Enchanting Kerala

Vembanad Lake - Preserving a Lifeline

How we treat the diverse Vembanad backwater estuarine ecosystem needs careful thought and action.

The Vembanad Lake - local fishermen

The history of kerala is indisputably and powerfully linked to the brave expeditions of the great Portugese adventurer, trader, warrior and diplomat – Vasco da Gama.
This naval commander is said to have discovered a navigable sea route to the Malabar coast in 1498. Vasco da Gamma knew this land as described by the legendary explorer Marco Polo – as the land of black gold (pepper) and other exotic spices and one of the richest places in the world that he had ever seen.

Kozhikode, Crangannoor (Kodungalloor), Kochi, Alappuzha and Kollam were the main trading ports of that glorious era. Soon the Europeans (France, Portugal, Britain and Dutch) would fight naval battles to secure a monopoly over the lucrative spice trade. These wars changed the history of India and in particular Kerala.

Known as the ‘Venice of the East’ – Kerala and its waterways played a major role in this spice trade. These interlinked water bodies stretched over 900 sq km. including inlets from the sea, estuaries of 41 rivers, lakes and natural canals connecting coastal villages and townships. The Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes together form the backwaters of Kerala. These lakes act as a buffer between the sea and rivers and control floods and tides and most importantly – provide a livelihood for thousands of village folk.

A large transport vessel carrying sacks of grain. These vessels are the predecessors of the current houseboats plying the backwaters of kerala

The Vembanad wetland system is the largest estuarine system in Kerala characterized by a continuous chain of lagoons and backwaters. This wetland system encompasses four districts, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam – an area of 219.51 sq. km. The most important part of this wetland ecosystem is the Vembanad Lake. The lake is 96.5 km long beginning in Alappuzha in the south and ending in Azheekkod in the North – covering an area of 132 sq. km. Six major rivers of Kerala namely – Periyar, Muvatupuzha, Meenachil, Manimala, Pampa and Achankoil drain directly into the Vembanad lake. The lake, the surrounding paddy fields, marshes, islands, canals and rivers all together form the vembanad wetland ecosystem. The mighty Vembanad lake drains into the Arabian sea at Cochin forming one of the world’s largest natural harbours.

The Thaneermukkam salt water barrage divides the vembanad wetland system into two zones; the Kuttanad region in the south and the Cochin backwaters in the north. The salt water barrage controls the flow of salt water into the Kuttanad region (also known as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’). The northern part of the lake remains a largely saline wetland ecosystem throughout the year.

Thanneermukkom bund divides kuttanad backwaters from kochi backwaters

The vembanad wetland ecosystem is characterized by its humid tropical weather and as such is considered a tropical wetland that possesses all the characteristic flora and fauna – mangroves, diverse tropical fish, water birds and other avifauna, agriculture etc. For its unique attributes the Vembanad wetland system together with the adjoining Kol wetland system was declared as Ramsar Site in November 2002 (The convention on wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 for the protection of the wetlands all over the world.)

Kuttanad which is an important part of this ecosystem lies over 500 square kilometers of land and is located 0.6 m to 2.2 meters below sea level – the region with the lowest altitude in India. Kuttanad is a land of paddy (rice) fields – cultivated below sea level. Much of this land was reclaimed from the Vembanad lake in the early 19th century. There is more than 145000 hectors of this wetland under rice cultivation. Almost 60 percent of the total rice production of the state is from this man made wonder; of which is said – ‘God created man; man created Kuttanadu’.

Sand being transported in kuttanad in small country style canoe

The Vembanad wetland is well known for the diversity of fishes, aquatic mammals, mollusca and avian fauna. The floristic diversity of this area is also very rich consisting of hydrophytes, mangroves and mangrove associates. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, spread over 10 acres is situated on the banks of Vembanad lake. The birds roost and nest in the mangroves and inside the dense growth of reeds and grass. There is a virgin, uninhabited island in the middle of the southern region of the Vembanad lake called ‘Pathiramanal’ which is known for its unique biodiversity and specifically for breeding of Black Clam – Villoritta cyprinoids.

Sadly however, this pristine backwater ecosystem is now under serious threat. The five major rivers that drain into the Vembanad lake carry untreated sewage water from the villages and towns situated on their banks. This includes poisonous effluent from the many factories located nearby. The slew of modern and inorganic agricultural practices also endangers the ecosystem. Large quantities of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides eventually seep into the ecosystem threatening and poisoning fish stock, bird life and vegetation. Land reclamation, unrestricted and irresponsible tourism activity is the Vembanad ecosystem’s most significant threat.

Workers collecting shells from vembanad backwaters

More than a thousand commercial houseboats ply the lake. Their lack of concern about adopting green practices is further backed by the ignorance of the local people who enjoy the material wealth generated by tourism and are unencumbered by the long term effects it may have. They do not consider the fact that the very source of their livelihood is dying before their eyes. All manner of waste generated in these boats including plastic, sewage, engine oil etc, is discharged in to the lake, thereby threatening an already fragile ecosystem. Rampant exploitation of the wetland ecosystem continues. Clay mining, shell mining etc. coupled with unscientific fishing methods are other threats that go unchecked.

Large transport vessels of yesteryears have been modified into luxury houseboats which attract a large number of tourists every year. However with the number of houseboats operating in the alappuzha backwaters have multiplied over the years and presently plays a major role in polluting the backwaters.

The most important aspect of the Vembanad lake is its rich floral and faunal diversity, which provides livelihood to millions of people directly and indirectly. In addition, there are the aesthetic attributes of the region that is blatantly abused. The conservation of this unique ecosystem is necessary for future generations and for their very existence. This unfortunately is not being given the seriousness it should be.

Conversing the lake should be a joint effort, and a first step would be to create awareness of the dangers of indiscriminate commercialization.

Article by : P. Manoj (Senior Naturalist - Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam - Alappuzha)

Humor

No one knows exactly what it is that makes a person laugh or why any thing funny should cause us to make such a peculiar noise.

By far, the greatest amount of humor is told rather than seen. Humor of words can be gentle and kind, or it can be harsh and biting. Most humor produces a smile, but wit usually causes people to breakout into laughter.

Comedy is one form of drama that deals with ridiculous aspects of human behavior to make people laugh. Many famous humorists like… Nash, Oscar Wilde, G.B Show etc. made satirical comments on society and ridiculed foolish behavior. For them humor was the best means of surviving is a difficult world. To summarise “laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart.”

By: Amy Irene Mathew, St.Teresa's College.

Frauds' Own Country

Do you ever spare a moment to think about the people below the poverty line Kerala?

Have you ever thought of the problems caused by garbage or a simple solution for it? Do you know that a tribal child has to walk an average of 17kms daily to school and back? Well, the chances are you will say 'no ' to these, and I guess that's because most of us, including me, are caught up in the scandals, scams and bedroom stories of politicians today.

We are so much engrossed in the much- glorified; media- hyped controversial lives of the people in power that we fail to understand the day- to- day struggle of the common man. All of us know the corruption and the dirty games played by the politicians but still a majority of us spend time and money to cater them. It might not be surprising that even the judiciary can be bought. Do you really think that they deserve so much of your attention? I wouldn't say that we should spend our vacations trying to construct elementary schools for the economically backward or to clean every street in our area, but wouldn't it do well if we help to eradicate the minor problems around us?

A study conducted by 'The Week' says that in India around 55000 kids below 15 try a smoke each day; or take the recent example of the porn photos circulated amongst students on their camera phones. Do you seriously think that the authorities would do something constructive about it? They have better things like crores of property deals or their daughter-in-law's uncle's tea estate to take care of. It is up to us if we want to make our country God's own.

Article by: Shana Ninan,St Teresa's College

Differences are Fine, Discrimination is Not

Mrs. Narayana Murthi, Infosys, Bangalore was the only female engineering student in her class in her time. When placements started in her college she found a notice from the Tata group, asking students interested in working for them in the shop floor to apply. The notice explicitly stated that female students need not apply. Angered by the discrimination, she sent a letter to Mr. J.R.D. Tata, criticizing him and his company for the bias against women. A few days later she received an interview call from the company. During the interview, she was told that girl’s weren’t preferred only because once married, they would leave the job to go and live with their husbands. Mrs. Murthi replied that, that was a 100 year old tradition which would take time to change, but however, she assured them that she wouldn’t leave her job just because another company offered her more money. She joined the job and thereafter so did many other women.
The Tata’s changed their attitude and policy but that cannot be said for the rest of India. A woman’s place is still believed to be in the Kitchen. A woman should first learn to cook, before she goes in for any career oriented education. Yes, society is changing; women for going higher education, exploring areas and careers until now completely dominated by men. Yet there is a limit put to them. If you take just the case of funding, a woman entrepreneur would find it harder to get loan or venture capital, but a male entrepreneur foot the same business, might find it easier. Our society must broaden its thinking. Indian society tends to lack confidence in its women. This altitude must also change.

However, it is also important that gender differences do not completely disappear. After all, the difference between the sexes is not always a matter to be loathed. There are a few women who have broken all barriers, they have so broken the laws of nature and disturbed its delicate balance. These are women who choose not to get married until they are settled in their career. They reach the top of the corporate ladder and then in their 30’s, get married. However when they wish to conceive they sadly find that their fertility has become low and that they cannot conceive any more. These women then declare that they would give away all their success if only they could conceive.

Then there are women who decide to remain unmarried. They feel they don’t need a man or a partner to live their life with. As for children, well there’s artificial insemination. However when such kids go to school, they realize that a family will always be pictured as one with a dad and a mom.

Gender differences are alright as long as it is not gender discrimination. Women should move forward, but not so much that they lose their feminity. As pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said ‘When a woman moves forward, the family moves forward and so does the society’, In short, empowerment of women, develops the nation.

Article by: Nidha Nayeem, St Teresa’s College

The Feel Good Fiasco

The people in the Delhi Durbar combating the torrid climate of April- May had to bear the heat from one more quarter- the Elections 2004, the most stunning and decisive battle fought to appoint the raucously irreverent ones to the polyglot colossus (Lok Sabah ). The two big fighters (NDA and UPA) were neck-n- neck in this race to conquer the throne of India. After a lot of gambling when the curtain was slowly raised, shattering all the BJP dreams, it was clear that democracy had outlasted every-one and everything.

The election 2004 to the world’s largest democracy was the only other election akin to the one in 1977 that upset party leaders and poll predictions. The apocryphal stories of a ‘shining India’,- when the poor remained poor, the assurances to feel good-even while the rates of suicide skyrocketed, and an elusive picture (or otherwise) of a redeemed relation with our neighboring country were the specialties of the election. A star studded ambience along with the entry of a slew of affluent and educated GenX faces- with a name plate bearing their father’s name- was a treat to the tired eyes (ears, as well) which were accustomed to an army of indecorous politicians with pan stained clothes, and with sprigs of black hair sticking out of their ears. The personal vendettas waged by the NDA leaders also found their share of space in the media columns. The TV channels, the major ancillary to the BJP’s whims, found their TRP ratings shooting up, as each rivaled to get the major players to their studio. So what was the reason for such an ignominious defeat of the party even after a lot of micro level planning?

The verdict signified not only a fundamental change in the democracy but also a radical shift in the social basis of political power. The personal issues and not the prospects of a shinning India were paramount to the voters. The failure in providing basic education, sanitation, irrigation facilities and employment opportunities resulted in the failure of voting back the much touted protectors of democracy. The verdict was in fact a strong resentment against the local government’s inefficiency, which resulted in the termination of the power of the central government. In fact, there was a total disconnection between the ground reality and the houses of power. In this process of maneuvering votes, the outspoken BJP top guns made a foray into mobilizing the Indian minorities- disowning the Hindutva ideal- as a pre-text for showing that they are secularists. One also witnessed the Advanis and the other Hindu extremists shaking hands with Muslim clerics in the hope of removing discontent. That too did not work. Finally, along with the three a’s-Atal, Allure and Acceptability- they managed to add another towards the end: Arrogance. The arrogance factor placed them in an ivory tower from where they kept on regurgitating their old cacophony.

Now that everything is over, it’s time to do some homework and find out where they went wrong. In retrospect, their Hindutva ideology paid electoral dividends by propelling them to the centre stage. Not anymore! Instead of finding out scapegoats-already the RSS ideologues have begun their rant against BJP for departing from the Parivaar’s ideals- the post- Vajpayee, post-Advani leadership must begin attending to the task of revamping the party to a normal, conservative and right-wing political party. In future they should remember that a majority of voters in India is constituted by the rural section and not the middle class and strive to make an all pervasive feel good factor. For the time being, they have at least made one section of the people feel good-the Congress.

Article by : S. Gopika Gopakumar St Teresa's College

Amazers!

 The sentence “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in English language.
 Donald duck comics were banned in Finland because he doesn’t wear pants.
 If you keep a goldfish in the dark room, it will eventually turn white.
 The name of all continents ends with the same letter that they start with.
 ‘TYPEWRITER’ is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.
 The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
 You share your birthday with at least nine other million people in the world.
 The longest word in English language is 1909 letters long and it refers to a distinct part of DNA.
 Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
 February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
 The strongest muscle in the body is the TONGUE.
 It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
 A shark is the only fish that can blink with both the eyes.
 There are four words in the English language which end in”-dous” : tremendous, horrendous, stupendous and hazardous.
 In England, the speaker of the house is not allowed to speak.
 The microwave was invented after researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate melted in his pocket.

Article By: Rini Ephrem, St.Teresa’s College

A Peep Into defense Forces

I was one among three from Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate, lucky enough to get selected for the Army Attachment Camp at OTA (Officers Training Academy) Chennai. This is only center in India where lady cadets are trained for Army. First of all, I record my heartfelt thanks to the OTA and the NCC directorate and unit for giving me a chance to be a part of the Army for atleast; a few days. In our mind the term ‘Army’ stands for bravery, discipline and selfless service towards our mother country. It was the first and foremost chance we got to have a close interaction with the army.

We had three cadets from each state representing their Directories. We had a golden opportunity to meet some of the cadets undergoing army training. Among them there were several Malayalees. We participated in a variety of activities there. We had horse-riding, obstacle training, swimming, short cane and sword drill and firing. We were lucky enough to fire with INSAS, the latest weapon used by the Indian Army and we did double trap shooting which was the event of our Olympics silver medalist Major R.V.S. Rathore. We had dinner in our ceremonial dress in the company of the most distinguished guests. We visited the Coastal Guard and Navy and Air force Institutes and many other interesting places. Everyone regarded us with great pride and respect when we wore the overcoats of OTA.

As there were representatives from every state we tasted almost all the variety of Indian dishes. We had cultural programmes from each state. We could interact with many of the ranked officers in Army, Navy and Air force. I was really surprised that one of the officers was from Cochin. Though they looked strict and harsh in their uniforms, they talked to us in a friendly manner. We began to get very much attracted to this environment and to its routine. But soon it was time to pack up. As an NCC cadet, I had the chance to peep into this disciplined, brave world even before joining the Army. From the gateway of OTA, I could feel the breath of our great soldiers and the whole atmosphere was reminiscent of their enthusiasm. Before leaving the camp each cadet took a pledge that we would return to this soil and get commissioned. That was the motivation injected into our hearts by the training at OTA. I pray to God Almighty for his grace, to help me fulfill my dream.

Article By: M.S. Divya, St.Teresa’s College

My Ages And Mothers

4 years of age = My Mummy can do anything.
8years of age = My mom knows a lot; a whole lot.
12 years of age = My mom doesn’t really know quite everything.
14 years of age = Naturally, mother doesn’t know that either.
16 years of age = Mother! She is hopeless old fashioned.
18 years of age = That OLD woman! She is way out of date.
25 years of age = Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 years of age = before we decide, let’s get mom’s option.
45 years of age = Wonder what Mom would have taught about it?
65 years of age = Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

Article By: Sinjini.V, St.Teresa's College

Words

Words that trickle down our tongue can be sharp swords or sweet honey. We are eager to detect faults in others, but lack the ability to appreciate the good in them.
R.K.Narayanan in his short story ‘Another Community’ remarks that “the good things done by a person or a community reach others very slowly, whereas their evil counter parts disseminate at an amazing pace.”

Why is that we always prefer to be a problem to others rather than to be a solution? It’s not a taboo to appreciate or say ‘well done’ to your friends, relatives, siblings or any body, when they do something, worthy of appreciation.

Try appreciating others as well as yourself. It can make a radical change in the way we think and live. We can be a blessing or a curse to others-the choice is ours.

Article By: Sara Babu, St.Teresa’s College

Chemistry of Women

Element – Woman Symbol - Wn.

Discovery - Discovered by Adam in nascent form. Surplus in urban areas.

Physical Properties

• Boils at any temperature
• Freezes at nothing.
• Melts when properly treated.
• Very bitter if not used well.
• Unstable under pressure.
• Atomic weight is about 40-60 kgs.

Chemical Properties

• Possesses great affinity for gold, silver, platinum and precious stones.
• Reacts violently if left alone.
• Has ability to absorb great quantities of food.

Uses

• Highly ornamental.
• Useful as an equalizer in distribution of wealth.
• Most effective income reducing agent known to man.

Tests

• Turns pale when placed besides a better looking specimen.

Caution

• Highly explosive in experienced hands.

Article By: Cismol P Mathew, St.Teresa’s College

The Secret of Attaining Greatness

What is the secret of attaining greatness I our life? We all desire to become great, to attain high positions. Great goals and aspirations can lead a person to success.

Once the disciples of Jesus Christ argued among themselves as to who was the greatest of them. Do you know what Jesus told them? ‘Whoever wants to be first must place himself the last of all’. Greatness does not lie in power, position or wealth but in one’s character and behavior.
I am reminded of a little girl Vimala who in a dream saw herself in a shop, with God at the counter. She was surprised at this and wanted to know what all things were sold there. God told her that whatever she desired was available there. Then Vimala said, “I want to have love, joy, knowledge, courage and strength”. Then God answered, “Child! I don’t sell fruits here. I sell only seeds. But if you plant these seeds, they will grow into big plants and trees yielding useful fruits. I can give you the seeds, but it is your duty to sow them and tend the plants and trees, which will yield fruits of good quality. You must share them with others.”

It is true that we should have role models to guide us. But whom do we consider as our heroes- film stars, sports persons, politicians, models? What are the qualities that we appreciate in others? Is it beauty, pride, power, position? Think of the ordinary people we meet in our daily life- our parents who are loving and airing, sincere and devoted teachers who strive to mould us into responsible citizens, the postman who is punctual and systematic in bringing our letters, the honest clerk in an office- shouldn’t we appreciate their virtues?

We should emulate and imbibe all these noble qualities to become worthy citizens who can shoulder the responsibility of leading our nation to success and glory.

Article by: Ann Abraham, St Teresa’s College

Whenever You Fall, Pick Up Something

Human beings, the only inhabitants of the world who tried to gasp the forces of nature, who tried to control these forces, who tried to produce similar artificial forces, once again proved to be a big zero. Nature along with fate- an unrevealed mystery for man- made man the loser. He lost his possessions including his beloved ones.

Man is always after luxury. His luxurious living constantly diverts his thoughts and makes him careless. Our ancestors granted us the knowledge that we can see bubbles along with tides before the giant killer- waves. This is a signal given by nature. But who bothers about these signals. If we are not able to analyze things in the right manner at the right time or if we are not able to foresee the possible disasters that could take millions of innocent lives, it is time to ask probing questions about the utility of scientific progress.

We know that Tsunami struck on 23rd August 1883 and 22nd May 1960. Then it is man’s carelessness which made him ignore the possibilities of another Tsunami, which could come anywhere at any time. All natural calamities remind us that we should always be aware of the natural disasters which are uncontrollable and which still remain a complete mystery to man.

If we ever tried to foresee disasters which could come to our brothers and sisters we would control the massacre by Tsunami to a great extent through safety awareness classes. But now in a world of competition, who thinks of others and their sufferings? All are in a mood to find out more pleasures and to be in a wonder land. But the mighty sword of nature reminds us year after year that we are nothing.

Presently, all humanity conveys their condolesens to the victims. It is our duty to wipe their tears and give them the inspiration to live. It’s we who should support them. Watch out! It may be our family and our relatives who may have to suffer next time. Let us give the afflicted the emotional support they need the only effective support which could bring them back to normal life. Let them be comforted by the hope that those who have lost their lives might be enjoying divine bliss in Heaven.

Practice in life these words ‘whenever you fall, pick up something’. Having seen all these calamities let’s pledge to work hard to keep the balance in nature, to protest against any activity in the name of development which would spoil our beautiful nature. This might help to reduce natural calamities which burst out when nature tries to rearrange itself to accommodate the changes made by man and by the passage of time. Let us bear in mind the wise saying “the virtue of adversity is fortitude” or “sweet are the uses of adversity” and do something constructive.

Article by: Treesa Angel, St. Teresa’s College

Peace

“Peace rules the day, where reason rules the mind.”

In today’s world, which is dominated by materialism and consumerism pride, ego and selfishness get prime spot as peace is pushed into the background. The perspectives of peace are also different to different nations and individuals. This also creates problems. If Iraq war was fought ostensibly in the name of peace, it only created chaos in that country. This proves that the search for peace needs a broader understanding of peace and the use of a nonviolent method to achieve it.

Peace does not breed in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust, so mutual understanding and trust is prerequisite to peace. Peace making is usually perceived in the narrow sense of diplomacy and relationship between nations. The pervasive element of peace makes it a unifying force. Development happens when there is peace. So achieving peace is of extreme importance to every human being, in the realization of his potential.

Some say that the ultimate peace is elusive. Since every individual is different in his outlook and interests, there will always be conflicts. But this view gives us a notion that yearning for peace is futile. But only the existence of peace has made the survival of human race possible. So the choice for peace is a choice for life and its survival. To quote Pope John XXIII:

“We supplicate all rulers not to remain deaf to the cry of mankind. Let them do everything in their power to save peace. By so doing, they will spare the world the horrors of a war that would have disastrous consequences, such as nobody can foresee,”

Article by: Josna George,St.Teresa’s College

A Kiss Is.........

Teacher of Geometry : A kiss is the shortest distance between two points.
Teacher of Algebra : A kiss is divided by nothing.
Teacher of Physiology : A kiss is the contraction of mouth due to the expansion of the heart.
Teacher of Chemistry : A kiss is the reaction of the interaction between two hearts.
Teacher of Zoology : A kiss is the interchange of universal salivary bacteria.
Teacher of Accountancy : A kiss is a credit because it is profitable when returned.
Teacher of Economics : A kiss is the thing for which the demand is higher than supply.
Teacher of Philosophy : A kiss is persecution for the child, ecstasy for the youth and
homage for the old.

Article By: Cismol P Mathew, St.Teresa’s College

Live Out Your Dreams

We sometimes come across phases when life seems engulfed in a mire of doubt and bleakness. Nothing seems to work well for us and the roads we take lead us nowhere. We gaze hopelessly at the life of great souls and wonder how they got to be what they are. Perhaps, we reason to ourselves, we have been born at the wrong time, at the wrong place, to the wrong parents, to the wrong world… Some feel thwarted by the situations in our country. Why don’t our countrymen be more open minded? Why don’t opportunities knock at my door? The list of ‘why don’ts and ‘how comes’ is endless. But let us reflect for a moment the significance of our self. We are, whether we believe it or not, a part of a greater plan of God. We have been born where we are, to carry out some goal which is part of the Universe. True that we to get lost sometimes. But, being cogs of the wheel we cannot afford to derail the whole plan. Then how do we derive inspiration to move forward and accept life for what it is? We can learn to do it by reading the map of our lives. The omens that God strews on the path will reveal themselves to every open mind. Hope, that last element in Pandora’s Box, is what makes man’s life worth living.

Ask any psychologist what works wonders in a man’s life and they will inevitably point out a positive attitude. This can be cultivated only if we are alert to the language of the Heart. A great source of inspiration is books. Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of the readers forever. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is an unsurpassed example of such a work. The philosophy is simple yet pregnant with truth: it is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting, Santiago, an Andalusia shepherd boy yearns to travel across the world. He hopes to find a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain, he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. The alchemist teaches the boy very many valuable lessons which every human can appreciate. The greatest lesson is that we have to listen to our heart. The heart knows all things because it came from the soul of the world. Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it is because that desire originated in the soul. The entire universe conspires in helping you achieve it. To read omens is also very essential for the realization of our goals. To understand these God sent impulses or stimuli we need to take time out for ourselves (refer to one of those famous Oprah Winfred shows aired on star world). A little quiet and peace, a few moments of solitude can do wonders in revealing our true purpose in life.

Many of the problems the present age faces can be traced to the lack of connection humans feel with nature, the greater world around him. The only secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world. Another realization that ought to seep into our being is that the soul is not just a human gift; everything on the face of the earth has a soul, whether mineral, vegetable or animal- evens a simple thought. Remember those immortal lines of Blake in Auguries of Innocence:

“To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour”

An hour spent for a walk on a beach early morning or late evening, a glorious vision of the sunrise or sunset, moments spent just watching the changing colours of the trackless sky, a walk through the forest taking in it sounds and sights, observing the love in the eye of your loved ones (even the faithful pet dog or any other animal will do, believe me!) or even a few moments up on the terrace of one’s own house watching the flitting butterflies, birds and clouds can be moments of everlasting glory. These eternal moments with nature will reveal to us slowly the ways of attaining our goal. These are moments when God speaks o us. Let us remember Anne Frank’s words in her diary:
Wed 23 Feb 1944,

As long as this exists; this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad? The best remedy for those who are frightened, lonely or unhappy is to go outside; some where they can be alone, alone with the sky, nature and God. For then and only then can you feel that everything’s is as it should be and that God wants people to be happy?
Such a harmony with the elements around us can work wonders in transforming our lives. Coelho was right when he wrote that life is really generous to those who pursue their destiny. Our heart is alive. Keep listening to what it has to say.

Article by: V.Gayalakshmi,St. Teresa’s College

Automobiles: Enemies Of Earth

Whenever I see the tempting ads of automobiles, the terrifying picture of global warming comes to my mind. These machines from the day of their birth till they reach the junkyard are the enemies of our beautiful planet. As comfort has become an indispensable part of modern life, one cannot now think of a life-style without these dangerous machines. New models of cars with added comfort and greater fuel consumption hit the street every day. When the temptation to purchase a car grips us, we never think of the harm these machines do to the environment. By owing a car we contribute to the destruction of our wonderful earth.

Fossil fuel excavation, increase in the production of vehicles, and the growth of industry have been going on at a rapid rate for the past few decades. In the name of development we have been exploiting natural resources without any thought of the damage this will cause. Atmospheric pollution has been increasing at an alarming rate. Now we have reached a stage of irreversible changes in the environment. The greatest threat that is looming large in the present century is the problem of global warming.

Global warming is a phenomenon which is going to endanger the survival of human beings on the earth. It can result in the rising if sea level all over the world due to the melting of snow in the arctic region. The changes in regional climate could alter forest, crop yields and water supplies. The evil effects of this cannot be fully predicted now. It may be more terrifying than we predict now.

Global warming is caused by the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other green house gases in the atmosphere. The concentration of these gases in the atmosphere will trap the radiation from the sun and will result in increasing atmospheric temperature. The earth’s surface temperature has risen in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. We have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of green house gases, primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface, in turn; the earth radiates the energy back into space. Atmospheric green house gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases) trap some of the outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a green house. Without this natural “greenhouse effect,” temperatures would be much lower than they are now, and life as known today would not be possible. However, problems may arise when the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases. Direct manifestations of a wide spread and long-term trend toward warmer global temperatures will result in heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather, ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding, glaciers melting and Arctic and Antarctic warming. A continued warming may bring many communicable diseases, earlier spring arrival, plant and animal range shifting and population changes, downpours, heavy snowfalls, flooding, drought and fire.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%; methane concentrations have more than doubled; and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%. These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth’s atmosphere. As a result the snow covers in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century. All these are clear indications that it is time for action; otherwise we will have to pay a great price for our inactivity.

It is a crime to think: “we don’t care, we are now safe.” The problem of global warming may sound unreal to those who are not aware of the enormity of the danger. If we do not preserve our wonderful earth for our future generations who else will do it? Many nations have become aware of this and as a result the singing of Kyoto Treaty has taken place. The Kyoto Protocol went into effect on Wednesday 16 February 2005. Its 141 member nations have to cut emissions of the greenhouse gases linked to climate change. But there are certain debatable issues that are still remaining. Will Europe and Japan, which must make deep cuts in their emissions under the treaty, be able to do so without hurting their economics? Will the U.S. government, which pulled out of the protocol in 2001, continue to oppose the international negotiations on climate change? And will the automobile companies make cuts in operations and remain satisfied with lesser profit? Many questions are still unanswered, but one thing is sure that this is a positive move in the right direction. In this dehumanizing age this gives a ray of hope for the humanity.

President George Bush has decided not to sign Kyoto Treaty saying that it will affect their economy. But even in the U.S.A. there are people who are aware of the problem and the placards, “To Humanity, hey George, Sign Kyoto” that have appeared before the White House are a clear indication of their feelings. One should remember the fact the U.S.A. is one of the nations which is causing the maximum amount of atmospheric pollution. In the United States, approximately 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases are emitted per person have increased about 3.4% between 1990and 1997. Most of these emissions, about 82%, are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and also to power their cars. The remaining emissions are from methane from waters in their landfills, natural gas pipelines, and coal, as well as from industrial chemicals and other sources.

Fortunately, we can take action to slowdown global warming. To reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides, we can curb our consumption of fossil fuels, use technologies that reduce the amount of emissions wherever possible, and protect the world’s forests. We can also introduce new technology to mitigate the impacts of global warming. Through careful long-term planning and other strategies we can reduce global warming. Many people in European countries are switching over to public transport systems rather than using cars. The use of automobiles has been discouraged or controlled in some of the campuses in Europe.

Clearly, global warming is a serious problem that deserves serious attention. Every-one governments, industry, communities and individuals should work together to make a real difference. If we are convinced of its effects then we should also shoulder the responsibility to fight against it and also to make others aware of its massive effects. If we don’t show enough interest in it then we are doing a crime against the human race. The awareness and remedy should go hand in hand and should create a wonderful world to live in. We should advocate policies that will reduce global warming and should think of alternative fuels for our vehicles, find renewable energy sources and stop cutting valuable forests. If these things can be done, then the earth will become the most beautiful place to live in.

Article by: Lima Antony,St. Teresa’s College

Reel Culture V/S Real Culture

Think twice before you go for a movie. Which would you prefer- a Bollywood or a Hollywood one? With the content remaining the same both offer you loads of crap in the name of wholesome entertainment. In the dream factory of Bollywood, aspirations are being fulfilled, even as more are born every second. In a nation of a billion fantasies there is always a new star in the making. The new age actors are ready to go to any extent for the character to be safe in their hands.

Indian movies are no longer ambassadors of Indian culture. With directors trying hard to draw a line between the aesthetic and the vulgar, Indian movies seem to be deteriorating in quality day by day. Gone are the days when film makers made movies for the satisfaction of their creativity. Today’s film makers make movies for fame and wealth. If any of you, the wannabe actors read this article let me illustrate what you should do to be a part of the crowd. Criterion no: 1 is that you should be a director’s actor, the director will tune your system clock and you have to perform. If you try to register your protest it will be considered as an act of interference on your part as there is a thin line between passion and interference. Indian movies are neither at Cannes nor at the prestigious Oscars. They are exclusively the ‘MADE IN INDIA’ brand meant for titillating Indian audiences. Why would the jury prefer Indian movies for Hollywood ones? The movies featured at Cannes and Oscars are typical of different cultures. The actors seemed to have lost the appetite to explore the unexplored realms of cinema. The Indian entertainment industry has lost its credibility, sensibility and sensitivity.

With banal talk shows and phone-in programmes the situation in the TV-industry is no different. The attractive youth who picks up the phone never forgets to ‘welcome’ you and ‘Thank you’ for calling. Cinemas rather than becoming a medium of social change are trying to promote a new culture among the youth. Premarital sex, live-in relationships or divorce were taboo for the middle class a decade ago, but today’s youth gracefully approves all that.

News channels carry tales of sleazy actions caught on camera. Spy cameras are omnipresent and omniscient causing havoc not only to people at work places but also to politicians, housewives and executives who get caught red-handed. From a multicultural society India seems to have transformed itself into a monoculture one which is in sync with the western world. The work of Indians should be a celebration of Indianans. The private domain has become public spectacle with formatted reality shows, 24 hours news, eternally remixed videos and endless film promos. The line between real and reel is no longer distinct. With the urge to emerge on the international scenes Indians seem to have divorced Indian culture.

Article by: Neethi Jayakrishnan,St. Teresa’s College

The Black Sunday

It was a peaceful Sunday and the streets wore a tired look after the just concluded Christmas celebrations. As the sun rose slowly spreading its rays of joy, the people too woke up to welcome the day with a bright smile-as mile never to come back to their faces.
December 26, 2004 will forever remain etched in the world’s collective consciousness as massive ocean waves triggered by an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra ravaged almost half a dozen of the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean. Nature’s ferocity in the form of Tsunami, which returned to devastate after a gap of around 60 years, plunged the whole region in shock and grief. It has brought the world to a screeching halt to take cognizance of the fact that nothing is predictable.
The earthquake, which recorded a whopping 8.9 on the Richter scale-the fifth largest since the beginning of the 21st century-was a foretaste of things to come. Within minutes, the earthquake unleashed a devastating Tsunami as high as 6 meters, which first hit the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Maldives. These spreading walls of water took more than one hour to reach India and Sri Lanka to wreak havoc across the coastal areas of this region, cutting a swathe of destruction and death. The Tsunami though a rare phenomenon in the South Asian region set everybody pondering over its occurrence.
Tsunami, a Japanese word meaning harbor wave, is a silent wave generated when the sea floor is ruptured by seismic action thereby displacing the overlying water in the ocean. These waves cannot be felt aboard ships nor can they be seen from the air in the open ocean. But as the Tsunami approaches the coastal waters, the long waves pile on one another thereby attaining a mammoth size, which lashes the shore devouring the entire region.
The calamitous effect of such an unprecedented catastrophe is unimaginable. The victims of this tragedy were mostly poor people, on account of the proximity of their houses to the sea. People taking a stroll on the beaches, vendors gearing themselves for a busy ahead, fisher folk just back from their fishing ventures, tourists rejuvenating themselves in the cool fresh air of a Sunday morning and trying to feel the tickle of water on their feet, children taking positions on their regular playground… they were all swept away by these gigantic waves which turned the whole place into a ghost town. And what remained was debris of bodies lying strewn in an undignified manner, destroyed catamarans and fishing vessels. Cars and motorbikes lifted by the waves lay mangled. Where once stood fragile huts and sturdy buildings dotting the beach, today one can see nothing but a wasteland.
No sooner had the news of the cataclysm come out than the government was quick in reacting to the situation by ordering the state governments and other officials to roll up their sleeves and start the relief operations. But for those who lost their rays of hope, it will take more than relief measures to expunge the memories of that black day.

Article by: S. Gopika Gopakumar,St.Teresa’s College

'Discrimination' It Starts From The Womb

It is agreed by all that man and woman are different. In addition to the differences in physiology they also differ in their thoughts and sensibilities. But these differences have been conveniently termed by society as gender inequalities. Gender inequalities are prevalent in societies which are patriarchal. A patriarchal society is one in which men are privileged over women. Feminists argue that societies all over the world are patriarchal. Thus gender inequality is a world-wide phenomenon.

In a patriarchal society, women are discriminated against and are subjugated. This discrimination starts right from or even before the birth of a child. Female infanticide is quite common now, especially in rural areas. The female fetus is eliminated in the womb itself. Nobel laureate Prof. Amartya Sen. calls female feticide ‘the high-tech’ mode of discrimination. Technology is used by man so as to eliminate the female fetus. Though pre-natal sex determination has been made illegal, this continues to take place followed by the abortion of the female fetus. This has led to the alarming reduction in the sex ratio (Which is the number of female per male). This makes the life of women even more dangerous as their exploitation will increase. In certain rural areas of north India, there is such a scarcity of women that women are bought from neighboring villages. These women are used by all the men in the family. The price of a woman is Rs.2000 there; a buffalo costs as much as Rs.5000. This is the ugly state of affairs to which the world is rapidly moving.

Even during childhood, the female child suffers. She is given less food than her brother, leading to malnutrition. In rural areas, it is considered useless to send a girl child to school. Instead she is trained to become a housewife while her brothers are sent to school. Even if a girl child is sent to school, higher education is often denied to her.

Marriage and child bearing are presented as the focal pints of a woman’s life. The girls are constantly schooled in the thought that they do not belong to their house. They are trained to give priority to the needs of others and ignore theirs. All this assists in their subjugation.
Even professional women suffer from inequality. Often higher posts in employment are denied to them. Furthermore many women do not go for promotions as they have to think of their family. Promotions invariably mean transfers. So in order to be with their family, women often sacrifice their desires for professional advancement. Furthermore, life of the working woman is all the more difficult since she is expected to balance her profession with her family life.
Though gender inequality is said to be more prevalent in South Asia, it is present even in the advanced countries of the world. Many South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka, have had, or even now have female heads of government. But this has not been the case with other advanced countries.

Coming back to the position of women in a patriarchal set up, this is where women are most discriminated against. Women occupy a pivotal role in the family in such a society, but it is the men who dominate. Right from childhood, a definite code of conduct binds the women. Their talents and capabilities are suppressed in the interest of men’s ego.
Amartya Sen. also points to the consequences of discrimination against the girl child. Nutritional discrimination leads to severe malnutrition in girls. When later in life, these girls become mothers, this affects their children too. The children are often born underweight. Studies link many adult diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart problems to the low weight and severe malnutrition during childhood. Thus in the end, men suffer more than women due to the discrimination against women which seems to come back like a boomerang and haunt them with a vengeance.

Violence against women is also on the rise. Often the oppressors go unpublished. The times are so bad that neither a small girl nor an old woman is safe. Society is more interested in victimizing the woman than in punishing the oppressors.

Different aspects of gender inequality have been eliminated-But some are still on the rise. Women from the corner stone of human civilization. It is essential that she be treated equal with man. Furthermore, she should be respected for what she is. Feminists argue that the difference between man and woman is one of kind and not of degree. It is high time both men and women realize the exploitation of women and provide a discrimination free existence for them.

Article by: Asha Antony,St.Teresa’s College

The Mirror That Cracked

Staring at my reflection in the cracked mirror I wondered about the fate that had conspired against me. I wondered why that overpowering benevolence which some call God gave me this loveless existence. Tears streaked away the cheap powder on my cheeks. Quickly I redid my make up but even my best efforts couldn’t hide the pain, misery & hunger in my eyes.

Bright red lipstick, low cut chollies and pleated lehangas can no longer attract customers in the old age. Sitting alone in the verandah in the cobbled street I slowly slipped back to my reminiscences…. So sweet… yet so bitter…

I feel my biggest misfortune was being born into a family of overachievers. My Dad was a prosperous business man in his sixties. In my eyes he was a charmer, a creature as vile as a snake, never to miss an opportunity to make illegal thousands in shady deals. Appropriately his favorite axiom was ‘The end justifies the means’.

Mom, who ought to be synonym for love and sacrifice, was to me like the rude step mothers in fiction. My Mom was an alien in my life; she was no more than a visitor in home. High society world of glitz and glamour was her home and hearth. To my dad she was another trophy to be shown off before others.

My sister was always busy either winning beauty pageants or scholarships. I always watched with amusement tinged with jealousy at the number of boys who queued at her feet ready to slay dragons for her.

I always felt like an intruder in this family. While my sister was stunning I was just a plain Jane. I had neither beauty nor brains neither charm nor charisma. Once I openly heard my dad remark to his friends that I was his little mistake. His friends roared with laughter.

Love seemed like a forbidden fruit to me. The harder I tried the farther it seemed to be. Even God seemed to be playing a joke with me. I was always afraid of dreams. In my dreams I saw people loving me, a family loving me. Everything was beautiful and everywhere I found love. I dreaded waking into the cruel reality. I had shed tears late into the night for love. In those hours I seriously contemplated if my existence was really a mistake.

I vividly remember the day I left home. I had not planned it before. It just happened. Servants had retired to their quarters. Bored of watching. T.V. alone, I loitered to my parent’s room. On a sudden impulse I opened the bed side drawer. I was more than surprised when I took my mother’s diary from it. I never knew she had even kept one. Flipping through the pages I realized, not for the first time, that she was ashamed of me…..ashamed of being seen with me…. Ashamed of being known as my mother….ashamed of giving birth to me….

Though I had sensed it before, reading it from my Mom’s diary written in her own hand was a blow from which I never recovered. I knew then that hopping things would look up one day was akin to my unattainable dreams about love.

Looking back, I don’t remember much about the ensuing events. I left home penniless, walked to the bus stand in mild rain and my drenched clothes attracted a lot of hungry stares. I got into the first bus I saw. Somebody bought me a ticket and some food which I later realized had been drugged.

I found myself in this brothel when I woke up. My body was badly battered and bruised. Here I saw women shed all pretences of dignity, displaying their ample wares to get a mouthful of food a day. Like me the others here don’t know what love is.They foolishly craved for it once, and like me had left home in pursuit of it and found themselves here. So I am home….in a sense…lost among loveless souls….

Big isolated raindrops wake me from my stupor. No sign of customers…another day without food. Slowly…sadly I retreated to my hovel…nobody is there waiting for me…I am wedded to loneliness and poverty. Yet I thrive in pursuit of love…because I am in love with love.

Article by: Sherbin Salim,St.Teresa’s College

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