A sandbank and Ram

Watching the news is always an interesting pastime in India.The TV news channels will bend over backwards to get anyone and everyone to make a wrong move and if they have someone who refuses to rise to the bait then they will twist the words clean out of context.It requires a lot of skill to do this so lets not underestimate them for a moment.

Yesterday was probably every ones idea of a great day.The Sethu Samudram project is being debated hotly and everyone and his uncle has an opinion.Honestly to be frank I haven't a clue what this project is all about.Suffice to say that there is talk to building a bridge which I believe will make life simpler for most people.But the fun begins right there.

One would think a discussion on a development project which includes breaking down a self formed sandbank,would be more on the lines of what this would mean to the environment,would it affect the ecological balance of the region.What would the cost be and would the benefits out way the cost etc.But strangely none of this matters.All that really matters is that some down and out political parties who have been desperate for a poll platform have suddenly woken up and found a cause.So the fun starts with a Hindu party vs a rational party (both parties have the majority of members belonging to the Hindu religion) fighting over a theory that the god ram build this bridge and therefore it cannot be touched and all the rest of it.

I decided to put all the politics and religion aside as neither interests me so let look at my trumped up story.

There was this guy called ram.Young restless and student to boot.His dad Sethuraman has been after him to join an engineering college and do something worthwhile for once.Poor Ram Sethu is far more interested in fishing and watching boats and ships go by and he has quiet by accident discovered a lovely sandbank that's as good as a bridge and which gets him places.He can walk almost halfway into srilanka and what a place to be.Its been fun for him so he discovers new stuff everyday.Coral reefs,wonderful fish and fisher folk who were more than happy to serve piping hot fish fry.Oh to be in heaven.Unfortunately over time he became a part of that landscape and despite all his fathers advice,he never went to college.He became part of the environment,enjoyed nature at its best.One day he went swimming too far from the sandbank and then tragedy struck,Ram Sethu was eaten by a shark long before he made it to shore.In memory of a fine young man who appreciated what nature gave him,that areas of the sandbank was named by the fisher folk as the Ram Sethu and that's how the name came about.

Today many years later shallow politicians try to gain political mileage and whip up communal disharmony and forget the reasons for preserving a beautiful place that nature built.Do we destroy the great barrier reef?.Do we call upon religion to fight causes of the environment?.
It sad that a country poised on the verge of economic greatness,is brought to its knees at regular intervals by men who have no vision except their own personal mortality.Time to wake up India.

The elephant god

Religion is such an integral part of our culture and now its also part of our politics too.Over a period of time I have watched the majority of people moving towards religion.A lot I suspect has to do with marketing.As a child I watched neighbours bring home a mud ganesha from the local market,decorate it with flowers,put some vermilion on its forehead and do the pooja.After whatever period of time he would be immersed into the well in the house and everyone was happy.Me more so as he is a god who loves his food and that meant that some goodies came my way.
Somewhere after religion became part of politics,marketing companies started cashing in on these poojas.In Chennai where it was always low key,there was a sudden flurry of activity.Overnight temples mushroomed at every nook and corner of each road.Gone were the days when ganesha was part of the gate of most houses.I watched as small idols grew into small temples.Soon a poojari arrived and was paid a salary,the pavement was then plastered with tiles,expansion was on and slowly the small roadside temple encroached into the road.No one can do a thing about it,there is sentiment involved.Today I watch as huge pandals are put up,local residents clamour for prasad,mikes blare and lights are lit big time.The cops are out to guard against any violence and the god himself has transformed from a simple elephant god to a colourfull and large figure.The paint and the colours used do nothing for ground water.In fact they pollute but unfortunately a simple festival that the elephant god called his own is no longer in his control.The marketing companies run it.There is money and power involved but not from the gods.It belongs to the local strongman.
I am all for marketing but not at the risk of giving up the simple joys of prayer and devotion.Today very few houses make the goodies with love,goodies that are so much a part of each festival.Today one pops into the local sweet shop and orders.What ever happened to licking plates and spoons,what ever happened to all the legends and stories and the myths that gave such character to these simple outpourings of devotion.Today its been dragged into the world of commerce,its flat,superficial and I wonder if the elephant god feels as bad as I do for the passing of a simple life.