Activists march to save Comtrust

KOZHIKODE: Nattu Marachottil Samsarika Sangamam of cultural activists in the city spilt into the streets on Thursday with a symbolic protest to save Comtrust, one of the most beautiful heritage buildings downtown. They wanted to preserve it as a historical monument. "The reason why the activists demand its preservation is," explained historian M.G.S. Narayan, "is that it represents a unique experiment in social engineering through industrialisation at a time when the Industrial Revolution was unfolding in England."

Wilson Samuel, a cultural activist who has been spearheading the campaign, said even a plea to the chief secretary, seeking his intervention against its demolition was in vain as the "land mafia" eyed the property. In 2010, the government after an employee strike at the weaving factory agreed to take over the land, but an individual grabbed two acres with the government support. “The long wait of employees for the President’s approval for the Bill to take it over still continues,” said E.C. Satheeshan, a protester for half a decade.

"When the factory ceased operations, there were 284 workers, but now only 107 remain. The Union government continued to refer the Bill back to the state, which helped land grabbers. Since the factory closed down, there were six attacks on it." U.A. Kader, Dr A. Achuthan, Gandhian P. Vasu, DCC president K.C. Abu, K.P. Ramunni, Kalpetta Narayanan, U.K. Kumaran and Subash Chandran were part of the protest. Prominent artists joined them by painting on a canvas placed in front of Public Library accompanied by drums by Shaji Kallayi.