Earth Hour 2009 Kerala!

Possibly due to election fever, the Earth Hour 2009 did not gather momentum in Kerala when lights went out at tourism sights and homes across the globe on Saturday. The global event intended to underline the danger from climate change has not even affected the KSEB which always grieve for little water in reservoirs. The KSEB head quarters were seen floodlit when a few Nature-friendly citizens put off light at their homes.

Earth Hour is observed as a part of the campaign to encourage people to cut energy use and curb greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. The primary reason to observe Earth Hour is compel people to think, even if it is for an hour, what they can do to lower their carbon footprint, and ideally take that beyond the hour. I wonder why the Government Kerala did not show much interest in it. Probably due to the fact Government need not want to further hurt people who are sitting all the time in darkness on all nights due the authorized and unauthorized power cuts by the Electricity Board. Except a few wise people who often hold back from Government decision by using inverters, all are now accustomed to live without electricity for most of the time. Without any concrete steps to contain the power shortage the KSEB is spending lavishly the money they collect as meter rent and others for making super-star ad gimmicks in channels.

Seemingly, most of the Kerala politicians think that it is the duty of millions of people outside the State to work out a deal to fight global warming. And for them greenhouse gas emissions are no longer a warning. They are not worried of the warming of the planet leading to more floods, droughts, heat-waves, rising sea levels and animal and plant extinctions. Could the Left Friends blame US further as the comrade China has recently overtaken the United States as the top emitter of polluted gas?

K A Solaman

Mammootty’s delight should not turn out as Mohanlal’s discontent.

The new cinema “Patanathil Bhootham” has brought new laurels in the form of doctorate to cine star Mammootty. The University of Kerala has decided to confer honorary doctorate on him along with film maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, veteran mrudangam expondent Umayalpuram Sivaraman. The three, of course, are eligible for such an award as they are the toppers in their respective field. However, when it comes to Mammootty one cannot rule out the political intention behind it. Since the University of Kerala is now run by a Left dominated Syndicate and Mammooty obviously keeps a Left proclivity with his association with CPM owned Kairali TV Channel, it is rather fishy in granting this honour. Is Mohanlal not eligible for Ph D from Kerala University? Mammootty’s delight should not turn out as Mohanlal’s discontent.

Mahatma Gandhi University in January 2006 had conferred the Doctor of Letters on Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The Cochin University of Science and Technology did a parallel act by awarding D Lit to Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy and scientist Madhavan Nair. The special convocation ceremonies set at respective University centres seemed multihued as the conferrers and takers of the honours came out in gold-gladded shining red garments. Though the accomplishments of the recipients are recognized internationally the Universities, which are very sluggish in act and non-student friendly, have no reasonable credit to organize such functions. In MGU the entire examination system is often jeopardized and the students have to move pillar to post for their genuine requirements attended. When a student phoned to the office of the University at Kottayam once for his missing hall ticket, the prompt reply from the NAAC accredited University was not so pleasant for him. “The messenger in charge of hall tickets expired yesterday” is a mnemonic to him for his future relationship with the University.

The Kerala University too is unresponsive in their act to student community. For instance the Union ministry of education has various schemes offering scholarships to needy students through Kerala University. But if they are not dispensed on time by the University, what is the use of these scholarships? The postgraduate scholarship for rank-holders of all Indian universities for the academic session 2007-09 has been sanctioned by the University Grants Commission. The fund has been issued to the universities, and the awardees have been asked to contact the registrars of their respective institutions. However, the registrar of the University of Kerala seems reluctant to confirm when and how the students will receive the funds. The students are about to complete their course by March. The scholarships are meant for the daily expense of the students such as hostel fees and if it is not released in time what is very purpose of it. The Registrar can easily find out who the awardees are by looking up the results of the concerned departments for the particular academic session. It is unfortunate that the toppers of a university recognized by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council are being mistreated by the institution that should have been proud of them.


The Universities in Kerala award innumerous degrees every year but no recipient is seen honoured in convocations arranged by the University. Then why is this fancy dress spending a huge sum to honour those people who are already internationally acclaimed with one or more D Lits? It is now Adoor’s turn to not attend such a travesty function by spoiling people’s money The Universities in Kerala should stop such farce in future. It is not only pro-left Mammootty, there are actors like Mohanlal, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Sheels, Sarada, Kaviyur Ponnamma and others qualified for doctorate in acting.

K A Solaman
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Invalid vote button on voting machine needed

When one looks at the list of candidates of most of the national parties it can be seen that many criminals have crept into it. The criminal politicians have destroyed Indian democracy. As many of the MPs have deceived the common people the call-back option, as pointed out by many wise thinking people, should be made available by a law so that non-performing MPs can be recalled by voters. An ‘invalid vote-button’ must be invariably put on all voting machines so that voters could keep out from casting votes if all the contestants are with criminal background. Keeping away from polling booth is quite different from that of using an invalid vote button.

K A Solaman

On HS and HSS Education-open request to Kerala Education Minister

The Minster of Education, Govt of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram. 695001


Sir,
I refer to the question paper pattern of the science subjects examinations of Higher Secondary course in Kerala.

First, I do not welcome the idea mooted by the new educationists that the question papers should be application or problem oriented. This I say because in schools the students are not given any proper understanding of the basic subject by the teachers. This is primarily because of the low standards of the students and the lack of time the teachers get to spend with the students. The students without proper basic knowledge fail to comprehend questions in the examination and hence their performance is poor. The new method of liberalised valuation is a never substitute for the loss of the students in their class rooms. The present method of liberalised valuation is a cruelty to bright students. Give a proper syllabus and ask direct questions based on the syllabus, is the proper way of testing. And, of course a few application oriented questions can be included. Instead at present all questions are made application oriented so that ordinary students find it often difficult to answer well in the examination.
For instance, this year’s Higher Secondary Examination of Physics paper contained a good many application oriented questions. The purpose of asking these questions is dubious. One of my teacher-friends has the opinion that only students with Entrance Examination training can answer these questions. Those with no such training certainly fail in the examination unless your department so decides to give full credit to all answers whether correct or not.

Second point is: what is wrong in calling students’ score as marks. Interestingly, now in every question paper it is said as ‘scores’ instead of ‘marks’. If one says the age-old word ‘marks’ what on earth stands against it. I firmly believe that in Kerala the educationalists still failed to grasp the actual problem. It shows how distant they are with the real issue on the ground with regards of education. This is a perception issue which was badly managed by your educationalists. .

I would also like to bring your notice that the parents are confused on the matter of School and HS education. Many of them are thinking to transfer their students to CBSE and ISC schools were the education is more meaningful. So I request the minister to be more open and willing to accept ideas and feedback from parents and other unbiased educationalists. I am sure that many experienced teachers would agree with me on the state of affairs of HS examination, its question paper pattern and evaluation. The mode of liberalised valuation would throw away the importance of education. The system of asking twisted questions would create revulsion among students towards lively subjects like physics


Yours faithfully,
K A Solaman

What Eden lost, Prof Thomas gained.

The old fox of Kochi Prof K V Thomas of the Congress torpedoed the chance of young and energetic Hibi Eden with his liaison work at Madam’s Italian kitchen. The madam and her son at Delhi are very fond of ‘karemeen’ of Kumblagi Lake and Hibi Eden understood this only of late. What Eden lost, Prof Thomas has gained.

However, Prof Thomas could have avoided airing through a Malayalam Channel his nasty scene of oil massage in a nearby parlour. Appearing on small screen with ninety five percent of the human body exposed would send wrong notion to voters and it would reduce the winning chance of any candidate especially when police team in and around Kochi are conducting raids in parlours for immoral traffic. I fear whether Sindhu Joy, the Oppostion candidate would resort to such an act to counterbalance Prof Thomas!

K A Solaman

An open request to Chief Minister of Kerala

To
Sri V S Achuthanandan,
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram

Respected Sir,

Sub: Request for not to hike the retirement age.

As you know sir, setting aside all the burning problems, Kerala is in a new phase of debate on the hike of retirement age. In tune with the routine of the neo-liberalists in your party to overthrow all the decisions taken by you the Finance Minister announced in his budget proposal a hike in the retirement age of some employees about one year. The reason suggested by him for this is unjustifiable as the proposal is quite preposterous when there are thousands of unemployed youths in the state.

Sensing that election time is much suited for all unjustifiable demands several employees' organisations have demanded that the retirement age be increased from the present 55 years. The report of the Assembly Expenditure Committee recommending hike in the pension age has enthused these organisations. The expenditure panel is worried over the share of the State’s revenues was being allocated for distributing the salaries and pensions of the employees. More interesting is the suggestion for bringing down the upper age limit for applying for Government jobs by three years. Kerala’s high life expectancy in contrast to that in other states has worried the Expenditure committee. If so it would have been better for the committee to place a proposal that no pension need be paid henceforth.
It is to be pointed that any effort to move up the pension age of employees would have serious repercussion in a State where number of thousands educated youth is waiting for employment. An online survey has found strong opposition to the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age in order to address the huge deficit in the pension fund. When most people believe that the proposal for rise in retirement age will worsen the unemployment situation in that State it is a ploy of a few bureaucrats and crafty politicians to hoodwink the unemployed youths. If retirement age is hiked the unemployment situation will worsen further because increase in new jobs mainly relies on vacancies provided by retirees. The Gulf and European countries returnees on economic recession will also worsen the unemployment condition. Official statistics show that when 100 residents enter the job market each year, there are less than 50 new openings. It is to be categorically pointed out that unemployment is more an urgent problem than the social security fund deficit.
So it should be opposed by all especially by the youths the Finance Minister’s move to increase the retirement age. Government should also announce its policy towards the youth. Though the Government claims a lot, none in the Cabinet except you has the thought of a long-term programme to tackle the problem of the unemployed youths. What is in need is to evolve such a programme instead of treating over the skin. A hike in the retirement age would badly affect the chances of young and qualified unemployed in getting jobs elsewhere. Kindly abandon the budgetary proposal of retirement age hike.

Yours faithfully,

K A Solaman

Wary are the ways of Congress.

At last after enough hibernation and paraphernalia Congress list for Kerala is out. The much awaited candidature of Hybi Eaden was torpedoed by the Congress caucus. The credit for this goes to nonagenarian leader K Karunakaran because he is the first one to fully endorse Eden’s candidature and that too in a desperate bid to avoid K V Thomas. The Congress High Command too now senses cunningly like Karaunakarn and hence Thomas got the berth in Ernakualm. Thomas would, of course, cast a tough fight there but not of the kind that Eden would show.

Congress has finished yet another big folly by fielding sitting MLAs as contestants. There are leaders other than sitting MLAs to display a tough fight in many constituencies but the Congress bigwigs have determined to spoil State money for conducting by-poll in Assembly Constituencies. Furthermore, the commitment of both the Fronts in women empowerment is admirable. They have given only five percent reservation for women instead of 33 percent proposed in the Women Reservation Bill. The insinuation is the Women Reservation Bill is never going to be accepted in the Parliament.

K A Solaman

Misguided effort

The Kerala CPM has made a mistake with an electoral coalition with Madhani’s party, the PDP. Madhani is the most referred person in India when it comes to the subject of terrorism. The CPM’s election prospects have been caught up because of Pinarayi’s association with Madhani and it does not look as if the CPM means to promote secularism.
The harmony in the State CPM is very much evident when Kodiyeri corrects the CM for an enquiry against Madhani for his involvement in terrorist act. Madhani is an unpredictable communal outfit leader and any attempt to make him blessed would lead CPM into trouble. The Veteran leader Achuthanandan smells it rather well, but the neo-liberalists in the party pretend to be ignorant. The display of flex board carrying the images of Mother Theresa and Madhani together is a crime.

Madhani has announced Randathani as the candidate of LDF at Ponnani and that happened. So, the enquiry that Achuthanandan proposed to hold against Madhani should be extended to Randathani too

K A Solaman

Basu said the fact

Infrequently come specifics from Marxist leaders and this time CPM veteran Jyoti Basu has said the fact. According to him, “it is very difficult to form a Third Front Government”. He expressed doubts regarding the viability of a Third Front Government at the Centre. Then one’s wonder is why Karatgi and other friends make much noise about never to happen thing. It is not for the time a Third Front as many of such formations before election ended in ignominy after it. It is better for the Left cadres to join with Congress or BJP. No other option is feasible.

The PM candidate of the Left Front will be always in mask. If one decides to have a discussion in this regard then at the same instant the Third Front will collapse. People know that the left leaders who are not able to take decision at least in the case of PM candidate would be never able to reach a consensus in other major issues after the election.

Interesting aspect of the Left Front is, in many of the States the coalition parties are in collision course with mulish Marxists. In Kerala a fair minster Mathew T Thomas of the Acuthanandan cabinet abandoned the Ministry because of severe dispute between his party Janatha Dal and the CPM. The Minister Thomas Isaac’s evening meal with ex-minster Mathew T Thomas at Thiruvalla would not split the Janatha Dal as species that the latter Thomas belong is different. Besides the major partner of the Left Front in Kerala, the CPI, has decided to vote against the CPM candidates because of CPM snatching away their Ponnani seat. The RSP faction of Chandrachoodan is not in good response with the Marxists. And hence what is said by Basu is incidentally acceptable.

K A Solaman

Election musings

Election is a time when so-called political leaders court favours from business tycoons and receive donations. The Election Commission should devise rules to restrict unbridled influx of money into election campaigning. Voluntary donations are welcome as long as they come with a receipt. This will help the Election Commission keep a tab on the amount that a particular political party receives as donation. Also, these donations must be limited to a stipulated amount. Any violation in this regard should be penalised.

KA Solaman
Pioneer daily dated 17-3-09

All for an “all acceptable candidate”.

The CPM-CPI nuptials may likely to end soon with the Ponnani model of fielding an “ all acceptable candidate”. More intriguingly the all acceptable candidate Randatthani of CPM is not an acceptable candidate for CPI. On the other hand the all acceptable candidate of CPI is an NDF hard core for CPM. What the left comrades are doing is nothing but hoodwinking the people. The long pending desire of Veiyam for CPM-CPI merging is never going materialize in the near future Instead of people of Kerala are fated to view street fight between the comrades of the two factions if they do not give up their adamancy.

The failure to reach a truce between Pinarayi and Veliyam over Ponnani seat is of course a hinder for the Left Front in Kerala. One wonders why these comrades fight for a seat they likely to lose in the Election. The crumple in the alliance between CPM and CPM will be later described as a trick of the communal outfit and so the leaders of the national parties should show wisdom to contain the rise of communal outfits.

K A Solaman

New education CD!

New education CD!

Suspicious are the ways of Kerala Education Department. Latest in this direction is the atheists’ CD of three documentaries given to teachers as teaching aid in script-writing for students of Class VII. The earlier statement of ‘disgusting creature’ by the Party Secretary has been accomplished by the ‘Murivu’ documentary where the Christian clergies are put in a deprived state. Magnificently still there are clergies running in front of Pinarayi’s yathra and getting assistance in tune with lakhs of Rupees for what is called the uplift of ‘Chavittu Natakam’.The ‘Typewriter’ documentary will of course give lessons to children the ‘advantages’ of extra-marital sexual relations. Education Minister MA Baby’s inquiry into the muddle is a stopgap and will end up in further turmoil after the election.

Nevertheless, I could not fully join with KCBC’s finding that secrecy behind the exhibition of the documentaries would destroy the entire education scene. Instead it would destroy the Kerala school education as parents are destined to transfer their children to other meaningful school education such as ICSC and the CBSE.

The CD fiasco is also an indication of how much the modern gadgets are damaging the education. The most effective class room teachings by sincere teachers have been discerned outdated and those who show power point presentation and CDs are measured more able. I know a friend who taught 15 hour ‘Astrophysics’ topic in half hour for B Sc Physics students by an OHP presentation, which is only the textbook Xerox. What the students gained from his lecture will be visible in answer scripts and who cares that much. A class room with CD, LCD and Laptop are good only if it is used as supplementary. A virtual class is never a replacement of a good teacher. What is the purpose of vast literature if the student is not able to read it? A real time teacher first understands the level and prerequisite of the student.

No doubt, as it is read and seen the ‘so called education CD’ could create erroneous replication in the minds of students and could cause distress among them.

K A Solaman

Azhikkode is wrong

The blatant attack by Sukumar Azhikkode on AICC General secretary Tom Vadakkan is insulting and hence deplorable. Since Opposition from LDF and LDF’s whistle bowlers like Azhikkode mounts over Vadkkan’s candidature at Thrissur, Vadakkan is more suited than any others from the Congress.

A man born and brought up outside the State of Keraala may not be able to speak Malayalam as in the manner Azhikkode needs but he is well versed in communicating his ideas. He often finds slots in Panel discussions where he effectively places his opinions. Is Azhikkode able to speak English like Vadakkan? Moreover personal attack is against the election code of conduct and Azhikkode should not have criticized Vadakkan for his strange mannerisms and reduced hold on Malayalam language. A social critic should not act as a personal critic. Being a well-known orator Azhikkode knows about the inability of most people. Can Azhikkode speak without quiver at present? How it would be awkward if Vadakkan carps Azhikkode for this weakness? I wonder Azhikkode, known as a pro-left writer for the present, knocks Vadakkan aiming at the seat of “all acceptable candidate” at Ponnani. Then, remember Azhikkode is not acceptable at least for E T Muhammed Basheer and Tom Vadakkan.

Azhikkode, moving under the yoke of CPM, is not a person qualified to show aggression against Catholic Church and the Church recommended candidate Tom Vadakkan
Possibility for the boomerang of Azhikkode’s slap on Vadakkan’s cheak cannot be ruled out. Had UDF any backbone they should field Vadakkan at Thrissur and teach LDF and its whistle blowers a lesson.

K A Solaman

The non-sense of “all acceptable candidate”

The search for ‘all acceptable candidate’ to Ponnani parliament seat in Kerala is a futile exercise by the State CPM unit. Does it mean that there is none in that party or its partners as acceptable by all? The idea of ‘ all acceptable candidate’ is a ploy by the CPM to snatch away one of the four seats of the CPI. The attitude shown by the CPI in this regard is notable but one is picked up of the earlier somersaults of CPI in similar issues. Had CPI some nerve they should never yield to the tactics of a purely fanatic group outside the Left Front. If CPI would not get the chance to field their candidate, it is meaningless for them to continue in the Front.

The LDF is now scheduled to announce the name of the candidate on March 12. If the seat goes to PDP it is desperate for Veliyam amd Bardhan. Nevertheless, the idea of “all acceptable candidate” is a claptrap and the chance for winning Ponnani by this no-name troublemaker is of remote scope.

K A Solaman

Jacob vs Jacob

Now it is MJ Jacob on the up side of the see-saw play. He could continue as MLA from Piravam with the latest Supreme Court order. The Apex Court has quashed the Kerala High Court’s earlier order invalidating MJ Jacob’s election. And it is TM Jacob’s turn for a review petition.
When TM Jacob won at High Court people were compelled to believe that truth has triumphed. And now with MJ Jacob’s victory people are again compelled to believe truth has again succeeded. Convincingly truth has only relative meaning. Truth of one time for one person is no longer a truth at another time for another person. Truth shall of course triumph and that too relatively. Truth in one frame is no longer a truth in another frame.

K A Solaman

Twenty-twenty Pakistan

With gunmen ambushing the Sri Lanka cricket team it has been proved once again that Pakistan is not place for peaceful life. It is a terror-ridden country where even cricket players are not spared. The very incidence is an absolute indication of the inefficacy of the Pakistan administration to install peace in the country. One could easily stroll with automatic gun in Lahore or elsewhere in Pakistan and fire at anyone he likes. The lawlessness in that country is so high. When Benazir was alive her husband Zardari was seen with a huge moustache. As Benazir was gone Zardari moustache disappeared and the terror-minded guys are least scared of him.

The terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricketers has also proved that certain lives are more precious than those of others. When hundreds die in Somalia or elsewhere because of absolute poverty there would be no celebrity like Preeti Zinta to shed a single drop of tear. The attack of on Sri Lankan cricketers of course put Preeti in utter tears.

The world countries, therefore, think twice to continue diplomatic relation with Pakistan. And at the same time it is suicidal to send players to Pakistan for what is called 20-20 or Premier League. Unless adequate precaution is taken, future 20-20 matches would end up in 20 dead and 20 alive.
K A Solaman

Corruption everywhere

Efforts by Health Minister PK Sreemathi to protect the corrupt officials of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd are a good joke. It is a bad practice to recommend Vigilance investigation against media persons who had brought out the corruption in the corporation. If the accused have acute grievance they can approach a judicial court and prove their innocence. The media persons are doing their noble job.

People of the state have the right to know what is right and wrong. If a medicine is bought at a higher price or a computer for Rs 50000 when it costs only Rs 20000 is a corruption and it should be brought to the attention of the public by the media men. It is to be stressed that almost all purchases in Govt Departments are rather dubious.
It is surprising to see that KMSC has no hesitation to buy the products of a blacklisted company.

K A Solaman