The Election Season Pilgrimage to Kolumban's Memorial
In the picturesque district of Idukki, a peculiar political ritual unfolds with clockwork precision every election cycle. The memorial dedicated to Chemban Kolumban, located near Cheruthoni, transforms into an unlikely pilgrimage site for candidates across the political spectrum. Regardless of party affiliation or ideological stance, aspirants make a mandatory stop here to offer floral tributes before submitting their nomination papers.
A Ceremony of Convenience
The ritual is performed with apparent reverence, accompanied by rolling cameras and fresh garlands. The solemnity of the moment, however, evaporates as quickly as the election season concludes. Once the ballots are counted and results declared, Kolumban's memorial returns to obscurity, only to be remembered when the next electoral cycle begins.
The irony of this seasonal attention is profound and troubling. Without Chemban Kolumban's crucial contribution, the story of Asia's largest arch dam—the Idukki Arch Dam—would remain incomplete. As a respected elder of the Oorali tribal community, Kolumban guided engineers through dense, uncharted forests to the narrow gorge between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills. His intimate knowledge of the terrain made possible the construction of one of India's most ambitious hydroelectric projects.
Persistent Neglect and Broken Promises
Despite his pivotal role, recognition for Kolumban has remained largely ceremonial and superficial. The memorial itself, situated near the Cheruthoni Dam, spends most of the year overgrown with vegetation and neglected by authorities. Cleaning and maintenance efforts are undertaken only when election season demands presentable surroundings for political photo opportunities.
Successive state budgets have included promises to establish a proper Kolumban museum to honor his legacy. Yet, beyond the initial installation of the memorial at Vellappara near the dam, none of these commitments have materialized into tangible action. "There have been promises for years, but nothing has come of them," laments Sujatha, granddaughter of Thenen Bhaskaran, Kolumban's son.
Until his passing last year, Bhaskaran maintained a personal connection to the memorial, visiting regularly to light lamps in tribute to his father. Today, only relatives visit occasionally on special occasions to keep this fading ritual alive, highlighting the community's ongoing effort to preserve memory against institutional indifference.
Golden Jubilee Celebrations Highlight the Contrast
The neglect feels particularly stark this year as grand celebrations mark the golden jubilee of the Idukki Arch Dam. Year-long festivities and elaborate illuminations bathe the Idukki, Kulamavu, and Cheruthoni dams, along with the Moolamattom powerhouse, in decorative lights. The scale of these celebrations underscores the dam's significance as an engineering marvel and power source for Kerala.
"Yet, amid all the fanfare, no effort has been made to even light up Kolumban's memorial," observes PG Janardhanan, a state committee member of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha. This omission speaks volumes about whose contributions are valued and whose are conveniently forgotten when the spotlight shines.
A Pattern of Political Exploitation
Public activist P K Jayan articulates the glaring contradiction: "The same leaders who visit the memorial seeking votes during elections ignore it during important occasions like this jubilee. This is not mere forgetfulness, but a stark reflection of the continued neglect of tribal history and culture. Once again, the government has failed the Adivasi community."
The seasonal pilgrimage to Kolumban's memorial reveals a disturbing pattern where tribal heritage is exploited for political gain while substantive recognition remains elusive. As Idukki celebrates fifty years of its iconic dam, the man who made it possible watches from a neglected memorial—remembered only when votes are at stake, then forgotten until the next election cycle renews the hollow ritual.
