7-billionth baby

The prayers of the Christian clergies of Kerala have been heard. The seven billionth baby Danita May Camacho is born in Philippines. Possibly there will be special mass and prayers in churches when world countries celebrate the marking of world population hitting a record of 7 billion.

I often wonder about the counting of the babies born. As the total estimated birth per second is 4.17, how is it possible to say exactly Danica is the 7-billinth baby? And how could the birth count be done without a crystal controlled clock?
In fact there is no accurate account of total world population. No one is continually recording every single birth and death. It is only possible to make estimates based on various census figures and rates of growth in various countries. The figure seven billion is of net births minus deaths, and is based on estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. They decide the seven billionth baby that is born in a highly sophisticated gynaec ward where pregnant women from Somalia, or Ethiopia or remote villages of India have no access.

The Philippines baby Danita May Camacho is a lucky child as our Astha, the one billionth baby of India.


K A Solaman

Wasting resources

Several litres of petrol were misused for burning in effigy the Minister and several man hours were wasted in protest against what is called a derogatory remark against the Opposition leader by the Kerala forest minister K B Ganesh Kumar. Though the Minister apologized protest went  unabated.

It is not a new thing among political leaders to mudsling their opponents. The news regarding this would appear only as a corner item in news papers in yesteryears and the people often ignore it. The time has changed with evolution of innumerable channels and as a matter of their survival even silly stuffs are highlighted in a highly provocative manner and that leads to the turmoil of the present sort. It is not alone the person who makes confusion with his mudslinging words but by the unreliable involvement of crazy channels.


It was quite unbecoming of a minister to make such a derogatory remark and it is equally unbecoming of channels to give wide publicity for it. If not restricted in time the channels would turn to be a big head ache and the State would run from less disorder to more disorder.

K A Solaman The Deccan Chronicle Published on 30 -10-11

Award for leg raising event !

On hearing the news of an NRE award to Agricultural Minister KP Mohanan I was under the presumption that it was given as recognition for his leg raising performance in the State Assembly. Nevertheless, I have soon understood that it was for last 10 years performance in his constituency as MLA.

Quite bizarre are the ways of NREs because if one possesses an extra buck of Rs 10000 he constitutes an award and creates an opportunity to sit with minister for hours. The Government should contemplate, hereafter, to raise the minimum award amount as Rs one lakh or else people will have to witness more such duplicitous scenes.

K A Solaman