First casualty

#First casualty

Once upon a time, Comrade Arsho, the self-styled revolutionary of SFI fame, had declared with great philosophical depth that slapping a dignitary like T. P. Sreenivasan was no major offence. It is merely a revolutionary pat on the cheek. 

History, however, has a curious sense of humour. Years later, when the universe decided to return the gesture it was on Arsho’s nose. The comrade’s revolution suddenly transformed into righteous indignation. 

The same crowd that once hailed “protest slaps” as political expression now mourned a “fascist attack. Truly, consistency is the first casualty in the world of revolutions.

The aftermath, too, had all the flavour of a tragicomedy. Arsho, who once mocked complaints as bourgeois weakness, now ran from police station to press conference demanding justice. 

Social media, ever eager to replay irony in slow motion, dug up the old video of him thrashing a CPI woman activist and hurling caste slurs  The CPM leadership, masters of selective amnesia, merely adjusted their spectacles and declared the matter "under examination ".

The moral stands clear: when one sows blows, one must be ready to reap them, sometimes right on the nose.

-K A Solaman

Political fearmongering

#Political #fearmongering

Binoy Viswam’s remarks are full of hypocrisy and political double standards. He calls the PM SHRI project an RSS-BJP agenda meant to “smuggle in NEP,” but conveniently forgets that his own daughter studied in a foreign university that follows far more liberal versions of the same reforms he now condemns. 

It is easy for leaders like him to preach nationalism and anti-centre rhetoric while enjoying the fruits of global education for their own families. His attempt to paint every central project as communal or anti-Kerala only exposes a narrow political mindset that places party ideology above the welfare of students.

Education Minister V. Sivankutty’s stand is equally inconsistent and opportunistic. When the Centre released ₹92 crore under the PM SHRI scheme, he welcomed it with open arms; now, under party pressure, he suddenly questions the same project. This U-turn shows that his concern is not for Kerala’s schools, but for appeasing party bosses and protecting his political image. 

If Sivankutty now believes PM SHRI is harmful, he should have the courage to return the money. Otherwise, his change of stance only proves that both he and Binoy Viswam are playing political games with Kerala’s education, misleading the people instead of leading them.

Kerala’s education system deserves progressive support, not political fearmongering.

- K A Solaman

Award Heroes of society and not film stars

#Award heroes of society and not film stars 

The decision to give a state award to Vedan,  while serious allegations against him are still before the court, has caused big public anger. Many people feel it sends a wrong message to society, especially when children’s films and deserving artists were ignored.. 

Even though some say “no one is guilty until proven,” it is argued that honoring a person facing such complaints damages the credibility of the government and award committee. People feel this is unfair to the next generation and hurts public trust in the award system. A rapist rapper is unfit for any award

There is also a strong opinion that film awards are not really needed. Movie stars and film personalities are already rich and famous, so public money need not be spent on giving them cash prizes. Instead, this money could support farmers, fishermen, and soldiers who serve the nation with dedication and often struggle financially.

 Films will continue without government-funded awards, but supporting real heroes of society would bring more respect and value to public funds.

-K A Solaman

Waiting for whistle scam

#Waiting for Final Whistle Scam.

 Possibly our Sports Minister has now become Kerala’s official Messi travel agent. First he declared Messi is coming in November, then suddenly, “Oh sorry, stadium not FIFA-approved, Messi busy, calendar full, dog ate the permission letter”. 

Now he promises March next year. Meanwhile, a mysterious sponsor with more controversies than football goals keeps popping up like a surprise substitute player. 

And the ticket drama? People booked seats faster than fans clicking IPL tickets. This is only to end up watching breaking news instead of football. Now the Minister says “don’t blame us, only dates changed!   Yes, just a small change.. Argentina went to Angola, tickets vanished, but don’t worry, Messi will come next March. 

By the time he arrives, the Minister might be sitting at home watching highlights of the scam enquiry. And if the dates shift again, the next minister can handle the “Messi arrival mission,” while this sponsor runs a masterclass on how to dribble money better than Messi dribbles footballs. 

Kerala is waiting with snacks and popcorn for the Final Whistle Scam.

-K A Solaman

Toxic film award

#Taxic film award.

The decision of the jury for the 55th Kerala State Film Awards to confer the Best Lyricist award to Vedan  is a gross abdication of moral responsibility. Vedan is one who is facing multiple serious rape and sexual-assault allegations.

By endorsing his work while his case remains sub judice, the state‐awarded honour transforms what should be a celebration of artistic merit into a toxic signal. The government machinery of cultural recognition is seemingly  detached from any sense of ethical accountability.

The jury, and by extension the government is here to legitimize one who is under credible legal scrutiny. And this erodes public trust in the integrity of the award and demeans the very idea of merit‐based recognition.

The implications for society are gravely disturbing when a person accused of violating the fundamental dignity of others is publicly lauded by a state institution, 

Such a move encourages cynicism. It undermines victims’ faith in justice and sends the subtle yet pervasive message that talent can offset or even excuse alleged predation. The government’s complicity in this tarnishes the credibility of the award. Award to a so called rapist is a political favoritism or  failure of oversight for the part of government monitored jury.

The message conveyed is absolutely wrong. The Government  should not normalise an unacceptable standard.in State awards.

- K A Solaman

Poverty-tree state

#Poverty-free state

Kerala is a State drowning in debt and living off borrowed money like a college student on credit cards. But now at  a grand spectacle it is suddenly blowing trumpets and unfurling banners to declare itself poverty-free! 

And who is better to certify this miracle than three millionaire film legends descending like a celestial audit committee. Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Kamal Haasan together declare “end of extreme poverty” in Kerala. 

Anyone who dares to point out that a family can slip into poverty the moment a flood hits, or a medical emergency strikes, is conveniently labelled “anti-development.” Forget data, forget reality, a celebratory PR event is clearly more nutritious than food kits.  The State is to keep rejecting from the Centre, Kerala Piravi gift to Keralites. 

And let us applaud the admirable gender equality on display, that is,  three men representing the triumphant march of the poor to prosperity! Truly visionary. Why bother with women, self-help women collectives, or the actual beneficiaries of social welfare when we can have red carpets and movie stars? After all, a State government that refuses many Central schemes but freely queues up for loans must prove its genius at financial wizardry. Solving poverty by proclamation is a better idea 

In Kerala ordinary families are  struggling with inflation, unemployment, and post-flood rebuilding. But here we stand, watching the ruling front declare victory while reality scratches its head, wondering whether to laugh or cry.  

Of course, people  need not worry. If poverty returns tomorrow, perhaps another superstar, may be Messi,  will come for an inauguration to fix it.

- K A Solaman

Tragicomedy of PM-SHRI school in Kerala

#Tragicomedy of PM-SHRI in Kerala.

The Kerala government’s handling of the PM-SHRI schools project has turned into a classic display of political drama disguised as policy. Education Minister V. Sivankutty proudly announced that the state joined the project for the future of students. But within days, that very future was put on hold. Thanks to protests from the CPI,  coalition partner of LDF. 

Apparently, in Kerala politics, students’ education takes a back seat whenever ideological ego trips are at stake. The government that claimed to stand for progress now looks like a troupe of confused performers. They are.unsure whether to clap, cry, or exit the stage.

What’s more telling is the suspicious urgency to form a ministerial subcommittee as it is a traditional Kerala remedy for burying uncomfortable truths. When corruption or mismanagement lurks in the background, committees bloom like mushrooms after rain. The public sees through it: the government’s hesitation isn’t about protecting federal autonomy or ideology; it’s about protecting secrets. 

While the LDF partners quarrel over slogans and or so-called principles, the real victims are school students. They are left watching their so-called protectors fight over who gets to wear the moral crown. It’s a tragicomedy where the actors forget their lines, but the audience still pays the price.

-K A Solaman

Will Messi come or not?

#Will #Messi come or not?

It seems Kerala’s football dreams were briefly hijacked by a man with more ambition than authenticity. The man is the so-called “sponsor” who promised Messi but he delivered a mess. 

With a résumé that reads like a thriller of  unauthorized tree cutting from forest land, mysterious stadium “renovations,” and now a phantom international match, he tried to turn Kerala’s sports scene into his private circus. 

One wonders whether he planned to bring Messi or merely a cardboard cutout from Buenos Aires! The way this grand show evaporated proves once again that when shady businessmen step into the sports arena, the only goal scored is against public trust.

As for Kerala’s Sports Minister, he seems to have mistaken political theatrics for sports development. Instead of nurturing homegrown talent, he was busy warming up for a handshake that never came. When the state exchequer is gasping for breath, talking about crores for a foreign star’s fleeting appearance is like painting luxury boxes on a crumbling stadium wall. 

The minister’s role should be to raise players, not illusions. But alas, in Kerala’s sports field, the whistle blows not for fair play but for fouls.

-K A Solaman

Sivankutty's Intellectual Gymnastics

#Sivankutty's #intellectual #gymnastics.

When Minister V Sivankutty boldly announces that Kerala can sign a national agreement without following it, he truly breaks new ground in political comedy. Money is the main concern and not academic standard.

According to his logic, PM SHRI funding is like a buffet, that is, take the money, skip the items we don’t like.  He assures everyone that Kerala’s curriculum will remain untouched, as if the MoU is just a decorative ribbon to tie around existing practices. 

After all, this is the same education system that introduced “Party-Approved Teacher Handbooks”as it was  a proud effort to ensure that every chapter has ideological vitamins. Teachers, in return, graciously recycled these tomes into dustbin décor and silently expressed  academic creativity.

The CPI leaders clap like members of a laugh track, delighted by this new form of intellectual gymnastics. They argue that Kerala can join the scheme without joining the scheme, a Schrödinger’s Agreement, both valid and void at the same time. In their grand vision, NCERT books may arrive, but Kerala’s own ideological handbooks will remain mandatory.

With such brave innovation, Sivankutty and company are rewriting not only the curriculum but also the definition of logic by proving once again that satire is sometimes just reporting the news.

-K A Solaman