The
backwaters of Kerala are what have given it the sobriquet "God's Own Country".
As you meander through these on a houseboat you drift into a timeless land replete
with picture-postcard towns and ancient trading posts. The huge coconut trees
provide an apt backdrop and perhaps you can even eavesdrop on the strains of
an oarsman's song. A network of lakes, rivers and canals fringe the coast of
Kerala.
These backwaters, while a great inland thoroughfare on water, offer an alternative lifestyle. The criss-crossed, palm-fringed lakes traversed with Chinese fishing nets are very popular cruises, especially between Kollam and Allappuzha. The backwaters have become important attractions though they are threatened by population growth and industrial development. Of the 29 major lakes on the backwaters, seven drain into the sea.
Stretched over a total expanse of 1500 kms, the backwaters have a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes from north to south. A great way to explore the hinterland is to go through the villages. A guide takes a group of people through the villages on an open boat or covered kettuvellum. The tour lasts from
It's a fascinating experience to wander from village to village, learn how the village economy runs, and watch coir making, boat building, toddy tapping and fish farming. Some of the best village tours operate out of Kochi, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. On the backwaters you have the major towns Allapuzha and Varkala and Quilon.
An Indian village is a cluster of mud houses where a couple of hundred men, women and children live. Their houses are thatched with hay and such other material. The mud walls and floor are plastered with cow-dung. The people in the villages are utterly simple, honest god-fearing and hardworking. They depend on agriculture, labour and cottage industries for their bread and butter. They are still very poor, illiterate and superstitious. They are often victims of the middlemen, shopkeepers and landlords. They belong to weaker and backward sections of the society. People of many religions live peacefully together in the villages. The villagers enjoy many festivals, fairs and social gatherings. There are often weekly markets. In some villages there are small regular markets where simple necessities of life can be bought. They often depend on a well or a pond for their drinking water. They go there to bathe, wash and draw water for drinking.
The villages are dusty, dirty and without proper sanitary conditions. In rains, it all becomes muddy and sticky and the paths become impassable. Now, many of the villages have electricity and tap-water. But still the streets are unpaved. The garbage often lies here and there which cause spread of diseases. In many villages there is no school of its own. And the children have to walk long distance to reach a school.
Every village has its own temple where people gather for worship and prayer. If there is a school, it is generally one teacher school. The students sit in the open or under a tree on the ground. In many of the schools there no black boards and chalks. There are no police stations, dispensaries and post-offices in the Indian villages.
But the atmosphere in the Indian Villages is very healthy with their fresh air, open green fields and tension free life. The villagers keep cows, goats etc. and so have a good supply of milk for their families. An Indian villager lives amidst nature enjoying clear skies, glorious sun rises and sun-sets and bright days. His life is simple and contented in spite of poverty. Villagers have their own simple games and means of entertainment.
Indian villages need much improvement and urgent attention. If villages are poor, India cannot become rich and prosperous. They are the soul of the country. All our efforts should be made to improve their condition. They reflect the real picture and worth of the country. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and insanitation are the main problems of these villages. If these are solved, everything will be fine and healthy. During the last 50 years much has been done to improve the living conditions of the Indian Villages. But still much remains to be done and achieved. Gram Panchayats should be helped to have their own resources and power. They should be made popular and more effective. For this their real empowerment is essential. It is only through them that real democracy can be there in the villages.
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