Why I was impressed with the female protagonist in a Malayalam serial?

                             Why I was impressed with the female protagonist in a Malayalam serial?

   I recently saw a new Malayalam TV series from the start. I thought it would be just another melodramatic hogwash that most serials on television in India tend to be. But the more I saw it, the more I was hooked. The series is unique in many ways but I will just jot down a few points that stand out to me. The main protagonist was unsurprisingly female and the circumstance she finds herself in is also not unique. But what sets this character apart is the way she deals with her troubles. It is surprisingly fresh and compelling. In the beginning she is an ordinary college girl and the eldest of three sisters, living a happy life with her doting father and mother. Her life turns upside down when the public bus (with people on board) which her father drove gets into an accident and he is incapacitated.

However unlike other TV series heroines who spend half of their time in distress and tears, she dives into action. We notice that first in the scene where she and her family comes to visit her father at the hospital after the accident. While her mother and sisters spend their time distressed in front of the ICU, she goes about consoling the other victims of the bus accident. When there is need for money to save her father she doesn’t wait for a male savior but goes about by herself to arrange the money. She even finds time to find the man who was making anonymous calls to her home to discredit her father.

She has no qualms about leaving her education to take up a job in the public bus her father drove and become the sole bread winner of the family. What I was most impressed about was the fact that she did this all without any teary eyed drama. But she in no way tries to be an iron lady, but rather thinks of her nothing more than an ordinary girl. Here is character that proves that feminine characters can show resolve and act with conviction. 

My congratulations to the director, writer and actress behind the TV series 'Sundari' on Mazhavil Manorama TV channel. I hope they continue to keep true to the story and not be swayed by 'mainstream trends'. 

Check out their Youtube channel and sample an episode and see if there is merit in what I say.

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQNCaDxtvXKRCXkcn4fQ9LmzYrM2a0Jmx

Memories of my Grand Mother: A Reflective Eulogy - Part I

  It’s been many weeks since my Grand Mother died. However her memories are still yet to fade into twisting nether of my thoughts. I have not ceased to regret the fact that I could not be there near her during those last moments and I am not sure if I ever will. These few words that I write about her is just a small acknowledgment of the love I received from her.  It is by no means an exhaustive nor authoritative eulogy but rather a reflection of the memories treasured by a boy about his grandmother.

 My grandmother’s life was ordinary if you go by the metrics of the world. She has neither held positions of power nor stood up for women empowerment. But one thing she did do was perform the role she was ordained to by God with her utmost ability. Her story is also the story of thousand’s others like her who maintained the fabric of Kerala’s Syrian Christian society through their sweat and tears. If we are prosperous, educated and influential now it is in large part through these women and my Grand Mother is one of them.

“An Unflinching yet intimately caring woman” These would be the words I would use to describe her in a single phrase. Through her long life she has been through much joy and sorrow, times of plenty and times of want, loneliness and togetherness, illness and health. But none of them were enough to change who she was. She suffered from diabetes for longer than I can remember, was nearly electrocuted to death in an accident, suffered from multiple bone breaking falls, underwent 3 operations to replace both her knees and one thigh. These are just some of her sufferings in recent years that I know about.  My Grandmother was like a rock that could not be weathered no matter how much the elements tested it. 

My Grand Mother was born in 1926 in Koodallur, a place in Central Kerala which holds great historical significance for Kerala’s Syrian Catholics even though it is a largely inconsequential town nowadays. Unfortunately she was deprived of something most of us take for granted when her mother died at an early age but was fortunate enough to have caring sisters elder to her who played an important part in raising her. The flow of time did not weather their love towards each other as I have witnessed on several occasions. Her teenage years were in the time of great want caused by the World War 2 when even rice was scarce. She was fortunate to be in prominent land owning family but I believe this period definitely had an impact on her later life.  

However the one thing that did turn her life around was marriage into a family and location that was considerably different from what she was used to. The hilly, rugged terrain and agrarian aesthetics of Pathampuzha was in sharp contrast to her home town.  I will not mince any words when I say that her new family (which is also my family ) back then and to some extent even now were extremely thrifty both with money and with love.

However despite all the challenges she faced in her new home, she persevered and considered her new family as her own. She not only managed the house but toiled on the family land with the workers under her. There were times when she had to fight for her just rights to her land in the court of law. She also had a penchant for keeping farm animals and over the years reared cow’s, chickens, pigs, ducks, turkey’s and finally a goat. My Grand Mother was also particularly meticulous when it came to savings, and dutifully deposited the profit from all her farm endeavor’s each month in the bank. She did all this to secure a brighter future of her children and her grandchildren. I can only look back with heartfelt gratitude towards what she has left for us fully knowing that I am probably not worthy of it.

But what made my grandmother’s life unique was probably not how well she fulfilled her roles in life, but what she achieved despite the challenges she faced and her somewhat uncompromising personality. The last 14 years when she was living with us gave me a farther glimpse into her life. I would be lying if I say if we did not have our disagreements, and tense moments. But now looking back I believe those years with her were some of the most worthwhile days of my life. I was able to witness in her a simple woman possessing intricately strong opinions, an old lady with a witty sense of humor, a strict yet lovable mother, a soul brimming with faith and devotion towards God despite its failings.

I would like to continue but mere words from an amateur writer like me will not do justice to what my Grand Mother and other like her achieved in their life. So I stop for now until I find myself worthy enough to write the 2^nd part.

The Islamic State: Are Modern Nation States any Better?

The reader may genuinely wonder whether I am crazy to write an article in defense of an organization that most media, politicians and public describe with the most unpalatable of adjectives. To clarify I am writing about the Islamic state or ISIS. Also I am not in anyway their supporter (I am a through and through Catholic) but rather consider myself as a neutral observer of history. 

  This is not an article to to justify their actions which I find equally abhorrent. My motivation to write this purely on the basis of what I consider the fairness doctrine which in some ways allows you to put yourself in the others shoe and gain a better perspective. Another fact that motivated me was the pathetic show of selfishness and cowardice by United States  when they conducted airstrikes against them in the recent days.

    I start by asking a simple question. What makes ISIS more horrendously evil that the other insurgents/regimes/governments in the middle east or the wider world today? Is the Syrian regime with the blood of nearly a quarter of a million of their own citizen any better. Is Iran any better  aiding, and abetting the destruction of entire societies in Syria, Palestine, and Iraq  just to further their intrests. Is the Iraqi government any better. Are the Gulf countries any better with democracy and human rights.

    Now I want to go back a few decades in history and look the Western world which poses itself as the last bastion of Human rights. Where was it not barbarism when US nuked Japan or carpet bombed Vietnam. Was it not fomenting sectarian strife when Britain split India and turned a blind eye to  Hindu's and Muslims killing each other by the tens of thousands. Was it not ethnic cleansing when Russian uprooted the Tartars and deported them to Central Asia. Was it not religious Intolerance when Catholics were hunted down in Japan, China, Mexico. Was it not blatant territory grab when China invaded and annexed Tibet. 

  I could go on and on about nearly every country in the world.Yet all these countries I listed above have managed to white wash their blood with excuse like 'National Interest, political expediency etc' or what can be better termed as protecting their own thin skin. All of these countries share the world stage and comfortably look the other way at their own blood stained paths.

    Now I ask, how can a neutral observer of History say with conviction that the 'Islamic state' is more evil than other countries based on their actions till now. Looking through their lens they are fledgling state with mortal enemies on all sides who would have their blood and destroy them given the chance to do so. To establish their state they resort to all tactics that intimidate, their enemies as well as raise their own morale. 

  It may sound unbelievable but the fact may be that there is a huge segment of the Muslim population in Syria and Iraq who would find some sort of salvation in the idea of an Islamic state. They may be a sanctuary for destitute Syrian refugee women in Lebanon or a means to get justice for the disenfranchised Sunni tribes.

  Many in the world might be hailing the recent airstrikes by US on the Islamic state forces. But to me it reveals the visceral icon of selfishness that is the US political establishment today. Where were the security council resolutions and air strikes as thousands where killed with Chemical weapons in Syria by the regime. The US strikes are just to earn some moral high ground and safe guard the business investments of US companies.

     I conclude by saying that the actions of the Islamic state (despite their Barbarism) in all fairness does not make them any worse than the other nations existing today.

 

My Journey to US: Part I

   I've been intending to write about all the things I did to come to US for higher studies as soon I reached here. However it is only now, after 2 weeks that I've found the mind to do it. 

  I want to start with a warning to all those who aspire to continue their studies in the US whether for bachelor's, master's or PhD. Think about you decision over and over again with regard to all  aspects. The entire process from taking the tests to finally boarding your flight can take at least 6 months and may even go up to a couple of years. In addition to time the costs involved are also phenomenal. By the time you board your flight you might have been set back a few lakhs of rupees even. Of course the expenses that will occur once you reach there are another matter.

 Comparatively getting into a good Indian institution like an IIT or an NIT is much simpler and less harsher on you and your families pocket. Of course if you have already your bachelors in a good Indian institution then none of this post applies because they are in great demand anyway abroad.

   After deciding to go for higher studies in the US, the first thing I did was to convince my parents about the greatness of going to US and of all the wonderful things I could do over there. Understandably they were not so enthusiastic about it since I already had a master's degree and a good paying job. However I was able to win them over. But now as I look back I wonder how many of the arguments I made stand valid now or would prove valid in the future.

Within a month I  took my GRE test. Then started a period of finding the right professor and University and emailing them. A few replied positively and negatively. Also I got my recommendations which was surprisingly the easier part. The transcripts took their time but mostly due to my fault. I took my TOEFL in December determined to send my application before the summer deadline.

  Finally in January I sent out a grand total of 2 applications. Why I only sent two still puzzles me but this may have been one of the most foolish mistakes I did. The only good thing was that I could save a few thousand on the application fees. This was small change compared to the fact that I had spent nearly 25000 rupees till then on the expenses related to GRE, TOEFL, application fees, transcript fees etc. This is despite the fact that I did everything by my own or through family without the help of any payed consultants.

  I thought the hardest part would be over once the applications were sent. I was  full of hope and dreaming of all the research I would do. However what followed made me realize that sending applications was the easier part.

The coming Middle East War and its Consequences for Europe

    I am writing this article despite the fact that you might find it crazy and think that I am merely fear mongering. Well I am not afraid of a situation where the events in future prove me wrong, however I am certainly afraid of the consequences should I be proved right.

  What I am writing about has a lot to do with what is happening in the middle east now. No intelligence agency or global think tank had predicted (as far as I know) even as late as 2010 that civil unrest and armed insurrection would engulf the countries of the middle east. However one person who studies eschatology had predicted this a couple of years prior and  this is what makes me confident to write a few words of my own on this.

 It started with Tunisia, spread to Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and now it has fully evolved into what is now the situation  in Syria. What started out as genuine call for freedom has been mutilated and hijacked into a bloody armed struggle to the death.

  However the unfortunate fact is that this may just be the start. The Syrian civil war is in reality a war by proxy with Iran on one side and Saudi Arabia and Gulf states on the other. Russia is providing arms for the former side while the Western Countries fund the latter side. The Syrians (government and rebels) are almost completely dependent on these outside powers. The situation despite its simple barbarity is also very 

complex and the aim of this article is not to delve into that.

  This war now confined more or less within Syria's borders is however spreading beyond it. Unless something dramatic happens within a year or two the entire middle east will be at war. A bloody conflict between the Shiaites and Sunnis. I am not speculating who will win the war but I am speculating what will be its effects.

   The was would leave middle east ruined economically on the one hand and create a thoroughly militarized population. If you look back at history, whenever the above two factors combined they always lead to one thing - Invasion. The warlords who command the militarized population would find that invading Europe would be the most logical thing to do and they would seize the opportunity. 

 I am not speculating on what the outcome of the invasion would be but I fear it will go badly for Europe.

The world grew terrified of a few 2nd rate threats from an obviously spoilt North Korean leader a few weeks back. I was least surprised when they ramped down the rhetoric just as spontaneously as it had started. In fact down the line we may even discover that even North Korea was playing out its part in a game of deception being played by another entity.

   However what is happening in Syria is all too real and it is just the start of a painful period in World History. The west could have done something before (like bomb the Syrian government leadership out of existence when they started mass murdering Syrians), but now it is too late and they will regret it later.

  Well that's it, I have given a warning based on what I've read and deduced. Hopefully I'm wrong for all our sakes.

 

llliteracy: The plague of North India

    It is a well know fact that India has the most number of illiterate people in the world with a literacy rate of  around 74%. Another perhaps little known fact is that  more than 50% of India's illiterates are concentrated in North Indian states. My intention here is not to tarnish north India but rather point out some consequences and reasons for this based on some observations I made during my experience.

 Let me start with what prompted me to write this piece in the first  place. Recently  I got on a cycle rickshaw (a simple vehicle that moves on the pure muscle power of the driver) to go to a friends house. I asked the the driver (a man in his late 30's) to look for a sign with so and so name and number. However to this he replied meekly that he was illiterate and could not read. This came as a shocker and at the same time answered several questions. I have always wondered why anybody would become a cycle rickshaw puller in Delhi since it is probably the worst job a man can get in the transportation industry. Imagine cycling in the midday heat, amidst fumes and dust with  2 or 3 people attached to a carriage behind you. And the worst part is you only get paid a pittance, often less than what other taxi drivers make for the same distance. I have heard that most of these people contract asthma or some other lung disease

   My point in explaining the plight of the rickshaw drivers is that, illiteracy might be one of the driving factors that constrain them to take up such employment in turn be exploited by the literate people like us. There is an old saying in Kerala, "the one who was struck by the lighting was in turn bitten by the snake". I feel the plight of the illiterate rickshaw drivers and so many other illiterates mirror this statement. I do not think it would be farfetched to say that we the literates, have created a class of illiterates to exploit economically. Perhaps we did this unintentionally but certainly not without our knowledge.

 

 But why is it that despite so many years of independence,so many thousands of crores spent every year by the government for education, and the hundreds of NGO's who work for literacy that India is still many decades away from full literacy.

   Perhaps the reason can be found in the mindsets of the educated, North Indians themselves. I have often noticed a strong reluctance to share information to others, even if they are colleagues or coworkers. They seem to think that they posses a treasure which only they have the right to enjoy. If this is  the attitude of the educated towards their peers, how much more worse will it be towards the underprivileged.   Education is the methodical imparting of knowledge to those who don't have it, but that in itself would be a dead end if the educated does not share it with somebody else who don't have it.

Another interesting fact I have seen among certain lower middle classes is the limited importance they give for educating their children. Educating children is still secondary to marrying them off, or conducting some expensive religious ritual. Most often it's the girls who suffer because the limited family budget for education gets over with the boys. This is in direct contrast to south Indian families.

 The schools of course don't really help either. I have heard first hand accounts of government schools in rural areas where teachers only come twice every term even though the children come for the free food. Apparently all the children are given free passes to the succeeding years without writing exams. The other extreme are the private schools in the Cities, which have turned primary education into a money spinning corporate enterprise. Indeed the cost of a single term for a single student in one of these schools is enough to pay for a 100 or so students in a normal school. These schools cultivate a sense of cut throat competition from day one in the child for them to be successful. But in turn take away many things that could have caused them to care about the less privileged.

   I believe the eminent educationalists and political class of north India have to wake up to plague that eats the less fortunate in their backyard rather than slumber in their high mansions of national glory. No nation can claim any trophy in cultural greatness or set a date for economic might when a good multitude of its people don't know how to read or write. Similarly the educated in North India have to realize that without sharing knowledge, their education means nothing.

The illusion of Delhi

  When I had first imagined Delhi, its poverty was not something I had given much thought to. However over the year I have been in Delhi and North India, I feel it is the the most neglected subject by those like me who are better off. Whether in casual conversations or in formal meetings, it is either considered as a taboo or as a joke. But in the very end the fact remains that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

 But when you peel away the glitz and glamor of Delhi's malls and clubs, or the stately prowess of its land marks, all you get is the sordid reality of its poor people living in urban squalor. I can only imagine the misery they endure day in and day out when I watch them from afar as they try to scratch out a living. The one's who pay most dearly are the children who have been denied everything you & I got as a child. The lucky ones have some parents to speak of while the unlucky ones have no one but themselves as they beg and work in the street just for survival. I fear we have much to answer for before God, for these little girls and boys.

 Unfortunately even my feelings for them have now gone numb after the many months I have seen this injustice play out before me and my realization that there is nothing I can do for them. Now I only hope to leave this city at the first opportunity with a promise that I do what I can to stop this urban abomination from taking root in my state and my city.

  However from a practical point of view, I cannot help but point out certain factors which I think contributed to create this appalling level of poverty and which will continue to be the cause of Delhi's demise. The city is built nearly in the middle of the great northern plains and shares boundary with states. Administratively & politically it seems a wise decision, except that most cities don't sustain themselves efficiently on that. They grow & sustain because of having access to geographical features facilitating trade & commerce, natural resources like water or a  year round pleasant climate that in turn fosters capital generating economic activity. Think of all other Indian metros which are on the coasts or other great cities around the world. 

   What features or resources does Delhi have other than becoming a dust bowl in summer and cold snapped in winter. It neither has a port or a navigable body of water (discounting the garbage canal that river Yamuna has become) nor even a source of drinking water. It doesn't even have any strategic military advantages. In short my opinion is that Delhi is an artificially propped up city that tries in vain to ape the other cities which generate capital using its considerable political power. In doing that it has failed to recognize the human tragedy unfolding within its walls. I can only hope the administrators and citizens of Delhi will come out of their illusion of greatness and do an introspection before Delhi suffers the fate of other vain cities that have come and disappeared in history.