"Milk sellers on bicycles"

"I'm here to talk about an old news story regarding the practice of increasing the fat content of milk sold in cans, delivered by bicycle and moped in the densely populated homes within the capital city, by adding washed earthworms tied in small cloth bundles. 

            2️⃣This news caused a significant uproar throughout Kerala at the time. It was first reported in the Kerala Kaumudi newspaper. Back then, Kerala Kaumudi was the only newspaper printed and published from Thiruvananthapuram. It also enjoyed the highest circulation. There was also the evening daily, 'Thaniniram,' owned by Krishnan Nair of Kalanilayam permanent theater. Mathrubhumi from Kozhikode and Malayala Manorama from Kottayam were printed and transported to the capital by bus or train, arriving in the morning after the residents had already left for work. During this period, there was a major police raid on the Kerala Kaumudi office following the publication of corruption news about Minister Adiyodi. My father told me that the newspaper office in Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram, was completely surrounded and searched.  The editors,            K. Sukumaran (Kerala Kaumudi) and his younger brother K. Balakrishnan (Kaumudi), were close friends of my father and uncle. My elder sister and elder brother were studying at Pettah High School during that time. All the children from the Kerala Kaumudi family were close friends and classmates of my siblings. One morning, around six o'clock, a milk vendor's bicycle collided with a car at the General Hospital junction. 

              3️⃣The loud crash brought people rushing to the scene. The bicycle and the large can strapped to the back fell over, spilling the milk. Along with the milk, several small cloth bundles flowed out of the can. When the onlookers inquired about the bundles, the milk vendor remained silent. Some people opened the bundles and found them filled with washed earthworms, resembling vermicelli. Since it was a crowd and not the police, they confronted the milk vendor, demanding, "Tell us the truth, why are these bundles in the milk?" The vendor confessed that he washed the earthworms, tied them in bundles, and added them to the milk early in the morning to increase its thickness and fat content before distribution. The General Hospital junction is a hub with numerous roads, medical shops, and the famous Holy Angels Convent School and St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School. The eye hospital, optical shops, Palayam market, Kanimara market, University College, Vanchiyoor court complex, government secretariat, and collectorate are all within walking distance. This 'earthworm milk' news spread like wildfire throughout Thiruvananthapuram city within minutes. People stopped and checked all the milk vendors with cans, finding the bundles in everyone's cans. The vendors were surrounded and beaten. 

           4️⃣At the entry points to the city, such as Ulloor near the medical college, Kesavadasapuram (formerly known as Katachakonam), Thiruvallam, Peyad, Karamana (known as Andiyirakkam), Ayirani muttom (near Attukal, where smallpox victims were disposed of during the royal era before vaccinations), and Konchiravila, people stood guard to apprehend milk vendors on bicycles and mopeds. Everyone got a beating, and they fled, abandoning their bicycles, mopeds, and milk cans. Consequently, the police intervened, and the sale of milk in cans by bicycle and moped ceased. Advertisements from a company in Thiruvalla promoting the health benefits of pure, pasteurized milk began appearing on the front pages of newspapers. Only the Almighty knows the truth. It's impossible to say who was behind this adulteration back then. My wife's family had three or four cows, so we had no shortage of milk. We could buy chilled milk in aluminum foil-sealed bottles from the nearby dairy. Freshly milked warm milk had a great taste. Women would deliver it to our homes for a fee. The milk sold on bicycles was diluted water 365 days a year, and no amount of arguing with the vendors would change that. 

       

              5️⃣We used to hire women to buy Milma plastic-covered milk from the booths early in the morning. As the wages increased, we started buying it ourselves. When the 'earthworm milk' news became a major topic in the media 35 years ago, all the educated employees and officials in the city rejected the bicycle and moped milk. Being born and living in the city has its advantages. News spreads quickly and accurately through the city in moments, via easy routes and narrow lanes.  The city houses thousands of employees working in the government secretariat, Accountant General's office, Vikas Bhavan, corporation office, museum, public office, Pareekshabhavan examination office, DPI Jagathy, university senate, Pangode military camp office, Thycaud railway divisional office, police training college, ISRO Thumba, police commissioner's office, police director general's office, postmaster general's office, BSNL office, Telegraph office and hundreds of other central and state government offices.

              

          6️⃣ Information about events is shared and discussed instantly among the employees. No one can deceive anyone or spread false news. Those who live in remote areas might not be aware of these things."

These are all my literary works in my mother tongue, translated into English by myself.  Please let me know if my readers enjoy these news and articles;  That will make me happy.  Even if you criticize the shortcomings of my writing, it will inspire my future works. Make a contribution to an  Independent Journalism                                       

TIPS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED💙 Pyatm 919447688232💙

Palayam Nizar Ahamed.                         **According to StateCounter Weekly Analytics report, there are many readers in various foreign countries

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"🔥These are all my literary creations in my mother tongue, which I have translated into English myself. Please let me know if my readers enjoy these news and writings; it will make me happy. You can also encourage me by giving tips. Even if you criticize the shortcomings in my writing, it will be an inspiration for my future works🔥"

🙏Palayam Nizar Ahamed.

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