A silent spectator of changing Kochi

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History is asleep at the beautiful waterfront-facing Rajendra Maidan in Kochi. In fact there is hardly anyone who can recognise the statue located in one corner of the large open ground that is distinguished by round steps facing the waterfront.

As arguments still continue whether the statue is that of Parishad Thampuran or the Shaktan Thampuran himself, a few from the older generation like the former supreme court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer and media person Ravi Kuttikad spend quite evenings reminiscing about the past.

“Once this was used to be the turf for historical activities, whether it was the protest over the then Newspaper Control Bill passed by the Kochi legislative assembly in the 30s or the celebrations soon after the first cabinet meet after the formation of the state in 1956,” Kuttikad said.

The ground was first christened Salem Mount in the 1920s after a little-known Jew’s “abnormal behaviour”.

“The Mattancherry-based A.B. Salem, a councillor with the then assembly, used to ride a horse to the grounds most days and stand on the small mount before he gave an emotional speech.

On most occasions, there would be no listeners but that did not deter him. Locals began to call the place Salem Mount,” Kuttikad, who is attempting a book on the unknown history of the place, said.

The current name was given after the country’s first president Dr Rajendra Prasad’s, historic speech soon after the state was formed on a linguistic basis in 1956.

Sadly at present, the ground owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority, has turned into a venue of fair price stalls and exhibitions on a rental basis.

“Surely there is scope for attaching more historic importance to the ground where the likes of Annie Besant, Nehru, Indira Gandhi and EMS Namboodiripad addressed roaring crowds.

It should be properly maintained highlighting its historic importance and opened to the public,” the veteran scribe said.