Kalappurackal Pappachan and his wife Thressyamma at their farm in the high ranges of Idukki. (EPS) 
Kerala

This 100-year-old freedom fighter continues to awe-inspire with farming skills

When he began farming in the high ranges in idukki, Kalappurackal Pappachan did not get much support from his family, but years later his toil has found success

Sruthi Paruthikad

IDUKKI: Centenarian Kalappurackal Pappachan, whose official name is Antony Devassya, cannot imagine a single day when he is not working on his farmland. Working by his side, is his octogenarian wife Thressyamma. 

Pappachan, who was also a freedom fighter, was never ready to yield to any power, be it nature or hunger.

For Pappachan, who left his native place in Pala and moved to the high ranges of Idukki in 1952, life has not been a bed of roses. He stuck to his passion for farming even when his near and dear ones refused to support his decision to find fortune in the high range. At a later stage, however, everyone had to change their mind and follow his footsteps.

“It’s my farming that helped me live through thick and thin. So I cannot imagine a day without working on the land,” says Pappachan. However, his better half was supportive of his chosen path and has been by his side for the past 60 years like a shadow.

When he began farming on a leased land in Kattappana, there was no one to help him out. Since those were his youthful days, the labour was not a big issue for him, but they were days of famine and he had to toil alone without sufficient food.

Seeing him harvesting success despite farming on leased land, all his four younger siblings decided to buy some land together in the high range. They bought 20 acres at Valiyathovala and started farming all essential crops, including paddy in 1955, a year before Pappachan married Thressyamma. In his twenties, Pappachan was put behind bars for around 10 days in Mundakkyam for participating in the freedom fight led by Pottakkulam Mathayichan in 1944. This experience made a fighter out of him. Pappachan had to put an end to his formal education after fifth standard following the demise of his mother.

Even at 100, he has no ailments due to his tough schedule that he follows every day.

LIVE | Iran says it 'won't negotiate' with US; at least 101 missing after Iranian ship attacked off Sri Lankan coast

May seem ordinary election for others, but 'oceanic emotion for me': TVK chief Vijay at Thanjavur

Canada PM says Israeli-US strikes on Iran 'inconsistent with international law'

Sabarimala gold loss case: Vigilance court grants statutory bail to ex-TDB president Padmakumar

Police register FIRs against NC MP, former Srinagar mayor over social media posts on Khamenei's killing

SCROLL FOR NEXT