It was with an intense feeling of disappointment I watched the news flashing across all channels last week.The havoc created by the unexpected rains in summer that inundated most of the crops across the paddy fields of kerala, left behind some hapless victims in the merciless hands of fate.The visuals of the ruined crops were hard to believe and one could imagine the amount of disappointment it would have created in the minds of the farmers who had to suffer a major loss, when they were just about to reap a bumper harvest this time
The shock was so severe that it has already claimed two lives in the form of suicide.First it was one Gopi who could not take the blow and succumbed to the pressure of the loans a potentially bleak future.
It is believed that the unfortunate was left completely helpless as he did not get either the workers or the reaping machine in time to make it.
The unfortunate loss of property also exposed the stinking unscrupulous face of dirty kerala politics once again. The opposition was quick to gleefully make use of a wonderful opportunity in terms of blaming the government just ahead of an election year.. The faces of Ummen Chandy and Co were conspicuous with concealed happiness and as the went to kuttanad and stood on the reaping machines for photo sessions , it clearly conveyed to an independent observer how the meanest would make use of a great tragedy to their own advantage.
The Goverment , or rather The ruling party made it a point to give tit for tat to the opposition forgetting that their precious time should be spent on addressing the issue rather than fighting with their political opponents.It also clearly showed that there were not much concern for the people who were suffering as party blamed it on the rains, though one knows clearly that it is only the Red army that can provude the manpower which can beat any disaster when put to work. After all it is a party that takes immense pride in the human power to fight against odds.A communist party of the 60s could have brought in an army of workers in no time (if they chose), which would have cleared the entire kuttanad in one day. But the party just raised it hands in helplessness and assumed that it is the role of Govt alone to address all these issues. If one thought Communist party was one with a difference when it comes to human sufferings, then he is still frozen his memories in 60s and 70s.
And to add to that, party was quick to dismiss the suicide as a result of personal reasons and nothing connected with the crop loss. Not only that such silly statements from party headquarters shows its insensitivity , it exposes its attitude towards human loss and sufferings. Also, it had to be read in the back drop that Gopi was expelled from party due to some differences in the past
What all these incidents leaves behind us is a terrible image of an highly politicized, insensitive and helpless kerala society. Individuals are sitting ducks to the uncertain events that comes as big blows to their life, however the support systems are completely absent. And whatever the accepted (and much hyped) mechanisms of democracy that is available, is in a state pathetic insensitivity.
And yesterday we had one more instance of a farmer-pushkaran- committing suicide,who had taken loans from many quarters. It is also note worthy he had even availed a loan worth 5000 from SNDP micro finance at such a low interest. And in spite of this, he was not able to with stand the blow he suffered from nature.
If one look at these two instances closely we can see the following:
1.Both had respectable positions in the locality.
2.Both had commitments and obligations
3.Both were expecting good harvest this time
4.Both were felt isolated in the tragedy
5.They did not have any cash reserves to fall back
6.There no spiritual escape routes that could have helped to temper the blow
7.People felt overpowered by two powerful forces. One the nature and other the organized power of unions
And what is more striking, is also a fact which is glaring but overlooked in these tragedy.When I had a look at the extend of crops they had cultivated, one can see that it do not go beyond 2-3 hectors. these is not that huge a land. Any I presume that respective families had at least 4-5 members who are perfectly capable of doing the work themselves. If 4-5 people just struggle for 10 days day and night I think 3 hectors is not that hard to reap. (Okay, if one can forget collecting hay ,then reaping the grains will be pretty fast ) It is interesting that they waited for the workers , knowing that things are getting bad. And they resorted to do it themselves pretty late... (Allmost 10-15 days late ) which is too late for a perishable crop like paddy
If we look at the mindset of a malayali ,we have strong aversion to do hard labour.everyone would like to play a landlord .It is high time to realize that putting our body to use is the best way we can appreciate ourselves and to beef up our self esteem
