Kerala still sits on Itti Achuthan museum

Alappuzha: The twenty-three -year long wait of the Hortus Malabaricus Trust for Itti Achuthan Memorial Ayurvedic Museum at Kadakkarappally near Cherthala here remains unfruitful though the successive governments have announced funds. Itti Achuthan was an ayurvedic scholar, and author of the book ‘Keralaramam' who had contributed to Hendrik van Rheede, former governor of Dutch Malabar, to compile botanical classic 'Hortus Malabaricus' (Garden of Malabar) during 17th-Century. He was said to be born and brought up at Kadakkarappally.

It was in 2001 as result of a relentless request of the Trust formed in 1994, before assembly election the then Left Democratic Front (LDF) government allocated '10 lakh for setting up  Ayurvedic Museum, which is considered to be first Ayurvedic Museum in the country. The successive United Democratic Front (UDF), government hiked the fund from '10 lakh up to 15 lakh.

The Hortus Malabaricus Trust Secretary A N Chidambaran says the increased fund Rs 50 lakh announced in the budget by Ommen Chandy had been retained by latest TM Thomas Isaac’s budget. However, the fund remains undelivered. Neither district administration or local MLA has shown interest to get fund sanctioned. “Now, we feel all budget allocations were simply eyewash.”

The Trust had identified the birthplace of and 92 cents of land at Kadakkarappally. The place is currently in private hands. Because of that, the archaeological department has not yet come forward to take over the property.  “Though Archeological department made many promises, all went vain,”  he said.  “If the government had acquired the land earlier, we could have approached the Dutch (Netherlands) government for financial assistance. Accepting our request a representative of Dutch government had attended our function held at Kozhikode in 2010”, he added. Meanwhile, the Trust is still waiting for sincere steps of authorities including local legislator and Civil Supplies minister P Thilothaman.