The recent survey that listed most Mallu cities as the best places to live in India, while echoed my own assertions, is not something Keralites need to be proud of. Yes, we are better than the rest, but we were a lot better in 'the good old days'.
It could be argued that poor infrastructure, overcrowding and traffic conditions in Tier 1 cities, elevated the Tier 2 cities to a higher level. But the example of Chandigarh, which is a planned city, shows that the reason might be something else.
If the survey shows anything, it is that higher incomes do not necessarily lead to higher life satisfaction. With greater wealth, comes greater responsibility and I suspect most people are ill equipped to handle their high disposable incomes. 'Keeping up with the Joneses' is hard when everyone else is also at it.
The wrong kind of growth
Kerala is fast losing its charm and greenery thanks to excessive commercialization of Real Estate and ever increasing consumerism. It has been well known for a while that the Gulf money and the IT coolies are ruining the state. Whatever few playgrounds and empty pockets of land there was in this densely populated state is being eaten away by the apartments and shopping malls. Ofcourse, it is unreasonable to expect the Govt to provide a decent standard of living while they are co-conspirators along with the Land Mafia. But it has always amazed me that shopping malls have become an obsession and the favorite time pass of a populace that is living in what is one of the 50 most beautiful places to visit in the world. (Fort Kochi remains one of the few places insulated from the perils of urbanization). I can also never understand how people can accumulate so much junk without even considering for a moment the impact of it all.
It is in this light that ideas like Gross National Happiness in favor of GDP although they sound whacko, seem to be in the right direction. Not only as a country but also as a society and an individual.
But you need transformational leaders for that kind of change which is a shame to think in a state whose Kings shunned lavish lifestyle and put away wealth for future generations.
So, the other alternative is to undo whatever damage that the commerce has brought to the state. And what better way to do it than elect an ideologically heavy Left govt. that is anti bourgeoisie?
It could be argued that poor infrastructure, overcrowding and traffic conditions in Tier 1 cities, elevated the Tier 2 cities to a higher level. But the example of Chandigarh, which is a planned city, shows that the reason might be something else.
If the survey shows anything, it is that higher incomes do not necessarily lead to higher life satisfaction. With greater wealth, comes greater responsibility and I suspect most people are ill equipped to handle their high disposable incomes. 'Keeping up with the Joneses' is hard when everyone else is also at it.
The wrong kind of growth
Kerala is fast losing its charm and greenery thanks to excessive commercialization of Real Estate and ever increasing consumerism. It has been well known for a while that the Gulf money and the IT coolies are ruining the state. Whatever few playgrounds and empty pockets of land there was in this densely populated state is being eaten away by the apartments and shopping malls. Ofcourse, it is unreasonable to expect the Govt to provide a decent standard of living while they are co-conspirators along with the Land Mafia. But it has always amazed me that shopping malls have become an obsession and the favorite time pass of a populace that is living in what is one of the 50 most beautiful places to visit in the world. (Fort Kochi remains one of the few places insulated from the perils of urbanization). I can also never understand how people can accumulate so much junk without even considering for a moment the impact of it all.
It is in this light that ideas like Gross National Happiness in favor of GDP although they sound whacko, seem to be in the right direction. Not only as a country but also as a society and an individual.
But you need transformational leaders for that kind of change which is a shame to think in a state whose Kings shunned lavish lifestyle and put away wealth for future generations.
So, the other alternative is to undo whatever damage that the commerce has brought to the state. And what better way to do it than elect an ideologically heavy Left govt. that is anti bourgeoisie?
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