Water, they say, is the elixir of life. But as the popular
saying in Malayalam goes “Adhikamayal Amruthavum Visham”, which roughly
translates to “If in excess, even nectar is poisonous”; it is both saddening
and frightening, that the very life-giving elixir or nectar that is water, can be
a destroyer of lives, when it is in excess. This saying could not be more apt
to describe the situation that prevails across the state of Kerala now. My
home, ‘God’s Own Country’ Kerala, is witnessing the worst rains and floods, ever,
in its history and is reeling under the havoc that it has caused. Kerala is
battling an enemy that was once its friend. It is battling an element of nature
that happens to be the very reason that endears Kerala to almost everyone –
“Water”. Yes, water, which has given Kerala its breathtakingly beautiful backwaters,
lakes, waterfalls and lagoons; which has given Kerala its beauty, its greenery,
and its prosperity.
Heavy and incessant rains in the state over the past many
days, have resulted in widespread waterlogging, flooding of rivers and lakes,
and landslides across the state affecting almost everyone in the state. Hundreds
of lives have been lost, many houses and property has been damaged, and many businesses
badly hit. Rains have wreaked havoc across the state, making the lives of
people in the state miserable. Rail, road and flight connectivity to certain parts
of Kerala have been disrupted – partially to completely in some areas. Power
supply is mostly intermittent. Schools have been given holidays, shops and
offices shut. A major airport like Cochin International Airport Limited has been
closed for an entire week, due to flooding in its runways. Major railway
stations and many portions of the railway tracks are entirely submerged. Roads
have been damaged and public transport affected. Life has pretty much come to a
standstill in Kerala. Yes, it is true, Kerala is witnessing a situation it has
never witnessed before in history, and it is one that all of us from Kerala, would
never want anyone to face, ever, in their lives.
There is despair, there is helplessness, there is a sense of
fear that is prevalent among all Keralites, and it does not just include those
who are living in Kerala, it is also the situation of all Keralites across the
world, who are living outside Kerala, but who have friends and family back in
Kerala, and who are concerned about the safety and well-being of their dear
ones back home. While it is very evident - the distress of those who are in
Kerala, the agony of those Keralites who live outside the state is hardly
noticed by anyone. Theirs is a dilemma like none other. The very reasons that
keep them away from their homes, be it work or career or studies, it is during
times like these that they feel that, maybe, they are paying a huge price for
putting those reasons above friends and family. You know that back home, things
are difficult, but you are totally helpless, because you have a job to do, and you
have responsibilities that you simply cannot ignore. As someone who is living
away from home for work, I cannot even begin to describe how much it breaks my
heart, to not be there for my parents back home in Kerala, during this time. Getting
to my hometown of Cochin seems to be a near to impossible task now with air,
rail and road connectivity to Cochin completely disrupted. The only solace in
all this despair is that telecommunication links are up and hence I keep
getting constant updates from them over the phone. If people back home are
under both physical and emotional distress, those away from home are only under
emotional distress, that’s the only difference. Well, I am not the only one who
is in the same situation, as I could see from the desperation on the faces of
the friends of mine, Keralites who, like me, are working in Thanjavur, Tamil
Nadu, and whose families are back home in Kerala, that the feeling is mutual. I
guess, it is the same for all Malayalees who are away from home, irrespective
of where they are in this world, everyone is concerned, but at the same time completely
helpless.
Yes, this deluge has been one that has caused many of us a
lot of distress, but it is also one that has posed a great dilemma of sorts for
me, and I guess for Keralites all over the world – of what is more important,
development or a perfect harmony with nature or how much development is good development
and how much is bad. Some say that at the root of all this destruction caused
by rains and floods, is man’s greed for more comforts, convenience, and
progress. In the name of urbanization and development, nature has been
compromised, there is no denying that. Maybe, this is nature’s way of
retaliating to the damage we caused to her. Every time there is a natural disaster of such huge magnitude, the debates on environmentalism and urbanization get triggered and
these debates will keep going on, but the important question that goes
unanswered every time is, where does one draw the line between the two? How
does one strike a perfect balance between development and harmony with nature?
One may debate about how building flats and houses by clearing water bodies,
has upset the lives of many, but think about a family that finally got a roof
over their head or a place to call their own due to that, aren’t their needs
justified? But at the same time, how does one console someone who has lost
their home to the floods which was perhaps an indirect result of all this rapid
urbanization and development. Is there a solution that can guarantee
development but not at the cost of nature? I hope we find some answers to these
questions, before it is too late.
And as far as Keralites living outside Kerala, like me are
concerned, the deluge also poses another dilemma of sorts for us, of what is
more important – one’s career, ambitions and aspirations or one’s family. Why is
it that even when we are forced to live away from the very people who are the
reason why we live, we still choose to do that, be it for earning a living or building
a career or any reason whatsoever. Why do we still make the choices that we
make, even when we know that it breaks our hearts, each and every time we get
up to leave home and each and every time we say ‘Good bye’ to our dear ones. But,
in the end is it all worth it, if one cannot be there for their dear ones at a
time when they need your support the most. Well, it is a dilemma that I am sure
everyone who has stayed away from home, at least once in their lives, would
have faced. Some of us live with it, every day.
However, amidst all this distress and dilemma, if there is
something that is very heartening, it is that, this deluge has once again
strengthened my faith in humanity. I have been in a similar situation about
four years ago, around this time of the year. It was the floods in Jammu and
Kashmir in the year 2014 when I and my family got stranded in Jammu and Kashmir
due to heavy rains. It was an experience that taught me a lot of lessons in
life. The current situation in Kerala, reminds me of those lessons learnt. The
floods in Kerala have taught not just me, but everyone affected, the value of
life, the unpredictability of life. It has taught us what really matters in
life and what doesn’t. It has helped us emerge as better human beings, it has
taught us the values of sharing and caring for each other, and of looking
beyond caste, colour, creed, and religion. From total strangers offering help
to one another to friends and family, who have not been in touch for years,
calling each other up to enquire if everything is alright and if anyone needs
help, this deluge has united everyone in Kerala. It has also brought out the
best qualities in everyone. I am now more assured than ever that there is more
love in this world than there is hate. When I see people empathize with all
those who have been affected by the floods, shed a tear for them and offer them
help, I am reassured that kindness and compassion still hold a major place in
people’s hearts. Above all, I find that there is a fierce determination among
all Keralites, that nothing will dampen their spirits, neither rains nor
floods. Kerala is determined to rise above the situation and I am sure we will
emerge victorious.
It is ironic that it is that time of the year in Kerala when
it supposed to be at its most beautiful, when Keralites are supposed to be at
their joyous best, it is the time for Onam festivities in Kerala now (for those
of you who do not know, Onam is a festival celebrated by all Keralites across
the world, with great fervour, and it has celebrations and festivities lasting
ten days, and during which families gets together and rejoice, to welcome Lord
Mahabali who once ruled Kerala and who is believed to come visit Kerala every
year during this time to see if everyone in his kingdom is doing well). Every
Malayalee has fond memories of Onam, be it the Ona Sadhya (a feast with all
special delicacies of Kerala), or Ona Pookkalam (a floral carpet prepared in
every home to welcome Lord Mahabali), or that slight drizzle during Onam
celebrations that often spoils our Pookkalams and Ona Kodis (it’s a tradition
to buy new clothes to wear during Onam, they call these dresses ‘Ona Kodi’ in
Kerala). Who would have thought that those friendly drizzles, which add to the
beauty of Onam, would be replaced by fierce and incessant rains this time
around? I guess, it is destiny. That’s how life is, one has to learn to accept
that everyone gets their due share of happiness, and their due share of
sadness, in this life. We do not have control over when we get our shares of
happiness and sadness, but what we do have control over, is to not let sadness
bog us down or happiness make us take life for granted.
It is also during times like these, that one realizes that
life is too short to be lived hating or despising one another and holding
grudges or regrets. Instead it is to be lived helping one another, being of
good cheer and doing good work that benefits everyone around us. Kerala is in
need of help and it will take more than just tremendous will power, determination
and hard work to help the people of Kerala get back to normalcy. It would require
a lot of resources to do so. Hence, if anyone who is reading this, is in a
position to help Kerala Government in their flood relief efforts, please make
sure to send in your contributions, small or big, to the Kerala Chief
Minister’s relief fund, by following the link below. All contributions to the
fund are 100% tax-exempted.
However, if you are not in a position to help someone
financially, it is fine, you can say a silent prayer for all those who have
been affected by the floods, or just speak a word of reassurance to that friend,
colleague or acquaintance of yours, who is a Malayalee. I am sure it would make
a world of difference to them.
Being a public servant, I have come across many situations
in my work life, when people have thanked me and said “God bless You”, in
return for some work that I had done for them, as part of my duty, but I used
to reply to them with a “Thanks” and tell them that I am just doing my job and
I do it without expecting anything in return – be it praise or blame, rewards
or recognitions. But now, I do feel that I could use some of those blessings,
to help keep those who are back home, and it is not just my friends and family,
but everyone in Kerala, safe and sound, especially those officers of Kerala
Police, Kerala State Electricity Board, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, National
Disaster Response Force, local administration and all volunteers, who are
braving all odds and risking their lives to save those in distress. Let us all
unite in prayer for Kerala, let us pray that Kerala emerges from this deluge, more
determined and strong. Let us pray that everyone in Kerala comes out of this
situation more brave and courageous, more humble and thankful, more mindful and
helpful, and above all else, more kind and human.
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