Beyond antiques, son treasures vow made to dad in Kerala

Express News Service MALAPPURAM: Muhammad Ali wants to keep his part of the bargain, and is seeking the state government’s help in doing so. It was in the final months of his life that Kappekkadan Beerankutty of Manoor, Ponmala, sought a favour from his son: Protect his collection of antiques.

True to his word, Muhammad Ali has been protecting treasured items — worth lakhs of rupees — for the past eight years. Beerankutty’s collection includes the skull of a whale, palm leaf manuscripts, currencies and coins from various countries, postal stamps and covers, a 150-year-old camera, weapons from the Stone Age, a handwritten copy of Mahakavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar’s Badar Pattu, a 200-year-old veena, besides gramophone players and records, and Chinese jars.  “My father was 75 years old when he passed away.

I have been protecting his collection since. Many people have offered lakhs of rupees for various items. But I have the promise to keep.

Even during his time, my father had refused to part with the items, despite good offers,” Muhammad Ali said.  Beerankutty began his collection during his days in Wayanad. “My father moved from Malappuram to Wayanad to sell aluminium utensils. He made good money from the business and began investing the profits in antiques.

This put him under financial strain. Later, he returned to Malappuram and began to exhibit his items in a building near our house. He also organised exhibitions around the state.

He used the revenue generated from the shows to purchase more antiques. This pushed him into penury again,” Muhammad Ali said.   ‘Will give items for free if govt guards them’

After the death of his father, Muhammad Ali continued to exhibit the items across the state. However, the pandemic put a stop to that, and the collection has since been confined to a room in his new house. Muhammad Ali now wants the state government to set up a museum in Malappuram to exhibit his father’s collection. “Working at a three-wheeler workshop, I hardly get time to take care of the items.

We are ready to hand over the items for free if the government is willing to come forward to protect them.

A new museum could be set up in Malappuram to exhibit the items.  The museum should be named after my father.

When M A Baby was the cultural minister, he had allotted `25,000 to protect the collection,” he said.

esprit listed on couponmatrix.ukmagic-madhouse listed on couponmatrix.uktide listed on couponmatrix.uktwycross-zoo listed on couponmatrix.ukwhite-stuff listed on couponmatrix.ukwhittard-of-chelsea listed on couponmatrix.uk
esprit listed on couponmatrix.ukHaving made a name for itself making beautiful ranges of loungewear and active clothing, you can now pick up any type of outfit from Esprit whether you’re dressing up for the party or chilling out for the weekend. Use an Esprit voucher code from us as you make your next order and you’ll be amazed at the savings you make across the ranges for both men and women, as well as kids!
magic-madhouse listed on couponmatrix.ukA hub for trading card collectors and board game fanatics, Magic Madhouse is your go-to for the likes of Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon. Featuring tabletop staples from Games Workshop to collectable funko pop figures, you’ll have no trouble finding a favourite franchise to snatch savings on with the latest Magic Madhouse discount code. With an array of accessories and merchandise that make for cool and quirky gift ideas, there’s enough variety to satisfy everyone’s inner geek at Magic Madhouse.
tide listed on couponmatrix.ukAre you a freelancer or small business? Bank smarter with Tide. This online platform makes things easy—you can sign up free of charge, and accounts come with loads of smart and time-saving tools, so you can focus less on admin and more on your business. Make the most of a Tide discount code from Groupon to access great savings and perks—you can thank us later.
twycross-zoo listed on couponmatrix.ukLearn about amazing animals through the conservation efforts at Twycross Zoo. From penguins to rhinos, there’s a whole world of creatures to discover! Twycross Zoo is even regarded as a leading centre for primates, housing the only bonobo tribe in the UK, so there’s always loads to keep you entertained. Have a truly exceptional day out for less with your Twycross Zoo vouchers and treat the whole family to interactive learning experiences, soft play, and, of course, all the animals nestled in the stunning English countryside.
white-stuff listed on couponmatrix.ukRevitalise your style and your life with White Stuff - born from the French Alps, the brand started off designing t-shirts and sweats for skiers and has since branched out into apparel and footwear for all occasions. Use a White Stuff discount code on your next order to make your spending more rewarding and you’ll be able to take your wardrobe from tired to inspired without breaking the bank.
whittard-of-chelsea listed on couponmatrix.ukStocking a wide range of tea and coffee types, cups, teapots, cafetières and confectionery, Whittard of Chelsea sees to your morning cravings with elegance and zest, helping you tackle the painful daily grind. Whittard is also big on providing a perfect gift for that special person, with accessories and a gift wrap service, plus a tea and coffee club to introduce you to aromas from all over the world. A Whittard promo code will help you stock your cupboards with all the refreshments you'll need.