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Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

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altern<strong>at</strong>ive to be developed will be based on an Islamic moral, legal <strong>and</strong> political system.<br />

This assumption foreclosed the possibilities of the spaces offered by capitalist<br />

‘modernity’ as system of knowledge, th<strong>at</strong> could be used in production <strong>and</strong> distribution,<br />

<strong>and</strong> instead saw modernity as a technical instrument th<strong>at</strong> would supplement the legal<br />

precepts of Islam. Such instruments are useful for s<strong>at</strong>isfying immedi<strong>at</strong>e needs, <strong>and</strong> the<br />

allevi<strong>at</strong>ion of human miseries is in the h<strong>and</strong>s of God. Thus Islam failed to provide the<br />

impetus th<strong>at</strong> Calvinist Protestantism provided to the artisans in Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Holl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />

instead, Muslim chose to migr<strong>at</strong>e to other regions for the s<strong>at</strong>isfaction of his immedi<strong>at</strong>e<br />

needs. As far as the Hindus are concerned caste system provided a similar obstacle, by<br />

preventing the untouchable primary producer from acquiring the necessary knowledge or<br />

resources th<strong>at</strong> would enable him or her to take a leap forward as a producer.<br />

The l<strong>and</strong> reforms introduced after the form<strong>at</strong>ion of Kerala provided a wonderful<br />

opportunity for the producers to break free from their shackles, but as we have seen, it<br />

has not happened so far. The artificial prosperity th<strong>at</strong> we have outlined has also given the<br />

illusion th<strong>at</strong> the road to Eldorado lies in a stint in the gulf, <strong>and</strong> also the possibilities of IT<br />

<strong>and</strong> Biotechnology. It is this actual experience th<strong>at</strong> lay <strong>at</strong> the basis of the thinking of the<br />

dominant political forces. But we have pointed out the options which the market forces<br />

provide are uncertain <strong>and</strong> ephemeral, <strong>and</strong> do not provide for a sustainable livelihood<br />

p<strong>at</strong>tern as far the region is concerned. Our historical experience enables us to look<br />

beyond such altern<strong>at</strong>ives<br />

The emerging possibilities<br />

We have to start with human geography. We have seen how the undul<strong>at</strong>ing region with<br />

rocky upl<strong>and</strong>s, loamy slopes <strong>and</strong> marshy lowl<strong>and</strong>s were transformed by the people to<br />

develop their livelihood p<strong>at</strong>terns. Any further development of livelihood p<strong>at</strong>terns will<br />

have to be from a human ecological perspective, which takes both the n<strong>at</strong>ure of the

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