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Journalism of Courage
To children in rural Kerala, it8217;s 8216;chickenguniya8217; and is spread by diseased chickens sent across to Kerala from the 8216;unfriendly8217; Tamil Nadu to 8216;destroy8217; 8216;Malayali Nadu8217;. To others it is spread by germs cleverly mixed in the manure for rubber trees. But the older, and presumably wiser, sections believe that the now-fashionable ailment is sent to God8217;s Own Country by God to punish sinners in the state.
Chikunguniya has more to it than meets the eye. In the initial stages, it8217;s just a fever which appears quite harmless. One honestly thinks that you could blow it off with a few paracetamol tabs. But the Great Chikun Goddess does not leave it at that. She puts you in a spot as the disease spreads its wings and starts showing off at your joints in several funny shapes of small little swellings, which doctors term 8216;chikun inflammations8217;. And it doesn8217;t stop there. Later it begins to beautify your face by adding a touch of rouge to it. At this stage, it is termed 8216;tomato fever8217; by the locals. Chikun also tends to make people humble. At a certain stage, it causes you to limp along as if in a trance.
But chikengunia has done more than shore up people8217;s faith in the divine. It has brought about a rare unity among warring political groups. The Great Chikun Goddess is working wonders in the country8217;s most literate state.
