When little Kerala stopped to protest against Ah-Mary-Kkahand
Cheru Cherian John, WG'08
Issue date: 1/22/07 Section: Perspectives
There was nothing unusual about it, I thought. It was another brand of fiery protestors with red flags in hand. After all, in Kerala, my home state in India, it is not an uncommon sight. Could be one of the issues like rising prices or privatization of engineering education or even increasing theft in the city that has irked the protestors now. Politicians in my state are looking for opportunities to stage a protest. Some illustrious local political leader has even termed the right to protest as his birthright! So this could be just another protest.
Until suddenly…I saw them moving closer to my car...no. They were crossing the street. Some had started pelting stones on the two story Citibank building. I now began to hear their screams better. "Down Down Bush". Placards in the vernacular read "Brave Tiger! Thou would never die". Something was amiss. The man on the placards was none other than the now familiar face with a salt
pepper beard. It was Saddam Hussein. Saddam was executed somewhere deep in the deserts and miles away in my little Kerala (the southernmost state of India), people were protesting against Bush, whom they blame for his death.
Citibank to them was the only possible representative of anything Ah-mary-kkan (America, as it is often pronounced in my home state) that they could get at (After all they recently banned selling Coke across the state alleging the presence of pesticides in it! So there were no more Coke bottles at their disposal to vent their anger). And, to the fiery protestors, pelting stones at a little Citibank
building was their way of expressing resentment against the entire US establishment.
Police had come onto the scene and starting swooshing their batons. The head of the protestors was already on the floor; bleeding. TV cameramen were seen assiduously
covering the police lathi-charge and that protestor screaming with greater vigor recognizing that cameras were now focusing on him. I knew it was time to withdraw from the scene and I still had a good four hours to reach my home.
Until suddenly…I saw them moving closer to my car...no. They were crossing the street. Some had started pelting stones on the two story Citibank building. I now began to hear their screams better. "Down Down Bush". Placards in the vernacular read "Brave Tiger! Thou would never die". Something was amiss. The man on the placards was none other than the now familiar face with a salt
pepper beard. It was Saddam Hussein. Saddam was executed somewhere deep in the deserts and miles away in my little Kerala (the southernmost state of India), people were protesting against Bush, whom they blame for his death.
Citibank to them was the only possible representative of anything Ah-mary-kkan (America, as it is often pronounced in my home state) that they could get at (After all they recently banned selling Coke across the state alleging the presence of pesticides in it! So there were no more Coke bottles at their disposal to vent their anger). And, to the fiery protestors, pelting stones at a little Citibank
building was their way of expressing resentment against the entire US establishment.
Police had come onto the scene and starting swooshing their batons. The head of the protestors was already on the floor; bleeding. TV cameramen were seen assiduously
covering the police lathi-charge and that protestor screaming with greater vigor recognizing that cameras were now focusing on him. I knew it was time to withdraw from the scene and I still had a good four hours to reach my home.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
bipk
bipin karunakaran
posted 7/11/07 @ 5:59 PM EST
Nice article. Being from Kerala I agree people are always wanting to protest about something:)
Anjali
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:47 PM EST
Came here via a link in Ashok's blog! I wonder if the protesters realize what the outcome of the protest is! I don't think they do. If they were to sit down and take stock of the situation, I am sure they would realize that nothing much is gained by these protests and bundhs. (Continued…)
srivatsanr
srivatsan
posted 9/07/08 @ 1:44 PM EST
I was staying at Kochi bang next to Bolghatty island for 02 years. Two things stand out in Kochi. strike/bandhs and love for brandy.( I am not speaking about bus drivers yet)I had to cross 3 protests every day to reach the naval base and back and there used to be huge lines outside the state licensed liquour shops. (Continued…)
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