Kozhikode ∙ At Nainamvalap this time once more the hartal is outside the steps. Shops in Nainamvalap were bustling with traffic while shops in the city remained closed during the hartal called by the Popular Front on Friday. 5 decades ago on a bandh day, the local people drank Rouhani Abubakar’s hot tea and the decision was not disturbed beyond generations.
A decision was taken that day that no bandh and hartal will be held in Nainamvalap area as well. Later, many organizations conducted bandhs and hartals individually and collectively, but nothing touched Nainamvalap. Five decades ago, a man named Rouhani Abubakar opened his tea shop on Bandh Day. Under the leadership of Pallikandi Bichammad, the bandh supporters came to close the shop. Civic leader NP Impichammad also came forward to stop the bandh supporters and there was a verbal altercation.
Meanwhile Hamzakoya, the elder brother of Bichammad, came. He slapped Bichmad on the cheek. With that, everyone who came to close the shop left the place. It was then that the decision was taken not to bandh and hartal. Later, on a bandh day, the shop in Nainamvalap will be closed and no one should go to the sea, the bandh supporters had earlier told the locals.
The elders and youths there prepared to face it. People went fishing and opened shops. Bandh supporters moved to the area in a massive demonstration. The demonstration took a detour following seeing the people of Nainamvalap standing on the road ready for anything. After that no one came to close the shop.
Those conducting the hartal go to hotels and shops in Nainamvalap to relieve their fatigue. Hotels and shops opened as usual on Friday and people went regarding their normal business. The shops were busy since morning. People came from different parts of the hotel. There was no place for locals to drink tea.
English Summary: No Hartal at Kozhikode Nainam Valappu
