Onam Musings

Now Onam is no longer about the celebration of nature; it symbolizes the malaise that is afflicting the Kerala society

Once again, the Onam season is here. TV channels announcedthe dates of the coming 10-day Onam festival, with a big bang.

I decidedly felt a lack of enthusiasm towards it. I tried telling myself that it could be my advancing age. Old people always remember the past with nostalgia and often romanticize past events. Or else, that it could be that I live at a considerable distance from Kerala, out of touch with the happenings in the state. Even after discounting those factors, I still felt detached and disenchanted with the way Onam is celebrated today in the state.

About Onam

There is always an interesting story behind every festival in India. The legend says that Onam is the occasion when Mahabali, the great demon-king who ruled the state once, and was banished from his kingdom by Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu), returns, once a year, to visit his beloved people. Mahabalihad ensured equality and justice to the people, during his rule.

Onam is also a harvest festival celebrated in the interlude between two monsoons -South—West and North-East. After facing the havoc caused by the first, and while preparing for the next onslaught, people make the best use of this period in between. The air is fresh, the sky blue, rivers full of clear water, the night-sky studded withmillions of stars, and,everywhere you look, is imbued in green.

Not long ago, Onam was announced, not by TV channels, but by the appearance of native Balsam (Onam flower) flowers here and there, in white, pink and pale violet colors. During Onam days, nature is bountiful, presenting fresh cucumbers, ash gourds, pumpkins, string beans, egg plants, Okra- all that go into the Onam feast called “Sadya”.Flowers like Hibiscus, Yellow trumpets, Oleander, Periwinkle, blue peas, coral flowers are in abundance- ready to be made into “Pookalams’ (flower decorations).

Onam is not confined to a particular religion. People of different religions take part in itenthusiastically.Onam is a community festival too.Community meals, community sports,traditional group dances by women, folk music and folk dances-facets of the unique arts and culture of Kerala- are performed during Onam.Boat races are organized in the backwaters. It is also an occasion for family re-union, marriages and other family functions.This is an opportunity for the NRI Malayalees to visit their state.

Changing society

InKerala,at the time of Independence, majority of people lived a hand to mouth existence. Conditions were then ripe for communism to take deep roots. The first government formed by the Communist party invested in education and healthcare. Land reforms were soon implemented, making a sizable section of people owners of atleast a small piece of land. Successive governments continued welfare measures, including public distribution of food grains. The endeavor was to build an egalitarian society.

The Kerala society has always been guided by enlightened individuals from every walk of life, including religious reformers, political leaders, writers, critics, poets, film makers, leaders of various communities, academicians, teachers, and the like. Newspapers were read by the majority of people in a highly literate state.Movies had a tremendous influence in shaping the views and opinion of people. Many noted women came into prominence, in different fields. Keralites learned the mantra of care and share.

The unique culture and natural beauty of the state attracted (still do) large numbers of tourists to the state.The only issue was lack of industries to employ the youth. Educated unemployment was very acute. Although migration to other states in India and countries like Malasia, Singapore was common earlier, there started an exodus to the Gulf states. The more educated ones migrated to the U.S.

Today when a person living outside Kerala for a long time returns to the state, he/she shall be shocked by what he/she sees. We know that change is inevitable in life. Changes could be for better or worse. Unfortunately, they areperhaps for the worse in Kerala’s case.

Large remittances from abroad changed the outlook of the unchangeable Keralite. Society became aspirational- from the basic- to luxury- to sheer greed.

Everyone wanted a large house built for himself, although he or she never intended to stay there. Gone are the green paddy fields. Instead, monstrous high- rise buildings have come up everywhere, without a thought to the environment. Many homes, so built, are empty. Illegal mining leads to landslides killing people and destroying homes.

Government schools are now bereft of children. Students who study in the state are generally unfit to be employed elsewhere.Those students who are able to study in other states or countries, migrate. They seek admissions in educational institutions even in far -away countries like Russia, China Ukraine whichare not very sought for. Barring a few, the youth who remain in Kerala shun physical work. They need quick money for instant gratification. Therefore,the compulsion to earn it by hook or crook.

Private healthcare grew at the expense of public healthcare, thereby, enhancing out of pocket expenses manyfold.

The habit of walking long distances has vanished, both due to the force of circumstances, and better and quicker transport facilities or else due to newly acquired habits.Diabetes is,consequently,common among people. The quiet roads are now filled with streaming vehicles round the clock.Road accidents are common,exacerbated by fast vehicles and drunkenness.

The state promotes drinking alcoholic beverages to earn more and more revenue, regardless of concerns about people’s health or safety. To compound it, drug trafficking and drug use among the youth have become common.

The crime graph of the state has gone up. Crimes against women, children are reported in graphic details by the TV channels. Today crimes are committed for no reason at all or for very trivial reasons. Growing number of suicides among the youth is a cause of concern.Intolerance and violence mark the mood of the people. Gandhi’s call to Ahimsa is a cry in the wilderness.

Technology is two sided. On one side it can be used to enhance knowledge, skills and productivity. On the other hand, it can be misused as an aid to commit crimes, especially against women and children. It can aid drug trafficking and smuggling of gold and contraband items.

Today the old masters and great women who guided the people have disappeared one by one. The vacuum created by their departure remains unfilled. No more Sugatha Kumaries to speak for women, children and nature. No one cares about social justice anymore. Communal harmony, for which Kerala is famed,too is tottering.

The principled politics of earlier days has been replaced by a new acrimonious and aggressive kind, and is ridden with corruption. In fact, corruption has permeated the entire fabric of the society.

The institutions and movements which fared so well earlier have now degenerated and often became defunct.

Movies are no longer about social issues; they mostly depict sexual gratification, crimes and violence. Melodious film music is getting replaced by the cacophony of ultra-modern instruments.There are very few takers for classical dance and music.

The sad reality is that people are indifferent to what is happening around them.

The old ideals inspired by the earlier version of communism have all but disappeared from the state.

Onam-What it means today?

What kind of Onam can one expect to be celebrated in the state today? Money and instant gratification are the reigning gods.Kerala society,especially,is crazy about gold;people will do anything to acquire a piece of gold, come what may.

Mahabali’s message of equality and justice is long forgotten and replaced by grand shows of opulenceand mass hysteria.Onam has become highly commercialized and is a kind of consumer festival now. It is advertised one month ahead,forenticing people to buy products which they donot need,nor can afford. People live beyond their means, and liberally spend borrowed money. Crowds of people are seen moving around in towns in a frenzy,during Onam, to buy more and more. Liquor sale boosts up to the level of Rs.300-400 crore in these 10 days alone,not to speak of drug consumption.

Gandhi had spoken about ‘Pleasure without conscience”. That seems to be true to describe the festival today. Onam has lost its sanctity; people have thereby lost the harmony between their inner and outer selves. It has moved away from celebration of nature and its benevolence,to a celebration of grand shows and quick money.

Do you wish to be a part of this new kind of Onam? Not me, anymore!!

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