Hostage speaks; I was made to cook
IAS officer Alex Paul Menon, who was released by Maoists in Chhattisgarh, recounts his days in captivity.
Nothing can dampen the spirit of a
mind ignited by Che Guevara. Alex Paul Menon, the Sukma collector who
was set free by the Maoists after 14 days of captivity, was still
hopeful of helping the poor, when THE WEEK met him on Friday at his
in-laws' house in Nolambur, a suburb of Chennai. “It was hard trekking,”
smiles the 32-year-old, talking about his days in captivity, where he
was made to walk for miles.
Menon, who is on leave for a week, took his wife Pushpa Bhagyam Asha, who is four months pregnant, for her first medical check-up in Chennai. “There are no hospitals in Sukma. There is one clinic very far away, but there are no lady gynaecologists there,'' says Menon.
Menon also underwent medical tests to make sure he had not contracted water-borne diseases like typhoid. “I had to to drink the water they [Maoists] gave me, and so I was a little concerned about my health,'' recalls Menon, who was released on May 3 after prolonged negotiations. “I have lost 4 kgs too,'' he adds.
On his return, Menon remained silent for the first few days. That was quite untypical of Menon, who used to talk to his family in the evening about the day's work. “I didn't ask him much about his life in captivity, as I knew that he was shattered by the death of his security guards,” says Asha. “Then a few days back, he told me that his hands were tied and he was made to run for miles. When he was kidnapped, he was wearing a linen shirt. Later they got him some shirts and a lungi. They let him take bath on a few days,'' she says. During his training days, Menon was one to always opt for trekking despite being an asthmatic.
Having lost his mother at the age of 16 to cancer, Menon knew how to cook. “It came in handy as they made me cook,'' says Menon, adding that he doesn't want to be reminded of the harrowing incident any further.
Despite the trauma he has faced, Menon is game for challenges. “I refuse to be a martyr,” he says. When asked what freedom means to him now, Menon quips that nobody is free in this world. “We are all bound by so many strings,'' says Menon, who was greatly influenced by Che Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries during his formative years.
Menon, who is on leave for a week, took his wife Pushpa Bhagyam Asha, who is four months pregnant, for her first medical check-up in Chennai. “There are no hospitals in Sukma. There is one clinic very far away, but there are no lady gynaecologists there,'' says Menon.
Menon also underwent medical tests to make sure he had not contracted water-borne diseases like typhoid. “I had to to drink the water they [Maoists] gave me, and so I was a little concerned about my health,'' recalls Menon, who was released on May 3 after prolonged negotiations. “I have lost 4 kgs too,'' he adds.
On his return, Menon remained silent for the first few days. That was quite untypical of Menon, who used to talk to his family in the evening about the day's work. “I didn't ask him much about his life in captivity, as I knew that he was shattered by the death of his security guards,” says Asha. “Then a few days back, he told me that his hands were tied and he was made to run for miles. When he was kidnapped, he was wearing a linen shirt. Later they got him some shirts and a lungi. They let him take bath on a few days,'' she says. During his training days, Menon was one to always opt for trekking despite being an asthmatic.
Having lost his mother at the age of 16 to cancer, Menon knew how to cook. “It came in handy as they made me cook,'' says Menon, adding that he doesn't want to be reminded of the harrowing incident any further.
Despite the trauma he has faced, Menon is game for challenges. “I refuse to be a martyr,” he says. When asked what freedom means to him now, Menon quips that nobody is free in this world. “We are all bound by so many strings,'' says Menon, who was greatly influenced by Che Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries during his formative years.
Despite the trauma he faced, Alex Paul Menon is still enthusiastic about continuing his work in Sukma.
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