Memory and Mystery
This fascinating snippet is from my journal dated 2016, where I had recorded an intriguing incident narrated by the late Prof. Sankaran Nair. I felt compelled to share it, as it features not only some well-known personalities of the time but also the historic Panniyarathala Veedu in Jagathy. For those interested in knowing more, I had written two detailed articles for The Hindu—one tracing the history of Panniyarathala Veedu, and the other on K. Janardhanan Pillai, former Headmaster of Model School and father of Prof. Sankaran Nair.
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The finely carved eastern
mukhappu (gable) of Panniyarathala Veedu, Jagathy. |
25.05.2016 - K. Janardhanan Pillai B.A. L.T. (b.1875-d.1965) began his teaching career at a government school in Kollam, where Prof. K. Paramu Pillai M.A. (the first M.A. degree holder in Travancore) served as the headmaster. Recalling his days in Kollam, Prof. Sankaran Nair shared an intriguing story he had heard from his parents.
During his time in Kollam, Janardhanan Pillai and his colleagues often gathered at the residence of Paramu Pillai (b.1871-d.1919). These informal get-togethers were occasionally graced by the presence of the renowned poet K.C. Keshava Pillai, who enlivened the gatherings with his melodious singing. "He sang beautifully, lifting the mood of the evenings," remembered Prof. Sankaran Nair.
Paramu Pillai had a deep interest in semi-metaphysical pursuits and had acquired a fair command of hypnotism through extensive reading. On one such evening, when friends had assembled at his home, he hypnotized a young boy—probably aged between 12 and 15—and asked him to mentally travel to Janardhanan Pillai’s residence, Panniyarathala Veedu, in Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram.
To everyone’s astonishment, the boy, who had never visited Thiruvananthapuram, began vividly describing the Valiyasala region while lying in a trance in Kollam. He went on to narrate what he "saw" during his imagined walk towards Panniyarathala Veedu: sprawling stretches of farmland and a clear stream (Kochar) winding alongside the road. Suddenly, the boy fell silent. When Paramu Pillai gently prompted him, he explained that it had started raining and that he was now taking shelter under a padippura to avoid getting drenched.
Once the rain ceased, he resumed his journey and continued detailing the sights along the way. Finally, he reached the front of the house—an expansive arayum-nirayum structure built predominantly in timber. However, when asked to enter the compound, the boy hesitated. He claimed he saw a commanding elderly figure at the entrance—Kesava Pillai, the karnavar (patriarch) of the house and Janardhanan Pillai’s father—issuing instructions to a group of people.
Encouraged by Paramu Pillai, the boy cautiously "entered" the compound and reported seeing a large iron safe placed in the adichuttupura (adichuttupura = "adichu-koottiya-pura" is a temporary entrance hall/pavilion constructed in the front-yard of the main house) of the house. Listening to this account, Janardhanan Pillai, who was present at the session, was stunned. The description matched his home precisely, including the iron safe, which was normally kept in the inner rooms under the custody of his father. His only confusion was why it was placed outside in the adichuttupura. The boy then added that some men appeared to be scraping the surface of the safe. It occurred to Janardhanan Pillai that it might have been moved out temporarily for its periodic repainting. To verify this, he immediately sent a postcard home, asking if it had rained that day and why the iron safe had been shifted to the porch.
Once the rain ceased, he resumed his journey and continued detailing the sights along the way. Finally, he reached the front of the house—an expansive arayum-nirayum structure built predominantly in timber. However, when asked to enter the compound, the boy hesitated. He claimed he saw a commanding elderly figure at the entrance—Kesava Pillai, the karnavar (patriarch) of the house and Janardhanan Pillai’s father—issuing instructions to a group of people.
Encouraged by Paramu Pillai, the boy cautiously "entered" the compound and reported seeing a large iron safe placed in the adichuttupura (adichuttupura = "adichu-koottiya-pura" is a temporary entrance hall/pavilion constructed in the front-yard of the main house) of the house. Listening to this account, Janardhanan Pillai, who was present at the session, was stunned. The description matched his home precisely, including the iron safe, which was normally kept in the inner rooms under the custody of his father. His only confusion was why it was placed outside in the adichuttupura. The boy then added that some men appeared to be scraping the surface of the safe. It occurred to Janardhanan Pillai that it might have been moved out temporarily for its periodic repainting. To verify this, he immediately sent a postcard home, asking if it had rained that day and why the iron safe had been shifted to the porch.
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The poomukham (eastern verandah)
of Panniyarathala Veedu, Jagathy. |
When the boy awoke from the trance, he had no recollection of the episode or of his "visit" to Thiruvananthapuram. However, when Janardhanan Pillai returned home the following weekend, he found his family eagerly awaiting an explanation—curious and amazed by how he had so accurately recounted the events at home from a distance.
- My write-up on K. Janardhanan Pillai:
- My write-up on Panniyarathala Veedu:
- My write-up on Prof. Sankaran Nair:
Sharat Sunder Rajeev
01.08.2025.
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