PERSPECTIVES ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Introduction

The anthology titled Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, deals with some highly relevant
issues in the contemporary society. The module on Human Rights discusses topics of national
and international dimensions such as social justice, poverty and also slavery. The opening
speech by the eminent jurist, V.R. Krishna Iyer, titled, “Grim Realities, Hopeful Hues” sets
the path in the right direction by addressing the status of social justice in India at the close of
the millennium. Dr. Madhava Menon offering a comprehensive analysis of socioeconomic,
civil and political rights identifies poverty as the greatest threat to humanity in the essay,
“Poverty is the Greatest Threat”. William Blake’s poem “The Little Black Boy” presents the
anguish of slavery from the innocent point of view of a black child. The next module deals
with the specific issue of Gender Discrimination. Gail Omvedt offers a theoretical
interpretation of violence against women and identifies the link between economic
exploitation, caste, patriarchy and ecological crises as the root cause of the problem.
Lalithambika Antarjanam’s short story presents the protagonist in the controversial
Kuriyedathu Tatri whose smarthavichraram shook the foundations of the orthodox
Nambuthiri society. Kamala Das’s poem Nani examines the deletion of a maid servant from
the memories of a Nair matriarch. The module on Globalisation examines the other less
explored side of “the open world market”. Christabel P.J deals with the sociocultural
insecurities against the backdrop of globalisation. Helena Norberg-Hodge, on the other hand,
presents Going Local to counter the ill effects of globalization.Balachandran Chullikkadu
explores the idea of freedom as work. The module Alcohol and Drug Abuse addresses the
urgent need to check the rising bane of substance abuse in the contemporary society. Dr.
Adithi addresses the problem of drug abuse in campuses in “The Bane of Alcoholosm”.
Another essay by Dr. Ajeesh deals with the havoc caused by substance abuse among
adolescents. Jeet Thayyil speaks about the stupor experienced by an alcoholic.
 Module 1

Human Rights
 Grim Realities, Hopeful Hues

Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer

1.1About the author

Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer (1914-2014) was an Indian Supreme Court Judge and Minister who
reformed the Indian criminal justice system. He stood up for the poor and the
underprivileged. He remained a human rights champion and a crusader for social justice and
environment throughout his life. Also a sports enthusiast and prolific writer, he was conferred
with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. He has to his credit 70 to 100 books, mostly on law, and
some travelogues. He has also authored a book in Tamil Neethimandramum Samanya
Manithanum. Wandering in Many Worlds is his autobiography.

1.2 Summary of the Essay

Standing on the threshold of the 21st century, Justice Krishna Iyer looks back at India
at the close of millennium. The concluding decade has been one of the victimisation- the
denial of basic human rights or dignity, inadequate judicial protection for citizens, terrorism,
police inaction or excessive interference, casteism, biopiracy, discrimination and disparity.
Through this essay V.R. Krishna Iyer tries to analyse the performance of the nation on the
human rights front at 1999. He starts the essay by delineating the role of the Supreme Court
and the High Court in the field of HRs. To him, the primary duty of the executive and the
law making bodies under the constitution is to make the right to life an actuality. Common
people can make use of these law making bodies if it seems that the rights relating to life,
liberty, equality and dignity are curtailed. They can get access to courts and awareness
regarding HR through PIL (Public Interest Litigation), NHRC (National Human Rights
Commission), state HRCs (Human Resource Commission at State Level) and NGOs (Non-
Governmental Organizations).

However, it is a grim reality that the violations of HRs by the state, terrorists and by
anti-social forces are rapidly escalating. They are predators of the marginalised masses,
especially women and children. But the grim realities on the ground find a silver lining in the
hues of horizon. The two rays of hope are i) intervention of the judiciary, taking the sovereign
immunity of the State and its minions in cases of constitutional wrong or violation ii) the
insightful interpretation of the judges to read UN instruments into national legislations, thus
strengthening human rights. Krishna Iyer welcomes these trends as functional factors,
protective of human rights.

In the area of pollution PIL has gone a long way in checking noxious gas and
industrial effluents that are detrimental to health. But even the Supreme Court feels short of
expectations in the Union Carbide tragedy in Bhopal and the FACT Ammonia storage tank
case in Kerala. Some of the stay orders passed in recent years by the apex court suggest an
insensibility to human concerns. Pollution Control Boards and governments are ineffectual
leading the public to suspect their integrity. .
V.R. Krishna Iyer reflects that ‘India 1999’ is a garbage dump of filthy towns, cities and
villages, polluted water bodies, toxic air, contaminated soil and imperishable plastic material.
Unconcern for community cleanliness and elimination of toxic materials has been on an
escalating scale in the 90s, which is a gross violation of the HRs collectively and
individually. Poverty, lack of awareness, ill-health, insufficient housing, hunger and
community lethargy contribute to all these pollution problems.

Justice Krishna Iyer condemns the west-infected New World Order which downgraded
human priorities and glorified high society appetites. Globalization in a way leads to the
denial of human rights to the vast masses of India including women, children, dalits and other
marginalised groups. Eventually the new mantra of globalisation and privatisation has
pauperized the people. Corporate bodies like MNCs, IMF-World Bank, WTO, TRIPS (Trade
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), TRIMS (Trade Related Investment
Measures) and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) paved the way for the
process of re-colonization.

In short, our freedom in its full sense is in peril. Human Rights in the deeper meaning are
suffocated. And the battle for human rights has to begin with a new vigour not by political
parties but by vast hungry masses of men, women and children to make the 21st century more
powerful and humane.

1.3 Sample Questions:

1. What is PIL?

2. Expand NHRC?

3. What are the two rays of hope regarding human rights in India?

4. Why does India in 1999 seem a garbage dump to Justice Krishna Iyer?

5. Summarise Justice Krishna Iyer’s analysis of the human rights scenario in India at the
dawn of the 21st century?(Essay)

1.4Glossary

Hue: colour or shade

PIL(Public Interest Litigation):legal action which seeks to advance the cause of minorities or
disadvantaged communities.

NHRC(National Human Rights Commission):an autonomous statutory body chaired by a

former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the protection of Human Rights.

Escalate : increase rapidly

Litigation:the process of taking legal action

NGO: Non-governmental organisation

 Poverty is the Greatest Threat

N. R Madhava Menon

2.1 Note on the Author

N R Madhava Menon is known as the father of modern legal education in India.He founded
the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).He has been an advisor to the
Commonwealth Judicial Education Research Institute,Canada.The International Bat
Association honoured Menon with the Living Legend of Law Award(1994)Prof.Menon lives
in Thiruvananthapuram.

2.2 Summary of the Essay

2.2.1 Introduction

A society which cannot provide the basic necessities for living to all cannot be regarded as
civilized. In such societies, human rights discourse will be constrained to a privileged group
of people. It will reflect the guilt complexes and hypocrisy of these societies. Peace is
unattainable when one part of the world struggles with famine and the other; with excessive
consumption. In the present globalised world, human dignity faces a threat in the form of
nation-state, market based economy, etc. There is a clear division between socioeconomic
rights and civil-political rights. Improvement in human rights situation begins only with the
enforcement of social and economic rights. Human rights have been accepted as an integral
part of the 20th century governance. State’s accountability and obligations are measured on
the basis of the fulfilment of the needs of the people. The contemporary society has
mechanisms like NGO movements, active judiciary and an independent media to monitor the
violations of human rights. Thus a new human rights culture is being evolved in the various
parts of the world with a view to fight against authorities and corruption. Ever since India
attained freedom, the country has shown a remarkable progress in practising human rights.
Corruption, violence, communal politics are some of the threats that disturb the peace of the
Indian society. Atrocities towards women, children and lower class people are still prevalent
in India. The democratic nature of the polity assures a promising future for the civil and
political rights in India. But when it comes to the socioeconomic rights, we get a bleak
picture.

Poverty: A Threat to Human Rights

Poverty is the real threat to human dignity. Socioeconomic rights were either violated or
neglected on various grounds as the society had a superior attitude towards the suffering
people. Globalization has paved way for free market economy and it has affected the poor
people adversely. The state withdrew from operations and the multinational companies
started operating the economy and market of our country. Globalization favoured industrial
economy over agrarian economy which resulted in loss of labour for many people. Thus, the
state lost its ability of controlling the social welfare sector. As a consequence, development
caused poverty for the less privileged group of people. It is in this context that the human
discourse becomes important. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Bill
of Rights identified the right to live, right to education, right to healthcare, right to work as
some of the basic human needs. But our country does not have adequate tools to implement
these needs. In order to introduce human rights into the local and global markets, the legal
community should work with economists and sociologists.

Human Dignity and Development

UDHR in its Preamble declares that “equal and inalienable rights of all the members of the
human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. The
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also recognised
that human rights derive from human dignity. Human dignity is not a gift of the state but is
something one is born with. The concept of human rights is based on the concept of human
dignity. Human rights can be better understood as a need that arises out of freedom from
want and freedom from fear. Poverty is the greatest threat to human dignity in India. Over
200 million people are still living under poverty line. Child labour and unemployment throw
light on the fact that India is unequal in giving away social justice. Rio Declaration and
Vienna Declaration placed human being as the focus of development. All sustainable
development should begin with human beings.

Poverty amidst Affluence

The Universal Human Development Report of 1998 revealed that poverty and dirt are still in
plenitude while rich becomes richer. It states that globalization is opening up new inequalities
for the people. Safety standards of consumer products are altered and this results in the less
privileged class consuming contaminated food. Pollution is also on the rise and most number
of the victims is from the poor sector. Equality, equity, sustainability, participation and
expansion are the essential aspects of development. They are universal, inseparable and
interdependent. UN sponsored Social Summit held in Copenhagen in 1995 aimed at
eradicating poverty. It looked forward to enforce basic education, food security, and adequate
shelter for all.

Constitutional Provisions

The division of human rights, in the Bill of Rights, into civil-political rights and
socioeconomic rights have influenced the treatment of human rights in the world. Civil and
political rights are always given predominance over socioeconomic rights. Judiciary has very
little involvement in enforcing socioeconomic rights. It comes under the aegis of the
executive and legislative branches of the government. The Constitution of India echoes this
dual approach to human rights. Part III deals with Fundamental Rights and it incorporates
civil and political rights. Part IV, titled Directive Principles of State Policy, aims to generate
social and economic conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life. However
Article 37 excludes courts from the enforcement of socioeconomic rights. For a while, the
courts treated socioeconomic rights as inferior to civil and political rights. It was an unwritten
dictum that no legal claims could arise for non-fulfilment of obligations under Part IV.
Government is expected to provide socioeconomic rights free of charge to all citizens. This
dual approach forced the Supreme Court of India to get involved with Part IV. This
eliminated the division and prioritization of rights. Ever since then, a breath of fresh spirit has
been blowing in the direction of human rights in India. India is still far away from effectively
employing human rights. But the participation of general public along with judicial activism
and public interest has contributed to the emergence of a new era.

2.2.2 Sample Questions:

1. What is the greatest accomplishment of 20th century civilization, according to the author?

2. How does globalization affect the underprivileged sections of the society?

 Little Black Boy

Willam Blake

3.1 About the author

William Blake (1757-1827) is a Transitional poet, mystic and painter. He is better known as a
visionary poet. In his poems, Blake made use of religious symbols to disseminate his
imagination and personal mythology. Blake’s fame as a poet chiefly rests in his collections
Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.

3.2 About the Poem

Little Black Boy, a poem taken from Songs of Innocence, was penned down on the wake of
slave abolition movements of the 18th century. Being a revolutionary, Blake extended his
support to eradicate slavery by expressing it in his poetry. Blake chose the innocence of a
little boy to delineate the dark face of race discrimination that was prevalent during his time.

3.3 Summary

The narrator of the poem is a black boy. The poem unfolds when the boy recounts that he was
conceived by his mother in Africa. Even though his skin colour is black, he claims that his
soul is white. He is dejected that he has been deprived of light. He looks upon the English
child for being as white as an angel.

The boy’s mother takes him to a tree’s shade and consoles him. She points towards the east
and states that God lives in the sky. It is He who gives away light and heat for all the living
organisms of the world. Human beings are sent to earth to understand God’s plans and to bear
his love. Human body is nothing but a cloud that hides its real self. Once humans learn their
purpose on earth, the cloud slowly vanishes. As the clouds clear away, humans will start
hearing God’s voice. His voice will ask the people to come out of the shade and enjoy life
like lambs rejoice.

Having listened to the wisdom imparted by his mother, the boy resolves to come out of the
black cloud. He envisions a world where nobody is discriminated on the basis of their skin
colour. Like innocent lambs, he wants people to rejoice around the world and realise his place
at the Almighty’s knee. Seeing the black boy’s selfless love towards the white boy, the black
boy hopes that the white child will also realise that his fellow beings are also the children of
God. The poem aims at educating the people that all are born equals and all the
discriminations are manmade.

3.4 Sample Questions:

1. How does the mother console the boy?

2. What is God’s promise to man?

 Module 2

The Gender Question

 Violence Against Women

Gail Omvedt

1.1 Introduction

The essay “Violence Against Women” is an excerpt from the noted American-born Indian
sociologist, thinker and human rights activist, Gail Omvedt’s 1990 book Violence Against
Women: New Movements and New Theories in India. From the very early campaigns around
rape and dowry deaths, to the continuing struggle against all forms of domestic violence and,
increasingly, political rape, the issue of violence has remained in the forefront, both for the
movement and for Indian women in general. By making an assessment of the theories which
attempt to explain the origins of violence, this book prepares the ground for a deeper
understanding of a phenomenon which has systematically kept women in fear and
subordination for centuries. In addition to a discussion of the radical feminist and traditional
Marxist analyses of violence, the author puts forward three recent theories which see a nexus
between economic exploitation and patriarchy; caste, patriarchy and violence; and ecological
crises, under development and violence.

1.2 About the author

Gail Omvedt, is an American-born Indian scholar, sociologist and human rights activist. She
is a prolific writer and has published numerous books on the anti-caste movement, Dalit
politics, and women's struggles in India. She was born in Minneapolis, and studied at
Carleton College and at UC Berkeley where she earned her PhD in sociology in 1973. She
has been an Indian citizen since 1983. She currently lives in rural India in a town in
Maharashtra called Kasegaon with her husband, Bharat Patankar, her mother-in-law Indumati
Patankar and cousins.She has worked actively with social movements in India, including the
Dalit and anti-caste movements, environmental movements, farmers’ movements and
especially with rural women. She has been active in Shramik Mukti Dal, Stri Mukti Sangarsh
Chalval which works on issues of abandoned women in Sangli and Satara districts of
southern Maharashtra, and the Shetkari Mahila Aghadi, which works on issues of women’s
land rights and political power.

1.3 Summary of the Essay

Omvedt states how specific forms of violence- rape, sexual abuse, female foeticide, witch-
killing, sati, dowry murders, wife-beating- instil a continued sense of insecurity in women,
and keep them bound to home, economically exploited and socially oppressed. A major
concern of the women’s rights movements in India has been the fight against violence in the
family, society and the state. The state, Omvedt argues, is one of the main sources of
violence, and is often found to support domestic violence, violence in the workplace and the
neighbourhood. For these reasons, a mass women’s movement should focus on the fight
against violence in home, in and out.
In the introduction, Omvedt observes that violence against women has been the major theme
of the women’s liberation movement in India since the 1970s. From dowry deaths, rape, sati,
and female infanticide to amniocentesis, the problems are alarming. Though opposition to
specific cases of violence, have been mounted by women’s movements, the absence of a
theoretical understanding of the social structure and the causes of violence is a major
problem. Traditional Marxism either interprets violence as a derivative of economic
exploitation and property ownership or like radical western feminism view it an inherent
feature of the “dialectics of sex”. Theoretical initiatives have come from intellectuals and
activist- leaders associated with movements against the exploitation of rural women as
peasants, forest-dwellers or low-castes-Sharad Patil, Sharad Joshi and Vandana Shiva, to
name a few.

Sharad Patil, leader of a small adivasi-based community combined Marxism and Phule-
Ambedkarism, while Sharad Joshi, leader of one of the most powerful farmer’s organizations
in India inspired its women’s front; and Vandana Shiva, a feminist and environmental
activist is associated with the Chipko movement of the Himalayan peasants. They work in a
creative manner from the depths and margins of Indian society and also transform the world
through ensuring the participation of women in the “new social movements” prominent in
India- the ecology, peasant and anti-caste movements. In the rest of the essay, Omvedt
examines the problems of violence, Marxism and radical feminism, other Western and Indian
theoretical approaches before a thorough enquiry into the work of Sharad Patil, Sharad Joshi
and Vandana Shiva. The section Problems of Violence examines the major steps and
achievements in the fight against violence against women.

In February 1988, a major women’s conference, attended by seven hundred women, was
organized in Patna, Bihar by various women’s groups, including autonomous feminists, and
women’s organizations associated with radical mass movements. Group discussions were
conducted for three days culminating in a massive rally on the fourth day, with several topics
debated, but the issue of “women and violence” was one of the most important topics. The
Resolution of the Nari Mukti Sangharsh Sammelan pinpointed the State as the major support
for a source of violence against women; and it asserted the autonomy of violence as a factor
behind economic exploitation.

The Patna Conference Resolution, in linking violence against women with state, raised some
major concerns in the analysis of contemporary society: how is the growing violence against
women in Indian society connected to contemporary crises in State domination and economic
exploitation? To answer the question, Omvedt blames the patriarchal suppression of women
and analyses the relationship between violence and economic exploitation, violence and
sexuality, violence and caste/class/rural-urban divisions, and violence and culture. She
examines the answers to each of these questions in the rest of the essay.

The first issue, the relationship between violence and economic exploitation of women, is of
primary importance in the Patna Conference Resolution. Violence plays a major role in
keeping women suppressed and economically exploited. The pervasive violence against
women throughout society has an obvious economic function. Violence keeps women under
control, prevent them from seeking work outside home, thereby forcing them to the lowest
paid or unpaid forms of labour. Economic exploitation often leaves women in a resource less
state. It is also possible to identify specific forms of violence- the witch killings in adivasi
communities to control the access of women to land, the condition of divorced/deserted or
single women- and see how insecurity (fear of violence) prevents women from claiming their
legal rights to property inheritance. The state of being economically dependent renders
women weak to challenge the violence and the dominant power structure. In the workforce,
women are largely confined to the unorganized sector, as agricultural labourers, peasants, and
unpaid subsistence producers. The Hindu patrilineal and patrilocal family system deny
women access to property except through men and their resources in terms of education,
skills, socialised self-confidence etc, are much lower than those of men.

The next issue Omvedt takes up is the link between violence and sexuality. A large number
of violence against women is connected with sexuality. The sati case of Roop Kanwar offers
the paradigmatic shift here. Roop Kanwar, an eighteen year old rajput woman, committed
sati, after the death of her husband. After her death, Roop Kanwar was hailed as a sati mata.
The incident led to state level laws and also the central government’s Commission of Sati
(Prevention Act). However Omvedt’s investigation brought into light that Roop Kanwar was
forced to live away from her husband, an impotent neurotic. Her husband committed suicide
when he found out that she was having an affair with another man. This relatively unknown
aspect of Roop Kanwar’s sati is that the burden of guilt, weighed down by tradition,
terrorized her into death. On the one hand, violence is sexual; on the other, sexuality in
contemporary society is soaked in violence. Caste, class and rural/urban sub divisions decide
the form of violence confronted by different sections of women in society.

The upper caste women and those aspiring to be like them are confined to the home and
apparently sheltered from external violence. The ‘capitalist nuclear family’ format of a wage-
earning husband and non-waged housewife, equally push women into the home. Employed
upper caste women in the urban organized sector generally have enough resources to protect
them from the worst forms of social crime. However, this upper caste, upper middle class,
urban organized sector women are subjected to domestic violence rather than external “social
violence”. For these women, the very family that protects them –dowry deaths, wife-beating
and female foeticide are the most rampant here and masked from social visibility. In contrast,
lower caste, lower class women may enjoy relative independence. They are often more
assertive and can even fight back. Still, they are more vulnerable to social violence –
molestation, rape and murder by landlords, contractors and thugs. They are targeted as bad
women, fair game for sexual assault. This is a dialectic circle: purity and prostitution are two
sides of the same coin, and the social definition of a woman’s status is in terms of the good
(submissive wife) and the bad (independent/prostitute). The interrelationship between
violence, exploitation and sexuality, and its patterning in cross sections of society, are at the
heart of the brutality against women. Gail looks at cultural traditions that see women as
strishakti, prakriti and even as the virangana, to provide resources for women’s struggle.

Analysis: The women’s liberation movement in India, since its beginning in 1974-75 has
focused on the issue of violence against women. From 1980, rape cases such as those of
Mathura, Maya Tyagi and Rameeza Bi emerged to draw attention to extreme forms of
women’s oppression. Activists such as Sharad Joshi, Sharad Patil and Vandana Shiva have
brought in theoretical perspectives on women’s rights movements in India. Significantly, the
theoretical initiatives on women’s rights movements have come from intellectuals and
activist-leaders associated with movements of rural women, against their exploitation both as
women and as peasants, as forest-dwellers, or as members of low castes. The Nari Mukti
Sangharsh Sammelan at Patna in 1988, identified four forms of violence on women: the
relationship between iolence and economic exploitation, violence and sexuality, violence and
class/caste/rural-urban divisions, and violence and culture. The Patna Womens’Conference
made an attempt to transcend the “traditional feminist linkages” of the majority of its
organizers: it pinpointed the State as the major support for a source of violence against
women; and it asserted the autonomy of violence as a factor behind economic exploitation,
these being the twin aspects of the Resolution of the Nari Mukti Sangharsh Sammelan.

The Patna Resolution argues that violence plays a major role in keeping women suppressed
and exploited. The pervasive violence against women keep women under control, particularly
in preventing them from going out of the home to take advantage of economic opportunities,
in forcing them in the lowest paid or unpaid forms of labour. Brutal suppression, keep women
in their property- less and resource-less state. Witch killings in adivasi communities keep
women from obtaining access to land and fear of violence or insecurity prevent
divorced/deserted or single women from claiming legal rights to property inheritance. More
women are relegated to the unorganized sector as agricultural labourers, peasants, gatherers,
sellers of forest produce, and unpaid subsistence producers. The Hindu patrilineal and
patrilocal family system deny women access to property, who gain property rights only as
either wives or daughters. The male dominated Hindu family system also deny women access
to resources such as education, skills, socialised self-confidence etc. which make them
inferior to men. Thus Omvedt argues that violence against women and their economic
exploitation are in a circular relationship.

1.4 Sample Questions:

1. What is the sanskritization referred to by Gail in this essay?

The attempt of the middle classes to imitate the cultural norms or patterns of the upper castes
is identified by Gail as a negative influence on women. Upper caste women and middle castes
which try to imitate upper castes observe purdah norms that keep them confined to home
sheltered from external violence. The capitalist nuclear family ideal of the wage-earning
husband and the non-waged housewife also keep women home-bound. However, it should be
noted that upper caste/class, upper middle class or urban organized sector women are more
often subjected to violence within the family, than to external social violence. In such cases,
family is not only the source of protection but also violence. Dowry deaths, female foeticides,
and wife-beating are the most rampant in these four sections of society, but are more often
marked from social visibility than among lower class and rural women.
 The Goddess of Revenge

LalithambikaAntharjanam

2.1 About the author

Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909–1987), a popular writer in Malayalam language, was best

known for her nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children,
and a novel, Agnisakshi (1976). She won the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award and Kerala
Sahitya Academy Award in 1977 for her novel Agnisakshi. As a social reformer, she was
greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and the social reform movements among the
Namboodiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Her autobiography is Aathmakadhakkoru
Aamukham (An Introduction to Autobiography). Her short stories reveal the suffering of
Namboodiri women, their struggle in an unfriendly world, their loneliness and their search
for an identity of their own.

2.2 Introduction

‘The Goddess of Revenge’ is based on the true story of Kuriyedathu Tatri, a Namboodiri
woman, who plans to take revenge upon her Namboodiri husband who abandons her.
Tatrikutty, Lalithambika Antharjanam’s heroine in her story Pratikaaradevata (The Goddess
of Revenge), questions the moral policing in society that inevitably tries to suppress and
exploit women in different ways. The traumatic experiences are narrated by the spirit of Tatri
who appears before the author in a dream. The real life story unfolds itself as the narrative
progresses and explores the circumstances which led Tatri to transform herself to the
Goddess of Revenge.

Tatri regrets that she is born into the Namboodiri caste and wishes to pay her husband back in
his own coin when he brings home a second wife. Her husband told her that if she wanted
him to love her, she must become a harlot. Tatri was very much affected by these words and
it was taken as a challenge by her. Tatri plans out revenge by becoming a courtesan. Thus
Tatri becomes a harlot and she has secret liaisons with several prominent Namboodiri men as
well as her husband. A trial or smarthavicharam follows where she reveals herself as a
Namboodiri woman. When she is tried, her challenge to the jury or Smarthan is that if she is
to be cast out of the community, so must be all the sixty-four men, who slept with her. Her
logic is irrefutable and Tatri wins.

Lalithambika Antharjanam portrays a woman whose name was shunned by Namboodiri

society. The story opens with Antharjanam speaking in the first person and towards the end
we know that Tatri has appeared to her in a dream. Tatri has gone down in history as
womanhood screaming for justice, for hundreds of silenced women of the Namboodiri
community.

2.3 Analysis of the Story

In the beginning of the story, the narrator, Lalithambika Antarjanam, locks herself in a room,
in the middle of the night, attempting to write a story. She confides in the reader that she
worked through the story trying to push herself away from the sweet caresses of sleep. As a
woman, she knew that she would not be able to return to her writing till next night if she fell
asleep. She confesses that she was frightened to hear the hooting of owls as she was a coward
by nature. She was also worried about the theme, and the style of her writing. She was also
aware of problems of writing associated with women. Being a high-born woman, she was
concerned about issues like family status and prestige. She almost wanted to give up writing
when she thought of the opposition women writers had to deal with; obscene language, caste
distinctions, religious controversies, and the literary theorist’s recriminations.

Filled with anger, she threw up her pen on the table and sat with closed eyes.
Numerous thoughts of people whose lives were filled pain passed through her mind.
Suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps in the next room. She felt the strange presence of
another person in the locked up room and heard the voice of a woman. The narrator realizes
that the spirit of a young woman, Tatri whose tale of revenge created turmoil in Kerala has
appeared before her. Tatri even whose name was considered a taboo to utter, appears before
the writer to record her real story in history. Kuriyedathu Tatri was born with auspicious stars
in her horoscope. Like other young girls in the Nambuthiri community, Tatri also learnt
auspicious wedding songs like Parvathi swayamvaram and Mangalayathira controlling her
desires. Young girls were advised to learn virtuous behaviour from Tatri by grandmothers.
She got married to a young Nambuthiri man. While all went well for some time, her husband
left Tatri in a desire for beautiful women. One night he went to the extent of bringing a
prostitute home and insulted an infuriated Tatri to learn the ways of a harlot. Tatri fought the
depths of despair in her heart, returning to her ancestral home. Soon rumours began on Tatri’s
wayward behaviour who in her innocence, smiled to the world outside. The lives of the
Namboodiri women around her filled Tatri with thoughts of revenge. She realized that for a
Namboodiri woman who felt the heat of emotion or felt proud to be alive, there were only
two ways possible; go mad or fall from grace.

Tatri chose the second option and ceased to be a docile woman. She became a
courtesan and entertained rich men, noble chiefs and such well known men who gave her
precious gifts. One night, Tatri’s husband came to meet her. Without recognizing Tatri, he
swore by the sacred thread that he had never met anyone as beautiful as her. Tatri asked him
to remember his wife who was as pleasing as herself. The man recognized Tatri and fled from
the place. A chastity trial, or smarthavicharam , followed by the Namboodiri community was
ordered against Tatri. Tatri, revealed the names of all the sixty four men who had committed
the sin of adultery with her, while the community trembled in fear.

Tatri leaves a question to the author’s judgment whether it is the men who seduced a woman
to satisfy their lust or the woman who crossed the limits of society to punish the men,is more
guilty. The narrator, though expressing her sympathy with Tatri, maintains that the
smarthavicharam of Kuriyedathu Tatri has prompted men to unleash more violent modes of
control over women who accepted their defeat. At the end of the story, Lalithambika
Antarjanam firmly expresses her opinion that Tatri’s sacrifice is remembered only as a legal
affair, involving a prostitute and not as a positive move with far-reaching effects. However,
she agrees that Tatri’s act of sacrifice ignited a spark of radiance from the heart of a great
silence and all the sins of the goddess of revenge could be forgiven in the glory of that
sacrifice. The spirit slowly faded like the morning mist while the narrator awoke from her
dream.

The story “The Goddess of Revenge”, based on the true story of Kuriyedathu Tatri,
explores the circumstances which led her to wreak havoc on a society which treated women
like playthings. The traumatic experiences are narrated by the spirit of Tatri who appears
before the author in a dream. The story creates a powerful indictment of the sexual and
emotional exploitation of women in a highly patriarchal society.

2.4 Sample Questions:

1. Describe how a chaste, innocent woman became the Goddess of Revenge.

2. Why does the writer in the story think that writing stories is not a pleasant task for
women like her?
 Nani

3.1 About the author

Kamala Suraiyya, better known as Kamala Das, is a confessional poet. Born and brought up
in a traditional Malayali household, her poems and novels questioned the disrespect and
injustice meted out to womanhood. She was catapulted to limelight after the publication of
her autobiographical work, My Story.

3.2 About the poem

Nani is a poem that reflects the hypocritical attitude of the society towards Dalit women. The
double suppression, silencing and shaming that they have to endure forms the crux of the
poem.

3.3 Summary

Nani narrates the suicide of a pregnant maid. The speaker of the poem is the poet herself. The
poem is an anecdote from the poet’s childhood. One day a pregnant maid of her
grandmother’s house was found hanging in the toilet. Like a clumsy puppet, her body
hanged there for three long hours until the police arrived. When the wind blew, the dead body
was seen dangling. For the children, it appeared to be a comic dance.

Time elapsed. By the summer’s end, the toilet became a monument for the maid. After two
years, the poet asked her grandmother if she still remembered Nani. It was Nani who bathed
the poet near the well. Grandmother asked who was it and stared at the child. All such truths
were consciously forgotten or ignored by the elder ones.

According to the poet, this deafness turns mortality into immortality. She opines that lucky
are those who move on after getting no replies for their questions. She also envies the “blue
silent zone” or the guilty silences of the people who can remain passive on the face of such
events. Like a Koel’s egg which has innate music in it, lust streams beneath the skin of a
human being. It is invisible like the sap in a tree. The poet takes a dig at the heartless society
which exploits the downtrodden for their carnal pleasures. The sheer helplessness of the poet
amid the indifference of the society is also a focus of the poem.
 Module 3

Globalisation
 Lessons for Sustainable and Beneficial Coexistence

Dr.Christabell P .J

1.1 Introduction:

Lessons for Sustainable and Beneficial Co-existence by Dr. Christabell P. J is an

essay that examines the different sides of the phenomenon called Globalisation and seeks to
find out the ways in which the developing nations can cope to its harmful effects.

1.2 About the Author

Dr.Christabell P .J is Assistant Professor at the Dept of Future Studies. She is a former

faculty member at the ICFAI National College. She has also served as Assistant Professor at
the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. She has several research papers to her credit, published in
national and international repute. Her works include “Women Empowerment through
Capacity Building. The Role of Micro-Finance”. She is an active commentator on socials
and economic issues in the popular media.

The essay addresses certain pertinent questions related to globalisation – how did it
come into being, who are the stakeholders in this process, who are the beneficiaries and how
does it affect India, etc.

How Globalisation came into being:

No nation has all the factors necessary for production. While some countries have
skilled and cheap labour, others possess knowledge and technology. When these factors are
mixed in a judicious manner, it paves the way for technological development, efficient
production and innovation. For example, Volkswagen, the largest carmaker in Europe has
operating units in countries other than Germany. The key components of the engine are
manufactured in Germany and the United States to exploit the technological advancement of
these nations. The assembly plants are located in China and India to reap the benefits of
cheap labour.

Similarly Walmart, a multinational retail corporation acquires its merchandise from

low cost sources across the globe in bulk and arranges to sell them under its brand name
worldwide. Infosys is an Indian company which offers its software services worldwide.

The world is turning out to be an enlarged market space. Mulitnational companies

produce huge volumes of specialized products bringing in variation on features and quality,
according to the tastes and preferences of the customers. This is termed as differentiation and
the companies that fail to provide this diversification lose the battle soon.

Thus globalisation in its pure economic sense, can be viewed as an increasing

interdependence among nations in terms of trade, technology, production, markets and
capital. It also refers to an ever-glowing linkage of cultures, customs, communities, political
institutions and business corporations. The process of globalisation is accentuated by
developments in communication, information technology and infrastructure. It finally leads to
the emergence of a global society where international events become decisive for people
around the world.

Globalisation endorses economic efficiency, generates growth and yields profits. The
integration of economies, the mobility of the factors of production, the evolution of new
business models, technological innovations, and the explosion of knowledge and the
distribution of the fruits of development are some of the benefits of globalisation. All these
have led to an unprecedented advancement in the history of humankind.

The History of Globalisation:

Globalisation has a long history which can be traced through six phases:

1. Germinal Phase (1400-1750): Marked by the growth of national communities, the

concepts of the individual and humanity in general, the acceptance of the heliocentric theory
and the beginning of modern geography.

2. Incipient Phase of the nation-state (1750-1875): Marked by the beginning of

internationalism and universalism in Europe.

3. Take off Phase (1875-1925): where the world was conceived as a single international
society. There was mass international migration and the insertion of non-Europeans in the
international club of nation states.

4. Struggle for Hegemony (1925-1969): witnessed the cold war, the emergence of the
League of Nations and the UN and the materialization of the Third World.

5. Uncertainty Phase (1969-1992): marked by space exploration, an awareness of

environmental issues and the global mass media, via space technology.

6. Consolidation Phase (1992 – till date): is the ongoing phase characterised by

deregulation, privatisation and more rigorous communication, leading to the evolution of a
unique media culture.

Globalisation has created new markets in services, the financial sector and the financial
sector and the consumer segment. It has also paved to the growth of multinational
corporations (MNC), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and international Non-
governmental Organsiations (NGOs). It has also paved the foundation for new political
alliances such as G-7,BRICS and OECD.

Over the last twenty five years, almost all governments have downsized their activities
allowing the private sector to become the major economic players in their markets.

Globalisation in India:

The Government of India took the path of economic liberalization in 1991, when there
was a balance of payment crises. Huge policy reforms were brought in allowing the
liberalisation of trade, foreign capital, the promotion of private sector businesses and a
reduction in governmental control, etc. Consequently, India became the fastest growing
economy allowing international goods to enter the market. Outsourcing software services
witnessed a leap and employment opportunities broadened. Infrastructure development
enhanced the interstate transfer of materials and labour. A new saga of Indian prosperity was
set in motion.

The sociological significance of globalisation is generally expressed by visualizing

the world as a ‘global village’. But many consider it as a threat to the world’s cultural
diversity. It is feared that it might drown local economies, traditions and languages and
simply recast the world in the mould of the capitalist North and West.

Globalisation operates mostly in the interests of the richest countries, which continue
to dominate world trade at the expense of the developing nations. The role of Less
Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) in the world market is mostly to provide cheap
labour and raw materials. Often, the profits are sent back to the countries where the
multinational corporations are based. These massively operating companies can drive local
companies out of business. The labour that they provide has no security as well. If it becomes
cheaper to operate in another country, the MNC might close down the factory thus leaving
the local people jobless. These companies may pollute the environment, run risks with safety
or impose poor working conditions and low wages on local workers. The example of the
Coca-Cola Plant at Plachimada in Palakkad Dist, Kerala is a case in point.

Joseph E Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate in Economics, cautions us against pro-

globalization policies in his book Globalization and its Discontents. Nations should frame
pro-globalisation policies taking into account their economic conditions as well as their
historical and cultural background. By enlightened policy making, these international
economic agencies can be made to behave properly. They can be reformed, made more
transparent and accountable. The national leaders must have the well-being of their people in
mind while preparing the policies.

Although globalisation helps to create more wealth in both developed and developing
countries it does not close the gap between the world’s poorest and richest nations. The top
20 percent of the population enjoys more than 70 percent of the total income, whereas only
two percentage of the income reaches those in the bottom.

Globalisation enhances opportunities, while it marginalises the unskilled and the vulnerable.
Though India has maintained an average of five plus percent GDP growth in recent years, a
vast section in the rural areas remain unemployed or underemployed. A high rate of
economic rate without high employment growth is referred to as “jobless growth”. In the
Indian context, women are the most disadvantaged group who face the inequalities in the job
market. In order to sustain their families, many poor women are forced to accept low wages.
Low skill levels, coupled with low educational status and lesser bargaining power, put
women at risk. Exploitation and lack of social security measures push them to form a modern
day slavery. Traditional production sectors and local manufacturers in India are decreasing in
number. Agriculture is fast shifting towards commercial crops. It leads to a decline in
indigenous technology and also to many environmental hazards. Over exploitation and
depletion of natural resources leave the poor resourceless and adversely affect their
livelihood. Only the fittest who are capable of playing the game, can survive in a world of
stiff competition.

Globalisation is a stark reality. There is no turning back from it. Everyone has to learn to co-
exist with the changing global scenario. A positive role has to be progressively played by the
international organisations, nation-states traditional industries, local communities, cultural
institutions and social systems in order to cope with the dynamic world. A level playing
ground must be set up to incorporate the skill aspirations, needs and livelihood of the
disadvantaged. We can think of discovering market for handicrafts, indigenous textiles,
biodegradable products and recycled waste, for creating new employment opportunities.

A strong and stable, responsible and accountable governance must be built on the stronghold
of civic trust. A strong democratic system can end all inequalities prevailing in the society,
thus ending social disruptions and terrorist activities.

The county must invest heavily on social sectors like education and medical care, to create a
knowledgeable, skilled and healthy population. Globalisation is capable of creating
opportunities for all. But there must be a sustainable and beneficial coexistence of profits and
equality. Globalisation tempered with justice is the urgent need of the hour.

1.3 Sample Questions and Answers:

1.What is globalisation?

Globalisation in its pure economic sense, can be viewed as an increasing interdependence

among nations in terms of trade, technology, production, markets and capital. It also refers to
an ever-glowing linkage of cultures, customs, communities, political institutions and business
corporations. The process of globalisation is accentuated by developments in communication,
information technology and infrastructure. It finally leads to the emergence of a global
society where international events become decisive for people around the world.

2. What are the advantages of globalisation?

Globalisation leads to the emergence of a global society where international events become
decisive for people around the world.It endorses economic efficiency, generates growth and
yields profits. The integration of economies, the mobility of the factors of production, the
evolution of new business models, technological innovations, and the explosion of
knowledge and the distribution of the fruits of development are some of the benefits of
globalisation. All these have led to an unprecedented advancement in the history of
humankind.

3. Mention the drawbacks of globalisation.

Globalisation operates mostly in the interests of the richest countries, which continue to
dominate world trade at the expense of the developing nations. The role of Less
Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) in the world market is mostly to provide cheap
labour and raw materials. Often, the profits are sent back to the countries where the
multinational corporations are based. These massively operating companies can drive local
companies out of business. The labour that they provide has no security as well. If it becomes
cheaper to operate in another country, the MNC might close down the factory thus leaving
the local people jobless. These companies may pollute the environment, run risks with safety
or impose poor working conditions and low wages on local workers.

4. Outline the Indian scenario in the context of globalisation(Essay)

The Government of India took the path of economic liberalization in 1991, when there was
a balance of payment crises. Huge policy reforms were brought in allowing the liberalisation
of trade, foreign capital, the promotion of private sector businesses and a reduction in
governmental control, etc. Consequently, India became the fastest growing economy
allowing international goods to enter one market. Outsourcing software services witnessed a
leap and employment opportunities broadened. Infrastructure development enhanced the
interstate transfer of materials and labour. A new saga of Indian prosperity was set in motion.

Globalisation enhances opportunities, while it marginalises the unskilled and the

vulnerable. Though India has maintained an average of five plus percent GDP growth in
recent years, a vast section in the rural areas remain unemployed or underemployed. A high
rate of economic rate without high employment growth is referred to as “jobless growth”. In
the Indian context, women are the most disadvantaged group who face the inequalities in the
job market. In order to sustain their families, many poor women are forced to accept low
wages. Low skill levels, coupled with low educational status and lesser bargaining power, put
women at risk. Exploitation and lack of social security measures push them to form a modern
day slavery. Traditional production sectors and local manufacturers in India are decreasing in
number. Agriculture is fast shifting towards commercial crops. It leads to a decline in
indigenous technology and also to many environmental hazards. Over exploitation and
depletion of natural resources leave the poor resource less and adversely affect their
livelihood. Only the fittest who are capable of playing the game, can survive in a world of
stiff competition.
 Going Local

Helena Norberg-Hodge

2.1 About the Author

Helena Norberg-Hodge is an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and
agriculture worldwide and a pioneer of the localisation movement. She is the founder and
director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). Her book Ancient
Futures has been described as an "inspirational classic" by the London Times and together
with a film of the same title, it has been translated into 42 languages. She is also co-author of
Bringing the Food Economy Home and From the Ground Up: Rethinking Industrial
Agriculture. In 1986, she received the Right Livelihood Award, or the "Alternative Nobel
Prize" as recognition for her work in Ladakh.

2.2. Summary of the Essay

Our planet is facing dire problems these days such as global warming, toxic pollution and
species extinction, with fundamentalism, terrorism and fear. The reason for our crises is a
corporate -led globalization. To reverse the worldwide environmental and social breakdown,
we need to join hands with likeminded people for bringing about corrective measures.

The most powerful solutions involve a fundamental change in direction towards localizing
economic activity. “Going local” is the single most effective thing to do. Localisation is
essentially a process of de-centralisation. Through shifting economic activity back into the
hands of local businesses, it avoids economic activity being concentrated to a few mega-
corporations. Food is a clear example of the multi-layered benefits of localisation.

Local food is, simply, food produced for local and regional consumption. It reduces the
distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is ultimately consumed by the end
user. When 'food mile' is less, fossil fuel use and thereby pollution is reduced. Global markets
demand mono-cultural production, which systematically eliminates everything except the
cash crop from the land. In monoculture only one crop is grown or only one type of animal is
kept on an area of farmland. Cash crop is not used by the people who are associated with its
production, but it is grown mainly to be sold.

Local markets give farmers an incentive to diversify, which creates many niches on the farm
for wild plant and animal species. Diversified farms cannot accommodate the heavy
machinery. It eliminates a major cause of soil erosion. In local food systems most of the
money spent on food goes to the farmer, not corporate middlemen. Small diversified farms
employ far more people per acre than large monocultures. Wages paid to farm workers
benefit local economies and communities far more.

Local food is usually far fresher and therefore more nutritious. Food security worldwide
would increase if people depended more on local foods. If developing countries were
encouraged to use their labour and their best agricultural land for local needs rather than
growing luxury crops, the rate of endemic hunger could be eliminated. When we buy local
food, we can actually pay less because we are not paying for excessive transport, wasteful
packaging, advertising, and chemical additives.

The benefits of localisation are not limited to food. Doctors and patients are rejecting the
commercialised medical mainstream. Architects are finding inspiration in vernacular building
styles. Community-supported projects like local media outlets—radio, television, art and
journals help reconnect people to each other and learn about their surroundings. Localisation
is a key to reducing waste and pollution and conserving our precious resources. For grassroot
localisation to succeed, they need to be accompanied by policy changes at the national and
international level. A "Breakaway Strategy" of forming an international alliance of nations to
leave the WTO is needed. Through localisation we open ourselves up to a world of richness
and diversity. We can thus achieve true sustainability and well-being for ourselves, our
communities and the planet.

2.3. Sample Questions:

1. What are the dire problems facing our planet these days?

The problems faced by our planet these days are global warming, toxic pollution and
species extinction, with fundamentalism, terrorism and fear.

2. What, according to the author, is the reason for our crises?

According to the author, the reason for our crises is a corporate -led globalization.

3. What is the solution to the worldwide environmental and social breakdown?

To reverse the worldwide environmental and social breakdown, we need to join hands
with like minded people for bringing about corrective measures.

4. Define "local food".

Local food is, simply, food produced for local and regional consumption.

5. What is meant by the term "food miles"?

A "food mile" is the distance food travels from where it is grown to where it is
ultimately consumed by the end user.

6. What kind of production does globalisation demand?

Global markets demand monocultural production, which systematically eliminates

everything except the cash crop from the land.

7. What are monocultures?

Monoculture is the practice of growing only one crop or keeping only one type of
animal on an area of farmland.

8. Define "cash crop".

 It is a crop that is grown mainly to be sold, rather than used by the people who are
associated with its production. Eg: Rubber.

9. What happens when animal husbandry is integrated with crop production?

Animal husbandry integrated with crop production provides healthier, more humane
conditions for animals and a non-chemical source of fertility.

10. How does localisation improve social interaction?

Localisation is essentially a process of de-centralisation thereby shifting economic

activity back into the hands of local businesses. It avoids economic activity being
concentrated to a few mega-corporations. Eg: Food.

11. What is the essential back-up for grassroot localistion?

For grassroot localisation to succeed, they need to be accompanied by policy changes

at the national and international level. A "Breakaway Strategy" of forming an international
alliance of nations to leave the WTO is needed.

12. What are the environmental as well as economic benefits of localisation?

A shift from global food to local food would have a great and immediate impact,
economically and environmentally. Farmers can grow varieties that are best suited to local
climate and soils, allowing flavour and nutrition to take precedence. Animal husbandry can
be integrated with crop production, providing healthier, more humane conditions for animals
and a non-chemical source of fertility. Local markets give farmers an incentive to diversify,
which creates many niches on the farm for wild plant and animal species. Diversified farms
cannot accommodate the heavy machinery used in monocultures. It eliminates a major cause
of soil erosion. Diversification also lends itself better to organic methods, since crops are far
less susceptible to pest infestations. In local food systems most of the money spent on food
goes to the farmer, not corporate middlemen. Small diversified farms can help reinvigorate
entire rural economies, since they employ far more people per acre than large monocultures.
Wages paid to farm workers benefit local economies and communities because wages paid to
workers are spent locally.

13. How is local produce better than global food products?

Local food is usually far fresher - and therefore more nutritious - than global food. It
also needs fewer preservatives or other additives. Farmers can grow varieties that are best
suited to local climate and soils, allowing flavour and nutrition to take precedence. Global
food is very costly, though most of those costs do not show up in its supermarket price. A
large portion of what we pay for global food comes out of taxes to fund research into
pesticides and biotechnology, to subsidise the transport, communications and energy
infrastructures the system requires. On the contrary, the cost of local food is less because
there is no need to pay for excessive transport, wasteful packaging, advertising, and chemical
additives. The payment is only for fresh, healthy and nutritious food. Millions of farmers are
switching to organic practices, and dietary preferences among consumers are shifting away
from processed foods with artificial colourings, flavourings, and preservatives, towards
fresher foods in their natural state. Through localisation we open ourselves up to a world of
richness and diversity. We can thus achieve true sustainability and well-being for ourselves,
our communities and the planet.

14. What is the "Breakaway Strategy" advocated by Hodge?

According to Hodge, for the grassroots efforts for localisation to succeed, they need to
be accompanied by policy changes at the national and international level. It is necessary to
pressure governments into what is called a "Breakaway Strategy" forming an international
alliance of nations to leave the WTO. The policies that would protect the environment and
human rights need to be formulated. These policies would move society away from
dependence on a few monopolies. It will also promote small scale on a large scale, allowing
space for more local economies to flourish and spread. Through localisation a world of
richness and diversity is opened before us. We can thus achieve true sustainability and well-
being for ourselves, our communities and the planet.
 FREEDOM

Balachandran Chullikad

3.1. About the author

Balachandran Chullikad stands tall among the contemporary Malayalam writers. His poems
gained him the status of a revolutionary who aims at bringing about sweeping changes in the
society. His Chidambarasmarana, a memoir, is a testimony to this prowess he possesses.

3.2. About the poem

Freedom is a philosophical poem with Marxist overtones. The poem proclaims the need for
breaking the shackles that hinders man’s liberty.

3.3. Summary

Freedom is a poem in the form of a dialogue between a guru and shishya. The guru is a tailor;
the shishya, his disciple. Being inquisitive, the disciple asks his master what is meant by
freedom. He asks if it is the way a calf frolics in the fields or the way a bird flies up to build
its nest. Or if it is the train that rushes it’s way to the north. He further puts forth his confused
state of mind by probing if freedom is a long blissful sleep, a streetlamp that guides a
wayfarer or liberation from the lengths of cloth and sewing machine.

The tailor replies that freedom grants food and water for the needy, coat for the one in the
cold and a bed for the tired. Apart from the basic necessities, freedom offers the power of
expression for a poet, an arrow for the hunter, a society for a loner, courage for the scared,
death for the eunuch and posterity to carry forward the tradition for families. Freedom,
according to the tailor, is the wisdom instructed to the ignorant. Timely action of a wise man,
self-sacrifice of a man of action and the martyrdom for the benefit of a large community also
count for freedom. The tailor now advises his disciple not to search for freedom elsewhere.
There is freedom even in the tip of his needle as he is man of action.

A man’s work earns him freedom. Grain and bread are the rewards for one’s labour. These
rewards set one free. Having said this, the tailor resumes his work. The enlightened disciple
makes up his mind to start threading his needle. The poem throws light on the concept of
deliverance. Liberation is something that a man earns for himself through his work and
action. The existence of a man is made meaningful by this hard earned freedom.

3.4. Sample Questions:

1. What images does the disciple bring up to explain his concept of freedom?
2. Identify the images that represent liberation for the common man.
3. Write a note on the Biblical overtones of the poem.
 Module 4

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

 The Bane of Alcoholism

Adithi N.

1.1. About the author:

Dr Adithi N. is a psychological counsellor and life skills trainer who specialises in pre-
marital guidance, effective parenting, student empowerment etc. She had been teaching
Psychology for more than thirty years and is also the founder and chief executive trustee of
an NGO voluntary action group called FOCUS which conducts community awareness
programmes, mental health training and counselling.

1.2. Summary of the Essay

Addiction to alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants among adolescents and the student
community is a major challenge faced by the parents, educators and the government because
it will slow down and obstruct the education process. A drug-free and alcohol-free campus
and substance free adolescence are the keys to quality education. The government’s
objectives in keeping the campus intoxicant-free are to promote holistic well-being and full-
fledged functioning of the youth. There are five basic patterns in which psychoactive
substance abuse affects the mind; they are:

1. Short-term experimental use where intoxicating substance is used out of curiosity

2. Socio-recreational use where intoxicating substance is shared in social groups
3. Circumstantial-situational use where intoxicating substance is used to adjust with a
single difficult situation in life
4. Intensified use where there is long term use of intoxicating substance to escape from
the stress and problems of life
5. Compulsive use where psychological and physical dependence on intoxicating
substance happens due to their long term use

Regular use of alcohol creates a condition known as Alcoholism which affects

physical and mental health along with occupational, social and familial responsibilities.
Cognitive (knowledge acquiring process), behavioural and bodily symptoms can be observed
in alcoholics. Such people develop tolerance for alcohol so that they may need more amounts
of alcohol to get drunk. Furthermore, the dependence on alcohol to deal with with stress,
anxiety and depression makes it difficult to stop the habit. When such people stop alcohol
consumption, they experience pain, fear, restlessness, sweating, vomiting etc.—these are
known as withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholism develops through different phases:

1. The pre-alcoholic phase where social groups take excessive alcohol

2. The prodromal phase where drinking for relief from tension leads to ‘blackouts’
(loss of consciousness), and the alcoholic may not be able to remember what he/she
has done under the influence of alcohol
3. The crucial phase (Two years after the beginning of ‘blackouts’) where morning
drinking starts and ‘benders’ (continuous drinking for days) occur and complete loss
of control over drinking leads to social problems for the alcoholic
 4. The chronic phase (Few years after the first set of ‘benders’) where life is centred
around alcohol and extreme physical dependence along with health problems like
liver cirrhosis happens

Hallucinations (seeing things which are not there), Delirium Tremens (mental illness
where hallucinations, anxiety and disorientation are symptoms), fever etc. are experienced as
withdrawal symptoms during the chronic phase of Alcoholism. Certain facts regarding the
presence of alcohol in the blood are given below:

0.05% alcohol in blood makes thought, judgement and self-control go wrong

0.1% alcohol in blood makes voluntary motor actions awkward
0.1% to 0.15% alcohol in blood is legally permitted in most countries.
0.2% alcohol in blood causes a decrease in the functioning of the motor areas of the
brain
0.3% alcohol in blood causes confusion and state of unconsciousness
0.4% to 0.5% alcohol in blood results in coma state

Alcohol is a stimulant at low dosages and a depressant at high doses. Heavy drinking
over long periods of time (binge drinking) causes brain damage especially in teenagers as
their brains are still in a developing stage. It also affects memory and learning. It causes
hypertension, heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, lung infections, collapsed lung, inflammation
of the liver, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, liver failure, liver cancer etc. to name a few.
Irregular heart beat also occurs and sudden death (known as ‘sleep apnoea’) might also
happen.

After smoking, alcohol consumption is the second greatest cause for mouth and throat
cancers. It also induces stomach and colon ulcers and cancer. Inflammation of the pancreas,
resulting in vomiting, fever and weight loss, and kidney failure are also linked to
Alcoholism. Calcium absorption is affected, resulting in osteoporosis, dehydration of the
body causes reddening of the skin, weight gain and vitamin deficiency also follows.

Alcoholism induces mental ill health and conditions like depression, stress,
anxiety, dangerous behaviour, personality disorders, insomnia, schizophrenia etc. Suicidal
tendency is high in alcoholics that 65% of suicides have been linked to Alcoholism where
70% of men consume alcohol before committing suicide and one third of young people who
take their own life are under the influence of alcohol.

Alcoholism affects the nervous system too. Thiamine deficiency leads to

Peripheral neuropathy (which affects motor, sensory and autonomic nerves) and
Wernicke’s encephalopathy (which affects the central nervous system, loss of balance and
vision). Epilepsy, alcoholic hepatitis etc. are also noted in alcoholics.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (Delirium Tremens or DT) occurs after prolonged

drinking or as a withdrawal symptom. If the alcoholic has hallucinations about fast moving
animals which change colour, size and shape, and also if he/she experiences acute fear, then
we can be sure that he/she has Delirium Tremens. Physical changes like fever, perspiration,
coated tongue, foul breath and rapid heartbeats will also occur.

Alcohol Amnesic Disorder, also known as Korsakoff’s Psychosis, is a type of

memory disorder caused by Alcoholism. It is caused by vitamin deficiencies and dietary
inadequacies. Delirium, delusions and lack of mental orientation are its characteristics.

Alcoholic dementia is a kind of personality change brought about by impaired

psychological functioning in alcoholics. When an alcoholic keeps away from alcohol, he/she
may experience Alcoholic hallucinosis wherein auditory hallucinations like voices in their
heads would be heard. In the absence of hallucinations, Alcoholic paranoia would develop.
Sexual jealousy is also a psychological issue faced by alcoholics.

Loss of inhibitions affects sexual behaviour and unprotected sex could lead to
unwanted pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia,
HIV or hepatitis. Excessive drinking also causes lowered libido and infertility. Foetal alcohol
syndrome which affects the development of unborn babies happens when pregnant women
consume alcohol.

Alcohol addicts become victims of assault, rape, domestic violence, and at times get
involved in crimes like street fights, domestic violence, vandalism, theft etc. For them there
is always the risk of road accidents, loss of jobs, losing family and friends etc.

There are people with a tendency to become alcoholic, they are categorised as
‘alcoholic personality.’ People with depression, emotional immaturity, unrealistic
expectations, attention seeking behaviour, low frustration tolerance, psycho-social stress,
inferiority complex etc. are prone to Alcoholism.

Research shows that children of alcoholic parents, people resorting to anti social
activities, and relatives of alcoholics are also vulnerable to Alcoholism—male relatives
usually show sociopathic behaviour while female relatives fall into depression.

Alcohol consumption is inversely proportional to its price. When alcohol is cheap and
easily available, consumption increases; hence heavy taxation is the need of the hour.
Effective treatment for the bane of Alcoholism is also necessary. Treating the addict involves
three methods:

1. Intervention
2. Detoxification
3. Rehabilitation

Alcoholics having depression and suicidal tendency require hospitalisation. Those

with cardiomyopathy, liver cirrhosis or gastrointestinal bleeding need emergency medical
attention. Later the facts about the physical and mental condition of the alcoholic should be
revealed to him/her. Detoxification and rehabilitation should follow after this. Voluntary
organisations like Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) give self-help group therapy and provide
assistance to the family of the alcoholics.
 Substance Use Disorders in Children and Adolescents:

Ajeesh P R

2.1. Introduction

In the essay “Substance Use Disorders in Children and Adolescents”, Ajeesh P R lists
the background as well as the implications of drug abuse. He examines the different types of
drugs that affect the activities of the brain. The author also makes a study of the prevalence of
substance use in India and also the factors that are associated with it. The essay concludes
with a note on the treatment given to adolescent substance users as well as the preventions,
programmes and their objectives.

2.2. Note on the Author:

Dr. Ajeesh P R is the Head of the Dept of Psychiatry at the General Hospital,
Ernakulam.He is also the nodal officer of the Comprehensive Mental Health Programme in
Ernakulam District.He is actively involved in the rehabilitation of alcohol and drug abuse
victims. Dr.Ajeesh gives lectures and coordinates mental health awareness and stigma
reduction programmes.

2.3. Summary of the Essay:

The term ‘substance’ refers to commonly known drugs of abuse such as cannabis and
opoids, intoxicants like alcohol and tobacco and medicinal compounds like tranquilizers and
sedatives.

Substance abuse is a pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant

impairment or distress, adversely affecting an individual’s health and familial or social
relationships. On a large scale it also affects national productivity, economy and public health
in general.

In most countries, drug misuse occurs in environments with high levels of

absenteeism from school, gang activities and other antisocial and criminal activities.

The drugs which are commonly misused fall into three categories – stimulants,
depressants and hallucinogens.

1. Stimulants: are drugs that stimulate the brain and the central nervous system, thereby
speeding up the communications between the two. They usually increase alertness and
physical activity. Amphetamines and cocaine are examples of stimulants. The coffee
that one takes every day is a stimulant that causes addiction. Stimulants are well-
known as party drugs because they keep users alert and awake all night. They give
young people the energy and the mindset to dance all evening. Stimulants increase the
presence of dopamine in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for
feelings of pleasure.
 2. Depressants: are drugs that slow down the activity of the brain and the nervous
system, decreasing the speed of the communication between them. For medical
purposes, depressants can calm nerves and relax muscles and are useful in treating
sleep disorders like insomnia. The most commonly used legal depressant is alcohol,
while heroin is the most popular illegal depressant. Depressants taken in large doses
have very harmful effects.
3. Hallucinogens: interfere with the brain and the central nervous system in a way that
results in radical distortions in the user’s perception of reality. Hallucinogens result in
vivid hallucinations like profound images, sounds and sensations which will be
experienced by the user, though in reality they do not exist. Hallucinogens can be
found naturally in some trees, seeds and fungi like Psilocybin found in some
mushrooms.

The desired effects of these drugs are drastic changes in sensory perception, distorted
sense of visuals, altered perception of oneself, hallucinations, relaxation, happiness,
satisfaction and euphoria. Hallucinogens trigger some negative effects like “bad trips”
overwhelming the user all at once causing him to experience severe panic. Another side-
effect is “flash back” which may occur even years later, causing pleasant or unpleasant visual
experiences involving colours and hallucinations.

The implications of Drug Abuse:

The substance abuse by children and adolescents can bring about devastating
consequences. The acute effects of intoxication can be absolutely disastrous. Alcohol related
motor vehicle accidents, transmission of blood-borne viruses caused by the sharing of needles
and the use of intra-venal drugs, high risk behaviours like sexual risk-taking, sexual
victimization and unintentional injury are on the increase. It is shocking that the average age
of initiation to alcohol use in Kerala at present, is thirteen. The family and the community
have to bear the irresponsible behaviour, social deprivation, criminality and absenteeism of
the alcoholic.

Epidemology:

The life-time prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) in children and adolescents
is 11.4 percent. Common drugs abused by Indian adolescents are alcohol (4-13%), tabacco(3-
6%), minor tranquilizers(1-4%), analgescis(painkillers) and cannabis. High prevalence of
substance abuse has been reported among street children whereas among girls, it is relatively
uncommon. In halents, sedatives, cough syrups, whiteners, paint thinners, petrol gasoline are
also being used. Smokeless tobacco, pan, hans and gutka are also common among
adolescents in India. According to a survey (2006), in India, 3-8 percent of students smoked
and 11.9 percent used smokeless tobacco.

Etiology:

Etiology refers to a range of risk factors that cause the individual to experiment with
substances, progress to regular use and develop abuse or dependence. They are:
 1. Genetic and environmental influences – A positive family history of substance use
disorder is a strong predictor for substance use and dependence.
2. Pre-natal substance exposure is associated with increased risk of adolescent substance
use.
3. Child maltreatment and abuse- childhood neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.
4. Marital conflicts and parental divorce
5. Parenting behaviours including ineffective discipline, poor supervision and
monitoring parent-child conflicts etc.
6. Deviant peer affiliation-substance using adolescents seek out peers who also use
substances. Direct influence through peer pressure, socialization and modelling
reinforce substance use.
7. Externalising disorders such as conduct disorders, oppositional disorder,
ADHA(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) etc predispose to the development
of substance use disorder.
8. There is a pattern in the use of substance over time. A legal substance such as alcohol
or cigarettes is used first. It is followed by marijuana or cannabis, which is the first
illicit substance. This is followed by other illicit substances including opioids, cocaine
and stimulators.
9. The use of marijuana facilitates the entry into other illicit substance use.

Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain:

In adolescents, substance abuse even for a year or two, leads to structural and
functional deficits in the brain. A reduction in neurocognitive functions in the domain of
attention viscio-spatial processing, speeded information processing, memory, functions like
planning and organising etc. Sensual drugs alter the chemistry of brain cells and radically
change the hundreds of enzymes that carryout the cell functions.

Treatment of Adolescent Substance Abuse:

Adolescents with substance use need multiple episodes of treatment over time since
there are chronic relapsing conditions. The treatment typically involves attempts to create
complete abstinence or reduction in drug use. Clinical and private interviews with the
adolescent and the parents for obtaining information are carried out. Establishing a good
rapport with the adolescent is critical for the self-disclosure of drug use. The confidentiality
of the adolescent should be honoured. Gathering vital information from the patient in the
presence of parents is of utmost significance.

The following are the techniques that facilitate both treatment and rehabilitation.

1. Motivational interviewing techniques which will help to evolve patient-generated

treatment goals.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) to deal effectively with drug cravings and
negative effects, to strengthen problem solving and communication skills and to
identify and avoid high risk situations.
 3. Twelve –Step Programmes based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous(AA)
encouraging mental and spiritual health through a life-long spiritual journey
consisting of twelve steps.

Prevention Programmes:

I. College-based prevention programmes are

1. Social resistance skills training: to increase an awareness of the social influences

and to keep away from peer and media pressure to smoke, drink or use drugs.

2. Normative education-activities to correct inaccurate perceptions regarding the high

prevalence of substance use.

3. Competence Enchancement Programmes(CEP)- to teach general problem-solving

and decision-making skills, skills for resisting inter-personal or media influence skills, for
increasing self-control and self-esteem as well as strategies to relieve stress and anxiety,

II. Project towards No Drug Abuse:

This project is designed to help high risk students (14-19 age group) and is based on
the idea that young people at risk for substance abuse will not use substance if they are aware
of the misconceptions and myths as well as the dreadful consequences of drug use, have
good coping skills and self-control.

III. Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention in College Students (BASICS):

BASICS is a programme for college students who drink alcohol heavily and are at
risk for alcohol-related problems including poor class attendance, missed assignments,
accidents, sexual assaults and violent behaviour. BASICS motivates students to reduce their
alcohol use and thus decrease the negative consequences of drinking.

IV. Family-based prevention programmes: aim at prevent tobacco and alcohol use in
children (12-14 age group). Creating lasting family connections (CLFC) is designed to
enhance family bonding and communication between parents and children and to promote
healthy beliefs and attitudes.

V. Model Community based Prevention Programme:

This is primarily aimed at reducing high-risk drinking (RHRD) and makes use of the
following strategies:

1. Reducing alcohol access by minimising the number of bars and liquor shops.
2. Checking drinking and driving through law enforcement.
3. Controlling underage alcohol consumption by stopping the sale of alcohol to
minors
4. Providing communication tools to implement the support interventions and
5. Training alcohol beverage servers and assisting retailers to curb drunkenness.
An understanding of the problems of substance abuse is crucial. Substance abuse
increases rapidly from early to late adolescence and typically peaks during young
adulthood. Pharmacological therapies combined with family systems based treatment
and motivation enhancement therapy are what are needed to combat the problem.

2.4. Sample Questions:

1. How does a stimulant work?

2. What are depressants?

3. How do hallucinogens affect the brain?

4. Write notes on:

(a) The epidemology and etiology of substance abuse.

(b) The background and implications of the misuse of substances.

(c) The effects of addictive process in the brain structures.

(d) The treatment of adolescent substance abuse.

5. What are the drugs which are commonly misused and what are their classifications?

The Alcoholic at Dawn

Jeet Thayil
 3.1. About the author

Jeet Thayil(1959- ) is a contemporary Indian novelist and poet. He grabbed attention after his
novel Narcopolis was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Surrealism and Indianness
abound in his works.

3.2. About the poem

Jeet Thayil, a self-professed ex-alcoholic, speaks about the stupor caused by drugs and
alcohol. Through unusual imagery the poet paints an alcoholic’s condition.

3.3. Summary

An alcoholic wakes up at the dawn. The cup that he is holding rattles like a drum as his hand
shakes. He yearns for alcohol. Like a beached whale, the alcoholic finds himself lethargic
even to do his chores. He however shambles to the cupboard in pursuit of alcohol. His eyes
are bleary. And as he walked towards the cupboard he exhaled the blue smoke of opium. The
poem traces the daily journey of an alcoholic from sleep to the daze of alcohol. How the
addiction of alcohol can turn a man into a waste of space is the premise of this poem.

3.4. Sample Questions:

1. What picture does the poet paint of the alcoholic?

2. What is the person’s immediate need on waking up?

3. Write a note on the unusual imagery in the poem?

Books for Further Reading:

1. Human Rights and Indian Constitution-Dr.S.S.Bhaktode

2. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide-Nicholas D
Kristof

3. We Should All Be Feminists—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

4. In Defense of Globalization-Jagdish Bhagwati

5. Profit Over People-Noam Chomsky

6. Prevention and Societal Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse-Ed. Robert T.Ammerman etal.

7. Big Book-Alcoholics Anonymous