Cities of Kerala, Actually small towns

I read a book same as the title edited by Baiju Natarajan and photographs by Ramu Aravindan who I think is the son of noted film-maker G.Aravindan and some sketches by E.P Unny. Actually saying about the book, it is authored by a host of well known writers including Paul Zacharia and C.R.Omanakuttan and this is not exactly a tourist's guide to Kerala or yet another of the numerous travelogues for sale. The book describes the socio-political scenario in the present day Kerala emphasising the cultural and religious diversity prevailing in 9 major cities/districts in Kerala. As the name suggests there is not even a single place in Kerala that can be classified as a big City but the living standards and amenities are more or less evenly distributed throughout and readily available. The surprise element is that the globalised malayali has a better life style in Kerala than people from other states in India. And the class divide amoung the people is even. The 9 major cities (rather towns) explained as seperate chapters are Trivandrum, Kollam, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur with photo illustartion by Ramu Aravindan. E.P Unny's sketches about Palakkad and the potryal of Tamil brahmin culture arouses a sense of familiarity as these are common to my area too. Another notable context is the communist roots which is explained by all the authors and I think that is the only unifying factor all throughout Kerala. I find certain things that are integral part of Kerala like art, movies and dramas missing.
But the photographs do indeed show of major culture prevailing in the State. The photos begin with the cover page showing the grandeur of the mahout smoking the traditional beedi while his subordinate bathes the mighty tusker - a scene synonymous with the cultural identity brought by the growth of communism in Kerala. Then there are photos of the metre guage train through Palakkad town, passenger boats in lake, tea shop or chaya kada and other unusual but common scenario native to Kerala.
In Trivandrum the photos indicate protests and rallies, while for Kollam it is about fishermen, their boats, an auto in Vallikkavu ferry and cashew themes. An interesting photo that I liked is that of players in football field and some people relaxing. This is one strong deviation found in Kerala as regards to other parts of the country where cricket is much hyped.
In the chapter about Alapuzha Vembanad Lake and the commercial canal are shown and that of the land of letters,Kottayam, the famous KK road, river meenachil and a Gothic chapel from CMS campus are pictured. The carefully captured people show a christian or catholic charisma all around. Ernakulam is picturised with the boat jetty, people and ofcourse the MG road. And the advertisement hoardings inside paddy fields.
For the cultural city of Kerala they have included Guruvayoor elephant sanctury, Swaraj round and Sakthan Thamburan market and bus stand. In this chapter there is photo showing buses racing - another common scene in which private buses vie for more passengers. Yes cheap Private bus service in the communist land!Unique?
For Kozhikode they have shown mosques, masjids and people in traditional Muslim dresses - the mappila aura. Seeing the photo I remember having visited the Kappad beach. For Kannur they mainly show Thalasseri part. There is this photo of a thatched house with a poster of Che Guevara that is both laugh evoking thinking about the local malayali talk about Cuban revolution and also shows the communist strength of this part.
I do miss one photograph that could have been added, the one showing a city life with a Mohanlal movie poster in the backdrop amoung others.

Kerala Politics - My Views

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I never understood the politics of Kerala in my childhood owing to the fact that I was living in TN and because I never felt the influence inspite of my close proximity to the state and also frequent travel there. In TN there was this typical two party system with either one party coming to power while the other becomes opposition. Same was the situation in centre. But being wholly Malayalam and hailing from a community whose members are spread wide across the stretch of Kerala, I often happened to hear of such terms like Hartal, LDF, UDF, strike, etc. I wondered during those times that it would be fantastic to study in Kerala since we happen to get a lot of holidays! Later days I realised that there is no such fantasized euphoria with my perceptions. The media, both newspaper and TV,was my main source to know about the affairs of the state and many a times I had to postpone my trips through Kerala or stuck up in the middle because of this state of affair.

The statistics says Kerala to be a highly literate state - more than the average of India as a whole,with good transport and roads. And the development wise, I would view it as zero for all the steps taken by the systematically rotating state government. Kerala has a huge number of migrant population to different parts of the world thanks to the Political Scenario. I'm not critical about any particular party or politician since I don't know much about these things. But reading about the politics and the leaders of Kerala and viewing others opinion is itself a pleasure. For I get a comic feel especially while discussing the state of affairs there. It all started with the phoning programme of Late CM Nayanar which was hugely popular and so was the mimicry troupe that imitated this episodes with ease!! This was supposed to be the first of the kind in India and an example for other states for governance with people's opinion. But none tried to follow it ever again!! An episode is available in youtube as far as I know in this link below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdGDguEh4ps&feature=related

AK Antony and K Karunakaran's political sustenance is a well known issue which ended up in a split in UDF. Karunakaran's floating of a new party, supporting his son and later his crashing out and again going back to the old party with a U turn are all regarded as worst phase of politics. VS was a saint then and their political statements and standings were remade as popular comedy episodes during that term. Byelections, split in party, sub-party, split in that sub-party were all taking place. Then came the much awaited change in government but not in governance!! Almost the same situation existed and this time with the LDF, lol! VS's fame with dogs and the duel with CPI leader PV were all leading again to situations of the previous government. Simply put whoever rules there is only internal stunts and almost no development for the state. Issues apart VS' involvement in controversies especially with the Major's family and then with the election results could have been avoided. I saw another interesting video in you tube again and the link is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqLnutYc8QU&feature=channel .

And they say it as "God's Own Country"!!!!!

Sri Suktham

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OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

"Sarva Mangalya Maangalyae Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike Saranye Thriyambage Devi Narayani Namosthithe"
This is one mantram that I learned from Kochappan who taught me and my cousins to chant prayers daily in the evening before the 'Vilakku' the traditional lamp burning with cotton dripped in Oil. Some will call the title as "Sthree Suktham" as a Purusha Suktham is also there. The most chanted line is given in bold as it is not possible to read all the lines correctly because it is complex and most of us donot know Sanskrit. This 'Sri Suktham' is praise of godess Lakshmi who gives wealth to all (God of wealth).
The meaning of each and every word I donot know but the second sentence in bold states "Holder of Wealth, Please Grant Money(Artham), Increment in Children and Generation, Money and food Grains(Vikasanam)" and so on. Actually I learned it in Malayalam and so I write the main lines in Malayalam below.

Sri Suktham:

• Hiranya Varnaam Harineem Suvarnarajathasrijam Chandraam Hiranmayeim Lakshmeem Jadavedomaavaham Thaamavaha Jadavedobhalaksmeem Anabhagamineem Yesyam Hiranyam Vindeyam Gamaswam PurushanAham.
  


• AswaPoorvam RathaMadyam Hasthinadaprabhodhineem SriyamdeveeMu: Pahvesriermadeveem Jhushadhaam; KhamSosmidham HiranyaprakaramArdraam jwalantheem Triptaam Tharpayentheem Padmesthitham PadmaVarnaam Thamihopahvesriyam.


• Chandraam Prabhasam YeshasaJwalandheem SriyamlokedevajushtamUdharaam; ThaamPadmineeum SaranamAham Pravadhye LakshmeermeNasyathaam TwaamVrinae. Adityavarne Thapasodhi-jaadovanaspathisthava Vrikshodha Vilvaha: Thasya Balaani Thapasaanudanthu Mayamtharayacha Bahaya Lakshmeem.
  

• Upaydhumaam Devasaka Keerthischa ManiNasaha Pradhir BoodhosmiRashtresmin Kerthim ridhimDatatume Shustipasa AmalamJeyastamAlakshmeemNa ShyamiyAham Abhudheem AsamridheemCha SarvaamNirnidha me Grihat.


• Gandhadhaaram Dhuradarshaam Nithyapustaam Kareeshineem Eeswareem Sarvabhootha nam Thamyahopahvesrayam ManasahaKama Akutim VachaSatyam Ashimahi PashunamGa RoopamMannasya MayiSri ShreyathamYeshasha:
  

• KardhamenaPrajabhootha Mayisambhava Kardhamam SriyamVasayamMekule Mataram Padmamalineem ApahSrijanthu SikleedhavasaMe GriheNichadeveemataram Sriyamvasayeme Kule
  

• Ardhraam Puskarineem PushteemSuvarnam Hemamaleem SooryaamHiranmayeem Lakshmeem JatavedomAvahaam ArdhaamYekarineem YeshteemPingalaam Padmamalineem ChandraamHiranmayeem Lakshmeem JatavedomAvahaam TaamAvaha JatavedobhaLaksmeem AnabhaGamineem Yasyam HiranyamPrabhoothamgavo Daasyoswaan VindheyampurushaanAham.
  

• AswadhayiCha Godhayi Dhanadhaayi Mahasane DhanaMeDhadhaThaam Deveem SarvakamAartha Siddhaye Putra PouthraDhanamDaanyam Vikasanam Prajaanam BhavathiMatha AayushmanThanKarothumaam.

The main lines and a sample of how I was taught by my uncle and it was in Malayalam

ഗന്ധധാരം ധുരാധര്ശാം നിത്യപുസ്ടാം കരീഷിനീം ഈസ്വരീം സര്വഭൂത നാം തമ്യതോപത്വേസ്രായം

അസ്വധയിച്ച ഗോധയി ധനധായി മഹാസനെ ധനമെധധതാം ദേവീം സര്വകമാര്‍ത്ത സിദ്ധയെ പുത്ര പൌത്രധനം ധാന്യം വികാസനം പ്രജാനാം ഭവതി മാതാ ആയുഷ്മന്തന്കരോതുമാം