Devil’s Own Land?
Will Kerala ever again witness peaceful co-existence between different communities, wonders PACHU MENON
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Lush green fields and swaying palms, Kerala has come to mean this and much more! But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that today King Mahabali’s kingdom lies asunder. The annual visit of Maveli to his much loved realm remains a mere formality, just a ritual that is an eagerly awaited occasion in the state’s tourism almanac! The festival of Onam has lost its fervour, and the Keralities, their identity! The golden era of peace and prosperity which symbolized the great monarch’s rule, has given way to a disastrous legacy, an inheritance of everything that is an antithesis of that glorious age.
July 4, 2010! A nation watched stunned and stupefied as news of a typical Sicilian Mafia-style vendetta was reported from Kerala. ‘Enforcers’ dragged out a man from his car and chopped off his right hand, cleaving the palm in one neat stroke. T.J.Joseph, a lecturer at the Catholic-run Newman College in Thodupuzha, in Kerala’s Idukki district, ‘paid with his hand’ for allegedly insulting the Prophet – a reference, allegedly defamatory, in a question paper he set for an internal degree examination.
What could be more barbaric? One would have to concur with the view that “devils and demons have located the roadmap to Adi Shankara’s soil”. But then, as reported in a section of the press, for decades now, in the state’s deeply fragmented political landscape, apparently ‘killing or hacking off limbs is a prescribed way to deal with rivals’.
The RSS-Marxist feuds which date back to 1958, has had the state witnessing a spate of murderous attacks carried out by their respective cadres on each other since then. It has been like ticking off points on a scoreboard – for every RSS man felled, reciprocal raids by the Communists would even the tally, or at times better the count. A plain game of political ‘one-man-downship’!
It is indeed a shame that for a state that prides itself for being the most literate in the country, the citizens seem to carry the appellation to intangible limits. As a matter of fact, the high level of literacy has virtually been the bane of the society here. A single newspaper engaging a group that has no compunction in discussing state politics in a wayside tea stall gives one an inkling of the political awareness that the locals here are credited with. A difference in political ideologies amongst the populace has brought about countless permutations which in turn have resulted in myriad party affiliations. Kerala is thus a state of a million individuals who can debate on a regional issue, but their partisan attitude when it comes to party policies has allowed political stalemates to continue without any visible sign of the deadlock being broken.
The RSS and the Communists could well be described as followers subscribing to a particular school of thoughts, totally incompatible with each other. However, it’s now religion that is shaping various political associations in the state. Communism proscribes everything Godly, the corps confirming to the ‘of, for and by the state’ philosophy. With Communists, whenever in power, taking over temple-governing bodies, the Hindus see an attempt by the atheists to downgrade them.
Likewise, the communists have long been at loggerheads with the Catholic Church on matters related to religion and education. The Church-run educational institutions are recognized by the communists as profitable undertakings and hence a need, born out of a necessity though, to have a say in their management. Similarly, the Communists have favoured presiding over the cash-rich temple boards. If the RSS are flaunted as the self-imposed keepers of the Hindu Dharma (or is it Hindutva?) is it not fair that with the Christians in India under attack from all quarters, the Church looks out for itself and its people?
Could the Muslims in Kerala be harping the same tune? Reportedly, the southern peninsula has been the traditional home of several Islamist groups. The murderous attack on the college lecturer in Kerala has brought into focus the Popular Front of India, “a right-wing, cadre-based, shadowy organization that operates in the garb of a social and political outfit, which seemingly is muscling its way into the deeply fragmented politics of the state.” A recent expose in the Indian Express (July 11, 2010) painted a very scary picture of the ‘Muslim politics’ of Kerala. The SIMI, Islamic Seva Sangh and now the PFI – how many more religious rabbles will the state have to contend with?
With the mind-boggling incident involving the professor and Muslim fundamentalists coming to light, should we then be assuming that, as an editor-friend put it, ‘Talibans have infiltrated God’s own land’? Of course the presence of Jihadi-terrorist organizations has never been a refuted matter in the state; for that matter, time and again Kerala has been in the news for being the hotbed of Islamic militant outfits. The secular credentials of the state have thus come to a full naught.
Vote-bank politics and communal carnages are the order of the day. Bandhs and hartals have time and again paralyzed the state, holding the public to ransom and throwing life helter-skelter. Trade-unionism is ominous by its presence in every walk of life. This in spite of the state being recognized for its achievements in the creation of an enviable social infrastructure, especially in health and education systems. The industrial scenario may not be much to write home about, but people here are profuse in their appreciation of various government schemes that claim to improve the quality of life of the commoners.
People have been unequivocal condemning the state of affairs that infest the present social environment of the state and contemplating the ‘save Kerala’ initiative. ‘From the Gods are we going to the dogs?’ These emotional paroxysms seem to disturb the populace here! Makes one wonder whether “God’s own country” is a misnomer for the state!
Will Kerala ever again witness a peaceful co-existence between the different communities here, or will it continue to boil in the cauldron of religious intolerance that has been fostered by the fundamentalists? The current affairs and issues that plague the state seem to suggest otherwise. In these conditions one feels that the soubriquet “Devil’s Own Land” would be better suited for a state gloating in epithetic munificence!
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Kick the blues away
By Charlane Pereira
It’s a saying that I have heard many people say to others, “Let go.” You might wonder what it exactly means. You might not get the course you desire in college, or you might not get a job of your choice, or your only daughter intends to marry a boy from a different religion or your spouse’s untimely death shocks you to your roots. These are some of the dilemmas that every person encounters in their life. And it’s not easy to let go- to loosen your hold on things you fancy or the near and dear ones you miss. Check your other options.
It’s time a person takes charge of his life and moves on, not looking back, over his shoulders, which will only hinder his progress in life. There are setbacks in everybody’s lives. Some might gripe about it; others have borne them silently while there are still few others who might decide that ‘life is not worth living.’ You might think that those who decide to end their life are the worst of all – selfish about their own needs, oblivious to those of others. This is true to a certain extent. However, it could be that unpleasant circumstances or experiences have forced a person to that point. Neither complaining about the odds of life ,nor silent suppression are constructive outlets. No one likes a person who is always grumbling about life. Such people aren’t very popular because it is their very negativity about life and their pessimistic outlook that drives people away. As for silently tolerating the atrocities that life throws our way, it is not a good option to keep all those negative emotions of anger, jealousy, hatred, sadness, self-pity, etc., bottled up in that frail human body of yours, for it takes both, a physical and mental toll on our health. And it tends to explode at the wrong place and wrong time.
You might want to ask me about the solution to all these ‘complex’ dilemmas around which your life revolves…those that rob you of your sleep, make you lose your appetite and leave you uninterested in your favourite TV programme And then you start thinking about your life… and the different tribulations that have crossed your path, daring you to challenge them. And a low bent head, eyes downcast and a grumpy look that says it all, “I can’t.”
‘Lows’ are common in life. They are just the normal ‘blues’ which every human experiences every now and then… but if it interferes with your daily functioning, it’s time you sought professional help. These are some stress busters that ought to work with most people to help prevent their journey to the land of depression:
Keep yourself busy. The more busy you are, the better it is. Negative thoughts can be pushed in a corner of the mind as you set out doing the tasks undertaken. Engage in leisurely pursuits and do things you really enjoy. If you don’t have a hobby, find one for yourself.
Forgive and forget-I have often heard people saying, ‘I didn’t like her behaviour, but I have forgiven her.’ Well, it seems that you have neither forgiven nor forgotten. Both go hand in hand.
Pamper yourself-Go out, get yourself a new wardrobe; go to the beauty salon and get a makeover; the male species can hang out with their buddies and watch soccer games.
Get yourself a pet- Pets are wonderful stress busters. They give unconditional love. If you aren’t too happy with the traditional pet trend of a puppy or a kitten, go in for a goldfish or birds.
Socialise with family or friends-Close friends and family members form a good social support network, and help in buffering the effects of life’s hassles.
Visit your place of worship-A visit to the temple/church/mosque will do you good. Spirituality does play a role in increasing a person’s longevity.
Be optimistic- Last, but not least, make sure that you don’t lose out on optimism. Fight fire with a cool nature. Happiness will be your companion in every moment of your life.
