FROM KERALA WITH LOVE

[podalangai]

GENTS ARE COMFORTABLE IN PANTS I BELIEVE. Adolescent boys wear Bermudas and similar things. The present generation is not favoring mundu. Once in a while they go temples-where mundu is mandatory and many need belts other wise it will not remain in place.

This is very sad. One of the nice things about going to TN or Kerala used to be seeing so many people on the streets wearing our own dress, rather than a copy of western dress. In TN, veshtis have been slowly fading away in recent years, and it is a pity to see that that trend is starting in Kerala as well. Kerala has traditionally been so much better at preserving culture than TN!

(P.S: Thanks to Braandan for the words to Ayyappante amma!)

[Roshan]

ayyappantamma neyyappam chuttu
kaakka kothi kadalil ittu

mungaan piller mungi eduthu
thaTTaan piller thaTTi parichu
vaaniyan piller vaayiliTTu

fishermen/divers children did the labour of getting it back from the sea, but the gold-smith kids snatched it but atlast the "business men" community ate the neyyappam!

It's a nice one Thanks Podalai for mentioning it and thanks Braandan for the poetry and explanation

[padmanabha]

MONSOON BLUES: -

Ten killed and normal life paralyzed due to heavy rains and strong winds. Trees uprooted. Electric cables snapped. There was long hours of power failure. Traffic snarled up. Wyanad witnessed landslides-all the four members in a family were killed. Fire and rescue services personnel in various stations had a tough day. The coastal areas of the district were the worst affected due to sea erosion. Relief camps were opened. 22 camps alone in the capital city. Branches of a tree fell on to the tracks near uppidam moodu bridge following which the high voltage electric lines got snapped. It fell on the running train-thiruvananthapuram-mangalapuram express. Today a cargo ship wrecked two kms away from the shore near Mangalapuram. The ship was on its way to Sudan. In another incident tree fell on the fourth floor of the general hospital injuring many.

[padmanabha]

Kerala is known for high literacy, and secular nature. Parallel to that communal thinking is also gaining ground.
The (Left Government) State Sahitya Academy yesterday cancelled the PADMANABHA SWAMI PURASKARAM as the Academy felt that it “signifies/has communal color.” This award is cancelled on its golden jubilee year.

In that case there is a chance for canceling Kabeer Puraskaram, Saraswati Samman and the likes. Where are we heading to?

[padmanabha]

The groom sees the bride only on the wedding day! Very difficult to believe in these days! Yes it is true and it happens in Payyannur in Northern Kerala and IN Haryana. These days exchange of brides and grooms are taking place between these places. Known popularly as HARYANA MARRIAGE, IT has gained popularity. The brides who cannot afford to pay dowry opt for groom from Haryana, where the men finds it difficult to find a suitable bride. Nearly 200 marriages have already taken place. RAMANTHALI AND KUNHIMANGALAM in Payyannur and HANSI in Haryana are the places where these marriages take place. The couples are happy. It all began with MOHANAN working in Hansi married a Haryana girl of his choice. HIS sister was married to a native of Haryana. The neighbors too prepared to accept brides/grooms from Hansi. It continues.
("The couples have no problem " may be due to their inability TO communicate)

[padmanabha]

YESTERDAY Mathrubhumi the popular Malayalam Daily came with a scoup. A new financial allegation was leveled against DESABHIMANI the CPM mouth piece. According to the report an amount of two crore has been deposited by the family members of the South Indian lottery king S MARTIN in the development bonds issued by Desabhimani. The bonds are under the name of M CHARLES AND M DAISON sons of MARTIN.
The issue questions the ethics of accepting huge amounts from a man who the party alleges has dubious background.
V S ACHUTHANANDAN the chief minister and the other ministers, alleged that MARTIN DEFAULTED on tax arrears amounting crores due to exchequer. The G M of DESABHIMANI, E P JAYARAJAN admitted that accepting bonds from the martins relatives but justified that it was a legal form of deposit. THE amount will be deposited later.
Early this week, MATRUBHUMI office was attacked by CPM workers and the copies were set ablaze. Today E P JAYARAJAN said that “MATHRUBHUMI is a yellow daily” but Achuthanandan said that “IT IS A NATIONAL DAILY”
Long back THE party journalist pinarayi Vijayan said that “news papers and journalists are good for nothing” ; then last month he said “there is a media syndicate working against the CPM led government”
YESTERDAY the deputy GM of Desabhimani was kicked of for receiving one crore from LIS a financial agency to hush up something.
Three or four years back when the allegation of receiving money from MANI ACHAN (unpopular liquor manufacturer), by the CPM rocked the state E K NAYANAR said “we receive money from Tom DICK AND HARRY for the party”
The recent one has kicked a new row. NOW every day fresh anti government news with proof are emerging from various corners of the state.

[padmanabha]

Is the CADRE PARTY-losing image?
So many things are happening in Kerala. Munnar episode finds it place regularly in all dailies. Let me explain what (com) mission Munnar is all about.
• The opposition party leader and the former Chief Minister Ommen Chandy complaints of encroachments in Munnar.
• Revenue and Forest Ministers followed by the chief minister endorsed Chandy’s findings.
• V S has vowed that he would see that all encroachers, corrupt officials, anti social elements etc are punished.
• He appointed a team of three-RISHI RAJ SINGH IPS, RAJU NARAYANA SWAMI (IAS), AND SURESHKUMAR.
• RISHI RAJ SINGH is a popular official. Most of the times he takes new avatars in the filmy style and appear anywhere at anytime to catch the culprits red hand. He once accompanied a lorry driver as a cleaner and at the check post offered commission to the police men and arrested them. He is an ardent film viewer.
• Raju Narayana swami is a tough officer, and hence was transferred many times. He won IAS with first rank.
• Suresh kumar is also equally tough.
• SO many including the party chief secretary Pinarayi Vijayan objected the posting of the trio.
• The Chief Minister assured the team that there will not be any political interference/presure.
• The trio demolished encroached structures using JCB. And in these days J C B has become the hero.
• Every one was shocked to see JCB in action. Huge structures were erased.
• V S and his bold action were hailed by the media and the public.
• Pinarayi could not tolerate this. He issued a statement saying that “NO INDIVIDUAL NEED TO CLAIM THE CREDIT FOR MUNNAR MISSION”
• VS retorted ‘YES THE credit GOES TO THE PEOPLE of Kerala who elected the LDF.
• PINARAYI said those who claims are in a fool’s paradise.
• Much mud slinging was done.
• The politburo interfered and suspended the duo from the politburo.
• By then 21 days have elapsed. It dawned on CPI one of the coalition party protested the demolition of their party office at Munnar.
• IT created much furor.
• The Chief minister ISSUED an G O which said “no party office or a place of worship would be demolished even if it is erected on an encroached land”
• The govt rolled back the next day. The order was withdrawn.
• The team was invited to the called to the capital.
• The chief minister said openly that the team especially suresh kumar was given a warning.
• Suresh denied it and took a week leave and left for Delhi in protest.
• The Revenue minister K P Rajendran, in the mean time went to Munnar. He climbed a craggy hill and read a notice. “this much of land 9000 acres is now owned by the govt”
• Suresh was irked. He asked the chief minister to clarify whether the team exists.
• By the time, Mathrubhumi came with a scoop. DGM of DESHABJIMANI-the MOUTH PIECE OF CPI (M), received one crore from a financial company.
• Next day it came with another news that the party received 2 crore from the Lottery king Martin.
• CPM is known for bucket collection, and receiving favors from liquor contractors for providing license. Now the amount touched millions.
• Three days ago the CM visited Munnar, and acquired 2000 acres of land, owned by TATA.
• TATA explained that it was not their property.

• THE next day the revenue minister (CPI) said in the ASSEMBLY that the land acquired by the CM is the government’s property.
• The revenue minister is yet to clarify the owner of the land he acquired a fortnight ago? Is it also owned by the govt?
• V S replied that “the CPI would be piqued, if the govt touches TATA ‘s property”
• This has annoyed CPI
• Now administration has almost come to grinding halt.

[Lambretta]

GENTS ARE COMFORTABLE IN PANTS I BELIEVE. Adolescent boys wear Bermudas and similar things. The present generation is not favoring mundu. Once in a while they go temples-where mundu is mandatory and many need belts other wise it will not remain in place.

This is very sad. One of the nice things about going to TN or Kerala used to be seeing so many people on the streets wearing our own dress, rather than a copy of western dress. In TN, veshtis have been slowly fading away in recent years, and it is a pity to see that that trend is starting in Kerala as well. Kerala has traditionally been so much better at preserving culture than TN!

Well I couldnt comment on mundus but I wear veshtis ALL the time while I'm at HOME atleast.....been wearing it for the last 5-6 years, courtesy of my dad who'd insisted on it! :P
I continiued wearing it even when I was living in Singapore.....nowadays even (present-gen.) women shy away from wearing Sarees after going abroad (altho they dont mind wearing salwars)....even in countries like Singapore known for its ethnic asian prominence!
Aside, NO OFFENCE podalanna, but I find it rather ironic tat the ppl. who r most concerned bout Indian traditional issues like these happen to be mostly living abroad!

[podalangai]

Aside, NO OFFENCE podalanna, but I find it rather ironic tat the ppl. who r most concerned bout Indian traditional issues like these happen to be mostly living abroad!

Well, as a student I wore veshtis to college every day for two years, so my concern for Tamil traditions long predates my moving abroad. :P

[madhu]

podal, lamby..

Here... in Chennai..

Uniform for boys of a school is veshti... ( even for chinna classes )

moreover that boys are so intelligent that they usually get state ranks too

tha Ahobila Mutt school of west mambalam..