Another monsoon, five years ago

Monsoon is miserable in Uzhavoor. Slushy roads with ankle-deep mud, slippery slopes and overflowing canals turn the village into a veritable...

Monsoon is miserable in Uzhavoor. Slushy roads with ankle-deep mud, slippery slopes and overflowing canals turn the village into a veritable abyss. But the rains have not dampened the spirits of the villagers who are busy preparing to celebrate the elevation of 8216;son of their soil8217; K.R. Narayanan to the highest office of the country.

Colourful arches and banners offering their best wishes and congratulations to 8216;Uzhavoor8217;s beloved son8217; dot the skyline at vantage points. The thought that their next-door neighbour will soon be President of India thrills them.

Narayanan is the President already as far as the villagers are concerned. The management of Our Lady8217;s Lourde High School, Uzhavoor, where Narayanan had his upper primary education, has already got a big portrait of Narayanan ready for the school with the inscription: Sri K.R. Narayanan, President of India, our student, 1931-35. The portrait will be unveiled the day Narayanan is sworn in.

Another proud possession of this school is a seven-volume Oxford Children8217;s Encyclopedia given by Narayanan to its students.

The school management has even arranged a special mass in Narayanan8217;s honour at the local church at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow today was a public holiday because of Meeladi-i-Sherif to be followed by distribution of sweets.

But the focal point of the celebrations is the Uzhavoor Government LP School where Narayanan studied till the fourth standard. A TV set, donated by Narayanan on the occasion of the school8217;s platinum jubilee celebrations, is displayed in the office of Headmistress Mary Mathew. Entry number 894 on the seventh page of the school8217;s admission register bears the inscription 8216;8216;K.R. Narayanan, son of Raman Vaidayar, Kocheril, Perumthanam, Uzhavoor8217;8217;, entered when Narayanan was admitted to the first standard on May 5, 1927.

During his primary school days, Narayanan used to walk the seven kilometres from his house at Perumthanam to the Uzhavoor school. The footpath between Narayanan8217;s ancestral house, Kocheril, and the school is now being cleared for old time8217;s sake.

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8216;8216;Narayanan was fully absorbed in reading as he walked slowly to the school with a tiffin carrier hanging from one hand. It was this extensive reading that has made Narayanan what he is today,8217;8217; said a contemporary of Narayanan.

However, unmindful of the preparations, K.R. Gowri, elder sister of Narayanan was taking her siesta when The Indian Express team visited her in her modest house at Perumthanam. Gowri and Narayanan8217;s brother K.R. Bhaskaran, say they have no plans to go for the swearing-in ceremony. 8216;8216;I can8217;t stand the hustle and bustle of the swearing-in. I might as well see it on TV,8217;8217; said Gowri.

Excerpted from an article in 8216;The Indian Express8217;, July 18, 1997