FROM KERALA WITH LOVE

[padmanabha]

From Kerala with Love:-

These are a few tidbits I heard, saw and read on Kerala on different topics. Let me share with you.

WOMEN:-
Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women. Still the women of Kerala highly educated and employed feel marginalized. Why?
Women are yet to realize their individual potential. They are non reactive and terrified inviting atrocities against them.
A woman is raped every 6th minute, beaten up every 44 minutes and murdered for dowry every 90 minutes. Globally three percent of women are harassed, which is 30 percent in India and in Kerala it is still higher.
Crime records bureau said that in 2005, there were 2433 cases of sexual harassment, 54 rapes, 125 kidnappings, 2579 physical atrocities and 2759 other violence acts. We all know that al cases do not come to the station/court.
Why is she victimized?
Woman is portrayed as an object of lust. She is used to promote commodities. No woman is spared from the glaring eye of men-which women take it with out protest. Any one who protests is branded as bad, even by other women.
We lavishly quote what is said about women-like “if a woman is educated and uplifted the entire society and then the nation too is uplifted”. But women are used and abused.
WEDDINGS:-
Employed and educated women are buying husbands for gold worth at least 100 sovereigns, latest car, and plots. Just to celebrate this ostentatious wedding parents lent money and finally commit suicide. Family suicides too are very common in Kerala. It seems marriage is the ultimate goal for Kerala women?
After marriage it is the abortion of female foetus. Kerala which stood first in the number of women (1052 women against 1000 men) has fallen drastically. Society wants women not to excel socially and officially. I have heard mothers complaining “do not sent her to courses like MBA and still higher degrees as it would be difficult to search a husband who is more qualified than her” it means the woman is expected to be always below her husband to preserve his ego.

The role of TV:-
T V serials produce negative role models for children and others to follow. Women perennially shed tears. The sentiment of thaali still exists. The family members glued to television, with out conversation-that is sharing their thoughts and daily happenings.
We have only 7 percent of women in the Asembly and Parliament. But 33 reservations were enforced in Panchayats. Political parties which claim equality do not come forward to reserve 33 percent seats for women. Women, even the empowered women, have the right to decide what curry to make.
Ajitha former naxalite, a terror in Pulpally in Wynad told me a few years ago, “the party members (CPM) say, “-we will take decisions and you can make tea for us” That is the situation in Kerala.

Alcoholism is the chief cause. Men indulge in domestic violence and they don’t even spare their daughters.

There are 64 laws to protect women. Instead of taking refuge in tears, they must be aware of these. Don’t you think that legal literacy should be made part of the curriculum from the upper primary levels?

AYURVEDA: _
Medical science is as old as VEDAS. There are four Vedas-namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda.
The word Ayur Veda means Science of Life. Charaka has defined it as the science through which one can gain knowledge about the useful and harmful sides of life, happy and miserable life and the span and the very nature of life.
The practice of Ayurveda is based on PANCHAMA BHOOTA THEORY AND TRIDHOSHA THEORY.
The human body is made up of Doshas, Dhatus, and Malas. The DOshas are Vatha, Pitha and Kafa. They control physiological activities of the body. The dhatus are the functional part of the body. They are seven in number. The malas are partly used and partly excreted in a modified form. These three elements are always in equilibrium. Any imbalance results disease.
The imbalance has to be studied properly to identify the disease. The patient has to observe certain dos and don’ts called Pathyas.
There are two types of treatments-SODHANA AND SAMANA
THE former is restored to such cases where the doshas are accumulated and have to be removed. SAMANA is done when the imbalance is little.
The SODHANAS are of five types-VAMANA, VIRECHANA, NASYAM, VASTHI, AND RAKTHAMOKSHAM.
VAMANA-EMESIS THERAPY
VIRECHANA-PURGATION THERAPY
NASYAM-NASAL MEDICATIONS
VASTHI-MEDICATED ENIMA
RAKTHAMOKSHAM-BLOOD LETTING THERAPY
These are collectively called Panchkarma.
Before panchakarma the patient has to undergo SNEHANA (OILATION THERAPY) and SWEDANA KARMA (SUDATION THERAPY)
These therapies rejuvenate the body. Rheumatism, lumbago, spondylitis, muscular diseases and chronic head aches.
Besides these there are DHARA, PIZHICHAL, NJAVARAKIZHI AND SIROVASTHI. It would take five weeks to complete the process.
The patient lying in a wooden thoni called enna thoni-is made of medicinal wood. The head rests on a basin part and the neck rests on a bridge. It is said that patients with high sugar and pressure should not undergo this treatment, without controlling them. thulam, kumbham, and karkitakam are the best months to perform these.
Pizhichil, Dhara, Sirovasthi, Annalepanam and Sirolepanam are also forms other methods of available treatments.

CHAMPARUTHI: -
There are many varieties of Champaruthi or shoe flower. The flowers and leaves form the essential part of toiletries. It can arrest premature graying, and falling of hair. The paste of flowers and leaves act as anti dandruff agents.
The decoction of champaruthi bud is capable arresting bleeding. Various preparations of champaruthi are used to prevent constipation. Coconut oil boiled with champaruthi petals heals external ulcers.
Champaruthi grows easily. Stem cuttings are used to propagate. The cuttings will flower with in two months. Regular pruning helps sprouting of flowering shoots.
Before trying self treatment consult an ayurvedic physician.
(TO BE CONTINUED)