Madurai: A goodwill team from London reached Madurai on Saturday to a warm welcome and they would spend the next three days assessing the popularity of late British Colonel John Pennycuick who built the Mullaiperiyar dam, the lifeline of the southernmost districts, at Thekkady.
After the dam was opened in 1895, Pennycuick returned to Camberley, his home town and he died there on March, 9, 1911. As per Christian custom, the cemetery of any person would be demolished after 100 years. To preserve the cemetery after 100 years, they need to get permission from the Queen of England, said a team member, adding, Pennycuick's cemetery has already been around for 100 years.
Santhana Beeroli, from Uthamapalayam, Theni, who is studying in London has requested the Church Ministry in London to preserve the cemetery of Pennycuick and also erect a statue for him at Camberley.
He has been documenting the life history of Pennycuick. “For that we need to understand his popularity among the local people; we will interact with people to know about their memory of Pennycuick over the next three days,” said the team members.
The team members would visit the Mullaiperiyar dam, Pennycuick memorial at Lower camp and participate in Pennycuick birth anniversary celebrations which will be organised by Palarpatti people near Theni during ‘Pongal’ every year.
In a touching gesture, the MDMK leader Vaiko, who played a key role in highlighting the plight of the southern districts farmers dependent on Mullaiperiyar dam, welcomed the team members at the Madurai airport.
