Prakkulam Muraleedharan

Prakkulam Muraleedharan (1935--2012), was one among the main driving force behind the progress and development of Prakkulam. Some of his social achievements (during the year from 1955 to 1995) include:

(1) Development of the tarred-road and road transport service in Prakkulam (from Kanjaveli junction to Sambranikodi kadavu). (2) Refined and maintained the service of two KSRTC buses in Kollam-Prakkulam by-route. (3) Manpower behind the establishment of Prakkulam Post Office. (4) Organized many social and cultural events, which made Prakkulam made into fame. (5) Founder / Organizing secretary of Societies, Organizations and Institutions viz., Prakkulam Coir co-operative society, Prakkulam Milk co-operative society, Kollam unit of Kerala Balajanasakhyam, Prakkulam Friends Club, Prakkulam unit of UNESCO sponsored Children’s Nutrition Programme, Chachaji Youth Center, Chachaji Mahila Samajam, Chachaji Park (In 1975, Mr T. K. Divakaran, the then Minister of Public Works, had sanctioned a 3.45 cent land at the end of Kanjaveli-Sambranikodi road, for the development of this children's park. The Minister had sent this sanction letter to him as a wedding-gift for his marriage!), Sree Narayana Sandesa Pracharana Sabha, International Center for Study and Development etc. (6) Refined the Sambranikodi-Kavanadu Kadathu (canoe service). (7) The establishment of ‘Samranikodi Eco-tourist Centre’ is his long cherished dream. His painstaking efforts highly helped Sambranikodi came into light in the Ashtamudi backwaters tourist Map. In 1976, he raised the first voice on Sambranokodi Development Programme. He devoted his major social life in this dream project. He has made discussions with higher authorities and organized some public meetings with regard to this issue.

A picture perfect of Ashtamudi lake from Sambranikodi

His mission and vision: All these selfless efforts were made with his collective social vision, and without aiming at any political interests. In the early years, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP--Sreekandan Nair fraction) helped Mr Muraleedharan a lot to execute his social work. After the party split-up, he broke all the ties with politics and completely involved in the social works only. His silent but serious efforts were instrumental in kindling interest in socio-politics primarily among some leading political leaders of Kollam. His vision was ‘Politics is to be society-welfare and not be self-welfare’. His entire life (social-professional-personal) and dreams are exclusively build-up for the well-being of Prakkulam village, and he retired from his 40 years of active social service (retired from Govt. Service in 1990). He was a true communist (no self gain) and Gandhian (not luxurious) in action. He was the life member of Kerala sangeetha Nataka Academi

His dream comes true? : In 2008, Sambranikodi is recognized as an important place in Ashtamudi Backwaters Tourist Map. The State Government has accorded administrative sanction for the Rs 5.38-crore Ashtamudi Backwaters Tourism Development Project. The project will benefit to Kollam boat jetty, Thoppilkadavu, Sambranikodi, Veerabhadra Swami Temple, Pattamthuruthu, Palliyathuruthu and Monroethuruthu. Now, the development activities on Sambranikodi Tourism is in progress.

His motto: Think about Universal and act in Village.
Epilogues: (1) In the ‘Era of IPR & Patents’, all human efforts should be recorded and documented. But the Eastern ideology believes in the ‘Beauty of patience’ and ‘Devotion in action without aiming rewards’ (Bhagavat Gita ).
(2) Social activity is entirely different from Political activity? Social activist is 'straightforward' and earns nothing but self-satisfaction. A political activist is 'flexible' and power monger. (Politics is the last resort of squandrels ! ~ G. Bernad Shaw)