Talented drummers cut short in prime

ALAPPUZHA/KOTTAYAM: In death as in life: Neighbours and childhood friends, Sagesh (16) and Binu (20) were inseparable, and so they remained when the end came. The two young men were part of a ‘chenda melam’ troupe from Muhamma in Alappuzha whose mini-bus plunged into a 400-ft gorge on the Erattupetta-Wagamon road on Tuesday morning. The troupe was returning after a performance on Monday night at a temple in Peerumedu in connection with Shivarathri.Four people died in the accident. Several of the seriously injured are being treated in various hospitals in Kottayam district.
Binu and Sagesh alias Appu, came from poor families in Poojaveli, a sleepy village on the banks of Vembanad and had dreamed of becoming professional percussionists to get away from their dreary lives. Last Sunday had been a special day for Sagesh. His mother Sajini had come home and the family celebrated the occasion. Sagesh lived with his grandmother after Sajini left for her own home in Aluva following her husband’s suicide three years ago. “Sagesh was extremely happy on Sunday because his mother had come home to see her children after a long gap. On Sagesh’s request Sajini had cooked biryani on Sunday. Binu also had visited Appu’s house to meet his friend’s mother. Sagesh served biryani to his grandmother, mother and brothers and Binu. He even invited us to have biryani with them,” said Anitha, Appu’s neighbour.
A barber by hereditary vocation, Sagesh was the village favourite. He and Binu had enrolled together with PKR group in Poojaveli to learn chenda melam and soon they become adept at it. “Binu needed Appu with him always. Now together both have left us…,” said Babu, Binu’s father.