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HISTORY OF GENT'S FEDERATION
Mr. Antony Muthu was born at a house in the Kihzhakku vilai area of Vellicode in 1908 as the third son of a Mr.Michael. He had been a bachelor and Malayalam Pandit. He had been a Home Library fan. He died in 1944. Before his death, he had requested his elder brother – Mr.M. Dharmanathan- to allot a rent-free reading room for the benefit of the people. In deference to his wish, the latter allotted a rent-free room in the first floor when he constructed a new building abutting the high-way.
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| Gent's Federation Building |
Mr. R. Maria Michael from the Thattamkonam area of Vellicode – my maternal uncle-, Mr. Cruz Michael from Kizhakku-vilai area and Mr. Mariakkan from the Puthu-vilai area and a few others formed themselves into an Association. They started a reading room -St. Xaviers’s Reading Room -in the new room in 1946. A Malayalam newspaper called Deepika was the first newspaper they bought.
Mr. Mariakkan was employed in Ernakulam and he rarely visited Vellicode. Mr. Cruz Michael also left Vellicode. Mr. R. Maria Michael withdrew himself from the scene when some young boys began to show interest in running the reading room.
Now, Mr. M. Michael of Kizhakku Vilai area approached the owner of the room to start an Association and the latter obliged. He then organized an Association called “Students Association” in the same room. The only condition to join it was that one must be a student.
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| Mr. S. Mariakkon, a foundermember,going to market on 8 May 2012 |
Mr.T.Maria Susai B.A. (Hons)B.L. of Swamithara vilai area - younger brother of my father- inaugurated the Association in 1954. He gave Re.10/- as donation and said that Re.10/-given by him would grow into Re.thousands of crore.
A characteristic feature of the Association was that the students of other castes and religions in and around Vellicode were admitted as members. A Mr. Sundaram - a Hindu- of Aynimoottu vilai area and a Mr. Sukumaran -another Hindu- of a neighbouring village –Kallu-vilai- were active members. In fact, Mr. Sukumaran had been functioning as Secretary for some time.
The Association was started with the object of promoting the physical and mental development of the youth of the Vellicode area.
Accordingly - for physical development - volley- ball was introduced in Vellicode in the school ground. Many volley-ball tournaments were conducted. Onam ball tournaments were also organized during the Onam festival. Mr. Subramonium from the Kannannoor was a good Onam ball player.
Moreover, training in " Aasanam" - a kind of yoga - was given to a few interested boys. Mr. Muthayyan from the Chevidivilai area of Vellcode was the Yoga Master. In Aasanam, the boys have to maintain static sitting or stretching positions to build stamina and concentration. I had seen Mr. Mariakkon standing on his head inside the reading room.
Moreover, training in " Aasanam" - a kind of yoga - was given to a few interested boys. Mr. Muthayyan from the Chevidivilai area of Vellcode was the Yoga Master. In Aasanam, the boys have to maintain static sitting or stretching positions to build stamina and concentration. I had seen Mr. Mariakkon standing on his head inside the reading room.
For mental development, a Tamil newspaper- Thina Thanthi- a Malayalam newspaper-Malayala Manorama- and an English newspaper-The Indian Express- were regularly purchased. President Mr. R. Muthiah had been giving subscription for a newspaper for many years. Besides, subscription was given to Kumutham and Aanandavikidan- two Tamil weeklies- and Then Oli- a Tamil monthly.
As the members grew old, its name was changed into Gent’s Federation. All office bearers retained their respective positions. The condition that one must be a student to join it was relaxed.
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One day, the ‘Founder Secretary’ resigned and Mr. V.S. Ambrose B.Sc. B.T. of Mundavizhagam village was elected as the new Secretary.
Now, books were collected from all over Vellicode. Two wooden bookshelves were made. In order to buy glass for the shelves, they had gone to many places before zeroing in on Thiruvithancode. Mr. A. Arulappan of Swamitharavilai area was in-charge of the books.
A “Debate Club” was started and many social and political issues were periodically debated.
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| Mr. C.Francis, a founder member of Gent's Federation , is sitting in his house . |
Further, a “Drama Unit” had been started mainly for social satire. It had secured the first prize in a drama competition conducted by the Thuckalay Punchayat Union. The Director for the "Drama Unit" was Mr. M.Innasimuthu of Erattan-vilai area and it was called M.I.Muthu Team
The people of this village had been studying Malayalam until the R.C. Primary School, Vellicode switched over to Tamil in 1956. Thina Thanthi became a boon for the people to learn Tamil.
One of the beneficiaries of Thina Thanthi was Mr. M.Innasi Muthu. He had studied up to the second standard only. He was a palm- tree climber. He started reading Thina Thanthi newspaper with the help of others and began to read well. He gradually became an expert in politics. In fact, he was the Socrates of Vellicode. As early as in 1966, he said that India was being ruled by Tata and Birla and not by the representatives of the people. I heard his words and they still reverberate. In fact, it happened to be the dominant theme of my work present in www.howeverythinghappenedinindia.blogspot.com.
Some youngsters got employment/ educational opportunities by virtue of the advertisements in these newspapers.
Some students used this Library-cum- reading room to enrich their knowledge. I had been a regular visitor during my school days and it inculcated me with a reading habit. I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. M. Antony Muthu, and others behind this Library.
The Gent's Federation did some other social works also. Thus, during that time, the R.C. Primary School had a "Labour Week". With the help of the students, the Association laid a 6-feet path to connect Vellicode school ground with the Thiruvatti area. Valvachagostam Punchayat President Mr.J.Nesamony opened it. Later, it became a narrow path is a different matter.
The Gent's Federation did some other social works also. Thus, during that time, the R.C. Primary School had a "Labour Week". With the help of the students, the Association laid a 6-feet path to connect Vellicode school ground with the Thiruvatti area. Valvachagostam Punchayat President Mr.J.Nesamony opened it. Later, it became a narrow path is a different matter.
After Mr. V.S. Ambrose B.Sc. B.T. had resigned, Mr. I. Sabarimuthu B.E. - from the Puthu vilai- area became the Secretary. Mr. Sabariyaradimai of Kattuvilai area was in charge of the books. The key to the room was transferred from Mr. A Arulappan to Mr. D. Jesudhason from the Kizhakkuvilai area. Now, some students returning from the Kattathurai High School and some other people began to give trouble to the owner of the house. Therefore, he asked the office- bearers to vacate the room.
Thus, in 1973, the Library was shifted to a shed offered by Mr. Muthaian of Thattankonam area. The present writer purchased The Indian Express for two years. However, the owner wanted his shed for his own use. The new Secretary shifted the movable assets of the Library to his car shed.
The office bearers and many members left Vellicode. There was no one to offer a room. Therefore, the movable assets – two book shelves along with the books, two benches and a desk- were donated to the R.C. Primary School, Vellicode in 1978.
Though it is a digression, it is pertinent to note that in 2004, Mr. R. George – younger brother of Mr.R. Muthiah B.Com.H.D.C –donated two cent of land to the Government to establish a Library. Accordingly, a library building has been constructed using the M.L.A. fund of Mr. Velaudhan M.L.A. The library is being run by a part time Librarian.
By
V.Sabarimuthu
26-3 Thattankonam
Vellicode
Mulagmoodu P.O. PIN:629167
V.Sabarimuthu
26-3 Thattankonam
Vellicode
Mulagmoodu P.O. PIN:629167
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