Wayanad (Keralam) | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday visited the home of Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman, who died last month at the age of 74, and interacted with his family members.
Raman, who belonged to the Kurichya tribal community, was widely known for protecting more than 45 indigenous rice varieties that were at risk of extinction by following traditional organic farming methods for decades.
Vadra, who is in Keralam for three days to visit her constituency, reached Raman's family home here and sat down with his kin for some time, and interacted with them.
She was also seen wiping away tears from her eyes as she spoke with the family members.
Later, speaking to reporters here, she said that Raman was "a really good man and a special soul" and she was going to miss him.
"I have met him only once, and had a long meeting with him. Other than that, I used to call him to enquire about his health and he used to joke with me. I considered him my friend, but my lasting impression of him was really of a man who genuinely wanted something good for his people and whose life was genuinely dedicated to his people," she said as her voice broke a little while speaking about Raman.
The Congress MP further said that he told her that all the awards he has won were worth nothing to him if nothing is done for his people.
"That was his life. I think that there are few people in this world who are so clean and genuine in what they want to achieve for others. He was one of those people. He was a good man and I am going to miss him," she said.
Following Raman's death on October 14, the Congress MP in an X post had recalled that he had called her his daughter and she had teased him by calling him her "Malayali Acchan (father)".
"When we last spoke to each other a month back, he wanted me to go and meet him. I promised that I would, but I had to cut short my trip to Wayanad because of events in Delhi so I missed meeting him thinking that I would return soon. When I heard about his passing my heart sank," she had said.
She had also said that Raman, who was wise, dignified and bold in thought and action, wanted more for his people and refused to accept less.
Born on June 6, 1952, as Thalakkara Cheriya Raman, he had fully focused on farming from the age of 10.
His passion for agriculture was such that he had turned down a government job at the Kannur DMO office in 1969.
Raman had also preserved traditional vegetables, medicinal plants and different varieties of trees on his farm.
He had followed traditional methods to store paddy seeds, exposing the harvested crop to sunlight and dew for a week before keeping the seeds in heated bamboo containers and baskets made of straw.
The method helped the seeds retain their ability to germinate for up to two years.
He had also followed a seed-exchange system to help other farmers.
Those who received seeds from him had to return the same quantity after the next cultivation season instead of paying money.
