Lamenting a downfall
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A critique of a consumerist Kerala.
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`Keralam Vilakkuvangiya Vinashangal' by P. Sujathan; Pranatha Books 158 pages.
AT FIRST glance `Vilaikkuvangiya Vinashangal' may look like extolling tradition but a deeper reading would turn out to be farthest from this. The author, P. Sujathan, a journalist, says that he is not a traditionalist at all. The author's criticism of modern day fads such as the observance of Valentine's Day should not be interpreted as one, which identifies him with the votaries of tradition of the saffron hue who see a tiger in everything western. However, the westernisation of Kerala is pulling down the State to a cultural abyss and this is the common thread that runs through the array of articles that first appeared in Kalakaumudi and now brought out in a book form. "Old need not always be gold, but in the name of globalisation, the good old Malayali traits need not be looked down upon or shunned," he says. As K.P.Vijayan, journalist, says in the foreword of the book, let the tribe of Sujathans increase, so that at least in the next generation some sort of social equality could be ushered in, bringing in the much-needed egalitarian dimension to the social milieu of Kerala.
A window
The articles touch upon various aspects on the socio, political and cultural spheres opening a window as it were on the present state of Kerala. There is no fire and brimstone, nor any hectoring or beating the chest for popular appeal, which is the hallmark of whistle-blowers who don the role of the moral police chafing at the foibles of the powers that be and the system. The style is lucid and subtle with occasional flashes of wit without in any way lowering the seriousness of the issues under debate. They range from a unique `royal' marriage in Thripunithura to the culpable negligence of the Malayalis to historic finds, which may throw light on our ancient culture. His barbs of social criticism peppered with apt similes and play on words with biting sarcasm always find their targets, not even sparing the `fellow travellers' and ideologies that are said to be close to the hearts of the publication for which the author is attached for over a quarter century.
The Kerala dilemma - of apparent prosperity and the high standards on physical quality of life vis-à-vis the cultural degeneration caused by constant exposure to the winds of globalisation from the West - is portrayed in vivid detail in the book. A stickler for facts that the writer is, the articles reflects the methodology of a dedicated journalist who painstakingly collects statistics and figures to cement his observations and conclusions. The charge of journalese cannot be exempted in some articles but this is to be glossed over when an overall view of the book is taken.
Food for thought
For a student of history and sociology, the book offers ample food for thought. It may be a paradox that very often simple truth fails to register because of constant witnessing by a consumerist and imitating Kerala society, though the implication and fall-out in the long run could be really daunting. An attempt has been made to dissect and analyse the distortions that are being effected on Kerala society by the proponents of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. That the Malayali is also putting the clock back is amply brought out in the book, which also castigates the deep slide back into consumerism, communalism and thoughts about caste and religion behind the facade of `modern global Malayali.' The author wants the readers to cast their stones at the contents discussed in the book, but there is a rider. Those who have not committed sins alone should throw the stones. Do we qualify for that?
K. VENKITESWARAN
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