KOZHIKODE: 93-year-old E. Narayanan Kidavu is unable to recollect the memories of the struggle he and his friends fought, just before independence. Old-age and ailments have erased all his memories of the historic fight he was part of in the history of the nation’s struggle for independence. On Tuesday, he was presented with Rs 1 lakh as an honour for his struggle, by the Indian Navy. Mr Kidavu, lives in Nallalam, with his son P. Krishna Kumar. Two years ago, he lost his wife and son in an accident and he was shattered. The family is now banking on the pension that was granted during the tenure of E.K. Nayanar as chief minister.
The efforts by the officers, who were part of the mutiny in 1946 were recognized by the Indian Navy and the six survivors, five from Kannur and one from Kozhikode, were honoured, said P.C.C. Nambiar, a member of the Fleet Meet, a collective of retired Navy officials. “The mutiny broke out on February 18, 1946 in royal naval ships and establishments throughout India. The army, air force and police in Mumbai supported and 200 people lost their lives. The Nayanar government granted them Rs 3,000 as pension. Now after 70 years, their struggle has been recognized by the Indian Navy,” said Nambiar. The five persons from Kannur, who were honoured earlier included Ramunni Nair Chalad Manalil, C.K. Raghavan, Thottada, Balakrishnan Nambiar, Echoor, Gopalan Nambiar, Taliparamba, Rajan, Thalassery.
