It is not only the lush green paddy fields, lakes, backwaters and
Sea of Kerala that beckons me, but the desire to visit the temples
of Kerala, is sort of spiritual fulfillment. I am not a religious
person and haven’t uttered a prayer my whole life but have always
been drawn to temples. It is the inner ambience of a temple that
draws me to it: the smell of the soot emanating from the burning oil
lamps, chanting of prayers and hymns, beating of drums and rending
of trumpet. The splendid architectural beauty and simplicity of
Kerala temple will always hold a special place in my heart.
Visiting Kerala has almost become an annual ritual to me and I never
grow tired of it, in fact the same old enthusiasm of seeing Kerala
again and again is always there in me. Compared to other States
Kerala has not seen much of development whether in industry sector
or as a city donning multiple high rise buildings and malls. In a
way it is beneficial for Kerala that it has been able to retain much
of its green landscape and backwaters. No wonder Kerala continues
to retain a place of pride in the world map of tourism. For the
people of Kerala it is no good news with hardly any manufacturing
sector in place. Retail shops and small scale cottage industry take
cares of only a tiny fraction of employment needs.
Kerala was the first state to introduce computer by having a techno
park in Trivandrum way back in the eighties but it never really took
off. Kerala still remains far behind in IT industry compared to its
neighboring States like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad which are
known as IT hubs.
Migration to green pastures has always been a way out for the
people. Migrant Malayalees have always excelled overseas and it has
more to do with better work culture and environment prevalent
outside Kerala. Militant labour has created havoc with the State’s
industrial growth and economy.
Today what keeps it going is the petro-dollars remittance coming
into the country from million of oversees workers toiling in Gulf
countries. One dreads to think if the recent economic meltdown
touches the shores of these Arabian countries triggering massive
retrenchment and repatriation of gulf workers to Kerala, then even
Lord Mahabali would not be able to save this God’s own country from
utter chaos and ruin.
The inflow of petro dollars has changed if not much the landscape of
Kerala but certainly the lifestyle of people. Once a part
vegetarian has become a meat eating State, even a religious
Malayalee after a visit to the holy shrines would not hesitate to
include a morsel of beef in his dinner after washing it down with
few pegs of brandy. As per the figures quoted, Kerala has become
one of the highest meat eating and alcohol consumption State.
There is no worthwhile activity a youth can purse in the State due
to lack of employment opportunity so in order to keep engaged he
goes on studying by enrolling for a post graduation degree. Kerala
has highest literacy among Indian States. It has provides better
health services and life span of an average Malayalees is between 75
to 80 years which is almost on par with some of the Western
countries. Kerala follows a matriarchal society and women outnumber
the men in terms of population.
An average family survives on the remittance sent by their kin
working in Gulf, whereas rest of the family members indulges in
lavish spending on food, alcohol and shopping. These toiling
Malayalees have become the sacrificial goat of the family.
Some of the State’s biggest retailers are Gold ornament shops. A
family spends his life time saving in purchasing gold to be worn by
the bride as gift to the bridegroom during wedding. I am told gold
ornament can be brought for hire or buying one gram gold plated
jewelry has become a cheaper options for wedding.
People seem to have abundance of time at their disposal so people
meet at wayside tea stalls during the day gulping cups of hot tea
and at night find themselves in bars drowning in alcohol, while they
indulge in discussion and debate over the political affairs of the
country.
Due to lack of physical activities and sedentary life styles has
taken a toll in the health of the people with common ailment like
heart problems and cancer. Though in recent years political
activities like street rallies and hartal (call for ceasing of all
State activity like city caught in curfew) has come down but it
still remains very much part of a political tool to express protest
or beat rival political parties.
Many a times I had toyed with the idea of settling down in Kerala
but I realize enjoying Kerala during short visits is the only way
that I keep my love affair going with this God’s own country.
