In
a village in Kerala, Mathew bought a cow.
It was a beautiful GM (genetically modified) creature which promised to
yield enough milk to support Mathew’s basic needs. Mathew had no needs more than the basic
ones. The only problem was that Mathew
didn’t know how to milk a cow.
His
very next neighbour on the western side was a man named Krishnan who was a velichapadu (oracle in a Hindu temple in
Kerala) but was an adept at milking cows.
After all, one becomes a velichapadu
only much after one becomes something else in life.
Krishnan
was happy to get an opportunity to utilise his best skill. He came early in the morning and went to the
beautiful young cow who had delivered her first calf a few days ago.
The moment he touched her udder the beautiful thing reacted. One kick.
Krishnan fell on his bums and took a somersault by kinetic force.
“No
problem, I’ll bring a sacred thread from the pujari (priest in a Hindu temple) and tie it on the neck of the cow
and the problem will be solved.”
Mathew
was glad that the problem had such a simple solution.
But
the cow did not respond to the sacred thread at all. Another kick and another somersault was all
that Krishnan got in reward from the beautiful GM cow.
“Let
me try another thing,” said Krishnan. He
wished to go to the mullah who was
the next neighbour of Mathew’s on the eastern side and get a unani solution to the problem.
Mathew
said, “Let me try my parish priest once, if you don’t mind.”
Krishnan
never minded any such thing. Solution is
important. It doesn’t matter where it comes from.
Mathew
brought some holy water blessed by his parish priest and told Krishnan to
sprinkle it on the cow before milking it.
Krishnan
had no probs. The cow too seemed to have
no probs. Milk flowed from the
udder. Miracle?
Who
knows?
This is an anecdote that appeared in
a Malayalam newspaper quite a few days ago.
I disregarded it when I read it.
But it refused to go from my mind.
The anecdote was cited as an example of the religious integration that
existed in Kerala. People were not bothered about religion as much as about solving
their day-to-day problems. And solutions
came easily when solution was the focus.
Today problem has
become the focus.
I have adapted the anecdote quite a
bit. But I the spirit remains the
same.
Kerala has a mixed population.
Hindus: 56%, Muslims: 25%, and Christians: 19%.
The people lived in harmony until certain politics entered the state
recently. The writer of the above anecdote
was questioning that politics, I guess. [I
don’t remember whether the writer was a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian.]
I too would like to question the kind
of politics that is entering Kerala these days.
But I don’t believe in any religion.
I can live very well with a velichapadu and a mullah on my east or west
provided no politician comes anywhere near my house.
we are all dreamers creating our own uptopia in the mind .. we eyes we are blind we are the curse of our narrow mindedness on mankind..
ReplyDeleteDreams are the stuff that make up our individual worlds, Firoze.
DeleteThanks for your characteristically poetic comment.
Yes we need leaders, leaders with vision and not politicians.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in India, Indrani. The country has too much diversity for any particular community to dominate.
DeleteA world without politicians!
ReplyDeleteIts basically we the people who are responsible for creating a politician! We need to change our mentality towards people and try to create leaders rather than politicians.
Nice written article.
I think the process is reciprocal: Good leaders mould good citizens, and good citizens elect good leaders.
Deletewhile i know that politics is the most hated word, probably, i don't think we will have a better world without politicians. Politicians we are .. all of us in some shape some form...
ReplyDeleteYou'd say that the only 3 things that are certain in life are Tax, Death and Politicians. :)
DeleteIf only everyone could have your vision for the world...
ReplyDeleteNot my vision, Anju, but their own vision which is broad enough to accommodate differences of opinion, religious faiths and cultures.
Delete"I look forward to a world without politicians."---- Amen to that!
ReplyDeleteBut that's a dream, Pankti.
Delete