Looking Back

In my childhood days camera was a very rare object and photography, a once-a-while activity. My first photo ( that also a group photo) was taken when I said good-bye to school, after finishing my intermediate (SSLC). It was a customary to take a group photo of the intermediate children, who permanently leave the school, in those days. Among other children's' peeping faces, mine also appeared as a dark dot.

Camera was also a formidable instrument those days. It was a big box, a full load for a man to carry. The box was fitted on a tripod and the photographer adjusts the focus by adjusting the telescopic slide from behind. After this he will look up with a smile at the group sitting (or standing) in front of him.

"Ready, smile please" (just look at the one I have fitted on my face!). Then in a flash of second he will pull out the shutter. The thing is finished! 

A Rare  Model of an old Camera. It is fitted on a tripod

Just compare the above box with the present day Androids. You may wonder, because the newer generation chaps might not have seen such a 'Camera Box'. Technology has made everything 'small', including man who gave birth to it. 

A very usual incident!

It happened some three-four weeks before. I was in my evening walk when a big accident occurred at our place. A route bus smashed on a private car, killing two persons and seriously injuring another two on the spot .I also ran to the place (with my ailing heart). The road immediately turned on to a festival ground with a lot of people gathered pushing and pulling. The bodies, blood, body parts and metal scraps were strewn all over. I closed my eyes as I cannot withstand such scenes.

Nobody was raising a helping hand to take the dead and injured to the hospital. Everybody was busy taking  photographs of the scene in their mobiles. Meanwhile the police party arrived and did the job. The injured luckily escaped as the police reached in time.

What do you say of it? Is it murderous? How can we blame a professional like Kevin Carter for  having taken the photo of a child? He gave his life for it. But what else do we give?

Poverty in Kerala

Kerala, a small State at the southern most tip of India, is widely acclaimed as one with cent percent literacy rate. Here, politicians claim that that poverty has been completely wiped out over several years of their regime.

The popular adjective of Kerala, 'GOD'S OWN COUNTRY' is only a 'business stunt' of the Government and Tourism Department. In fact it is mostly (or fully) owned by Devils and God has already sold whatever he had to them, and left the place. In terms of natural beauty, Kerala has a top position among other similar states of India. In that respect it is one of 'God's own'

Poverty though not rampant in Kerala, still exists among the people living in high range areas, particularly among the tribal communities. Many of them are struggling for food, shelter, clothing, drinking water, sewage and other basic amenities. Contagious diseases often spread among them. The most suffering people of Kerala are perhaps the migrant workers from other States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal etc. They work mainly in urban areas. Whatever they get will not be sufficient for a moderate living. Most of them live in the slum areas, often many men huddled in narrow 'rooms'. Many go to the streets also, where they have to face innumerable sufferings.

Economy of the State is now almost fully at the hands of 'Mafias', big industrialists, business people and builders. The gap between the 'haves' and 'have notes' is widening. This is not an affair of Kerala only but of the whole India. In spite of the merits of Globalization, demerits and hazards are most conspicuous. Blade (illicit, throat-cutting money lenders) mafia, Drug mafia, Liquor mafia, Land mafia, Sand Mafia, Black money mafia, Smuggler mafia etc. are growing in the State in unprecedented magnitude. (Mafias are illicit criminal gangs working against the Law and the Government). In the coming years robbery, murders, terrorist attacks and other illicit activities may probably increase in Kerala and other states of India.

Many places revealing natural beauty of Kerala still remain unexplored. I just point out two examples.

                                  Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad 

Is noted as a natural treasure. But due to the lack of facilities tourist are keeping away from the place. 

                                      Edakkal caves also in Wayanad

Lonely Soul

"Who is this lonely soul?" asked my friend. I said it is the character in the story.

Loneliness is the basic essential in the lives of all living beings. We are born alone without knowing it and pass away alone too. In between we strut along with our parents, friends and strangers. We do a lot of things to please them and long to get pleasure from them. At times we fight with each other and move apart and again unite. We do some wrong things and give them up as our simple flops. We amass money and enjoy the maximum of enjoyment. Some of us become losers.

Finally we fall. Then only we will feel loneliness. It will suffocate us with its iron-strong hands. Parents, friends, strangers everybody evade us. We will only see a glow where we we have to start our final journey.