Jailed Italian marines adapting to Kerala-culture

Kochi, Apr 4: The two Italian marines currently lodged in the Poojappura central prison in Kerala over charges of firing at two innocent fishermen off the Neendakara coast in Kollam are slowly adapting to the Malayali way.

The two Italians, Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone are reportedly adapting to Kerala culture and showing an interest in the habits and language of the land.

The two marines from Enrica Lexie of the San Marco regiment currently under judicial custody are reported to be mingling with fellow prisoners and exchanging pleasantries. It is not just with fellow inmates that the Italian marines are being friendly, but with another accused IG Lakshmana as well.

What started as mere greeting slowly graduated to greetings in the morning in Malayalam. Sangeetha Lakshmana, who is a noted lawyer and daughter of the Former IGP commented, “I see those Italians when I go to meet my acha (father in Malayalam). My acha tells me that every time they see him now they say, namasthae... With their hands folded.”

Sangeetha also commented that they have started speaking in the local dialect, in typical Thiruvananthapuram, completing their namasthae with ‘saaar’. She adds that she is also friendly with the marines.

The jail authorities also mentioned the friendly nature of the marines saying that it was the inmates who were teaching the Malayalam words to them. ADGP Prisons, Alexander Jacob adds that they have learnt many English and Malayalam words like ‘kattil’ (cot in Malayalam), ‘curry’, ‘chappathi’ and ‘bed’.

The only factor that the marines are not able to adopt is the spicy Indian food served in prison. The ADGP states that they have a strong aversion to the spicy Indian dishes, especially the chicken curry. He adds, “They sprinkle some water on the jail chappathis and after some time roll them and eat them.” According to him, the curry apparently burns their intestines.

OneIndia News