(Clinging to old - vs – Status quo – vs – Old is passe )
For a long long time everywhere in the world change in the way of living and societal mores were very slow. Then in one place or other, the pace of change accelerated but at varying speeds. Then again while many embrace such changes willingly, though differing in perspective on the speed of change and also what needs to be changed, some are always status quoits everywhere. The churning out process is never ending.
This write up is about the societal changes in Kerala during the last seventy years or so. It only give some glimpses to have a feel the metamorphosis.
1. Landmarks – Unique features - Developments
· Going back in history, Kerala was probably the only place in the world where for considerable period of time the courtiers / ministers anointed a selected outsider ( from Tamil Nadu / Sri Lanka ) as the king for twelve years and then sent him back and selected another.
· It was in Kerala that the three foreign religions, i.e., Islam, Christianity & Judaism reached out for entry into India.
· Population based on religion: ( Hindus: 56%, Muslims: 24%, Christians: 19% and others: 1% )
· Current population: 2.9 crores, i.e., 2.7%of Indian population
· Population growth est. in the next two or three decades (1.3%) as against est. all India growth of 2.1 %
· Female population outnumbers male population
· Per capita income: Rs. 12,500 ( highest among all States in India )
· GDP: Rs. 95,000 crores
· Land reforms in India started first in Kerala
· It was in Kerala that temple entry to lower caste Hindus was initiated.
· In Asia, Kerala has the highest number of divorces
· The State with highest migration of people in % terms of the population of various States in India
II. Notable differentiating features of Kerala compared to other parts of the country:
· Increasing number of non-vegetarians
· State Government goes on alternating between Congress and Communism.
· ‘Live and let live’ religious culture for a long time, with some dents in the recent times
· Superficial politics is inculcated from child-hood onwards and hence part of the culture
· Equality between religions and castes and between poor and rich is stridently sought
· Leakage of Government funds earmarked under various welfare schemes much less than anywhere in the country, largely on account of the awareness of such schemes and also rights/entitlements of each person.
· Number of persons in the category of destitute lowest in the country.
· Most of the people could be categorised into three segments, poor, lower and upper middle class, and not large rich class. Highest percentage of people are in the middle class.
· Political awareness ( though to a large extent ‘superficial ’ ), education, habit of reading newspapers and inculcation of Communist philosophy of ‘ all are equal ‘ have led to lessening of the divide found elsewhere between rich and poor. The same characteristics have led to lessening of the differential levels of hierarchy of castes.
· Nuclear families
· Thrift has never been a high point. Live better than Joneses has been the spirit.
· Neatness is taken as a virtue.
· Love for yellow metal, which was there earlier also, but then not much affordable, continues unabated
· One-up-man-ship is part of the psyche of Mallus
· Marriage is an event in which spending beyond one’s means has become part of the psyche
· Business appears to be not in the blood of Malayali Hindus. Slightly better position in the case of Muslims and still better in the case of Christians. Even in the case of the latter groups also hardly any ambition to scale new heights and hence hardly any large industrial units of Malayali management.
· Once school or college education is over, most Mallus leave the State and go to cities of other States or other countries for jobs because of lack avenues for employment within Kerala. Propensity for such venture is high, largely because that has been happening for decades. .
· Earlier influx of Tamilians for jobs as servants and for manual jobs is being replaced by Biharis and Oriyas
· News papers and magazines – reading a must for Keralites
· Hypnotic influence of TV is on the ascendancy and at a fast pace
· In the last decade or so, Kerala has become a tourism spot for foreigners coming to India, though the number of Indians visiting Kerala as tourists has not been large.
· High level of drinking. Last year toppled Punjab from the first position among the States. Formation of All Kerala Liquor Consumers Association (the only such body in India )
· Considerable importance attached to education, both male and female, both higher and lower strata. And hence large number of schools and colleges. Christian Missionaries took the lead in establishing schools and colleges imparting quality education.
· Low level of industrialization, largely on account of the name earned for aggressive posturing of Unions and Communist Governments’ apathy to have any truck with businessmen
· Retirees, i.e., people who had gone from Kerala and worked for decades in other countries/ States of India, are coming back to Kerala for permanent settlement
III. Misunderstood and mis-labelled Mallus
Non Mallus have been generous in labeling Mallus as thinking persons and the label has struck, inflating the false pride of Mallus, though this assumption has no basis. Except for the rudimentary knowledge of politics, Mallus are as knowledgeable or ignorant on most of the matters and also have all the prejudices about people of other States, as is the case with people of other States. . But then as happens with human beings, positive labels, are worn with pride ( Punjabi – warrior class, bania – business oriented ). Yet another label of Mallus is that of being unionist. They have work discipline. They learn the jobs. But they are also prone to form unions, largely an outcome of ‘ workers’ rights ‘ propounded and actively supported by the first Communist Government in Kerala.
· With jobs being scarce in Kerala because of low pace of industrialization, Mallus have been going out of Kerala during the last few decades in large numbers to other parts of India and to Gulf countries. That other Mallus have gone out and made good being a positive factor encouraging such a step, many of the Mallus having kith and kin and friends in other places to accommodate and help in finding jobs, etc., are the other factors for this development.
· Once outside Kerala, the make up of trade union militancy is discarded, at least in the initial stages but the same often manifests in due course of time. Out of Kerala, in the initial stages, for many, the life was tough, with no knowledge of the local language, with meagre funds and no jobs. With nothing back home, Mallus stayed back with determination until found this or that job. Once settled they joined Mallus Associations formed for cultural activities and providing a platform for Mallus to meet. Such Associations splinter after some time, given the propensity of Mallus to be individualistic and less compromising or accommodating. Once life becomes comfortable, the keenness for upward mobility lessens. In earlier times, after retirement most of them went back to Kerala. But slowly the trend is increasing of being stay put after retirement at the place they lived for decades. With the passage of the older generation, for new generation brought up in places outside Kerala, conversing in local language and following customs and dress of the place, there is hardly the syndrome of Kerala beckoning. Increasingly, with the passage of time, the Mallu born boys and girls become less and less Mallu.
IV. Recent developments / changes:
.
1. Keralites returning from Gulf en masse:
This is happening now, with the Gulf countries also facing impact of Global financial melt-down. Most of the people coming back have been doing manual labour. They would find it difficult to find similar jobs in Kerala. And even when they find, most of them would be unhappy and hence unwilling to accept such jobs, because of the wide variation in what they were getting in Gulf countries and what is being offered to them. Since latter would be the position if they migrate to other States for jobs, they would be at their wits end on what they can do. They have no expertise on any field. Kerala Government, as expected of any Government, is making a lot sympathetic noise and giving vague promises of this and that action. Rs. 100 crores appeared to have been earmarked to tackle this situation.
What is most unfortunate is that such people have spent ( squandered ) their earnings in the past to build large houses in Kerala and for their families living in style. However, this was to be expected since, as is human nature, these migrants, who were largely poor, and their families wanted to announce ‘ they have arrived.’ Saving back for a rainy day was not a priority. Negative psychological impact on account of this development would be serious.
2. High rise residential flats
In India this happened two or three decades back in many cities. Now it is catching up in Kerala. Pros and cons: Since many had stayed in flats for decades in cities while working, when they resettle in Kerala, staying in flat not being new to them, the same becomes a favourable option. Easy to maintain, neat and clean, better security compared to independent houses, joint power back up, swimming pools and reception office ( which effectively screens unwanted visitors) , etc., are some of the plus factors of flat system. Retirees, coming back to the State to stay put permanently, being elderly, the flat system is a better option. On the other hand, those who lived for long years in houses will feel being constricted in staying in flats. The flats are impersonal, no architecture, no lawns or own trees, does not fulfill the need to exhibit to one and all of the fact that one has arrived and in some case of being affluent, little scope for altering and expanding, no stamp of personal style and whims and fancies and from existing local societal mores somewhat infra dig, etc.,
The recent trend in cities of having a high rise building of residential flats being constructed and let out on the basis of religion or people of one State ( mother tongue ) may also catch up in Kerala in due course. Similarly, construction of hostels, separately for men and women would increase with white collar workforce number of both sexes going up.
Related to the above subject is the demolition of old houses and building new houses, an activity which has accelerated pace in the recent times. For many reasons, people increasingly find that the old houses are not functional in today’s context. In the process the charm and architecture of old houses are permanently lost. Wood is being replaced by concrete in house construction.
3. Religions and rituals
There is comparative harmony in Kerala between members of the three faiths, i.e., Hindus, Muslims & Christians, except for once a while physical clash, both localized and involving few people, between Hindus and Muslims and in the recent past between Communists and Hindutva brigades. It is not that the living of members of the three faiths is harmonious but it is more like ‘ live and let live’ approach. Now there is wariness, which was not there earlier, between members of Hindu and Muslim faiths and this is increasing and not decreasing. In the recent times, entrenched religious beliefs and mistrust of Hindus and Muslims existing in North India are making inroads in to Kerala. Mainly in respect of Hindus, religious rituals are increasing, and this trend is erroneously explained by Hindus as a sign of increased religiosity. So far this trend has not caught on in respect of the other two major religions, though the competitive environment may lead to the other two religions following suit. Number of pilgrims to major temples is increasing, and chest thumping Hindu religionists proclaiming the same as evidence of increasing faith. Religion which should be inward looking is increasingly becoming outward apparances. The focus is to re-emphasise separation with other religions
Hindus and Muslims have drifted apart during the last two or three decades. No such wariness between Christians and Hindus/Muslims. Both superficial religious beliefs and accompanying rituals are on the ascendancy.
The so called spiritual leaders of Hindu faith are having a good time, with continuous increase in the number of their followers.
4. Government
Average performance compared to some of the States, which are efficient and some others poor in performance. Quality and integrity of Ministers on the whole have been on the decline. Political corruption is on the increase. People who have been on the wrong side of law, though not convicted, are also finding places in the Cabinet in the recent times, which was not the case earlier. Earlier there was hardly any muscle power in parties. But not any more. Squabbling between Ministers is on the increase, affecting the imperative need to have cohesive cabinet. For non performance in any area, the blame is placed at the door of the Union Government.
Bureaucracy continues to be corrupt, slow in action, file and meeting oriented, rule bound and not result oriented, apathetic to solving problems of the citizens, etc.,
5. Politics
Politics is in the blood of Mallus, largely due to the genes of one generation passing on to the next generation. But politics of Mallus is generally superficial or skin-deep only, with exceptions being the rule. In discussion very few are able to penetrate the outer layers and get into the crux of issues. The awareness is largely based on newspaper reading, which is a must for all Mallus. Here also Editorials and essays are rarely read or at best just scanned. Ask any Mallu to differentiate between the philosophies of different political parties and you get largely numbo jumbo. Yet it is the most favourable past time, i.e., discussing politics. Curiously the all consuming interest in politics is largely confined to men, with women finding all the time more interesting topics, i.e., cine stars, gold and sarees.
Oddly, though political awareness is only rudimentary, most, if not all, of the Mallus stick to this or that party and they seldom change party loyalty, while at the same time most of them may not be formal members of any party. Because of this position ‘ floating votes’ are not large in number in Kerala, unlike the case of other States. Their interest in political matters is viewed as being ‘thinking literate’ by themselves and by people of other States. While mentally and emotionally aligned to respective political parties, the egalitarian ethos dinned into the Mallus, had the outcome of political leaders being treated only with respect by their party-men and not given to adulation, as has been by far the case in the rest of India. Corruption level of politicians is unfortunately on the increase.
6. Family:
The era of joint family system, which was there earlier and mainly in respect of Hindus, is more or less over. All are opting for nuclear families. Family ties are becoming nebulous, as in other places, which has the result of reluctance to help a family member in distress. Family members located in far off places visit Kerala once a while, mainly at the time of marriage of one of the members. On such occasions, to put it in a lighter vein, the inter action between children coming from, say, Mumbai and Kolkata, occurs with language of conversation being a mix of Malayalam, English, Marathi and Bengali.
7. Print ( both newspapers and magazines & Visual media ( both cinemas and TV )
· Print media
Mallus are print media addict. In most other parts of the country reading newspapers is a vocation of middle and upper class people. Not so in Kerala. With almost 100% literacy, none, say, coolies to auto rickshah drivers miss the newspaper. With a cup of tea in the morning, vernacular newspaper, and in few cases English newspaper, is a must. The reading of the same in the case of retired men is extensive, from the mast head to ‘ printed and published ‘ at the bottom of the last page. This includes ‘obitury ‘ page, which many go through with avid interest, despite the fact that the reader would not know Adam from Apple who the dead was. And also ads for jobs. Neither ads. nor pontification of two bit politician is left out. Reporting of accidents with the causes for the same and detailed account of dead and injured are seldom missed though the persons involved in the accidents may be unknown to the reader. Unfortunately what is hardly read are the editorials and articles, which could have enhanced understanding of different subjects and also differing perspectives. Some read more than one daily and compare what has been written on the same matter. In the tea shops discussion veer round to what has been reported. Since most of the Mallus are opinionated, each one has a comment on all developments reported. Coming to magazines, which had proliferated in recent times, the most important ingredients and that too for womenfolk, are the serial novels and ads. for dress material and ornaments. Male Mallus by far feel that the magazines with the above material are not their cup of tea, the same is trivia fit for ladies and hence hardly men read magazines and if at all read, serious essays are given a go by. There is an inexplainable all consuming interest for womenfolk of fifteen to fifty in serial stories in magazines. These are avidly read. The arrival of the magazine is looked forward with baited breath and trepidation, emotions arising out of curiosity to know how the story unfolds. All kinds of magazines in Malayalam are published, from Tantra to sex to atheism.
· Visual media ( cinema & TV )
The influence of TV leading to spending much of the time before the idiot box has an unfortunate outcome. Reading of Malayalam books has considerably declined with the result in most cases even printing expenses / agents’ commissions are not earned through the sale of books, not to mention of any income to authors. Net result is the down trend in the publication of Malayalam books. And, alas, the number of people reading poetry is now insignificant.
Cinema: The perception outside Kerala is that Bengal alongwith Kerala produces quality films. This is largely a myth. Annually 4 or 5 outstanding films are produced. Yet another 8 to 10 films could be considered good. The rest, what is called formula/masala films, is just as bad as films produced in other languages. This is both irony and tragedy. There are good actors, directors, musicians, cinematographers, and other professionals needed for cinema production in Kerala. Malayalam formula films are in the same league as such films produced elsewhere. There is convoluted story, dishum-dishum, songs and in most films, at the end the boy gets the girl. The hero is charming, can sing /dance/ fight ten people with bare hands/virtue personified, etc., etc., In real life the actor who is the hero would in the age of grandfather to the heroine. Outstanding films never make any money to even cover the expenses but they may receive awards. Yet in one respect Kerala film industry differs from the industry in other States, more particularly the other three Southern States and Bollywood, is the lack of cult culture for hero. There are no cut outs of heroes. Yes, there are fan clubs for the leading actors. They are adored. But by far they lead a private life. It is doubtful whether they would be able to win any election to legislature. Even to get a ticket from any party is difficult, though some of the actors are identified with this or that party.
TV: Entry of visual media in the homes in Kerala is nothing short of a storm which had metamorphasised the living in the home. It is a boon particularly to elderly people who are stiff bored with nothing much to do. And to a lesser extent to house-wives who now have lot of spare time with cooking food and washing cloth are accomplished with less time than was the case earlier, because of various gadgets. Toddlers to young kids to youngsters find this medium extremely entertaining. With a number of channels and each one coming with more and more masala, TV watching time has been continuously on the increase. Serials ( both family dramas and religious stories ) and in the recent times ‘reality’ shows are the main programmes watched. Reality shows have become virtually overnight most popular, with an estimated 110 million households in the country viewing the programme Whenever serials are telecast, nobody stirs from the home and nobody expects ( welcomes ) visitors. To ladies particularly the melodrama is riveting. So there is a clear division of TV watching in homes. News for men and serials for ladies, with both groups watching religious serials. Thousands and thousands of artists and others have been able to earn and live on TV programmes with artists getting an opportunity to exhibit their talents, with the possibility of their ascendancy to film world. And to advertisers TV is a boon because ads. in paper one can skip but not ads. appearing alongwith TV programmes. Reality shows of youngsters enable them to exhibit their talents, remove their stage shyness and to focus on the area of their talents. TV shows are also becoming stepping stone to films for many artists. .
Apart from the negative aspects to eyes at watching TV and of to body on account of sitting for hours and hours, especially in the case of children, neglect of home work and reading other than school books, increasingly home made food being replaced by packaged foods from hotels, this phenomenon has led to lessening of social contact, lack of exercise, besides the danger of TV hooking on the viewer thereby becoming a TV addict. Since this is largely a recent development, it may take some time for experts to diagnose the ill effects ( and also the positive sides ) of TV programmes on the viewers.
8. Fads and changing trends
Gold ornaments: The avarice for gold continues unabated. Some would say that it has increased. This is despite Gold prices piercing the earlier ceilings continuously. General economic prosperity, Gulf money, Money orders from Mallus in other places and one-up-manship are some of the causes for this illogical all consuming attraction for gold. Consequently jewelary shops are expanding at a furious pace and new ones are coming up. There is competition between parents of brides on the amount of gold ornaments given to the bride and also exhibited ( some would say without any grace ) by wearing at the marriage ceremony. Aware of this all consuming desire of Mallu women to acquire and exhibit gold ornaments at functions, especially marriage ceremonies, enterprising jewelers have started the system of giving gold ornaments on rent for a day or two to the invitee women to such functions. Among Mallu women the ownership of gold ornaments is so intense that even when they are dire straits financially, selling their gold ornaments has become the last option. Husbands / fathers of these women have to do the reluctant job of accompanying the women to the banks for taking the ornaments from lockers and depositing the same back.
Old age homes. A few have come up in recent times. It is still considered infra dig for a family to send their elderly people to old age homes and the elderly people also do not want to go, largely because till now old age homes were essentially for poor destitute. With the number of ‘only old people’ in homes increasing and constraints in obtaining full time nurses ( whose salaries have gone up and still increasing, apart from shortage ) the number of old age homes would have to go up - and hence demand for both male and female nurses rather than servants.
Bacchus lovers increasing: The State Government of Kerala is going all the way to banks laughing at the continuous increase in revenue from liquor tax. There is both total condemnation ( by those who do not drink ) and near total support ( by those who drink ) to this trend of higher and higher alcohol consumption. In this trait there is no dividing line between rich and poor. Even among daily wage workers, daily drinking is becoming the norm. Further, unlike in other places of India, in Kerala, drinking means heavy drinking. Fortunately, by far Kerala women have not taken to drinking, except to some extent in the lower strata, and further women generally have been against their men drinking. Major cause for family quarrels and break up of marriages in Kerala is due to this factor.
Irreverence for the high and mighty: During the last few centuries before Independence, when in many other places of India, the high and mighty were looked with awe and terror by the plebeians, in Kerala the position of the plebeians was not that bad, largely because many of the then rulers ( kings ) were somewhat benevolent, and that style rubbed on the aristocracy. Since egalitarianism is the corner stone of Communist philosophy, when Communist Government came to power in Kerala, the relations between the high/mighty and the poor also underwent subtle changes. Land reforms ushered in Kerala which took away lands from the erstwhile landlords and vested the same on the tillers ( mostly poor and of lower castes ) also overnight reduced the equation of the powerful and poor. Added to that is the introduction of ‘temple entry ‘ to lower caste Hindus. With efflux of time, the initial shock of the upper castes and mighty has eroded and reluctantly accepted as a part of societal mores.
Servants: For a very long time it is only the very rich who retained permanent servants. Even though the upper middle class could afford a full time servant, that was not the in thing in Kerala. Situation a few decades back changed because of. financial ability of a large number of middle class people to retain servants and poor people willing to take up such jobs resulted in full time/part time servants in many a house. In the very recent times, the situation has further changed. Affordability has increased but not availability. Further, it is now considered infra dig to work as a domestic help. Yet another angle to the issue is that the mind set of those employing had not changed much. They want to treat servants in the same manner as was the position long back. All the time at the beck and call, eat what is left out, sleep in a corner, no holidays, etc., The salary demanded is also high according to those employing. Then came Tamil people to whom the conditions of employers were acceptable. Now with economic prosperity in Tamil Nadu the influx to Kerala of Tamils looking for jobs has drastically reduced. So now increasingly Oriyas and Biharis, with a smattering knowledge of Malayalam, are being engaged as servants. Since this is a recent development, the problems allied to this development are yet to come to the forefront. Yet, one thing is clear. Those who are employing servants have to change their attitudes towards servants. The servants would not be as servile as in the past. They may want to dress well. They may want to watch TV. They may ask for leave. If needed bemoan at these developments, but adjust to the same if one wants a servant.
Shortage of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc.,: So also for white washing or plucking fruits from mango or coconut trees: Many of those who used to do these jobs have migrated to Gulf. Many have taken up other vocations because the job work, which is only available off-and-on in houses was not remunerative enough to meet their expenses. Not envisaging this development, most people did not learn the rudimentary repair work in these and similar disciplines. So what is option. Pay more and learn rudimentary repair work. Many in the cities are doing it. So why not in mofussil areas.
Malayalis after working outside Kerala for decades coming back for settlement in Kerala after retirement: Till about fifties and sixties those who returned to Kerala after retirement were either from Armed Forces or Civil Servants including Railways or private companies. Most of them joined service at the lowest level and retired at the middle level of establishment. During the time of their service, they had remitted back to the family left behind in Kerala the surplus cash they had. What they have after retirement is mainly pension or PF, etc., In other words, they were reasonably O.K. but not affluent. That is not the case now by far in respect of Malayalis going back from cities and towns after retirement from service. They have retired at the middle or higher level. Their earnings and so also savings are much more. Many of them are able to get very good price for the houses/flats they have in their erstwhile work places. Their mental make up is ‘ I have done well. Spending the life in cities and towns, my outlook has broadened. I have lived in many places with people of all regions of India and hence my knowledge is wide. So I have a world view on all matters. I am cosmopolitan. I have a broad view on all matters. I find that you locals are petty minded. The fact that I had migrated and made good itself is an indication that I am superior to you local people. I have now a bunglow, a car, a servant, money to buy drinks, etc., And so you adjust to me and show some respect.’ The problem here is that the locals do not any more consider the so called above achievements of those returning to the home land as something great. ‘ You came back here. And so you adjust to my style of living if you want to have friendship. If you have a chip on your shoulder, you should have left it back before coming here ‘ is their refrain. The big building, the car, money, etc., do not impress much the locals. Here the problem is not with the locals but those who are returning to Kerala. In any case most of those who went and worked till retirement outside Kerala, were holding middle level positions, had spent their lives with social network of other Mallus with minimum social contact with non Mallus, never tried to understand the culture and ethos of people of other regions, reading confined to newspapers, etc., So how can they gloat about their own status and knowledge. This dichotomy is much more pronounced in respect of those returned from western countries and locals.
Superficial spirituality is on the ascendancy among Malayalis: This is more or less a phenomenon of the last one or two decades, probably as an off shoot of similar trend in North India. The number of religious gurus has gone up and so also the number of followers of most of the gurus. Attendance in discourses of gurus has been continuously on the rise, with a sprinkling of foreigners, which is also a recent phenomenon. There are now TV channels telecasting exhortations of gurus and also serials of religious stories, started first on Hindu mythology and then followed by Christian mythology. One channel is rather exclusively for a woman Guru. Subtle competition between the gurus has been on the ascendancy. These self styled religious leaders have mesmeric effect on followers. They preach peaceful and joyous living, helping the needy, eschewing violence, hatred, anger, etc., yet occasionally in a subtle manner put at higher pedestal the religion/sect to which the Guru belongs to. The preaching has a soothing effect on the audience but yet it does not penetrate to the soul; as otherwise followers should have been living on the basis of what the Guru had preached, say, helping the needy, which actually is not the case. In short, the teaching is good but the following falls short.
Slow growth in industrialization: With passage of time, many States are racing ahead of Kerala in the pace of industrialization. The epithet which got appended to Malayalis of Unionists, Communist Government, considered inimical to the interests of businessmen, capturing power in the State more or less after every five years, State Government not actively wooing businessmen, lack of industrial raw materials in the State, the State Government not being able to persuade the Central Government to establish public sector projects in Kerala, business not being the forte of Mallus, etc., are the reasons for this unfortunate development. What is dismaying is the fact that be it Congress or Communist Government, the importance of industrialization has not been keenly felt by the politicians, unlike the position obtained in some of the other States. e.g. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu generate revenue of Rs. 30000 / Rs. 20000 / Rs. 15000 crores annually from IT sector, whereas Kerala generates Rs. 3000 crores. Now Kerala Government has set up a techno-park. But then IT companies have found that the cost of establishing IT centres in Kerala is much higher than that of the other three states. And then Kerala Government sits with folded arms with the assumption ‘ we have now set IT park. So IT companies will come.’ There is no active wooing of IT companies. The tragedy is that Kerala is suited for IT sector, with lot of educated people being available. Two large tyre companies were set up in Kerala a few decades back. But when the managements of these companies wanted to set up new tyre companies, they opted for other States. Birlas had a factory there which had closed shutters long back. Birlas never invested further in the State and so also other major business houses. During the last few years many States have embarked on actively wooing businessmen for investment. Chattisgarh is the latest example. That State came up with much higher concessions than those being offered by other States. Scores of large factories are being set up in that State. The blame for this sordid state of affairs should fall on politicians, Government babus, fourth estate, et all. Any new investment announced would be followed by stories in papers accusing of corruption. Stay of business men in executive suits of five star hotels and their traveling in posh cars become front page news ( gossip ) rather than about the investment they came to discuss with Government. Opposition would allege corruption, often without any basis. Newspaper readers enjoy reading such gossip. In such an atmosphere it would be only a brave businessman who would venture to invest in Kerala.
The decline of traditional arts: With the passage of time and more importantly with the invention of cinema and then TV, worldover, the popularity of traditional arts has been on the decline. The audience is thinning steadily. The aficionado of such arts lament at this development. While people may not go for such programmes, they would all holler at the Government if Government patronage to such art forms are withdrawn because nobody likes to discard their heritage and say that these forms of art are neither popular nor entertaining as cinemas and TV programmes, though that is the reality.
Cuisine: There has not been much change in the cuisine prevalent in Kerala for a long time, which is rice based preparations. In the recent times, Punjabi cuisine and so also pizza, etc., have made some inroads. The number of people eating non vegetarian food is increasing continuously. Slowly home made food is being replaced by hotel made packaged food.
Marriage: The long established system of consulting astrologer and finding matching horoscope continues among Hindus. Added to it are the help obtained through media, i.e., newspaper ads. and websites for bride and groom. The system of dowry is almost extinct. Boys and girls have more say in their marriages. The rituals and functions related to marriages are on the increase. No effort is spared to enhance and exhibit the wealth and status of the families of bride and groom in the style of functions. More ornaments for the bride is a status statement. Despite more and more young men and women from Kerala are now working in various cities of the country and hence interact with each other, the
number of love marriages between different castes / religions / States has not gone up in the recent times
Kerala brides for grooms of other States: In recent times a new phenomenon has started. Female population in Kerala outnumbers male population. Further, migration of males to other countries / States of India has been much higher than such migration of females, resulting in the gap widening. One of the outcome of this development is shortage of bridegrooms in Kerala. On the other hand there are other States in India where the reverse is the fact. A recent development is Haryanvi males coming to Kerala for sourcing brides, despite the fact that Mallu girls do not know Haryanvi ( which is a localized Hindi ) and so also the reverse position. This is not in large number. Yet the development is worth noting.
Astrology: This archaic system – it would be incorrect to name it as a science – still continues to sway Hindus of Kerala. Alongwith this is palmistry and such other hocus-pocus. Apart from magazines on the subject, there are TV channels only broadcasting astrology and these are keenly watched by a large number of viewers of TV.
9. Agriculture:
Rice is the main product. Neither its productivity nor the return has gone up commensurate with increase in cost of cultivation. Hence Kerala has become a net importer of rice. There are a number of cash crops in Kerala, such as, tea, coffee, spices, cashew nut, etc., fortunes of which have been fluctuating widely. Agriculture has been in the dumps for years now, be it in Kerala or other States. Babudom and not experts prescribing remedies has been cited by many as the reason for this tragic state.
10. Tribal people:
The number of Tribal people in Kerala is small compared to many other States. Successive Governments of Kerala have tried to improve their lot. Yet the results have been patchy. There are a number of experts in this area in India. But in this area also, as in the case of agriculture, it is the politicians and babus who prescribe the solutions and not the experts.
11. Other points to be noted
· Nurses: Aware of the fact that the requirement of nurses in the Western countries would go on increasing with the life expectancy of old people increasing, a number of Colleges for teaching Nursing has come up, which is a good thing.
· Tourism: The number of tourists to Kerala from other countries has been going up steadily. Number of Indian tourists is also increasing. There is yet lot of untapped potential. Required actions are wanting to attract tourists, largely on account of the fact that promotional activities are done by babudom, with not much concept on what tourists look for.
· Problems arising out of people living longer: Neither Government nor the public has given enough attention to this impending development.
· Generation gap: As elsewhere in Kerala also this gap is widening, a problem which has not received the desired level of attention from any quarter.
· Governments just muddle through. No different between congress and communist governments Politicians – no personality cult as in other states.
· Vigilant fourth estate: Despite various short comings, such. --as, often getting mired in trivia, this plus point cannot be ignored
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
WITHERTO KERALA
(Clinging to old - vs – Status quo – vs – Old is passe )
For a long long time everywhere in the world change in the way of living and societal mores were very slow. Then in one place or other, the pace of change accelerated but at varying speeds. Then again while many embrace such changes willingly, though differing in perspective on the speed of change and also what needs to be changed, some are always status quoits everywhere. The churning out process is never ending.
This write up is about the societal changes in Kerala during the last seventy years or so. It only give some glimpses to have a feel the metamorphosis.
1. Landmarks – Unique features - Developments
· Going back in history, Kerala was probably the only place in the world where for considerable period of time the courtiers / ministers anointed a selected outsider ( from Tamil Nadu / Sri Lanka ) as the king for twelve years and then sent him back and selected another.
· It was in Kerala that the three foreign religions, i.e., Islam, Christianity & Judaism reached out for entry into India.
· Population based on religion: ( Hindus: 56%, Muslims: 24%, Christians: 19% and others: 1% )
· Current population: 2.9 crores, i.e., 2.7%of Indian population
· Population growth est. in the next two or three decades (1.3%) as against est. all India growth of 2.1 %
· Female population outnumbers male population
· Per capita income: Rs. 12,500 ( highest among all States in India )
· GDP: Rs. 95,000 crores
· Land reforms in India started first in Kerala
· It was in Kerala that temple entry to lower caste Hindus was initiated.
· In Asia, Kerala has the highest number of divorces
· The State with highest migration of people in % terms of the population of various States in India
II. Notable differentiating features of Kerala compared to other parts of the country:
· Increasing number of non-vegetarians
· State Government goes on alternating between Congress and Communism.
· ‘Live and let live’ religious culture for a long time, with some dents in the recent times
· Superficial politics is inculcated from child-hood onwards and hence part of the culture
· Equality between religions and castes and between poor and rich is stridently sought
· Leakage of Government funds earmarked under various welfare schemes much less than anywhere in the country, largely on account of the awareness of such schemes and also rights/entitlements of each person.
· Number of persons in the category of destitute lowest in the country.
· Most of the people could be categorised into three segments, poor, lower and upper middle class, and not large rich class. Highest percentage of people are in the middle class.
· Political awareness ( though to a large extent ‘superficial ’ ), education, habit of reading newspapers and inculcation of Communist philosophy of ‘ all are equal ‘ have led to lessening of the divide found elsewhere between rich and poor. The same characteristics have led to lessening of the differential levels of hierarchy of castes.
· Nuclear families
· Thrift has never been a high point. Live better than Joneses has been the spirit.
· Neatness is taken as a virtue.
· Love for yellow metal, which was there earlier also, but then not much affordable, continues unabated
· One-up-man-ship is part of the psyche of Mallus
· Marriage is an event in which spending beyond one’s means has become part of the psyche
· Business appears to be not in the blood of Malayali Hindus. Slightly better position in the case of Muslims and still better in the case of Christians. Even in the case of the latter groups also hardly any ambition to scale new heights and hence hardly any large industrial units of Malayali management.
· Once school or college education is over, most Mallus leave the State and go to cities of other States or other countries for jobs because of lack avenues for employment within Kerala. Propensity for such venture is high, largely because that has been happening for decades. .
· Earlier influx of Tamilians for jobs as servants and for manual jobs is being replaced by Biharis and Oriyas
· News papers and magazines – reading a must for Keralites
· Hypnotic influence of TV is on the ascendancy and at a fast pace
· In the last decade or so, Kerala has become a tourism spot for foreigners coming to India, though the number of Indians visiting Kerala as tourists has not been large.
· High level of drinking. Last year toppled Punjab from the first position among the States. Formation of All Kerala Liquor Consumers Association (the only such body in India )
· Considerable importance attached to education, both male and female, both higher and lower strata. And hence large number of schools and colleges. Christian Missionaries took the lead in establishing schools and colleges imparting quality education.
· Low level of industrialization, largely on account of the name earned for aggressive posturing of Unions and Communist Governments’ apathy to have any truck with businessmen
· Retirees, i.e., people who had gone from Kerala and worked for decades in other countries/ States of India, are coming back to Kerala for permanent settlement
III. Misunderstood and mis-labelled Mallus
Non Mallus have been generous in labeling Mallus as thinking persons and the label has struck, inflating the false pride of Mallus, though this assumption has no basis. Except for the rudimentary knowledge of politics, Mallus are as knowledgeable or ignorant on most of the matters and also have all the prejudices about people of other States, as is the case with people of other States. . But then as happens with human beings, positive labels, are worn with pride ( Punjabi – warrior class, bania – business oriented ). Yet another label of Mallus is that of being unionist. They have work discipline. They learn the jobs. But they are also prone to form unions, largely an outcome of ‘ workers’ rights ‘ propounded and actively supported by the first Communist Government in Kerala.
· With jobs being scarce in Kerala because of low pace of industrialization, Mallus have been going out of Kerala during the last few decades in large numbers to other parts of India and to Gulf countries. That other Mallus have gone out and made good being a positive factor encouraging such a step, many of the Mallus having kith and kin and friends in other places to accommodate and help in finding jobs, etc., are the other factors for this development.
· Once outside Kerala, the make up of trade union militancy is discarded, at least in the initial stages but the same often manifests in due course of time. Out of Kerala, in the initial stages, for many, the life was tough, with no knowledge of the local language, with meagre funds and no jobs. With nothing back home, Mallus stayed back with determination until found this or that job. Once settled they joined Mallus Associations formed for cultural activities and providing a platform for Mallus to meet. Such Associations splinter after some time, given the propensity of Mallus to be individualistic and less compromising or accommodating. Once life becomes comfortable, the keenness for upward mobility lessens. In earlier times, after retirement most of them went back to Kerala. But slowly the trend is increasing of being stay put after retirement at the place they lived for decades. With the passage of the older generation, for new generation brought up in places outside Kerala, conversing in local language and following customs and dress of the place, there is hardly the syndrome of Kerala beckoning. Increasingly, with the passage of time, the Mallu born boys and girls become less and less Mallu.
IV. Recent developments / changes:
.
1. Keralites returning from Gulf en masse:
This is happening now, with the Gulf countries also facing impact of Global financial melt-down. Most of the people coming back have been doing manual labour. They would find it difficult to find similar jobs in Kerala. And even when they find, most of them would be unhappy and hence unwilling to accept such jobs, because of the wide variation in what they were getting in Gulf countries and what is being offered to them. Since latter would be the position if they migrate to other States for jobs, they would be at their wits end on what they can do. They have no expertise on any field. Kerala Government, as expected of any Government, is making a lot sympathetic noise and giving vague promises of this and that action. Rs. 100 crores appeared to have been earmarked to tackle this situation.
What is most unfortunate is that such people have spent ( squandered ) their earnings in the past to build large houses in Kerala and for their families living in style. However, this was to be expected since, as is human nature, these migrants, who were largely poor, and their families wanted to announce ‘ they have arrived.’ Saving back for a rainy day was not a priority. Negative psychological impact on account of this development would be serious.
2. High rise residential flats
In India this happened two or three decades back in many cities. Now it is catching up in Kerala. Pros and cons: Since many had stayed in flats for decades in cities while working, when they resettle in Kerala, staying in flat not being new to them, the same becomes a favourable option. Easy to maintain, neat and clean, better security compared to independent houses, joint power back up, swimming pools and reception office ( which effectively screens unwanted visitors) , etc., are some of the plus factors of flat system. Retirees, coming back to the State to stay put permanently, being elderly, the flat system is a better option. On the other hand, those who lived for long years in houses will feel being constricted in staying in flats. The flats are impersonal, no architecture, no lawns or own trees, does not fulfill the need to exhibit to one and all of the fact that one has arrived and in some case of being affluent, little scope for altering and expanding, no stamp of personal style and whims and fancies and from existing local societal mores somewhat infra dig, etc.,
The recent trend in cities of having a high rise building of residential flats being constructed and let out on the basis of religion or people of one State ( mother tongue ) may also catch up in Kerala in due course. Similarly, construction of hostels, separately for men and women would increase with white collar workforce number of both sexes going up.
Related to the above subject is the demolition of old houses and building new houses, an activity which has accelerated pace in the recent times. For many reasons, people increasingly find that the old houses are not functional in today’s context. In the process the charm and architecture of old houses are permanently lost. Wood is being replaced by concrete in house construction.
3. Religions and rituals
There is comparative harmony in Kerala between members of the three faiths, i.e., Hindus, Muslims & Christians, except for once a while physical clash, both localized and involving few people, between Hindus and Muslims and in the recent past between Communists and Hindutva brigades. It is not that the living of members of the three faiths is harmonious but it is more like ‘ live and let live’ approach. Now there is wariness, which was not there earlier, between members of Hindu and Muslim faiths and this is increasing and not decreasing. In the recent times, entrenched religious beliefs and mistrust of Hindus and Muslims existing in North India are making inroads in to Kerala. Mainly in respect of Hindus, religious rituals are increasing, and this trend is erroneously explained by Hindus as a sign of increased religiosity. So far this trend has not caught on in respect of the other two major religions, though the competitive environment may lead to the other two religions following suit. Number of pilgrims to major temples is increasing, and chest thumping Hindu religionists proclaiming the same as evidence of increasing faith. Religion which should be inward looking is increasingly becoming outward apparances. The focus is to re-emphasise separation with other religions
Hindus and Muslims have drifted apart during the last two or three decades. No such wariness between Christians and Hindus/Muslims. Both superficial religious beliefs and accompanying rituals are on the ascendancy.
The so called spiritual leaders of Hindu faith are having a good time, with continuous increase in the number of their followers.
4. Government
Average performance compared to some of the States, which are efficient and some others poor in performance. Quality and integrity of Ministers on the whole have been on the decline. Political corruption is on the increase. People who have been on the wrong side of law, though not convicted, are also finding places in the Cabinet in the recent times, which was not the case earlier. Earlier there was hardly any muscle power in parties. But not any more. Squabbling between Ministers is on the increase, affecting the imperative need to have cohesive cabinet. For non performance in any area, the blame is placed at the door of the Union Government.
Bureaucracy continues to be corrupt, slow in action, file and meeting oriented, rule bound and not result oriented, apathetic to solving problems of the citizens, etc.,
5. Politics
Politics is in the blood of Mallus, largely due to the genes of one generation passing on to the next generation. But politics of Mallus is generally superficial or skin-deep only, with exceptions being the rule. In discussion very few are able to penetrate the outer layers and get into the crux of issues. The awareness is largely based on newspaper reading, which is a must for all Mallus. Here also Editorials and essays are rarely read or at best just scanned. Ask any Mallu to differentiate between the philosophies of different political parties and you get largely numbo jumbo. Yet it is the most favourable past time, i.e., discussing politics. Curiously the all consuming interest in politics is largely confined to men, with women finding all the time more interesting topics, i.e., cine stars, gold and sarees.
Oddly, though political awareness is only rudimentary, most, if not all, of the Mallus stick to this or that party and they seldom change party loyalty, while at the same time most of them may not be formal members of any party. Because of this position ‘ floating votes’ are not large in number in Kerala, unlike the case of other States. Their interest in political matters is viewed as being ‘thinking literate’ by themselves and by people of other States. While mentally and emotionally aligned to respective political parties, the egalitarian ethos dinned into the Mallus, had the outcome of political leaders being treated only with respect by their party-men and not given to adulation, as has been by far the case in the rest of India. Corruption level of politicians is unfortunately on the increase.
6. Family:
The era of joint family system, which was there earlier and mainly in respect of Hindus, is more or less over. All are opting for nuclear families. Family ties are becoming nebulous, as in other places, which has the result of reluctance to help a family member in distress. Family members located in far off places visit Kerala once a while, mainly at the time of marriage of one of the members. On such occasions, to put it in a lighter vein, the inter action between children coming from, say, Mumbai and Kolkata, occurs with language of conversation being a mix of Malayalam, English, Marathi and Bengali.
7. Print ( both newspapers and magazines & Visual media ( both cinemas and TV )
· Print media
Mallus are print media addict. In most other parts of the country reading newspapers is a vocation of middle and upper class people. Not so in Kerala. With almost 100% literacy, none, say, coolies to auto rickshah drivers miss the newspaper. With a cup of tea in the morning, vernacular newspaper, and in few cases English newspaper, is a must. The reading of the same in the case of retired men is extensive, from the mast head to ‘ printed and published ‘ at the bottom of the last page. This includes ‘obitury ‘ page, which many go through with avid interest, despite the fact that the reader would not know Adam from Apple who the dead was. And also ads for jobs. Neither ads. nor pontification of two bit politician is left out. Reporting of accidents with the causes for the same and detailed account of dead and injured are seldom missed though the persons involved in the accidents may be unknown to the reader. Unfortunately what is hardly read are the editorials and articles, which could have enhanced understanding of different subjects and also differing perspectives. Some read more than one daily and compare what has been written on the same matter. In the tea shops discussion veer round to what has been reported. Since most of the Mallus are opinionated, each one has a comment on all developments reported. Coming to magazines, which had proliferated in recent times, the most important ingredients and that too for womenfolk, are the serial novels and ads. for dress material and ornaments. Male Mallus by far feel that the magazines with the above material are not their cup of tea, the same is trivia fit for ladies and hence hardly men read magazines and if at all read, serious essays are given a go by. There is an inexplainable all consuming interest for womenfolk of fifteen to fifty in serial stories in magazines. These are avidly read. The arrival of the magazine is looked forward with baited breath and trepidation, emotions arising out of curiosity to know how the story unfolds. All kinds of magazines in Malayalam are published, from Tantra to sex to atheism.
· Visual media ( cinema & TV )
The influence of TV leading to spending much of the time before the idiot box has an unfortunate outcome. Reading of Malayalam books has considerably declined with the result in most cases even printing expenses / agents’ commissions are not earned through the sale of books, not to mention of any income to authors. Net result is the down trend in the publication of Malayalam books. And, alas, the number of people reading poetry is now insignificant.
Cinema: The perception outside Kerala is that Bengal alongwith Kerala produces quality films. This is largely a myth. Annually 4 or 5 outstanding films are produced. Yet another 8 to 10 films could be considered good. The rest, what is called formula/masala films, is just as bad as films produced in other languages. This is both irony and tragedy. There are good actors, directors, musicians, cinematographers, and other professionals needed for cinema production in Kerala. Malayalam formula films are in the same league as such films produced elsewhere. There is convoluted story, dishum-dishum, songs and in most films, at the end the boy gets the girl. The hero is charming, can sing /dance/ fight ten people with bare hands/virtue personified, etc., etc., In real life the actor who is the hero would in the age of grandfather to the heroine. Outstanding films never make any money to even cover the expenses but they may receive awards. Yet in one respect Kerala film industry differs from the industry in other States, more particularly the other three Southern States and Bollywood, is the lack of cult culture for hero. There are no cut outs of heroes. Yes, there are fan clubs for the leading actors. They are adored. But by far they lead a private life. It is doubtful whether they would be able to win any election to legislature. Even to get a ticket from any party is difficult, though some of the actors are identified with this or that party.
TV: Entry of visual media in the homes in Kerala is nothing short of a storm which had metamorphasised the living in the home. It is a boon particularly to elderly people who are stiff bored with nothing much to do. And to a lesser extent to house-wives who now have lot of spare time with cooking food and washing cloth are accomplished with less time than was the case earlier, because of various gadgets. Toddlers to young kids to youngsters find this medium extremely entertaining. With a number of channels and each one coming with more and more masala, TV watching time has been continuously on the increase. Serials ( both family dramas and religious stories ) and in the recent times ‘reality’ shows are the main programmes watched. Reality shows have become virtually overnight most popular, with an estimated 110 million households in the country viewing the programme Whenever serials are telecast, nobody stirs from the home and nobody expects ( welcomes ) visitors. To ladies particularly the melodrama is riveting. So there is a clear division of TV watching in homes. News for men and serials for ladies, with both groups watching religious serials. Thousands and thousands of artists and others have been able to earn and live on TV programmes with artists getting an opportunity to exhibit their talents, with the possibility of their ascendancy to film world. And to advertisers TV is a boon because ads. in paper one can skip but not ads. appearing alongwith TV programmes. Reality shows of youngsters enable them to exhibit their talents, remove their stage shyness and to focus on the area of their talents. TV shows are also becoming stepping stone to films for many artists. .
Apart from the negative aspects to eyes at watching TV and of to body on account of sitting for hours and hours, especially in the case of children, neglect of home work and reading other than school books, increasingly home made food being replaced by packaged foods from hotels, this phenomenon has led to lessening of social contact, lack of exercise, besides the danger of TV hooking on the viewer thereby becoming a TV addict. Since this is largely a recent development, it may take some time for experts to diagnose the ill effects ( and also the positive sides ) of TV programmes on the viewers.
8. Fads and changing trends
Gold ornaments: The avarice for gold continues unabated. Some would say that it has increased. This is despite Gold prices piercing the earlier ceilings continuously. General economic prosperity, Gulf money, Money orders from Mallus in other places and one-up-manship are some of the causes for this illogical all consuming attraction for gold. Consequently jewelary shops are expanding at a furious pace and new ones are coming up. There is competition between parents of brides on the amount of gold ornaments given to the bride and also exhibited ( some would say without any grace ) by wearing at the marriage ceremony. Aware of this all consuming desire of Mallu women to acquire and exhibit gold ornaments at functions, especially marriage ceremonies, enterprising jewelers have started the system of giving gold ornaments on rent for a day or two to the invitee women to such functions. Among Mallu women the ownership of gold ornaments is so intense that even when they are dire straits financially, selling their gold ornaments has become the last option. Husbands / fathers of these women have to do the reluctant job of accompanying the women to the banks for taking the ornaments from lockers and depositing the same back.
Old age homes. A few have come up in recent times. It is still considered infra dig for a family to send their elderly people to old age homes and the elderly people also do not want to go, largely because till now old age homes were essentially for poor destitute. With the number of ‘only old people’ in homes increasing and constraints in obtaining full time nurses ( whose salaries have gone up and still increasing, apart from shortage ) the number of old age homes would have to go up - and hence demand for both male and female nurses rather than servants.
Bacchus lovers increasing: The State Government of Kerala is going all the way to banks laughing at the continuous increase in revenue from liquor tax. There is both total condemnation ( by those who do not drink ) and near total support ( by those who drink ) to this trend of higher and higher alcohol consumption. In this trait there is no dividing line between rich and poor. Even among daily wage workers, daily drinking is becoming the norm. Further, unlike in other places of India, in Kerala, drinking means heavy drinking. Fortunately, by far Kerala women have not taken to drinking, except to some extent in the lower strata, and further women generally have been against their men drinking. Major cause for family quarrels and break up of marriages in Kerala is due to this factor.
Irreverence for the high and mighty: During the last few centuries before Independence, when in many other places of India, the high and mighty were looked with awe and terror by the plebeians, in Kerala the position of the plebeians was not that bad, largely because many of the then rulers ( kings ) were somewhat benevolent, and that style rubbed on the aristocracy. Since egalitarianism is the corner stone of Communist philosophy, when Communist Government came to power in Kerala, the relations between the high/mighty and the poor also underwent subtle changes. Land reforms ushered in Kerala which took away lands from the erstwhile landlords and vested the same on the tillers ( mostly poor and of lower castes ) also overnight reduced the equation of the powerful and poor. Added to that is the introduction of ‘temple entry ‘ to lower caste Hindus. With efflux of time, the initial shock of the upper castes and mighty has eroded and reluctantly accepted as a part of societal mores.
Servants: For a very long time it is only the very rich who retained permanent servants. Even though the upper middle class could afford a full time servant, that was not the in thing in Kerala. Situation a few decades back changed because of. financial ability of a large number of middle class people to retain servants and poor people willing to take up such jobs resulted in full time/part time servants in many a house. In the very recent times, the situation has further changed. Affordability has increased but not availability. Further, it is now considered infra dig to work as a domestic help. Yet another angle to the issue is that the mind set of those employing had not changed much. They want to treat servants in the same manner as was the position long back. All the time at the beck and call, eat what is left out, sleep in a corner, no holidays, etc., The salary demanded is also high according to those employing. Then came Tamil people to whom the conditions of employers were acceptable. Now with economic prosperity in Tamil Nadu the influx to Kerala of Tamils looking for jobs has drastically reduced. So now increasingly Oriyas and Biharis, with a smattering knowledge of Malayalam, are being engaged as servants. Since this is a recent development, the problems allied to this development are yet to come to the forefront. Yet, one thing is clear. Those who are employing servants have to change their attitudes towards servants. The servants would not be as servile as in the past. They may want to dress well. They may want to watch TV. They may ask for leave. If needed bemoan at these developments, but adjust to the same if one wants a servant.
Shortage of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc.,: So also for white washing or plucking fruits from mango or coconut trees: Many of those who used to do these jobs have migrated to Gulf. Many have taken up other vocations because the job work, which is only available off-and-on in houses was not remunerative enough to meet their expenses. Not envisaging this development, most people did not learn the rudimentary repair work in these and similar disciplines. So what is option. Pay more and learn rudimentary repair work. Many in the cities are doing it. So why not in mofussil areas.
Malayalis after working outside Kerala for decades coming back for settlement in Kerala after retirement: Till about fifties and sixties those who returned to Kerala after retirement were either from Armed Forces or Civil Servants including Railways or private companies. Most of them joined service at the lowest level and retired at the middle level of establishment. During the time of their service, they had remitted back to the family left behind in Kerala the surplus cash they had. What they have after retirement is mainly pension or PF, etc., In other words, they were reasonably O.K. but not affluent. That is not the case now by far in respect of Malayalis going back from cities and towns after retirement from service. They have retired at the middle or higher level. Their earnings and so also savings are much more. Many of them are able to get very good price for the houses/flats they have in their erstwhile work places. Their mental make up is ‘ I have done well. Spending the life in cities and towns, my outlook has broadened. I have lived in many places with people of all regions of India and hence my knowledge is wide. So I have a world view on all matters. I am cosmopolitan. I have a broad view on all matters. I find that you locals are petty minded. The fact that I had migrated and made good itself is an indication that I am superior to you local people. I have now a bunglow, a car, a servant, money to buy drinks, etc., And so you adjust to me and show some respect.’ The problem here is that the locals do not any more consider the so called above achievements of those returning to the home land as something great. ‘ You came back here. And so you adjust to my style of living if you want to have friendship. If you have a chip on your shoulder, you should have left it back before coming here ‘ is their refrain. The big building, the car, money, etc., do not impress much the locals. Here the problem is not with the locals but those who are returning to Kerala. In any case most of those who went and worked till retirement outside Kerala, were holding middle level positions, had spent their lives with social network of other Mallus with minimum social contact with non Mallus, never tried to understand the culture and ethos of people of other regions, reading confined to newspapers, etc., So how can they gloat about their own status and knowledge. This dichotomy is much more pronounced in respect of those returned from western countries and locals.
Superficial spirituality is on the ascendancy among Malayalis: This is more or less a phenomenon of the last one or two decades, probably as an off shoot of similar trend in North India. The number of religious gurus has gone up and so also the number of followers of most of the gurus. Attendance in discourses of gurus has been continuously on the rise, with a sprinkling of foreigners, which is also a recent phenomenon. There are now TV channels telecasting exhortations of gurus and also serials of religious stories, started first on Hindu mythology and then followed by Christian mythology. One channel is rather exclusively for a woman Guru. Subtle competition between the gurus has been on the ascendancy. These self styled religious leaders have mesmeric effect on followers. They preach peaceful and joyous living, helping the needy, eschewing violence, hatred, anger, etc., yet occasionally in a subtle manner put at higher pedestal the religion/sect to which the Guru belongs to. The preaching has a soothing effect on the audience but yet it does not penetrate to the soul; as otherwise followers should have been living on the basis of what the Guru had preached, say, helping the needy, which actually is not the case. In short, the teaching is good but the following falls short.
Slow growth in industrialization: With passage of time, many States are racing ahead of Kerala in the pace of industrialization. The epithet which got appended to Malayalis of Unionists, Communist Government, considered inimical to the interests of businessmen, capturing power in the State more or less after every five years, State Government not actively wooing businessmen, lack of industrial raw materials in the State, the State Government not being able to persuade the Central Government to establish public sector projects in Kerala, business not being the forte of Mallus, etc., are the reasons for this unfortunate development. What is dismaying is the fact that be it Congress or Communist Government, the importance of industrialization has not been keenly felt by the politicians, unlike the position obtained in some of the other States. e.g. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu generate revenue of Rs. 30000 / Rs. 20000 / Rs. 15000 crores annually from IT sector, whereas Kerala generates Rs. 3000 crores. Now Kerala Government has set up a techno-park. But then IT companies have found that the cost of establishing IT centres in Kerala is much higher than that of the other three states. And then Kerala Government sits with folded arms with the assumption ‘ we have now set IT park. So IT companies will come.’ There is no active wooing of IT companies. The tragedy is that Kerala is suited for IT sector, with lot of educated people being available. Two large tyre companies were set up in Kerala a few decades back. But when the managements of these companies wanted to set up new tyre companies, they opted for other States. Birlas had a factory there which had closed shutters long back. Birlas never invested further in the State and so also other major business houses. During the last few years many States have embarked on actively wooing businessmen for investment. Chattisgarh is the latest example. That State came up with much higher concessions than those being offered by other States. Scores of large factories are being set up in that State. The blame for this sordid state of affairs should fall on politicians, Government babus, fourth estate, et all. Any new investment announced would be followed by stories in papers accusing of corruption. Stay of business men in executive suits of five star hotels and their traveling in posh cars become front page news ( gossip ) rather than about the investment they came to discuss with Government. Opposition would allege corruption, often without any basis. Newspaper readers enjoy reading such gossip. In such an atmosphere it would be only a brave businessman who would venture to invest in Kerala.
The decline of traditional arts: With the passage of time and more importantly with the invention of cinema and then TV, worldover, the popularity of traditional arts has been on the decline. The audience is thinning steadily. The aficionado of such arts lament at this development. While people may not go for such programmes, they would all holler at the Government if Government patronage to such art forms are withdrawn because nobody likes to discard their heritage and say that these forms of art are neither popular nor entertaining as cinemas and TV programmes, though that is the reality.
Cuisine: There has not been much change in the cuisine prevalent in Kerala for a long time, which is rice based preparations. In the recent times, Punjabi cuisine and so also pizza, etc., have made some inroads. The number of people eating non vegetarian food is increasing continuously. Slowly home made food is being replaced by hotel made packaged food.
Marriage: The long established system of consulting astrologer and finding matching horoscope continues among Hindus. Added to it are the help obtained through media, i.e., newspaper ads. and websites for bride and groom. The system of dowry is almost extinct. Boys and girls have more say in their marriages. The rituals and functions related to marriages are on the increase. No effort is spared to enhance and exhibit the wealth and status of the families of bride and groom in the style of functions. More ornaments for the bride is a status statement. Despite more and more young men and women from Kerala are now working in various cities of the country and hence interact with each other, the
number of love marriages between different castes / religions / States has not gone up in the recent times
Kerala brides for grooms of other States: In recent times a new phenomenon has started. Female population in Kerala outnumbers male population. Further, migration of males to other countries / States of India has been much higher than such migration of females, resulting in the gap widening. One of the outcome of this development is shortage of bridegrooms in Kerala. On the other hand there are other States in India where the reverse is the fact. A recent development is Haryanvi males coming to Kerala for sourcing brides, despite the fact that Mallu girls do not know Haryanvi ( which is a localized Hindi ) and so also the reverse position. This is not in large number. Yet the development is worth noting.
Astrology: This archaic system – it would be incorrect to name it as a science – still continues to sway Hindus of Kerala. Alongwith this is palmistry and such other hocus-pocus. Apart from magazines on the subject, there are TV channels only broadcasting astrology and these are keenly watched by a large number of viewers of TV.
9. Agriculture:
Rice is the main product. Neither its productivity nor the return has gone up commensurate with increase in cost of cultivation. Hence Kerala has become a net importer of rice. There are a number of cash crops in Kerala, such as, tea, coffee, spices, cashew nut, etc., fortunes of which have been fluctuating widely. Agriculture has been in the dumps for years now, be it in Kerala or other States. Babudom and not experts prescribing remedies has been cited by many as the reason for this tragic state.
10. Tribal people:
The number of Tribal people in Kerala is small compared to many other States. Successive Governments of Kerala have tried to improve their lot. Yet the results have been patchy. There are a number of experts in this area in India. But in this area also, as in the case of agriculture, it is the politicians and babus who prescribe the solutions and not the experts.
11. Other points to be noted
· Nurses: Aware of the fact that the requirement of nurses in the Western countries would go on increasing with the life expectancy of old people increasing, a number of Colleges for teaching Nursing has come up, which is a good thing.
· Tourism: The number of tourists to Kerala from other countries has been going up steadily. Number of Indian tourists is also increasing. There is yet lot of untapped potential. Required actions are wanting to attract tourists, largely on account of the fact that promotional activities are done by babudom, with not much concept on what tourists look for.
· Problems arising out of people living longer: Neither Government nor the public has given enough attention to this impending development.
· Generation gap: As elsewhere in Kerala also this gap is widening, a problem which has not received the desired level of attention from any quarter.
· Governments just muddle through. No different between congress and communist governments Politicians – no personality cult as in other states.
· Vigilant fourth estate: Despite various short comings, such. --as, often getting mired in trivia, this plus point cannot be ignored
For a long long time everywhere in the world change in the way of living and societal mores were very slow. Then in one place or other, the pace of change accelerated but at varying speeds. Then again while many embrace such changes willingly, though differing in perspective on the speed of change and also what needs to be changed, some are always status quoits everywhere. The churning out process is never ending.
This write up is about the societal changes in Kerala during the last seventy years or so. It only give some glimpses to have a feel the metamorphosis.
1. Landmarks – Unique features - Developments
· Going back in history, Kerala was probably the only place in the world where for considerable period of time the courtiers / ministers anointed a selected outsider ( from Tamil Nadu / Sri Lanka ) as the king for twelve years and then sent him back and selected another.
· It was in Kerala that the three foreign religions, i.e., Islam, Christianity & Judaism reached out for entry into India.
· Population based on religion: ( Hindus: 56%, Muslims: 24%, Christians: 19% and others: 1% )
· Current population: 2.9 crores, i.e., 2.7%of Indian population
· Population growth est. in the next two or three decades (1.3%) as against est. all India growth of 2.1 %
· Female population outnumbers male population
· Per capita income: Rs. 12,500 ( highest among all States in India )
· GDP: Rs. 95,000 crores
· Land reforms in India started first in Kerala
· It was in Kerala that temple entry to lower caste Hindus was initiated.
· In Asia, Kerala has the highest number of divorces
· The State with highest migration of people in % terms of the population of various States in India
II. Notable differentiating features of Kerala compared to other parts of the country:
· Increasing number of non-vegetarians
· State Government goes on alternating between Congress and Communism.
· ‘Live and let live’ religious culture for a long time, with some dents in the recent times
· Superficial politics is inculcated from child-hood onwards and hence part of the culture
· Equality between religions and castes and between poor and rich is stridently sought
· Leakage of Government funds earmarked under various welfare schemes much less than anywhere in the country, largely on account of the awareness of such schemes and also rights/entitlements of each person.
· Number of persons in the category of destitute lowest in the country.
· Most of the people could be categorised into three segments, poor, lower and upper middle class, and not large rich class. Highest percentage of people are in the middle class.
· Political awareness ( though to a large extent ‘superficial ’ ), education, habit of reading newspapers and inculcation of Communist philosophy of ‘ all are equal ‘ have led to lessening of the divide found elsewhere between rich and poor. The same characteristics have led to lessening of the differential levels of hierarchy of castes.
· Nuclear families
· Thrift has never been a high point. Live better than Joneses has been the spirit.
· Neatness is taken as a virtue.
· Love for yellow metal, which was there earlier also, but then not much affordable, continues unabated
· One-up-man-ship is part of the psyche of Mallus
· Marriage is an event in which spending beyond one’s means has become part of the psyche
· Business appears to be not in the blood of Malayali Hindus. Slightly better position in the case of Muslims and still better in the case of Christians. Even in the case of the latter groups also hardly any ambition to scale new heights and hence hardly any large industrial units of Malayali management.
· Once school or college education is over, most Mallus leave the State and go to cities of other States or other countries for jobs because of lack avenues for employment within Kerala. Propensity for such venture is high, largely because that has been happening for decades. .
· Earlier influx of Tamilians for jobs as servants and for manual jobs is being replaced by Biharis and Oriyas
· News papers and magazines – reading a must for Keralites
· Hypnotic influence of TV is on the ascendancy and at a fast pace
· In the last decade or so, Kerala has become a tourism spot for foreigners coming to India, though the number of Indians visiting Kerala as tourists has not been large.
· High level of drinking. Last year toppled Punjab from the first position among the States. Formation of All Kerala Liquor Consumers Association (the only such body in India )
· Considerable importance attached to education, both male and female, both higher and lower strata. And hence large number of schools and colleges. Christian Missionaries took the lead in establishing schools and colleges imparting quality education.
· Low level of industrialization, largely on account of the name earned for aggressive posturing of Unions and Communist Governments’ apathy to have any truck with businessmen
· Retirees, i.e., people who had gone from Kerala and worked for decades in other countries/ States of India, are coming back to Kerala for permanent settlement
III. Misunderstood and mis-labelled Mallus
Non Mallus have been generous in labeling Mallus as thinking persons and the label has struck, inflating the false pride of Mallus, though this assumption has no basis. Except for the rudimentary knowledge of politics, Mallus are as knowledgeable or ignorant on most of the matters and also have all the prejudices about people of other States, as is the case with people of other States. . But then as happens with human beings, positive labels, are worn with pride ( Punjabi – warrior class, bania – business oriented ). Yet another label of Mallus is that of being unionist. They have work discipline. They learn the jobs. But they are also prone to form unions, largely an outcome of ‘ workers’ rights ‘ propounded and actively supported by the first Communist Government in Kerala.
· With jobs being scarce in Kerala because of low pace of industrialization, Mallus have been going out of Kerala during the last few decades in large numbers to other parts of India and to Gulf countries. That other Mallus have gone out and made good being a positive factor encouraging such a step, many of the Mallus having kith and kin and friends in other places to accommodate and help in finding jobs, etc., are the other factors for this development.
· Once outside Kerala, the make up of trade union militancy is discarded, at least in the initial stages but the same often manifests in due course of time. Out of Kerala, in the initial stages, for many, the life was tough, with no knowledge of the local language, with meagre funds and no jobs. With nothing back home, Mallus stayed back with determination until found this or that job. Once settled they joined Mallus Associations formed for cultural activities and providing a platform for Mallus to meet. Such Associations splinter after some time, given the propensity of Mallus to be individualistic and less compromising or accommodating. Once life becomes comfortable, the keenness for upward mobility lessens. In earlier times, after retirement most of them went back to Kerala. But slowly the trend is increasing of being stay put after retirement at the place they lived for decades. With the passage of the older generation, for new generation brought up in places outside Kerala, conversing in local language and following customs and dress of the place, there is hardly the syndrome of Kerala beckoning. Increasingly, with the passage of time, the Mallu born boys and girls become less and less Mallu.
IV. Recent developments / changes:
.
1. Keralites returning from Gulf en masse:
This is happening now, with the Gulf countries also facing impact of Global financial melt-down. Most of the people coming back have been doing manual labour. They would find it difficult to find similar jobs in Kerala. And even when they find, most of them would be unhappy and hence unwilling to accept such jobs, because of the wide variation in what they were getting in Gulf countries and what is being offered to them. Since latter would be the position if they migrate to other States for jobs, they would be at their wits end on what they can do. They have no expertise on any field. Kerala Government, as expected of any Government, is making a lot sympathetic noise and giving vague promises of this and that action. Rs. 100 crores appeared to have been earmarked to tackle this situation.
What is most unfortunate is that such people have spent ( squandered ) their earnings in the past to build large houses in Kerala and for their families living in style. However, this was to be expected since, as is human nature, these migrants, who were largely poor, and their families wanted to announce ‘ they have arrived.’ Saving back for a rainy day was not a priority. Negative psychological impact on account of this development would be serious.
2. High rise residential flats
In India this happened two or three decades back in many cities. Now it is catching up in Kerala. Pros and cons: Since many had stayed in flats for decades in cities while working, when they resettle in Kerala, staying in flat not being new to them, the same becomes a favourable option. Easy to maintain, neat and clean, better security compared to independent houses, joint power back up, swimming pools and reception office ( which effectively screens unwanted visitors) , etc., are some of the plus factors of flat system. Retirees, coming back to the State to stay put permanently, being elderly, the flat system is a better option. On the other hand, those who lived for long years in houses will feel being constricted in staying in flats. The flats are impersonal, no architecture, no lawns or own trees, does not fulfill the need to exhibit to one and all of the fact that one has arrived and in some case of being affluent, little scope for altering and expanding, no stamp of personal style and whims and fancies and from existing local societal mores somewhat infra dig, etc.,
The recent trend in cities of having a high rise building of residential flats being constructed and let out on the basis of religion or people of one State ( mother tongue ) may also catch up in Kerala in due course. Similarly, construction of hostels, separately for men and women would increase with white collar workforce number of both sexes going up.
Related to the above subject is the demolition of old houses and building new houses, an activity which has accelerated pace in the recent times. For many reasons, people increasingly find that the old houses are not functional in today’s context. In the process the charm and architecture of old houses are permanently lost. Wood is being replaced by concrete in house construction.
3. Religions and rituals
There is comparative harmony in Kerala between members of the three faiths, i.e., Hindus, Muslims & Christians, except for once a while physical clash, both localized and involving few people, between Hindus and Muslims and in the recent past between Communists and Hindutva brigades. It is not that the living of members of the three faiths is harmonious but it is more like ‘ live and let live’ approach. Now there is wariness, which was not there earlier, between members of Hindu and Muslim faiths and this is increasing and not decreasing. In the recent times, entrenched religious beliefs and mistrust of Hindus and Muslims existing in North India are making inroads in to Kerala. Mainly in respect of Hindus, religious rituals are increasing, and this trend is erroneously explained by Hindus as a sign of increased religiosity. So far this trend has not caught on in respect of the other two major religions, though the competitive environment may lead to the other two religions following suit. Number of pilgrims to major temples is increasing, and chest thumping Hindu religionists proclaiming the same as evidence of increasing faith. Religion which should be inward looking is increasingly becoming outward apparances. The focus is to re-emphasise separation with other religions
Hindus and Muslims have drifted apart during the last two or three decades. No such wariness between Christians and Hindus/Muslims. Both superficial religious beliefs and accompanying rituals are on the ascendancy.
The so called spiritual leaders of Hindu faith are having a good time, with continuous increase in the number of their followers.
4. Government
Average performance compared to some of the States, which are efficient and some others poor in performance. Quality and integrity of Ministers on the whole have been on the decline. Political corruption is on the increase. People who have been on the wrong side of law, though not convicted, are also finding places in the Cabinet in the recent times, which was not the case earlier. Earlier there was hardly any muscle power in parties. But not any more. Squabbling between Ministers is on the increase, affecting the imperative need to have cohesive cabinet. For non performance in any area, the blame is placed at the door of the Union Government.
Bureaucracy continues to be corrupt, slow in action, file and meeting oriented, rule bound and not result oriented, apathetic to solving problems of the citizens, etc.,
5. Politics
Politics is in the blood of Mallus, largely due to the genes of one generation passing on to the next generation. But politics of Mallus is generally superficial or skin-deep only, with exceptions being the rule. In discussion very few are able to penetrate the outer layers and get into the crux of issues. The awareness is largely based on newspaper reading, which is a must for all Mallus. Here also Editorials and essays are rarely read or at best just scanned. Ask any Mallu to differentiate between the philosophies of different political parties and you get largely numbo jumbo. Yet it is the most favourable past time, i.e., discussing politics. Curiously the all consuming interest in politics is largely confined to men, with women finding all the time more interesting topics, i.e., cine stars, gold and sarees.
Oddly, though political awareness is only rudimentary, most, if not all, of the Mallus stick to this or that party and they seldom change party loyalty, while at the same time most of them may not be formal members of any party. Because of this position ‘ floating votes’ are not large in number in Kerala, unlike the case of other States. Their interest in political matters is viewed as being ‘thinking literate’ by themselves and by people of other States. While mentally and emotionally aligned to respective political parties, the egalitarian ethos dinned into the Mallus, had the outcome of political leaders being treated only with respect by their party-men and not given to adulation, as has been by far the case in the rest of India. Corruption level of politicians is unfortunately on the increase.
6. Family:
The era of joint family system, which was there earlier and mainly in respect of Hindus, is more or less over. All are opting for nuclear families. Family ties are becoming nebulous, as in other places, which has the result of reluctance to help a family member in distress. Family members located in far off places visit Kerala once a while, mainly at the time of marriage of one of the members. On such occasions, to put it in a lighter vein, the inter action between children coming from, say, Mumbai and Kolkata, occurs with language of conversation being a mix of Malayalam, English, Marathi and Bengali.
7. Print ( both newspapers and magazines & Visual media ( both cinemas and TV )
· Print media
Mallus are print media addict. In most other parts of the country reading newspapers is a vocation of middle and upper class people. Not so in Kerala. With almost 100% literacy, none, say, coolies to auto rickshah drivers miss the newspaper. With a cup of tea in the morning, vernacular newspaper, and in few cases English newspaper, is a must. The reading of the same in the case of retired men is extensive, from the mast head to ‘ printed and published ‘ at the bottom of the last page. This includes ‘obitury ‘ page, which many go through with avid interest, despite the fact that the reader would not know Adam from Apple who the dead was. And also ads for jobs. Neither ads. nor pontification of two bit politician is left out. Reporting of accidents with the causes for the same and detailed account of dead and injured are seldom missed though the persons involved in the accidents may be unknown to the reader. Unfortunately what is hardly read are the editorials and articles, which could have enhanced understanding of different subjects and also differing perspectives. Some read more than one daily and compare what has been written on the same matter. In the tea shops discussion veer round to what has been reported. Since most of the Mallus are opinionated, each one has a comment on all developments reported. Coming to magazines, which had proliferated in recent times, the most important ingredients and that too for womenfolk, are the serial novels and ads. for dress material and ornaments. Male Mallus by far feel that the magazines with the above material are not their cup of tea, the same is trivia fit for ladies and hence hardly men read magazines and if at all read, serious essays are given a go by. There is an inexplainable all consuming interest for womenfolk of fifteen to fifty in serial stories in magazines. These are avidly read. The arrival of the magazine is looked forward with baited breath and trepidation, emotions arising out of curiosity to know how the story unfolds. All kinds of magazines in Malayalam are published, from Tantra to sex to atheism.
· Visual media ( cinema & TV )
The influence of TV leading to spending much of the time before the idiot box has an unfortunate outcome. Reading of Malayalam books has considerably declined with the result in most cases even printing expenses / agents’ commissions are not earned through the sale of books, not to mention of any income to authors. Net result is the down trend in the publication of Malayalam books. And, alas, the number of people reading poetry is now insignificant.
Cinema: The perception outside Kerala is that Bengal alongwith Kerala produces quality films. This is largely a myth. Annually 4 or 5 outstanding films are produced. Yet another 8 to 10 films could be considered good. The rest, what is called formula/masala films, is just as bad as films produced in other languages. This is both irony and tragedy. There are good actors, directors, musicians, cinematographers, and other professionals needed for cinema production in Kerala. Malayalam formula films are in the same league as such films produced elsewhere. There is convoluted story, dishum-dishum, songs and in most films, at the end the boy gets the girl. The hero is charming, can sing /dance/ fight ten people with bare hands/virtue personified, etc., etc., In real life the actor who is the hero would in the age of grandfather to the heroine. Outstanding films never make any money to even cover the expenses but they may receive awards. Yet in one respect Kerala film industry differs from the industry in other States, more particularly the other three Southern States and Bollywood, is the lack of cult culture for hero. There are no cut outs of heroes. Yes, there are fan clubs for the leading actors. They are adored. But by far they lead a private life. It is doubtful whether they would be able to win any election to legislature. Even to get a ticket from any party is difficult, though some of the actors are identified with this or that party.
TV: Entry of visual media in the homes in Kerala is nothing short of a storm which had metamorphasised the living in the home. It is a boon particularly to elderly people who are stiff bored with nothing much to do. And to a lesser extent to house-wives who now have lot of spare time with cooking food and washing cloth are accomplished with less time than was the case earlier, because of various gadgets. Toddlers to young kids to youngsters find this medium extremely entertaining. With a number of channels and each one coming with more and more masala, TV watching time has been continuously on the increase. Serials ( both family dramas and religious stories ) and in the recent times ‘reality’ shows are the main programmes watched. Reality shows have become virtually overnight most popular, with an estimated 110 million households in the country viewing the programme Whenever serials are telecast, nobody stirs from the home and nobody expects ( welcomes ) visitors. To ladies particularly the melodrama is riveting. So there is a clear division of TV watching in homes. News for men and serials for ladies, with both groups watching religious serials. Thousands and thousands of artists and others have been able to earn and live on TV programmes with artists getting an opportunity to exhibit their talents, with the possibility of their ascendancy to film world. And to advertisers TV is a boon because ads. in paper one can skip but not ads. appearing alongwith TV programmes. Reality shows of youngsters enable them to exhibit their talents, remove their stage shyness and to focus on the area of their talents. TV shows are also becoming stepping stone to films for many artists. .
Apart from the negative aspects to eyes at watching TV and of to body on account of sitting for hours and hours, especially in the case of children, neglect of home work and reading other than school books, increasingly home made food being replaced by packaged foods from hotels, this phenomenon has led to lessening of social contact, lack of exercise, besides the danger of TV hooking on the viewer thereby becoming a TV addict. Since this is largely a recent development, it may take some time for experts to diagnose the ill effects ( and also the positive sides ) of TV programmes on the viewers.
8. Fads and changing trends
Gold ornaments: The avarice for gold continues unabated. Some would say that it has increased. This is despite Gold prices piercing the earlier ceilings continuously. General economic prosperity, Gulf money, Money orders from Mallus in other places and one-up-manship are some of the causes for this illogical all consuming attraction for gold. Consequently jewelary shops are expanding at a furious pace and new ones are coming up. There is competition between parents of brides on the amount of gold ornaments given to the bride and also exhibited ( some would say without any grace ) by wearing at the marriage ceremony. Aware of this all consuming desire of Mallu women to acquire and exhibit gold ornaments at functions, especially marriage ceremonies, enterprising jewelers have started the system of giving gold ornaments on rent for a day or two to the invitee women to such functions. Among Mallu women the ownership of gold ornaments is so intense that even when they are dire straits financially, selling their gold ornaments has become the last option. Husbands / fathers of these women have to do the reluctant job of accompanying the women to the banks for taking the ornaments from lockers and depositing the same back.
Old age homes. A few have come up in recent times. It is still considered infra dig for a family to send their elderly people to old age homes and the elderly people also do not want to go, largely because till now old age homes were essentially for poor destitute. With the number of ‘only old people’ in homes increasing and constraints in obtaining full time nurses ( whose salaries have gone up and still increasing, apart from shortage ) the number of old age homes would have to go up - and hence demand for both male and female nurses rather than servants.
Bacchus lovers increasing: The State Government of Kerala is going all the way to banks laughing at the continuous increase in revenue from liquor tax. There is both total condemnation ( by those who do not drink ) and near total support ( by those who drink ) to this trend of higher and higher alcohol consumption. In this trait there is no dividing line between rich and poor. Even among daily wage workers, daily drinking is becoming the norm. Further, unlike in other places of India, in Kerala, drinking means heavy drinking. Fortunately, by far Kerala women have not taken to drinking, except to some extent in the lower strata, and further women generally have been against their men drinking. Major cause for family quarrels and break up of marriages in Kerala is due to this factor.
Irreverence for the high and mighty: During the last few centuries before Independence, when in many other places of India, the high and mighty were looked with awe and terror by the plebeians, in Kerala the position of the plebeians was not that bad, largely because many of the then rulers ( kings ) were somewhat benevolent, and that style rubbed on the aristocracy. Since egalitarianism is the corner stone of Communist philosophy, when Communist Government came to power in Kerala, the relations between the high/mighty and the poor also underwent subtle changes. Land reforms ushered in Kerala which took away lands from the erstwhile landlords and vested the same on the tillers ( mostly poor and of lower castes ) also overnight reduced the equation of the powerful and poor. Added to that is the introduction of ‘temple entry ‘ to lower caste Hindus. With efflux of time, the initial shock of the upper castes and mighty has eroded and reluctantly accepted as a part of societal mores.
Servants: For a very long time it is only the very rich who retained permanent servants. Even though the upper middle class could afford a full time servant, that was not the in thing in Kerala. Situation a few decades back changed because of. financial ability of a large number of middle class people to retain servants and poor people willing to take up such jobs resulted in full time/part time servants in many a house. In the very recent times, the situation has further changed. Affordability has increased but not availability. Further, it is now considered infra dig to work as a domestic help. Yet another angle to the issue is that the mind set of those employing had not changed much. They want to treat servants in the same manner as was the position long back. All the time at the beck and call, eat what is left out, sleep in a corner, no holidays, etc., The salary demanded is also high according to those employing. Then came Tamil people to whom the conditions of employers were acceptable. Now with economic prosperity in Tamil Nadu the influx to Kerala of Tamils looking for jobs has drastically reduced. So now increasingly Oriyas and Biharis, with a smattering knowledge of Malayalam, are being engaged as servants. Since this is a recent development, the problems allied to this development are yet to come to the forefront. Yet, one thing is clear. Those who are employing servants have to change their attitudes towards servants. The servants would not be as servile as in the past. They may want to dress well. They may want to watch TV. They may ask for leave. If needed bemoan at these developments, but adjust to the same if one wants a servant.
Shortage of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc.,: So also for white washing or plucking fruits from mango or coconut trees: Many of those who used to do these jobs have migrated to Gulf. Many have taken up other vocations because the job work, which is only available off-and-on in houses was not remunerative enough to meet their expenses. Not envisaging this development, most people did not learn the rudimentary repair work in these and similar disciplines. So what is option. Pay more and learn rudimentary repair work. Many in the cities are doing it. So why not in mofussil areas.
Malayalis after working outside Kerala for decades coming back for settlement in Kerala after retirement: Till about fifties and sixties those who returned to Kerala after retirement were either from Armed Forces or Civil Servants including Railways or private companies. Most of them joined service at the lowest level and retired at the middle level of establishment. During the time of their service, they had remitted back to the family left behind in Kerala the surplus cash they had. What they have after retirement is mainly pension or PF, etc., In other words, they were reasonably O.K. but not affluent. That is not the case now by far in respect of Malayalis going back from cities and towns after retirement from service. They have retired at the middle or higher level. Their earnings and so also savings are much more. Many of them are able to get very good price for the houses/flats they have in their erstwhile work places. Their mental make up is ‘ I have done well. Spending the life in cities and towns, my outlook has broadened. I have lived in many places with people of all regions of India and hence my knowledge is wide. So I have a world view on all matters. I am cosmopolitan. I have a broad view on all matters. I find that you locals are petty minded. The fact that I had migrated and made good itself is an indication that I am superior to you local people. I have now a bunglow, a car, a servant, money to buy drinks, etc., And so you adjust to me and show some respect.’ The problem here is that the locals do not any more consider the so called above achievements of those returning to the home land as something great. ‘ You came back here. And so you adjust to my style of living if you want to have friendship. If you have a chip on your shoulder, you should have left it back before coming here ‘ is their refrain. The big building, the car, money, etc., do not impress much the locals. Here the problem is not with the locals but those who are returning to Kerala. In any case most of those who went and worked till retirement outside Kerala, were holding middle level positions, had spent their lives with social network of other Mallus with minimum social contact with non Mallus, never tried to understand the culture and ethos of people of other regions, reading confined to newspapers, etc., So how can they gloat about their own status and knowledge. This dichotomy is much more pronounced in respect of those returned from western countries and locals.
Superficial spirituality is on the ascendancy among Malayalis: This is more or less a phenomenon of the last one or two decades, probably as an off shoot of similar trend in North India. The number of religious gurus has gone up and so also the number of followers of most of the gurus. Attendance in discourses of gurus has been continuously on the rise, with a sprinkling of foreigners, which is also a recent phenomenon. There are now TV channels telecasting exhortations of gurus and also serials of religious stories, started first on Hindu mythology and then followed by Christian mythology. One channel is rather exclusively for a woman Guru. Subtle competition between the gurus has been on the ascendancy. These self styled religious leaders have mesmeric effect on followers. They preach peaceful and joyous living, helping the needy, eschewing violence, hatred, anger, etc., yet occasionally in a subtle manner put at higher pedestal the religion/sect to which the Guru belongs to. The preaching has a soothing effect on the audience but yet it does not penetrate to the soul; as otherwise followers should have been living on the basis of what the Guru had preached, say, helping the needy, which actually is not the case. In short, the teaching is good but the following falls short.
Slow growth in industrialization: With passage of time, many States are racing ahead of Kerala in the pace of industrialization. The epithet which got appended to Malayalis of Unionists, Communist Government, considered inimical to the interests of businessmen, capturing power in the State more or less after every five years, State Government not actively wooing businessmen, lack of industrial raw materials in the State, the State Government not being able to persuade the Central Government to establish public sector projects in Kerala, business not being the forte of Mallus, etc., are the reasons for this unfortunate development. What is dismaying is the fact that be it Congress or Communist Government, the importance of industrialization has not been keenly felt by the politicians, unlike the position obtained in some of the other States. e.g. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu generate revenue of Rs. 30000 / Rs. 20000 / Rs. 15000 crores annually from IT sector, whereas Kerala generates Rs. 3000 crores. Now Kerala Government has set up a techno-park. But then IT companies have found that the cost of establishing IT centres in Kerala is much higher than that of the other three states. And then Kerala Government sits with folded arms with the assumption ‘ we have now set IT park. So IT companies will come.’ There is no active wooing of IT companies. The tragedy is that Kerala is suited for IT sector, with lot of educated people being available. Two large tyre companies were set up in Kerala a few decades back. But when the managements of these companies wanted to set up new tyre companies, they opted for other States. Birlas had a factory there which had closed shutters long back. Birlas never invested further in the State and so also other major business houses. During the last few years many States have embarked on actively wooing businessmen for investment. Chattisgarh is the latest example. That State came up with much higher concessions than those being offered by other States. Scores of large factories are being set up in that State. The blame for this sordid state of affairs should fall on politicians, Government babus, fourth estate, et all. Any new investment announced would be followed by stories in papers accusing of corruption. Stay of business men in executive suits of five star hotels and their traveling in posh cars become front page news ( gossip ) rather than about the investment they came to discuss with Government. Opposition would allege corruption, often without any basis. Newspaper readers enjoy reading such gossip. In such an atmosphere it would be only a brave businessman who would venture to invest in Kerala.
The decline of traditional arts: With the passage of time and more importantly with the invention of cinema and then TV, worldover, the popularity of traditional arts has been on the decline. The audience is thinning steadily. The aficionado of such arts lament at this development. While people may not go for such programmes, they would all holler at the Government if Government patronage to such art forms are withdrawn because nobody likes to discard their heritage and say that these forms of art are neither popular nor entertaining as cinemas and TV programmes, though that is the reality.
Cuisine: There has not been much change in the cuisine prevalent in Kerala for a long time, which is rice based preparations. In the recent times, Punjabi cuisine and so also pizza, etc., have made some inroads. The number of people eating non vegetarian food is increasing continuously. Slowly home made food is being replaced by hotel made packaged food.
Marriage: The long established system of consulting astrologer and finding matching horoscope continues among Hindus. Added to it are the help obtained through media, i.e., newspaper ads. and websites for bride and groom. The system of dowry is almost extinct. Boys and girls have more say in their marriages. The rituals and functions related to marriages are on the increase. No effort is spared to enhance and exhibit the wealth and status of the families of bride and groom in the style of functions. More ornaments for the bride is a status statement. Despite more and more young men and women from Kerala are now working in various cities of the country and hence interact with each other, the
number of love marriages between different castes / religions / States has not gone up in the recent times
Kerala brides for grooms of other States: In recent times a new phenomenon has started. Female population in Kerala outnumbers male population. Further, migration of males to other countries / States of India has been much higher than such migration of females, resulting in the gap widening. One of the outcome of this development is shortage of bridegrooms in Kerala. On the other hand there are other States in India where the reverse is the fact. A recent development is Haryanvi males coming to Kerala for sourcing brides, despite the fact that Mallu girls do not know Haryanvi ( which is a localized Hindi ) and so also the reverse position. This is not in large number. Yet the development is worth noting.
Astrology: This archaic system – it would be incorrect to name it as a science – still continues to sway Hindus of Kerala. Alongwith this is palmistry and such other hocus-pocus. Apart from magazines on the subject, there are TV channels only broadcasting astrology and these are keenly watched by a large number of viewers of TV.
9. Agriculture:
Rice is the main product. Neither its productivity nor the return has gone up commensurate with increase in cost of cultivation. Hence Kerala has become a net importer of rice. There are a number of cash crops in Kerala, such as, tea, coffee, spices, cashew nut, etc., fortunes of which have been fluctuating widely. Agriculture has been in the dumps for years now, be it in Kerala or other States. Babudom and not experts prescribing remedies has been cited by many as the reason for this tragic state.
10. Tribal people:
The number of Tribal people in Kerala is small compared to many other States. Successive Governments of Kerala have tried to improve their lot. Yet the results have been patchy. There are a number of experts in this area in India. But in this area also, as in the case of agriculture, it is the politicians and babus who prescribe the solutions and not the experts.
11. Other points to be noted
· Nurses: Aware of the fact that the requirement of nurses in the Western countries would go on increasing with the life expectancy of old people increasing, a number of Colleges for teaching Nursing has come up, which is a good thing.
· Tourism: The number of tourists to Kerala from other countries has been going up steadily. Number of Indian tourists is also increasing. There is yet lot of untapped potential. Required actions are wanting to attract tourists, largely on account of the fact that promotional activities are done by babudom, with not much concept on what tourists look for.
· Problems arising out of people living longer: Neither Government nor the public has given enough attention to this impending development.
· Generation gap: As elsewhere in Kerala also this gap is widening, a problem which has not received the desired level of attention from any quarter.
· Governments just muddle through. No different between congress and communist governments Politicians – no personality cult as in other states.
· Vigilant fourth estate: Despite various short comings, such. --as, often getting mired in trivia, this plus point cannot be ignored
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Migration of Indians from one State to the
Emigrate: Leave one country to settle in another
Immigrate: Come as a permanent resident into the foreign country
Migrate: Move from one place (country, town, college, house ) to another
Past history
Migration of people from one country / region to another has been happening since dawn of human evolution. Humans have migrated across the continents in search of food, shelter, safety and hospitable weather.
In the recent past, added to the above are persecution of one kind of another, i.e., by rulers, religions, castes. War is yet another reason. Soldiers traveling wide and far and for long periods, at times, do not go back to their original regions but settle down in the conquered regions. For example, Mughals settling down in India.
Present position
While some of the above mentioned causes still persist, e.g., floods, famine, inflow/outflow of refugees, by far migration to another country/region in the present is largely happening in search of work. Urbanisation of cities/towns and establishment of large industrial plants are also an invitation for people to migrate. Increase in population without comparable increase in job opportunities in the place of birth, those migrated beckoning kith and kin from back home, to some extent wariness of living and working with strangers withering away, etc., are other factors. Brain drain on account of migration of people from one country to another, fear of local people at migrants taking away their jobs / job opportunities and the attendant agitations, stringent laws of some countries curtailing the number of people from other countries who could immigrate, etc., are some of the problem areas, which could be expected to exacerbate the development of large scale migration. To cite a few examples:
· North Indians ( particularly from Bihar ) migrating to Mumbai
· Oriyas now coming in large numbers to Kerala for manual labour
· USA & UK in recent times stipulating lower number of new migrants from India to those countries
· Restrictions announced by US Government on the inflow of female nurses to USA from other countries
· US Government more or less stipulating that American companies receiving financial help from Government cannot out-source jobs from outside
Exracts from the Book ‘ Imagining India ‘ by Nandan Nilekani:
“ In 2020 India is projected to have an additional fortyseven million workers, almost equal to the total world shortfall. The average Indian would be only twenty-nine years old, compared with the average age of thirty-seven in China and United States, fortyfive in Western Europe and fortyeight in Japan.
Over the next decade, job growth in India – one million new jobs every year – is going to be far lower than what we need, considering the fourteen million people who will enter the workforce every year.”
1. In the times ahead it is on cards that more and more such actions ( which are within the sovereign powers of the countries ) and within a country ( which are not legal ) would be imposed by countries and Indian States. The ramifications of the actions would get complicated. There would be both pro and con arguments. Arguments, however justified some of them may be, would not alter what is bound to happen. To understand what is going to happen and getting prepared for the impending phenomenon would be a more pragmatic response.
2. Till the eighties, migration of Indians to other countries was sporadic. Then the number surged. And all indications are that the number would go on increasing in the years ahead, with the increase in the number of qualified personnel in India, shortage of such people in some countries influencing corporate sector in such countries persuading their governments to allow such migration. One would have to wait and watch how other countries, i.e., both Governments and people, would respond to such a development.
3. Countries till recent times decided the level of immigration from other countries on the basis of various pulls and pressures. But probably it is the first time that any Government, as USA did, had stipulated that companies are expected to show positive discrimination in giving employment to Americans vis-à-vis people from other countries. Within India, migration of low income people from one State to another is on the increase. This would get further momentum. While some States perceive that this is bound to happen because of shortage of ‘nil’ skilled/ semi skilled people from their own flock, some States, particularly political parties, do not view this development with equanimity. In fact some of the political parties would capitalize on this issue because it has direct link to local vote bank.
4. The number of Indians going abroad for jobs has been continuously increasing during the last four or five decades. The largest contingent was low skilled workers to Gulf States, followed by of nurses. In both cases a high percentage was from Kerala. In the recent times migration of IT literates has also been on the increase. Yet another point to be noted is that, apart from the migration to Gulf countries, over 80% of the migration is to USA and UK.
5. In the times to come Western countries are going to face a Hobson’s choice. For various reasons the Governments there would like to stem the tide but at the same time from availability and cost effective angles, those countries have no other option but to grudgingly allow inflow of large of number of people from other countries. That a large number of Indians have been going abroad in the past for long duration stay ( often leading to marriage and permanent settlement in those countries ), the number of Indians having English writing and communicating skills, IT literacy, many Indians having relatives in those countries, going abroad for work becoming part of Indian culture, better emoluments, etc, are factors which predict such exodus. Yes, many other developing countries are following the footsteps of India in this area but non Indians reaching competitive edge vis-a-vis Indians is not in the immediate horizon.
6. It is assessed that most of the Western countries would face in the days ahead serious shortage of nurses. The statistics given out on this subject has given boost to setting up of large number of Nursing schools/colleges in India in the recent past.
7. At present the area of concern is about the migrants to Gulf States. The economic slowdown which world is facing, and Gulf States are not immune to the shock of the same, is leading to retrenchment of workers there ( mostly Keralites ) forcing them to come back to Kerala. On the one hand these people have got accustomed to higher income ( in Indian rupee terms ) while on the other there are no jobs waiting form them back home. A large percentage of them are unskilled or semi-skilled. But given the fact mentioned above about the low skills of those who are returning, it would be a terrifying prospect for such people to look for manual jobs in Kerala because jobs are rare and further the income would be much small compared to what they were getting in rupee terms. Inevitably it would become a social problem.
8. In the times to come, the phenomenon mentioned in the point above, could be repeated in the case of people from India of other vocations also, i.e., their being forced by Governments of various countries to return to India permanently.
9. So far the number of non-Indians coming to India for work has been very low in number. This position is likely to continue in the near future. But not necessarily in the long term. If Bangladeshi workers can come to India for work, then could not the same be followed up by people of other vocations coming to India. Over three or four decades back a large number of Tamils came to India from Sri Lanka and they were settled in Tamil Nadu tea plantations by the Tamil Nadu Government. It cannot be ruled out that once Sri Lankan Governments takes over areas which in the past had been virtually ruled by Sri Lankan Tamils, many Tamils would come to India, more so as they are confident of a helping hand by the Tamil Nadu Government.
10. In respect of the second point, i.e., migration of Indian people from one State to another in search of jobs, the following points may be noted:
· The requirement for servants in Delhi and other cities and towns has grown up tremendously during the last two or three decades because of (1) higher income of middle class people and hence affordability to retain servant, (2) the phenomenon of both husband and working, and (3) slow withering of the concept of joint family. Earlier, a large percentage of maid servants used to be Tamils. But with rapid industrialization of Tamil Nadu and spread effect of the prosperity on a large number of people, this migration is dying up. UPites and Biharis constitute largest number of servants in cities, with recent phenomenon of Bangladeshis coming and taking such jobs ( many of whom change their names from Muslim to Hindu, since Muslims have difficulty to get jobs of servants in Hindu households). Here also shortages are being felt mainly because of increasing construction activities in cities, where such unskilled people could get jobs with better wages and due to the fact that generally house-maid job is the last preference.
· In Kerala during the last few decades, shortage of Malayali house-workers has been continuously going up. Then this shortage started filling up by but because of the development mentioned above, i.e., fast industrialization of Tamil Nadu, this source is drying up, which is being filled in by Oriyas followed by Biharis ( for the first time I noticed that some of the buses plying in Kerala have Hindi sign-boards for the benefit of these migrants ).
· It can be safely predicted that servant shortage in Kerala would spread to towns and even villages, with the attendant demand for higher wages ( which is a good development as wages of servants in India for decades and centuries have been very low).
· Despite Mumbai experience, more and more Biharis/UPites/Oriyas would migrate to cities and towns in search of jobs, because making such a venture will not be taken as a risk prone activity, similar to large scale migration of Keralites to Gulf countries.
Issues which are likely to prop up
1. Migrant work-force tend to bring down the existing emoluments or atleast put a check to any strong move by local workers for increasing emoluments. While employers may profit from such a development, the same would result in creation of ill-will on the part of local workers against migrants.
2. Too many migrants in a small area may upset the social mores of the place.
3. Local people may turn against migrants, as happened recently in Mumbai.
4. Many a Government would tighten their entry visas.
5. Many a Government would face Hobson’s choice: shortage of skilled people and hence the need to allow such people to come from other countries and at the same time societies / political parties opposing such a development.
6. While Indians have generally accepted, and that too gladly, large scale migration of Indians to other countries, how would they react to large scale immigration of people of other countries to India.
7. While there was alround condemnation of violence against Bihari/Upite migrants in Mumbai recently, the fact that the agitation has been perceived by many Maharashtrians as protecting their interests leading to increase in the number of followers for Raj Thackeray’s party, would not be lost sight of by other political parties and hence some of the parties capitalizing similar situations in other places in the future cannot be ruled out.
8. Migration of large number of people from on State to others would lead to better understanding of other cultures and to the extent of people in the host State take an approach of ‘ live and let live,’ the same would be good for the country.
***
Immigrate: Come as a permanent resident into the foreign country
Migrate: Move from one place (country, town, college, house ) to another
Past history
Migration of people from one country / region to another has been happening since dawn of human evolution. Humans have migrated across the continents in search of food, shelter, safety and hospitable weather.
In the recent past, added to the above are persecution of one kind of another, i.e., by rulers, religions, castes. War is yet another reason. Soldiers traveling wide and far and for long periods, at times, do not go back to their original regions but settle down in the conquered regions. For example, Mughals settling down in India.
Present position
While some of the above mentioned causes still persist, e.g., floods, famine, inflow/outflow of refugees, by far migration to another country/region in the present is largely happening in search of work. Urbanisation of cities/towns and establishment of large industrial plants are also an invitation for people to migrate. Increase in population without comparable increase in job opportunities in the place of birth, those migrated beckoning kith and kin from back home, to some extent wariness of living and working with strangers withering away, etc., are other factors. Brain drain on account of migration of people from one country to another, fear of local people at migrants taking away their jobs / job opportunities and the attendant agitations, stringent laws of some countries curtailing the number of people from other countries who could immigrate, etc., are some of the problem areas, which could be expected to exacerbate the development of large scale migration. To cite a few examples:
· North Indians ( particularly from Bihar ) migrating to Mumbai
· Oriyas now coming in large numbers to Kerala for manual labour
· USA & UK in recent times stipulating lower number of new migrants from India to those countries
· Restrictions announced by US Government on the inflow of female nurses to USA from other countries
· US Government more or less stipulating that American companies receiving financial help from Government cannot out-source jobs from outside
Exracts from the Book ‘ Imagining India ‘ by Nandan Nilekani:
“ In 2020 India is projected to have an additional fortyseven million workers, almost equal to the total world shortfall. The average Indian would be only twenty-nine years old, compared with the average age of thirty-seven in China and United States, fortyfive in Western Europe and fortyeight in Japan.
Over the next decade, job growth in India – one million new jobs every year – is going to be far lower than what we need, considering the fourteen million people who will enter the workforce every year.”
1. In the times ahead it is on cards that more and more such actions ( which are within the sovereign powers of the countries ) and within a country ( which are not legal ) would be imposed by countries and Indian States. The ramifications of the actions would get complicated. There would be both pro and con arguments. Arguments, however justified some of them may be, would not alter what is bound to happen. To understand what is going to happen and getting prepared for the impending phenomenon would be a more pragmatic response.
2. Till the eighties, migration of Indians to other countries was sporadic. Then the number surged. And all indications are that the number would go on increasing in the years ahead, with the increase in the number of qualified personnel in India, shortage of such people in some countries influencing corporate sector in such countries persuading their governments to allow such migration. One would have to wait and watch how other countries, i.e., both Governments and people, would respond to such a development.
3. Countries till recent times decided the level of immigration from other countries on the basis of various pulls and pressures. But probably it is the first time that any Government, as USA did, had stipulated that companies are expected to show positive discrimination in giving employment to Americans vis-à-vis people from other countries. Within India, migration of low income people from one State to another is on the increase. This would get further momentum. While some States perceive that this is bound to happen because of shortage of ‘nil’ skilled/ semi skilled people from their own flock, some States, particularly political parties, do not view this development with equanimity. In fact some of the political parties would capitalize on this issue because it has direct link to local vote bank.
4. The number of Indians going abroad for jobs has been continuously increasing during the last four or five decades. The largest contingent was low skilled workers to Gulf States, followed by of nurses. In both cases a high percentage was from Kerala. In the recent times migration of IT literates has also been on the increase. Yet another point to be noted is that, apart from the migration to Gulf countries, over 80% of the migration is to USA and UK.
5. In the times to come Western countries are going to face a Hobson’s choice. For various reasons the Governments there would like to stem the tide but at the same time from availability and cost effective angles, those countries have no other option but to grudgingly allow inflow of large of number of people from other countries. That a large number of Indians have been going abroad in the past for long duration stay ( often leading to marriage and permanent settlement in those countries ), the number of Indians having English writing and communicating skills, IT literacy, many Indians having relatives in those countries, going abroad for work becoming part of Indian culture, better emoluments, etc, are factors which predict such exodus. Yes, many other developing countries are following the footsteps of India in this area but non Indians reaching competitive edge vis-a-vis Indians is not in the immediate horizon.
6. It is assessed that most of the Western countries would face in the days ahead serious shortage of nurses. The statistics given out on this subject has given boost to setting up of large number of Nursing schools/colleges in India in the recent past.
7. At present the area of concern is about the migrants to Gulf States. The economic slowdown which world is facing, and Gulf States are not immune to the shock of the same, is leading to retrenchment of workers there ( mostly Keralites ) forcing them to come back to Kerala. On the one hand these people have got accustomed to higher income ( in Indian rupee terms ) while on the other there are no jobs waiting form them back home. A large percentage of them are unskilled or semi-skilled. But given the fact mentioned above about the low skills of those who are returning, it would be a terrifying prospect for such people to look for manual jobs in Kerala because jobs are rare and further the income would be much small compared to what they were getting in rupee terms. Inevitably it would become a social problem.
8. In the times to come, the phenomenon mentioned in the point above, could be repeated in the case of people from India of other vocations also, i.e., their being forced by Governments of various countries to return to India permanently.
9. So far the number of non-Indians coming to India for work has been very low in number. This position is likely to continue in the near future. But not necessarily in the long term. If Bangladeshi workers can come to India for work, then could not the same be followed up by people of other vocations coming to India. Over three or four decades back a large number of Tamils came to India from Sri Lanka and they were settled in Tamil Nadu tea plantations by the Tamil Nadu Government. It cannot be ruled out that once Sri Lankan Governments takes over areas which in the past had been virtually ruled by Sri Lankan Tamils, many Tamils would come to India, more so as they are confident of a helping hand by the Tamil Nadu Government.
10. In respect of the second point, i.e., migration of Indian people from one State to another in search of jobs, the following points may be noted:
· The requirement for servants in Delhi and other cities and towns has grown up tremendously during the last two or three decades because of (1) higher income of middle class people and hence affordability to retain servant, (2) the phenomenon of both husband and working, and (3) slow withering of the concept of joint family. Earlier, a large percentage of maid servants used to be Tamils. But with rapid industrialization of Tamil Nadu and spread effect of the prosperity on a large number of people, this migration is dying up. UPites and Biharis constitute largest number of servants in cities, with recent phenomenon of Bangladeshis coming and taking such jobs ( many of whom change their names from Muslim to Hindu, since Muslims have difficulty to get jobs of servants in Hindu households). Here also shortages are being felt mainly because of increasing construction activities in cities, where such unskilled people could get jobs with better wages and due to the fact that generally house-maid job is the last preference.
· In Kerala during the last few decades, shortage of Malayali house-workers has been continuously going up. Then this shortage started filling up by but because of the development mentioned above, i.e., fast industrialization of Tamil Nadu, this source is drying up, which is being filled in by Oriyas followed by Biharis ( for the first time I noticed that some of the buses plying in Kerala have Hindi sign-boards for the benefit of these migrants ).
· It can be safely predicted that servant shortage in Kerala would spread to towns and even villages, with the attendant demand for higher wages ( which is a good development as wages of servants in India for decades and centuries have been very low).
· Despite Mumbai experience, more and more Biharis/UPites/Oriyas would migrate to cities and towns in search of jobs, because making such a venture will not be taken as a risk prone activity, similar to large scale migration of Keralites to Gulf countries.
Issues which are likely to prop up
1. Migrant work-force tend to bring down the existing emoluments or atleast put a check to any strong move by local workers for increasing emoluments. While employers may profit from such a development, the same would result in creation of ill-will on the part of local workers against migrants.
2. Too many migrants in a small area may upset the social mores of the place.
3. Local people may turn against migrants, as happened recently in Mumbai.
4. Many a Government would tighten their entry visas.
5. Many a Government would face Hobson’s choice: shortage of skilled people and hence the need to allow such people to come from other countries and at the same time societies / political parties opposing such a development.
6. While Indians have generally accepted, and that too gladly, large scale migration of Indians to other countries, how would they react to large scale immigration of people of other countries to India.
7. While there was alround condemnation of violence against Bihari/Upite migrants in Mumbai recently, the fact that the agitation has been perceived by many Maharashtrians as protecting their interests leading to increase in the number of followers for Raj Thackeray’s party, would not be lost sight of by other political parties and hence some of the parties capitalizing similar situations in other places in the future cannot be ruled out.
8. Migration of large number of people from on State to others would lead to better understanding of other cultures and to the extent of people in the host State take an approach of ‘ live and let live,’ the same would be good for the country.
***
Sunday, March 1, 2009
What is Culture
What is Culture?
I. The term Culture encompasses various aspects of human life, such as:
1. Religion ( practicing / non practicing, conversion ), concept of God, caste beliefs, rituals, festivals,
2. Society, marriage, family values, sex, bringing up children,
3. Customs, cuisine, literature, arts ( music, dance, architecture ), values, ethos, etc.,
4. Even the above listing is only a little more than illustrative and not exhaustive, much less complete. e.g. it is often said that ‘ it is American culture, it is military culture, it is Punjabi culture, it is Tata Group culture,’ and so on so forth.
5. It is important to note that National culture in a manner of speaking is a chimera because identity gets fragmented by separate religious beliefs and practices and societal values.
6. What is the culture of an individual, his family, his religion, his country? To understand the same, one would have to approach the issue negatively, i.e., by looking at the beliefs, rituals, societal mores, family functioning, etc., of those who are of another religion, region & country and then compare the same with one’s own set of facts.
7. In a country or region, if there is one culture, particularly in the matter of religion, then culture becomes a somewhat binding force for the people. But when a country/region has multi-cultures, as India is, then by far culture becomes a dividing factor.
8. Cultural changes have taken place in almost all places of the globe in the past and the process is a never ending one. Some changes are evolved and some changes are thrust on people by the rulers.
9. Segregation and rituals formed the essence of all cultures, then and now.
10. In a manner of speaking ‘ culture ‘ and ‘ cultural changes’ are in essence akin to the concept of jungle law applicable to animals because it is the strong and powerful who decided / changed what is culture.
11. ‘Compassion for others ‘ enunciated by all cultures was only a concept and seldom practiced, then and now.
12. Members of each culture look down on other cultures, then and now.
13. ‘We have a rich culture now and in the olden days we had a glorious culture’ - so claims proponents of all cultures. But the facts are:
· Culture at any time was only a set of beliefs most of which were against those who were ‘ down and under’ and they continue to be so, i.e., the downtrodden continue to be in the pits.
· Prejudices and rituals were the essential parts of culture then and now.
· Then and now everybody looked askance at other cultures.
II. Salient points to be noted:
· Culture in respect of many areas of life of same religious group would have variations from country to country and even region to region.
· Most of the areas encompassed by the term culture goes on changing with the passage of time, though in a few areas and so also in the case some groups of people no change / hardly any change situation would be there even if one takes a long span of time ( e.g., tribal communities) .
· Copying culture of one set of people/society by another is also universal.
· In respect of many areas of culture, it is a mindset, which is not susceptible to logical reasoning.
· One’s culture is defined more in terms of the differences with the culture of another.
· Cultural changes within one society / family are not viewed with equanimity by members of the same society / family.
· By far elders in family wish to stick to the culture under which they have been living whereas youngsters may want ( and actually do ) to stray from the same.
· What is considered culturally reprehensible at any time may become totally acceptable culturally with the passage of time.
· Cultural changes suo moto from within may be welcomed / accepted / tolerated by a religion /society/
· Cultural changes brought by family would largely be embraced by members of the family, but not thrust on an individual or done through an edict of rulers.
· Culture and cultural change of a religion / society / family influences culture of another, though this would hardly be admitted by those who had effected the changes.
· ‘ What is Indian culture.’ The replies would vary from religion to religion, caste to caste, educated and not educated, villager and cityite, etc.,
· It is far more easier to identify what is not Indian culture rather than spell out Indian culture. With people of different religions, castes, compounded by regional differences in living, it is not easy to define Indian culture. Further, as is universal, perceptions of the culture would vary between young and old generations.
· Unlike India, with cultural differences between religions, castes and regions, many countries can be labeled as homogenous with only one culture. Take Israel. Yes, Jews had flocked from different parts of the world to Israel. There are Arabs and Christians also in Israel. Yet by far Israel has one culture. So is the position in respect of Arab countries.
· Though said somewhat in humourous vein that ‘Indian culture is agriculture,’ there is more than modicum of truth in the saying, for, hundreds and thousands of years individual/family/society living was more or less wholly anchored to agriculture. Of course, that is not the position now.
· Taliban – their members want to go back to the culture prevalent a few centuries back. For them what is written in the holy scripture is the only law of God and cannot be compromised on the ground of ‘change of time.’ Further, they want to implement this perceived culture by persuasion, failing which by force. They are not prepared to accept the adage of ‘ live and let live ‘ with other cultures.
· In the case of each individual, culture of his family gets imbedded in the psyche from childhood onwards. As one grows up the culture takes root and it is not easy to change the same. Those who grasp the cultural differences may take an approach of ‘ let them have their culture and let me have mine, with no value judgement’ but then some would grow up with the conviction or get indoctrinated later that ‘ my culture is better / higher than the culture of others.’ And then the trouble starts.
· The trouble becomes more dangerous when an individual or the society he belongs to, in the belief that his/their culture is superior, wants to change the culture of others ( partly a la Hitler syndrome ).
· It is the young who can and are bringing cultural changes. In the case of old people, the culture they have lived has become part of their psyche and hence change is resisted.
· In the matter of culture, all countries need to emulate American example. While largely a country of Protestant ( Christian ), America has various cultures, i.e., Catholic and other denominations of Christianity, large population of Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, etc., Each of these groups are allowed to function with their culture. Indian culture is a melting pot of different cultures. It cannot be imprisoned by the label of Hindu culture.
· Both protagonists and adherents to change are off the mark. When the time comes, changes will happen. Resistance would in the course of time wither away.
III. Explanatory notes and examples
· Take the example of dress. During the last fifty years the mode of dress of Indians have vastly changed. Western dress of pants had made inroads to Indian male dress, in cities, towns, offices, colleges, etc., Salwar Kameez dress of North India is fast replacing saree in all parts of the country. Increasingly young women, particularly those working in offices and going to colleges, are opting for pants and skirts.
· Visiting temples daily for praying was a must in yester years for Hindus. Now it is an occasional visit, with homes having an area for praying with pictures of Hindu Gods.
· Having six to ten children was part of Indian culture in yester years whereas increasingly the option is to have one to three children.
· Except in the case of poor, women working in offices was an alien concept till a few decades back; but not any more.
· Higher caste Hindus were by far vegetarians till recent times but now more and more higher caste Hindus eat non vegetarian food.
· Till a few decades back, marriage with a person of different caste not to talk of different religion, was extremely unusual. But this is changing.
· The attacks against the girls in the pubs - While those who have a more world-wide view may condemn such attacks and allude to abominable chauvinism, those who are moored to the societal culture and parents, while disagreeing with personal attacks, would at the same time find it difficult to view with equanimity the pub culture development. Antagonists would label this act as Hindutva Talibanisation because Taliban prescribes dress and behaviour codes for women in the name of protecting their culture and tradition.
Post-script: What is the need for a Ministry for ‘ Culture’ in the Government. What can it do. Codify Indian Culture? That would be like opening a Pandora’s Box. Administer Indian Culture? That obviously is not the job of Government. The moment the Government tries to weed out what Government perceives as bad influences of each culture, there would be strident furor from adherents of various cultures.
Signing off: Whoever coined the term ‘ culture vulture ‘ has to be complemented for capturing in one phrase the charlatan who poses as guardian of any culture.
IV Reading material
1. Sivarama Karanth, Kannada writer:
“ It was impossible to talk of Indian culture as if it is a monolithic object. Indian culture today is so varied as to be called ‘cultures.’ The roots of this culture go back to ancient times; and it has developed through contact with many races and peoples. Hence, among its many ingredients, it is impossible to say surely what is native and what is alien, what is borrowed out of love and what has been imposed by force. If we view Indian culture thus, we realize that there is no place for chauvinism.”
2. Extracts from the Book titled ‘ THE INDIANS’ by Sudhir Kakar & Katharina Kakar.
“ It is about ‘Indian-ness.’ The cultural part of the mind that informs the activities and concerns of the daily life of a vast number of Indians as it guides them through then journey of life. The attitude towards superiors and subordinates, the choice of food conducive to health and vitality, the web of duties and obligations in family life are all as much influenced by the cultural part of the mind as are ideas on the proper relationship between the sexes, or on the ideal relationship with god. Of course, in an individual Indian the civilizational heritage may be modified and overlaid by the specific cultures of his family, caste, class or ethnic group. Yet an underlying sense of Indian identity continues to persist, even into the third or fourth generation of Indian diasporas around the world.
Identity is not a role, or a succession of roles, with which it is often confused. It is not a garment that can be put on or taken off according to the weather outside; it is not ‘ fluid’ but marked by a sense of continuity and sameness irrespective of where the person finds himself during the course of his life. A man’s identity – of which the culture that he has grown up in is a vital part – is what makes him to recognize himself and be recognized by the people who constitute his world. It is not something he has chosen, but something that has seized him. It can hurt, be cursed or bemoaned but cannot be discarded, though it can always be concealed from others or, more tragic, from one’s own self.
And once someone has grown up in a particular culture and, let us say, is twenty years old, he will never acquire a full understanding of other cultures since the brain has passed through the narrow bottleneck of ‘ culturalization.’ In other words, the possibilities of ‘ fluid’ and changing identities in adulthood are rather limited and, moreover, rarely touch the deeper layers of the psyche.
In spite of rapid social changes in the last decades, an Indian continues to be part of a hierarchically ordered and, above all., stable network of relationships throughout the course of his life. This complex, relationship based pattern of behaviour also manifests itself in work situation. Although intellectually the Indian professional or bureaucrat may agree with this Western counterpart that, for instance, the criterion for appointment or promotion to a particular job must be objective, a decision based solely on the demands of the task and merits of the case, emotionally he must still struggle against cultural conviction that his relationship to the individual under consideration is single most important factor in his decision. And among the vast majority of traditional minded countrymen, whether it be a trader bending the law to facilitate the business transaction of a fellow caste member, or an industrialist employing an insufficiently qualified but distantly related job applicant as a manager, or the clerk in the municipal office accepting bribes in order to put an orphaned niece through school - dishonesty, nepotism and corruption are merely abstract concepts. These negative constructions are irrelevant to the Indian experience, which, from childhood on, nurtures one, and only one, standard of responsible adult conduct – namely, an individual’s lifelong obligation to his kith and kin.
A person’s closest friendships too are with members of his own caste. His relations with members of other castes are more formal, governed as they are by unwritten codes prescribing and proscribing relationships between castes.
A person’s violent outrage provoked by an ostensibly minor slight may not only be the result of an individual problem in ‘ managing aggression,’ it may also have its source in a historical resentment shared by his caste as a whole and passed down from generation to generation as part of his caste identity.
Indian society is made up of men ‘ who bow their heads to the kicks from above and who simultaneously give a kick below, never thinking to resist one or refrain from the other.
3. From the website:
The word culture has many different meanings. For some it refers to an appreciation of good literature, music, art, and food. For a biologist, it is likely to be a colony of bacteria or other microorganisms growing in a nutrient medium in a laboratory Petri dish. However, for anthropologists and other behavioral scientists, culture is the full range of learned human behavior patterns. ‘ Culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society
Culture is constantly changing and easily lost because it exists only in our minds. Our written languages, governments, buildings, and other man-made things are merely the products of culture. They are not culture in themselves. For this reason, archaeologists can not dig up culture directly in their excavations. The broken pots and other artifacts of ancient people that they uncover are only material remains that reflect cultural patterns--they are things that were made and used through cultural knowledge and skills.
Layers of Culture
There are very likely three layers or levels of culture that are part of your learned behavior patterns and perceptions. Most obviously is the body of cultural traditions that distinguish your specific society. When people speak of Italian, Samoan, or Japanese culture, they are referring to the shared language, traditions, and beliefs that set each of these peoples apart from others. In most cases, those who share your culture do so because they acquired it as they were raised by parents and other family members who have it.
_
_
_The second layer of culture that may be part of your identity is a subculture. In complex, diverse societies in which people have come from many different parts of the world, they often retain much of their original cultural traditions. As a result, they are likely to be part of an identifiable subculture in their new society. The shared cultural traits of subcultures set them apart from the rest of their society. Examples of easily identifiable subcultures in the United States include ethnic groups such as Vietnamese Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. Members of each of these subcultures share a common identity, food tradition, dialect or language, and other cultural traits that come from their common ancestral background and experience. As the cultural differences between members of a subculture and the dominant national culture blur and eventually disappear, the subculture ceases to exist except as a group of people who claim a common ancestry. That is generally the case with German Americans and Irish Americans in the United States today. Most of them identify themselves as Americans first. They also see themselves as being part of the cultural mainstream of the nation.
Culture and Society
Culture and society are not the same thing. While cultures are complexes of learned behavior patterns and perceptions, societies are groups of interacting organisms. People are not the only animals that have societies. Schools of fish, flocks of birds, and hives of bees are societies. In the case of humans, however, societies are groups of people who directly or indirectly interact with each other. People in human societies also generally perceive that their society is distinct from other societies in terms of shared traditions and expectations.
While human societies and cultures are not the same thing, they are inextricably connected because culture is created and transmitted to others in a society. Cultures are not the product of lone individuals. They are the continuously evolving products of people interacting with each other. Cultural patterns such as language and politics make no sense except in terms of the interaction of people. If you were the only human on earth, there would be no need for language or government.
I. The term Culture encompasses various aspects of human life, such as:
1. Religion ( practicing / non practicing, conversion ), concept of God, caste beliefs, rituals, festivals,
2. Society, marriage, family values, sex, bringing up children,
3. Customs, cuisine, literature, arts ( music, dance, architecture ), values, ethos, etc.,
4. Even the above listing is only a little more than illustrative and not exhaustive, much less complete. e.g. it is often said that ‘ it is American culture, it is military culture, it is Punjabi culture, it is Tata Group culture,’ and so on so forth.
5. It is important to note that National culture in a manner of speaking is a chimera because identity gets fragmented by separate religious beliefs and practices and societal values.
6. What is the culture of an individual, his family, his religion, his country? To understand the same, one would have to approach the issue negatively, i.e., by looking at the beliefs, rituals, societal mores, family functioning, etc., of those who are of another religion, region & country and then compare the same with one’s own set of facts.
7. In a country or region, if there is one culture, particularly in the matter of religion, then culture becomes a somewhat binding force for the people. But when a country/region has multi-cultures, as India is, then by far culture becomes a dividing factor.
8. Cultural changes have taken place in almost all places of the globe in the past and the process is a never ending one. Some changes are evolved and some changes are thrust on people by the rulers.
9. Segregation and rituals formed the essence of all cultures, then and now.
10. In a manner of speaking ‘ culture ‘ and ‘ cultural changes’ are in essence akin to the concept of jungle law applicable to animals because it is the strong and powerful who decided / changed what is culture.
11. ‘Compassion for others ‘ enunciated by all cultures was only a concept and seldom practiced, then and now.
12. Members of each culture look down on other cultures, then and now.
13. ‘We have a rich culture now and in the olden days we had a glorious culture’ - so claims proponents of all cultures. But the facts are:
· Culture at any time was only a set of beliefs most of which were against those who were ‘ down and under’ and they continue to be so, i.e., the downtrodden continue to be in the pits.
· Prejudices and rituals were the essential parts of culture then and now.
· Then and now everybody looked askance at other cultures.
II. Salient points to be noted:
· Culture in respect of many areas of life of same religious group would have variations from country to country and even region to region.
· Most of the areas encompassed by the term culture goes on changing with the passage of time, though in a few areas and so also in the case some groups of people no change / hardly any change situation would be there even if one takes a long span of time ( e.g., tribal communities) .
· Copying culture of one set of people/society by another is also universal.
· In respect of many areas of culture, it is a mindset, which is not susceptible to logical reasoning.
· One’s culture is defined more in terms of the differences with the culture of another.
· Cultural changes within one society / family are not viewed with equanimity by members of the same society / family.
· By far elders in family wish to stick to the culture under which they have been living whereas youngsters may want ( and actually do ) to stray from the same.
· What is considered culturally reprehensible at any time may become totally acceptable culturally with the passage of time.
· Cultural changes suo moto from within may be welcomed / accepted / tolerated by a religion /society/
· Cultural changes brought by family would largely be embraced by members of the family, but not thrust on an individual or done through an edict of rulers.
· Culture and cultural change of a religion / society / family influences culture of another, though this would hardly be admitted by those who had effected the changes.
· ‘ What is Indian culture.’ The replies would vary from religion to religion, caste to caste, educated and not educated, villager and cityite, etc.,
· It is far more easier to identify what is not Indian culture rather than spell out Indian culture. With people of different religions, castes, compounded by regional differences in living, it is not easy to define Indian culture. Further, as is universal, perceptions of the culture would vary between young and old generations.
· Unlike India, with cultural differences between religions, castes and regions, many countries can be labeled as homogenous with only one culture. Take Israel. Yes, Jews had flocked from different parts of the world to Israel. There are Arabs and Christians also in Israel. Yet by far Israel has one culture. So is the position in respect of Arab countries.
· Though said somewhat in humourous vein that ‘Indian culture is agriculture,’ there is more than modicum of truth in the saying, for, hundreds and thousands of years individual/family/society living was more or less wholly anchored to agriculture. Of course, that is not the position now.
· Taliban – their members want to go back to the culture prevalent a few centuries back. For them what is written in the holy scripture is the only law of God and cannot be compromised on the ground of ‘change of time.’ Further, they want to implement this perceived culture by persuasion, failing which by force. They are not prepared to accept the adage of ‘ live and let live ‘ with other cultures.
· In the case of each individual, culture of his family gets imbedded in the psyche from childhood onwards. As one grows up the culture takes root and it is not easy to change the same. Those who grasp the cultural differences may take an approach of ‘ let them have their culture and let me have mine, with no value judgement’ but then some would grow up with the conviction or get indoctrinated later that ‘ my culture is better / higher than the culture of others.’ And then the trouble starts.
· The trouble becomes more dangerous when an individual or the society he belongs to, in the belief that his/their culture is superior, wants to change the culture of others ( partly a la Hitler syndrome ).
· It is the young who can and are bringing cultural changes. In the case of old people, the culture they have lived has become part of their psyche and hence change is resisted.
· In the matter of culture, all countries need to emulate American example. While largely a country of Protestant ( Christian ), America has various cultures, i.e., Catholic and other denominations of Christianity, large population of Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, etc., Each of these groups are allowed to function with their culture. Indian culture is a melting pot of different cultures. It cannot be imprisoned by the label of Hindu culture.
· Both protagonists and adherents to change are off the mark. When the time comes, changes will happen. Resistance would in the course of time wither away.
III. Explanatory notes and examples
· Take the example of dress. During the last fifty years the mode of dress of Indians have vastly changed. Western dress of pants had made inroads to Indian male dress, in cities, towns, offices, colleges, etc., Salwar Kameez dress of North India is fast replacing saree in all parts of the country. Increasingly young women, particularly those working in offices and going to colleges, are opting for pants and skirts.
· Visiting temples daily for praying was a must in yester years for Hindus. Now it is an occasional visit, with homes having an area for praying with pictures of Hindu Gods.
· Having six to ten children was part of Indian culture in yester years whereas increasingly the option is to have one to three children.
· Except in the case of poor, women working in offices was an alien concept till a few decades back; but not any more.
· Higher caste Hindus were by far vegetarians till recent times but now more and more higher caste Hindus eat non vegetarian food.
· Till a few decades back, marriage with a person of different caste not to talk of different religion, was extremely unusual. But this is changing.
· The attacks against the girls in the pubs - While those who have a more world-wide view may condemn such attacks and allude to abominable chauvinism, those who are moored to the societal culture and parents, while disagreeing with personal attacks, would at the same time find it difficult to view with equanimity the pub culture development. Antagonists would label this act as Hindutva Talibanisation because Taliban prescribes dress and behaviour codes for women in the name of protecting their culture and tradition.
Post-script: What is the need for a Ministry for ‘ Culture’ in the Government. What can it do. Codify Indian Culture? That would be like opening a Pandora’s Box. Administer Indian Culture? That obviously is not the job of Government. The moment the Government tries to weed out what Government perceives as bad influences of each culture, there would be strident furor from adherents of various cultures.
Signing off: Whoever coined the term ‘ culture vulture ‘ has to be complemented for capturing in one phrase the charlatan who poses as guardian of any culture.
IV Reading material
1. Sivarama Karanth, Kannada writer:
“ It was impossible to talk of Indian culture as if it is a monolithic object. Indian culture today is so varied as to be called ‘cultures.’ The roots of this culture go back to ancient times; and it has developed through contact with many races and peoples. Hence, among its many ingredients, it is impossible to say surely what is native and what is alien, what is borrowed out of love and what has been imposed by force. If we view Indian culture thus, we realize that there is no place for chauvinism.”
2. Extracts from the Book titled ‘ THE INDIANS’ by Sudhir Kakar & Katharina Kakar.
“ It is about ‘Indian-ness.’ The cultural part of the mind that informs the activities and concerns of the daily life of a vast number of Indians as it guides them through then journey of life. The attitude towards superiors and subordinates, the choice of food conducive to health and vitality, the web of duties and obligations in family life are all as much influenced by the cultural part of the mind as are ideas on the proper relationship between the sexes, or on the ideal relationship with god. Of course, in an individual Indian the civilizational heritage may be modified and overlaid by the specific cultures of his family, caste, class or ethnic group. Yet an underlying sense of Indian identity continues to persist, even into the third or fourth generation of Indian diasporas around the world.
Identity is not a role, or a succession of roles, with which it is often confused. It is not a garment that can be put on or taken off according to the weather outside; it is not ‘ fluid’ but marked by a sense of continuity and sameness irrespective of where the person finds himself during the course of his life. A man’s identity – of which the culture that he has grown up in is a vital part – is what makes him to recognize himself and be recognized by the people who constitute his world. It is not something he has chosen, but something that has seized him. It can hurt, be cursed or bemoaned but cannot be discarded, though it can always be concealed from others or, more tragic, from one’s own self.
And once someone has grown up in a particular culture and, let us say, is twenty years old, he will never acquire a full understanding of other cultures since the brain has passed through the narrow bottleneck of ‘ culturalization.’ In other words, the possibilities of ‘ fluid’ and changing identities in adulthood are rather limited and, moreover, rarely touch the deeper layers of the psyche.
In spite of rapid social changes in the last decades, an Indian continues to be part of a hierarchically ordered and, above all., stable network of relationships throughout the course of his life. This complex, relationship based pattern of behaviour also manifests itself in work situation. Although intellectually the Indian professional or bureaucrat may agree with this Western counterpart that, for instance, the criterion for appointment or promotion to a particular job must be objective, a decision based solely on the demands of the task and merits of the case, emotionally he must still struggle against cultural conviction that his relationship to the individual under consideration is single most important factor in his decision. And among the vast majority of traditional minded countrymen, whether it be a trader bending the law to facilitate the business transaction of a fellow caste member, or an industrialist employing an insufficiently qualified but distantly related job applicant as a manager, or the clerk in the municipal office accepting bribes in order to put an orphaned niece through school - dishonesty, nepotism and corruption are merely abstract concepts. These negative constructions are irrelevant to the Indian experience, which, from childhood on, nurtures one, and only one, standard of responsible adult conduct – namely, an individual’s lifelong obligation to his kith and kin.
A person’s closest friendships too are with members of his own caste. His relations with members of other castes are more formal, governed as they are by unwritten codes prescribing and proscribing relationships between castes.
A person’s violent outrage provoked by an ostensibly minor slight may not only be the result of an individual problem in ‘ managing aggression,’ it may also have its source in a historical resentment shared by his caste as a whole and passed down from generation to generation as part of his caste identity.
Indian society is made up of men ‘ who bow their heads to the kicks from above and who simultaneously give a kick below, never thinking to resist one or refrain from the other.
3. From the website:
The word culture has many different meanings. For some it refers to an appreciation of good literature, music, art, and food. For a biologist, it is likely to be a colony of bacteria or other microorganisms growing in a nutrient medium in a laboratory Petri dish. However, for anthropologists and other behavioral scientists, culture is the full range of learned human behavior patterns. ‘ Culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society
Culture is constantly changing and easily lost because it exists only in our minds. Our written languages, governments, buildings, and other man-made things are merely the products of culture. They are not culture in themselves. For this reason, archaeologists can not dig up culture directly in their excavations. The broken pots and other artifacts of ancient people that they uncover are only material remains that reflect cultural patterns--they are things that were made and used through cultural knowledge and skills.
Layers of Culture
There are very likely three layers or levels of culture that are part of your learned behavior patterns and perceptions. Most obviously is the body of cultural traditions that distinguish your specific society. When people speak of Italian, Samoan, or Japanese culture, they are referring to the shared language, traditions, and beliefs that set each of these peoples apart from others. In most cases, those who share your culture do so because they acquired it as they were raised by parents and other family members who have it.
_
_
_The second layer of culture that may be part of your identity is a subculture. In complex, diverse societies in which people have come from many different parts of the world, they often retain much of their original cultural traditions. As a result, they are likely to be part of an identifiable subculture in their new society. The shared cultural traits of subcultures set them apart from the rest of their society. Examples of easily identifiable subcultures in the United States include ethnic groups such as Vietnamese Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. Members of each of these subcultures share a common identity, food tradition, dialect or language, and other cultural traits that come from their common ancestral background and experience. As the cultural differences between members of a subculture and the dominant national culture blur and eventually disappear, the subculture ceases to exist except as a group of people who claim a common ancestry. That is generally the case with German Americans and Irish Americans in the United States today. Most of them identify themselves as Americans first. They also see themselves as being part of the cultural mainstream of the nation.
Culture and Society
Culture and society are not the same thing. While cultures are complexes of learned behavior patterns and perceptions, societies are groups of interacting organisms. People are not the only animals that have societies. Schools of fish, flocks of birds, and hives of bees are societies. In the case of humans, however, societies are groups of people who directly or indirectly interact with each other. People in human societies also generally perceive that their society is distinct from other societies in terms of shared traditions and expectations.
While human societies and cultures are not the same thing, they are inextricably connected because culture is created and transmitted to others in a society. Cultures are not the product of lone individuals. They are the continuously evolving products of people interacting with each other. Cultural patterns such as language and politics make no sense except in terms of the interaction of people. If you were the only human on earth, there would be no need for language or government.
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