The rise of Valiyakunju Shankaran Channar as the de facto head of the Alummoottil family was a story of perseverance and natural leadership. As a young boy growing up in the Komalarath family home, Shankaran often observed his uncles Kochukunju Channar and Kochathi Channar manage the vast estates. They were the official Karanavars (family elders), yet their advancing age left a vacuum in active leadership. Shankaran, even as a teenager, began to step in and fill the gaps.
One year, a dispute broke out among the family’s laborers during the crucial coconut harvest season. The laborers, unhappy with the distribution of wages, refused to work, leaving thousands of coconuts to rot in the fields. The elder Karanavars, too frail to mediate, seemed resigned to the loss.
Seated in the family hall, Shankaran observed the somber faces of his uncles and the stewards. “What will we do now?” muttered Kochathi Channar. Shankaran, only 18 at the time, straightened his back and spoke with quiet confidence. “Let me handle this.”
The elders exchanged skeptical glances but nodded. Shankaran’s reputation for resolving minor disputes had begun to emerge, though none expected much from someone so young.
Shankaran gathered the laborers under a large banyan tree on the estate. The workers’ frustration was palpable as they murmured among themselves. Shankaran climbed onto a rock, his calm yet commanding presence silencing the crowd.
“We are all bound by a shared purpose,” he began, his voice firm yet empathetic. “The success of this harvest ensures the well-being of your families and the prosperity of this estate. If we fail, it is not just the estate that suffers, but all of us.”
A laborer in the front row, a stout man named Narayanan, raised his hand. “But what of our grievances? The wages promised have not been met.”
Shankaran nodded. “Your concerns are valid. I promise you this: once the harvest is complete, I will ensure that all wages are reviewed and adjusted fairly. But let us not let today’s work slip away.”
The laborers exchanged glances, their anger giving way to reluctant acceptance. “We will trust you, Shankaran,” Narayanan said finally.
By sunset, the fields were alive with activity, and the coconuts were harvested and stored. True to his word, Shankaran convened a meeting the following week, revising the wage structure to the satisfaction of the workers.
That day marked the beginning of Shankaran’s rise as a leader. His ability to mediate conflicts, inspire trust, and deliver on promises became hallmarks of his leadership. The family elders, once skeptical, began to rely on him for resolving estate matters.
Years later, when Shankaran officially took over the family’s administration, Narayanan, now an older man, approached him. “You taught us all something that day, Sir,” he said with a smile. “Leadership is about earning trust, not demanding it.”
Shankaran’s journey from a boy watching from the sidelines to the acknowledged leader of the Alummoottil family was rooted in moments like these—where action, empathy, and foresight shaped his destiny.
