An Airport Made of Tears*
Dr. K. V. Dominic
Proposed Aranmula International
Airport
A dream project of private
construction group
Intends to construct airport city
in 3000 acres
Eighty percent land paddy fields
and wet lands
Rice and fish can earn four
hundred crores per year
Runway being constructed over
tributary of Pamba
Will lead to flood in river during
monsoon
Razing of four hills for filling wet
lands
Leading to water shortage and loss
of biodiversity
Will affect serenity and sanctity
of Parthasarathy temple
Three thousand poor families to
be evicted
But they are not willing to leave
their sustaining lands, jobs and
houses
Fake development policy of the
State
Dancing to tunes of billionaire
corporate
An airport totally unnecessary
Two international airports on
either side
Two hours drive will take you
there
Selfish discontent inhumane millionaires
Insist on flying from the poor’s
chest
Got sanction from Sate through
foul means
Already filled hundreds of acres
of paddy fields
Destroyed hundreds of species of
fish, snakes,
amphibians, valuable plants and
micro-organisms
Fled thousands of birds both air
and water
Aranmula people are on indefinite
satyagraha
Protest against merciless State
and corporate
Young and old they clamour in
unison
“We will never leave our houses
and lands
Where will we go and how will we
live?
We can’t leave our rich heritage
village,
our Parthasarathy temple and holy
groves
Let their armed force shoot us
all
and construct airport over our
corpses.”
Their elected government has
betrayed them
The government pleads for the corporate
Ignores the pleas of opposition
parties
Pooh-poohs warnings of
environmentalists
Innocent villagers lulled by
music of birds and hymns
Waken up again by heavenly symphony
And eased by gentle strokes of breeze
in day time
are destined to bear day and
night
piercing drones of planes one
after other
Beware, Maoists are never born
They are made where injustice
rules
*Arnamula is a Hindu heritage
village in southern part of Kerala. The place is internationally known for
Parthasarathy Temple, Holy Snake Boats and boat race, Aranmula Mirror and holy
river Pamba. The poem was composed on 28 February 2014.
I read this striking article in wonder. What are the people doing in this regard? It is sad to know that acres of land are being used at the behest of people with power, pelf and position. The last couplet is bold, yet quiet. No revolution is born out of nowhere.
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