THE 'SAVE KERALA' INITIATIVE

THE 'SAVE KERALA' INITIATIVE

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Kerala This Week, Ver 2.01, 2008

Kerala has much to celebrate this season.

Summer rains are here, according to the Department of Meteorology and the guys there who always make predictions about the weather; and who have always got it wrong..Well, the summer rains are almost here, and will hopefully be a welcome end to the heat and humidity. Its also welcome since it will help the state clear the dumps of garbage on the streets as it floods the roads everywhere since we do not have a proper draingage system in Kerala, clear up piles of plastic in the canals and rivers, and also, with some help from the wind, bring down bad hoardings, old trees, and unsafe buildings. Of course, being the greedy malayali, we could wish the rain washes away all our scumbag politicians as well, but thats a bit too much to ask for, especially since you dont want them all accumulating in the sea, given our vast coastal line.

Rains will also be welcome by the Kerala Police. Based on my estimate (I swear I have done a proper physical verification when I travel), there are only 21 traffic policemen in Kerala (3 in Trivandrum, 5 in Kochi, 2 in Calicut, and one each in the remaining districts). But with the rain Gods arriving, the havoc on roads can be blamed on them. And the mad drivers of Kerala can continue to drive wrecklessly. The 21 cops can relax and take longer breaks in the nearby petty shop.

Talking about petty shops, Big Bazaar opened its second outlet amidst violence, protests, vandalism, and political victimization in Trivandrum - I happened to be unfortunate enough to be in the capital on opening night. The Corporation officials (a bunch who are around to fleece anyone residing in the city) raided Big Bazaar on its inaugural day, right after a party youth outfit goons rampaged the store, and sealed the store claiming that the store was selling "pappads" without license. The store however managed to "convince" the officials later that night, and also produced court orders in their favor. The people of Trivandrum appear to have welcome the freshness of the retail chains and all roads seem to lead to Big Bazaar.

Which kind of creates another problem. All roads, unfortunately, include the roads taken by "machoos"( a new breed of boys from famous localities in the state which have produced aristrocratic and ancient families of criminals, goondas, etc on stolen motorbikes) and "aliyans" (a brotherhood of eve-teasers, rapists, and gropers), and entertainment for them now begins around these new hubs.

Kerala can also entertain itself on the new craze of the its rulers. After years of collusion, sharing, partnerships, and joint ventures in crime, hawala, money laundering, political killings and ace manipulations, the political leaders have realized that the spiritual leaders are growing bigger than them. So finally the crackdown has begun from one end. Just like the Munnar-JCB-Demolition series, we will have to see how far they progress before the leaders from both sides kiss and make up, and call for a ceasefire. I just overheard someone saying that one of the christian businessmen dealing in spiritualism and mass-healing, currently under heat, is building a mansion worth 15 crores. Brother must be praying that the rains flood the entire state and people forget all these baseless allegations.

Theres a lot more happening in the state, but more in my next post..

But its also important not to miss the buds of change appearing across the state. Hopefully the blossom will not be far away. This hope and quest for change and struggle to break free is aptly evidenced by Avial and their music. The first malayalam rock band is, by all measures, superb. They are bold, chose to take the plunge, they told the critics to buzz-off, and have brought a welcome change for Keralites across the world.

10 comments:

scorpiogenius said...

Big Bazaar is good for the retail growth of Trivandrum, all right, but lets not close our eyes to their black-market and fraudulent history. Not long ago they were caught red handed in their MG Road outlet here for selling some consumer electrical item for double the MRP rate. The store here in Trivandrum is bigger but a far cry from the quality and price they showcase in Bangalore. To be frank I was quite shocked at their collection and quotes in both MG Road and K'puram outlets, especially in the apparel section. section. But I welcome their entry to Trivandrum, and hope those Vyapari Vyavasayi thugs get their deals right when dealing with public now.

Regarding the Swami sops going on, well, lets wait and see where we will reach MC...:), afterall Kerala politicians and press need something hot always. After Xavi Mano Mathew and Pharis Aboobekker now its Santhosh Madhavan...

Just change of settings and characters, thats all:))

Anonymous said...

It's good to see people of Kerala finally getting some retail choices. I think the pappad incident took place at the newly opened (now closed) Varkey's supermarket in Ayurveda college area. But heard from folks that Big Bazaar got similar treatment, but that Corporation thugs and their tactics were not strong enough to close the shop. Santosh Madhavan, some other cinema swami...what else is next. But the sad part is after getting a few weeks of media coverage and public outrage, these incidents will be forgotten, and criminals like Santosh Madhavan and others will roam scot free. Pity!

Avial's awesome..especially their Nada Nada song. Hope they keep rockin'..proud moment for all Keralites.

MC said...

@ scorpiogenius - yes, the retail growth is much needed in a place like trivandrum which is infested with totally uncaring vyavasayees..i am sure the competition will do them good and show them its time to change. i am not a fan of Big Bazaar anyway, but its heartening to see the beginning of a new system.

just change of settings and characters! tell me about it! the main characters are from the political industry.

@ anonymous - i didnt know there was varkeys in trivandrum..and last week someone said there are 2! good anyway..

Anonymous said...

wtf, license to sell papads???????????????????????????????????????????? did i read it correct?

Anonymous said...

Each day they make a company in different names


http://www.keralaitparks.org
http://www.inkelkerala.com/

MC said...

@ anonymous 1 - yes i hope so :)

@ anonymous 2 - better than doing hartal i guess!

@ anonymous 3 - hmm..true..but why just cows? even goats, chicken, ducks, fish etc have feelings i am sure. and i think it happens in more places than in Kerala..and it has nothing to do with communists. i am sorry, but just dont understand the connections you have mentioned, but ofcourse i share the cruelty bit.

i also have to confess i am a non vegetarian:|

Anonymous said...

The seed of communism has spread across kerala like weed. No development is possible as long as communists and their puppies(DYFI and SFI) are there. A daily wage earner and govt office employees all want a dose of Stalin and Lenin at the end of the day(along with a bottle of toddy. prepared by comrades after mixing with yesterday's kanji water). They get goosebumps when they talk about china(the paradise for them). These days top comrades are busy getting massages from ice-cream parlours girls run by some of the ministers of God's Own Country. And also making money with pastors for Christian conversion, and frauds like santhosh madhavan
So but far away in Bengal, Buddha is laughing and crying hysterically what his comrades have been doin since last 30 years. Even after 30 years, there are hand-pulled rikshaws running in Kolkata.
I am sure once the oil get dried up in gulf, we are also going to do the same. you can see the handpulled rikshaw everywhere. They will run from Kochi to Thiruvandapuram also.

Unknown said...

ha ha.. this is such a good one about our mother land.. the god's own countryy.. [ err should have tried with a proper mal accent ;) ]...

sometimes i wonder why we don't have a proper sewage system or something in place for water harvesting.. but then am sure there will be some opposition for any good deeds being done..

hehe and the cops and our weather forecast.. hehe no comments.. i have never known kerala having a proper summer or winter.. hehe mostly raining season..

oh well.. its just going to be like this.. again.. how much ever we try to change things.. somethings are just meant to be..

Jeevan Rag said...

21 Traffic policemen in kerala.ha ha...thats a good one :)

Anonymous said...

hey! now here's a blog that reflects my stream of thought. i've always felt that we've been going to the dogs, thanks to the communists. will read your blog regularly.

can i contribute?

: )

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