What 2010 for Keralites.

What 2010 for Keralites.

My mind by its naughty ways has sensed just what 2010 has in store for the Keralaites. My findings are: All roads including the National Highways will be of potholes twenty percent higher than 2009 and there will be no periodic maintenance.
More areas of SEZ will be identified and people now staying there will be thrown away to street and their land will be confiscated at a throwaway price by the Government or its agencies. JCBs have a major role for the demolition of the household in SEZs

The Government sponsored Education up to plus 12 will be free for all but the takers will be 20 percent less as the quality of education will be too poor. The students will take their study as blearily pastime as the examinations will have no significance in the next year. More and more students will engage in extracurricular activities such as cow farming and brinjal cultivation and that too will be supervised by their teachers. Intake of letters and numerals by students will be less and teachers with doctoral and post doctoral degrees will engage in profit making businesses like wayside ‘thattukada’ where all sorts of ‘ada’(pudding) and ‘nadan oonu’( country meals) will be sold at a subsidized rate. The class room of these teachers can be advantageously used for cattle feeding.

All hospitals owned by the Government will be 20 percent privatized. Labor room work and pediatrics will cost more. More cases will be referred to Private Hospitals and doctors in Government Hospitals will get an opening to collect some commission for their periodic references. The aged ones will find comfort in old age homes.

Water and electricity supply will be in short supply and what the people will get profusely is the press releases of ministers in charge of these departments.
Lottery vending will be a major source of income for the Government and for majority of unemployed educated youths as the government has no plan to recruit people to the existing vacancies. The employees presently in service by hook or crook try to stick to their posts until the inevitable comes about.

More police men will be recruited and their main job is to escort the ministers and intimidate the common people. No criminal cases will be enquired by them as they are not interested in warranting the displeasure of their higher-ups.
State sponsored consumerism will be big event. More and more Grand Kerala Festival will be organized and the people will be cheated by offering 40, 60, 80etc kgs of gold. As there is no way to check the chunk of prize distributed there is no harm in declaring 10000kgs of gold as prize. The suicide rate will be alarming because of state sponsored consumerism.
The Beverages corporation outlets will witness long queues and the political leaders will so decide to hold their meeting in front of these outlets. The income from liquor trade will be 30-40 percent higher in 2010.

And more likely a more corrupt government will be in action in 2010.
A Happy 2010 for all Keralites!
K A Solaman

Solving Mullapperiyar issue

The Mullapperiyar dam has become a matter of life and death for TN and Kerala. The dam water is major source income from agriculture for TN and hence it is a matter of life for them. On the other hand the dilapidated dam is a matter of death for Kerala. If the dam collapses many families will be washed away from a few districts of Kerala. However, the two State leaders have not yet reached a consensus in making an amicable solution. Instead some of the leaders like Vaiko make unwarranted statements.

In this context I invite the attention of Union Home Minister Chidambaram in to this issue. He may invite leaders of TN and Kerala for discussions to solve the ongoing entanglement in the right direction. The TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi and his counterpart V S Achuthanandan of Kerala cannot shy away from their responsibility to restore peace in the two states. And in this context it is imperative that the two leaders or their agents should behave responsibly to defuse the situation. Indulging in hate speech by outfit leaders like Vaiko should be checked. As the life and sustainability of the people of TN and Kerala are interlinked careful approach is needed in dealing with problems related to the two sates.

The two states have indeed suffered some damage by this time on Mullapperiyar issue and sincerely speaking it is the sensible approach by the two leaders that blocked further unseemly incidents. This attitude they can extend a little further to resolve the Mullapperiyar imbroglio. The parleying skill of P Chidambaram could do a lot to bring harmonious settlement on the long pending issue between TN and Kerala.

K A Solaman

Nation in fragments-The Telegraph

The government at the Centre seem to be succumbing to political pressure to divide a state into two. This certainly does not augur well. The division of Andhra Pradesh would entail unnecessary expenditure from the state exchequer. The development of all parts of a state can be achieved if the rulers are committed to their duty. Underdevelopment cannot be considered a valid reason for creating a new state. If the Centre responds to the call for Telangana, then it may unleash demands for new states from all over the country. There is already a lot of dispute among different states on various matters. For instance, control of the Mullaperiyar dam is a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Kerala for many years. Such a tussle would not had arisen if the two were parts of a single state.

Local leaders usually come up with clever ploys to further their political interests. Leaders at the Centre, on the contrary, should act wisely.

K.A. Solaman, The Telegraph, Calcutta Dated 29 Dec 2009

More offices for NIA in Kerala

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri’s antagonism against the National Investigation Agency for snooping terror cases is seen clicked. NIA has decided to open own offices in Kochi and Kozhikode and more offices will likely to be opened in the immediate future. The possible question then is: what is the need of Kerala police?

Yes, they have loads of job. At first they have to escort the very sociable ministers to all parts of the State. And they have a tough job in offending two wheel owners to collect revenue for the payout of monthly salary to the employed class as the money colleted from everyday public begging (lottery) is too inadequate to meet the requirement. In addition they have to do homework for cooking up murder cases and to capture sex rackets which are in abundance in the state.

On the other hand NIA will enquire sensational cases like bomb blast and other terrorist attacks where Kerala police is supposed to have little partaking.

K A Solaman

Do not fume at NIA.

In is incomprehensible for one regarding the fuming of Kodyeri, the Kerala Home Minister, against the Centre for the takeover of the probe into Kalamassery bus-burning by the National Investigation Agency. When the Kerala Police have dejectedly failed in similar investigations, the Centre’s decision should be taken as a boon so that further humiliation caused by the local investigation can be passed up. Kodiyeri’s allegation that NIA investigation is a violation by the Centre upon the powers of the State Government is unfounded. The Centre is rather helping the State Government for its investigation process. And if NIA decide to take over other terror cases in the State it should be also measured as a helping hand by the Centre.


In many cases the State has the dubious history of handing over serious cases to CBI when local police had failed and that too happened with the request of the State Government or order by the High Court. With NIA’s direct intervention such paraphernalia have been avoided and the State could take a sigh of relief if probe goes in the right direction. The State Government, therefore, should welcome the NIA rather than resisting the decision.

K A Solaman

Nero fiddles while Rome burns.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Nero's reputation is such that the people believe the worst of him, even when the evidence is inconclusive. And that story runs parallel with that of Andhra Governor N D Tiwari. When Andhra fumed on Telengana issue Tiwari fiddled on not one but three women in the nude. Is this old goose so sex parched? Yes, the veterans in the Congress party did not rule out it. If any doubt ask Mr K Karunakaran. Possibly Karunakaran, as he claims, preferred Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister because he was aware of the act sex monger Tiwari, who was also a contestant then. The self-esteem of the high constitutional office of Governor was disgraced by the act of Tiwari.
It is not the first time there were allegations against Tiwari in sex cases. He once remained missing for two days while was on his way from New Delhi to Uttarakand and he gave some strange stories for his disappearance. Even then people suspected that he had disappeared with a woman.
Now in India sex scandal is a part and parcel of most politicians of diverse parties. There should be some law making with in the frame work of our constitution to put an end of this disgraceful tradition. The eighty plus politicians should be administered with some medicine so that they should never look on the face of young women.

K A Solaman

No need to divide Home department

Home Minister Chidambaram strongly supporting a vertical division of the Home Ministry is unwarranted as it gives the intuition that his department is not able combat the present day challenges. Of late, it is the custom of delegating works to others and put the blame on them in failures. An able Home Department could easily look into the subject of internal security without causing unnecessary financial expenditure to state exchequer. If Chidambaram feels he is not able to co-ordinate the system by himself, then he mustresign from the post. There are able men in his party too to mange single handily and efficiently Home Department.

Even Marxist leaders in Kerala and elsewhere think the governace is good for them if state coffers are full and there are sufficient number of police men. Recruitment to police force has no ban when there were no recruitment in other departments. The profusion of police force is the mark of good rule according to them.

Mumabi terror attacks and related incidents are the outcome of the foolishness of the rulers and intelligence agencies. In Kerala too agents of ISC of Pakistan wander freely and they occasionally scold the government on a variety of counts. In courts too the Government prosecutors take a frosty stance and there by cold blooded killers get bail and come out from jails.

The NIA, NTRO, JIC, NCRB, NSG, NCTC and CBI are birds of same feather and outwardly meaningless if the employees of these agencies are uncommitted and the minister in charge of these wings incapable. If the Head master is strict teachers too. Otherwise there is no use of various departments and related bifurcations.

K A Solaman

White lies-Read the Telegraph

Magic cannot stand up to the scrutiny of reason. Thus, the ‘magical’ performance of Lalu Prasad as the railways minister and his claims of being a “management guru” have now been proven to be nothing but a sham by Mamata Banerjee. Her white paper has clearly proved that under Prasad, the railways had made an improbable claim. At the time Prasad was taking credit for a turnaround in the railways’ fortunes, he was criticized for his inaction in Bihar. Prasad actually did very little to uplift the state during the time he was in power. These criticisms would probably grow stronger, now that the “white paper” about his performance in the railways has been made public.

K.A. Solaman,
The Telegraph dated 24-12-09

Let him be the first to throw a stone…..

There are only saints and no sinners at Manjeri, Malappuram district to stone Rajmohan Unnithan, the general secretary of Congress in Kerala and senior AICC member. If the Judicial First Class Magistrate of Manjeri court was not active in discharging duties Unnithan might have been stoned down to death as there was none to utter the famous saying:"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at…. (NT John 8:7). One now fears to travel with his grown-up daughter if this is the condition elsewhere in this horror state.

All know that Unnithan is a firebrand leader and his outright remarks often irk his opponents. CPM State Secretary and the PDP Chairman are the latest targets of Unnithan for reasons known to all and hence Unnithan is the target of the duo . The Congress leaders too enjoy Unnithan’s channel discussions and rather envious to him for his lexis. And instead of enquiring the episode the State Congress is seen in a hurry for stringent action against Unnithan. The women leaders of the Congress and other parties started preaching sermons from the mountain against degradation of moral values. Outfits like DYFI which sees no lapse on the part of the government in denying jobs to educated youths were seen fast to depict Unnithan episode as a symbol of the moral erosion of the entire Congress party. Everything about ethical values is intact in ruling parties!

One hopes that with Unnithan’s manhandling by local people and subsequent tarnishing by his own men and the opponents, it would be all right in the state on matters relating flesh trade. The State of Kerala will hereafter witness only good governance by leaders of moral ideals!

K A Solaman

State sponsored consumerism

Good governace by a State mainly depends on its abilty to persuade people to limit their spending habit. Most of the debt traps and consequential suicides are the end result of spendingspree mind-set of the common man. Payments afar one’s income make the life misrerable and all sensible people know this but not the state government of Kerala. Moreover mounting consumerism has taken a heavy tax on the upbringingof the State.

All the ministers of Kerala, cine artists and writers are in queue to campaign for the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival. Forty kilograms of gold and fabulous gifts are reserved for the buyers! The newspapers and channels are thrilled by the profit they get from the advetisements of the festival. The feeling of consumerism created by festival sponsors persuades people to replace the available TV in good working condtion by a flat LCD one. Women are seen in a hurry to replace their old fasioned ornaments by new ones. Poor people are seen more discontented by watching the spending of elite class. The price of consumer products has increased at an incredible rate. The excessive consumerism has thus become detrimental and waste has been accumulted with loss of money. Use of more TV and other electronic goods leads waste of electrical power in addition.

The State Government is seemingly promoting consumer festivals instead of making people responsive about the demerits of excessive spendimg.

K A Solaman

Madhani to fast unto death

PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madhani is a person doing five namaskar a day and I think he won’t get adequate time for an effective fast in front of Secretariat. Fasting is a brand Indian form of strike for which Madhani has all the right. However he has no right to call his adolescent children for the same. Killing children or forcefully making them fast until death is a crime for which the parents have no special defence.

K A Solaman

Lalu’s magic

Magic is something that stands against scientific reality. And this is applicable to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. The former Management Guru’s magical revelation about the financial status of Indian Railway and his classes in IIMs thus became a damp squib.

The present Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee put facts before the people. The white paper published on railways revealed that Lalu was wrong and his account of huge profit of the Railways during his tenure was only a cooked up mathematics. When Lalu was in the lime-light with his exaggerated profit of railways there were criticism about his inaction in Bihar. Lalu had done nothing for the uplift of Bihar during 15 years of his and his wife’s regime-it was criticized. And this criticism can be taken for granted with the latest white paper published by Indian Railways.

K A Solaman

History repeats.

After much ordeal Soofiya Madhani has been arrested by the Kerala Police. The three women in burqua escorted by the police in black Scorpio with tinted wind shields sent channel viewers to wild guess to identify whether the arrested one is Soofiya or not. Burqua is a good apparel for all women offenders to escape from the eyes of lens men!

And now it is the turn for Abdul Nasser Madhani to fight the case politically and legally. His predecessor is this respect is Pinarayi Vijayan. History repeats first as a tragedy and then as a comedy.

K A Solaman

Madani should not fume

"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said.

PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madani put out of his mind all these good things. He discarded with insensible words the compassion received for the inhuman torture he met with at Coimbatore jail. His fuming words against the law of the land pressed his takers to think in the reverse. He should control his words and deeds until the tumult subsides. Why should Madani and his wife fear if they are innocent?

K A Solaman

No need to divide Andhra

The Centre has succumbed to political pressure. There is no need to divide Andhra Pradesh as it would entail unnecessary expenditure. Already there is a great divide among different states on various matters. Local leaders “enact” clever dramas for narrow political gains. Mr Rao’s demand for Telangana and Ms Mayawati’s demand to trifurcate UP are only ploys for personal benefit.

K A SOLAMAN, Alappuzha
The Tribune, Chandigarh Dated 17 Dec 2009

Do not be misled

In the 70's the Catholic Church used to encourage Sunday weddings because Sunday is a holiday. No working hours are lost and more guests could participate in the ceremony. However, the church now stopped allowing that practice, may be because there are less priests around and it is unfair to ask one priest say four regular Sunday Masses and a wedding too. Moreover, children would miss their Sunday religious classes if they attend marriages.

Whatever it may be my suggestion is: marriages are like funerals and they point to beginnings of unique kinds of lives-one is in this mortal world and other is in the eternal world. Man has little control over them at least in the latter. So it would be rather better for clergies not to impose rules on man’s fate according to the convenience of them. Better service would attract more faithful. Remember there is Satan, I mean disbeliever, everywhere around the church to corrupt the innocent.
The Bible says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’ (1 Corinthians 15:33).

K A solaman

No bifurcation please

The Central Government succumbing to political pressure to divide a state to two or three is not in the right direction. The need to divide Andhra into two is not at all essential as it would bring unnecessary expenditure from the State exchequer. The development of all parts of a state could be done by rulers if they are committed to do their duty. The lack of development could not be considered as a valid reason for dividing a state. If the Central Government favors creation of new states there would be obviously call from very small states like Kerala too where the erstwhile Travancore and Malabar claim different culture and class.

Already there is a great divide among different states on various matters. For instance I would wish draw one’s attention to the Mullapperiyar dam issue. Mullapperiyar is a bone of contention between the two states for many years. If TN and Kerala are parts of a single state no such quarrel would surface. Even Thackeray would not denounce Sachin if Maharashtra is non-existent.

Local leaders with patent yearning would work out clever dramas for their political accomplishment. Leaders of the Centre having vision should understand the slyness of these chaps and act wisely. Rao’s demand for Telangana or Mayawati’s demand to trifurcate UP is only ploys for personal benefit. The local leaders in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and elsewhere may disturb the public with bandh or hartal when their ploy is failed. The Central Government should then show the courage to send these local leaders to corners.

K A Solaman

Hyundai car-look before you leap

Do you want to buy a Hyundai car?

Dear friend,

Do you want to buy a Hyundai car? If yes, patiently spend one minute to read what I wrote here under;

With much belief I purchased a Santro LP car from M/s Hyundai dealer at Alappuzha, Kerala, M/s MGF Motors. And this belief I build up not through the channel ads of actor Sharukh Khan. I collected information from my friend who owned a Santro car and later he admitted that he was mistaken.

The date of purchase is 13-2-2002 with registration number KL 04K 3955. The car has run only about 36000km. Nevertheless, by this time I had to pay a good amount as service charge and cost of repair. The first noticeable payment was just after 4 years and that was for replacing the corroded silencer. The next one is the leakage of A/C and for which I have to pay Rs 7000 plus. Yet another major fault now noticed is the rusting of the base or support of the engine for which I have to pay Rs 9000 plus.

My question is: Why did M/s Hyundai make cars of such a low quality with substandard materials?
My colleagues who purchased cars on my recommendation by paying Rs 4 lakh or above have the same complaints. M/s Hyundai have no say in this regard. When I contacted them they send me a dozen mobile numbers and none attended my complaint till this time. A few of the phone numbers are below. The Santro owners along with prospective buyers can contact over these numbers and get your queries answered. And I am not sure that they would reply you properly.

HMIL North Regional Office Service Support Ms. Neetu 0172-6605000
Sales Support Ms. Harpreet 0172-6605029
HMIL South Regional Office Service Support Ms. Latha 044-42204623
Sales Support Mr. Sivakumar 044-42204674
HMIL Central Regional Office Service Support Ms. Jayshree 011-66241100
Sales Support Ms.Aparna 011-66241100
HMIL West Regional Office Service Support Mr. Swapna 022-40969028
Sales SupportMs. Juanita 022-40969035
HMIL East Regional Office Service Support Mr. Chaitanya 033-40060047
Sales Support Ms. Subhadra 033-40060047
They have a Toll Free Number too : 1800-11-4645 (From MTNL/BSNL) or 9873564645 from others.
So before you purchase a Hyndai car remember the famous saying "Look before you leap". The spare parts of Hyundai cars cost more and service charges are exorbitant.
So my recommendation is: give up the idea of purchasing Hyndai car. Switch over to Maruthi or others. They have good service conditions, reasonably durable materials,and moderate prices.
K A Solaman

For me this Christmas

For me this Christmas like the previous ones is very significant. Though it is an occasion for many to spend cheerfully the time with family and friends, most imperative of all is celebrating the birth of Christ and for me predominantly it is an occasion of noble memoirs. It is in this occasion my mother brought me new clothes when I was a kid. It is the occasion when my mother prepared the tastiest food in a year. It is the occasion for me to not recall those ghastly feelings I might have about someone. I love Christmas not just for getting presents butfor other things too.

I teach my children about the factual gist of Christmas. It is very cheerful for me to see my kids decorating the inside of the house and putting up a Christmas tree. Christmas is not a celebration of free enterprise as many think. It is not an occasion to spend all the money for Grand Kerala Shopping Festival. It is a fiesta of elation for all counting those who live in cattle sheds. It is not the time to play that my good behaviour for the day will carry over to the rest of the year. Christmas is the juncture for tranquility and love. It is the day of tribute to the great teacher who enlightened me with greatest motto: “Forgive and be kind”
Christmas is a time to thank the lord for everything he has done, to keep me on my feet.

Christmas is the occurrence that brings out the very best in me. I am kinder, believe so, more obliging, more caring, and more uncomplaining. I believe Christmas is the way to keep my mind sparking with love, delight, calm, and hope.

K A Solaman

Government should give up the move to raise the retirement age of college teachers.

It has been reported that State committee of the Left Democratic Front is likely to raise the retirement age of teachers in arts and science, medical and engineering colleges in Kerala. The decision, if taken, would bring serious repercussion in the society. The losing around Rs.500 crore in assistance from the University Grants Commission seems more serious for the LDF than killing the hope of unemployed educated youths in the state waiting for job.

The State government’s plan is to raise the retirement age to 60 years as against the 65 years stipulated by the UGC. However, the LDF government does not wish to hook the retirement age beyond 60 years in view of the political implications. What are those political implications? The same political proposition exists when age is raised to 60 from 55. Those people who once fixed retirement age at 55 were not fools. They did know the unemployment situation in the state and seemingly it augmented now. It is unwise for the government to take consolation from the fact that Maharashtra and a few other State governments, which have already implemented the UGC scheme, have chosen to peg the retirement age of their college teachers at 60 years. The situation in Maharashtra is entirely different from Kerala. It is from Kerala people go to Maharashrtra for a job and not from there to Kerala.

It is mainly Finance Minister Isaac’s move to please his friends now in colleges.
The teachers at present in Government and aided colleges in Kerala are, I say, of low profile and they were recruited in 1980-83 period when shift system was introduced in colleges. Most of them with left political orientation for knowing themselves as ‘intellectuals’ corner the minister Thomas Isaac and in that respect Education Minister M A Baby comes only next to him. The move to enhance retirement age hike thus gathered momentum.


The Economic survey conducted in last March revealed that the unemployment rate in the state is high and a few millions of people of the State have been working outside it for many years. Had they remained in Kerala, the unemployment rate would have been much higher than what was quoted in the survey. It is not the education system that make people frustrated but the inefficiency of the rulers of the state. The educated youths with Ph D and other degrees are disturbed and that dissatisfaction will be augmented by the thoughtless decision of Kerala ministers.

It is a fact in Kerala no industrialist wants to set up any industry due to labour problems. The State is bankrupt, besides being corrupt and largely politicized. The main source of income for the state is the infamous public begging –the Kerala lottery and by coluorful ads in dailies and channels the Government invites educated youths to join the lottery market. They have no job to offer for teaching in colleges or elsewhere. It is reserved for the handful of luckiest paltry chaps with PG second class. The Left trade unionism among college teachers brought them luck but misery to educated youths.

The ministers of Kerala have a thought that though they are 60 plus or eighty, still are able to walk, jump and exercise. So why can’t the existing college teachers do the same? Dear ministers, ask the college teachers to retire and try a hand in politics to serve the society further. There are many with service in aided colleges doing work at college and also doing societal both yielding no result.

The monthly salary that may be given to a college teacher for the extended period of time can be used for giving monthly pension of the pensioner and also the salary of two new recruits. The new one, being better educated and skilled, could make better results in colleges than those old folks who never want to retire. Time has reached for youths to demand their chunk of job. The Youth Congress, The AISF, Youth Front etc are seen coming against the proposed draconian decision of the LDF and it is good for them. Instead of migrating to other States for jobs, the youth should use their might tom make the government understanding their need. Retirement age hike does not save any one but saves two families if a person is given an employment. Why the “poor man’s government” is not thinking in that direction?

It is a pity for the government to allow research degree holders to take the job of lottery ticker seller or Electronics and Communication engineering post graduate to accept the job of a last grade to earn a living. While thousands of students in colleges and universities suffer because of the shortage and inefficiency of the existing teaching staff it is very callous on the part of the government to not appoint any fresh candidate from existing nine PSC lists and other four that are short listed.
So the government should give up the move to raise the retirement age of college teachers including those in medical colleges.

K A Solaman

‘Pollice’-Second L stands for lying

What is the full form of police? A job aspirant will soon say: P means Polite, O-Obedient, L-Loyal, I-Intelligent, C-Courageous, and E-Eager to help. A more meaningful and present day full form is: P-Power Mad, O-Official Criminal, L-Lustful, I-Illegal, C-Corrupt, and E-Encounter Specialist.

Seemingly Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnana knows all these. I, therefore, think that he intentionally wrote the spelling as ‘pollice’ instead of ‘police’ when inaugurated the Cyber Forensics and Digital Analysis Centre at the Police Headquarters campus, Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. His second ‘l’ presumably stands for ‘lying’. And this addition is very obvious in the context Paul Muthoot Murder case and related police anecdotes.

K A Solaman

When e-court start functioning

Welcome for the first e-court of Kerala to start functioning at Kochi. The fully computerized lower courts coming under the District Court will enhance speedy disposal of the cases, it is presumed.

Nevertheless, one the major handicaps of our judicial system is its huge delay in settling the cases. The famous adage ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is amplified by our judicial forums. When judicial officers complain that they are troubled with heavy load, the counsels make it an opportunity to tax more from clients. When cases go indefinitely it is the counsels that earn money. Still, a junior practicing advocates did not even get a sum of Rs 1000 per month for their work if their seniors are not caring that much.

Let our government and judicial forums evolve more new systems for speedy disposal of cases in courts and thereby to regain people’s faith in them.

K A Solaman

Onion price shocks Keralites

The price of onion is as high as Rs 45 in Kerala and in all probability it shocked the entire populace of Kerala. The panic is in such a high level that entire people are supposed to eat onion all the time and they could not keep going without onion. (Onion is pronounced as ‘aniyan’ and I keep in mind an instance of one of my collegues having quarrel with his son’s UKG teacher for she having taught the kid with a wrong intonation ‘onian’).

The interesting fact is that though there is no shortage of onion in the wholesale depots still prices keep on rising by day. So as an alternative solution, what I have to suggest is: abandon onion for the time being. And this suggestion may be ridiculous for someone but not as ridiculous as one given by Kerala Food minister C Divakaran asking people to go to hotels for better food.

I know onion is a taste maker for food and possess some medicinal value. But what are other food items without values. Drunkards eat onion profusely under the presumption that it would save them from all drug hazards. If drunkards along with ordinary citizens so decide to abandon or reduce the use of onion then price of this commodity come down soon. Tons of onions now stocked in storages soon decay and the greed of hoarders will come to a tragic end.

K A Solaman