The kind of rainfall Kerala is experiencing
is unprecedented, made much critical by unique geographical feature of the
region and high population density. Sandwiched between tropical evergreen mountains
and Arabian ocean it is a fragile ecosystem that has millions of years of
making. In the recent times these have been severely degraded with population pressure
and wanton consumerism -what is termed as development, this despite the fact
that Kerala has quite evolved HDI standards. Unfortunately the opportunities provided
by high HDI has not converted into responsible evolved social context. Literacy has failed to show enlightened understanding of life. It’s dog
eat dog world that nurtures depraved mindsets that is constantly in material
need to display and feel fulfilled. The onslaught of market, sanctum moral
vacuum and amazingly consumerism thriving organised religions have competed to create a
unique blend of mindsets, insular attitudes and heightened insecurities, self preserving reactional contexts. It is such a heartrendingly adverse society that loses no
occasion to exaggerate itself (even 'God’s own country') that one is left baffled so as to desperately seek to hinge on any reference for sanity. The empathetic egalitarian contexts
that were firmly connected to unique biodiversity and sustainable ways of life
has long been negated and now finds space as ayurvedic quick fix brands that promise
miracle.
This background is needed to
understand the havoc of nature, as gold salivating greed filled self-assured society
finds itself scampering for cover while superstition driven self-defeating
rituals are left with no space in flooded land (includes keenly segregating and degrading godforsaken
sabrimala. Sorry humans -men and women, keep off for now). Even in this tragedy
disgraceful market intervenes the TV news with more bizarre baits to buy that is strikingly
isolated from unfolding tragic reality. Not to be left behind celebrated and successful
little Trumps at Airlines have hiked the ticket fare, monetizing tragedy is a
business model that surely adds to GDP. Business is now open to highest bidders,
you can skip the queue and leave the stampede to less blessed.
Climate change is real. Fossil fuel
adds to global warming, meaning vehicles/cars being hawked by infotainment channels
as latest models to entrap people to fill enormous bellies are adding to the accentuating
problems common people face. While hapless people suffer there is a thriving tradition
of fattening on misery -a blessing. The disconnect is amazing, and now colliding into new realization
that something is seriously amiss and that the humans are woefully inadept to
face the force of nature. Meanwhile the only good thing that comes out of this is
that the State government (with assistance from Union government) has handled
the situation quite professionally and shown uncommon alacrity. We can thank
them for that.
