Neo Colonialism?
Children’s cries were heard from a container lorry bearing Karnataka registration number KA 03 - 4117, when it passed by Eranjipalam junction near Kozhikode City in Kerala in the morning of February 5. Two youths who were travelling behind the lorry was puzzled hearing cry of children from inside a parcel lorry completely covered all around.They informed by mobile phones their friends working in Shops at Eranhipalam. Shopkeepers and passersby gathered at junction stopped the vehicle, and asked the driver to open the back door.
As the door opened, the sight that unfolded was unbelievable. Inside the cabin were some 45 exhausted “beings” huddled up and soaked in sweat. Clothes, utensils and other material to put up temporary shelters were also strewn around inside the vehicle.
As the door opened, the sight that unfolded was unbelievable. Inside the cabin were some 45 exhausted “beings” huddled up and soaked in sweat. Clothes, utensils and other material to put up temporary shelters were also strewn around inside the vehicle.
“Most of them were women and children and they looked pathetic,’’ said a shopkeeper of Eranjipalam. 19 of them were children between 2 months and 5 years.There were 22 Women and only 4 men.The children were crying.The police were called in and on being quizzed, the men said the group had started from Chitradurga in Karnataka,the previous evening and were being taken by a private contractor in a hell of a vehicle travelling 18 hours to a cable digging site for the Kerala State Electricity Board in Kozhikode.
The workers claimed that they had got pretty used to such inhuman means of transportation in Karnataka work sites.
Wagon Tragedy
This incident brought back memories of the Wagon Tragedy, which took place on November 10, 1921.After suppressing the Malabar rebellion, the British had packed 70 prisoners into a railway goods wagon at Tirur railway station in Kerala to be sent to the Coimbatore jails.By the time they reached their destination, 61 of the prisoners had died from suffocation.
The British have left long ago.But don't you think the poor of our Country are still languishing under 'Swadeshi' Colonialism?
adapted from February 6th issue of Deccan Herald and Mathurbhoomi
