advised her to get it operated at the earliest. But poor as she is, she is in no position to go by the advise of the doctors. Lakshmi and her husband Damodaran moved to the Thuruthy isle and with their two daughters some 18 years ago. They were sent there by the owner of the isle who needed someone to take care of his property.

Mammoonji Haji, who donated them six cents of land to build a house, also used to give Damodaran a small amount for guarding the isle. However, things took a bad turn when Damodaran committed suicide on June 25, 2001. It was fear psychosis that led to Damodaran’s death, according to Lakshmi. He used to catch fish from the river and sell it to people living on the nearby Kalikadappuram. One of the residents of Kalikkadappuram had threatened to kill Damodaran which affected his mental equilibrium.

‘‘After that he became terribly afraid that he stopped eating and talking to people. And, one day he poured kerosene over his body and killed himself,’’ says Lakshmi.
Fortunately, Lakshmi’s two daughters Sujatha and Ajitha were married off before Damodarn’s death. And at least one of them comes to her aid occasionally after Damodaran’s death.

Living all by herself, Lakshmi has to get all her household items, and even drinking water from Kavvayi as there is no well on this isle. The only items she get free of cost are crabs, fish and oysters from the Kavvayi river. Kuttan, her pet dog (who incidentally is terribly afraid of water) takes guard of the isle when Lakshmi goes out on her canoe. ‘‘I used to catch fish and crabs during day and night. But with my poor eye-sight this not possible now,’’ says Lakshmi, who is hopeful that some good samaritan would come to her aid one day.