Someone who is in possession of high-value antiques must consider himself lucky and in with the chance to make good money in the antique market, but not M.K. Venunathan of Thazhe Chovva in Kannur, who has been running from pillar to post seeking support to preserve the antiques that have been in his possession for decades now.
After failing in his bid to secure support from the Union government, he has now approached the State government seeking financial support to create a space where he can preserve the antiques for posterity.
Mr. Venunathan has in his possession a Sreechakram, two panchaloha idols of Bhadrakaali on Siva and Veerabhadra, besides articles such as lotah (tumblers made of bronze and copper), nivedyakkinnam (bowls used to make offerings to deities), vellottu thalika (plate made of bronze), vettila chellam (bronze container for keeping pan), bronze paper weight, mannenna vilakk (bronze kerosene lamp) and dragon-headed ceremonial sword, all of which have been certified under The Antiquities and Art Treasure Rules, 1973, as being more than 100 years old. Mr. Venunathan says he had received the Sreechakra from his uncle Govindan Kutty Nair, who used to work as a police constable in Andhra Pradesh. He had received it from a sanyasin at Warangal.
Although many persons had approached him offering huge sums, he had refused to part with the Sreechakra, which he has registered with the Department of Archaeology, Government of India.
He is at liberty to sell the antiques in his possession, but he is not inclined to do so as he strongly believes that he should rather build an ashram in Kannur where all these can be kept so that people can see them and, perhaps, offer worship if they so desired.
