Panchalimedu.

My Father and me have this daily sojourn early in the morning while I am preparing breakfast plus lunch while he would be on the lookout for the fish vendor or reading newspaper. Of course over the phone. Today he told me needs to write something and I am like.. what? I am the writer out here! Anyway, told him he should write but can he pacify this curious cat? It is nothing special but something that is currently brewing in Kerala. The place is Panchalimedu. 

Panchalimedu is a hill station and view point near Kuttikkanam in Peerumedu tehsil of Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala.

Now the issue is as follows:

A Hindu outfit led by Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) outfit on Wednesday took out a protest march in Panchalimedu in Kerala's Idukki district claiming encroachment of government land by St Mary's church. The problem started when on June 15, a trident was planted in front of a cross in Panchalimedu -- famous for religious tourism.

Panchalimedu is one of the most frequented tourist spots in the state. The hilltop is known for a temple and 14 holy crosses situated there. A few days ago, members of a Hindu right wing group placed a trident near one of the crosses alleging that the Christian community has been trying to encroach upon government land.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trishul-cross-panchalimedu-1552010-2019-06-19

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, this is a new tourist attraction and while growing up it was not there. Now my father says this place was initially owned by the Kallivayalil family who still owns much land out there. During the excess land law etc. it was given up and the government acquired it. Now older folks may remember the MRA or the Moral Re-Armament movement, an international and spiritual movement developed from American minister Frank Buchman. In India, it had it's office in Pune and still exists but under a different name: Initiatives of Change. Anyway, this movement wanted a center at Peerumade and thought this place was good enough. It was up to my father to check out and also supervise the building of the boundary wall. Those days the American in charge used to stay with my father and they also had regular correspondence. The letters sent by this man was regularly opened up by our intelligence team in India says my father.

As per my father, this place was not frequented by anyone and he could barely drive his jeep out there. (he learned driving in those rugged terrain, which is another story) He had to walk on rocks and boulders and vouches that there were no crosses or Hindu temples. At least nothing that was visible to the human eye. But you could view Sabarimala and far off places from there.

Maybe the church with it's connection to Kallivayalil may have planted those crosses. As usual, this cross planting could have happened during the "Way of Cross" that is important for Catholics during the Lent period.

It is time both the factions stopped this nonsense before the issue gets out of hand. Religion is dividing and killing and those who are in charge only want power and money.

Paradeshi or a wanderer...

We are all paradeshikals or wanderers.

Am yet to meet someone who has stayed put in one place all his/her life. For instance, my parents stayed at more than four places before they retired and built their house which they can now call their home for real. I stayed at two places until my 10th and then after my parents retired the home that I grew up was no longer my home. Later I  moved to my husband's place and then Kuwait. Initially we moved three flats and then settled into one, from the time our daughter was six months old until she finished 12th and almost finished her degree. Since their school was only a walking distance we stayed put. Finally we shifted to a new place which is now my home though am not sure how long.

When I go on vacation to my present home in Kerala, I live out of my suitcase knowing that the return ticket is ever present.

But then nothing is permanent in this world although one does not think so while accruing wealth and property. There are many who buy gold or property hoping to enjoy it later. When is that ever to come? Maybe it shall come for their children but not for them. The house that we build may last until our death and then it is no longer fashionable or convenient for our children if any. That reminded me that too many are migrating from my home state. As long as their parents were alive they visited the country but then came along a day when the visit was only to dispose off the property. While the parents wait to leave this world, the children wait to sell whatever the parents build in their lifetime. Is it a wasteful exercise? Some say it is but how many?

Maybe it is better to stay out of the suitcase without getting attached to any place. This may stop one from accumulating stuff that is not letting you enjoy your present life. Eat, love and enjoy the present moment and then maybe all your days on earth shall be good.

And time flies....

Landed on this page accidently and thought why not jot a few lines. Am sure just like me those who followed me too have abandoned this blog :).

Daughter is back with us and has now joined as a trainee. She comes home tired and the other day heard her asking her father how I manage my cooking after work. Am sure she never realized it until now. Even I was just like her at her age and was much reluctant to spend time in the kitchen. But now am a seasoned cook and a homemaker. Somewhere along the way I even started enjoy cooking! Maybe it is the urge to eat tasty food and to serve it to others. Daughter cooks too and very tastefully. But now she is very busy.

Out here Summer is at it's peak and I read cities in India are running out of water. It seems more cities will join by the year 2020. It is a dismal scene and will be disastrous if immediate action is not taken. Think it is time for India to declare water emergency.

An impending water crisis on a scale hitherto unrecorded in recent history is predicted by 2020. Unless some miracle happens, it would mean groundwater touching zero by next year in 21 cities nationwide. That such a catastrophe was waiting to happen was known. In fact, this very alarming prognosis was underlined in the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by NITI Aayog in 2018. But it failed to attract the attention it deserved, given the national preoccupation with the recently concluded general elections.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/from-the-viewsroom/the-water-emergency/article28117923.ece

The best way to develop an efficient water cycle is to reuse it whenever and wherever possible. For instance, you can collect water from washing veggies and fruits and reuse it for watering the garden.

Using recycled water for flushing can help bring down your water bills by 30-40 per cent. Collect water from your RO filters in a container and reuse it to wash utensils or mop the floor.

Trap rainwater by installing Rain Water Harvesting systems and reuse it during summers when taps in many Indian cities run dry. It’s not as expensive as you think and can even be retrofitted on an existing house.

https://www.thebetterindia.com/175497/save-water-conservation-home-world-water-day-india/

Monsoon in Kerala this year is weak and last year's flood has disrupted the ground water table too. It is time to count every drop and save.....

Peerumade

Another December and today my mind left Kuwait and went to Peerumade. The weather out here is just like how it would have been at Peerumade. Chilly but not very cold. But it is the howling wind that distinguished Peerumade from the rest of the high ranges that I have experienced. When the howling started our hearts felt light since Christmas and holidays were not far away. The air would be smelling of eucalyptus and one could see it’s twigs lying everywhere. The sweaters would come out of the cupboards and my mother would be baking cakes for the season. Then it was all about waiting for the exams to get over.

There was nothing much to do but time flew somewhere. How I miss that place!

Recently I found a few photos that we took around Peer Mohammad tomb as kids. Peerumade got it’s name either from Peer Mohammad or Guavas (Peraka) since the small hills are scattered with small guava trees.  Now some of these hills are dotted with houses. Peerumade too is no longer free from the ills of development. The teas estates are no longer viable and I think small parcels of land were disposed off. I hope those lands are not entirely eaten up. Maybe trees can be planted or the tea shrubs can be left to grow wild. I am not sure if they consume more water than others.

For us, it is a short distance of travel from the valley to these hills. A day trip is always possible but even then it is not always done. I need to let everyone into my dreams. Hubby too fell in love with this place after our marriage so it is easy to convince him.

The last time we made a trip with my parents and brother and his family. We found that the bungalow that we grew up was left to die. The kitchen roof had caved in and the garden was no longer visible. The place was surrounded by trees which have all been now cut down. 

But Kuttikanam, the town that used to have only our school and few shops has now changed completely. It even has a 24 hour modern supermarket with a café that serves BBQ. Have not tried it yet but is on my bucket list. Last trip we passed the town on our way to Bangalore and had dosa from one of the hotels. Not very tasty but could be forgiven for the ambience. It came up after Marian College was built and serves the students mostly I think.

Here is a more detailed write up on Peerumade from another besotted visitor. The story of Peermade

The Kerala Flood

Wanted to put this down somewhere and then left it but each time we go on a search for a new car I remember the flood. We lost our car or it got burnt after the recent flood. It was a 10 year old car but gave us no trouble and took us to many places. Son wants a sedan while hubby wants something with a higher ground clearance. Son missed the flood while we faced it and lost our trust in the system. What if there is one more? It is the same old system and none has so far taken responsibility for anything.

The rains in Kerala were on time this year(June) and the dams started to fill up early. I remember during mid July when the one of the highest arch dam in Asia, the Idukki dam started to fill up and the media along with the government started giving out numbers. These numbers where the imagined loss in terms of electricity that could be lost if the dams were opened.

Loss: Rs 220 crore

Nearly 10 million cubic feet of water will flow out of the reservoir in case the shutters are raised. Power worth Rs 220 crore can be generated with this water. Incidentally, the three dams in Idukki were built at a cost of Rs 110 crore.

https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/07/30/kerala-idukki-dam-shutters-lifted.html

And what is the loss after the flood? 40,000 crores as per this minister:

 https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/total-loss-due-kerala-floods-rs-40000-crore-says-minister-ep-jayarajan-88261

But there was also another factor; all the encroachments along the rivers that would be swallowed up if the dam is opened up. It was too many years (26 long years) since such an event occurred and people forgot while bribing officials. It was now up to the officials to save them. Their hands were tied up. But nature waits for none. It decided to give a huge blow to the puny humans. Nature did not have to say much. We humans may call it destruction but for nature it is pay back time.

Jul 31, 2018, 07:26 AM IST...…

Cheruthoni: The water level in Idukki dam reached 2395.42 feet. With the water level in the Idukki reservoir touching 2395 feet on Monday night, just …

Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/water-at-idukki-dam-2395-42-kerala-on-alert--1.3019545

The aftermath of the floods in pictures:

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/then-and-now-photos-show-how-floods-have-devastated-kerala-1322294-2018-08-24

https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2018/09/08/post-floods-scenario-in-highrange-idukki-district.html

The water around our house on 17th August 2018

When the floods were causing havoc in Idukki we were at Bangalore trying to settle down son who would be studying there. We wondered whether we would be able to drive back. We did by selecting safer routes while avoiding Idukki and the ghats. We did see angry rivers and massive downpour. We reached home safely and thought the worst was over. It was on August 14^th that the river started to swell and spill and yet we thought it would be normal and may just wet the land and recede like before. 100 plus years and it has never happened? Why now? And then they opened up all the dams at night! They may have told a few sleepy heads that the dams are being opened and to take care. But they never told how to take care. So most of them stayed back. It slowly started climbing. We were able to shift most of our things upstairs. We asked for help but it was not coming. There were too many old ladies to take the risk of walking through the choppy waters. There was frantic call from my father who asked us to reach dry land so that he can pick us up. Who is going to drop us there? And then the telephone lines dropped, water finished. Luckily there was still rain water to be collected for cooking and for the rest we drew water from the overflowing rivers right under our roof. The boundary walls of our neighbors started falling loudly. What is the walls of the house failed? What if the dams broke? These were some of the fears that went though my mind else we had enough food and rain water.

The water around our house on 17th August 2018 - 

the river in front of the house..scary it is was..

Finally when the water started receding after almost 5 days and a fire and rescue dinghy came along. They wanted the older folks to leave the house immediately, so they did. They would be dropped at our church which had opened up as a relief camp. The rest of us including children held hands and started walking though the currents. We wanted to reach home since the camp was not an option for the elderly. Too cold it would be for them. There were only tractors and lorries which was not an option for 85 plus ladies. This is when hubby spotted a few good Samaritans on a jeep searching for a the family of a mutual friend. They agreed to ride through the waters and drop us at a place from where we could go to my parent’s place. The jeep was equipped to go through knee high waters and we reached Parumala where a low floor bus to Mavelikara was waiting to start it’s journey. Finally we reached dry land.

But has Kerala learned any lessons? Hopefully. Read that the buildings destroyed along the banks of the rivers will not be allowed to be reconstructed.

“We ignored the importance of wetlands. We ignored the sensitivity of ecologically fragile land. And in cities, we built buildings on leveled farmland. Now, where will the water drain? So, floods are not surprising,” he said.

Commenting on the impact of the rains and ensuing damage, Susheela Bhatt, a former state government advocate, said it was time for people to reflect. “After seeing this havoc, I think it’s high time to be retrospective,” she said.

http://www.atimes.com/article/kerala-flood-disaster-made-worse-by-bad-development/

This flood also reopens the old Mullaperiyar issue which can no longer be ignored.

Several studies have found similar flaws in the ageing dam. Mullaperiyar is a traditional gravity dam, the strength of which depends on its weight. George of Christ College says over the years, about 40 per cent of the lime from the core has leaked out, making it much weaker. Cracks, leaks and seepages have made the structure damp and wet, he adds.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/blunder-999-34609

Another key charge for the current state of disaster is the “unpreparedness of the state and the central government during this natural calamity as there is no plan which is announced or communicated to the public at large till date”

https://www.jusprudentia.com/single-post/2018/08/29/Mullaperiyar-Dam-Fight-Over-Three-Feet

As of now, there is no record as to how many lives will be lost or the compensation that Tamil Nadu would need to pay to Kerala in case of a disaster. Maybe if this is in put in record people will realize it is not a child’s game.

But then this not all about Tamil Nadu or one dam. It is about Kerala and how complacent it was in manging it's affairs. Governments came one after the other and one hoped new laws would be put it place to protect nature and Kerala's precious assets. But then how would political parties collect money to fund their elections and their own greed?