Rich people, but poor in maintaining heritage

As I travel the length and breadth of my native state, I am amazed seeing astonishing homes on each side. Double storied buildings (houses) popped-up recently are the peculiar structures you may see only in the state of Kerala. Unlike other states in our country Keralites give a considerable amount of significance to the architecture of the homes they dwell.

House is not just a shelter for Malayalees, rather a symbol of their fortunes, heritage and current social status. Wealth flowing through Non- resident Indian Keralites is mainly invested for erecting prestigious houses which speak their social status, pedigree and what not!But there is something that we all are losing in the race of erecting our most modern dream houses. Though many of them try to replicate and blend traditional architecture while they are constructing their dream houses, we are becoming poor in maintaining our heritage.The land of Kerala which is rich in architectural traditions has hardly any old-gold structures especially homes and family homes to show their coming generations. Yes, we are too poor to maintain our traditions and too poor to seal the cracks on the wall.As Kamala Das rightly said “We tore the house apart,Sold the rose wood beams,And a host of great dreamsDreamt by its occupants,”For current generation, it’s an easy task to demolish the structures constructed by our forefathers. They often forget, along with the physical structure they demolish, they shatter the dreams and sweat of their predecessors.You never get to touch the same walls that your grand- parents leaned on .Being in a family home brings back you the lost memories. Their benevolent presence is felt through the lightened memories that the nook and corners of the home offer you.When you thrash down the walls and rafts, you lose fragrance and vast dark corridors where your forefathers weaved their dreams. The incense that filled their blessings and presence is vanished for ever.How can we pretend rich by bulldozing our heritage by settling down in breath-taking villas and sky-high flats that make you forget your history?