Saturday 29 August, 2009

The Kerala I Know

In a country full of squat happy people, kerala is a welcome change. The scenic view that one gets while travelling in train or bus is quite pleasant. Greenery all around and water bodies keep passing you, as u look out. One never comes across squatters in this part of our country. In Kerala, toilet is as essential for a home as is the roof.

Earlier in the day, i was reading a book by an English traveller who travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari by Bicycle. The author was quite apalled with the absence of privacy in the sub-continent. It essentially boils down to one single factor, which is poverty. When every second Indian is wondering where to get his next meal from, the Englishman's concern is never going to bother him. In Kerala, the Gulf countries' oil wells have managed to keep the people well fed and sufficiently well off.

Communism has a good number of followers here. But it is totally forgotten when a malayalee lands in another state. He is ready to work till he drops dead. And back home, the same guy won't allow an industry to set shop, without meeting his demands. Till this day i havent been able to digest this double standards.

May be except for Kochi, there arent many places where lovers can walk together in gay abandon. Prying eyes are all over, the moment a couple is seen being cosy. In buses ladies generally face unwelcome touches and bodily grazing. This scenario is not so much found in the metros. People are getting exposed to the outside world, and now they know its not proper to treat women as materials.

The single most obsession in kerala that cant be beaten is their appetite for gold. People keep amassing the yellow metal, never ever feeling satisfied. I get a sickening nausea seeing brides covered all over in gold. Instead of accentuating the bride's beauty, the heavy ornamentation un-does it, on the most important day in her life.

Keralaites like to be updated on news and politically are more abreast compared to people in most other states. Hygeine is one other thing they simply dont take lightly. Even daily wagers dont leave for home without changing into their regular clothes, which are so much good that one never can guess their profession correctly.

There is so much more to write, but i shall leave with only so much for now. Do comment and share your thoughts.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear Joshi,

Your writing on Kerala was really interesting to read. Yes kerala is a nice place to visit. But i am sick of the male chauvinism i get to see there in most men... except for guys who are brought up outside kerala..
But yes, i like the greenery, the chips, jack fruit, my granny and my family there... I love to visit kerala quite often but it doesnt happen often. Felt really glad reading through ur blog.

I do check ur blog quite often, but as most of our friends, forget to leave a comment...

Take care.. Beena Joshi

Prem said...

Hey Joshi, glad that you wrote about Kerala. I am a regular there and I visit at least once in a month. I do like all the greenery and stuff but there are so many things which brings me back to Bangalore soon.

One thing I can vouch, they are the greatest hypocrites. I again felt that people in Trichur and Palghat are more down to earth and nice. (I have my roots in Calicut).