A few years ago, while in college a friend of mine told me this story relating to Mangalore. He went on to tell me that according to Hindu mythology after the great sage Parashuram had nearly annihilated the kshatriyas and satiated his anger, had arrived at the mainland near modern day Mangalore and flung his great axe into the sea. It seems an island was formed on the spot where the axe landed and gradually over a period of time, this island joined the mainland. He described that this very island was modern day Dakshina Kannada and that is why it is described as Parashuram Shristi or creation of Parashuram. This therefore was and would always remain a land of peace and tranquillity. I am not an expert in Hindu scriptures and mythology, but as I grew up I really believed this story.
That was so until recently, but today I am not sure at all. The recent incidents in Mangalore have been so shocking and it is hard to imagine if this is the same Mangalore that I grew up in. While we were school kids any kind of communal tension was completely alien to us. I studied in a catholic institution until my pre-university days. Right from the beginning we would have students from all communities and backgrounds studying with us. We had a Hindu majority in each class, followed by Christians, Muslims and Jains. We had a few students from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and here and there a few North Indians as well. We would joke and poke fun at each other, but none of these jokes were taken seriously. Any religious festivity like Diwali, Dasara, Christmas, Easter or Eid was an occasion to be celebrated by all. Students belonging to other communities would treat us with sweets or some goodies whenever they celebrated a religious event at home. In our neighbourhood we had Hindus, Christians and Muslims all living together in peace and harmony. During our school vacations we would all be seen playing together in playgrounds or at a friend’s place eating food and having fun together. Religion, caste, creed and languages were simply not part of any discussions. During the famous Car festival, Sri Krishna Jayanti processions or the Dasara processions people belonging to all faiths would join in the processions and mingle with friends. Mangalore indeed was the greatest place to be on earth then.
Today the Mangalore of my school days seems to have suddenly vanished from the face of the earth. It has become a city without a soul and a heart. People who have lived together in peace and harmony for decades suddenly have become strangers to each other. There is suspicion, animosity and mistrust everywhere. Even cracking any silly joke on a person from another community has the potential of creating a riot. We have better roads, more modern buildings, better infrastructure, yet when the whole country is moving forward, we Mangaloreans have taken definite steps backwards. Areas of the city are becoming enclaves where only communities of one faith live. In short each community is beginning to form its own enclave and trying to isolate itself from the rest.
How and when did this change take place? The recent unfortunate incidents are not the beginning but only a culmination of the rot that must have been brewing for some time now. Nobody noticed it to take timely measures before it began to fester. We do have this habit of blaming politicians and the communal agenda that they adopt. To a large extent this is true, but how did a city of intelligent and educated people let themselves be led and brainwashed this way? We have some of the best educational institutions in Mangalore, We are considered the cradle of Indian banking. Mangaloreans are spread far and wide across the seven seas distinguishing themselves in each and every field and they have been our idols and source of encouragement. Yet we find ourselves in this pathetic situation today.
Every other day in the National media we hear news about Mangalore. Most of them are not good or pleasant to hear. Crime and murders, underworld, moral policing, attacks and destruction of religious places, Communal tensions, beating up of women on the streets are all the news that we get to see and hear. We are the subject of discussions and debates on several national channels frequently. Any incident taking place elsewhere is being described as the repeat or example of the Mangalore incidents. On a sarcastic note I could say that today probably the whole of India and most people from overseas are familiar with Mangalore. We are a famous city today, but for all the wrong reasons. Parents from far away who were looking forward to send their kids to our colleges have begun looking elsewhere. They no longer find it safe to send their children here.
Not so long ago, we Mangaloreans were considered to be highly educated, ultra modern, secular and fun loving. But, today we find ourselves in a situation where we are ashamed to reveal our Mangalorean identity to outsiders. When questioned about the recent events we try to avoid giving answers as we have none to offer.
The recent political events too have taken a serious toll. We today belong to one of the two camps or parties. One describes the other as fundamentalist party and the other reciprocates by calling the opposite as a minority appeasement party. We have totally lost our identity as peace loving and patriotic Mangaloreans who were proud of our roots and our culture and our city.
Where then does the solution lie? I am not really sure. Nobody is trying to make the first move in trying to rebuild the broken bridges. Each one is waiting for the perceived party, to render an apology, and make amends. Each one irrespective of his religion thinks that he is the victim who has been wronged, and is waiting for the other side to right this wrong. Our community and religious leaders have no solutions to offer. Our political leaders are extremely happy with the situation. We have easily fallen into the trap that they had set for us. While we are crying today they are laughing and reaping the benefits created by our division. The Law enforcement agencies are the most mistrusted of the lot. They are trusted by nobody.
We therefore have to look at solutions within ourselves as no help will come from outside. This disease from which all of us are suffering is only self curable. Each one of us needs to introspect very deeply, and to come out of this trance that we are caught up in, to understand that we are one irrespective of our religious affiliations. We need to understand that religion is a private matter and does not belong to the public domain. Religion is not an instrument to be misused and mutilated at will. We need to understand our neighbour his religion, his culture, his habits and respect him. In today’s world you don’t impose your will on others, but learn to live together in mutual respect.
I am sure that wisdom will dawn upon each of us sooner than later, and that the most beautiful place on earth Mangalore will regain its past glory as the friendliest and most welcome place on earth. It will once again transform itself into an abode of peace and tranquillity, The real Parashuram Shristi as my friend once described it to me.
That was so until recently, but today I am not sure at all. The recent incidents in Mangalore have been so shocking and it is hard to imagine if this is the same Mangalore that I grew up in. While we were school kids any kind of communal tension was completely alien to us. I studied in a catholic institution until my pre-university days. Right from the beginning we would have students from all communities and backgrounds studying with us. We had a Hindu majority in each class, followed by Christians, Muslims and Jains. We had a few students from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and here and there a few North Indians as well. We would joke and poke fun at each other, but none of these jokes were taken seriously. Any religious festivity like Diwali, Dasara, Christmas, Easter or Eid was an occasion to be celebrated by all. Students belonging to other communities would treat us with sweets or some goodies whenever they celebrated a religious event at home. In our neighbourhood we had Hindus, Christians and Muslims all living together in peace and harmony. During our school vacations we would all be seen playing together in playgrounds or at a friend’s place eating food and having fun together. Religion, caste, creed and languages were simply not part of any discussions. During the famous Car festival, Sri Krishna Jayanti processions or the Dasara processions people belonging to all faiths would join in the processions and mingle with friends. Mangalore indeed was the greatest place to be on earth then.
Today the Mangalore of my school days seems to have suddenly vanished from the face of the earth. It has become a city without a soul and a heart. People who have lived together in peace and harmony for decades suddenly have become strangers to each other. There is suspicion, animosity and mistrust everywhere. Even cracking any silly joke on a person from another community has the potential of creating a riot. We have better roads, more modern buildings, better infrastructure, yet when the whole country is moving forward, we Mangaloreans have taken definite steps backwards. Areas of the city are becoming enclaves where only communities of one faith live. In short each community is beginning to form its own enclave and trying to isolate itself from the rest.
How and when did this change take place? The recent unfortunate incidents are not the beginning but only a culmination of the rot that must have been brewing for some time now. Nobody noticed it to take timely measures before it began to fester. We do have this habit of blaming politicians and the communal agenda that they adopt. To a large extent this is true, but how did a city of intelligent and educated people let themselves be led and brainwashed this way? We have some of the best educational institutions in Mangalore, We are considered the cradle of Indian banking. Mangaloreans are spread far and wide across the seven seas distinguishing themselves in each and every field and they have been our idols and source of encouragement. Yet we find ourselves in this pathetic situation today.
Every other day in the National media we hear news about Mangalore. Most of them are not good or pleasant to hear. Crime and murders, underworld, moral policing, attacks and destruction of religious places, Communal tensions, beating up of women on the streets are all the news that we get to see and hear. We are the subject of discussions and debates on several national channels frequently. Any incident taking place elsewhere is being described as the repeat or example of the Mangalore incidents. On a sarcastic note I could say that today probably the whole of India and most people from overseas are familiar with Mangalore. We are a famous city today, but for all the wrong reasons. Parents from far away who were looking forward to send their kids to our colleges have begun looking elsewhere. They no longer find it safe to send their children here.
Not so long ago, we Mangaloreans were considered to be highly educated, ultra modern, secular and fun loving. But, today we find ourselves in a situation where we are ashamed to reveal our Mangalorean identity to outsiders. When questioned about the recent events we try to avoid giving answers as we have none to offer.
The recent political events too have taken a serious toll. We today belong to one of the two camps or parties. One describes the other as fundamentalist party and the other reciprocates by calling the opposite as a minority appeasement party. We have totally lost our identity as peace loving and patriotic Mangaloreans who were proud of our roots and our culture and our city.
Where then does the solution lie? I am not really sure. Nobody is trying to make the first move in trying to rebuild the broken bridges. Each one is waiting for the perceived party, to render an apology, and make amends. Each one irrespective of his religion thinks that he is the victim who has been wronged, and is waiting for the other side to right this wrong. Our community and religious leaders have no solutions to offer. Our political leaders are extremely happy with the situation. We have easily fallen into the trap that they had set for us. While we are crying today they are laughing and reaping the benefits created by our division. The Law enforcement agencies are the most mistrusted of the lot. They are trusted by nobody.
We therefore have to look at solutions within ourselves as no help will come from outside. This disease from which all of us are suffering is only self curable. Each one of us needs to introspect very deeply, and to come out of this trance that we are caught up in, to understand that we are one irrespective of our religious affiliations. We need to understand that religion is a private matter and does not belong to the public domain. Religion is not an instrument to be misused and mutilated at will. We need to understand our neighbour his religion, his culture, his habits and respect him. In today’s world you don’t impose your will on others, but learn to live together in mutual respect.
I am sure that wisdom will dawn upon each of us sooner than later, and that the most beautiful place on earth Mangalore will regain its past glory as the friendliest and most welcome place on earth. It will once again transform itself into an abode of peace and tranquillity, The real Parashuram Shristi as my friend once described it to me.
A well written article.. My heart aches to see Mangalore going to the dogs.
ReplyDelete----Pependri, Boston
Long for the good old days ,the good old friends in good old mangalore-Insanity in individuals is something rare-but in groups,parties,nation and epochs,it is a rule.
ReplyDelete