KOCHI: A large number of people from outside Kerala, especially metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, had long held a notion about Kochi, that the city goes to sleep at 8 pm and continues to be in that state till the next morning.
While it holds true for a few parts of city even today, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, arguably, offers some good provisions for its youth to engage and celebrate at night.
However, a string of raids and drug seizures at some night clubs lately have redefined the general perception a large section of the people had on night clubs and DJ parties.
While some describe the night clubs as a social vice that draws the youths and ruin them with drinks and drugs, another section believes they are a natural part of a growing cosmopolitan city like Kochi and should not be curbed because of some misplaced moral standing.
Artist and Kochi-Muziris Biennale general secretary Riyas Komu is of the opinion that the youngsters in Kochi are not prone to destroying themselves in night clubs.
“Drugs can destroy,” he said, adding: “But definitely you don’t need to go to night clubs for that. The moral judgement to speak against night clubs, which have beautiful histories of music and dance, sounds purely reactionary and depressingly suspect.”
Yadu Krishnan, a young Railway Mail Service employee in Kochi, said, “I am against drugs, but I am not against night clubs. I hardly go to such places, but I strongly believe such a provision should be there for people who wants to enjoy night life. The morality of some cannot limit the freedom of others.”
Shankar Rajan, an IT professional in Kakkanad, is also of the same opinion. He said that at one hand the government should ensure that illegal drugs are eliminated from the society, and on the other should ensure that people can use their right to lead a free life - day or night.