God’s
own country, as Kerala is popularly called is a distinct land with a cherished
culture and history. It is a beautiful, picturesque
state of the Indian Union and has been a forerunner in progressive thinking, labour rights assertion, leftist leaning and
domination, women empowerment, matrilineal inheritance pattern, total literacy
and communal harmony. This has been in vogue from Independence era and the psyche has remained
undisturbed and progressive over the decades.
As
ill luck would have it, there has been certain
disturbing signs and overtures emanating from God’s own country from selective
groups, both political and apolitical to mobilize, galvanize people on caste and communal lines, which
if unchecked would go
to pave the
way for undesirable
consequences.
The
nation woke up to a rude shock when
some Malayali Muslim youth were killed in
an encounter with the
security forces in Kashmir Valley sometime ago. Even their
parents’ were not
aware of their
wards’ having
gone astray and joined
the rank and file of militant groups in distant Kashmir. They were shattered
within themselves and shamed in the
eyes of the society
and the nation.
What made these youngsters
from down South to
get religiously radicalized, take arms and
wage war against
their motherland? Does it not amount to treason
and treachery of the
worst order ?
Another
shocker came last week when some youth from Kerala were deported by the United
Arab Emirates Government on suspicion of having links with Islamic State - the
dreaded terrorist group. It is worrisome to note that the Emirates Government is likely
to deport many
more in the coming days, most of
them hailing from Kerala
state. Why should
a section of God’s
own country’s young lads have such an affiliation towards a heartless, marauding
group which unleashes
violence
and cruelty of unimaginable
nature on their opponents and fellow
human beings belonging
to other religious
denominations. What a drastic
fall in thinking
and values ! It is very
painful to think
that our youngsters
are going maverick by getting
attracted to such
heinous gangs .
The
Hindu newspaper dated 18-9-2015
featured an article
on Page 9
titled – “ Re-emergence of Diphtheria - Orthodoxy defeats Immunization – People shun
immunization citing religious reasons “.
It narrates the case of ultra orthodox Sunni Muslim families of
Malapuram District who are dissuading the practice of administering
immunization drugs on their children
on religious grounds. Should affliction to faith come at the cost of health ? The article elaborates that nearly 24000 children have been kept away from all
immunization procedures. This has resulted
in the death
of Ameerudeen, a 12 year
old boy of Kondotty, who died of diphtheria.
These narrow, stringent, ultra orthodox views have
been heard of
in Taliban held areas
of Pakistan and Afghanistan,
which has claimed
hundreds of young lives.
We
are aghast to
read and know
that such fanatical,
decrepit mindset prevails in our neighbouring state itself.
It is time
the Muslim leadership
of Kerala – both political and religious, come down
heavily on the scourge of superstition, educate
people to fall
in line and adopt
to modern health care,
thereby joining the national mainstream, instead of playing havoc with the wellbeing of younger generations under the garb of
upholding
orthodoxy.
Is
Talibanism
rearing its ugly
head among a
section of misguided
Kerala youth ? Can anybody desire or
approve of this
tendency to take
shape and grow ?
The Government of Kerala
has a great, onerous responsibility towards
arresting the above said disturbing, dangerous trends.
High time for self introspection
and correction. If not,
there can be no hope for
redemption.
Jai Hind
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