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Department of Cultural Affairs Govt of Kerala Kerala Sahitya Akademi ISSN 2319-3271 Kerala Sahitya Akademi 2014 June 2014 June ecology malayalam& literature Printed and published by R. Gopalakrishnan on behalf of Kerala Sahitya Akademi,Thrissur 680 020 and printed at Simple Printers, West Fort, Thrissur 680 004, Kerala and published at Thrissur, Thrissur Dist., Kerala State. Editor: R. Gopalakrishnan. MALAYALAM LITERARY SURVEY JUNE 2014 Special Issue on Ecology and Malayalam Literature KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI Thrissur 680 020, Kerala Malayalam Literary Survey A Quarterly Publication of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur Vol. 34 No. 1-2. 2014 Single Issue : Rs. 25/- This Issue - Rs. 50/- Annual Subscription : Rs. 100/- Editorial Board Perumbadavam Sreedharan - President R. Gopalakrishnan - Secretary & Editor Chandramati - Convenor Members John Samuel R. Lopa V.N. Asokan - Sub editor Cover Design : Vinaylal Type setting : Macworld, Thrissur Printed and Published by R. Gopalakrishnan on behalf of Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur 680 020 and Printed at Santhi Bhavan, Kannamkulangara, Thrissur for Simple Printers, Westfort, Thrissur - 680 004, Kerala and published at Thrissur, Thrissur Dist., Kerala State. Editor : R. Gopalakrishnan Proof : Prof. E.D. John Reg. No. 29431/77 Phone : 0487-2331069 [email protected] www.keralasahityaakademi.org Articles published in this journal do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. The Editorial Board cannot be held responsible for the views expressed by the writers Editor’s note We are happy to publish this special edition of Malayalam Literary Survey which focuses on Ecology, Environment and Malayalam literature. As a branch of discipline, environmental studies may appear to be modern, but it is as ancient as human culture itself. Kerala, the green land, had ecological vision right from the old times, as our folk-songs prove. Here humans lived in close and peaceful communion with nature till the advent of technological progress and consumerist culture which resulted in alienation from nature and exploitation of it. We seem to have forgotten the ancient proverb that we have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, but we have borrowed it from our children. Kerala is not an agrarian society now. It is therefore, necessary to reorder the relationship with nature on a new basis. New efforts of this kind may serve as catalysts in this process. The poems, stories and essays included in this issue deal with the different facets of the environmental problem. We have tried to show how the healthy web of life in nature is upset by human intervention and how we can attempt to save it. Current day’s hipper human interaction with environment affects the whole ecosystem that includes quality of human life itself. The technology is of course the key to human progress, but it has now become a strong tool for increased environmental degradation. The narcissistic, mechanized human beings cut themselves off from nature and thereby from life itself. Ecocriticism has now emerged as a branch of Malayalam criticism; this may invite our new writers’ attention towards contemporary environmental situation. We hope the readers will get the message that it is up to us to turn over a new leaf. R. Gopalakrishnan Secretary & Editor Contents The Inheritors of The Earth Vaikkom Muhammed Basheer 9 A Voice in the Wilderness Vishnu Narayanan Nambudiri 15 The Artistic as the Scientific-Ecological: Malayalam Literature and the Silent Valley Movement Dr. P. Rohith 18 The Jungle D. Vinayachandran 25 Neeraliyan Ambikasutan Mangad 29 The River as Lifeline : The Human-Environmental Tie in Roy’s The God of Small Things and Jose’s By The River Pampa I Stood S. Devika 35 The Seeds of Memory P. Surendran 42 The Book of Job V.M. Girija 48 Enmakaje a Literary Voice of Environmental Crisis G. Sangeetha 51 The Amphibian Santhosh Aechikkanam 55 Ungu K.R. Tony 61 Ecological Imperialism and P. Surendran Sreekanth. C 62 Deadline E.P. Sreekumar 65 The Green Within Vinod Vellayani 71 An Eco-Feminist Reading of Selected Stories of Sara Joseph Radhika. R. 73 The Dance of the Peacocks E.Santhosh Kumar 78 The Elephant S.Joseph 82 The Album of Green Dhanya Raj 83 The Dumb M.R.Renukumar 88 An Ecocritical Reading of C. Radhakrishnan’s Thee Kadal Kadanju Thirumadhuram Meena J. Panikkar 90 6 MALAYALAM LITERARY SURVEY Short Story The Inheritors of The Earth Vaikkom Muhammed Basheer When the sole ownership of a small plot of land, two acres of coconut-orchard, was established, I thought that my future was safe. The old house can be repaired. The family expenses can be met by selling coconuts. There are jacks and mangoes. Woods supply enough fuel. An old well, full of good water. Will life be ever fear-free? A huge amount of money has been spent on stamp paper duty and registration expenses of the land purchase. As the government promises all protection for the landowner, this is not unfair. Land and house taxes are promptly remitted. Encumbrances regarding the property have been cleared. All the three title deeds are safely kept in the chest under lock and key. Nobody in the whole wide world can make any claim on this property, the government has given firm assurance. Here, there are mango and jack trees. Also guava, cashew, supporta and custard apple trees. Moreover, trees like teaks and pines too. The front-yard is outlined by flower plants like the champaka. The plot is fully fenced by iron wire. The front gate is made of strong steel. Two sides of the gate are guarded by blossomed bougainvillea. From the gate to the front door all over the courtyard, there is bright white sand. A fiery dog guards the house and the plot. Domestic dependents—goats, cows, fowls and cats, are here. I have a wife and children. All depend upon the coconuts for living. Coconut plants are watered punctually and properly. Water and good manure make them give good yields. The sight of luxuriant, tender coco-palm fruits brings brightness to our faces. May the prices increase, let the coconuts ripen. Days MALAYALAM LITERARY SURVEY 7 and nights of hopes and happiness. Where shall the snake go? Neighbouring Yet, am I the only claimant of this small plots have their own owners. They will harm piece of global soil? Are there other the snake. The entire globe, piece by piece, claimants who do not respect the has been possessed by humans. Let the government and well-stamped title deeds? snake live wherever it can, I don’t mind. But, How do they assert their claims upon this it’s deadly poisonous. Be alert! Walk two-acre plot? carefully! Keep a torch if it is dark. Birds and butterflies are the first to enter. A bit later, the snake withdraws its hood and innumerable birds and flies! Birds chirp from retreats. The dog pursues, barking. Through the branches of trees and plants. Butterflies a hole in the fence, the snake disappears. of various colours brighten the courtyard. Coming from the smoky kitchen with They had inherited this universe, centuries reddened eyes, my wife asks: and centuries before mankind. Anyway, I do “The dog has barked and the birds have let not try to drive them away. But, the crows! out frantic chirps. Was there any snake?” They do steal food from the kitchen! They “Yeah, Comrade Cobra!” have built nests on two coconut palms! Laid eggs too! Cries of crows are unbearable. “Beaten it to death?” Crows lift the chicks. Kites also come to pick “Nothing doing.It is one of god’s creations. chicks. They wait in the coconut trees. There Let it live. It is also an heir to this globe.” is a bird that squats on the branches of the “Devil or deity—mind our children, they run mango-tree targeting the chicks. Mongooses about and play here. If the snake comes to are in plenty hiding in bamboo woods for our plot, it should be beaten to death.” gulping down the poultry. Jackals dwell in the woods adjacent to the bamboo to catch “It is easy to destroy a life: but, impossible to the fowls. re-create.” “Ask the Almighty why He had created the Apart from these winged and poly-legged poisonous creatures.” claimants of my two-acre plot, a terrible creature suddenly appears! It has no legs, “ there are billions of creatures like no wings! It is noon and there is good elephants, tigers, lions, boars, bears, bison, sunlight. The dog barks and house fowls hippos, crocodiles, camels, horses and bawl. All birds howl. Ho, what carelessness! I chimpanzees.. For what purpose are they step right into the front of a horrible cobra! created? Who knows it? We must try to live With dignity, the cobra raises its head, without killing others.” spreading its hood. What can I do? How She remarks, I don’t know whether with shall I handle the toxic snake? No tools, only regret or ridicule, “ What a new idea! bare hands. Man, what a weak creature! Spiders, lizards, chameleons, and scorpions Shall I consult my wife? Let her bring a stick. are everywhere inside the house. Termites eat I can kill and bury this snake. But is it right? away the fences. Books and cloths are eaten Entire lives, things, in fact, all diverse worlds by them. Rats trouble us in their own ways. are God’s creation. Snake’s creation was not The electric wire to the radio is snapped by different from man’s. Snake is one of the the rats. Crickets and ants fill this house. inheritors of this earth. This worldly life This is the proper time to worship animals!” demands co-living.