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Parading over its past
IT IS a historical landmark that elevates just as it soothes. Even today, despite it's present run down condition. As one enters the area, which would previously have formed the historical Fort, the landscape begins to alter from present day pandemonium to a quiet feel of a hamlet. And then quite unexpectedly lies in front an open maidan, which fills the senses and lifts the spirits. That is the Parade Ground for you.
A garrison square flanked by barracks, the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi was formerly called Barraca Maidan,( Barraca meaning barracks in Portuguese). With the renowned St Francis Church standing tall at one end of the ground, and with only green hedges separating it from the Cochin Gymkhana, the Parade `maidan' was a scene out of an English setting. The rain trees looming as virtual trees of life bordered the green. The church too, then, was not walled out with concrete. It had before all this been witness to a great deal of gunpowder action, when for over 450 years, the flags of three different warring nations had been hoisted and lowered in succession. Finally when the Union Jack was lowered on August 14, 1947, and the next day the Tricolour was raised the ground became a part of Independent India. Long after this, the ground continued to function as an open field for the local populace. Regular cricket and football fixtures, very much in colonial tradition, were played season after season. It hosted, in all its green glory, the prestigious Ranji Trophy and the All-India Rugby Football Tournament, till the latter died a natural end.
Today things have not changed much in the ground per se, but only the very few old timers know. Lamenting the green turning into a brown due to poor maintenance by the Revenue Department, the ground has ceased hosting any sporting activity of repute. The last to leave is the Mattancherry Youngsters Cricket Association, which for the last 24 years have been holding the All-India Lakshmanan Memorial Cricket Tournament in the `maidan.'
Today, it is has a newly built concrete sidewalk around it, with plans to install the old style cast iron lamp posts, in true colonial fashion. A plan to build a dwarf wall around it for reasons to protect the ground is a raging controversy. Whatever be the decision of the powers that be one hopes it would restore it's past splendour.
PRIYADARSSHINI SHARMA
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