I was in Kochi for a few days early this week. Kochi has a lovely history. A prominent sea port that exported spices to the world, one of the last jewish homes in India (before they left for Israel) and a very vibrant and cosmopolitan city that is going to be among the newer homes of the IT revolution in India.
But Kochi, this time for me was a nightmare. Much like the fable of the town of Hamlyn which was run over by rats, Kochi is the modern version of Hamlyn - the only difference this time is that it is run over by mosquitoes!
Mosquitoes here...mosquitoes there...mosquitoes everywhere...on the street, at home, in the restaurant, on the train...they follow you everywhere!
The newspapers are filled with stories related to this. The usual suspects are piling garbage, and untreated water. Famous poet and writer Kamala Das (a.k.a Kamala Suraiyya) is leaving Kochi and Kerala for good. Her statement that she was leaving because her city was becoming unhygienic got the Chief Minister rushing to meet her. It's not good PR if your famous artiste leaves for such a reason. But the writer is not budging, she has lost faith in the politicians and the bureaucracy to do any good.
If you are visiting Kochi, be prepared to donate some of your blood to the marauding hordes, who have developed immunity to all the regular mosquito repellants. This is not an exaggeration, Kochi is a ticking timebomb.
God's own Country? Ya, right! Right now looks like God is the only one who can live with some sanity in this city.
Pic: Jim Gathany http://www.cdc.gov
1 comments:
come to think of it, i havent seen or heard of a mosquito in quite a while :)
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