Disappearing Extended Family Bonds

 

Until two generations ago, there was a world where daily life felt more relaxed. There were people to attend to one’s mundane needs, and such services were easily, honestly and reliably available.

The characters mentioned here cannot be dismissed as more than self-indulgent nostalgia. It fosters a sense of community cohesiveness, regardless of the social, religious, or economic status of its members. It is likely driven by loyalty, love, and affection—a relationship formed beyond mere duty.

Life in those days was vastly different from today’s life, which seems to be in a perpetual fast-forward mode. Each individual had a role assigned to them by their profession or by obligation. And those boundaries restricted no one; almost everyone went beyond them. For example, Kunjappu, whose job was to assist his master, Martin & Sons, the baker.

He helped the Martin family bake loaves of bread and buns, as well as allied products. Kunjappu’s real job starts in the afternoon, delivering products to various families in and around the town's suburbs, with a large round basket full of items well balanced on his head.  His promptness, pleasing manners, and rapport with the families were key to his marketing success. His sight was so prominent to all the residents of the locality, more so with protruding teeth and an ever-smiling face. That lovely aroma of freshly baked bread was so tempting to his customers, even before he entered the compound of the houses. He would take orders for the next trip even before the current supply was delivered. This included special orders for banana cakes and other beautiful, sweet treats in pink for upcoming birthdays, festivals such as Christmas, Onam, or Id as well as other special events or kitty parties. Kunjappu maintained a cigarette-sized notebook for recording customer transactions, which were settled by the following month.

 Dietary restrictions were never on people’s minds in those years.

Shopping for bread at a nearby hypermarket has become tiring due to the numerous brands, flavors, and sizes available.. Additionally, freshness is often a concern, as expiry dates are rarely visible. Any request or inquiry to a typically unwilling sales boy receives a cold response and a shady look. Customers are required to pay immediately at the bill counter while waiting in line.

 We truly missed Kunjappus here, and in many ways!

As you all know, the name Kerala is derived from the land of 'kera ' trees, and probably sustained the lives and economy of its people then. The coconut kernel is an essential ingredient in Kerala cuisine and is widely used in cooking. Every part of the tree is utilized, either for coir production, handicraft items, or oil extraction. The trunk is used as building material, while the roots are dried and used as fuel. Additionally, toddy is tapped from the stem, making it a popular alcoholic beverage.  

Meet our character, Chamu, a.k.a Chamy or Chamunny. He is a coconut plucker who visits homes regularly to harvest coconuts. Depending on the household's needs, he cuts the nuts when they are tender or raw, whether for use in cooking, rituals during functions, or for sale in the market to help earn extra income for the family. When he was in a skilled mood, he would climb a tree to pluck nuts and use his knife to cut down dry leaves to clean and prevent infestation. To frighten us or to show off his skill, he will gently sway the tree from side to side and aim for the adjacent tree while swinging. During the festival season, he will have additional work to assist with pandal decoration using cut leaves in various formats, enhancing the beauty of the venue.

As years went by, Chamys became a rare species, along with the bond that existed between the tribe and its people.  As a profession, it has become unviable due to the cost of plucking from each tree being disproportionate to product availability, making it uneconomical to the owner. Changes in dietary habits, increased construction activities for development projects, and the growth of residential flats and houses have also contributed to the reduction of coconut plantations and cultivation areas.

Have you ever heard of a government functionary appointed for the very purpose of winding the clocks?. Yes, Kuttan was indeed an important cog in the wheel of the Cochin State government machinery! He ensured the wheels of time moved smoothly and precisely in the government offices in Kochi. Quartz movement was not yet in the arena, and each office had to be attended to by Kuttan at designated intervals-daily, weekly, or so. To him, clocks were people, and he spoke of them as one would speak to close friends!.

His journey starts early in the morning, with his toolbox containing a bunch of keys. Each of his clocks had to be pampered, coaxed and at times mildly, or a dose of violence. There are single keys or double keys for winding gently, oiled for some reluctant springs.

Some clocks were as temperamental as persons in charge of the office, racing ahead by minutes or slowing down or stopping forever. But Kuttan has the panacea for these tantrums.

Listening to the stories of each clock is a pastime and excitement for the employees. They cultivated a bond with the person more than the profession. This helped them attend to repair work at their homes as well.

A new mechanism needing less attention entered the market. It was heard that long after Kuttan retired, he became a ‘consultant’ and flourished in collecting antique clocks!