Near the Nila

The Nila doesn't advocate Carpe Diem; seizing the day being too dynamic a proposition for a slow-moving river. Instead it urges you to freeze the moment...

This is just a line from a beautifully written travelogue by writer Anita Nair that I stumbled upon, in which she describes her journey along  the bank of the river Nila. I haven't read many travelogues to judge one, but I found this one interesting enough to capture my attention long enough despite the familiarity of what she was describing. I have seen Nila at various points along its length - Palakkad, Thiruvilwamala, Ottapalam, Shoranur, Pattambi. May be it was this familiarity that made it so easy for me to identify with the article. Thanks to her, I came to know of the existence of an organization set up to save the neglected river - the Nila Foundation. The foundation is funded partially by The Blue Yonder, and intends to revive the dying rivers in Kerala, in particular Nila. To quote the author,

"And amidst the shrubs a lone firefly drew neon green smileys in the dark.." 

PS: You can read the complete travelogue here.

Save Nila!!

I remember as a child spending Sunday evenings on the beautiful banks of Bharathapuzha. The river then was majestic, with its calm waters in the hot summer, providing the much needed relief to all those tired souls and at the same time, during the rainy season creating a big hurdle for all those who want to cross it. But then I guess, irrespective of the season, people loved the river. My habit gradually died as I myself was caught in the cobwebs of growing up,and there was no time for my beautiful Nila. Years later when I saw the river again, I barely could identify it as the Nila which once flowed from bank to bank. Small streams of water here and there. I couldn't shudder to think what we have done to our Bharathapuzha. The river which once was the inspiration of many a poet, the ultimate location for a song sequence in many a Malayalam film, the life of an entire culture that grew and flourished on its banks, has been reduced to a river slowly on its way to oblivion. Shame on all of us who failed to protect our pious Nila, beautiful Nila.