What’s happened to my Democratic India?

I am a Hindu. I follow Hinduism because I was born into a family which has been practicing Hinduism since generations. I don’t think I had any say in the matter. I grew up with a whole lot of friends at school and college… and I never ever thought of them as Christian or Muslim friends. They were all just plain ‘friends’. Our names or surnames hardly made any difference. Neither did we classify teachers as Hindus or Muslims or Christians. They were either good or bad, stern or lenient, friendly or tough.   I have good neighbors and colleagues at workplace, and the only time where I selfishly make sure that I remind them of their religion, is during festival times when I ensure my share of delicious Biryani or Christmas cake. 

I love watching movies. But the religion of the actor hardly matters to me. It never bothers me that Salman Rushdie, Ruskin Bond, Agatha Christie, or Charles Dickens were not Hindus. Do any of us ascertain the religion of our plumber, electrician, or carpenter when there is an urgent work at home? Or that of the doctor when faced with pain? I know of Hindus who have married Muslims and Christians and are living happily in love. So why do we allow this monstrous attitude of regression to creep in stealthily and destroy our unity at a time when we are well into the 68^th year of Independence and surging ahead with development in all sectors? We have a lot of things to be proud of, and this current intolerant attitude is certainly not doing us any good either nationally or internationally.

Like a vast majority of Indians, I do not subscribe to any of the ‘bans’ that are forced down our throat...whether it be the beef ban or porn ban or the more recent issue concerning garba dance in Gujarat. Infact, these days, I cringe inwardly when I read ‘jokes’ on the beef ban that is so widely circulated through social media. It’s no longer a laughing matter ever since the slaughter of Mohammed Akhlaq. Love for the bovine population cannot be justified in any manner to develop hatred towards mankind. And for those supporters of this heinous act, who call themselves as messiahs of Hinduism, let me remind you that the majority of us Hindus are living our lives peacefully without any prejudice whatsoever based on religion, caste, or language. So why don’t you direct your energy towards more productive factors like banning  dumping of garbage in public places, banning destruction of natural water bodies, banning deforestation, banning rape, banning the dowry system, banning hartals, banning corrupt politicians, and a whole lot of other social evils?  

I may be a Hindu, but I consider myself an Indian foremost. My faith, my  principles, my eating habits, my attire, my personal or social attributes are my own and does not depend on the unwritten dictum of any extremist group or school of thought. We are the largest democracy in the whole world and I am proud of that. Currently, what we, as a society are facing, is an infringement into our basic constitutional rights, triggered by a few unholy mindsets who are out to bully us and jeopardize the social harmony in India for political gains.  Let us stand together and weed off this cankerous mindset from our midst. We certainly owe it to the coming generations…

A Memorable Trip to Kanyakumari

“Kanyakumari of all places!!! Can’t you think of a better place?” Sheesh!! It’s so dirty. And moreover, the food is terrible. There is a risk of food poisoning…”   

 

These were reactions that I had to encounter from various quarters when I announced my intention to journey down to the Southernmost tip of India. But I was adamant. Kanyakumari it was, and very soon, I boarded the Kanyakumari Express, the train which would take me to my dream destination.

The Kanyakumari Express which I boarded from Palakkad, in the wee hours of the morning.

  

The Kanyakumari railway station is quite small . It’s amazing how the lengthy expense of the railway track that majestically started from the northernmost part of our country, ends meekly at one end of the platform of this small station. Excitedly, I placed my first step on this spiritual land blessed by Swami Vivekananda. 

A magnificent view of the pier, and the historical monuments

 The view from the 4^th floor of my room was fabulous! It was my very first sighting of the majestic

Thiruvalluvar statue and the Vivekananda rock that I had only seen in pictures before. All I could do was silently drink in the beauty of the scene before me and thank God for having made me visit this place.

  

 

The beach was close by, and I decided to embark on a late evening stroll. Kanyakumari, being a tourist spot, is basically filled with tourists from various parts of the country. There is a steady crowd, even well into the night. I passed a couple of Punjabi Dhaabas on the way, and mentally made a note to try out their  delicacies the next day. 

The Busy Car Street in Kanyakumari

The Beach in Kanyakumari filled with tourists

A makeshift shop in the beach

A vendor with  shells

The main beach was as expected, crowded. Vendors were busy selling their wares, consisting of a lot of curios and jewellery made out of shells. Small eateries were also many, with most of them selling fried snacks, peanuts, tender coconut, etc.I couldn’t resist the sight of steamed peanuts mixed with finely chopped raw mangoes, onions, green chillies and coriander leaves, sprinkled with a dash of chilly powder. I must say that it tasted even better than I thought. I could see a white horse galloping across the sand with a few kids mounted on it. An old man approached me with an array of bead necklaces in his arms, and I brought a white one for my little niece.  

The Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Night

 

Sitting  down on the sandy concrete steps that led to the waters, I could see the lighted up Vivekananda rock as well as the huge statue of Thiruvalluvar, not far off. In my heart, I saluted the thousands of laborers who would have painstakingly carried out the construction of these majestic monuments. I really looked forward to visiting these places the next morning. 

Sunrise at Kanyakumari

I woke up well before 6 Am and rushed to the terrace of the hotel from where I could witness the amazing sunrise. A small crowd had already assembled there with the same purpose. I could hear the Holy Mass from the nearby church as well as the chants of the priests from the Kumari Amman temple too. After a short wait, the Sun slowly made its appearance from among the clouds that threatened to engulf it. I must say, it was an awesome experience! A blissful sensation of peace and awe filled up my mind as i silently drank in the amazing beauty of the surroundings for a long time. Mother Nature certainly has a way of healing our minds!

 

After a yummy breakfast of hot and fresh Aalu Parathas, curd, fried green chilies and pickle from a nearby Punjabi dhaba, I set out enthusiastically to spend the day exploring Kanyakumari. My first stop was the 3000 year old Kumari Amman temple, situated on one end of a busy street, adjoining the sea. Small shops selling various curios, clothes and accessories lined either side of the congested street.

The Kumari Amman Temple is situated at the far end of this street

Vendors with their wares to attract tourists

 

A variety of conches and shells on display

At the entrance of the temple, several 'priests' approached me with the 'offer' of a quick and easy darshan of the Goddess for a fee. I declined their  offer and after paying obeiscence to the divine Goddess, proceeded to the Thriveni Sangamam, the sacred confluence of the three mighty Seas – The Arabian Sea, The Indian Ocean, and The Bay of Bengal. I could actually make out the three different hues of the waters, which refused to give up their individual identity.

The Thriveni Sangamam  where the three seas meet

The Sun was shining bright and hot by the time i proceeded to the next stop in my agenda. Excitedly, I walked all the way towards the ferry that would transport me to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a place that I had been longing to visit since long.

One of the ferries which transports tourists to the Vivekanda Rock

The seats in the ferry  filled up in  no time, and it revved up its engine to make its way to the Vivekananda Rock... the very place where Swami Vivekananda had swam to from the shore to spend three days contemplating about his country and countrymen.

Inside the Ferry

 

The hot sun shone mercilessly on the huge rock that jutted out of the sea, upon which was built the magnificent Vivekananda Memorial. The ticket counter was at the lower level and after purchasing the ticket for entry, we had to leave our footwear at the designated counter. I was scared that I was going to have a rough time walking on the hot rock, but to my surprise, there were walkways which were painted white on which we could walk without feeling the heat. Amazing… the way they think of every single detail! 

The Ticket counter at the Vivekananda Rock

Walkways Painted White

The majestic Mandapam which housed the statue of Swami Vivekananda, stood tall and proud on top of the rock. I alighted the steps that led to the entrance of the massive pillared hall, which was totally bare, save for the majestic statue of Swami Vivekananda on one end.. Huge windows on either side of the hall, ensured the passage of the sea breeze which made the hall very cool and appealing. I stood looking at the statue in utter awe, thinking about this great man who played a huge role in awakening the Indian masses, especially the youth, from their slumber of ignorance.

The Mandapam which houses a statue of Swami Vivekananda

The Statue of Swami Vivekananda inside the Mandapam

Adjoining this hall, on a lower level, was the meditation room, a peaceful, dark hall where the chant of 'om' reverberated constantly. Mats were spread out on the floor on which people could sit and meditate silently  to their heart's content. I sat there for a long while, enjoying a blissful serenity that overpowered my mind. It was with much reluctance that I forced myself to leave the hall.

The rock on which the Thiruvalluvar statue was constructed, stood tall and proud, adjacent to the Vivekananda Rock. Unfortunately, a low tide prevented the ferry from taking people there, and we had to be contented seeing it from far. This imposing structure is certainly something which one has to see at least once in their lifetime.

 

The Massive Thiruvalluvar Statue at Kanyakumari

A smaller hall, at the opposite side of the Mandapam, housed a small rock upon which was a natural imprint of a feet. The general belief supposes it to be that of the Goddess. But skeptical that i am, I prefer to see it more of a gimmick. But the enclosed area was filled with coins and currency notes that were offered by staunch devotees. Wonder if Swami Vivekananda would have approved of it!

The smaller hall at the Vivekananda Rock which has a sacred rock upon which there is an imprint of a feet

 

After spending a couple of fruitful hours on the impressive Vivekananda Rock, I decided to get back to the mainland. It was well past noon, and as I walked through the hot sun towards my room, I passed another impressive structure, The Gandhi Mandapam, on the way. Gandhiji’s ashes were kept here in an urn for public view before being immersed in the Thriveni Sangamam. It seems that on 2^nd October, the sun’s rays falls on the exact spot where the urn was displayed.  

Gandhi Mandapam

Later, that evening, I decided to take a leisurely stroll along the beach side. I came across a small park overlooking the beach on which people could sit peacefully. This was a perfect place for me, and I occupied one of the seats and sat watching the waves, my mind totally at rest, happy and contented. I actually wished the day would never end...

A view of the sea, and the watch tower

The next day, I decided to visit the Suchindram Sthanumalayam Temple, which is situated about 13 kms from Kanyakumari. This particular temple is dedicated to the Gods, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. But more than the religious aspect,I thoroughly enjoyed the architecture and rustic surroundings of the temple.

The ornate entrance with statues and carvings

 

The huge temple pond at Suchindram

A Mandapam adjoining the temple at Suchindram

Suchindram Temple - Typical Tamilnadu architecture

A random scene at Suchindram. The Ambassador car and the general surroundings gave it an old world charm

 

 

 

 

A colorful poster that caught my eye.

A decorated stone given a touch of divinity.  I guess PK would have called it a 'wrong number'.

Another click from Suchindram

I boarded a bus back to Kanyakumari, and after a sumptuous and tasty 'thali' meals, decided to take a small nap for a while. This was my final evening at Kanyakumari, and I still had one more place to visit in my agenda. The Sunrise view point - which was a long strip of land that jutted out kilometers into the sea. I had seen it from the terrace of my hotel and I just had to go there.

The Sunrise view point which  jutted out kilometers into the sea. 

 

 

 

 

That  evening saw me walk towards my destination, with much gusto. As I went around a church that the locals frequented, I found myself in a beach which was primarily used by fisherfolk. Boats painted with bright colours were docked neatly on one side, while children played around merrily all around. It was another world altogether from the noisy, crowded, busy streets that I had left behind. I guess pictures would speak better than words. So here goes...

The Local church that i passed on my way.

A view of the Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock. Fishing boats are docked on this beach

 

Brightly painted fishing boats on the beach

 

 

Children playing along the beach side. On the left side, is the way to the Sunrise view point

Divine intervention is certainly required for these fisherfolk

A distant view of Our Lady of Ransom Church.

The ruins of a fishing boat which had seen better days

The  start of a long walk to my destination that was well into the sea

The end of nowhere... A long walk through huge boulders had brought me to this amazing spot which was truly awesome. I could have sat there for hours, hearing the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, and feeling the gentle coolness of the sea breeze.

The view of the Kanyakumari mainland from the sunset view point

As I was sitting on one of the huge boulders, enjoying the sunset sky, the lights of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial were suddenly switched on. I must say, the sight was truly spectacular!

My holiday had ended and I had to come back to reality. But I knew that this was a trip which would always remain dear to me due to the unforgettable memories it had etched on my mind forever. Although sad to pack up my bags, I knew for certain that this was only a beginning. Another place and another time awaits me, the lure of which I cannot resist.

The Kanyakumari- Mumbai Express  that would take me back home

Another Journey begins... This time, I am heading back home with  mind richer with experiences and filled with gratitude and contentment for the wonderful time spent in a absolutely awesome place!
Adieu, Kanyakumari, till we meet again!