My Views about Kollemcode

  Written by : Ajeesh Shankar Nair
                            Brach head, ICICI Bank

Away from the concrete jungle, unclaimed by the steel claws of the rapidly blossoming technology, situated in a niche carved out of nature is the land of Kollemcode.
Marked by the green stretch of land on one side and the great blue sea on the other, Kollemcode paints a picturesque image in the beholder’s eye.  The land is riddled with long clear freshwater streams, snaking their way through the terrain to reunite with the mighty ocean. If the landscape wasn’t captivating enough for the human eye, the seascape beyond is bound to do the job. The golden beaches stretch far and wide, speckled with palm trees reaching towards the sky. The palm leaves sway in the gentle ocean breeze beckoning one for a walk along their sandy shades. There aren’t many human souls that haven’t yielded to the mesmerising vista of this piece of paradise. Even fewer have had the heart to turn away from the striking display.

Kollemcode - where nature’s splendour binds the viewer in all its glory.

I was born and brought up here. Growing up, I had some of the most wonderful memories that I will cherish for years to come. The younger days spent exploring the wilderness of the vast expanse of land, tales of broken nails and skinned knees(at pulimoodu and panthadi Kalam) that are souvenirs of the young blood, learning to swim in the stream and then braving the plunge in the mighty ocean, learning to sync with the waves and sing with the wind. The endless pranks with friends, the scrumptious feasts with families, the lazy summer afternoons and boring school work, are some of the things that I recall now with fond remembrance, knowing I will never get those days again. It leaves a longing in my heart, a yearning to go back in time to the age of unadulterated innocence.

Every year, a magnificent fiesta marks the community that reside here.

There are two temples(Mudippura's) –and the lives of the people revolve around them. The whole of kollemcode comes together as one, unified by the deities of the temple. These temples are known for its grand ten day festival –known as Thookam Ulsavam - that brings the land alive with its bright hues. The beginning of this festival is marked by the procession of the Idols from the main temple to the other one. The idols remain in the thooka mudippura for the remainder of the ten days. The days that follow the procession immerse the little community in a myriad of colours. Bringing the folklore alive for ten whole days, the festivities hold both the temples in all their grandeur.  Keeping alive the roots of tradition, the occasion unfolds the age old rituals and customs that captivate and transport one back in time. The excitement in the air is extremely contagious and one often finds themselves swaying in rhythm with the energy that surge through.  The festival strengthens the bond among the people who come together for this purpose. With numerous activities of fun and laughter, it is impossible not to indulge in them. This is a festival that takes on the young and old alike, rediscovering their lost passion. Taking part in the festivities are also the other religious communities that dwell in the region. Though small in number when compared to the Hindu population, the various communities have struck a perfect balance to co-exist in harmony. Kollemcode also has Churches and Mosques that cater to these communities.

Nothing is perfect, and like everything else Kollemcode also has its flaws.

There are six schools in the locality. Though untouched by the expanding western culture, Kollemcode boasts of its literacy rate which is at 90%(sure this will be a news to u), making it one of the highest in the state. But one cannot rejoice from that bit of information. Shadowing the accomplishment is the sorry fact that despite all the education, the people have their heads wrapped in an era that is decades old or maybe even further back in time. Narrow-minded is a term that best befits the population of Kollemcode and they take it to a whole new level. So deeply set are they in their ways and thoughts, that the new ideologies don’t stand a chance. They’ve barricaded themselves behind an impregnable wall of defiance. The mere mention of a broad minded approach is shunned as soon as it emerges. When the world is galloping across on new shores of intelligence, this community seems to be frozen in time, refusing to let the winds of change into their midst. It would do the people and its community a great deal of good to open their minds and embrace the reality of the world beyond. Discarding that which in incomprehensible to their primitive thoughts seems to be the norm of the people. I really wish people would someday break free of their conservative shell and open their minds and adopt a broad minded approach. It will definitely be beneficial to the coming generations.

Another flaw that haunts this land is the influence of political parties. The power play has plagued the minds of the young, kindling the fire in them. Friends get caught up in this cross fire and are driven apart by the differences in their choice. Childhood friends take it personally and split solely because of this. It leads to the formation of various groups favouring the respective political parties.

Young boys who have been friends for long years now pass each other without a glance or a word. And small outbreaks happen every now and then that disrupts the peace and quiet of the community. It drives the once-friends even further apart, replacing their minds with rage and vengeance. All the wonderful memories they once shared are quickly forgotten and replaced by hatred and cold fury. I am not against the political parties, but one should always know where to draw the line. Political indulgence mustn’t interfere with one’s personal life. We should learn to keep them separate, and that alone will prove beneficial for everybody. At the end of the day, we are all equal beings of flesh, blood and bone! 

With all that said, I would like to conclude with a simple truth. No matter how many flaws it has, I will always be fond of my home town and its people. I love Kollemcode with all its imperfections and there is not another place that I would prefer to be born into. .Ajeesh Shankar Nair