HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dm6674f90@auvax1.adelphi.edu (DDM)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Chetta vs Chetta
Date: 15 Oct 92 18:48:56 GMT
Reply-To: dm6674f90@auvax1.adelphi.edu
Organization: Adelphi University, Garden City, NY

>How do we distinguish between Chetta (Thara Class) and Chetta (or is it
>chyettta, as we say in Thiruvananthapuram)?
>James, Any ideas on Transliteration recently? Get Mathai out of the mess
>before he starts justifying on the first letter of the name.
>What is the Malayalam pazhanchollu, the equivalent of "Which which things
>at what what times will happeno, those those things at that that times
>will happeney happen"?
>Please Help. Don't try to do it, do it. And to do or not to do is not
>the question.

Namaskaram to all you numerous ACK users (17 and counting...)!
	Well that is distinctly different from my usual Namaskaram kottukare
(or should that be kootukare)!
	Hmmm, it seems to me that if one has already decided the question of
whether to do something then there is no point in unnecessarily deliberating on
that grave issue of infinitely phenomenal proportions! This chetta issue sounds
like a great contribution to the potential ORIGINS OF MALAYALAM topic in my
list.
	I will note here that the word chetta is not much used as far as I know
among the North Malabari people of the Cannur-Khozikode region. I myself,
unless I am speaking in the highly proper textbook Malayalam dialect, mostly
use the Cannuri pronounciation of etta for "elder brother". My younger cousins
address me as Dileepettan. I also think that the correct pronounciation per
textbook would be chyettan although I've heard the chetta variation too.
	So my priyapetta chettanmarrum checchimarrum (and aniyanmarrum
aniyethimarrum), I think that there are as many variations for "elder brother"
in Malayalam as there are Sanskrit words for water (a major exagerration)!
	Oh, I nearly forgot about the pazhanchollu. I'm not sure but I'll get
back to that with another contribution to ORIGINS OF MALAYALAM later.
								Yenna pinne,
								Njan
								D.M.
								------------	
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| DILEEP MAKKUNI                        |"Don't try to do it, do it!"          |
| 144-41 85TH AVENUE                    | (Sri Sathya Sai Baba)                |
| BRIARWOOD, N.Y.11435                  |--------------------------------------|
| (718)-657-3959                        |"Parithraanaaya saadhoonam,vinaashaaya|
|                                       | ja dushkritham,dharmasamsthaapanaaya |
| E-MAIL : DM6674F90@AUVAX1.ADELPHI.EDU | sambhavaami yuge yuge" - The Gita    |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: dm6674f90@auvax1.adelphi.edu (DDM)
Subject: TOPICS FOR ACK
Reply-To: dm6674f90@auvax1.adelphi.edu
Organization: Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 22:19:24 GMT

Namaskaram!
	Here are the list of potential topics. Please note that some of them
might come from a post I saw here on ACK a short time ago.
In no order of importance (for now) :

	 1. HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF KERALA
	EXAMPLE : THE HISTORY OF KERALA UNDER BRITISH RULE

	 2. HISTORICAL OF MALAYALEE PEOPLE
	EXAMPLE : THE HISTORY OF NAIR,NAMBOODIRI,NAMBIAR FAMILIES

         3. ORIGINS OF THE MALAYALAM LANGUAGE
	EXAMPLE : SIMILARITY OF MALAYALAM WORDS TO SANSKRIT WORDS

	 4. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN KERALA
	EXAMPLE : KERALA'S FISHING INDUSTRY
	
	 5. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,CUSTOMS,WELFARE
	EXAMPLES :A.CARING FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
		  B.ONAM CELEBRATIONS
		  C.MARRIAGE (including dowry) CUSTOMS

	 6. ENTERTAINMENT
	EXAMPLE : CURRENT FILMS,MUSIC,DANCE FORMS,ARTS,ETC.

	 7. RELIGION IN KERALA
	EXAMPLE : SACRED MOSQUES,TEMPLES,ETC.

	 8. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
        EXAMPLE : PRIMARY SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN KERALA

	 9. FAMOUS MALAYALEES (IN INDIA AND ABROAD,DEAD OR ALIVE)
	EXAMPLE : KRISHNA MENON

	10. POLITICS IN KERALA
	EXAMPLE : THE KARUNAKARAN GOVERNMENT
   
	11. KERALA IN RELATION TO INDIA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
	EXAMPLE : INDIA'S RELATION WITH GULF NATIONS HAVING LARGE MALAYALEE
		  WORKER POPULATIONS

	12. FUTURE OF KERALA
	EXAMPLE : THE STRUCTURE OF KERALA'S FUTURE ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS

That's all I can think of for now. Like I said I hope to get suggestions from
everybody. So EVERYBODY on ACK please contribute to my list (again : by mail
please!).Thanks!
									D.M.
									---- 
********************************************************************************
* DILEEP MAKKUNI                        |"Don't try to do it, do it!"          *
* 144-41 85TH AVENUE                    | (Sri Sathya Sai Baba)                *
* BRIARWOOD, N.Y.11435                  |--------------------------------------*
* (718)-657-3959                        |"Parithraanaaya saadhoonam,vinaashaaya*
*                                       | ja dushkritham,dharmasamsthaapanaaya *
* E-MAIL : DM6674F90@AUVAX1.ADELPHI.EDU | sambhavaami yuge yuge" - The Gita    *
********************************************************************************
From: mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Sweet & Old Malayalaganangal
Date: 15 Oct 92 18:13:04 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

Sung by:	Janaki
Film:		(?)

	oru mayilppeeliyaay nJaan janikkumenkil ninte
	churuLmudikkudunnayil thapassirikkum
	oru muLamthaNdaay nJaan piRakkumenkil ninte
	chodimalarithaLil veeN-alinnJupaadum
	alinnJupaadum...

	nin pREmakaaLinDi puLinanGaLil
	ennum oru neelakkadanbaay nJaan poochoriyum
	ennanuraagamaakum-ee-yamunaatharamgam
	nin puNyatheerttdamaakaan-enthumOham
	kaNNaa... kaNNaa...

			oru mayilppeeliyaay...
	
	kaalikaL mEyumee kaananatthil
	ninte kaaloccha kELkkuvaanaay kaatthirikkum
	ninthirumaaRile ..(?)... aakuvaan
	ninnilalinnJuchEraan-enthuDaaham
	kaNNaa... kaNNaa...

			oru mayilppeeliyaay...

Enjoy,

Mathai
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: manu@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU (K. S. Manu)
Subject: Re: Bringing High-Tech to a village
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 04:02:12 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.003649.2433@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu) writes:
>
>God!
>All these look too high funda for me.
>
>My head is spinning....
>

Well, maybe it's not for you then.

>Mathai

Njan
From: indran@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Ideas for ACK
Date: 17 Oct 92 01:04:13 GMT
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

>>
>>How horrible!!! 
>>
>>Imagine your beautiful (you wish! :)), newly wed bride coming into the
>>bedroom saying,
>>
>>"Sahodara, kudikkan kurachu palu konduvannittundu."
>>
>>
>>"chatta, palu" 
>>

It is horrible, to call husband as 'chatta' or 'shhodara'. Is Malayalam 
so poor in proper words that a Malayali woman is forced to call her 
husband and brother as 'chatta' ?. If nothing is available let us 
borrow some good words from other languages.(Honey, Darling, Sakhi, 
Aryia-putri, Prana-natha.....etc)

..ravi 
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: mece21x@rosie.uh.edu (Yesudas, Michael)
Subject: Re: Dowry
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 19:58:00 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.171417.3836@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu>, mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu) writes...
>In article <Bvpon6.F1q@news.cso.uiuc.edu> pcjg7045@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Pramod C. John) writes:
> 
>> 	Especially as a Christian, based on the principles taught by Jesus, I 
>> find the practice and the mindset to be even more disturbing. 
> 
>> Pramod John
>> 
> 
>Does christianity say anything about dowry? Are there any events in Bible
>which teach that giving and taking dowry is wrong? If so, then why is it
>that even churches take a portion of the dowry? 
> 
>The Bible, I think, has a harmful effect on the equality of men and
>women. Doesn't Genesis say that woman was created just because man needed
>her?

Why blame our own fault on the Bible? It is not only in Genesis, but also
in almost everywhere where "The Law" is defined treats man and woman 
differently. Also in many places it is said that man should be the 
spiritual leader of the family. But does that mean that man has to exploit
the woman and deprive her of self-respect?

> 
>Regards,
> 
>Mathai
> 
>-- 
> 
> 
>Mathai Chundatt            mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu
>==================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  Michael Yesudas         |  The control of the means of production   |
|  Mechanical Engineering  |  of wealth is the absolute control of     |
|  University of Houston   |  human life itself                        |
|  mece21x@jetson.uh.edu   |                    --   Hilaire Belloc    |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Ideas for ACK
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:35:27 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

In article <1992Oct14.111820.29078@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg> mmurali@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Man from Mohenjo Daro) writes:
>
>Personally I find the variation in spoken Malayalam from
>Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod beautiful - sort of a "unity
>in diversity". 

You have a very, very, very... wide outlook.

>I could'nt care which is the purest form

But, it is very, very, very.... blunt.

>of spoken malayalam like some of our ACK members are trying
>to conclude.  

We don't want any conclusions.

.
Mathai 
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: jsraghav@unity.ncsu.edu (Jay S. Raghavan)
Subject: Re: ***Chitra Lokam***
Keywords: KAMALADALAM
Organization: North Carolina State University Project Unity
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 14:17:53 GMT

Talking about poor tape quality of KAMALADALAM, I too felt the same.   Normally Mal. Movies have excellent print which I think is due to the print from Thomsun and other agencies like Silver, Rafa who do a good job.  I have a feeling that this movie was copied at some place here in USA when it was screened at select venues as there was no label on the print.  Some clever guy wanted to make money from it.  Netters I feel should take an active interest to prevent such video piracy.  If you watch Hindi movies



, on an average, most of them are pirated tapes.


-- 
*******************************************************************************
		
		Jayakrishnan S. Raghavan (Jay)
		College of Textiles
		North Carolina State University
		
		jsraghav@unity.ncsu.edu 

******************************************************************************
From: mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Dowry: Conclusion?
Date: 17 Oct 92 01:51:05 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

In article <1682@newsserver.cs.uwindsor.ca> rangana@cs.uwindsor.ca (RANGANATHAN A            ) writes:
>In article <1992Oct12.010541.3254@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu) writes:
>
>>I think the best thing is to wait till our women become really equal to
>>men in all respects. Then, dowry will vanish by itself.
>
>
>Could you explain this last statement of yours please?
>

We will have to wait till we are no longer able to differentiate whether
a newborn is male or female! 

>
>I would like to know how exactly *women would become really equal to man*?? 
>Btw, while you are at it, could you present your views on why the woman is
> considered to be weaker than the man???

I didn't mean physiological equivalence even though the difference in
physical strength may be a reason to treat women like that.

There is no other reason why women should be considered as weaker but
they ARE considered weaker. As I said earlier this view is very strong
in kerala. In a kerala family, in general, the husband takes more
responsibility in wealth, raising of children, their education etc.
There are only very few instances where the opposite is true. Every girl
wants her husband to be a Raman and every guy wants his wife to be a
Seetha. Why is it so? 

It is so.


Regards,

Mathai
From: indran@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Re: Dowry: Conclusion?
Date: 12 Oct 92 13:47:16 -0300
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

> 
> Religion is also another culprit for this separation. Christian, Hindu
> and Islam, the three predominant religions of kerala, propagates the
> view that wife is second only to the husband. In a crucial analysis, all
> religions would probably show that men and women are equal, but on a
> first look such a scene doesn't appear.
> 
> Our society considers women as the weaker sex. The reserved counters at
> railway stations, in buses and such social contexts are examples of this
> view. Aren't the women more eager to preserve these "rights of weaker
> sex" than men? Or does anyone think that these would correct their being
> looked upon as the weaker sex?

Before 1950s, in some parts of Kerala, Nair and Ezhava families used to 
practice a custom called 'marumakatham' under which elder woman of the family 
was the inheritor of the wealth and the leader of the family. Under this 
system  women were not considered as the weaker sex. They had full power 
to select their husband, transfer of properties etc. The great heroines 
of 'Vadakan Pattu' suggest that women were considered equal (and 
sometimes more than equal) to men even in the martial arts.
(Something that Indian military is not yet recognized) 
History of Arakal Kingdom (present 
day Cannur ?) and the Arakal Queen (Arakal Beevi) indicates that 
Muslims were also following 'marumakatam'.  Thus the concept of 
women as the weaker sex and second to men was developed in the 
recent past only. It would be interesting to find out when 
the concept of male domination entered into our social 
consciousness. Is it a result of the European occupation ?
Did our leagal system help  the 
development of a male dominated socity by abolishing 'marumakatam' ?

...ravi
From: s910700@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU (Mareena Joseph)
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: New Mal. movie
Summary: new malayalam movie
Keywords: new movie
Date: 8 Oct 92 06:59:16 GMT


  I watched one of the latest Malayalam movie last weekend, "VENAL 
KINAVUKAL", Sudheesh, Yadhu Krishnan, Sasi, Monisha, Jagannadha Varma,
Thilakan, Shanthakumari, Mamukoya, etc. acting. 
  The story is of MT Vasudevan Nair, and directed by KS Sethumadhavan.
  
  It is the story of 3 Pdc boys who changed a lot with the influence of
one of their new friend who came from Madras for the summer holidays.
Quite good, though it is a bit dragging, and is a sort of tragedy.

  I forgot to add the movie 'PAVUM PAVUM RAJAKKUMARAN' in my previous
movies' list. Srinivasan, Rekha, Jagadheesh, Raju, Siddhique, Mamukoya,
etc. are acting in it. It's a good one. Directed by Kamal. This film is
remade in Tamil, directed by Priyadarsan, Karthik doing the main role,
along with Bhanupriya and misc. and the name is 'GOPURA VASALILAE'.

regards,
MJN (Bindu).


Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: jacobt@nynexst.com (Jacob Thomas)
Subject: Re: an interesting observation !!
Reply-To: jacobt@nynexst.com
Organization: NYNEX Science & Technology, Inc
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 20:18:57 GMT

In article 18965@news.duc.auburn.edu, pjoseph@eng.auburn.edu (Paul Joseph) writes:
> 	This incident happened to a kashmiri friend of mine. we were in the same hostel at IITM. our hero is a Lt in the indian Navy (maybe he's a captain now coz i lost touch with him). anyway, the man went to srinagar(his home town) to get engaged to this girl he was going to get married (obviously !!). when the question of dowry came, being an educated etc etc ....  guy, he refused to accept anything. But the girl's parents would'nt agree to that he had to accept whatever they gave him. but he fought bac
> 
> 
> 
> 
> eventually had to accept something. 
> 
> my question is, whom do we blame here. the guy ?? the parents of the girl ?? or the society ??
> 
> 
> poulo
> 
> 
> 

No one. If the parents wanted to willingly give something, it should be alright. After all, it also benefits their daughter. It is extortion and horse-trading that has given dowry its bad name.

jacob


Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: manu@tigger.cs.Colorado.EDU (K. S. Manu)
Subject: Re: Dowry: Conclusion?
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 20:41:54 GMT

In article <1682@newsserver.cs.uwindsor.ca> rangana@cs.uwindsor.ca (RANGANATHAN A            ) writes:
>
>I would like to know how exactly *women would become really equal to man*?? 
>Btw, while you are at it, could you present your views on why the woman is
> considered to be weaker than the man???

how about physical strength?

>Arathi. 

Njan
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: mmurali@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Man from Mohenjo Daro)
Subject: Re: Ideas for ACK
Organization: Lion City
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 11:18:20 GMT


Personally I find the variation in spoken Malayalam from
Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod beautiful - sort of a "unity
in diversity". I could'nt care which is the purest form
of spoken malayalam like some of our ACK members are trying
to conclude.  Just wonder how these guys come to such conclusions
in view of the uncertainty about the origins of Malayalam!
-- 
=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= 
 Murali Damodaran, Sch. of MPE    <> Internet: mmurali@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg     
 Nanyang Technological University <> Bitnet  : mdamodaran@ntuvax           
 Nanyang Avenue, SINGAPORE 2263   <> Phone : 65-799-5599  Fax: 65-791-1859 
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu)
Subject: Dowry: Conclusion?
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 01:05:41 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

Dowry, as many of the netters pointed out, is a problem in kerala. Even
then, it has good sides. The financial security of a newly formed
family is a direct advantage of the dowry system. In kerala, when there
is no support available for a newly married couple the dowry comes as a
blessing. For a few, dowry may be a question of prestige; but, for the
majority it is a necessity. 

The disadvantage of such a system is also evident. In the first place it
objects to the joining of two persons who are otherwise a suitable
couple. From outside it looks like one paying another to live with him.
Why is dowry still existent if it has such shameful meanings?

I would blame it on our socio-cultural surroundings. The young men and
women in our society are not free to make their on decisions on marriage
or related subjects. Marriage, as many pointed out, is a "contract"
between two families. As families are evaluated on their wealth it is
natural that some kinds of "adjustments" are needed to raise them to the
same level of wealth. If that is the case, then why is that always it
is the bride's family which is required to give the dowry? The answer is
more or less universal. The women are not considered to be equal to men
in many respects. In our society this distinction is really prominent.

Religion is also another culprit for this separation. Christian, Hindu
and Islam, the three predominant religions of kerala, propagates the
view that wife is second only to the husband. In a crucial analysis, all
religions would probably show that men and women are equal, but on a
first look such a scene doesn't appear.

Our society considers women as the weaker sex. The reserved counters at
railway stations, in buses and such social contexts are examples of this
view. Aren't the women more eager to preserve these "rights of weaker
sex" than men? Or does anyone think that these would correct their being
looked upon as the weaker sex?

I think the best thing is to wait till our women become really equal to
men in all respects. Then, dowry will vanish by itself.

Regards,

Mathai
From: indran@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
Subject: Bringing High-Tech to a village
Date: 10 Oct 92 11:37:23 -0300
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada


I  observed that most of the netters have  strong views about 
each and every subject appearing on the net which sometimes 
results in small clashs. Well ! keep it up! 
But here is a case for the netters to express their view.
I am posting this for Mr. X, who wish to remain anonymous.
.........................................................


Mr. X planning to invest $15000  to prepare a village for high-tech jobs 
and eduicational oppertunities of the 21st century. 

The basic goal is to create  25 professionals, within next 25 
years, from each of the following fields
  Engineering(BE,ME+), Computer Science(BTech,MTech +), 
Medicin(MD+),  Scientific research(PhD+), 
Business managment (MBA+). More fields can be added to the list at any 
time.

A secondary goal is to increase the job oppertunities for the 
unemployed young people of the age group (15-30)
through short term training programs in computer 
programming, word processing/data base management and all related 
stuff, electronics...small-business managment etc.

Another goal is to give training for young generation for 
competitive exams (NCSERT,BSRB,JEE,...,GATE,UGC,CSIR,IAS).

Finally to increase the maths and english skill of the young 
generation.

(The method he wish to make the children attracted to the 
project is by offering weekly/monthly and annual competition 
with attractive prizes, not by force or punishments)
  

Though the village will be the centre of activities, 
maximum area and people will be covered by the project. 
The project is driven not by the capital but the by the 
profits from the capital investiment.
  

Here are some questions,

 1 How to get maximum benifits from $15000. Investing in 
   USA ? investing in India ? What type of investiment ?
  
2 As Mr X. is not ready manage the project directly, what 
administractive structure will be most efficient ?

2 Where to start ?. How to proceed ?


.........................................................

Ravi

Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala
From: mchundat@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mathai Chundattu)
Subject: Re: ***KERALA***
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:27:51 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

>Saw this article on soc.culture.india.
>

True. This kind of bullshit is only suitable for soc.culture.indian.
Please do not take this much trouble to post it in ack. If you don't mind
cancel it. 

When was your last time in the mental hospital?

With lots of sympathy,

Mathai