Kochi king Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran or mighty king, is considered to be one who rebuilt Thrissur.
He ordered the clearing of the 64 acres of the teak forest around an imposing Shiv temple which was then infested by criminals.
Suddenly, the oracle of the nearby Durga temple appeared before the king, wielding a sword and grim face. “Don’t clip my lord’s locks. Disaster will befall,” the oracle said. The king ignored the oracle, cleared the forest and planted various varieties of trees all around the temple.
This happened some 225 years ago. The king’s trees are still the landmarks of the city. Activists have protested whenever some dangerously hanging branches were trimmed. However, a week before Modi’s 150-minute visit on January 3, security agencies began cutting down what had once been described as ‘Shiv’s locks.’
Such a massive tree felling exercise had never happened there. Devotees were particularly hurt at the trimming of the holy peepal tree at the entrance to the temple. Visitors customarily pay obeisance to the tree before entering the temple.
The Kerala High Court on a petition has sought responses from the Devaswam Board on cutting the trees. Sections of media had carried photographs of freshly sawed branches.
Modi’s security officers who were camping at Thrissur for about a month, had persuaded the media not to carry reports linked to the PM’s security. While the big dailies went by the dictum, some local dailies discreetly provided glimpses of the unprecedented rigours.
Prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh (and L.K. Advani) have addressed big rallies in Thrissur with significant crowds. They were all held at designated spots without disturbing normal activities. There is a court directive in this regard. For reasons best known to the security bosses, Modi’s rally was held at a different spot, in an area where apparently no political rallies are allowed.
Traffic restrictions on the entire busy circular road continued for two days. A day before the Modi rally, this writer, who is on holiday at Thrissur, had a taste of the security when he had to cancel a family visit.
For the first time, wire fences were put up at the Naikanal gate of the temple for Modi’s rally, thus obstructing the free entry of devotees to the temple for five days. This happens to be the period when devotees visit the Shiv temple for an uninterrupted 41 days. Many returned disappointed, others tried the other gate.
Security officials also insisted on shutting down the elephant camp within the complex as it was seen as a security threat. This camp was used to house the Devaswam’s elephants in musth. At the time, there were two such dangerous elephants.
Mahouts said it was not possible to approach the elephants in such a state. This forced the officials to bring veterinary assistants with tranquilizer shots to put the elephants to sleep. Cows – gau mata – in the area were also rounded up and dumped at far away places.
There were complaints galore among the rally participants about the overweening security. Even a state leader like B. Gopalakrishnan blamed ‘excessive’ screening of the participants.
After the PM left, Youth Congress workers went to the spot and began ‘cleaning’ the place with cow dung water. A protest was also held against trimming ‘Shivs’s locks’. This led to clashes between a group of BJP and Congress workers. Police had to intervene.
There was also much controversy over Modi’s address at the well-attended women’s rally. The most charitable explanation for the slip ups has been that the PM was not adequately briefed on the latest position. For instance, Modi raised the gold-smuggling case at a time when it had become a non-political issue, it was argued.
The ruling front was re-elected at the peak of gold smuggling controversy. Since then the smuggling cases investigated by various central agencies have been dragging with no headway. Moreover, none of the ruling front leaders were implicated in the cases.
Apparently, Modi’s remarks that the Left front government disrupted the famous Thrissur Pooram festival was outdated as well. Three days before the Modi rally, the dispute over the festival was amicably settled after the chief minister’s intervention. Similar had been his reference to the Sabarimala issue.
An interesting trend noticed about the Modi rally has been that whole narrative – the posters, wall writings, hand bills, innumerable kind of mementos and slogan shouting – is focused on Modi. No one else. In some posters local leaders had their smaller photos. BJP as a party, or its symbols and traditions hardly figured anywhere.
As a show of money power, large portraits of Narendra Modi were put up at vantage points in most parts of the state. The whole effort, the mobilisation, road show, and above all the security drill, have portrayed Modi as an imperious figure. This is for all to see.
P. Raman is a veteran journalist.
