In the early twentieth century – before India gained
independence- the collectors of the British Malabar were stationed in Calicut
(The present Kozhikkode).
Usually, the RDOs residences would be close to their offices
and we can still see one such residence
in Palakkad. This residence remained
closed for many years but it withstood the sun and rain of all those
years. A few years back some urgent
maintenance works were carried on this building and the village office II of Palakkad
was shifted to it. Recently the Village
office II was shifted to a new building in the RDO’s office compound.
When this beautiful RDO’s residence served as village office
II, I got a couple of chances to go inside it.
During those visits, my attention was more on the internal structure of
the building, the floor and the high ceiling paved with terracotta tiles, the
centuries old furniture scattered inside, and so forth. The table in the room (once served as the
ante room) of the village officer was a wonderful piece of furniture! I resembled a ‘Chippendale’ copy though not
original! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Chippendale)
On the outside to the west still stands the garage.
The garage floor is still earthen and there was an old coach lamp and
two brass buckles – might have been used in the horse‘s harness- thrown away
carelessly on one corner of the garage.
I wondered how many times horse driven carriages would have rolled in
and out of the garage!
