Kerala leads by example

Onam this year did not see the flood of greeting messages on Whatsapp or other social media. But by afternoon there was a trickle of a new kind of greeting - "help Kerala, reeling from the aftermath of a deluge, return to its former glory". Like a Phoenix rising - though here, not from its ashes but from the waters. 

I joined hesitantly in this new messaging volley, just to remind friends and relatives that I remember them on this great unifying festival. Onam, unlike many other Indian festivals, is everyone's festival and not just of one community - a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest, a time to welcome a legendary King, a time to enjoy a sumptuous feast etc.

This year people deliberately avoided wishing each other a happy Onam at offices or supermarkets. There was no crowd jostling with each other to pick the best vegetables at the market. Offices and other institutions (including my church here) cancelled Onam celebrations and donated the amount to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Collections are still on to help rebuild a completely devastated infrastructure in many districts. Though preliminary estimates put the losses at Rs.20000 crores, it will be much more. 

The challenge is to help the affected especially those living in relief camps, get back to life very soon.  As is the problem with government machinery, functioning at many structured levels, the intended aid may not reach the right victim at the right time. Already one hears of village officers pilfering relief material or undeserving and unaffected people enlisting in camps to avail the freebies. Thankfully, Kerala has some young and energetic bureaucrats manning the districts, leaders who did not just give orders but was in the thick of action tackling the insurmountable tragedy head on. 

Kerala has seen the best of humanity in a week of incessant rainfall and flooding - be it our political leaders, our Collectors, our fishermen, our volunteers or the victims themselves. We have been forced to leave the cocoon of our comfortable lives and luxurious mansions (some of us at least) to understand once again what it all boils down to - the desire to just exist with a little water, food and warm space.

p.s. In contrast to many of us who decided to forgo celebrations, people living in relief camps celebrated Onam with happy feasting, some in the company of film stars and singers. After all, they are entitled to a little happiness in these times of uncertainty.