Let's Have A 'Beef Onam’
By K.P. Sasi
07 September, 2013
Countercurrents.org
The festival of Onam is on September 16th. As per the myth, Mahabali ruled the region of Kerala, even though the state of Kerala was formed only during the 20th century. Mahabali was an Asuara and therefore as per the Brahminical definitions, he was an `Avarna’ (a Dalit) and not a `Savarna’ (upper caste). However, as per the myth behind Onam festival, there are enough songs to glorify Mahabali, saying that during his rule, `everybody was happy and everybody was equal’ – an image which was not achieved by even the communist governments right from 1957 in Kerala. In any case, as per the myth, when a Dalit king ruled this region, there was socialism. Mahabali’s pictures found today in the advertisements of jwelleries, sarees and other commercial ventures resemble a fat comedian with a big belly and often with a Brahminical thread and a Brahminical umbrella. This king was said to be the most generous king whose fame threatened the `Devaloka’. The `Devaloka’ (the polit bureau of the upper caste Gods) decided that this guy has to be handled and they sent Vishnu in the form of a Brahmin boy. The Vaamana (Brahmin boy) visits Mahabali and requests for charity. The generous Dalit king promises his need, which was only three feet of land. The shrewd Vaamana became huge as a giant immediately and with his mega foot measured the whole earth and the sky and asked the poor Dalit king where the next foot had to be measured.
You must remember that this also resembled the stories of the way the European colonial invaders cheated and acquired the lands of the Red Indians in the United States, or how most of the adivasi lands and forests were taken over by the upper castes. This myth also speaks a lot on the conquest of Aryans over the Dravidians. Mahabali understood that he was tricked and cheated. However, for the measurement of the third foot of Vaamana, our charismatic and non-defeated Dalit king offered his head, which was the only space available. Perhaps, during those days the socialists believed in practicing what they preached. Vishnu the hulk, cheerfully pressed his mega foot on his head and pressed him to `Paatal’ (the underground). From that time onwards, the underground days of the great socialist Dalit king began in the region what is known as Kerala today. And with all his guilt, the great lord Vishnu offered him a `parole’ once in every year to see his people in this region. And that is Onam festival!
It is my humble request to all activists to bring this underground Dalit activist king to the mainstream world with all his possible dreams, when we celebrate Onam festival. For it was only when a Dalit king ruled this region, `everybody was happy and everybody was equal’, an image not achieved by Russia or China. And as a Dalit king, we must understand that he would have loved beef. If Mahabali were an Asura as per the myth, he would have been definitely a non-vegetarian. So the question is, why the whole of Kerala is welcoming Mahabali with `vegetarian’ food? The only way we can welcome Mahabali is with the food that he would definitely enjoy and that is beef – a food which is extremely nutritious and functions as a medicine for many health disorders. Politically, this is also a question of food sovereignity of a large section of Dalits and Muslims in this country. Therefore, it is high time that Mahabali must be freed from the appropriation of the `savarnas’ and feed Him properly with a `Beef Onam’. I request all my friends to celebrate Onam on September 16th with good beef curry, beef chilly, beef fry, beef soup or any other dish which a Dalit king can enjoy. Please publicise with photographs of your celebration in the face book and all other platforms. Happy Onam!
K.P Sasi is an award winning film director and a political activist. He is also an Associate Editor of Countercurrents.org. He can be reached at [email protected]
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