A Malayali story of Ethiopia’s ‘Gaashe’

A tale from another continent:Girma Wolde Giorgis, former President of Ethiopia, releasing ‘Under the shade of a Gaashe,’ a biography on him written by Malayali K. P. Sivakumar, at the former’s residence in Adis Ababa earlier this month.

When K.P. Sivakumar, a resident of the city, went to Ethiopia in 2010, little did he know that his paths would cross with that of the President of that country.

Five years later, when he was about to leave that country, he completed a biography of Girma Wolde Giorgis, who was the President of Ethiopia from 2001 to 2013.

The book titled ‘Under the shade of a Gaashe’ was released at the former president’s official residence in Adis Ababa on July 15.

Sivakumar, who was working as a public relations manager at Muthukad’s Magic Academy, had gone to Ethiopia after his wife Akhila S. Nair got employment in a government-run university there. He served in different capacities at various educational institutions in that country.

“It was in 2011 while attending an international conference that I met Mr. Giorgis for the first time. One thing that struck me at that time was his down-to-earth behaviour. He was always welcoming people and interacting freely with them,” says Sivakumar.

Two years later, he had the opportunity of meeting the President again as part of a farmers’ meet for the conservation of a volcanic lake.

“We were apprehensive of inviting him, as it is an arduous journey to reach the top of the volcano. But he has immense respect for people’s movements and also cares for the environment.”

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“ At 90 years of age, he easily made that trip. That moment I thought I should tell this remarkable man’s story to the world. Later, I sought permission through an acquaintance of his to write his biography.

His first reaction was ‘Am I so big?’ He permitted soon. The book is mostly personal sketches of the man, but brings out his political career too, as he has worked closely with successive governments of Ethiopia.”

“The word ‘Gaashe’ in the title means father figure. That was my impression of him whenever I had the opportunity to interact closely with him,” says Sivakumar.

Staff Reporter

‘One thing that struck me was his down-to-earth behaviour. He was always welcoming people and interacting freely with them.’