KOZHIKODE: The Indian Institute of Management- K and Cooperative Society Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), have unveiled a joint mission to give life to Nayanar Balika Sadanam, where the urn bearing the ashes of the Mahatma was brought before it was immersed in the Bharathapuzha. Founded in 1957, the Nayanar Balika Sadanam, a girls’ home was founded by Varikkara Rairu Nayanar, a follower of the Servants of India Society in Malabar.
“It’s high time we revived the memories of V.R.Nayanar, the unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle. His reforms and selfless service had transformed the lives of a whole lot of people here”, said Saji Gopinath, IIM-K Dean. “Our mission is not to give a different face for the building”, said Gopinath, adding that the old building and the 89.5 cents of land would be provided new facilities.
“ULCCS, with the support of Saji Gopinath and writer M.Mukundan is planning to utilize the space as “Pakal Veedu”, a day care home for elder citizens. Apart from that, a walking space, a shelter for the needy, a vegetable garden, a system for rain water harvesting, a biogas pit and many other projects more are on our chart", said Abhilash Kumar, ULCCS management advisor.
“By Gandhi Jayanti next year, we will be all set to open the doors of Nayanar Balika Sadanam to the world”, Kumar added. It was freedom-fighter K.Kelappan who first brought the urn with the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi to Balaika Sadanam before taking it for immersion to Bharathapuzha. Due to various encroachment issues and legal battles between encroachers and the society, after 1999, the sadanam lay completely abandoned.
