Why ban mobiles in schools?

I could not concur with the existing ban of mobiles in schools and colleges in Kerala. Though banned out rightly these gadgets are profusely used by the students and teachers of all schools and colleges making the restriction a joke. The draconian laws like punishment of jail life for one year for taking the photograph of a person without his consent(IT act 67) and punishment for eleven years and a fine of Rs 5lakh for transferring a pornographic text from one mobile to another, are weird. For instance look at the photograph session performed by girl students in uniform from Ampalapuzha schools where actress Meera Jasmine along with Dr Sukumar Azhikode and Minister G Sudhakaran at Ambalpuzha fest, was an attraction for them. Will these girls be punished for possessing mobiles against school rules and for taking photograph of the actress without her permission? Will the cell phone photographers of leading dailies taking photographs of people gathered at a public function and issuing gifts such as mobiles after spotting out by encircling one from the photograph?

Present day is undoubtedly a digital age where self proclaimed international campus’ permit students to use only laptops having all time connectivity with the internet. Students in these campuses lost their hand writing and what they write with computer keyword is not art of hand but of finger tips. Then what is the fun in limiting the use of mobiles in schools and colleges.

Actually every household in India is equipped with one or two mobiles and children there are more mobile savvy and more skillful in the use of these gadgets. Most often it is a security thingamabob for girl students travelling a lot from home to school and back. The students should, therefore, be given an awareness for the judicious use of this gadget instead of banning it totally from campuses.

K ASolaman

Grave danger-The Telegraph daily

The Sainthia train accident that claimed so many lives is tragic, to say the least. It has left in its wake some serious questions for the railway authorities to ponder. The accident could not have been caused by a signal malfunction, for the driver and the guard of the Uttar Banga Express knew full well that the train was scheduled to make a stop at Sainthia — something that did not happen. If indeed the signal had been missed, why did the guard not apply the emergency vacuum brake? In the light of these facts, the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out.

The Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force have allegedly made it a practice to detain night trains. This is no different from what the Maoists do. By correlating various sabotage attempts across the country, one can see that all is not well with the Indian Railways. Our railways minister and the intelligence department cannot evade responsibility for the catastrophe.


K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, The Telegraph, Kolkata 26 July 2010

Lottery mafia

No doubt the State of Kerala is under the clutches of lottery mafia. What one never misses in Kerala are seemingly liquor, condom and lottery. They are available in plenty when prices of essential commodities are sky rocketed in the State and many of them are in short supply even at a high price. The excessive purchase of liquor and lottery tickets was resulted from lack of education of common man.

Kerala Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac and his opponents in the State Assembly are playing ‘police and thief’ regarding lottery selling. For Isaac, UPA Government in the Centre is helping the lottery mafia while leaders from the UDF Oommen Chandy and V D Satheesan accuse Isaac for his inability to control lottery mafia. I don’t think that both Isaac and Ommen Chandy do anything solid to rescue common man from the clutches of lottery mafia other than making sound and fury in the State Assembly. I congratulate Speaker Radhakrishnan for is yeoman’s service to lead the Assembly in an admirable manner. Without him or one or two like minded the whole Assembly would turn into a conglomeration of dishonest persons having no concern about common people. Why can’t the State Government check and control all illegal lotteries which are sold under the mask of other Sate lotteries?

Santiago Martin and John Kennedy are persons to be extradited to America, the place that suits their name.

K A Solaman

Mangrove theme to make a lamb a dog.

The expert committee that visited the Rs 5-crore Mangrove Theme Park controlled Pappinissery Eco Tourism Society in Kannur has proved its mettle. The committee found that the developers of the park had desecrated all relevant laws for its construction and destroyed acres of Mangroves.

It is time for CPM leaders of Kannur to swallow without water all the abusive words hurled against the opponents of Mangrove Theme Park. Their claim that the facility was not a park but a project for conservation of the mangrove forest is akin to making a lamb to a dog.

K A Solaman

Powerful hands under mask

Though the learned Judge V R Krishna Iyer has some reservations in the current issue, I prefer to stand with Kerala High Court judges’ decision to decline withdrawal from hearing the petition filed by the state government seeking to review the judgment banning roadside meetings. This I say because such was the humiliation done by some Marxist leaders when the bench has proclaimed orders in this direction.

It is unfair on the part of the Government to file a petition against court order without a Cabinet decision. The observation that there are powerful hands under mask, who play all the nasty games for their personal gain, cannot be ruled out.

K A Solaman

Decode the mystery -the Satesman

The Railways must decode the mystery. The accident didn’t happen because of wrong signalling. The driver and the guard of Uttar Banga Express knew that the train would have to stop at Sainthia.

It didn’t. There is no clue as to why it passed by the station at a speed of 110 kmph. What prompted the Uttar Banga Express driver to violate the red signal? Even if the driver had missed it, the guard has an emergency vaccum brake, which wasn’t used. Repeated attempts over wireless to communicate with the driver of the Sealdah-bound train failed.The Railways have failed to instal the anti-collision mechanism on all trains. It is a regular practice of the GRP and the RPF, and more recently, the Maoists to detain night trains until they get their cut.
Both the Railway ministry and the Intelligence network are answerable for the disaster at Sainthia.
K A Solaman, Alappuzha (Kerala) The Statesman, 23 July 10

Thilakan’s last resort

Political takers of cine actor Thilakan are almost vanished. Only a few are left to entertain him because of fear of loss of votes in the coming elections. The 74 year old thespian is in no mood to give up his fight against tinsel world super heroes Mammootty and Mohanlal. He is to direct a drama and act in it, which has a title that says it all. Itho, Daivathinte Swantham Naadu! (Is this indeed God's Own Country?). Surely one can expect a few punches against the superheroes. Probably, Dr Sukumar Azhikode will be the creator of the punch dialogue in the play written by Manilal. However, the sad plight with Malayalam drama is that there are only a few viewers for plays. A recent play “Athijkeevanakattu” enacted by Cochin Sangamithra attracted not many viewers when staged at S L Puram Rangakala free of cost.

For an artist, 74 years of age is too high for a profit making business but for a politician it is not so. Hence, it is better for Thilakan to save his time and money not by indulging in play act but by entering in politics. Politics is the last resort not only of scoundrels but also of deflated ones.

K A Solaman

Names for fake identity

The names like Trivandrum, Bombay, Kerala and others are meaningless for some people. They need Kerala as Keralam, Trivandrum as Thiruvananthapuram etc. However, what I have to say is my letters addressed to Trivandrum still reaches there on time. Does one require more meaning than this? The names like Kesavan, Kumaran, Karthikeyan, Remesan, Krishnan, Raman, Bhamakshi etc are purely names of Keralaites of yester years. Now they are all known as Kesav, Kumar, Karthik, Remesh, Krish, Ram, Bhama etc. Do these people need a go back to old name identity? And it is also the habit of more refined ones to delete the tags like Nair, Menon, Potty, Pillai, Mappilai etc in their names. Still a few keep these tags for their fake identity.

K A Solaman

Boisterous behavior in Bihar Assembly

Democracy took a new twist in the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday, 21st July when the opposition legislators resorted to boisterous behavior freezing business. The opposition legislatures indulged in unparliamentarily behavior. Hurling chappal is termed as a heinous crime and that was replicated in Bihar Assembly. One of legislators flung a slipper at the Assembly Speaker. In the photo published by all national news papers, one could see a woman cladded in red blouse and white sari displaying her tummy smashing pots in the garden of the Assembly. Presumably there will be no pots in her home and her husband, if she has one, should be recommended for awarding world peace prize.

The reported move by Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar to stop the Central Bureau of Investigation againt alleged irregularities, amounting to Rs.11, 412 crore, in connection with developmental schemes, as revealed by Comptroller and Auditor General, is conspicuous. Mr Nitish Kumar is equally responsible for the untoward incidents in Bihar Assembly. If corruption is the sole concern of the opposition they are also not free from it. The crusade against corruption of the corrupt rulers by the corrupt opposition parties is only a ploy to hoodwink the poor and uneducated masses of Bihar. The people of Bihar have to wait some more years to see the true light of democracy in their land.

K A Solaman

Sainthia accident-a sabotage?

The Sainthia train accident that killed 63 people is gruesome and has left serious questions for the railway authorities to think over before it can decipher the obscurity behind it. The accident was not the result of the wrong signal as the driver and the guard of Uttar Banga Express knew full well that the train has to stop at Sainthia, but it didn't. There is no answer as to why it arrived at the station at a speed of 110 kmph. What prompted the Uttar Banga Express driver to violate the red signal, is a big question. Even if the driver had missed the red signal, the guard has an emergency vaccum brake, but he did not apply it. And in that regard the chance for sabotage cannot be ruled out. Repeated attempts to communicate with the driver of the Sealdah-bound train, over wireless device failed. Why the Indian Railway is unable to provide anti-collision mechanism on all its trains?

Detaining of night trains by the GRP and the RPF until their share is paid has become a regular practice, it is reported. Perhaps the Maoists also had resorted to such practice. Correlating various sabotage attempts elsewhere in the country one could easily find that all is not well with Indian Railway. The Minister in charge of Railway and the Country’s Intelligence Department could not abscond easily from the aftermath of Sainthia train accident.


K A Solaman

Keralam vs Kerala-TNIE

All the burning problems in the State have been settled by the LDF Government! If one still remains unattended it is the renaming of the State into ‘ Keralam’. I would like to say the demand for changing the official spelling of the state to ‘Keralam’ to make it conform to the way it is pronounced in Malayalam is unnecessary and wasteful. The advocates for ‘Keralam’ may have arguments with many examples of change of name such as ‘Bombay into Mumbai, Calicut into Kozhikode, Trivandrum into Thiruvananthapuram etc. What did we gain from these changes? If one writes Thiruvananthapuram instead of Trivandrum he has to write 18 letters instead of 10. What a terrible waste!

Keralites are mostly world citizens disposed to see beyond any language barrier. The discussion to change name of the State may kindly be kept in vault.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express, dated 19 July 2010

Centre and Kerala -The Satesman

Prof TJ Joseph of Thodupuzha was brutally assaulted recently by some hardcore fanatics. This is one form of terrorism. The police are now raiding the hideouts of the Popular Front in Kerala. Bombs, swords, knives, CDs, posters and, pamphlets are stockpiled in Kannur district alone.
And yet, an unseemly war of words has begun between Kerala’s Home minister, Kodiyeri and the union minister of state for home, Mullappally Ramachandran. Kodiyeri has failed to control the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. On the other hand, the union home ministry has opposed an NIA probe into the recent incident of train sabotage in Kerala. It is unfortunate that law and order has become a subject of controversy between the Centre and the state.

k a solaman, the statesman dated 17 july 10

Poor posture by Kodiyeri and Mullappally.

Chopping of hands of Prof T J Joseph of Thodupuzha by some hard core fanatics is a wicked act and a clear case of terrorism. However, every wicked act has also a brighter side. And that is what one see in the move by the state police to carry out raids on of the Popular Front outfit in various places in Kerala. Bombs, swords, knives, CDs, posters , pamphlets that are needed for a World War are available in Kannur District alone. To where this God’s own country is heading on? The raids should unearth huge arms and ammunitions if extended to the hide outs of other insurgent outfits.

However, the matter that is incomprehensible to the public is the war of words between the Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri and Central minister of state for Home affairs Mullappally. Understanding Kodiyeri’s inefficacy to control the situation more and more people are demanding NIA probe into all the terror incidents in Kerala. Nevertheless Mullappally Ramachandran has come out with vigorous objection against NIA probe on train sabotage bid. This is quite inconceivable. Mullappally should avoid his frequent visit to Kerala and concentrate on work as India is not small as Kerala. It is action, and not vocal outburst, that is needed to control the serious situation of insurgency in Kerala. And for that a concerted effect from both the ministers is needed. Outfits’ act to put the State into peril should not become a matter of controversy between the Centre and the State.
K A Solaman

Happy secret

The engagement and marriage of the Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and his childhood friend, Sakshi Singh Rawat, were closely guarded secrets. But this cannot be entirely explained by Dhoni’s wish to keep the media at bay. Was it also done to prevent heartbreaks and suicides? Soon after the wedding, Dhoni is supposed to have met the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps he had a discreet message to convey to the 40-year-old politician — that politics, like cricket, can be managed in wedlock.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Kolkata 13July 2010

Maoists blow up Orissa school building

Education is the basic necessity for a person to become refined. A well educated person will never resort to arson and most often remains compassionate. He would never engross into the cruel acts of political outfits. And hence it is the sole objective of all the political parties to keep most people uneducated. They need people to shout slogans and observe hartals. Maoists also know this fact and that is why they blew up a school building in Orissa’s Malkangiri district on Tuesday. Thanks to the Almighty. There were no casualties.

K A Solaman

Putting hassles to the public without toiling much

I don’t think about any collusion between Left parties and the BJP in calling a Bharat bandh on July 5 to protest against the rise in fuel prices. However, these parties should realize that the bandh call would not yield any good result other than the sale of more liquor by Beverages outlets in states like Kerala. And for Marxists in Kerala it is a direct attack on the Judiciary as bandh has been banned in the state by the High Court.

When the employed class and the rich enjoy the holiday created by bandh it is only daily workers to suffer. A daily worker will lose a day’s wage and find it hard to get essential commodities and medicines for ailing ones in home as traders too are enjoying bandh keeping their shops closed. Senior citizens and the unwell will face a lot of difficulties. Putting hassles to the public without toiling much is the trade mark of present day politicians to prosper. Bandh call is a sufficient tool for this.

K A Solaman

Dhoni's marriage-no heartbreaks?

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni got married to his childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat in a hotel in Dehradun. The function was kept a closely protected secret, why? Would be there any heartbreaks and subsequent suicides?

K A Solaman

Brutal act by hard core fanatics

The question setter teacher T J Joseph of Newman’s College, Thodupuzha, who hurt the sentiments of Muslim community by his disgraceful question paper, has been arrested and charged. His son was arrested and tortured by the police. And that is more than enough for the blunder the teacher has committed. Now his right hand has been cut by some fanatic criminals. This is brutal and highly condemnable.

K A Solaman

Legal protection for campus politics

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Government was planning to give legal protection to lawful political activity in campuses. In one aspect it is good as there is now none to question the spite practices of some unscrupulous managements. For instance look at the anomaly in the fee collected as application money for lectureship in private colleges in Kerala. When one college demands Rs 750 per application form others collect Rs 500, Rs 300 etc. No uniformity could be seen in fee collected from students for various necessities. There is no effort from any corner to control capitation fee for admission and appointment. The fund collected for a lecture post is about Rs 15-30 lakhs whereas fee for a degree seat admission is Rs 3000-15000. Who will check these malpractices other than students? If students, politics is legalized this could be controlled a bit.

Nevertheless, the student leaders in politics, unaware of their duties and obligations most often curtail the freedom of learning of a lot of students. The classes are often obstructed by political outfits for trivial issues and most often smooth running of the college becomes a tough job. And that is why some able PTAs in schools and colleges succeeded in abandoning students’ politics. But it soon brought adverse effect. So while giving legal coverage politics in campuses, students who are not interested in politics should be given legal protection to pursue their learning without the interruption from political outfits.

Interesting aspect is there would be anarchy sponsored by managements if politics is banned in campuses and at the same time there would be more anarchy as that one witnessed in the past if students’ politics are legalized. Can’t we look for an intermediary path?

K A Solaman

Roll back the petrol price hike

The UPA Government is making the common man’s life more miserable by hiking the fuel prices. Presumably, there is nothing in the wallet of Manmohan Inc. to lower the misery of the common people.

The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the oil companies are in an unholy nexus for quite long and the government’s stand on fuel price hike due to increase in international prices is untenable. The facts and figures of ‘losses of oil companies’ are unacceptable because they spent crores on advertisements. Petrol is an essential commodity that can be sold without any advertisement.

The government, therefore, should rollback the decision to hike the diesel, LPG and kerosene prices because it will result in increase in the prices of all essential commodities and public transport.

K.A. SOLAMAN,Kaithakkal, Kerala

The Tribune, Chandigarh 30 June 2010

Unjust hike- The Telegraph

The United Progressive Alliance government has made the common man’s life more miserable by raising fuel prices. The increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas will result in the costs of essential commodities spiralling further. The government should keep in mind that it had already raised petrol and diesel prices in February, at the time of the Union budget. It seems that the Manmohan Singh government cannot do much to lessen the misery of the aam aadmi. Its policies are pushing the people deeper into penury. The government’s decision to free fuel prices from State regulation is just an excuse to cover up for its failure to control the fiscal deficit. The government must reconsider the price hike.

K.A. Solaman,
The Telegraph, Kolkata 1 July 2010