Rao Bahadur Ottur Vasava Menon

(alias Ottur Vasu Menon)

Ottur Vasava Menon was the maternal uncle of Ottur Sree Devi Amma and the fifth son of Ottur Panchali Amma. He was probably born around 1860 and was one of the two educated members of the family the other being his elder brother O. Achuthan Nair. His elder brother O. Damodaran Nair (alias Damodara Menon) is reported to have helped them in their education.

O. Vasava Menon was initially a clerk in the revenue department and drew pay of Rs.15/- pm. In 1881 he joined the police force and before 1888 became Inspector of police drawing a salary of Rs.100/- pm. Later he became First Class Circle Inspector and was also special dacoity officer. He retired around 1903 from Ottapalam (Palakkad Dist). He received numerous rewards from the govt. while in service mostly in cash totalling a sum of about Rs.20,000/- He was also gifted a sword with a gold hilt, set with 9 precious stones and a sliver sheath. He was subsequently conferred the title Rao Bahadur by the then British govt. for his exemplary work in the police. In many of the court documents of 1900 onwards he is referred to Ottur Vasu Thamburan and Ottur Vasu Thamburan Avargal as a mark of respect to the position and title held by him

O. Vasava Menon was initially married to the daughter of one Annamma Amma, who is the wife of his maternal uncle Ottur Sankara Menon. Her name is not known but she belonged to Malappuram Pulathottathil House. His second wife was from Pattanjeri Chittenippat House. Again her name is not known. At the time of his death his wife was Puthur Velloli Devaki Amma. O. Vasava Menon died on October 21, 1925.

The children of O. Vasava Menon are 1) Malappuram Pulathottathil Vasukutti alias Vasavan 2) Kuttikrishnan 3) Ammu alias Indrani 4) Gopi alias Gopalan 5) Pattancheri Chittenippat Kuttimalu alias Narayani Kutti

Ottur family members might be aware that there is an Ayurvedic Hospital located in Sultanpet Palakkad which is called “Rao Bahadur Ottur Vasava Menon Memorial District panchayat District Ayurvedic Hospital”. The hospital was initially started as a charitable Ayurvedic Dispensary (Vaidya Sala) by O. Vasava Menon. At the time of his death he had willed that a sum of Rs.600/- “set apart for paying to the Municipal Council, shall be utilised annually for running an Ayurveda vaidya Sala'. This later became a contentious issue and led to court cases. A photograph of the hospital is given below.

Rao Bahadur Ottur Vasava Menon Memorial Dist. Panchayat District Ayurvedic Hospital, Palakkad.  The hospital is located near the Sultanpet Junction on the right side of road leading from the Head Post Office .

Such was the valour and respect commanded by O. Vasava Menon that it is said womenfolk used to sing songs in his praise on occassions like Onam especially when he was invited as a guest. A few lines of one such song in English script is given below

“Kottekad Amsathingal               (In Kottekad Amson or area)

Ottur Desathingal                          ( In Ottur Desam place or locality)

Panchaliamma Kishoran              (Son of Panchaliamma)

Vasava Menon Sathwikan           ( Truthful or Righteous Vasava Menon)

Salgunasaaram....                        (With all virtues)

Policen Udhyogathil                    ( In police profession)

Ponn Wale Sambadhichan"        (Earned a Golden Sword)

The above script of the song was contributed by Ottur Vasumathi Amma (Vasumathi Chechi) of Kottekad.  The remaining portion of the

song could not be recollected by her

The following photograph of late Rao Bahadur Ottur Vasava Menon(uncle of ottur Sreedevi Amma) was contributed by O. Krishna Prasad (alias Babu), son of Ottur Dakshayani and Kunnath Balakrishnan Nair.  Please note the sword with gold hilt and precious stones.

 

Rao Bahadur Ottur Vasava Menon