User:Nazir Feroke/sandbox

Mammu Saheb Kalathingal (K. M. Kutty) Feroke

There are few names you cannot forget while writing about Feroke. History, fame, pride of that place is attached with his name - Mammu Sahab and off course it comes in front face.

Born in the reputed ancient Kalathingal family of Feroke, he was better known as K. M. Kutty among bureaucrats and administrators. He was proficient in resolving disputes of local areas and nearby districts. His home was mentioned as ‘court of Feroke’, that time. Even spiritual leader Panakkad Pookkoya Thangal sent some of his clients to Mammu Saheb with his letter to solve some disputes and he always did it with confidence of both parties. Property disputes, family problems, land issues, quarrels between different factions of community are some of them. People from different walks, religion, creed and cast approached him for his assistance. They were confident that their issues will be sorted out. Mammu saheb has good influence in bureaucratic and political circle.

Mammu Saheb was the very first civil and erection contractor of Mavoor Gwalior Rayons. With his efforts and influence, a big number of publics got job in Gwalior Rayons. They were from Feroke, Ramanattukara, Chaliyam, Beypore and even from nearby districts like Malappuram, Palakkad and Kannur. Jobs in Birla Factory was considered as high profile like Government jobs that time. His cordial relationship with R. N. Saboo, then head of Mavoor Gwalior Rayons helped him lot for this. He was fluent in languages English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil, which was very rare that time. The celebrated construction contractor of Malabar, very first contractor of Gwalior Rayons, worked with Birla group at Harihar, Ammasandra, Tumkur, Bhadravathi etc., where Malabari labours and Mappila Khalasis got opportunity and exposure. Pages of history of Feroke cannot complete without the name of K. M. Kutty, the other name of Mammu Saheb used to call in upper circle of Birla group.

Once, Birla group transported a huge Boiler to the Factory from Germany. Experienced engineers of the group tried to unload it using huge cranes specially brought from Bombay and Gujarat for this purpose. Even after several attempts they failed to unload it. Mammu saheb offered Birla management that he can arrange unloading and installation without any heavy machinery. He did both jobs with his Mappila Khalasi team, using rope and pully. The incident was in presence of Birla higher management including Ameer Pasha and R. N. Saboo. They gave cash prize and arranged party to whole team who did the job within short time span. This news spread soon and became well known out of Kerala and in north Indian circle of Birla group. It helped him in getting numbers of contract in Mysore, Harihar, Badravathi, Ammasandra etc., and lot of people in nearby areas got job that time.

During his School days, Mammu saheb participated in freedom struggle and was arrested. His refusal of ‘Thamrapathram’ etc., from the Government was also part of the history. He was a stubborn Indian National Congress follower, was Treasurer of District Congress Committee and elected member of Feroke Panchayath that time. He had very close relation with veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran.

But Mammu saheb will be remembered mainly for the construction of roads he made in every areas of Feroke and nearby Panchayats. Many of those roads were not drivable in those days. His capability, hard work and organizing capacity changed the landscape of Feroke like what we can see nowadays. Always helping needy and poor with charity work, he was shelter for many.

Mammu saheb was born in 1928 at Feroke. Died in June 21st 2005 at the age of 77. Spouse: Bichipathu Tamarassery. Siblings: Ismail, Nazar, Laila and Sasu.