Tirur’s Last Bullock Cart Driver Honored for Lifelong Service

For 35 years, Ahmed Bava Thekkepeediyekkal’s life moved at the pace of hooves and wheels. Through sun and rain, he guided bullock carts along Tirur’s narrow village paths, carrying rice, coconut oil, and betel leaves to places larger vehicles couldn’t reach. On Sunday, the 77-year-old—the region’s last bullock cart driver—received a heartfelt honor, bridging past and present.

A Lifelong Journey

Bava began his unusual career as a child, taking the reins at just seven years old. For decades, his carts were vital—moving goods from boats on the Tirur River and trains from the station into remote areas like Annassery and Athavanad. He remembers the rules: a panchayat licence, a number plate fixed to the cart, fines of 50 paise for parking in the wrong spot. The pay was modest—₹2.50 for 50 kg of rice, ₹2 for a tin of oil.

Memories of a Vanished World

In his prime, Bava bought strong bullocks from markets in Perumbilavu and Vaniyankulam, rarely using an animal for more than two years. Maintenance was constant; the work, demanding. He recalls Tirunavaya once buzzing with carts—especially those carrying tiles from the Kodakkal factory. But progress arrived quietly. Mini-lorries and goods autorickshahs began threading those same narrow roads, and one by one, the bullock carts fell silent.

“Tirunavaya had more bullock carts than Tirur,” remembered Bava. They carried tiles from the Kodakkal tile factory to various destinations and the tile yard near Tirunavaya Railway Station.

A Fitting Tribute

Re-Echo, a local cultural organization, honored Bava during its 36th anniversary celebrations under the ‘Nattinte naal vazhikal’ program—which recognizes keepers of faded traditions. Motor Vehicle Inspector Surpil Mohammed Ashraf led the felicitation, presenting Bava as a living emblem of resilience and history. Alongside a memento and a book on Tirunavaya’s past, the event drew voices from the community, each adding layers to a story that almost slipped away.