CASTE DISCRIMINATION

            Caste discrimination is one amongst the most prevailing means of discrimination existent in the society. Initially, we people started settling down from wandering tribes to civilized settlers, the wanted a means of practice to follow, as well as a means to differentiate from each other. This gave rise to various religions, and sub-categories known as caste and creed. Thence, caste wasn't formed as a means for discrimination, but instead to lead a much more organized and civilized life.

            Being part of the effluent class, we often have the notion that there is no caste system being exercised today. This is a complete false notion. The aggression and depth of the same has multiplied to varied levels instead. Its just that we are ignorant of what's happening around the world, and even within the walls we are confined in.

            People often senselessly argue that caste system has been eradicated from our society and to view such practices even today, we would have to travel to far off remote villages where technology hasn't touched. This in fact is the biggest wrong notion. Caste system is not as much prevailing in other societies as it is in urbanized communities where we live in. The question of which caste we belong to is raised from every nook and corner, be it our classroom or office or in common neighborhood. The trend of people belonging to a particular linguistic, caste or cultural background, seated together in a classroom is one of the commonest sights.

            As per Indian constitution, it is illegal to enquire about or say out the caste. Ironically, India is a country that still continues to follow the custom of using the caste title along with our names, as a tagline that says out what caste we belong to. In such a society, however strongly we argue the eradication of caste system, the person belonging to the upper caste still enjoys their superiority with the 'Adiga' or 'Brahmin' or such tags attached to them. Unless and until the upper caste gives away such name tags, they continue to be the upper caste and the rest continues to be the lower caste. Due to the same reason, we also tend to ask a person's second name, while being introduced to them, to get an idea  of the caste they belong to. India is not just a country where we quote tags that speak out our caste, but also a country where tags often denoting the lower caste are also used as words of abuse. The word 'Brahmin' is never an abuse, but those relative to lower castes are often used by people while abusing each other.

            Reservations given in educational field is another strong aspect spoken against caste system. This is a result of the ignorance we blindness we have. As mentioned earlier, being part of the effluent class, who has got the ability in terms of facilities and monetary basis, we have the feeling that reservation need not be given to the deserving lower caste marginalized section of the society. Conditions are not as happening as we see. Caste system was earlier formulated on the basis on the profession followed by a community. This forced the people belonging to a particular caste follow the same caste as that descended from the ancestors or the preceding generation. The  force later began to get stricter where the farmers son, however talented he was in the field of arts had to stick on to his inherited profession rather than his own interests or aptitudes. Reservation was introduced as an attempt to break this system. Even today, in the so-called progressive society, there are places where until the reservation system exists, the farmers son would still have to continue a farmer. It is often critiqued that these reservations strikes off the chances of a 'general' student who has acquired good marks in the same competitive exam. This again is false. Even when we say 20% reservation is offered to OBC students, there exists a wide category within this and isn't as big as the number 20 by itself. The reservation system is also not a blind means for giving chance to students for being born in castes that the government has listed as deserving, but instead it only offers few grants to them acknowledging the backgrounds from which they come from.

            My personal opinion is that there should be justice provided to the marginalized who had been side lined even when India attained independence. A country where no caste is said with pride or curse can be regarded one where caste system has been completely eradicated, and not where people continue with their taglines and fight for it's eradication while having the feeling that they are not getting what another set is getting, forgetting all oppressions and brutalities that were open out in near past.

To end this note, I would say that my article by itself is politically wrong by calling and differentiating people as lower and higher caste in a democratic republic like India, we all are equal, no no one is more equal than another.

GREY

            Time should have been a commodity that could be reversed-at least by a few seconds. The world itself would have changed if this was possible. We could have stopped natural calamities, inevitable deaths, wars,etc to build a better world and likewise the destiny of a mother and her child. Though this is not possible, I deliberately turn the clock backward to narrate a small part of my life which later I myself might forget or attempt to commemorate whether it was real or dream.

            It was raining. the atmosphere was wet. It was raining after long and I could smell earth. It was nice to see the wet earth after long but the darkness and dampness the shower caused was more depressing than appealing. Rain reminded me of my past. I always thought it was the sky weeping. For me life ended on a rainy evening when my mother left me to heart failure. At the age of eight, when I couldn't even spell or understand death, I was helpless. All I could do was to see her struggle in pain. I never wanted to see anyone else undergo the same and this decision pulled me forward to be a doctor and above all live on. Till date I have cured all patients that came my way and probably this makes people travel miles for my consultation. I see the pain my mother underwent in the eyes of my patients. Many people have advised me to quit my job at this government hospital and start a new clinic, but I never did and I had reasons as I always did.

            The day was indeed dark and more grey and green than usual. Unlike usual I felt the hospital had the pungent smell of spirit and medicines. I have been working here for the past 10 years and I never got such a horrific smell. The yellow walls were wet and made it look more grey. There was a chill in the atmosphere which caused a pain from within. I seemed rather more weak and lazy. There weren't a rush in the hospital. Things went as usual until when a small girl of 8 walked in to the hospital drenched in rain but with full of hope. She looked too weak which was evident due to the starvation and bitterness she had been suffering for the past few days. Though she was finding hard to breath she managed to hold her breath and ask me politely for her mother. From the time I saw her apart from the memories the rain brought me, I was constantly reminded of my childhood by her sight.

            The little girl, Nina had come a long way in search of her mother. She told me that she searched for her mother everywhere she possibly could. She started narrating her mother from head to toe. Her narration made me think of one patient of mine. Mary's soft smile, eager looks, long plaited hair and fair skin reminded me of the little girl in front of me. Without giving her much hope I eased myself out of the scene. While I went into hospital in search of her mother I could see Nina waiting outside eagerly with closed eyes and hands crossed saying a prayer to herself.

            I went into the emergency ward to meet her mother. While I started talking to her I realised that she could never come back to life and her reason behind leaving her only daughter in the orphanage. This caught my tongue on saying that her daughter is waiting outside for her, drenched in rain, full of hope and prayer. I knew that hopes will want her live more which was impossible for her. She looked deep onto my eyes like her daughter and leaving that inquisitive look on her face she asked me," Nina...?" I refused to look at her face and ran out. I didn't know what to answer. I was worried about Nina too. I didn't know what to tell Nina also. As I was walking out of Mary's room my eyes wandered in every nook and corner in search of Nina. She wasn't to be found anywhere. I ran out in search of her...onto the street and there I found a mob. I ran into the crowd to see what's happening and there I saw a yellow skirt and red blouse tampered on the road with blood and mud. A lorry ran over her and she was literally torn into pieces of flesh. I ran back to her mother in shock. There was again a crowd of nurses removing her supportive machines and confirming her death. I was in a state of shock. I found it hard to distinguish between reality and dream. I should have asked her to come with me to meet her mother. It would have become a dream come true for both of them. My moment of mistake thrashed two lives. I am responsible for these two deaths.

 

NEELAKASHAM CHUVANNABHOOMI PACHAKADAL

            If the so called 'new generation' films are marked by these set of films which has no story to tell or conflicts to discuss, but only a camera that moves around depicting glam shots, this film does not fall under the category. Then what category does the movie fall under is the question open to discussion.

            NEELAKASHAM : BLUE for LIBERALISM. This is probably the liberalism discussed in the movie. The today's youth who walks around with no boundaries or bound rules. One fine morning someone wants to ride all over the way to Himalayas or to Nagaland or to far far away land, all you've got to do is get a bike and ride. You literally don't have to worry about your parents, siblings, money, education or no matter what.  Money for fuel and other requirements during the journey comes from elsewhere. This is how wide the neelakasham is. The neelakasham of the 'cool' youth.

            CHUVANNABHOOMI : RED FOR REBELLION. This is probably the communism, or rebellion, or revolution discussed in the movie. There is a sort of 'religious' communism exercised in today's society where both ideologies of communism as well as  religion is followed by the individual. So is the case with the film. The 2 major characters in the film fall under this category. They are strong Muslim believers drenched in revolution. There is a deliberate attempt to fight against the odds in the society, which also includes the protagonist's love towards a girl belonging to a completely alien culture and geographical background.

            PACHAKADAL : GREEN for ISLAM. This probably refers to the religion of the protagonists. Both the male lead roles belongs to orthodox Muslim families, one from Calicut and the other from Cannanore. Religion is also discussed in the course of the film and also prevails to the major 'hidden' theme. The family backgrounds and the difficulty to accept a girl from another religion is opened up in the film.

            The crisis Neelakasham Chuvanabhoomi Pachakadal faces is that of identity. It doesn;t know where to fit into - whether in the 'new generation' or the 'travel movie' or the 'old school' of linear story telling. The film is a combination of the three - Two legs in three boats, Neither this nor that. The film initially attempts a 'cool' travel movie showing no sincerity to the theme. Except for the songs, the feel of the travel was never felt. It was interesting enough to see the characters reach miles in no time nor any difficulty.

            As usual the film ended with women having no words to speak, since men had already spoken them out, leaving them burden less. Even the heroine had nothing to tell the audience while she left home, for the sake of religion. Again the 'saviour of the world' -HERO had to come for her mercy.

            The film could have avoided the journey to the beach and the 'big' invention in the village near Kolkata. People who showed a thumbs-up for the movie are the ones who hadn't seen the trailer, because the rest who had showed a thumbs down, having had nothing to watch in the movie that what they did in the trailers, and that too free of cost.    

THE PERPLEXED SKY

           

            It was Shalini's, Maya's best friend's birthday and the party was hosted at Maya's flat. Such a huge crowd attended the party that there was hardly any space to breathe. The party was fabulous. Aunts, Uncles, Nephews, Nieces, Sisters, Brothers, Friends, In-laws, they made the party really big. The party got over at 3 in the morning that Maya postponed all work for the next day and went back to sleep.

            The next day started off with Maya cleaning up the room. There was so much food leftover that she felt that she was the only one who ate last night. While she was cleaning up she was reminded that it was Anita Aunt's and Ashok Uncle's wedding anniversary the next day and that she had to work for one more day now. When she went out for shopping she saw the people next door just staring at her and this startled her. Though she was feeling quite lazy to set up things for the next day's party she managed to do it because she didn't want to mess up with her loved ones.   

            Every time she goes out she noticed people staring at her as if she was an alien. She saw that, the kids in the apartment were not allowed to talk to her or even come past her as if there were been instructed by their elders. Earlier notions of people staring at her was that it was out of jealousy that she had so many relatives that visited her often but now things have started to change. They just giggle and murmur things as she passes by. She started to feel deserted and left out. She tried calling her battalion of relatives and friends to help her sought the problem out. To her surprise she found that no one is even ready to pick up her call to at least give her some lame excuse. She felt more isolated. She felt that the people she had been serving for weeks now in the name of parties were so thankless because they hardly bothered about her in the absence of parties. All they wanted was a place to chill out and a slave to work for them all day. She called off all the upcoming events as she was so annoyed by their behaviour.

            The days that followed was too bad for her. The house that was filled with noise has almost gone dead now. There is no music, no smell of good food, no people and no sound of laughter. But one thing that she noticed amidst all this was the reaction of her neighbours. They'd almost stopped staring at her now. She wondered why there was this shift in the attitude of the  people. Her inquisitive mind wandered for an answer though most of them refused to help her out. Having had  a heart break she went to the girl who stays opposite her door and asked her about the change that has taken place in peoples approach towards her. The response shocked her that she just walked out towards her flat without uttering a word.

            On going back to her room she found the things around her change drastically. There was an unusual shade of grey and purple during the dusk. She couldn't take what the girl next door just told her. Looking out through the window of her apartment, which was on the 17th floor,  all she could see was the perplexed purple sky standing still. She felt dejected from humanity. More than people who are on the earth, the sky seemed more clearer and closer to her. She realised that the people around her, the relatives and friends who were hanging around were just the characters in the virtual world she created. It was the world she gave birth to so that she could talk to people and get herself occupied, pretending to ignore the fact that she was alone. She had created new people who appeared interesting to her and edited or sometimes even erased people who seemed to be annoying to her. It was all a 'maya', an illusion.

            The cloudy 'purplexed' sky was staring at her, knowing not what to do. She looked far into the silver lining between the dark clouds and hoped that she would go there soon to meet her dear ones who've left her alone in this world. Tears started rolling down her cheeks as the sky cried with her as the rain.