Since 1938, buttermilk has been flowing for free near this court
The family of a merchant, who set aside a portion of his rental income to supply buttermilk free of cost, has been continuing the rtadition for 86 years. Now, around 400 glasses of buttermilk are supplied daily to both lawyers and the public on Kozhikode
The Kozhikode district court premises witnesses a unique ritual every summer.
By around 11 a.m., a man appears with a steel container full of buttermilk and sits beneath an old banyan tree to help the lawyers quench their thirst.
For over 15 years, D.P. Subair, a villager from Kulangara Peedika, has been part of this timehonoured practice that was initiated by a merchant’s family here in 1938.
“It was the successful completion of an old litigation that prompted the merchant’s family to set apart a portion of their rental income to supply buttermilk to all visitors of the court during summer. The tradition was steadfastly followed as a charity initiative by the family that distributed the drink between March 1 to April 13 every year,” says T.A. Nagarajan, a 71yearold Valayanad native who now oversees the tradition.
₹1,800 a day
He spends ₹1,800 a day, including the labour charges of his helper Subair, who does the job unmindful of his fasting during the Ramadan.
Nagarajan and Subair
Subair, along with Nagarajan, serving buttermilk to lawyers in the district court compound in Kozhikode on Monday.
come to the spot with around 400 glasses of buttermilk every day. Usually, the container gets empty by 12.30 p.m.
Though the lawyers are the main beneficiaries, the
public too can relish the drink which is spiced up with some natural ingredients from Subair’s home.
Subair gets paid ₹800 daily for the task. He later leaves for his routine headload work at the Valiyangadi market.
For him “it is a blessing to serve the thirsty people.”
Court’s permission
“This is the 86th year of this initiative launched by Meethalaveettil Kunhunni Chettiar. After his death, it was taken up by his brotherinlaw T.V. Ramakrishna Pillai. A few years later, his soninlaw T.V. Parameswaran Pillai took up the mantle. His brother T.V. Narayanan who took care of it till very recently. I am his cousin and I took up the responsibility following his ill health two years ago,” says Mr. Nagarajan.
“We apply for the court’s permission every year to continue with the tradition,” he adds.
Only steel cups are used for the distribution. Some drink even three glasses of buttermilk to escape the scorching heat and dehydration.
“Many make use of the facility unaware of the history behind this selfless initiative. I have been witnessing this for over two decades,” says K.P. Sreenesh, a lawyer and one of the former secretaries of Calicut Bar Association.
A major highlight is the high level of hygiene they follow to do this summer service for our people, he notes.