A former bike racer, Balaraman Swamy is half paralyzed. But that didn’t play a spoilsport when he decided to turn his three acres of land into a vegetable garden.
A wheelchair-bound Swamy traveled all the way to Ottanpathram in Tamil Nadu to purchase seeds and saplings of various vegetables such as lady’s finger (okra), cucumber, drumstick, pumpkin, etc.
Perhaps his relentless spirit was so inspiring; the NSS volunteers of Kuttanelloor C. Achutha Menon College were more than happy to help him with his green project. The student volunteers plowed the land using a JCB and planted the saplings. They also regularly help him water the plants and manure the fields. The group of students who share Swamy’s enthusiasm is guided by the NSS Coordinator Dr Cijo Varghese.
Swamy’s initiative is also encouraged by the local administrative body, and the inauguration of the farm was done by Thrikkur Panchayat president Prema Kuttan.
A passionate photographer, Swamy met with an accident 20 years ago, during a racing championship at Bhootathankettu. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Swamy is also a computer hardware specialist and conducts personality development classes.
