KOCHI: For retired District Judge N Sukumaran, agriculture is life. Even at the age of 95, he cultivates vegetables for personal consumption himself. His wife Pennamma died four years ago but loneliness and the infirmities of old age do not bother him. He forgets everything when he takes care of the vegetable plants and his mind is filled with greenery.

Farming is done in the courtyard and terrace of the house in Kadavanthra Kumaranasan Nagar. Farming has been with him since his childhood in Nallukkala house, Thumbaman North, Pathanamthitta. When he went to new places as a district judge, he did not look for the beauty or comfort of the rented house, but whether there was land for cultivation and whether the soil was good.

The terrace of the eight-and-a-half-cent house is the main farm. Maintenance in morning and evening. Yam, Colocasia, Chinese potato, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, okra, tomato, green chilli, eggplant, ivy gourd, mint and even dragon fruit are grown in grow bags.

Sleep time is from 9.30 pm to 4 am. Moderate food. He avoids meat and eats a lot of fish.

He stays with his second son S Anilkumar and his family. Other children: S. Ajithkumar (Ret. Bank Manager) Beena.

A restless life

N Sukumaran entered the judicial service in 1960 as a Munsif Magistrate. He retired as a District Judge in 1984. Later he started a law firm called Sukumar Associates. He still appears in court for important cases.

N Sukumaran is the patron of the People's Council for Social Justice movement founded by Justice VR Krishna Iyer and the President of Kerala Retired Judicial Officers Association and All India Retired Judges Association.