Tragic comedy

#Tragic #comedy

The current obsession of the Kerala government with the Nilambur by-election is a blatant display of misplaced priorities and political farce. It is absurd that the entire State machinery — both ruling and opposition — is rallying behind a by-election meant to elect an MLA for a mere ten months. 

This political circus is even more laughable considering one of the candidates is the very MLA who resigned from the same seat, turning the process into a mockery of democratic purpose. The disproportionate attention given to this election reflects the sheer non-sense of the by-election mechanism in its present form. 

Rather than addressing pressing state issues, the political class is engrossed in self-serving power games, revealing a deep disconnect from the real concerns of the people.

While Nilambur takes centre stage, Kerala’s more urgent problems are being swept under the rug. The plight of fishermen, whose livelihoods have been shattered due to the sinking of a toxic container ship, is being ignored. Fish sales have collapsed, leaving coastal communities in despair.  Yet there is no meaningful response from the government. 

Meanwhile, the state's financial health deteriorates rapidly, with the administration resorting to reckless borrowing simply to meet day-to-day expenses. The ruling dispensation seems more committed to staging electoral dramas than governing, turning Kerala into a political theatre where public welfare is sacrificed for partisan showmanship. 

It is an embarrassing and alarming state of affairs — a tragic comedy at the cost of common people.

-K A Solaman

Welcome verdict

#Welcome #verdict

The Kerala High Court’s directive to furnish all retirement benefits to Dr. Ciza Thomas is a welcome and commendable verdict that upholds justice and administrative fairness.

 It is deeply unfortunate that a respected academician, who served as the interim Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Technological University, had to wait over two years for what is rightfully hers. 

The deliberate delay appears to be a form of veiled retribution against those who uphold integrity and stand firm against governmental wrongdoing. It an all-too-familiar tactic seen in Kerala, where individuals are burdened with court expenses while the state spends taxpayers' money to suppress dissent. 

However, as seen in the case of T.P. Senkumar, such unjust strategies cannot deter persons of principle. Dr. Ciza Thomas’s perseverance in the face of adversity is admirable, and the court’s verdict serves as a strong reaffirmation that truth and virtue will ultimately prevail.

-K A Solaman

Trivializing degree courses

#Trivializing Degree Courses.

Kerala's degree courses, particularly in Arts and Science colleges, are currently facing a crisis marked by a sharp decline in student admissions. 

The introduction of the four-year degree programme, though intended to match global standards, has not been received well due to a lack of awareness, poor infrastructure upgrades, and the absence of clear academic and career benefits for students. With medicine, engineering, nursing, and paramedical streams offering more structured career paths, traditional degree courses are being sidelined. 

In a desperate attempt to fill vacant seats, some colleges have resorted to substandard promotional tactics. This include misleading social media reels featuring film stars. This not only trivialize higher education but also risk undermining its dignity and purpose. This has led to public disillusionment and a growing perception that degree courses are an unproductive option.

To reverse this trend and make degree courses more attractive, serious academic reforms and strategic planning are essential. The government must ensure proper orientation, skill development modules, and employability-linked training as part of the curriculum. 

Partnerships with industries and research institutions can provide internships and job prospects, making the courses more relevant. Colleges should focus on showcasing their academic strength, infrastructure, and alumni achievements rather than relying on flashy advertisements. 

Moreover, proper counselling after Class 12 and awareness campaigns about the value of liberal education can help students make informed decisions. Only through quality improvement, relevance to the job market, and respect for academics can degree courses regain their rightful place in Kerala’s higher education landscape.

-K A Solaman

Tragic irony

#Tragic #irony

The collapse of the under-construction National Highway 66 at multiple locations during the recent rains has laid bare the rot at the core of Pinarayi Vijayan’s government. 

Instead of taking responsibility, the Chief Minister continues to issue hollow justifications and deflect blame, calling it “nature’s fury”. It is a shameful attempt to cover up shoddy construction and deep-rooted corruption. 

Contracts awarded to politically connected firms, substandard materials, and a complete disregard for public safety have become hallmarks of this administration. The tragic irony is that a project meant to symbolize progress now stands as a testament to the government's failure.

 Billions have been siphoned off in the name of infrastructure, while the common man suffers dangerous roads, displaced communities, and a complete absence of accountability.

What’s even more outrageous is the arrogant insensitivity of ministers like Mohammad Riyas, the Chief Minister’s own son-in-law, who chooses to engage in “reel challenges” on social media. But the public reels from poor governance. 

Instead of listening to the cries of those affected, this government mocks them with tone-deaf theatrics and self-praise campaigns. The so-called development claims are nothing but smoke and mirrors aimed at exploiting the short memory of the electorate.

In reality, the state is witnessing the rise of a regime more concerned with self-preservation and propaganda than with people’s welfare. With rising debt, crumbling infrastructure, and a political circle immune to criticism, the Pinarayi government is rapidly losing what little legitimacy it had left.

-K A Solaman

Rapper with offensive songs

#Rapper with offensive songs

The use of caste-based names, especially in public discourse, must be addressed with utmost sensitivity and legal awareness. Referring to individuals by caste names — even if self-assumed — can perpetuate caste identities and normalize practices that the Indian Constitution and judiciary have long sought to eliminate. 

In this context, the act of prominent leaders like M.V. Govindan and V.D. Satheesan publicly calling rapper Hirandas Murali by the name "Vedan" is deeply problematic. 

"Vedan" is not just a pseudonym; it is a Scheduled Tribe identity, and the public usage of such a caste identifier, particularly by those in power, risks reinforcing caste hierarchies and violating the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Recent Supreme Court verdicts have affirmed that addressing individuals by their caste names in a derogatory or unnecessary manner constitutes caste abuse and is legally punishable.

Moreover, the adoption of the name “Vedan” by the rapper and the usage of offensive or aggressive language in his work risks trivializing the lived realities and struggles of the actual Vedan community.

Cultural appropriation of caste identities, especially when accompanied by language that may offend or stereotype, is not an act of empowerment but of erasure and exploitation. It is unacceptable for political leaders to reinforce this by continuing to use the caste name instead of the artist’s legal name, particularly in public and political discourse.

 Upholding the dignity of marginalized communities requires more than lip service. It demands legal compliance, social responsibility, and respect for their identity. This misuse must be condemned and corrected before it becomes a dangerous precedent.

-K A Solaman

Selective criticism

#Selective #criticism

The Kerala government's proposed University Laws (Amendment) Bill, which selectively prohibits teachers from criticising the State government while allowing criticism of the Central government, is a blatant attack on academic freedom and democratic principles. 

This discriminatory restriction reeks of political hypocrisy and undermines the very essence of free speech in academic spaces. By shielding itself from scrutiny while conveniently allowing criticism of the Centre, the State government reveals its authoritarian tendencies. 

Moreover, the bill ignores the rampant politicisation of university campuses, where teachers—under the cover of unions—actively engage in partisan politics, openly violating service rules that prohibit government employees from political affiliations. 

If genuine accountability is the goal, then both State and Central governments must be equally open to criticism, and all forms of political activity by government servants, including teachers, must be uniformly addressed. This bill must be opposed for its selective censorship and dangerous precedent.

- K A Solaman

Sudhakaran's disclosure

#Sudhakaran's #disclosure

The recent controversy surrounding senior CPM leader G. Sudhakaran's disclosure about alleged tampering of postal ballots in favour of his party during the 1980 elections has raised complex legal and ethical questions. 

While Sudhakaran has openly accepted responsibility and expressed readiness to face any consequences, it is important to view his statement in the context of exposing systemic vulnerabilities rather than as a mere confession of wrongdoing.

Electoral malpractice, especially in the form of postal ballot manipulation, is not the action of a single individual; it typically involves multiple actors and reflects institutional lapses. Instead of singling out Sudhakaran for punishment after four decades, authorities should focus on using this revelation to investigate and rectify flaws in the electoral process, particularly in the handling of postal ballots. 

His candid statement can serve as a wake-up call to tighten procedures and enhance transparency, ensuring such practices cannot recur.

Moreover, this approach to Sudhakaran's statement brings into sharp relief the disparity in handling similar or even graver disclosures by political figures. For instance, M.M. Mani’s controversial public claim about the elimination of political opponents—allegedly involving planned killings—was far more serious and inflammatory. Yet the case against Mani appears to have lost momentum, raising questions about selective legal scrutiny

.If Sudhakaran is being held accountable for a historic electoral malpractice, the same yardstick must apply to others whose admissions point to violent and criminal acts. Singling out Sudhakaran while allowing others to go unchallenged undermines the credibility of the justice system. 

Rather than turning this into a political witch-hunt, the government and Election Commission should take the opportunity to strengthen democratic processes and ensure that postal ballot casting becomes completely tamper-proof.

-K A Solaman