Margamkali no longer an integral tradition among Nazranis

By Sachin Jose
KOTTAYAM: Margamkali, a group dance performed by Nazrani community (Saint Thomas Christians) of Kerala, has now become a rarity due to westernisation.

     The word "Margam" or path refers to the Way of Cross, while the nilavilakku represents Jesus Christ and the performers his 12 disciples.

     In 1985, the art form was introduced as an item of competition in school festivals. Later, it was introduced at university level, where it became a subject of study, research and competition.

       Seventy-eight-year-old Chinnamma, a Margamkali Asatti (teacher), said, "Women are reluctant to wear the traditional chatta and mundu and they have forgotten the old traditions."

Revival of the Nehruvian Asian Axis

By Sachin Jose

     It was one of the Nehruvian dreams to create an Asian Axis after Second World War with India and China at its core. The Panchsheel principles were developed in the light of this vision. But it fell into disrepair owing to the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

    However, the two countries had peacefully co-existed as great civilisations for several millennia without having taken any belligerent move against each other. They were one of the leading centres of ancient culture and technology. Also, India and China were part of the ancient Silk Road and the colonial Spice Route.

    Likewise in the modern era, the two giants should hold hands together to retrieve the "lost riches of the East," which was plundered by colonial greed. Instead of considering each other as first-rate rivals, leading to border skirmishes and incursions, they must increase bilateral ties.

     A series of high-level meetings in the past five years has shown that China is keen to make an ally of India. But both countries need to refrain from provoking each other. China has to lessen their involvement in South Asia and the Indian Ocean littoral countries while India is obliged to refrain from interfering in the Pacific with Japan, the USA and the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

     They have conducted strategic exercises together as part of counter-terrorism and maritime security. China must accept India’s hegemony in the Indian Ocean and the surrounding Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, while India must leave the South China Sea and the western half of Pacific under the Chinese dominion.

      Both the nations have been working together in several organisations like G20 and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Last year, the World Bank forecasted that the Sino-Indian bilateral trade would hit $100 billion (Rs 61,850 crore) by 2015 from $ 66.4 billion (Rs 41,068 crore) recorded in 2012.

     The two fast-growing economies need separate forums for themselves within the BRICS or G20. Also, there must be sharing of knowledge and culture so as to strengthen ties between people of both nations.

     Just because they are energy-hungry, they must not eat up each other. There are examples of historical enemies that have turned up as strong allies. Britain, France and Germany had fought each other for centuries, but European Union is now one of the peaceful regions in the world, which won them Nobel Peace Prize last year.

     Similarly, the two potential superpowers can mould Asia into a peaceful continent, which has the highest number of nuclear powers and thereby restore the Oriental hegemony. The governments of both nations must realize this fact so that their citizens shall once again chant the once popular mantra, “Hindi-Chini, bhai-bhai” – Indians and Chinese are brothers.

Vadavathoor to be shut down on Dec 31

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: The municipality is unsure of adhering to the Dec 31 deadline to stop dumping organic waste at Vadavathoor, while local residents insist on shutting it down the same day.

    According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) betweem Vijayapuram Panchayat and the municipality reached on July 6, all waste except organic shall be transported to the dumping yard from next year.

    However, Vijayapuram Panchayat President Baiju Cherukottayil said, "On New Year's Eve, the dumping yard will be shut down and even inorganic waste will not be allowed."

    A local resident, Raju Thomas, said, "We were betrayed by successive governments over years. We are ready to face the police and the court as we did six months ago, but no more garbage will be allowed here."

    But, Municipal Chairman MP Santhosh Kumar said that he is "not sure" of sticking to the deadline. "The municipality owns the plot of the dumping yard. However, we signed the MoU in the light of public interest."

    "The so-called Vadavathoor issue is fifty years old and we may not have a solution in six months," added Mr Kumar. "But, we have taken necessary measures, provided we receive support from the public." 

    However, District Collector Ajit Kumar, who chairs the Monitoring Committee to review the progress of waste management, said if either party fails to follow the MoU, the committee will take necessary action and the matter will be discussed Tuesday next.