No one in Kerala wants to learn anything from History

No one in Kerala wants to learn anything from History

What we learn from history is we don't learn anything from history-Bertrand Russel.

Strange it may appear but that's what ultimately remains to be a hardcore fact.Dr DS Poornananda,Professor and former Head of Department of PG Studies Research in Journalism and Mass Communications,Kuvempu University Shivamogga recalled the Nobel laureate's well known quote after touring the state of Kerala for eight days to study the after effects and the reasons behind the August calamity.

He also opined:If business interests were to be a parameter for your existence then why blame the nature for your whims and fancies.In spite of several expert committees vociferously recommending a ban on human interference in the Eco sensitive Western Ghats region no commercial activity stops and people in general have no thoughts about avoiding similar holocausts in the future.Then how do you think of giving them an adieu?

The people of Kerala faced the adverse situation unitedly reiterating their solidarity in such cruel junctures.They rose as one man with no barriers like caste and creed.But how long will they stand needs to be seen,exclaims MP Veerendra Kumar,media baron and Member of Parliament(Rajya Sabha).

At the same time he jocularly remarks:Help came from unexpected quarters which was a unique development at times of unforeseen tragic circumstances.Even here also it's the same mindset all along.Hindus helped their own people while Muslims looked after their community and Christians were concerned about the followers of Jesus...

...It was just like the same way Congressmen came to the rescue of their own supporters while the Communist leaders were more interested in reaching out to their own cadres,fishermen helped the fishing folks,he laughed at the turn out of things with narrow considerations even during such human sufferings in general.

He also had his own dose of enough anecdotes to remark:If I wanted to help but whom do I have to do so?I am a Jain and that too a Digambar Jain.Which Digambar Jain will venture into the profession of catching fishes....!

At the same time he suddenly becomes pessimistic:There should be at least some drinking water left out for our children.Perhaps by the end of the century it may not be a big surprise even if Ganga and Godavari become dry!China and India are bound to face serious water treatment problems by 2050 if immediate remedial measures are not initiated.

Since long back scientists have warned not to meddle with nature but there are no takers for such concerned calls.It looks as though the world may come to an end by another 50 years instead of lakhs of years as projected,he cautions.

He becomes candid when you mention him about the environmental concerns:Prof Madhav Gadgil was forthright in advocating for zero tolerance of human habitation and interference in the Western Ghats region.But Kasturirangan committee report was worst.It's like suggesting to fill the half glass of water with urine to make it a full glass!

While deliberating on the water woes he suddenly becomes apologetic and asserts:Imagining the onslaught of the problems it looks better not to drink more water as the main causes for biggest disasters in future would be nothing else but water itself.

While dwelling about the woes water is bound to bring he is suddenly reminded about the historic battle of Perumatty Panchayat against the multinational Coca Cola company.Irrespective of his advanced age he suddenly becomes a youth in recollecting the battle he waged as a owner of a media group losing crores of rupees in the form of advertisement revenue.

The only place on earth where the beverage company was compelled to willingly close down its shutters was in Plachimada.The village drew world wide attention in its relentless battle against the Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Private Limited(HCCBPL),a subsidiary of the Coca Cola beverage big brother.

In fact Plachimada happens to be a small hamlet in the hilly terrain of Palghat district.Just like the Kuttanad region nearby  Alappuzha(Alleppey) district Plachimada has also carved a niche for being known as rice bowl of the state.It was in this paddy growing area HCCBPL acquires 34.4 acres of land during 1998 for setting up a bottling unit.

The company is permitted to build its plant by the Perumatty Panchayat during 2000 and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board(KSPCB) grants permission to manufacture 5,61,000 liters of beverage per day.The requirement of water for producing one liter of beverage happened to be 3.8 liters.

About six bore wells were drilled apart from sourcing water from two ponds with an average extraction of two lakh liters per day.Once the plant started production in full swing,people in the adjoining areas develop peculiar health problems.The water level in the wells dip,crop yield is drastically reduced and more than 1,000 families affected.

Thus begins a new chapter in the history of mass movements with the coming up of 'Coca Cola Virudha Janakeya Samara Samithy(Anti Coca Cola People's Struggle Committe) during 2002.The protest leads a new path to hitherto neglected Adivasi people who stretch their fight from blockade,picketing to moving the state high court and the supreme court.

Ultimately at the end of the struggle Coca Cola is left with no alternative but to pack off from the site.In this way the decade long struggle unfolds with the state government taking a decision to assess the loss suffered due to the polluting plant.

The reason to deviate here is to drive home the point about the enormous commitment the people here have to fight tooth and nail any injustice meted out to them.But now there is no multinational company polluting the environments of Kerala and instead it's the very same native residents who are doing so under the guise of minting money at the cost of the available locales and scenic spots across the state.

And the biggest puzzle perturbing the state people now is:Who will come forward to bell the cat?Perhaps that is the million dollar question quizzing all those enthusiastic concerned citizens evincing interest in conserving the nature the way it is in the interest of the future generations.Any takers?

-Manohar Yadavatti