And a river called Nila runs through it

JAYALAKSHMI K speaks with Gopinath Parayil who believes that sustaining a river means nourishing a culture, and is making efforts to revive river Nila in Kerala.

A river is more than just water flowing meaninglessly. A river is often the thread that weaves lives and traditions in an ageless manner. A river sustains a civilisation. And when the river is choked, a way of life gets erased out. Trying to undo the damage can be a tough job. Gopinath has realised that.

Near the River, a folk expression from the banks of river Nila was organised by The Blue Yonder. The organisation arranges tours along the river Nila, forests of Wynad, spice markets of Cochin and backwaters of Alappuzha. But above all it was set up to raise funds for Nila Foundation to revive one of the longest rivers of Kerala. And speaking to the founder and CEO, Gopinath Parayil, one cannot help but pitch in to do one’s bit for the river. That is the youngster’s passion and committment.

Having dabbled in various activities including software, working with NGOs and not the least, disaster management, it was perhaps a sense of impending disaster for the river that drew Gopinath to India. Having grown up in its lap and enjoyed the splendour of the river, it was a sad day when he realised that if something was not done soon enough, the river would disappear entirely. Thanks to many friends who shared the concern even while lacking the funds, he decided to act.

Tracing the indelible link between the ages old culture and the river, Gopinath plans to bring out a series synergising the folk art and classical artists of the area- aimed at awareness of what would happen if unbridled commercialisation of the river and its banks is allowed to continue.

In taking along tourists on a journey along the Nila, he hopes to also nurture corporate social responsibility as also community ownership. “By hiring the sand miner’s boat even for just a day, we can slow the process. Not that it will stop this way but at least the miner recognises that there is another way to earn a livelihood. The tourists get to eat at the people’s homes and learn about the folk art and hear a hundred tales on the way”.

Literature is replete with references to the river and many writers and poets have been influenced by it. The river that originates in Tamil Nadu starts off with a brahmin culture, passes through the Kalpathy route and by the time it reaches Ponanni was once a richly Sufi culture, replaced today by a more fundamental Muslim one.
The place is thick with tales from the Aiytheehamaala, mostly unadulterated even today, says Gopinath. He explains how the Jummamasjid on the banks of the river is often said to be the work of Tipu Sultan who converted a temple to a mosque. But in fact it is a Hindu craftsman who built the Sufi shrine modelled as a temple and his tomb today lies inside the said mosque.

He has collected a hundred odd unpublished tales from speaking to the people. Seeing the connection to the river, he believes that for the culture to survive the river is important. “This is about a river valley civilisation. When you talk of an Indus valley civilisation, it is about a huge river with a big history. But here it is a small river with a big history,” notes Gopinath.

The latest show at Alliance saw the French government offering help in terms of scientific expertise to save the river. As more and more people come forward to help, he is sure he can involve the locals in a more concerted effort to stop practices destroying the river. But he agrees it is an uphill job right now and what he had seen as a task for five years is all set to take a lifetime of dedication- to the river.

For details visit www.theblueyonder.com.