A Valiant People invalidated...

A Valiant People, invalidated developmentally…

Trivandrum Archdiocese (Latin) probably is predominantly, if not exclusively, of fishing community. But for their geographical marginality on the shores of Arabian Sea, they had all possibilities of development which were in some way kept away of their reach. They belong to one of the rarest of category of fishermen daring the elements and exploiting all sorts of technical supports available besides inventing their own techniques in fishing. Perhaps, they are the only group of fishermen engaged in manual shark hunting in the deep sea. Their women are equally industrious and hard working. Yet that community is often branded as backward, mostly by the ecclesiastical authorities! In this context, would like to respond to an article of Sabbas Ignatius on their ‘fish-vending women’ in the diocesan magazine ‘Jeevanum Velichavum’ of July 2013 issue.

In order to gauge the culture/civilization of any people, one has to look into their womenfolk first, it is said. It is not that fisherwomen are in any way less than anyone else in the society at large. The active involvement of Annie Mascrene in the Freedom Movement of the Nation and later on her role in the Constituent Assembly drafting the Constitution of Free India. How can one forget the supreme sacrifice of Flory at the ‘Liberation Struggle’ against the first communist government through ballot?

If one of such women could rise up to this level, everyone else could do so provided similar situations are there for them too. My response would be in line with that presumption. Sabbas’ write up was seemingly based on a sample survey conducted among 482 fish-vending women and 100 fishermen of Trivandrum Archdiocesan coast by the Trivandrum Social Service Society in collaboration with the Resource Centre of ‘Sakhi’.

To begin with he speaks of 15% of such women expecting a change in attitude from the larger society towards them. He specifically mentions among others two challenges, namely the odor of fish and their slang usage. This relates to hygiene and literacy which none can help, than acquiring them for themselves. The very TSSS, the most influential of the diocesan organ itself can do anything to help them acquire those skills to overcome those challenges. Once this is done, everything else would fall in line in their favor. That is going to be a real challenge for the diocese which it dilly dallied with all these years in the vain hope of keeping them superstitious and subservient without any self esteem.

Then he describes the various stages in their life when they were rather forced to drink this ‘cup which they pray to pass away, if possible!’ One thing is that their men are not sufficiently responsible for the reasons that they were not properly brought up and educated in letters and self-esteem. The other side is that there is any number of ways to market fish in a decent way today, from cold storage facilities to processing them to reaching it to the spot in insulated vans and so on. Women need not be engaged in it and that could easily be handled by anyone as a decent and competitive business like any other business. Here also the TSSS with its organizational infrastructure could render yeomen service and help them reach economic self-sufficiency, if not independency.

Now he goes on telling the life burdens like a debt trap which is like quick mire that develops dangerously or a vicious circle that tightens or suffocates them to ‘death’. This is a sheer lack of fiscal management skills. Both the men and women work like uncompromisingly and against all odds fetching enough and more money to be loitered in extravaganzas like the marriages and other celebrations. Why not the diocese does something with determination against the exorbitant dowry system down the coast? Many poor parents can’t afford to see their daughters married of this way! Again education in letters and genuine gospel values becomes a must, sine qua non. Are we ready to do that whole heartedly, even if that means giving up some of the church’s cherished privileges and prerogatives?

I think we make a mountain out of a mole; we are trying to demonize matters without ever moving our little fingers in the real direction of solutions which is very much within their stamina. Educate them, respect them and challenge them whenever needed and enable them to find out their own solutions for which they are quite able and efficient. Wait only to see wonders to happen from among them.

Am proud of being born into that valiant community and impatient to see all of us feel so. Let that day dawn very soon, if possible, in our own times...