On The Commons Or 'Poromboke' (in Tamizh) Land
ServiceSpace
--Gayathri Ramachandran
Jun 22, 2017

 

A very well-articulated article in The Hindu talks about the commons in India today. Worth reading!
 

A teenager lives in a small tribal village close to Bandipur. She had created a new step in her dance. This is an extract of the dialogue between her professor and her.

“Do you know that it is something new you have created?” ‘Yes.’

“Do you want to be known as the one who created the step?”

‘It is ok.’ (She does not care either way.)

“If your classmate passes it off as her innovation, would you mind?”

‘No.’

“Would you fight with her?”

‘Why should I?’

“If she had created a new step, would you pass it off as yours?”

‘Why should I?’

Was especially thrilled to see a quote from Kuthambai Siddhar echoing similar nirguni themes as Rumi or Kabir. He sings, "What would the one who has realised Infinite Space do with certificates of ownership?'' ("Vetta veli thanil meyyenrirupporkku pattayam edukkadi?" in Tamizh).

Also, TM Krishna, a leading Carnatic musician of South India, singing about the commons, in an effort to rein-in industrial pollution of a creek near Chennai. A hard-hitting song that provokes reflection :)

  
 

Posted by Gayathri Ramachandran on Jun 22, 2017