Parting shot

The finance minister, P. Chidambaram, has said that people should not be worried about the current slowdown, and expressed the hope of achieving six per cent growth this year. But Indians have been offered similar rhetoric for far too long now. This statement is actually misguiding, especially for those who invest in the stock market.

K.A. Solaman, 

The Telegaph, Kolkata on 1 Aug 2013

WB rural verdict.

The verdict of rural Bengal is clear. The people of WB still keep hatred towards 25 year long Marxist terror. The Trinamul is confident of controlling 13 or more zilla parishads.  The chief minister Mamata Banerjee is working her way up the spine of Bengal. She expanded her reach from the southern toe to capture what was once the Red heart in central Bengal and smashed the Congress barrier to the north. Trinamul’s dominance in rural Bengal is undisputed.

The election is a repeat of 2003 Panchayat polls with a difference that TMC is in the place of CPM. If 25 percent of the seats go virtually uncontested, no doubt, there must be an upsurge of support for TMC. The Left and the Congress are fast losing ground in WB. And indubitably, this is a clear warning to the Left and the Congress in Kerala. Nevertheless, Kerala lacks a leader of Mamata’s stature.

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: Come, invest and perish

K A Solaman Blog: Come, invest and perish: Finance Minister Chidambaram’s statement that people should not be worried about the current slowdown is one aimed at hoodwinking them fur...

Come, invest and perish

Finance Minister Chidambaram’s statement that people should not be worried about the current slowdown is one aimed at hoodwinking them further. The people who invested in shares and stocks hearing similar rhetoric in the past have lost all their hard earned money. Chidambaram said, "People should be self confident and take bank loan to invest in farm sector, small industries, housing etc. You should hope for bright tomorrow, and not worry about the slowdown”.  This is an invitation to misguide those little acknowledged ones who have not yet burned their fingers by investing in India companies.

At present all bank shares are flat. No bank should issue loans without adequate guarantee. Gold price touched its bottom due to the wrong import policy by the Government. The shares of prestigious Tata Steel company which were sold above Rs 1000 or above a year back is now available about Rs 200. All finance companies have looted average investors money. Still the FM says come, invest and of course perish.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 30-7-2013

Fishy scenario.

Kerala political scenario have ended in such a fishy state that no political-communal leader can be trusted.  Yogam  secretary Vellappally Natesan coming out with names of  ministers in the UDF Government, MLAs, an MP and also Union Minister K C Venugopal as having close links with Solar scam accused Saritha S Nair and these  leaders refuting the charge,  are indication to say that none could be trusted.

Vellappally is, of course, a leader who attracts wrath of others with his rhetoric.  He is the most sorted out person to burn in effigy. With the latest verbal attack on K C Venugopal and others, Vellappally was burned effigy, at Alappuzha, Ambalappuzha and other places. And when Fenny Balakrishnan, advocate of Saritha S Nair, rebuffs the claim of Vellappally, it is Vellappally’s image that shrinks to zilch.

K A Solaman

Jayasurya filling up potholes unwarranted

The cine actor Jayasurya filling up potholes on city roads is unwarranted.  It was the desperate bid of lost actor. He has not anything much to do in Malayalam cinema and he demands a sort of notoriety. It is not an action that comes under the purview of the fundamental right of a citizen to protest against government inaction as there are many legal ways to bring attention of the authority.

Jayasurya is not the only actor in Malayalam cinema. The potholes in city roads are not the only potholes in Kerala. There are plenty of potholes in the entire roads of Kerala and if  all the film fraternity swings into action to fill up the potholes  it would be very interesting. Still crores of potholes would remain unattended.  And in this connection the reactions of Kochi Mayor Mayor Tony Chammany and Public Works Department Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju who termed the actor’s intervention as a publicity stunt, are acceptable.

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: The prince with a bang-what for?

K A Solaman Blog: The prince with a bang-what for?:   The Prince of Cambridge entered the world with a bang.  In London on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 23, cannons were fired across the...

The prince with a bang-what for?

 

The Prince of Cambridge entered the world with a bang.  In London on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 23, cannons were fired across the city in honour of Kate Middleton and Prince William's firstborn son, who entered the world at 4:24 p.m. at St. Mary's Hospital in the posh Lindo Wingon  on Monday. The whole news is great for Britain, but what is it after all to third world countries?

On seeing all garbage in visual and print media it is to be presumed that many of Indian politicians and media men are still in the colonial frame of mind.  Indians are no longer nostalgic about our previous rulers and our freedom was hard fought one. Monarchy is no longer relevant in the present day world when we are moving with democracy. UK is a small country and the royals are only name sake without any power and they don’t have real influence on any other country. That being the case, I don’t understand why so much hype is created for a normal birth of a child. It looks like this is more of an image building exercise for the royal family after the so much of bad news about them after the mysterious death of princess Diana in a car accident. So media should stop airing rubbish with their idiotic reporting.  It was the royal family that enslaved and looted millions of people around the world and stole their resources. They used this money to fight their wars of colonialism.

No one knew who Jesus was when he was born over 2000 years ago. Nevertheless the little prince of Cambridge was born in a posh hospital and the eyes of the entire world were eagerly waiting for his arrival. Christ on the other hand was born in a manger, with only the stable animals to witness his arrival. And I don’t think that this child would do wonders in future except rash driving and love making. The child is not going to rule the world!

K A Solaman

No sense in charging Hansi Cronje

Bizarre are the ways of Delhi police. Their most acts are shame to the nation. The latest in this direction is their senselessness  in charging South Africa captain Hansie Cronje for the match-fixing scandal that happened 13 years ago. A period of 13 years is sufficient to absolve a person even if he had committed a crime. The Delhi police decision is an act against the  dead man’s legacy.

The Delhi police had enough opportunity to charge Cronje earlier but they couldn't find anything till this time. Many people still believe that Cronje was not as guilty as was made out to be at that time. The Delhi police action is a futile exercise.

K A Solaman

BJP is the alternative.

The people of the country have no respect for the current UPA. Though there are some ‘clean’ khadi cladded puritans like AK Antony present in the Cabinet the people believe that the UPA has taken the country to gutter of corruption, nepotism, and dynastic prerogative.
Does the country have a choice?  The Left parties never. The traces of these elements seen in Kerala and Bengal often praise the Chinese ignoring the potential of the country. The BJP is the only alternative.

Nevertheless, the fact is that most people are not enthusiastic about Narendra Modi. His followers are restricted in Gujarat.  Modi lacks respect for his fellow citizens as he speaks always about development of infrastructure and economy and not about human rights and human dignity.  Modi’s Hinduism is not the real Hinduism. Hinduism is  not a faith but a system of living and following natural law in harmony  and is not a single man's dictum that creates it but a collective approach.

It is a fact that the people of the country always respect  L.K.Advani.  He has become very soft like Vajpai and under his leadership the BJP can defeat the Congress. The country needs a decisive man at the helm affairs.  The country's growth, poverty alleviation, external affairs, and defense will be safe under his leadership.

K A Solman
The New Indian Express Published on 24 July 2013

Landmark judgment of Allahabad High Court.

The judgment by Allahabad High Court to ban caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh is a landmark in the judicial history of the country. The judgment is remarkable and most welcome. A similar judgment is imperative in Kerala as a plethora of communal outfits make all the hullaballoo in the State. What Swami Vivekananda said 120 years back that, “Kerala is an asylum of lunatics” is highly relevant at present and any action to curb the communal outcry is inevitabe for the State. The political parties in the State are flattering communal outfits for vote-bank and they often ignite communal sentiments. The SNDP, the NSS, the Christian organizations, the Muslim outfits and others often ignore the secular credentials of the State. Communal conflicts in the State often end up blood baths.

The judgment of the sort pronounced by Allahabad HC will create an atmosphere of peace and the people will start to think beyond the barriers of petty caste issues.

K A Solaman 

Organic farming costlier for the actor.

Nothing happens in Kerala whether cinema, channel show, gold business, textile sale, curry powder marketing, realty, hotel business, liquor sale,  agriculture and even politics without the involvement of Malayalam film super stars. It has been reported that Saritha S Nair, and Biju Radhakrishnan, the major accused in the Solar Case are friends of Mammootty. Mammootty was rewarded Rs 50000 in white and 950000 in black for his presence in a show organised by team solar.

 When all other farmers abandoned paddy farming in the locality because of huge loss, the reason for Mammootty resorting to organic farming is possibly due to this unaccounted money. He preferred low yielding variety rice ‘chettiviruppu’for farming in his wetland at Cheeppunkal, Vaikom.

The fans of the actor reacting vehemently in the social media, calling Saritha's claims are false and outrageous, is pointless. Mammootty’s political alliance with CPM is seemingly costlier for the actor now.

K A Solaman 

Fleeting wish of K M Mani.

The greatest betrayal by K M Mani for his last wish to become the Chief Minister of Kerala has ended in despair as CPM and CPI backtracked from their earlier deposition. It was also a desire for S Ramachandran Pillai to assume the apex post which would very likely occur if Mani leaves the picture because of unforeseen reason.
SRP  coteries attributing  secular credentials to Mani  is very interesting.  However, detractors of SRP value an immediate election to incur a huge financial loss to the State. The voters of the State should strongly object this nudge.

K A Solaman 

K A Solaman Blog: Jail chappatis

K A Solaman Blog: Jail chappatis: Kerala has some dubious distinctions for being the pioneer in certain sphere of activities. The largest percentage of literacy among In...

Jail chappatis

Kerala has some dubious distinctions for being the pioneer in certain sphere of activities. The largest percentage of literacy among Indian States is one and other is the availability of jail chappatis in major centres at low cost.   For instance on the last hartal day, the entire area of Kochi jail premise was filled with people waiting for jail chappati.  People are happy with eating jail chappatis , it was reported. As demand for quality jail chappatis with chicken curry increases day by day the Government should contemplate on opening more outlets throughout the State.

The brand name of jail chappathis is funny too. Metro Chappati is the brand name for the chappati being sold at Kochi jail,  Poojappura Chappati from Poojappura Central Jail, Thiruvananthapuram, Freedom Chappati from Viyyur Central Prison, Thrissur and Santhwanam Chappati from Kozhikode district jail. The name santhwanam attracts added appeal as eating chappati by the starving is really a matter of swanthanam(solace)

And it is not a matter of concern for jail authorities to find work force for production and sale of chappatis as more and more men are admitted to jail than those leave the place. If chappati pack carries a tag like ‘Shalu packed, Saritha kissed” then there would be extra attraction for jail chappatis.  As chappati business is a profitable one like lottery sale the Government should immediately take action to incorporate ‘ neera can’ too with it. Bizarre are the ways of filling State coffers!

K A Solaman 
The Deccan Chronicle, Kerala  Published on 20July 13

The camel's nose

If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow and that is what one would see in the undesirable gesture of K Muraleedharan, the ex-KPCC President. Muraleedharan  said, “ The police inquiry is discriminatory  and there is bias in the manner in which accused persons are treated in the solar case”.

In the past few days  ruling United Democratic Front coalition are trying hard to get over the turbulence caused by the solar scam nevertheless, Muraleedharan’s comment  appeared as  a tailback  for UDF.Clearly Myuraleedharan  was targeting the Home department under Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

For quite long Muraleedharan was begging for re-entry into Congress party with three rupee membership and was then deadly against group politics.He swallowed all his words without water and now  holds the top position as group leader in Chennithala owned I-Congress. For Muraleedharan, Chennithala was once  a ‘peon’when he was Principal. If not checked the ex-KPCC President would become a camel’s nose for Chennithala.

K A Solaman 
Published by: The New Indian Express on 17 July 2013

Malala speak

Malala Yousafzai’s speech to the United Nations on her first public appearance since being shot by the Taliban is a powerful one. Her comment that books and pens are to be used as weapons, is an advice to the younger generation of her community and others. She said, 'I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Taliban who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me I would not shoot him.' These are truly the words of a world citizen relishing peace.

She also stressed the need for education and it is a message to some Indian communal fanatics who advocate marriage at 16 for girls. She is surely a deserving candidate for Nobel Peace Prize.

K A Solaman 
The Deccan Chronicle published 15-7-13

K A Solaman Blog: Restrict Malayalam News Channels.

K A Solaman Blog: Restrict Malayalam News Channels.: Normal life was disrupted in Kerala for one day and in Alappuzha district for two days due to the dawn-to-dusk 12-hour hartal called by CP...

Restrict Malayalam News Channels.

Normal life was disrupted in Kerala for one day and in Alappuzha district for two days due to the dawn-to-dusk 12-hour hartal called by CPI-M led LDF to demand resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the solar scam issue. State owned transport buses were off the road while shops, including hotels remained closed. Passengers, who arrived at railway stations and airports, were stranded due to non-availability of public transport. Party cadres from both ruling and opposition parties were manhandled and many party offices were set to fire.  Many people were hospitalised because of grenade and petrol bomb attacks. All these violence is not because of the month long solar scam issue but because of the unprincipled interference of TV Channels particularly the Reporter channel.

The LDF strike was intensified due to  the airing of an unfaithful disclosure by  Reporter channel by a quarry owner by name Sreedharan Nair.   Mr Sreedharan Nair is a trustworthy person for Opposition leaders but not for his quarry owner friends. Even the prime accused in the case Ms Saritha Nair says she was not with Sreedharan Nair when he met the CM July ninth 2012. If Saritha Nair is a dishonest woman for Opposition will they believe her if she says, she had slept with a minister in a forest resort?

Some callous persons are ready with country bombs before deceitful channels to hear a rubbish of political conspiracy and thereby to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the State. Mr Oommen Chandy is an elected Chief Minister and possesses still sufficient majority to rule the State and hence he should be given time to sort out the issue. The news channels in Kerala should not be permitted to hamper the peaceable atmosphere in the State.

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: Putting the cart before the horse.

K A Solaman Blog: Putting the cart before the horse.: Bringing back of the defunct Honours programme by the Directorate of Collegiate Education of Kerala in five select colleges during the cu...

Putting the cart before the horse.

Bringing back of the defunct Honours programme by the Directorate of Collegiate Education of Kerala in five select colleges during the current academic year, 2013-14 is a fine example of putting the cart before the horse. The reason for abandoning the erstwhile Honours degree programme is still relevant, then what impelled the Directorate of Collegiate Education to reintroduce the same is unknown. And with the recent introduction of credit and semester system, the degree education in Kerala lost its charm. The students prefer B Tech and MBBS courses to degree courses and any further alteration in it will distract students away from degree education.

Interestingly, according to DCE, the qualification for applying for the Honours course will be a pass in the higher secondary or equivalent course with 70 percent marks in the general category.  Since higher secondary courses in Kerala entertain no marks but only grades for its examination where from the DCE get the qualifying marks for admission. Moreover, the appointment of  a co-ordinator for each subject of the course at UGC rate of Rs 40,000 is a bad practice and is intended to siphon out the government money.

The execution of degree education in Kerala is topsy-turvy. Likewise is the functioning of DCE office and regional DD offices. Instead of streamlining the existing system any move to introduce once abandoned course  would bring more embarrassment to degree education segment.

K A Solaman 
The CDeccan(Kerala) Chronicle published on 10-7-13

K A Solaman Blog: Squander projects

K A Solaman Blog: Squander projects: The damage of windmill put up by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is a clear example of the way in which public money is wa...

Squander projects

The damage of windmill put up by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is a clear example of the way in which public money is wasted. The windmill at a cost of 3.90 lakh put up with much fanfare lost its fan leaves on day one. The clarification by GCDA Chairman regarding failure of the windmill due to technical snag is unacceptable.

The local self government bodies in Kerala waste a huge chunk of revenue by equipments that are quite unfeasible and of little use to the public. The e-toilet is another example. Even after wasting a huge amount for the installation of e-toilets no desired result has been seen. The public have almost abandoned the e-toilets, still the corporations and municipalities are siphoning money for this worthless product.

Following the GCDA model other local bodies will also take steps put up more windmills and e-toilets. A thorough verification is needed regarding the worth of these installations.

K A Solaman

Course of the law

The Kerala UDF leaders often say, “The law will take its own course”. This is evident in the arrest of serial actor Shalu Menon  in connection with the solar scam. The police had sufficient evidence but they waited for court’s order to arrest the actor. And that is the Kerala course of the law.

Interestingly, the arrested Shalu was taken from Changanacherry  to Thiruvananthapuram in her own car. The car company is indebted to Shalu and the police for a free display of their product all the way to Thiruvananthapuram.   Shalu’s car in which she was taken to Thiruvananthapuram  had sun film which is banned by the court.  Police clarification that since Shalu’s arrest was recorded only after reaching Thiruvananthapuram, it was not unlawful to allow her to travel in her car, seems curious.  Sun film fixing is an offence only when a person is being arrested by the police!

K A Solaman 

Save conventional degree education.

Degree Education system in the State has been made a damp squib by the introduction of credit and semester system.  The common people are not able to understand the rating of the score such as 2.05 or 3.01 awarded to a student in the examination. The previous system of awarding marks out of 1000 was a better one but it has been abandoned by the thoughtless educationalists. A little competition among students regarding their study was essential; nevertheless it has been set aside. The past system of awarding ranks to students was a first-rate process as it pushes the students for better study and well behaviour. Though there is semester system for B.Tech degree, they give significance in awarding ranks to students and thus B Tech acquired more glamour compared B Sc, B.Com or BA of the Kerala Universities.

There is a huge infrastructure in Arts and Science colleges in Kerala. It is now handled by less talented people as more weight is given to professional degree courses such as B Tech or MBBS. The much cherished MBBS has become a job of high risk, if anyone has doubt ask the doctors of Cherthala Taluk Head Quarters Hospital where the doctors are in often altercation with public for reasons known to all.

Due to the insensitivity of educationalists working in conventional system, the  pure Science and Arts  education has failed to achieve its objective. A transformation from the present to the past system of marking and ranking is needed in order to maintain standard of education. The old generation of educators is no lesser people to introduce merit certificates, distinctions and ranks to students.

K A Solaman
The Deccan Chronicle- Kerala published on 6 July 13

Congratulations to Ms. Remya Haridas!

Congratulations

Congratulations to Ms. Remya Haridas, College of Engineering (IHRD), Cherthala, for securing First Rank  in the B Tech (Electronics and Communication) Examination of Cochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT)  held in the year 2013.

Cherthala,

 July 4, 2013                                                                            K A Solaman

Coalition corruption

It is shocking to see that the Congress has extended support to Kanimozhi, an accused in the 2G spectrum scam, for the Rajya Sabha elections. The Congress spokesperson says: Nothing has been proven against Kanimozhi and going to jail in the 2G spectrum scam has not proved her guilty as Kanimozhi is just an accused in the case. The coalition parties era is one of coalition corruption.

K. A. Solaman, Alappuzha

The Hindu Business Line Dated Jun 30

Thiruvanchoor lies ?

Day by day the Kerala politics is becoming murkier. Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan saying that he has no connections with dancer Shalu Menon and the latter is not involved in the solar scam seems unbelievable. The latest disclosure that the prime accused in the case Saritha Nair phoned him many times make his position  misty.  An outright denunciation that many people make telephone calls to him but he attends none builds him an irresponsible minister. The channel that disclosed the date and time of calls by Saritha Nair to Thiruvanchoor could also make public the contents as the text of her talk  is available in the computer of the network provider.

Though Thiruvanchoor did not know Ms Menon , the reports  that he had visited her house during house-warming ceremony seems interesting. Thiruvanchoor’s reflections in channels tell that one lie leads him to many lies. So, like many other political leaders of Kerala, it would be better for him not to open mouth unnecessarily before channel crew.   

The Minister repeats let the investigating team collect evidence from Shalu or else who, nevertheless, the common people think that there is no much way to proceed for the present investing team under his direction. The mighty Kerala police is not even able to arrest the Opposition MLA Jose Thettayil who is in dark after a wicked sexual deal.

K A Solaman 

K A Solaman Blog: To procreate or not to procreate

K A Solaman Blog: To procreate or not to procreate: “Procreate and procreate”, is the present motto of church leaders like Bishop Powathil and communal leaders like Vellappalli Natesan. Co...

To procreate or not to procreate

“Procreate and procreate”, is the present motto of church leaders like Bishop Powathil and communal leaders like Vellappalli Natesan. Concerned about the lack of work force, they are cheering up followers to give birth to more children. In Kerala, the Church and the SNDP have initiated several measures, including social counseling and financial assistance to encourage people to procreate. While the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council's Commission for Family has promised to provide an education allowance to the fourth child in a family the SNDP has not yet to draw out its course of action.

The country’s population as per 2011 census is 1.241 billion. It is predicted that that by 2050 it will reach 1.53 billion and overtake China as the world's most populous nation. Feeding all these people will become a somber problem by that time. The apprehension of the Church leaders is that while Hindus and Muslims, the two larger communities in Kerala, are growing, the shrinking Christian population has reason to feel vulnerable. 

The root cause of having more children and the subsequent poverty is the lack of education. Education makes one to think reasonably and makes a sensible person to limit his number of children. Bringing up a child by meeting its requirement relating health and education needs tremendous expense and the ordinary people are not able to meet it. Moreover India’s population policy tells a different story.

The New Population Policy was announced in 2000. It has special focus on health and education and envisages the target of stable population by 2045 A.D. The policy includes freezing of Lok Sabha seats at current level of 543 till 2026, compulsory registration of marriage and pregnancy, along with birth and death, cash incentives for compliance with requirements regarding antenatal checkup and many. Under the policy the Government of India has offered an incentive package to model small families. It includes improvement in the facilities for safe abortion, prize to village panchayats and district boards fulfilling the target of model small 

families in respect of reducing infant mortality rate and improving literacy. One of the most crucial objectives in our population policy is thus a small family with one or two children. 

In this context the levelheadedness of Church leaders and Yogam Secreatry is under question. While they blame people of other communities for procreating profusely they ask their own people to do the same. This stance is absolutely against the National Population Policy. When health experts say that India can no longer sustain large families the advocacy to enhance population growth rate is unwarranted. Our policy makers and political leaders should have a say in this regard.

K A Solaman