IKIGAI - The Japanese Secret to Long Life - MY TAKE AWAY

 IKIGAI 

By Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

It unlocks the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.

IKIGAI is Japanese. Pronounced ikieguy, it may broadly be translated as LIFE TO BE WORTHWHILE.

Iki is life
Gai comes from Kai
Kai is the realisation of hopes and expectations.

IKIGAI is a reason for being, for being alive.
It encompasses joy, a sense of purpose and meaning and a feeling of well being.

The work is extraordinary

Excerpts

Microflow : 

Enjoying mundane tasks

When you carry out mundane tasks - like doing the laundry, mowing the lawn, attend to paperwork, work as an elevator- escalator- lift operator for years together with an ever present smile or any such tasks - always enjoying doing them, it is called MICROFLOW. Our ability to turn routine tasks into moments of Microflow,- into something we enjoy is key to our being happy, since we all have to do such tasks

MOMENTARY DIGRESSION

I was dumbstruck with the simple yet terrific narratiive.

We often face in accordance with our own brilliant evaluation of gargantuan tasks in everyday life. It may or may not be. Negotiating them is Herculean we consider.

My solution to that as I evolved and continue to evolve has been to slice the tasks up into minute pieces or particles and tackle them one by one. It helps me resolve the issues that plague me without leaving a mounting backlog.

I can honestly say I have been pretty successful in the effort.

I have suggested the formula to whoever I meet.

Acceptance is theirs.

Quote  from IKIGAI

After two hours on the road, we're finally able to stop worrying about the traffic.

We realised time seems to have stopped there as though the entire town were living in an endless here and now.

Yuki's still driving at the age of eighty eight and takes great pride in that. Her co-pilot is ninety nine.

We have to drive fast to keep up with them on a highway that is more dirt than asphalt.

Yuki says food is the least important thing. Food won't help you live longer. The secret is smiling and having a good time

Even Bill Gates washes the dishes every night. He says he enjoys it - that it helps him relax and clear his mind and that he tries to do it better each day following an established order or set of rules he's made for himself: Plates first, forks second and so on.

It's one of his moments of Microflow.

The book speaks of a noted Physicist. He was invited by a Super Computing firm to work on a project. Unfortunately they didn't have any assignments for him when he reported for duty. In order to keep him busy they asked him to work on a mathematical problem. The brilliant man caught on at once. He said it was baloney. And he asked for some tasks.

They asked him to go, buy paint from a store and paint the walls. He happily went on doing it.

The investors who were visiting the firm's office remarked, "They have a Nobel Laureate painting their walls."

TOWARDS A LONG CONTENTED LIFE

Japanese culture accepts the essence of impermanence, the fleeting nature of the human being and everything we create.

We have to accept we have no control over certain things - like passage of time and the ephemeral nature of the world around us.

We have to understand life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by people you love.

PRINCIPLES FOR HAPPINESS

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are, something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Washington Burney - Two hundred years ago.

Still true and will remain true forever

HIGHLIGHTS

ANTIFRAGILE - ANTIFRAGILITY

I came across the term for the first time. It revealed my lean vocabulary.

Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same. The antifragile gets better when harmed. They gain from disorder.

Hydra of Greek mythology is an ardent example

Fragility erases everything in its wake.

RESILIENCE

Resilience is the ability to deal with setbacks. The resilient stay focussed. Flexibility is their strength. They adapt to change and reversals of fortune.


CYNICISM

Cynicism aims to eliminate all feelings and pleasures from life. Negative emotions surge, well up and swell.

ASCETICISM

The ascetic believes in giving up, driving away all the pleasures of life.

STOICISM

Stoicism centres on the idea there is nothing wrong with enjoying life's pleasures as they do not take control of your life as you enjoy them. You have to be prepared for the disappearance of those pleasures

QUOTE

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Theodore Roosevelt

To put it further
Embrace the wisdom of knowing when enough is enough.
Remember, someone will always have more fortune, fame and stuff than you do.

INVALUABLE TAKE AWAY FROM IKIGAI

TEN RULES FOR A GOOD LIFE

1. Stay active. Don't retire.

2. Take it slow

3. Don't fill your stomach.Restrict to 80%

4. Surround yourself with good friends.

5. Get in shape for your next birthday.

6. Smile.

7. Reconnect with nature.

8. Give thanks.

9. Live in the moment. This moment exists only now and won't come again.

10. Follow your IKIGAI. There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end. If you don't know what your IKIGAI is, your mission is to discover it.

BLIND, STRONG, ARDENT, EXTRAORDINARY

We were attending the  Malayalam worship at C S I Christ Church, Palayam,  Trivandrum Kerala, India on 5th January 2020.
We could witness  blind, strong, ardent and extra ordinary faith in action as the worship progressed.

Three of our friends inspired us.

One. Thampy.
We saw him alighting from the car to take a seat in the porch at the Church. It took him a lengthy excruciating five minutes to reach a chair though he was assisted by his companion to cover a stride of five seconds for him when he was fit. What happened to him, we had no idea. We suspected a stroke. Somebody was holding him and helping him move. He had a walking stick. It was of no help. He found it extremely difficult to navigate the short hop. Excruciating for him. Excruciating for the people who knew him. He had been jovial. He had been agile. It was obvious he was in pain.
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Two. Mrs.  C T John. She had treaded the path slowly leaning on her walking stick.  We wondered how she had climbed the steps. But she did it with a smile. Afterwards we saw C T John bringing a foot rest from the car and placing it under her feet where she sat. We saw her lifting her feet and placing them on the foot rest. The simple act displayed the love and affection C T John had for his wife. The chemistry was wonderful and beyond known parallels.

Three. We saw C D Kurien sitting there with a walker in front. We felt sad at the frailty of the human being. We had admired C D Kurien when he drove an imported sedan while he was younger and cars were a rarity at the Church. Obviously he was more than well off. And he was generous to causes advocated or promoted  by the Church. He still is.

Later we saw the priests,  C Y Thomas Achen and Reji Achen coming down to the porch to assist eight celebrants partake in the Holy Communion as they couldn't move up to the altar. It pained us.

And among those who had moved up there were many fighting a limp.

Well, age is catching up with an aging congregation.

The Vicar had mentioned during the worship that the Church had to seriously think of Palliative Care. He had also reminded that we never employ our talents like our brethren in sister Churches.

It is painful the number of disabled in the Church in diverse phases are steadily mounting. The bell rings or tolls for everyone. The timing is uncertain and unpredictable. The maker decides.

What the impaired looks to is not alms or sympathy. It is fellowship and companionship they strive for. They look for a nod, a smile, a Hi or a listener.

The gesture by the priests to come down to them to share Holy Communion tells them the Church would never forsake them or discard them.

It makes their life. It makes their life meaningful. It makes them active.

The Church then fulfils its vision and its mission.

HOW TO LEAD A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

Jesus said, “Before you try to remove the speck from your neighbour’s eye, ensure the speck in your own eye is taken off.”

Man management needs tact, patience, sympathy and empathy. It doesn’t mean that the manager has to be docile or inactive. He has to be proactive. He has a job on his hands.  He has to accomplish what is assigned to him within the timeline set by his superiors or the system. There is no way out of the impasse. If you think you can accomplish everything by yourself you are in a fool’s paradise. You cannot be the lone ranger.  Everyone needs someone.

The subordinates are clever. They grow in their smartness as time progresses or as the generation shifts to the next. They take advantage of your good senses to remain idle. They know very well if they chose to do little or nothing, nothing is to go wrong for them.  They know their boss would somehow get the job on hand done without their intervention as he has no alternative if he proposes to retain his job.

Our parents had nothing when they began their life. They gave us whatever they could much beyond their means. We had something to begin with. We had means. We have ensured that our children have a better deal. But it is a global phenomenon. You are not unique. Everyone has means. Today they can chuck off their jobs on a whim and they won’t starve.

Fear was the key when we were working. Fear is not the key today.

Look at your mother. A fantastic woman. A multitasker. A great cook. Who loves her husband, children and her mother. She has no demands for herself. She strives for the family. But how many are like her? Very few, life tells us.

This is micro.

The macro is where you are. The environment you are in.

Just as your mother cannot change her parents, her husband or her children – of course there are legal methods available to alter the situation that would be equivalent to a major critical surgery where the outcome would be unambiguously unpredictable – you are in a situation where you will have to manage with the resources you have. You have no choice. Perhaps you could hand over the pink slip at will, but when you do it with a flourish you have to understand that someone somewhere waits with a similar fate for you.

We have a curious mix in the workstations today. The staff is well educated. They may even be better than you in every respect. As they are well off they can hit it off spectacularly without the well paid job they have.

Fact is, you need them.

Enforce discipline you must. They would have to conform and learn to conform if they shirk.

But you are not the ancient Head Master who had roamed the corridors with an iron hand and the sword, nee, the baton or the rod. We had feared him, never respected him. However modern times signify that those golden days are over.

Now, the crux.

You would have to marshal the assets you have wisely. You can laugh with them. But they have to know you are the boss. But never boss them or give them the impression you are bossing them. Never be subjective. You have to be objective. Take them into confidence wherever possible. It doesn’t mean you have to share the confidential with them. Let the confidential stay confidential.

Never shout at them even when they exceed the limit according to your perception. Never fire away at them after office hours. You have to respect their private space. Never be angry with them or shout at them in presence of others. It saps their ego. You don’t have to break their ego to get things done. You have to wisely make their ego play its part to get things done and resolve issues. It is like cricket. The batsman employs the power the bowler unleashes to hit a Six effortlessly. It is nothing but patience and talent.

Display your anger softly. I can assure when you shout it generates negative vibes.  Negativity unlocks cold anger – they cannot retaliate in the open and in turn invites subtlety in their response – that paves the way for the downfall of their tormentor who in their eyes would be the most hated person on earth.

Praise them wherever it is due. Praise them for even little or minor things. Acknowledge them.

But you have to be firm when you tell them to do their job or  to act. They have to be pushed into a slot where they cannot get away without compliance. It is delicate. Ensure you are not breaking the thin thread of friendship or normalcy when you do that. Be a good listener. Smile.

Cinema is the willing suspension of disbelief. Real life is no different. Be a sport and suspend your perceptions when the need arises. You could be wrong.

People have to learn they have to pool their resources or capabilities for the good of the organization. For, without the organization no one has any locus standi when they are within. The organization sets the sights. You have to forgo your own self respect for the sake of the organization.

You have to reengineer yourself before you set out on the expedition to reorient your coworkers or subordinates. Keep your eyes and ears open. Have the magnanimity to learn from others and in fact the lowest on the pyramid. They can teach you quite a lot. Accept that however much you know your knowledge is limited. People respect your chair, not you. You are nothing but an insignificant cog.

Please understand nothing is permanent in the world. Everything is transitory or transient. Everything is cyclic. The one on top rides down to the bottom. He would ascend again. Employ at once dynamism and flexibility. But temper your act. Be kind.

Never be overconfident. Remember pride goes before a fall.

Finally have quality time with family. Your mind has to be clear. You have to be focused and yet you must unwind yourself as much as you can.  As you drive around enjoy the nature and its serenity. It takes a load off. It is bliss to bask in the magnificence of nature. It’d transform you. The transition would alter you dramatically into a brand new being.

The only route to success

The only route to success is grinding through ongoing-continuous-effort without any let up. 

We have to constantly bear in mind that we are on a journey to elevate our performance not only up to the brim but to exceed the levels we have attained.

Initially you would feel the pressure is too much and you would be nervous. 

However, nerves will make you do unusual things. 

Nothing would cause you any hindrance once you are well set and you are in rhythm.

What you have to etch in mind is that you have the skill set, you have the mindset and the temperament. 

You only have to go out into the world and enjoy yourselves. 

The rest will be history, because you will be creating history.

TRIBUTE TO WOMEN

I had received the forward in WhatsApp.

*Who is a woman?????*

*When she is quiet, millions of things are running through her mind. When she stares at you, she is wondering why she loves you so much in spite of being taken for granted. When she says I will stand by you, she will stand by you like a solid rock. Never hurt her or take her for granted.

A very heart touching message by a woman.

Someone asked her, Are you a working woman or a housewife? She replied: Yes, I am a full-time working housewife. I work 24 hours a day. I'm a Mum. I'm a Wife. I'm a Daughter. I'm a Daughter-in-law. I'm an Alarm clock. I'm a Cook. I'm a Maid. I'm a Teacher. I'm a Waitress. I'm a Nanny. I'm a Nurse. I'm a Handywoman. I'm a Security officer. I'm a Counsellor. I'm a Comforter. I don't get holidays. I don't get sick leave. I don't get day off. I work through day and night. I'm on call all hours and get paid with a sentence. "What Do U Do All Day??"*

*This Is Dedicated to all women*

*A Woman has the most unique character like salt! Her presence is never remembered, but her absence makes all the things tasteless. Pass it to all the lovely ladies...Ur Mother. Ur Wife. Ur daughter. Ur sister & Ur friend. Forward to every woman to make her smile and to every man to make him realize a woman's Worth.*

I do not know who had authored it. As it had been posted in a family group there had been many references to the Bible by the faithful.

It aroused my thoughts. I started penning, to be exact, typing.

“Tribute to the woman is indeed exceptional. It graphically narrates what a woman is.  Biblical references are a welcome reiteration. But one cannot forget what St. Paul has passed on and harped on.

Well, a woman is a woman who is sacrifice personified.

But, she gets no respite, no reprieve and is often ignored at decision making. She has no role there. She's painted incompetent when she deserves nothing but kudos for her multifaceted roles. She's quite happy to stay behind her veil of silence and yet accomplish a lot more than the male chauvinist.
I have often wondered why the woman at the worship has to cover her head while the man sits there nonchalantly”.

“On a personal note let me share what I had learned from my Brahmin Teacher, a CA, when I had been preparing for the paper on Management Accounting for my CAIIB Exam Second Part.”
He had said, “You don't have to go to a Management School to learn management. You can learn it from your mother or the women at home. The way they conduct the job on hand in their kitchen is the finest example of management.”

“When she buys a KG of sugar she puts the larger part in one container and a small portion in a different container. When she draws from the second container she knows it is time for replenishment that she does quietly. It is not the replenishment of the items that is important, it is the mindset that runs the family without hindrances is the point to note in your Management Studies”, my learned teacher had taught me.

It was a great lesson.

Hats off to the prowess of women.

When a few had acknowledged the Post I wrote, “My post was a bit long. No one may have the patience to sit through that, I know”.

“The intention was solely to highlight the sad plight of the woman who is always ignored, who is often taken for granted, who is often persecuted and who is often tortured very cruelly, both mentally and physically without any remorse. The individuality and the capabilities of the woman are to be admired, well respected and recognised. The intention was never to elevate or glorify the woman or denigrate the man, but to invite the attention of the readers to a telescopic view of the imbalance in our sphere.”

“In a male dominant society it has no priority.The women are treated unfairly everywhere, a common phenomenon across the universe. They are made to slog it out and run the extra mile to prove their worth. An attitudinal course correction on the part of her counterpart alone may establish the right balance in the equation.”

When Abey, our cousin at Sharja had prompted me to keep on writing I responded, “I do this when in a creative mood and when something tickles you to act or react. People may feel a retired person has all the time in the world.  What I find after retirement is that I had lots of time to spare when I had been working. Lila too shares my view. Not because she's a yes woman but because she feels the pinch. It is not that we were not conscientious. We were. May be it's time management, may be as you advance in age you have too much on hand. We have no complaints. We meet the challenges head on squarely. There are times we fail. There are times we win.  When netted we feel happy when the stars are on the ascent. We fight it out when they descend and are on a downward spiral.”

“There’s a wide gap between practice and precept. Subjugation of women and establishment of ascendancy of man had been, has been and will be the order of the world for ever. The order will never change though we may all fight for it as long as we are around.

Advanced, developed, undeveloped and underdeveloped countries are alike in their ill-treatment of women. They hate to let the hegemony of man fade away or vanish into thin air. Look to history, learn from history and strive to alter the course of history in its march forward.”

“Indeed a very hefty, tall and difficult order.

But an inch gained is an inch of dissipation of the injustice. We can crawl and we can succeed. Even if we fail, the future would prove us right.”

Sunshine Never a Rainbow

Anxiety, Anticipation. Apprehension,
Exuberance, decision, indecision,
What will be, what will not be,
What can be, what cannot be,
What may be, what may not be,
Floating in a turbulent ocean
Believing deliverance is close by,
So close and yet distant,
Vision of success,
Weighed down by recurrent failures,
Subject of endemic ridicule,
Rising up from ashes,
Future still a question mark,
In a world of survival of the fittest
Existence driven to rejection,
Always wondering what went wrong
With no answers in sight,
With D-day fast approaching
The emotions passing through mind
Weaving varying patterns
Where is the solace
Scriptures tutor to trust
In the Almighty
Down in the dumps
The episodes so far
Sunshine is never a rainbow
Sun will shine

FLOODED KUTTANAD FLOODED KERALA

The floods came viciously. Kuttanad was never afraid of the floods. Water logging never scared the people.  But the way it arrived in 2018 put fear into each and every one. It drowned everything and sailed over the roofs of many houses and other buildings with ease. If people had managed the earlier editions with one or two feet of flood water in their houses or without any flooding at all 2018 changed all the perceptions. Flooding was either over the roofs or six or seven feet of water in the houses and all other buildings. Those houses where the floods have never touched base too had one or two feet of water to convert the agony universal. The loss has been mammoth. Crop losses exceeded all previous records. With an unmanageable flood level and with the loss of all worldly possessions penury stared at the people of Kuttanad. They were evacuated hastily and put in relief camps. If resilience is the hallmark of the people of Kuttanad they need much more to tide over the current crisis. Perhaps another Marshall Plan alone could engineer the revival. Hurdles are multi faceted. Foreign aid cannot flow freely. An English Channel in India has called the people of Kerala  “The most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen.” Fact is Kerala needs assistance to rebuild and rehabilitate. The Government of India has the resources that Kerala craves for and if it opens the coffers and acts better than the Marshall Plan Kerala does not require anything more.

I belong to Kuttanad, the Rice Bowl of Kerala, India. I do not reside there at present. We are settled in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital  of Kerala.  But I keep my contacts and connections with Kuttanad live. I have our people there and we enjoy the periodic revival of our friendship and the fellowship. We visit the place bimonthly and spend a day or two there in our house, Cholakathu Deepthi at Anaprampal Ambalam Junction, Thalavady on the Tiruvalla - Edathua Road forming part of the Tiruvalla – Ambalapuzha State Highway. Our place is located exactly midway between Chakulathu Kavu Bhagavathy Temple and the St. George Forane Church , Edathua, two places of worship where huge number of pilgrims converge. Our house had been built by Papa and Mummy after Papa’s retirement in January 1975 from the KDHP Co Munnar where he had been the Mechanical Foreman,an Executive Post  categorized as ‘B-Covenanted.’  The impact of financial constraints played havoc and the house could be completed only in 1976 and the family resided there since then.

While we were residing in Munnar, we used to visit Thalavady off and on.  The memories of our sojourn remain firm and fresh in my mind.  Though tempted I am refraining from dwelling on it as it would drag me off.

We had visited our place and stayed in our house in the beginning of August 2018 soon after the initial assault of the floods. Water had  entered  the house and it was cleaned after bailing out the water. The Sun shined bright and weather was very hot. We felt confident the current bout of flooding was over when had headed back to Thiruvananthapuram.  Little did we know of the blitz that was already on course to smash all known hardships  to  smithereens

Floods are a part and parcel of life in Kuttanad. People brave the floods and lead their life nonchalantly. They fight the ravages of nature spiritedly and subdue the monstrous battering with élan. Kuttanad is only 700 years old. It is heard a geological event had formed it. Situated below Sea level agriculture and farming are the mainstay of the economy there.  It is thickly populated.

When our house had been built it stood two feet above the road. Later as the road was developed to modern standards the house went lower by three feet. Though floods had been very active twice or thrice a year we were never threatened by the all consuming flood waters. The false comfort lasted 25 years.  Our peace was shattered when flood waters swept into our house sheepishly. It became a periodic ritual. The house would have one to two feet of water whenever there was inundation. The floods of 2018 had been disastrous.  Exceeding the normal pattern water rose to six feet in the house damaging and destroying everything we had there.

The experience at the micro level was dwelt on to highlight what people had against them  at the macro level.

 The whole of Kuttanad had become a sheet or an expanse of water. It was in 1924 Kuttanad had the worst flooding ever in the past. The construction activity in Kuttanad kept the water level of 1924 as the base level for houses and all other buildings to ensure that the floods never  threatened anyone.  The forethought was in vain. 2018 surpassed all the estimations. Very few houses or other constructions escaped the fury of the floods.

The projections were all disproved as the years went by. Infra structure development built roads everywhere to extend connectivity. Roads that were submerged ritually in the endemic floods were raised by several feet to avoid chronic inundation.  Roads became bunds.

The Thottappally Spillway and the Thannermukkam Bund were built to hold the rushing sea water and protect farming. The hick up in the timely opening of the Thottappally Spillway and the Thannermukkam Bund ensured  the flood waters never receded fast.

“The Thanneermukkom Bund (Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier) was constructed as a part of the Kuttanad Development Scheme to prevent tidal action and intrusion of salt water into the Kuttanad low-lands across Vembanad Lake between Thannermukkom on south and Vechur on north. Thanneermukkom Bund was constructed in 1974 and is functional since 1976. It is the largest mud regulator in India. (The mud barrier has now been replaced with shutters)This barrier essentially divides the lake into two parts - one with brackish water perennially and the other half with fresh water fed by the rivers draining into the lake.”  Wikipedia

“Thottappally Spillway is Kuttanad's drain-way out to the Arabian Sea. The Thottappally Spillway splits the Thottappally lake with the fresh water part to the east and saline Thottappally river mouth to the west merging with the Arabian Sea. Thottappally spillway is constructed to spill excess water coming over the Upper Kuttanad and Lower Kuttanad regions through Manimala River, Achancovil River and Pamba River. It is designed such that it could spill off 19,500 cubic meters of water per second, but after its construction it was found that it is able to spill 600 cubic meters of water per second. Reasons for this reduced flow rate are, strong sea breezes during rainy seasons resulting in a rise in sea level relative to the water level of Kuttanad, formation of sand bars on the western area of the spillway and the width of the leading canal is too narrow to carry this much water to the spillway.” Wikipedia

The coastal Railway line linking Kayamkulam with Ernakulam was nothing but an elevated bund.  Connectivity was attained at a very high cost as the protection of environment took the back seat.

Add to it the numerous bunds that crisscrossed the paddy fields. As land was scarce reclamation was the order of the day for construction of houses and all other buildings. Ponds, Canals, Rivers and Paddy fields vanished overnight.  Yet Kuttanad thrived despite the incursion of floods. Unfortunately the roads and the Railway line were nothing but bunds that prevented the even flow of water leading to critical inundation in Kuttanad.  No one ever looked at Holland that is below sea level and the successful management of the flowing rivers and the  engulfing sea.

The visuals of the displaced - refugees -from Kuttanad thronging Alapuzha was heart wrenching. They came in their multitudes.They had nothing with them except the dress they wore. They did not know where to go. Relief camps were set up for them in far away Cherthala since there was no space for them in the camps at Alapuzha. The Newspapers had reported that relief camps in Kerala were looking after 13.50 lacs of the evacuated that is almost 5% of the total population of Kerala. Of the total population of 2.00 lacs in Kuttanad 95% had to be evacuated in a short span of two days.

“It is estimated that around 10 million East Bengali refugees entered India during the early months of the Bangladesh war.‎

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was about 40 million ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history.

World War II fatality statistics vary, with estimates of total deaths ranging from 50 million to more than80 million.

During Partition in 1947, the number of people who migrated, often by foot, -- Hindus and Sikhs to India, and Muslims to Pakistan was 15 million”

The statistics are quoted (Wikipedia) as the scale of displacement and the hardships that had throttled everyone  in a couple of days during Kerala floods draw a definite parallel when nature declared War against Kerala.

The visuals of rescue by helicopters, army and navy, fishing boats and country boats, heavy vehicles and the aerial distribution as well as distribution through heavy vehicles of food packets and drinking water coupled with the angry rivers consuming everything in their wake reminded us that we were in a war zone. It was the first experience for Keralites who never ever had experienced the extremities of wars that were fought in far off places and countries.

We could never believe that Keralites would ever experience the struggles of the displaced in the war or in the partition where people ran to save their lives leaving everything they had behind. They became refugees in their own prized land. It  was indeed a great learning experience for Keralites.

Rehabilitation calls for massive assistance to put the people back on wheels. The people will survive. They are down but not out. Their indomitable spirit will make Kuttanad survive. The Govrnment of India has committed itself to put Kuttanad and Kerala back on track.

We are sanguine it will happen.

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