Chemmeen Analysis

SECURING THE MARINE WEALTH THROUGH SANCTIFYING THE SEA: A READING OF THAKAZHI SIVASANKARA PILLAI’S CHEMMEEN

ABSTRACT: This paper focuses upon the belief systems of the natives of coastal Kerala in Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s novel Chemmeen and explores how these practices act as major factor towards the protection of the marine life. Although viewed by the so called civilized section as backward, the indigenous people are the real care takers of the Nature, as their relationship is based on a profound spiritual connection which enables them to practice reverence, humility and reciprocity. Their culture constantly mingles with nature and they revere Katalamma, the sea goddess, as she is considered their food provider and ruling deity. This belief prevents the over exploitation of the marine life, thus creating a beautiful balance between the nature and man.
Every man’s perspective is subjective and one is always involved in the happenings around him and this idea according to Campbell has its roots in relativity theory and quantum mechanics. Campbell quotes Gary Zukav’s words in The Dancing Wu Li Masters, “there is no such thing as objectivity. We cannot eliminate ourselves from the

Blessed be you, universal matter, innumerable time, boundless ether, triple abyss of stars, and atoms and generations: you who by overflowing and dissolving our narrow standards of measurements reveal to us the dimensions of God.
Without you, without your onslaughts, without your uprootings of us, we should remain all our lives inert, stagnant, puerile, ignorant both of ourselves and of God.
You who batter us and then dress our wounds, you who resist us and yield to us, you who wreck and build, you who shackle and liberate, the sap of our souls, the hand of God, the flesh of Christ: it is you, matter, that I bless. (Chardin