Yes, that is exactly how somebody I know described the land and the people down under (in India, ofcourse!). The southern tip, the 90% literate, the verdant, monsoon blessed state of our nation. But lately, this land flowing with rubber and gulf money has been displaying hues way too far from the natural green and the crimson (communism is part of Kerala's rich heritage and the rebellion/naxalism of the 40s, remembered proudly as the civil rights movement of the lands of far beyond).
Kerala, once known as the land of coconut trees is now quite infamous for sex scandals, that has not even spared the serene interiors of a convent notwithstanding the politicians, ministers included and other godmen involved. This state boasts of a high percentage of educated females and yet (sad to say)statistics reveal that girl children and women of lower financial strata are often lured for money into one of the India's most powerful trades, flesh.
The love of money seems to have not even spared those who proclaim to have renounced the world for higher goals. Throughout the state, godmen and godwomen have risen in an alarming rate, squeezing money off the rich and the poor alike playing on their religious sentiments.
The land is alleged to be the new base for LTTE, Kochi being the new 'trade' route. Well, the hyenas will have the tigers for company.
And now for the latest 'development', north Kerala has emerged as the epicenter for terrorism!!! Young men are promised jobs, recruited via an agency, even converted to Islam, sent to Hyderabad or Kashmir for militant training and let loose for their exploits. Their undoubting families receive a steady pay and are spared from the truth until maybe someday they are jolted back to reality when they receive the dead remains of their sons, tagged as terrorists killed in an encounter.
Let us not just blame one community, we do have other strongholds in this little state, where arms training is a routine for karsevaks and the church has a greater say in the government.
Welcome to a new Kerala where the less harmful bandhs and hartals, the party jumping politicians and the stone pelting class-bunking student unions are told to take a backseat. This is the state's new avatar, militancy!
Vivekananda once called this state a land of pandemonium seeing the crazy caste system. In this modern times, I still wonder has anything changed? Maybe the backdrop and the characters but the story is still the same...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
God and Politics
I wouldn't want to go into those lengthy discussion stuff on religion followed by politics and then rounding it off by an equally boring (but it doesn't bore into one's head) conclusion, FYI.
But honestly religion(not God) is taking an active role in politics these days, that's what I have observed. In those olden golden days, people were inspired by religious philosophies. They parceled those higher thoughts into whichever political party they formed or were part of (except for of course the communists who were/are outwardly atheist and inwardly confused). But today, religion, which consists of philosophies, doctrines, traditions, dogmas and all those factors that outwardly try in vain to perfect man, has taken the high pedestal in politics.
Here, let me make it clear that I am not an atheist but a believer. According to me, man cannot exist without having the knowledge of God (be it in the form of a denial or an acceptance). I am a christian myself. But it is not a religion for me in the sense that I do not have to follow certain patterns, traditions, even use meaningless jargon forcefully to appear 'religious' while the real me does what pleases to get myself forward in life. If that was the requirement, then its no longer a liberating system but a stifling one where man is bound forever in the cycle of trying to be good and then getting caught in his own follies. Real faith should liberate man from this endless cycle, so he can rise higher to help others. This, I have found that in Christ.
It is true that faith helps man to rise higher but religion pulls him down. Society can never be separated from religious philosophies but when man uses it on the ignorant for his own glory, there is danger.
Be it in India (on the road to development) or US of A (that boasts of having achieved it) I see the same picture - religion does have a hold on the polity.
Be it the Hindutva or the Jehad in our nation, the governance is often(now read always) hindered on its way to progress by the fundamentalists. In the name of God, the political parties affiliated to/remote-controlled by religious organisations often play with the sentiments of their fellow brothers, either making them feel guilty for not participating in destructive activities or feel elated being part of some holy calling as they go about extinguishing lives and damaging properties. Or it could be those promises to restore age-old customs or worship places which could spell out pride for those 'servants' of the public (That was the meaning of ministers once) who are so passionate on preserving (read pickling, which takes away the original and replaces it with nothing but the shrivelled remains) our 'culture'. Or it could be the drive to expel the 'traitors', the outsiders, who till yesterday were our compatriots and had equally contributed for the growth of our nation, sharing in our pains and sorrows.
Elsewhere (you know where), people use religion to pool the votes of the pious. But as the election date draws nearer and campaign heats up, they have no qualms in using the meanest, lowest tactics to win the election. The very words of the God whom they profess to believe are forgotten as they lie about and slander their opponent, defraud, cheat fellow citizens, conspire, rig elections to pave their way to victory.
God never was or is interested in politics but He is always interested in history :)
But honestly religion(not God) is taking an active role in politics these days, that's what I have observed. In those olden golden days, people were inspired by religious philosophies. They parceled those higher thoughts into whichever political party they formed or were part of (except for of course the communists who were/are outwardly atheist and inwardly confused). But today, religion, which consists of philosophies, doctrines, traditions, dogmas and all those factors that outwardly try in vain to perfect man, has taken the high pedestal in politics.
Here, let me make it clear that I am not an atheist but a believer. According to me, man cannot exist without having the knowledge of God (be it in the form of a denial or an acceptance). I am a christian myself. But it is not a religion for me in the sense that I do not have to follow certain patterns, traditions, even use meaningless jargon forcefully to appear 'religious' while the real me does what pleases to get myself forward in life. If that was the requirement, then its no longer a liberating system but a stifling one where man is bound forever in the cycle of trying to be good and then getting caught in his own follies. Real faith should liberate man from this endless cycle, so he can rise higher to help others. This, I have found that in Christ.
It is true that faith helps man to rise higher but religion pulls him down. Society can never be separated from religious philosophies but when man uses it on the ignorant for his own glory, there is danger.
Be it in India (on the road to development) or US of A (that boasts of having achieved it) I see the same picture - religion does have a hold on the polity.
Be it the Hindutva or the Jehad in our nation, the governance is often(now read always) hindered on its way to progress by the fundamentalists. In the name of God, the political parties affiliated to/remote-controlled by religious organisations often play with the sentiments of their fellow brothers, either making them feel guilty for not participating in destructive activities or feel elated being part of some holy calling as they go about extinguishing lives and damaging properties. Or it could be those promises to restore age-old customs or worship places which could spell out pride for those 'servants' of the public (That was the meaning of ministers once) who are so passionate on preserving (read pickling, which takes away the original and replaces it with nothing but the shrivelled remains) our 'culture'. Or it could be the drive to expel the 'traitors', the outsiders, who till yesterday were our compatriots and had equally contributed for the growth of our nation, sharing in our pains and sorrows.
Elsewhere (you know where), people use religion to pool the votes of the pious. But as the election date draws nearer and campaign heats up, they have no qualms in using the meanest, lowest tactics to win the election. The very words of the God whom they profess to believe are forgotten as they lie about and slander their opponent, defraud, cheat fellow citizens, conspire, rig elections to pave their way to victory.
God never was or is interested in politics but He is always interested in history :)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
I am no fan of Shobhaa De, i just know her to be an Indian yuppie's favourite. But the other day I was browsing through in a bookstore (I would never go to those fresh smelling designer bookstores mushrooming the upmarket side of every metro these days. I would rather go to a seconds sale mainly for cheaper older books and for the musty smell of old books). Yes, coming back to this new bookstore, I saw this title by her called 'Superstar India'. Anyway I got hold of one copy and started reading it when I got back home. I am not an expert to comment on others' writings so nothing on that (lucky you!).
Sadly, I had to put it down, put the reading of this book on hold for awhile as a picture, contrary to the glitzy image of India that was so lovingly painted by the author, appeared in the media. i personally am proud to be an Indian, have never ever desired to pack my bags and relocate to any other country for the sake of prosperity or education and would so love to see my country to make progress and develop in all good things. But I dont believe in fact-hiding, eye-closing, pushing-under-the-carpet attitude. So the facts are here,
Terrorism, still very much present and now it has company from communalism, regionalism, fundamentalism...
Poverty still exists and has taken an increasing percentage of India's population under its wings, though it was the favourite slogan by the late PM Indira Gandhi by which she had a landslide victory. Gareebhi Hatao, as if the only thing we had to do was take that broom and sweep off that Gareebhi (poverty) sitting on the porch steps. Yes, some still try to obey her, atleast in part, they try 'Garreebh ko hatao' which is much easier...
And I dont want to write again about our detriorating health and education system.
Talking about systems, caste system is still practised in today's India. And can anyone forget the corruption which is deeprooted in our administration system...
There is much more than these that stunts the growth of our country and for a moment I wondered however did our country get this 'superstar' status? And then I remembered the 'super stars' from the tinsel town, all glittery, magnificient, generous, rich, influential bunch of successful achievers and once you look at their private lives, the first impression soon fades. You would find them to be dishonest, greedy, ruthless go-getters. Do we resemble them? Nah! not us!!! We are not like some of those who are educated but still insist to receive a dowry, hold ridiculous superstitions, bribe and lie our way through anything, spread gossip, ashamed of their mother tongue and try to be something which they are not, never can keep their word, blame shifters, attention seekers, selfish...
Twinkle, twinkle super star, how I wonder what you are?
I know I am a boring person, always thinking and writing about things people would love to believe is never happening. But I am not here to entertain you and wouldnt turn sleazy at any cost (even if you promise to publish my book!) just to get a few more comments and clicks from you. So bye from me now, I would continue writing anyway...And BTW I would definitely finish that book.
Sadly, I had to put it down, put the reading of this book on hold for awhile as a picture, contrary to the glitzy image of India that was so lovingly painted by the author, appeared in the media. i personally am proud to be an Indian, have never ever desired to pack my bags and relocate to any other country for the sake of prosperity or education and would so love to see my country to make progress and develop in all good things. But I dont believe in fact-hiding, eye-closing, pushing-under-the-carpet attitude. So the facts are here,
Terrorism, still very much present and now it has company from communalism, regionalism, fundamentalism...
Poverty still exists and has taken an increasing percentage of India's population under its wings, though it was the favourite slogan by the late PM Indira Gandhi by which she had a landslide victory. Gareebhi Hatao, as if the only thing we had to do was take that broom and sweep off that Gareebhi (poverty) sitting on the porch steps. Yes, some still try to obey her, atleast in part, they try 'Garreebh ko hatao' which is much easier...
And I dont want to write again about our detriorating health and education system.
Talking about systems, caste system is still practised in today's India. And can anyone forget the corruption which is deeprooted in our administration system...
There is much more than these that stunts the growth of our country and for a moment I wondered however did our country get this 'superstar' status? And then I remembered the 'super stars' from the tinsel town, all glittery, magnificient, generous, rich, influential bunch of successful achievers and once you look at their private lives, the first impression soon fades. You would find them to be dishonest, greedy, ruthless go-getters. Do we resemble them? Nah! not us!!! We are not like some of those who are educated but still insist to receive a dowry, hold ridiculous superstitions, bribe and lie our way through anything, spread gossip, ashamed of their mother tongue and try to be something which they are not, never can keep their word, blame shifters, attention seekers, selfish...
Twinkle, twinkle super star, how I wonder what you are?
I know I am a boring person, always thinking and writing about things people would love to believe is never happening. But I am not here to entertain you and wouldnt turn sleazy at any cost (even if you promise to publish my book!) just to get a few more comments and clicks from you. So bye from me now, I would continue writing anyway...And BTW I would definitely finish that book.
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