I have noticed that two tribes of people of Kerala-politicians and Christian clergy have absolutely no hesitation in demanding money from poor helpless ordinary beings working hard to earn money for a living as donation with or without any excuse. They consider that extracting money from others is their right. There are several full time politicians in Kerala who never ever do any work in their life. Still they manage to lead a wealthy affluent life. They only have to go and meet any businessman, trader or anyone who struggle hard to make money. Without any hesitation, as if it is their right, they demand money. Even the amount to be paid without any protest will be decided by the great politician. Apart from unimaginable bribes they take for anything and everything, they can simply walk into any establishment or house and demand money. If the person refuses or even try to give lower amount than what is demanded, the powerful politician will teach the hapless person a lesson or two. To a lesser extent even religious clergy also do this extraction of money citing one or other reason. If not paid, he will be treated as someone not showing enough respect to the religion and of course to God
Have you ever wondered why all political parties right from mighty lavlin famous ruling party to CPI, Congress, Muslim League and even party of unwanted Muraleedharan are all conducting political yathras from North end of Kerala to Trivandrum? Before they start the yathras the workers of the party will conduct a severe collection of funds mainly from traders and business men. Running a business in Kerala itself is a troublesome and risky affair. In addition, you have to go on paying as may be demanded by each political party worker. Otherwise they know how to put you in trouble. Political parties do not have any strict accounting. Why should they worry about it as the money is extracted from poor helpless victims without any mercy? The collectors of the fund take their share and give the balance loot to the upper levels. When each of these infamous yathras are simply an excuse to extract money for the organizers of the yathras, no wonder every political party is competing with each other to conduct these yathras.
Each party claims that yathra is for improving the life of the poor helpless unorganized majority people of the state. But so far I have never heard about any benefit any ordinary citizen has got due to the celebration of yathra right from yathra calling a looter as greatest hero of the land to so many yathra to “save and protect” helpless people of Kerala
A Tale of Two Extortions
ReplyDeleteExtortion No. I
A year ago I temporarily shifted my place of residence from the estate to the town owing to my son’s education. He was in school as a boarder from the 1st standard and since he is to appear for the 2009 ICSE exams, bitter half wanted him under her tutelage.
Being a Syrian Catholic it is obligatory for us to attend Holy Mass on all Sundays and The church rules stipulate that anyone who resides in the jurisdiction of a parish for more than six months should transfer their name from the old parish to the new.
The first Sunday I attended Mass at the new place I noticed that the church was not very impressive and thought why the priests had not so far contemplated remodelling it. As if the vicar read my mind, the very next Sunday after the Mass he started a prayer for divine help to renovate the church.
Immediately I sensed what was in store if I joined this parish because just before I relocated from my former place of residence, the vicar there had imposed a hefty donation on me for building the parish hall. The only course of action for me to save from imposition of yet another heavy donation at the new place was to go for Mass at the nearby Latin Church which is an outstanding edifice and definitely not going to be remodelled in the near future.
Incidentally the most expensive piece of real estate at Kottayam is situated at the church cemetery! A 6 feet x 3 feet plot costs Rs. 2 ,00,000/- rate as on 26th Jan.2009.
Extortion No. II
I happen to have a small cardamom plantation is in the high ranges at Vandanmedu in Idukki district of Kerala, a state at the southern most part of India. The plantation was acquired by my grandfather in 1950 in the name of my then 18 year old father from Mr. M.M. Mani Modayil and has been in the family for now nearly 60 years.
Though we are supposed to be the lord and master of our land, there is a superior authority above us. If you thought I am referring to God almighty, you are mistaken. It is the all powerful union leader whose interference hangs as the dread Damocles sword over our head.
Even though we pay the prescribed minimum wages plus all fringe benefits such as Bonus, Leave With Wages, National and Festival Holiday Wages, Sickness benefit, weather protection allowance, Extra Wages for insecticide and fungicide spraying and Gratuity, the militant communist trade union leaders precipitate issues to hold-up work with their muscle power if they are not kept in good humour.
During the 1st week of February the local CPI (Marxist) office bearers approached me for a donation to the party fund. I stated that I was willing to contribute Rs. 2000/-, which step by step I increased to Rs.4000/- but they sought Rs.8000/- and after bargaining wouldn’t settle for anything less than Rs.5000/- which reluctantly I had to part with which much heartburn. After they left I was shocked to find that only Rs.500/- was written on the receipt. I sent the receipt to the person and got it corrected but the amount he has written on the counterfoil remains a mystery!
A week after they ripped me I received a notice informing me that they were starting a union in my estate. Maybe the thought that I might not oblige them with funds once they opened a branch must have prompted them to make the raid in advance.
Nebu
ReplyDeleteYou have nicely explained with details on your experience in dealing with politicians and Christian clergy.It proves beyond any doubt that these two powerful masters of the society is enjoying by giving maximum troubles to poor unorganised individuals in Kerala trying hard to make a living.They enjoy life without any hard work