PAPPACHAN HOTEL near REC NIT CALICUT

Near the boundary wall behind the DB (departmental building) is a "rustic eat-out" called "Pappachan" unique in many ways and used to be a convex point for staff and students alike.

What was unique about this place. It used to be some kind of conical structure made of thatched roof with a seating capacity of about ten. Rice was not served in this place..it would be chappathi with dry dishes made from ladies finger and the like..there used to be curd served in a tumbler, glass of milk and only half boiled eggs and used to be clean..spick and span. and of course tea was available any time. Papachan used to be run by an elderly man at that time supported by younger associates.

We students used to get a 15 minute break both in the mornings and in the evenings between lectures and a quick visit to Papachan was always on the cards. There use to be a radio playing the local radio station always which was characteristic of this place. S R Sampath , Sudan Su Mohan Jena and myself ....we used to visit this place for tea on a regular basis and some times sneak through the back door when the faculty was busy teaching.

I visited Papachan many years later on a unscheduled visit to REC and asked for the elderly man ...who appeared no sooner and was all too cheerful to see me and did not accept the amount for a curd that I had. This was emotional for me as well as him that I had the courtesy to specifically ask for him on my visit.

Many  more such eat-outs must have surfaced around this place now. Papachan was unique in many ways..its strict vegetarian diet...the cleanliness...the thatched roof  ..the rains outside and the All India radio programmes of Calicut Station...and the quick service of   Radha the service boy..the half boiled eggs..the spoon to break it and the fresh glass of milk.