Hurt by Developments

 

The traditional barge boats used to transport grains.

Gangadaran like many people from his place had to learn early how to survive. He studied till the eighth standard but had to leave school because his father, a boatman, passed away. He had to work hard to survive. He followed his father’s footstep and started rowing boats carrying goods. In the olden days using trucks to carry goods was expensive and hence boats where used for transporting goods, especially agricultural products as most of the cultivation was done in the interior parts of the state. There were no bridges to connect the roads; hence traveling long distances was a problem by road. Every body preferred boats. These barge boasts were large, much like the houseboats of Kerala. It had a small shelter to keep the rowers away from rain. These boats were made to carry heavy loads. There were no motors at that time. Gangadaran and his friend had to row all the way. They always traveled in pairs. No one knows the complicated backwaters better that these men because of the experience behind them.

Due to the developments in the states bridges were built, trucks started hitting the roads in hundreds. The rates for carrying goods on lorries became cheap and hence the demand for the boats went down. Gangadaran and many like him lost their means of lively hood and the only profession they knew. They sought many alternatives but found it very difficult to work under some one because they had worked all alone for so many years. It was tough going for them. But they always had respect for what they where doing.

 

Gangadaran knew the maze of backwaters in and out as he had traveled so much. Even though he had been able to live with what he earned he couldn’t save much, so he had to get a job. He was fortunate as the tourism industry started flourishing in Alleppey. Houseboats became the 'in-thing' for operators and they needed people to take the boats through the backwaters. Finally, the respect that he kept towards his job paid off. Today, he and his friends row the houseboats along the backwaters. Gangadaran says that no job on this earth would have given him better satisfaction. ç A boatman steers his vessel along the backwaters.

Every one becomes a hero in his own right. People like Gangadaran have worked countless hours, painfully earning every single penny to make sure that their families do not miss out on  good education or job opportunities. He has never hoped for riches and quick money. He was satisfied with what he received, and made sure that he provided his family what ever they required.

However, there’s another side to the story as well. When people like Gangadharan were converting their barge boats into house boats, the narrow minded, bigwig businessmen of Kerala as always found it easy to exploit many poor people who owned barge boats. These men converted barge boats into house boats paying very little money to the boat owners.

These people also charge foreign tourists thousands of rupees which they are ever willing to pay. For the local Indian tourist houseboats are just a dream. Now there are hundreds of houseboats which are longing for guests and somewhere in the middle poor Gangadharan is also waiting for few guests.

Empty houseboats line the banks of the backwaters

Abraham Chandy

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