We stumbled across Arippara, Kozhikode by chance.

My wife and I were on a beach-hopping trip across North Kerala , a trip we had been planning ever since our first visit here some years back. Arippara was not on the agenda, as it was not known among foreign tourists. Its beauty and splendor was enjoyed by people from in and around the Annakkompoil area. However whatever chance it was that brought us there, it achieved its purpose. I remember our first glimpse through the trees, an elephant was walking across the large rocks. We heard the gleeful s sounds of people and shortly we saw the rest of the beautiful scene. The cool waters of the Iruvanji puzha had formed limpid pools, and gushing cascades among the unusual rock formations where young boys splashed and dived. Great trees formed a close fringe all around, creating an atmosphere of secluded bliss. A place of perfect beauty. But this bubble burst within the next 5 minutes. The closer we got to the scene the more evident the abuse was. Paper, Plastic, clothes, footwear, used diapers- the waste was strewn over the whole area , generously. They floated in the water, hung from the tree limbs, peeked out of the earth around and brazenly sunned themselves on the rocky surfaces. And the merry making people, happily oblivious, threw more plastic bottles, more shampoo sachets & hair oil tubes & food wrappings . Their fun continued unabated, not in the least reduced by the sight of the waste piling up all around. Man-made waste, rapidly eating up this little piece of heaven. We realized we could either walk away in disgust or do something. We started picking up every piece of garbage that came we came across - facing hoots and jeers from the young men present. A few called out asking how much we plan to sell this for? But there were a few who came over to help us. It is because of them, that I am writing this letter. They hold out hope, hope to save this land. We had filled two large sacks before we realized that there was no place to dispose off all this waste! The watchmen employed at the entrance expressed their helplessness. We normally burn the waste, they said, as there was no waste collection system in place there. Unbelievable. Over the next ten days we travelled extensively, finding the same situation everywhere-in forest sanctuaries, beaches, temples, administrative buildings, trains , be it in tiny villages or busy towns. We met disgusted foreign tourists clicking pictures of the garbage. We shared notes and found that their experience was the same all over the rest of this land too. There is no comprehensive system of waste collection or waste management in Kerala. And what is most serious, no respect for nature or understanding of civic responsibility- at the individual level . Why in a land of high literacy, does the educated individual throw his/her waste indiscriminately, anywhere and everywhere? Why, knowing the toxicity of this waste, do they continue to feed it into their own land? Why are the people accepting the inefficiency and irresponsibility of their administration when it comes to waste-disposal? What went wrong in this culture, in this education, that this mindset of indifference reigns in the peoples attitude towards their surroundings?

This holiday ended soon and we left the Gods own country with a feeling of relief. It is hard for someone who had loved Kerala like we did, to stomach what is happening.

We donot know what will happen to Kerala, or if she will survive the imminent destruction. It is for you Keralites, to decide how much it is worth, this land of yours. As for us, we are going to Thailand for our next holiday, we heard it is just like Kerala, but very clean.

Gerhard Kircher Germany