Pseudo-intellectuals hit a new low by forcing a caterer to serve non veg dishes in Kerala student festival
Swami Vivekananda described Kerala as a lunatic asylum when he visited South India as part of his Bharat Yatra during the latter half of the nineteenth century. What made the Hindu saint express his disgust was the apartheid in vogue in the region at the instance of certain caste leaders who had made it a symbol of royalty and feudalism. The modern-day royalty and feudalism in the State are epitomized by certain political goons and pseudo-intelligentsia who want Kerala to remain as a communal cauldron. It is an accepted policy that arts and culture should unify people who follow myriad religious beliefs. Kerala is home to Asia’s biggest cultural jamboree of school children, the State Schools Youth Festival. Nearly 10,000 school students from across the State participate in arts and cultural events spread over five days. The event assumes more significance than any other festival in the State thanks to the innocence of the teenage participants. Noted caterer Pazhayidam Mohanan Nampoothiri, whose cooking and serving of foods was the one who has been feeding the participating children with quality vegetarian dishes for the last 25 years. Nampoothiri dedicates a month every year to cook and feed the child participants.
Media reports about the school youth festival would not be complete without features about the daily delicacies served by him. But Nampoothiri shocked Kerala with his announcement that he would not be there with his kitchen from next year as a section of the self-styled intelligentsia took umbrage over the fact that he serves only vegetarian stuff during the event. The fact that Nampoothiri serves a non-vegetarian menu during the annual Kerala Schools Sports Meet was hidden from society. The statement was like opening a Pandora’s Box in a State which stands polarised on communal lines. Things reached an alarming level this time as Nampoothiri and his staff had to sit on guard round-the-clock in the kitchen as well as the storeroom because of threats by certain elements that they would put poison in the food. They demanded that beef delicacies be served and described the ace caterer as emblematic of communalism and fascism. They were silent about dozens of people getting killed in the State after consuming non-vegetarian dishes from eateries. Let the children enjoy their favorite dishes. Communalism and Fascism have no space in kids’ worlds. One cannot be blamed if he doubts whether Kerala is an Animal Farm visualized by George Orwell.
