Caught between the two lands - Part1
03:19PM Wed 2 Nov, 2016
With more than half of our population leading a long-distance life, our social and domestic mores and crumbling
By Shafaat Shahbandari | Bhatkallys.com
Bhatkalis have a special bond with the Arabian shores that dates back to middle ages. But for several reasons the ties were severed over the past few centuries.
However, as economic necessities pressed in the 1970s and 80s, members of the community began to join the growing jamboree of Indians across the Arabian Sea, reviving the ancient ties.
Despite their long absence from a region that was vital to their existence as a unique community, everyone of us knows our roots are as entrenched in coastal Karnataka as they are in the different parts of Levant and Arabian peninsula.
The second marriage with Arabia has been as fruitful as the ancient one, if not more. The idea of working in the Arabian Gulf countries has become so deep-rooted in our minds that every Bhatkali boy who open his eyes to this world dreams of only one thing - taking a flight to the Arabian shores.
It seems people of Bhatkal have decided unwittingly that they can’t find bread in their homeland.
There is no doubt that the desert has proved to be green for Bhatkalis, transforming the small town and its vicinity into a lush valley.
But, this visible prosperity has come at a great cost - our social and domestic structures have suffered considerably.
With most fathers away on jobs, we have virtually become a single parent society, and repercussions are obvious to everyone. You may disagree with me, but our migratory status, as much as it has brought us wealth, is the root cause of most problems facing our community today.
In the absence of male members from most households, our teenagers and young women are becoming increasingly vulnerable to predators.
The unit of family, which is the foundation of every society, is crumbling, with fathers struggling to maintain their influence from a distance.
Naturally, mothers alone cannot monitor the activities of their children, particularly the boys. Growing up without the close affection and support of fathers is not easy on the children as well.
As hundreds of families reside abroad, many NRI owned bungalows, left to the charge of young members of the family, have become the dens of illicit activities.
The absence of our skilled young men from the society has created a gap in other sectors as well. Our educational and social institutions are missing that vital youthful exuberance without which the old guards cannot take a more progressive approach towards the future.
Most of us have become visitors to our own home, touring the town once or twice a year as guests, mostly preoccupied with our domestic concerns.
This long distance relationship has had an obvious impact on our leadership as well. No matter, how much we keep ourselves abreast with the developments and events of the town, it is not the same as being there.
Inspiring political leadership can only develop if our talented youth are given opportunities locally to grow and prosper in the society, dealing with the issues of the people at the grass root level.
Our prolonged absence from the town has made a major section of us aloof from the real issues facing the society and we cannot expect to develop capable leaders from those whose real exposure to the town are the annual NRI funded social gatherings.
To be continued...
The second marriage with Arabia has been as fruitful as the ancient one, if not more. The idea of working in the Arabian Gulf countries has become so deep-rooted in our minds that every Bhatkali boy who open his eyes to this world dreams of only one thing - taking a flight to the Arabian shores.
It seems people of Bhatkal have decided unwittingly that they can’t find bread in their homeland.
There is no doubt that the desert has proved to be green for Bhatkalis, transforming the small town and its vicinity into a lush valley.
But, this visible prosperity has come at a great cost - our social and domestic structures have suffered considerably.
With most fathers away on jobs, we have virtually become a single parent society, and repercussions are obvious to everyone. You may disagree with me, but our migratory status, as much as it has brought us wealth, is the root cause of most problems facing our community today.
In the absence of male members from most households, our teenagers and young women are becoming increasingly vulnerable to predators.
The unit of family, which is the foundation of every society, is crumbling, with fathers struggling to maintain their influence from a distance.
Naturally, mothers alone cannot monitor the activities of their children, particularly the boys. Growing up without the close affection and support of fathers is not easy on the children as well.
As hundreds of families reside abroad, many NRI owned bungalows, left to the charge of young members of the family, have become the dens of illicit activities.
The absence of our skilled young men from the society has created a gap in other sectors as well. Our educational and social institutions are missing that vital youthful exuberance without which the old guards cannot take a more progressive approach towards the future.
Most of us have become visitors to our own home, touring the town once or twice a year as guests, mostly preoccupied with our domestic concerns.
This long distance relationship has had an obvious impact on our leadership as well. No matter, how much we keep ourselves abreast with the developments and events of the town, it is not the same as being there.
Inspiring political leadership can only develop if our talented youth are given opportunities locally to grow and prosper in the society, dealing with the issues of the people at the grass root level.
Our prolonged absence from the town has made a major section of us aloof from the real issues facing the society and we cannot expect to develop capable leaders from those whose real exposure to the town are the annual NRI funded social gatherings.
To be continued...
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